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 Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2008 4:05 pm
 Aleksei could almost see herself in the reflection of the full moon. It shone pale against her crimson fur, fading it pink and giving the gold that adorned her neck and legs like winding serpents an eerie glow.
She was the protector. The one to battle the evils of the world. It was in her blood; her family.
Slowly, the Angeni descended, landing in wet sand with a soft 'swoop'. Wings curled tight against her sides as she began to make her way by hoof. She was lost in her own thoughts, headed into the ocean. Waves lapped at her fetlocks, driving them back and then dragging them in.
She'd killed today.
It wasn't a rarity for her, and it was for good reason. If allowed to roam the earth without a chain, the dirty dogs might just get struck down.
It didn't take the sticky feeling of blood from her already red fur. Just because she couldn't see it... A shiver ran down her spine. The thick syrup was washed away. The water took it away, diluting it, making it thinner and thinner until it was nothing but water itself. The animals would continue to swim and bathe and dance in the water during the daylight hours.
Only she would know.
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Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 4:05 am
Maion flapped his mighty wings silently, he loved the night, the moon shimmered so magnificently on his black and white markings. As the light sparkled on his star markings he swore that he saw them move and shimmer with an equal beauty of the sky above. But surely moving markings were impossible. Flying above the Ocean, his protective urges flooded over him like a mighty wave, he felt drawn to the ocean more than anywhere else in the world. It was a place of tranquillity and unspoken beauty, and each wave crashed onto the shore he was reminded of its hidden power. He longed to be like the Ocean ever since his mother had passed away. To be seen as tranquil, respected by those around yet with a hidden strength reminded him of the presence his mother had always exhibited on their explorations. She had gifted him with her markings and domain, knowing this he swore he would always strive to keep it safe. He would often spend hours simply circling the waves, watching his reflection move as a dark blur upon the surface. It was as if he never existed, this silent guardian of the Ocean.
He looked up to the sky above; the stars indicated that he had been circling the ocean for hours now. Exhaustion was starting to set in so he swooped towards the land once more; it was basked in a gentle ambiance from the Moon. Yet as his eyes did their normal scan of the waves he noted a creature that did not belong. It seemed to be moving deeper into the waves, unsure what to make of the situation he changed his course to intercept its own.
With each movement he gained upon it, a sudden shock flooded his body as the realisation of what the creature actually was become clear. A female Angeni? His mind tumbled with questions about the cause of her presence here when suddenly his eyes spotted patches of darkness floating gently across the waters surface, he recognised it as blood. Was she bleeding?
Protective urges flexed in his muscles as he swooped closer to her with a true purpose, without thinking he flew before her and used his powerful wings to disturb the waves around her, he was attempting to clear it away so that he could see the extend of her wounds. As he attempted to part the waves he spoke in his strong voice that echoed in the vastness of the Ocean. "What are you doing here?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 10:10 am
Her heart beat against her ribcage in a steady 'thump-thum, thump-thum' rhythm. Eyes closed, muzzle aimed at the moon as she waded in deeper and deeper. Hooves left solid ground, treading water instead. As the water cascaded over her back, she spread cerise wings and stretched them out, upwards, as if praising the Heavens.
Her heart danced within her chest as she swam, shoving herself out deeper with each kick. Her wings broke the water's surface, going under for a moment before she brought them up once more. Beads dripped from red feathers and they were flicked off.
The water was cool, but nice. It was cleansing, and though she would never be wholly clean, she'd go as deep as she could, as far as she could, to cleanse her fur.
Ear-wings flicked forwards, her breath freezing in her chest as the other spoke. She should've heard him coming... What if he'd been a Kalona?
Skin prickled and a shiver ran down her spine. No. Surely she was better than that... She was just...tired. A wave of fury rippled over her as she turned to swim back to shore.
"I'm swimming... Do you have a purpose here, or are you a self-appointed god as well?" The words were spoken softly, almost innocently, though that was not as she'd intended. Who did he think he was, sneaking up on her?
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Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 11:21 am
He watched her curiously, although it had defiantly been droplets of blood that he had recognised floating gently on the waters surface as they dispersed he was unsure exactly where the blood had come from, she seemed unharmed, physically at least.
Her words where chilling to his ears, yet there seemed to be no malice in them, he signed softly had he been mistaken about her needing help? Or was he perhaps hoping that this evening had a little more excitement that the silence of the previous ones. Although he did not like fighting or the thought that others where injured he did enjoy seeing them leave his care once they where healed and healthy once more. He ran her words through his mind again and again, do you have a purpose here, or are you a self-appointed god as well. Unsure exactly what she meant by that he sighed and followed her slowly, beating his wings effortlessly to say floating in the sky just above her. “Not at all, I thought perhaps you where in trouble.” He hesitated for a moment before speaking once more “I saw the blood droplets on the Oceans surface.”
Allowing himself to enter the water he stopped beating his wings as intensely so that he drifted towards the Oceans surface before entering it calming, the ripples moved softly away from his body. He looked towards her as he walked gently on the sandy surface below. Cocking his head ever so slightly he looked at her, she was surprisingly beautiful and it took him aback for a second or two before smiling and asking, “Are you ok?” He was genuinely concerned for her, not just because she had entered his domain of the Ocean.
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Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 11:54 am
Mmm... A self-appointed god of the sea, perhaps? That might explain his hovering. But...why would an angeni scout the ocean? What was his purpose? It wasn't as if he could go under; he'd need Mer gills for that.
He doesn't need a reason, her inner-voice hissed. Why would any sane female Angeni hunt Kalona? Aleksei winced visibly. She had a talent for hitting herself where it hurt, but the analizing was over. He was an observer of the sea. The end.
"In trouble..." She gave a small chuckle at his words. In trouble... When had she been in trouble last? The bloodsplattered village, where she took out the alpha's pureblooded son? Where she curled the lone surviving filly under a wing and hurried her out of harm's way, in case the pack would come back? Where she spent several long days on the ground, leading her scent astray so that if the demons from her nightmares returned, perhaps they wouldn't follow so closely?
But her laugh died down at his following sentence: 'I saw the blood droplets on the Ocean's surface'. Like a jab in the face. Aleksei pinned her ears as he slid seamlessly into the waters. He'd seen the blood... It was almost accusing to the mare. But he is worried about you. Just say that you got a scratch... But a scratch wouldn't cause this amount of blood...
She felt sand underneath her hooves at last and it wasn't until then that she realized she was tired, her muscles sore. Yes, I'm fine. I was injured earlier this week, but miraculously better now. I just wanted to clean up, now, if you don't mind, I'll be on my lonely way.
The inner-voice taunted her. With a shriek of anger -- at herself, at her weakness -- she plunged through the calm waters, past the stranger and onto the beach where she stopped, dripping. After a moment her wings unfurled and she looked at him.
"I'm...alright. Care to walk?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 12:26 pm
He watched her actions closely as the wadded slowly back towards the shore, it was nice to be in the water again yet for some reason he was paying them no attention, his focus was on the red Angeni, she seemed slightly unsettled to him. In an attempt to prevent her from reading his actions and thoughts he kept a plain gentle smile on his mouth similar to a crescent Moon.
The wings mounted on his head fluttered softly as he walked softly on the sandy ground, his hooves left small imprints in the sand with each step. Although he was no expert of body language he felt there was something out of place, something wrong with her. Allowing his view to catch the stars that twinkled softly in the sky above he allowed his thoughts to wander to his Mother, she had taught him never to take a situation at face value, but at the same time she had also said that you could trust most of the Angeni breed as long as they where pure, that was the one notion of hers that he despised, surely love knew not the restrictions of a breed. Removing the thoughts from his mind he looked at her, she wanted to walk? Nodding in agreement of the proposition he bowed his head to her indicating that it was her prerogative to lead the way.
Silence was his defence. Silence was bliss.
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Posted: Sat Oct 11, 2008 4:37 pm
You're insane and he sees it, they laughed at her as she walked. Ear wings were pinned back in her defense and with each step, she curled her wings closer to her body. She wasn't cold. She was afraid.
Why would she be having such an adverse reaction? So he was another Angeni. So he started talking to her. What did it matter? She'd met several others, wings or no wings, and had no problems, at least not the problems she had now.
Although, she was starting to listen and rely on the voice more and more.
Unable to stomach the silence anymore, she turned to Maion, ears pinned against her skull but eyes cast downwards. "If...you knew what I did, you would think I was insane..." She paused, then looked him in the eye, taking a breath. "Do you?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 1:38 am
Maion walked slowly next to her, he noted that his hooves dug deeper into the sand than hers. He could feel his muscles rippling with each movement. He had been known to reserve his words during many conversations; it was always his choice to observe the actions of others, he had learnt a lot from reading body language. Yet as he watched and listened her words reached him, there where strange, laced with emotions he did not recognise. It seemed something troubled this mare, something beyond his control and knowledge.
The breeze blew coldly towards them, carrying his main and tail with it, it flowed like the waves on the Ocean flickering back and forth. Stopping in his tracks he looked at her, attempting to make out the secrets she told, her eyes were a magnificent shade of red, like small jewels that twinkled in the reflection of the light, yet it was not happiness he recognised in them but sadness. He ran her words through his mind, If you knew what I did, you would think I was insane. He did not understand, but surely she had done nothing he would deem as insanity, there was also her question, it was strange like words spoke before their time they did not seem to fit, do you? Was he suppose to know already of her actions and deeds? Impossible. Smiling softly at her he moved his head towards her own and used his muzzle to nuzzle her neck reassuringly. "Never," he spoke, his words where as gentle as he could make them but laced with a soft sincerity. He knew little about her; he could not judge her to insane.
Drawing away from her he watched her movements, perhaps she was exhausted after such a long day and that had caused her to ask obscure questions. "I live near here," he smiled, pausing only for a moment to turn his head towards the Mountain and the cave that was just visible in the blanket of darkness that surrounded it, "if you want I will guard you while you rest."
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Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:06 am
Ear-wings flattened as his muzzle neared her, then brushed up against his neck. Her breath hitched in her throat as she scrambled to remember the last time she was touched, the last time someone made the first move. She, Aleksei, was always the first to do these things: she was the one to brush against another, to ease their fears as she pretended she had none. The last time someone had nuzzled her? It had to've been her father, when she'd left her herd. How many months had passed since then?
Part of her wanted to pull away from this strange stallion's touch. What right did he have? She was perfectly fine on her own!
Never... One single word.
She glanced out from under bangs at him, surprised at his offer. She could be the enemy that he didn't know about. She could be a killer, moreso than what she was, and he didn't fear that? Not that she would.
Slowly, she nodded and then shook her head. "How far would you go..." She paused to consider the situation, long-since noticing the stallion seemed to favor the Ocean. "If a little Kelpi was being torn apart by the Dark ones, right here on this beach? What would you do...?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:48 am
He watched her, her actions seemed alien to him as if something troubled her yet he did not know the cause of it or the reasons why he suspected such things. Trying to suppress them he listened intently to her question. It was a strange thing to ask, yet it didn’t surprise him, everything she had said so far seemed to be slightly out of the usual to him. But this question was different; it stung at his insides like an unwanted chill of terror.
Images flashed rapidly in his mind, the same thing over and over again. A Kalona attacking a Mother, relieving her of her life as her three foals watched in terror. He had not been quick enough, strong enough to save her. That was a mistake he would not make again in a hurry, never again would he allow his weakness to harm another creature. He knew what he would do to save the Kelpi, it was written in his face, and would be the same as he had done that day in his rage. "I would fight." Trying to suppress his memories and rage he looked at her, eyes twinkling with a strange kindness and trust, a small smile peeled across his face as he spoke again although he knew that what he was about to say was important and a matter to be taken seriously he could not allow his rage to take control, "to the death if needs be. That is my duty. To protect."
Unsure how she would react to his answer, he waited and watched patiently. Only time would reveal her intentions.
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Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 12:55 pm
Ears flicked back and forth as she waited for his reply. She felt a wave of uncertainty shed from the other Angeni, followed by a brief slap of rage. Rage at her? At her questions?
Rage at your brash insanity, laughed the voices, but she shook her head in response to that one. She was silent, watching the stranger with no name, watching him relive some inner battle.
"To the death..." she repeated after him, giving a sigh. It was one of relief and inner tensions released. A smile lit up her face, a strangely relieved smile.
"If I told you of a family that trained their children to fight, to face the Dark ones and the Pelted ones, to protect the innocent and wash away the pain...what would you think of their daughter?" Her voice was soft, almost haunted as she peered at him.
"I am Aleksei, protector of the innocent...no matter what the cost. The blood you saw earlier was my foe's." She lowered her gaze and shook her head. "I'm sorry."
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Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 1:18 pm
Watching and listening to her every word he absorbed them softly, he felt as if they had something in common. Although he knew little of his Father he had always been informed that he was a great warrior who strived to protect the innocent, he was a day lover the complete opposite to his Mother. She had always taught him to withhold the same virtues in life, to be honourable, trusting, valiant, all key features of a true protector. When she had died he took on her role over the Ocean, he loved to watch it at night and through his years of protecting the waves he has saw lots of blood, it floated in droplets on the surface until the crushing power of the waves changed it back into water. Sighing he refocused his attention on the red Angeni beside her, once again she asked such a strange question. He could not fault anyone who was taught in such arts; after all he himself had had a similar training. “I would support such training and offer to protect such a daughter.”
Suddenly as she continued he realised that she was the daughter of which she had spoken. Stopping in his tracks his lowered on leg and brought his head closer to the ground in a low bow, “A pleasure.” Standing tall once more he looked directly at her attempting to catch her line of sight for even a moment. “My name is Maion, guardian of the Ocean and the innocents it reveals.” He felt slightly silly in copying the method in which she had introduced herself, titles seemed meaningless, and actions spoke much louder.
Her apology reached his ears swiftly yet he was a little confused why she was doing so, still smiling he looked to the sky, the stars twinkled softly and the Moon left the world in a soft ambiance of delight. “The stars are said to hold our destinies, pulling the strings that determine who meets who and when. You have nothing to apologise for it was fate who brought you here this night.” Bring his gaze back to the world around him he continued to walk in their previous direction with no destination in mind he wondered how far they would wander.
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Posted: Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:17 pm
Aleksei's great-grandmother was the one who had started the tradition. After such a small foal season -- two baskets born instead of twenty -- they were kept hidden, to protect them. Shortly after the births, the herd was ravaged by a pack of Kalona, leaving the baskets to hatch on their own and when they did, it was to a bloodbath.
Sekkitol, a crimson and onyx pelted mare, was rescued by an elderly Angeni called Synn, who taught her the way of the warrior. He taught her how to use her anger to her benefit; how to kill the corrupt.
That's how the family began. Sekkitol's son took on her duties once she was too old. His son did the same. And then Aleksei was born.
“I would support such training and offer to protect such a daughter.” The words were spoken truthfully. A pang hit her heart. She walked beside him, slowly becoming content, when he bowed.
Leksei rocked back on her hindquarters, raising a forehoof in surprise. Mane fell into her face as she tilted her head, a smile growing upon her lips as he continued to speak. Maion... It fit him...
And it fit even more, the words of Fate. Kismet. "So our meeting was destiny... Why would the stars and the moon bring us together, Maion?"
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Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 8:43 am
Maion didn’t for a moment remove the smile from his face; he had always considered such actions as polite and comforting to those around him as he knew his breed and giant form often scared those around him. Flapping his mighty wings for a moment he brought them tightly back to his sides, their tips where still wet from his dip in the Ocean but it was s discomfort he would have to bare. As he ran their conversation so far through his head he was sure he had never met a creature as complex at the one that stood before him, he had met several Angeni females recently on his travels yet each had been plain in comparison, something about this particular one had caught his attention.
As he listened he heard a slightly normal question leave her lips, perhaps her riddled questions where over, perhaps he had either proven or disproven his worth yet he didn’t know which, it was hard to tell what this particular creature was thinking. Each step he took was gentle and well calculated, his hooves digging softly into the sand below as it started to shift into grass and dirt, there where leaving his domain, every time he did that his heart felt slightly heavy, a strange longing to return yet he knew he would return eventually.
The words from her question played over and over in his mind like some deranged musical tune; he did not know the answer… not yet anyway. That was the sort of thing only time could reveal. He turned his mighty head towards her, the muscles in his neck rippled and flexed, "I am afraid I do not know Aleksei" yet he would not allow this question to defeat him, it seemed somehow important. Thinking it over in his mind he wondered when he would know such an answer, pausing for a moment he listened to the waves and the wind they moved with an elegance, two separate entities that when pushed together worked in perfect harmony. A harmony unmatched by anything else he had witnessed. His eyes attempted to match her own one more time as he spoke, his voice strong, "Ask me again when the Sun rises."
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Posted: Mon Oct 13, 2008 11:20 am
She moved silently, watching him. Her mind kept going back to the big stallion's bow and how...warm it felt as he offered his name to her. It was as if they were already friends and not strangers. How could a simple Angeni have this effect on her? she quietly questioned.
As Maion flapped his wings, she spread hers as well, flexing them outwards in a full stretch; even the gauzy half-wings at her sides. A breeze swirled from the Ocean, raking invisible fingers through her feathers, making her shiver slightly and she tucked her wings back in to keep herself warm.
They left the beach, the soft thudding of their hooves even more muffled by the grass. Aleksei stopped, gazing back over her shoulder, then towards her companion. He didn't want to leave; she could feel it in the air.
Ask me again when the Sun rises... The salty wind blew against her mane, against the stiffness of her drying coat.
"I will, Maion," she murmured. "But until then, we need to rest." Her ears flicked back and forth as she assessed the situation. It wouldn't kill her to sleep the night through. She wasn't tracking anyone and who knew when she'd get to rest again. "I would be...honored to have you sleep beside me."
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