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 Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 3:19 pm
There was a river, a very beautiful river...especially at this spot, where it seemed to burble happily as it rushed along. But both the burbling and the colored leaves that drifted past on occassion, suspended upon the surface, only received partial attention from the young mare who seemed to look into the depths. Looking closer, however, it was apparent that her eyes were slightly unfocused, as if lost in thought. And she was thinking...thinking of a friend from her childhood, one who had shown her one of the most beautiful places she had ever seen.
Halia was thinking of Aureate.
She wasn't sure why she thought of him. She did know that she liked him very much, but so did many others. He treated her nicely, but he also treated others with such kindness as well. Had he also shown others the beautiful meadow, with the waterfall and the butterflies? She wasn't sure. Was that the whole reason she was thinking about him? She wasn't sure about that, either! Oh, it was a bloody mess.
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Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 4:14 pm
Deeper into the woods, and downstream from the young mare, the stallion that occupied her thoughts wandered. His head too was filled with things... With memories and dainty faces, soft voices. His friends. Well... Two or three of his female friends...
Friends that wanted different things from him... All more than friendship. And friends that he felt different things for, some more than friends, some who just flat out confused him.
Rowenya. The only winged mare on his mind at the moment. Not long ago they had met again... Her friend had confessed that Rowenya felt strong emotions for him... That she had a crush on him. He hadn't known her as long as the others... And the fact that she felt so strongly...
He shook his head, that whole thing confused him. And the others?
Dahlia. The exotically marked mare from the mountains. With patterns like feathers and a mask... The mare who was so young, so innocent, so sweet... She pulled soft songs out of him just by being near, he'd do anything to lift her spirits... And yet.
Halia. A sensuous, sunset-painted female. She was proud, and strong, but fun... They could wander together, and talk... And tease each other... The striking, masked mare he knew from his foalhood.
Aureate had a thing for a mare with a mask... It was part of his nature.. Part of the reason Dahlia and Halia had themselves so deep in his heart... In his chest and his head...
He snorted and bowed his great head, leaping into a gallop that carried him through the woods. He plunged deep into the trees, winding around them like the breeze, mane and tail streaming.
"What am I going to do?" He rumbled to himself.
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Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 4:25 pm
The thunder of hoofbeats pulled Halia out of her thoughts, causing her to lift her head and scan her surroundings with pale blue eyes. She'd thought herself alone...that was the reason she had chosen this area. Who could be here as well, in this remote place? "Hello?" she called out, voice strong yet uncertain. "Who's there...?"
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Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 6:11 am
The 'hello' wafted past his ears, and Aureate thought it only his memories taunting him at first.. At the second phrase, the question, he swallowed a curse and pulled up sharply, nearly sitting on his muscular haunches to be sure he did not gallop right into her.
Halia.
It was a close call... He sat half into the small clearing she stood in, staring at her with wide eyes as his heart continued to gallop in his chest. Of all the Soquili he were to run into, it had to be one of the mares he was so confused about.
"Halia..." He fairly gasped, standing and backing away slightly, sweeping her his usual elegant bow, wings wide. "I... What a surprise..."
'Oh yeah... Smoothe.. Nice going moron...'
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Posted: Mon Oct 22, 2007 8:25 pm
As something--a very large something--burst out of the foliage, Halia squealed and reared back, narrowly avoiding a fall into the river behind her. Scrabbling to regain her balance, it took her a moment to recognize the masked stallion...but when she did, a brilliant blush infused her cheeks. Of all the Soquili to be clumsy in front of! The realization that he had also been less than graceful escaped her for now. "Aur-Aureate!" she stammered out, still staring. "What're you doing here? Are you okay? I, uh..." Realizing she was yammering, she drew a breath. "Indeed a surprise."
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Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 5:58 am
If he could have kicked himself... Ohhhhh.... Stupid! Stupid, stupid, STUPID! He would be in serious pain right now.
"I'm sorry..." He burst out. "I didn't know.. I didn't mean to scare you, please forgive me Lady Halia..."
He bowed his head again. "I was just running through the woods... And... I.. Yes, I am fine..."
Freaked out. Insecure. Neurotic. Emotional.. Yep.. He was fine...
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Posted: Tue Oct 23, 2007 7:51 am
Rushing up, Halia hugged Aureate, thinking to perhaps soothe his...nervousness? Fright? Something was the matter, but it was no business of hers. "It's okay," she reassured as she gave his mane a light but playful tug. "Neither of us was paying attention...it happens, okay?"
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2007 6:06 am
Relieved she wasn't angry or indignant, Aureate sidled close to the delicate neck rubbing against his mane, sliding the silk against her hide as he curled his chin over her shoulders, brushing her chest and withers with his wing.
He smiled when she tugged at his mane, laughing softly. "Yes.. I shall be sure to pay attention from now on, Lady Halia.. For if you were my sister, I would be much regretting my foolishness.. Even more so than now.. I apologize once more..."
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Posted: Fri Nov 02, 2007 8:16 pm
As Aureate's wings brushed against her, Halia stiffened slightly as a wave of self-consciousness washed over her. It felt so nice, being practically nestled there, but...oh, why did she feel so damn confused! "I-I'm sorry," she stammered, pulling away and hating herself for it. But it wouldn't be right to stay so near, when she was still so confused about all of this...hell, she didn't even know how she felt about him past liking him! Why did she have to be the one so confused...it wasn't the least bit fair.
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Posted: Tue Nov 06, 2007 6:27 am
As she jerked away, Aureate took back a step of his own, snapping his wings to his side and flicking his ears back and forth. Had he done something wrong? Taken a liberty he shouldn't have? He had just been trying to return her hug, and it had felt nice... Nice to embrace someone he cared about.
"I feel I am the one at fault once more, Lady Halia." He murmured, bowing his head and taking another step back. "I apologize once more... I fear I can do nothing right today, forgive me."
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 9:36 am
"It's not your fault..." Halia hung her head, ashamed. What had gotten into her? She wasn't normally this skittish, and she should be keeping better control of herself. She needed to say something more, something so that Aureate wasn't so confused... "I like you, Aureate," she blurted out. "A lot..."
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 5:54 am
"I fear it is." He argued. "I feel I have taken a liberty where I should not, and startled you, and I apologize...."
He stopped talking. She... Did she just say? Aureate blinked slowly, wondering if he was dreaming. Did she really like him? Or was she just trying to say, she liked him a lot, yadda yadda, but they weren't... Weren't...
Oh hell...
"You like me..." He echoed slowly, ears flicking. "I fear I should be waiting for a "but"... Lady Halia..."
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:27 pm
Halia simply shook her head, pale blue eyes watching him. "There is no but."
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Posted: Mon Nov 26, 2007 6:13 am
He pawed at the ground, stopping when she spoke again. No but? He froze. But... Why had she pulled away? What... What did all these different signals mean?
Stallions would never understand mares... Never ever.. But Aureate tried...
"Then... Why.. Why did you pull away from me?" He asked carefully, wondering if she was going to tell him there was someone else... And what would he tell her? She had a good portion of his heart and soul... But there was also another.... Another mare who, spoke to him, like she did...
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Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2007 1:32 pm
"I'm just confused..." Halia closed her eyes. "All of this is so new, I don't know what to do, what to say, how to react to anything. And..." She paused, uncertain of how to continue. "What if you already...had someone?" Lids lifted, but the pale blue eyes looked down at the ground. "I didn't...I don't want to ruin a friendship, if you did."
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