the Rift


Damned if I do [open]

Korra Posts: N/A
Unregistered
:: :: ::
#1

The heat, it was turning into a nightmare. Everywhere her globes went, all she saw was death, withering foliage and drought. The savage had fled to the Frostbreath Steppe, having taken permanent residence there since that flaming sun god had torched her home. Here, the slush splashed up at her underbelly every time she took a step, the ground was treacherous and slippery, but her surefooted gait kept her upright. Severe burns on her hide were healing up nicely, as was the cracked rib that she had gained in the heat of the moment, much due to the skilled healing performed in the moments after her misfortunate actions. A harsh snort emitted the barbarian, every now and then nibbling at the bitter tundra, but not finding much of a hunger within her. Her small lobes were plastered down her neck, anger rumbling under the surface, wanting some sort of outlet. Auburn eyes held an expression of disgust mixed in with despair, and with a rasping scream she jolted forward into a gallop, a taste of blood in her mouth.

She didn’t stop until the sweat was dripping from her nape, slowing to a trot and then to a walk. Tossing her head, the impressive ivory antlers upon her head caught the last rays of the setting sun, reflecting it briefly. Korra had become a creature of the night, even more so than she had before, keeping to herself as always. Her beloved forest was charred and burning hot, she missed it, but not in a sentimental way. There was absolutely nothing sentimental about her. The primal mare halted and dropped to the ground, taking a roll in the slush to cool down, shaking her hide like a dog out of water when she returned to her feet. It provided little relief, but her ears still flicked in a displeased way. If possible, she was even rougher to look at than usual, thanks to the freshly healed scars on her dull coat. In some places the hair was only just growing back, unveiling patches of her black skin underneath. She cared not, however; she wasn’t set in this world to look pretty.

In a way, she blamed herself for not being able to stop the wreckage of The Edge. However, she was also deeply ashamed that she had actually charged the god on her own. Korra had paid for her stupidity with blood, but the worst thing was the look in the other herdmembers’ eyes. It had chilled her more than this pitiful slush ever would, but not in a soothing way; the cold, the carelessness, the blame they had possessed had grown all the way to her heart, and as always it had retreated, this time behind reinforced armor. She had not spoken to any of them since, she hadn’t wanted to, and the savage had returned to her previous hermit-ways. There she was, ready to sacrifice her life in order to chase a threat out of their home, and all she had received was crude words from the ones that were supposed to be her brothers. ‘Idiot’. ‘Fool’. ‘Stupid’. Korra wouldn’t ever confess to words hurting her, but it felt like something inside was broken. Maybe she would come ‘round, eventually, when the hate receded and the old barbarian started showing her face. Until then, she found comfort in her old ways of solitude, rage and bloodshed. That was something she knew how to handle.

[OOC: Ugh. This kind of really sucks, but i just wanted to post her somewhere :3 Open to anyone]


Arathea Posts: 56
Hidden Account atk: 5.0 | def: 9.5 | dam: 3.5
Mare :: Other :: 11/17 hh :: 12 HP: 56.0 | Buff: NOVICE
Raven
#2





North she had traveled, but further than she had first planned. Despite her ability to handle warmth, the rising heat in the land was getting a bit too much. It was cooler up here, in what was supposed to be a snowy landscape. It was still snowy, but much was melted and the slush was uncomfortable to walk through at some places. And with the setting sun, the air went from cooling to a bit chilly and Arathea decided that she should not stay for too long. Just take a look around and then pay a visit to that area where the smell of smoke had come from.


She had just begun to wonder if any other lingered in the area when she heard something. "Splashing" steps from someone moving in the slushy snow, and then the smell of horse. Always horse, of course, of course. It was not a surprise anymore, the large animals being the superior race in this land.


Curious as she was, though, she moved closer and could soon see the horse in the fading light of the setting sun. She notices a horn. Unicorn. But then she saw the other one too. Antlers. Two of them. It was something she had not seen before. Maybe it was a hybrid between a horse and a deer.


The wolf tilted her head to the side and moved a bit closer, then stopped within a few yards. The horse seemed upset about something, if she could judge it correct and it held a faint smell of smoke. Could she had come from the area attacked by the Sun God? Arathea tucked her tail underneath herself and sat down on her haunches in the cold snow, watching the mare with ears forward.


"Is everything alright?" She asked politely, hoping the mare would not mind big wolves. At least she would not try to attack and eat the horse, but if was often the big grass-eaters thought so of her kind and attacked them before they got a chance to explain that horse was not on the menu.


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

He hadn't seen Korra since the attack on the Edge. She'd done the heroic, albeit foolish, thing, and had charged at the Sun God all by herself - and if Aurelius hadn't been there to knock her aside, Mauja would've blocked her path with a spike. Much as he, too, had wanted to drive the raging inferno from his home, what chance did they stand against a creature whose mane dripped fire? Whose wings set flames roaring out? Skin crackled and dried up just from being near him, so there was in way in hell that Mauja was going to attack - or let anyone else attack. To crash into that body... He shuddered. It probably meant a death sentence, and even though he hadn't minded touching Deimos (another walking death sentence), he wasn't interested in trying it.

Back to Korra.

Normally, he wasn't worried about her - and really, he wasn't worried about her physical health now either. She was a hardy thing, rugged and built for survival, and with a healthy dose of I don't give a damn which got her through most trials. He'd seen d'Artagnan and Kou patch her up, so really, she ought to be okay. Physically. The heat grated on all their nerves, but somehow he'd grown used to always having sweat running off him in rivulets, so if others fled north until the Edge was back to its normal temperature it wasn't strange. But Korra... She'd just taken off, without a word, and hadn't shown up even to tell him what was wrong. Not that Korra ever needed a psychiatrist, but the savage had, in the past, trusted him enough to be civil, albeit gruff, with him. Had even seemed to like him in her own way. But now? Gone, no word. The only logical place for the heat-hater to go seemed north, and so he was going north too, slogging through the slush. Heavy as he was he sunk into it, and each step was a labor. The Steppe had always been cool, and it was so still, but it was somewhat of a nightmare too. He nearly wanted to stop and scream and refuse to take a single step further until it froze again, but there was no point in such childish behaviors, and so he kept going, raven-feathered tail whipping at his hocks.

The sun was setting, setting the sky on fire; he smiled, grimly, shivered as the breezes cooled his sweaty skin. It felt good. It would take a couple of hours yet until darkness fell, but he could wait, could trek all night, searching for his lost savage. Now that he had some sort of trail, he wasn't worried. He'd find her, eventually, and either she'd be as grumpy with him as she always was, or actually tell him what was on her mind... If she even was troubled. The downside of caring for your herd members was that sometimes you invented problems that didn't exist. It could just be that she wanted to escape the heat.

He became worried the moment he came across a giant wolf track heading for the same direction.

Breathing raggedly, the King broke into a high-kneed trot, trying to avoid dragging his leg through the slush. It was a hard toil, but it paid off, for he spied a familiar brown, shaggy shape up ahead, and a less familiar, distinctively canine, shape as well. "Korra!" he called out, sharp eyes angling to the wolf-thing. It was large. But it was sitting in a pose that didn't quite yell about to pounce!, but he wasn't sure. He wasn't going to risk being attacked. Wary, he sidled up next to the short savage, keeping a distance between him and the predator. His gaze was alert, questioning, bordering on accusing, as he stared at the thing.
angels, they fell first, but I'm still here

Lena the Songbird Posts: 663
Aurora Basin Time Mender atk: 4 | def: 10.5 | dam: 6.5
Mare :: Unicorn :: 15.3 :: 6 HP: 69 | Buff: NOVICE
Imogen :: Common Kitsune :: Fire Heather
#4


There is love in your body but you can't hold it in,
It pours from your eyes and spills from your skin,
Tenderest touch leaves the darkest of marks,
And the kindest of kisses break the hardest of hearts


The winding earth still scorched, still simmered, a radiating torrent of power, might, and brawn of summer. Like a glistening wraith, it haunted, looming in the dusk, whispering in the dawn, drowning its victims in a heavy, cumbersome veil of heat, suffocating, stifling needles and nettles. It was a threatening balm, a burning cadence and cacophony, flushed along with the weight of shifting, changing worlds, blemishing with ember and ash, parching with cinder and coal. Inescapable, unavoidable, it peppered fine flesh, withered fresh blossoms, shriveled cool pools and desiccated glades. Severe, vigorous, strong, the season overbearingly cradled its land with an oppressive hand, choking with machinated snares, smothering with fiery talons around innocent necks. It strangled and suppressed, repressed and restrained – the result of brutality hung over many a terrain, dried into arid canvases of dirt and soot. It would only take a single look upon the Edge to judge what the Sun God had granted them in his severe, savage strike, with its burnt boughs and ruined scenery. An escape from its anarchy was in order.

She longed for the invigorating chill, the inviting, crisp setting of glacial interludes, the cold embrace of brisk, refreshing air. The light touch, the icy sensation, of fresh winds ghosting across one’s face, the exhilarating, intertwined paradise of revitalizing ether. And this desire, fueled by wayfaring, wandering idleness, listlessness, brought her to the Frostbreath Steppe. Sienna body layered and laced by the heat sought the comfortable sphere of icy pinnacles and wintry palisades, but her eyes caught the scene, a vivid portrait of the sun’s decadent rays, where they traced the frozen, gelid snow and melted the once firm rime. She might have been dismayed, disappointed, but continued onward in her valiant, intrepid way, cautious, meticulous in each poised step. Danger whispered, crooned, in the dimming sky and frost, where slush varnished stairways to heaven and coated cold corridors, vacant hallways of vanishing ice. With dainty, silken silence, she maneuvered, waves of lithe sinew and muscle entangled within the soft, poetic gestures of her lily motions. Concentrating so firmly on her fastidious actions, she didn’t look up the peak until the sound of voices echoed, coasting upon the harsher whims of petulant winds. Scents, familiar and foreign intermingled amongst the dimming skyline, ghosted over her slim nares, prompting further exploration; her movements took on a quicker climb, curiosity and inquiry brandished in the haunting chords of yells.

Upon her arrival, the scene was already at hand, a scarred femme, a large, canine creature, and one recognizable entity, Mauja. But lined from the sovereign was the feverish, arduous clamor of alarm, eyes narrowed in allegation and assertion towards the tawny beast. At her approach, Lena studied where his eyes stared, upon the other mare, wondering how she had acquired such injuries, and the wolf, sitting, rather cordially, politely, in a growing, perilous situation. In her gentle, easygoing manner, Lena inclined toward her leader, brushing against his shoulder and tugging at his mane, loose, dangling threads, with her teeth, a small, customary grin enlightened across her features. A comforting presence, a musical, harmonious whisper poised from candid lips. “Mauja, I don’t believe she intends harm.”



Korra Posts: N/A
Unregistered
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#5

She smelled her before she could see her. The savage raised her head high, nares flaring as they caught the smell of predator. Her natural instincts told her to get the hell out of there, but Korra was hardened. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d stood face to face with a wolf, and they’d always come up short if they tried anything with her. Flicking her tail, she stared coldly as the creature moved closer, seeing that this was nothing like the wolves she was used to; this one was more elongated in its limbs, a strange creature to look at. A harsh snort emitted her, aside from her flicking lobes, she did not move. Her muscles flexed under her scarred skin, not many grams of fat on her warrior’s body. If she could’ve heard Arathea’s thoughts, she would have laughed; certainly, it wouldn’t be the first time someone had come to that conclusion, but Korra was unicorn through and through, and darn proud of it.

The wolf stopped and sat down, something very out of character for any canine she had encountered, so the savage tossed her head restlessly. Maybe she had hoped the other would charge her; anything other than sitting down to talk. The question phrased made her chuckle dryly, brown eyes hard as they stare down the stranger. "What’s it to you, wolf?" she rasped, voice hoarse but cutting through the chill air icily. The barbarian rarely spoke in anything but grumbling sneers, not much louder than a whisper, but powerful nonetheless. That was when valiant Mauja showed up, worry painted on his handsome face, not something Korra enjoyed seeing. The savage had kept to herself, but solitude had helped her pull through, as always. It never occurred to her that anyone would worry about her, and she certainly hadn’t thought to leave word of where she was headed. None of the things she had done was meant to do harm; being compassionate just wasn’t the Korra way. If Mauja thought real hard, he’d know Korra wasn’t one to talk about… You know, feelings.

The barbarian liked the tall, blonde brute, she respected him, and maybe you could go as far as to call it trust. But the fact that he had come all the way up here surprised her; whether it was in the search of her, she didn’t know, but she had her suspicions. The shaggy garron turned her head as he called out for her, brown eyes thawing as she saw his white frame, halting next to her. She reached out, nipping his nape as a greeting, realizing they must look queer standing next to one another. "This one is all bark no bite, I’m afraid," she commented, another dry chuckle emitting her. Just then, another unicorn joined them, a russet vixen that the savage had not previously encountered. Her easygoing, bold manner was the complete opposite way of Korra, and where as the savage had greeted Mauja the way brothers might, this fae was quite flirty. The antlered barbarian stiffened a little, other females weren’t the company she’d prefer, but Mauja seemed to know her, so Korra kept her mouth shut. "Why are you here?" she spoke, directed at Mauja, not looking at the stranger wench.


Arathea Posts: 56
Hidden Account atk: 5.0 | def: 9.5 | dam: 3.5
Mare :: Other :: 11/17 hh :: 12 HP: 56.0 | Buff: NOVICE
Raven
#6





The mare was not happy to see her, but Arathea had not expected anything else either. She turned hear ears slowly back a bit and was just about to answer when a stallion barged in, acting all protective and such. Arathea got up from the ground and edged backwards a few steps just in case the stallion would charge at her. This was not what she had expected either; that more unicorns would fall in.


She had just opened her mouth in another try to speak when a third unicorn came running. At least this one guessed correct. The large wolf did not intend harm, but would not take the risk of getting trampled by the other two. She eyed the three horses warily with lowered head and took some more steps backwards. Feeling uneasy, she then turned around and trotted away through the slushy snow, peering over her shoulder every now and then just to make sure she was not followed. She could keep watch from a more safe distance.



(I am letting Thea walk away just because I will go absent soon and do not want to hold up this roleplay while I am gone. She is lurking around and I might have her poke her nose in again once I am back, if this is still going on. :3 )


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

They became quite the party, and it was hard to tell who was the most confused of the quartet. The wolf-thing, for all the company she attracted. Korra, when Lena showed up. Mauja, at Lena and Korra being so sure the wolf-thing wasn't a threat. Lena was the only one who seemed unfazed by the queer situation, and for a brief moment Mauja had the irrational urge to sit down on his hind end and scream what's the meaning of this?! at the skies. He didn't, though, just let his ears casually slip forward. Once the danger was past - which it was, because the canine was trotting off across the slushy steppe, large paws spread out to stop her from sinking - he realized that he was flanked by mares. It was nearly flattering, but he also realized he'd totally ignored their greetings; Korra's had been gruff but kind in her own way, soldierly even, but Lena was like a spring wind, full of flowers, warmth and femininity. It was like having the ever-awkward, slightly cold tomboy on one side, and the happy, but not promiscuous, beautiful girl on the other. He blinked, and shifted, somewhat uncomfortable trapped between the pair. This wasn't what he had intended...

But, he might as well make the best of the situation. Korra had stiffened visibly when Lena showed up, and he had a feeling the savage wouldn't take too kindly to her happy, friendly demeanor. Korra seemed to prefer the company of gruff soldiers, where no one thought her off for being grumpy and unemotional. He couldn't possibly keep up two conversations at once, one on each side of him, and with a half-muted sigh he took a slight step backwards. "Korra, this is Lena, Lena, Korra," he said, hoping his presence between them would keep the warrior calm. The worst she could do was take off, in which case Mauja would take off too, and with his long legs he would probably overtake her. The question was, which one had the most stamina? He didn't want to find out, so he preferred if she'd stand in place. Oh, and she'd asked him something, hadn't he..? Thoughtfulness clouded his eyes for a moment as he played back the happenings. The wolf had taken a fair share of his attention, but he'd listened to them with half an ear at least. A slight frown creased his face before it came back to him. She'd just asked why he was here, an ordinary enough question... But his purpose hadn't been all that ordinary. It wasn't every day that he went looking for Korra.

"I was looking for you, actually," he admitted, not sure how she'd take having someone come all the way out here to see if she was okay. Korra was a very independent girl, but he hoped she had brains enough to know that he genuinely cared - about everyone in his herd, whether they stood by silently, shouted, or charged. "You just.. disappeared. I figured d'Art would've told me if he hadn't done a good enough job and you'd just taken off, so I wasn't exactly worried about you, just.. wanted to check that you were okay." It felt a bit foolish to stand there and admit it, but he hardly could've lied, now, could he? Oh I just happened to take a walk in your direction... Yeah, right. As if. He tilted his head the other way, to look at Lena. She seemed happier out here, where the Edge's ruin didn't weight on her exuberant spirit. "What about you? Why are you out here?" One blue eyed lingered on the horizon, flitting there on occasion to look at the tawny shape outlined there. She hadn't retreated too far, just enough to stop being an imminent threat. Mauja swore the thing would not take them by surprise if she intended harm, and thus kept an eye on her - but he allowed himself to focus mostly on the two mares at hand. It'd be interesting to see if they could interact, or if Korra would tear Lena apart...
angels, they fell first, but I'm still here

Lena the Songbird Posts: 663
Aurora Basin Time Mender atk: 4 | def: 10.5 | dam: 6.5
Mare :: Unicorn :: 15.3 :: 6 HP: 69 | Buff: NOVICE
Imogen :: Common Kitsune :: Fire Heather
#8


There is love in your body but you can't hold it in,
It pours from your eyes and spills from your skin,
Tenderest touch leaves the darkest of marks,
And the kindest of kisses break the hardest of hearts


Tension rattled the air, festering in the boughs of heat and the chaotic, frenzied throng of confusion. It twisted in calamitous knots, gnarled and feverish, rankling, startling, and befuddling, coursing along in pervading waves of shambled, disorderly collisions; flames of discord. Lena refused to be disturbed and discomposed by the frenetic imbalances of so many astray meetings; her sienna eyes took in each confused feature, each grating, sibilant growl, each severe glare tossed amongst the distorted slush. The wolf’s abrupt departure, the raspy tone of the mare, the almost apologetic worry postured by the frosty sovereign, and the seething, stiffened posture at her arrival. In her childhood, she would have cowered under that rigid composition, that savage stare, that threatening, warrior prowess that Lena could not contain or hold in her own body. Where she was made of silk, wind and tranquility, the other femme was steel, scythes and dominance – no one would ever taunt, torment and plague such a fierce individual. She considered it an admirable quality, to be able to escape from the tides of threats and tribulations, to raise one’s blade and shirk the dangerous ebb and flow of life. By the webbing of scars and burns upon this Amazon, she’d done it before, and would commit the same acts again. She was sword and shield: for protection, for displays of strength, to melt into the battlefield amongst her fellow warriors and blend into the ferocious threshold of war.

But even in her appreciation of the gruff mare, the sylph read the atmosphere, tasted the acidic potency of her arrival, realizing that her presence was somehow unwelcome, undesired. Even Mauja seemed ruffled, disturbed by too many entities and essences in the glacial threshold. She’d felt it all before, the scowls, the frowns, the tempestuous eyes searing and scorching at her approach, the sinking, reeling feeling in her stomach when she was discarded over and over, the silent ragdoll, the vacant, useless child. To escape the forlorn, flee from the desolation, she’d smiled and laughed against water, molded into earth and became poetic isolation – yet, was she doomed here as well? It was discomforting, left her just as bewildered as the others, lost in the transfixing glow of rushed, frantic, hectic and wild assemblies; but she so wanted to show them that she was not something to be tossed and thrown away, that she was useful, dependable, persevering, and valiant. What would it take for others to cease pushing her into shadows?

Any exuberance she may have mustered before the fray was gone, vanished and vanquished. This was no place for the elated or vivacious. Still bright, still genuine, she composed herself into lithe chords, lissome, soft motions, not threatening, not untamed, not foolish. Her light, serene movements pulled her away from the monarch’s side, blending into the glare of the other femme, Korra, Mauja had called her, and her virtuous heart beat silken hymns in her chest, nervous to be judged by this durable, domineering mare (would she rip her apart, limb by limb and throw her over the side of the steppe?) and cold, calculating King (was he disappointed too, had she fallen too far?). But her own vicious form of strength won over, durable and majestic, the graceful, elegant sinew gliding closer to the scarred one, maintaining a safe distance, non-threatening, gentle, tender. Honeyed eyes looked upon the Amazon and shown only beneficence, displayed the nimble caress of a dauntless soul. Even her smile, at times overly generous, postured in airy regard, not too luminescent or beaming. She bent her crown downwards in a respectful gesture, breathed the mare’s name in welcoming stature. “Korra.” She paused, those regal, dulcet tones softening the tension, attempting to restore serenity where it had been torn and fragmented. “A beautiful name for a strong being.”




Korra Posts: N/A
Unregistered
:: :: ::
#9

Just as suddenly as she had approached, the wolf went on her way, obviously insecure about the others joining. The savage watched the canine sulk off, noticing that she did not go too far, just out of earshot. Korra was pretty sure she would’ve found the company of the wolf to be amusing, but her mind quickly drifted away onto more present matters. Mauja must’ve felt quite entertained, standing there and suddenly realizing that he was surrounded by females. Korra snorted to herself, feeling the awkwardness of the situation creeping up on her. All this mingling she’d rather be without, but Mauja obviously knew this russet vixen; it was plausible that she was even a new addition to the herd, as the savage smelt The Edge on her. The barbarian wished that the pale king had brought along Daltoff or another of the hardened warriors instead, but from the look on his face, she guessed that he hadn’t explicitly invited the stranger with. He introduced them, naming the other as Lena – not that names meant a whole lot to Korra, but at least they were practical. It was obvious now that this was one of her king’s followers, so the shaggy garron restrained herself from spewing too much venom; she would not damage anything that was Mauja’s.

The notion to simply walk off did occur to her, for she was utterly socially impaired and not so good at handling it, but for her king’s sake she stayed. At least she was loyal. When she discovered that he had actually gone looking for her, she frowned and snorted. Korra didn’t really know what to think, other than that it felt unnecessary that her king would go all the way out here. She wished she had just told him where she had gone, so he wouldn’t have had to trouble himself, but she wasn’t surprised. Mauja was a friendly soul, he had compassion for those of The Edge, and he would go a long way for them. The savage did not think him foolish, she felt more foolish on her own behalf really. "You worry too much," she croaked, shrugging her shoulders at his question. "I was thinking. And the heat was driving me insane," the savage said, which was a very vague answer, but an answer nonetheless. It would be a shame to call her a creature of many words, and she figured Mauja would understand. Right now, she didn’t care to elaborate, not with a stranger present.

Her brown optics fixated on the mare, her polar opposite, with distrust in her gaze. There was a change in her, Korra could tell, as if she’d restrained herself for her sake. The savage stood up straight, looking into those youthful eyes, but what she saw in them surprised her. The mare standing opposite of her was no stranger to hurt; she had seen her share of hardships. Her way of coping was one that Korra couldn’t understand, even if she tried. But knowing this, her eyes lost some of their sharp hardness. They were brothers now, bound together by Mauja and their home; maybe, one day her life would depend on this russet vix. She sure hoped not, but one couldn’t foresee the future. The other stepped closer respectfully; speaking words that made Korra emit a dry chuckle. A beautiful name? It was harsh name, a growl made for rough tongues. A barbarian’s name. But she did not comment, merely nodded curtly. Courtesies weren’t her strongest suit, and she peered at Mauja briefly, scowling uncomfortably. "Lena. Good to meet you" she rasped, quite cordially considering her general behavior. Her tail flicked across her scarred rump, restlessness and discomfort by the situation finding outlet in the swishing movement.

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
#10
Beside him, Lena seemed to grow dimmer, fainter, just like she had that first time in the Edge - like, like a wilting flower when lacking sun, as if they'd done something to hurt her. Concern sprang up inside his heart, worry seeping further into his eyes as he tilted his head in her direction. She remained silence in the face of his question, and only when Korra responded did he realize that the normally vibrant mare hadn't picked up on that it was aimed at her. He'd tried to involve her in the conversation, force her into it but it hadn't worked. It made him feel a tad guilty; had she thought he was ignoring her, trying to put his shoulder against her and locking her out? Never! But how could he possibly remedy it? Korra's words rung so true and he gave his head the smallest of shakes, and heaved a resigned sigh. "Obviously I do," he murmured, and for a moment had the feeling that he was trapped in the middle of two entities that wanted nothing more than to run away. Korra, because "socialization" and "Korra" seldom fit the same sentence, and Lena... because she seemed sad, yet she remained, just less vibrant, as if something sad lurked just beneath her lenses.

Still she moved, to get into Korra's field of vision, and Mauja took half a step backwards, wishing that he, too, could just run away and pretend this awkward meeting had never happened. Instead he remained, hooves planted firmly in the slush, watching, listening, as Lena spoke the savage's name. It sounded softer coming from her lips, yet not a girl name - he wasn't sure if it pleased Korra or not, but she returned the favor with the name-saying. Lena's, in her primitive, rough voice, sounded harsher, harder, just like Mauja's soft name always did. For once, he wasn't sure what to say, but hesitation was not what had brought him where he was. "Why were you out here, Lena?" he asked again, smooth voice sliding out with ease, without a single inflection to make it an accusation. It was an honest, earnest question, because this time he didn't want her misunderstanding it as aimed for Korra. And at the same time, he wondered what to do to make the three of them have a conversation, and not the pair of them have two separate conversations with him. Perhaps he shouldn't have butted in, but it was too late now; his gaze fell on Korra's scars, tracing their intricate patterns across her body and the way her tail slapped against her hocks and flanks. She didn't like this situation, and he'd never asked of her to socialize, even less be good at it. Still, he appreciated that she tried, and put out his muzzle against her shoulder in a silent gesture of comfort and appreciation. This day was just haywire, and this meeting likely wouldn't fix it.
angels, they fell first, but I'm still here

Lena the Songbird Posts: 663
Aurora Basin Time Mender atk: 4 | def: 10.5 | dam: 6.5
Mare :: Unicorn :: 15.3 :: 6 HP: 69 | Buff: NOVICE
Imogen :: Common Kitsune :: Fire Heather
#11


There is love in your body but you can't hold it in,
It pours from your eyes and spills from your skin,
Tenderest touch leaves the darkest of marks,
And the kindest of kisses break the hardest of hearts


The meeting, dysfunctional and discordant, seemed to be spiraling further into an abysmal haze of labyrinthine proportions. Cynicism and suspicion derived from the arches of the other mare, Korra, and Lena didn’t know how to assuage the contemptuous glares. Worry postured from Mauja’s stare, and Lena didn’t know how to soothe his concern. Bewildering and awkward, the junctures had taken turns from panic and upheaval to an addled gathering of confused and contrasting, divergent souls. Her eyes kindled that sense of composure, but her mind rattled in the glade of slush and ice. From one to the other, they had managed to compose several different conversations, molding and mixing but never focused on the whole, segmented variants of disassembled unity. Pledged together amongst the Edge’s slate, but otherwise, tattered and broken, separated convictions. Korra, warrior and combatant, Mauja, sovereign and glacial, and Lena, honeyed, regal, but vaguely unimportant in the schemes of shadows and duels, a stranger in the midst of machinations. She was heart and they were might, and even in her wildest, whimsical fantasies, she felt like she couldn’t reach them. She was silly, brave but foolish, and they were beasts of the barbarian realm, strong in all aspects of life; she’d been pushed aside from humanity too long ago to ever truly feel such grandeur, to ever be that ever-reaching pinnacle of fortitude. Her strength came from perseverance, overcoming the shambles of a treacherous childhood, but they were real, tangible thresholds of supremacy. In their palace, she was naught. It was the trace of an epiphany, a showcase of her fragility amongst the truly magnificent and formidable. She could restrain her youthful glow, she could control and subdue her alluring, beguiling compassion and benevolence, but then, what would she be? She almost thought to hang her head in shame for allowing the matters to get out of hand, for accidently ignoring her monarch’s query, for racing into the air of frigidity and expecting it to melt and adhere to her wholesome smile and melodic tracings. However, her cranium remained where it was, still seemingly serene, tranquil, despite the distrust and anxiety woven towards her sienna frame. She could do this; lull and relieve.

Lena derived another wide smile for the glacier King, painted it across her lips in an alluring, graceful finesse, assuring the withered stance of her composition was for the Amazon’s sake, hoping he would accept this as an answer. She hadn’t meant to ensconce him in a bout of apprehension and unease, and perhaps, if there were any gift she could grant, it would be the ability to mollify his tension. Softly, her voice crept into the air, melodious croons of seraphic blessings. “Attempting to escape the heat.” In response to the other, the soldieress who seemed to hush her own stinging barbs, for the potential was there, in the distrustful gaze and harsh grate of her voice, she bowed her head, acknowledging the meeting was well-placed, despite each misgiving toiling from their layered entities. However, something similar plagued all of them.

“Perhaps we could find a way to remedy the warmth?”

Then, perhaps in a bout of that restrained exuberance, tired of being tied to the sweeping indulgences of other’s opinions and thoughts, she bent her crown low to the ground. Posturing her horn amongst the glade of prosperous, cool slush, she swiped the candid sword against its melting prowess, watched as a small missile of snow was launched into their small crowd. She renewed the same movements and motions for herself, tossing the cold substance behind her, to land precariously on her spine and ensue an inviting shiver against the murky, molten haze. A small torrent of laughter bubbled from her throat, encouraging, entreating, attempting to let go of the boundaries and composure they’d set before them. Mauja wouldn’t have to worry and Korra wouldn’t have to distrust. Maybe, in this way, they could interact as a silly, unfettered group, instead of detached threads of tension – or, they would continue to think less of her, inane and ignorant, witless and vacuous. But she wanted them together, not apart.



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

Mauja reached out and bumped his muzzle gently against her shoulder, and she pawed the ground with her opposite foreleg, tossing her head slightly in impatience. Standing around and talking wasn’t what she felt like doing right now, and she didn’t try to hide it. The air was getting tense, even the little garron could feel it, and her ears snapped back and forth a few times. They all needed an outlet of some sorts, but Korra restrained herself while Lena answered the question posed to her. Her purpose had been the same as her own, which was no surprise; the heat was probably the cause of most of the commotion in the Steppe as of late. "I will return with you to the Edge," Korra remarked towards Mauja, not wanting him to doubt where her loyalties lie. Many things could be said of Korra, but at least she was true.

When Lena began to move around, Korra watched warily but didn’t move from where her pillars were solidly planted on the ground. What was she trying to do? Was it some sort of game? Korra couldn’t remember the last time she indulged in meaningless play, probably not since her early childhood. As a youth, she had sparred with the young stallions, and after her herd was slaughtered, there hadn’t been much reason to play at all. The savage didn’t jump in right away, glancing at Mauja out the corner of her brown eye, waiting to see what he’d do. Lena obviously didn’t care what others thought of her, and that was at least an admirable trait in the barbarian’s eyes.

She trotted away from the others a bit, soon returning, trying to loosen up some of the tension that was building within her muscles. In speed, she tossed her antlers toward the slush on the ground, using them as a shovel. With a jerk of her head sending a large splatter of melted snow in Mauja’s direction. The garron stopped abruptly and looked at him, snorting and smirking slightly. That was about as close to a laugh as she ever got.

[OOC: Horrible post, sorry :P Korra didn’t want to cooperate <3]

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
Slush clung in a very unattractive manner to his hooves, filling them up. When he'd trekked north in Korra's steps, sometimes it had built up to stilts he'd had to bash off against the tundra beneath. At least something hard remained beneath the melting cover of snow, the permafrost untouched by - and resisting - the Sun's wrath. The moon had once warned him that snow melts in summer, and while the clingy, sloshy stuff up here proved her words right, the cryotic soil beneath proved him right: winter never releases its hold. It would always come again, and even in the heat of summer it bit the earth with sharp, relentless fangs, clinging, whispering of sleep and soft cold. He smiled slightly, to himself, redirecting his gaze to the ground from where it had previously roamed Korra's intricate scarring. When the world was melting around you, you had to find something solid to stand upon - and, he guessed, the same was true for strange meetings. If he spent all his time being worried and on edge, what would it bring him? Nothing but trouble. Sometimes you had to dare to lean back and just see where things went. Absentmindedly he scraped away at the slush, baring a hint of tundra beneath. One striped, frosted hoof touched it reverently. Why was the Edge not located up here, in this blessed land of snow and ice?

"Attempting to escape the heat," delivered in her soft vocals, but the exuberance and vibrancy she normally possessed seemed to be lacking. By his side, Korra promised her return to the Edge, and Mauja felt a twinge of guilt at her words. Had his needless fretting caused this? Would he force her from her respite by being like a silly old mother? It was not what he had wanted, just - to know that she was alright, where she was, if her blood was still inside her body... The King heaved a heavy sigh, white smoke curling up from his nostrils as he did. What was he doing out here, causing misery and god knows what else? Lena looked like a chastised puppy at times, and Korra like she was ready to do murder.

Well, she always looked like that.

Lena's suggestion earned her a flicker of his ears, and when she started to move around, his blue eyes sharpened. Keen gaze fell on her, interest in his eyes. What was she doing? Was she..? Something lit up in his eyes as the snow flew through the air - something light and youthful, joyous, amazed; with reflexes he thought long forgotten he ducked, an easy laugh spilling from his mouth. So long since he'd played in the snow, so long since he'd met someone who remembered how to do it! Lena scooped up more snow on her horn, flinging it back over her head, a splotch of white on her rich bay hide. Beside him Korra trudged off a ways, but he was too busy staring at Lena with wonder and mischief in his eyes to pay the garron much attention. Was it just on a whim that she did this, or had she come from someplace cold and beautiful, too? Had she frolicked with fillies and colts her age, dancing under northern lights and chucking snow at each other in the crisp, cold light of a pale sun?

Noise intruded enough on him to turn his head in Korra's direction .. just in time to get a antlerful of snow in the face. Spluttering, he jerked his head up; the slush slid down his face, cool against his pale skin. With a snort he shook it, tossing remnants of the clingy stuff off. Still, it warmed his heart to see that smirk-of-a-laugh on Korra's face, and with a grunt he turned his hind end in her direction. Leaning up on his forelegs, he swept his back hooves through the snow, kicking it up towards her.
angels, they fell first, but I'm still here

Lena the Songbird Posts: 663
Aurora Basin Time Mender atk: 4 | def: 10.5 | dam: 6.5
Mare :: Unicorn :: 15.3 :: 6 HP: 69 | Buff: NOVICE
Imogen :: Common Kitsune :: Fire Heather
#14


There is love in your body but you can't hold it in,
It pours from your eyes and spills from your skin,
Tenderest touch leaves the darkest of marks,
And the kindest of kisses break the hardest of hearts


For once, her exuberance, euphoria, is not wasted.

Lena was restored in that sacred juncture of play, rescued, saved, from the plague of nerves, judgment, and the worries that she’d somehow vexed, irritated and nettled for the last time, dismissed and dismayed. She’s allowed the graceful swing of vivacity, the singsong plaiting of elan, the shifting kisses of passion and fervor. The trebles of youth, glowing, radiant offerings of ebullience prospered from her vivacious spirit awakened into mellifluous splendor, the grandeur of her gifts finally not deemed deluded, rancorous or deplorable; the tender nuances of her beating, resplendent heart not beaten into the ground, destroyed. She shed the dim, withering listlessness and idle restraint, blooming in the archaic movements of joy, glee and rapture, spreading her warm, tender petals to the sun’s molten air and breathing felicity, a possession of freedom, joie de vivre in the serene flesh of her glowing abandon. From the torn, scarred air she garnered ardent motions, from the humid, stifling winds she gathered a delightful luster, the rich intoxication of amusement, mirth, eternal, everlasting jubilee. Even if she were never allotted these moments of peace again, with a warrioress and king nimbly courting the lofting halls of ice, slush and brine, nuanced a liberation of all worries and tribulations, she would never forget the segments of the opportunity. Set to the fires of vigor, she was independent of crushing heartache, of withering minuets and sullied tones, alive, animated and enthralled. She knew how to play, she knew how to dance, and she knew how to brave the coated toils of a worried soul, how to transfix, how to allure, how to captivate – her smile blossomed in the fervor touch of revelry. Her grin grew in the laughter of the King, the tell-tale smirk of the mercenary.

She watched, a short snippet of time, as Korra launched her own arsenal of melting sustenance, laughed, giggled and cajoled when the antlered beast met her mark. Pressing her limbs into the cool grace again, she finessed the dissolving ground with benevolent elegance, conjuring another plan. Narrowing her gaze and twisting her head towards her chosen victim, she inched closer to the Amazon, slowly, stealthily, made of springs and hushed motions. When she’d finally acquired enough nearness, she lowered her dial again, brushed her horn against a bitter portion of snow and built against its layers, churning the slush into a longing pile. Satisfied, eyeing the femme and Mauja as he sprang into action, she waited until the mare would be distracted from the sovereign’s arsenal; then laid her own siege. She swept the black, twisted horn against her mound of slush and garnered the haste of her movements – swiftly, she changed directions and attempted another assault of the same upon the monarch.



Korra Posts: N/A
Unregistered
:: :: ::
#15

Snow was not something that the garron paid much mind to. It came and it went with the seasons, it was no hinder to her surefooted nature. Korra preferred the colder months, and in her homeland, snowy days had outnumbered the summer ones. The slush of the steppe provided a cool relief first of all, and unlike Mauja, the savage wasn’t about to get worked up about the slippery ground. As with everything else, she did things in her own time, and a bit of melting snow wasn’t about to change that. Mauja seemed to be calming down she noticed, and along with him she felt an ease inside herself. Seeing her aim hit bull’s eye, the flustered expression in the king’s face was priceless. He turned and kicked snow up at her, which she quickly evaded, only catching some on her flank, a sharp snort of surprise escaping her.

Lena laughed and cajoled on the sideline, but when Korra looked for her, she was met by another siege of slush coming her way. The wetness hit right on her nape, and the savage shook her hide like a dog out of water. Flinging her antlers at the ground, she tossed snow at Lena and then jumped surprisingly gracefully out of reach. Brown pools darted to Mauja, voice rasping as she spoke. "Race you to the Edge. Both of you," she added, looking to Lena. And then, she was already off, taking great advantage of her sturdy footing. Relived by the cold slush and the darkening skies, she listened to hear hooves chasing behind her. In the dark, it could be potentially dangerous to gallop around the Steppe, so the garron chose what she knew to be a safe route, speeding up slightly as she went. Lena and Mauja were both taller than her and had longer strides, but she knew the forests and the landscape, which would be a large advantage in these parts of Helovia.

Her rapid strides carried her to the treeline, passing the Frozen Arch and turning left to the rocky path that led to the Edge. Korra was ready to go home, not wanting to give that blistering Sun God the pleasure of driving her out. He had already burned her home; it was hard to see how it could get any worse. Crossing the Edge border, she slowed to a trot, her body steaming in the chill evening air. Autumn was coming, and with it, her home would be a home once again.

[OOC: Korra out]

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
#16
To hear Korra snort in surprise was more of an emotion than he'd gotten out of her in a long time. A pleased smile spread across his face, but just as he was turning back to her Lena launched her assault. The slush slapped onto the savage's neck before continuing his way, and with a jerk of his head he avoided having the excess land upon his nose. He smirked at the loyal warrior, wondering if Lena truly had aimed for her. A bold move, and yet he was growing to realize that Lena was bold - like a tiger hidden in the body of a kitten. He flashed her a grin before Korra announced a race, and left them to eat slush. Unacceptable! With a wink Lena's way the tall, white Friesian set off after the shorter garron, long legs eating up the ground. Could he let her get home first? Maybe. She was more sure-footed on these grounds, and in the rocky Edge too. Familiar as he was with the terrain he couldn't deny the fact that he was a larger horse, more prone to smashing his feet into holes and whatnot. If he only had a good enough surface he could stretch out and overtake her, but he had no desire to break his legs. That'd be so counterproductive. So, yeah, maybe, just maybe, he'd allow her to win...

( Mauja out. )
angels, they fell first, but I'm still here


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