|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 7:04 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 7:05 pm
It had finally happened. An event so rare that it almost deserved a holiday all of its own: Carmine had gone to check in on her daughter. Lorenna hadn’t even known that Carmine had any kids. She had never mentioned them and didn’t even seem to know where they were most of the time. The flutter mare wandered around the large cave that served as the gang’s headquarters pondering what exactly to do with this unexpected free time. She huffed lightly her wings twitching irritably.
Pondering over this secret life of Carmine’s seemed like a perfectly good idea at the time.
She stared into the reflective surface of a hand mirror they had obtained from on unlucky client. Lorenna was the one used to having all the secrets whereas Carmine always seemed to be such an open book. The dark mare could only imagine the shocked expression on her face when a half teal, leopard spotted stallion showed up on their metaphorical doorstep saying that Carmine’s child wanted to see her. Thinking on it was actually making her angry.
In a huff she turned around swiftly to go check inventory. In her haste she knocked over a jar of some sort of seed. Out of frustration she swore loudly drawing attention from the pair of mares talking quietly just outside of the entrance.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 22, 2011 7:05 pm
Wolf froze with a perplexed look slowly spreading across her face. She almost couldn’t believe she just heard. Hearing Lorenna curse was like seeing an owl suddenly strap on a top hat and dance a jig. She exchanged a look with Othelia who looked every bit as mystified as she was. “Lorenna?” She asked as she stepped forward. She didn’t get much of a response past the mare turning around to face them looking considerably more disheveled than she ever had before.
“We’re going to train.” She said nodding to Othelia as though the “we” was in question. “Not in the usual spot. By the water this time. If you need us.” She nodded her head then turned to leave. Her bird was sleeping in the corner; he wouldn’t mind missing a training session. He found them boring. Wolf, however, didn’t feel as though she were in a position to miss a single one. It was just lucky that today both she and Othelia were free. They’d have sparring partners for once.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 7:48 am
Othelia looked between the quarter-uni and flutter before stalking closer to Lorenna. She was not trying to be creepy; it was just how the kalona was, slow, quiet and predatory. When she was at Lorrena's side she looked down to talk, something unavoidable with the height difference. "You should come with us. It's good stress relief." Her golden eyes drifted down to look at the spilled seed.
Not expecting a response and caring to wait for an answer that wouldn't come Othelia turned back and walked out of the cave at a brisk pace. Wolf hadn't waited for the kalona but it wasn't long before Othelia caught up with her. "She worries too much." the devil tailed mare stated as though commenting on the weather. It bothered Othelia that she worried so much. Worry was fear's cousin and both wear signs of weakness.
Othelia already knew of Lorenna's disdain for the kalona race, her hatred for the breed. Add all this worrying into the mix and the only conclusion was simple: Lorenna was not fit to lead anything.
The kalona grinned to herself. She would have to overthrow the flutter if things got any worse. It truly was an entertaining thought for the kalona but her amusement wouldn't last long, the stream would be in sight soon and whoever saw it first would get the first attack.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 8:03 am
"Stress relief." Lorenna snorted as soon as Othelia had traveled out of ear shot. "Ha!" She didn't need stress relief. She needed less stresses in her life to begin with! She glowered around the cave. It was full of her work, Carmine's work and the team's work. Whenever they obtained some new shiny thing it always seemed like a victory. Those victories were seeming smaller and smaller the larger their collection grew.
It was a shame really. Lorenna had assumed that all of these things would somehow make her life better.
She wove her way to the very back of the cave picking her way through fruit in baskets, water jugs, jewelery, piles of stones of value or for markers, masks, clothing and blankets before settling down on the few furs that they had amassed. It was a good spot for rest and thought and both things were sorely needed right now.
Her life had been good once. Perhaps she hadn't truly been happy, she was to serious for true happiness it seemed, but she had been significantly less stressed. It would be nice to go back. If only she hadn't ruined it all that starry night.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 8:19 am
Wolf went on alert the second she heard running water. Keeping her movements minimal, to avoid detection by Othelia, she swept her gaze over the scenery around them. They both knew the rules to this game and both of them knew Othelia would naturally have an upper hand with her size alone, never mind her horns, fangs and tail. If Wolf wanted a decent chance at winning she would have to be the one on the offensive.
Just then, out of the corner of her eye she caught the glint of light off of water. It was her move and she had to make it quick. Without a sound she reared back and then, using her tail to keep her up right, Wolf released a flurry of kicks.
This was a no-holds sparring match. They had both come to the silent agreement one day that the only real way to train was to try and kill each other. Of course actually killing was not permitted. They would both know when the other was defeated and the match ended at that point. However, that point generally wasn't reached until someone had been knocked unconscious. Today Wolf would make sure that Othelia was the one on the ground.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 8:32 am
Othelia had not seen the water just like she hadn't heard Wolf move. Unfortunately for the lion-tailed mare Othelia had seen Wolf rising up in the corner of her eye and was prepared for the attack. It was one of Wolf's favorite moves and she had trained herself specifically to be able to stay on her hind legs for an extended period of time. Knowing this Othelia had prepared a counter-move.
Rather than back up to move out of range she bowed her head and lunged forward. Wolf's belly was a nice soft target for her horns. She had expected the blow that knocked against her head as she moved in. What she hadn't expected was for Wolf to suddenly drop slamming her hooves down onto the kalona's shoulders.
Othelia hissed, snarled and wriggled away from the mare. It had been a trap and she had fallen for it. Wolf hadn't come out of the exchange unscathed though. Othelia could see the few drops of red dripping down and could smell it even better. She'd gotten in a good cut or two which was better and nothing. The kalona didn't have any more time to reflect of plan though, Wolf was coming in for another attack and she had to be ready.
With a twisted grin she braced herself. This was the way things would go for the two of them for a while. Exchanging blows in a strange, violent dance. Othelia couldn't have been happier.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 8:57 am
So far Farren hadn't a kind thing to say in regards to the lands he had arrived in several years ago. There was nothing as beautiful as the willow shaded island here and it seemed none of the females had a clue in the world how to handle themselves. They all seemed to fall into one of the following categories: empty headed and silly, motherly and hopeless, overly masculine or pathetic and needy. He hadn't yet met a decent leader among them. No one here seemed to understand the value of living the high-life. Of getting luxuries for themselves and workers to handle the hard things. No, they all seemed to insist on being helpful or generally irritating.
As he continued his internal rant he walked past the opening of a cave. For all points and purposes it was just a cave. What was inside the cave however quite successfully caught his attention.
"Well hello there..." He said turning and stepping up to the entrance. "What have we here?" And out in the middle of nowhere. He peered inside looking for signs of whatever had collected all of these things. They were human possessions to be sure but there was no sign of any human anywhere. There was a, rather large, horned bird sleeping by the mouth but other than that there didn't appear to be anything living inside.
"If you don't mind I'll just take a look around." He mused to himself feeling very much like a bear in a fresh berry patch.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 9:14 am
Lorenna frowned deeply where she lay. There was someone at the entrance. Based on the sound of the voice she could assume male but it wasn't any male she knew. It wasn't grating enough on the ears to be Xelloss, though she almost wished it was. It would have given her something to yell at, dangerous or not. Really, if he wasn't anyone familiar she just hoped he was assume there were humans around and leave. The second he said he would look around she was on her feet and glaring at him.
"Out." She ordered, her voice carrying the bite of a warning on it. No one just got to "look around" their head quarters. Without a doubt their looking would turn into taking and she wouldn't have it. The UG's things may not have brought her joy but they still belonged, in part, to her. She wasn't about to let herself get robbed especially not from some strange girly stallion.
She looked him over with a raised eyebrow. He looked like the b*****d child of a snow sculpture and child's doll. Either that or some little girl from Lorenna's previous home had gotten ahold of a normal horse. Either way, he looked ridiculous and he was intruding. "Now."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Oct 23, 2011 9:36 am
Farren jumped out of his skin at the sudden appearance of the mare in the back. She was so dark that he had missed her despite her wings or perhaps it was that she was so small that she simply vanished behind the barrels and baskets. He refrained from laughing at her but it was amusing. She was just slightly larger than the average foal and yet she was ordering him about and looking at him like he was something unpleasant she had stepped in. It was almost like he had never left his birth place.
"Begging your pardon, my dear. I just wanted a closer look at your collection here." He put on a polite and charming smile. It was all part of the show. Females were easy enough to manipulate, they were too heavily ruled by emotions. A little charm went a long way. "It is quite a lovely collection you see."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 8:13 am
Lorenna fixed him with a cold and unfaltering look. "Out." She repeated raising her voice ever so slightly. She knew this stallion's type. Shameless flatterers that liked to use there charm to get what they wanted. To an extent Carmine was that type of soquili. Lorenna was immune to such tactics. Perhaps she had not always been but she liked to pride herself on being able to examine praise logically and determine what the intent behind it was. From the looks of things this one's intent was to nick their belongings.
"I'm afraid our collection is not on display and if you would like to keep your head in tact I would recommend leaving now." As she spoke she wove her way back out from behind the UnderGround's goods to get the front. She could have just as easily flown over but there was something suitably menacing about the act of walking slowly that she enjoyed too much to pass up. With any luck he would get the message and leave. Lorenna did not feel like playing games today. If the girly man felt like trying his luck than Lorenna would call Othelia back. It was as simple as that. Othelia was a kalona and kalonas needed to eat. If she and Wolf were out training then the odds were in favor for Othelia returning hungry.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 8:33 am
Farren was completely taken aback by the mare's behavior. There was something horribly wrong with this picture. Why wasn't she acting like a proper mare? Dealing out orders and threats like a stallion dealing with an intruder. Had he gotten the gender wrong? She sounded like a mare and he couldn't see anything that indicated otherwise. He fought back the urge to frown. It would figure that the first mare he found with any concept of living the high life would have no interest in males.
Perfect.
"Now, now," He started taking a few steps backwards bowing his head. "I don't mean any harm miss. I was just passing through, you see. I haven't disturbed even a speck of dust on your treasures. I would never do such a thing you understand." Perhaps all was not yet lost. She was fairly domineering for a mare and while outright flattery might not work on her a bit of well placed subservience might. "I'm not that kind of stallion. Really I'm not. I just have an eye for beauty." He gave her his best innocent smile and hoped for the best. There were only so many angles he knew to try.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 8:57 am
Lorenna couldn't be certain of exactly what was wrong with this stallion. She had narrowed it down to two options though. He was either hard of hearing or just plain thick.
She watched his latest performance with an unimpressed expression. Whatever circus he had crawled out of with these acts must have been extremely dull. The tickets probably weren't event worth a pebble. "If you are looking for some sort of enthused response or sympathy for your, likely pathetic, existence I would suggest you search elsewhere. This is not a charity. We don't give out freebies and if what you say is true and you are just passing through I think it is high time you continue passing."
At this point she didn't expect him to listen. If he really planned on leaving he would have already left. "Raven." She said turning to the failure of a guard bird at the door. "Go and fetch Othelia and Wolf. And be quick about it, I feel there may be some trouble shortly." She locked her eyes on the white stallion as though there was any doubt about what the trouble was.
Raven muttered under his breath. Lorenna wasn't his boss, Wolf was his boss and Carmine was his boss. Lorenna was just the person that happened to organize everything. Still, he didn't argue and took off right away. If something was going to go down Wolf and Othelia would want a part in it and he was happy to deliver the message.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 9:22 am
The term 'check mate' wove it's way through Farren's mind. It was an odd term that he'd herd a few travelers mention. It was made in reference to some sort of human game. It was a phrase that signaled the end of a game and it seemed strangely fitting right now. The flutter either saw straight through him and his ploys or she really was just a terribly unfriendly sort of creature.
As she sent the bird flying off he glowered at her. "Oh very good, miss." He snarled. She wasn't dealing with him either way; what was the point in keeping up an act? "Really. Brilliant. A game well played." He tossed his head and moved towards her. He was small for a stallion but she was smaller still. Flutters were interesting that way, no matter how small a person seemed a flutter was smaller still.
"You might be the first person that's turned me away so quickly. What does that say about you though, hmm? That makes you the coldest person to walk these lands." He smirked cruelly. "Tell me, how does it feel to be unloved?" This was probably Farren's favorite part of any encounter: tearing down the people he was dealing with.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 9:34 am
Lorenna didn't flinch at his shift in demeanor, she had been somewhat expecting it. What she hadn't been expecting was for him to try and turn the whole situation on it's head. She was no longer the aggressor and she found the sensation to be a truly bizarre one.
'How did it feel to be unloved?' She frowned. That this was the first thing that he would pick up on bothered her a bit. Not enough to thoroughly rattle her but certainly enough to piss her off. "Not very good if I'm to be perfectly honest." she replied giving him the coldest look she could muster. "Now you tell me, how does it feel to know that the help I just sent for is a kalona?"~*~***~*~
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
