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Post by silentmoon on Nov 9, 2008 21:34:03 GMT -5
Ali stuttered in her seat upon Fiera's back with wide eyes. At the soldier's accusation, everything went whirling around her head. She pulled her hand back to push herself against the mare's rump so she wouldn't fall off, not now. Just not now. Fiera went wild eyed took, absorbing Ali's surprise as much as her own. Witches? Witches?! What on earth? Ali thought.
Ali turned around to look at Lana, Spirit, Phae and Xanthe with dismayed eyes. This wasn't what she intented to happen. Me and my big mouth, Ali thought. "How could we not know? The foal as apple jiuce and pieces all over her mouth." She said in the almost-last-attempt to remain civil as possible but failed miserably when her voice nearly yelled at the men.
Ali let out a string of curses under breathe before sending her quick messages to Fiera. Get others from town.... make gate... jump through gate... hurry... not time... I don't think." She thought shakingly. Quickly, the mare relayed it to the others during at the moment wondering why they shouldn't just have said it alloud. It would have saved some time from a headache and thinking. "Because it's not good to let down the act if they haven't totally bought it yet." Ali leaned over to whisper in Fiera's ears.
Fiera backed away slowly, flicking her tail at Xanthe's rump to get her moving along. How long would it take to make a clean run to town and then make another run to a gate? She didn't make any sudden movements before everyone was trulyl ready to go.
((Well, had to post something too XD))
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Post by Delicious on Nov 10, 2008 2:10:41 GMT -5
((Sorry about the delay folks - RL has been rearing it's ugly head and keeping me from doing anything except IT. Stupid life, heh.))
The whites Spirit's eyes flashed at the shrill yells of the boy-soldier. She glanced quickly at the rest of the herd, noting their tense readiness, before sending to Lana. 'That's it, hold tight, sweetling. We must run, and we must run NOW. There is no reasoning with these folk.'
With that, she reared and thought-cast as widely and as loudly as she could, accompanying the cast with a sharp wordless yell. 'RUN! SCATTER! DO NOT LET THEM TOUCH YOU! MAKE FOR THE GATE' Not waiting to see the results, she followed her own orders, and whirled around and broke out into a cold run - stretching her gait as long and as full as was physically possible.
Lana hunkered down, a small and almost invisible passenger on the wheaten bay mare racing over hill and valley. She clung tight to Spirit's neck, and convinced herself that the wetness that clung to her face was the result of the stinging wind and not of the abject terror that sought to tear any semblence of coherent thought from her head.
... ... ...
Pasiphaë stood stunned for a moment at the boy's sudden yell. Witches? What nonsense was this ...? But then he drew his lance, and another of the soldiers his sword - and she forgot everything else.
Her lip curled in anger and she stared at these men that menaced her herd-mates, their only thoughts seemingly of violence. She would stand these threats no more!
When Spirit's sharp call rang out, she moved as well, but not away from the men as the rest of the herd seemed to. No, she threw herself at them, a scream wrenching itself out of her already tense throat.
She dashed into the middle of their little knot, flailing with horn and hoof, and scoring at least a handful of hits upon equine flesh. She bit and snarled, danced and lunged, trying to harry the horses as much as she was able - knowing innately that if she could just manage to spook the dumb beasts, then the men would find it hard to follow the herd.
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Post by Lady Whimsy on Nov 10, 2008 12:52:35 GMT -5
At Brendan’s cry, Connor Brogan turned sourly in his seat muttering something under his breath about rookies. The boy was brandishing his weapon like it was flagpole, making a great show of himself. His attention turned back to the girls as the dark-haired one stammered, her voice loosing all the forced bravado it had before. He was about to tell her to dismount when the mare the other girl was riding reared suddenly, casting out a high-trilled kind of rallying cry. When her feet landed on the turf again she took off, the other unicorns scattering around her. Brogan frowned. His eyes met Liam’s, and there was no disagreement between the two. “Cut them off. We don’t want to loose them in the trees.”
Another sharp peel made him turn suddenly, to narrowly miss the flying hooves the blood bay mare as she went charging past him, moving to land a few blows on his mount as she did so. His horse sidestepped wildly, but Brogan swung his head, causing the dumb mount to spin around. When he stopped, his sword was out, and the horse seemed to have regained his wits, battle-hardened as they were, and trained to resist the equine urge to run away. Looking up he saw Liam and Aiden had controlled their mounts too, but young Brendan was flailing. He’d brought his weapon down as mare charged him, but it was uncertain whether he was able to land any blows before it was parried out of his grip and to the ground. Brogan had seen horses fight before – there was a man in town who fought stallions on Sunday for small wagers – but this mare’s tactic seemed governed and precise. It almost did make his neck hairs rise until he realized the foal Liam had roped must belong to her. He gritted his teeth at the hassle of it all, and his eyes moved back to where the other rider was getting away.
“Aiden!” he called briskly. “Follow!” he gave the command, deciding Liam could deal with this mare and the rookie solider, while he and the other Ruen boy gave chase. Naturally, Brogan had always been one for the thrill of the chase.
At his word, Aiden snapped to attention, momentarily startled by the squealing mare. When she dove towards him he and his horse stumbled backwards, him batting at her vaguely with the flat of his sword. When she dove to bite he lashed out again, and was surprised by the harsh reverberation that came through his sword as he hit something solid. Maybe he’d landed a blow. It hadn’t seemed to phase the mare as she fell at him again, and kicked his horse forward, lunging past Branden who seemed shell-shocked in the saddle and now empty handed. “Look sharp!” he yelled at his younger brother, who looked at him blankly, but there was little he could do as he drove his horse towards Brogan, already heading after the girl and her wheaten mare.
A grown unicorn, unhampered and fit, could easily outrun a horse and then some. But unicorns, unaccustomed to and concerned for riders, plus flanked by awkward half-grown kore, were another matter entirely. Xanthe plunged under Fiera’s legs, instantly chastened by any thoughts of bravery and it took her a whole thirty seconds to pull herself back together. “We need Rhaine!” she cried, half of her wanting the sisterly comfort and familiarity of her mother’s companion on selfish grounds only, and the other half knowing that if they had a hope in hell of getting out of here, they were going to need some serious help. “We need to go get them!”
((*snugs del* No worries... RL can be such a pain sometimes, eh?))
((I feel like I want to add more; I sure seem to be on a RP kind of roll atm... but, sadly, I have to run off for work now. Perhaps I'll add to this later))
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Post by Lady Whimsy on Nov 10, 2008 22:49:58 GMT -5
((Hmmm... unicorns are pretty impressive - but I'm not sure Fiera could have so easily knocked down a soldier and horse and suffer no consequences as a result, such as her rider being thrown off from the impact, or her going down under the flailing hooves. Horse crashes are generally not pretty And, particularly choosing Liam, who is an experienced fighter and would have had his sword drawn.... er, I'd just rather not have anyone get impaled on their first trip out of Kalidore...
Also wondering if Spirit's thought far enough ahead to realize that, without the Guardians, that gate isn't going to open... mwahahah... ahmmph. *cough*
So... anyone want to go back to *quiet*, yet? ;D))
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Post by Delicious on Nov 11, 2008 1:37:43 GMT -5
(( Oh, she knows - but she doesn't have any BETTER ideas at the moment, and hopes that if they at least make it to the gate/nearby, the rest of the gang might fortuitiously already be there? Hehe. Or that and maybe a secret little hope that it will 'malfunction' like it did when that other gate popped up to take her to Lana unexpectedly. Heh. If she gets to the gate and there's no one there, I'm thinking she'll probably head to town. (or probably follow suite if Fiera decides to veer off in that direction instead).
... although honestly, going to town with a bunch of people already burning a witch, and tailed by a knot of soldiers screaming "Witch!" at you, doesn't seem like exactly the best idea. Haha. Hence the "ohpleaseohpleasebeathegatealready" hope.
As for quiet - not a chance. XD Although, hopefully I won't accidentally tick anyone off for not coming up with a brilliant plan. My brain a bit frazzled as of late.
...also, is it bad that I kind of want to keep Liam? *cough* He strikes me as a generally upstanding chap, if unfortunately shaped by culture. Just a little bit of forced amnesia (which I'm sure we could manage with the flat of a blade, or a convenient rock) and we can just reprogram that unfortunate upbrining in notime! *cough* Yeah okay, I'm obviously crazy. *snerk* ))
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Post by silentmoon on Nov 11, 2008 8:15:26 GMT -5
((Oops! I knew it sounded weird, lol. Ok, I'll delete then repost later when I get home from school.
Sorry!))
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Post by Lady Whimsy on Nov 11, 2008 9:29:39 GMT -5
((@ Silent - It didn't sound weird... just that wee part... maybe... a bit too hopeful? ))
((@ Del - *snerks* Keep Liam? Huh. That would be... unexpected.
<--- lives for the unexpected ;D
Guess it's up to you though how you want to get him there though. Unless Phae wants to unexpectedly take on a rider, or he follows haphazardly through the gate...
...which, btw, we are going to have more adventures with gating shortly, more excting, unexpected, and unquiet adveture, hehehehe.... ))
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Post by shazzadee86 on Nov 11, 2008 19:25:24 GMT -5
Drawing his sword in practiced ease, Liam swung the flat of the blade at the blood bay mare who seemed determined to harass their efforts, unwilling to injure such a fine horse, even if she was intent on hurting them, but he missed as she moved beyond his reach. I must be loosing it, horses don't use tactics in a fight, they're animals, they use instincts. He was having a harder time convincing himself as the fight continued and the ferocious mare was trying every move he would have himself. Gaining a slight distance between himself and the mare, Liam turned to Brendan and bellowed at the new recruit 'Retrieve your weapon! Strike from the left! Lets try chasing her back to her herd mates!'
But he was too slow. In that instant, the blood bay mare charged him. Cursing loudly, Liam tried to get his horse to move out of the way, and thought he had succeeded. It surprised him when a sharp flash of pain seared just below his left shoulder. Forced to drop his reigns, Liam started to guide his mount with his knees, his mind a complete blank as to how his arm had been cut. The blood running down his arm didn't allow him any other explanations. Looking back to the mare, Liam swore he could see not only a look of triumph on her face, but what might be his blood flowing down something ever closer to that face. He hoped it was the blood loss that was making him see these things.
***
The beginning of the fight was all a blur to Brendan, it all happened so quickly. It took him longer than the others to regain control of his mount, his greenhorn behavior making him flush with shame. He'd also dropped his lance, and was certain it had been knocked from his grasp, but by what he didn't know. He wasn't certain he wanted to know.
Just as he had himself regrouped and was searching for his fallen weapon, Brendan's brother Aiden flew past him to go with Conner after the girls who were fleeing, the mare still causing havoc having created a diversion for them. That realization making him shudder. Witches! If I get out of this I will never, ever, complain about being given boring tasks to do ever again! Brendan located his weapon just as Liam started calling orders, and leaned down with an acrobats swiftness to grab his lance, bringing it up just as Liam was injured.
With an incoherent battle cry, Brendan charged towards the mare, hoping to at least make it retreat from his bleeding superior.
@del - sorry if i absconded with phae too much there - was just trying to use some of her landed blows to give you an opening to keep liam if you decide too
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Post by Delicious on Nov 11, 2008 23:54:06 GMT -5
(( Hehe, nah it's fine, although honestly, you probably made her a bit more competent than I would've. *cackle* I might have to swing the needle a bit on the other side to make up for it.
Okay, so now Phae's got a wounded Liam... wonder how I can work with that? *goes off to plot about it*
Also - probably won't have time for a Kalidore RP post until late tomorrow, by the by. No real time tonight, and have looooong work day tomorrow.
So feel free to puppet mine around a bit if needed. ^^))
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Post by Lady Whimsy on Nov 12, 2008 21:32:04 GMT -5
Meanwhile, back in town...
The smoke stung his eyes and the heat of the fire was building fiercely, radiating up the pyre and licking at exposed skin. Persephone's feet skidded on the logs, and Tyden gripped the mane again until she found her footing. It hurt to breath. He turned again to the woman before them, letting go of his hold to reach for her, swaying slightly with the momentum. Her head was bent forward, dark red hair covering her face, and his hand went to her neck to check for pulse. It was still there, but faintly. He pushed back the curls but her eyes were closed, mouth slightly agape and lips bloodied. Her arms were bruised. Her hands were tied behind her, wrapped right around the pole and secured there, bound in place by thick wreaths of cord and impossible to untie quickly. Tyden felt his own heart race, fighting the nausea of the heat and the horror of what happened to this woman. He needed to get her out of there. Persephone needed him to. He cursed his hasty immersion into this adventure that left him without any useful tools - not even a pocket knife! He pulled at the ropes with no avail. Good god, what use was he? He gritted his teeth, leaning closer to pole as Persephone teetered again, fire dancing around her hooves.
A sound made him turn, and he spotted Rhaine and Lilaini standing between the mob and the pyre. Metal clacked and swords flew, the girls and their dark mares flying between them. I need a sword, he thought desperately. He turned to the bound girl as the ground shifted again beneath him, his voice broke through in his angst, cutting the hot air through his throat as he cried, "I need a sword!"
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Post by Admin on Nov 12, 2008 21:33:18 GMT -5
Gypsy, Mare Imbruim and the two Guardians flew along behind Peresphone and Tyden. Gypsy’s long strides ate up the distance that stood between them and the town, Lilaini sat low to her companion’s neck, vaguely aware that everything around them was nothing more than a blur. Despite the renowned speed that Gypsy possessed, Peresphone’s pace was not to be matched today, let alone overtook. The bay mare, with Tyden astride therefore reached the town well before the Guardian’s and their companions. When the two of them entered the town and were lost from sight, Lilaini bit her lip and looked at her friend astride the black mare. Rhaine was the empath but Lilaini did not need to possess that gift in order to tell her friend was also worried.
Tyden and Persephone had been lost from sight for several minutes by the time the copper mare and black mares hooves clattered onto the cobblestone street. They pulled up suddenly as they found themselves in the midst of a sea of people. “Where are they?”, the young woman asked in a strained voice. “Do you see them?” Her voice faltered. “Oh dear Kal, are they on the burning pyre?” It hadn’t taken long for her eyes to find what they were looking for. There was pyre in the middle of the square which was beginning to catch fire, atop of which stood Persephone, Tyden and a young woman who must be the person they searched for. Lilaini again turned to Rhaine and a look passed between them that said they both knew what they had to do. Gypsy and Imbri surged forwards and pushed their way through the startled and confused crowd until they were next to pyre.
The guards nearby seemed to have recovered from their initial shock and were now rushing towards the intruders. Tyden’s voice, laced with desperation broke through shouts of the mob. He needed a sword. Lilaini’s eyes fell upon the face of the poor women he was attempting to save, and her anxiety turned to anger. How dare they she thought. Brutish horrible people. She did not need to look far to locate one, she turned her flashing green eyes upon the leader of the guards. Reaching out mentally, she ripped the sword out of his outstretch hand and sent it sailing towards Tyden. “Tyden!”, she yelled outloud so the young man was aware of the sword hurtling towards him. When she was sure he had safely grabbed the sword she turned her attention back to the rest of the guards who were now faltering again, her mind reached out for the cold hard steel in their hand and violently ripped their swords away as well. Turning the blades around in mid air she mentally pushed the blades right up against their owners throats. “I suggest you stay where you are”, she said coldly to the now helpless men, daring them to move.
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Post by Lady Whimsy on Nov 13, 2008 0:22:09 GMT -5
The sword sailed through the air in graceful arch, gliding measuredly, as if in slow motion. It graced over the heads of the crowd before it began to descend, careening towards the bay unicorn, her rider, and the girl. When it was almost upon them it quivered, nearly stopped, and Tyden reached up to seize it from the air. The sword fit neatly into his hand. It was a good weapon, balanced and well-cared for, the blade clean and eager. He regarded it for a moment, then cast a look of thanks to Lilaini, who on receipt turned back and to crowd. Tyden shifted his weight, gripping Persephone with his knees and swung himself towards the girl. With precise movement he cut the ropes, grabbing the falling weight of her with his other arm and letting momentum bring her across Persephone's back in front of him. "Got you," he said surely, "you are with friends now..." Her body was still lifeless, but he thought he heard small, unconscious sigh escape her cracked lips as her body pressed close to her Companion. The harsh snap and clacking of burning wood crackled around them, and the fire leapt around the unicorn's legs like hungry orange tongues. The sickly smell of burnt air joined the fearsome sent of the flames, and the heat was unbearable. "I think it was time we took our leave of this place," he addressed the mare, his eyes following through the crowd to where Lilaini had the guard cowed, at least for a brief moment. He gripped with his knees again, his right hand brandishing the sword in an easy manner, his left keeping the girl snuggly in place. "Though if at all possible... you might want to take it a little easier this time?" Below in the crowd, the murmuring sea of people had grown still and army had come to a tentative halt. Silence hung in the air, the only noise the fire. All eyes watched as bay mare stood amongst the flames, arching her crimson-dappled neck around to find the girl, breathing slow and filling her wide nostrils with the scent of her. For one moment there was no fire, no army, nothing but Unicorn and Companion newly met. Then a log cracked, the fire shifted, and sparks flew as the trio went cascading down the side of the burning mound. Rhaine felt her heart convulse as she watched them go down. A cry escaped her lips, and Mare Imbrium sprang forward wordlessly, tracing along the edge of the pyre. On the other side they found Persephone had miraculously kept her feet, and her riders still settled. Fire had eaten away at her tail and the tattered fringes whipped around her furiously, extinguishing the last of the flames. But the mare seemed not to feel any of it; her eyes were bright and her face elated. She sensed their approached and turned, her ears flicked in greeting. "Nicely done, you two - but this is hardly the time to reminisce!" Imbri gave a snort to clear the ash from her nose. "Keep moving!" Tyden nodded silently, and the bay mare leapt forward, slowing her pace lightly in retrospect as she adjusted to the new challenge of her unconscious charge. "She lives?" Rhaine's eyes fell upon the girl's ghostly pale face. "She'll be fine," Persephone intoned, no trace of doubt. Relief lit her features and she buried her face into Imbri's dark mane. She leapt through fire for her, her head swam with heady awareness. *Did you ever have doubt?* she felt Mare Imbrium brush against her mind. *For you we would walk through the very fires of inception...* Noise flooded back into the world as the crowds took stalk of the situation at hand. They’d come to see a show – and show they had certainly got. But now, as the event unraveled, a new feeling began to breed, took root and grew. Witches. The Church had come and told them all the things that they must fear, and the abominations that would stand before them and the path to righteousness. In troubled times never was death far away, and the looming unknown ever dark and foreboding. Witches. The word chilled, filled with mysticism and misunderstanding it rallied them together against a common ill, gave a name to discontentment and singled out a culprit. Weather it was the right one – nay, it mattered naught. It gave them something to focus their anger towards, something to shutter and distrust. Something to banish, in hopes that by doing so, it exonerated themselves. “Witch!” the cry went up from the crowd, slowly at first, then growing louder, and more eager. The startled army, stayed by the showy display of the Guardian’s power, now felt their strengthen returning, their intimidation turning to disgust, urged on by the swelling chant of the crowd…
((( Wooweee.... though I feel like I need to go and check in on Xanthe right about now, I have to do that tommorrow, as it's quite past my bedtime )
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Post by Admin on Nov 13, 2008 7:46:11 GMT -5
Gypsy and Lilaini had watched in horror when Persephone fell through the pyre. They had surged forward with Mare Imbrium and Rhaine, forgetting everything else, Lilaini had let the swords drop with a clatter to the ground in front of the guards. Relief washed over them both as they saw no severe hard had come to their friends. Persephone's tail was a bit singed, but the bay mare did not seem to notice. Nothing mattered to her at this point other than her Companion. For a few seconds it was as it time has ceased moving, the din of the crowd diseapered and it seemed like no one moved. Seeing the bond firmly established between human and unicorn was something awe inspiring. Lilaini reached down and hugged Gypsy neck tightly, knowing the feeling the other two were experiencing.
The moment suddenly passed, and the pair became increasingly aware that the crowd was no longer silent and the guards no longer stunned. Lilaini's eyes whirled around saw the guards bending down, gingerly picking up their swords, as if they were unsure whether to use them now that they had been tainted by witch magic. Movement to her left caused her to avert her gaze and she saw several archers clambering onto nearby rooftops, and the crowd began pressing in towards the Unicorns. “We need to go.” Lilaini said turning quickly to her companions. “We need to go NOW”, she said again turning towards the others. “GO”, she yelled towards Persephone and Mare Imbrium and she and Gypsy turned to take up the rear. She felt herself calm and reached out for the magic that was flowing around them, coaxing it towards her she created a divide in the crowd by hurling everyone in the centre backwards, leaving a path for the other two Unicorns to follow.
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Post by angelofmusic on Nov 13, 2008 9:46:08 GMT -5
((I feel the need to post something, but oh this is getting interesting))
As morning came over the small village, Trinity was awoken by the smell of food being cooked. Quickly she rose and dressed, helped as sh had done before with some little chores. Once they were finished, she had a warm breakfast with the family sheh ad been staying with that night. She knew that she could stay and possibly find a home there, but she still had the want to wander and find the right place, the place where she felt she truly belonged.
The day passed simply and she had once again taken to helping where she could here and there, though as late afternoon came, she said her good byes and was once more on her way, though this time she had a bit more food in the saddle bags, thanks to the woman of the home where she had stayed and helped in. Horse had been fed and groomed and seemed to know that it looked better as it seemed to have a spring in the step.
As before she kept her eyes open for any signs of trouble, even though she knew that in the saddle bag there was a dagger, she hoped she wouldn't have to use it...because she didn't really know how to use one. As she rode along she hummed softly to herself, a tune she had heard once before in a dream. The dream had always been the same where she had been sitting in a glade under a tree near a stream, a fine light fog over the water. all around her though she could hear the tune being hummed to her, the voice a rich baritone, smooth and silken though. she never saw who it was th at was humming though she had called out many times asking who was there, the answer had always been the same of 'I am someone you will meet one day, someone that you believe to be real.' she knew she would find out, but so far, she had not found the being of the dreams.
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Post by Lady Whimsy on Nov 13, 2008 21:45:09 GMT -5
Mare Imbrium dove into the sea of people, finding the path Lilaini had parted through crowd. Townsfolk scattered out of their way, and only twice did she have veer sharply to avoid trampling an unwitting stander-by. Rhaine threw a look over her shoulder to Tyden, astride Persephone with the unconscious girl propped sideways across the mare's back. His sword was drawn, eyes keenly on the crowd, lest one of them chose that moment for religious heroism.
The crowd had turned. No longer passive watchers they had taken up whatever was nearby - spades and pitchforks, flagpoles - and joined league with the church's army. Tyden gritted his teeth. Peasants, farmers, common folk, all of them... what were they doing here, in this mess, when they should be going about their simple lives, untouched by such madness? He did not relish wetting his sword on any of them, what when the true culprits - the men in their long robes and gabled hats - had already retreated to the sanctuary of the church; while they were determined that blood would be shed, it wouldn't be theirs.
He saw the archers on the roof, and prodded Persephone swiftly on the right side. She veered away from the pressure, nearly taking Imbri out with the sudden movement. "Through there!" he shouted, pointing to an alleyway through the houses. Rhaine nodded, casting a thought back to Lilaini to update her on their progress. She'd lost sight of her friend in the crowd, and only hoped Lilaini knew what she was doing. She cursed her own lack skill; she could neither wield a sword nor Lilaini's brand of swift magic. She was utterly useless to her friends in their time of need.
They carved through the maze of shambled houses, the clatter of hooves on cobblestone resonating through the empty streets. That sound swelled to thunder as a flank of mounted soldiers came around the next block, squaring them off from the side street. "HALT!" the guard called. "Cease now, pagans, and let the graciousness of the lord redeem your souls to heaven!"
"Seriously?" Tyden quipped, sliding in beside Imbri and Rhaine. "But what if I'm still using mine?" The guard shifted uneasily, horses champed their bits as silence fell.
Persephone snorted, eyes fixed on the soldiers with grim disgust. "I went through fire. I will go through them," she warned.
"Not if we can help it," Tyden gazed around the street for an opening. There was only one - and it was the open door to small building. "That will do." His eyes flashed to Rhaine, and she nodded briskly. In a unison the mares turned, as graceful as deer, diving into the dark maw of the hall with the sounds of surprised soldiers fading out behind.
Plunged into darkness, it took Imbri a moment before she could see. The room was dimly lit at best, and by this time she was already halfway across, having scattered a small table and set of chairs in her wake. She heard Persephone give a wincing cry behind, blundering into them with her burnt legs. "There --" Rhaine felt her way through the dark with mind, passing the imagery on to the unicorn in turn. "It's a door, you'll have to---"
"Hang on!" Imbri plunged her head forward, bearing herself at the port head on. The impact was muted, Rhaine flinched as timber shattered easily enough, and the door gave way. She heard Tyden call out, but couldn't answer, teeth clenched and fingers locked until sunlight flooded back into view. It was a carriage house, and beyond the wide open doors, the light of day.
*Sweetling, are you alright?* Mare Imbrium nudged her.
*Yes - but you?*
She heard the mare laugh. *Hard-headed I was called before you were born! Now open your eyes and tell me if you can see the road over that wall*
Rhaine raised her head in the direction Imbri had indicated and saw, crowning the grey limestone, the rolling green of the countryside. The wall itself was sturdy and wrapped snugly around the small yard, coming to conclusion at a high iron gate. But the gateway was open, one rusted hinge creaking in the wind. The soldiers were still fighting their way around the outside of the building, their angered cries spilling into the yard from the street beyond. "That's the way," she nodded as the others pulled up beside her. "But what about Lilaini?"
"She'll come," Tyden assured. "Let's leave this place."
A brief moment of hesitation, but Imbri urged her on; they were off, out the iron gates and already galloping up the hill by the time the army had made it through...
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Post by Admin on Nov 13, 2008 23:08:01 GMT -5
Gypsy snorted, ears lay pinned against her neck, ready to last out at anyone who was silly enough to try and come near them. She pranced in place, as she watched Mare Imbrium dive into the sea of people in front of them. Persephone had not needed any encouragement, and the singed mare followed close at her sister’s heels. Once the others were clear of the crowd, Lilaini loosened her grip on the magic and let it flow where it would. The stunned people began picking themselves up from where they lay, and the Guardian saw them begin to take arms. Pitchforks and spades were being raised to their never ending chant. It is time we should follow, hang on. Gypsy’s voice rang inside the young women’s head before the copper mare too charged into the midst of the crowd. Her hooves clattered off the cobblestone and she surged through the crowd of people.
Watch for the archer’s!, Lilaini’s voice urged to her companion. I see them, Gypsy replied allowing her eyes to move and along the rooftops, the archers were taking aim and began loosing their arrows. Gypsy leaped this way and that, easily avoiding the rain of arrows that raced towards her and Lilaini. The mare continued her breakneck pace through the crowd and followed her friends into the alleyway. Just as she was about to break free of the crowd, a frantic child came running out directly in her path. “Gypsy!” Lilaini yelled aloud, terrified they were about the run the child over. The mare lurched to the side trying to avoid the collision, but in doing so lost sight of the archers arrows. A bellow escaped the unicorns lips as she felt not one, but two metal tips bite deep into the flesh of her hip. Lilaini was fighting to stay seated on the mare, as they narrowly avoiding trampling the child and slamming into a wall. Gypsy ignored the pain that was coursing through her legs and back and plunged ahead, her hooves eating up the distance between her and their friends.
Lilaini looked behind them, and saw the child was unharmed, but also saw two crimson arrows painfully protruding from her companions hindquarters. A thought from Rhaine rubbed up against her thoughts, showing her the path they were taking. There were solider’s close behind them, yelling for them to halt, and up head the group that had followed close behind Persphone was standing staring stupidly at a building. Gypsy’s pace did not slacken as she charged towards the group of men. The soldier’s confusion rose and they began to shout as they saw the mare and rider hurtling towards them. Waving their hands in the air they tried in vain to get the pair to stop; but at the last minute they abandoned all hope of that and dove out of the unicorns way. Gypsy turned on a dime and clattered through the room they had just entered, wasting no time in exiting through the door Mare Imbrium had “opened” for them. Relief washed over them both as hoof again met soft grass, and as their friends came into view once more.
Are you ok? Lilaini asked, feelings of concern washed over her as the feelings of pain from her companion continued to wash over her. I’m fine, they will have to do much better than that to hurt me came the reply. Inspite of herself, Lilaini smiled, but this look quickly retreated when she looked behind them and saw the army had finally organized itself and was again in pursuit. Rhaine, they are coming, we must hurry, was all Lilaini could send to her friend.
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Post by Lady Whimsy on Nov 14, 2008 0:31:20 GMT -5
When Fiera began running, Xanthe was determined to keep up. She didn't know where they were headed, but anywhere was better then here. Phae's peals of battle curdled the air as they danced around the sparing soldiers on their way by, her gangly foal's legs scrambling over the rutted mud, nearly felling her. She fought balance, and leapt on ahead, as fast as her heart could take her.
If they could only get to town, and get to the Guardians.... and then everything would be okay, she told herself. Everyone would be safe again. They'd get back to Kalidore, and then her mother would nuzzle her all over and tell her what a brave little Korè she had been. There would be much rejoicing. They would look back at this all and laugh. And she would never, ever eat another apple again, she swore up and down and sideways. Kal, just let me see my mom again, she pleaded softly, and I will try desperately hard never to get into any more trouble...
* * *
Liam felt the world sway slightly as he clamped his hand over his arm to try and stay the flow of blood. It was hard to do and keep a hold on his weapon. Branden's yell made him turn, and he watched the boy hurl himself at the bay mare, determination making up for inexperience and driving the animal back. They yelled again, boy and mare, falling in on each other. In that same instant movement caught Liam's eye and he turned his head, feeling pain shoot down his arm and making him bite hard. The red mare and small rider flew past, and he was unable to do anything to stop them. Blood pounded in his ears as he turned again, "Solider!" he called out sharply. "See to the girl!"
"Sir!" Branden swung about in his saddle, pulling in the horse fast. "But what about--"
"They can't question horses," he coughed. "Get after them!"
The boy solider stood for a moment, confliction wrote across his face. Then he pulled himself up and nodded sharply, craning the horse around with one hand on the reins and the other flourishing his weapon. He wheeled away, kicking his mount into flight over the broken ground. Liam let out a pained sigh, wishing the boy would do well. He knew he should be there with him, not sitting here on his horse like a stuck pig, hapless and bleeding. He released the pressure on his arm tentatively, watching another swell of red seep across the thick grey fabric of his sleeve. That was a lot of blood, and it made no intention of stopping. He was going to have to tie it soon, or he wasn't going to be able to do much at all. He grimaced, moving his sword hand away when the sea-blue eyes of the bay mare caught him again in their sights.
"You again," he murmured softly, turning his horse around with his legs to face her. His sword rested across his thigh, the motion taxing, each breath finding new pain and driving it deep. His eyes never left the ungodly horse. "Tell me now, nameless one, how is this going to end?"
* * *
Branches snapped under hooves as the horses scrambled through scrub, the girl and her wheaten mare barreling forward to the trees a good two paces ahead, but the distance was shrinking. Brogan's horse was shorter and had half the stride, but he knew these parts, and his feet found footing as nimbly as a goat. For all his faults, Brogan was a good rider. He rode fast, and rode hard, Aiden another pace or two behind him.
Underbrush crunched and goaded them, thin branches wiped back in their faces. Their pace slowed, and Brogan raised his sword out to cut the shrubbery from his way. "Enough of this," he spat, turning to the other. "There's no place for them to hide anyway. You follow here. I'm going around. We'll drive her back to the others."
Aiden nodded agreement, and plunged by him into the trees. Brogan wheeled his horse around and cut across the gentle slop at an angle. The girl was making him work. He hated working. When he caught her, he'd make her sorry. The thought brought a cruel smile to his lips, and he licked them, eagerly. Brogan liked making people sorry.
Around the next slope the ground cleared and he kicked the beast forward into a gallop, cutting back sharply towards his pursuit and closing in...
((Silent - I had Fiera simply run by Liam instead of knocking him down. BTW, did you actually delete your post? Because now I can't see to find what I swear I remembered reading...?))
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Post by silentmoon on Nov 18, 2008 18:43:43 GMT -5
Fiera was breathing hard, her heart in her femine chest. Her legs were straining to glide over the ground with a smooth gate, avoiding road hazards here and there while she took them to the their escape. Ali was feeling the same, except she was more concerned about staying astride on this jarring ride. She was focused too, but something was tugging at her mind. "I wonder what will happen to Phae? And what about that soldier? I want us to escape, but he seemed like... like near death. That would cause some guilt, I'm afraid. It's just all so much to even..."
The sounds of horse's snorting and hoofbeats cut her off from her thoughts. Ali had a bad feeling about this, but she turned around to take a peak, even though she suspected who it might actually be. Behind them, one of the other soldiers was riding up and gaining on their tails - fast. The girl sucked in her breath sharply and briskly forced out, "Someone's catching up on us. Do you think we could find a route that take us a little ahead of Lana and Spirit?"
Fiera's ears flickered back, picking up the sounds and her companion's voice. "Into the trees then." Suddenly, the orange mare produced a sharp turn off the rocky dirt road and into the trees and shrubs. "C'mon Xanthe, time to take a detour." Fiera snorted sarcastically. The duo jumped over a few fallen trees here and there, dodging trees that posed a potential collison with. Twice had they not drifted off into thought, they would have run right into a tree too!
Quite suddenly, everything cleared and the trees surrounding them were no more. Fiera slowed down a bit into a canter, so her legs could take a little rest. Everything seemed better, that boy wasn't even in site. Ali was looking ahead up the road while Fiera was looking down at the road, watching for hazards too. Something caught the girls eyes and her modo lit up a bit. "Look! I see an iron gate, maybe that leads to the town? Perhaps the others are there?" Ali inquired while they sauntered closer to look.
Suddenly as they had appeared on the road, Fiera half reared in surprise. Ali clung to her neck tightly, obviously aware of falling off. When the unicorn finally landed, the could see Imbri, Tyden, Rhaine, Persaphone and someone unknown to her all clustered together. "But where's Lilaini?" Ali asked briskly before they were all forced on the run again. "I wouldn't go that way! Spirit and Lana seems to be on the run. Phae is last one standing battle with that boy soldier. And us? We're on the run too." Fiera craned her head around to prick her ears at the coming Branden.
"And I think he's coming right now."
((Okay, so I don't know if there was actually trees near them, but uh... just let me know what you think!))
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Post by Lady Whimsy on Nov 18, 2008 21:09:59 GMT -5
((I think it's great! And the trees were back near the Gate, so yes, there were trees ))
((So... if I've got it right, character placement is currently as follows - presuming that the town and the Gate are on opposite ends of each other -
> Rhaine & Imbri, Tyden, Aislinn & Persephone - having escaped town, mounting a sort of hill in between the town and where they left the group. > Liliani & Gypsy - headed up from the town towards Rhaine & Tyden on the hill, keeping the cavalry at bay as she goes > Phae - back facing off with Liam somewhere in between the hill and the Gate > Lana & Spirit - currently headed towards the gate, Brogan & Aiden in pursuit > Fiera & Ali, and Xanthe - coming towards town, in sight of the hill, Brendan in pursuit.
Hehehe.... it's like chess... and currently lining up pieces for the next move...))
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Post by shazzadee86 on Nov 19, 2008 16:22:10 GMT -5
Slipping in and out of consciousness, Aislinn became aware of a few things very quickly. The first being the presence in her mind, nigh euphoric at her wakening state. 'Dear one! We're here! You're awake!' Relief flooded into Aislinn's mind from the sender. 'What...? Who...?' her mind still wasn't clear, and it made reaching out for the source of the new feelings and sensations difficult. 'I am Persephone, and you are my companion.' A loud crash, the sound of splintering wood, made her flinch. 'We're almost clear of this place, just a little longer.' The warmth of sunlight, and a fresh breeze hit her face, blowing her hair into her eyes as she struggled to open them. "Tyden!"she heard the voice again, out loud this time, "She's waking up!' As Aislinn opened her eyes, she finally saw Persephone, her bay coat, her black mane, her silver horn and a glimpse of the emerald green eyes she remembered from when she had been in the town square. With a sudden moment of clarity, Aislinn new she would never be apart from Persephone, and that knowledge filled her with a relief and contentment all of her own. "How are you feeling?" a new voice broke her consciousness. "You were in a pretty bad way when we found you." Turning to see who it was, she found herself face to face with one of her rescuers, sword in one hand, his other arm holding her in place. Tyden, she thought to herself as she remembered the name Persephone had called. She could see another women and unicorn over his shoulder. "Feeling?" Glancing down she saw the physical marks the last few days had left her with, but they looked weeks old, not days. 'Unicorns have healing abilities, my Aislinn, and I was not going to allow my companion to suffer any longer than necessary. Not when I can help it.' Gratitude was all Aislinn could feel, not only for Persephone, but for everyone, all responsible for the fact that she still had her life before her. "My name is Aislinn, and I owe you all a debt of thanks," she sighed, and meeting Tyden's gaze with one of her own, Aislinn replied "I think I'm alright now."
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Post by Lady Whimsy on Nov 20, 2008 23:51:32 GMT -5
Mounting the shallow summit, Imbri's keen eyes caught movement. "Ho! look there - it seems the others are on their way!"
Rhaine craned her neck to find what the dark mare had spotted, and sight of Fiera and Xanthe barreling across the green towards them made her instantly glad. The feeling lasted only for a moment before she was swept up by the sheet of panic that surrounded them, and saw, only a few short paces behind, a soldier in pursuit. She could only hope that Spirit and Phae were close behind, just out of view. If there were more soldiers in those trees.... *Fiera* she reached out with her mind *Keep running! We're here...* She didn't wait for an answer, and re-focused her thoughts towards Lilaini and Tyden, bringing them the news. If we can stay just out of reach, then Lilaini and I can summon a Gate, she thought breathlessly. There was no time to reach the old one, and the alternatives seemed to dwindle by the moment.
Over her shoulder she saw the town blossom with the eerie flicker of torchlight as the people spilled out onto the road. They followed the mounted soldiers on foot, the cruel song of their crusade growing louder and louder as they neared. The chanting gave the soldiers strength, it gave them courage and bravado, and even as Lilaini continued to fling wildly with her power at them, it had begun to loose its initial shock value. All about them the air seemed to change, as if holding its breath, and the grey sky began to fall, heavy, cold, and unrelenting...
As soon as he was satisfied Aislinn could ride on her own, Tyden gave Persephone a nudge forward and swung his leg over and down. He landed on the ground cleanly, bringing his sword up and around to feel the balance between his hands. “Keep moving!” he shouted as the bay mare whinnied sharply, Aislinn looking back with a blank expression of horror. “Get to the others!” The unicorn heeded him, and the sound of hooves trailed away. He turned to where Lilaini and Gypsy cut down the distance between them, the cavalry following ominously behind.
“Tyden!” Rhaine had urged Imbri around, the look on the dark mare’s face echoing her own. “What are you doing?” she cried, skidding to a halt beside him.
“You get the others and get out of here,” he said plainly. “We’ll hold them off,”
“With a sword?!” Rhaine was incredulous. “I’m not leaving you here!”
“There’s no time for this – I’ll be fine – you need to lead the others,” he met her eyes, dark and furious, biding her to go. When she still didn’t move he swung around to smack Imbri’s rump soundly with the flat of his sword. “Go! You’re of no use to me here.”
The truth of that statement stung; even has Imbri lurched ahead with an indignant snort Rhaine was recoiling, the ground beneath them a turning to a muddy blur. “When we get through this all, I will kick him,” the mare declared. “Soundly. Twice.”
“Just make to the others,” the young woman said softly, weaving the dark mane between her fingers as she adjusted her hold. She set her gaze forward, finding the rest of the herd galloping headlong over the sprawling green which no longer looked so majestic or enchanting.
((*wonders what has become of Spirit and Phae... and Liam, for that matter*))
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Post by Delicious on Nov 23, 2008 14:17:07 GMT -5
((They fell off a cliff. Or at least the brain of their owner did. Posting now come hell or high water. Or sumfin'. Expect something, albeit potentially disjointed, in an hour or so.))
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Post by Delicious on Nov 24, 2008 3:03:37 GMT -5
Pasiphae fair snarled in irritation. The rest of the herd had disappeared amidst the grey-green woods, with the majority of the soldiers close behind – it seemed her spur of the moment plan had done little to delay the men as a whole, and she fretted at being so far behind. Sweat trickled in small rivulets down her neck and brow – stinging sharply as it dripped into her eyes. She narrowed them into a glare, but dare not shift her attention from the mounted solider before her – wounded though he was – and instead shifted backwards, the shallow cuts on her flanks and back flared painfully as she moved. “Badly. For one of us, I think.” She spat out in reply to the soldier’s murmured question – too angry to remember she should keep her mouth shut. Her mind raced as she mentally ran through her options. When the soldier’s blanched visibly – it seemed as if the heavy blood loss was finally catching up to him - Pasiphae tensed, and then rushed headlong at the pair – waiting until the last moment to dip her head low and slip her horn under the girth of the saddle, scoring a long cut along the ribs of the horse. The soldier’s mount squealed in pain, and whipped itself around biting deeply into the arch of Pasiphae’s neck before rearing. ‘Phae, wrenching her head and horn away from the barrel of the horse, the leather girth still looped flat against the base of her horn, heard the sound of stitching tearing and felt the band loosen before falling free from her horn. She moved away only slightly before barreling back, shoving up against sore side of the mount, urging it to an even greater pained frenzy. The horse reared again and ‘Phae watched the saddle began to slide, the leather strap too loose and parting even further under the strain. Liam struggled to stay astride, but weakened as he was by blood loss, his sword soon clattered from his grip – and he fell heavily to the ground – managing at the least to fall free of the horse and the saddle. The horse shied and almost bolted into the trees – but danced to a nervous stop several meters away, it’s head high and white-eyed, wary of Pasiphae, but trained well enough to not leave it’s rider. Liam groaned once upon hitting the ground, his voice low and raw, and then went disturbingly still. The unicorn mare glanced at him, and then at the trees – shaking her head to try and clear her eyes of sweat, and flicking her ears to as she sought to catch noise of the rest of the group – but she heard nothing except the heavy breathing of the nearby horse. As ‘Phae tensed, ready to bolt into the trees in the general direction of the others and the gate, she felt an unexpected internal twinge that brought her to a shuddering stop. She stomped and pinned her ears to her head, fighting against the strange pang of guilt that lanced sharply through her. There was no reason to pity this strange, violent man – or her actions against him. They sought to hurt her herd, Spirit and Lana – her reaction was of simple self-defense … … … Pasiphae bared her teeth and glared at the boneless heap of a man that lay motionless on the ground. And yet … she couldn’t bring herself to leave him. She moved towards him, warily, until she stood directly above him – staring down at the man, prone and still bleeding steadily, upon the forest floor. He was definitely unconscious, and his face had lost even more color. Pasiphae wrestled with herself, knowing innately that if she left him here, without some sort of miracle – he would likely die. As much as she despised the knot of soldiers and their threats of violence – she did not wish him DEAD. Pasiphae cast about for some way to get him to safety, so that she could be rid of her guilt and return the others. Perhaps if she could just get him on his horse … she whickered, low and cajoling, and tried to approach his mount, hoping to lead it closer, but the horse shied away further – to wary of her to let anywhere near. She cursed at it and stamped, and eyed the man again. There was no way around it then – she moved closer to him (first moving his sword well out of reach) – and pushed at him with her nose. “Hssssssssst. Wake up you awful beast.” She grumbled at him, noting his feeble groans beginning to grow in volume. “Get up. You need to get up.” Using her teeth she was able to pull him mostly up into a less prone sitting position, before laying down beside him and shoving her head and neck under one arm. “Get UP you awful man. Hurry up, get ON already. Let’s GO.” She hissed at him. There was little way she was going to be able to get him astride her if he didn’t help at least a little. She thought he might be rousing a bit, for she felt one hand close on the hair of her mane, and waited blindly hoping that he’d come to enough to finally get astride so she could go. ((Truly sorry if this sounds totally implausible. My experience with horses is almost nil – and well, llama life experience doesn’t really … translate. Otherwise I would’ve had Pasiphae hock a spitball and blind him. Heh. Also - only doing Pasiphae for now, been blanking hardcore, and really need actually start packing. Soooo ... if someone wants to puppet Spirit and Lana around a bit for the good of the RP, feel free. Otherwise will try to throw up a post tomorrow, but will probably be fairly busy. Much loff!))
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Post by Lady Whimsy on Nov 24, 2008 10:51:29 GMT -5
((ROFLMAO!!... Phae hocking a spitball.... I'd have totally given her points for...creativity, maybe... if she did that ;D
And no, your post doesn't sound terribly outlandish. As for horse mentality, it's pretty simple: the solution to 98% of all problems is "OMG, run away, run far, far away!" (the other two percent are thinking, "is it good to eat?"). War horses were trained rigorously to override this natural tendency and stay in place, and often the bond developed with their rider meant that they'd stand milling around the fallen solider on the battlefield after the battle was done.
Personality and breed does play a roll in how a horse reacts to something; this is why I love drafters - they are simply more likely to stop and consider a situation before they do anything rash. At the stable, we always put the littlest kids on the biggest horses, because we knew no matter what they came across on a trail ride (OMG, it's a deer! OMG, scary leaf! OMG, it's a fire-breathing-horse-eating-monster!! - otherwise known as a goat) the drafters would just stop and roll their eyes at the horses' antics. Ponies on the other hand can be evil... they're very clever, and you know they know perfectly well that that's just a mailbox, and are running away with you just because they felt like it at the time...
I found a great breakdown of horse personality once. I'll see if I can find it, it was a fun read
No worries if it takes you a bit to get to Lana & Spirit... really, if you just want to say "they ran towards the others" that's about all we need from them for the time being. I can certainly write that in for now to bridge the next part, and you can always recount what happened in between when you have a chance.
Hehe... and poor Liam... he's probably so out of it right now he has no idea *who's* back he's climbing up on.
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Post by Delicious on Nov 25, 2008 7:00:36 GMT -5
Spirit burst from the trees into rolling green fields. Her ears pricked, her spirits lifing as the noise of the soldier pursuing them through the underbrush began to melt away as her long legs flew across the dew-damp moor. It seemed that perhaps the plan might work - if she could just get over the next set of hills - surely the others would have gathered by the gate by now ...
Unexpectedly one of the soldiers came over the rise, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, and FAR too close for any sort of comfort. Spirit repressed the urge to shy away - not wanting to tax Lana's already flagging strength (neither were used to riding in such conditions - Spirit unused to passengers, and Lana had rarely ridden faster than a half a mile canter, and never bareback - her parents were too protective of her). The soldier looked to be the odious leader, and she was sure she caught curses and other foul words on the wind - but was grateful that her heavy breathing and the wind muffled the most of it.
She veered sharply away - angling more towards town instead of the gate. His pace almost matched her own, his horse still fresh and his seat solid in the saddle - but a burst of adrenaline at his sudden proximity jolted her into a new burst of speed. However, despite the acceleration, there was no way she would be able to continue directly towards the gate - it was too dangerous.
"We're going to head towards town a bit, sweetling." She thought at Lana, her tone thin and brittle with the exertions. "I think I can gain enough ground that near the outskirts we should be able to double-back and make for the gate. Just hold on."
Lana nodded into Spirit's mane, and tried to mold herself to the wheaten mare - trying to move as naturally as possible - a feat that became successively harder to do as her legs had began to go numb with the unfamiliar gait. Just a bit farther ... she hoped silently. Just a little while longer.
((So sleepy. Had to take a break from the !@#!@ boxes. Hehe. Goodness I hate moving. KNow it's short. Hopefully you can forgive me. <3))
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