They would be leaving soon. The Grey, his family, would soon be leaving the home that they had created for themselves in the Deep Forest to try and fight for a new place to call home, somewhere that could readily sustain their growing numbers. If they didn’t fight for a new home, Gods only knew the problems that could arise for their make-shift family. The thought of going somewhere and invading seemed so brutal, so atrocious and cruel… And yet it was something that had to be done.

There was another thing that had to be done before leaving the forest, however, and as Apollo wove through the thick, familiar trees, he kept his gaze open for the familiar form of Phaedra. He needed to speak to her, alone, and without prying ears… Hopefully she would be willing to listen.

They hadn’t yet properly spoken since their ordeal upon the beach, with the wolves and the sea monster. He felt like he had seen so little of the Pegasus mare that had captivated him, and if there was one thing that he wanted to do before departing for war, it was to see her. Phaedra. The beauty who was cursed with unsightly looks for… Well, Apollo wasn’t sure how long exactly Phaedra had been cursed. He didn’t understand anything about why she looked like she did, except that she had, indeed, been cursed. Regardless of her new looks, he wasn’t deterred; Apollo knew the true beauty that resided within Phaedra’s current, warped form.

It took awhile of searching before his eyes finally spotted the familiar –yet painfully not- form of Phaedra, and hesitantly he approached. Their distance and lack of communication had left the unicorn strangely unsure of himself and their relationship. Oftentimes he would recall the kiss that they had shared while in the depths of the ocean, grief-stricken that they would soon die… And yet, they both lived. Were they still friends? Did Phaedra still like him…?

“Phae?” He beckoned, ears swiveling forward and neck bending so that his head was low, almost submissive, “Um… Can we talk? At least for a little while?” Apollo stopped a few paces away from the Pegasus and shuffled his front hooves like an reprimanded child, waiting anxiously for her answer. Would she want to talk to him? It had felt like so long since he had simply spent time with her, or laughed with her… And oh, how he missed her laugh.

[ooc: Set before the Grey leaves for the Invasion.]

We Don't Have to Miss Each Other
We Don't Have to Fix Each Other
We Don't Have to Say Forever
You Don’t Have To Stay Forever
Come Over

For awhile he simply stood in place, stationary like the trees that surrounded them. His warm eyes lingered on Phaedra’s emaciated and brittle form, sadness and sympathy floating upwards from his gut and causing his heart to clench painfully in his chest. Apollo hated seeing her like this; reclusive, shamed, uncertain… It was as if he knew two different mares. One was beautiful and outgoing, flirtatious and filled with a confidence that Apollo himself could only dream of having… And then there was this version of her, this unsure, fearful side. Yet where others may have backed away from Phaedra’s hairless, featherless form, Apollo did not.

He found that if anything, he simply wanted to protect her from the cruelty that others might throw her way. Whether or now Phaedra would appreciate such actions, for she was definitely a creature who could take care of herself, well… Apollo wouldn’t know. The last thing that he wanted to do was accidently have Phaedra think that he believed she couldn’t take care of herself, for that wasn’t the case at all.

Allowing an uneasy, yet gentle smile to tug at his dark lips, the stallion finally spoke. His voice was soft, a gentle caress much like the soft breeze that occasionally filtered through the forest around them. “Phae,” he said, allowing his gaze to drop for a few moments before looking almost fearfully back up to her, gazing into the depths of her sunken eyes, “I, um…” Oh, Gods, of all the times for his words to fail, now was it?! He was going to be leaving shortly with Ktulu, Ophelia, and the others of the Grey to try and take the Foothills so that they would have a true place to call home. There would be war, and possibly death… How could he not say what he needed to say?

Giving a small grunt of frustration at his own lack of communication –or was it cowardice?- the painted stallion opened his mouth, hesitated yet once again, and then finally started talking. The words poured from his mouth freely, like the drops of a fresh spring rain, and even if he wanted to try and stop himself, Apollo found that he no longer had control of his vocals.

“Phaedra, I… I’m going to be leaving soon, to go with the Grey to try and take the Foothills. I’m afraid, you know?” He paused, a somewhat fearful laugh escaping his throat. “I’m no soldier; I never have been, but I think the one thing that scares me more than dying is that… That I’ll never get to see you again. That this will be the last time that I can see you; the last time we can actually talk.” His soft, warm, honey-brown gaze lingered upon her face, absorbing every marred detail. Even if she was different, changed due to her curse, Apollo would remember every last detail of the mare who had given him purpose, family, and had stolen his heart.

“There’s something that I’ve been wanting to tell you, but I just haven’t because I’ve been afraid…” What was it about life and death situations that drew this out between them? His front hooves once more began to shuffle, nostrils flaring slightly in his growing nervousness. His words became soft, stuttering syllables that were leaving his trembling lips. “Phaedra… In case that, well… In case I don’t come back, or we don’t see each other again, I j-just wanted to tell you that, that… That I l-love you, Phaedra. I really do.”

We Don't Have to Miss Each Other
We Don't Have to Fix Each Other
We Don't Have to Say Forever
You Don’t Have To Stay Forever
Come Over

As soon as the words had escaped his lips, Apollo’s nervous gaze fell, almost afraid to see the changes that would surely occur in Phaedra’s expression. He had just exposed everything to her, all of his truths and feelings, hopes and dreams… Did he hope that one day, Phaedra would love him in return? Yes, yes he did, with every fiber of his being. Yet, no matter how much he wanted it, Apollo would never force Phaedra to do anything that she didn’t want to do, and that included being with him. If she found someone who stole her heart completely and utterly, and caused her eternal happiness, then the black and white overo would smile and be happy for her. For to him, that was all that mattered.

How it had happened? Apollo wasn’t sure. When he had first come into Helovia and had been graced by Phaedra’s beauty, he had been stunned and captivated from the beginning… And yet, it had morphed from simple curiosity to true, heart-felt admiration and adoration. He loved her like he had never loved anything else in the world, and finally… She knew. She knew… It was like a weight lifted off of his shoulders, but was immediately replaced with the fear of how the cursed Pegasus would react. Would she condemn him for his affection? No, of course not… Phaedra would never do something like that, even if she didn’t feel the same.

Heaving in a trembling breath, Apollo hesitantly lifted his gaze, resting his soft, almost sad eyes upon Phaedra’s sunken face. She took a step towards him, an expression upon her face that the unicorn simply couldn’t place. He gazed into her eyes, and even though he noticed the lack of shine and spark due to her horrible curse, there was no way that he could miss the pure adoration that shone in her gaze. It relieved the tension that had steadily been building in his chest, and an uncertain smile tugged at the corners of his dark lips.

In the next few moments, he had a chest full of Phaedra, the Pegasus pushing her forehead into the soft muscles of his chest. The stallion lowered his head, letting out a soft breath through his nostrils, and pressed his cheek fondly against the sinewy muscles of her neck. He could feel the twitches in the mare before him as she lifted her wings to wrap around him, and unwillingly, the stallion’s eyes fell closed in the comforting embrace. Phaedra may not look the same as she did, cursed as she was, but that didn’t mean that their connection was any different. He loved her, he always would…

“I promise.” The words fell from Apollo’s lips without his knowledge, despite knowing that logistically, there was no way he could fulfill such a promise. War was war; some would come home and some wouldn’t. Yet, right now, wrapped in Phaedra’s loving embrace, he would deny her nothing. “I promise you, Phae, I’ll come back to you.” Pressing his cheek more firmly into her neck, Apollo sucked in her scent, placing it in his mind to remember until the end of his days. It would be Phaedra’s faith in him, and her adoring eyes that would push him on the battlefield, that would be his reason to fight and kill.

“Just please, while I’m away… Take care of yourself, alright? I worry about you, Phae.”

We Don't Have to Miss Each Other
We Don't Have to Fix Each Other
We Don't Have to Say Forever
You Don’t Have To Stay Forever
Come Over