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 Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:22 pm
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:27 pm
Evelyn sighed, her lavender gaze passing over the terrain with reluctant hope. They had been searching for nearly a day now, and had no luck... the stallion who had kindled the life growing inside of her was nowhere to be found.
If not for the sturdy presence of Kureno at her side through those trying hours, the last strands of hope may have faded long ago.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:39 pm
The heavy sigh of the mare beside him made his ear flick towards her, one azure iris darting over to check that she was alright, and following with a sigh of his own. This couldn't be good for her... he didn't know much about pregnant mares, but he did know that over-exerting one's self while trying to sustain the life inside of them was nothing to be overlooked.
"Maybe we should stop for tonight." His low, gruff voice held a slight tone of concern to it- but one wouldn't even notice it was there if they weren't looking for it.
The night was growing colder than it already was, and she couldn't afford to get sick.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:46 pm
"Vanilla Swirl, you get your butt back here young lady!" A semi-high pitched stallion's voice rang out into the dead of winter, when everything else seemed so quiet. It would have caused an uproar if there were others out and about...but alas, no one was to been seen.
"I'm only going to say this once, darling...so you better be rethinking your actions!" It didn't sound angry, the voice, nor annoyed. It was rather on the playful side, as the owner of the voice really didn't have the heart to yell at anyone, especially his only daughter. She had just delivered the news to her father that she was pregnant for the second time. Not the first, the second. The first time happened only months ago, and now her belly was swollen with evidence of new life growing in it already.
And she just now decided to tell the old stallion that gave her, her own life.
It was one thing to come home to an old lonely stallion and tell him he was going to be a grandfather to two foals, and have them grow up next to him faster than he could blink. It was another to come home and do it again, WITH A DIFFERENT STALLION!
Ronen, that was the father of her first babies, Butter Pecan and Hazelnut...and boy did 'Nilla know how to choose them. For the two soquili created what seemed to be the two strangest stallions that this particular one ever laid eyes on...his poor grandkids. So messed up in the head, and no father to protect them. A whorish mother on the loose and an igorant grandfather.
Nah, Bliss didn't mind the fact that Vanilla Swirl happened to wind up pregnant every time he left her alone. He minded the mere fact that there was a possibility her new babies could end up just as messed up as the first.
"I swear, Vanilla Swirl!" He used her full name on occasion, like when he tried to get her attention. "Come out of that forest immediately! Daddy only wants to talk..." Silly girl, retreating into the forest after delivering said news. What did she think, he was going to hurt her?
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:10 pm
Evelyn's gaze turned to Kureno at his suggestion. She considered him thoughtfully, the soft glow in her eyes threatening to translate into a full-fledged smile.
A sudden wind blew through the trees, brushing across Evelyn's fur like the cold hands of Death. She shivered gently, her grey form quaking in the fading light.
"Perhaps we..." She stopped, listening.
The shrill voice carried well through the night air. It had a ringing tone of worry in it... but distress did not change this particular voice so much as to render it completely changed. It still had a note of familiarity to it, as though it had graced her hearing before... it...
"I swear, Vanilla Swirl!"
Bliss.
The name came to her in a heartbeat. Her breath caught, her mind stumbling. On that night... the night that they'd... he had mentioned that name. Could it be anyone else?
"Kureno... it's him." she whispered, eyes wide as she took a few faltering steps forwards. She looked about with barely constrained urgency, searching for the source of the voice.
For when she found that source, she would find him... the father of her coming children.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:22 pm
He felt the cold wind through his thick fur as well, tightening the wings against his sides as the icy breeze chilled him. Cerulean hues looked to her again in growing concern as she trailed off, abruptly realizing the reason for it as his head jerked upwards, and his cold stare focused on the horizon before them.
He didn't recognize the masculine voice that pierced through the night's silence, but judging by Evelyn's reaction, she did. The suspicion was confirmed as she spoke slowly, hesitantly, revealing the identity of the one they'd been searching for.
Giving one sharp nod, his eyes narrowed into a fierce glare as he took a resolute step forward, but paused a moment to glance back at the silver dappled mare. Heaving a soft inward sigh, he nodded to her with a toss of his head, covering her with an onyx wing once she reached his side.
"Come on."
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:25 pm
His daughter did not, and would not come back. He could hear her shrill of a laugh every so often, if he listened hard enough. Seemed to be that she was far deep in the forest now...what was going on in that head of hers? He wasn't going after her, nor did he plan on it any time soon. Staying outside the forest, where nightfall was more merciful was a better idea. Danger lurked where one could not normally see, and he wasn't one to burst in on danger.
Lavender eyes glistened in the moonlight, scanning the edge of the forest for any sight of her. Hopefully she wouldn't be too foolish and go so far as to forget which way she came. That would only cause for frustration and worry, for he'd have to go in after her. And well, heaven knows that he wasn't the greatest at keeping track of things either. Better for her to come back and play with him in the morning then for both of them to be lost all night.
So the stallion decided to wait, it was easier that way. He plumped his rather large body onto the hard ground, and laughed. If anyone was near...anyone at all, they'd either have to have really good eyesight, or know what they were searching for.
Because his dark coat blended in with that of the night.
He had no idea of the figures not to far behind him, searching for him. Had he known of someone's coming, he would have darted off into the forest...but not a sound could be heard. Whatever and whomever was coming was doing so very secretly.
Either that, or Bliss was just too tired to pay attention, a yawn escaped his throat confirming the latter.
Maybe a nap would be a good idea...
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:42 pm
Evelyn resisted the urge to lean into Kureno, needing the warmth but afraid to do anything that would cause him to withdraw the comforting wing.
They were so close. She felt it in the very core of her being. Any moment now... She would come upon Bliss. Bliss, the lightearted stallion she had known for only one night. Bliss, the stallion who knew how hard it was to raise children. Bliss... the father of her children.
To think her life had changed this month. There was a time when she had wandered the lands in search of a home, not one place possessing a call great enough to ensnare her soul and cause her to cease her endless wanderings. She had followed the path of the forest rivers to their mountainous start, and their end in the sea. She had perplexed all whom she encountered with her lyrical words and veiled smile.
Now, that veil had been cast aside. Her eyes glowed with warmth when she was happy, and turned to molten lava when rare anger touched her soul. She spoke more plainly, having learned to communicate her will silently... without poems or metaphors.
Now, she had one stallion at her side, and another somewhere in the darkness before her. Two beings different and yet the same, connected by a single silver-grey mare.
And that mare carried life within her.
Evelyn's sides expanded as she drew in breath for a single shout, one that was loud enough to carry through the night and yet would not cause Kureno to wince from being too close.
"BLISS!" her voice carried hope and despair, pain and wonder. It was a melody contained in a single word, trapped within the confines of those syllables and yet fighting to break free.
They were so close.
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Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 12:03 am
Although he was showing a rare moment of care and concern for the pregnant mare at his side, his glare was one that promised death to whoever crossed him at this moment, and his hackles were beginning to rise at the thought of this new stallion... Bliss.
Although he supposed he was obligated to listen to his side of the story, Kureno found it rather hard to believe that he might have misinterpreted the situation. He hadn't done him any personal wrong, but while that was all he might have cared about several months ago, things were different now. He could admit that Evelyn was his friend, and he was moderately sure that friends didn't let friends face situations like this alone.
An angry snort escaped his nose as they started forward, offering his warmth and presence to Evelyn even as he readied himself for a confrontation.
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Posted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:23 pm
"BLISS!"
The voice came at him louder than she probably would have expected it to, since his mind drifted off into a different world all together. He couldn't hear the surroundings at all on a dead night like this, and her voice felt like an angel coming into his dream and pulling him out of the darkness...
It was so loud that he fell over on his side while still laying down, and blinked. Ah, so much for that being an angel. It took the stallion a few moments to gather back his thoughts and he shook his head to rid himself of the mental picture that formed just seconds ago. He would have loved to continue the scene of an angel appearing in front of him...but alas, it broke all too soon.
And then reality hit him. Ooh! Bliss. The voice had shouted 'Bliss', and that was indeed his name. So maybe...maybe it was an angel afterall! But then he blinked once again, his eyes trying to adjust to the darkness and he laughed. The voice was all too familar to have been an angel.
Although he reconized the voice, he could not put a name to it. For it sounded pained, worried, and rushed. Like it was holding onto something that was hardly even there just for any glimmer of hope. It was musical, but not lively in a sense where he felt like he could get up and dance to it (who would...?). No, it was painful to hear...even though it was only one word.
And it was his name that was shouted. What could he have done to possibly cause this voice so much distress?
Memories flooded back into his mind, one after another until finally, he stumbled across the right one. It wasn't the most recent he had of a mare, for that would have to have been Lovey...but it wasn't her. No, the memory that he held in his mind was that night with Evelyn...
Evelyn...yes. Only a mare like her could produce a voice such as that. But for what reason? "...Evelyn?" He called out, standing up ever so quickly so he could get a better view of the surroundings. They were indeed, very very close...he could hear their hoofsteps now, and he too started to walk in their direction.
Wait, their? Why had his mind automatically assumed someone was with her? He listened again, which confirmed his thoughts. One sound was louder than the other, heavier...and more determined to get the job done.
A stallion indeed, he thought to himself, wondering with she'd bring a stallion to come and visit him...
And then another thought hit him. Evelyn wasn't coming to visit him, he was most definitely sure of that. For one thing, their little fling didn't result in telling eachother where they resided and for another, it was much too dark outside to be sure that it was Bliss she called out to...
So why had she called out his name? And why did she sound so pained when doing so...? "Evelyn!" He called out again, this time quieter as the hoofsteps grew closer. There would be no reason to shout if they were next to eachother. "Evelyn, ahh gee! I've got some news for you, Evelyn!"
He had no idea why she had come to him, and frankly, didn't really care to think on that twice. Seeing a friend was always number one in his book, and boy did he have a story to tell her. Vanilla Swirl, having children again? Heck...wait a minute! Again? She hadn't even known about the first two! Wow, had it really been that long since they saw eachother? That couldn't possibly be right.
But either way, he was excited to tell his friend of his daughter, since she seemed so enchanted by his first stories...
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 4:49 pm
Her ears perked at hearing her name, mingled relief and despair hitting her in a flood.
She had not been mistaken: it had been Bliss' voice that she had heard, ringing through the night. And he had heard hers.
Her hoofbeats stammered as his final words reached her ears. I've got some news for you... So did she. But... What was his news? What could he possibly wish to tell her so much that he shouted it as soon as he learned of her presence?
Could it be... another mare? Was she not the only one to come to him in despair, carrying life sparked by his seed inside her? Oh, she knew she was not the first. That was Milkshake's title to claim. But was she the... most recent?
Not that it mattered overmuch. She expected nothing of him. It would not be fair to do so... he had not intended for this to happen any more then she had, and so neither of them could be held responsible. She could not blame him. But... did she have reason? What had transpired that night? What...?
From beneath the turmoil of her thoughts rose a consciousness of the mental shift in the stallion next to her. Was he... worried?
Evelyn gathered herself once more, willing her voice to remain steady. "I... have news for you, as well."
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 9:04 pm
His stance was stiff and rigid as he moved jerkily forward with Evelyn, extending his wing a bit further over her back as he felt her nervousness, heard it in her voice. His glare narrowed even further at the call that the other stallion had news for her as well... had he impregnated another mare? The mere thought heightened his fury until he was almost visibly fuming... and that spoke volumes, since he was an expert at maintaining his emotionless mask.
Although he wasn't an advocate of most females' rights, Eve was his friend, and whoever hurt her had to answer to him. And he could guarantee to anyone that it would not be a pleasant encounter.
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 9:14 pm
Bliss would have laughed his little heart out if he knew what the two were thinking at that moment.
Him, impregnating a mare? Ha! What a joke, that wouldn't ever happen. Of course, he had no idea of Evelyn's current situation so he really wasn't worried.
His hooves searched for the other two, and when he got closer he grinned. She was pretty, very pretty....something about her made her glow more than usual but he couldn't exactly tell what it was. Of course, he hadn't been directly looking at her belly, and wouldn't even known what it was, if he had. Lavender eyes shot directly at Kureno when Bliss finally realized he was there, and he just stared. The stallion was younger...much, much younger than himself...and he did look a little angry. What was his problem? Jealous that Evelyn was giving him attention now?
Was this stallion Evelyn's mate? Hmm...the question rolled over in Bliss's mind for a moment until he remembered that he had news he had to tell her. "Oh? Great! Umm, me first!" He laughed, still looking at Kureno. He had wings, he couldn't ever compare to a young stallion with wings...
"Remember me telling you about my daughter? Vanilla Swirl...well, umm...she had babies a while ago, and now they're grown up so I'm already a grandfather, but that's not my story! Just tonight, actually...a few minutes ago, she told me she was pregnant again! Isn't that wonderful? More little foals for me to worry about, but geez Evelyn...she's making me feel old."
He paused for a moment and glanced back into the forest. Wherever he his daughter was at the moment, he suddently hoped she was alright. He feared if the little ones inside her would be okay.
"I just wish I could have something to make me feel young again. A Grandpa two times over. Can you believe it?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 9:36 pm
She could not help but feel a surge of relief. She had not wished to impose upon any life that Bliss had built for himself with another mare, as surely showing up and claiming that he was the father would do just that.
"My congratulations to her... I am sure her children are lovely." She could not help but be slightly shocked at his daughter's... fertility. How did she deal with the burden of carrying life inside her? How did she raise her foals? How did she know if... if she was doing something wrong in raising them? Did she have help? Was it the same stallion both times? She wouldn't ask any of the questions that burned at the edge of her tongue. It was not her place to pry... and she had a pregnancy of her own to deal with.
She saw the hesitancy in Bliss' stance, the way in which he eyed Kureno as though analyzing him. What did he think of...?
Evelyn nudged Kureno ever so gently, her breath hot against his neck. It was a silent plea to withhold judgment until he had heard what Bliss had to say when she... told him.
"Bliss..." No. Not yet... she wasn't ready yet. "... Let me introduce to you Kureno. He is... a good... friend... of mine." She smiled hesitantly, having labeled them as such for the first time aloud. She hoped only that Kureno would not mind.
She took a deep, steadying breath, one of many that night. "My news... Bliss, I... I'm pregnant."
He had asked for something that would make him feel young. Wouldn't fatherhood suffice?
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Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 10:15 pm
Upon hearing that the news was not what he expected, Kureno relaxed a bit, but still kept his fierce glare focused on the dark stallion. He noticed him judging his own appearance, and his hackles rose as he fought to silence a growl welling up in his throat. Apparently, he had no idea that he was treading upon thin ice already, and his current behaviour was not helping at all.
A brief, sympathetic glance was cast towards Evelyn as she gave him her news, turning to watch the brown stallion for any sort of innappropriate reaction that would give him an excuse to give him a well-deserved knock over the head (at the very least). He had no idea that his protective nature was causing him to look like he was Evelyn's mate- but to be frank, at the moment he didn't care.
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