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 Posted: Fri Jan 14, 2011 11:27 pm
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Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 12:31 pm
Ten days.
Ten days since his world shattered into millions of pieces and left him grasping at bloody straws.
Nymphalidae was gone. One of his children was gone. No trace. No word. Nothing. The nest in which they had created that night was the only reminder of which showed that she even existed. Hallows had no idea that she had even considered leaving. Let alone take one of their baskets. Granted, he hadn't intended for her to get pregnant either. Neither of them had intended that. But when you play with fire you get burned. She may have seen it as a burn. But Hallows, despite being young, saw it as an unintentional gift. The gods had given him children for a reason. But now, now he wasn't so sure.
Did she see all of his flaws? Did she actually dislike him for his lack of pure Kalona status? And if she had, then whey did she stay? If she was so driven to purify her bloodline then why did she continue to be near him? Give him companionship? Give him the hope of a family if she was just going to completely obliterate it once things got difficult. It made little sense and gave Hallows a reason to frown. But the thing was, he couldn't be mad at her. Oh boy did he want to be. But he couldn't no matter how much he tried. The overall encompassing emotion that he dared himself not to name, but did anyway, was hurt. Hallows was quite upset that she would betray him like this.
That said, he still had a basket to take care of. He still had a child to take care of once they popped up out of their basket. He wasn't sure if it was son or daughter, but it didn't really matter. They were a mixture of him and Nymph. And therefore, despite not having the huntress with him, he still had something. And he would take care of them when the time came. Sigh softly Hallows stayed huddled under the large willow tree as night overcame them. The torrential downpour soaking him to the bone. But yet, he kept his basket safe on a large leaf under his four hooves. Protection. That's what he was there for. Protection over his child. That was what his purpose was now.
Nevermind finding his homelands.
That mattered little to him now. He had more pressing matters to attend to now. More important matters. An innocent life was in his hands. Hallows looked up as the sky flashed bright with lightning. A cackle and sizzle as it hit the soft, wet ground. That was a close one. He had to move on before the storm came ever closer.
"Leeki," he called out in his deep, gruff voice.
"Yes, yes, coming Master!" the bat answered coming to flutter by her masters head.
"Do you see a place were we can take refuge?" Hallows asked.
Leeki fluttered off for a moment or two. Far too long for Hallows liking. The wind was beginning to howl loudly and the willow leaves flailed wildly.
She soon returned, "there's a cave system nearby! Lots of moss on the ground but it's dry and deep!"
"Good, cover my child to keep them dry." Hallows shuffled and lifted his basket, twisting his head around until they were nestled comfortably between his wings. Leeki gripped the basket with her feet, wrapping her leathery wings around as much of it as she could.
"Go, go! It's straight ahead, a little off to our right. You can't miss it!"
And Hallows was off, plodding through the mud and grime and puddles as quickly as he could without jostling the precious cargo from its perch on his back. Rain drops pelted his form and ran into his eyes without remorse. But he drove forward, determined to get them to the comfort and safety that only a cave could provide. Lightning flashed in multiple beats, the wind pushed back against the stallion as hard as it could. But he would not be deterred. Nymphalidae may have given up on him. But gods be damned he wouldn't give up on himself or his child. Leeki stuggled to stay molded to her master's basket. Inside she could hear a faint terrified whimper, and it proved to her that she had to hold on.
"We're close little one! So close!" she called to the child within, "there Master! Over there!"
Hallows saw it before Leeki said anything. And his strength went into overdrive. Throwing himself against the elements, his force of will the only thing keeping him upright at this point, Hallows headed towards the cave nestled between some brush and trees. Only a little further. He would make it. He would protect them at all costs. He grit his teeth, his green eyes narrowed in concentration, and with every ounce of his strength he finally made it into the safety of their new home. His breath came in rapid heaves. His breath a soft mist. His coat dripping water onto the moss covered floor. They were safe. He made it safe for his familiar and child.
Leeki carefully unglued herself from the basket and came to flutter in front of him, looking at him worriedly.
"Help me get my basket in that small nest of moss over there," he requested between puffs of breath.
The bat said nothing but assisted her master in pulling the basket from between his wings and setting it in the tiny, naturally occuring nest. It would be warm for the night.
"Safe, we are safe," Hallows smiled through half closed eyes.
"Yes, yes!" Leeki said excitedly before hearing a loud thud; she quickly turned her head, "MASTER!"
Hallows had crumbled to the ground and passed out.
----
When Hallows awoke a while later it was to Leeki's frantic voice.
"Master! Master! Please wake up! Please be okay!"
He groaned quietly, "I'm okay Leeki, what happened?"
"You passed out! I was worried to death!" she flailed and Hallows had to admit, it was kinda cute that she was so worried.
"It's okay, I'm awake now."
He noted that they were deeper in the cave now, and he also noticed various paths that could be taken should he wish to go further in. It would be the perfect place for a family to start if the moss continued and stayed comfortable. Leeki's concerned face solidified his final decision.
"The storm is almost over. We can continue traveling when it stops when you're ready."
Hallows closed his eyes for a moment before nodding his head, "we're not going anywhere Leeki."
She tilted her head to the side in confusion, "What?"
He looked at Leeki with no trace of sarcasm or indecision in his face, "We're staying here."
"But....why?"
"Because, I'm going to be a father. And if memory serves my homeland is no place for a young foal."
Before the familiar could reply in any fashion they heard cracking noise. Both stallion and bat whirled their heads around to look at the source. Hallows basket was moving. His eyes widened.
"Already?"
"Already," he murmured and watched in fascination at what was transpiring.
Leeki perched on the ledge right next to the nest and basket, watching just as fascinated as her master. More cracking, more pulling, more of everything. A hoof suddenly poked out as a part of the basket gave way. Another hoof soon followed. And eventually the basket couldn't take anymore and shattered. A small, rather annoyed looking colt rolled out of the remains. Hallows stayed silent, just watching.
He had a son.
A son.
"Leeki."
"Yes Master?"
"Take note, his name is Desiderius."
It was duly noted over the wind, rain, and lightning.
Hallows was a father, and he so dubbed his new son Desiderius, the son of Hallows Bane and Nymphalide.
The Huntress and Demon.
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