the Rift


Daybreak

Cheyenne Posts: N/A
Unregistered
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#1



Cheyenne</style>
new dawn, new day</style>
She had been walking for days.

Or, at least, it felt like days. She wasn't so sure anymore. The sun had refused to rise in this land, as if the shadows had stolen it away and the moon, with it's wide Cheshire grin, had proclaimed the sky it's new throne. Yet the young horse continued to walk, her mind confused and eyes weary, wondering if, perhaps, this was a dream. Maybe she had fallen long before, and was stuck in an endless limbo of darkness and shadow as punishment for her crimes? Or maybe time itself had stopped. By the way the moon shifted and changed from wide full moon to a half crescent spoke otherwise, however.

Her legs were tired and shook with each step. How long had she travelled without rest? With a groan, she found her steps were slowing and her slender trunks refused to move, preferring instead to settle like shaking saplings, planted in the dirt. Taking her body's protests to heart, the youngster slowed to a halt and collapsed into the dirt, closing her yellow eyes and surcoming to sleep.

Hours passed, and the fillies sleep was undisturbed and empty - as black as the world of the living had been in her waking hours. Faces shifted past her eyes, though she paid them no need. They were ghosts of her past, and she had no reason to remember them. She was not going back. Not so she could be paraded around as one of the seven sisters, to be admired but not listened to, to be a perfect daughter who only spoke when spoken to and never put a hoof out of place. She was sick of being controlled and she was sick of being worthless.

She wanted to make a name for herself, forge her own path.

Yellow eyes opened slowly and she groaned as the ache in her muscles creaked. Why had she woken? She still felt so weary. Moving her head up, her skull throbbing as if her brain was rattling loose within, she looked up toward the canopy. Branches blocked the sky, yet through the thick foliage she saw it. Light. It started small, just a tiny sliver of light penetrating the thick branches. At first she thought it fireflies or fire light, yet as she watched it began to brighten. A thin pillar broke through the canopy, causing the filly to squint. It burnt her retinas, steering her delicate vision, yet she felt herself smiling. It had been a dream after all, this seemingly endless night. She had been stupid to even think the sun would not rise. Yawning, she forced herself to stand, legs still quivering like delicate twigs. It was time to rise, and time to find out where the hell she had ended up.

It was a new day. A new start. And she was determined to better herself.

talk talk talk talk talk

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Alleo Posts: 115
Hidden Account atk: 5.5 | def: 8.5 | dam: 4.5
Stallion :: Equine :: 17.3 :: 12 HP: 60 | Buff: NOVICE
ali
#2
Alleo
and I know its hard when you’re falling down
and its a long way up when you hit the ground

It was just another night (or was it day?) of endless darkness with only the light of the moon and the lamp trees that the Moon Goddess had given them to light Alleo's path. He had only been in Helovia for a few months, but he was weary of the darkness and often found himself wondering why his sisters chose to stay in a land that the sun refused to rise. Sometimes he thought about trying to convince them to leave so they could all travel together to a land that was more forgiving than this. But as he watched them he came to realize that they wouldn't not leave. Lakota was committed to the Foothills and the dark mare that had been Chieftess before she left them. Even with her gone he didn't think he'd be able to convince her to leave and so he was stuck because he would not be separated from his sisters again. Not after he'd promised to watch over them.

There was something different about today, though. Something that he couldn't quite place. He didn't know what it was that made him look up at the sky, but when he did his heart seemed to lurch in his chest and take off at a thousand miles an hour. His dual colored eyes grew wide and her huffed out a heavy breath laced with relief and happiness. The sun had returned and their endless plight was coming to an end. It was so very bright, though, and he had to squint his eyes against the sun so he wouldn't be blinded by its brilliance. He couldn't wait for the sun to be high, high, high overhead and beating down on his back. Couldn't wait for it to chase away the chill that had lingered even though Frostfall had passed.

As his gaze dropped down from the waking sky he could see, in the rays that penetrated the canopy of the forest, the figure of an antlered unicorn rising from the ground. Had she been sleeping? His brow furrowed at the idea that someone would leave themselves in such a vulnerable position in a dark forest. The warrior began to move toward her, noting as he came close how her legs shook as if she were on the brink of collapse. She was svelte, built for speed and easy movement and that made him wonder if she were a warrior or not.

Alleo cleared his throat and dipped his head to the mare as he came to a halt several feet away from her. "Greetings." He said, his voice deep and gravelly. "And welcome to Helovia. I am Alleo, warrior of the Windtossed Foothills north of this forest. May I ask what brings you here?"


@[Cheyenne]

Cheyenne Posts: N/A
Unregistered
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#3



Cheyenne</style>
new dawn, new day</style>
Her jaw widened and stiffened as a wide yawn escaped her lips, her eyes squinting into the sunlight that poured down overhead like golden waterfalls. The nightmare had ended, yet with the dawn came new doubts. Turning, she glanced around herself to scan the small clearing. She was alone, and she had been for some time. She had assumed maybe her dream of the endlessly long night had included the loss of her friend, however it seemed as if that part was true. The grey Pegasus was still no where in sight, and the antler'd creature felt worry bubble up within her heart. Had she been devoured by the beasts that had drove them here? Suddenly, she felt utterly alone, and utterly filled with guilt.

So far devoured by her thoughts was she that she failed to hear the stag approach, nor did she hear the clearing of his throat, so when he spoke with his deep, gravely voice, she felt her body visibly shudder from fright. Spinning on the spot, legs trembling as she did - though she would tell you it was not out of fear, but fatigue - she lowered her ears and pressed them firmly against her skull. Part of her was expecting the face of a wolf, its muzzle dipped in blood and the thought did not occur to her that wolves generally did not speak. So, when he eyes settled, instead, upon the handsome grulla face, she felt herself deflate with a slow, relieved sigh. Her muscles, which she found had tensed from the suddenness of his voice, quickly relaxed and she mustered up a faint smile.

What brings you here? The stallion asked and she shrugged her shoulders, feigning a casual facade despite her jumpiness. "My legs brought me here, though if you were looking for a less pedantic answer, you could say I was escorted here by a pack of friendly wolves. They seemed most eager that I come here." She told the stallion, taking several steps closer. Her canary eyes scanned his frame as she did so. She didn't even try to hide it. Why bother? If he minded, he would tell her so, surely? "And what brings you here, Alleo of the Windtossed Foothills. Come to rescue me? I feel as though I have been running for days. The night seemed to drag on forever." She commented, trying to still her legs. She felt like a fawn on its first walk. That had to change.

talk talk talk talk talk

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Alleo Posts: 115
Hidden Account atk: 5.5 | def: 8.5 | dam: 4.5
Stallion :: Equine :: 17.3 :: 12 HP: 60 | Buff: NOVICE
ali
#4
Alleo
and I know its hard when you’re falling down
and its a long way up when you hit the ground

Alleo stood still as stone when the mare shuddered then spun to face him. He'd thought he'd made more than enough sound when he'd cleared his throat that she would hear him and not be startled, but apparently he had been wrong. Her legs still shook and the look in her eyes told of her exhaustion. An ear tilted forward as she began to visibly deflate and seemed to accept his presence for the most part. She put on a look that made her seem completely at ease, but the stallion was old enough to recognize a mask when he saw one. His sister often wore the same kind of mask when she was hurting or just trying to hide something, but he would respect her and not call her out on it mostly because he did not truly know her.

At the mention of wolves the warrior began to scan the forest, his nostrils flaring as he sucked in air to try and scent the wolves, but he saw and smelled nothing. "Wolves?" He asked moments later. "And you laid down on the ground?" It just didn't make sense to have been chased by wolves and then lay on the ground and sleep. He did not press anymore, though, because she flipped it around and asked him a question.

"I'm here because of newcomers like yourself." He responded. "This forest is known as Helovia's Threshold. Every newcomer passes through this forest and it is here that representatives from herds scout to offer homes to those that are interested." It wasn't all that long ago that he had been a newcomer. "The endless night was not something you dreamed Miss. For seasons now Helovia has been in a state of darkness because of the Gods. I will not pretend to know or understand what their departure was because I was not here long enough to truly know. But the darkness has ended and the sun rises." The corners of his mouth curled up into a smile. "And now, Miss, I will pose another question. Are you looking for a home within Helovia or are you passing through?"



@[Cheyenne]

Cheyenne Posts: N/A
Unregistered
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#5



Cheyenne</style>
new dawn, new day</style>
Wolves!? He asked and she raised her brow, flicking an ear toward him. He glanced around, as if expecting one to be chilling about close by. As he threw his gaze around she let her eyes linger upon her stony body. He was much taller than herself, and handsome. He called himself 'warrior' and she did not doubt it for a moment. Yet as he questioned her, she felt her smile fade. "I was playing dead." She stated, sarcasm dripping from her lips as she stared up toward his mightly face. "Try running for what feels like days without collapsing to the earth, sir warrior. I am not perfect. Or do horses around here not exhaust like us imperfect strangers?" She questioned him back, snapping slightly. She could not hide her irritation and neither did she attempt to. The wolves had stopped following her a long time before she was forced to lie down, probably to devour her beloved friend who's stamina was must less than her own. What a fool, to question her about her fatigue, as if she was the clown.

Still, he explained her whereabouts and she was somewhat shovked to discover that her dream had not been such, but that her marathon truly had lasted days. No wonder her legs were quivering like a newborn foals. She straightened up as best she could, arching her neck proudly and raising her fine, antlered crest in a meager attempt to look somewhat presentable. "Well, it seems that I should seek a home, I doubt I would last long enough to see the next sun, since I do love lying down in the face of danger." She said, voice oozing with sarcasm, yet she smiled brightly; it was odd how her facial features did not match the venom in her voice. Her smile seemed true enough, reaching up toward her bright eyes, yet her words were bitter. She needed to fix that, she told herself. She needed to act like a lady, not like some wild dog let off its leash. That's what her mother would tell her, anyway. How to fix this?

Ah, she knew just the way! She frowned, glancing away from the stag as if in sudden realization of her words, apparently embarrased by her own tongue lashing. "Sorry..." She muttered, glancing toward the floor and lowering her neck ever so slightly. "I am weary from my travels and I lost my companion along the way. Please, forgive me. I do need sleep, preferably somewhere safe. Would you mind taking me with you, sir knight?" She asked, glancing up toward the taller stallion, batting her lids as innocently as she could muster. There, that ought to do it. Act bashful, sincere and sickly sweet, men loved that shit.

talk talk talk talk talk

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Alleo Posts: 115
Hidden Account atk: 5.5 | def: 8.5 | dam: 4.5
Stallion :: Equine :: 17.3 :: 12 HP: 60 | Buff: NOVICE
ali
#6
Alleo
and I know its hard when you’re falling down
and its a long way up when you hit the ground

The expression on Alleo's face did not falter despite the mare's sarcastic answer to his question. Of course he did not appreciate it, he'd only asked a simple question. "Forgive me." He said, dropping the 'Miss' he had been calling her because she certainly did not act like a lady. "I supposed my question should have been why did you not turn and fight instead of running for days." He'd fought wolves in his lifetime before. Yes their bite hurt, but they had not the curved claws that felines had that would help them cling to the back of a horse. They were actually quite easy to beat compared to, say, a mountain lion. "You look quite capable of holding your own in battle, but perhaps I was mistaken." How would she take the passive aggressive jab he'd made at her expense? He did not dwell on it long because she was making yet another sarcastic comment.

"Well, it seems that I should seek a home, I doubt I would last long enough to see the next sun, since I do love lying down in the face of danger."

"To each his, or her, own." He replied simple enough, not letting her sarcasm shake him visibly, though he was already growing weary of her and her sharp tongue. He had already turned his back to her when she apologized and so the batting of her eyes was wasted on him just as it would have been had he been facing her. He'd never been easily swayed by womanly wiles like other males he had known in his lifetime. He had too much honor and pride in himself for that.

Alleo paused in his retreat when the mare asked for him to take her with him. "Follow me, then." He said and started on his way only to pause once more. There several feet in front of him a dandelion; the first he had seen since ... since he couldn't remember when. His dual colored eyes remained locked on the ball of puff and he wandered over to it, pausing before he kicked at it and sent little dandelion seeds flying in the air. The stallion sighed quietly then continued on his way, expecting the mare to follow behind him if she wanted a safe place to rest.



@[Cheyenne]

Cheyenne Posts: N/A
Unregistered
:: :: ::
#7



Cheyenne</style>
new dawn, new day</style>
Why did she not turn and fight, the warrior asked as she stared blankly toward him. She did not bother retorting with any sort of answer, for she was trying to mask her impurities. Yet it seemed, as he turned his back upon her, that his opinion was made. As far as first impressions went, that hadn't exactly been the best. No matter, she thought to herself, he was a simple soldier, a mere pawn of this so called 'Foothills'. He was no leader, and so she doubted she would need to speak with him again after this not so pleasant introduction.

Yet as he began to walk, inviting her - seemingly reluctantly, by his minimal choice in words - toward his home she thought back. Why had she run? She could have tried to fight, whilst her friend escaped to safety. Yet the damsel had never been trained to fight, never had to defend herself. Daddy and the other warriors did it for her. mares were not designed for fighting or for war, they just stood around looking fucking pretty. That was all they were good for, she was taught. Yet she had already broken one of the many rules the seven sisters had to follow; one must not speak out of turn.

Damn it. The rules can burn. She left for a reason.

Yet even so, she found herself following him from a distance, keeping a wide margin between herself and the knight. She was wordless, even as he hesitated to kick the head off a dandelion. For a moment she stared, puzzled by the randomness and pointlessness of the action. Why had he bothered to do such a thing? Yet as she watched, she saw the head burst into an explosion of white, the seeds flying off on tiny parachutes to settle in the tall grasses. She had never realized that dandelions could do such a bizarre thing, since she had never taken the time to see. She stared at the cotton buds long after Alleo set off, musing at what she had seen. Slowly, she began to walk, trailing behind quite lost, and quite discontented. She had to get her shit together before she got to this 'Foothills' place!

talk talk talk talk talk

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