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 Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 7:10 am
Winter was all around. One didn't have to read the stars in the skies to realize that. All one had to do to come to this realization is observe the animals that braved the cold. They had thicker fur this year too, which could have heralded a longer, harsher winter. Lyrical Sky had not really heeded the signs and although she had been caught off guard she had managed to, with the help of Comet, to find a small den in which she had made herself a cozy home.
This day found her out in the cold though, shivering as she stripped the small patch of leaves and pine needles from a nearby tree. It was not by far the choicest items to search for but one could not afford to be picky. With her small pile of food to tide her over the next couple of days Lyrical Sky turned around only to see a large smudge of color that did not match the whiteness of the snow around her. "What is this?"
Would it have been any other mare they might have continued on towards the relative safety of home. The pull of curiosity was a strong thing though and Lyrical sighed before going to investigate.
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Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 7:55 am
 The large smudge of color on the ground was a stallion that seemed to have given up on life. He moaned low as once again he woke into a never ending darkness. The moan was also one of pain. Some of his wounds seemed to have stopped transmitting signals of pain but he had no way to tell if that was truly a blessing or not. He could recall Kumiho's last words as she explained that infection was a dire possibility. Gaston had constantly beat himself up, mentally and physically, since his encounter with the devious mare. The physical side was a result of his grievous injury. Gaston had come to despair that he would never find a healer who could restore what had been lost to him.
He'd managed to find a person kind enough to nurse him a little before he'd resumed his journey. Somewhere there would be a Soquili that would be willing to attempt a healing, wasn't there? At least his condition was hidden from prying eyes. That same human that had cared for him so briefly had been kind enough to retie the ribbon around his head, effectively cutting off the sight of his ruined eyes.
Now though he felt the coldness of the ground against his flank as he labored to breath in the chilly air. It just seemed to be too much to endure much longer. He'd long given up hope that anyone would find him and had let his tired legs fold up underneath his body. He remained in a reclining position for as long as he could hold his head up for, absently turning his head this way and that. He could no longer see but his sense of hearing had long taken over as his primary sense.
The sound of snow crunching under hoof nearby had Gaston weakly raising his head once more. Perhaps not the wisest move but Gaston could care less. If he didn't seek help now it was a for sure thing that he'd not survive much longer. "Hey, who's there? Can you help me?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:05 am
Sky gave the odd colored thing in the snow a hesitant glancing over. It seemed as if a large and burly stallion had simply collapsed and given himself up to the spirits. Lyrical tsked softly as she took in poor condition that the stallion had departed this world in before turning away. There was apparently nothing that she could do. At the sound of a weak voice behind her though the unicorn turned around swiftly; this stallion was not dead?
Concerned now, Lyrical drew closer as the stallion's head once again fell to rest in the snow. Cursing herself an absent-minded idiot the mare noted the stallion's flank rise and fall with breathing. It was labored true, but he was still alive. With a gentleness that was borne of her species Lyrical knelt beside the ailing creature and lowered her horn to his side. It was true that practice and patience aided her healing abilities, but right now Lyrical just wanted to ensure that this poor soul would survive the next few hours. "Help is here good sir. Rest easy for I shall not leave you to die." Of course there was always the chance that her healing would not take ... but she'd not mention that thought aloud.
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Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 11:21 am
There was someone out there. Gaston could feel a presence near his supine position on the ground. At first he had no idea if he was dealing with a friend or foe. Although with the gentle touch to his side Gaston had an inkling that this stranger did not wish to speed him towards the final journey that would be the end of his life. He groaned softly before realizing that there was a peculiar lassitude flowing into his body. He wasn't sure what else to call the sensation. Warmth was spreading through him and his aches seemed just a little less. Perhaps his wishes had been answered and a healer had found him in the nick of time. It seemed plausible and with the sensation of something on his skin, it almost seemed like it was a Soquili that was of unicorn heritage.
As he made that deduction he heard the stranger speak and Gaston realized that his savior was a mare. He bit his tongue to hold back his wont to introduce himself and remained silent.
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Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 5:56 pm
Sensing that the stallion wasn't up to moving just yet Lyrical Sky glanced towards the direction of her den before giving a resigned sigh. It looked like she would be spending a bit more time out in the cold that she had not foreseen coming. The mare circled around the stallion taking in his various wounds that she could see and quickly noted the condition of his torn ear. That seemed like the worst of the injuries that he had sustained. So why was it that he had merely ended up too weak to walk.
The fabric that lay across his eyes was also a mystery to Lyrical Sky. Why on earth would someone want to restrict their vision? Touching her horn to the stallion's damaged ear the mare spoke softly, "what happened to leave you too weak to walk?"
She wasn’t sure if the stallion would answer her question but she had to try and get a better reading on what had happened to leave him in such a poor condition.
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Posted: Wed Feb 12, 2014 6:55 pm
Gaston could sense the mare's motion as she walked around his prone body. He grunted as he felt something touched his mauled ear. The pain lessened only by a fraction but even that seemed to be enough. He heard the question put forth by this strange mare before giving a rather silent huff. Should he explain what happened to a total stranger?
It was obvious that this mare was being kind enough to offer him some aid and finally Gaston relented on his silence. "The answer to your question has many facets in my answer. The most important factor is that I let down my guard around a beautiful mare and I paid the price."
His words were bitter as he spoke as he recalled meeting Kumiho. How could he have been so naive?
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Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 5:21 am
There was an edge to the stallion's voice that spoke of a deep hatred for this unknown mare. Lyrical Sky took note of this and closed her eyes to wave off a flash of concern for her own safety. This stallion was a burly specimen and once again her gaze went to the blindfold. "Is there anything preventing me from checking for any other injuries good sir?"
Sky stepped forward and gently clamped her teeth on a loose piece of the cloth that kept his eyes hidden from her own. She was about to pull it off when suddenly the stallion gave a loud bellow. Lyrical dropped the fabric and hastily backed away as the stallion struggled to rise to his feet.
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2014 7:28 pm
At first Gaston was prone enough to let the mare do as she pleased. He heard her question about checking for any other injuries and deigned not to answer. He continued to lay still even as he felt the mare's presence stop near his head. At first there was nothing to indicate anything was going to happen but that all changed when Gaston felt the gentlest of tugs at the fabric that covered his eyes from view. Even that slight motion triggered a deep fear in the stallion.
He couldn't let this stranger see what damage lay beneath the blindfold. He just couldn't. Gaston let out a loud bellow and struggled to rise to his feet. He swung his head back and forth before trying to lock on where the mare stood now. He sensed that she would have moved once he got to his own feet. Gaston was about to speak before groaning again and sinking slowly back to the ground. He was in no way fit to protest this mare's intervention. "Do what you must."
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2014 7:56 pm
From the extreme reaction that the stallion gave Lyrical could almost deduce that there was an injury lying hidden from her gaze underneath that ribbon. However as the stallion once again sank to the ground the uni mare couldn't help but feel for this unknown stranger. The panic that he had displayed seemed to linger on even though the stallion seemed to have used up all the energy he might have had left in his earlier attempt to rise to his feet.
Lyrical slowly approached the stallion again before gently touching her horn to his side again. She sighed before gently gripping the ribbon again in her mouth. With no further protest from the stallion she gave a small tug on the fabric and pulled away. The ribbon's knot came loose and Lyrical let out a gasp as the true injury was laid bare to her own eyes. What had happened to this stallion's eyes?
For a moment it took all her composure to stop herself from turning around and running away from the horrible sight of ruined flesh before she chastised herself. This stallion needed help and she would do the best she could to give it to him.
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2014 8:02 pm
Gaston felt the ribbon loosen and fall away from his face. Cold air caressed the injury that was now visible to the mare's gaze. Gaston shivered briefly before sighing softly. His body language spoke of resignation as he spoke morosely. "I heard your reaction so the sight must be pretty ugly to look upon. I wouldn't blame you in the least if you left me now. I know that you are capable to give me aid but leave if you want."
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2014 8:14 pm
Lyrical Sky took a second, closer look at the injury that the stallion had wished to keep hidden from the gaze of everyone. There was doubt in her mind that even she could perform the miracle that this stallion so obviously wanted. From the look of the wound it had been cleaned at least before the fabric had covered it. But the damage seemed already done. It was in her opinion that this unfortunate stallion would never regain his sight. That moment of clarity softened Lyrical Sky a little as she nosed at the stallion's flank. Her voice was soothing as she spoke. "I will not leave you in this condition. You are obviously too weak to be able to fend for yourself. If you consent to it I will lead you to a den I have nearby. It will be warmer there and you would be able to relax. I would also be able to tend you to without worrying about any danger to myself. What do you say?"
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