the dark creation moved as ash, falling gently to a burnt earth, across the lush forest covered in heavenly clouds that had grown tired of their
correct rank's in the forever night sky, had fell to the earth and shimmered as cold starlight, ice prickles in the expanse of heaven's oceans.
condensation gathered on her apparel, slid down her elegant frame and dripped on the grasses, creating dew, and her breath created new
clouds in the air. she was strolling, aimlessly, at peace with the world, disregarding her locations in all.
she needed to speak alone with the wind. to hear it's voice, but the wind was silent, and a twist of her gut told her
something was very wrong in this murderess fog.

or maybe, the lady decided, this was just the sound of the echoing
scream in her lobes, and her harks flicked wildly; her orbs flashing in the
cool air.
all was still. serenity.

but everything was wrong, too.

why should the dark lady care? it was not her business, and yet a tugging of her soul
and a breath of the wind pushed her forward on long strides, her hind leg propels
her bodice forwards, and she breathes deep as the other three pillars move forwards,
a catch on her left rear and right front legs, her left hind still pressed into the soil,
then another quick catch on her left front as the diagonal pair remains in firm
contact with the earth.
and it is as this that she moves forwards, at a canter, through the treacherous mists,
towards the source of the screams.

she wheels to the right to stop as the visions come blurrily into her impaired vision due to the fogs,
these are creatures which she has never seen before, with the wings of bats and the
faces of rocky lizards. what are these mythical beasts, the lady wonders?
she sees them swoop down in intelligent pairs,
and a sinking of the stomach follows. intelligence is never good, intelligence
is bad for a fight.
why couldn't the stupid looking beasts just be
idiots? why couldn't they have the brains of lizards?

she observes the mare, for what reason does she have to risk
her life for this mistress?
but the fog clears, if a bit,
and she notices.

the mistress is with child.
the mistress' breath is labored, her breathing is shudders
and her apparel coated with sweat.
the mistress is giving birth.

her breath catches in her throat.
in an instant her neck stretches,
her harks pin and hide in her silky mane,
and her orbs slide to slits.
what sick monsters of the night would
attack one that is giving birth to her child? to her
kine? flesh, and blood,
that which she has slaved over for months,
to strike at them whilst they were in labor? it burns her with a hatred, and as she stands to think, a winged brute comes into the picture. the she stiffens with tension at first, her stomach knots again, and it is then she realizes this must be the father of the child not yet born. her body relaxes, before her muscles tense again in preparation for battle.
her wicked lyrics fell into the as she spoke softly from the mists.
"fear not, leto, hera's wraith will not befall you today."

her ivories bared,
she slinks from the shadows,
lowering her dome in a aggressive fashion,
so that the weaponry that adorns her in purple and black
gleams it's sharp pointed tip, and she judges what to do in the heat
of the moment. she makes her choice.
she aims her dagger at the green,
propelling herself forwards with her hindquarters,
and she swings her weaponry in an vicious upward arc near the right of the creature's bodice, in a hopeful
attempt that she will snag it under a fragile wing or, if her attack missed, at least force the cursed creature from the soon to be mother's belly. if the creature's blinded her, her foal may still survive, but if her flesh was torn at the belly, she knew the child was likely to die whilst still in the womb.
she would not die today.

..at least, not if the dark one had anything to say about it.

[WC: 719
0/0 no magic or companion uses

attempts to use her horn to slide it's curved shape under the right wing of the green dragon, before ripping upwards violently, and hopefully damaging it's wing in the process. if this doesn't succeed she hopes the aggressive action will at least scare the dragon away from delinne's side and belly.]

@[Azzaron] @[Delinne]

it takes courage to grow up and
become who you really are

Okay... WHAT THE HECK WAS GOING ON?! I felt the adrenaline pump through my veins as I saw Azzaron come up to me, his presence calmed me and I tried to concentrate. I pushed, and pushed, and pushed... But why didn't the foal come out?!
I looked up, wondering why Azzaron had flown away again, but I didn't have to ask him. Three huge drakes flew around me, trying to grasp both me and my black cub.
Stressed and terrified, I try to get up while pushing, but the foal kept me down. I tried again, using all of my muscles and energy to stand up - and fucking succeeded. I would've celebrated if my life and the life of my foal wasn't on the edge.

I only took a few steps before I fell down on my knees again. Dezba was terrified as well in front of me, I could see it in her eyes.
"Be brave, my desired." I whispered, kissing her little nose gently before I lied down on my side again. Come on now, foal, OUT.
'Push, push, push, push...' It felt like my head was going to explode when I finally felt something. The foal was coming out!
The screams of the drakes reminded me of their presence though and panic grabbed me. What if they got a grip on my foal halfway out?!

A female voice took my attention and I turned my head as much as I could, trying to see her. It was a black mare, a unicorn, and she fought against the drakes. Who was she?
"Thank you, stranger..." I whispered, tears filling my blue eyes as I spoke. The helping hoof was useful because now I could fully concentrate on giving birth. Dezba stod by my head, her paw resting on my nosebridge and her electric eyes full of wisdom. She knew that I was in a dangerous position, and if I hadn't understood better, I would've thought she apologized for being a little cub.
"It's okay, Dezba.. I still love you with all of my soul." My soul belonged to Dezba as well as my heart belonged to my foals and Azzaron. Pain gave me a punch of reality right in my womb, and I screamed.
"Ooooooout NOW!" As I screamed, I felt the foal come out a little bit more. I rose my head and looked at my hind.
Legs.
More than that was impossible for me to see, but I still understood that I needed help to birth. I couldn't do this alone and the presence of the dragons kept me under big stress.
What was I going to do?

"Talking."

ooc: This thread is the most exciting thread I'ver ever had o.o
tags: @[Azzaron] @[Circuta]
word count: 444

The dark mare, Leto, as she deemed her, recognized her existence with thanks. It is a odd feeling that gathers in her
chest, was this a feeling of doing good? It is.. a illogical, strange emotion, and she wants to cast it aside, but it gathers in her
throat and makes it hard to speak. She is unsure if anyone has.. thanked her, before. For anything.

As long as Circuta can remember, she was cast away, thrown as a child's toy and broken on the soil.
They cursed her, they deemed her the witch, if a child took ill in their land, they would
come to her, the witch child, and drive her and her father farther into the lands. They would not rid of them,
but she knew this was only because of her father, not of her, and if they could, she knew she would
have been cast out into the wilderness before she had a chance to live. She was the monster that lurked in the nights.
And she would have died.

Perhaps that is why she feels so strongly that she must protect this mare and her child,
she must make sure that her child is born safe, she must make sure..
She feels her weaponry slice through fragile skin, stretched along the wing of the flying lizard,
hear's it squeal as it slides free, torn from it's hold on the wretched
beast as it flies into the mists. It is not long after that it's companions whirl into
the mists, the winged brute chasing them away.
It's almost sickening that the pure bred would have her child with a
bird, but she keeps her thoughts to herself, her orbs
telling no tales. It is not the child's fault, if it was born from a feathered
brain and a high elf.

Leto screams and wails, and Circuta remains on alert,
her harks raised, although they are urged to slam down at the noise
into her mane. The beasts were gone, but if
they were to return, she would protect Leto once again from Hera.
And so, if this is Leto, then must her mate be Zeus? The king of the skies,
or is he Helios, the Sun? If his fiery personality is to be expected, he is.
Helios and Leto, a forbidden love, cursed.
A strange twist to the myth, she muses.

Helios thanks her, gratitude spills as water from his maw,
and she feels another surge of.. warmth?
Again, she forces the emotion down, as best to her efforts,
though it remains in her throat. She can merely force a nod,
afraid if she speaks, her voice will crack.
The dark one does not do these warm, fuzzy feelings.
It is not in her nature.

It is as if you were a goose one morning, and wake up to find you are next a swan.

She notes the legs that appear from Leto, and how she strains
to force her birth. It makes her feel uncomfortable.
She has witnessed births in her own herd,
before her mother died. Before you killed her.

But it is all she can do to force herself not to wince at what she is sure
Leto must be going through. She has saved her from the drakes,
but she cannot save her from childbirth. The mare must do this
on her own.

With elegance she moves forth, tentative, she doesn't
want to risk startling either. She knows she has just helped them,
but this must surely be a stressful time. They are already under pressure.
She circles behind the mare's head, gently whispering soft
comforts as she observes the event. Her lyrics are a tad bit rusty at the
edges when she first begins to speak, and she clears her throat,
for it still has not ridden itself of her emotions. She swallows the rock down.
She mustn't stress Leto further.
"Do not worry yourself further, Leto. You are safe from the drakes that hunt you."

She attempts to remember what the equines gathered around the
birthing mare's in her old family used to say, but as the beginnings of when she
first spoke, her memory is rusty.
"Breathe deep, Leto. Push the child from your womb. Breathe deep, again. Repeat. Focus on nothing else."
It is not the best of advice.
But she cannot remember much else.
She hopes it is enough.

@[Azzaron] @[Delinne]

it takes courage to grow up and
become who you really are

Scratched. Torn by claws. The black jaguar cub roared as loud as she could when the drakes attacked her. They managed to scratch her face, leaving thin wounds around her eyes and on the bridge of her nose.
She roared in pain, crying out to her mother who laid next to her. I was well aware of my cub, my companion, but I was going through extreme pains as well. I let out a loud call when the drakes tried to grab my cub, but sighed in relief when they stopped and flew away out of our sight again.
Finally.
The danger was gone.
Dezba meowed and complained, crying by my head. I tried to hush her, soothe her mind with calm words.
"Shhhh... It's okay, Dezba, you will be fine. It will heal soon." I carefully licked her wounds and she meowed at me, still complaining. But she understood that I was trying to help. I cleaned the thin wounds on her face before I winced in pain myself.
The foal was trying to come out.
Suddenly I felt something touch my cheek and I almost stopped to breathe before I saw that it was my lover. I sighed once again in relief and tried to do as he said.
Push.

It was harder than he must've thought. This foal was bigger than Destry, but eventually I felt something more come out. Dezba stopped complaining and took a few steps up, to rest her jaw on my horn.
Mists surrounded us mysteriously and cooled my sweaty bodice as I continued to push. This foal was big. And I meant it.
Suddenly I heard hooves beating the ground and I tensed up, only to notice that it was the dark mare who had helped us.
"Do not worry yourself further, Leto. You are safe from the drakes that hunt you." Leto? Who was Leto? As she continued to call me so, I guessed that she thought it was my name.
She could think so a while longer.
"Breathe deep, Leto. Push the child from your womb. Breathe deep, again. Repeat. Focus on nothing else." I did as she said, and soon I felt something slip out of me. The foal! It was out! Ignoring my complaining body, I moved so that I lied down with my head up high and I looked at my hind.
Oh my.

First of all, it was a colt. The lamp trees helped me see my child better, and I moved my head a little closer. The colt, my rump and legs and tail as well as the ground was covered in blood and my private parts hurt like hell, but I didn't care. My foal was out.
His body was covered in a golden hue with almost black legs, almost like a buckskin except for the fact that his muzzle was as golden as his tiny body. The colt's hair was as dark as his legs, but tipped in dark red as if it was dried blood.
He moved - thank my Gods - and raised his head, only to look straight into my eyes and snort out the goo in his nostrils.
Oh...

I observed his dual colored eyes, curious how the genes worked within this baby of mine. His right eye was purely blue - like my eyes - but with no visible pupil. And his left eye was ruby red like Azzaron's and had a normally-shaped black pupil like most. Upon his forehead was a little bump that immediately told me that this was a unicorn colt.
But the most outstanding thing about my baby was the markings upon his golden body. He bore white flames on his left shoulder and what seemed like his right thigh as well. I sighed happily, and gazed upon my colt. He was muscular - even though he was just a newborn - and had a buff strong body with long legs.
He looked just like a Friesian, except for his legs maybe that were too long and too thin for one of my breed. They seemed strong, but they were still too slim.

"Welcome to our world, Azarel." I whispered, just loud enough for the ones surrounding me to hear. Azarel tilted his head and looked at me, both of his ears curiously pointed forwards. The golden colt with white markings stood up on unsteady legs, and soon fell over before even taking a step.
He didn't let that stop him though, because he tried several times and on his fourth try, he succeded.
Azarel walked to my - still - big belly and nudged me carefully. I nudged his little beautiful head and he nudged back, snorting playfully.
I smiled at my newborn and directed him to my mammary glands, still laying down, and Azarel started to drink. A sigh left my lips and I laid down on my side again, allowing my foal to access the milk better.
Dezba purred next to me, licking my nosebridge warmly. I looked up on Azzaron, smiling widely.
"I named him after you," I said, smiling as I closed my eyes to rest.
I sure needed it after this.

"Talking."

ooc: Damn... Well, Azarel is born! :D @[Azzaron] @[Circuta]
word count: 863

Blood. The dark one did not oppose it. She adored Death as one may a lover, she felt drawn towards its mystery and beckoned to do it's work.
But this was not blood drawn for death, this was blood drawn for life, and it littered the ground near her dainty hooves. She almost grimaced. The foal that came forth from the mare was large, larger then the foals she had seen birthed back at home, with delicate bodices and sleek appearances. Then again, she had been drawn away before the foal was actually fully birthed into the world, and she had not seen many births, as again, she wrote across her mental pages.

She did not grow too close to the foal, again, her job was done here, and she would leave soon. But she felt a lingering wish to make sure the
newborn and her mother remained safe. The stallion she was not so concerned about, he could take care of himself.
With glee, however, she saw that the foal had the bump on the forehead of a unicorn. A pure beast, she mused,
with unpure lines. Ah, well. It was at least horned.
It was lovely, too, she supposed, for a foal. It was golden, it's pillars fading into black.
It was flame kissed, for it's apparel held markings, white fire.
This was Apollo, birthed from Leto and Zeus.
She hesitated as the mare's windows closed with exhaustion.
The night lady needed to leave.

And then came the Golden Queen, a beast of a dragon that made her spine shiver.
A fearful respect was surely to be expected. Her hues were of the precious material, not so unlike
the child, her voice cried mighty above the lands as if she owned the roots of the forest
themselves. Her scales caught the dim light of the moon and reflected it outwards,
large gems that adorned her apparel.
The golden queen landed, by far the largest drake she had seen.

Molten lava gazed at them, intelligent orbs that held much more then the drakes she had just seen.
Her voice was powerful, a rumble.
Was her voice sympathetic?

She seemed to realize it was her turn to speak, as the brute finished his lines.

The dark one bowed her head in acknowledgment of the golden queen,
but raised her indigo orbs, and gazed with a firm, respectful stare into the
molten cores.
She could feel Zeus' eyes upon her, but she did not allow her
smooth tones to falter as they fell from her maw.

"Golden Queen, I mean no harm in my appearances. I am fairly new to these lands and was merely wandering in hopes of solitude, with no offence meant.
I enjoy the silent company of the wind, as I am sure you can understand."
She paused, allowing her words to hum softly as she gazed back towards the small newborn.
"I was to leave soon, but I heard the distress of Leto, and came to investigate her cries. I found her being attacked by drakes who wished
to tear the life of the child from her womb. In response, I defended her misfortune and helped drive the drakes off. I stayed in case I was needed further.."
A trail off of words, she didn't wish to speak so much at one time. It made her throat feel odd, she liked to speak but a few lyrics per request.

"I seek not to bother you, but simply to ensure safety of the child and her mother during a fragile time. I will take my leave quite soon, for I believe most of my purpose is done here."
But what she didn't mention is that she did not know this Goddess and was still concerned for the safety of the family here. They wished to join Edge?
She would most hopefully be able to stay long enough to ensure they would be in the company of a full family.

@[Azzaron] @[Delinne] @[Mirage]

it takes courage to grow up and
become who you really are

My rest did not last long. Azarel had finished his meal and he nudged my cheek, wanting me to wake up. Dezba laid her paw on my nosebridge several times and pushed me a little, her wish was the same as my son's. Why couldn't they just let me slee-
The sound of wings made me open my eyes wide and I quickly got myself into a more comfortable lying position. Azarel stumbled a little, startled by my sudden wakeup, but he soon lied down next to me and cuddled my warm body. Dezba crawled in between my front legs and looked up at the dragoness who came closer to us.
I gazed up at the night sky myself and my eyes widened even more. It was a golden dragon. Bigger than the drakes that had just left. My companion pushed her small body closer to mine and so did my colt. They were afraid.

"What is the meaning of this?"

The dragon's voice was strong, but a hint of sympathy hid in her words and made me curious.
I hushed my little ones quietly and watched the dragoness with worry in my blue pools. Azzaron spoke to the dragon and I concentrated on him. May him not say something wrong... "Well, we were going to seek a home within the Edge, but Delinne, my mate, she went into labor. And those fiends, they attacked. This other mare, she helped fight off the creatures. I apologize for any trouble we may have caused." Thank god. He was polite.
Sometimes I actually feared my mate's passionate and fiery personality, mostly because of the past with the Basin. But that was something I couldn't blame on him. It was their fault.
I glanced at the black unicorn who stood not far away from us and listened to her as well.
"Golden Queen, I mean no harm in my appearances. I am fairly new to these lands and was merely wandering in hopes of solitude, with no offence meant.
I enjoy the silent company of the wind, as I am sure you can understand. I was to leave soon, but I heard the distress of Leto, and came to investigate her cries. I found her being attacked by drakes who wished
to tear the life of the child from her womb. In response, I defended her misfortune and helped drive the drakes off. I stayed in case I was needed further.." I saw how she glanced at my baby as she spoke, and whipped my tail around my little colt. Mine.
She still spoke of me as Leto, a name that I had never heard ever before in my life. Why did she call me that?

The mare continued to speak and I pointed my ears towards her, listening curiously. "I seek not to bother you, but simply to ensure safety of the child and her mother during a fragile time. I will take my leave quite soon, for I believe most of my purpose is done here."
How come she cared for me and my colt so much? She didn't even know my real name, or more correctly, refused to take in that my name was Delinne.
I looked at my mate and sighed before I let my gaze turn to the dragoness. She was beautiful, really. Her golden scales shimmered in the moonlight and I saw a black tattoo on the side of her neck. She had a respect-giving body and I noticed immediately that she was way larger than the drakes. I cleared my throat and looked up, careful not to look her straight in her eyes.
"My mate has already said what happened, lady Dragon. This is Azzaron, and as he said, my name is Delinne. We've come to seek a home within your borders, but this little guy..." My eyes turned to Azarel who lied by my side, curiously looking at the big dragoness.
"... decided to come out, so it got a little interrupted. I'm so very sorry for the trouble we caused, my lady." I decided that it was the best to be polite to this dragon, as she seemed like a highly important figure in the World's Edge now.

I shut up about my past with the Edge, as I thought this dragon may know something about it. After all, she had come from within the Edge, so she must belong here somehow.
"I can assure you, lady dragon, that we can both be useful. My two foals as well. Unfortunaly, my daughter isn't here yet, but me and my mate will go and get her soon. That if you or someone else will let us stay..." I stopped talking there because it was time to let it all sink in for the dragoness.
Oh Goddess, I hoped she would let us stay.

"Talking."

ooc: Where is this muse coming from?! o.o And I don't tag Azz & Mirage because @[Circuta] has already tagged <3
word count: 807

it takes courage to grow up and
become who you really are

I watched the dragon as she watched us, almost observing us. A recognizing shine in her dragon eyes made me freeze and I saw how she gazed down on Azzaron.
Fuck.
"You are banished from the Throat, and the Edge will not consider your application until you are able to regain approval from Kri herself. You may tell her that Mirage DragonHeart set you the task." Mirage? Where had I heard that name before? My ears pointed to Azzaron's position as he answered her. "So I must gain Kri's trust in order for you to open your gates?"

I got an answer on my question that I had asked myself before, because she faced me now. My attention was drawn from my golden lover and I faced the dragoness Mirage. "You..."
That did not sound good.
She came closer and I stayed down together with my colt and companion. This was a moment where I would never even think about leaving my babies. "I faced you when I took this land for myself. I offered sanctuary for those willing to follow my lead then, but you did not take it. Why now, do you seek it?"
There. It was from the invasion I recognized her name. She had been one of the leaders, if I wasn't mistaken myself.
"Lady Mirage..." I started and looked into the dragon's golden eyes. Azarel shivered next to me, both because of the chilly mists around us and of fear. Dezba crawled over my legs to him and laid herself comfortably between his front legs.
"When you faced me in the invasion, I followed Mauja. He was my King and I was loyal to him. But... Things has changed." My voice was steady and I took a deep breath before continuing.

"I was seperated from the herd right after the invasion. I got lost and I was confused after the lost of my new home. I wandered around for two seasons all alone questing for Dezba here, before I met Azzaron." A smile crossed my lips. "He is the first stallion I've ever loved."
"But I met Mauja soon after - when we had concieved our first foal and she was growing in my belly - and I found out that they were racist enough to only let unicorns into the herd. I know, I am a fool for not finding that out before, but done is done. Anyways, time passed and last Tallsun I birthed my first foal. Destry, my daughter.
Of course, Mauja and his mare Psyche found us..." I had to stop there because a big lump was stuck in my throat. That day had been a sad and happy day.
"Mauja and Psyche turned me against Azzaron with lies. They took me and Destry to the Basin, but I couldn't stay there. My mate was soon imprisoned by Deimos - whom you might know - and he was stuck until not so long ago." My gaze turned to Azzaron and I sighed. "I believe I was stuck for about two seasons before I actually stood up for myself. During those two seasons I had begun to realize that they had only spoken lies that day. I talked back to Mauja and... They banished me from the Basin. They didn't even let me bring my daughter or mate with me." I felt the lump getting bigger and tears started to roll down my cheeks.

"The loyalty I once had for Mauja is gone forever. I barely trust anyone anymore. I miss my daughter, I miss the friends I had in the old herd that has now become my enemies, I just miss... Everything. Please, Lady Mirage. I do not wish any harm to this wonderful place.
This was my first home in Helovia. Let me be a part of it again, a part of a new family. A better family. All I have is this now. Azzaron, Destry, Azarel and Dezba. My little family that I wish to connect with yours."

I let my blue gaze wander from the talons of the dragoness to her eyes and watched her, my eyes filled with tears.
Would she believe the words of truth that I had spoken? I hoped so, because it was all truth. I had lost my home, lost the faith I had once had in my King and lost my daughter to a band of racist unicorns. I would bring her home soon, but still. We needed a home to bring her home to.

The dragon spoke to the dark mare next to us, her words calmer than before. "Thank you, for your attendance, Dark Wanderer. As you have offered the Edge no harm, you shall receive none from us in return." It was no big words and I observed the mare. Tears still running down my cheek, I listened to her words.
"If your family needs help of any kind.. I may be found in the marsh of ghosts. I will do what i can to assist you in any needs." I gave the mare a slight nod and smiled vaguely. Thank you, stranger. I whispered, or more correctly, I just formed the words with my lips and I watched the mare leave.
It was amazing how a stranger could save your life, just like that.
My gaze wandered to the dragoness again and I waited. What would her answer be?

"Talking."

ooc: ;___;
word count: 907