[PRP] Atmosphere - Copena and Hard Tack

[LunaRei_SilverBlood]

Copena walked slowly alone the path. It was dark out, and the sound of the trunk on her rear caused her ears to twitch with its creaking. Her tail, littered with a couple black roses dragged along the ground. Her head fell forward, her long hair slipped along her neck, and the larger metal ring on her hair, weighted it down.

Her white eyes looked around, tasking in the forest. Her eyes were like a torch or white light, glowing and lighting up where she walked. She knew this route pretty well. There were no cemeteries, which mean she could be relaxed.

A little voice from the trunk of the tree sounded. "You should walk with more pride." And then a flutter, Kirkyard emerged and sat himself upside down on a branch. "Walking like that is asking to get eaten.

Copena glanced back at him, and pretty much ignored him. She didn't want to start trouble with him. And her little friends around her feet moved amongst her shadows and chirped.  

[junglerunner]

There was snow on the ground, only an inch but the wind was icy and though it wasn't a howling it was enough to cause the stallion a great deal of pain. The flesh that had been effected during the incident seemed to lack the properties to heal itself and so he ended up with constant open sores on his legs. During the summer months since arriving back from the desert they had burned in the heat. The cool autumnal months had been a welcomed relief but now this bitter cold chilled him to the extent that it felt like he had wolves biting at his legs.

His mood was constantly dark and noxious but now with this never-ending pain his mood deepened to despair. His breath rasped and the cold caused his chest to tighten making it harder than usual to breath, often to leading to frequent coughing and wheezing. He continued to walk onwards, looking for some cover so he could rest a while in a sheltered environment, lifting his hooves just heigh enough out of the snow that he wasn't going to slip, the black hair hanging wet and lightly crystallized about the edges.

When suddenly, his ears flickered forwards, the sound of soft crunching indicating another soquili in the area. He lifted his head from it's lowered position, mainly having been focused on his footing and he glanced about. Amber eyes came to rest upon a a strange looking mare. He did not really care for the company of others but something instantly caught his interest, she had a black sort of aurora about her, with strange little shadowy creatures following in her wake. Also she had what appeared to be a tree like structure growing upon her back, he had never seen anything like it. Hard Tack had enough troubles of his own and rarely did he concern himself with the woes of others but something about the mare instantly pulled the strings that still kept the old part of who he was in place and he approached the female slowly and announcing himself between rasping breaths, 'Hello there.' He coughed quite harshly, his throat having not been worked for a while, did not like the initial form of exercise.

 

[LunaRei_SilverBlood]

Kirkyard was the first to respond to the stallions voice. Though, not directly to him. But to Copena. "Hey look, there's a horse trying to talk to you." He flapped his wings, and circled the mares head. :You should stop and talk with him."

"..." Copena didn't have anything to say to Kirkyard. Deep down she knew he was right, but... Why did it have to be a stallion? Lifting her luminescent eyes from the ground, they landed on the stallion. Copena was taken back by his appearance. He could very well be dangerous! She took a couple steps back from him. The flesh in his legs had been seared away...

Kirkyard used his weight to try and push her forward, but a bat and a horse where quite different in size and strength. He fluttered from behind her, and over to the stallion who was coughing. "Don't mind her. She's shy."

Copena gave Kirkyard a look. How dare he be so familiar with a strange stallion. Especially one that looked the way he did. But, Copena couldn't bring herself to say anything against it. So much for her relaxed walk.

"H-h-hello..." Her voice stuttered, and meekly at that. Was it even loud enough for the stallion to hear? She tried to not let her eyes rest on his legs, for their glow was a dead give away to watch she was looking at. Her little shadow friends danced around her hooves and sneered over at the stallion. Aslong as he didn't get to close, she could keep breathing easy.

She could feel herself panicking. She often just wanted to be left alone. Her brother was the only one that she ever felt comfortable around, and she hadn't seen him him a rather long time. She figured her freakish form scared him off like it did many of the others that use to be her friends. It was only matter of time for this stallion too, if he wasn't there to harm her. She kept jumping to extreme conclusions, not even thinking to give the other horse a chance.  

[junglerunner]

His eyes became fixed to hers as she focused in on him after announcing himself. He noted the strange white light that seemed to emit from then, not much different from the harsh amber light which streamed from his like a circle cross-hair. She backed away from him and he noted the fear in her eyes then and anger rose in him and bile churned in his stomach, he had not been born this way, no his own stupid inquisitive nature as a colt had turned him into the foul beast he was now and thus caused his own kind to turn and flee from him. He looked down at himself staring at the open wound on the back of his left foreleg and a deep hateful growl formed in his throat and as he lifted his head he coughed forth a large cloud of greenish smoke which coloured every breath he exhaled and he laughed bitterly which soon turned into a collection of harsh coughs and caused him to bend his forelegs and hang his head with the dry pain that tore at his throat and nasal passages.

When he managed to draw enough clean air into his lungs and calm himself enough that the pain subsided his caught the black flutter of wings about his head and twisting it slightly his caught sight of the bat hovering over him. Lifting his head his focused on the small creature as he proclaimed that the mare was shy. He smiled softly, reminiscent of his old self and replied quietly to the bat his voice dry and still recovering, 'I would not blame her for backing away from me, shy or not.' He said this while all the time keeping his eyes on her and then he focused on the bat, 'It pays to be cautious.' he advised before focusing all attentions on the mare.

He did not approach her to close the gap she had just created, he would allow her to approach should she feel comfortable but he did not like the idea of raising his voice to her in fear of causing another coughing fit so he rose it as high as he dared and hoped the mare would hear, 'I mean you no harm, do not fear me.' He fixed his eyes on hers and smiled softly. Most of Hard Tacks anger and hatred was focused upon himself and those that portrayed the characteristics that got him into this state, before all of it happened he was a gentleman and that still remained though it was now a slightly warped version of his former self. He waited patiently for the mare to either approach him or turn away in disinterest or disgust which he presumed the latter was more likely.

 

[LunaRei_SilverBlood]

Copena huffed at Kirkyard from a distance and she looked over at him and eyed. He didn't mean her any harm? How would she know that for sure. She shifted her weight, and made a few slow steps. The three on her back weighing down, and creaking... The little shadows swarming around her hooves in a menacing manner. It looked like the shadows under her would eat anyone that got to close.

She sniffed at him from the distance, she slowly made her way closer to him looking for any sign that he would do anything. But when he didn't, she sniffed at his legs carefully. It didn't seem to settle right, and she pulled away from him. The small cemetery on her back dug into her spine, and some dirt fell off her. She put back a few steps of space for safety.

Kirkyard fluttered around their heads, and making his way back into the tree on Copena's back, his glow read eyes peering out.  

[junglerunner]

He remained where he was as the female advances on him, neither coming in towards her or backing away. She lowered her head and stretched out to stare closely at his wounded legs. As she did so he rolled his eyes down to peer at the strange collection of things that almost appear as though they were implanted in her back, running down her spin. She exhaled and her breath that tickled his leg caused him to wince slightly as it entered the open unsealing wounds on his legs, the warmth of her breath almost felt like it burnt the flesh which had grown use to the bitter cold winter air. He shifted his weight slightly and refrained from pushed the mare away with his head, he did not wish to alarm her when she already seemed so skittish.

Thankfully she did not pursue the investigation of his wounds as she pulled away from him. She still seemed uneasy, though she did not blame the mare, he was no doubt an odd sight to any other soquilli. But the mare herself must have a story to tell, the odd tree structure and graveyard that ran the course of her back was not usual either. Or the fact she seemed to be permanently enshrouded in shadow, which almost seems to emmit a personality of it's own. He did not notice the female becoming comfortable in his presence and thus a heavy sigh was emitted from his nostrils. He seemed to be either feared of late or a source of curiosity fuelled interest, neither of which he liked much. He had thought that this female would had her own curiosities as well would understand but she seem to simply be another which feared him.

Finally he informed her, 'Your not comfort around me are you? Do not worry, I shall leave you to whatever you had planned for the day.' Hard lowered his eyes and then raised them in gesture and then took a step to the side to walk past the female.

 

[LunaRei_SilverBlood]

Copena stood there. She wondered what that was on his face. Since he didn't aggress against her, she was still cautious since it was her nature. But she wasn't to afraid that he would hurt her. Since he already at the chance. As she looked him over, she noticed that it was like his wounds never healed, and continued to hurt. Just the air itself seemed to hurt him. Was there finally someone out there that could understand? Kirkyard fluttered around in the dead tree on her back, causing her ear to twist back to the sound. And she let her glowing eyes watch him. The cold metal of the ornament in her hair pressed against her leg. And the cold caused her to shiver. The shadows under her skittered around her hooves before pooling back together.

When he talked, her ears titled forward along with her head. "P-please... don't..." Her voice was soft, meek, vulnerable. She had never asked anyone to stay before. She was rather shocked herself. But somewhere deep in her dark despair, his triggered something. And she wanted to know more about it. And more about him. Her curiosity for him was getting the better of her. She wanted to hear his story, because he obviously had one.

Her long tail dragged on the ground as she moved, walking to stand aside him slowly and carefully. The tree on her spine creaking, and causing her to grow stiff.  

[junglerunner]

Hard usually walked with his head hung in a slightly dejected manner but as the mare's voice trickled meekly to his ears he paused and stood still for a moment. He eyes remained calm and he waited to see if she said anything else but only those two words came and after a moment he slowly raised his head and took a small half step back and turned to look at her in the eye, his red cross hair irises really looking into those ghostly white orbs of the mares, he wondered if this was a wise move and not to aggressive a gesture but he wanted her to release he knew a little of what she was going through.

He took a further two steps back to his original position and smiled softly at her, 'Your so nervous aren't you.' He looked passed her at the tree growing from or upon her back and stared at the glowing red eyes of the bat and then back to her, 'Shy, but I believe that to be no fault of your own.' his voice changed and grew somewhat harsh and bitter, 'The world is cruel to some of us.'

 

[LunaRei_SilverBlood]

Copena watched as he moved. She could see the pain from each step, as if it were her own. When he spoke, she closed her eyes. It was almost like she didn't want him to see her. But he understood, like no other. To say they were freaks was unfair, but they looked so different. Even her bother seemed to look away when she was around. She loved him, and he spent the most time with her, or did. But now she always felt so alone, just Kirkyard to keep her company. And here stood this strong stallion... One who also understood this pain. For neither of them were born like this.

The world, he said. She had given it a lot of thought. The world wasn't the one that did this to her. But the world turned its back on her when she needed it. So yes, it was cruel... And through that she almost lost herself, her thin frail voice was proof that she was hanging on just by a thread. But he, he wasn't shy...

She could feel his eyes watching her... She turned her head away, and slowly opened her eyes. Exhaling, she couldn't find her voice. In her head it was so clear, to ask his name, where he was from... But it was all locked in a cage. Her eyes pleaded with him, hoping he could see she wished to engage with him. In her mind Kirkyard's voice rang.

"You..." She started. The sound of her own voice ringing in her ears. "Name..?" She asked him. She felt a bit proud of herself. Her head raised up, and she looked at him. Her shadow friends stared at her and then looked to the stallion.  

[junglerunner]

Hard watched the internal struggle the mare was going through, it was painted across her face and he wondered what her own story was, whether it was indeed as unfortunate as his own or something totally different. Finally she seemed to overcome whatever she had been struggling with though even so she could only manage two strangled words but he understood and that was what mattered in the end. He stared at her, the contact he hoped would not appear aggressive or one of fascination at her 'condition' merely one Soquili to another, he gave her what she sought, 'My name is Hard Tack.' his name consisted of two harsh syllables and issuing his name verbally caused a great deal of irritation to his charred throat, he coughed and spluttered, bowing his head down to the pain and until the coughing subsided did he raise his head again his voice now hoarse, 'Forgive me.' He closed his eyes and focused on quelling the pain to a manageable level and then opened his eyes once again, 'And your name would be?'

 

[LunaRei_SilverBlood]

She watched him, as he spoke. It seemed painful. And it almost hurt to simply watch him. She dug her hoof into the ground some, trying to distract herself from the painful sounds. Just breathing for him, hurt...

Asking her name, the mare had to fumble over what to tell him. And with some force, she managed to push out her name... "Copena." Without her knowing, it was like they were communicating with their bodies. Even if anyone that was listening would have found this a harsh, and painstaking conversation. Which it was, but their bodies understood, already. There was nothing to be forgiven for.

She tried not to move to much, the shadows around her feet seemed to settle, as they watched the stranger, and Kirkyard had a happy smirk on his face, hidden in the trunk of her tree. The creaking sounds from when she did move, lurched.  

[junglerunner]

Hard watched the female, his eye brows furrowing causing the horny bone like protrusions to lower like when a stag deer bows his head to fight, though Hard wasn't going to charge though he was fighting with his internal confusion. Normally he would not care about another, his own plight was quite enough to deal with but this mare seemed as damaged as he was, not in the same way but she was most definitely not the happiest of souls, as one could put it. It seemed to cause her a great deal of turmoil to produce her name but somehow he knew something of significance was taking place right now. Her voice came softly her tone seemly unsure to begin with though affirmation tinged it towards the end, he looked at her, then his red cross-hair irises targeting those ghostly orbs and he nodded so softly the gesture could have been easily missed.

'Copena.' he repeated to himself, the syllables causing his throat little to no aggravation to his scarred throat unlike his own harsh name. His attention flitted downwards towards the shadowy forms which seemed to bristle and rustle about for a moment eventually settled down to a gentle swirl about the mares hooves. Copena, as he had already concluded, was a shy creature, why he did not know yet, not truly though he could guess upon several things but he didn't for now. So he didn't wish to startle the mare with intrusive questioning but he wanted to find some sort of common ground with her, something to settle her nerves and thus he risked a bold observation, 'Your not like a lot of other mares I've met.' He smiled easily at her, though the gesture wasn't a terribly clear one with his breathing mask on and his eyes could never hold any warmth but he hoped truly she did not take offence to the statement, he continued, 'It's not easy being different and I assure you I am well aware of that.' He looked down at himself and then back at her and left it there for a moment, trying to gauge how she'd take his remarks.

 

[LunaRei_SilverBlood]

(This is going to be crappy response. It's been so long I'm not use to Rping her DX )

Copena watches him, before she shied away a bit. She wasn't to sure what was going on... He was being nice, and seemed like he was able to kind of understand. Well... That was kind of obvious because he himself was dealing with something terrible... But life was life... And they couldn't change that... He was probably the first horse she met that didn't look at her in disgust and run off.

She didn't know what to say... Mostly because she rarely had conversations with anyone but Kirkyard and the shadows. She took a careful step forward, the stump creaking, and aching on her spine, and she gently let the side of her nose touch the side of his.  

[junglerunner]

Hard Tack's eyes widened at as the mare closed in and leant forwards to touch him nose to nose, as much as his mask would allow anyway. He held his breath for a moment and his muscles tensed a little, though as she stood there, perhaps not calmly as she seemed just as tense as himself but she understood and he knew that each of them was taking a little away from this experience, to be close to someone that didn't fear you. He began to breath again, slowly and his muscles eased and relaxed. He pressed gently against her nose and closed his eyes for the briefest moments and then opened them, focused on hers and then broke the contact and took one step back.

Speaking usually aggravated his throat and what kindness the mare had just shown him he did not wish to repay by coughing and hacking upon her. He nodded ever so softly, a tiny gesture but a meaningful one, smiling was hard with his breathing apparatus on. He stared into her eyes and offered her something he'd hope she'd know came with a genuine meaning, 'Your eyes are like a full moon, they shine softly.' He liked the moon, he liked the night; unlike the sun and the heat it presented, it offered a cooling balm upon his burns and the darkness shrouded him from prying eyes.

 

[LunaRei_SilverBlood]

Copena didn't react outwardly to what he said about her eyes. Inwardly, she felt her heart fall into a twitter. She had never received such words before. And she wanted to hear more. But saying such things would be greedy... She simply stood there with him. How could such a random encounter stir up feelings, in a mangled mare such as herself? Even her own brother never came to see her...

Maybe this is what she heard others talking about. Destiny, and fate... But even then, those terms were followed by heart break... And she was a monster. Copena nor Jolon would ever find kindness...