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 Posted: Sat Jan 15, 2011 1:08 am
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Nymphalidae was still dazed after her meeting Asmodeus -- that he would grant her such a gift left her feeling... well, she wasn't quite sure how to describe it. Like walking on air. Feeling on top of the world. When the kalona returned to her to collect his payment for the gift, she knew she would give him anything he wished. But... not yet, he had told her. Asmodeus gave his word that he would return to collect when he was ready, and until then, Nymphalidae was to return to Hallows Bane and to continue their journey.
She knew what she had to do. She had to tell him -- if he hadn't figured it out on his own already -- that they were expecting. She felt slightly more confident now that she had Hródolf at her side, knowing that if Hallows Bane decided to leave her, she would not be completely alone -- the wolf would remain by her side until his dying breath, ever her servant. Returning to where she and Hallows Bane had stopped for a brief rest, Nymphalidae looked for her companion, and knowing he would not have wandered far she called out to him. "Bane?"
All the while, Hródolf kept in pace with her, his silent shadowy form never straying from his new mistress' side. |
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Posted: Sat Mar 19, 2011 12:09 am
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It was, indeed, quite obvious to nearly anyone at this point in her pregnancy that she was pregnant -- but it was one thing to know it, and another to accept it. Both Nymphalidae and Hallows Bane had clearly been living in silence on the matter during their journey, but now that was time to end, time to admit the truth of their situation. They certainly could not get far if they wished to continue living in denial. "Oh. I see," she replied in a tonelessly, her ears flicked back in annoyance as she eyed the fluttering bat. Her lips curled to flash her sharp teeth briefly at the creature in a display of her obvious displeasure that Hallows familiar was there, but otherwise said nothing about her presence.
"Well," Nymphalidae continued, addressing her companion. "I think it's time that you and I had a talk. As you can see, I... well..." the mare stumbled over her words -- a rare occurrence -- attempting to find the right ones to explain her condition. She snorted, stomping one of her hooves on the ground, feeling aggravated with herself for feeling so apprehensive about the entire situation. She was stronger than this! The mare glared at Hallows Bane as if this were all his fault -- and it was, partially. She held her head up high and looked at him disdainfully. It was easier to deal with everything if you just thought of everyone as beneath you.
"It's time we were out with it. I'm pregnant." |
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Posted: Sat Feb 11, 2012 9:52 pm
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Well, at least he didn't seem ready to abandon her. Even more, he was concerned for her well-being and the well-being of her -- their -- foals. But now, Nymphalidae had to choose between honesty and her pride. No, she wouldn't be able to continue at the pace they were going now. She exhaled slowly, considering her position. It couldn't be helped. No matter how she felt about having these foals, her health was at risk regardless, and being too prideful would do nothing to help. "Perhaps... a little slower pace would be wise," she said, swishing her tail irritably. "For now. We can reevaluate later."
Hródolf, realizing he was being watched, shifted his focus away from Hallows Bane and his mistress to the bat. The wolf seemed to be made of smoke, whisps of it floating away from his body as he swished his tail and stepped forward, nose twitching as he sniffed the air, but still he said nothing.
Nymphalidae, noticing the movement from her companion, glanced down at the wolf before looking back up at Hallows Bane. "Ah. Yes. This is Hródolf. He is my... companion. Like that bat of yours is to you. I found him when I was exploring. We felt a bond between us... as if he belongs to me." It was not, perhaps, the entire truth, but she did not think Hallows Bane needed to know of her encounter with Asmodeus. "He will be coming with us, and can help us during my pregnancy. He appears to be a wolf, but... he is different. He can blend into the shadows in a way I have never seen before." |
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Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 1:07 am
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Nymphalidae had to bite her tongue, the first instinct that came boiling to the surface being self-defense, denial. She could take care of herself -- she could travel in the dark! The woods were no threat -- any creature that dared to cross their path would be crushed beneath her hooves, impaled by the deadly horn adorning her forehead. She was no different now than she had been when they slaughtered his old herd together, side by side. The fluttercorn's heart raced at the memory, the thrill of the massacre they had carried out, ridding their land of the lessers who had once lived there. She wondered now if they would need to repeat the past when they returned home after visiting Hallows Bane's old herd. Would other soquili have moved into their territory? She almost hoped they would. Anything for another chance to prove her worth, her power.
... but even as her blood boiled, her heart beat rapidly within her chest, she felt exhaustion coming over her. Nymphalidae would have to deny and suppress her natural instincts while she was with foal, but even as she replied, her ears were pressed back against her head with obvious displeasure. "Yes, I suppose you're... right. I saw a small area we can use for shelter a short ways back we can use, in case it rains. A small cave, although it may be home to another creature we will have to evict. With any luck, there will be -- we haven't had dinner yet, after all."
Hródolf, despite his continued silence, listened intently to the conversation between the two soquili. He bowed his head low in respect, more than willing to provide whatever protection he could offer his mistress when Hallows Bane would not be around. And indeed he would; his life was dedicated to Nymphalidae and no other, just as it had been to Asmodeus, obeying his every command. But now he lived for another. |
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Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 10:01 pm
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Hródolf watched the bat fly off and, when Hallows Bane and his mistress began walking, the wolf vanished into the dark shadows of the forest, moving ahead of them to scout for danger -- or food.
You could cut through the tension in the air with a knife, thick as it was hanging between Hallows Bane and the fluttercorn. Just as he was able to read the signs of her irritation, she too could tell by his body movements that he was clearly unhappy by her attitude. Nymphalidae grit her teeth together, but said nothing. For as long as they had been traveling together, and for as much as they had done together, there was still much she did not know about her companion. He seemed to have accepted the foals, yes -- but how would he treat her now? As a weak mare incapable of caring for herself? Unable to hunt, to travel for hours on end? She did not wish to be treated any differently.
And how would this change the relationship they had?
For that matter, what was their relationship? Nymphalidae viewed him as a strong companion and friend, to be sure, but anything more than that...
The... benefits were nice. But that was all they were. They had never discussed their relationship, and Nymphalidae was in no hurry to start doing that now. But what did he consider them? Especially now that she was carrying his foals? She narrowed her eyes, glancing at him as they began to walk toward a safe location to rest for the night. If he thought of her as his... mate... it may prove to be a little harder to leave him for Asmodeus than she anticipated. And she was not willing to abandon her foals, either. Halfbreed though he was, he still had the blood of a kalona in him, just as she did. Their foals may not be entirely hopeless. She would need to come up with a plan.
As defensive as she was about being treated as a weak mare, she was not foolish enough to think she could do this alone. But she did not wish to be babied, either. And there was one other question on her mind... should she continue the journey to Hallows Bane's homelands if she had the foals before they arrived, or abandon him for Asmodeus as soon as she could?
"I have to wonder, Bane... how will your father react to us having foals?" |
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Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 9:02 pm
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This was going to be a long night, he could already tell and it wasn’t even far into the night. And what made it worse was that Nymphalidae’s question was completely justified. How WOULD his father react? What about his mother? It was already completely apparent that he was of mixed kalona blood, mutant, mixed kalona blood. But a mix none the less. And here they were, mixed bloods, having mixed blooded foals? But really, was that such a bad thing? His children were his children regardless of blood. He’d take care of them no matter what type of blood they had. But the question he now found himself asking: would Nymphalidae?
Neither of them were ready for children. They were, without a doubt, too young for this type of responsibility. But then again, they should have never come together if they couldn’t deal with the consequences. That said, for him to question Nymphalidae so quickly really brought his thinking to a screeching halt. He knew nearly nothing about her besides what she was willing to give him. No doubt he had done that to her as well. So was that ground for bringing up foals?
His mind automatically came to a disconcerting conclusion; the answer was definitely no.
So where did that leave them now? Traveling using a map in his head that wasn’t complete, Nymphalidae pregnant with his children, both barely knowing the true them besides the very basics, and both still barely trusting each other on a level strong enough to raise foals. He inwardly sighed, this was going to get ugly if he didn’t tread carefully.
“My father will react the way he will act. I can’t speak for him since I don’t actually know or remember him in any capacity. From what I do remember is that he was gone most of the time, leaving my mother to take care of things. Regardless, he won’t do a damn thing to you and our foals. You and I, we’re in this together. And that’s what matters.”
He huffed a tiny laugh at his next comment, “and just because he’s my father doesn’t mean I’ll stop you from biting him if he pisses you off. Even I’m not that stupid to cross your path in that way.”
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Posted: Tue Jul 30, 2013 9:48 pm
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We're in this together.
The comment gave Nymphalidae pause. They have done many things together ever since they met; they've hunted, they've conquered his old herd, claimed the land as their own. But being in this together when foals were involved was different. It meant commitment, and that's not something Nymphalidae thought Hallows had even considered before. Perhaps she was wrong; perhaps he was merely offering help in raising the foals, and no deeper meaning than that. A gesture of friendship. But if it wasn't -- if it meant something more -- she realized that leaving him for Asmodeus would do far greater harm than she had initially thought. But why should she care?
Despite her best efforts, Hallows Bane mattered to her. She has enjoyed watching him grow into the stallion he is now, helping to rekindle his craving for hunting and eating meat, and now traveling back to his homelands to re-learn of his past and find out who he truly is.
He'd grown into a friend.
She knew this when she had agreed to leave him for Asmodeus after the foals were born, but to think that Hallows may want more from her was messing up her plans. She would still go through with it, but she would have preferred to walk away without feelings of regret, and now she wasn't so sure she'd have that. It would be hard to know how she would feel until the time came to leave. She wouldn't worry about it until then. Besides, Hallows Bane had survived without her before they'd met. He'd get on just fine after she left, too.
She snorted, unable to keep the amused smirk off her face. "Oh, I wouldn't have waited to ask permission. He would be foolish to underestimate me, and if he does, I will make him regret that decision. Pregnant or not." |
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Posted: Mon Jan 13, 2014 6:47 pm
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