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 Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 11:04 am
Bryanni walked the streets of Tree Haven with her saddle bags loaded. It was a crisp, chilly October day and trading was in full swing. If she hadn't needed ores so badly she would be up to her neck in work at the moment. Thank goodness for it, though. With two new mouths to feed she needed all the help she could get.
She smoothed out her gray sweater as she pushed her tired body on. It was hard doing it alone, but it was what she'd bargained for. What had been toughest of all was the pitying looks of her customers and the decrease of work when they thought she ought to take it easy. Pregnancy hadn't been all it was cracked up to be. There was no glow, no happiness and absolutely no knitting blankets by the fire. She'd worked the entire time, regardless of the risks and had gone into labor right in front of her cooling pit.
Trotting on the cobblestones lining the docks she made her way to her workshop. It wasn't relatively large, but it held up with all of her orders and had a good sized loft above for her housing. Of course, getting up the stairs over the past few months was hell. Adapted or not.
She smiled, though, when she looked down at the two saddel bags closest to her front. On either side of her was a sleeping babe, tucked in with thick blankets for warmth. It was coming up on a month, the time in which she'd need to pick out names for them. Bryanni brushed some hair off her son's face with a coo and trotted to the shipyard.
There was still so much work to be done.
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 1:19 pm
 It was odd really how despite the year that had passed everything still seemed the same as the day he had left. As he walked down the streets of Tree Haven, Storm felt like his journey home had been a dream. Even the warning wind that carried the chill of winter felt the same. Maybe he should have waited until spring to come back to this part of the Isles?
Storm frowned as he fixed the wool scarf that hung tightly around his neck. Coming back to open his shop down here seemed like a crazy idea now that he was here. Especially as he remembered the competition several streets down. In the desert he had earned his reputation years ago as one of the best blacksmiths, but here it was different.
Still he couldn't help but to smile as the door to his shop came into view. Just like everything else it was the same...well a bit dusty but the same as he had left it near a year ago. Pulling out a key the centaur opened the door and chuckled. "There's some dusting to be done." Especially with the customers who would be coming soon with news of the past year.
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Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2009 6:51 pm
(Area she stays in based on Bloodstone from Fable 2. Her shops the same as well, aka the one that the long, pointy stick thing on the ship is about to touch.)
"Oi, Bryanni! Get yer fat a** o'er 'ere and- Pfft. Ne'r mind. Ye got yer babes wit' you."
She frowned half-heartedly before breaking out into a smile. The old captian had been her life long friend in Tree Haven and raised her along side his boys. Of course, she only got to see them three weeks out of the year, but it was nice. "Yes I do, Samuel. We were out on a supply run. Got anything that needs mendin' before you ship out?"
"Now that you mention it, I certainly do." He disappeared off the side and returned a second later with a blanket brimming metal. "Been savin' for ye. Though, a few of the lads busted up some ol' pieces and took 'em to a dif'er'nt smith. Told 'em you wouldn't be 'appy."
"Well, I'm not!" She stepped back, waving him on as he lowered them down on a rope. The cobblestones here were slick, so she moved slowly and cautiously so as not to wake the children. "I'll have these to you by tonight."
"Nay, lass! We're not shippin' out til a fortnight. Take care of yer family and yerself." Samuel gave her a send off wave and disappeared.
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 12:54 pm
For the first couple of days back in Tree Haven, Storm had been perfectly fine and was even about to get back into the swing of things. That is until he had a rather talkative customer who had knew the other black smith nearby.
"You know, Storm-" The centauress giggled and poked her cervitaur friend as she looked at Storm, "You do remind me of the babe!"
"Eh?" Storm's hands tightened on his hammer as he fought to stay turned away from the females.
"Yeah! Your skin is such a rare sight around here and I couldn't help but to think of that smith's little babe. What was her name again....Bryanni something?"
Storm had immediately finished the final touches on the dagger and after ushering the customer out he left. The door to his looming smithy of stone was bolted shut behind him as he started down towards the docks, towards her place. Not possible, not possible...
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:11 pm
Bryanni loomed over the anvil, her apron pulled tight around her as she adjusted her gloves. This sword just wasn't turning out like what it should. She just couldn't seem to get in the groove of it, and she knew exactly why. Storm was back in. Gossip travelled fast and soon people would start putting two and two together.
Sighing, she whipped sweat off her brow with the back of her hand. What was she supposed to do? One could only hide a child for so long and even if her son didn't take after him greatly in coloration, he had his features.
She needed some fresh air. Even though her own shop only had half- walls surrounding it with beams for the loft, it felt stuffy and small. The centauress trotted out onto the street, stopping dead in her tracks with one hoof still up. Damn it! There he was, coming right for her! And hells fire if she hadn't been able to spot him in the crowd.
Bryanni didn't want him to see her at all, much less like this. She was covered in ash, grease oils and heavens only knew what else. Hesitantly, she back tracked, hoping he hadn't spotted her.
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Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 1:21 pm
Storm thought he spotted Bryanni but was intercepted by sailors, his own customers, before knowing if it was her for certain. After assuring that he had the orders done and ready for pickup tomorrow the centaur bolted from the docks.
Turning towards a row of buildings Storm started to slow down. Taking a deep breath the desert centaur walked towards Bryanni's workshop. After about ten minutes of confusion and incomprehensible thoughts Storm finally walked up the rest of the street.
After about three stops the centaur turned and walked back into the other streets. Maybe she isn't there... Finally after seeing that no one was near enough to see him, Storm went back up that way and froze at the sight of the place. Everything was so familiar...
Storm shook his head before calling out, "Hello?" He refused to enter or look around for her....for now.
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Posted: Sun Nov 01, 2009 5:33 pm
It wasn't like she was hiding or anything. She expected him to trot on in just like he did that night, but it seemed like...Storm was avoiding her and looking for her at the same time. Was that even possible?
The centauress leaned on the half-wall, tucking her hair behind her right ear. "Hello. I'm assuming that your not here for a friendly visit?" Bryanni said with a sigh.
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Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 2:04 pm
He nearly cursed as she chose to answer, yet something leaped inside of the centaur- Hope. "Hey." His gaze traveled to the ground and slowly raised as it noted Bryanni's hoofs. Then he was looking directly at her, eyes locked onto that beau- to her face.
"Depends." Storm's expression was neutral, torn between displeasure and faint joy. "It just seems like there's tales around here about babes. Something like one havin' my skin?"
A forced chuckle, "I'm no fool. Unless you want to try tellin' me that there's another desert centaur that's come through here? I know you're not that ea-" His eyes narrowed as he refused to finish, but hurt was clearly there. He just knew that they had to be his...his children? Such an odd thought, but why-why hadn't she told him?
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 11:20 am
Bryanni's breath caught. She wasn't going to cry, at least not infront of him, but the tears swam in her eyes anyway. It's easier to run because life is so much simpler than shame.
"Maybe, maybe not." She replied simply, softly with traces of regret. The centauress turned away from him to tinker with her tools. "What I do with my life is of no concern to you. Were it not for your moods, you wouldn't be here at all. I gave birth, Storm. But they are not yours."
They never will be. I will not put my children through the pain of having an absent father.
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:13 pm
"So it's true..." Storm paused completely stunned when Bryanni refuted his claim on her children. "My moods?" He managed shaking his head. What was that supposed to mean?! Anger flared through the centaur and his fist shot out.
Against a railing. He couldn't hit her after all. Bryanni was- Storm turned away from her, his expression dark. "Really? Not mine?" His voice shook with anger and something close to sorrow. "So I just had way with a part time whore then? I'm sorry, I guess I was just a fool to feel something that time. I never thought that you would just go around with anyone at anytime."
His hooves thudded against the ground in hasty steps as he fought the urge to race away in a gallop. Instead the desert centaur turned to Bryanni for one last look. "My face must really be a sour memory. But don't' worry there won't be any problems with looking at it. I'll leave after finishing off the already paid work. Goodbye, Bryanni."
In hurt, he left never once turning around.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Soon Haven Tree would be surprised to find that one centaur gone for far longer than usual. With time many would even start thinking that just perhaps, the Desert Blacksmith would never come back again.
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:36 pm
Bryanni kept her back to him with her teeth grinding against one another. It was so tempting to yell back at him, for not being there, for not checking in sooner, but she never wanted him. She still didn't, so why was she crying? The hurt was almost unbearable, exspecially when she could hear her pain mirrored in his own soul. Two halves of a whole that could never be joined.
Captain Samuel came and went many times over the adjoining seasons, each with a new treasure to brighten the day of his lonely maiden. Her eyes were sullen with shame, the shame she hadn't felt until he came along. It seemed the only time the blacksmith brightened was when she was around her children. They were her only reason for getting up in the mornings some days, but over time the hurt got easier to bear. She placated herself with thoughts of him taking another's hand.
And so, time came to this day.
"Mine, mine!" Khalidah snatched the largest apple out of her mother's basket and clutched it to her sweater, glaring daggers at her brother before giving him the cold shoulder.
"Khalidah." Bryanni chastised. "Thats the last of the fruit. You don't get the whole thing."
"But mmmooooommmmm I'm hungry."
"Then go to the market with your gold and buy some yourself." The older centauress snorted an equine manner before taking to the stairs. "Take Raiden! I don't want you two alone."
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:53 pm
He had promised himself that he would never come back to Tree Haven. So why was he standing there at the entrance? Leaves swirled around him as a breeze swept through enticing him to come forward. His body ached from the effort it took to not move. Why? Was he that truly that weak to temptation?
Maybe he should leave right now. There was no guarantee that... anyone in particular would still be here. The desert was his home, not here...right? Then why were his hooves pushing him forward into the all too familiar streets? The answer was simple, but he didn't admit it.
All that Storm could say to the empty space around him was, "I'm back."
Riaden stuck out his tongue in victory. "Share, share!" He repeated before looking over to his mother in astonishment. "Whyyyy mom? I don't wanna be Khalidah's stupid shadow."
He muttered to himself though. Raiden knew better than to argue with his mother. Especially when it came to these types of things. The boy huffed and looked at Khalidah, "I guess we better go then."
"But! I gets to look around too!" He quickly added while clutching at his small money pouch. There was no way that he'd waste his time looking over fruits and whatever other things his sister might like.
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:00 pm
"You'll look at what I want to look at or I'll...I'll spit in your soup!" Khalidah stuck her tongue out at Raiden. She hopped down from her perch in a mad dash to the street, away from her brother. The stares were there again, but with more fervor this morning, exspecially from the travellers. Pfft, like she cared. It was market day!
"Come on, brodda! The shops will close up by the time you get your chuffy bum out here." She put her hands on her hips and rotated around in a circle, pretending like she had a big belly. The child puffed out her cheeks.
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Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 6:11 pm
"Nahuh!" Raiden kicked out his small legs and started racing after his sister. He didn't even pause under the stares, like his sister they didn't concern him. Especially after being insulted by Khalidah. "My bum isn't chuffy! Khaliii!" Glaring the boy came to her and flicked her arm. "Jeez."
Raiden paused and gaped at the market. So many stalls and shops were open today! Excitement made the centaur boy laugh, "Oh, oh! Where should we go first?!" It even smelled delicious down this street. So many spices, Perfumes, and even sparkly things!
"Sooo amazeng."
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Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 12:35 pm
Khalidah hissed. "Owwie!" She gave her brother a raspberry before punching him in the arm. "Take dat, you knave!"
Her mottled gray coat buffeted around the shops and soon her eyes were glowing. Shopping without her mother there to penny pinch would be so fun! "I agree." Khalidah moaned, lolling her tongue out like some goofy wolf before licking her lips. "C'mon, I want some food." She grasped Raiden's hand and started off down the street.
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