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 Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 3:06 pm
Balgen was off exploring yet again. The call of the great open yonder just as the cusp of summer was approaching. Summer was definitely the time for fun and adventure. Winter and fall was the time of rescuing damsels in distress, but that time wasn't now. Now was the time for running through rivers, streams, and lakes. It was a time for nibbling freshly grown grass.
By now, his teepee mates had grown accustomed to his galloping off for weeks at a time. He sure was glad. He didn't have to feel like a fiend for making his family worry. His mind was free to take in everything he was seeing.
However, what he thought his eye had just flicked over was... awful familiar to a mare he had seen once recently before. Was it her again? His eye had ran past a shadow. He saw her in a shadow the last time as well. Did she just lurk in shadows? What did that tell him about her? He wasn't sure yet...
Time to go look into this matter...
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Posted: Mon May 25, 2009 4:42 pm
 Selena's head ached horribly. A violent headache was on its way. She walked through the dark forest, but not being able to enjoy the pleasant shade. She walked through the tall grass, not feeling hungry, and smelled the blooming flowers, worsening her pain. So she decided. I have to get out of this God forsaken forest and find some water, her head screamed with pain, making her wince, and sometime soon. She quickened her pace to a mid-gallop. But the pain is making her close her eyes more and more often, so she is in danger of breaking her leg on an unseen branch. So she slows back to her trot. She reaches the edge of the forest faster than she had expected. She takes a deep breath, preparing herself for the scorching sun which is ready to heat up her head once more. And her cool shade would no longer be there to protect her... She takes a bold step out and starts to run as fast as possible with her increasing pain. The wind helps slightly, but soon pangs of pain return. She can no longer run. She can't feel anything anymore. She collapses under the nearest tree. She can no longer think, her sight is blurred by the merciless pain. Sleep, I just want to sleep. And she closes her eyes right before she catches a glimpse of the stallion standing near her.
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Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 1:15 pm
Oh yes. As he drew closer to the mare, he recognized her. Thinking back to having that run in with her before, deep down he didn't feel any more reassured that she was a safe soquili anymore than he did then. However, here she was. She was on the ground looking quite broken or in great distress.
He lowered his nose close to hers to see if he could feel her breathing since he missed the obvious sign of her chest heaving. Feeling it on his muzzle, he stood up and looked at her. He flicked his tail as he tried to measure up her situation.
"Are you ok? Is there anything I can do for you?"
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Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 3:14 pm
Selena's head was in pure agony now. Not only had the little tree not provided very much shade, but the sun was at its highest peek in the sky, and not a cloud in sight. She was getting heat stroke, as well as a horrid migraine...
Her mind was spinning, she couldn't think or move. Even breathing became a terrible effort and sent spears of pain along her entire body. She kept hearing voices. Screams and murmurers. None of them could be understood. But they were driving her insane. For she knew where they were from.
They were from her past.
The screams were hers as her parents were being taken from her and as her adoptive mother kicked and threw her into stones and walls for not being obedient. The murmurs were from the depths of the forest. She never knew who created them, or who they belonged to. And she would never know. Snarls and hisses were from her adoptive family. She had never been accepted by them. She never would. So she ran away from them, still a foal. She ran away into the depths of the night, for shadows comforted her. They protected her from everyone else, as well as the hot sun which was always waiting to bring her back to this pain. Her dark color made her an easy target, and as soon as heat stroke came, these violent head aches were sure to follow.
But the shadows protected her. they were her friends. They were the only things that ever gave her love. They cared for her. No one else did. No one cared if she died. No one would ever love her. She might as well just stop this senseless fight...
Are you okay? Can i help....
But before she could let herself into the clutches of darkness and death, she would stop these horrible voices.
She opened her eyes and mouth to scream with the last amount of her energy.
But there the stallion stood. A worried expression on his face. Was he real? Did he care? Could he possibly care for some one that lurked only in the shadows?
Selena opened her mouth again to speak. But could only muster a whisper. "Hey there, have you come to rescue me? My knight in shining armor...."
And she smiles.
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Posted: Tue May 26, 2009 6:38 pm
"Do you require saving, M'lady? I would be most happy to oblige you with any assistance you require though you mocked me recently. Maybe I can show you that chivalry is not such a lost cause as you acted like you didn't believe... not that I know you well enough to discern if you meant it or not..."
He then sniffed around her to see if he could pick up a scent of anything that seemed poisonous or foul. You could never be too careful with any animals coming out of the forest looking rather ill.
He looked around them in the immediate forest to see if he could find a hallow branch or grooved in stone to take to the river that was a little ways off; the one he had only just passed not so long ago refreshing himself.
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Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 3:40 pm
Selena had no energy to answer him. She just shook her head weakly. She still did not know if she was dreaming or not. She was afraid to close her eyes, she feared that if she did, she would go back to her past, reliving the pain. She did not want this stallion to be a figment of her imagination. She wanted to believe that he really did want to help her. At least it seamed like it. But she still did not trust his gentle man like way of action and speech. She had taught herself to never trust anyone again. It only lead to pain and tears. And tears meant death.
She wanted to stand up and touch him, to smell him, even to hear him breathe. Anything to see if you was really there.
She watched him walk over to a hill with a rock. Was he leaving her? Did he want her to die? Was even real?
"C-come...back...."
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Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 5:29 pm
He eventually found a stone. It wasn't very big. It wouldn't hold nearly as much water as he'd hoped, and what with only having his mouth to carry it since hooves weren't good for that; he felt concerned with his ability to actually get any water over to her. Still, he stooped down to the lake and held the stone till it seemed it had enough water.
He returned even slower than he went away. He was trying so hard to becareful not to lose any water. As it was, he might have to make several trips to really revive her. If she had been parched from coming into the forest from the desert, then who knew how bad off she was. He knew the unforgiving heat those parts would attack a horse's mouth with.
He tried to lower his front hooves. It certainly was awkward to attempt to pour water into his mouth without losing hold of the stone. Too bad he didn't have one of those little furry friends some soquili did.
"Just hang in there a little longer, little lady." Well, that's what he was trying to say. He did have his teeth clenched on the stone, so it was hard to speak clearly at all.
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Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 6:06 pm
Selena saw the stallion returning to her with the stone in his mouth. He was coming back! He wanted to help her. She wondered what the stone was for... Then a drop of water fell to the ground.
He had brought her water...
She couldn't believe her eyes. He had understood her desperation for the liquid. And he had found a smoothed in rock, and walked to the stream just to get it for her. She was touched. She tried to regain her energy. She wanted to thank him.
By the time she had enough energy to speak once more, Balgen was already in front of her, trying to help her drink the water from the rock. He mutters something and nearly drops the rock. The cool water splashes on Selena's head and nose, and brings instant relief. But not for very long.
I wish i had enough energy to run over to that stream and dunck my head in...
But her pain soon returns. But she sighs in hope that a few more 'spills' will take her away from this torture.
She looks at Balgen warily, asking for more with her blue eyes.
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Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 6:17 pm
Balgen hung his head and shook it around. If he was some big brustling kalona type, he would be strong enough to nearly throw the lass over his back with his muzzle. However, that was not the case. He wasn't as muscular as some other stallions were. He scraped the ground with his right hoof as he tried to think of something he could do. Yet again, another set of hands or something would help...
He then grabbed the stone and ran as fast as he could to the lake. Then, he had to take that slowe walk back. He repeated this about two more times in a row. The last time, however, he tried somethign different. He slowly got all teh way down to the ground. He pressed the stone to her mouth, so that it would tip over and pour it in her mouth. Boy.. why didn't he think of this the first time.
Would it be enough to help her feel enough to get to the lake herself? That's probably what she really needed. "How's this? Is it better yet?"
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Posted: Wed May 27, 2009 6:29 pm
The water was magical. It restored energy every time the gentle stallion brought some. Soon she would be able to speak properly. Right now, all she could produce was a pathetic, "t-thank..you..."
After the third rock full of water, the stallion changed his tactic. He started pushing the water near her lips, letting her drink much more that previously. It gave her strength. She looked up at him, smiled, and trusted that she had enough energy to be clearly heard.
"I never did catch your name stallion."
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 1:28 pm
He smiled humbly. "Name's Balgen, M'Lady. You are most welcome. I certainly couldn't just go on about my day leaving you here to rot in the humidity."
He then went about trying to nudge around her body to help her into a position he could help her up. It wasnt' easy, and it was taking a while. He found himself he wasn't only bigger but stronger as well.
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Posted: Thu May 28, 2009 2:12 pm
Selena smiled to herself. Balgen...hmm...
She winced as the blinding pain returned. She groaned a little, but quietly enough so that he would not hear. She felt strange. Usually she would loathe herself for letting the headache and heat stroke get out of hand. That she let herself fall into this state once more. But this time she felt comfortable with this stallion. She still did not completely trust his kindness....She wouldn't fall for it that easily.
She was however very much in debt for his help. She watched him nudging her. She wanted to be of some help, to move a little, just to make things easier for him. Suddenly, he nudged her on her chest, under her handkerchief. Her body screamed and she caught her breath.
"Please...not there," she hissed through clenched teeth.
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 1:24 pm
His eyes flew open, and he froze instantly. His eyes were boggling, and he felt overwhelmingly concerned. "Are you injured as well? Is it a mortal wound?"
Well that would explain things a bit. So maybe she was both dehydrated and wounded? He just stopped where he was and stared at the stone he had watered her with. Maybe more? But, it'd be easier and much more effecient just to get her to the lake. The sun was still high in the sky, but the waters of the lake were very cool and refreshing.
He was yet again wishing he knew what he could do. He tried to think what his adoptive brother, Vohamanah would say in a time like this. He had always felt some level of inferiority to Voha, but he always respected Voha's optimism. It would generate ideas and possibilities in a depressing situation. He wished hard that he could think that way right now.
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Posted: Fri May 29, 2009 2:42 pm
There is no pain
There is no pain
There is no pain!
Selena repeated this in her head. She could feel the sting of the sudden pain down her spine. But she knew it was not there. It wasn't pain. Not pain. Not real. Not real pain....
She could see herself running. Running away. Blood running down her chest. Her face paling to a dark gray. Her small body was too exhausted. She could no longer run. Her silver hair was a light in the dark. They would find her. they would take her back. She didn't want to go back...
NO. She stopped the memory in the middle. She would not let herself go back to those times! She had found a home. A real home. Here. With her two legger. The two legger that saved her. And this stallion was trying to save her. Balgen was trying to save her. He was...
The shock finally came that her was infact real. And he cared. She looked into his worried eyes.
"No...Im not injured at present," she used her nose to move her handkerchief out of the way, revealing a large, shining scar, "this is what hurts me so..."
She knows she will just confused the stallion into thinking that it is a recent wound. When the truth is, its years old. Only the scar remains.
"It no longer hurts. Its the memories it brings back that do..." And she knows she's said to much.
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Posted: Tue Jun 02, 2009 2:49 pm
Wow... Maybe optimism wasn't entirely for the birds. Could coupling some with his chivalrous demeanor work wonders he hadn't really believed? He was starting to think so. Seeing this wound on her, he wondered. Can wounds this old still hurt someone so bad? He had no way to know. None of the horses in his herd bore those sorts of injuries.
"Well, I think the best thing we can do for you is to get you over to this here lake over yonder. Then, we can let you soak real good in there. I bet the cool water will do a lot to make you feel better. Summer can be harsh on horses. What with our pelts being so thick, and having hair everywhere. We aren't like the two leggers who can just whip all our hair up when it's hot. And, you're all extra dressed up with your hat and all..."
He looked at the water, and then he tried to boost her up again feeling just a little more determined to help her make it over there.
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