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 Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 4:58 pm
Lady_Ourania His tail curled under his reduced bulk once she stepped away, half-lidded eyes noting the way she tracked the apple, taking the place of bite marks he'd already laid down. Satisfied, they dropped shut completely, and he focused instead on his tongue to rid the last of the sweet stickiness from the interior of his mouth. The apple hadn't been enough to remind him of his hunger, the blades poking into him ignored for anything but bedding in spite of greater needs. He listened to her eating, her polite little bites working the shame up from where it had fallen silent. They were both tired, starved, and she didn't belong with him, miserable and crawling around in the dust. Something sharp suddenly prodded the base of his spine, Beloved conjuring herself up in his thoughts, her wicked fingers grinding into his bones. The stallion shuddered back into full wakefulness, staring wildly out into the darkness, holding his lungs perfectly still. She wasn't there. Only Laurelin and her apple and his weak jaw.
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 4:59 pm
Tsunake She chews quietly, thinking to herself even as the sudden jolt of movement is enough to make her start with surprise. Oh, Chimalsi... Nightmares still, and how can one blame him? She studies him sadly for a moment, taking a small bite of the apple... and then gingerly lowers herself to his side, working the somewhat chewed bit to the corner of his soft mouth so she can do what she can to push it inside, a nicker in her throat. Maybe now he could chew, now that it's smaller and more malleable... Her tail quietly stretches around to tangle with his, her message clear; she's still at his side.
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:00 pm
Lady_Ourania As senseless as his fear was, it still took a while to regain any measure of calm, his compromised system coping poorly with stress. The pounding of his heart should have made his scales rattle for its loudness, the pulse in his ears and pushing through his body to a plague of worthless adrenaline. It was little wonder he didn't hear her step forward, only acknowledging their nearness when she pushed her nose to his. Something was slipped between his lips, and gold-mottled teeth automatically parted with a sound of confusion. The fruit was still slightly warm from her mouth when he bit down, and it tasted of a lingering spice that he hadn't identified, a nuance she had infused it with somehow. Chimalsi's throat quivered roughly when he swallowed, the piece tumbling down into his empty gut and splashing in the ocean he'd siphoned from before. He appraised her silently afterward, feeling the tail wrap around him, safety and affection all in one visually minor gesture. Extending his snout to touch the side of her face, his flat tongue lapped up the last traces of juice in purposeful, gentle licks. The task helped to ground him further, her cinnamon muzzle soft and fragrant, the green inner-glow of the spheres on her brow and back dispelling the darkness from his vision. Even after he'd finished, he continued to use their position as an excuse to lightly nose at the rest of her, recalling things that he'd lost track of somewhere down in the tunnels.
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:02 pm
Tsunake Her gaze is soft even as she watches him carefully, relieved that the once-rejected apple was suddenly a viable source for nutrients. She gathered herself up to offer praise of some sort for at least getting something down--and froze with utter surprise as his soft muzzle pressed to her own. Ears rapidly flicked to and fro as his tongue gently cleaned what mess must have still remained there, both embarrassed and... pleased, somehow, wanting to duck her head modestly but afraid that might scare him off once more. Regardlessly, her slender body tucked itself neatly into his side, his warmth and presence just so soothing somehow, and she nuzzled faintly at his scaled cheek with a soft huff of breath.
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:04 pm
Lady_Ourania When she didn't rebuke him for the contact - when she did not turn away, mock his beggar-kisses, did not even whisper a solemn word to make him reconsider - the last of the tension left him. Different, always so different; he was still learning to assign old traits to nothing instead of to her. Soft breath warmed his cheek like the sun he'd lost track of days ago, and he released a sigh of his own, moving to let his heavy head drop to her back, occupying what small space her tree left him. The contrast between wood and flesh was almost beyond his ability to distinguish, comfortable against anything that proved rounded without the threat of breaking skin.
But he could feel her in more places than he had previously, the absence of the necklaces disconcerting, such nakedness weaving cold links over scar-knotted planes. They had been the last physical restraints, but there were things under his skin, the kinds of bonds he could not drag off with his teeth. Golden eyes lifted, gazing back into the darkness, and he knew that the cavernous mouth was nearby like he knew the fresh-bloom scent of the mare against him. It was all memorization, all precious consideration, the ties he could not cut. "Laurelin," The name came out rough, guttural, the first he'd spoken since his denial. "Did I... do the right thing?" Insecurity branched out of his tone, an honest wish to hear her opinion sprouting like leaves at the tips. He didn't know, could not be sure with only his voice in his head to confirm.
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:05 pm
Tsunake It all feels so right, him here against her and only the cool air left to embrace them both. She would stand for a long time, quiet and still to not disturb him until the rough sound of her name was enough to send a mild shiver down her spine, feeling her heart swell and flutter like a fledgling testing its wings before she glanced back to look at him. What a question he posed... She would force herself to consider it fairly for his sake, but knew there was only but one answer. "...You did the right thing." She reassured, gentle, and yet somehow firm. "...It is sometimes difficult to do, more difficult than one would everexpect... but... but I will show you, Chimalsi, that it was the right thing to do. I will not let you fall again." And then she was quiet, half-fearing she'd been too bold, that he would scoff and slip back into the darkened caverns from where he'd been forced from.
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:06 pm
Lady_Ourania There was no denying the shudder he felt, and he hesitantly pulled up, afraid he'd crossed some line. An inconsequential one, for she went on as if it hadn't occurred, watching him with those blue, blue eyes, their setting hard enough to be convincing. He fell silent once more, dropping his own muddled stare to look at her wood-clad hoof. The right thing. It was hard to do, harder still to tell, and she said he had done it. But thoughts of beloved still weighed in, how she would have dismissed such fragile concepts, parting words implying that they would not last. The hush built until it was almost a noise in itself, a ringing like a coin dropping, tumbling, finding no purchase. Finally, he nodded, the gesture slow and exhausted as the internal argument died down. He would trust her. She had never given him a reason to do otherwise. Decided for the moment, he twisted their faces back together, nudging again in quiet thanks.
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:07 pm
Tsunake And so the silence stretches on, and she's felt no movement from him but that isn't quite enough to release the bated breath from her lungs. There's still chance for him to shout out in denial, to shove her away... and she nearly jumps at the soft nose that touches his cheek, a quivering sigh slipping from her even as she nudges back into him. Grateful. Grateful that he believes in her, that he wants to stay with her. Her tail timidly attempts to coil its messy strands around his, holding loosely.
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:08 pm
Lady_Ourania Whatever he'd done, whatever he'd managed to break, it was melting again, the fissures growing together until they were inseparable and smooth with the heat their bodies generated. The thick, jumbled length of her tail was snatched up quickly, wrapped again in a complicated braid that seemed appropriate. His head still ached, the pain pooling in his jaws, down into his throat and belly, but everything she did helped somehow, even her voice soothing, despite the way it made him flinch. As if cued by his sudden attention, his belly growled demandingly, and the kirin shied away, faintly horrified as he looked down at himself. The apple piece had apparently hit bottom, and his insides were requesting the rest, core and all.
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:10 pm
Tsunake Her face almost glows at the eager way he took her tail, eyes lowering themselves as though embarassed, but she's quite clearly pleased. Then the unexpected growl makes her startle as well, eyes wide for a moment as she stares at the golden beast before she chuckles faintly and shakes her head. Nosing gently at his neck, she tugs on his tail before she begins to lead him to some of the more thick, lusher grass that lies just on the outskirts of the forest. "You should eat..."
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:11 pm
Lady_Ourania He did not resist her lead, still a little bewildered with his body, but willing to do as it requested. The hooves beneath him remained unsteady, but he was getting used to his beautiful crutch. Even as his tail twitched, tempted to flee back to her leg to improve balance, it resisted through a long-buried sense of pride, reviving slowly as his mind began to accept its one-sidedness. One ear flicked toward her, musing as he glanced down at the field, the tender shoots spared the smothering efforts of pine needles and shade. The grass tickled his ankles as he warily stooped to take a mouthful, shutting his teeth over them to cut instead of the customary act of ripping. It was not as tantalizing as the apple had been, but he could not imagine what justification would be necessary to make her repeat the magic, and would not ask. Chewing proved difficult, spikes of hurt digging into the hinge of his maw, but his stomach was now almost as insistent as the mare beside him.
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:12 pm
Tsunake Her gaze is tender as she watches him struggle to eat, her eyes flicking momentarily to the trees as though to search again for the fruit that had been so successful before. There. She hesitates, noses gently at his mane and whispers she'll be right back before she steps away. This time it's harder, but she manages to shake several of the fruits free, pausing to glance at him as though debating. "..." But then she seems to make up her mind, grasping gently between her teeth, crunching into the apple as delicately as she can before chewing and again stepping towards him, nudging at the corner of his mouth as though asking permission.
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:14 pm
Lady_Ourania The feather-light touch to his wiry hair gained the stallion's notice, curiosity bleeding into his numb features, then rapidly morphing into uncertainty once she explained her intent. Her absence caused the tremors running through him to intensify, and he had to focus to stay upright, feeding a thread of command down to stabilize him. He'd stood on four legs alone before, would have to again, in the very near future. It was a good time to test, even if a nearby tree trunk made for a tempting leaning spot. Minutes passed in a shaky state, will holding what atrophied muscles refused to support; and a few stray sounds reached his ears. Thumps, like something falling from a height. Her return spelled relief, even as he pulled back from the touch, trying to evaluate what was being offered. The smell of apples shot up into his nostrils when he inhaled, teased out of his daydream from earlier. His troubles must have been more apparent than he'd suspected. Dropping his gaze, grass-stained lips dragged up, parting in an almost-grimace to accept the gift. Laurelin provided his drive, his legs, and now his teeth. Even through his hazy perception, he understood that he was the worst sort of invalid.
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:15 pm
Tsunake She doesn't even think to apply such a cruel term to the poor stallion after all he'd been through... Still, she'll merely watch and keep closing, never commenting nor judging the other for his temporary weakness. He seems to do fine with her offering, and she won't push anymore on him unless he wants or needs her help, and quietly makes to eat an apple herself. It's sweet, and the juices soothe her throat some, and her tail slithers forward to brush shyly against his ankles.
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Posted: Tue Mar 09, 2010 5:16 pm
Lady_Ourania The apple chunk, reduced to flimsy flesh by the time it reached his mouth, hardly required any effort beyond swallowing. But he allowed it to linger on his tongue, tasting it, her, the simple pleasures he'd missed when tunnel walls still reared around him and sleep itself had declined to assist. The flavor seemed sweetened again, as though her generosity could be transmitted that way. And maybe it could, for all he knew. He had never been so genuinely altruistic. He had never been a lot of things. Once it all but disintegrated, the male tilted his head and let it slide back, joining its twin piece down below, pillowed by swimming green. That quieted his gut, sated by a small feast after a long period of nothing, and he watched her without a word as she chewed through another fruit. Ducking his head, he let his curved horn ghost over her shoulder, resting it there while she finished tending to her own needs.
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