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 Posted: Wed Sep 21, 2011 9:12 pm
The weather was playing tricks. The stallion could feel the oddness of the temperatures and the curiousness of the season. It was warm; much warmer that it usually was when the trees had stained their leaves the colors of the sun and its fire.
Even his swamp was becoming uncomfortably warm.
The water hadn't been granted enough time to chill and retain its usual chilled, murkiness. The trees, plants and even the creatures had instead gained an easily readable sense of laziness in their slow motions and deep bending to the shade. But even the shade was warmer than it had ever been. It seemed to have lost all its drops of refreshment.
In this situation, the normally shade-and-swamp-dwelling stallion had ventured from his land of solitude and solstice and wandered to where he hoped and prayed would offer him coolness.
The thought he might meet someone one the way had never crossed his mind. He was too considered with the memories of why he had abandoned this world for his darling swamp lands.
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Posted: Thu Sep 22, 2011 9:47 am
In the valley of the mountain the temperature hovered near constant. Always warm, but never unbearably hot. To those that called this land home it was paradise, unchanging. The dark kirin herself had to agree. There had been talk from the outsiders about the shift of seasons beyond the lush, near tropic forests that made up their home. Bitter cold and blistering heat. How anyone could stand it, she wasn't sure. The thought had the young mare shaking her head, she never wanted to experience it.
A sound pulled her attention from the small pile of fat buds she'd been collecting. Pale eyes narrowing on the darker shadows through the trees. Something was moving around, something larger then the wee ones that tended to trail the siblings when they wandered. Curiously, she wandered closer to the tree line, slipping within the coolness of the shadows. "Hello?"
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Posted: Sat Sep 24, 2011 7:25 pm
Whatever shadows infested this area were not sufficient enough for the stallion. Each patch of darkness seemed further and further from the desired and expected coolness he seeked. He groaned quietly and rolled his white eyes as he left the one he had just found under a rather large yew tree and began to search for another.
He was mumbling about the cursed weather when he heard a female voice calling out. His pierced ear twitching toward the sound, he did not turn his head but instead looked from the corner of his eye.
The stallion's instincts running high and senses working at full power, Albus stood stone-still. Whether a threat or not, it was not company or disturbance he seeked. Knowing he was easily seen in the green and lightness of the surroundings, he chose a different approach to whomever it was that wanted to know his presence.
Quickly spotting the mare who spoke (her color being a better indicator in the sun than even his was), he positioned himself behind a thicket of trees and bush.
Knowing she could not see him from her wandering gaze and occasional step for a different view, he stepped out behind her. Grace and elegance vibrating from his very being as he help his head high and his tail low to the ground. Hooves barely grazing the ground.
"I greet you, Being. What do you seek of me?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 2:05 pm
Pale eyes narrowed as the shadows moved within the trees to slip beyond her sight. Drawing her ever closer to the edge of the brush on softly placed hooves. Staring intently into the darkness until movement behind startled her and sent her spinning on the spot to face the stranger, lingering on pure white eyes as her own widened. He was kirin, she could tell by the scales, the noble sweep of horn at his brow, but that wasn't all the stallion could claim for blood.
Hei retreated a step, but seemed to regain a sense of strength and peace after a moment of watching him. "Knowledge, Stranger," she answered sweetly, voice a cool chime of bells on the wind. "What brings you into lands of the Shrine Herd?" It was the edge of their territory, but still their's, and the pale stallion was trespassing. There's wasn't a violent herd, but it was lucky the male had not stumbled upon Miao or another that guarded. Confrontation would have been inevitable.
Nerves soothing, she took a step forward. "Is it sanctuary you seek?" He wouldn't be the first, nor the last to come to their home looking for safety and enlightenment.
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:35 pm
He took a moment of observation to assess her. She stood strong, and that fact held itself with him; she would not be the easy prey he had expected her to be. A grand surprise. Now, if only she could hold his interest.
Holding his head high and with a low sweep of his tail that flattened the straight grass, he finally released his voice once more. "Not sanctuary, not protection. I simply walk along the land that I did not know was owned, my apologies for stepping where I was not welcome." His head flowed down in a delicate curve as he bowed with a bend of his knee. Body speaking of the apology and sincerity his cold, white eyes did not reflect.
"I cannot say I am disappointed with meeting you, however." his eyes flickered up from his still position and a strangely twisted smile began to play on his lips. The smell of another toy to be played with sweeping his nostrils.
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Posted: Thu Sep 29, 2011 1:43 pm
A smile slid along dark features as the stallion bowed, apologizing for wandering into her family's land. "Whether or not you are welcome remains to be seen, Stranger." It was up to him really, if he was allowed to linger within the sanctuary of the temple's territory. "Will you offer peace on your visit, or is it violence you wish to bring among us?" Even as she spoke she doubted it was the latter, he didn't seem obviously vicious. Hei could be wrong, of course. It wasn't her place to play protector or guard, and there was good cause for it.
The compliment had the mare straightening happily. Dainty hooves pressing the earth beneath them as she resisted the urge to grin. A charmer, this one. "Is that so? We've hardly really met." A touch of coyness had leaked within that serene voice, responding to that easy charm. "How can you be so very sure?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2011 5:28 pm
Her coy tone only served to continue him on. Stepping lightly on the fresh grass just one step closer, hoof still slightly in the air, he leaned forward. "I bring only that which you want of me. Kindness, protection, pleasure." His licked his lips with the last word, as if they were some numbingly-good delicacy.
"You, sweet Being, seem to radiate with things that twirl my curiosity. Your," his white eyes made a show of sweeping over her ever curve, " existence interests me. Little interests me. So, you are no disappointment."
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Posted: Sun Oct 02, 2011 10:52 pm
Sky blue eyes were trained on the stallion as he slide closer by inches, lingering first 'pon the hesitant set of pale hooves before jump back to strong features and ghostly eyes. Her widening subtly at the lick of his lips and words it had followed. Not just a charmer it would seem, but a touch forward as well. Hei had never encountered a another such as him, and though hesitation pulled dark ears down to press along the ocean hued waves of her mane, the smile remained, if perhaps a touch unsure now. She wasn't entirely sure what to make of him or his suggestive offer, not even aware that it was suggestive, but she was certainly aware of the flutter of wings within her stomach the words had inspired. It was a curious feeling, slightly uneasy, and yeat undeniably exciting.
"Oh," she commented at last, though that hardly served as suitable response. Had she been a paler male she'd have been blushing, but twilit fur hid the wash of pink along delicate features.
She couldn't see the slow seep of his eyes along her frame, not to the extent he was actually admiring her, but she could feel it. This was new, very new. "You flatter me, Stranger." She paused, then smiled as she dropped her gaze. "I am Hei Zhenzhu, daughter of the shrine." Introductions were needed she felt, considering the path of their conversation. She wanted to know his name, but politeness kept her from simply asking.
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Posted: Mon Oct 10, 2011 1:32 am
"Flattery for those who deserve it. Only then." He smiled a darkening smile with intent eyes. Her introduction he found unnecessary. It was not names he was after. It was not even shade at this point. The mare before him was now a target, to state it sweetly, and his practiced mind was whirling as his eyes took in all he could see and ears all he could gather.
Regardless of his personal expectations, he was willing to play along for his chosen prey. He would be the perfect gentleman.
"Albus Corvus," He tipped his head in polite greeting, his hanging jewelry flowing with the action.
"Dear Miss Hei Zhenzhu, it is my grandest pleasure. Your name is just as beautiful as your own self. It suits you."
With only a moments pause to allow his words to cradle her and kiss her lightly, he continued, "And which Shrine is yours, Miss Zhenzhu?" He hated it. He hated he had to humor her with his fake interest. In his swamp, he had many more things to play with. Many more means of luring and capturing. But this was no longer his playing field, and a hunter must ever adapt.
But his perfect smile and ghostly empty eyes did not deceive the venom and desire in him. His act was perfect. The girl was intelligent, one could easily see, which made the lump in his throat throb more with excitement and anticipation.
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 9:26 am
Compliments were raining down upon her one after the other, and if it was the stallion's hope to charm her, then he was doing an amazing job of it. Hei was indeed intelligent, but in the same respect she was terribly naive. Her entire life had revolved around the shine and those that inhabited there. Such blatant forwardness was not a normal occurrence amongst the herd, least not out for all to see. It was a peaceful, benign sort of place. "Thank you," answered again, a wash of warmth once again hiding beneath the dark fur of her cheeks.
He gave her his name, and she offered him back a brilliant smile as she took a step closer. Pretty head dipping as he commented on her name. It did suit her, if only he knew. "Thank you again." A soft chuckle eased from the mare as she made a slow circle around him, finally coming to rest at his side, pale eyes turned up to those pale, handsome features. Such a gentleman.
"One day perhaps," she mused softly, though she knew better. It was not Hei whom was being groomed to eventually lead them. "The Shrine is under the care of my sire and our Maiden." A small twitch of her nose indicated direction, through the jungle and towards the mountains that cupped their valley. "Would you like to see it?" Would you like to stay? remained unsaid, but there was a hopefulness to her tone that betrayed her. She wanted this pale gentleman to remain.
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Posted: Wed Oct 12, 2011 3:43 pm
Her suggestion was not one that increased his smile the way he showed. If she could see behind his perfect mask of words, lies and gestures, she would see him frown. Even sigh.
He did not want to know where she came from, it was of no interest to him. Even if it was interesting and held a mare even more beautiful than herself, he would still not go. Another would make him question and decide. Perhaps even lose the beauty who stood by him. Lose the beauty he chose instead, even.
One hunts one prey at a time, but follows the herd. One focus, one victory.
But his mask was perfected and filled with experience and flawless manipulation. So all her shining eyes saw was his increasing smile.
"I propose something better," he rounded to face her, his face being brought closer and closer to his own as his ghostly eyes fell on her's, " come with me."
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Posted: Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:11 am
The stallion moved to face her again, and Hei's ears twitched back to rest along watery curls, her smile faltering ever so slightly, then further as he countered her offer with one of his own. "Come with you?" He wanted her to come away with him? Her stomach gave another excited little flutter, but even that couldn't completely cover the unease at his suggestion. She'd never left the safety of the herd's lands before, had no idea what lay beyond the fringe of exotic plants that marked a clear boarder.
She'd never wanted to wander before, there'd never been a reason, good or bad. Now there was, and the dark mare wasn't sure what to do.
Pink hooves compressed the ground beneath them with a nervous fidget, pale eyes dropping down and away as she considered his proposal. She wasn't sure she wanted to leave the valley, but she also didn't want their meeting to end. "Where will we go?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 10:25 am
Albus smiled with mirth filling his ghostly eyes. Intentions swirling and excitement rushing through his cruel veins at her reaction. He had assumed it before, but with her light hesitance and flickering doubt but flying interest, he now knew she had never stepped out of her circle. Her entire world was her shrine and its belonging land, born and raised. Never stepped a hoof out. She was too perfect for him, Albus almost didn't want to believe her and laugh at the act she was putting on; she was untainted, curious and willing to dive into his world of smoke and mirrors that only showed his perfumes selfishness.
"Away," he whispered, lips so close to her he could plant a festering kiss like the touch of a memory, "Into a new world. My world."
His heart beat harder and his smile grew as he retreated his head just a breath away for her to react.
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 12:31 pm
Her heart was pounding in her chest at the invitation and the implications that came along with it. Excitement and fear warring in her mind as she struggled to settle on a decision. Did she follow the herd? Everything she'd ever known and loved, everything she'd been taught. It was her life, her family, her home, and yet still she struggled. It probably wasn't wise, in fact she was nearly positive of the fact, but the hectic flutter in her heart kept her from simply saying no.
He answered her, and she shivered, sky blue eyes fluttering closed as he spoke so near she could feel the caress of his breath along dark fur. Agreement was on her tongue, and she had to set her teeth to keep from speaking unwisely.
It was hard to think, but she managed to calm the flutter in her stomach enough to let logic flavor her choices. If she went, there where a few things she had to know. "Why?" First and foremost. Why her, why did he want some sheltered maiden from a foreign land. And did he really want her? Did he mean to court her? This was so far out of her depth.
Of course even as she'd questioned she'd leaned towards him, closing that gap he'd placed between them mere seconds before. There was something undeniably charming about this stallion and Hei Zhenzhu found him fascinating.
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Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 2:12 pm
All the anticipation for her answer and all the piling emotions that were created by the change the beautiful mare had placed up for him would have been ruined if she had simply said yes. Breathlessly gasped it and clung to him and followed him without thought.
If she had done so, he would have lost all interest and left right then and there. Left her with a breaking heart and a confused mind to wander back to what she knew.
However, the mare again hesitated, and Albus only became more and more enticed by her curiosity and seeping logic. She wanted to fight against him and the wonders he offered, but she was drawn to it with such force: he was doing very well. As was she, in entertaining and interesting him.
"Let us not forget; you were first to notice me." his eyes again lined her like a breath of wind that clung to every detail of her body, "You are so very interesting." he smiled with the first truth seeing his tone lower and sweet like honey.
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