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 Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 3:58 pm
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:08 pm
Dulled golden irises were focused blankly on the dirt beneath his hooves as the ebon' stallion limped along the well-trodden path, his feline friend walking beside him, berating him every step of the way. His furry ears twitched as he listened to her lecture, but to his credit, he didn't say a word.
"Honestly, I can't leave you alone for five minutes, can I?" Kumori fumed, glaring at nothing. "You're not as weak as you led her to believe, I know you aren't. Why didn't you fight back? Did you get some kind of masochistic pleasure in letting her beat the crap outta you?"
Shadow still didn't answer, his labored breathing hitching every once in a while when he would take a wrong step and aggravate one of his broken bones. He didn't want to talk about this... and Kumori knew it, which was why she didn't badger him for an answer. She was ticked at him, yes, but she knew when to let sleeping dogs lie.
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:28 pm
It had been ages since Lunathiel had left her home. So much had happened in the snowy time. Amoena had come home with blood on her hooves refusing to talk about it. Then she had run off late at night coming home smelling faintly of her uncle and night air and most recently they're newest friend had showed up sick. Everything seemed so strange lately but strangest of all was how she hadn't seen her friends since Lightning's attack.
She was just approaching the hill to the woods and her legs were already aching. "Has it really been so long?" She asked her self taking a moment to stop and rest. She had expected her back leg to hurt but not all four! Either way she needed to keep moving. She was hungry and from what Xantir had told her there was food in the woods. "Just think Luna...nice crisp grass."
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:44 pm
Shadow's uneven steps came to an abrupt halt when he heard footsteps coming closer, immediately silencing his feline companion with a, "shut up, furball". He saw a hint of azure among the tree branches that concealed the newcomer from his sight, and cringed visibly as he hoped to himself that Miss Luna's daughter hadn't come back to finish him off quite yet. God, he still wasn't sure he was going to live through the injuries she gave him from the first beating, but he wasn't entirely sure he cared at that point. His pride still smarted more than the blood that was matted on his fur. Instead of seeing the cyan mare he was expecting, however, he was shocked into speechlessness at seeing a face he was sure he'd never see again. "Miss... Luna?"
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 4:57 pm
Lunathiel's ear flicked back hearing her name. She hadn't expected to see anyone but this was a pleasant surprise. As she made her way about the trees she put a bright smile to great whichever friend it was. "How are you...Shadow?!" Her eyes widen in shock and horror. It wasn't from seeing him, no, it was from seeing him in such a sorry state. The last time she had seen the stallion he had seemed sad and a bit off but this was far from expected.
"Shadow what happened to you?!" She cried rushing forward in case he needed help supporting him self. He was covered in scabbed over cuts and blood. Her first thought was that there was a skinwalker around. "A-are you okay? Do you need help? Oh Shadow how could you let this happen?!" Tears were coming to her eyes just looking at him. He had seemed so strong when she had met him. To be beaten so badly the opponent must have been strong.
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:06 pm
His golden gaze, though still melancholy, softened as he watched her, a gentle smile adorning his features as he shook his head. "There's no need to worry about me, Miss Luna, I'll be fine with a bit of rest... as for how it happened..." he hesitated here, wondering whether or not he should tell her. "I couldn't very well fight back... she's your daughter, after all." He offered another weak smile as he shifted, cringing as it pulled on his injuries. "I figured I deserved at least some of what she gave me..."
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:19 pm
Lunathiel pulled back more horrified then ever. She couldn't believe what she had just heard, yet she was sure of it. Her daughter had always been so kind though. She had been a little spunky yes, but would she try to kill someone? "Shadow...I can't be..." The words caught in her throat as she remembered the night several days back. "The blood...it was...yours..." The tears that had left came back beginning to leak over the edges.
"I should have known..." She whimpered. It all seemed so obvious now. Why Amoena wouldn't say what happened, the blood, how her only words of the incident were in riddles. "She didn't want me to know...but I should have...Shadow...I should have been here for you..." She felt cold. She had been trying to forget him. Had sworn she'd never see him again. Yet now that he was here she was falling to pieces all over again.
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:34 pm
His gentle smile vanished at the first sight of her tears, and his gaze softened once again as he nudged her chin up gently with his own muzzle. "Miss Luna, don't blame yourself. You can't control what she does... and I wouldn't blame her, either... she was just trying to protect you." He paused here, giving the lioness at his side a meaningful look. Fortunately, Kumori got the message and left them alone, muttering to herself as she stalked away. Shadow focused his attention back on the mare at his side, allowing himself a moment to push aside that ever-present ache- the one that had magnified upon seeing her again- and nosed away her tears. "Don't cry over me, Miss Luna, you've done that enough already... I'm not worth your tears." He smiled gently for her. "In a lot of ways, I think I deserved what she gave me... maybe not in the way that she expects, but I deserved it none the less. I never meant to make you cry, Miss Luna."
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 5:45 pm
Still sniffling she looked up to meet his eyes hoping that they weren't to red or poofy. "Neither did Kohana...or Jeevita...or even Amoena for that matter..." She whined trying to stop her self from crying. It didn't seem to be working, though, as the more she thought the faster they came. "But I've never regretted my tears...just how they came..."
The words she was saying felt so natural. She had been thinking them for so long but now that they were coming out it seemed better. Trying to keep everything inside didn't do any good and when she had it had hurt Shadow and her self. That was the day she had said she'd never see him again. That was also the night that he had began to visit her dreams.
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Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2007 6:02 pm
He nodded silently, lifting his head to rest it upon her shoulder, the loss of weight upon his own shoulders a welcome relief to his broken bones and bleeding skin. He assumed that 'Amoena' was her daughter's name... it was very pretty... very fitting for the young mare that had attacked him so fearlessly. He paused for a moment, then sighed softly. He supposed that now was as good a time as any to tell her the truth, although he wasn't sure if it would help her or hurt her. Either way, he needed to say it, for both their sakes, if they ever wanted to be able to move on. "Miss Luna..." he lifted his head, waiting for her to do the same and meet his eyes. He closed them briefly, gathering his own courage so he could say it. "When I left, I didn't do it to hurt you. I did it so you could be happy. That you feared me... it broke my heart, and it was the final nail in the coffin- I knew you'd be better off without me." Another brief pause, here. "I love you, Miss Luna, and a part of me always will. I can't stay, however, knowing that I will continue to make you miserable and afraid of me." There, he'd finally said it. He felt an enormous weight lift from his heart, and he let out a soft sigh of relief. A part of him still ached, though- he was about to turn around and leave again, after all.
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Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 3:55 pm
Lunathiel moved to stop him when he lifted his head from her. The weight was comforting despite the tense air about them. She had only met his eyes for a moment before he dropped the bomb and she was shocked.
She took a few steps back with wide eyes. He loved her? How could he love her when she didn't love him? She couldn't. She hadn't forgiven him yet. Even if had only been a joke it still worried her. Kohana wasn't a bad guy and she needed help with her children even if they were full grown now. There were still dangers she couldn't face alone. Dangers that required more strength then her and Amoena possessed.
What about Shadow though? She didn't want to hurt him but it seemed no matter what she said one would be hurt. To say yes would mean her healing time would be cut short and old wounds wouldn't heal. Yet to say no, that would surely break them both into pieces. "Shadow...I...I don't know what to say..."Perhaps in this case honesty really was best.
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Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2007 9:23 pm
At her response, or lack there of, he only offered her a sad smile and shook his head, grunting softly at the pain the movement induced with a barely suppressed wince. "You don't have to say anything, Miss Luna, I don't live under the delusion that my feelings are returned. It's all right. I came to terms with this a long time ago, and I have no shame in telling you the truth. I just thought you deserved to know." There was a brief pause here, in which he stepped forward to touch his forehead to hers, lingering there a brief moment to let his eyes slide closed and breathe a soft sigh. "I don't blame you. I never have. It's time I moved on, however, and I couldn't do that without telling you." Golden hues slid open again as he reluctantly drew back, inhaling deeply as he offered her another sad, but gentle smile.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 12:38 pm
A faint blush fell across her face at his actions. It felt right but at the same time, wrong. She was caving into him and she still needed to work a few things out. Number one being what her real feelings were about Shadow. The second being her daughter. if that girl hated Shadow enough to attack him so brutally then she couldn't risk it again. "Shadow..."She said sadly gold meeting aqua. "You aren't going to leave me...are you? Please tell me you aren't..."
At this point she didn't know what she wanted. No, she did. She wanted everyone to be happy. Though happiness was a complicated concept and it seemed to be different for everyone.
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 1:01 pm
He hesitated at her unexpected question, the smile slipping from his features as he contemplated how to answer. She wanted him to stay? The thought brought him a little joy, but tore him apart at the same time. How could he move on with her right in front of him, making him ache and yearn every step of the way? One look at her pleading gaze, however, did him in- there was no way he could say no to her. Breathing a soft sigh, a familiar smile adorned his features as he shook his head. "If you want me to stay, Miss Luna, I suppose I could manage that. I'm not sure your daughter will appreciate my presence, though."
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Posted: Wed Jan 10, 2007 2:40 pm
"My daughter will learn!" Her eyes widened at her sudden selfishness. She coughed softly then looked at the ground to hide her embarrassment. "I mean...she has too. She can't keep attacking people like this..."
What was wrong with her? First she stays locked up for a month then when she gets out she says the first thing on her mind. Was that different at all though? Hadn't she always been like that? So why was it bothering her now? She was mad at him right? Mad at him for pretending to threaten Kohana. So why were so many questions going through her head? Why so many whys? Sure she had liked him once but did that still apply to now? Now that she had kids did she still feel the same?
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