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Post by bellasuem on Dec 20, 2016 18:23:22 GMT -6
Marea Mare / Traveling Merchant / War-Forged
Marea swore to herself as her cart lurched forward, spraying mud up at her hind legs. Again. It had been slow going for about an hour now, and she was looking forward to finally getting back onto the War Lord's Road. Only another 20, maybe 30 minutes before she could leave this accursed forest behind her. In the winter the chestnut mare had no problems charting her own course to far-flung merchants living out on the coast, but the summer was a different story entirely. The ground thawed and softened and the thrice-damned mud became more abundant than grass. She ground her teeth and knit her brows together as she forged onward, refusing to even think about leaving her cart behind to retrieve later. She made the trip to buy them, and she would make the trip back to Skeldr to sell them even if she perished on the way and her specter was forced to continue on in her body's place.
Suddenly, she stopped, rooted to the spot in ankle-deep mud. Her ears swiveled, trying to decide if they had indeed heard something or if the exertion was getting to her mind as well as her muscles. All she could hear at present was the loud sound of her lungs trying to keep up with the rest of her body. Huffing a sound of annoyance at her own foolishness, she forged on down the game trail, determined to reach the Road as quickly as possible.
It wasn't more than a few strides down the trail that she stopped, unhitched her cart from its fittings around her chest and barrel, and spun around to face the way she had came. She knew she heard something this time, and if she was about to be assailed by a group of cultists she wasn't about to let her cart get in the way. She narrowed her eyes and set her ears toward the last spot she had picked up on, watching for any signs of movement.
WC: 339 |
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Post by tallshiips on Dec 21, 2016 9:18:47 GMT -6
Cormac 
The greatest treasure is not of silver nor gold; the most illustrious conquest is the heart.
The stallion whistled as he went, large hooves splashing mud up to land on his pale legs, but he did not mind the dirt. It would only help him blend in more with the herders, or merchants or medics; with whoever he chose to become today. He was on his way to the ocean that lay beyond the forest in the hope of finding a small black-market establishment, for he highly doubted that a legitimate trader would have what he was looking for. He was unsure whether the black market would be able to provide for him, but they often had before so he kept an open mind and a hopeful heart as he trudged ever-onwards to the ocean.
The game trail he was following soon became muddy and swamp-like, the viscous brown liquid threatening to swallow his hooves with every step, and so, with a sigh, he wandered a few metres into the forest that lines the trail. The ground was drier here, last year's pine needles and other foliage providing an excellent carpet to walk upon. He was able to see the path - just - and so resumed his whistling as he walked parallel to the swampy trail.
It wasn't long before he stumbled upon another individual, though they seemed unaware of his presence at first. His whistling stopped abruptly, mid-note, and he paused with one great hoof just above the ground. Suddenly he was glad of the muddy trail; it had disguised his whistling, forced him out of sight, and forced the other to slow down. He slowed his breathing, hopeful that the other hadn't seen him lurking in the shadows. The stranger seemed hesitant, as if they'd heard something, then immediately stopped. He watched intently as she unhooked herself from the cart. She. How interesting to see a female citizen of Hira's dynasty doing something without an army of raiders to protect her. He barely muffled a snort of laughter at the image that this produced, and realised that if she had any sense he'd just revealed himself to her.
He was not afraid, after all, she was clearly not a raider even if she did know how to hold her own. She must do, he figured, if she was allowed to travel these trails on her own. In that moment he was glad he did not have the same horn as his younger brother and sister, who had made themselves known only a few months ago to the main herd. Perhaps he could still get away with pretending to be just like her. He cherished the element of surprise he still held, waiting a tense and silent moment before boldly stepping out of the forest and onto the path only a short distance from her.
"Afternoon, fellow traveller," he began, his voice filling the narrow space between the trees, "Where are you bound?" He spoke in short sentences as to not give away his accent which was clearly not the same as the main herd. The summer sun shone in his eyes, setting them alight with crimson fire as he studied the mare in from of him, the mare with the curious scar.
531 words || post 1
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Post by bellasuem on Dec 21, 2016 20:10:27 GMT -6
Marea Mare / Traveling Merchant / War-Forged
Marea waited a few tense moments, trying to anticipate what awaited her behind the treeline. Cultists, Bloody Flanks? If it were a wolf or bear, it would no doubt have attacked already, not waited patiently until she turned to face it head-long. A quick pang of fear gripped her heart as a dark colored stallion revealed himself, though it was quickly replaced by suspicion as he made it clear he wasn't about to try and maul her. The chestnut racked her brain as she tried to place this horse; she knew barely half of her herd by appearance, and even less by name, but as far as she could tell this stallion was wholly a stranger to her. Marea raised her head pointedly, "And good afternoon to you as well," she returned, though her tone hardly reflected the same sentiment, "As for where I am bound, any path that leads out of this mud is as fine a destination as any other."
If this stallion was a loner, as Marea was beginning to suspect, he didn't look like a Cultist, but perhaps the wretched group was beginning to concoct more roundabout plots to trap travelers. If he was a more benevolent loner, perhaps even a merchant like herself, Marea would leave him in peace if he intended to respond similarly. Unlike some, she bore no ill will towards those who couldn't find a place amongst the herds, so long as they acted respectfully. That being said, she wasn't about to let her guard down and divulge her intention and destination to this stranger.
"And what might you be up to out here, if I may ask," she continued after a moment, keeping a sharp eye out for any signs that this stallion may have companions or reinforcements close behind him. Marea let her attention flick back to the stallion for a moment, and she decided he was not someone she wanted to cross if she could avoid it. While she still didn't recognize him, he could very easily pass as a Raider from her own herd. So far he spoke placidly enough, but that meant little, and there was an intensity to his sanguine eyes that made Marea feel just as scrutinized as she imagined he might feel under her own dubious gaze. His legs were slathered in about as much grime as Marea's own, though she could spot some white peeking out behind the earthy coating. This was little help to her, however, as she was still not sure if this was a loner or a more reclusive member of her own herd she simply hadn't met yet.
WC: 444 |
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Post by tallshiips on Dec 22, 2016 14:59:44 GMT -6
Cormac
The greatest treasure is not of silver nor gold; the most illustrious conquest is the heart.
Cormac studied the chestnut mare intently as she watched him, briefly looking her up and down to try and place her. He naturally assumed that she was a traveller, a merchant perhaps, due to the cart she pulled behind her, piled high with wares from her original destination. Although she did not answer his question directly, her response roused a throaty chuckle from him - a mare with a sense of humour and wit who wasn't afraid to use it! She did not pose much of a threat to the stallion, yet, so he relaxed his stance a little, resting one earth-coated hind leg. As far as he was aware they were alone on the game trail - her wariness of demeanour suggested that no-one was lurking nearby, watching her back. That is, of course, unless some Raider happened to be travelling this trail and stumbled upon them. Then he would surely be recognised, and driven out.
But, for now, he was safe. He knew well enough never to let his guard down, even in situations such as these, so he was still surveying the area as she spoke.
"I'm on my way to the market over yonder," He gestured in the vague direction of the ocean with his nose, deliberately leaving the type of market open to her interpretation. He didn't want her suddenly becoming wary at the mention of black market trade, though if she was a merchant as he suspected then she would have experienced at least some of the illegal bartering and below-the-board exchanging of items not found in your everyday market stall.
The scar on her wither fascinated him, in its shape and positioning, but he was careful not to draw too much attention to it. After all, he was attempting to pass off as a citizen of the main herd and didn't want to do anything out of the ordinary that might alert her to his foreign allegiance.
"I don't believe I've had the pleasure of meeting you before...?" The dark coated stallion realised that he'd forgotten the introductions and pleasantries, so hastily slipped them in with the lapse of conversation. The words felt alien to him: his dialect was often very different, but he was conscious that he needed to blend in with this mare as closely as possible.
388 words || post 2
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Post by bellasuem on Dec 24, 2016 15:01:10 GMT -6
Marea Mare / Traveling Merchant / War-Forged
A light breeze rustled through the trees overhead, and birds whistled to each other across the game trail; both subtle sounds stood out in high relief as the two horses exchanged clipped pleasantries. Marea nodded slightly as the stallion indicated one of the black market outposts, no doubt the one out by the shore. Perhaps he was a merchant after all. Even though he lacked a cart and any other means of transport, it wasn't unreasonable to imagine he was searching for a single specialty item. She had done so herself on a few occasions. "Travel out that way isn't very forgiving this time of year, I wish you luck," she said. Much like the game trail itself, the area surrounding the coast was prone to becoming rather swampy in the summer months.
Marea had to resist shuffling her hooves as the stallion looked her over, even though she had just done the same to him. She wasn't about to reveal anything that would give him anymore of an upper hoof over her than he may already have, no matter how restless she was to start moving towards the War Lord's road again. "No... No I don't believe we have met," she said slowly. She was trying to decide how much she should give away, but if she deliberated too long she would appear nervous. So, she dipped her head in greeting, "I'm Marea, of the War-Forged," she said, staring up sharply through her lashes as she waited to see how the stallion would receive her baited greeting. If he wished to maintain his air of politeness, he would reveal his allegiance in turn. Of course, lying was easy enough, but perhaps he was a shoddy liar and he would give himself away. Judging by his demeanor, however, Marea was doubtful. "I'm a traveling merchant, in case you couldn't already tell," she added, flicking her tail back at her muddied cart. Might as well try to get all the information she could, and the best way to do that was to offer it up in exchange. Besides, none of this commonplace knowledge could be used against her.
WC: 362 |
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Post by tallshiips on Dec 24, 2016 16:07:33 GMT -6
Cormac
The greatest treasure is not of silver nor gold; the most illustrious conquest is the heart.
The stallion nodded his head as she wished him luck - she was unaware that the muddy and marshy was a welcome relief from the ice and snow of Skeldr's north face, even in summer. It was nice to travel on something other than hard packed snow and rock, for a change, and the warmth made the going considerably easier. He had not travelled with his ice-bear pelt, for it was unnecessary for anywhere but his home in the summer months, when the ice was reluctant to relinquish its hold on the stronghold that lay in Skeldr's shadow.
"I'm Marea, of the War-Forged," the mare began, looking up at him through her lashes. He realised that she was intelligent as her wit suggested, and sharp enough to know how to get the information out of him. If her first statement was check, the second was definitely check mate. "I'm a traveling merchant, in case you couldn't already tell," Inside, the cogs of his mind turning rapidly to try and think his way out of this situation, but outside he remained calm and relaxed. Although he could easily lie to her, he had morals, and knew that it could just as easily come back around and bite him in the backside later.
"I'm Cormac," he began, conscious that he was running out of time, "and I used to be a part of your herd though I am no longer." That much was true, his clan had been a part of the herd as well as any other, before they were united to make the main herd. The only difference between them was that Marea's clan, though it was unlikely she remembered when clans ruled their own land, had accepted defeat and surrendered to become War-Forged, while the Bloody Flanks had fought on.
"Day to day, I do a bit of everything." Another truth, but not a whole one. "I farm, I scavenge, I buy and I sell, hence my journey to the coastal market. Always in search of a good deal, but today I'm on the look out for something special that I wouldn't find in most markets in Onea." Needless to say that he wouldn't be allowed in any other markets in Onea if they knew who he really was, and where his allegiance lay.
His ear flicked idly as he listened to the ambient sounds - he had diffused that situation as well as he could, though he couldn't help thinking that, if she was as clever as she'd already shown herself to be, he would have raised several questions in her mind.
It would've just been easier to lie to her, like every other equine he met, yet for some reason he was compelled to stick as close to the truth as possible. There was just something about this mare. Something that he couldn't place.
483 words || post 3
OOC: oops I think he has a teeny tiny man-crush >:3 |
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Post by bellasuem on Dec 24, 2016 21:20:26 GMT -6
Marea Mare / Traveling Merchant / War-Forged
"Well, pleasure to meet you, Cormac." Even as she said it Marea's mind was spinning as she tried to find the heart of what this stallion was saying. Used to be a part of the herd? So, he was a loner? He must be. She refused to think of the possibility that she was exchanging small talk with a Bloody Flank miles from the rest of her herd, and any Raiders that could come to her aid if things turned sour, though it still seemed improbable to her. Going off the gruesome greeting they had given her herd, Marea couldn't rightly picture any member of that clan acting this civil, unless they had ulterior motives. But still, what could this stallion possibly be gleaning from her by chatting about professions and the seasons?
Feeling that it was now more vital than ever to keep up the amiable appearance of their meeting, Marea continued on mostly unaffected, "Ah, well, I suppose it's better to dabble in a few skills," she said, "That does go lengths to make a horse more independent. You know, less beholden to others if you need something done." Her green eyes took on a sharper quality as the conversation turned to something she knew well, buying and selling. "I quite understand if I'm overstepping my bounds, but what is it you're searching for?" she asked, following quickly with, "I've been dealing with just about every merchant worth their salt in this area, even the more... colorful ones. I may be able to point you in the right direction." Given that Cormac was heading towards the coast looking for specialty items, no doubt he was searching for an illicit vendor hiding from the prying eyes of authorities. She saw no harm in letting him know she too went off the beaten track looking for the best and rarest goods on occasion, considering he had just revealed the same about himself.
Feeling a touch emboldened after speaking of a topic she knew well, she decided to slip in an innocent question, "So, now that you're no longer part of the War-Forged, you must find yourself feeling a bit lonely on occasion, no?" It was exactly the type of question one could expect from a herd-horse who was curious about the solo lifestyle of a loner, "You must have left the herd a fair time ago; I don't recall ever seeing you near Skeldr," she mused, tilting her head for effect. She left out the fact that she could barely recognize half of her herd mates; for all Cormac knew, she was a social butterfly. Odds were Marea was testing her luck at this point, but she had to know what this enigmatic stallion meant, even if it meant provoking him into revealing it.
WC: 469
OOC: hehehe yaaaaas fall prey to the lure of my chestnut mare >
Tbh he's def got a chance (once she gets past that whole nasty Bloody Flanks biz lol) a gals gotta love the mystery man with bangin hair B)
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Post by tallshiips on Dec 25, 2016 8:20:27 GMT -6
Cormac
The greatest treasure is not of silver nor gold; the most illustrious conquest is the heart.
"Well, pleasure to meet you, Cormac." The stallion nodded politely as she spoke, waiting for her to deliver the killing blow and announce that she recognised him from his siblings. But the moment passed, and it did not come, he looked up in surprise and his eyes met hers. Green. Why had he noticed his, out of the blue?
He was dragged out of his thoughts as she began again, continuing with the small talk. "Ah, well, I suppose it's better to dabble in a few skills. That does go lengths to make a horse more independent. You know, less beholden to others if you need something done." This brought a smile to his face as he listened to her talk, noticing similarities. Similarities are dangerous, he chided himself silently. He'd not come out this way, trekked miles from Skeldr's northern face, to chit-chat with a random mare he encountered. Yet he could not help himself - he'd jumped into a hole, and was just digging deeper and deeper until it would become nearly impossible to escape from.
"Aye, I hate being dependent on others unless there is absolutely no other option. You never know when someone you thought you could rely on will up and leave you on your own." He found himself growing comfortable with the conversation, settling into his stride and cursed when his northern twang entered his voice just a little, and his dialect began to revert to his usual style. He was quite surprised when she began to push just a little for more information. Had he not given her enough? But, he realised with a sigh, he'd just baited the hook. "I quite understand if I'm overstepping my bounds, but what is it you're searching for? I've been dealing with just about every merchant worth their salt in this area, even the more... colourful ones. I may be able to point you in the right direction."
"I'm searching for the materials to repair my daggers," he began, searching her face carefully as he spoke to see whether he was upsetting her. For some reason, he felt, more than before, that he didn't want to drive her away. Perhaps it was the intelligent conversation - he'd made the week-long journey alone and until now had steered clear of any social interaction. "Usually I'd source and craft them myself, but at this time of year, it's rather difficult for me to find them. I've been acquainted with some of these... colourful traders before, and am confident they'll stock what I need, though no doubt I'll be robbed out of paying twice their true value for the privilege!"
""So, now that you're no longer part of the War-Forged, you must find yourself feeling a bit lonely on occasion, no? You must have left the herd a fair time ago; I don't recall ever seeing you near Skeldr." He shook his head with a forced smile - she really was pushing it today. He'd already given away far too much, yet felt compelled to reveal more to the chestnut mare.
"Nay, I live with a family group, and my numerous brothers and sister keep me more than company. In fact, I often come out here just to be away from them. You know how siblings are?" No, he smiled again, she wouldn't have seen him near Skeldr. She would have been looking on the wrong side of the great mountain.
569 words || post 4
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Post by bellasuem on Dec 25, 2016 15:04:14 GMT -6
Marea Mare / Traveling Merchant / War-Forged
"Oh, do you smith as well then? Or are you just gathering the supplies to bring to a smith?" she asked, surprising herself with the question. What on Hireath did it matter to her if this stallion could work metal? She chastised herself and tried to remain impassive. No matter how relaxed and charming this Cormac may act, she had to remember that they were miles from another equine, and this situation still had the chance to escalate into a catastrophe at a moment's notice. Eager to brush off her previous question, she returned to the familiar talk of business and added, "Well, consider the elevated price a fee for the labor of mining. Of course, I doubt these sellers mined the ore themselves, but I suppose at some point someone had to, and then those poor sods get their laugh when horses like us find ourselves in need of metal, and end up paying double for a trifle of common iron."
As Marea had expected, it seemed she was beginning to get a little too forward with her underhanded investigation. Pity at that, because the dusky stallion was only raising a dozen questions for every one he deigned to answer. And pity on herself, because she wasn't about to stop and give up now. "Siblings you say?" she repeated, "Oh no. I'm an only child, much to my younger self's dismay. I probably asked my mother for a sibling once a week until she forbade me from asking again. After that I only asked once every fortnight," she revealed with a small smile. Once again, she found herself getting far too comfortable; not that this stallion had any interest in her childhood affairs nor that it would gain him any upper hand over her, she simply felt foolish for telling him. But to her, the only thing worse than saying something you thought was foolish was letting the other party know you regretted it, so she met his gaze with her own and stared back contentedly, as if revealing personal facts to strange stallions you met in the woods was a perfectly ordinary thing to do.
As for her investigation, she resolved to forge on. "I had never thought to imagine a family of loners lived out in the wilds," she said, as if she was thinking out loud to herself, "What a peculiar thought." She met his gaze evenly again, "Almost as if you have your own little herd. Imagine that," she said, pausing for a moment before she broke the invisible contact between them with a dainty laugh, as if everything she had just said was nothing more than a fanciful idea. A new rush of adrenaline coursed through her veins as she struggled to stand and face Cormac calmly after delivering that daring soliloquy. A horse would have to be thicker than a piece of driftwood to miss the meaning of her words, words she no doubt would have been better off for having left unsaid. Perhaps the summer heat is making me delusional, she thought almost giddily, unable to come up with a better excuse for herself.
WC: 527
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Post by tallshiips on Dec 26, 2016 8:48:47 GMT -6
Cormac
The greatest treasure is not of silver nor gold; the most illustrious conquest is the heart.
"Oh, do you smith as well then? Or are you just gathering the supplies to bring to a smith?" His ears flicked just a little - how many questions did she want to ask? It seemed that every question he answered provoked another handful from her. He supposed that, from her point of view, she wanted to establish that he wasn't a danger, but if he had been dangerous he surely would've acted upon it by now? They'd been stood on the trail for several minutes, more than enough time for him to subdue her if he had been so inclined, but the intelligent conversation had been pleasant enough. So far.
"Ach, no; I know my way around an anvil but wouldn't trust myself to smith the metal that could save my life." Her next comment surprised him, in as much as he didn't expect that she'd be so familiar with the workings of the black markets around Onea. "And you think that the fee I pay will ever make it back to those 'poor sods'? Och, they were probably paid peanuts for the metal, and my shards are just lining the pockets of those bastard traders. But short of going to find the miners myself, wherever in Hireath they are, there's not much else I can do." He gave a short throaty chuckle at the thought of him scouring the caves of Sirith attempting to find their tiny mining communities. But then she began again, probably on the hunt for more and more information about him. "Siblings you say? Oh no. I'm an only child, much to my younger self's dismay. I probably asked my mother for a sibling once a week until she forbade me from asking again. After that, I only asked once every fortnight," The release of some personal information relaxed him a little, though what he got back could hardly be used against her in such a way as his. But, it seemed she was only setting him up for the killer blow. "I had never thought to imagine a family of loners lived out in the wilds. What a peculiar thought. Almost as if you have your own little herd. Imagine that."
Cormac fought to retain a calm exterior as his thoughts raged tumultuous as an ocean storm within him. He felt like he'd been hit with a great boulder at the mention of his 'own little herd'. Had she known all along of his allegiance, and just wanted to play with him? Or had she just stumbled upon it by accident? Either way, it was crucial to remain impassive.
So the stallion found himself laughing along with her for a moment, while thoughts raced around in his mind. What in the world was he supposed to do? She'd well and truly backed him into a corner, but he'd be damned if he let this mare defeat him. Yes! How obvious - he'd play her at her own game. It wasn't just her who could back him into a corner, although he undoubtedly had placed much more at risk than her. Perhaps that was true, he mused, if his life was worth more than hers. But, he reminded himself, all the lives of the Clan were also at risk if he revealed too much.
"Aye, though I believe the more correct term would be clan. Isn't that the diminutive of herd? Or would it be tribe or simply group?" He studied her reaction as he spoke, searching for any glimmer of recognition. She was an intelligent equine, and he was sure that she would immediately be drawn to the only surviving Clan in Onea - the Bloody Flanks. But he hoped that his double-bluff would protect him from her wrath if she realised where his allegiance lay, not with Hira but with Gidal.
636 words || post 5
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Post by bellasuem on Dec 26, 2016 11:41:26 GMT -6
Marea Mare / Traveling Merchant / War-Forged
Marea listened bemusedly as Cormac complained about the ruthless ways of traders - and he wasn't wrong by any means. "Well, no, I suppose the miners got as raw of a deal as you can expect to get," she agreed, "But that's exactly what I meant. They might at least get a small sense of satisfaction while they're toiling away underground to think that they're not the only ones getting the short end of the stick in this whole twisted scheme that is 'buying and selling'." Even as she went on Marea could see that the stallion was beginning to tire of their conversation, no doubt due in part to her not-so-subtle prodding. However, Mare was hard pressed to ignore the slight accent that was slipping into his speech.
So instead she waited patiently until he finally responded. "Aye, though I believe the more correct term would be clan. Isn't that the diminutive of herd? Or would it be tribe or simply group?" Once again she was seized with the urge to react, to do something, anything, other than continue to play their little word game. He had all but came out and told her now. No sane horse in Onea would connect themselves to the Bloody Flanks Clan, even in the thoroughly roundabout manner as this stallion did, at least not in the presence of a War-Forged.
Marea shrugged her shoulders and turned to the side, as if to leave, "I suppose any one of those titles would suit your purpose, it all depends on which one you would like to use." And which do you use? The question was begging to leave her mouth but she managed to hold it in. Instead, she looked up at the sky and squinted critically at the sun, as if more than the mere several minutes had passed during their carefully loaded conversation, "Well, I do believe I've taken up more of your time than I should have," she admitted, offering him a conciliatory glance before turning back to her cart, which seemed to have sunk an additional few inches into the mud, "I do hope you have luck finding the materials you need." Marea took her time inspecting the goods in her cart, and despite her better judgement she plucked out a small burlap sack and tossed it over her shoulder in a high arc, hopefully giving the stallion enough time to catch it before it landed in the mire. Inside it was a few baggies of specialty tea leaves from a shop in Skeldr; the only place one could find this variety. Marea hadn't the slightest idea if this stallion was the tea-drinking type, but it served its purpose well enough. "A little gift for you and your family. Every horse in War-Forged, or who used to be in War-Forged, should recognize that tea," she said, not bothering to look back for his reaction. She reattached her cart to its fittings around her sides, and made to forge on. The only question on her mind was if the stallion would let her after all that.
WC: 519
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Post by tallshiips on Dec 26, 2016 15:21:06 GMT -6
Cormac
The greatest treasure is not of silver nor gold; the most illustrious conquest is the heart.
"But that's exactly what I meant. They might at least get a small sense of satisfaction while they're toiling away underground to think that they're not the only ones getting the short end of the stick in this whole twisted scheme that is 'buying and selling'." Cormac nodded his agreement with her statement, though he doubted the miners would ever see where their wares ended up. No doubt they were passed through many hooves before they arrived in Cormac's own, and he mused that the very metal he sought to buy may have been imported from that labyrinth of caves by one of his brothers' ships; the Trespasser, perhaps. But no shipment was due for several months, so he had to pay the going rate as anyone else.
He watched carefully for her reaction and, though she hid it well, he noticed a slight twitch of anxiety perhaps. So she did know of his clan, and he resigned himself to watching her leave with a sigh. No sane War-Forged would stick around now, not since they were so far from any protective Raiders. Yet he felt a pang of something - loneliness, regret? He could've lied to her, perhaps, may have gained some companionship, but it wouldn't have meant anything. She'd have found out all the same; she was sharp as the daggers he was looking to craft and would have hated him all the more for it.
He lowered his head slightly in defeat as she began to speak once more, though he was not really listening anymore. He'd resigned himself to his fate - after all, what could he do about it now? He'd played his cards wrong, misjudged her, and she'd misjudged him, obviously keen to get away now she stereotyped him as a bloodthirsty, heartless soul.
"Well, I do believe I've taken up more of your time than I should have. I do hope you have luck finding the materials you need." Really, was she really bothering to wish him luck? He didn't even know where she was bound, except out of the mud, and would never find out now. The thought of stopping her, forcing her to stay, briefly crossed his mind, but what good would that do? He'd just prove that he was every bit as horrible and savage as she thought he was.
As she busied herself by the cart, he began to turn away, the beginnings of a goodbye on his lips, but she broke the silence first. "A little gift for you and your family. Every horse in War-Forged, or who used to be in War-Forged, should recognize that tea," A small bag arced through the space between them, and he deftly plucked it out of the air as it began to descend. Tea? He mused. Though he was not a great fan of the flavoured water himself, believing that Kaia's gift of water was delicious and nutritious enough for him, and any horse, he appreciated the gift. Had he not burned as many bridges as he thought? Or was she just trying to be kind so that he wouldn't change his mind and attack her?
"Thank you," he began, looking up as she turned away, once more working with her cart, "I'm no tea connoisseur, in fact, I don't drink it at all, but I'm sure I can find someone that'll enjoy it." He fumbled with his neck for a second, before using his teke to separate a small rock from the rest. It was an ammonite strung with a leather cord, abundant on Skeldr's northern face and surrounding lands in spring-time, and easily replaceable for him. "If we're exchanging wares, then take this as my payment." He flung the ornament across the trail, hoping that she'd catch it. If not, he doubted they'd ever find it again, camouflaged forever in the muddy ground.
642 words || post 6
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Post by bellasuem on Dec 26, 2016 20:27:12 GMT -6
Marea Mare / Traveling Merchant / War-Forged
Marea quirked an ear and listened carefully to his words as he went on about the tea, her heart beat quickening with surprise as it seemed that the dark stallion wasn't about to detain her for her over zealous questions. She parted her lips in preparation to politely refuse whatever he was intending to give her, but she never got the chance. As soon as she turned her head she had to hurry to catch the small trinket before it plunged into the river of mud below. She shot him a questioning look but lifted the specimen up for a better view. A grey-brown spiral hung securely from the end of a piece of leather, and Marea recalled seeing similar pieces in a market stall by the sea. "We don't see many of these in Skeldr," she said, her gaze softening, "Thank you." She stood silently for a moment until she was forced to admit to herself that perhaps she didn't want to leave the stallion's company just yet. His suspicious back ground not included, he had been nothing but pleasant, and Marea was grateful for the conversation. She looked back up at him with a small smile fixed on her face, "Perhaps the next time we meet I'll have a gift for you that you can actually enjoy yourself," she said, not willing to let herself believe this was the first and last she would see of him, "Though I'm sure someone you know will appreciate that tea. It's delicious stuff," she added, turning her head to hide the slight flush that had invaded her cheeks.
Before she went against her better judgement and remained standing with this mysterious stallion in the mud all afternoon, she cleared her throat and slipped the ornament into her saddlebags, "Well, we both do have places to be and things to do, and it seems we're headed in separate directions...," she trailed off for a moment, suddenly feeling rather hesitant despite the circumstances. It was odd and somewhat unsettling that a near-stranger had had this affect on her. And considering it was fair to assume that he was part of a Clan she had been taught to hate and fear didn't help at all. She had witnessed herself what his clan mates had done to a member of her own herd, and while it wasn't Cormac himself that had dealt the damage, it couldn't be ignored. And yet here she was, not quite ignoring it but certainly not giving it as much attention as any other member of her herd surely would.
WC: 434
Notes: Oh man I love these two. I'd love for them to meet again and so would Marea lol I would've kept this specific rp going longer but I didn't want to make Marea ooc, because she'd def have to go collect her thoughts once she realized who Cormac was, I hope you understand ;^;
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Post by tallshiips on Dec 27, 2016 8:05:25 GMT -6
Cormac
The greatest treasure is not of silver nor gold; the most illustrious conquest is the heart.
Cormac watched, ears pricked for just a moment, to see if she caught his gift. He ignored her questioning glare, only checking to see if she caught the gift. He wasn't going to stop her leaving, and she seemed quite eager to do so, so he turned away, back towards the forest from which he had emerged. But he stopped himself as she spoke, lifting his head to meet her gaze once more. "We don't see many of these in Skeldr. Thank you." He dipped his head in acknowledgement but he remained silent for he had nothing of any significance to say. She'd made it clear that she wanted to leave, to get away from him, and so she was going to leave.
But then she spoke again, after a moment's silence, and Cormac's innards churned as he saw the ghost of a smile on her lips. "Perhaps the next time we meet I'll have a gift for you that you can actually enjoy yourself. Though I'm sure someone you know will appreciate that tea. It's delicious stuff," Next time? He tilted his head in surprise, shocked that she'd put forward the notion of meeting a monster like him again. That's what he was to her, a monster, labelled by the actions of his clan, actions necessary to survive. They hadn't labelled their own armies as monsters when they'd murdered the clan's women and children on that fateful day in Skeldr all those years ago.
The spell was broken as she cleared her throat, obviously making to leave for real this time. "Well, we both do have places to be and things to do, and it seems we're headed in separate directions...," His eyes met hers for the last time, crimson eyes tinged with sadness before she turned back to the trail ahead of her.
"Goodbye," the dark stallion whispered to her, words carried by the soft summer breeze before he himself turned away. He forced himself to keep his eyes focussed on the trail, muddy though it was, and place one hoof in front of the other. He yearned to look back one last time, to meet her gaze as she watched him go, but he knew she would be walking away herself. The stallion gritted his teeth and swished his tail - why was this meeting having such an effect on him? Perhaps he was just lonely and needed to visit a tavern in search of some simple companionship. But deep down, there was a niggling feeling that this was something more than that.
What it was, though, he had no idea.
433 words || post 7
Notes: No problem! Mac definitely needs to ponder this for a while too, and why he acted how he did! I'd love to continue this sometime in the future, so I'll note you and we can organise something. My rough WC brings the total to just over 6000 words, which should work out at 10AP each, and of course with the forum bonus it'll be a little more! I'll post in the AP checking thread so I can be sure, but it should be around there! You were an absolute blast to RP with, and we definitely need to do it again! |
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