[Ooc; This first part is not important to read :)]

”Are you brave, Tamlin?”

The snow crumbled under the yearling's bronze colored hooves and he felt his heart stop in his chest. Snö was too far away to save him - as she had promised she would do if he fell. But in his haze of fear Tamlin knew that it was no fault of hers. He had failed. He was not worthy of being Mauja’s son or Snö’s brother.

He fell into the stomach of the icy devil that was the glacier. His body was thrown against the blue ice as he slid down the monster’s bowels, deeper and deeper. He was convinced that he would die, that the icy tunnel-slide would open up to a drop of several yards and then he would be crushed against the rocky ground below. But no such thing happened. He just slid to a stop when the tunnel leveled out and there he lay for a while; sore, cold and disheartened.

For days he wandered in the tunnels of ice and every time he tried to turn towards the Basin, the tunnel he choose bended in another direction. This went on until he couldn’t tell north from south anymore.

On the brink of starving to death the colt finally found his way out. He had ended up far north of Helovia and luckily he was found by a white equine stallion. The stallion nursed Tamlin back to health and the colt was forced to swallow his distaste for the hornless in order to survive. It soon became clear that the white brute was a skilled warrior and Tamlin asked him to teach him to fight. The equine stallion agreed and so the young racist began his training.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A few days ago the dark colt had crossed into Helovia for the second time within a year. His last visit at home had been a short one and he believed that the abrupt end had been a punishment by fate because of his lack of focus. Last time he was home he had gone back to the herd; to Aviya, Snö and Mauja. And he knew now that it had been the wrong choice. Maybe he would have turned soft in the safe haven of the herd and then his goals would seem less and less important. He couldn't let that happen!

This time he had other plans. This time he was more determined, more focused than ever in his life. His dreams had turned into goals and he would see to it that his words turned into action. Maybe he should have stayed with his tutor, Frostbite, for yet another year so that he could have learned more, but his plan would work better if he was not a fully grown stallion. He was well on his way though, soon to turn two years old, his frost-dipped horn had reached its full length, his pristine white tail had grown thick and long and real muscles were beginning to show under his satin skin. But there were still a hint of leggy yearling to his appearance. And he were quite skinny; his ribs were showing and his hips weren't as round as they should be. He had starved his body on purpose - another aspect to his plan.

Tamlin stopped and closed his mismatched eyes. He visualized his ultimate goal. He saw himself as the Emperor of Helovia. Tamlovia. The word made him chuckle. He saw big armies of horned horses and he saw the systematic extermination of all the skyrats and the naked-browed. Then he visualized his short term goals, he saw his whole plan play out exactly as he wanted it to play out. He saw the years of dedication, the slow, steady rise of himself and he mused. It was time.

His eyes snapped open and he erased the smile from his face. Then he heaved his body forward. Bronze colored hooves pounded the ground as he aimed for his birthplace - The World’s Edge.

Tamlin bore few traits of his father, the biggest telltale sign was his left eye, but it was highly unlikely that someone would recognize him as Mauja’s son. And if they did he had simply to play his role better. He was sure that it was impossible for him to fail the first step of his plan.

He pressed his body onwards; he needed to be completely exhausted when he reached the Edge. It was a dangerous game, but he figured that without guts he would get no glory. He knew that he needed to be brave so that he could go back to his sister someday and say “Yes, sister, I am brave!” and then maybe he would be worthy of being part of the family again. So he ran as fast as he could until a dark haze spread over his eyes and his legs hurt and his heart pumped so fast it was painful.

Just at the border of the herdland the black and white colt collapsed. He stumbled, fell and remained on the dry ground. His chest was heaving, his skinny body covered in sweat and dirt and the pained look in his face was no lie. He was hoping that a patrol had seen him coming. Let the game begin.


ooc; Anyone and everyone is welcome! :D

Tamlin