the Rift


oh.

Agnodice Posts: 70
Outcast
Mare :: Equine :: 14.2hh :: 8
Herophilos :: Plain Black Dragon :: Toxic Breath prissy
#1

a new world, material without being real,

where poor ghosts, breathing dreams like air, drifted fortuitously about

The message came to her clutched between the claws of a dove, sealed with the emblem of Atemae, her home. It read two words, her name and "βοήθεια" — help. And so, the maiden went. She thought not of Helovia or any ties she had made to it (she had very few, anyway); both her head and her heart had been conquered by that single word, by that fatal message.

She eyed it wearily, for it now rested in Hero's grasp, the edges tattered and letters faded from it's age. It stirred sorrowful memories in her chest, but when she left Atemae for the third time and final time, it was the only thing she took. To leave it felt wrong, to have it with her felt painful.

"Hero," she murmured almost inaudibly, beginning a sentence, not needing to finish it. The dragon flicked his tail, purred supportively, then dropped out of the air to bury the letter. Agnodice almost stopped to wait for him, to take a final look at the last word her older brother had ever meant for her, but she didn't. She moved forward, for if she stopped, she wouldn't be able to go on again. All that was left for her was to move forward, but oh, she felt like she had boulders chained to her ankles.

The duchess fought the tears that welled in her eyes, sniffling a couple times before she made an effort to regain her regal composure, one that used to come natural to her. She took deep breaths in an effort to calm herself, but only ended up looking stoic, and perhaps a bit solemn. Her usual state was one of pleasant poise, not of lifeless eyes and features so bloodless they could be made of marble.

Hero felt her pain vividly. The dragon, too, had mourned for a brother he had never known as if the man had been his blood. He returned to her side hurriedly, landing softly on her withers amongst flowers and mane, rubbing his head along her neck in an effort to comfort the mourning maiden and bring a bit of solace to both their hearts. Forever the optimist, the little dragon chirped meekly to his bonded, 'smells like spíti,' he offered, 'helovia and falls!'

Agnodice flicked a curved ear back towards her bonded, her brow raised slightly, breaking the stony, sorrowful expression etched upon her delicately lined features. "Spίti? Den eίmai sίgoyros όti to spίti eίnai mprostά ή pίsw moy." She let the words slip off her tongue icily, devoid of the emotion she kept tucked behind her lash-line.

--

Spíti - home
Spίti? Den eίmai sίgoyros όti to spίti eίnai mprostά ή pίsw moy. - home? I'm not sure home is before or behind me.
( ^ transliterated greek for a kind of easier read, not sure which way it works better *scratches head*)

woo aggy is back! apologies for the rustiness, open to all <3

agnodice & herophilos

Image Credits | Background Credit
[Image: 5694548be0939]
You’d stick the world into your bedside lane
It’s boredom makes you callous to all pain

Astarot Posts: 81
Dragon's Throat Sun Physician atk: 5.5 | def: 9.0 | dam: 5.5
Stallion :: Equine :: 17.1 :: 2 (Birdsong) HP: 66.5 | Buff: NOVICE
Zafír :: Common Blue Dragon :: Frost Breath Pare
#2


ow that he had been promoted he felt the need to do his best, to make his father proud. He had to do everything in his power to prove himself worthy of the title Ampere and Volterra and placed on his young shoulders. So the two found themselves out in the Threshold again looking for lost souls. Zafir found she was getting better at moving through the thick trees. They both were getting used to the paths that wound through the underbrush. He knew where the streams were and were the best places to rest were. Zafir flew ahead of him hot on the wispy scent of another dragon. It was to far away to know if it was a dragon she had met before or not; yet.

Astarot cantered behind her trusting her more than his own nose. Hunters tended to have a better sense of smell than prey, and he knew she wouldn't lead him to something dangerous without a warning. He smiled swerving easily around the trees and bushes that threatened to grab his hooves or hair. His feathery hooves always seemed to have mud or twigs caught in them, but that was the price you paid for leg hair. After a few more minutes Zafir looped around and carefully landed on his back. She kept her head up high leathery wings folded regally against her side.

Astarot's smile slid easily over his face as he slowed to a walk. Zafir trilled loudly announcing their presence before they broke into a clearing. Dual colored eyes widened slightly at the tiny beauty before him. The scent of flowers greeted his nose as he looked over her flowing locks with the flowers in them. Her hair was black as night offset by her gleaming light buckskin pelt. Zafir honed in on the black male dragon on her withers. The urge to attack the stranger and show him his place flooded her blue hide. Her scales bristled and she hissed allowing frost to puff from her mouth. The only thing holding her back was where he sat. She didn't want to attack the mare, that would not end well for her bonded. So she settled for narrowing her scarlet eyes at him her lip curled up. If he showed her the respect she deserved she would leave it at that until he tried something.

Clearing his throat Astarot smiled and bowed his head, "Greetings Miss. I am Astarot, and this is Zafir. We hail from the Dragon's Throat." His skull marked head lifted scarlet and blue eyes moving over her pretty face markings. She almost looked sad and his smile faltered eyes softening. "Is everything alright?" His heart went out to her and he took a step closer so his bulky body was completely out of the brush around them. He lowered his head trying to show her how friendly and trust worthy he really was.

Words
Words;; 486
OOC/Tags;; @Agnodice Welcome back Prissy!! <3

ASTAROT & TYRATH
I'm the pretty one in this bromance

[Image: silver_dreamer_mist_trans_tag_by_are_we_...a8y6wy.png]

Wessex Posts: 149
Aurora Basin Haruspex atk: 5.0 | def: 8.5 | dam: 7.5
Mare :: Unicorn :: 16.3 hh :: 3 HP: 68 | Buff: NOVICE
Astor
#3
for there are many ways to kill a man they say
Well goddamn - Wessex’s breath catches in her throat as the normally silent (but strong) woman continues to remain speechless. Whatever is going on with the Corporal’s lust has really been kicking it into high gear lately, which perhaps has something to do with her unconscious judgement of Tiamat’s odd disappearing act. That is, perhaps this pedestal of Wessex’s unattainable lady loves is about to have an opening - and the depths of her mind know it, while the rest of her very logical body is playing catch-up.

The horned mare’s presence is not hidden, per-se, but she was not stomping loudly through the Threshold today in a way that would project herself to other wanderers. No, in the time of falling leaves and dying brush, it is best for her to tread lightly and carefully, keep her tail close to herself, and try to avoid collecting unwanted adornments on her various points. One might even dare to say that is -gasp!- attempting to move stealthily. Her pause to consider the mare’s milk-drenched beauty allows a familiar face from the Throat to approach first, a young healer that she is rather ambivalent about, until he begins his platitudes. They’ve met a few times, and while he is kind and eager… those two things paired together tend to occasionally rub Wessex the wrong way. Either be one or the other, but both seem… inexplicably weak to the career soldier.

With the competition on, Wessex continues forward, her mottled coat coming out of the shadows with tattooed leg leading, horned head held high, and a curious, but neutral look on her face. If one were to look behind her, they would see a tufted lion’s tail periodically interrupted by pairs of the very same spikes that sprout from her head - a dangerous mace to some, but a source of pride for the mutant. Her coat ripples with new and old scars, which blend in amongst the dark dapples of her body, orange-yellow eyes darting from Astarot to the mare, and then to their dragon companions, before she opens her mouth.

“Hey Astarot. Nice to see you, again.” Kohl-rimmed eyes turn to peer at the delicate, curvaceous woman, whom she wants to drink up like a cool glass of water on a hot summer’s day. “I’m Wessex,” her deep voice rumbles as she offers a small smile to the stranger. “Corporal of the Basin. Welcome.” Short, perfunctory, and simple until they find out what her particular situation is.


I am Iron and I Forge Myself


@Agnodice
@Astarot
-- please tag in all posts! --
-- magic and force allowed, no death or permanent damage --

Agnodice Posts: 70
Outcast
Mare :: Equine :: 14.2hh :: 8
Herophilos :: Plain Black Dragon :: Toxic Breath prissy
#4

a new world, material without being real,

where poor ghosts, breathing dreams like air, drifted fortuitously about

'Someone comes,' hisses her dragon, 'someone from sand.' A trembling breath shook her ribcage as she tried desperately to regain her composure, sibilant voices from her youth deafening her with clamorous demands: 'Head up high. Chest out. Move your hair out of your face. Arch your back, child.' She tossed her mane, a shower of flowers and petals falling slowly around her little figure, praying she looked well, praying she was enough.

The lady held her breath as a stallion slid into her vision. Her eyes rolled over his body, lips falling apart ever so slightly as she studied him. She didn't flinch at his appearance, but to say he hadn't startled her would be a lie. He towered above her, his hide kissed by death, a sapphire dragon perched upon his back. She decided the man was built for battle, meticulously pieced together by the god of war himself.

Yet the sandy stallion smiled at her. Her head fell to one side, she furrowed her brow, and sniffled a couple times before she found it within herself to return his smile with a weary one of her own. Hero momentarily stopped his affections to peer curiously at the fellow reptile, holding back a trill of amusement upon seeing her bristle. Agnodice flicked an ear back at her companion, glancing at him as he tugged her hair to gain her full attention. 'Baby dragon thinks she's big,' he commented, deciding it best to ignore the little blue. He promptly returned his attention to his bonded and pressed his cheek lovingly back into her neck.

Agnodice's eyes slid back up to the stallion as she listened to his introduction and watched his expression turn to concern. Oh. Was it really that obvious? She held her head up even higher, trying even harder to bury her heartache, but that only made it hurt worse. 'It's okay to feel sad,' Hero offered. His words felt both comforting and terrifying.

The duchess's eyes fell to her hooves as her facade slowly fell apart. She batted her lashes, blinking away the tears that threatened to spill down her cheeks. She took a few quick breaths before looking shyly back up at Astarot. "I've been through a lot to be here is all," She smiled weakly.

One of her pale, curved ears strays from it's partner till the maiden's whole head has turned to look upon the stranger, a small gasp escaping her ebony lips at the sight. It's a unicorn, a softly dappled mare with crimson dipped horns crowning her skull and littering her tail. A particularly intriguing marking of a silver dragon wound it's way around her leg and part of her shoulder. Agnodice didn't know what to make of this mare, either. She was both startling and captivating. She looked to be another formidable, battle born child of the war god, but like Astarot, she wasn't hostile. The dainty maiden offered the unfamiliar mare a feeble smile and nod.

Silence settled momentarily between the trio until the maiden realized suddenly she had to introduce herself, a presentation she had almost forgotten about. Everyone in Atemae knew her name. "Oh, I am Agnodice of th—" she choked on her words, eyes flicking down to her hooves, "formerly of the Hidden Falls, and before that, of Atemae. Now I am of nowhere." Her voice trailed off into almost a whisper. It hurt to explain. All that comforted her in that moment were the soft trills, purrs, and rubs of her dragon.

--

@Astarot @Wessex <3

agnodice & herophilos

Image Credits | Background Credit
[Image: 5694548be0939]
You’d stick the world into your bedside lane
It’s boredom makes you callous to all pain

Astarot Posts: 81
Dragon's Throat Sun Physician atk: 5.5 | def: 9.0 | dam: 5.5
Stallion :: Equine :: 17.1 :: 2 (Birdsong) HP: 66.5 | Buff: NOVICE
Zafír :: Common Blue Dragon :: Frost Breath Pare
#5


He watched her take in his appearance her mouth falling open slightly. He couldn't help the way his neck arched and his long tail swished behind him. Something about him seemed to confuse her though and she tilted her head slightly. He glanced back at his hide curiously wondering if something was stuck to his side. No, it all looked clear until his eyes fell on his rib markings. It took a lot of will power to not chuckle, instead he grinned and turned back to her. "I can thank my father for these bone markings." He assumed that was what she was staring, besides his siblings bone markings weren't very common in Helovia. He guessed they could be kind of off putting.

Zafir hissed softly at the lesser dragon before extending her wings. She watched him look at her then turn back to loving on his mistress. With a snort of frost she took off, to aggravated to stick around. Instead she flew away to go hunt down some innocent animal to vent her anger. Astarot shook his head sighing heavily, "Sorry about her, she's grown up under the rule of a royal queen." He chuckled lightly trying to break any tension she might have started. When he introduced himself she lifted her head higher.

Then something changed causing her head to droop. Pain clenched at his heart as she blinked rapidly. Unable to contain himself the young stallion stepped closer offering his muzzle, his eyes soft. "It's alright Miss. I'm here for you if you need anyone." He smiled kindly lowering his head to level. Ears tilted forward slightly wondering if there was anything he could do to help her. The stallion hoped that she could see how much he wanted to make her feel better.

A sound drew his attention away and he looked up in the direction of the hoof beats. He smiled softly and dipped his head to the familiar lady. "Hello Wessex, it's nice to see you as well." He smiled at the dappled lady as she introduced herself. Then he turned back to the creamy mare as she spoke up. His heart clenched again at her words, "It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Agnodice." He swallowed glancing at Wessex trying to figure out a kind way to tell the dainty lady about the Hidden Falls. "Miss Agnodice, I hate to tell you this after everything you've been through, but the Hidden Falls as been disbanded." He scarlet and blue eyes tried to peer into her turquoise ones. He felt awful having to drop this bomb on her after she had already almost come to tears. "A lot has happened in Helovia in a very short time, but we are all still going strong." He swallowed unsure what to say next so he turned and looked at Wessex hoping she would be able to help.

Words
Words;; 482
OOC/Tags;; @Wessex

ASTAROT & TYRATH
I'm the pretty one in this bromance

[Image: silver_dreamer_mist_trans_tag_by_are_we_...a8y6wy.png]

Wessex Posts: 149
Aurora Basin Haruspex atk: 5.0 | def: 8.5 | dam: 7.5
Mare :: Unicorn :: 16.3 hh :: 3 HP: 68 | Buff: NOVICE
Astor
#6
for there are many ways to kill a man they say
Sometimes the best way to deliver bad news is to just rip the band-aid off in as quick a manner as possible, letting the sting come with a flash and a burn, and then fade into a distant memory. It’s obvious that the woman is upset about something, and to be honest, Wessex isn’t the cuddly, comforting sort. Her very body screams ‘Don’t touch me!’ She returns the feeble smile with a quick quirk in the corners of her mouth, but otherwise lets the solemn air stand. False cheer and sincerity grates on her nerves, which is probably why she finds herself clenching her jaws at Astarot’s Miss this and Miss that. Duuuuude. Chill.

At least he plays fair, sharing the conversation, which one of fewer words can appreciate. Wessex is eager to make a good impression on Agnodice, opting for a different strategy. “There’s nothing wrong with being a wanderer. But if you came back to Helovia, it’s probably because your gut told you to.” She pauses, because that didn’t come out quite right. What she means to try and convey is that Helovia is likely far more of a home than the gray and black mare thinks it is. Subonsciously, and all that jazz. “Falls members came to the rest of the herds and seem to be doing ok, though I’m sure it isn’t the same.” Duh. Obviously. Like the frozen, northern tundra is anything like a lush, deciduous, waterfall-filled haven.

God, you’re good, Wessex. Look how pretty ladies turn you into fumbling colt.

After a long stretch of silence, she offers them all an easy out. “If you’d prefer some alone time, we can leave you be.” No need to mourn in public if she doesn’t want to, and besides, Wessex can fully understand the desire to be alone. Why else would she patrol so much?

I am Iron and I Forge Myself


@Agnodice  
@Astarot  
Awkward Wessex is awkward :|
-- please tag in all posts! --
-- magic and force allowed, no death or permanent damage --

Agnodice Posts: 70
Outcast
Mare :: Equine :: 14.2hh :: 8
Herophilos :: Plain Black Dragon :: Toxic Breath prissy
#7

a new world, material without being real,

where poor ghosts, breathing dreams like air, drifted fortuitously about

A smile graced the dark lips of the dainty mare. She appreciated the kindness Astarot had shown her more than she could ever hope to express. "Thank you," She stated softly with a forlorn smile, delicately reaching forward to touch her muzzle to his for a fleeting second (she is not known to linger in presence or in touch). She pulled back swiftly, causing a cloud of petals to burst from their holds in her mane and fall soundlessly to the ground.

The maiden watched the interaction between Wessex and Astarot in silence. Her sea colored eyes flicked back and forth between the two, her brow furrowing as her acquaintances hesitated. The skeletal stallion broke the news. The Hidden Falls was gone. She felt her heart sink through her ribcage, a lump form in her throat and strangulating any words she might have said. Her eyes dropped suddenly, her ears slacked, shoulders dropped. Before their eyes the flower girl wilted.

After a moment, she managed to pry her lips open enough to breathe an aching, arduous "oh." Hero yelped in a reptilian vibrato, the pang of the news hitting him far harder than it did his bonded. Unlike Agnodice his first home, his forever home, would always and forever be the Falls. She found it within herself to reach back around her shoulder to lightly muzzle her anguished companion, but she could offer him no more comfort than that. They were together in their grief.

The maiden's eyes slid to her dappled acquaintance, flicking an ear towards the mare as she spoke. Agnodice found consolation in her words, and offered the mare another fragile smile. She was right, being a wanderer is not necessarily a bad thing, it was simply a thing she wasn't used to being. She turned her head back towards Wessex, curved ears perking up a bit as she listened, though she welcomed the silence that followed. It allowed the mare a moment to think, to ponder where in the world the heartbroken pair should go.

Agnodice focused her attention back on Wessex as she spoke again, offering to leave her and companion alone to mourn, causing a sudden reaction from the dainty maiden. She jolted her head up with another burst of blossoming flora. "Don't—" She exclaimed, eyes wide and pleading. "I—I don't want that," She stammered, pulling her head back in sheepishly towards her neck, embarrassed and unsure. The maiden took a deep breath, struggling to calm herself again, brow furrowing as she grasped for the right words to say.

"I don't know what I want," The dainty doctor admitted finally, pressing her lips together and looking dismally at the others because that's all she had left to do.

--

o boy whatta post
@Astarot

agnodice & herophilos

Image Credits | Background Credit
[Image: 5694548be0939]
You’d stick the world into your bedside lane
It’s boredom makes you callous to all pain

Astarot Posts: 81
Dragon's Throat Sun Physician atk: 5.5 | def: 9.0 | dam: 5.5
Stallion :: Equine :: 17.1 :: 2 (Birdsong) HP: 66.5 | Buff: NOVICE
Zafír :: Common Blue Dragon :: Frost Breath Pare
#8


Her smile lightened his heavy heart; it killed the young man to see others so down trodden. If he could do anything to ease her sorrow he  would do so without a second thought. Life was hard and he knew that, but everyone needed someone. He shied away from that line of thought. Who did he have? There was no need to say anything else about her pain, even as she thanked him. He merely blinked and inhaled her scent as she tender muzzle pressed against his own. It doesn't bother him how fast she ends the touch, even if it does strike him as odd. His father was all about physical contact, and he was the same way, but he knew others might not be. He smiled lightly before pulling back and glancing at Wessex.

He hates to tell her, hates to rip her home out from her tiny hooves, but someone has to. With a mighty tug he throws her head over heels. His gut clinches at the thought of losing his own home. His ears shift back slightly with her nerves. He wonders vaguely if she will lash out. Messengers had a habit of getting shot, and he had delivered one of the worst things he could think of.  Only a few things could top losing your home, and he kept those dark thoughts locked away. Her dragon let out a gut-wrenching call. Thankfully, Zafir was off tearing into a meal and ignored it.

He looked to Wessex unsure how he felt about her words. He couldn't imagine living without a set place to sleep, or going days without seeing a friendly face. He swallowed trying to force down the lump in his throat. He knew all about traveling alone, and he had hated every moment of it. He turned to look at the petite cream lady in front of him. He had to fight the urge to pull her to his chest and hug the pain away. For everything his father had passed down to him small quirks that his mother had sown into him showed through; this being one of them.

Wessex offered to leave her alone if she wanted, and his heart stuttered. If that was what Agnodice really wanted he would turn walk away. His ears tilted back to her slightly eyes kind and warm. The reaction caused his hide to flinch, even though his body never moved an inch. The pleading in her pretty sea foam gaze said it all. "It's ok Agnodice, we wont leave." He smiled kindly his words a low rumble. He caught her last words and let a short silence hang between the trio. Slow easy words rolled from him, "If you'd like I could take you to the Throat for a visit, to see if it fits you?" He paused glancing at Wessex once more, "If not, I would be happy to escort you to the Basin, or anywhere else you would like to go." He flicked an ear towards the dappled lady curiously but kept his dual colored gaze on the creamy lady.

Words
Words;; 517
OOC/Tags;; @Wessex

ASTAROT & TYRATH
I'm the pretty one in this bromance

[Image: silver_dreamer_mist_trans_tag_by_are_we_...a8y6wy.png]

Wessex Posts: 149
Aurora Basin Haruspex atk: 5.0 | def: 8.5 | dam: 7.5
Mare :: Unicorn :: 16.3 hh :: 3 HP: 68 | Buff: NOVICE
Astor
#9
for there are many ways to kill a man they say
Agnodice’s reaction takes Wessex by surprise, wet eyes and panting breath acid to the Haruspex’s practical, stoney heart. Weakness, other than acknowledging physical pain, is not usually in her repertoire. But her unassuming, genuine despair, her desperation and signs of need have an effect on the horned woman - why, the cream colored maiden could move mountains with her tears, if Wessex were at the bulldozer’s helm.

“Ah, I’m sorry, I only meant -” but she stops herself before babbling away, choosing instead to follow Astarot’s statemement with her own murmurs. “No, we won’t leave.”

Silence falls amongst them again, and Wessex begins to grow uneasy, thoroughly uncomfortable with the lust that battles with her desire to find a simple solution, which defies her tendency to push away complex emotions. She is a soldier at heart: eat, sleep, drink, fight, remain a virgin, repeat ad nauseam. A warrior priestess of sorts now, but all in all, perhaps a like-minded mouthpiece for a God with no more fucks to give. Finally, finally, Agnodice says something, and again, it is Wessex’s job to be unusually comforting.

“The good thing is that no one’s asking you to make a permanent, life-changing decision right now. You could try out another herd for a while, see if it suits you - the Basin has open arms for talented, smart, mares.” See, she can say that now, because she has the power to accept and deny members, and that is something she will definitely put to good use now. Astarot is kind enough to mention her own herd, but she is not so kind as to return the favor. It’s nothing personal, Wessex just doesn’t want to travel half a continent to see this pretty little flower-spouting lady again. And they need a softer touch in the herd sometimes, amongst the assholes and the crazies, the hard-asses and the snark.

They’re a fun bunch. And she wouldn’t say no to a roommates for awhile… her new quarters are quite expansive.

I am Iron and I Forge Myself


@Agnodice  
@Astarot  
I feel like I have to apologize for her every post XD
-- please tag in all posts! --
-- magic and force allowed, no death or permanent damage --


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