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Post by kerarose on Mar 19, 2020 17:57:13 GMT -6
Hira had been dethroned, taken from her spot of glory. The Valkyries, the rank she created, now stand in uncertainty, reduced to guards and sentries, outranked by stallions once again. In the middle of the night, whispers start to echo around the Barracks, of a summoning. Notes are left on the beds of each Valkyrie, hidden in the blankets and pillows. Come to the spring, the notes read, the whispers say. Valkyries only. The ice will mark your way. It seems that a meeting has been called- not by the War Lord, but by one of your own. Time: Midnight
Location: Kelby's spring, on the slopes of Mount Skeldr
Weather: Cold, with some light wind |
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Post by kerarose on Mar 19, 2020 18:12:41 GMT -6
 K E L B Y The night was quiet when she had climbed the slopes of Mount Skeldr, trekking to the place where her downfall all began. Her limbs had balked many times on the way up, her breaths coming shaky and quick. Every time she had to pause, she had sprung up a small statue of ice- of the War Lord she had served, of the mountain itself, of a sword, a dagger, an arrow, a bow. Some were simply arrows, pointing mares up, up the mountain.
She didn't want to come again- the wounds in her soul were too fresh. Still, with this new change, she fought down the panic in order to host this meeting. They needed to do something, something to prevent their downfall.
She arrived an hour before midnight, and gazed over the one place she never thought she'd be able to stomach again. She had not been here since her kidnapping- hadn't dared to come. It was only recently that she had regained enough muscle to even consider making the trip- and even then, her legs were quaking from the strenuous climb.
Everything was still as she'd left it. The grass was still stained with blood in places, and vines lay on the ground, still frozen, but not by her Blessing. Frozen muddy hoofprints marred the terrain, and a bit of unicorn horn- surprisingly unclaimed- lay surrounded by vines. Her wind chimes were broken along the ground, not a single set still standing in the trees. Her Cascade statue had melted, and her Alya carving was spattered with blood. Her Kaia one, though... that one lay in charred pieces. She knew who was to blame for that one- even if she could not think her former best friend's name. She hoped that she had escaped before reaching Aodh.
They debated on whether or not the place should be cleaned, if they should spend the effort- but what did it matter? The wreckage of this place showed they had survived the worst, and showed the stakes of what their new place was.
Brandr now outranked her, and as far as they knew, his actions had gone unpunished. If it came down to it... they may very well have to obey an order he gave, and it would likely lead to their death.
She would not let that happen.
She sat in silence for a time, breathing deeply, trying to regain the sense of calm this place had always given her. It was elusive, drawing close only for her to remember the events of... everything, and then it would flit away. The hour passed, and she heard more talking down the hill.
Her Shield Sisters were coming.
WC: 455 | Post #1 |
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Post by NorthernMyth on Mar 19, 2020 20:04:51 GMT -6
Alvane | Post 1
The rage that filled Alvane clung to her bones like a wildfire. She was loyal to Hira and only Hira. One of Hira’s most trusted, turned on the Warlord and won. Feelings churned within the blue hair Valkyrie. Feelings she did her best to suppress, otherwise she knew she wouldn’t stop herself from using her blessings to do more harm than good.
Alvane felt she had been told to shut up and behave. She basically was but not in those exact words. Her immediate response would be to do the opposite but she was smarter than that. She knew that repercussions would follow and they would be pretty.
She returned to her cot that night, a note placed upon it. A note that she quickly followed. Alvane arrived at the meeting place, following the ice calling cards up the path to the secret spot. Eventually reaching it. There she saw Kelly. The last time they interacted properly, they argued at the Bloody Flanks recruitment meeting. The blue haired mare bit her lip, taking in a breath. She hadn't noticed it but Polaris had begun to shield her. Blending in almost like a chameleon with her surroundings. She calmed herself, her rage still festered but right now wasn’t the time. Alvane stepped forward, the visade dropping to make herself more know.
“Sister” she called forward. Her head bowing down to greet Kelby. “So it was you who called this meeting?”
Word Count | 243
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Post by Huniidu on Mar 20, 2020 19:20:51 GMT -6
Rosabella | P.1
Rosa's heart hung heavy as she, carefully soared through the sky, elegantly making her away along the rough mountain scape's ridges. She made sure despite her flight she was unseen flying low enough to avoid any unwanted attention. The cold air stung more than normal like salt being poured onto a wound. Reduce to mere guards, she shook her head, all the effort Hira had done to bring mares up felt as if it had fallen through the cracks of the deep mountain. Torn between her emotions and duties, elements fighting each other, stay loyal to the herd prove them wrong she said over and over. She was not going to simply stay silent, the embers in her heart burned, she would make herself heard when the time was right. Not matter who was in charge. Swooping down she landed softly hooves lightly scuffing up small dirt clouds.
Letting out a heavy sigh, her breath visible in the cold air, she trotted the rest of the way to the meeting place. Upon entering Rosa bowed wings extending tipped downwards. Carefully made her way just across from Alvane greeting her respectfully as well. She stood quiet awaiting any others. WC | 198 |
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Post by kerarose on Mar 21, 2020 15:44:35 GMT -6
K E L B Y Alvane was the first to arrive, and she bowed her head at her sister. "Greetings," she said, her voice soft and raspy. "I did call this meeting, in regards to our... situation." She snorted- she would never be a guard, a mere spy. She was a warrior, nothing less, even if she could not fight right now. "Forgive me for my words at the Bloody Flanks' meeting. I was- not myself. I'm still recovering, in body and mind."
She nodded to Rosabella as the mare flew into her spring. Those wings- what she would give for those wings. "Greetings, Sister," she said, her eyes assessing, looking over the Valkyrie. She did not know Rosa well, but the fact that she had given her an invitation at all was proof enough of Kelby's trust in her.
Her eyes scanned the forest again, seeing no others lurking in the forest. Was this... really it? Two Valkyries? She hoped not. She had hoped to start something- but it wouldn't work with a group this small.
Seeing no one else, she stood taller, moving forward, to the edge of the spring. "Well, if this is it, I'll get started." She stepped forward, ice coating the ground where she stepped, an aftereffect of her blessing. "Obviously, this change is something that none of us wanted. Hira- although I had my doubts in her, in the end- raised us up, made us into the elite warriors that we are. This new leader-" she spit on the ground, turning it to ice as it fell, leaving a small, jagged scar shooting upwards, "cares less for us than his own spit. He is not War Lord, will never be in my eyes."
"Take a look around," she said, hate coloring her features, her voice. "This is the place where my journey began. This was where my own father- Brandr- kidnapped me, took me away. This is the birthplace of my scars, the loss of my voice, the loss of my form. This is the place where my eyes were opened."
"Look around and see- this was where I truly learned how the stallions of this herd think, how little they think of us. This is what Prax stands for. I know."
She nodded at the two. "It starts by taking away our power, our authority. We become guards, messengers. We are told to stay silent and take orders. We are silenced, reduced to grunts. If we do not stop it here, then what is next? Are we forced into homes, expected to stay silent forever? There are no female Shields. There is only one on the Stone Circle, my own partner, Hawke- and no female Raiders. The Valkyries are the only place where women warriors can exist, and now we're not even that."
She grimaced, holding back her anger, her fear. "I can no longer take orders from stallions- I can't even look some of them in the eye. I cannot continue on like this."
"I called you here to voice concerns, to share news- and perhaps to speculate a plan, for some way to counter this change." She met her Sisters' eyes, hoping that they would listen to what she had to say. "If you have words to speak- say them now."
WC: 554 | Post #2 |
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Post by NorthernMyth on Mar 23, 2020 3:04:08 GMT -6
Alvane | Post 2
Alvane shook her head as Kelby apologised. “Sister, please. Don’t.” Clouds began to appear around Alvane’s legs. Small wisps of midnight clouds drifted softly and glowed as if in a soft moonlight. “My views have changed, we are here now. That’s all that matters. Let’s not get caught up on past disagreements” Her tone was soft, almost hushed. It was rare to hear the blue haired mare use it. Only ever when she spoke to Hira in some lights, but mostly with her children.
Another Valkyrie approach and Alvane could see from their dark coat and pale face that it was Rosabella. Alvane dipped her head in response to the other mares greeting. “Thank you for joining us” her word sincere.
The Valkyrie nodded as Kelby began. Keeping quiet to listen to the other mares side. All the while Zaffier trotted out from the forest. Clearly he had finished his perimeter of the location, joining at Alvane’s side. A black and blue starry teke softly brushed behind his ear as the valk petted him. Praising him for a good job.
“My loyalty lay with Hira. The sisterhood.” Alvane’s tone became dark. Her brow crossing softly. “Prax does not get my sympathy, nor my allegiance. He’s a foul to think I will just stand there and look pretty.” The clouds around her legs began to fester and turn dark. “I don’t trust him. I can gamble that if we show them the slightest resistance he will make an example out of us. I considered it.” Alvane confessed “I’d challenge them, but I do not want the positive it gives. It’s not my path. And it’s not worth being culled over.”
Alvane paced a bit, moving closer to the water before sighing. “Now that Hira is no longer our Warlord and our sisterhood is being made a foul. I can no longer stand as a part of this herd. Not as a part of the main herd at least.” Alvane stood stern at the water's edge. Looking back at her reflection. A saddened look crossed her eyes. “How ironic this has all become. I started as a Valkyrie for the fight against the flanks. My birthright as a Nightbloom was just that. And yet I deeply considered and decided I am to join them. If they take me that is.”
Word Count | 399 |
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