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 Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 11:01 pm
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Posted: Wed Feb 14, 2007 11:45 pm
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:07 am
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Fear and pain overtook Daray as, in his mind, he was still being chased and attacked by the angered Kalona. How could he have been so stupid? To risk not only his life over something so insignificant... a rabbit of all things, but to risk the life of Aita as well?
In his dream, he continued running, sweating and tired from the chase. Turning back, he saw Gwee closing in on the slower Aita, who had begun to flee after her wounds were inflicted as well, from protecting him.
The lack of breath prevented him from screaming, and he began to run back in the opposite direction, determined to get to Aita before Gwee's evil intentions could. As he ran, nearly tripping and falling from his own lack of coordination and exhaustion, he looked on as Gwee swooped down from the sky and dug her sharp kalona fangs into Aita's neck. Her bright eyes, those beautiful crimson eyes that he could always lose himself in, rolled back into her head as she fell to the ground, taking the kalona with her.
He strangled a scream from his lips.. there were no words for the moment, only emotions. Gwee stood over Aita, a hunter's grin on her face, pleased with her kill, and started towards Daray.
With a yelp of distress, Daray awoke. Startled and confused, he looked around the cave, unsure of where he was and what had really occurred. Had Gwee really killed Aita? A darkness filled his heart with the thought... he would never forgive himself if she had.
He felt the pain coursing through him, and it was then that he looked down to find Aita's beautiful face next to his, resting on his shoulder. Had she saved him? She had taken him to this cave... she was his savior.
His cheeks flushed at the realization. He couldn't even save his own hide... Aita had to do that for him. Struggling to attempt to get up, Daray let out a second yelp of the day, and fell back against the cold stone floor of the cave. He couldn't walk, much less get up on his feet. Had Gwee really done that much damage to him? He was sore all over, and figured he would be for many days to come. What was he going to do now?
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 5:32 pm
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 7:45 pm
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He hadn't meant to awaken her with his not-so-macho yelp, but he was glad she was up, either way. Having her by his side seemed right, though he knew she'd only saved him because..... why had she saved him again?
Pausing, Daray thought about it. He really didn't know why Aita saved him, unless she truly cared for him, deep inside that bitter appearance she gave off. Even in pain, he couldn't help but give a small grin. Maybe there was hope for the two of them after all. What an odd couple they made though.
He saw her notice his leg bleeding, and his eyes widened as her flaming hoof neared the mark. He wanted to say something to stop her, but her usually cold voice sounded caring, and he was at a lost for words.
Words came back, however, as that firey hoof pressed itself against his leg, sealing the wound.
"SHIIIIIT" he gritted through his teeth, his eyes growing dizzy as he swore he was beginning to see stars. He knew she said it would hurt, but this much?!?
He silently whimpered to himself as she gave instructions to him not to walk or move. What a worse pain in the a** that was going to be... Daray loved to run and do things for himself.. would he be able to stand two weeks of laying around having everything done for him?
"Though..." he thought to himself, as he watched Aita rise from the ground beside him and study his wound closer, "It won't be that horrible since Aita will be around the whole time..."
His stomach rumbled as she spoke of food, and he was much too tired and in pain to be embarrassed by it. He was hungry, and that water and food she mentioned sounded pretty damn good at the moment.
His orange eyes couldn't leave her. She had saved him, and he would be eternally grateful to her. For a mare who's first intentions towards him was to have him for a late lunch, her attitude towards him had done a major turn around. He liked it... probably more than he should. Would it be too much to hope that one day such a common horse as himself be good enough for a fierce Nightmare as her?
"Thank you..." was all he could manage to whisper, his face wincing from the pain. It was going to take a while for the wounds to heal, but it would be worth every scar as long as Aita would be by him.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:10 pm
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:34 pm
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Days flew by quicker than he could ever imagine, and soon enough, Daray found himself as Aita's "patient" for a little over a week. Despite the constant soreness and the body ache, he immensely enjoyed having all his needs being catered to. At first, of course, Aita was determined and seemed to worry for his health, forcing him to eat down whatever she could find for him to gain nourishment from, almost being a bully about it. But that was his Aita, and he took pleasure in listening to her giving him commands, and he meekly, but gratefully, always obeyed. As the days passed, she seemed to fret less about his health and seemed to be concentrating on making him comfortable in their new little cave home.
He smiled as he watched his protector and caretaker return into the cave, and quietly, but gently lay the bear's skin on the ground next to him, revealing bunches of lucious looking berries and leaves from within its folds. Ravenous, he immediately took to the food, and devoured it within minutes. He paused, after licking the last berry's remnant from his lips, and turned to face the quiet Aita.
She was beautiful, standing there, her regal and firey stature lighting up the dark cave. It was obvious, though, how tired she was growing from her constant attention to him. She needed someone to take care of her, and he wished he could be the stallion to do just that. Yet, he knew, that in his current condition there was nothing he could do. All he could do for the moment was bask in the warm glow of her hooves and mane, and be at peace while he could. It gave him such a serene feeling to have that warm light always nearby when he'd fall asleep; he wasn't sure of how he would re-adjust to living without her once he completely healed. The thought of it by itself made him depressed, and he shook his head, trying to get the idea out of him mind. No, he would take advantage of the present and enjoy every moment he could while it lasted. He had this beautiful Nightmare's full attention at every waking hour, and he wasn't about to abuse or lose the opportunity for her cold, slowly warming affection and her pampering.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:51 pm
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The days had indeed apssed quickly. Aita was out 3 times a day gathering food for Daray, always bringing extra at night in case he wanted a snack in the middle of the night. She had of course decided eatting full meals would keep his body strong and heal faster with food and energy in his system. She had seen those that barely ate take a long time to heal and she did not want to see him in pain any longer then necessary. But as the days had past she found she didn't have to be forceful with him to eat. Daray just loved eatting and had an insatiable appetite.
Every so often Aita would by chance kill a larger prey then her usual rabbits, and of course she added a bit of meat to Daray's meals. She had a wolf carcass on er back as she came in with a bear skin full of berries and leaves and assortments of fruits. The wolf had made the mistake of trying to attack her and had now become her meal. Of course she had no objection to sharing it with Daray. She glanced at the nearby bucket she ahd stolen from a twolegger's teepee when they were not home. It made gathering water wasier and much more useful. It was still half full so she would fill it again when night fell.
Aita's thoughts swirled around in her mind and she felt this odd emotiona dn sensation growing stronger the longer sh e was around Daray. She was unfamiliar with it..but it was not a bad feeling. In a way it kinda felt...good. She enjoyed this feeling. Somehow it was connected to Daray. She looked down to the stallion who laid there smiling at her. His wounds were healing nicely. A few more days and he would be on his feet. She had slept next to him at night, having him sleep close to the wall so he would not move around and hurt himself, but also so she could shield him if a predator entered their cave. In a way she was kinda sad that after a few days, she would not be sleeping so closely to him. She had gotten used to feeling his breath on her neck at night.
She stood silently still as she watched him eat. What was this feeling? Was this perhaps...no ....could she feel that? could she experience this love she had heard others speak of. Perhaps....but she had not thought it possible for her to feel such emotions. But then, the kalonas could love, so why not her? Somehow, she knew she did not want to be without Daray in her life and did not want to be without him at her side. This whole experience and nearly losing him had made her realize that. Oh how this stallion had grown from lunch, to her little lacky hunter...to this...
She laid down next to him now, pulling the wolf carcass off her back and tearing it open to eat and feast on the blood, her thoughts a mass inside her head. What should she do? Should she tell him what she suspected? But how.....
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:06 pm
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He watched as she dug her fangs hard and deep into the wolf's flesh and gave a sad smile. Perhaps she had no need for him after all; she seemed to be catching her own dinner perfectly fine without him. She had spoken of her intentions of having him help her hunt for her meals earlier when they had first met, but now it seemed to him that he was more of a burden, than any actual help to her.
Daray squirmed and wormed his way around to where he could get more comfortable. When he had first slept against the cave, it had been a rough night's sleep, but as he continued laying on it over time, it became more comfortable and he enjoyed the stone floor as a bed, save for the patches of animal skin Aita had laid out for him to rest on during especially uncomfortable nights when he had trouble with his leg. He thought the pelt added a nice touch, seeing that it was a Nightmare's cave and all. The nights were more comfortable when he would awaken to find Aita pressed against him, keeping him firm and still between her and the wall, unable to harm or move his leg any further. Her warm body snuggled against his made him feel important... like he had a reason for being. True, he wasn't any help at all to Aita in her tasks of continuing to care for him, but he felt it all the same.
Sighing, he laid his head down on the animal's pelt and continued to quietly watch her devour the carcass, wondering what was on her mind.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:18 pm
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:39 pm
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He took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and attempted to take a step forward. A flood of emotions overcame him, and he felt himself wobble on legs that weren't used to the heavy weight of a well-fed horse.
One side of him wanted to show her how well he was, to make her feel good about her caretaking skills. Another side of him wanted to collapse, to feign pain and injury in hopes of gaining more time, possibly days, to spend with Aita. He didn't mind finding food and water for himself, but he did mind the notion of not having Aita around.
Truth be told, though, his injuries were almost nonexistant, the scars of the wounds camoflauged over by his dark skin. He really didn't feel that it would be honorable to lie to a mare that meant the world to him, so he truthfully responded, "My legs feel almost as good as they were before the... before the attack."
He was still ashamed at what he had done that had endangered both of their lives. Would she ever find it in her heart to forgive him of his foolish mistake? It hadn't been the first deadly mistake he made, he noted to himself, as he remembered the incident with the bear in the cave. Why would such an intelligent Nightmare want anything to do with the likes of him? Every time he saw her, his heart soared and he was excited and eager to gain her attention and affection. She made him feel like no other creature had before, and he would be damned to let that feeling escape him without a struggle. He wanted to stay with her, comfort her when she was down, make her laugh when he was feeling silly, but most of all, protect and care for her like a stallion should for his mate.
"Mate?" he thought to himself. "What would she gain from having me as a mate?"
Sighing, his head hanging low, he managed a few trots forward, and then slightly winced at the aching pain shooting up his leg. He wasn't sure if that soreness would go away with time or he was destined to live with part of the pain as a reminder for his foolish actions. Either way, he still could manage to walk, and he turned around to face the mare who was studying him.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:56 pm
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Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 10:43 pm
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Still deep in though, Daray was caught off guard by Aita's sudden approach. He had noticed beforehand the sad expression on her face and worried as he wondered what was going on through her mind. Her silent sign of affection was touching, and his heart leapt as her head burrowed against his chest. Was she trying to tell him that she cared for him?
Never in a million years would he have imagined Aita returning his love, though he wasn't even sure if she realized his feelings towards her yet. Her action made him feel bolder. Perhaps it was time to speak his mind and his true feelings? He could be taking her movement as a misjudged sign of affection, but something told him deep down inside that she was expressing her feelings for him, though she didn't say a single word. He would have to take the initiative, and it scared him to death knowing that.
"Aita... please." he whispered quietly in her ear as his head snuggled against hers. "I don't want to lose this." He couldn't bare to watch her reaction so he looked away as he continued, his eyes looking away as his face flushed with warmth. "I know my leg's healed, but.... I still need you."
He paused, and his head stilled from the snuggling. There. It was out now; all cards were on the table. Now the ball was in her court, and she got to decide what she was going to do with it. He was scared of how she would react, that he had been reading too deeply into things, but at the same time was very glad to finally have gotten his feelings off his chest at last.
No matter how she would respond, he would always have love for the Nightmare beauty that stormed into his life. She was everything to him now; he couldn't see himself functioning properly without her ever again. She was all he ever thought about, day, night, while eating, sleeping, and he didn't want to lose her. He selfishly wanted her by his side forever and always, to have and to cherish until death parted their ways. But it would have to be her decision as well; he would never want to force love and commitment upon another unless they wanted to return that love themselves.
Smiling, Daray realized that he himself had never really realized his true feelings for the mare until now. Perhaps it was the fear of losing her and this wonderful feeling he was given by being around her that spurred his feelings from within to come out in the open?
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 4:17 pm
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Posted: Sun Feb 18, 2007 8:25 pm
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He waited for a reaction as she stood there silently, listening to him speak, and he wondered what was going on through her mind. She shook her head, and for a split second he worried that she was rejecting him. Could he have gone too far? Did he indeed mistaken her nuzzle as misplaced affection? Emotions began to overwhelm him and that was the same instant Aita took the opportunity to speak.
His ears listened intently as she began, and he froze in momentary shock at what she said. She wanted to be with him? Like he wanted to remain by her side? He had no idea she harbored any fear at all, much less the fear of losing him in her life.
He watched as she pulled away from him, her enchanting crimson eyes gazing into his own orange ones, and she stuttered out a question he wasn't prepared for. Aita usually had no qualms stating what she felt or wanted, so it made him uneasy that she was having a difficult time with her words. It was then that the question hit home to him; he realized what she was asking him. Did he love her?
Daray had to pause and think over the question; saying you loved someone wasn't an everyday phrase that could be tossed around. Did the feelings he felt for her go beyond loving her physical beauty?
He took a moment to try to imagine a life without Aita... a life where Daray was Daray, and he did what he wanted. It seemed so shallow now, life without Aita. Without purpose, without a reason to smile and be happy every day. He cherished everything about her from her looks to her ever-changing attitude. He welcomed her mood swings as well as her flesh-eating taboo.
His mind snapped back into reality and he blinked, noticing that she was still waiting for a reaction from him, waiting for that life-changing answer.
"Aita..." he said, his voice hoarse from nervousness and of what to say, "I admit, I've got little to no experience in the love department... but when I see you, I see everything I could ever want. I see a beautiful mare who I want to spend the rest of my life with. I see someone who not only tolerates my behavior and personality, but someone who accepts me for who I am, and accepts me as I am. There is no one else in the world like you, and I dread the thought of you spending your life with any other stallion by your side. I want to be that stallion by your side. I want to be the one who tends to you when you're ill or injured. I want to be that stallion who you come home to every night, to cherish you for who you are and to take care of all of your needs. I know I'm not the brightest Soquili, and I know I'm not the most mature, but...having said that, Aita... I.. I do love you. And I want you to be mine... forever. I want to be your mate, if you would accept me."
His ears flattened and his voice drew silent, not able to believe he just said what he had said to her. She had asked a simple yes or no question, and he poured out his deepest feelings for her... feelings he himself never realized were there. Was he ready to be mated? Better yet, would she even agree to the idea? How absurd was it, a silly stallion like himself asking a beautiful Nightmare to be his and his alone forever and always. She would probably scoff at the thought, but he hoped she would at least let him down gently with her refusal.
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