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 Posted: Thu Sep 13, 2007 5:32 am
Bloody females!
Azumoth could do little more than take a number of deep breaths. They did nothing to calm his rage and after a rather colourful string of curses he stormed from his Grove. There were times when the stallion just couldn't stand to be around another individual and this was one of them. He knew she was young and therefore stupid but he hated talking to a brick wall!
...When would they learn that you had to kill to protect yourself?
He grunted, trudging mindlessly through the undergrowth as his mind raged and his chest heaved. All in all the word 'angry' didn't quite cover how he felt and if he was entirely honest he wasn't sure who he was angry at. He knew he was angry that someone had done such a thing but there were so many potential targets for his anger at this precise moment in time that he struggled to penpoint the most reasonable target.
He could target Bella for her stupidity.
The kalona - but then again it was in kalona nature to kill.
...Or he could target that god forsaken unicorn. He had already sworn an oath to himself that if he ever caught that unicorn alone he would know what it really felt like to be mauled. The risk was that Bella would never speak with him again but it was a necessary evil and one day she would thank him - she would learn never to excuse someone and their deep stupidity again.
Stupidity in a child was acceptable, stupidity in the face of death as an adult was suicidal.
How could someone be so irresponsible?!
So difficult was this concept to fathom that the stallion began to pace in circles, back and forth as though unsettled for a few moments before continuing forward once again. He had no particular interest in where he ended up, being so familiar with the Grove and his forest he wouldn't get lost but he just needed to get away - now more than ever the open plains and the endless shores were looking more appealing even if there was a risk he would be seen.
He'd already been seen a number of times though, each time hadn't been so bad but the soquili he'd met had either been oddballs or completely unstable.
"Damnit," He mmuttered after a few moments, once again releasing a sigh as he cast his gaze towards the borders of his territory and to the deserts beyond. Despite their empty expanse the deserts would still be much warmer than here - with that desire to escape still rife in his mind it was with great difficulty that he quelled his desires and urges in favour of being the more 'honourable' individual.
Forcing someone to fight was hardly honourable but it needed to be done.
He could atone after she knew how to defend herself.
However, for the time being he could do nothing more than stare out at the endless stands beyond.
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Posted: Fri Sep 14, 2007 10:36 am
The curses that Azumoth spewed made the girl wince and cringe, his anger and wrath almost as painful as the wounds on her body. Goddammit why did she she always do this. . . .? To herself and to him? Was she really that awful of a mare to get along with? Oh, certainly her optimistic outlook on life was the complete opposite of Azumoth - their ideals and outlooks on life were as different as night and day.
But it seemed every time she met the black stallion she managed to upset him. And tonight. . . . tonight was no exception to the rule. If anything it seemed as if she had truly enraged the forest guardian. Was it that she had run to his forests and hoped for a few moments of security? Was it that she had disturbed his nightly errands and placed obligation upon his head. . .? Or was it - was it something else? Had she spoke in err, had she blindly misstepped her boundaries. . .?
The girl repeated everything she had said - that her weary mind could remembered - and found. . . . nothing. Everything had fallen to pieces after telling her story, after admitting the truth. His anger was surely directed at her as she was the constant source of his aggravation.
. . . . why.
Doubt entered her mind, clouding her typical sturdy will and optimism. She couldn't handle this tonight, she couldn't deal with his anger properly. She wasn't mad at him getting mad - though it almost intimidated her to see him so . . . so . . . . upset! - and she wasn't really surprised by his actions either. She knew full well how the black stallion acted and how, ninety percent of the time, he was in some sort of mood. . . .
That was fine. She didn't expect sympathy or even a hell of a lot of compassion for her plight! But Azumoth wouldn't hurt her. . .at least not physically. . . and he was a friend. Whether or not he liked it. There had been no other place to go, no other place she had wanted to be. But Bella didn't want this nor had she had any intention of putting him in such a foul mood.
It seemed she couldn't do much right around him.
Ever.
Such was the story of her life.
Silent, alone beside the waters edge, the girl buried her nose under her legs and hid her face from the world. The confusion, the guilt and shame had begun to tangle and writhe inside. What could she do? Storm after him, apologize for the millionth time for whatever horrible deed she'd done?
No.
She was too weak to follow and too exhausted to speak. Throat tightening, feeling about as alone and empty as ever, the girl closed her eyes and tried to sleep. It was her only true escape from guilt and remorse, from anger and hurt. As it was, what little, restless sleep she got was something akin a nightmare - Malice laced with Azu's curses and wrath. Even sleep couldn't save her from her guilt and fear. . . .
Needless to say, for Bella alone, it was a very, very long night.
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Posted: Sat Sep 15, 2007 8:38 am
[[*slaps her typos* >.<]]
He didn't sleep... while the stallion could sleep like a log in many places this evening proved to forbid him of such a desire. While his body may have protested his mind still rejected its demands and continued to roar at the rather numerous thoughts raging through his mind. He was angry to say the least but after a few hours of staring into the endless sands the most of it had subsided.
Now?
Well now such anger had been replaced by weariness and something else he couldn't quite place. The mare was not his responsibility, she never had been and yet once again he found himself almost honour bound to protect her. What spell was it that mares wove that bound and chained him like his herd had once done? Granted, they had never been cruel to him but ultimately he had found himself trapped.
He wasn't expected to guard her, in ways she had said this herself and through her constant (yet irritating) stream of apologies he had known in the logical side of his mind that she was her own being. While naive she was independent, while she was small and young...she didn't need him. In fact, the more he thought along these lines the more he became aware of what other individuals made him feel this way.
His daughters...
Did that mean he saw her as a daughter? Truly he didn't need another one...Ignacia would drive him to despair and Muriel, well he simply couldn't complain against her as she truly was a beauty. She was obedient, clever and seemed content even though Moppet had protested and pointed out that her 'grand daughter' should explore more often.
Oi, emotions were never easy to understand and while these feelings weren't quite the same as they were towards his daughters he was not against classing them as such. To consider them as something else caused too much terror for the broken male to deal with. This way, if he did begin to lecture he would view it as fatherly and nothing more.
That suited!
Nevertheless, the hours drifted onwards and it was only as the birds began to sing once again that the stallion shifted his gaze and released a small snort. Limbs stiff, he required a number of delicate stretches to encourage the blood flow once again before moving off. Now reasonably calm, he only had one plan of action in mind and that was to give the mare her lessons.
...He just hoped she could walk alright this morning.
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Posted: Sun Sep 30, 2007 3:48 pm
((. . . I'm not sure how we want to deal with this since my RP with Muriel kind of went on perma-pause. x] Just say she meets up with his daughter later. . .? Or say their meeting was brief and the mare already left? I guess this is what a friend of mine lovingly refers to as 'fuzzy-time' . . . It happened at some point. Exactly when is of no concern.))
It had been a restless nice for both soquili but for two different reasons. While Azumoth had raged and been enveloped by anger, Bella was plagued by guilt and confusion. She didn't understand what she had said that was so wrong in the black stallions eyes. She was no fighter but she had done her best to be rid of Malice. . . . And though Meshach had been a moron, without him she would have been in trouble.
They came from two different worlds. Azumoth was a seasoned fighter with wings and claws and armor. He himself was touched by a fierce sort of blood and was certainly no passive-aggressive stallion! He was older than she and had been raised under the shadow and touch of a cruel and sick world.
Bella . . .well. . . . It was easy to see she had not. She had grown up with little worry or concern over others. Though it had been a fairly lonely existence out on her own, where some grew bitter she had taken it all in stride. She preached love and kindness and warmth against the majority of the world's cruelties and . . . well. . . . It seemed to land her in all sorts of trouble lately.
Strange how all her life it had never steered her wrong. But now, as an adult, it was as if her belief in such goodness was wrong. Azumoth certainly seemed to sneer at it and that awful kalona surely had! Just because she tried to give others a chance and forgiveness didn't mean she was stupid. . . But why was it that the black stallion, her dearest friend of late, seemed to see her as such?
Oh well.
Such was her lot in life it seemed.
The morning had broken quite uneventfully. Though the music of birdsong had greeted her, the sore mare had trouble enjoying it. She hadn't expected Azumoth to have slipped out all night in his tantrum and rage; she had hoped that come morning she could have apologized, she could have done something to ease her mangled spirits.
It was the least she could do, of course, after he had taken her in yet again and allowed her to heal in his woods.
Thankfully her ankle, though still sore, was all ready on the road to recovery. She hobbled a little, but at least this morning she could put a little more weight on it than before. The worst of her pain was her scabbed over neck, and though the rest of her body was bruised and tender, at least she could move. Careful not to extend or twist or stretch her neck too much (she feared reopening the wound) the mare lowered her head for a drink.
Never had she been more thirsty!
Quenching her seemingly ceaseless thirst, the mare hoped that today would bring forth a better turn of events than yesterday. Perhaps, if she were truly lucky, she could redeem herself in Azumoth's eyes. Still, a whisper of doubt lingered in her heart. If her life followed the present course she'd find out quick that redemption was not on the agenda.
A glance down at her coat followed a moments vanity . . bleh. What an ugly sight to see. All the mare really wanted was a bath or to be caught out in a heavy rainstorm. Anything to help remove the dry blood and caked on dirt. It was going to take one hell of a grooming to get her coat to shine again. For shame.
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Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 8:54 am
[[Just say that they met during the night but Bella has more important things to think about. The meeting could have just slipped her mind...]]
Declining a request for aid, especially from Bella, was not something the stallion had within him. Without him realising and despite his barriers she had somehow slipped through to slot herself nicely into his life. Granted he hadn't seen her in quite a while but in the space of two meetings she had wriggled her way into his dark forest and had made it her home - sort of. He wasn't entirely sure how she viewed his forests and could only assume that it was something along the lines of a sanctuary. He wasn't far from the truth and as was to be expected he would relate this directly to his appearance...if anything was stupid enough to enter they would meet him, a devil.
It was strange though, while it often caused him to loathe how he appeared at this precise moment in time it gave him a sense of empowerment. As though the Alpha male, his role as guardian seemed to be bolstered by the very fact that something, someone had chosen to find this place as a sanctuary. Granted, small critters often did but this was one of his kind...a soquili! In some perverted way it gave him a bit of an ego boost!
No, this was a father issue - Bella was to become his daughter and therefore it was perfectly logical for her to find this place safe and it was perfectly logical for him to be ridiculously protective and territorial. End of argument.
Seriously.
Shaking his head, the stallion continued to saunter through the forest as he mulled over his own thoughts. Sifting through the rather delicate topics that entered his mind he often found himself in disagreement - while his logical mind stated one thing his 'heart' declared his logical side to be completely moronic and urged him to side with it. Forget internal monologues, this was a goddamn battlefield!
Nevertheless, it wasn't long before the stallion found his way back to his Grove and pausing outside he took a few moments to silence the battlefield (thus calling a time out on the verbal assaults) and to regain his composure. He had stormed out in a rage after all, it had been most uncouth and she was probably less than amused...
"Calm down, boy..." he growled moreso to himself than anything, flicking his tail against his leg as he at last moved forward into the Grove once more, pushing his head through the vines to inspect the inside. His eyes didn't take long to fix themselves on the Mare and the pose that she held herself in - it took an even shorter time for him to avert his gaze and stare hard at the rock instead!
Daughter! Daughter!
The battle picked up where it left off after this as verbal hand grenades were thrown from one side of his mind to the other - and yet all the while his expression remained unreadable and his eyes remained fixed firmly on the wall. A little rude not to look at her but if he did he would probably started frowning.
"I see you can stand," he mused at last, failing to look towards the mare even as he spoke. "How well are you to walk?"
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Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 10:26 am
((Sounds good! Wouldn't be the first time something slipped her mind. ;3 Also, his little fight with himself amuses me so. ))
Bella hadn't heard him enter the grove, but then again, she wasn't paying much attention. Her thoughts were her own battlefield of guilt and remorse, all the while laced with confusion on exactly how and why the night ended so sorely (no pun intended) between them. Certainly Azumoth was no easy case to crack or figure out, but where the rare occasion allowed her to see her err, the night previous was not one of those times. Never had she seen him so frustrated and enraged, especially at her.
But, such was the way of things. There was no use crying over spilled milk and the only thing she could do was forget about it and move on.
A shame that was easier said than done.
As his voice broke through her cloud of contemplation, the mare twisted her neck to peer over her shoulder and instantly regretted it. Oi ve - her neck! Argh. . . How frustrating to have only partial mobility with it! She'd never thought she'd taken her body and movement for granted. . . but apparently she had. All she wanted now was to be able to twist and turn and look around as she pleased without having to be cautious or twist her entire body around to do so.
Wincing at the reminder of her neck, the mare quickly turned her head away and back to the more comfortable, straight forward position. Heaving a small sigh, she twisted her body to face him, lowering her head ever so slightly as her bangs fell forward and over her eyes.
Amber eyes studied the male before him. He refused to look at her and seemed forever in his state of reservation. Was he so upset that he couldn't even match her gaze with his own. . .? Damn. Even though he wasn't huffing and snarling as he had the night previous, it appeared she was still far from forgiveness.
Dropping her own gaze, not wanting to be accused of staring, she studied her furry hooves. It wasn't awkward to be in his grove, no, but she found she was at a loss for words. Did she apologize or would that just frustrate him further? Oh how she wanted to - the words were stuck at the tip of her tongue and desperately wanted out. But fear of upsetting such a delicate morning made sure Bella kept a tight reign over them.
Despite everything, she smiled and gave a small stamp of her front hoof. "I'm feeling much better than yesterday, thank you," she began softly, giving her tail a quick flick behind her. "And I think I'm able to walk well enough." She gave a small demonstration of her skills, bridging the distance a bit between them. "For awhile anyway."
It was sore and she figured it might be another day or two before she could walk on it like she used to. She'd have to be careful how much she used it but. . .thankfully. . she had three other legs to compensate.
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Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 1:39 pm
[[Hahaha...well he's a big boy and there's a pretty mare in his Grove. He's afraid of doing the same thing as he did last time so I guess this is his defence mechanism. "Every girl is now my daughter. *NODNOD*"]]
Was it safe to look now, had she stopped posing? The stallion flicked his gaze towards her in a tentative fashion only to find that her gaze was downcast. She looked as though she were a puppy who had been kicked and as a result he soon felt the same. Once again the battlefield and the arguments began to heat up as the heart began to insult the logical mind with a much more colourful form of language.
Argh, and then she began to move towards him!
Daughter, daughter, daughter! Stubborn as always his logical mind began to chant the words and it was with a somewhat disgruntled snort that he held his gaze. It would be really suspicious if he looked away now but if she would just stop smiling it wouldn't be so bloody hard to keep looking. Every time she smiled his chest gave a triumphant flutter and roared a 'HA' towards his logical side.
It just wasn't fair.
Plan B, go for Plan B... His mind continued to advise and he mentally pictured the little angelic side of himself being carefully wedged into a tree stump. Shaking its hoof angrily, the logical and otherwise stoic side of him would slap food into its mouth to silence it. Clearly now was not a time when the heart could outwit the mind.
...It never seemed to be the time.
"That is a bonus," he agreed at last, then clearing his throat as he drew back the vines to 'open the door' for the mare in the most chivalrous fashion he could. He was rather grateful that she had stopped posing and thus he was able to maintain his composure and his gaze. It seemed that slowly but surely he was regaining control and that made him feel just a little better. The logical side had won.
"But we need to remove the blood or you will attract predators," and thus he slipped up, his logical mind positively seethed and gave him a brutal slap while his heart burst forth from the stump in a blaze of glory and proceeded to perform a number of victory dances. Why? Well it was quite obvious...A bathing mare was a posing mare and what did his rebellious heart want?
You plank! Was the only phrase his logical side could offer and he was somewhat inclined to agree, You complete and utter plank.
Can't back out now though! Chirped the other voice merrily and he raised his amber eyes heavenwards before releasing a sigh. There was a murmur deep inside him from the logical side and he soon began to mull over the situation in more detail, pushing Mr. Heart to one side for the time being.
Well, logically speaking she did need to bathe to keep herself safe and the cold would help the wound. He didn't even have to watch, he could prowl around the small pool to ensure nothing came near her and therefore he would see anything - nothing that would cause him to quiver and revert back to the blathering war zone that was an otherwise suppressed part of him and his dominant side.
He didn't like to lose control, thus his logical mind was always in charge. The heart came lowest on the pecking order...MUCH lower.
"After you," his logical side finally agreed with him and his heart gave another tisk of irritation (much like his mother) as he found yet another way to dodge the situation. From a logical stand point he was also protecting his new 'daughter', he was doing a good thing.
Yes, but daughters don't make you quiver do they... His heart purred, forcing him to close his eyes and launch a full frontal assault on his rebellious side until it was silent.
She. Was. His. New. Daughter.
He gave a nod (to no one in particular) and waited expectantly for the mare to move.
Bet you look at her rump.
Really the rebellious side was much more talkative than usual.
SHUT. UP. He snapped in unison with his logical mind. It was going to be an extremely long day to say the least, he had to teach her self defence after all and even that made him quiver slightly...no doubt his heart would be chirping madly when he did that.
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Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:33 pm
It was a good thing Bella wasn't a mind reader else she would have been thoroughly confused. Though she had been warned that the black stallion often fell prey to his emotions and desires for the mares in his life (besides his daughters, of course) it never really occurred to her that he might find HER to be one of them. No matter what Moppet had told her, Bella had always found Azumoth to be frustrated with her and standoffish - in her ignorance she could only assume that so long as she kept fumbling up their delicate friendship, he would never see her as anything more than a nuisance.
Logically it didn't make much sense. She didn't find herself to be particularly attractive. Oh, certainly her hooves were fluffier than most and her mane and tail thick and wavy but that was nothing compared to some soquili of the land. She had no wings or horns and her cream coat was fairly plain in colour. There was nothing extraordinarily attractive about her when one compared her to many of the more alluring natives of the land. . . .
Beauty was in the eye of the beholder. She didn't think she was ugly, oh no, but she just didn't see herself as anything worth a double take. Just an average, everyday sort of mare.
. . . .such ignorance!
Her smile grew as Azumoth parted the vines of his Grove. She stepped forward, doing her best not to hobble, and even allowed herself a good humored chuckle. "Why thank you, my fine sir," she replied softly, still keeping her gaze averted. He really was doing all in his power to avoid looking at her, wasn't he?
. . . . . Oh how sorry she was! She hadn't meant to upset him so the night before, she truly, truly hadn't. Would he ever forgive her. . .?
That was yet to be seen.
She paused as she stood outside the grove, awaiting Azumoth to lead the way. She stole a quick glance up at the stallion, hoping that maybe (just maybe) he'd finally begin to acknowledge her. . . . but alas to no avail. At least he wasn't snarling though. . .right? That was a plus.
Ears twitching, the girl glanced around, giving a soft snort. "You don't realize how wonderful a bath sounds right now," she spoke wistfully, if only to break up the silence and ease her nerves. Oh, she had been afraid to ask the stallion for such a request, afraid he might have wanted to train her first before cleaning up or thought her to be vain and narcissistic.
His suggestion sounded like bliss to her ears. . . . . "Lead the way, monsieur!" As if to prove she was already on the track to good health and her good ol' ways, she gingerly bowed before him, amber eyes gleaming with a spark of her typical playful self.
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Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 2:55 pm
"You don't realize how wonderful a bath sounds right now," Oh yes he bloody well did, she had no idea what those very words did to him and he could do nothing more than grunt as the rebellious side let out a roar of victory. Really, she had no idea how much power (as a female) she had over him and in a way he was very grateful that she didn't. All the other mares had known and thus resisting them had proved exceptionally difficult at least this way he could resist her as she wasn't going completely all out.
She was of course his daughter, as his logical mind continued to remind him and so this made things easier. While a part of him remained sceptical of this fact and Bella was completely unaware of it... Well, it made things just a little easier and instead of glancing back towards the mare he simply dropped the vines and began to drift away without paying heed to her little bow. With his daughters he would have played along (to a point) but today...
I thought you said she was your daughter... There it was, that rebellious little voice reminding him of his shortcomings and he gave a shudder of irritation. Clearing even his logical side was having difficulty suppressing the emotions that were holey inappropriate for a father-daughter relationship. After all, fathers didn't have problems looking at their daughters, they didn't get shivers...Instead they just got insanely over protective and declared war on any stallion that came near their baby girls.
...Azumoth wasn't against declaring war for his daughters (he would do it instantly), but that wasn't to say he wouldn't maul the very next stallion that tried to push themselves of Bell either. That alone was worrying.
You've seen her twice and you're already being this way...? His logical side finally sighed and pointed out the little fact he had been dreading. They had spent a long time in one another's company but only on those two encounters - but this was just a little different. While he had fallen for looks alone the previous times it was her smile and wistful nature that captivated him this time.
It wasn't bloody fair!
She had an even more powerful hold on him than any other mare and that pissed him off. Royally. He wasn't one to swear but if he could have momentarily paused and let out a shriek of fury at such a revelation he would have. Unfortunately, pausing to shriek and yell about the very individual walking beside you really wasn't the smartest of moves. For a start he could guarantee she would burst into tears and Azumoth really didn't handle tears well.
He'd probably cry with her.
"Do not bow or over exert in your current condition," he pointed out in the most gruff of tones, almost as though a male who had shoved his hands in his pockets and was cuddling into his coat for support. "You will make your limbs even more stiff and risk opening wounds," he continued, allowing his logical mind to batter his 'heart' senseless as he continued to drift through the forest.
...He chose not to remind himself that he was about to over exert her by teaching her self defence though, he was having a hard enough time as it was and didn't need to remind himself that he was being hypocritical.
"The pool is up ahead, use the gravel to get in and avoid the boulders as they are slippy," he finished after a few moments and came to a halt. There was no way on this earth that he would be coming with her. Not unless she wanted to be pinned to a wall and ravished, nuh uh.
He had more discipline than that!
Don't lie! His rebellious side cooed merrily before promptly being mauled by his inner logic.
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Posted: Mon Oct 01, 2007 9:21 pm
His gruff voice broke through the grove and it caused the mare to turn her amber eyes back up at him. The good natured light that had shone dimmed but just slightly - oh, there he was again. Mr. Gruff and Snarky. Well, be that as it may, though Azumoth said nothing about his hypocrisy that didn't mean the female over looked it. He wanted to train her to fight; as much as she appreciated the gesture didn't that mean she'd be exerting herself and reopening wounds?
Simple smile still on her face, the mare was more amused than anything but such a response. Lifting her head (albeit carefully) she gave a little snort and threw some of her disheveled mane over her neck. It hurt a little, but she refused to succumb to her aches and pains. Nickering softly, did her best not to roll her eyes and followed the stallion.
She'd get him to smile and play someday. Maybe. It might take a bit of coaxing and work but he couldn't be completely immune to such gentle games. All he needed was a kick start and someday, somehow, she would get through to him. Pas all his walls, his defenses, his fears. . . He might be a good guardian and protector, but that didn't mean he had to be so stoic and sullen all the time!
Oh well. Someday. At least Bella had the patience for it.
"All right, all right," she agreed, trying to hide her amusement at such a gruff response. "I'll do my best to control my wild and crazy behavior," was that sarcasm? Well, maybe just a little, though the light in her voice was incredibly hard to miss. She was teasing, poking fun at her own state and doing her best to pull in some light on the mood.
Whether or not it worked. . . eh . . . at least one couldn't say she didn't try.
No matter what the situation, very rarely did the black stallions attitude offend or affect her. Though she was doing her best to swallow her guilt for distancing the male from her, at least his responses were predictable. . . Well, at least as predictable as Azumoth went.
There was that little rain cloud poking up over his head, scowling out at the word and dampening the all around mood. It was as if he suffered from an eternal case of 'The Mondays'. Who knew . . . maybe he did.
As Azumoth paused and directed her to the pool, she gave a nod and and another gentle smile. Ooooh! It was hard to hide her excitement about getting to be clean again. Though she was far from vain that didn't mean she couldn't take pride in her coat - and right now she knew she looked wretched! Besides which, the cold water might feel good on her burning wound and aching muscles. "I'll be careful," she announced, stepping past the stallion to make her way to the waters. In typical fashion, just like their parting of their very first meeting, she made sure her hip brushed against him and made sure to give him a teasing whack with her tail.
An innocent enough gesture, one that could easily blamed upon her limp had she not giggled ever so sweetly after. But it was too late to do anything - she was already on her way up the slight hill.
It didn't take the mare long to find herself stepping within the cool waters. Though a few scratches and bites stung a bit at the water, she slowly, slowly stepped deeper within. She paused after sinking halfway in, a little concerned about her neck. It was large and there were a few parts that had cracked open since the morning. . . Oh, but her mane was tangled with dirt and it would do well to clean it off. Gritting her teeth, the mare heaved a breath and allowed herself to submerge.
Oh gods did it hurt and yet . . . . it felt good. The frigid ice water against her sore muscles seemed to numb the pain, and even though her neck screamed protest, it would do good to clean the dirt off and out. After a moment, her mane stuck close to her face and neck, the girls head resurfaced. She decided to keep close to the shore, to not allow herself to wade too deep. After her initial submersion the mare crept closer to the shore so her shoulders and top of her back her re-exposed.
My but did she look the sight! It wasn't everday she got the opportunity to get so thoroughly drenched and waterlogged. Her curls curled even more but stuck tight to her head, just like the rest of her skin and fur did. It would take a bit of grooming and a few more duckings before the dried blood and caked on mud left her coat permanantly . . . but for right now, this very moment, all Bella wanted to do was relax.
Closing her ears, she leaned down and took a drink of the water, tail floating behind her like train. The water was refreshing to her body, mind and spirit. . . Despite her exhaustion and horrible night, the water reminded her that today was a new day. Just as her wounds healed and the dirt disappeared, she too could wash away the terrible memories of such an awful, awful night.
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Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 1:23 am
It wasn't that he suffered from an eternal case of 'The Mondays' but rather, it was caused by those issues he had left untouched for years. Sure, as a teenager he had gone through puberty but unlike most stallions (who embraced it), he had calmly greeted it with a brochure, offered it an induction in terms of where it stood in the pecking order and then he had calmly religated it to a corner where it was 'doomed' to stay for eternity in order to ensure his sanity remained intact.
Or at least this was how it worked in theory.
In practice, things were proving much more difficult as colourful language sprang from the lips of his logical side in response to her almost suggestive touch. The fluttering in his stomach returned and the war zone became ever more scarred as he did his best to surpress the growing rebellion inside him. He had been so good for years, had resisted every female that came near him by scaring them to within an inch of their life and now she was playing him like this!
She could hardly feign ignorance either, that little giggle had been perfectly deliberate and he grit his teeth irritably. Those 'urges', urges in which his Kalona side often chose to embrace on his birthday began to bubble to the surface again and those temptations that he had long dismissed were presented on a plate. Both his rebellious side and his dark blood encouraged him to embrace them and yet that stubborness was still there.
If there was one thing he was grateful for, it was his logical side and it's stubborness. It would take a great deal more for it to surrender the power it had long held over him and today was not the day, regardless of whether or not two hidden sides were pressing for its place. Well, he hoped that it would endure despite the constant assaults on its weakening fortress.
He strengthened his resolve.
Shaking himself physically to rid the tingling sensation from his sides, he urged himself to move ahead and cast his idle thoughts aside. Each time he dismissed the rebellious and dark sides he found he began to gain control once again. Apparently ignoring an individual really was the best way to go about something especially when it came to him and his own issues!
Perhaps that move had been deliberate but evidently she seemed to think he was a gelding, completely incapable of male emotion and desire...Not the smartest thing to do but then again when had she ever been smart? Through her idealistic view of life she had nearly been butchered and by the gods if he didn't have the strength he did then she would have found herself pinned as well. Even that made him pull a face as he quickly dismissed all mental images from his mind in a pre-emptive strike against the rebellion in his head.
Bloody mare. Both logic and he echoed in unison as he drifted around the immediate proximity of the pool, keeping his gaze trained on the bushes in case of approaching danger. They brought nothing but trouble and yet once again he was compelled to protect one, why couldn't he just let them be mauled and be done with it?
Well he could but he'd never live with himself and the idea of Bella getting killed actually made his stomach churn. Much like he felt about his daughters might he add! Life just wasn't fair and the spirits seemed to have thrown yet another spanner in the works - one destined to get worse as his amber eyes caught the brief flicker of cream.
Ah hell... he mused, finding his hooves had now chosen to follow the rebellion and were now moving towards the bushes. He wasn't allowed to do this to a daughter, it was wrong and perverted and...
He. Was. Going. To. Hell.
He promptly found himself focusing on the mare as she relaxed in the pool. It was so terribly wrong of him and yet the more he tried to look away the less inclined he was to obey his own orders. Oh, how beautiful mares were but why did she have to do this to him! It wasn't bloody well fair...it wasn't as if he'd get anything out of it either.
Well technically, you could... the dark voice of his kalona blood positively purred as it caught a wiff of potential. Any chance to pierce the defences of logic would be taken and this seemed like the best route. Attack while he was interested, he'd be more inclined to agree.
No, I am not uncouth. He snapped back, a frown developing on his face as he drew away again and forcefully dragged his hooves away from his hiding place.
But she wants it...you saw what she did! Clearly Mr. Kalona wasn't as afraid or easily silenced as his heart and with the backing of his heart (oddly enough), found a renewed strength. Just walk out, see how she looks at you...see how she calls for you!
She isn't calling for anyone, she is a naive child! He roared in unison with his logic, only to find his kalona and his heart rise up.
We are sure that she would beg to differ about the 'child' remark... They purred causing him to unceremoniously (and audibly) smack his head against a tree, his horns piercing the bark and leaving unmistakable marks.
This was why he avoided women.
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Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 12:52 pm
Bella was thoroughly enjoying her bath. It wasn't everyday she got to bathe in such cool waters much less in the peaceful solitude of Azumoth's woods! It was strange how her fear of the woods had slowly began to transform. Where her open plain had turned and betrayed her trust the woods now brought a sense of security to her. She didn't have to worry - much - when the black stallion was around. She trust him explicitly despite his quirks. She understood he was very well capable of ripping her to pieces and killing her. . . but she was safe.
It wasn't his birthday, a dangerous day she'd heard, and she wasn't so blind to as not read his body language. If he grew fierce or agitated enough to look like h might strike . . .well. . . she'd just have to wait for that time to come. For all his snarling and rage he'd shown her yesterday . . well. . . not once did he touch her or make move to strike.
He wasn't as big as a monster as he liked to believe, at least not in Bella's eyes. Though he was a force to reckon with that didn't mean he was completely unapproachable. He was her savior and had been on multiple occasions. Now if only she could someday return such a favor.
Allowing her thoughts to drift, enjoying the ambiance of the pool around her, she was oblivious to the stallions approach. Somewhat. She understood he was within the vicinity, keeping guard and being typical, stoic Azumoth. . . But cream ears turned and twitched at the sound of a branch stubbing his horns. Opening her eyes, she shifted her position and glanced mildly over her shoulder (keeping careful of her neck).
What on earth was he doing? Misjudge his horn height did he? Stifling a giggle, the mare decided she might as well be polite. "You can come out, you know," she added gently, not at all seeing what the the problem was. She'd splashed around with Meshach in the water before - it wasn't as if her being soaked in water was something she had to keep private. Oblivious to the thoughts that raged in the stallions head, she gave a gentle and encouraging laugh. "The water's quite lovely and the pool's large enough for two." Why not invite him to join? With how cool his mountain and forest was now it would only be a matter of time before it became much too cold to swim.
Oh, sure, she truly didn't expect him to take her up on the offer but that was no reason she could be inviting. As far as Bella understood, even if she could already imagine some gruff response from Azu, she wouldn't give up on her war of invitations to play or of kindness. Someday (or so she hoped) he'd break down just a wee bit. Someday she'd get him to crack a smile or laugh or be reunited with the softer side of life, of games and sunshine. He could still be a guardian throughout it all, of course, but someday. . . SOMEDAY she wanted to be there when he decided to step out of his shell. So until that day came she'd continue to offer and ask and invite. . . . .
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Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 2:48 pm
Oh no she didn't... His logical mind released a groan and if he could have slapped his forehead he would have. All of a sudden the remaining walls crashed down as the rebellious sides of his personality made their final assault. While not completely silenced, his world was suddenly filled with the rather gleeful tones of the sides of him that he had long since kept caged, bound and gagged in order to maintain his composure.
I shall never loathe to say this, his kalona side mused as it seemed to admire its new home, but I told you so, didn't I tell him so? It continued, seeming to 'turn' to the rebellious heart that had aided it in the assault of the fortress of logic and sense.
You told him so! The heart agreed reverently.
Thus is was with a somewhat bewildered expression on his face that he found his legs slowly responding to the giggles and words of the unseen mare. While he couldn't see her he could certainly picture her and it wasn't long before the mutant found himself breaking through the undergrowth. Bit by bit, from the shadows of the woods he began to emerge at the edge of the pool - by which time his logical side had managed to ram through the rebellious pair and had fixed the stoic expression back onto his dark features.
That was about the only thing it could do at this precise moment in time.
While his expression failed to give away his true thoughts he was utterly entranced by the petite mare who seemed completely oblivious to what she was doing to him. Was she really so naive has to be unaware of what she was doing? Even the mere mention of him getting in that pool made him quiver!
...Didn't make it any less tempting though.
Pursing his lips, his jaw line tightened and his gaze hardened briefly as he encouraged the logical side of himself to regain its former strength. His will combined with this was enough to start up yet another war in his head, one which he lost within seconds but not in the way he would have anticipated at all. How he had lost, had been through the rather blunt words of his Kalona side.
You wanted to teach her a lesson, it pointed out sagely, Show her what it is like and she will not be so foolish again!
His kalona side had a point (for once) and it seemed that Bella only learnt through experience alone. Whether she was prepared to admit this or not, she had only 'changed' to a point when she had been mauled. While the change wasn't something Azumoth was entirely happy about it had taken that to make her see despite his previous warnings.
...So maybe?
Something deep within him steeled itself in preparation for what he was about to do. His Kalona side was all too aware of how to make a female submit, how to make them crave...how to tempt and taste until they did nothing more than whisper urgent and lustful commands. Ah yes, it knew all too well and he knew all too well despite promises that he would never be so uncouth.
But she needed to learn!
...And in some perverted and twisted way he perhaps, considered this to be his only chance to taste what he couldn't have (even remotely). After this he had no doubt she would bolt but already his eyes had hardened, a stalemate perhaps deep inside him. His Kalona side was being given more freedom than what may be considered wise and yet his logical and disciplined sides held a tight reign.
Oh but to touch, just to taste. To smell the scent of her mane and to hear her at least whimper, even if it only happened once. Chasing her off - well, that would be something inevitable and it was what he had ultimately sought for wasn't it? If she learnt just a little out of this then he could silence some urges and in turn she would be aware of some very valuable little pieces of information.
For one, never lead a male on.
Remaining silent, it was only after a few moments that the stallion allowed himself to drop into the water. There, he took a breath and threw himself underneath to the point in which the surface rippled somewhat oddly. He stayed in such a state for quite some time and then slowly but surely the clothes that had once adorned his form floated to the surface. Only the fates knew how he had done that alone but he soon followed them and completely unclad he looked rather less fierce some and more...Well it was hard to put into words.
Sultry perhaps?
A dark smile lifted onto his lips as he admired his own glistening coat. He'd forgotten how well his ragged clothes kept it and now he could definitely appreciate it. Even his wings seemed less out of place as they twitched and flexed in response to the chill of the water. That being said he still appeared to be as tall and perhaps even as daunting without them - maybe that was what his mother meant by 'auras'.
Let me have your tongue! The blood within him raged hungrily, urging for the logical side of him to surrender such controls so that the kalona would have full control for the time being.
"Such words from one so young," he purred in a fashion most unlike his normal tone. No longer gruff, he seemed so much softer...yes the tone was dark but not in a menacing manner, more of a suggestive manner at most.
"Do you have any idea how dangerous they are?" He continued in the same wistful manner, beginning to saunter (or rather wade) through the water towards her. To be honest, if he spoke in such a delicate tone normally he would have been much more presentable to society but more often than not the only ones who heard his quiet and normal voice were his family.
Such a shame really.
"The impact they have and the consequences of such?"
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Posted: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:35 pm
Bella truly hadn't expected him to approach. The mare had assumed that his response would have been something along the lines of no, he didn't swim and that she should hurry along in her bath because she was wasting precious teaching time. How could she know or understand the dark thoughts that plagued him?
As it was, it was only when he slowly, slowly stepped out of the underbrush that she reopened her eyes. First one, than the other while cream ears pushed forward in curiosity. Was he just there to goad her out of the water or was he really going to take her up on her invitation? Her incredulous nature softened in to something akin to delight as she realized that yes - yes Azumoth was! There was no mistaking his slow edge to the pool and the mares heart gave a leap for joy!
It felt like a small victory in her constant war she waged against him. His shattered and broken self worth was in dire need of some healing. For one who dared not leave his forests he had certainly eased up a little around her. . . Maybe. So she pretended to believe. He might find her little more than an obligation or nuisance but that was quite fine by her. . . To be found as something was better than nothing right?
She watched as the black stallion submerged under neath the water, eyes glowing bright with good humor. She stood in the cool water and waited. . .and waited. . and waited. What on earth was he doing under neath there anyway? Part of her was tempted to dip underneath and see but it didn't take long for his silken cape to float to the surface.
. . . . . wait, wait, wait.
Surprised (but further delighted) she had assumed the black stallion would have dealt with water logged clothing. He seemed to be a difficult sort so it surely wouldn't have surprised her had he left everything on. But as the water gave way to his shadowed form, Bella found herself staring.
It seemed as if some quiet voice in the back of her mind had decided to only now speak up. How long it had been there, the mare would never know, but seeing the gleaming, wet hide of the stallion before her suddenly changed her entire perspective. It was as if pieces of the puzzle were beginning to come together one by one. Was there perhaps a smidgen more to her reasons for being so stubborn around the male? Was it just his friendship and approval she seeked or was it . . . . maybe. . . something a little more?
More, what more? There was no 'more' to this. . . . . was there?
Instinct told her that there was indeed something that her adult form had long since been oblivious to. Today looked like a good day to come to such a realization. And the first lesson was that yes, there was indeed a fine but very OBVIOUS difference between desiring ones friendship and desiring one period.
It took but a moment and the cream mare decided that it perhaps might be best if she look away. She was staring, wasn't she, and it wasn't necessarily just a 'wow - you really are naturally black underneath all those clothes' sort of look. Dipping her head (and getting a snout full of water in the process) the cream mare decided that her thoughts could be clouded by her ignorance.
It was then that he spoke, and that for sure was no gruff and snarky voice! It caused her to glance back up at him underneath her lashes, eyes widening ever so slightly as she listened to his words. That purr, that delicate, almost velvet smooth tone he spoke in. . . . What was that? Why did he have to speak now? It was oh-so-fitting to the way he looked, mind you, but to add that on top of his movements closer to her. . . .
Why should she only see this in him now? Well, it . . . it didn't matter. It could be her little secret, couldn't it? With how angry she always made him she truly didn't dare let him know that there was something alluring about him! He'd probably snarl and become enraged by her actions and that would be the end of it.
The girl gave a gentle chuckle, coyly taking a step back. Though her retreat was deliberate, it was slow in step and allowed the black, winged stallion to catch up and face her. "Dangerous?" She repeated, tilting her head innocently and quirking a brow. "An invitation to the pool is only dangerous if you don't know how to swim. . . " Dipping her head again, playful smile across his lips, she nosed the water and sent a very weak splash in Azu's direction.
"Thankfully neither of us have to worry about that."
The mare's mind refused to acknowledge the fact that there could be more to the stallions words. Instinct was beginning to caused her belly to churn and part of the mare began to understand that if a girl dared to play with fire she would eventually wind up burned. Would today be such a day. . .?
Nope. No. Way.
Though the sudden switch in the stallions nature had part of the girl wondering. There was something different about him and it wasn't just her new found perception. He was doing things purposely. . . for a reason. . . . but exactly why Bella just couldn't understand.
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Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2007 1:52 am
She really was pretty - terribly so and as instinct took overthe usually reserved stallion found himself more inclined to surrender to the chase. While she was completely unaware of it her subtle movements and her words only served to encourage him in a way that may be deemed undesirable to some. Mayhaps this was how he had lost the others...having played with fire they had found that the granite statue really wasn't granite at all.
Worst of all, he hated when he didn't get what he wanted.
Thus, as she pulled away and looked towards him with those long lashes his eyes darkened further and his muscles tensed beneath the skin. She really, genuinely didn't know and yet he did. Really, she was terribly unwise to be so suggestive in the current circumstances and while he would have scoffed on any normal day, this wasn't a normal day. On the contrary, today was a day in which the most unusual truce had been struck... He had let something that should have been remained imprisoned, out.
And strangely enough, he liked it!
Was he really so much like his father as to surrender to the dark blood inside him? He wasnt' sure but had any of his companions been nearby they might have pointed out then when led by such dark blood, his confidence was ten fold and he carried himself in a much more imperial manner. Inferiority complexes were cast aside and in their wake that kalona pride, that self assurance returned and drowned out the cries of doubt.
Doubt was for the weak.
Most unusual, perhaps one day he would work along side such a dark force on a more regular basis but as things went...he only ever let it out when it served a true purpose. She needed to learn and she needed to learn quickly that playing the tease was not a good idea. Yes she was unaware but he would make her aware and the confidence he required lay deep in the dark blood that fed his lust and desires.
The devil on his shoulder, as it were.
"Really?" he drawled, taking a few moments to flick his amber eyes about the immediate vicinity. As of yet, he had sensed no other company and with that in mind he was completely free to do as he pleased. Ah the images that crept into his mind as he contemplated his approach were most unholy but his expression gave little away. Rather, his eyes soon returned to the mare and his smile deepened as he considered the best retort to her words.
There was none, unless he wanted to revert to childish banter.
"You really must learn, not to take things quite so literally..." he continued at last, never pausing in his approach as he came to a halt mere inches from the mare and chuckled. Had he been any other male it probably would have been a turn off to encounter one so blunt but this was Azumoth. When he knew his purpose and when he embraced a hidden side of himself...well, he always got what he wanted.
Always.
He was much like his father in that regard (though he was unaware of this) and while he seemed to have many hidden personalities residing in a single shell, he knew when and how to use them. With the help of the pulsing orb in his chest his strengths were limited and his weaknesses emphasised. Unlike his father, he had more self control.
Or so he thought, but watching from afar (or this was how his logical side felt) he found his muzzle slowly dropping to brush ever so slightly against the mare's ear. For one who 'loathed' physical contact in the eyes of strangers and friends alike, this would no doubt come as a surprise but to him it did somethign very different.
As he caught the musky scent (partially masked my caked blood) his nostrils flared and his eyes seemed to burn as he continued to drift his muzzle along the ear and the top of her neck. He'd forgotten how pleasant a mare was, their scent and just how easy it was to put them exactly where he wanted them.
"Or you will miss many opportunities..." he whispered, seeing no need to lift his voice he chose to make these words a 'secret' that only she would hear. If there were to be on lookers then they would only be able to guess what words were uttered. "You will see so little of the world and see it only with clouded eyes." Another chuckle and he pulled his head away slowly, deliberating allowing the braids of his mane to brush against her cheek.
"A little like me," he mused vaguely, though he was referring to her inability to see how he, as a male, reacted towards her pretty little figure. He was well aware that his logical side chose only to see what it pleased, something that the kalona within him deeply disapproved of.
"Were you never told that it is very unwise to invite a stallion into such a place...while you are in such a state?"
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