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 Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 1:46 pm
 She shouldn't be out now. She should be at home helping the Summit recover. She had gotten herself into so much trouble for leaving before, at the beginning of the invasion. The one time she had plucked up the courage to explore on her own and she comes face to face with a full scale Kalona invasion. She shouldn't be out now. The nerves were almost too much to bear. But she had to see what had become of things now. She had to see what had happened. During the battles she had been sheltered away with the other mares. It was the stallions' jobs to protect the herd. She had been glad of the protection, yet unsatisfied because she could not help.
Poor Sanuye, always the helpless one. Always the coward. Well now she had to be on her own. Now she had to prove something. Oh but her parents would be so upset, her family would be so worried, what if there were still kalona around...Stop. She told herself. She had to see the world and what had happened to it.
The trees seemed relatively unchanged, their bark still strong and their trunks still tall. But the ground told another story. She could she where things had been trampled carelessly, rocks were disturbed where the Kalona army had marched through. She saw something dark and sticky trailed here and there. Was it the blood of a Kalona, or the blood of some poor soul who had been a snack on the way to battle? The impact of how far from home she was hit her hard again. She thought she could hear the angry growling of the Kalona she had first come across, before the battle had really started. The air in her lungs seemed to have gone, and Sanuye found herself gasping. Panic was beginning to set in and she ran to get away from this place. It was horrid everywhere she looked, or maybe it was just her imagination wildly jumping to conclusions. She wanted to go home. She shouldn't have come here. She shouldn't have tried to be brave. Brave was not her thing. It never had been. She wanted to go home.
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Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 2:20 pm
 The Kalona invasion had left its mark upon the hearts and minds of many soquili living in the Kawani lands. He had seen so many broken mares and stallions staring cloudy eyed into a world that would never be the same again. The cries of families lost to mourning echoed over the hilltops and trees for many days after the final battle, each one a sorrowful tune that filled the air and made heavy the heart of any would be listener. Those were the hardest days Kailum had to endure, his desire to help all who were hurting quenched only by his mother’s loving concern. Though he knew she would allow him to venture out and answer his calling, he stayed behind more out of respect for her than because of some order. The last thing he wished was for her to add her tormented cries to the already blaring symphony of grief. As such he took to counting the days until he would safely be able to begin his journey, feeling elated when a warrior from the Kawani band informed his family that the invasion had been ‘dealt with.’ Then, with a nuzzle from his sweet mother, words of encouragement from his father, and goofy goodbyes from his brother and sister, he set out into a now unfamiliar world. Intent on making it brighter in any way he possibly could.
He had been gone for two nights when he chanced upon a scene so grotesque that he could hardly keep himself from dry heaving. Blood stained the earth in great dark spots, and though many of the corpses had been tended to there were still a few remaining. Their final expressions frozen upon their faces and their twisted postures being the stuff of nightmares, he could not linger a moment longer. As he discovered more scenes of similar violence he began to realize that this invasion had not culminated into one single event, it had been spread throughout the land. It was in these places he would find a few souls whose minds were still jarred by blood and gore, those who needed a friendly ear and gentle guidance.
The sun had reached its zenith on his fourth day away from home when the sound of erratic hoof beats had him wheeling around to see a mare charging toward him. Her breathing was uneven and her eyes showed obvious signs of distress, but he couldn’t tell for the life of him what she was running from. Regardless he started trotting in the direction she was heading, picking up pace as she passed him. At this rate she was more likely to cause herself harm than to evade any would be predator. Gently pressing his shoulder into hers he attempted to herd her into a thicket a few lengths ahead of them. If he could at least make her feel as though she were hidden away from any harm, he could get her to calm down and talk to him.
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Posted: Thu Nov 28, 2013 5:30 pm
Everywhere she turned was red. Every smashed flower, every broken tree branch was covered in real and imaginary blood at the same time. She hardly noticed where she was going. Home was the ideal direction to run, but her mind was fuzzy and broken as she tore through the woods.
Warmth at her side surfaced her attention. She carelessly allowed herself to be steered by the stranger at her side, gazing ahead of herself and suddenly feeling numb. Could this be a Kalona, taking her home to dinner? No the touch was gentle, friendly and helpful. That is what brought her attention back completely. The panic faded away and the only thing that was numb now was her tired legs. She slowed her pace, coming to a stop in a thicket, alive with the sounds of life such as birds and bugs. There was no trampled grass here, no judgemental gaze of the dead. This little pocket of the woods seemed to be untouched by the fires of battle. The creatures hidden in its safety were innocent to the horrid world outside this fortress.
She caught her breath at last, but did not speak. She did not look at her savior. She was embarrassed by her actions. Bravery had never been her thing, just as speaking with others was not her forte. Coward. She thought to herself. Her face burned with shame, and she looked around to avoid catching eyes with the other. Surely she would see the worried and disapproving gaze of her father or her mother. Or one of her sisters. How she hoped it wasn't Elisheva standing before her. Her brave, lively sister would offer all the comfort in the world, but Sanuye would be even more embarrassed to face her. Peeking up out of her bangs, she decided to check if it was indeed a family member that had guided her. But what she saw instead surprised her.
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Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 9:31 pm
The waves of tension and fear exuding from her lithe frame were nearly tangible as they ducked into the thicket and she, thankfully, came to a halt. After giving her a quick once over he turned so that he may peer between the branches that veiled them in hopes of catching a glimpse of her pursuer. His ears flicked back as he attentively listened to each and every sound she made while his eyes scanned every direction in which he was able to see. Once her breathing had calmed and he saw no sign of whatever she was running from, he released the primed posture he didn’t know he had been holding, unclenching his muscles and drooping his head in a relaxed fashion. Easing out a sigh and shaking a few dark strands of hair that were impairing his vision he turned to face her. First searching for any signs of injury and then observing the mare herself.
Her pelt was unlike anything he had seen before, comprised of mixed hues of purples, golds, and creams. She had a strange yet attractive looking mark on her hind quarters that he wished to ask her about but deemed it to be an inappropriate time. Next his eyes reached her face and, even though it was slightly hidden by her black forelock he could tell she was distraught. His first urge was to take a step towards her, to let her know that she was not alone and that he would do her no harm but her posture was that of a vine waiting to snap from the pressure. Holding still for a minute and keeping quiet he simply put a warm smile on his face and waited for her to react.
When finally he saw her peeking up at him through her forelock he bowed his head, his feather flowing gracefully with the motion. “You sure are quick.” He chuckled, hoping to perhaps make her feel more at ease with a little humor. Clearing his throat he nervously searched around the thicket, hoping he wasn’t pushing her or making her feel uncomfortable in any way. Finally his honey colored eyes found her once again and he leaned a little closer, not enough to encroach on her personal space but enough to lessen the space between them. “Are you alright m’lady?” He queried gently, a dark eyebrow raising to reveal his interest. “I have checked and whatever had you running like that is gone now.” A proud smile replaced the warm one as he puffed his chest out slightly, taking joy in the idea that he had perhaps saved her from harm.
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Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 9:57 pm
M'lady? Oh, her older sister Nalani would have fainted at the gentlemanly term. She couldn't help smiling, her sunset eyes meeting the rich honey of his gaze. But almost instantly she blushed and looked away, puffing at her bangs in hopes they would fall correctly.
"I'm alright...I...I just got a little scared back there...all the blood..." she bit her lip and stared at the ground, trying to avoid letting loose a waterfall of tears and emotions. They had lost so many good members of the herd. Whose blood was back there? Much of it was probably that of fallen family members and friends. Her family back at home was probably worrying themselves sick right about now. They knew she didn't often leave home. But that was something she sought to change. She didn't want to be a child anymore, afraid of the world and its adventures. Although it didn't seem she was getting anywhere. In fact, she had just taken five steps backwards. She was afraid to leave the thicket, afraid to face the world again. Just like before.
She looked up from the ground to see his smile change, and it took a moment for her to register what he had said. Gone? He thought she had been running from a predator, some physical being ready to eat her. What would he think if he knew she had been running from her own imagination? She decided not to tell him and smiled at his pride. "Thank you, err...What is your name?" she asked shyly. The question had been bubbling in the back of her mind since she had first realized he was not her sister. He was not from her herd. She tried to learn all of their names and faces, it was difficult but it gave her something to do. She would have recognized him if he were from Summit, but his earthy tones and cloven hooves told her that he was not. Had she traveled that far from home? Or had they somehow met in the middle of two places?
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Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 10:34 pm
At her mention of blood Kailum assumed a more solemn look, realizing she must have chanced upon a battlefield much like the ones he had encountered on his journey. He imagined her stumbling across the site and a bloodthirsty Kalona taking her for an easy meal and charging her. He watched her face and took note of the change, she was holding back but it was not his place to force her to share her feelings. Instead he nodded knowingly and allowed for his head to dip in a respectful manner. “It is terrible.” He commented quietly. “What has befallen this land and all who live in it.” Looking back up at her empathetically he continued. “It is those images that will never leave your mind; they will remain with you always. Even so, though we must not neglect the past, we must also realize that the battle is done. The land will be scarred in this way for quite a while but that is why we need to look ahead, to be thankful that we were victorious even if it did cost us a great deal. That way, those that sacrificed their lives will not have done it in vain.” Straightening his posture he gave her a reassuring look. “It will be okay.”
He could tell that something was still troubling her and, more than anything, he felt the familiar desire to help her. He knew that he was still young and likely sounded naïve to many but he always tried his best, something his grandfather had taught him. His ears perked responsively as her placid voice once again bridged the gap between them. “Ah yes! I should have introduced myself sooner.” He rolled his eyes. “My name is Kailum Loren, but Kailum is more than sufficient.” Dipping his head to her in the way his knightly grandfather had taught him he grinned. “What is yours?” He was happy she was willing to speak with him, he didn’t know what he would have done if she had wanted nothing more than to get away from him. In the few times that had happened he felt very helpless, knowing that they needed aid but being unable to provide it.
He thought about asking her if she wanted to go outside but by observing her posture thought it best that they remain here until she felt more confident in herself and in her surroundings. The look she wore was all too familiar to him, it was a telling expression that revealed to him she was away from home. He was certain he must have worn the very same one in his first few days away from his loved ones. “It takes courage to leave one’s home.” Turning his attention to the canopy above them he slipped into a thoughtful mood. “I was really nervous when I first left mine.” He added absentmindedly before turning his eyes upon her again. “The world can be a pretty intimidating place, especially after a herd of vicious Kalona invade it.”
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Posted: Tue Dec 03, 2013 8:22 pm
At first she was unsure whether his words were making her feel better or worse. She didn't want the images to be with her always. She wanted it all to go away. But she knew he was right. She knew there was no erasing what she had seen. He was right when he said that they needed to look forward. That was the only way to go from here. She looked back up at those honey eyes and felt a little reassured as he stated strongly that things would be ok. She felt foolish for panicking, foolish for being so negative. She had to live for the fallen now, and she had almost forgotten that.
"Thank you, Kailum," she said, nodding her head politely and smiling. He seemed so eager that it made her feel a bit more at ease in his presence. "My name is Sanuye," she said without wavering. Socializing was easier after getting past names, at least for her. She was just glad that he wasn't looking at her with judgmental eyes, but rather empathetic and warm ones. Her ears perked at the mention of home, and she was glad to know she was not the only one who was missing a family. "Why did you leave?" she asked curiously and then blushed. That was nosy of her. She hoped he wouldn't mind.
A frown came across her face. "The world was always scary," she said. To her, the world was one big risk. The one time she had ventured away from home, the invasion had started. Everything she had been terrified of had happened. And now she was out again and it was just as horrifying. She wondered if it was her, but sometimes she thought it was the world. It seemed there was nothing good out here for her. Nothing but the teeth of predators and the blood of battles. But she didn't want to think like that, she didn't want to stay locked away forever. All she wanted was to see the beauty of the world so that she could say it was worthwhile, that it was not all bad. There had to be something out there, or her siblings would not venture from home so willingly. But they were braver than Sanuye..."All I've seen of the world is darkness," she said, her voice breaking and tears coming at last. Poor Kailum. He didn't deserve to deal with a terrified and weeping mare too afraid to leave her home. She looked up, tears in her orange eyes, expecting to see judgment at last on his face.
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 6:08 pm
He watched as she went through a range of expressions beginning at contemplation and ending in what he assumed to be relief. He returned her smile happily but became a bit bashful when she thanked him. “I didn’t do much other than ramble, but I’m glad to have been able to provide you with a bit of solace.” He responded while lightly pawing at the earth in front of him and dropping his eyes. He had always felt that helping someone involved allowing them to cry on your shoulder or saving them from the fangs of a bloodthirsty beast, he was only just learning that sometimes simply talking to them was more than enough. He lifted his gaze when she began to speak again and quit his pawing, resuming his polite air. “Sanuye?” He pronounced, allowing the syllables to tickle his tongue. “That is a very graceful and exotic sounding name, Sanuye, I like it.” He grinned. Her sudden interest had him chuckling and nodding his head, it had been his intention to have her ask him about it as soon as he had uttered it. He could tell they were in a similar situation, only that he felt more comfortable. “Hm…” He thought.
After a moment he had formulated what he wished to say. “I left because the purpose of my life was not to stay at home. I have always known that my aspirations and goals would take me far away from my loved ones and at first I was hesitant. Even so, staying at home would’ve meant allowing life to pass me by and that was not something I could accept.” He stopped and peered through an opening in the thicket, spotting the fading light of day and smiling to himself. “The world has so much to offer and if I had stayed home I would have lost out on all of it.” With a slight shrug of his shoulders he turned back to face her and shook a portion of forelock out of his eyes.
He was caught off guard by the shift in her expression and took a step forward in response. After his spiel about the world having so much to offer he began to feel foolish thinking that perhaps he had been too ignorant to her circumstances to say something so boldly. When she began to cry he stood rigid, unsure of what to do. She was in pain and he had wanted her to open up to him so he knew he needed to allow himself to react naturally without putting too much thought into it. “Sanuye,” He cooed while stepping forward and tenderly wiping a tear from her cheek with his black muzzle. “Would you allow me to show you something?” Turning away he stood at the entrance of the thicket and stared up at the darkening sky. “Do you see that?” He encouraged. The light of the sun had begun to sputter and die but overhead burned a million bright stars. “Even though the light is giving way to the darkness the stars twinkle happily simply because they are able to shine. There is always a light in the dark Sanuye, even if it is as tiny as a star.”
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 8:42 pm
Through the tears that trembled upon her eyes she could see the blurred light of the stars. They grew stronger as the sun descended, as did her tears. Now she cried for relief, cried for the fact that she hadn't noticed this blessing before, cried for her family and her home, cried for this small hope in the world, cried just to cry. "Kailum, you're right. If I'm afraid to leave home, I'm afraid to live my life," she said, resting her teary face upon his side as she sobbed, her bangs becoming matted on her cheek. Maybe that was part of it. Maybe she was afraid to let go, afraid to live. But that wasn't what she wanted anymore. She was letting life pass her by, something he had been brave enough to avoid. How could she escape this fate? She had to somehow get over her fear. She had to venture into the world little by little and then perhaps things would be better. Even now she was not sure she could do it. She felt so small, so fearful still. But she had to get over this.
She pondered her fear and how to face it, and soon her cheeks became dry and her sobs became silent as she stared at the night sky. It was dark, but the stars twinkled in a comforting way, reminding her that she was not alone. She glanced up at Kailum, again aware of how uncomfortable he must be. She had cried herself out, now all that was left was the slight embarrassment of having purged herself in the presence of someone she barely knew. She was quiet for a time, and then she decided he deserved some explanation.
"I've always been afraid to leave home. I don't know why...I just feel so...small," she said. "Do you ever feel small, Kailum?" she asked. Even looking at the stars made her aware of how large the universe was. Although they were bright and comforting, they also made her feel lonely, made her feel that the task ahead of her was a large and difficult one, and yet it was so insignificant to the rest of the world. She felt silly for getting so worked up over something that would be so easy for others. She wanted to ask him for help, wanted to have a friend to guide her on this journey. But that was a big thing to ask, and she knew this was something she had to do alone.
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Posted: Mon Dec 09, 2013 10:38 pm
He remained still and sturdy as her tears wetted his side and her faint sobs reached his ears. All of his former awkwardness surrounding the subject began to melt away as he listened to a mare finally beginning to break down some long constructed barriers. “It’s okay.” He murmured softly to her when she began to calm down, hoping she caught the double meaning behind his words. Her eyes searched the heavens just as his had during the first few nights of his newly discovered solitude. His mother had always told him that an adventurer must be able to recognize the presence of the stars and what they meant, something he hoped Sanuye was just beginning to grasp. His gaze turned warmer as he contemplated her in that moment. She must have been lonely with only these feelings of insecurity and fear to keep her company but, as he stared out over the darkened landscape he hoped she would feel differently now. “You’ve taken the first step.” He injected encouragingly into the silence.
At her question he released a relaxed sigh and swept his gaze across his field of vision as though looking over the entire world before looking back at her with a nod. “I do.” He said simply, looking into her eyes. “But you know what, rather than seeing yourself as being small you should try and see the world as being big.” He chuckled at the sound of that statement and winked playfully at her. “It may sound silly but, seeing the world as a large place with infinite possibilities is much better than depreciating yourself.” Gently bumping her with his shoulder he smiled lopsidedly at her. “Besides, it may be that you aren’t quite as little as you believe.” Realizing his talk about the stars may have contributed to her concern he dipped his head. “Take the stars as an example again, they look so small right now but in all actuality they are much much bigger. And they are even bigger to those who rely on them for light or direction.”
He assumed a more serious position as he continued to speak. “If there is one thing I have learned from my father it is that you will inevitably have a huge impact on someone else’s life whether you mean to or not. You may feel small now but there is no telling what you will do in the future.” His tail twitched at the thought of saying his next phrase due to the cheesiness but he figured he wasn’t there to score points exactly but to help her feel more at ease with her decision. “Who knows, maybe someday you will be someone’s star Sanuye.” He laughed. “You just need to give yourself a chance, believe. I mean, you already look more confident than you did when I first started speaking to you. I believe you can do whatever you want to. You have all you need right here.” He concluded by lipping playfully at the place where her heart was located.
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 10:51 pm
She giggled at the tickling sensation over her heart. Her laugh was one of tears ending: still wet but joyous. Maybe he was right. It wasn't too late for her to be something to this world. If she continued to think of herself as small she would stay that way. No, no more of that. She looked up at Kailum with a determined look, her eyes still watery but the tears gone.
"Will you show me out of this thicket Kailum? I'd like to meet the world at last," she said, feeling as if she was being a bit over dramatic but becoming excited all the same. It was dark, and it would surely be frightening. Everything was scary in the dark. But why start small? If she saw the world at its darkest, maybe she would appreciate it more at its brightest. Besides, Kailum was here with her, and she had put enough distance between herself and the battlefield by now.
This would be a good start for her. If she stopped now, she'd doubt herself again in the morning. She looked at Kailum again, seeing through all of her worries and fears because of those golden eyes. She would have to thank him somehow. She had very little to give, but he deserved that little bit. "What can I do to repay you for your kindness?" she asked out loud, blushing a little bit at her abruptness.
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 11:48 pm
Her laugh pierced the heaviness in the air and the next time he made eye contact with her something had noticeably shifted. Though the fur upon her cheeks still glistened with fallen tears he could see resolve replacing fear and he smiled encouragingly. She was no longer folded in on herself and like a flower touched by the sweet warmth of spring; her petals began to unfurl and reveal the beautiful strength that had been obscured. “There she is.” He mused, a smile of pride accompanying his words. At her request he took a step toward the gap between the trees that had acted as their shelter and motioned for her to lead.
He still couldn’t believe she was the still mare he had spoken to just moments before. Her posture had shifted and the uncertainty that had once forged her prison had begun to fade. His heart pounded in his breast as he watched her leave the firm embrace of safety to explore a world of uncertainty. He admired her, for it was her own inner strength that she unwittingly possessed that had driven her this far in such a short amount of time. He couldn’t shake the sensation of awe and respect as her amber eyes once again found him, displaying the new spark glowing behind them.
“T-thank me?” He stuttered before turning to hide his embarrassment. She had been a noticeably adorable mare before but now, after their talk, she was even more so. Clearing his throat he laughed a little nervously. “You really don’t need to thank me Sanuye, you did all of the work.” Turning back to look at her he had managed to regain his composure but had to fight hard to maintain it upon noticing her blushing. “I only helped you to see what was already there.” Casting his eyes upward he gazed gratefully up at the stars, silently thanking them for their assistance. Glancing at her from the corner of his eye he spoke softly. “What will you do first?”
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Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 9:39 pm
Her breath caught slightly in her chest as she faced the opening Kailum had made in the thicket, but she bravely stepped out, looking at the world with new eyes. Everything glowed in blue light from the moon and stars, and the shadows that had before seemed so haunting now seemed small and innocent. She smiled warmly at his shyness to claim thanks. How had she been so lucky to stumble upon such a humble stranger? She would think of a way to thank him somehow, even if he didn't think he deserved it.
"First?" she whispered, thinking out loud. First. The first thing she always thought of when being out in the world was hiding. Not this time. She blew a puff of air at her bangs, her brow furrowing in determined thought. "What did you do first?" she asked. This was, of course, about herself and not Kailum. But she didn't know where to start with this new found freedom. Where did others start on their journeys? She wanted to know. What did they do first? Was there a standard? It occurred to her that she was over thinking things, but she wasn't going to let it stop her.
She wished there was a way to fly. If she could, that was what she would do first. Her sisters had wings, she had always wanted to try it. But this adventure was like flying, she was sure of it. The rush made her heart beat faster, and the breeze that tossed her mane was surely like flying through the wind. Who was to say this wasn't flying?
XBlind-DarknessX Sorry for taking so longgg! Dx
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