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 Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:30 pm
Hours had turned into days, and days had turned into weeks. The foals had still refused to wander outside of their baskets, which was a frustration in itself to her, and Nostalgia had never felt so confused in her life. A kind mare she had befriended had offered to watch over the baskets for her, and Nostalgia had taken the opportunity to wander around and breathe in the evening air. The full moon overhead, she wandered among the trees in the forest neighboring her cave, aimlessly walking with no purpose or reason. She had told the other mare, Lovey, that she needed the chance to graze in better areas without worrying over her baskets, but the truth be told, she hadn't been hungry in a long time. Misery seemed to overwhelm all of her senses, but she couldn't figure out why. She knew her third child, wherever they were with Jean, was no doubt safe... she had grown to not care what happened to her former lover... and she could be quite content with her current situation. The foals, though stubborn to leave their woven homes, were healthy and happy, they were all safe in their large cave home, and food and water were nearby. What more could she ask for?
Trailing her chains behind her, she let her horn's light guide her path, and she continued contemplating her emotions... things were very different now... so had they affected her in more ways than she thought they would?
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Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 5:45 pm
Time had taken its time with him, changing him into something closer to the stallion that he used to be before everything that had lead to his appearance in this land happened. Time had guided him through remembrance, leading him to a place of laughter and light. Time had brought Fortune to him and now it seemed as if Time would act on his behalf once more.
The flowers that he had rolled in alongside Fortune gave a soft scent to his dark coat that lingered wherever he went, trailing on the wind towards anyone nearby. He stood now on the hill where he had first met the mare who had reminding him of the Past... Of things he had forgotten all in the name of revenge. The sun had set long ago but he had watched it, remembering the promises that he had made.
Crow had gone to sleep but he himself still lingered behind... The moon was full and stars were dancing. It was a beautiful night; the sort that one could write ballads about. He prayed to the Spirits that others were watching this sight as well... That he was not alone with these visions as he often felt. No, there would always be at least one other watching as well, even if he never saw them.
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Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 6:04 pm
Time, time, time... she had far too much of it. Too much time to dwell on the past, the era she was created for, when she should be looking towards the future. She knew her foals would need her; she was their only chance for survival. But how could she be a mother to two little ones when she couldn't even control herself? Her emotions over the past months had been wilder than they've ever been. Fits of tears, fits of rage, her moods were liable to swing from one direction into another without a moment's notice. Whatever was she going to do to regain control again?
Her nose caught a floral scent in the nighttime breeze, and her head turned to try to locate the direction it was coming from. Many plants and trees made the forest what it was, but rarely did she find any flowers. Could something else be out there, bringing that scent with it?
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Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 6:11 pm
The night air and the breeze it carried was warm... Warmer than it had been in months. Winter had broken into Spring and now Spring was reaching its peak, stretching days that would soon touch Summer. His own emotions had been in an uproar since he came to this land in search of those who had destroyed his family but now, as the breeze caressed his flanks, fluttering his mane and tail, he felt calm for the first time in what seemed like an eternity. His thoughts were still and his mind, if not his heart, was free.
A free mind often paid little attention to the things around it. The stallion, usually alert to his surroundings saw nothing but the sky above him and heard nothing but the air around him. One of those stars up there... The one that managed to shine the brightest... That was her. Perhaps, in time, he would work up the courage to speak with her again; to tell her of all that had passed even if she, in her infinate Spirit wisdom, already knew.
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Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 3:35 pm
Her nose led her in the direction of the scent, and her mind wandered as to what it could be. Flowers were such happy things... they always seemed to brighten up her evening. Flowers were always cheerful, and the scent was uplifting, even in the gloomiest of situations.
"I wonder if my children will love flowers?" she mused to herself. Every day now, she questioned what they would be like. Would they take after her, with quiet, melancholy personalities? Or perhaps they will be outgoing and conniving, like their father?
Any way they were, she knew she'd love them. Secretly, she hoped they would take after neither herself nor Jean-Claude... her emotions were always too far out of control and Jean tended to not think when thinking was needed most.
She paused as the scent drew nearer, and glancing around a large tree, she spotted a dark figure. It seemed rather familiar, but whoever it was would need to turn around for her to recognize them, if she could.
From the silhouette, she could tell that the bone structure was that of a stallion, with his body more large and firm than any mare could be. Only wanderers and dark creatures would roam around at this time in the evening, though... so which was this creature? Could he be friend, or was he foe? And why did he look so familiar?
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Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 4:54 pm
He whispered a soft prayer to the spirits, letting the wind carry it away before turning to make his way down off of the hill overlooking the plains. It was then that he saw her; the other mare that had contributed to his most recent development. She had served as the reminder of the things he had forgotten just as Fortune had reminded him of a carefree nature long past.
She was alone again and, if anything could be seen from the way the moon was shining down upon her it was that she was no longer carrying the children that she had been when last they met. Had that much time passed? Time... It flew so quickly when one was trying to find themselves.
"Good evening, Nostalgia." He called out softly, once more letting the wind carry his words. He then waited, wondering if she would join him now as she had before.
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Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 5:26 pm
Her ears perked as the familiar white face of her old friend appeared from the dark shadows. Oh, how wonderful it was to see his face again, especially after such events had happened!
"Good evening, Draven," she echoed in return, ecstatic to see him. She dragged her chains around the tree seperating the two of them, and she bowed her head to tilt her horn in greeting to him. "It's been quite awhile, since we last spoke, hasn't it?"
Looking over her companion, she detected something different about him. She couldn't pinpoint what exactly it was that was different in him... but, from the way he held himself, his expression, everything hinted towards something she couldn't figure out.
"Out wandering again, I see." She said, smiling. "Would you mind if I joined you for a bit?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 05, 2007 8:16 pm
"Yes, it has... And yes, I am." He returned the smile, definately seeming lighter than he had when last they met... As if a great weight had been lifted off of his shoulders since their first encounter.
"No, I wouldn't mind. Afterall, it is a public hill and the moon is always best viewed when in the company of someone else." He nodded slowly as he stepped aside, making room for the mare to stand beside him. "It has turned into a beautiful night..."
Now that Nostalgia was closer to him she might very well come to realize that the floral scent was coming from... Him. It was something that he had ignored, of course, figuring it was more a memory of the flowers than the actual aroma following him around. Either way, it was a nice combination with the warm breeze... Even if it left him carrying what most would consider a very feminine scent.
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 5:38 pm
"Yes," she said softly, raising her eyes to meet the pale glow from the moon, "It is a beautiful night. I don't believe I've been able to have one of these little wanderings that we tend to do in a long while."
Smiling, she turned to glance back in the cave's direction, then turned to step closer towards the stallion, who had graciously made room for her.
As she came closer, the flower scent that had beckoned her in his direction in the first place grew stronger, and it finally dawned on her that it was emitting from Draven himself.
"What a peculiar smell you are wearing this evening, Draven." Nostalgia said, suppressing a chuckle. "Why.. it smells as if you've been rolling around in a bed of flowers."
Months long before Jean-Claude and her pregnancy, Nostalgia would have never mentioned the new smell on the dark stallion. It wasn't appropriate to make such personal comments, after all. But since finding love, heartbreak, and an introduction to motherhood, Nos found herself letting her lady-like qualities slip a bit. True, not much else had changed about her, or so she believed. Could she really be that much different than before?
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Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 8:48 pm
A somewhat sheepish smile curved his lips, eyes dancing with traces of delight as he looked towards the mare. "Well, if you must know, it's because I have been. You would be amazed by just how many flowers can be found in a hidden clearing in the middle of Spring... And just how long it can take to get them all out of your mane and tail once you've been rolling through them."
Yes, he had definately changed since their last meeting. There was still something haunting the corners of his eyes; something that kept his smiles from being as broad as they could be, but he was winning the fight against whatever it was. He was changing just as the seasons were.
"Those who wander are known to take some time away from the moonlit paths from time to time. Have you been well in your time spent stationary?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 3:50 pm
"Well, to put it frankly, I would much rather have spent the time frolicking and rolling amongst the flowers, as you were, my friend." She replied, giving him a smile as she began her slow walk deeper into the forest. Her silver chains dragged as they always had, but they had managed to pick up a bit of speed, since her strength had grown from toting the metal links and lock around while pregnant.
"I have seen the best of days, and I have seen worst of days," she continued, her soft voice explaining her situation. "In fact, they both seemed to have occurred at the same time, oddly enough."
Turning around, her braids found themselves caught in the cool evening wind, and they tickled against her throat as she glanced back at her companion. "The one who swore to love me forever... well, we have departed from one another, and have done so permanently. That is, if I understand his words correctly. And with him fled my middle foal... barely hours old."
Her voice grew quiet as she recalled the dark basket... the basket that had looked so much like herself. The mare's head lowered, hanging down, defeated. "The foal is gone, and so is he. Like a dream, they just... disappeared into the night."
As sad as she was, a smile did manage to find her lips once again. "But, Draven, there are others. I have two beautiful foals that have been left in my care. You should see them... they're perfect."
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 6:15 pm
His brow furrowed as he listened to her tale, ears picking up the traces of sorrow in her voice. "No stallion who truly meant words such as those would have been able to do such a thing, Nostalgia. Words such as those... Should not be spoken so lightly..." The thought that they had tugged at his own heart, reminding him of the time that he had said it. It seemed so very, very long ago...
"I would be honored to meet your foals." He smiled as she did, following alongside her. "I used to be very good with the young ones. My mate always laughed saying that she couldn't wait until we had some of our own..." He took a deep breath, releasing it slowly. "It's... Probably better that we never did."
Horrible to think or say such a thing, but true. It had done enough damage to him to know that he had lost their herd... Lost her... But had he lost children as well?
"Everything happens for a reason... And I am a firm believer in the fact that it can't rain all the time. You'll see sunshine again."
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:33 pm
"Sunshine." She mused, thinking about the sun and its warm rays. So used to the darkness and the moonlight, it felt good to be warmed by its light when she walked in the daytime, as rarely as she did.
Delighted to hear him suggest wanting to see her offspring, she gently pivoted and turned back towards the direction of her cave home. "I'd be more than happy to introduce them to you."
She could tell from his tone how he felt about thoughts of his own children. Nostalgia knew he missed his mate; even if she wasn't the ghost of the past, it was obvious from his expressions alone. In her mind, she wondered if she wasn't being rude, flaunting her children in front of a stallion who may never seen any of his own. But then again... perhaps meeting her two little ones would provide a pleasant distraction from unhappy memories?
"I'm afraid they've yet to leave their baskets, however," Nostalgia continued, her words leaving her lips slowly. She tried to read his expression as they walked together, and was cautious to try not to say anything that might remind her friend of his sorrowful past. "Two late bloomers, but they're my late bloomers nonetheless. Perhaps they will grow interested in new company and come out for a visit."
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 4:19 pm
He saw no rudeness in a mother's joy... More than that, it was a friend's joy; something to bring a smile to the sad face of a mare who seemed to have seen her on fair share of sorrows lately. Foals and family were a blessing.
"Perhaps all they need to hear is their mother speaking to them, reassuring them that all is well on the outside?" His brow lofted slightly as he smiled. "Tell them of the sunshine and spring... Even I couldn't deny that." That soft smile curved into his token 'odd grin', tail giving a light flicker behind him.
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Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2007 4:35 pm
His grin brought relief back into her worried heart and mind. She was glad he hadn't taken her suggestion in any wrong sense, and continued on the path back to the cave. Her children would be taught and no doubt love the magic and enchantment of springtime, of the cool spring evenings, and the warm, sunfilled days. It would take time to get them adjusted to living outside of their baskets, but she knew they'd find excitement and pleasure at being out in the world with their mother.
Nodding towards the direction they were headed in, Nos explained her living situation to her friend."I discovered this little grotto while Jean-Claude was out one day, doing who knows what. And, ever since he left, I have considered it my temporary home... though I don't feel safe being alone with the foals so close to these woods."
She glanced up and around in the trees, as if searching for some unseen predator. "I know, for the most part, this section of the woods is peaceful and quiet... but I can't shake the feeling that there could be danger lurking in the forest that I wouldn't be able to protect my family from." Her lavender and silver hooves continued to trod on the soft, spring grass, and she spotted the cave's entrance a distance ahead of them. "Should anything try to come at us by way of the cave, there would be no escape but by the entrance itself. That alone makes me worry for the little ones' saftey."
Nos hated to sound like a worrywart, and by becoming a mother, had grown into a far worse one than ever before. Now, not only was she concerned for her own well-being, but that of two defenseless foals in her keeping.
"I'm sorry to bring up such worrysome chatter, Draven." She said, laughing softly at herself. "It has been so long since we have last seen each other, we should be spending this time catching up with one another. Tell me... what has brought about this change in your spirits? It's almost as if you are a different stallion since our last conversation."
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