|
|
Post by sunibath on Jul 24, 2019 0:03:19 GMT -6
![]()
C E R T I T U D E
"A state of mind where one is free from doubt"
Acuna x Marius & Cynbel
Location: Sedo, Valley of Melodies
Time: Mid morning |
|
|
|
Post by sunibath on Jul 24, 2019 0:53:09 GMT -6
 Today seemed like no other; the everlasting heat warming up the desert plains of Sedo. As soon as the suns had hit the plains, the land was coming to life. From the markets waking up the streets in the mid morning light, or even the wildlife leaving their tracks in the desert sand. It seemed peaceful, especially when the desert was full of life. Ayla would be watching from above, or so people believed she was. But for one young mare, she started to believe Ayla had left her. Acuna, second born of a Common Haflinger and a Pegasi Hanoverian, was making her way down a path in secret. This was the furthest she had ever gotten without anyone noticing she was gone. Usually, she would be excited that her escape had gone that good, but today, she made sure to continue her path before she got too excited.
"I hope she gets lost in the sear, that grumpy old mare." Acuna grunted under her breath, her audits flicking back in frustration. Every night, both Acuna and her mother would end up in arguments... well, it was actually every day. Every waking moment, both of them were at each other's throats. Even more so now than ever, since her mother gave birth to another foal. Acuna wanted out; to leave her family and go live somewhere else. Maybe form a family of her own since she had no one left. Not since her friend disappeared off the face of the Hirearth. Her braids were messily tied as they slapped against her legs while walking. It wouldn't be long now till Acuna stopped off to take a break to calm down, or at least dive deeper into the thoughts that consumed her mind every day.
"This day is surely gorgeous.." The mare spoke to herself, her eyes lighting up when she saw some wild fuchsia flowers on the side of the path, some rock formations covering some in every lasting shade. In truth, Acuna had not really made her way down this far south of Sedo before. The Haflinger mix had her eyes on travelling to Vasall, a seroran camp just outside of Briem. It seemed nicer down there, ever since it was decreed that Serora travellers and folk could wander that far into Briem. She wished to go with some friends one day, since she knew that path would be a dangerous one on her own. But she knew that she'd do the travelling alone if it came to it. To get away from her home life would be a prize worth waiting for, but to escape and never return to the farm would be a blessing from Ayla or a miracle.
Nothing was keeping her here in Sedo, not yet anyway. |
|
|
|
Post by Zugunruhes on Jul 27, 2019 16:07:00 GMT -6
Marius & Cynbel
Outcasts
"Oh yes we certainly are lost. Another one of your little adventures where we end up stuck in this endless sea of desert -probably surrounded by hidden creatures watching us with ravenous eyes- until some traveler finds us and sends us on our right way. Whiiich is never going to happen because every single horse we have stumbled across here flees at the sight of us or charges us down." The kirin speaking, a lanky horse with a dished face and pink scales adorning his coat, paused to catch a breath mid-tirade, but was interrupted by the other.
"Except for Shepherd." The grey kirin muttered, pointedly looking away from his fellow to scrutinize an odd looking rock formation nearby. Like many of the other rocks in the valley the stone was the colors of a brilliant sunset, fiery reds and oranges that could be subdued to a blue color when in shadow. This particular rock was adorned with two slanted points that stuck out among the other shapes in the distance. "This one does look familiar-" The grey kirin added hopefully, nudging his partner with the blunted edge of his horn. Though it was an attempt to sooth or appease the chestnut kirin's building temper, the chestnut merely snorted and stomped one cloven hoof irritably.
"Oooh look, that rock looks funny so clearly it will tell us how to get back to Shepherd. Oh Marius, how impressive you are!" Marius pinned his ears back as the younger kirin continued on vitriolically. "You couldn't walk five steps from Shepherd's caravan without getting hopelessly lost, but you would still never admit it. At least I, with an artist's eye have a better understanding of my surroundings. That rock is only going to take us further away. I say we go this way."
The younger kirin forcefully jerked his leg to the left, yanking Marius forward with him. Where the chestnut kirin's right shoulder would have been short, red fur met thick greying hairs that transitioned into Marius' body. Marius, quite used to his partner's tantrums, merely ground his front and back leg into the earth forcefully. They had started to get used to moving together, but had mastered impeding each other's movements from the start. "You are being particularly insolent and rude today." Marius voice was a deep and somber timbre. "Did you even notice that someone is approaching?"
Cynbel froze and looked up at the figure growing nearer, his thin lip curling at once. "Oh?" Marius straightened up too, considered for a moment, then made the decision to call out even if it could be a risk. "Hello there- do you happen to know your way around here? I am afraid we are unfortunately a little turned around." He would never admit he had gotten them 'hopelessly lost'.
Word Count: 467
Post #1
|
|
|
|
Post by sunibath on Sept 8, 2019 20:27:03 GMT -6
Acuna had been deep within her thoughts, as it plagued her. It was almost like an illness she couldn't get rid off, the coldness of her mother and the thought of her god not visiting her was.. soul destroying. But that would be the least of her worries, when she heard a voice call to her. It was distant, but sounded rather lost. A traveller? Acuna wondered for a moment before casting her eyes off the dirt road and down the path. The equine seemed... different from the others she had seen. Large horns which seemed to twist and almost sparkle in the Sedo light, and what seemed like another head as well. Slowing down, Acuna stopped for a moment to collect her thoughts,
"I live around here, yeah." Acuna boldly spoke, but kept her rambunctious seventeen year old attitude on the down low. It didn't seem like this equine was going to hurt her, but at the same time, she was a little concerned they would. But bottling that concern, she moved closer, "I'm assuming you are lost? Where you headed anyway?" Acuna asked, moving closer until she could clearly see as bright as day; they were a kirin.
Acuna was genuinely shocked. Had Ayla blessed her with the meeting of a kirin, especially a two headed one? Her ears swivelled in an excited manner, making sure to get close but to somewhat keep her distance, not to scare them off with her questions. "You look so cool, what the fuck-" Acuna's eyes had become so big, as she had lowered herself into a playful yet curious stance. She had never seen anyhorse look so interesting in colour and design before.
"Acuna is the name, by the way." She chirped, quickly standing back up in a quick fashion before adding, "Wind beneath your wings." Acuna didn't want to come across rude, but she feared that maybe she had already become rather destructive with her curse. |
|
|
|
Post by Zugunruhes on Oct 1, 2019 23:53:58 GMT -6
Marius & Cynbel
Outcasts
"What are you doing? I could have found a way back for us- Don't attract attention!" Cynbel hissed, swinging his head round to glare accusingly at the other kirin. In another life, a time centuries before when the Gods walked the realm, there was not phrase less likely to be spoken by the chestnut kirin than "Don't attract attention." Long ago he would have longed for it, but now he loathed the glances and curious stares from passerby. Their new form always attracted onlookers, who regarded the duo's glinting scales and colorful antlers with obvious suspicion. Cynbel was not keen on conversation with any Seroran himself and made a point to keep his exchanges abrupt and hostile.
"It's too late now." Marius replied evenly though a hint of satisfaction mingled in his tone. Drawing attention was always uncomfortable, at times dangerous for them, but he did not want to risk being lost and left alone with Cynbel's vitriol. He turned slightly as the figure approached, guiding Cynbel to shift his foreleg and let Marius greet the stranger. Their unspoken communication was becoming easier, though neither kirin wanted to consider how it would become second-nature for them.
The moment he discerned the stranger's greeting was not laced with anger nor fear, Marius visibly relaxed while Cynbel's expression did not change. "We are indeed... lost." He spoke delicately in his deep and sombre voice, with an air that it was rather painful to admit that they had made some sort of mistake. "Nor are we familiar with the area despite our attempts to understand it. We live with a pegasus who goes by Shepherd, closer to the oasis."
Marius was rather taken aback as Acuna drew nearer, casting a glance at Cynbel which immediately proved to be a mistake. Cynbel snorted and pawed at the ground, his eyes narrowed. "Wind beneath your wings? Bah, I will never understand the strange customs of his miserable place." His head snaked forward and he nosed Marius' head aside with his snout to inspect Acuna with the same curiosity she offered the two kirins. "Now tell us which way to go and we will be on our way."
Cynbel pointedly took one step forward, but Marius held his ground as he spoke up again. "Perhaps more guidance than pointing us one way or another is needed." He reasoned thoughtfully. "I am Marius and this.... this is Cynbel."
Word Count: 401
Post #2
|
|
|
|
Post by sunibath on Oct 8, 2019 4:57:28 GMT -6
Being up close and personal to a kirin, let alone these two was rather intimidating. Intimidating in the terms that it was her adrenaline telling her multiple things at once. Part of her told her to bombard with questions about how it was really possible for a kirin to exist. While another part of her told her to stand her ground and help this connected pair with their quirry. If she could help them, maybe they could take her hoof in a partnership; in a friendship. Even the thought of that made Acuna extremely excited to get to know these Kirins. She flicked her ears around to listen to them and to the world around them.
"Ah!! I know where Shepherd is." Acuna stated, giving off a playful but yet enthusiastic tone. The young mare lifted her hoof gently, to point in the direction behind them. Acuna tilted her head, her eyes shifting to them in a reassuring tone that she meant no harm to either of them.
"I'm guessing you took the first road to your right," Acuna assumed, her ears folding back in a kind manner as she continued, "You needed to travel the path a few miles before taking a right beside the group of cacti with pretty flowers covering them." The braided mane of the young mare blew gently in a soft, unaffecting breeze. It was obvious by the discolouration in her fur that Acuna had been rolling in the sand and dirt at some point. But nonetheless, she didn't seem to care at that point. She was about to continue her instructions to the lost equines until she was cut off-
The mare's youthful but yet bright eyes narrowed playfully at the sourness of the Flaxen roan. A sly, but yet cheeky smirk layered the muzzle of the young mare. "I'm sorry I suck at empathising with your first world problems." Acuna was risking getting yelled at for coming up with a wild comeback like that, but at least she was having a laugh. Calming herself down, she smiled sweetly at the stubborn and rude kirin, "You'll become accustomed to it, trust me." The tone displayed through Acuna was rather friendly, even when the outburst to the young mare was rather unnecessary.
"Marius and Cynbel," Acuna nodded in satisfaction, her forelock bouncing in a light and airy way, "I can lead the way! Follow me." Pushing off, the mare moved up and around Marius's side. As she paced herself at a trot, she moved up the path towards the direction of Shepherd's caravan. Coming to a halt, the mare turned her head towards the two headed kirin. Slamming her hoof in a playful but yet guiding manner, she called back to the pair.
"You coming? You don't want to hang around when the Sandhawks start looking for their dinner!" Acuna teased once more, but more in a truthful tone. The sandhawks were dangerous creatures, especially to those who would wander the sands. Slowly, the mare started to walk once more as she hoped that their pair would follow in quick haste. |
|
|
|
Post by Zugunruhes on Oct 28, 2019 19:00:36 GMT -6
Marius & Cynbel
Outcasts
... ...
Marius was not accustomed to holding eye contact with strangers for long. In another life, his past, he was used to speaking to people directly and giving orders. It came naturally. Now, burdened with an ever-present shame at his new life, he often opted to looking just past another and letting his gaze wander to some point in the distance. Cynbel, on the other hoof, continued to glare openly at Acuna with a challenging expression. While Marius looked visibly relieved when Acuna mentioned Shepherd, Cynbel continued to stare sourly, as if wanting something to happen that he could lash out at.
The moment came yet as he summoned a furious retort the mare had already trotted around them and set off on the path home. The words died in his throat and he coughed to hide a furious splutter. Marius happened to notice and cast his companion an amused glance then nudged him forward for them both to follow. Cynbel stirred, grudgingly, and the pair set off to keep pace with Acuna.
"Do sandhawks make their way around here often?" Marius did not mention that he had no idea what a 'sandhawk' was. The flora and fauna of Sedo remained utterly foreign and frustratingly hostile to him. He cast a wary glance over his shoulder, but saw nothing more than a sea of sand and rocks, with their hoof prints marking their path. "A dragon hoplite afraid of some bird, really?" Cynbel scoffed, finding another means for venting his irritation. "If there was a bird out there big enough to pick us up I'm sure we would hear it coming. If it is real..."
Cyn cast his own worried glance and then muttered, "More reason to leave this place." He made no effort to hide his words, his tone biting. Marius flicked their tail anxiously, "It is hard to learn about this place." He admitted graciously, "Though since it is our home now, I am trying to understand it and the people as best as I can." Cynbel visibly stiffened at the word 'home', his expression souring further.
... ... Word Count: 348 Post #3 |
|
|
|
Post by sunibath on Nov 9, 2019 3:38:57 GMT -6
Acuna looked back briefly to the new equines who were blindly trusting her, leading them back to their home where she knew. Acuna couldn’t help but feel comfortable in the weird bromance / friendship that these two had, even if she could sense the mild tension here and there. Maybe it wasn’t friendship, but she didn’t know them well to make a judgement call. Hearing Marius ask about Sandhawks, she responded with a gentle tone, “Not really, it’s more so the Seer you have to be careful of. That’s where they usually stay.” The tone she used as a lot kinder, more… cooperative towards Marius. Since he seemed rather hospitable to her, thus gaining that type of response. But hearing Cynbel’s scoff made the young mare roll her eyes, before retorting back.
“It’s very, very real.” Acuna’s tone was rather frank, especially when hearing stories about equines disappearing because of the Sandhawks. "You'll hear them and they'll eat you before you see them." Acuna added, stopping her hoof on the ground to create impact with what she was talking about. Acuna continued to pace herself, thinking she heard a mumble from the roan but decided that maybe she shouldn’t listen in any further. Acuna watched the path narrow and widen, as she continued to lead the way.
“You’ll both get used to it, and if Shepherd doesn’t have the time to teach you,” Acuna ran a little ahead and jumped, spinning herself around to face the kirins that graced her that day, “I can teach you! I was born here after all.” Acuna playfully smirked, as her hoof was close to her chest in a boasting manner. Of course, she didn’t mean to boast but this land she called home was… well, amazing. Standing back up, Acuna looked down the path that they were going to travel on; the turn off was very close.
“So, here’s the turn that you were supposed to take.” Acuna stated, her tone light and bubbly once more as she heads closer to the turn off. It was rather pretty, with the cacti and flowers seeming to grace the side of the path. It was better to enjoy it with company, and Acuna had a feeling that maybe if they had a better grasp of the lands, the more comfortable they’d feel.
|
|
|
|
Post by Zugunruhes on Dec 8, 2019 19:01:46 GMT -6
▸Marius & Cynbel◂
Outcasts
┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅"Why would anyone want to live in such a place? With massive creatures hungering to eat you and few places to really settle down and build a home?" Cynbel wondered aloud, for he too had been gazing over his shoulder at the mention of sandhawks, expecting a distant silhouette hanging above the horizon. His time had dragons, certainly, but they were friend to kirins and beloved... once upon a time. Marius mumbled his assent, but added peaceably, "At least it is warm here." He could not imagine making a life in snow peaked mountains that Kaia's children called home, hundreds of miles north of them.
The duo paused a moment as their guide spun around to face them, her expression jubilant and confident in one. Cynbel's expression soured once more at the mere thought of growing accustomed to Sedo's wilderness and customs. When they started after her once more Marius' expression was thoughtful and keen to take in the landscape lest they get lost again in the future, but Cynbel was gazing elsewhere. Finally he attended to his thoughts.
"I don't intend to stay here long. For me all that matters is figuring out what I need to know to pass through Sedo and leave it behind. Kirins don't belong here." An awkward pause followed, for the chestnut kirin had brought up a topic that he and Marius had argued bitterly about for the past few weeks. Since being brought back into the world they had become of aware of their King's presence, and answered the matter differently. Though Cynbel was desperate to return to her side, to prove himself a hero, Marius refused to leave Sedo. He was ashamed of his new form.
"Yet as long as one of us remains rooted here, the other must stay." Marius responded simply, his tone cautious yet firm. He was eyeing the flowering cacti they passed through, letting his mind wander and enjoy the simple beauty rather than stray to doubtful places. Unlike Cynbel he had accepted he could have a home among the Serorans, even if it had to be apart from them out of mistrust. Yet, judging by Shepherd, and now this mare's actions, it seemed not all regarded kirins with hateful stares.
┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅┅
Word Count: 373
Post #4
|
|
|
|
Post by sunibath on Feb 8, 2020 23:47:29 GMT -6
“Welp, I think you should stay here- it’s not as bad as it seems.” Acuna admitted, her eyes looking towards the conjoined Kirin with a simple yet coy smile. The mare listened to Cynbel’s words and had absorbed them like a sponge, still moving down the path towards Shepard’s home. They were strange, but Acuna knew the strange ones were usually the ones with the most stories to share, ninety-nine percent of the time anyway. “You two could work together, since two brains are better than one- and,” Acuna paused, looking Cynbel in the eyes directly, “Work on your attitude.”
There was brief silence from Acuna for a few moments as she walked, trying to concentrate on the path ahead of her. This was a great distraction from the problems she had been running from, especially when they were walking further and further from the farm. Her thoughts though, finally became public when she spoke up again, her forelock dancing in front of her eyes.
“You know, there are some really cool ranks to accustom yourself with if you decide to stay!” Acuna looked back again, making sure they were still close to her as she walked. She could feel the dust and the stones hit her legs as the path slowly became rockier than before. As she tried to keep pace, she giggled, “There’s the creator rank, where you like… make things and you’re pretty much an artist!” Acuna was very excited to teach her new friends about her home and what she knew about it. Unfortunately, she didn’t know a whole lot, but it was hopefully enough to make their stay a little more comforting.
“A couple of equines I know are creators so if you want to make really pretty things for Ayla or whomever you pray too, you can.” Acuna stopped for a moment, as she listened to the sounds of her world, her home; it was beautiful, and she wished she could enjoy it as much as everyone else could. But, there was one place she’d rather be; the sky.
|
|
|
|
Post by Zugunruhes on Feb 20, 2020 23:13:40 GMT -6
▸Marius and Cynbel◂
WC 328 | Post Five
"Not as bad for any who aren't Ignacio's children." Cynbel retorted sourly, his ears pinned at the stranger for she seemed ready to parry all of his irritable musings. He was not in the mood to argue; he only wanted to vent and wallow in bitterness for he felt it was the only thing left he was armed with. Marius privately agreed, but not entirely. There was something unusual about Sedo's people. Not all were native to the herd by birth and some were passerby from more northern lands who had become friendly with the Serorans. It was an odd custom compared to what he knew, but he was thankful for it all the same. He doubted they would have been welcomed otherwise.
The two kirins walked in uncomfortable silence for a time as they listened to Acuna share about her world. Their legs moved in tandem though their minds remained worlds apart. Cynbel's frustration was obvious in the curl of his lip and distant gaze, focused on wherever they were going. He did not want to know anything more about Serora than he had to for survival. His mind was made up, they were returning to their king.
Marius understood their predicament in its complexities, though that did not bring him solace. Traveling back to Eithne was no easy feat in a new world, and there was the possibility their own kind would reject them for not heeding the call at once. Worse was his own shame- he had been a warrior and now was bound by some preternatural curse.
"Acuna, what is it that you do?" Marius ventured, "I was a warrior, once.." He did not speak about his wyvern, it was too painful to let the memories of her resurface. And not something he wanted Cynbel to get access to either and use against him.
The other kirin was also listening, head tilted curiously at the mention of the creators, though his expression remained unreadable.
|
|
