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 Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 6:34 am
 Stormwild grunted in frustration as the skinwalker slipped from under her. She steeled her determination tried to get to her feet. She was able to succeed, but by the time her weight was settled on her four hooves, the creature has already disappeared into the deep thickets and underbrush, followed shortly by her monstrous consort. A hatred burned in her chest; she wanted so desperately to follow after them and make sure they would never threaten her family again - but she saw her other herd members make chase and she knew she wouldn't get far.
Her head whipped around, looking for her baskets. Her heart skipped a beat into a momentary sense of panic until she realized Chandra still had them shielded under her wings. Relief flooded over her, washing away all the adrenaline pumping through her veins. She took a few shaky steps towards them, but the color drained from the pinks of her ears and a wave of nausea caused her to stumble. She barely got herself to a safe laying position on the ground before resting her head on one of the warm baskets. Somewhere far away she barely heard Chandra asking her a question.. but she drifted off into an emotional and physical exhaustion before she could answer.
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*"Mother..." Cataclysm landed beside Stormwild and the strangers after the attackers began to flee. She motioned to Chandler and Vortex, who gave a quick nod in return. They stood back and waited for Balrog's command, standing at the ready. Cataclysm nuzzled her mother, who had already faded into unconsciousness. "What's wrong with her?" she demanded to the Angenicorn mare. "What happened? Did they follow you here?" Her eyes flashed to Crown, "What did you do?"
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* Kumiho never stopped to look back. She knew they would be following her, and she could rest once she was in a safe hole in the ground somewhere. Even pregnant she was much more agile than the large winds: the muscles required for flight made even the smaller mares and stallions wide across the shoulders. She made it to her cave, but didn't want to give away its location before she had lost them. She caught site of a large, broken tree and burrowed quickly at the large root formation at its trunk. Her clawed paws made digging easy and her strength pulled away at the stray bark and branches as she buried herself in the damp earthy den at the tree's base, hoping they didn't see her through the thick canopy of the forest.
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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 7:19 am
As soon as his wing was released, Cerberus ran after Kumiho, not even looking back over his shoulder (not that he needed to with the eerie eyes that perforated his coat. He knew they were going to give chase. And while the visitors seemed fine to recoup, and the mother mare was exhausted, the father was already starting to gallop after him.
His ears pressed back and he moved to a flat out run to the tree line, chasing the lashing tails of his mistress. She had a head start... and he should cover her. She was with foal - THEIR foals, and he could defend her if they were to catch them. It was his duty. He just hoped it didn't come to that.
And then there it was - the trees that had hid them while they waited - Cerberus dove into them, pulling his wings in tight to his body, wincing at the injury to his left one. He couldn't pull it in as tightly as the next, and in his head he heard that head yelp and whine in pain. His shoulder was sore, his back had been kicked - but he did the best he could to push the pain to the back of his head and keep running. As monstrous as he could be in person - his wings spread out - his canine influence had given him a rather slender profile, wings aside. He was used to running - to moving in the woods.
Balrog, however, was not.
Balrog charged after the monsters that had the GALL to attack them... the same monsters that had murdered the children of his last breeding. He was seeing red. He wanted them dead right there and then - to no longer pose a threat to his herd, and to pay for what they did.
But His throat was leaking blood, and as powerful of a stallion as Balrog was, able to chase despite it, he had always preferred travel by air to the exclusion of much walking. The trees slowed him down considerably. He had to move slowly, to pick his way around the thick trunks that often grew too close together for the broad stallion to maneuver - whose great wings were nothing but a hinderance in here.
And with each step he took - the dark beast and the skinwalker grew further away.
HE followed for perhaps a few hundred yards before he lost sight or sound of them all together, and loosed a tree-shaking bellow of rage and promise of vengeance before finally turning back and returning home.
Thunderbird circled overhead, eying the forest and the trail that winded around up the pass, hoping for a glimpse of the attackers. he swooped and dove and searched for them, but never once did he catch a glimpse of the cunning skinwalkers. When he heard his father's powerful bellow, he knew it was over... for now at least, and turned to head back to the herdgrounds to continue his surveilance in case they decided to circle back and launch another attack. He wouldn't let them slip by him again, he vowed to himself.
It was much later when Balrog finally extricated himself from the woods. There were brambles and twigs in his long mane and tail, scratches along his legs and flanks, and a large red stain of blood down his neck were his bite from Cerberus still dripped slowly. He was haggard, and it seemed that the great stallion was moving on nothing more than pure spite and anger... pulling himself one plodding, heavy hoofstep after another until he was by Stormwild's side again. He gave his daughter a brief look that spoke of exhaustion and fury, a brief nod of thanks before sinking heavily to his knees by his mate's side and looking over the baskets that they had all fought to protect.
He did everything he could to keep from closing his eyes. He couldn't sleep... not yet... not yet... despite how heavy his lids felt...
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Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 2:22 pm
As the older mare settled her head upon one of the baskets and gave into the sheer exhaustion she was feeling Chandra smiled softly and nudged the other three baskets next to their mother. Chandra had always been a great believer that the foals hidden within each basket could bond with their mother before opening.... and after everything that had just happened she was sure all of them would appreciate the security in the closeness.
Only after she moved the baskets into place did Chandra look up at the accusing voice directed at her. Her head wings automatically perked up, something she instantly regretted on a wince as one of them throbbed and ached, reminding her all too clearly of the snapping sound she had heard. Placing her four wings tightly against her back she recomposed herself through the pain, nodding to a tense looking Crown that everything was ok before looking at the newest mare. Despite her deep set hatred for violence and causing harm she was no push over... nor would she let someone look at her as if she was the enemy when she had done naught but try to help. Standing as tall as she could she spoke, "I have done naught that I have not informed your mother of first. She will not die from what I have given, but will likely rest for a day or two. Something I think she has deserved after what just happened... and to answer your other question... no, I do not believe they followed us. Thunderbird flew us in from the other direction I believe." She looked around as if trying to catch her bearings before shrugging, it didn't matter, she doubted the flightless skinwalker had followed her and Crown here considering she had never seen her before plus they had flown. A frown creased her brow for a moment but she shook it off and sighed, she was tired, despite the fact that Stormwild had done most of the work Chandra's adrenaline was swiftly crashing now that the all the complications and trouble seem to have passed.
Compassion filled her eyes as she looked from Stormwild, the baskets and what appeared to be her oldest daughter. "I am sorry...." She said, "...birth should be joyous... not.... this." He frown deepened, and she felt a tears forming in her eyes, threatening to spill over. Taking strength from Crown's touch she smiled at him and tried to compose herself once more. She would cry when she was with Sonnet, knowing full well that her mate would hold her.
As Balrog came back she nodded at the older stallion, feeling a strange kind of connection consider what they had just been through together. Clearing her throat she ignored everyone else, picked up two more leaves and approached him. She could tell he was sleepy, could tell too he was fighting it. "Here.... it's not much... but use them if you need to. They will help with pain and with often help you get to sleep." She looked to Stormwild again, "She may need one tomorrow to help her... she has been through..." He voice choked slightly. "...a lot." What more could she do or say? What more should she do or say? 
Still he kept focus, his attention flashing to Chandra as questions were fired at her. He went to step forward and interfere but backed off when she looked at him. She was ok, and so he wouldn't intervene just yet.
Of course the moment a question was directed at him he blinked in surprise. "Em... ah..." What did she mean 'what did you do?' wasn't it pretty obvious he had got into a fight with one of the skinwalkers, sure he was defending Chandra but since Chandra was protecting the baskets by association so was he. "I protected Chandra while she protected the baskets?" He eventually said, his words posed more as a question than a statement given how confused he suddenly felt. At least until he tried to step forward and winced in the pain of his chest and legs. Ouch! "Now, kindly back off since we have done nothing but help your family...."
Approaching Chandra on unsteady hooves he looked her up and down, bar the head wing that was currently hanging at a rather unusual angle she seemed fine. Knowing how their herd prided and took strength from touch he leaned in and nuzzled her neck softly, offering his support silently to her before looking at the group.
Eventually Balrog came back, and Crown found himself feeling a sense of respect and pride at the old stallions effort. He had done exactly what Crown would have done for his baskets. Rainbow and Wish... he would do anything to keep them safe.
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Posted: Wed Jun 19, 2013 12:47 pm
Syaoran-Puu Been meaning to wrap this for a long time - but my mused died and I've been utterly inactive for about the past year. BUT, Things are moving again - and this RP was MOSTLY wrapped anyway, but I'll go ahead and make a final post. Storm was out like a light as of last time anyway smile If you want to make a wrap post from your side as well, you are welcome, Puu <3
He nuzzled Cataclysm aside, and took his place as leader, decider.
"We.... thank you... for your assistance, Chandra." It took a lot for Balrog to focus on words of thanks. She had stood by them in the attack when she could have fled. She had helped protect his mate, helped birththe foals, and Stormwild needed her rest now. So did he, but he refused to sleep until he was sure it was over, and the strangers - however helpful - had left. It would not do to seem weak.
"Our children... will live. Out of this struggle, this conflict... they will be strong." He prounced it, knowing it to be true. "And by my life, those monsters will PAY for what they have done to us."
He accepted the herbs, tucking them under a wing. He would not use them himself. Despite his injuries, despite his exhaustion, he would not be taken by surprise by the skinwalker and the monster if they were to return. He would not allow a medicine-induced sleep dull his senses. But storm - if she were in pain when she woke, he would save them.
"If you need an escort back, one of my daughters will take you." Balrog said, caging as politely as the stallion could muster a request for them to leave, especially in the circumstances. "And you are welcome into my herd grounds in the future... or if you ever need our help." He ended with a note of finality, and a surprising note of grace for the old stubborn stallion.
"Thunderbird, you are on patrol. Keep vigilent, and recruit others if you need. They might return." He finished, determined to stay away. "Of course father," Thunderbird chimed in, ears low. He felt like a failure in his father's eyes. It had been HIS duty to watch for enemy arrival. He had been too distracted with the pending birth of his new siblings. He felt thankful his father still trusted him with this duty. He knew the expectation that his family had in him - the symbol he was to the herd, bearing the name of the totem. He had a lot of growing to do yet, to live up to that.
He would NEVER drop his guard again.
"Thank you Crown... Chandra." He spoke clearly. "You fought bravely... and have helped our herd. I will not forget your heroism either. He plucked a feather from his wing and offered it to the healer. "This will show your alliance with our herd, and can represent the favor that we owe the two of you." He bowed his head.
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