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 Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 9:00 pm
Return to the Wild - An Aerithe RP ContestRules• There is no minimum or maximum length, so long as you keep it within reason (A single sentence isn't enough, a novella is a bit too much!) • You may only win the Ginger or Black Beauty cosplay, not both. • Put which Kirin you would prefer to have (Beauty, Ginger, or both) before your entry. • Alternate names may be chosen for the Kirin if you wish, or they can be named Black Beauty/Ginger. • Contest starts now, ends At This TimeBlack Beauty and Ginger carry a RP Required Status. This means by entering you agree to RP with them at least once a month - failing to do so can result in the loss of ownership. Please don't enter for either of them if you have no intention of sticking around to RP them. Full RP Required Rules  Click for full size Waves shuddered against the wooden hull again, the timbers groaning under the strain. Hooded lanterns swayed crazily as the galley was broadsided by another wave. Whatever sounds from above there might have been besides the fury of the waters is drowned out by the storm. A single patch of light flashes across your confining cell from the ceiling suspended lamp. Padded as it is with straw and cloth, your flanks are battered from the constant dip and rise of the rough sea. Things have been bad enough over the last few days, but this is by far the roughest part of your journey. Morning? Day? Night? It was impossible to tell, down here in the belly of the ship things always looked the same. The scent of fear, dust, sweat and waste coats the inside of your nose, no matter how hard you snort to clear it out. There are others of your kind here, just on the far side of the wooden stall that hems you in - you can hear them nickering and whinnying to their herdmates. Closing your eyes against the nausea and rank odors, you think back to more pleasant times. It couldn't have been that many suncircles past... "Herd-Master." It was a command, politely couched in proper etiquette. The man addressed rose from his task, offering the speaker a bow of respect.
"How may I serve you, m'lord?" His callused fingers deftly tucked the hoof trimmer into his belt and dismissed the underlings holding the mare beside him steady with a casual gesture.
"Walk with me, I wish to see my investment." The plush brocaded robes about the lord's frame dragged negligently through the stable dust as the Herd-master fell into step behind him. The two humans walked out to the heavily fenced paddock. At the far end, a small herd of Kirin watched the men, most indifferent, a few of the newer ones with wariness or fear. "Your success here has pleased me greatly, particularly with the black stud. Production for the last quarter?"
"Twenty one eggs, m'lord," The Herd-master replied faithfully, though both he and his employer both knew the figures by heart. "and one hundred and eighty tyls of milk." The lord nodded, eyes sliding over to the smaller corral and stall that held his favorite. The stallion snorted, eyes rolling as the mage approached him, taking a few steps back. Magi tended to have that effect on Kirindae, though no one knew why - the magi liked to think it was their power that impressed the beasts.
"Has he given you any troubles?" The lord nodded towards the glossy black Kirin stallion prancing against the far fence.
"No, m'lord, not at all. He's as gentle as a weak-blood, covers the mares readily when they're presented, haen't had a bad kick or bite yet outta 'im" The Herd-master was most pleased, though he tried not to show it. The last Kirin stallion had been a beast of a far different sort; a viciously tempered wild-caught stud that had injured his handlers on a regular basis. The mage nodded. "Excellent. I expect preparations for the journey will be complete when I return?"
"Of course, m'lord." The Herd-master nodded. "Which of your mares would you like shipped with the black stud?"
"The best producers this quarter, Herd-master, the roan, the gray-blue and the chestnut. I want the new farm to be profitable as soon as possible." He pointed them out with an apprising eye, as if sizing up their future value in his head. The Kirin mares stayed well away from the two humans, milling about in the far pasture. Three were visibly heavy with eggs, including the gray-blue mare the mage had singled out. The remaining mares were recently bred or currently giving milk.
"The gray... she's due to lay soon." The Head-master ventured hesitantly.
"You'd question my judgement?" A steely glance from the lord froze the older man in place. "See that she is fit to travel in time, I will accept no delays."
"Of course not, m'lord, it shall be done."Your stomach lurches into your throat as the galley dives into another trough of water. A sudden sharp crack shakes the whole ship, slamming your head against the wall. As you try to regain your footing on the slick deck boards, the floor begins to list to one side. A terrible snapping, twisting shriek and the terrified cries of the hold's passengers is quickly muffled by a wave of salty, black water that threatens to drown you in your stall. Kicking desperately at the wooden walls breaking up around you, a last ragged breath is all you can manage before the sea pulls you into it's grasp... ~~~ To Be Continued... by you! ~~~ Some reminders: In the "past", the point of view is omniscient, the Kirindae would not have understood anything the humans said verbally but their dialog has been included for completeness and to convey information in brevity that would be otherwise difficult to share.
It's up to you if both mare and stallion end up in your response or just one - no other Kirindae or humans survived the shipwreck. You're welcome to include any wild animals/Kirin you wish. To show you've read everything thus far, include the word tempest in your story somewhere.
You have a choice of origins for these two Kirin - they could have been wild caught as very young foals, raised from wild eggs, or born in captivity from wild parents. Regardless of your choice, they will likely have the equivalent of a speech impediment when attempting to communicate with their wild counterparts, at least at first. How severe this impairment is and it's nature (permanent/temporary) is up to you, but they will have to learn much of their language "from the beginning". There is nothing wrong with their minds, but they have trouble putting thoughts into words due to the human influence. It's highly recommended that you read the Kirinpedia - Humans entry.
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Posted: Sat Aug 22, 2009 10:49 pm
Preference: Either, Ginger is first preference.
As the waves dragged her down, Ginger attempted to scream, but quickly closed her mouth again as the bitter salt water rushed in. Choking, she struck out wildly with her hooves, flailing to reach the surface for another precious gasp of air. Her head breaking the surface, she greedily sucked in a breath before the waves shoved her under once more. Through the tempest she caught the briefest glimpse of the black stallion, fighting the same desperate battle for survival. Where were the others? Had they...already perished, consumed by the storm? An undercurrent tugged at her, causing a panicked surge of effort and tearing her mind away from everything but the all-consuming fight for life.
Several hours later, the exhausted mare was swept onto an unfamiliar shore. Barely strong enough to stand, she staggered only a few steps beyond the reach of the sea before collapsing into a heap in the sand. Here she would have gladly slipped into unconsciousness, were it not for the prickling along her spine. Nostrils flaring in alarm, she began to struggle to her feet again at the figure that came into view.
"Stop..." Shaking her head, the brightly colored kirin mare stepped back. Her colors were like none Ginger had ever seen, as vibrant and many-hued as the dawn. A long horn jutted from her forehead, bony plates covering her face where Ginger's own lay bare. Despite her strangeness, the mare seemed...unthreatening. Concerned, even. "Rest, hornless one. I know not where you are from, but questions can wait for later. I have only one for now: are others with you?"
Brow crinkling in thought, Ginger stared at the stranger. The spoken words had an echo of familiarity, but the usage slipped from her mind's grasp with frustrating ease. With obvious effort, she managed to stutter, "O-oddas." Giving a firm nod, she looked expectantly at the other mare.
Biting her lip, the stranger seemed taken aback. The rust-colored mare looked like a kirin, but the lack of horn...and speech...and there were others like her? Goddess, but she hoped not--this one would be hard enough to deal with if she couldn't even speak properly! "Like you, or like me?" Ears laying back, she dearly hoped it was the latter.
"Lak m-m-me." With another nod, her sharp gaze locked onto the stranger's. All that answered her was a weary sigh as her 'rescuer' debated how to handle this.
It would be a long recovery...
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Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 6:36 am
Preference:Black Beauty.I will call him Black Stallion,I'd like to name him that.
As the powerful waves beat all around him,he screamed"TO SHORE!!!SWIM TO THE SHORE!!!!"With his powerful legs pumping under him,he swam,and held up with him,a little colt that cracked out of his egg in the middle of the storm.His mother died,drowned,but his father wouldn't let his colt die.
When they reached the shore,Black counted his whole herd.Out of the three that came with him,only two survived.Not counting a little black colt and who was black and had a silver sleek stripe on his head,from his mother.Wait....Black leaned closer.And gasped,amazed.
The colt had a horn.But from whom?Black was second generation,but....
He never did learn anything about Mist,the pretty grey-blue mare.She always hid her head...Wait,that was it!"By the Goddess!"gasped the mares."Storm has a horn!"The poor colt was named Storm,after the weather that his mother gave him birth in.
After the mares calmed down,and the let the poor foal suckle,Black looked around.It was beautiful.This land had huge forests,but plenty of meadows with delicious grass.And...horses.No,not horses....Kirin,that was it.He heard humans pronounce that word when they when they led a horse into the forest.The horse had a horn.
And then Black called out a challenge to the sea,a long,harsh challenge,so that the sea could carry it over her waves and into the humans ears.
For they had a home.
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Posted: Sun Aug 23, 2009 12:56 pm
Preference: Black Beauty
It was cold, so cold. And wet. The black stallion had never felt this way before, powerless against a raging current. The water even felt like another being, overcoming him, sucking him down. He was helpless, utterly helpless, until some strange instinct given to him by his wild parents awoke. In that instant, he kicked out with his legs, starting to paddle through the water. The tempest's fierce waves had broken the side of the floating enclosure of trees, and carried the stallion out, enabling him to avoid the rapidly destroyed enclosure just enough to escape. He kicked his way to the surface for what seemed like an eternity, until he finally broke through, his nostrils wide and laboring as he breathed. He was quiet for a moment, surveying the darkness as best he could, before he let out an echoing neigh. Was anyone there? A few moments' wait proved that either they had not heard--or were dead. The black didn't want to think about the latter option.
As he blinked, trying unsuccessfully to get his soaked mane out of his eyes, he noticed something. A place, just a few galloping strides away, that was not rolling and crashing. Again, some strange hidden instinct told him it was land, solid ground, food, shelter. Safety. He lunged forward and started to swim towards it, the waves somehow carrying him there in big swoops. Along the way he passed pieces of the tree-enclosure, floating in the water. But no one else. None of his kind, nor the two-legged, light-skinned creatures that took care of them. He liked them, somewhat. They fed him his food, and gave him wide areas to run in. Losing them would mean losing what he loved.
Finally he was swept up upon the shore, a wide patch of dark sand in the night. He staggered up in, his legs weary from exertion. Drops of blood dripped from the cuts on his sides, making little black dots on the sandy shore. Nostrils wide as possible, he finally managed to make his way up to the trees bordering the sand, and collapsed beneath one, letting the rain wash away his blood and sweat. He rested his muzzle on the ground, closing his brown eyes, his white blaze and sock the only things visible if one happened to pass by. Which by some turn of fate, occured.
"What are you doin' here, blackie?"
The sound jolted the black stallion from his sleep. He glanced up to see a large stallion standing there. He was a brilliant red, with golden socks and a deep blue-black mane. The fur on his legs was fringed with white. Strangest of all, he had a horn. The black faintly remembered having a horn...but that was long ago, when he was still a foal. That had been taken away. Not that he minded; he had no need for it. From the look on the other stallion's face, it was clear that not having a horn was something to be ashamed of.
"Hey, I'm talkin' to you. Who are you, and what are you doin' here?" The speech...it was similar to what he had known, but somehow...different. More advanced, more graceful. It sounded to wonderful, like a foreign language that one can understand, yet not speak. He opened his mouth to answer, and paused. He couldn't talk like that! It wasn't possible for him! But the other stallion's glare forced him to let his voice emerge.
"I...I come from...light-skin creatures. Yes. In tree-enclosure, with others." He knew what he wanted to say. He knew. He just...couldn't get it out the right way. "Enclosure...broke up. Waves wash me here. I...I don't know where am." And the stallion had asked "who are you?" That was a problem. He couldn't understand the two-legs' speech, so he had no way of knowing their name for him. All he knew was the name the other Kirin had given him. He was black as night, so "black" was a part. And though many admitted it only grudgedly, he was beautiful, perhaps one of the handsomest stallions there. So Black Beauty was his name. "I...name Black Beauty."
The red brute snorted. "You came from the humans, eh? I can tell, you don't have a horn, pity you. You talk funny, too. And you came in an enclosure...tree...thing?" He cocked his head. "Huh. Well, that doesn't matter now. I'll just call you Beauty. You're in the wild now, and there's no humans for suncircles of walking. Only me, you, and all the other Kirin and animals here."
And just like that, Black Beauty had entered the world of the wild Kirin.
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Posted: Tue Aug 25, 2009 4:54 pm
Preference: Black Beauty then Ginger
Entry:
The water raged and tossed the Black stallion as though he were nothing more than a toy. His frantic eyes searched for an opening, somewhere to stop, somewhere to breathe. He felt his hooves scratch at the metal floors and walls as he tumbled through the hallways of the ship, there was no way to tell what was up or down as the water raged. But finally The Black stallion managed to find a view of the surface and kicked wildly to reach it. He could feel his lungs burning for oxygen but before the darkness appearing at the edges of his vision he broke the surface and sucked in as much air as he could hold. This proved to be a mistake as he began to cough and sputter as the rolling waves deposited as much water as oxygen into him. He looked about frantically searching for survivors or a place to head for but nothing was visible beyond the waves. The tempest held the stallion but he would not die, he refused to die like this.
The Water tossed the stallion again and he was pulled under by another wave but his resolve held firm. This was not where he wanted to die! He kicked and made it towards the surface again, once again breaking the water with his powerful neck and giving one scream of defiance against the wind and waves. "YOU WONT TAKE ME! NOT LIKE THIS!" He declared and with one final look around he began to swim with all of his strength in a direction he hoped would not lead him to his doom. His legs pumped and his strength held as he fought the waves and currents. Each time the water dragged him down he rose again triumphant and determined. But after hours of the battle his strength began to wane, the black could feel it. Each time he was pulled under it took a little longer to get back up, he struggled with his mortality but before he could begin to lose hope he spotted it, land!
The Black held firm and gathered all of his strength for one final push, he managed to catch a wave headed for shore and rode on the blessed current. The wave itself was none to gentle as it smashed him against the wet sand causing him to roll painfully further up. The Black did his best to stay conscious he couldn't lose it now, he was so close! He could feel the firm ground beneath him but the water was not done with him. The wind shrieked and the waves rolled in, causing him to stumble as he tried to stand and always slipping him back towards the ocean. But he was on land, the ocean held no sway over him now. The black managed to drag himself far enough up the shore that the water no longer touched him, now only the wind cut at him, making him realize how cold and tired he was.
He managed to stand once more and walk as far away from the sea as he could, it wasn't that far but once he felt safe he allowed himself to crumple on the ground looking more like a pile of black rugs than the proud stallion he was. His chest rose and fell slowly and powerfully, each breath a reminder that he was alive. The wind seemed to have died down and the waves no longer pounded the shore so Black assumed the worst was done with, he was safe....but where? He shuffled around and rearranged himself into a more dignified position then he swung his head around tiredly looking for signs of life. He spotted hoof-prints not too far off that were much like his own and so gave a whinny in that direction. Just voicing a greeting made him tired, his vision began to blur as he realized he no longer had the strength to stand up. Suddenly from the trees came another like him, he could see them....but wait, did they have a horn? He shook his head as those who spotted him came closer but the image was the same. He couldn't believe his eyes and as if to confirm this his vision blurred once again and darkness began to creep in from the edges of his vision. His eyes slowly began to close. No it cant be, I'm just hallucinating....I'll wake up and everything will be better He thought to himself as he let his eye lids fall and he lay his head down. He could hear voices around him, they seemed to speak in a strange language much like his own but just on the edges of his understanding...no I'm dreaming, it has to be.....it just......has to be.....but before he could finish the thought he had slipped away into the dark abyss of blessed unconsciousness.
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Posted: Wed Aug 26, 2009 4:46 pm
Preference: Ginger, then Black Beauty
Entry:
Blackness, both from the crashing waves and her throbbing head, threatened to pull her under their fatal spell. The ominous creaks and groans were a shadow of what was about to come, warning her she had to leave now. Sickening sounds of the wood cracking around her was enough to give her reason to plunge into the water and swim for her life. Ginger gave one great big kick to the wall behind her and the force of the kick was just enough to create a good sized break in the wall, but as well spraned one ankle. The water surrounding her hooves, crawled up to her neck and continued to threaten her life. Ginger dove under the water and desperately swam through the whole behind her. As she came to the surface, the crashing waves tossed her back and forth and cruelly threw her back to the dark depths. Any time she broke to the surface she chanced another breath of air, in hopes it would help her survive. Through the tempest, she could see only one other who had escaped. The Black Beauty. But what had happened to the rest of them? Ginger feared the worse, as the gut wrenching truth hit her. She could still be one of the missing. That thought got her head cleared as she struggled toward shore. Ginger was almost there; it was just in reach! As soon as her hopes were up, a wave came crashing down on her, swallowing her up into the the dark abyss below.
She awoke with a start on soft sand and coughing up water to clear her lungs. The storm still hadn't subsided, but had dissipated to mere thunder, lightning and howling winds off in the distance. Debris littered the sand of what was leftover from the ship. She wanted to call out for help, but had no strength to do so. Ginger felt as though she'd been flung back and forth inside a wooden crate for days on end. Stiff legs nearly gave out, as she tried and willed herself to stand. She had to find someone. Anyone. Taking stiff legged, cautious steps she headed inland and stopped dead only after a few steps. A figure stood mere feet away. It looked to similiar to Ginger, but had a few difference. Plates, like armor, covered her face and body where Ginger was vulnerable. A protruding horn stuck out clear as day, as the Kirin walked toward Ginger. It needn't say anything, as Ginger collapsed from exhaustion, and one word escaped, "Halp."
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 9:33 pm
Preference: Ginger
Entry:
Wooden planks exploded around the brown mare as a monstrous wave pulled her clear of the ship's belly. Churning end over end, Ginger struggled to find the surface before her small gulp of air failed her. Bursting into the rain-drenched air, the mare gasped to refill her lungs.
Finally able to gather her thoughts, Ginger paddled in circles looking for others in the dark of the still raging tempest. Flashes of lightning revealed other kirin that had been with her on their ill-fated journey. Ginger started swimming towards the gray mare that had been her companion and comfort during the long dark voyage. Another flash of lightning exposed a land mass further past the gray mare.
Reaching the gray mare, Ginger shouted to be heard over the thunderous storm. “Merri, are you okay?” She was concerned about her friend. Merry had not taken well to traveling on the sea. She'd been seized with colic often during the trip and had recently stopped eating.
“I'm okay, but I can't swim very well.”
“Land is not far away. I'll stay with you until we make it there.” Ginger knew the land she'd seen in the lightning flash was actually quite a distance, but she had to encourage the egg-laden mare. Ginger was worried the extra weight would hamper her friend's swimming and tire her quickly.
Ginger hoped the she was leading her companion in the right direction. In the dark storm, it was hard to tell which direction she was going. Luckily, the occasional lightening would lighten the sky enough for her to get bearings to keep her on a true course to the land.
“I can't do it'” gasped the gray mare, her head barely above the water, nostrils flaring to suck in air.
“Yes, you can,” urged Ginger. “Just keep going.” She hoped she sounded convincing. The brown mare was beginning to wonder about her own chance of survival.
“I can't...” Merri's head slipped beneath the waves.
Ginger screamed, “No!” Treading water, she twisted in circles, calling for her friend, “Merri! Merri!” Feeling panic rise, Ginger started to beat the water with her front legs, angry that she she couldn't find her friend.
In the dark, Ginger could see a darker shape moving towards her. “Stop that!” it yelled at her.
Recognizing the voice of the black stallion, she called back. “Merri went under. We have to find her!”
“We can't help her,” he said. “You have to keep moving. Stop wasting time and head toward land.”
“I can't leave her,” said Ginger horrified. “She's my friend.”
“To land,” he repeated angrily, using his body to push her in the direction he wanted her to go. Ginger tried to resist, but the stallion was stronger than she was. Reluctantly, the brown mare swam ahead of the stallion leaving her friend to the watery depths.
Exhausted, she paddled mindlessly through the rough sea, the rain never letting up. When she felt she would give up, the stallion urged her on. Suddenly her hooves clipped the sandy bottom as it rose towards the beach. Grabbing a foothold in the silt, she floundered through the lapping water. Just when she was about to drop, a shoulder nudged her from behind.
“Not here,” muttered the stallion.
Ginger stumbled up the beach and finally collapsed in the sand. Not bothering to lift her head, she opened a heavy eyelid to see the black standing near her. In the pre-dawn light, she could see exhaustion in his muscles. His legs trembled with the effort to remain standing. She knew he was standing guard, as was his duty as their leader. “The others?” she asked weakly.
The stallion turned a weary head back to the sea. “Only us.”
**
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Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 12:46 am
Preference: Ginger, but I'd take Black Beauty too xD
For the first few seconds, she could do nothing but stare as her entire body was sucked deep under the water. Her mind didn't seem to comprehend what had just happened as the swirling tempest of fury bubbled around her. Everything looked dark, and had a blurry quality that warped her vision. She didn't even feel the salt stinging her eyes, she was too far gone by the shock.
Something cannoned into her side, sending a painful jolt through the orange mare as she swung her head around. It was the blue-gray mare that had been stabled close by, her stomach bulging with unborn eggs. Her eyes sported the same glazed, far-off glance. Something in Ginger's mind clicked. An ancient instinct rose from within her. To survive. Her hoofs flailed in the water for a second, seeming to do nothing but drain her energy, but they slowly established a pattern that brought her closer and closer to the surface with each slow stroke.
But it wasn't fast enough. Her lungs burned as they craved the oxygen that could not be provided. The expansion of her chest was no longer voluntary. She couldn't help it as her body forced her to release what little air it had and inhale. As the water flooded into her throat, her eyes opened in horror. It felt as though she was inhaling both fire and ice at the same time. The pain was so great, all her muscles clenched in sheer agony. She saw red flash before her face and it slowly faded into black. Still her body fought for the oxygen it needed as she took another involuntary breath of sea water.
Something else crashed into her as everything dissolved into a hazy nightmare of pain....
~~~
Was she dead? Did death feel like this? All of her muscles were screeching in agony. Water sloshed about inside her lungs, making her choke and cough every few seconds. The dark veil never lifted from her eyes. No. This couldn't be death. It hurt too much for her to be dead.
It took a few more seconds to realize that she could feel the hollow rasp of air passing through her trachea. She was breathing? Another few seconds. The veil in front of her wasn't black, her eyes were slowly focusing, swollen with salty water as they were, seeing the thin hairs in front of her. She wasn't blind, her face was buried in the flank of another kirin.
Her mouth opened and closed as she tried to find words to express her confusion. Words... where were her words? Her mind whirled a million scenarios into her mind, but she didn't know what to say. It took a moment before she felt the coarse grains of sand beneath her. She could feel the texture of each one clearly, feel the gritting pain their caused as they rubbed against her sore legs. Sand. The word popped into her mind out of nowhere.
But where was she? Raising her head, she felt a stab of raw fury surge through her as she realized how weak and vulnerable she was. She hated it. Even that tiny movement sent agony rolling through her. A small sound made her whip her head around. A hoof was next to her. It was a bright color, one she had no name for but most Kirin called 'pink'. She herself was draped over a familiar body, a huge black stallion called 'Beauty'.
Her eyes focused upon the hoof as if it were a miracle. A small sound escaped her lips, the only thing she could think of saying, "Sand.." Her voice sounded small and deformed, unnatural, as darkness rose over her senses again and she slipped into the numbing sleep of unconsciousness.
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Posted: Fri Aug 28, 2009 10:15 am
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