[PRP]Lost and Found {Háidēs & Roman}

[Regal Renegade]

The chill of the rain stung his already burning flesh and the scent of mud and blood mixed together overwhelmed his senses. Part of him wished to move but the other just wished to close his eyes again and wake up back in that lush green meadow with his family. Instead he was in pain, his heart heavy and the same old dark cloud of hatred filling his mind, body and soul. Cracking his eyes open he looked to the angry looking sky, merciless as the Skinwalker who had permanently carved his mark into Roman's flesh. The stallion lay broken, his wings spread at odd angles, one bleeding from a bite wound and the other injured due to the impact. He was a pitiful sight and he could hear his father's voice in the back of his mind telling him that he needed to get up and care for Cottus. That he would be gone for a while but would come back, ignoring the state his son was currently in.  

[Thalea]

Rain: the water drops that fell from the heavens and washed the earth, ridding the land of the old, ushering in a new beginning and giving those who inhabited the cleansed world a new chance at life. At that moment, that was how the stallion with black wings felt, as the cool water from the heavens soaked into his bronze coat, his mate, Carolina, was similar to the rain; she washed away the old grouchy him and aided his transformation into his new self. Háidēs’ chocolate brown eyes gazed out across the wet landscape, it made him think of another time he was in a rain storm, except on that occasion, he was entangled in roots of a tree. In the distance, a heap appeared out of place, curious the Angeni stallion made his way toward the anomaly; his eyes widened as he took on the sight of the wind lying in a crumpled heap below him. “By the Fields of Elysia, what happened here?”  

[Regal Renegade]

All happiness he had felt when dreaming of his family being alive and well had drained from him just as his blood had. The earth was a greedy malicious thing, drinking it in as though it were nectar, not even thanking him for the sacrifice. Closing his eyes once more he attempted to push himself back into that place where everything felt right, this world he was in now was dark and spiteful how had he been granted such misfortune? Sorrow began turning to numbness and his wounds had begun to dull in pain only because he no longer cared, he wished to leave this world, there was nothing left here for him. Suddenly he heard a voice, far away and garbled. For a moment he thought he was heading down the path back to his dream world, his family waiting for him happily. He dared not open his eyes and a slight glimmer of hope filled his dark soul. But like everything else it was only temporary, the voice which was once just a noise in his ear grew clearer and he knew it was from someone he hadn't ever met before. Cracking his eyes open he found himself looking up at dark feathers. Had the angel of death finally come to take him? Could he finally leave this place? Closing his eyes once more he wished with all of his heart that he would finally be delivered. "Death." He murmured just barely.  

[Thalea]

Háidēs looked at the bloodied sight before him with his dark chocolate brown eyes, evaluating the situation, then cast his gaze around the rain soaked landscape, searching for the creature who had done this to the wind. They were alone. The stallion was no healer, but he did understand the basics of what was needed to be done to help the poor lad regain his strength and the first priority on his mind was to get the stallion out of the rain, but Háidēs worried that if he moved the stallion any more, he would be completely lost to him. He decided that to ignore the broken stallion’s statement, he was still far from death, even if he did wish it upon himself. “Boy, can you walk? Just nod once for yes and twice for no.” The god sent a glare up into the heavens, why does it always seem that complicated situations happen while in the rain? Were the Fates always laughing at him, loving the struggle they always seemed to place in his path? Brown eyes looked back to the cover of the trees, it was not that far and he knew of a cave not that far into the woods, it would protect them from drowning in the torrent of water falling from the sky.  

[Regal Renegade]

For a brief moment he could have sworn he saw his mother’s tear streaked face in his mind’s eye. What she was so upset about he could not discern, but he began to believe it was that her son was such a cowardly stallion. The voice returned, and he found himself irritated with it. He did not wish to walk anywhere he just wanted the cold fingers of death to grip his heart and pull him from this wretched world. “Why?” He barely managed over the dark lump forming in his throat.  

[Thalea]

XBlind-DarknessX

Háidēs let out a sigh, at least the stallion was aware enough to ask the question, "Because wee need to get out of the rain and take a look at your injuries." Háidēs could guess that they 'why' meant more than just moving the beaten stallion to a dry place, but he chose to ignore the deeper meaning. "You are in bad shape and once I get you to a cave I can treat your injuries. I am a healer of sorts." What if the stallion did not wish to move? How would the black winged stallion get him to safety? He was strong and could pull the beaten body of the blood covered wind, but it would tire him out perfously. What was he to do?  

[Regal Renegade]

The image of his mother was soon replaced with the flash of teeth and claws and the wounds that had previously gone numb had begun to burn once more. Squeezing his eyes shut he shifted his legs to rid himself of the discomfort but found that the movement caused even more pain. Why couldn’t he have just beaten that skinwalker? Then he could have avenged his family and then…The thought ended abruptly for there was no ‘and then.’ When he avenged his family his mission would be complete and there would be nothing more for him. The thought hung in his mind a moment more before he dismissed it entirely; he hadn’t won so he didn’t need to worry. He felt weak, physically and mentally and he began to wonder why this stallion would take so much pity on such a worthless being. His eyes began to slowly open and reveal the gray world around him but stopped upon his rescuer.

He was an angeni, of course he would stop for an injured creature. Releasing a deep sigh Roman attempted to rock himself up onto his stomach, but winced painfully and fell back. He knew the angeni would not leave him; it was not in their breed to do so. It was either lay here and argue with the ginormous stallion or simply do as he said. Regardless of where he was taken the choice over living and dying was his own. Flicking his ears back he tried once more, the slashes in his neck screaming with the effort.  

[Thalea]

Well at least he was trying to do as he asked, the healer knew that moving the stallion was going to be painful, but there was no other choice unless he wanted the youngling to die of shock or hypothermia. "There you go, you are almost up and it won't be that long of a walk. Once there I will give you some poppy for your pain." Before Lina Háidēs was only kind to his patients and foals, for there was no deception in their eyes, now today, Háidēs felt as if the stallion before him was just as innocent as those foals but had witnessed and suffered so much hatred and loneliness. The winged stallion paused, that sounded familiar. It then dawned on him that the bloody mess before him appeared to be a kindred spirit, except his path held more darkness and trials.  

[Regal Renegade]

He gritted his teeth through the pain as his muscles tightened with each rolling movement. The stallion’s words were kind but slightly annoying in this instance. A pep talk didn’t seem like it was going to make gravity ease up any or his wounds to stop hurting. Little did he know but the slight irritation was enough to finally allow him to roll up from lying flat on his side. Releasing an enormous breath coupled with an angry sounding groan of pain he tried to get his feet beneath him. What could possibly be fueling him now? How had he suddenly desired to get onto his feet? Why? The only answer he could give was that the hatred building behind his walls of pain gave him strength. And before he knew it he was standing shakily upon four hooves, threatened by each raindrop to fall once more.

He tried to ignore the wing that now hung listlessly down by his side, unable to be tucked up like normal due to the crushing jaws of Barracus. The wounds that had nearly scabbed began to crack and open once more because of the shift in position. Once he caught his breath he looked at the stallion from the corner of his cold blue eyes. Black wings, a cape of a very fine looking material, and a face as stern and rough as any he had ever seen. He began to wonder if he had developed that similar expression but then thought of how strange that idea was. “Now…what..?” He barely managed through his dry esophagus.  

[Thalea]

Blood began to tickle out of the stallion's wounda, mixinv with the water falling from the sky. Well at least the wounds were getting clean in this torrent. Háidēs had a basket of herbs by the forest edge, it was filled with herbs that had a variety of uses and spiderwebs to put over the open hashes. With a critical eye Háidēs realized he would need to replenish his stores after he helped the stallion. The wind appeared to have slash claw marks all over his body and his wing hung limp across his back. That will need to be set and taken care of first if the stallion ever wanted to fly again. Háidēs knew he should get the name of his new patient, but there would be time for that layer, "now we get out of this rain and into the forest. Come on." Háidēs began walking to the tree line, slowing down his pace so he could keep even with the broken wind.  

[Regal Renegade]

His eyebrows were knit tightly together in a mask of pain as he lumbered slowly after the angeni who had taken pity on his broken body. He was still sorting out why he was following the stallion’s instructions when a loud booming overhead caused him to flinch. The movement was enough to jerk his injured wing and he was unable to contain the scream of pain that forced its way up his throat and out of his mouth. Stopping he stood, shaking in the rain for a moment, attempting to gather himself up enough to keep walking.

With each painful prickle of his body, anger and darkness began to grow within his heart. Not only had he allowed his brother to die and been unable to take revenge on the skinwalker who had killed his parents, but now he was limping around like some half dead rabbit caught in the jaws of a wolf. He was utterly pathetic and useless and there was no argument about that. He wished more than anything that Barracus had just slashed his windpipe and ended the torment.

Squeezing his eyes shut and lowering his head he forced his feet to move, one after the other. His mane clung to his neck and face in a wet, muddy mess and the newly spilled blood was turning his golden fur an ugly pink hue. He wondered if his family was looking down at him from the afterlife now, their eyes full of disappointment and pity.
 

[Thalea]

With a loud crash of thunder Háidēs gave a slight start and then the scream filled the air and he winced. There was nothing he could do for the pathetically injured stallion except get him to shelter and treat his wounds. He would live, but he may never be the same stallion he was before the ordeal he encountered. The black winged stallion sighed, he had seen many battered souls and many of them had given up the will to live. Would this wind be the same or would he find the spark of life and pull through the pain and anguish? “C’mon boy, it is only a little further.”

The Angeni reached the forest edge and grabbed his basket of herbs, his brown eyes watching the movement of the wind, if they did not get to shelter quick, the stallion would not be able to have the strength to fight off the infections he was sure to acquire in this cold. A check list filled his mind, he had everything he needed, to treat the wounds but he could use a special herb to bring down the swelling and the heat. As he walked he kept an eye out for the specific herb and smiled when he found it growing beneath an ancient oak. He bowed his head to the tree and took most of the plant.

Moments felt like hours as they trudged through the rain to the cave, “Here we are boy. Now let me take a look at those wounds.”