[PRP] Borders of Fear { See Inside }

[techabyte]

This is a private role-play between multiple people.

Soquili: More may be added
Vanya | Taarab | Vanwyn | Vaniania | Vanmoriel | Neva | Aquilina | Kamunyak | Galla Sile | Morkin

Teepees: More may be added
LOLTERNATIVE | Mindsend | Pippi18848 | x blame it on the --- x | Roniel | Nyx


Please send your Uncert to Mindsend so she can make you a nametag for poor Niss's sake -- you can keep it for future RPs as well!

OR, if you have photoshop (or a nice friend who has it and is willing to help you out), you can make your own, even if you're NOT part of the RP!
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5401311/PonySpeechtemplate.zip
typefont: akaPotsley (But feel free to make it whatever font you want!)

 

[techabyte]

It was exploring time!

Vanwyn was excited. Usually her small family only stayed close to the inner center of the Flock territory, on occasion going out toward the Artisan's Guild or the meadows. But today they were going toward the boarder lands. So yes, she was very excited. She could see where their lands ended, since there were a few older horses patrolling the area. But that didn't matter to her! Oh no, Vanwyn was far too excited to really care about any other horse that could be about. She started forward at a run, somewhat slow still since she was unused to her legs even now.

Which was why she tripped. Stumbling, and rolling some, she laid in the grass for a few seconds, before her head popped up. Letting out a chirp of distress, she looked back over her shoulder. And sure enough, her family was not far behind her. Standing up once more, she moved toward them, and ran her body along her mother and father's, nuzzling them lightly, before giving a playful tug at Vaniania's mane, and then started forward once more. Bounding forward, she peered somewhat at the lands past the boarder, and stared, as if it was some unfamiliar land that would always seem mysterious to her.

"Mama! Mama can we go out there?" Vanwyn asked, looking over her shoulder at her mother once more, little tail giving another small wiggle of excitement.  

[LOLTERNATIVE]

Vanmoriel was a little behind her family, nose buried in the grass as she looked for flowers and leaves for her art. A little satchel hung at her side and she had already filled it halfway with flowers. She had left her net at home, much to her dismay. Her mother had told her she would get lost if she ran off chasing butterflies. Even now, it was only when Vanmoriel looked up to search for something else that she noticed how far behind she was and hurried after her family to catch up. Moments later, her head was buried in the flora and she was in her own world.

Today was exciting for her, she had not seen these flowers before. New flowers meant new paints and new collages. She ruffled her feathers and let out a happy chirp as she pulled a bright pink flower from the ground and put it in her bag. She hurried up to her family once more, chirping and chasing after her sisters with a giggle. When Vanwyn stopped, Vanmoriel joined her and looked over the other lands. She let out a sigh of amazement and turned to her mother, awaiting the answer that would allow them to go running down the hill to the other lands.

'There could be a wonderful array of flowers down there, Mama," Vanmoriel pleaded.  

[mindsend]

Vaniania however was focused more on sounds than things like flowers for dyes, leaning into the tug a bit before her attention went to an old hallow log of a fallen tree, peering inside to make sure it was empty before she thumped the top with the sides of her claws, hearing the resonating -thunk- of the natural drum, tapping it in different parts to hear the thicknesses change the tone. However, while it was loud and rapped with a nice beat, she soon grew bored of it -- the wood was rotten and the sound wasn't as nice as the wooden drums crafted in the guild that fascinated her so much, nor the ones made with stretched leathers or out of tongues of wood or metal bells or ceramic drums that some of the musicians played to create the intricate dance rhythms of the flock's many dances and songs and ones brought in by the captured stallions and joined mares.

Vaniania laughed softly, kicking her feet as she returned to dance through her parents feet, head lifting to tickle her mothers's stomach before she pounced on her fathers legs, clutching them as if trying to capture him away, chirruping a bit before darting off after her sister's, noting a bit of a drumming beat of reeds against stones -- there was a stream near by, "Wait for me you two!"

 

[mindsend]

Taarab however was uncommonly nervous -- he didn't really care too much for venturing the edges of the territory, feeling too exposed outside the safety of the Flock, but some of the brewers 'lodge' he was a member of had tapped some maples and birch trees for their sap, so valuable for some of the brews of future guilds, and he knew wormwood grew in the area for similar items and medicines, though it had to be careful to not be used by expectant mothers with healthy children.

He smiled fondly at his daughters, feeling they were brave rather than sheltered, unafraid of the world that surrounded the flock. He wanted to call them back, keep them safe from whatever it was out there, but he knew it was not his place to give them the permission to venture, and they clearly seemed to understand it; it was their mother who had say over where any of them could go.

 

[LOLTERNATIVE]

Vanya walked beside Taarab, eyes never leaving her daughters, even when the youngest, Vanmoriel, trailed behind. She was showing them the extent of the lands that belonged to The Flock, where they were safe and when their flock-sisters would not be able to reach them in time should danger appear. It was an important lesson, but they didn't seem to mind or realise this, all three of them running around and laughing as if it was an adventure.

Vanya smiled fondly. They had grown so quickly, running around in what seemed like no time at all. Sometimes, like today, she wished they weren't as fast or eager. But that's how they were. They were happy, curious and spirited. Though she was their mother, she did not have the heart to take that away from them. They would learn these lessons in school, at least and there the teachers could be the bad guys rather than her.

They came to the edge of the lands, a hill that fell sharply before smoothing out into plains. This was it, the borders. Vanya had heard of the dangers that lurked in the lands outside her home. She didn't want her children to know of such things, but it was the way of the Flock and thus out of her hands.

Vaniania broke her trail of thought and she eyed her three girls, wound up and ready to burst like a stream caught in a dam. "No, little ones. That's outside our territory; outside the safe zone." Her eyes moved over the lands once more, scanning for any signs of life. She could see none; which wasn't necessarily a good thing.

"Come on, then. We'll keep moving along the border to see what we can find," she smiled and leaned down to nuzzle her daughters. "It's for the best, my dears."  

[pippi18848]

Dozing up in the highest heights of the tree, the small purple bat had no dreams, but yet no peace in her sleep. It seemed these were the times when she would get flashbacks of what she used to be. She never remembered them upon waking, but it always left her with a sour taste in her mouth. Neva had taken to many of the habits of a bat since she was cursed, and sleeping upside down in the trees during the days was the perfect sort of defense in her mind. With so many do-gooders out to destroy evil, she liked being protected way up high when she was most vulnerable. While it wasn't the most pleasant sensation transforming, she was willing to do it if it meant not getting her killed.

Currently though she was wandering around what she thought was near harpy lands. Neva cared not for these magical borders, but also knew that while she could destroy most anyone, she would have a challenge against these harpies. A group versus just lonely ole her, not her idea of a fair game. But she was curious to see just what kind of a threat she'd be up against if she ever came across one or a group, and so she was here, essentially scouting around.

Her ears twitched as she heard the sound of voices nearby. Eyes blinking open, she listened for the voices and as soon as she pinpointed the direction she flew off, keeping more to the top of the trees where she couldn't be seen. Following the voices she finally located them, a family of harpies it looked like, with young ones. She couldn't pass up the chance to potentially go after the young ones, and so Neva made herself comfortable up in the trees, following after them quietly until she could find a chance to get one or more of the children alone.  

[techabyte]

Vanwyn pouted toward her mother. No? But it wasn't like they would go far! She peered down along the hill, watching the land quietly, before shaking out her head and let her claws tap at the ground. They wouldn't be out for long either! The small filly didn't see the reasoning of being told no, but she also didn't want to disobey her mother. But the concept... It was too tempting. Deciding not to go against her, instead, she moved toward the boarder and walked along it, looking out toward the out-lands. On occasion, her ear flicked up, pointing toward a noise she heard.

"Mama, what's out there? Is there bad things?" She asked, walking a bit more hyperly. Vanwyn was still very much so excited. She wiggled some, before her eyes flickered, and caught sight of a grasshopper. Excitement taken from the out-lands to this bug, she moved after it, trying to catch it within her claws. When it kept eluding her, she started to pout, ears pinning. She crouched down as best as she could, claws scratching at the earth, watching the bug hop from one location to another, until it sat still. The filly inched forward slowly, her tail giving a half flick, before pouncing. And as she pounced, she slid.

Straight down the hill.

The filly let out a distressed screech, sounding almost like an owl or falcon, trying to stop herself by digging her claws into the ground as best as she could. She slowed slightly, but continued to slide, until the ground leveled, and instead, she rolled somewhat, and ended up on her back. Vanwyn wiggled for a moment, before rolling over onto her stomach and shook her head out, causing her mane to go in every which way. Her fur was covered in dirt, and grass and leaves stuck to her body, mane, and tail. Blinking her lovely eyes, the filly looked up toward the hill, eyes scanning for her parents. She sniffled some, realizing a Harpy should be strong, but being a filly, couldn't control herself. A small whimper escaped her throat, before she cried quietly, standing up on somewhat shaken legs. "Mama... Papa...?"  

[pippi18848]

Neva followed the family as she waited for one or more of the foals to split away from the parents. It was getting vastly boring though waiting, and she was getting the impression that the parents are the protective sort. Something to file away in her memories about this particular group. Which made her somewhat glad to have waited instead of jumping in headfirst or she probably would have been pretty much dead. But then, considering what she is, most everyone already considered her to be dead anyways.

Then a wonderful sound came to her ears, the sound of a young one falling. It didn't seem like the parents were all that aware of what was going on, and so the bat quickly flew quietly ahead to find the unlucky foal. A few moments later she spotted the young filly and landed on the ground near her.

My oh my, what have we here? A lost little filly is it? Neva called out in a gentle caring voice from her hiding spot. By this point she was already transformed and had made some noises in the process, but nothing that should have scared the little one off. Why don't you come here little one, and help me back up? I tripped a little while ago but I seem to be caught on something.

The young filly would be in for a surprise though if she came to help Neva, because Neva wasn't trapped at all, but instead waiting for the young one to come find her. Perhaps she'll be able to torment the young filly for a few minutes after all. Especially if she managed to keep her quiet and not alert the adults if the adults hadn't heard her fall by this point. This thought made her smile, but her smile wasn't a nice welcoming smile.  

[mindsend]

"Vanwyn!"

While Vaniania had immediately wandered further into the border, though still wandering a bit away from them, when their mother told them to stay away from the boarder, instead investigating the edges, she was still protective of her siblings. She had taken after the slightly sturdier build of her father than her lanky, delicate looking siblings and developing muscles in unusual ways by taking such a keen interest in the creation and playing of the various drums in the musicians quarter, the young mare was the first to notice her sister hadn't simply jumped into the shrubbery, but tumbled down the hill. It only took that to send her racing after her.

However, like her sister, she wasn't quite as nimble as an adult, and her leap over the bushes caused her back legs to catch, and sent her thudding down the hill with a squeak, crashing into some brushes near her sister at the bottom soon after she began calling out.

She snorted, chirping at her sister before standing up, realizing she heard someone talk. A stranger?, the cameo colored mare gasped, eyes widening in fear -- she and her sisters had been told by her parents about how dangerous strangers who were not part of the flock were, and young foals are shown to all of their future sisters-in-arms, their names presented and learned so any mare, in case of emergency, could call them to their protection during an attack or natural disaster. If this person didn't know who they were....

"Vanwyn, are you ok? We need to go -- that person is a stranger to the flock." She Chirruped loudly, calling for her parents while watching the direction the sound came from carefully, backing, calling out loudly with a series of shrieks and trilling whistles, sharp and loud -- if the skinwalker was going to make a move to try and separate them further from their parents so she could eventually have her torment with them, she'd have to do it quickly.
 

[techabyte]

Vanwyn's ears snapped up, her head swerving and locking on some noise that caught her interest. She waited for a few seconds, before the sound of her name, and the quick movement, caused her to glance back at the hill. Her younger sister was soon with her, picking herself up from the brush and ground. Moving toward her, Vanwyn's ears pinned somewhat, and she pressed her body close to Vaniania's. She was scared, honestly. Where was her mother and father? Did they end up too far away from teh Flock? But she pressed her mind away from that and instead focused on her sister, worried somewhat that the earth toned filly had gotten hurt when she came to Vanwyn's rescue. Taking a deep breath, she trembled, and let her ears flick.

It was then that she heard the voice, and went on full alert. Vanwyn backed up from the sound, her claws bracing in the ground, holding her up. Who was that? Help? They needed help? For a few seconds, she considered going to do so, but remembered the lessons her mother had pushed onto them almost as soon as they learned to walk. Strangers equaled danger. They weren't like the Flock, weren't safe. She whimpered softly, letting out a frightened chirp, before backing up again, and nudged Vaniania with her to do the same, hoping to somehow, some way, be the elder and protect the younger of the two. In the back of her mind, she prayed that Vanmoriel would stay up in the territory, and not follow the middle sisters example of being protective and close.

"Vaniania.... we should go. I'm scared. What if we can't find our way back to the territory!" She said, her voice trilling in panic. She eyed her sister for a second, before quickly starting to copy her vocals, letting out the same chirps and cries, ears pinning.  

[pippi18848]

Drat it! Another young foal tumbled into the area but this one was smart enough to give out warning noises. This would foil all of her plans! But thankfully the skinwalker was quick thinking and developed a new plan. It would probably have all the harpies of the land after her, but if it meant harming two of their young ones in the process it may very well be worth it.

Neva crashed out of her hiding spot, her bat wings spread wide, making herself look as menacing as possible. The talons on the foals startled her slightly but they were little and she was bigger. She could handle a few scratches. "Get going little ones and stop making that awful noise. You are mine now. Fight me and I will make sure I find everyone you care about and make sure they die slow and painful deaths." She snarled as she hoped that this threat would make it easier to get them to listen to her. Besides, it would be no fun to kill the little ones now. It was more fun in her mind to make them miserable and suffer, so that way they would always remember her, and she would always haunt their dreams.

"Now, are you going to go, or are you going to watch all of your loved ones die before you?" The batwalker edged up on them, stalking them almost as she waited for them to get moving.  

[mindsend]

Vaniania hesitated, eyes widening -- while she had never seen one herself, she had heard her storytellers speak of Skinwalkers. They were the enemies of the flock, unnatural abominations either cursed into wild forms by dark spirits or Evil spirits of cruelty and horror given mortal form. They were the polar opposite of the Great mother that watched over them all and blessed them.

Until this point, the pale and earthen colored mare with the brilliant aqua eyes had thought they were just stories made to frighten little foals, but before there was one of the cursed. Her legs quivered slightly, unsure of what to do -- until her sister ran, she could not flee, and if they ran they'd only be further from their parents and safely, and they were still only a couple months old, and had yet to develop the strength to climb tree's to escape danger without their parents.

However, her attention flickered momentarily to behind the mare, hope swelling in her chest, before she nipped Vanwyn once to get the mare to spring into action and turned to Flee, frightened as she looked for a place to hide until danger had passed.


 

[mindsend]

Taarab's anxiety was nearly palpable as he tried to keep good attention of where his three children were, but they were spread out and he had found himself distracted, moving with Vanmoriel to show her a few of the wild flowers and what their various uses were, relaxing slightly as he spoke. Showing her the different types with a warm affection, remembering his father's lessons and how he had spent time with his other children, showing them and getting varied degree's of interest, Laveda being more interested in the medicinal uses of plants, but quickly tiring of the inefficiency of the lessons, preferring them to simply be gathered by others and identified once in one place, giving the teach

"And this one is Spiderwort -- the Flowers make a good blue dye, but the plant itself has various uses, such as a way to soothe bugbites and infe."

He paused, hearing the screeches and chirps of the slide down the hill, feeling his heart fill with dread as he realized he had not been paying attention to the two older girls and, to make it worse, distracted their mother, and didn't know where they were.

"Vanmoriel -- stay with you're mother" He smiled softly, hoping to not frighten her, "I need to get your sisters since they seem to be getting themselves into trouble... I'll stay within earshot."

He smiled at both his current mistress and youngest daughter, then turned quickly, leaping up into the trees to get a better look around.

---------

As event's played out for the two girls, Taarab neared their location, only a little ways away. Things were happening quickly, and while he too had never seen a skinwalker, all he knew is that his children were being threatened and there wasn't enough time to wait for help.

He shrieked loud and shrill as he burst from the branches of the trees he had been moving through, leaping tree to tree branch to branch towards the scene, causing the thinner branches of the tree's outside of the big oak grove they lived in to crack and snap, falling below until he leapt over the batlike threat to get between her and his foals.

Skidding and stumbling slightly in the leaf litter, he nearly fell on his side -- it was clear he was inexperienced in fighting in the difficulty he had changing directions to face the threat, his breathing already quick with a bit of quiver to it, having never needed to move so quickly before in his life. A stallions life in the flock was, after all, leisurely, and Taarab's fear was thick enough to be tasted on the air. He had no idea how many rules he might be breaking.

Lowering his head, his ears backed, he gave another loud shriek, wanting to make sure they could be found by the guards and warriors of the flock, and his fear was rapidly being replaced by anger, talons flexing in the leaf litter, "How dare you threaten Mistress Vanya's Children."



 

[pippi18848]

Neva gave a sigh of annoyance as she heard one of the adults come flying at her. Seriously, this was getting really old now. She stood still and waited for the other to get between herself and the little ones, rolling her eyes slightly at the whole theatrics of getting over her. The batwalker eyed the newcomer, male, it seemed and she could easily tell that he was no good at anything of the sort. Either he was just pathetically weak or it was the same for all males in this area.

"See little ones, you didn't move fast enough. And now someone has to be hurt." Neva said, letting the start of blame and guilt form in their minds if she managed to hurt this newcomer. The fact that this newcomer is even mixed in with this mess should be enough of a guilt-trip for the foals even if he didn't get harmed. Now she focused her attention on the male. "Well well, Mistress? That certainly is interesting. Now either move or I will be forced to injure you. And I'm sure you wouldn't want those precious young girls to see you bleeding. They would feel responsible for your injuries." She paused a moment to give him a moment to think as she looked over him once more.

Again the claws were very obvious to her but this male was pathetic in her mind. It would honestly be better to put the fool out of his misery since he is obviously incredibly weak. "Do they not let you males do anything? Or are you left to just fade away?" She was curious but she also wanted to dig into his mind and cause him to lose some faith in himself if she could. "You obviously are in no shape at all to safe those precious little foals. I can easily take you down since you are so pathetically weak." At this point she started to circle him slowly, as a predator would his prey.