Mesir
March 11th, 2012 at 9:29am


Darkness hits the earth with a shattering blow and my strength seems
to leave me. The Sun has deserted me, left me shrouded in shadow with
only the flickering flame of my own mane as a source of light in this
wicked time. It dances as the unfortunate black of its true color
turned to embers- as the embers spark to fire, and the fire falls and
drips across the pattern of my dusty neck. The only other light here
is that of the moon and its disciples; I cast my wary gaze up to the
heavens- a realm once so beautiful which is now littered with the
signs of the stars. No friend of the moon god will earn my trust, no
wicked monster that emerges only at the most unholy time will receive
my prayers. The moon has no place in the Dragon's Throat, and soon she
will know it. As lights we will bring to her the message of her demise
and our emergence as enlightened beings; as lights we will prevail.

But it is in this dark time of night, when there is no light but that
of the wicked, that I wander through the territory in an attempt to
find my way home. My mane cools and drips like lava across my flesh as
the cold of this winter night takes its toll; my blue eyes are left
searching for something more. The shadows make me uncomfortable,
almost, almost, fearful. But as I pick my way across the rocky slopes
that shine so brilliantly with the reflected night of the demon in the
sky, I am reminded that I am home. There is nowhere more safe and
wonderful than this, the Dragon's Throat- Land in the cradle of the
Sun.

After a time my form is found beside the central lake; as wretched as
it feels, I let my body absorb the reflections of the stars that mark
it's surface and give me a few jolts of strength. Energy rushes
through me and I shiver at the cold, ice-like feel of the moon's light
as it fills my veins. Surely no one has seen the act- I am alone in my
exhaustion and frailty, in this dark time of the night. But still, as
the glimmer in my eye fades and the white of the mark across my face
turns to a pale gray as it is overtaken by shadow, I feel the guilt.
The fire curls along my neck, retreats into ash and plumes of black,
coughing smoke as I lay down at the shore and submit to my body's
desires. Rest will come soon- perhaps the Sun will follow.

---

Ascendancy
March 15th, 2012 at 9:22pm

Liquid moonlight bathed the land of the Dragon's Throat in an eerie,
metallic glow. The moon shone radiantly in the night sky as it hung
from the twinkling stars. It's illumination trickled downward from the
bleeding sky, leaching color from everything it touched. It cast a
silver veil across the landscape, many of the trees fluoresced
blue-white in the moonlight. The ebony stud moved gracefully through
the darkness, every movement of marvelous control. His muscles rolled
beneath his scarred hide in an almost peaceful melody as he made his
away across the grassy terrain. The rhythm of his hooves struck the
hard soil in intervals like that of a canter.

He slowed his pace as a pool of water came into sight, so clear it
might be mistaken as a mirror the way the stars reflected off the
surface. He slowly approached it, dipping his armored face downward
and letting his velvet muzzle gently glide across the surface. He
didn't imbibe the cool fluid, but simply scanned the top, the stiff
hairs on his maw bowing as they moved smoothly across it. He watched
the ripples he created as he expelled air from his flaring nostrils,
the long, tangled tassels of his forelock cascading down over his face
and obscuring his vision. He peered out across the lake as he hoisted
his head back into the air, as a heavy sigh rushed from his deep
chest. He wondered what was happening in his homeland at that moment.
What had become of his loved ones? He wondered what would happen if he
ever did return. Would he be accepted back after what he had done? It
was a great dishonor to abandon your rider. I had no choice. He
reassured himself, though a faint voice in his head convinced him
otherwise.

He observed the quiet stillness of the water almost subconsciously as
thought reeled continuously through his head. His neck was arched as
he peered almost sorrowfully at his reflect, an array of feelings
welling uncontrollably within him. He forced himself to look away,
eyes squeezed shut as he fought back the upsurge of emotion. Yet
another sigh hied from his lungs as he surveyed the area around him.
It was then that his gaze caught sight of something somewhat
intriguing at the edge of the cool waters. He snorted, straining to
get a better look; thick nape outstretched forward a bit as he did so.
He pondered what the object was for a brief moment, then resolved to
get a closer look. Pivoting on his aft leg, he began to make his way
partially around the curve of the tranquil lake, dished hooves leaving
crescent shaped impressions in the soft earth.

As he came closer, he came to the realization that the object was
actually a mare. A tinge of smoke danced into his trembling nostrils,
brow furrowed with curiosity as he gradually neared her golden
physique. He finally reached her pale figure, neck outstretched as he
halted in his steps "Mare, you should not sleep here." He said,
lowering his armored ebony face toward her pale physique, and gently
nudged her with his velvet muzzle. His masculine voice was gentle and
quiet, for he did not intend to startle her.

---

Mesir
March 19th, 2012 at 12:12am

His form comes from behind and my lids lift achingly from their shut
position. He makes it clear that my intention of sleeping is a futile
one, and that there will be no rest had tonight. My body, shifted to
face the coming rising of the sun, twists and turns towards the sound
of the stranger's voice, and my gaze simultaneously looks for him in
the shadows. There is little light here save for that which reflects
upon the surface of the lake, and my tired body soaks up that life
source hungrily, extinguishing all traces of the moon god in shameless
hunger. I startle as I feel his touch against my hide despite his
attempt to make the approach a gentle one- any contact is a shock to
my system, and I stumble to my feet quickly and surprisingly
gracefully. Flames leap from my mane at the encounter, however,
missing his muzzle by mere centimeters and retreating to embers only
once the initial surprise has subsided and his voice overtakes the
scene.

He tells me I should not sleep here as if this is not my home- but how
wrong he is. This land, this throat of the dragon, is no less my home
than it is his, than it is any other being's. I belong here just as
much as the Sun himself. As my mane subsides to flickering strands of
black and choked smoke, I cannot help but cast him a contained smirk.
Does he have some grand reason why the lakeside isn't safe for a mare
of my persuasion, why the Sun won't protect me when the morning comes,
why I won't hold my own as the night reigns supreme? "Are you here to
save me from the shadows, then?" I ask, my courteous tone containing a
slight hint of mockery that only one accustomed to hearing it could
detect. My blue eyes trace his scorched form and adornments with light
disapproval- the moon would take him in, perhaps, but the Sun sees
little in his kind. "I regret to inform you that I'm perfectly capable
of taking care of myself, sir- I've lived in these lands for quite
some time."

And it is entirely true; for as tired as I am, I still know these
slopes and deserts, these lake shores and pastures, better than
anyplace else. No one could convince me to leave this land where the
Sun watches over the mortals so tenderly and the land seems to cradle
its inhabitants. My hoof curls and digs into the sand mixed soil along
the lake as I watch over him, trying to place a name with his face and
failing. I know he's not one of the order- he would have recognized me
and called me by my true name, then, and I certainly would have done
the same. Besides, I doubt one of his coloring would be so accepted.
Still... there is something about him. I begin to consider telling him
the way of the Sun and light- perhaps he could benefit from such
enlightenment.

---

Ascendancy
April 6th, 2012 at 1:37pm

A snort erupts from his widened nostrils as she hoists her pale
physique swiftly into the air, seemingly startled by the sensation of
his velvet muzzle brushing against her skin. His convex head jerks
back abruptly as a blazing flame assembles atop the crest of the
mare's neck, barely licking the long, stiff hairs that adorned his
maw. "Whoa!" He exclaimed, as the muscles tightened beneath his skin.
Bewildered by the spontaneous combustion of the mare's encolure, he
gazed at her in a stoic manner as a brief moment slunk by. "What the
hell was that?" His masculine voice was raspy as the words fell from
his charcoal lips. His ears swiveled atop the pinnacle of his head.

He had never seen magic with his own eyes, but he had heard about it.
His masters were very superstitious people, believing in such things
as pegasus and unicorns, and other fairy tale creatures - at least a
handful of them did, anyway. He doubted such things. This isn't to say
Ascendancy disbelieved in all of it. He was just reluctant to trust
something that he hadn't seen for himself. The possibility swirled in
his head for a moment, contemplating the existence of magic, before
realizing the foolishness of such a thought. He dare not ask to avoid
looking like a fool in front of this stranger. Then her feminine voice
pours into the night for the first time. Her words caused his ears to
pivot around so they faced his haunches. He thought he sensed a hint
of mockery in the tone of her voice, but he couldn't quite tell. His
right ear swiveled forward as she spoke again.

She could take care of herself she said, and the ebony knight scoffed
mentally at this statement. What if he had actually intended to bring
harm to her? How well would she be able to protect herself then? Of
course he would never do such a thing. Although mares may be inferior
to stallions, they were still to be treated with a certain amount of
respect. Their minds were weaker than their more masculine
counterparts; they were not as strong physically, as well, but they
still had their uses. Their slender figures and soft bellies were
meant to carry and foster foals. They were not engineered to be
fighters - it was just the way things were meant to be. He listened as
she continued speaking, and mentioned that she had lived here for
quite some time. If that were the case, then she would probably be
able to provide him with some of the information he desired. "Is that
right? Well, if you'd be so kind, I have a few questions about this
place that need answered."