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 Posted: Mon Aug 13, 2012 7:38 pm
 The sun was beginning to set and an orange shape was darting behind bushes. Trees. Large rocks. One such incident left the orange creature billowing in pain at the scratch marks across her flank. The surprised fox jumped out after her, making threatening growling sounds.
It would seem all hiding places thus far had been claimed. Like the creatures of the woods were well aware of the near presence to them. Nyomi was little exception. She knew from personal experience what was going to happen when that sun dipped down behind the mountains more than felt it. It happened every night. The day was bad enough, but with the night brought a new threat. She had been caught in it a few times in her short life. Had experienced the scary place. Did not want to experience the scary place, again, if she could help it.
Behind a tree she ran, stopping to catch her breath while the sun sunk lower in the sky. Nyomi's dark eyes widened in fear and she started to cry, making quiet sobs of fear and loneliness. She didn't even have any sisters to share this with.
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Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 2:29 am
 Ariadne had lost track of herself in the woods. Lonely thoughts rattled around in her skull and kept her preoccupied. Perhaps that was why the growing silence around her went unnoticed. Before long, all she could hear was the occasional snap of a twig as her hooves crushed it and she got used to that strange silence. Her eyes saw but did not see and she paid just enough attention to better pick her way through the woods.
It was strange, then that a quiet sobbing reached her attention. Stopping mid-step, the unicorn's ears twitched as they worked to funnel the sound in and discern where it was coming from. It sounded like something...young.
Could anyone live in these silent woods? It was a question that boggled her mind. Earlier the forest had seemed so full of life. Now...Now it was just dark. Almost oppressing...Hopeless, even. Who would want to live in a place like this?
She found herself wanting to leave but another soft sob reached her ears and she stepped closer to the sound. It was definitely coming from someone...younger. A crying child perhaps? She certainly couldn't leave a frightened, lonely child. What if it was hurt?
"Hello? Little one?" the mare called out, her voice soft and gentle, "Where are you? Are you alright?"
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 7:41 pm
The darkness that began to circle and trap her felt like it was burrowing into her body. Clutching at her heart until she couldn't break. At times she couldn't. So passionate were her sobs to make her lungs stop receiving air. Then she'd jump and suck in a large mouthful, the coldness that washed over her feeling like icy hands over her heart, threatening to squeeze until she passed out.
Whether she did from fear or the threat, she would pass out regardless. It would be for the better. To sleep through this. Maybe her orange pelt would hide her well on the ground. It wasn't likely, but it was something.
The snapping of twigs made the foal sob louder, forgetting in her fear the threat didn't make many sounds before approaching. Clamping her teeth shut to keep herself quiet, Nyomi tried her best to blend into the tree behind her without much success. The tree was a birch.
But when the sound proved to be nothing more than a passing mare, the foal nearly tripped on her own white hooves to go into the stranger's line of sight. She stood there, quivering clearly in fear of something that might be just out of reach in the shadows behind her.
If you listened hard enough, you could almost hear the rustling of cloth.
"You...Should not be here," was all Nyomi said, swallowing many times to keep her tears at bay. This was her problem. Hers alone. She would learn to deal with it.
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Posted: Fri Oct 26, 2012 11:49 pm
The rustle of cloth was lost on the chestnut mare's ears, which pressed themselves down at the sight of the foal, her knees knocking against each other. The sight of her instantly drew pity from her heart and she wanted to reach out, to nuzzle her, comfort her, let her know she was safe. Poor little thing. Probably lost and all alone in this terrifying forest. What kind of mother would leave her baby in a horrific place like this? It angered the mare and she pawed at the ground with her hoof in agitation, tail flicking.
Ah, but she had to keep herself calm. She had to be dignified. For the sake of the young one, Ariadne, be gentle she reminded herself. A deep inhale of breath and the lovely mare had regained her composure.
"No, sweet thing," the mare started in soothing tones, her voice flowing like honey, "Neither one of us should be here. This is no place for a pretty little lady such as yourself."
The mare flashed a winning smile and took a few slow, calculated steps towards the girl, not wanting to scare her away but also wanting to close the distance between them.
"Come, honey child, where is your mother? Your father? We can find them and get you home, everything will be alright," she replied, her tone soft and sincere.
The curiousness she had felt only moments before had vanished, replaced with the wish to get this little girl safely into the arms of her loving parents. Then she could go on her way.
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Posted: Thu Nov 01, 2012 12:13 pm
Nyomi backed away at the same speed as the strange mare, not wanting to allow anyone to get near her or her heart. Like some secret design of the Gods that she should be born into this kind of family. To be left behind by her father when Plamen fled with the boys. It wouldn't have been that difficult to spirit her away. During the day, at any rate. There was no threat during the day. Just sorrow. So much sorrow. What kind of world could allow so much of it in one place? Maybe this was normal. Just like the life she was leading was normal.
There was a reason. Of course there was. The foal wouldn't allow this mare to shatter her purpose. She was a Kuze, the only living Kuze girl of her generation.
In her determination to keep the mare off, Nyomi had forgotten what had been frightening her. The tears dried on her soft baby's fur, gone unnoticed in her new plight.
She was born and left for a reason. She must not allow anyone to take her away now. Once she no longer needed her mother's milk to survive, she could stop living in so much fear night after night. Already she was beginning to learn how to depend on herself.
The foal barked out a laugh that was half mad, half amusement. Find her parents? Good one. Who knew where her father was. The only thing she knew about him was that she must look like him. There was no orange. No stripes. No green in her Kuze tree. "Everything will be fine. In time. I don't need anyone's help." Stubbornly, she set her jaw, locking the entrance into her sanity where a small piece of her was trying to claw out. Claw it's way from this nightmare into the care of someone more gentle.
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2013 12:29 am
The foal was reluctant. Understandably so. She was in a strange place and Ariadne was, after all, a stranger to her. And yet, she felt obligated to continue to try. What kind of mare would she be if she simply left this youngling all alone with no one to rely on.
"You are a strong young lady, I can see that," the mare started, her smile still as gentle as it ever was despite the set jaw, the retreating steps.
"You may not need my help, as you say, but the truth is, I could surely use yours. I do not know where I am. If you are as sure as you say, you must know this place. Will you help me?"
In truth, Ariadne was unsure if this foal lived here at all or if she could help but her previous approach was sure to scare her away at this rate. Perhaps if she appealed to her independence she could get her to come closer and learn enough about her to get her home.Hoshi Lockhart Sorry it's so short. Ariadne is a weird muse for me.
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Posted: Wed Feb 27, 2013 4:10 pm
The compliment made the foal proud. She stood up a little taller and put on a braver face. She was a brave little one, wasn't she? If only the older mare knew of the dangers that lurked around the corner here she would understand how appropriate the compliment was.
Nyomi relaxed a bit. So long as this mare was going to stop pretending to know her and how to help her, she would co-operate. Once the sun went down all would be revealed, anyway. She would see. This wasn't a place for her.
But how much was she willing to let out in the open about this place? It must not be known what goes on here. Some fool would just make it worse.
"I know this place," she said slowly, young eyes still darting about nervously. She remained away from the mare, like a skittish deer watching the predator for its next movement. Wondering if it should run or relax. "If you turn around and go in the opposite direction, you will find the way out of the forest."
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Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 10:21 pm
Ariadne held back a frown and remained calm. The little girl wasn't giving her much to work with and it was getting a little frustrating. She took a brief deep breath before glancing behind her the way she came and back to the little one again.
"But that's the problem...I keep getting turned around...Could you show me?" Her voice was sincere and gentle.
It wasn't as if she planned to pounce on the girl if she helped her. She just wanted to gain a level of trust. Some sort of level of trust. Anything to get the girl to open up to her just a little bit...
"I'm not very good with directions...I'm lost more often than I'm not..." That much was the truth.
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Posted: Sun Jun 29, 2014 8:50 pm
Nyomi nervously watched the sun sinking closer to the earth for a few moments, beginning to grow frustrated herself. If she didn't get rid of this mare and get back to the shrine for a good hiding place, she'd be a sitting duck. The ghosts didn't always stay just near the shrine. Sometimes they wandered into the surrounding forest. Getting her away faster also meant none of the ghosts decided to attach themselves to her. Such a mess that would be if one got away. The foal wasn't old enough or experienced enough to track them down. The panic tried to surface, but she pushed it back down.
"I, um..." What to do. Helping her would mean a lot less time to get back. Not helping might mean an escaped ghost. Her mother would not be happy either way, when she was able to remember she was a mother. The moments were seldom. When they were Kyouka always made sure her only living daughter knew of the dangers and how to escape it. And than she would be free to leave, if she choose. Kyouka would not keep her children here just because she found instincts difficult to ignore. It wasn't her fault. The orange filly knew this. It made her vow each day that she would never abandon her mother to this horror alone.
"I...Guess I could. Follow me." Nyomi walked off without another word in the direction away from the shrine, trying not to imagine she heard strange noises beginning to appear in the shadows of the disappearing light.
Where did she leave mother?
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