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 Posted: Wed Mar 20, 2013 8:10 pm
 He moved with an almost liquid like grace. Anchor, despite his obvious size and bulk, his muscles, was graceful with his body. Years of fighting and training had made him able to do almost anything physically possible. His eyes lingered lightly on the ground as he moved forward. He’d been contacted via falcon on where to go, on what he was being asked to do. So, he walked, and traveled. It wasn’t a long journey from where he had been, a few days maybe. And he was ending his time doing so. He stared ahead of himself at the forest before him, before frowning, eyes flickering, his nostrils flaring. He knew that smell. He knew the smell of blood before he saw it. Half way surging forward, he found himself stopping short when he saw the herd, slaughtered. His head dipped near the corpse of one of the horses, where he sniffed at the blood and eyed the wounds slowly. Claw marks… A Walker; be it pure or cursed, it had come by here. It had slaughtered the herd.
A noise drew his attention, and he shifted with the sound. He braced himself to attack, letting out a slight growling noise, before the gasped breath caught his attention. He moved forward, more cautiously now, before locating a mare, laying within a pool of her own blood. Anchor lowered his head, watching her, trying to comfort her somewhat. But all she kept mumbling was how she had gone down river. Another mare, down river. To save her… Frowning, Anchor flicked his ear some, trying to get more out of her, but she passed, the last thing she had seen being the glowing look in Anchor’s eyes.
Lifting his head, Anchor blinked, his eyes lingering on the water. He frowned for several moments, before he shifts and walks over to the river. He lowered his head, eyes flickering, searching. He shifted over, a glint of purple catching his eyes before he sniffed at the locks. It smelled of jasmines and some form of nectar. Shaking his head, he lifted it, the large horn almost piercing the sky, before he peered down the river. Someone was lost down there, and he needed to figure out what was going on.
He took off in a fast gallop. Anchor let his body lead him. His hooves barely hit ground as he moved, and despite the feel of the sandbank shifting under his hooves, he kept moving. He almost slipped in a few times, but continued onward either way. He ran for several minutes, what felt like hours, but eventually, his gaze pulled a different, odd color from the water. He frowned as he jumped into the cool liquid, and swam forward, his head above the water, muscles tight as he moved. Shifting, he ducked his head under the water, and let his body shift under the creature, before breaching, couching at the water that filled his lungs, before he moved toward the shore, and then lowered himself slightly, tilting his body so that the mare could once more be on the land, and no longer in water.
The stallion frowned, his breath coming out in heaves, visible from the mist of water that dripped down his snout. He let his eyes linger on her for a moment, before lowering his head and stared down at her, eyes locked. Anchor didn’t like seeing people hurt, specifically since he had been hired to protect, and been met with bloodshed… Shaking his head, Anchor growled, before he stood over her, and watched, waiting.
Hoping, that she was alive.
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Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2013 4:40 am
Blood. Blood everywhere. All she could see was the slaughtered bodies of her herd. Her friends. Her family. The crimson that sprayed like a mist clouded her mind’s eye. It had happened so fast. One minute she had been weaving some flowers with her mother and some other mares, when suddenly snarls and the cries of her herdmates broke through the air.
The Skinwalker had attacked sooner than her father had expected. Her father was the head of their herd, and he had been spending many moons training the warriors. He had even sent for warriors in the surrounding area to assist with eradicating the troublesome threat that had moved into their lands. However they underestimated the Skinwalker’s strength and cunning. It had waited until the herd’s forces were scattered about their territory in the middle of the day. They were nowhere near prepared for the carnage that ensued.
Jasmine was no fighter. She was incredibly sheltered by her parents, and as the Skinwalker literally tore through her friends and family, she realized that she was going to die amongst them. The mares she was with had instantly formed a tight wall in front of her, defending their princess. But they fell too in time. A sharp pull on her mane from behind sent a startled cry from her mouth. Her wide and glassy eyes met the eerily calm gaze of her mother. Her mother was almost as delicate and small as Jasmine was, similarly sheltered by her own parents and her mate. For the first time, Jasmine saw a true strength in her mother’s eyes.
“Mother,” Jasmine sobbed. The older mare stood in front of her daughter, slowly backing her up to the river’s edge. Jasmine, in such a state of shock and horror, was completely unaware of her plan. A snarl tore Jasmine’s gaze from her mother’s. The Skinwalker had finally taken down her father, the sole warrior left. Hope was lost.
“I love you, Mama,” she whispered. The Skinwalker advanced slowly, taking it’s time as it reveled in the destruction and horror it had caused thus far.
“I love you too, my darling princess,” She leaned in to nuzzle her daughter affectionately. “Now... live for me!”
With a strength fueled by pure adrenaline, her mother pushed her as hard as she could. Jasmine’s eyes widened as she lost her footing and realized her mother’s plan.
“Mama - NO!” Was all that she could get out before she was sent into the rushing river behind her. The last thing she saw was the Skinwalker leaping at her mother. Then her head disappeared underwater. She opened her mouth to scream in pain as her body was dragged downriver, her long mane catching on rocks and plants, but all that came from her mouth were precious air bubbles. Jasmine quickly succumbed to darkness.
She wasn’t sure if she was dead or alive. Part of her wished to be dead to be with her family, though the other wished to obey her mother and live. She felt suspended, as if she was floating in between unconsciousness and consciousness. Suddenly, Jasmine felt something. She felt heavier. Was she moving? As her body met the ground, it slammed her back to reality.
She let out a raspy cough as her body lurched to the side and expelled all of the water from her lungs. Hacking and gasping for air, she soon realized that she wasn’t alone. Her wide eyes met the glowing pair of the unfamiliar and opposing stallion above her. Her initial fright was overtaken by concern for him. He was wet and breathing heavily. Had he...
“Did you...” Her voice was rough from coughing and she cleared it a few times before continuing. “Did you save me?”
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Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2013 12:27 pm
 Anchor lifted his head, sighing some as he glanced around once more. He let his eye drift slowly along the trees and bank of the river. So far he didn’t detect or see anything; so maybe it was safe to say they had escaped from the Skinwalker that had attacked the small herd. Shaking his head some, he sighed. He waited for a moment, before bracing his hooves, and shook his entire body, getting as much water from his form as he could. The armor still dripped with water that clung to the copper colored metal. He sighed a bit, stretching out his legs a bit, before he walked slowly back over toward the mare. She was soaked as well. Frowning, he glanced around some, eyes lingering to try and find something to help her dry off. But he had no blanket and there didn’t seem to be any form of large leaves that could cover her up around here.
Just when he was about to move toward the woods to try and locate a fallen branch or something, he heard the movement. The cough alerted Anchor, and he instantly moved back over to the mare’s side. He peered down at her, before slowly lowering his head to where he could sniff a bit at her and try and figure out if she was all right. He almost brushed his nose against her neck and cheek, but resisted, instead pulled his head back so that he could stare down at her once more, red eyes locking on her form. He shifted easily in front of her, trying to figure out what to do. He was good when it came to fighting, and figuring out situations that had to do with that. But, with this… This was so different… And he had no real idea what to do.
Taking a small step back, Anchor lifted his head a bit to allow her some space. He caught her eyes, and knew for a fact that she was, at the least, alive and awake. He was glad for this, and shifted slowly to where he could glance over her once more, ensuring that she was indeed okay. There weren’t any scratches that he could see, and there wasn’t any blood. His ears perked slightly, before he shifted forward and nodded his head lightly toward her, unable to really speak. He never knew how to talk to others, and just instead grunted or did actions. Flicking his tail lightly, he lowered his head to where it was partially on her level, his muscles giving a slight quiver of attention, before he shifted to give her air once more. He couldn’t press in. He knew that, but his instincts were telling him to go forward and help her to stand up.
”Are you all right?” He asked after a few moments, red eyes locking on her small form.
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Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 1:12 am
She continued to stare up at him and his odd features. She'd never seen a soq like him before. Sure some were unis, but none had horns like this stallion did. He also seemed to be covered in armor. Was he a warrior? She thought back a bit in her hazy mind to the warriors and stray mercenaries her father had called upon. He didn't resemble any of them.
She flushed once she realized he had spoken. She shook her head a bit, feeling her wet hair tangle and slap against her sides. Gosh she probably resembled a drowned rat. She was such a mess. What would her mother sa- Her mother... Jasmine felt herself tear up, but shook her head again, sending magenta tendrils everywhere.
"I... I believe I am okay," she finally said. "I have you to thank for that,"
She was tired of being on the ground and tried to get her limbs to agree with her. She rolled to her stomach before trying to force her way upright. The moment she was standing on four hooves, her legs shuddered, not willing to hold her weight. She tried taking a step and let out a squeak as they gave out from under her and quickly sent her back to the ground. She winced as the ground further aggravated her abrasions. Jasmine let her eyes wander over to the stallion.
"Could you help me?" she asked shyly. "My legs don't seem to be working at the moment,"
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Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 11:39 pm
The tall stallion stared down at the frail mare, his eyes flickering. He blinked for a few seconds, before tilting his head to the side. Anchor wasn't one to allow anyone to lie to him; he was able to see them easily due to the fact that he had been fighting people for so long, and could tell when they were friend or foe. But, considering her condition, Anchor didn't question it. Instead, he flicked an ear, and ducked his head down, ready to ask if she was physically okay, and then mentally, and finally emotionally. He could only assist in one manner at a time. Shaking out his head, the stallion moved toward her for a few steps, before stopping. So she was okay. He didn't move. Instead, he watched.
He watched her struggle to stand, and didn't move to assist. She seemed to find her legs for a few moments. Anchor had learned this the hard way; allowing people to push themselves to the breaking point until they literally had to ask for help. He hadn't fallen there yet, and he didn't want to. He wasn't going to allow it. The stallion flicked his tail, staring curiously down at the mare, before she fell. At that, he took a half step forward, though couldn't be sure if she had noticed his shift in features. He tilted his head, before nodding slowly and moved to her side. Ducking his head, he shifted as carefully as he could, and put it under her neck, before lifting slowly, so that she could stand. His body was parallel to hers, so that she could lean against him. Anchor knew that females under stress was not a good thing; and if she needed his assistance, he would offer it.
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Posted: Sun May 05, 2013 1:40 am
Jasmine let out a soft sigh of relief as he helped her up. She hoped she wasn't too much of a bother as she leaned most of her weight against his muscled side. She wasn't used to her weakness being so apparent. In her herd she had never been expected to do anything except look pretty and eventually bear beautiful and strong heirs. Her father was very against her doing anything that could possibly hurt her. Her mother was the same and stressed the importance of more feminine, safe pursuits. Jasmine inwardly snorted. A lot of good those things did her now. She would no doubt be dead if this stallion had not saved her. She owed him everything.
"Thank you so very much," she whispered. "You do not seem to be much of a talker," She tilted her head a bit to look at his fascinating glowing eyes. They were quite hypnotizing.
"My name is Jasmine," She smiled at him as she tried to calm her wobbling knees. She absentmindedly wondered if it was still the rough trip down the river or the large stallion's gaze that made her legs quiver. She flushed, clearing her still-sore throat. "Will you tell me your name, or am I to just call you my savior?"
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Posted: Sun May 19, 2013 4:45 pm
Anchor's body shifted easily, baring the weight. She wasn't heavy, and so with ease he was able to stand tall and allow her to rest against him. If the young mare needed assistance, he was sure he could give it to her. Tilting his head down, he stared at her for several moments, before allowing his body to shift slightly and accommodate the movements she held. His tail gave a half flick as he tried to figure out if she was okay to stand on her own or not. Uncertain of her health, Anchor debated on merely allowing her to stay pressed to him until she was ready to move on her own. Though, with the thought, came the perceptive that she could become overwhelmed with physical touch. He had never been in this situation. Never worried about someone this much. The thought made him frown some. Why was he so worried about this young girl, when he had just recently met her. Shaking his head, which caused his ears to flick to the side, he remained his composure and listened to her talk.
She was correct in that aspect. Anchor did not like talking much. His voice was rough and scratchy; many years of war cries and shouting commands had damaged his vocal cords. And at times, it hurt to speak. Which was ironic considering his son. But, over all, he never knew what to say. He always felt as though he should be careful and just use actions instead. Though right now, she seemed to need something more than that. Flicking his ears back, Anchor let his eyes drift down to stare at the lovely mare beside him, before nodding his head to confirm her statement. Perhaps in a moment he would gather the nerve to speak. His eyes flickered down, feeling the shifting of her legs before he lowered his head some and brushed his nose against her knee, careful not to harm her. He analyzed for a few moments, until he was certain she was not injured, before lifting his head once more to stare at her evenly, his head cocked slightly to the side, eyes almost curious, though anyone who didn't know him would be hard to tell.
"My name is Anchor." He stated, his voice low and rough, as it was usually. It almost sounded like a growl, though at the same time, it was obvious he wasn't in an aggressive mood. Perhaps, if the Walker was still around, he would be. Straightening his shoulders and head, he stared down at her, glowing red eyes sharp and perceptive. "It was my honor to ensure your safety, Miss Jasmine. A young mare such as yourself shouldn't be in such danger." He explained, his muscles twitching along his body as he spoke. He would continue to be a rock for her, until she was ready to move.
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Posted: Mon May 20, 2013 1:52 pm
She became flustered by the brush of his nose against her knee. She rarely had contact with males in her herd with her overprotective father always nearby. This was all new to her.
"Anchor," she murmured the name, liking the way it sounded. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance,"
Jasmine found herself to be liking the warmth of his side a bit too much. Clearing her throat, she flexed her legs a bit before carefully taking a few steps forward on her own. A smile lit her face when her legs didn't give out on her. She was still a bit shaky, but it was manageable.
"My mother pushed me in that river," she whispered, staring at it sadly. "To save me..." Tears blurred her vision and she shook her head.
What was she supposed to do now? She had no idea how to live without her herd or survive on her own. She was weak, unskilled, and she knew it. She didn't even know where she was. This land was unfamiliar to her. This was hopeless. A sob worked it's way out before she could stop it. Oh, how embarrassing this was! Crying in front of a stranger. He probably thought she was crazy. Her mother did not raise her to behave this way.
"I-I'm sorry," she cried to the quiet stallion nearby. "I-I just need to f-figure out what to do now," she sniffled.
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Posted: Fri May 24, 2013 9:53 am
Anchor's body shifted slightly, moving to allow her to do as she wished. He let a half smile move onto his features, before it was gone, hidden behind a warriors mask. His body shifted slowly, contemplating what was going on in her head. She had lost her family, her herd. Everything was gone. The only thing left was the stallion who had pulled her from the river; a stallion she barely knew. She wasn't all that stable, in mind or emotions. And he couldn't blame her for it. He could vaguely remember the first time he lost another in battle to a Skinwalker. It had been a horrid ordeal; something that had tore Anchor apart until he wasn't sure what to do. It took his own teacher calming him down, and explaining what was going to happen before he understood. And from then, death was just that; death. It was not something important, it was just... as it was.
When she stepped to the side, this Jasmine, Anchor blinked at her. His ear flicked, and his body shifted slowly. He turned his head to face her, watching her with curious red eyes, the glow bright and strong. At the sound of the sob, his ears snapped up, and his eyes re-focused. She was crying. Why? It was just.. Death... Frowning deeper, his eyes flickered down as he thought. Perhaps losing family was different... Shaking his head, he shifted and slowly moved forward, until he was standing just in front of her. His head dipped down slightly and he peered at her with his bright red gaze. She had mentioned her mother, before breaking down. Perhaps it was something to do with the gentle mare he found barely alive. He shook out his head for a moment, before pressing his muzzle, the armor really, against her cheek to shift away the tears. He wasn't sure if it was a comfort, but it was better than nothing, certainly.
"Your family hired me to come and ensure your safety. I was late..." He paused, his voice rough, before he sighed and tilted his head to the side. Perhaps it was his fault that her family was killed... He had been forced to stop as he was on his way, because he needed to rest; something he didn't usually do. He now regretted it more than he would ever know. "I saw your mother before I found you... She informed me that I needed to protect you; to keep you safe. And I will do just that. I was hired for a reason. Whatever you need, I will assist." Anchor stated, nodding his head slowly.
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Posted: Wed Jun 05, 2013 1:19 am
Jasmine flushed as the stallion made contact with her again. It was touching that he sought to wipe away the evidence of her sorrow. Her thoughts were interrupted by the shock of his words.
"My mother," she breathed. "You spoke with her?"
He had been the last to see her beloved mother before she had passed on. Her mother's dying wish was for her to be protected. A new onslaught of tears dripped down her face. Gosh she was so pathetic. Weak little Jasmine, crying over her mother and her situation. Weak little Jasmine that never learned how to fight or defend her herd and instead braided flower crowns and sang. But she was spared. She was given another chance and she didn't see why she deserved it. Fate must have something in store for her...
She glanced up at Anchor. This must be it. "Anchor... take me with you. On your travels." She sniffed and shook her head, willing her eyes to dry as a determined look solidified on her face. "I have nothing left here. Take me with you,"
This was a bold move, she mused to herself. She'd no doubt be a burden to the powerful stallion. Perhaps he could teach her to be of use?
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Posted: Fri Jul 12, 2013 10:44 am
The large stallion lifted his head somewhat, staring down at her with glowing red eyes. He nodded his head slowly, acknowledging that he had spoken with the mother. He had remembered her words very easily. And he was going to honor her dying wish; going to honor it as he honored every promise he ever made. The stallion flared his nostrils for a moment, feeling the air enter and leave his body rather quickly. He flicked his tail, before he sighed softly and shook his head out, shifting the armor to help settle it along his neck and head.
Anchor looked around. He glanced for several moments to each and every inch of the tree lines that were lingering not far from them. Perhaps he could take her back to the Kawanii people, take her there to be safe and not have to deal with other people. Frowning, he breathed out a sigh. He had to find some way to keep her safe... but what was he to do? Set her in a cage and feed her? Protect her from all things evil in the world? A true horse would never grow without the experiences of pain and death in them. He glanced to the side, his ears flickering.
And that was when he heard her. Anchor's red eyes locked on her, staring with a sort of confusion and interest. Take her with him? The road was always dangerous... always. He frowned, before turning to face her fully, watching her as she seemed to completely settle on the decision. Flicking his tail once more, the stallion dipped his head to be at eye level with her. He stared with those glowing red, determined eyes, and seemed to analyze her moment after moment, before talking in a low voice. "The road is very dangerous... The world is not safe. You know that, right? If I take you, you will be in constant danger. And I will do my best to protect you; but that could mean nothing but death to you in the end." He stated firmly.
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Posted: Sat Jul 13, 2013 2:01 pm
"Of course I know the world isn't safe!" she blurted. "My entire family was killed in a matter of minutes - trust me I know!"
She winced when the words left her mouth and shifted from hoof to hoof. "I'm sorry, that was unkind of me... I just..."
She had to go with him. If he left her here... she was dead for sure. She looked back up from her hooves and into his glowing eyes.
"I... I could die at any moment," she whispered. "But being with you, I'll be safer. You can teach me to protect myself, to survive... and... and if I turn out to be a burden after you teach me... I'll leave"
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Posted: Mon Aug 05, 2013 6:46 pm
She was being stupid. That was the only logical thing he could push through his head. Frowning, ear flicking in slight irritation, the stallion watched her. His glowing eyes flickered gradually from the girl, and toward the trees, before back toward the girl once more. So she wanted to go that badly? Anchor shifted his stance, his hooves digging somewhat into the dirt. He didn't flinch or shift when she snapped; didn't react much at all. So she understood some dangers; but not all. He would explain... He had to, before he committed himself to protecting such a delicate creature; committed himself to training her and teaching her how to survive.
"There isn't just Walkers. Or Kalona. Or dark creatures out to bite you in the night." His voice lowered, eyes narrowing toward her as he slowly started to walk around her, almost as if trying to intimidate her. It was one of the only ways to ensure she knew; to ensure she got the point. "There is hunger. We could end up in a situation, or a location where we won't have food for days. Thirst. Same thing; and drinking salt water will do nothing to help. Fear that will drive you mad and kill you in the slowest of ways. I've seen people fall from exhaustion, and not once get back up to take a step in the grasses again."
The stallion stopped in front of her once more. Anchor's eyes locked on her with clear sternness, and an unwavering concern that could only be detected if you knew him well enough. But, considering how he felt at this moment, she could probably tell he was concerned and uncertain as to if she was ready for such a challenge. "You are right. You will be safer with me. But; I want you to ensure that you know there is more than just the danger of a hunter." he stated, tail flicking.
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