the Rift


World's End
Ascended Helovian

Mauja the Frozen Light Posts: 1,392
Outcast atk: 6.5 | def: 10.5 | dam: 7.5
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 17.2 :: 14 HP: 79.5 | Buff: HUNTER
Irma :: Snowy Owl :: Terrorize & Diego :: Eurasian Eagle-Owl :: Rage Neo
#1
Mauja the FrostHeart
ice cold man watches earth die, eternal winter takes its reign

[ backdated, takes place after this thread. ]

The sky was deepening to bruised purple and blue in the east, a few stars flaunting their brilliance and dotting the dusk sky. To the west, the sun was creeping below the horizon. Oranges flared as if trying to swallow the world, the undersides of the scattered clouds red as if splattered by celestial blood. These days, dusk was the time when Mauja released his pent-up breath and felt his body relax as the temperature sunk. Even this day had been unbearably hot, and it had begun to trouble him deeply that a God would so misuse his powers and take it out on the world like this. He would've loved to show the usually lush Helovia off to Aurelius, but it was impossible - everything was dried and wilting, the grass growing brown and tasteless, the trees dropping their leaves and slowly turning to twisted, stunted statues of despair... The Edge was no different, dry and dusty, the perfect image of a dying land. How long until this entire continent was uninhabitable? How long until the Sun tired of his revenge? Would he ever? Would he kill them all?

The land's state was the only thing that dampened his joy at the success of his random Threshold venture. The newest addition to the Edge herd was a rather peculiar sight. He was the shortest horse Mauja had ever met, and looked like some shaggy alpine goat's lost uncle, ram horns and all. Still, the King wasn't fool enough to ever say it to the pony's face, and his anatomy was very non-goat. It just amused the pale steed, but he'd gleaned a sharp tongue and quick mind under all the hair. It was true that he had a natural liking of tall horses, but hey, he'd not discriminate his own species. Even midgets could be useful, and this one seemed to possess intellect at least. Mauja turned his relatively large head around to peer at the new stallion as they entered the Edge forest. "I wish you could've seen it as it usually is, when the Sun isn't on a rampage," he mused quietly, moving between the skeletal trees. He missed the thickness of their foliage, how their dark crowns swayed in the sunset wind and how the fog coated everything like spirit pearls. At night the fog still came, but during daylight hours, it was burned away. Mauja sighed.

"It's much more majestic when alive. The trees are thick, the bushes too, the grazing's good and the birds care to sing." He shook his head, forelock flying around his frosty horn. "Now it looks like a desert-to-be. I hate it." The King drifted into a clearing, where he paused, head lifted to the darkening sky. Soon, it would come alive - as alive as it was these days. Soon his herd would wake from their heat-induced slumber and come out to play. These days, Mauja ruled a kingdom of the night. He drew in a deep breath of dry, arid air, and released it in a bellowing cry, announcing to the herd that there was a new stallion to meet, should they care to. And they ought to care. They were family now, after all, and Mauja wanted them to know each other, care for each other, protect each other. If they all did, they'd be unbreakable. With his hears alert, he expectantly listened and watched the forest for response, eager to see who would show up to be the first to greet the newcomer pseudo-goat - very fondly thought, of course. Aurelius was his pseudo-goat, and if anyone else tried to mock him for his looks... Well, no need to elaborate on the obvious, hm?

[ Aurelius first, then open! ]
angels, they fell first, but I'm still here

Aurelius Posts: N/A
Unregistered
:: :: ::
#2

Aurelius was relieved that the journey to his new home was short; the steed's short legs were aching from days of travel, and he so longed for a patch of soft grass to slumber upon. Finally, the temperatures were diving, rather rapidly so, and he felt his breath return to him. Everywhere his eyes went, they saw only withering plants and dirt, and the thirst of the land lay clear as day in front of him. The sunset was beautiful though, bathing everything in cascades of color, making it all seem less dull. It was perhaps not the lush home he had hoped for, but Mauja had assured him that this wasn’t the usual way of things; he would have to believe him, and he hoped that whoever was causing this would cease his madness. Where he came from, the summers were mild and the winters cruel; he didn’t long back to his former life, but he would’ve liked to bring the climate along with him. Certainly a lot of Helovians would appreciate that right now.

The shaggy stag followed alongside Mauja without trouble; his legs might be short, but they were also nimble and surefooted, easily keeping up with his larger comrades. Had it come to gallop, surely he would’ve been eating dirt and Mauja would’ve been a spot on the horizon, but at this speed there was no difficulty. His green and black eyes swept around the terrain, taking in sights of this new home; under the circumstances, he was satisfied with what he had seen. He tried to picture what the place would normally look like, and he fully understood why Mauja had chosen this place for his. He peered up at the larger steed under his thick forelock, the corners of his lips turning upwards in a good-natured smirk. Aury could only imagine what others thought upon encountering him, but a few had put their thoughts to more or less hurtful words. Sure it had hurt him in the past, but his skin had grown rough and he wouldn’t let thoughtless words hurt him anymore. He would even play along, making a jest of it; people tended to like a funny dwarf with a healthy dose of self-depreciation.

What Aurelius lacked in volume, he made up for in wit and speech. By nature he wasn’t much of a warrior, rather a politician if you must place a label, but those ram-horns of his would easily crack a few ribs in an unguarded moment. Also, should a bigger opponent intend to strike him, the target was equally smaller. "Never mind, your grace. Hopefully I will get plenty of opportunity later," he hummed in his smooth voice, but he could easily read the despair on his newfound leader’s voice. Understandable; his home was turning into sand, that would probably upset the steadiest soul. The dwarven steed settled next to the frosty one, ears perking forward at the bellow let out by the other. Under his heavy forelock, his eyes sparkled with expectation, knowing that the time to meet his new family had finally come. On the outside he was calm, but inside his skull, his mind was racing with curiosity. Surely, he should not expect any of them to look like himself, but didn’t matter really; it’s what’s inside the shell that counts.

Ascended Helovian

Mauja the Frozen Light Posts: 1,392
Outcast atk: 6.5 | def: 10.5 | dam: 7.5
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 17.2 :: 14 HP: 79.5 | Buff: HUNTER
Irma :: Snowy Owl :: Terrorize & Diego :: Eurasian Eagle-Owl :: Rage Neo
#3
Mauja the FrostHeart
ice cold man watches earth die, eternal winter takes its reign

[ others are still more than welcome to join! :3 ]

Only silence answered him.

It seemed his ghost herd of the night court hadn't come out to haunt yet, for his cry drifted off into an ethereal silence - broken only after nearly a minute by an evening bird. Mauja's ears twitched softly, still alert, pale eyes scanning the drying trees.. but nothing came. No soft whisper of response, no swaying branches that heralded movement, no nothing. Time ticked by, and still his heart kept hoping, but in the end he gave it up with a sigh. The edge in his eyes went dull, ears flipping back and his head came down a notch. The sun stole the spirit right out of everything, even his herd mates - even out of him. It was troubling, and yet no other god had granted them a vision of what to do - so what was there to do, except wait, and try and survive? Try and cling to whatever happiness there is, whatever hope there is? Mauja hated it, he hated being powerless and at the mercy of something so strong and volatile. He hated it, but he didn't let the hate shine through the cracks in his armor; he allowed only the sadness to leak out in defeated stances and mournful sighs. It swam in his eyes like a duck in a pond. There was no danger in showing sorrow; a ruler who ruled with his heart ought to weep when his people suffered and his land died, yet Mauja didn't weep. He only gave those small, sad smiles - like he did now.

He angled his head down to look at Aurelius instead of the forest, a somewhat defeated look on his face. "We tend to come alive at night," he explained softly as another cool wind brushed past. The sun slipped further down, taking the brilliance with it, desaturating the world. Mauja didn't mind. He looked the same by night as by day anyway, except that the frost on his horn and hooves seemed less blue. "They'll awaken when they wish. They're out there, somewhere. It's not strange if they are withdrawn, either. Tension runs higher when everyone is miserable. Come." Brusquely he strode forward again, purpose in his step and yet he did not walk overly fast; somewhere in the back of his mind he was aware of Aurelius' shorter legs, and after such a long, hot journey he had no wish to force the little stallion into a trot just to keep up with Mauja's long strides. Despite his own heartache, he was a graceful sight, regal by virtue of his bloodlines and powerful simply because he was. Even in times of despair, he was a King to look upon, and yet his heart was not as cruel as some seemed to think.

Well, that was somewhat of a lie.

Mauja could be terribly cold when he chose to, and not in the way that he did it out of necessity and later regretted it, but in the way that it didn't affect him at all. He was true to the name he'd been given, Frostheart, but when it come to his own kind, his own herd, he felt more like a father than an ice cold ruler. And a father should know his sons. Mid-step his head tilted down, one cold blue eye settling on Aurelius, and yet there was nothing chilly in his gaze at all. "Where do you come from, Aurelius? Who were you?" Mauja enjoyed knowing the pasts of those who lived with him, for many reasons - it spoke volumes about the individual itself, and to share it was a sign of trust in their new ruler. It gave insight to their cultural beliefs without asking are you a supremacist?, and sometimes revealed other things. Besides, Mauja was a curious creature who enjoyed learning of different places. Two horses seldom came from the same place here, the Threshold was full of different pasts and kingdoms - and it pleased him to hear about them, muse on them, and on what made his unicorns leave home. Sometimes it warned him of mistakes he should never make. And, someone who looked like Aurelius... he surely had an interesting past. Somewhat happier now, despite the state of his lands, he kept walking west, intending to take Aurelius to where the Edge started rising out across the Endless Blue. Perhaps some of his members had been resting in the shade nearby, or even in the ocean itself.
angels, they fell first, but I'm still here

Aurelius Posts: N/A
Unregistered
:: :: ::
#4

Embarrassing? Maybe a little bit. Aurelius wasn’t going to hold the lack of enthusiasm among the herdmembers against Mauja, but he couldn’t help but be amused. This slight lack of respect for authorities spoke loud and clear to him about the mentality within the herd; and he liked the nonchalance, even the straight face Mauja pulled, as if this was nothing unusual. A bloke like Mauja made an impressive leader, and yet there were no scrambling unicorns in sight, hurrying to greet their leader. Not even the mighty, trumpeting call of this pale leader seemed to stir them, as they lay at rest among the shadows. Aury wasn’t as disappointed as you might think; he was certain he would have plenty of opportunity to meet the likes of this new band that he had stepped into. They couldn’t hide forever.

Aurelius noticed the slight defeat in Maujas stance and expression, ears flicking slightly – he did not want to see a strong leader, hanging his head like that. He couldn’t read thoughts, but if it was for the lack of a welcoming committee, Aurelius wouldn’t want him to be blue. Never once in his life had he been welcomed like he had by Mauja, always been the pariah, the bastard, the unwanted. But for the first time, he experienced someone that would invite him and willingly share his home with him. That fact alone had won Mauja many points within the grand heart of the dwarven steed. "There is no need for excuses, your grace. I’m sure they will join us, eventually. In this heat, there is no shame in seeking shade," he hummed in his smooth, deep voice, hoping to clear up the frown on the stags face. Without question, he followed behind his liege lord, keeping up without trouble. He did feel awfully small, walking next to Mauja, who was almost twice his size, but he didn’t mind too much. To any onlooker, the sight must’ve been quite entertaining, he thought, grinning to himself.

The impression that he had gotten from Mauja the Frostheart so far was vague. He knew him not, only from what he had seen and what the stallion had told him himself. A regal, slightly intimidating (although that may be just his height) creature, with an aura about him that demanded respect. As for Mauja’s darker agenda, Aury had little clue, only from what the fact that he ruled an all-unicorn herd could tell him. It may be an innocent notion that lay behind, or it may be something grander, but he figured that until he knew for sure, he would have to watch his tongue. If he was here simply because he was unicorn, he would have to watch his mouth. And then the question came, the one that he had expected would come sooner or later. He’d rather had it be later, but conversation drifted onto the topic unavoidably.

Taking a deep breath, he sighed as well, phrasing his answer with tire in his voice. "I’m afraid it is not a tale of much joy, m’lord. I was born on the Amber Isles, in a realm far from this, northerner by birth. It is a land of rocky shores, howling winds and bitter tears, he said, pausing slightly to look Mauja in the eye, his lip curling in a small smile. "I was a bastard child; you see where I come from, you take a mate for life, so when someone breaks the monogamous chain, it gets noticed. Especially if that someone is the leader of the flock, as my lord father happened to be. To him, my mother was nothing but a warm spring night of sweet intoxication, but then I showed up and stirred trouble at his threshold. I was not easily accepted by the others, as you may imagine," he said. Turning his sight back to the ocean before them as they crept closer, he pondered for a second before continuing. "I was never very popular with my father’s rightful mate, to put it mildly. This, combined with my obvious lack of size when compared to the rest of them, made me the scapegoat in all matters, great and small. Don’t think that I am complaining or seeking sympathy, for I have grown strong from it, but his lordship requested the story, so he shall have it, he finished by letting his voice die out, looking Mauja in the eye with his own mismatched pair, the strength within him shining through. He was free of them now, and they had done him a favor, for in their mockery he had developed the wits and sharp tongue that he so valued today.

Ascended Helovian

Mauja the Frozen Light Posts: 1,392
Outcast atk: 6.5 | def: 10.5 | dam: 7.5
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 17.2 :: 14 HP: 79.5 | Buff: HUNTER
Irma :: Snowy Owl :: Terrorize & Diego :: Eurasian Eagle-Owl :: Rage Neo
#5
Mauja the FrostHeart
ice cold man watches earth die, eternal winter takes its reign

He wasn't quite sure why he had apologized on behalf of his herd - was it for Aury's sake, or for his own, making some excuse for their lack of response? He turned his head aside and scowled, so the pony couldn't see. He shouldn't make excuses for things. Excuses sucked. Reasons, however, reasons were good to explain. He didn't know which of the two he had done, and gave a somewhat agreeing grunt when told that it was alright. He was right about one thing, though. It was no shame to seek shade. Still, it disheartened the King somewhat... But he tried to push it aside. His night's court would come alive, and greet their formidable pony. It just wasn't meant to happen right now, but sometime later. Whatever. He couldn't control what everyone did. Mid-step he did a shrug, brushing up against a thick tree moments later to scratch his shoulder at in passing. As time passed, the trees thinned out and it was noticeable that the ground sloped down. Still there was no sign of his herd, so he'd have to make do with Aurelius for company. Not that that was bad - it just wasn't what he'd hoped for.

Psyche, where are you, woman?

Not a tale of much joy? Well, who ever had a happy past? He refrained from snorting. Few people left home because they were overjoyed back there - no, most had something dark in their baggage, and that was what drove them away. Mauja himself hardly had a stellar past, but it wasn't about being the most pitiful ever - it was about learning what life taught you, accepting it, moving on, forward. His ears flickered to the sound of the tale, and when he came to the part about showing up at his father's, the pale King actually gave a hushed laugh. In front of them he could see the ocean spreading out; the wind smelled of brine and sea gulls. They were still some ways off, and he felt that Aurelius wasn't quite finished with his story, so he kept his silence. And just as he thought, more came. "Indeed he shall," he said with quiet amusement. If there was one thing that bothered him slightly about this pony, it wasn't his size, his mismatched eyes, his shaggy features or his ram's horns. No - it was his frequent use of your grace, m'lord, things like that. It grated on Mauja's nerves, but he refrained from commenting on it now. Better see just who this mountain goat was before he got all comfy with him.

"Y'know, your father sounds like a real idiot," he said lightly. "Not for blaming stuff on you, but seriously? If you live in a culture like that and do something like that, you have to expect it to come back and bite you in the ass. You have to anticipate the consequences of your actions, and weigh them carefully. His mate sounds like a real idiot, too, blaming you, who I doubt stood there and goaded your parents on. She ought to have stabbed your father to death if she had a problem with it, because it was all his fault." As if to somehow emphasize his point, there was a split second's forewarning - a grinding, metallic noise - before an ice spike, easily reaching Mauja's shoulder, thundered up from the ground a mere yard off to the King's right. He glanced sideways at the pony to gauge his reaction; he himself had not flinched at all, for he knew exactly what had been coming. Sagely, yet mocking, as if imparting some great wisdom to him, he said, "There are many ways to stab, Aurelius," before breaking into a trot. With playful ease he made his way across the roots and rocks, releasing a powerful neigh as he dashed across the sand, white tail streaming behind him. It was hot underfoot, but the surf greeted him like a playful old friend, splashing against his heated legs, cooling them; no need to be so serious all the time! Grinning like a fool, he spun in the waves, turning to look back at Aurelius, hoping he wasn't scared of getting his pretty little feet (or, given his height, his pretty little shaggy belly) wet.
angels, they fell first, but I'm still here

Aurelius Posts: N/A
Unregistered
:: :: ::
#6

Aurelius walked next to Mauja when the ground sloped downward, smelling the salt ocean as they moved closer. He very much liked these lands already, as opposed to his previous homestead. There were many reasons for a stallion of age to leave home, stepping out of the shadow of his father, making a name for himself. Aurelius had merely been fed up by being surrounded by morons. He liked the casual way that Mauja was acting; it was obvious that he wasn’t a stiff aristocrat, like the ones Aury was used to. Still, he kept up the formality of his speech; only a foolish man would walk into a stranger’s lands and throw away courtesies, it could have unforeseeable consequences if you offended the wrong guy. So as long as Mau didn’t make clear where he stood on the matter, Aurelius liked to be on the safe side, especially considering the large size-difference between the two of them. No doubt, if altercations should occur, Aurelius would come up short. No pun intended.

When Mauja claimed his father be an idiot, the dwarf guffawed. "I never said he was a smart man. A fool and a craven, more likely," he said cheerfully, glancing up as the king continued speaking. The mention of his step-mother made him shrug his shoulders. "You see, I was a constant reminder of her mate’s unfaithfulness. I’m sure you wouldn’t want something like that waved under your nose every day," he said calmly. A sharp noise caused his ears to flicker back and forth, a startled snort emitting him as the ice spike shot out of the ground. His eyes reflected surprise, but he did not startle otherwise, as someone of more delicate heritage may. Aury was aware of magic, he had encountered quite a few magical equines on his journey, but where he came from it was not at all common.

Suddenly the white steed had left his side, moving at a trot towards the surf. Aurelius stood for a moment, watching with a smile on his face, before strolling placidly down to the water. The dwarven stag was not afraid of the sea, as an islander it was as much a part of him as the earth and rocks. He went out until the water engulfed him, lifting him upward slightly, and his small legs darted in the depths to keep him afloat. Thus, he swam, enjoying the chill waters as they enveloped him in their soothing embrace. Aury’s thick coat worked as a form of wetsuit, keeping the water away from his skin. A deep whicker escaped him, eyes looking to Mauja with a mischievous expression in them. "I have been wondering… Why are there only unicorns in your kingdom, Mauja?" He asked calmly, coming to the conclusion that swimming together set them past silly courtesies, so he didn’t bother with them any further.

Ascended Helovian

Mauja the Frozen Light Posts: 1,392
Outcast atk: 6.5 | def: 10.5 | dam: 7.5
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 17.2 :: 14 HP: 79.5 | Buff: HUNTER
Irma :: Snowy Owl :: Terrorize & Diego :: Eurasian Eagle-Owl :: Rage Neo
#7
Mauja the FrostHeart
ice cold man watches earth die, eternal winter takes its reign

A fool and a craven. Unfaithful. He heard the words but made no move to answer as he moved from his place by the pony's side - he could've shouted over his shoulder if he wanted to, but he kept his thoughts to himself for a moment. A fool and a craven. An unfaithful fool and a craven. Mauja frowned at the surf, coming to stop a ways out with water touching his girth; his blue eyes were fixed on the far horizon, but one ear flickered back when he heard the telltale sounds of the pony coming closer. Aury was a curious individual, and if his status had indeed been what he'd described it as, it wasn't strange that he didn't flinch at sudden movements. He could hardly give anyone the satisfaction of frightening him, now, could he? He'd be mocked about. So, in a sense it made perfect sense that he hadn't been startled by the ice spike - it was a bit, well, boring, though. The King was kind to his own, but mischievous all the same. He enjoyed startling others.

Aurelius, short as he was, had to swim out here - Mauja gave him a wry, but fairly unreadable, smile, and picked up their conversation from earlier as if nothing at all had happened. "I wonder how he got to lead if he was both fool and craven," he mused aloud - but it was true. The pale King himself had it hammered pretty hard into him that you had to be worthy of your place, and it showed in every action he did, in the way he took care of his herd. It wasn't just for power. Of course, power played a part in it, but mainly the thing which drove him was a queer kind of love. "And if she had a problem about his unfaithfulness, she should've done something about it. She sounds more like the type to sweep it in under the carpet, and pretend it never happened. Morons," he grunted, striding out deeper until the sandy bottom deserted even him; strong legs began to kick beneath the surface, moving him forward at a gentle pace. It felt good to be embraced by the cool waters. Idly he wondered about Aurelius real mother - she must've been quite the something, because the pony himself was not stupid like his father.

Before he had a chance to ask, however, a question he hadn't really been expecting came. Mauja... So, getting his shaggy belly wet had made him comfortable enough to drop the titles. That part pleased him, the question didn't - not really. It was phrased carefully, but he couldn't make out what kind of answer Aurelius wanted. He'd not seemed to mind the hornless mare in the Threshold an awful lot, so chances were he wasn't a supremacist by nature... He turned his eyes to the sea for a moment, composing his thoughts. Best to be careful - better to hold Aurelius at arm's length for a while longer, instead of plunge in and realizing you'd made an error of judgment. A slight frown appeared on his face before he tilted his head back, looking at the short stallion. "The Foothills are open to those who wish to mingle with all species, without boundaries. But, there are some among my kind who are uncomfortable around the others. Those who are not can reside in the Foothills, so who am I to deny the rest of my species a haven where they can feel safe and comfortable?" It was mostly true - after all, he cared little for the unicorns who gallivanted around with hornless. And if you knew Mauja, you might believe that it was the complete truth, because he was one who cared for his flock. And, to be completely honest, it was 98% of the truth. The last 2% consisted of I don't like hornless.

The fact that he wanted to bring all of Helovia under unicorn rule wasn't related to why only unicorns lived in the Edge. Not really.
angels, they fell first, but I'm still here

Aurelius Posts: N/A
Unregistered
:: :: ::
#8

Startling was something he had grown almost immune toward, after years of being mocked and picked on. Flinching and jumping gave your tormentors satisfaction, it showed weakness, that they had caught you off guard. Aurelius, no matter how relaxed and casual he may seem, never let his guard down again. Even with Mauja, whom he was sure meant no harm; he was still sheltering himself by old habit. Mauja picked up their previous conversation and Aurelius swam around him slowly, in a large circle. "Even fools can be king, if they are lucky enough to be born of the right bloodline. As for my former queen… If she didn’t have my sire, she had nothing. The promise of rank and power can make you put up with a lot, but it doesn’t necessarily improve a poor character. On the contrary," he spoke, reflecting over just how much heritage had mattered in his old homestead. Even if he was the most cunning of all his father’s sons, the pure and the baseborn, he had never a chance to be named successor to the throne. Not wanting to live his whole life in the shadow of his father’s adultery, he had chosen a different life for himself. And he liked how it turned out thus far.

He swam along with the pale stag, feeling the water getting colder as they went out further. The thought of the deep darkness below the surface wasn’t something he liked to think about, it was a little unsettling, but he did not let it show. There was no secret agenda in the question he had asked; he did not wish to question the motives of his new king, at least not at this time. The answer, however, was a few moments underway, which immediately perked his interest. There was potentially something more here, something worth looking into, but not yet. The hour wasn’t ripe for that kind of interrogative behavior. Aurelius did not mind the other species at all; how could he, his mother being the most cunning creature he had ever encountered, hornless or not. The frown on Mauja’s face did not go unnoticed, but Aurelius looked at him in sincerity, making it clear that he meant no unpleasantries by asking. "A noble purpose then, no question," the dwarf spoke, heading back for the shore.

Aury felt tired when he reached the shore, but it was a pleasant feeling. Shaking his hide like a dog out of water, he had little droplets of silvery water clinging to his dark fur, reflecting the remaining light. As he had anticipated, his skin had barely gotten damp, thanks to the protection of aforementioned coat. Clever eyes sought out the leader, curious suddenly about the other members of the herd, all those personalities that he had yet to encounter. "So, what kinds of personalities have chosen to make The Edge their home? Their absence has made me rather curious, I must admit," he said, enjoying the chill breeze as it swept across the beach. The imp imagined what residents of such a place could look like, but he drew a blank in the end; it could be anyone really. One thing he was certain they had in common; they were all horny. One way or the other.

Ascended Helovian

Mauja the Frozen Light Posts: 1,392
Outcast atk: 6.5 | def: 10.5 | dam: 7.5
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 17.2 :: 14 HP: 79.5 | Buff: HUNTER
Irma :: Snowy Owl :: Terrorize & Diego :: Eurasian Eagle-Owl :: Rage Neo
#9
Mauja the FrostHeart
ice cold man watches earth die, eternal winter takes its reign

The right bloodline? The right bloodline?

What a pitiful kingdom it must've been.
Memories of vast expanses of snow, cold winter nights, the roar of warriors; the whispers of them, too, huddled together in sparse shelters from the cold glacial wind. Of a general's voice, crying out. Calling out. Mauja stared silently at the water in front of his chest, watching it lap against his sweat-soaked body. If all it had taken to rule was blood... He snorted, and shook his head. Aurelius parents proved his theory right, though: if blood was all it took to lead, the weak and unworthy would one day sit upon the throne. Foolishness. And the queen? If her mate was to suffer a misfortune, wouldn't she remain the sole ruler? His words had seemed to indicate the contrary, and with a strangled sigh Mauja gave it up. He didn't really want to ponder the failure-riddled mechanics of other kingdoms right now. Besides, too many questions about Aurelius' past would probably lead to too many questions about his own, and his kingdom. They'd had a near brush with that already, and he wasn't too keen on revealing his motives all too soon. He needed to know where the pony's heart lay before he took a leap of faith.

Mauja's motions grew fainter, calmer, slower, until he all but stood still in the water; Aurelius had turned back to shore, and for a moment the King was tempted to remain where he was. After all, the pony had just turned, without a word of explanation, nor an invitation to join him at shore again. A bold move, for one who mere minutes ago had been lordshipping Mauja's ears off. He gave a hushed laughter. Perhaps such things had been necessary in his past, to strengthen himself, if he, indeed, had been the Omega. The pack's bitch. He grinned at the horizon, then swept his pale form around and began to kick back to shore. At least he didn't follow by reflex - he'd made the choice to. Soon enough the sand returned to beneath his hooves, and the King surged out of the water. It ran down him in rivers, eventually pooling around his hooves once up on the ground again, dripping off the tips of his clumped mane. Like a dog he gave himself a shake, enjoying the oncoming night. The wind had grown cooler, but the water still clung to daylight's heat and the contrast had been pleasant. He stifled a yawn, but closed his eyes for a moment, until addressed - and then, he only cracked one blue eye open to peer at his pet.

"Oh, it might be for the best that they're not here," he said with a dry laugh. How could he possibly explain his pack of misfits? "Korra would probably try to eat you. She's, uhm... special. d'Artagnan, our Moon Doctor, would probably examine every inch of you." He gave the pony a sly smile. "While his nurse Kou keeps you pinned to the ground so you can't run away. Psyche will delight in trying to frighten you. Ulrik is probably busy building something, and, uhm, don't expect him to always make sense." He gave another of his hushed, half-strangled laughs. "We seem to share a fondness for mischief and a flair for being socially awkward, or a little weird. As long as you don't insult Korra, you should be safe from physical harm." He frowned a little. What could the others be up to? Then again... it wasn't like they were confined to the Edge.
angels, they fell first, but I'm still here

Aurelius Posts: N/A
Unregistered
:: :: ::
#10

Aurelius never knew much of his ancestors, but from what he had gathered around the herd, his grandfather had been a very able warrior and a strong leader, as was tradition with the males of his lineage. His firstborn was slain by a mountain lion when he was a yearling, and so it had come to be Aury’s father who was next in line, the unlikely candidate who bore very little resemblance to the stallions that were in his blood. As for his queen, there were no such thing as a female leader; a mare was only powerful next to a stallion. Some traditions are difficult to change, and Aurelius had no interest in their ways anymore; he was not under their law in his new life. The fact that Mauja asked questions wasn’t a problem, for it would always be up to the short steed to decide, how much information he wanted to put in the answer. Some things are best eased into, and when no more questions to his background emerged, Aury was well content. Plenty of time to unravel his family history later, as far as he was concerned.

Aurelius was a strange combination. He was no leader himself, but he liked to make decisions for himself, as well as influence others in theirs. When it came down to it, he wasn’t going to ask permission for everything he was doing; he figured if Mauja wanted to join him at the shore, then good. Mauja was a big boy, he could decide for himself when he wanted to go in. Aury wasn’t about to tell him what to do, but he would have waited at the shore either way, passing time in one way or the other. Mismatched eyes watched as the white king came ashore, beginning to talk of the members of the herd that he had yet to meet. "You sure know how to pick them. An interesting bunch, from what I gather, he hummed in his deep voice, eye carrying a spark of a jest within them. "I must meet this Korra character at some point. She sounds like a pleasure. Oh and I’ll make sure to stay away from d’Artagnan – I never particularly enjoyed going to the doctor," he spoke cheerfully.

Aurelius didn’t stifle his yawn, he didn’t mind if Mauja saw his tiredness. After the travel he had been on, he was entitled to exhaustion. "Have you picked a queen for yourself, Mauja? Is there a missus FrostHeart?" He jested, stretching his aching back. He ought to lose a few pounds, all this weight was too damn heavy to drag around.

Ascended Helovian

Mauja the Frozen Light Posts: 1,392
Outcast atk: 6.5 | def: 10.5 | dam: 7.5
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 17.2 :: 14 HP: 79.5 | Buff: HUNTER
Irma :: Snowy Owl :: Terrorize & Diego :: Eurasian Eagle-Owl :: Rage Neo
#11
Mauja the FrostHeart
ice cold man watches earth die, eternal winter takes its reign

Mauja chuckled dryly. "An interesting bunch" was a mild way to put it, that was for certain. And meeting Korra? That was just suicidal, especially for one who had a tongue as smooth as Aurelius had. He was far more likely to survive one of the Doctor's inspections than a flirtatious conversation with Korra. As a leader, he sort of thought it was his duty to warn the pony to stay away, but he'd tried... Instead, he just grimaced, and stared at the rising moon. Night was coming, swift and cool after a long, hot day, a more than welcome respite. Beside him, the pony yawned. He seemed to have had quite the journey, and unless the King recalled wrongly, he'd been tired already at the Threshold. Poor thing must be pushed quite hard, and to take a swim, and a chat? What a way to introduce new members - drive them past the point of exhaustion! He snorted again. If Aury truly was that tired, he'd either fall asleep or say something. Right? So, all was good. Except... He strangled a sigh.

Psyche, Psyche, Psyche... On the night of their lovemaking he had made up his mind to promote her to Queen, but how could he promote someone who came and went like the wind once pregnant? She'd been reliable, eager enough to make it to Crux in the Plague, and he had felt a budding trust in her - that she'd be his first honest, steadfast friend. But instead, she' vanished like smoke in the wind, giving birth in the Edge; a tantalizing glimpse of his perfect little daughter. And then, gone again, no explanation, no goodbye. He could not promote smoke to Queen, and fond as he was of her, it was not with love his heart beat. It ran on crystal cold fluids, a chilled mechanism. Perhaps one day he would know love, and perhaps it would've been to that jackal, but she had disappeared and that door had closer. Perhaps it was still ajar, but he didn't know.

He realized his thoughts had been straying, and gave his head a curt shake. "No." Mauja strode off a few steps, to lean his wet shoulder against a tree. Salt would dry into his fur, but it was too wet to roll it off in the sand yet. If he did that now, he'd end up as brown as Aurelius. The King turned his head to look at Aurelius; he did not want to close the subject off as abruptly as he had, but what was there to say? There was no Queen, neither of his herd nor of his heart, but he softened it with a small, sorrow-tinged smile. It swept across his eyes like a faint wind. "There's more to the herd, though - Lotus, she is.. irresistible, somehow, and dark, shadowy Seiren. She picks on d'Artagnan any chance she gets. Black, stoic Ambrose, and Amarth, who plays melodies on his horn... And not to forget Cineviam, always accompanied by his cloud of ashes." They were an interesting bunch alright... Led by the frost king himself, frozen heart and soul, harsh like a blizzard, soft as newly fallen snow. Everything and nothing. He grinned. "And now there's you, short and shaggy but with enough horns to shame an army of unicorns."

( maybe wrap it up soon, if Aury's getting tired? xP )
angels, they fell first, but I'm still here

Aurelius Posts: N/A
Unregistered
:: :: ::
#12

Aurelius would watch his back, as he always had, especially with strangers in this foreign realm. At least until he learned his way around, he would have to step carefully. Having met Mauja and seen his new home, he had felt refreshed; he even forgot his exhaustion through their little chat, but now it was sneaking its way back on him. The tiny stag could tell that something was troubling Mauja, but he did not care to pry into it any further. That pleasure he would save for another time, when he was feeling rested, and perhaps it was better to learn more about the pale giant first. As the other moved away from him, Aury watched him silently, returning the sad smile that was offered to him with a tired one of his own. There was more yet, he discovered, and he listened with as much eager as he could muster in this state. Certainly he would have forgotten most of it on the morrow, but it might come back to him when he met them.

The description that Mauja added of him in the end made him chuckle. "Aye, hopefully I can live up to the standard. The bar is high, I gather," he jested, suppressing another yawn. The soft sand suddenly looked mighty appealing, and he decided this would be a proper time to withdraw. "I have traveled far and wide, FrostHeart. If you will pardon me, I should appreciate some rest; I almost can’t seem to keep my eyes open, and I would prefer to meet all these curious personalities when I am well rested," he said kindly, looking the pale stag in the eyes. Moving a little further up the beach, not many yards from where the pale steed was standing, he found himself a spot in the sand under an overhanging tree. Here he settled, dropping down onto his knees and then onto his side, head raised to look in the direction of the king. A nod was given in his direction, and then his eyes slowly slid shut, the dwarven steed giving in to the mists of sleep.

[OOC: Sorry this kinda sucks, Aury muse is a little challenged atm]

Ascended Helovian

Mauja the Frozen Light Posts: 1,392
Outcast atk: 6.5 | def: 10.5 | dam: 7.5
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 17.2 :: 14 HP: 79.5 | Buff: HUNTER
Irma :: Snowy Owl :: Terrorize & Diego :: Eurasian Eagle-Owl :: Rage Neo
#13
Mauja the FrostHeart
ice cold man watches earth die, eternal winter takes its reign

The King grinned, a good-natured expression which was somehow able to warm up his otherwise cold and smooth features. "I hope you can jump," he said, and winked. In the dark, Aurelius seemed even more alien with his ram horns. The pony seemed as tired as he claimed, and the twinge of guilt came back - it wasn't large, but there, and he ducked his head. Perhaps driving your new subjects into exhaustion wasn't the best way to go about things. A slight smile curled his lips anyhow. Whatever the situation, Mauja seemed to be always smiling. "What kind of monarch would I be if I drove my herd into the arms of oblivion, hm? Good night, Aurelius. I'll see you around." The wraith-king drifted into the arms of his forest, but did not disappear before stopping to look over his shoulder at the sleeping form of Aurelius. He smiled to himself and slipped away, but did not stray far that first night; Aurelius might be a stallion grown, but he was small, and most curious inhabitants of the Edge might not know what to make of him - and some foolish predators might think him easy prey. If any did, they would find that his white guardian would not allow it.

But the night passed without anything exciting happening, and as dawn began to brighten the sky in the east, Mauja slipped deep into his forest, wandering its depths in solitude.

[ The end! <3 ]
angels, they fell first, but I'm still here


Forum Jump:


RPGfix Equi-venture