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Click. Click. Clip-clop. Click. Click. The sound of teeth snapping grass blades followed by hooves against loose gravel was rhythmic. There was sparse grass shoots on the gravely beach and the lavender stallion had to keep moving to get at them. Lilac eyes scanned the beach and the brush that isolated him from the forest. The Unicorn didn’t care to be snuck up upon, less time to runaway. He was a lover, not a fighter after all. He smirked, his lion’s tail twitching, he was definitely a lover. Chuckling to himself he shook his head and went back to his grazing.
After another minute or so he lifted his head staring up at the rising moon, he absently wondered how it could look so small yet give off so much light. And offer up so many romantic scenario’s He smiled to himself, a green lock falling across his eyes, yeah the only thing on the stallion’s mind was romance and lovin’, who had time for anything serious?
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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 wasn't aware of the unicorn that joined her on the beach; he wasn't the enemy, so why should she worry?
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So focused Lyle was on the moon that he almost missed the descending shape, but he caught it just barely. Turning his head he watched as it landed on the beach. Narrowing his eyes he realized that the it was another horse, a winged horse to be specific. From the distance he couldn’t discern the variety of wings it had. Hmmm, I wonder if it’s a girl He grinned to himself and started forwards. If it happened to be a stallion he’d most likely run off, but if it was a mare- well, then he’d have to introduce himself.
When he got close enough he flared his nostrils and grinned, that was definitely a female scent. “Hello there, beautiful!” He stopped a couple feet away, his eyes glittering with playfulness. “The moon sure is pretty tonight, though it’s not nearly as pretty as you.” He winked at her before continuing. “I’m Lyle, what’s your name, Red?” He smiled at her.
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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...
She jumped as a male's voice resounded towards her, inclining her head his way with a flick of a feathered ear. A Unicorn. Harmless. She let herself relax, listening to his words.
An eyebrow rose as she turned to this 'Lyle'. "I'll admit the moon is breathtaking," she murmured slowly, unsure of the flattering statement. "But I must disagree. I'm called Aleksei, the protector."
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Aleksei It was a beautiful name suited for a beautiful mare. Lyle didn’t even notice the blood on her coat, although it was dark and her coat was already red, he wouldn’t have noticed it even if her pelt was white as snow. He was too busy being entranced by her red eyes. “As are you, Aleksei.” His lavender lion’s tail curled up and then flicked outwards as he watched her. After a moment he looked away, looking out over the water.
His purple eyes made their way back to the mare and he smiled. “So, what brings you to the beach, Red?” He pawed at the pebbles that passed for sand, watching her curiously.
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The Angeni closed her eyes, feeling his stare. She merely kept her head forwards, looking out to sea as if she could see anything with eyelids covering ruby eyes.
She shied away from his carressing glance with a snort, ears flicking back. "It's not Red. If you're going to insist on a pet name...Ruby. Like the gem around my neck?"
She paused and turned on him, wings flaring outwards. "See it? Got it? Good. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to bathe."
Aleksei moved away from him, though she was sure he'd follow her, through the sand and right into the ocean. She kicked out with her hind legs, burrowing her body into the water, wings dipping inwards as she let out a contented sigh.
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At the snort and the snappy retort Lyle’s eyes widened in surprise. Well now, she had some spice to her. “Alright, alright, no need to get your feather’s ruffled, Red- Ruby” He smiled at her, unaware that he might be making her feel uncomfortable.
He laughed as she blew him off, he was used to that, but he was a persistent stallion. The lavender Unicorn followed after the Angeni, just behind and to the side of her.
Luckily, the water didn’t bother him and he slid into the waves right after her. “Mind if I bathe with you? I promise not to peek.” He winked at her with a chuckle, eyes passing over the stars and the moon, but not her- he did promise after all. After a moment he spoke again. “So, was it a stallion that gave you the pretty bauble around your neck?”
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Aleksei had to have spice to get by with her bloodline. It was both a gift and a curse...and no one could find out about it, either. At least not until she was settled in this new place.
She didn't bother replying to him -- even if she'd told him 'Get lost, scumbag', she didn't think he was the type to listen. Indeed, he followed her in but not once did his gaze resume on her. She was thankful for that; a suitor was not what she needed. A psychiatrist was.
She felt a smile rise on her lips as she swam in small circles. The gems that adorned her with precious, but no just because they were gold. "Indeed," she piped up, eager to see his reaction. "Where I come from, I practically bathe in men; I can get my wants and needs fulfilled without the bother of commitment or conception. There are tons of us gals there too... It's really a shame you have no wings, else I might take you back with me."
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He couldn’t help it, when she said the gift was from a stallion he looked down at her, that was disheartening. He was hoping she was free as a bird, made everything that much simpler. When she continued on he grinned.
“Beautiful, I can fulfill all your wants and needs, I’m beggin’ ya, just give me a chance.” He grinned and swam closer to her circling around her. “I don’t need wings to follow you to this paradise, you speak of. You fly and I’ll walk, or swim doesn’t make much of a difference to me.”
He winked at her, even though he was completely serious. He didn’t mind some hard work if it meant he’d end up getting some tail, or even just some cuddlin’ under the moonlight. He wasn’t one to pass up some good ol’ fashion cuddling.
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"Oh you're so infuriating!" she squealed, splashing water towards him with a large wing. Ears were flat against her skull but on the inside she was laughing. He matched her step for freaking step.
"Of course the gems were given to me by a stallion," sighed the mare finally, giving one more stride before she hit the pebbles in a trot. "My father. I'm his only daughter."
In all honesty, she'd never had a true suitor. Sure, some stallions looking for a piece of tail. Winged or not, any man wanting her time and energy would behave like a civilized being. Not scum, thanks much.
She stopped to shake, feeling the weight of water in her tail. A gold hoof struck at the ground as she pounded the wet from her wings with two beats, then turned to look at the lavender uni once again. "Since you're here...mind showing me around?"
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He grinned, laughing as water splashed over him. “That’s a new one, usually I get called charming and affectionate.” He grinned, she wasn’t really angry with him, he’d never had a mare get truly angry with him. He thought himself much too charming for that.
When the true identity of the stallion came out a rare true smile graced his muzzle. “I’m sure he’s proud of you,” the smile turned into a small smirk and he couldn’t help himself. “Fulfilling your wants and needs must be a hard job.” He winked at her, before following her out of the water.
He gave himself a good shake off, getting as much water off as he could. He watched her as she did the same, water flying from her wings. Catching her question he grinned. “I did say I would fulfill all your wants and needs, if you want to be shown around then it’s my pleasure.” He grinned moving to stand beside her. “Anywhere in particular you’d like to be shown first? There’s a very pretty meadow not to far from here, lots of flowers and things. If pretty doesn’t suit you- which I must say it doesn’t, beautiful suits you much better- there’s some barren strips of dead forest off to the east.” He chuckled, watching her for an answer.
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Charming and affectionate. Of course.
The hunter snorted. Perhaps all males were the same -- ornery little buggers who would woo and coo you until they got in your pants, then they were off once again, to find the next fancy lady.
The wings adorning her ears flicked backwards as she shook her head, ignoring him for the most part. It wasn't as if she was going to -argue-. Her father was proud of her...in a way.
"Of course it's a hard job. No mare should be taken lightly. We've got more emotions than you boys. They need tended to, just like us."
Aleksei listened to her options. A meadow, where he'd try and impress her with his knowledge of flowers, mayhaps. Or the beautiful barren strips of dead forest, where she might run into a kalona.
The hunter within her growled, a wolven sound. "We'll take the dead forest," she decided with a sharp nod. Just wait until the stallion saw her true nature... He'd run.
They all did.
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Lyle chuckled, oh yes, he knew about female emotions and them needing tending. He didn’t speak this out loud though, not wanting to come on too strong.
His lion’s tail swayed in the light breeze as the Unicorn waited for the Angeni’s decision. The lavender stallion’s ears flicked catching the growl, that was new. Lyle had a feeling it was best not to mention it, ladies didn’t like that sort of thing being pointed out to them. “Alright, the dead barren forest it is.” He grinned and headed in that direction.
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