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 Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 3:12 am
 Ca Thu Thi practically danced as she walked, her hooves doling out her usual, musical rhythm. She'd put her search for Melda temporarily on hold to let her leg heal and to spend more time with Paimon.
The mere mention of his name in her thoughts made the mare look over at her new lifemate with a vibrant smile. In such a short time, Paimon had made her life exponentially better. She was smiling more, she was always filled with one happy emotion or another, she renewed her habit of tapping out melodies when she walked. It was a wonderful life she had. They were meeting up with Paimon's Chosen, but maybe sometime soon they could go visit her father and sister down in the south... and find the sister and mother that were somewhere here in the north.
The sound of another set of footsteps besides hers and Paimon's made Ca pause and inspect their surroundings. This wasn't a rabbit or a squirrel. This was too big--and with four steps in the pattern, it wasn't a human. The logical thought was that it was another Azrien--one that was coming their way.
Was it a friend or a foe?
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 12:30 pm
Paimon was trotting along with his new Lifemate happily, when he realized that they weren't alone. He turned and saw his old... friend, Arachnae. He stopped, staring at her for a moment, trying to comprehend why she was here, now. "Nae..." he said hesitantly, moving closer to Ca out of nervousness that anything else. Arachnae gave a small, shy smile to Paimon before looking back and forth between the two. In the past, she wouldn't have cared that Paimon was with someone, she would have flirted anyways, as was the case with Cecelia and her lifemate Damir, but she had come to apologize, and tell him she did love him, but that she couldn't settle down. It wasn't her nature. "Paimon." She said his name warmly, a smile upon her face. "Can I.. speak with you? In private for only a moment?Paimon looked at Ca for permission. He wouldn't do anything if she did not want him to.
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 12:52 pm
Ca looked up at her mate when he moved closer, catching the nervous tone in his voice. She lightly nudged him with her nose in silent question, though the mare with the tattooed pelt spoke up first. She idly inspected Arachnae, noting the rather humbled expression. At Paimon's silent request for permission, she smiled and nodded. Clearly there had been a wrong made; she wouldn't object to amends being made. She gestured that she was going on and walked away from the pair to continue heading towards Sebastian. The autumn mare didn't know how her mate's Chosen would react to just her, but he could always contact Paimon mentally.
The farther away she drew, the more doubts and worries built up. Paimon's initial reaction to the mare he called Nae was at the center of this worry. What if she wasn't just a friend? What if they made amends and decided things could work out between them?
What if Paimon left her?
The loyal part of her heart immediately balked at the mere suggestion. Paimon wouldn't leave her. He would be by her side forever, and she by his. They were mates for life. Nae couldn't possibly change that. Could she?
Her turbulent thoughts were broken by the sight and sound of fire up ahead. It wasn't Paimon; he was off in the other direction. Had something at one of the human dwellings caught on fire? The mare quickened her pace. Something was wrong. Very wrong. What was the source of this foreboding feeling...?
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 2:13 pm
A bloodcurling scream rent out of Sebastian's mouth as he stumbled and fell into a thicket. He'd been running. Running from this beast that hunted him down. A beast that wanted Sebastian's blood running onto the fire soaked ground. Ruin grinned sadistically as he stood over the meek human boy. "Paimon is my son, and I will not let him forsake his inheritance by messing around with a trivial, sick, weak human." he said, his voice crackling like the flame that he encircled the young boy. His glowing coal eyes danced in delight as Sebastian whimpered and cried in pain.
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 2:30 pm
Ca did not think. She ran towards the scream at full speed, leaping the flames and soaring towards a stallion that looked very much like Paimon. Her hooves hit the fiery Azrien's saddle with a loud cracking sound. She used the contact to jump backwards and land nimbly between the attacker and his target. As she inspected the stallion, she slowly realized she knew who this was. She'd never met him, but she'd heard enough about him to recognize him. Ruin, the flaming southern stallion that brought chaos in his wake. She gave a mere glanced to Sebastian before fixing her complete attention on her opponent. If this really was Ruin, she couldn't afford to look away.
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 2:40 pm
Ruin glared at the female that had interrupted his bloodlust. "What do you think you're doing?' He said, glaring hotly at the female. After a quick study, he recognized her as Punk's daughter. He threw his head back and laughed hotly. "Punk's girl, aren't ya? Why would you defend this weak being?" He started towards her, the ground igniting under his hooves as he did so, large flames licking up his legs.
"Back up, girl. Unless you want to be hurt." He crackled, his voice low and calm. He lowered his head and kept walking, sure that she would move.
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 2:58 pm
He knew about her? How did he...? ... Sauron. She bet the chatterbox went and opened his big mouth. But she could think about that later. Emotions surged through her as he spoke and walked towards her. Her eyes narrowed as his title for her echoed in her mind. Punk's girl. Daughter of the Azrien who never backed down. Even when it seemed like he was, he didn't. He wasn't the smartest nor the strongest, but he was the bravest Azrien she'd ever known.
That was not a name she was going to besmirch, especially with Paimon's Chosen on the line. She did back up, but in the same motion her back legs shot out to smack Ruin's side and push him away from his target. The instant her feet landed she leapt at him with teeth bared. The flames seared her skin mercilessly, but she couldn't back down. Rage surged in her eyes like the storm on her pelt as she relentlessly attacked Ruin with every move in her arsenal. Ca knew that she would be knocked down and pushed aside by this fiery warrior, but she also knew that she wouldn't accept that option. Did this old flamer really think she would just walk away? That she'd submit to his whims? Who the hell did he think she was?!
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 3:14 pm
Ruin rolled his eyes at the abuse the female sent his way. Obviously her father had tried to train her in combat and had failed miserably, atleast when it came to those of the Flame, that is. After a moment or two, he let his flames dance across her pelt as he turned away. "I will come back for you, my dear. Not today, but someday. Beware." he then left.
Paimon came running up the hill, just in time to miss the sight of his father, not that the fire could have been caused by any other than his father. He growled and closed his eyes, controlling the inferno his father had caused, until all the flames were gone and the ground was simply burnt and simmering. He then made his way over to Ca and his Bonded, nuzzling them both in turn, before attending to their burns, taking the searing heat away so it wouldn't hurt so bad and would only be a small scratch instead. "What happened?"
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 3:30 pm
Ruin was gone. Her anger ebbed, and Paimon's arrival brought a wave of relief with it. But now that the adrenaline rush had faded, Ca was feeling the extent of the damage done to her body. It was bad. She couldn't move without searing pain shooting through her. Paimon's effect was soothing,though it wouldn't help everything. And yet... it was enough.
"Pai... mon..."
The name was not much more than a hoarse, raspy whisper, but it was something.
"Kept... safe..." The words dropped from her lips as she tipped over and collapsed, completely exhausted. She let her blurring vision rest and slid the her eyes shut, letting the duty of Sebastian's safety return to Paimon. The human was safe and Ruin had left... she could rest now, right?
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:28 pm
Paimon's eyes widened at the sound of Ca's voice. It was lovely, beautiful, magnificent... but also pained. He grimaced, unsure of what to do. Glancing at Sebastian, the human nodded. I'm fine, Pai. Help her. I'll run and get Aila." He said, standing up. He wasn't too badly hurt, atleast, not near as much as it seemed that Ca was hurting. He bent onto his knees and cuddled close to his mate. "Its going to be okay, Ca, I promise. Just... don't go to sleep. Stay with me." He whimpered softly.
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:55 pm
Ca tried to lift herself as the human got to his own feet. Was he crazy? He couldn't go off on his own. What if Ruin was still nearby? She nuzzled Paimon reassuringly, trying to put his worries at ease. She'd be fine. She just needed a little rest... well, a lot of rest. But apparently she wasn't going to be sleeping until she met this Aila person. Once again she attempted to get back on her feet, this time using Paimon as a support to help get upright.
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 11:00 pm
Paimon grimaced. "Run on ahead, Sebastian, warn Aila that we're coming." He then turned to Ca as she steadied herself by using him as a balance. "I'm sorry, but Aila is another human, but she won't hurt you and she can atleast give us a salve to make your burns heal faster." He said, concern etching his brows together as he nuzzled her back softly, careful not to hit one of her burns.
Sebastian nodded and ran off, just down the hill where Aila's farm was. He had been staying with Aila for a month or so, as Derrick had been seen close to the tavern Sebastian was working at.
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 11:28 pm
Ca let her eyes all but shut, focusing her energies on her much more reliable sense of hearing. She nodded wearily. She understood. It seemed the human would be treating her either way; given the choice, the human's dwelling place was probably safer than here. Though her wounds protested, she leaned lightly against her mate as they slowly moved forward. The mare was exhausted and in pain, but Paimon's presence provided great relief. Her heart's turbulence subsided. But what happened to his friend? The one with the fish and spider web designs on her pelt?
Maybe that was an inquiry for another time... when she wasn't feeling so disoriented. Right now she needed to focus on hearing her way around--with Paimon's support, of course. He would know where they were going, after all.
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 11:36 pm
Paimon stopped when they got to the top of the hill. "Lay here, Ca. Aila is coming. I don't want you to move any farther than you have too." He said. He opened up his mouth as if to say more, but closed it when a loud, vibrating galloping came towards them.
A large black and white draft female was thundering up with a diminutive female atop her back. Sebastian was jogging alongside.
The female jumped nimbly off of the draft mare's back and landed with a soft thud. A bag at her side jingled as she made the way to Ca and Paimon's side.
"What happened?" She asked as she began digging through her bag for the salve.
"My father." Paimon answered bitterly as he kept nuzzling his beloved mate.
Aila shook her head as she pulled out the large container of salve. "This is gonna make you feel better, promise. And it won't even sting. Only soothe." She said before hesitantly beginning to rub the salve in. Sebastian had warned her that this mare wasn't of the good alignment and might object to having a human treat her.
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Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 11:48 pm
Ca obeyed, sinking back to the ground and letting her poor legs rest. Her ears flicked up straight at the jingling sound. She listened to the conversation silently, not moving at all until Aila's hand touched her side. Very slowly she stretched her head to where the hand was, gently grasping the human's wrist between her jaws. After a moment, she released the wrist and rested against Paimon once more. This human wouldn't hurt her. It was safe to relax. Even so, she kept her ears perked, catching every sound around her. Her mate didn't want her to fall asleep, and this was the best way to stay awake.
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