Frosted muscles rippled beneath a large, buxom frame, snow crystals clinging to cascading, curling tresses of ivory and ebony. Mist danced upwards into the crisp morning sky from wide flaring nostrils, dual-tone eyes staring hard at the Sentinel that guarded her path. Through it all, Rhiannon’s head was held high, earthy horns held upwards with pride, posture erect and that of a saluting soldier, unashamed, unafraid.

Oh, she was not happy… But the brindled beast knew better than to storm into her homeland unannounced. Things had changed. Things were different. Things were Wrong.

Different. Like her.

“Pah.”

Frozen silver and molten gold oculars glared at the machine, a cold, condemning sneer marring Rhiannon’s pretty face. She remembered this peculiar contraption from before she had left, and she also remembered not to test it. It was a Guardian, a Protector, a warped creation meant to protect the Basin and barr outsiders from ever entering.

Outsiders. Those who weren’t welcome.

Like her.

“Ugh.”

It stung, knowing she was nothing but an outsider to the land of her birth. Where was Crowley? Had he returned to the Basin, no longer afflicted by whatever madness had begun rotting his brain? Was he even alive? Where was Hotaru? Surprisingly, at thought of the pale maiden of beauty who had once captured Rhiannon’s attention so wholly did not stir those said emotions from her heart, nor heat from her loins. Maybe the brindled devil had gotten over her. Maybe that was for the better. Where was Illynx? Deimos? Arah?

For all she knew, the Basin was now a home-land to tree-hugging, winged harpies. The thought was disgusting.

Beneath her hooves, snow crunched, and the wanderer lowered her dark muzzle to lick up a few frozen crystals. At least the snow was the same.

Lifting her head, Rhiannon inhaled deeply, intending to let her presence known, and let out a bellowing sound, a beckoning whinny of indignation and rage. Hopefully someone would answer and give her the questions she sought, and maybe, just maybe, let her come home.

ooc: Rhiannon will be returning to the Basin. :3

@Zandora

A creature of lavender and ebony slunk from behind the Sentinel and immediately Rhiannon’s dual-toned eyes locked on the figure, assessing her, sizing her up, drinking her in… Oh, it had been so long since the brindled devil had seen another, especially another of her own kind, and so she stared unabashed and unashamed. That proud amethyst jewel adorned upon the stranger’s head, the alluring shimmer to her coat of black silk, the adornments of lavender stitching, the odd-curls of deep, rich purple that made up her mane and tail, pale lavender oculars… How fine. How exotic. How… Exquisite.

What Rhiannon would give to try a taste of her.

’Are you in need of assistance?’

Oh, yes. Yes I am. The sound of her voice caused Rhiannon to quiver. By the Gods, had it truly been so long of solitary travel and thoughts that she found herself lusting after every female she happened across?

Dark lips twisted upwards in a feral sort of smile, an expression of all teeth and pink gums, icy-silver and molten-gold eyes roaming the contours of the mare’s bodice, the curvature of her rump, admiring the dips and contours of her lithe body. She was shorter than Rhiannon herself, a favorite trait she looked for in an affair-mate, but that crown, and those eyes...

Delicious.

“The only assistance I require is a taste of you, my delicate chou,” Rhiannon purred, her tones sultry, an undertone of yearning coating her every word. “Just a quick sample of a foreign delicacy…” As much as she wouldn’t mind a quick fling here in the snow, the brindled devil shifted in her stance, dual-toned eyes taking brief notice of the black and purple mare’s leopard companion before redirecting her gaze to the horned female alone. There was only one companion she cared for, and Talbot was not here.

Thought of her father’s Hellhound was enough to dampen the lust that Rhiannon had briefly felt, her heart clenching in a familiar pit of darkness and despair, and just as quickly as that feral, wild smile had come to her lips, it was gone, replaced by gnashing teeth and a bitter, loathing scowl. The brindled beast’s head lowered, proud horns set askew, and when she spoke her voice was rough, low, and full of gravel.

“I am called Rhiannon, mare. I was birthed in these lands many seasons ago. It is my home.” Probably more-so than the beasts and creatures that called this frozen mountain top their home now. “I have served it as Weaver and Soldier alike, and I wish to return. Who is in charge now? Does His Lordship Deimos still rule these lands?”

@Zandora

Oh. Oh.

She wished to play, did she? The abrupt anger was gone, relinquished in favor of something far more delicious.

Delectable was far too pale a word to use on the illustrious vixen that paced circles around her. Rhiannon watched the alluring vision of lavender and ebony, eyes narrowed in anticipation, in eagerness, and it was when her whispered words caressed the brindled beast's ears that a shiver wracked her voluptuous frame. She shuddered, loins throbbing with the heat of desire, with the urge to take this mare, to have her here in the snow, but she withheld. Later, later...

"Zandora," Rhiannon purred, tilting her head slowly, molten gold and frozen silver regarding the exotic creature. "It tastes far better on my tongue, my precious chou." This Zandora responded to her sudden hostility far better than she had imagined, reacting with grace and eloquent poise instead of snapping or running off to gather her betters. It served as another attractive trait, for Rhiannon would bed no one who didn't have the backbone to stand up for themselves... And oh, what a delicious backbone Zandora had.

Dual-toned oculars roamed the expanse of the woman's spine, mouth watering with the simple need to nibble on that fine canvas of flesh. So lost in her desires, Rhiannon barely heard the answer to her question regarding the current leads of the Aurora Basin.

Deimos and Hotaru.

Hotaru.

A sly smirk crossed Rhiannon's feminine face, twisting her lips into an expression that was practically a sneer. Once again, the brindled beast was surprised to not feel the flare of pain or desire when she thought of the coral colored maiden. Lust, yes, but the pain of love? No. Love was a petty, useless emotion, and it did Rhiannon no good. She had learned that lesson the hard way.

Deciding that she would dwell no more on the higher ranks of her homeland government, Rhiannon shifted where she stood, dual-toned gaze resting upon the sultry lavender gaze of the enticing vixen. Oh, she knew very well how to read such a gaze, the intent behind her beckoning eyes... Indeed, they would play, but not here.

Lessening the distance between them, the brindled devil's smile remained coy and cunning, reaching out to rub her muzzle against the rippling muscles of Zandora's elegant spine. She cast the supple flesh a tentative nip as though sampling a fine delicacy, teeth finding more hair than hide, gold and silver eyes staying locked on the vixen's own gaze, burning with a deep, intense heat of desire.

"Lead me into our borders, my chou?" There, she would show her what a true lover could do, for who better to please a mare than another mare? "I would love to have more than just a little taste of a specimen as fine as you."

ooc: I hope it was alright to have Rhiannon nibble on Z's spine! If not, let me know, and I will change it. :D