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Post by tarriedsea on Jan 11, 2017 10:33:41 GMT -6
Down By The Water
Muiris & FoxSetting: late spring, 1700
(between Chapter 2 & 3 events)
A few miles outside Skeldr Town
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Post by tarriedsea on Jan 11, 2017 10:52:03 GMT -6
 She sniffed the air for his scent, but couldn't find it yet. Muiris smelled like an amalgamation of old leather and dried sweat and sweet cedar wood. He was distinct.
At least Fox thought so.
She asked to meet him here in private. No, she practically begged it. Muiris had returned from Valore and she was dying inside to prod him about his journey, but in a swift charge they were sent off to the mountains with a group to assess some bridges. And then they faced an avalanche. And then they traversed a mountain. Idle chit-chat was out of the question.
And if she was right- and she probably was- he seemed different. More introspective, if that were even possible. And there was a weird instance where he had seemed to shift the earth underneath him while they were crawling down a cliffside. It might have been a trick of the light, sure. But it might have been his doing.
There was a lot he needed to explain.
She chose this place to meet him for its seclusion. It was a wide lake at the base of the mountains, sheltered by forest on their backs and a pebbled beach under their feet. Sun glimmered off the water like starshine. It was a sunny, cloudless day, the kind of perfect warm weather that energized her bones and made her want to run and buck and squeal with delight.
A bee buzzed around her head, and she shook her mane. Except for the insects- summer could go condemn them to Digend's lair, for all she cared. Tiny bastards.
The woods hummed gently with cicadas, a songbird squawked from inside. It was peaceful today. She put her forehooves in the water, which was ice-cold even on the threshold of summer. The Onean water never truly warmed up. Before it had a chance, the lingering winter would always steal the warmth away.
She suddenly felt under her hooves the soft stomping of his feet a few paces away. Muiris could never sneak up on her, and she grinned at this fact. Her blessing always gave him away.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 11, 2017 11:50:50 GMT -6
 MUIRIS OF IRON STRIDENever trust a survivor until you find out what he did to stay alive.
He managed, though, mainly by wearing one of his father's old cloaks once the sun was high enough to lay across his back. The old green fabric was enough to keep the heat off his skin, but light enough to catch the cool breeze when it came, at least keeping the stallion from overheating.
But his problem today did not lie with the heat of the summer, but what he was possibly going to tell his friend, Fox. His mind swirled as he made his way, his hooves feeling heavy despite him feeling finally at home after returning from Valore. His muscles still held a soft ache from their mission on the mountain, the loud sound of the crumbling bridge still rattling in his ears.
He stopped, squeezing his eyes shut, and took a deep breath. He just wanted everything to go back to normal, but it seemed as though the gods had it out for him. His mother's death left him feeling so alone, but Kaia's presence had made him feel.. not alone. Could one feel alone, but not at the same time?
Releasing his breath slowly, he opened his eyes to see his painted friend down below, her hooves pressed into the glistening lake. He couldnt help but let a smile find his features, but it never fully reached his eyes.
Taking on a plodding trot, knowing full well that any attempt to sneak up on the little mare would be futile, the stallion made his way toward her before slowing to a walk as he came up beside her. He stayed quiet, putting his hooves in the water right next to hers. In a normal circumstance, he would at least offer a greeting, and maybe a small tease if he was feeling especially witty..
But today, he found himself struggling to even mutter out a hello.
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Post by tarriedsea on Jan 12, 2017 11:54:24 GMT -6
He was silent save for the plodding of his hooves & his horseshoes scraping on the pebbled shore. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him join her side. Splashing his feet in the water. Shoulder-to-shoulder.
He had a cloak on. Of course he would. She briefly wondered if his white patches got sunburn, like her own nose did in the summer. Why else would he have a cloak?
He didn't say anything, and she didn't either for a few minutes. The questions tumbled around in her mind, but it was too nice of a day to bombard him upfront with her demands & queries. Let them enjoy the weather first.
Fox lifted her face and let the breeze blow her mane back, eyes closed. Insects hummed around them. A soft lap of the water hit their hooves.
At least he had returned. Her brother-by-blood had not been so fortunate. She lightly clenched her jaw. Valore was like a gaping mouth whose mercy was fickle. Some returned from its stomach, some didn't.
He was so quiet. Unusual even for him.
First, she spoke:
"I missed you."
It was weird without the big stallion's presence in Skeldr Town. To know that she wouldn't find his form among the townsfolk, no matter how hard she looked. She didn't realize how much she depended on him until he was gone - as a sounding board, as an advice-giver, as a big brother she could taunt and tease.
Second:
"Did you find who you were looking for?"
Since she didn't know the conclusion yet, she thought it best to leave the details out of the question. She didn't want to be the first to say "mother."
Muiris could do this to her- he could slow her brain down, make her consider her words more carefully than the red-hot verbiage that screamed in her mouth.
She watched a falcon dive to the lake a few paces away, and emerge with a silver fish in its talons. It flew upward until it disappeared past the treeline.
What if he didn't talk? Anxiety jolted in her heart. What if she had to bore the information out of him? She didn't want to upset him- she had just gotten him back. But she had to know.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 12, 2017 12:39:11 GMT -6
MUIRIS OF IRON STRIDENever trust a survivor until you find out what he did to stay alive.
The silence that had fallen between them was comfortable; a type of silence that he had been craving for the past few months. Valore had been hectic. The streets were too narrow, the buildings too small, the weather too hot. Everyone was laced with the need for flash and sin; they all had seemed to forget about nature. About their roots. Now that he was home, he finally found the ease to relax. And now that he was beside his sister's side, it was as if all his worries could be cast out on the lake and completely forgotten.
His ears flicked as she spoke, a small smile gracing his lips as he dipped his head, his gaze turning down to watch his reflection dance in the subtle movements of the water. "I missed you too." He replied. So much.. He knew that her words help more meaning than a friend simply missing a friend; it was the worry of him never returning, it was the worry that he would end up in the same fate as her blood related brother. It was the worry that they would never see each other again, and Muiris's words held the same, but his tone was laced with relief.
He stiffened as she asked her next question, his lips pressing together and ears flicking to the side. His gaze wavered, but he did his best to keep all emotion locked back. His attention was snapped away by the falcon as it dived into the water, pulling its lunch from the surface before disappearing into the border of trees in the distance.
He sighed, letting go of a breath he didnt know he was holding.
"I did." He replied, his voice soft as he pulled his gaze away from where the bird of prey had disappeared, finally turning to look at his friend. He paused briefly, collecting his thoughts. He ten turned to look back across the water. "Valore is a terrible place, Fox." He said, wiping away his soft tone. "The people are greedy, their values skewed by sin and lust. They care more for their personal beauty than those struggling around them. Slaves.. fall in the streets, and they step over them without a glance."
He paused again, taking in a deep breath. "My mother was one of them, and when i had found her, it was too late." His voice cracked, his head dipping down, his eyes closing. There was something about Fox that always made him spill everything that was on his mind. "She died in my arms, all because her master didnt care to see her as an actual living being." His breath shook as he took slow breaths, his eyes opening slowly as he fiddled with the dragon claw necklace that sat against his chest. He hadnt taken it off since his mother had given it to him only moments before she drew her last breath. He held it up against the sun, the brisk light making the cat eye gem in the claw's grasp glow.
"She always told me this gem reminded her of my eyes. Maybe thats why she kept it for so long." He mumbled more quietly. "Its silly, i dont even remember it's name."
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Post by tarriedsea on Jan 31, 2017 15:58:16 GMT -6
At his last sentence, her attention shifted to the thing he held up in the sunlight.
"That!" she exclaimed suddenly, grabbing it to look at it closer. "That's a cat-eye. I've only seen a handful in my life. It's rumored to bring peace to the owner. It does look like your eyes, now that I think about it." She winked at him. "It's also known to cure allergies."
Then she grew silent as the rest of his words caught up with her. She turned the gem over in her grasp, fiddling with it while she thought.
Her grief for her brother wasn't exacerbated by his presence. His story was told on the wind by travelers. But Muiris watched his mother die? Felt as her life snuffed out while his beat on?
Was it better or worse to hold someone while they died?
She couldn't fathom it. For him to travel that far, and grief was his only companion home.
She tossed the gem back to him and stomped at the water with a forehoof. It splashed everywhere.
"FUCKING Valore."
She angrily kicked the water again. A flock of crows flew out of the woods behind them.
Hot tears brewed in her eyes. Suddenly, she was furious.
"I know we're their allies. I know everyone says slavery is a necessary position. I know everything they've told us about it but I can't- I- I CAN'T" she stopped to squeeze tears out of her eyes. They ran dow her cheeks. "I can't accept that this is how it's supposed to be."
Rage boiled inside her the more his story rolled around in her mind and it collided with Rife's. "He was a pit fighter, you know.. He was at someone else's mercy. He could have had a whole life here but he didn't. Someone told him he wasn't worth it."
Slavery was nonexistent in Onea but everyone knew about the silent caravans of traders who corralled lesser-thans for Valore. The War-Forged only turned a blind eye those on track for lifelong servitude.
"They've stolen from both of us."
Such a morbid thing to bond over.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2017 16:42:35 GMT -6
MUIRIS OF IRON STRIDENever trust a survivor until you find out what he did to stay alive.
The stallion's ears pricked forward and Fox's sudden exclamation of excitement, grabbing his necklace from his grasp and turning it over in her own. His lips pressed together as he watched her fiddle with it, his gaze filled with curiosity. That's right.. she had a thing for gems and jewels. He smiled softly as she rattled on about it, biting his tongue as tears threatened to sting his eyes. His mother had been the same; always obsessed with these silly little rocks. He used to think it was a funny thing to be interested in it, but now he found himself appreciating it a lot more. He found himself unable to reply, but he hoped that what she had said was true; he could use some peace right about now.
Silence fell between them and Muiris watched as her expression changed from one of excitement to one of anger. He caught the necklace as she tossed it back to him, slipping it back over his neck. An ear flicked back as she slammed her hoof into the water and cursed Valore's name. He watched as hot tears pricked her eyes, her hoof striking the water once more. He stayed quiet, allowing her to work through the emotions that seemed to rage through her. He wanted nothing more than to wipe away the tears that rolled down her cheeks, but instead, he turned his gaze to the water.
He took in a deep breath as she paused.
"Sometimes.." He started, letting out his breath. "Sometimes, it is best to challenge what we are taught." He spoke softly, calmly. While War-Forged itself did not have slaves, he knew where all those who could not pull their own weight went. The rejects, the sick, the weak. It made his blood boil, knowing a blind eye was turned to such theft of freedom.
It was then that she spoke again, his gaze lifting and turning toward her. He had known that her brother was gone - no, dead - but he had never pried for details. Death was such a common thing among families of the War-Forged.. His breath fell still as her story spilled, blinking tired eyes slowly. If he could take all of her pain onto his own shoulders, he would do it in a heartbeat. She did not deserve this, even if it was the way of life.
He then reached over and softly brushed her tears from her cheek with his muzzle. "Im sorry, Fox." He mumbled, his voice low and rumbling against the silence. He picked his head up and glanced off across the lake, watching as the startled water fowl found their place back on its surface.
"They have, but we mustn't let it get the best of us." He replied, though he wasnt sure if he was even capable of such thing. His mother had been his best friend, his first true love, and now that she was gone.. actually gone..
He took in a shaky breath, his lips quivering as he dipped his head away. The tears he had been fighting so hard to hold back finally broke through, silently spilling from his eyes and trickling down his face, dripping with soft ripples into the shore at his hooves.
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Post by tarriedsea on Apr 4, 2017 9:02:12 GMT -6
Her blood-brother, so calm and stoic when she felt a hurricane brewing inside her. She couldn't ever decide if it made him wise or dumb. Did he know more than her about life and death, or was he just suppressing it?
"Sometimes, it is best to challenge what we are taught."
Fox watched the water shimmer before them. She loved her herd more than anything- she loved the mountains and dark dense forests and the bitter-cold winters, even if in their heart she prayed for summer.
But they weren't perfect. The War-Forged were her family and she loved them, but she didn't always like them. There were streaks of classism and prejudice running through all their blood- hers included. While she liked to believe she was a free-thinking mare, she knew she was subject to longstanding world views she had grown up with- world views that maybe weren't correct at all, in the end.
"Hira's reign has ushered in an era of challenging what we've always known," she said, slowly. "Suddenly a small mare is in charge of the land. And not everyone is happy about it. My dad, for example...." Muiris knew Nolk well, and knew that while Fox's dad ceded to Hira's word, he wasn't always happy about it. Just one example of the disquiet of the more traditional members of the herd.
"I'm sorry too. For your mom. I'm sure she was amazing." The grief in her heart for her brother ebbed gentler than Muiris' did for his mom, she knew, as time would dull heartache. But remembering the good in the past was the first step forward.
Suddenly, a thought came to her and she frowned.
"Don't.... don't get in your head about this, Mui. This isn't your fault or anything. Don't you retreat to the cabin for weeks and agonize over your part in this. You didn't do this to her." Maybe she was assuming too much, but Muiris' introvertedness and penchant to feel things deeply could easily mean the stallion would bear the blame of his mom's death on his shoulders.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2017 11:41:57 GMT -6
MUIRIS OF IRON STRIDENever trust a survivor until you find out what he did to stay alive.
The stallion nodded slowly as she spoke of Hira's reign, his misty gaze focusing on the water at his hooves. His ears flicked back at the mention of her father, a sour taste forming in his mouth. As hard as it was, Muiris tried his hardest to hold respect for his mentor. He was not only the one who had taken Muiris under his wing and.. attempted to teach him, but he was also the father of Muiris's own sister. Muiris's own father had been similar to him; he knew how to handle such narrow mindedness.. but it didnt mean he had to like it.
"Mine too." He added in a mumble, though his father's opinions didnt matter now. He was no longer here.
His lip twitched in the smallest of a smile. "Im sure she was amazing." Muiris was sure Fox had no idea how accurate she was. Even now, Muiris still looked up to his mother; how she was so kind to others even when she was struggling herself. How she always put others' well being over her own. How she was always smiling, laughing, walking with a pep in her step. He felt his heart skip a beat at the thought, his teeth pressing into his tongue in attempt to stop the slow tears from forming. If only he had been there sooner...
It was then that Fox's voice pulled him from his thoughts, his soft amber gaze raising from its place on the water's surface. He glanced over at her before turning his attention to the distance, his brow furrowing ever so slightly. She knew him too well. Sometimes, he was convinced she could read his mind.
"I know." He said with a shaky breath. He knew in his mind that it was not his fault, but his heart failed to feel the same. His ears suddenly shifted back, his eyes narrowing as his mind started turning. Wiping his tears away with his knees, he turned toward the painted mare beside him. "I cant help but think that her second husband had something to do with it." His gaze grew distant as he tried to recall memories from so long ago. With a huff, he violently flicked his head away, looking back across the water. "I knew there was something off about him..." His lips pressed together as silence fell over him. As soon as it had come, the cold look about his features fell and he flicked his forelock from his face.
"But.. perhaps I'm over thinking it." He mumbled, though he wasnt quite sure if he believed himself. He still had a funny feeling in the back of his mind; the memories of his mother turning.. not quite as cheerful after she had married the other stallion.
4 | 463 NOTE: turning this in for AP at this point, can continue the rp if wanted |
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