the Rift


[PRIVATE] Hopscotch On The Rocks

Roskuld the Sparklight Posts: 424
World's Edge General atk: 7.5 | def: 9.5 | dam: 6
Mare :: Tribrid :: 15.3 :: 6 HP: 82 | Buff: ENDURE
Zchiraxicon :: Royal Rougarou :: Electric Smithers
#1

The sun up here was hot--hotter than I expected against the autumn frost. The walk up here had been enough to shake the shiver off my limbs,but now, with the sun beating down with pure, unadulterated rays, I was starting to overheat. It didn’t help that I was surrounded by grasses and grazing that seemed pristinely preserved from the frost, all kinds of green and appealing on a good day.

This wasn’t a good day though; instead, it all just looked nauseating.

Didn’t matter. Whatever. It wasn’t a big deal. I wasn’t thinking about weeds and grasses and decadent blossoms to savor. I was up here pacing and agitated, wondering what to do with myself, how to keep a promise I made to two little girls who had just lost their home.

Because I wasn’t a child. I wasn’t as clueless as I wished I was again; I wasn’t as naive to believe that there was a clear right and a muddy, scruffed-up wrong that no one in their right mind would be swayed by. That evil was something that could be smashed and pushed to the side if your intention was pure enough, if your heart shone with enough tones of gold. That was a fairy tale meant to help a child sleep at night, and sleep wasn’t coming too easily nowadays.

I was one mare; one body against what sounded like a multitude of shitty cutthroats. I could have walked my merry ass down there, shouted my voice hoarse, demanded an asskicking--and they would have complied, eagerly, and I know I told that lil’ thing that I would live forever, but getting my ass jumped wasn’t gonna win their home back for them. What was, though? How could we drive them away, without an army of our own? Because they had played the shitty part and ambushed some poor bastards early in the morning--and, surely, they would probably learn from that mistake, that simple, innocent, awful mistake of comfort and complacency.

My fool ass would’ve been crushed. And how would that have helped anyone?

I groaned and it left my throat in a mess of barbed anger and helplessness, and you clung to my face, your tiny pink tongue darting out to nip at my eyelid, but right then it wasn’t enough. It wasn’t enough. I love you, but your little kisses weren’t gonna solve this conundrum I had dug myself into; this shitty situation that a few assholes up north and over west had decided to throw upon everyone else (For what? For what?)

...at the very least, I had to make sure they had their Ma again. If I couldn’t be their champion--if I couldn’t fix this gaping wrong in their hearts, in the earth--

--well, at least a couple of kids would get to keep their Ma for a little while longer. A couple more.


For @[Elsa]!




Please tag ROSKULD in every reply!

Elsa the Icebound Posts: 644
World's Edge Protector atk: 6 | def: 10.5 | dam: 6
Mare :: Pegasus :: 16.2 Hands :: Six (Frostfall) HP: 73 | Buff: BULK
Edgar :: Plain Zephyr :: Arctic & Wakiya Klare
#2
Elsa,
Feel lucky for what you have, when you have it. Happily ever after doesn’t mean happy forever.

Being in limbo was awful. Then again, everything was awful now.

No one was around, and it had been a while. Her (whatever he was now, he was never here anymore, it seemed) lover was gone. He was becoming a distant whisper fading into the wild winds, drifting away with the autumn storms. Her love was following suite, leaving her behind in the dust. Even Auriel and Shida had taken her sleep and want for food. Her eyes had sunken in like a skeleton and was revealing dark, purpling outlines around them. The luster that had tried to keep them shining finally died, not even bothering to let her know of its vacancy. Her hips and shoulders looked oddly deformed. They were atrophying away, leaving pointy, disgusting outlines of her bones. Even Edgar was succumbing to it all, his shiny white feathers beginning to fall out from stress, and his body weight dropped tremendously in the past few weeks. They couldn't feed off of each other, and slowly they were becoming living skeletons.

So she hides away in the mountains like a coward. Her hope was for the fog to hide her away. No one could bother her, and she could fall asleep one night and never wake up again. There would be no pain, and no sorrow for those she left behind. In fact, they may not ever know. The heat was aiding her in this endeavor, forcing her mouth and lips to dry out to the point of cracking. Thin lines of blood were even conglomerated together, slowly seeping from the wounds in her lips. Edgar was asleep to, trying to escape the world. It was so easy to sleep, and so lately he seemed to be perpetually curled up on her poll.

Thus, in the heated silence, the groan that emanated from the girl seemed to be like a crack of thunder against Elsa's skull. She cringed away, awkwardly clambering to her feet to flee. The sudden rush of blood to her strangled limbs sent her falling forward to her knees. For a moment she stayed there, letting it all flow back into place. This is what she had become, a literally walking zombie. With her last ounce of energy she hoisted herself to her feet, falling against the tree for support. There was no way she could run, and if the stupid "New Edge" sent someone out to get her, she would let them kill her. She knows their defensive secrets, so why would they let her live?

With a low and hallow voice, she began laughing. It was insanity that drove it, but in a way, it was fun. Clicking her tongue together, she tried to grab the girls attention. For a rogue killer she sure as hell was horrible at finding her targets. "If you are here to kill me, please do it now. It would be beneficial to both of us," she finished, and coughed a few times. Another small croak of laughter bubbled up and out, and Elsa couldn't stop it. "Ironic that this new edge is already sending out rogues to kill us," she mused. In all reality, Elsa had no idea what they were thinking. Once they declared their pair of queens she didn't bother sticking around for the coronations. Was she really surprised? Not quite, but it just made her realize that they never did care about what happened to those who were kicked out. Even if they go on for the rest of her lifetime claiming they did it for safety, and were nice to those they crushed, she could see straight through them. None of them cared, and even those who didn't fight did nothing to stop it (if there was even someone who didn't wish to fight.) Care was an attribute that died out a long time ago, and Elsa was late to that retirement party.

"talk"
[So timeline wise, I assumed it was a little after when she was in the Edge. also, She's crazy and slightly paranoid.. o.o]
@[Roskuld]
image credits
  • Any force can be used against Elsa.
  • Please tag any posts that involves Elsa.

Roskuld the Sparklight Posts: 424
World's Edge General atk: 7.5 | def: 9.5 | dam: 6
Mare :: Tribrid :: 15.3 :: 6 HP: 82 | Buff: ENDURE
Zchiraxicon :: Royal Rougarou :: Electric Smithers
#3

You saw her before I did; it was your instant, shuddering alarm that made me whip my head around, to see something emerge from the shadow of a tree. It didn’t take long to realize that sudden horror pouring from you; it washed over me, mixing in with my own as my eyes found the hazy movements of a dead thing.

What else could she be? Clearly she was a corpse brought back to life, wasting away in a sun that was way too hot for autumn. Even the way she moved seemed wrong; despondent and hazy and unfocused, like her limbs weren’t entirely her own and she barely remembered how to do the walking thing right. But I guess that’s what happens when certain arteries are cut and the muscle is peeled from bone and marrow. She looked like all of her was disconnected from the rest of her—and I wondered if her brain was part of that equation.

Didn’t take me long to find out. I was actually debating whether or not I should approach; dead things walkin’ are strange things, things that make no sense, follow no law or moral, and I wasn’t about to put you in danger. But then she talked to me, words that made sense and not at all—and all the logic to it sorta rushed at me, and I paused, hesitating while it caught up, listening to the warble of her words leave her crusted mouth like some crooked, backwards-ass lament.

*“If you are here to kill me, please do it now. It would be beneficial to both of us…Ironic that this new edge is already sending out rogues to kill us.”*

Laughter shouldn’t be a thing that haunts, like her laughter was doing. Laughter shouldn’t sound like something trapped in a metal cage, alone and dying and disconnected from itself. Something other than fear was rising up in my gut, and I wasn’t sure what it was—but it was sad in a way that I didn’t know before, sad in a way that was greasy and sick. “I ain’ here to kill you,” I said carefully, I’m not the one. My own words were….smooth for once, once you compared them side by side to the scratchy defeat that bubbled from a shrunken throat. I spoke lowly, slowly, wary of a walking dead-thing.

I paused again—calculating for once, trying to be fragile with this corpse, because I wanted to keep my word and do her no more death. It looked like she had been through enough of it. The Edge stuck in my head though, in a different way than the Basin had. The Basin was a personal evil for me—a tragedy that kept following me in ironic and heartbreaking ways. The Edge was a stranger; could they have been the ones the Basin had “helped out”? “Are—are you from the Falls, ma’am?” I offered, again in that slow, steady voice—using “ma’am” for once, a rusty thing that left my mouth coated in dust. It stood to reason that something this dead and this ready for death would come from a place that had just been crushed under heel and hoof.

I took note of the way she said “new edge”. It fell on my mind in a strange way, a way I had to remember. “Why would the Edge want you killed?”



@[Elsa]




Please tag ROSKULD in every reply!

Elsa the Icebound Posts: 644
World's Edge Protector atk: 6 | def: 10.5 | dam: 6
Mare :: Pegasus :: 16.2 Hands :: Six (Frostfall) HP: 73 | Buff: BULK
Edgar :: Plain Zephyr :: Arctic & Wakiya Klare
#4
Elsa,
Feel lucky for what you have, when you have it. Happily ever after doesn’t mean happy forever.

None of this was true was it? Even after her decision the night terrors and stress had driven her to insanity. The relentless wanderings had kept her up here. She was unable to escape, the line between the sleep and day dimensions unrecognizable. Even if she wanted to leave, her mind would not let her. Unfortunately for Elsa, this mare wasn't going to kill her. A crook of her mouth gave something reminiscent of a frown. This could have been her way out of one world and into the other. Eventually though, the age-old expected question fell from her mouth. Was she a Falls member? "Maybe once, but no longer." Her voice was filled with apt wonder, trying to decipher how things had gotten this far. She twitched her nose in irritation stepping forward. "Why do you wish to know?" Her eyes drew across the body, watching and waiting. She was a spy, for sure. Her knees faltered again as she nearly gave out from exhaustion.

Though, her mind changed as she asked about the Edge. What was going on there exactly? Well, Elsa had not one offing idea. In her mind, that entire lovey-dovey meeting had been a sweet dream that didn't exist. They should never want her there, even if they did think she had potential. Elsa was a ticking crazy bomb. "I know things." She drew out her words long and pointed, tilting her head to add effect. Of course, all of the stuff she knew thus far was true, but Elsa truly believed them to be fake. Honestly, a good knocking out may do her some good. Forced sleep is better than no sleep. "So why are you so close to the Falls, and who are you? She questioned, stepping back into the shade. Either way, the rays were falling heavily upon her hide. Each word taking an immense amount of energy and focus.

Edgar stirred then, finding some will to be apart of the conversation. He was her brain, and obviously, they both physically and mentally were not working. They were just marionettes, falling to the will of their of first thoughts. Thinking any deeper would be too hard; and was always pointless. No amount of thinking was bringing back those she needed. Instead, it seemed to be pushing her farther out to sea, away from them all. Maybe she should just drink some salt water, that would quicken the pace for a bit. Reaching down, she tore at the "salt water" but was really just licking grass. Fantastic look Elsa, real, real classy. Once she was done, she looked at the girl and shook her head as if to force her to continue talking. Edgar peeped in harsh agreement, drunkenly stepping forward and plopping off her face onto the ground. It didn't hurt him, but he peeped in disgust while working his way over to the other mare. There was a semblance in here that something was wrong, and he needed to get Roskuld to help.

"talk"
@[Roskuld]
image credits
  • Any force can be used against Elsa.
  • Please tag any posts that involves Elsa.

Roskuld the Sparklight Posts: 424
World's Edge General atk: 7.5 | def: 9.5 | dam: 6
Mare :: Tribrid :: 15.3 :: 6 HP: 82 | Buff: ENDURE
Zchiraxicon :: Royal Rougarou :: Electric Smithers
#5

So, she was a Falls mare. Er, ex-Falls mare, cuz that shit was stolen from her, wasn’t it? Did that explain the haunt in the sharp edges of her face—the brink of insanity in the sharp edges of her voice? The fear you had felt when she first burst on us started shrinking, though; like, you kept clinging to me like your life depended on it (and maybe it did), but I could feel your attention, powerful and insistent, surging onto the pale, bony mare. You were studying this shit like it was a guide for a test or whatever. I saw it etching into your brain—permanent, a marker for you, a theme of this time of your life.

More than anything, I think I hated that.

I surged forward a step as I saw the alive-dead mare wobble somewhat on her feet; she looked like a gust of wind could knock her flat on her ass, smooth as hell. But then she pulled some freaky Twilight-Zone shit on me and both her voice and her neck twisted as she hissed some stuff about knowing things, the words coming out so oily and suggestive it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. This bitch was bent--like her can had hit the pavement and no one could fix the dent in the metal. She wasn’t in no position to answer any questions; she probably wouldn’t remember those two little babies’ faces if I pressed her.

(What would she remember? Blood, battle, screaming--)

“Uh, no, c’mon,” I said roughly, watching her little bird companion flop down off of her, coming towards me in a look of pleading. I think that was the straw that broke my back (or my heart, can’t really tell which one--). “No, nu-uh, you’re seven shades of fucked up lady,” I said, coming towards her, ignoring every surge and scream of my nerves to stay the hell away from decay. I made to go to her side—to jab my shoulder into hers, to steer her out of the shade of the tree, because it even though she was blocked from the sun just standing there wasn’t doing her any good.

But what would, though? How could I fix what was wrong with her? Was it even possible? I already made it clear there wasn’t no way I could win back someone’s home from the clutches of a many-fingered hand. And it hurt in the most rage-inducing way to acknowledge that—but that didn’t make the fact less of a fact.

I had seen the way her lips had moved in that eerie, troubled way she had—all cracked and parched and thin, pulled taught by things and a crazy that rested in her eyes. I mean, that was one place to start.

C’mon, I said again, this time more urgent—but not unkindly, at least. I wasn’t trying to boss her around; I was just wanting to move her ass over yonder that way, because there was a place over which-way where the runoff from the mountain flowed, almost as convincing as a real creek. It was the dry season—hopefully it would still be there. Even if the bitch needed sleep, she needed something in her stomach that didn’t turn to innocence to acid.


@[Elsa]




Please tag ROSKULD in every reply!

Elsa the Icebound Posts: 644
World's Edge Protector atk: 6 | def: 10.5 | dam: 6
Mare :: Pegasus :: 16.2 Hands :: Six (Frostfall) HP: 73 | Buff: BULK
Edgar :: Plain Zephyr :: Arctic & Wakiya Klare
#6
Elsa,
Feel lucky for what you have, when you have it. Happily ever after doesn’t mean happy forever.

Sitting in a void of confusion is an inexplicable terror. Some part of the mind can remember what was before, but it has to sit silently and watch everything atrophy away into nothing. Like a bound prisoner, it takes some outside help to be set free. So Elsa wasn't even Elsa. The upstairs was gone, and she was shoved away into a little dark corner. No one would ever find her at this rate, she was drugged into a coma.

When Roskuld began thrusting Elsa forward, Edgar was peeping in delight. His tiny, shivering body waddled along behind, keeping an eye out. He would have flown, but he himself was wasting away, although his was worse. Edgar was conscious through this all, watching his beloved slip slowly from reality. It sucked, but maybe now that the barrier had been shattered, she can heal with bullet proof protection. Then, no one could ever hurt her again.

The sharp push into her skin didn't even phase Elsa. Instead, she fed off the momentum, and followed Roskuld. Maybe she would have felt bad, but everything was muffled. Even Roskuld's words flew in one ear and out the other. All she was at this point was a simple marionette. Anyone could control the strings, and push her along. Thus, her pale body fumbled and faltered all the way to the stream, only stopping when her escort did. Watching the water rush by in little rivulets was entrancing, she leaned forward, and in one swift motion, had fallen onto her front knees. Rocks and sand embedded themselves into her knees, creating an ugly pair of wounds. It did not phase Elsa, and it actually felt good. Flinging her head forward she shoved her head as deep as she could, before pulling it out in newfound energy. Greedily she drank, although no respite was given. Her throat was so dry and hot, it felt like someone was trying to freeze her from the inside out. The trail it left behind burned, and eventually settled uncomfortably into her stomach. It made her body heave, not recognizing the water as something she needed. She grumbled in pain, the fog lifting slightly, and the Elsa that was the "real" one, began taking over.

Panic rose from the back of her head, a dagger through the other thoughts that plagued her mind. In one swift motion, she lifted herself from the creek, slipping slightly on the muddy bank, but standing upright. Frantically, she lowered her head to nudge some of the debris off of her. Roskuld's presence was otherwise forgotten in this moment, and all that consumed her mind was Edgar. Feeling her intense fear, the little bird squawked frantically, bobbing up in down in the tall grasses to get her attention. He waddled over to her, and with one quick roll, tossed himself into the creek. Elsa watched in fear, because something was no right, what it was, she still couldn't place it. Although she was conscious, her dopple-ganger had done the damage. She physically was broken, and her brain could barely focus on more than one thing at a time. Edgar, on the other hand, was growing panicked because something was wrong. He was an arctic zephyr, everything he touched should freeze, but now, nothing. Edgar dipped his head under, drinking again in hopes of restoring some of his life. He managed, but only a minimal amount. Small ice floes, only about the size of an ice cube, appeared around his body. In this intense heat, they disappeared as quickly as they had come. This had to be good enough, and Edgar knew that. Putting Elsa under any more stress at the moment may just end her entirely. The wound was freshly pulled, and he needed to wait for a little more healing. Hoisting himself from the water, he waddled over and plopped at Elsa's feet, curling gently around her hoof before falling into a long-needed nap.

Her eyes flickered then, from bird to the girl that was standing her. Vaguely she recalls her being there before, but the details are hazy. Its like she's looking through frosted glass. "Who... Why are you here?" She questioned, voice craggy and tired. Whomever she was, she stuck around long enough with a psycho to need something. "You didn't stick with my mess of a being if you didn't need something," She finally finished, her voice a little more smooth, but still lacking any luster. Blinking a few times, she tried to focus on Roskuld's response. Flickering her tail, Elsa head and neck sagged. Her shoulders poked up sharply from her back, and if this woman was here to fight Elsa, she was going to win before it even started.

"talk"
@[Roskuld]
Sorry for the wait! Testing this week killed me ;-;
image credits
  • Any force can be used against Elsa.
  • Please tag any posts that involves Elsa.

Roskuld the Sparklight Posts: 424
World's Edge General atk: 7.5 | def: 9.5 | dam: 6
Mare :: Tribrid :: 15.3 :: 6 HP: 82 | Buff: ENDURE
Zchiraxicon :: Royal Rougarou :: Electric Smithers
#7

Part of me was glad to see her kneel down and plunge her whole head into the waters once we got there—but I kept a close eye on her, making sure the bitch wasn’t trying to drown herself on my watch. I wasn’t down with that kind of shit. I was on a mission to try and save some lives, and didn’t I already tell her that I wasn’t here to have her killed?

You watched the other companion from where you were perched on my head, your eyes drinking in the behavior of the pale bird as it flopped about in the water, seemingly upset about something. I could feel you in my head wanting to reach out—to touch—to call out—to do something to catch its attention, but you were stuck as this little lizard thing on my ear and that was just gonna have to do for now. The bird calmed down, at anyrate; it laid at its mistress’s hooves, curled up for rest, and I was wondering if its mistress was needing some of the same before she would be able to speak with me.

I was wrong, though; I looked up and she was looking at me and it would’ve been scary as all hell but I could see a light in her eyes that hadn’t been there before.

*"Who... Why are you here?"*

Okay, this was good, wasn’t it? Maybe she had forgotten the last few minute of convo—big whoop, no big deal, at least something had been screwed back on a little tighter, or maybe it was the brain-freeze sparking some wires back in motion in her head. I dunno—I just knew we were making progress. “I’m, uh…” I stammered, “I’m…my name’s Ros and I…” I’m not sure why my tongue started twisting in on itself all of a sudden; now that her eyes were gazing on me with a lot more conscious intensity, it felt like my words needed to shape up a whole lot more.

“I…I’m here because of some girls I found in a meadow," I explained quietly—the memory coming back to me, “One was pale, like you, and she had wings, and I think her name was Ara--, no , it was an A name, I know that. And the other was more tannish, I guess, and she’s big, like in personality, but she doesn’t have wings and her name was—“ --Shawty----Shida I think.”

I paused; I wondered if I should be the one to remind her of this trauma. I mean—she had gone crazy for a second, hadn’t she? What if that had been a defense mechanism guarding her against total self-destruction. I gulped; she had asked me, so I was telling her. “I…I’m looking for their mother,” I continued on, still in that hushed voice, “They told me about an invasion and that they lost track of their mom and they were worried and I—well, I told them I was gonna help them find her. Do you…you wouldn’t remember some kids like that from the Falls, would you? Would you know their Ma?”


@[Elsa]--Sorry for the wait!




Please tag ROSKULD in every reply!

Elsa the Icebound Posts: 644
World's Edge Protector atk: 6 | def: 10.5 | dam: 6
Mare :: Pegasus :: 16.2 Hands :: Six (Frostfall) HP: 73 | Buff: BULK
Edgar :: Plain Zephyr :: Arctic & Wakiya Klare
#8
Elsa,
Feel lucky for what you have, when you have it. Happily ever after doesn’t mean happy forever.

Out of body experience are a fucking weird feeling. Especially when you learn of things you thought were lost. That's why when she spoke of a pair of girls, in a meadow, she blinked rapidly. Roskuld, or, Ros as she had said, went on to say their names. As if reaching forward, Elsa stumbled forward towards Ros. Tears rimmed her eyes and she opened her mouth to speak, and couldn't. Edgar, however, was on this like flies to poo. He hopped around, widely flapping his wings to grab Ros's attention again. Even if Shida had tried to gum him to death as a baby, he loved those two little snot balls.

An exasperated choke finally erupted, and Elsa was gasping for breath. A smile even cracked at the edge of her lips, drawing apart the healing skin. Even if it stung, and reopened lip wounds, it paled and disappeared in the presence of her joy. This was the first news she had heard of them since they were gone. "I-I am.." She pushed out a breath, inhaling sharply again. "Their mother. I am their mother," she said, disbelief filling her own voice. She had really failed at this whole motherhood thing. A family, what was she thinking? She could barely take care of herself, and now some young lass she didn't even know had checked up on them. And the shittiest mother ever award goes to Elsa.

She paused then, reaching down her face to rub it gently against her knee. Her face was soaked, by both tears and creek water. Elsa had to swallow again to regain control of her voice, and she looked at Ros with a mixture of pure fear and joy. "Are they okay?" Urgency painted her voice, and she looked about. "Please tell me they are okay." She whispered, the sound cutting through her throat like knives. What if they had been injured, and died while Ros was looking for her? A shake began to form visibly across her body, making her look like a quaking, scared child. This is why Elsa should not be put in charge of anything. She can't even keep track of her own progeny- she couldn't even take care of herself.

"talk"
@[Roskuld]
I am so sorry for the wait this time. Graduation ate-d me.
image credits
  • Any force can be used against Elsa.
  • Please tag any posts that involves Elsa.

Roskuld the Sparklight Posts: 424
World's Edge General atk: 7.5 | def: 9.5 | dam: 6
Mare :: Tribrid :: 15.3 :: 6 HP: 82 | Buff: ENDURE
Zchiraxicon :: Royal Rougarou :: Electric Smithers
#9

My gut squirmed tightly, sickly, as she named herself their mother. Like, fuck. Of course it would be the janked up lady I’d find high in the mountains; of course their mother would be weak, and broken, and so, so devastated by the ruin of their home.

But I had found her, at least; I had found her before the buzzards (or the Edgers, since they wanted her for some reason), found her when her heart still beat red and raw with blood in veins that were probably shrunken a little but still did their job. She was alive, her heart beating enough to worry and recognize the children I had described. Are they okay? Please, tell me they are okay. My throat tightened at her tone—at everything about her, at the way she nearly shattered again, so crushed and hopeful as she was, hearing about her children.

“Th-they’re fine,” I stammered, unsure of how to approach this…this raw display of emotion (hah). “Shaken, but fine. They were just worried about their Ma an’…an’ confused, they didn’t know what was going on or why, they just…”

I swallowed back the memory of child-like tears and a little girl curled tightly in a little ball. “They…I left them in the Meadow, down below,” I gestured over towards the edge of the cliffs where the world plunged downward into a harsh reality, “They…they wanted to fight for their home but I stopped them. I just…I dunno ma’am, I promised them I’d find their Ma so…”

I gave myself a steadying sigh; dammit I was supposed to be the strong one in this situation. “I can…I can take you to them, if you’d like?”




@[Elsa]--Since the timeline for this is kinda shot, Elsa's in the Edge, and the twins are aged, shall we go ahead and wrap this up?




Please tag ROSKULD in every reply!


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