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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2017 12:30:23 GMT -6
Chasing Life
Muiris | Ezmeralda
War-Colt | BlueUnicornJ13
Roselia runs off from the Bloody Flank attack on the herders to find her sister's friend, Muiris. She finds him and tells him of the attack. Muiris keeps his promise to Ezmeralda to keep her sister safe, but sets out the morning after to go searching for his friend.
Time of Day: Morning
Timeline: Year 1700, right after chapter 3
Weather: Windy with a slight overcast
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2017 12:55:51 GMT -6
 "Ezmerald's been attacked."
"Bloody Flanks."
Roselia had found him as the day was coming to an end the night before, tears streaming from her eyes as she tried to tell him the herders had been attacked, Ezmeralda included. It took all of the stallion's willpower and then some to keep himself from running off to find Ezmeralda that night, to make sure she was safe; but he had made a promise to keep her sister safe, no matter what. So he had pulled himself together and brought the unicorn's sister back to his father's old cabin for the night, offering her a safe place to stay the night and a promise that they would go searching first thing the next morning.
However, her panicked words had played through his mind all night. Despite being still a little tipsy from the fiasco with at the bar and with the mammoths, Muiris found himself unable to find rest. When the sun finally peeked over the mountain tops, Muiris was dragging himself to heavy hooves and shaking his sleepless head. The effects of the alcohol had worn off, but his head still felt jumbled.
"Roselia!" He called as he closed his eyes, sucking in a deep breath as his mind tried to regather its boundaries. Just the quick movement to stand had shot a piercing pain across the inside of his forehead, his face scrunching until the pain subsided. He heard scrambled hoof steps as the mare stumbled from the bed, appearing in the doorway only seconds after. Muiris slowly opened his eyes, turning to glance at her over his shoulder. They didnt need to share a single word; it was time to go.
Muiris didnt care to get dressed, only swiping his small dagger off the table as they left, hooking it on his mother's necklace that dangled from his neck. The moment he stepped out the door, the wind caught his long, messy hair, whipping it around his neck and legs. He wished he had taken the time to at least tie it back, but there wasnt time now. Roselia directed him toward the main road and they walked in silence, ears on a swivel and eyes catching every little movement. The clouds seemed to be in a hurry above them, moving quickly with the wind. Every time they passed over the sun, a shiver ran through the stallion's body.
It wasnt long before his eyes and mind had started to play tricks on him. Every fallen branch or log looked like an equine. The howl of the wind through the trees sounded like her voice. His mind played scenarios in his head that made him clamp his tongue between his teeth to keep tears from springing to his eyes.
The Bloody Flanks.
He had heard about them. They were supposed to be nothing but a fairy tale now; exiled and destroyed by the unforgiving force that was Onea's harsh environment.. yet here they were, and back with a vengeance. His teeth gritted together at the thought, his soft amber eyes growing hard as they formed a glare. He would find them. He would destroy them. No one threatened his herd and friends without paying for it later, that was one thing he could guarantee.
"Im going to go check out this meadow." Roselia's voice pulled him from his thoughts, his head whipping up as he looked toward the unicorn mare. His head punished him for the quick movement once more, but this time, not so fierce. He gave her a nod before turning back to the road.
"Yell if you run into trouble. Be careful." He replied, his tone tired but still collected and calm. He glanced toward another ravine that dipped off the side of the road, stepping closer to the edge. Tall plants and grass whipped in the wind around him, but seemed to be still as they traveled down the ravine. If anyone were traveling in this weather, they would certainly be somewhere down there. Sucking in a deep breath, he set his way down the hill. WC: 680 | Post #1 |
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Post by BlueUnicornJ13 on Jan 23, 2017 15:03:19 GMT -6
Ezmeralda | War-Forged | Herder 
The night had never seemed to end. It had been hell and the worst that Ezmeralda could say she had ever gone through aside from the day that her parents had been taken from this world.
After Gosslyn had been taken by the horses that had attacked them and had given them their lives in return for their meager belongings, Ezmeralda had been numb. She felt as though she had failed her herdmates miserably. She hadn't fought off the bat-winged mare that had attacked her and threw her to the ground. She hadn't been able to keep Chirin safe and, now, the poor unicorn colt was walking around with a severed horn and a deep gash in his face that would probably leave a scar on one so young, and she hadn't been able to save Gosslyn from being taken by their attackers: the Bloody Flanks.
She had heard of the clan of outcasts before but had thought that they were only a myth, a tale to tell foals to scare them into behaving themselves. Yet there they were and with such strength and force that they had even subdued the War Lord’s Valkyries.
Ezmeralda had traveled to the main road with Chirin and a small group of injured Valkyries, her and the group separated with a solemn goodbye as they trekked back to town. She remained behind in hopes of staying close for her sister to find her more easily despite the dangers that came with staying so close to where they had been attacked.
What little survival instincts she had told her to stay off the main road and stick to the surrounding woods and so she traveled down the steep hill and into the protection of a ravine. The Bloody Flanks may return and finish the job for all she knew, and at least among the shadows of the pines around her, it provided her with more places to hide.
The unicorn mare didn’t travel long through the dark woods before her body screamed for her to stop. Searching for a safe place to rest, she found a small nook that was created by a group of tall pine trees that grew in such a way that they formed a cave of sorts. It was a tough squeeze for the large mare, but among the pine needles that covered the ground, providing her some warmth once she laid down, she finally felt a little bit of safety. Zeru chirped softly against her mane as he made himself a small nest from her tangled hair to sleep in.
As the silence of the night drew on and the adrenaline left her veins, Ezmeralda felt a wave of unbelievable exhaustion. Her muscles were already sore, and, where her attacker had kicked her shoulder, there was a large bruise accompanied by a gash from the mare’s sharp hooves. Other bruises and scrapes littered her body, but none were the reason why tears fell down her cheeks. She hadn’t even wanted to cry. She had wanted to be strong and wait for the sun to rise again to continue to the meeting point she had made with her sister years ago if something ever separated them or her sister’s voice to call for her from the main road. Breaking down wasn't on her list of things to do, but after a night like she had, she let herself cry. She cried over her lost herdmates, about the pain that Gosslyn would go through in the grasp of those monsters, and how she had nothing. Her herd had been stolen along with her satchels that held her most treasured possessions, including the novel that Muiris had lent to her. It broke her heart to think of how her life and her sister's life could have ended that night and all the things that she would have missed out on, and she found herself longing to never feel so much regret ever again. 'Just hold on... just hold on a little while longer.' The herder consoled herself, sobbing silently until a restless sleep finally swept over her.
She woke the next morning with a pounding headache from crying all night and a soreness that left her muscles tight and hard to move. Squeezing out of the nook that had served as her bed, Ezmeralda stretched her legs, looking around her with a worried expression. The wind whipped through the trees above her, shaking limbs and creating noises that sounded eerily like horses crashing through the brush to chase her down like they had the night before. A shudder ran down her spine and almost made her legs lock up in fear, but she forced them to bend and move to carry her along the ravine that ran parallel with the road above her.
Her head was low to the ground, and she took deep breaths through her nostrils as she limped forward, taking in the scents that drifted in the strong wind. The air grabbed at her long hair, causing it to whip around her in a flurry, but she didn't let it break her focus on her surroundings.
Her ears shot forward at the sound of rustling brush ahead of her, and Ezmeralda instinctively threw herself into a patch of tall grass to shield herself from view, causing her injuries to protest. She held her breath and prayed to Kaia that whoever it was would continue on their way and not walk toward her. Biting her lip, she used her telekinesis to part the grass in front of her face just enough to see who it was that was coming down the ravine. The sight of the perpetrator made her choke back a loud sob, and a wave of relief washed over her.
"Muiris!" She called out hastily to keep him from passing her by as she clambered out of hiding and almost falling back to the ground in the process.
Word Count: 994 | Post #1
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2017 15:52:44 GMT -6
The stallion quickly made his way down the hill, momentum working with his large frame. It wasnt long before he was to the bottom, with a small jump and a skip. His hooves crushed tall growing grass and snapped twigs as he went, his chest pushing through the long weeds to make a path. The wind howled above him, but did not reach him now that he was between two large hills. His ears flicked in all directions, his gaze searching every little nook and cranny he passed. He knew he should have been calling her name, making his presence more known, but he didnt have the heart to do it. He was tired, his head hurt, his heart even more so. He was sure the moment he opened his mouth, he would lose his control on his emotions. He had waited too long to tell her how he felt, and here he was being punished for it.
His ears flicked at the sound of a shout above him, Roselia telling him she was still safe. He pressed his tongue against the roof of his mouth and whistled back, knowing his voice wouldnt be heard over the sound of the wind. He then turned to continue searching, pushing grass out of his line of vision and glancing behind thickets. It would have been incredibly helpful is his familiar had been around. The little white wolf had a nose like a machine and would have been able to easily find Ezmeralda from miles away; but Avonaco was a finicky girl. She was never around in the mornings, probably because she was out hunting, and Muiris had no way of finding her. She just came home when she wanted to and ran off when she had better things to do than tromp around with a clumsy raider.
Just that thought was enough to bring the smallest of smiles to his lips, but it was quickly wiped away when his eyes flickered, confusing his vision for a brief moment. Shaking his head, his messy mane flopped against his neck, tangling with itself and stray weeds. He was never drinking again.
A voice suddenly called out from behind him, his ears flicking back and eyes widening. It took him but a moment to process it, recognizing his name and then the voice that had called it. The sound of a crash through the foliage followed as Muiris wheeled around on his hind legs, his head throbbing once more from the movement, but this time he pushed the pain away.
"Ezmeralda?!" He called back, his tone a mixture of fear and relief all at the same time. He finally found his hooves and rushed to her, nearly tripping over himself in the process. However, his relief had quickly faded as he pulled himself to a stop, amber eyes taking in the painted mare before him. Her coat was littered with bruises and scrapes, dried blood stained and caked into her soft coat. Her hair was a mess, and eyes swollen from what looked like a night of crying. His own heart pitched at the sight, his ears flattening and lips parting as he tried to find his voice.
"What have they done to you?" He rasped, unable to keep his voice from cracking. This wasnt how it was supposed to be at all! He was supposed to protect her from all harm. That was his duty, not only as a raider, but as a friend. He had let his friend fall into danger because of an afternoon of celebration and drinking..
and mammoth chasing.
He didnt even think to call for Roselia as he stumbled a few more steps forward, wrapping his neck around his friend's withers and carefully pulling her close against his chest, making sure to avoid her injuries. He squeezed his eyes shut, guilt lingering in his gut. No matter how many times he would tell himself none of this was his fault, he couldnt help but feel culpable.
"I'm so sorry." Muiris whispered into her hair. Ezmeralda didnt deserve any of this. She couldnt even harm a fly, yet the clan had attacked and harmed and stolen from her. That wasnt justice. That was cowardice. His brow furrowed as he took in a deep breath, pushing down the boiling anger in his blood. Now was not the time to think negatively, he just had to be happy that she was alive. WC: 740 | Post #2 |
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Post by BlueUnicornJ13 on Jan 23, 2017 20:37:59 GMT -6
Ezmeralda | War-Forged | Herder
Ezmeralda couldn’t stop the tears that started to flow down her cheeks as her friend called out her name in bewilderment. Roselia must have found him last night and told him where she was. Her sister was still alive and had escaped the Bloody Flanks, but that also meant that she probably had told him about what had happened as well. The unicorn mare felt a tug of guilt at the thought of how much worrying she had caused him or how exhausted he must be after having her sister wake him up in the middle of the night only to tell him that one of his friends was in grave danger.
The very thought of her sister seemed to procure her voice as she called out to Muiris from not too far away, and hearing her sister’s strong voice was enough to bring relief that she had made it to Muiris unharmed. The gods knew how even a little cut could send Roselia to bed-rest for days. If she was well enough to shout, she was perfectly okay.
As she stumbled from her hiding place like some kind of grass-monster on feeble, unsteady legs, she saw how his face changed from the excitement of finding her to shock and sadness as his brown eyes traveled over her tattered body. Oh gods, she could only imagine how bad she must look. With tangled hair, cuts and bruises, and eyes still puffy and red from crying, the very thought made her want to go back into hiding.
'What have they done to you?'
His voice was raspy and hoarse, and it cracked from the raw emotion that flooded through it, and she wished desperately that she could take that pain away. Ezmeralda found herself unable to answer his pained question, so instead, she simply shook her head and fought back the urge to breakdown into sobbing. They had destroyed her, beaten her, and stolen everything from her but her life, but as she stood there thinking back at all of the self-pitying she had done throughout the night, Ezmeralda grew ashamed of herself. Kaia had given her her life, and that was all she needed. She could work and buy a new flock, but she couldn't buy a new sister. She could purchase new satchels and belongings, but she couldn't buy herself a new life to live the way she wanted to try to live, a life of no regrets. Kaia had given her the chance to act on all the things that she had found herself thinking of in the face of death, including her chance to finally tell him how she felt before her chance was taken away.
When Muiris wrapped his neck around her withers and pulled her tight against his chest, she finally felt safe. The weight of the possibility of never seeing him or her sister ever again lifted, and a crooked smile found its way to her muzzle as she rested her head against his neck. His whispered apology reached her ears, rising above her quiet sniffling, and the paint mare shook her head. "D-don't be sorry. I don't want you to be sorry. There was nothing that you could have done." The Bloody Flanks hadn't even seemed like they were mortals. They attacked so ferociously and without fear or pain that she wasn't even sure what could stop them, and it nearly broke her heart to think of them hurting Muiris (or worse).
Reluctantly, Ezmeralda unraveled herself from him and took a small step away. Her green eyes looked up at him, cherishing the fact that she had the chance to do so again. Taking a few deep breaths, she slowed her tears and wiped her face on her dirty knees. It hurt to breath let alone cry, and Ezmeralda felt as though she'd die from dehydration if she cried any longer.
A sheepish expression crossed her face, and her eyes traveled to the ground as she spoke, "I-I know I told you not to be sorry, b-but I have to apologize... I lost the book that you were letting me borrow. It was in one of my satchels that the Bloody Flanks stole." She admitted, glancing up at his face. She knew now probably wasn't exactly the best time to mention it, but the guilt of having lost one of the books from his collection had been eating away at her.
Word Count: 739 | Post #2
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Post by Deleted on Jan 23, 2017 21:35:47 GMT -6
The sight of the tears rolling down her face had threatened to release Muiris's own tears. His eyes stung, but he made sure to hold it back. They couldnt both be crying, then they really wouldnt get anywhere. He felt her lean against his neck, her warmth radiating against his coat. He felt her hot tears against his skin, and all he could think about was wishing he could make all her pain go away. His heart felt heavy, almost as if it were ready to drop from his chest and make a new home in his stomach. He had never felt this way about anyone before, and it scared him.
She murmured her response, telling him not to feel sorry. A small smile found his lips, but he knew he simply couldnt do that. As long as she was hurt, he was going to feel it too. He was going to feel guilty. But for now, he would focus on the fact that she was still alive. Why dont you tell her that? His mind reeled, his ears flicking to the side. He had so much he wanted to tell her, so much building up in his chest. He felt like he was going to explode.
The moment soon passed, though, as she pulled herself from his grasp and took a step back. He pressed his muzzle to her neck as she did so, not wanting the moment to end, but allowing it to anyways. He watched as she dried her tears, his ears flicking forward as she picked up her gaze to look at him, curiosity sweeping through his mind.
"..I lost the book that you were letting me borrow.."
It took a moment for her words to truly sink in, which he blamed on his slight hangover and lack of sleep, but once it finally settled.. he couldnt stop the laugh that erupted off his tongue. "You could have died, and you're worried about my book?" He chuckled, lips curled up in a smile. This is what he loved so much about her: her ability to make him smile, no matter the circumstances. "Forget about that, im just glad you're alive."
Of course, it was a shame to have lost such a novel, it was one of his favorites after all. But he wasnt worried. Books could be replaced, friends could not. Besides, he would get it back. The Bloody Flanks could have their fun now, but now they've pissed him off, and Muiris had no doubt in his mind that the rest of the herd felt the same.
He quickly pulled himself from his thoughts and stepped back toward his friend, nudging her shoulder softly with his nose. "Come on, let's get back to the cabin and get you cleaned up. Your sister is over the ridge, I'm sure she'll be pleased to see you in once piece as well." He urged her, proud of himself for getting out all those words without stumbling over his own tongue. Now that he was no longer worked up over fear and worry for Ezmeralda's life, his mind was settling down and reminding him how much he hadnt slept the night before. He found it hard to keep his thoughts together, his eyes flickering again as he took a couple bounding steps up the hill to lead the way.
As he made it to the road, he was met once again with the howling wind. It tore at his hair and coat as he squinted against the overhead sun in the direction the other unicorn mare had headed. The grass danced at his hooves, seeds and pedals from flowers swirling along with the wind ahead of him. He might have actually enjoyed the view if it werent for the circumstances at hand.
"Roselia!" He shouted over the wind, hoping to catch the unicorn's attention before he glanced back to make sure Ezmeralda was following. "Roselia, I found her!" He shouted again, wincing as his own voice brought another sharp pain above his eye. However, he kept a smile on his lips and shook the feeling from his head, turning back to find the other mare quickly approaching. WC: 698 | Post #3 |
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Post by BlueUnicornJ13 on Jan 24, 2017 6:57:15 GMT -6
Ezmeralda | War-Forged | Herder
If the moment could have never ended, that would have been perfect. Despite the fact she felt like she had been running all night and had tripped and fell every few seconds, his warm pelt touching hers as his neck wrapped around her in a tight hug made her heart beat a little faster in her chest. It jumped for joy the moment he had brought her into his welcoming, protective embrace, and Ezmeralda wished so desperately that there was some way for her to tell him how she felt. She wasn't sure if blurting out something was quite right, but there probably wouldn't be an absolutely perfect way to do it. Ezmeralda found herself holding her breath, and she slowly let it out in a quiet sigh. Maybe she'd do it after she didn't look like such a wreck and the shock had subsided a little bit more.
As the words passed her lips, they sounded quite ridiculous. She could have been killed by the Bloody Flanks, and Muiris would have had more to worry about than his book, even if it was one of his favorites. The sound of his laughter and the way his smile spread over his face was infectious, and Ezmeralda found herself chuckling softly, and a small smile pulled up the corners of her lips. Her idea had worked; there was that smile and laugh that she loved so much. "I know how much you liked that book, and as everything was happening, I couldn't stop thinking about.... it... I couldn't stop thinking about the book." The words had almost slipped from her lips. She had almost confessed to having been thinking of him throughout this whole ordeal, but she had stopped herself. What if he didn't feel the same way? It would be hard to rekindle a friendship knowing that the other wanted more than just that.
'Come on, let's get back to the cabin and get you cleaned up. Your sister is over the ridge, I'm sure she'll be pleased to see you in once piece as well.'
Her sister! Ezmeralda had almost forgotten that Roselia had probably come with him to show him the way. Plus, even if Muiris had insisted that she stayed at the cabin for her own safety, Roselia was a stubborn mare and probably would have come along anyways. Ezmeralda nodded, a small smile spreading across her face as she slowly began her trek up the slope. Her aching muscles and wounds protested loudly, especially after sleeping in such a confined space all night. By the time they reached the top of the hill and the road, a thin layer of sweat had made it to her skin.
Ezmeralda's eyes scanned the open space for her sister as the strong winds at the top of the hill whipped around her. Her long hair was grabbed the breeze and tossed around her neck and face, but it didn't inhibit her from seeing the beauty of the landscape around them while she waited for her sister to appear. The wind made the grasses around them bend, looking almost like a sea of green, and petals from the flowers around them were drifting in the wind. She couldn't imagine never seeing sights like these again, and a grin appeared on her face at the chance to do so.
She almost didn't notice her sister running from nearby and nearly knocking her over as she wrapped her in a tight hug. 'Ezzie! Oh gods, I thought something terrible had happened, and I felt awful for leaving you behind, but look, I found Muiris!' The younger mare rambled excitedly in Ezmeralda's ear, but she didn't mind. "I'm so glad to see you again, Roselia. You did a great job." She muttered, nuzzling her sister's curly mane. 'Oh Ezzie, you look awful... but maybe you'll get a nice scar. I've heard Raider boys like that.' Roselia whispered, once she was sure that her older sibling was safe, just loud enough for Ezmeralda to hear. It seemed nothing was able to stop Roselia's teasing manner toward Ezmeralda and her crush.
After a few minutes of the sisters hugging and Roselia making sure that Ezmeralda didn't have any horrible injuries, Ezmeralda nodded her head toward the road. "I'm fine really. I can walk and make it to the cabin." She assured her, and Roselia shrugged her shoulders. 'If you say so, sis~' Her sister muttered before walking ahead of them a little ways, allowing Ezmeralda to fall into place beside Muiris as they trekked back to his cabin. "Thank you by the way... for everything. I really appreciate it."
Word Count: 774 | Post #3
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Post by Deleted on Jan 24, 2017 9:44:09 GMT -6
The stallion stared across the landscape, his eyes narrowed against the wind as he looked for the other unicorn mare. She should have been able to hear him, but why didnt she answer back? It was then that he heard a thud from behind him and he swiveled around quickly, half expecting to find Ezmeralda on the ground from pure exhaustion. But instead, it was only Roselia colliding into her sister for a hug. A small smile played across the stallion's lips as he dipped his head down as an attempt to give his face some relief from the wind. He watched the reunion between the two, his dumb grin finding his eyes as his ears flicked forward at their whispers. They were both safe. They were all together. He could relax now.
He turned as Roselia took the lead toward the cabin, but waited until Ezmeralda was at his side to follow. His ear flicked as she spoke words of thanks, a lopsided grin finding his lips and his gaze finding the ground. He had so much he wanted to say in return. He had promised to keep Roselia safe, but it had taken a lot out of him to not go looking for Ezmeralda that night. He hadnt stopped thinking about her all night as sleep was pushed to the back of his mind. He had been filled with regrets and doubts and his mind played out different scenarios of her fate. He had never told her how much she had meant to him. He had never told her that he loved her.
But he couldnt say that now. Now was not nearly the time to do so. His first concern was getting her back home and cleaned up to make sure those injuries werent anything worse than what they appeared.
"You're welcome." He replied softly, his tone straining as he held back what was really on his mind. He picked up his gaze just long enough to glance over at her, take in the details of her face, and then look away so he wouldnt be caught staring. "Your sister was very brave. Im glad she was able to find me."
The roaring wind slowly subsided as they entered the treeline, the trees' massive trunks blocking off most of the gusts. Instead, the air now swirled around them, dancing across their coats and lightly playing with their hair. Muiris welcomed the slight chill as another cloud floated across the sun, blocking its warmth on the way. He allowed his side to lightly bump hers every couple steps as they walked, his steps slow so that she could keep up. He knew all too well how hard it was to limp home after a war.
Once they arrived at the cabin, Muiris pushed open the door and grabbed a pail of water that sat right against the wall. It sloshed and dripped over the edges with his quick grasp, leaving little droplets of water on the wooden floor. Muiris didnt mind it for now, he was too worn out to care.
"Make yourselves comfortable." He offered with a small smile as he turned toward his desk and started shuffling through drawers. "We'll get you cleaned up, Ezzie, make sure none of those.." His voice trailed off quietly as his eye caught the green glint of the simple necklace that he had kept hidden for all this time. Solemare, thats what Fox had called it. She had crafted it in exchange for Muiris teaching her some basic fighting techniques.
Shaking his head, he quickly closed the drawer. "..make sure none of those cuts are infected." He finished quickly, hoping the two mares hadnt noticed his brief distraction. He opened one more drawer and pulled out a clean rag, flicking it a few times before turning and walking back to the bucket. He dipped the rag in the bucket before pulling it out and ringing it out, the sound of the water falling back into the pail somehow soothing.
His thoughts wandered back to the necklace as his soft amber gaze found Roselia. He would wait until he was certain Ezmeralda was okay, but then he would somehow have to get rid of her sister. He was grateful for his dark coat as he felt his cheeks warm, his head dipping away and gaze returning to the rag.
Maybe he was just tired, but he felt silly. WC: 737 | Post #4 |
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Post by BlueUnicornJ13 on Jan 25, 2017 6:30:27 GMT -6
Ezmeralda | War-Forged | Herder
Despite the exhaustion and soreness that spread across her body and through her muscles, Ezmeralda felt a certain peace now that she was in the comforting presence of her friend and family. The Bloody Flanks had taken much from her that night, but they hadn't stolen them from her or vice versa. All they had taken were worldly possessions like sheep and clothes (along with giving her a pretty good beating), but she still had those she cherished. No one had died, and she could be thankful for that just like her mother would have wanted her to be. Her mother would have told her to pick her chin up and praise Kaia that the goddess allowed her more time to walk on her earth, and while Ezmeralda certainly wasn't going to literally lift her head to the sky, she made sure to send Kaia many, many thank-yous and promises to use her time left on this earth with a little more wisdom.
Now, if she could just overcome her awkwardness and shyness, then maybe, just maybe, she'd be able to actually tell Muiris how she felt about him without sounding like a stuttering fool. As the thoughts crossed her mind, a blush heated her cheeks, causing her to turn her head away for just a moment. She felt so silly trying to make plans to make this reality!
Her attention was taken off of her thoughts at the sound of Muiris's voice, and a small, proud smile painted itself across her face. "She's strong and dependable... even though she can be quite the prankster. I'm glad she didn't argue with me when I told her to run and got away before it was too late, and it's a relief to know that she was in good hands after she found you." She admitted, giving him a grateful nod of her head. This just proved to her even more why she trusted him so much more than she had ever trusted one of her friends. Muiris proved to her time and time again that he would do anything for her, including protect her sister when she wasn't able to.
It wasn't long of a trip before they reached Muiris's cabin, but on bruised legs and sides, it wasn't exactly as easy of a hike as it usually would have been. Just when her leg had healed from the trip to scout for lands for herders to let their flocks graze on, life through this at her. At least this time she didn't think she had any serious injuries. It seemed to just be cuts and bruises from where she had been kicked and thrown around.
After Muiris had pushed open the door, Ezmeralda and Roselia followed in after him. Her eyes traveled over the familiar space and picked a place by the unlit fireplace to sit. A heavy, content sigh escaped her at the relief of finally being able to rest without pine needles poking her or jumping every time that a bush rattled in the breeze.
She watched as Roselia dig through the small bag she had been able to grab the night before and Muiris brought a pail of water to begin cleaning off her wounds. Her sister returned with a hairbrush and offered it to her with a grin. "Here, you can start getting those knots out while we get all that dirt out of your injuries." Ezmeralda smiled at her sister's kindness, knowing the underlying meaning behind it. 'You look like hell. Start making yourself look a bit better while we're busy.' Ezmeralda was still excited to see the brush regardless of her sister's jokes. "Thank you, Roselia."
The two sisters had been distracted from what Muiris had been up to, not noticing his pause while opening the drawers of the desk in search of rags. A small smile lifted the corners of her lips at his return. Her ears flicked at the sound of the water dripping from the rag and back into the pail, a sound that was oddly pleasing to the ear.
Roselia grabbed another rag and began to wash some of the dirt off of her while Muiris focused on her injuries, and Ezmeralda began to slowly work the hairbrush through the tangled mess that was her mane. The knots and pine needles made loud popping sounds as they came out of her hair.
Word Count: 731 | Post #4
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Post by Deleted on Jan 27, 2017 11:11:45 GMT -6
The stallion felt a small smile tug at the corner of his lips as he listened to the girls' banter. As he had been getting to know Roselia better, he understood why Ezmeralda was so fond of her. They complimented each other perfectly, and Roselia always knew how to make light of a tough situation. She was strong, and Muiris admired her for that. His eyes lifted from the pail as Roselia pulled out a hair brush for her sister, his eyes flickering at Ezmeralda's messy mane before he focused back on his own job.
He settled down on the floor beside his friend, flicking away the excess water from the rag. He didnt need it dripping wet; just wet enough to clean up the wounds. "It might be a little cold, sorry, I didnt think to start a fire before we left." He mumbled before softly pressing the rag against a wound on her shoulder. He didnt claim himself to be the best medic- he normally just crudely stitched himself up in the heat of battle and moved on, hoping it didnt get infected. But he knew dirt didnt belong in a cut, so he was at least doing something right. He carefully brushed away the dirt and the grime, pausing only to rinse off the rag before trying to rub off the dried blood. He found his own skin pricking as he went, hoping he wasnt hurting her.
"I dont mean to bring up bad memories, but do you remember any of your attackers? What they looked like? Maybe even names if you were lucky enough to get them.." He asked slowly, his ears flicking to the side. He knew reunions were supposed to be happy, but the warrior in him needed details, information, anything he could get. If the Bloody Flanks were truly returning, he needed to know everything he could. It still bothered him, why they would attack a group of innocent herders. It made him angry, actually, angry that someone would be so cowardly to go after someone who couldnt fight back. Were they doing it to boost their own ego, to feel better about themselves, because they lusted after blood? It didnt show they were strong, that was for sure, it showed that they were weak.
He found himself accidentally gripping the rag too tight as his mind raved on, shaking his head to relive himself of such thoughts. The time would come to deal with them, but for now he had to focus at the moment at hand.
Taking in a deep breath, he dipped the rag back in the pail and rung it out, watching as a mix of blood and dirt swirled into the once clean water. "And, what else did they take? Besides the book." He added with a lopsided smile, his gaze flickering up to glance at her face before turning back to focus on cleaning her wounds. He shifted to a kick mark on her side, his teeth gritting together as he noticed the dirt that had been shoved nearly under the skin, most likely from the hoof itself. His brow furrowed as he carefully pulled some of the skin back and tried to push the dirt out with the rag.
"Sorry." He winced, hoping it didnt hurt her too terribly. He returned the rag to the water, but this time leaving it dripping. He squeezed the water out over the kick wound, watching as it gathered up some of the dirt and pulled it out as it ran down her side. He dipped the rag in the pail again, repeating what he had done before until it was as clean as it was going to get. WC: 619 | Post #5 |
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Post by BlueUnicornJ13 on Jan 28, 2017 8:10:39 GMT -6
Ezmeralda | War-Forged | Herder
Ezmeralda pulled the brush through the tangled mess that was her hair, pulling out knots and pine needles that had stuck into her hair overnight. Her teeth gritted together at the pain of feeling her hair pulling at their roots, but she knew that she'd have to do this eventually, and now was as good a time as any and that way she could get rid of all the reminders that she could of the previous night and those horrible Bloody Flanks.
She looked up from her hair to Muiris when he warned her that the water may be a little cold and nodded her head. "It's alright." She assured him with a small, hopeful smile before continuing her own task. She'd seen and been through her own roadside medical care being a herder. If you were hurt in the middle of nowhere, there was little to do except treat it yourself with what you had if there wasn't a Medic among your group though Ezmeralda had been fortunate enough that she hadn't had to perform too many procedures on either herself or anyone else.
Distracting herself from the cool water from the rags and the stings her wounds provided her, she focused on getting every knot and piece of debris from her hair, starting with her mane and working toward her tail. Her gaze occasionally drifted to the two horses beside her, watching as they focused on her wounds and the dirt that coated her pelt. It felt strange being the focus of anyone's attention, and she silently wished that they would stop worrying over her so much. Muiris's soft tone broke her train of thought however, and her ears swiveled toward him.
A look of concentration crossed her face as she tried to recall the details of the night before, and her gaze traveled to wooden floor of the cabin. Everything had happened so quickly, and the darkness of the night had concealed most of the attackers' features. "I-I don't remember much sadly. It was so dark, and I was so panicked." She stopped, biting her lip before looking back toward Muiris. "The horse that attacked me first was a pegasus though with leathery wings instead of feathers, and the horse that seemed to be leading them... his pelt was dark, and he had a cross bow and reddish eyes." The paint mare shook her head, causing her untangled hair to hang over her face before she flicked her head to get it out of her way. "Other than that I don't recall anything else." Ezmeralda felt her body tremble at thought of those red eyes focused on them in the darkness of the forest as his cross bow was pointed straight at them, ready to strike them down with sharp arrows at any second. "I'm sorry that I don't remember more. I know it would be helpful to find them later on."
'And, what else did they take? Besides the book.'
Ezmeralda's eyes seemed to grow dark at his next question, and she looked away from Muiris with a look of shame and regret. Even the lopsided smile on his face that normally was so infectious and heartwarming to her didn't seem to help her troubled thoughts. They had stolen much more than just belongings. It was a night that would haunt her for years to come, and she would always regret what had become of the one that had helped her so much that night and had made sure the Bloody Flanks didn't kill her. "They took one of the herders with them... Gosslyn is her name. The leader of their group seemed so focused on her for some reason. I-I don't know what he's going to do to her, and I didn't do anything to save her. I just stood there and let them take her." She admitted in a defeated voice as a heavy sigh escaped her.
She winced and sucked in a hissing breath as Muiris began cleaning the dirt from the kick wound on her side by lifting some of the hanging skin and using the rag to push some of the dirt out from underneath it. When he dropped the rag back into the pail, she let out a soft snort and took in a deep breath just as he rung out the rag over the wound once more, slowly dispersing the dirt from within the injury.
A small chuckle escaped her at his apology, and she shook her head. "I-it's okay. It would be much worse if it got infected." She said with a small chuckle before he wrung out the rag again over the wound.
Word Count: 773 | Post #5
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Post by Deleted on Jan 28, 2017 22:16:51 GMT -6
The stallion's gaze trailed over the mare's dirty pelt as he waited for a reply, bouncing to and from each of her wounds. Now that he had a chance to look at them up close, he was able to relax a little more; they didnt seem as bad once they were clean. He continued to softly pour water in each of them before wiping up the dried blood and dirt around them. His ears flicked as she tried to remember the night before, but didnt come up with too much useful information. Though, hearing of her attacker with leathery wings.. that was good. Wings like that were rare, especially in Onea. And then the stallion with a dark pelt and red eyes.. that could be anyone. He internally sighed, but kept his features placid. He appreciated the effort. His gaze flicked to hers as she apologized, and he let a warm smile find his lips.
He noticed her tremble, his heart skipping a beat as he suddenly felt bad about bringing it up. He often forgot that not everyone was used to the daily terror that came with a good fight like he was.
"It's okay, dont worry. I knew it was dark, so i wasnt expecting much." He replied softly, flicking his messy forelock from his eyes before turning back to his cleaning. His head reminded him once again of the day before with the flick of his head, a sharp pain ebbing over his eye. He slowly closed that eye, his ear flicking to the side as he gritted his teeth until it passed. Just another reminder how he had been useless while a group of herders tried to ward of an attack. Great.
At his next question, he noticed her demeanor completely change. Her eyes had grown dark, guilt flickering in her gaze. He picked his head up as she turned away from him, his ears swiveling to the side. He could practically feel the regret radiating off the mare, but maybe that was just because he knew the feeling all too well. The smile that had been on his lips was now absent, his features falling as she spoke.
At first, he wasnt sure how to respond, all sorts of different emotions stirring through his mind. Anger was one of them, boiling his blood as his eyes narrowed and ears flicked back against his neck. He turned his head away, as to make sure she didnt think it was directed at her. This anger was soon mixed with confusion and sadness, guilt crawling its way in between. What would the Bloody Flanks need with a Herder? Surely, they knew that most of the herd considered Herders weak or soft, even unimportant to a few. So.. why?
He let out a sharp sigh through his nose, his nostrils flaring. Gosslyn. He would remember that name, tuck it away for when the herd fought back. His skin pricked as she sucked in a sharp breath, pausing briefly to let some of the pain subside.
"There was nothing you could have done." He finally replied quietly, keeping his head level as he tried to look at it from a more practical stance. "Had you tried to rescue her, they would have killed you, and probably her as well. If anything, you assured her safety by allowing her to be peacefully taken away." His gaze found hers again, his eyes softening. Sure, they didnt know what kind of situation the mare was in now, but.. "If they seemed so fixated on her, i would not worry too much. They obviously want her for a reason, so i have reason to believe they wont hurt her." Did he actually believe what he was saying? He wasnt sure, but he knew it would at least bring his friend some sort of ease, and saying it out loud even helped calm his own nerves. He let a small smile flicker in the corner of his lips. "Dont beat yourself up about it."
He returned the dirty rag to the pail, his brow furrowing at the murky water that had been clean when he had started. He was nearly done, most of the dirt cleaned from most of the wounds- at least enough to make him feel a whole lot better. He rung the rag out again, flicking loose water onto the floor. His attention turned to Roselia, his brow quirking as a thought suddenly crossed his mind.
"Roselia, could you run to the river and get some fresh water please?" He asked with a lopsided grin. "Its not too far from here, just a couple miles down the road." That was one way to buy him a little time alone with Ezmeralda, even though he felt a little silly for it. His gaze quickly turned away from her to keep himself from giving anything away, biting his tongue as he focused on another one of his friend's cuts, his brow furrowing with concentration. WC: 830 | Post #6 |
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Post by BlueUnicornJ13 on Jan 29, 2017 9:33:02 GMT -6
Ezmeralda | War-Forged | Herder
It felt oddly relaxing after the initial shock of the cold water on her wounds and the lack of dirt to protect them from the air around her. Finally finished with her hair and getting it to as tangle-free as she could without the aid of some helpful plants to loosen the more stubborn knots, she laid the brush down beside her and turned to focus on Muiris and Roselia as they worked. She tried her hardest to focus on the present and be thankful to be surrounded by the horses she was closest to and trusted the most, but her mind seemed to keep replaying the night before, trying to figure out if there was something else that she could have done and reliving the awfulness that was the battle on that meadow between the Valkyries and the Bloody Flanks. They had tried so hard but so many of them had ended up so hurt. The Bloody Flanks had been too strong for even the War Lord's fighters.
She'd beat herself up for a long time for not remembering any helpful information about their attackers. It could help them find where they are or maybe even some kind of weakness that she hadn't noticed before, but her mind seemed to be blank of most of the details of them aside from general, broad things like coat and eye color. None of them had said each other's name to her knowledge like they knew it could be used against them in the future. Her ear twitched as Muiris tried to comfort her, and she nodded slowly. Maybe as time went on and she was a little calmer about the whole ordeal, she would remember more details, or maybe it was just her own wishful thinking.
Her heart ached at the thought of the pale, unicorn mare that had rescued her from the fighting on the meadow and had offered to take her to the main road to find safety before she would go back to get others. She had been so selfless and brave, and Ezmeralda owed her life to her, and yet, Ezmeralda hadn't done anything but stand there and cry like a scared filly as those monsters took her away. Her green eyes sought Muiris's face as he tried to comfort her, and she allowed a small smile to creep onto her face. He was right after all even though she would still beat herself up over her uselessness that night. They would have killed them all if Ezmeralda had moved even an inch, and she would have been responsible for not only Gosslyn's death but Chirin's as well, and she would hate to see any harm come to that colt, not after all the hardship he had already been through. "I hope so. I hope them being so fixated on her keeps her alive." She spoke, matching Muiris's small grin with one of her own.
Ezmeralda watched as Muiris rung out the rag into the pail once again, his brow furrowing at the water inside the pail. She could only imagine how dirty it had gotten since they had started cleaning her up especially considering the amount of dirt and blood that was no longer on her pelt. Her wounds felt clean and ready to begin healing, but she knew she'd have to continue watching and cleaning a few of the deeper ones to keep infection at bay.
She glanced over at her sister after Muiris asked a favor of her and watched as the younger mare nodded her head. 'Sure! I can go grab some clean water. This stuff is pretty nasty.' She said and wrinkled her nose as she lifted the pail. 'I'll be back!' Roselia called back to them as she opened the door and exited the cabin, dumping the pail of water outside the door. Ezmeralda curled her tail around her body, keeping her wet pelt warm and listening to the sound of her sister stepping off the cabin's porch and head down the road. It was then that she realized that she and Muiris were alone for the first time since he and Roselia had come searching for her that morning.
Her gaze shifted from the front door to his face while he concentrated on one of her cuts. It gave her a chance to see the tiredness in his eyes despite it being hidden by the diligence in his work, and she wondered when Roselia had found him and told him what had happened. Had it been in the middle of the night after he had gone to sleep, or had she caught him just before he was about to go to bed and worry had kept him up the rest of the night?
"I know you're probably tired of hearing me say this," she started to say with a soft chuckle, "but I can't thank you enough, Mui. Everything you did last night and now means a lot to me. I can't say that I know anyone else that would done all of this for me." Ezmeralda admitted in a slightly sheepish tone, feel her cheeks burn slightly as a blush found its way onto her face.
Word Count: 865 | Post #6
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Post by Deleted on Jan 29, 2017 18:03:05 GMT -6
He smiled softly as she agreed with him, hoping that no harm would come upon the herder known as Gosslyn. He knew, however, that that night would continue to haunt her, even if she had taken his words of comfort to heart. They were alike in that way, always trying to put the troubles of others onto their own shoulders. His gaze flickered to the younger unicorn mare as she grabbed the pail to get fresher water, releasing a breath he didnt know he was holding as she closed the door behind her. He turned back to Ezmeralda as she started to speak, a soft smile spreading across his lips as his eyes drooped ever so slightly. He didnt feel like he had to hide his exhaustion anymore, but he certainly wasnt going to let it get the best of him.
He felt his face warm as she thanked him again, his gaze turning to the floor as his mind started spinning. He didnt have long until Roseline would be back, and he was tired of letting his chances slip out from under his nose. He stayed quiet, quiet for longer than he intended. Butterflies danced in his stomach, his heart pounding against his chest. It was now or never, but how in the world was he going to say it? He was sure the internal conflict could be seen dancing across his features, and if he didnt answer soon, maybe she would think that he really was tired of her constant thanks- which he wasnt, of course, he loved feeling appreciated. He loved feeling special like she made him feel. She made him feel.. alive. He lifted his gaze to hers, his ears flicking forward.
"Ezmeralda, I.." He started, his breath catching in his throat as he searched his mind for the right words. He wanted to spill out a large speech on how much she meant to him, but he was struggling just to form a single sentence! He shifted against the ground, stretching a leg out before him to kick out some of that nervous energy. "I love you." Well, that worked too.
He suddenly found maintaining eye contact to be incredibly different, his eyes flickering as he tried to organize his raging thoughts. "I-I mean, I dont think ive ever told you how much your friendship means to me. You kept me going all those years ago when i thought my life was over. You stayed by my side, even if i had almost h-hurt you." His voice cracked ever so slightly, his heart feeling as though it was going to burst. "A-and last night, when your sister came and found me, I couldnt sleep. I was so worried about you and felt so.. helpless because i knew i couldnt come and save you." A silly smile played across his lips as he shook his head with a chuckle, closing his burning eyes. "Im so tired, i dont even know what im saying, but.. i just had to tell you.. I love you, i really do. More than just.. a friend."
He took in a deep breath, prying his eyes open and searching her face with anticipation, wishing he could read her thoughts. What if she didnt feel the same way he did? What if she rejected him, just as Bihndi had? He waited for a moment before shuffling his hooves against the hard wood floor, pulling himself to his feet. He couldnt stay in one place. He would drive himself crazy! "I have something for you, too." He continued to ramble, nervous energy buzzing through his veins. "A good friend of mine, Fox, hand made it a while ago, for me. Well, for you." Damn, he was bad at this whole "talking" thing today, wasnt he? Muiris shuffled back to the desk, pulling open the top drawer where he had been hiding the necklace. He pulled it out, holding it before the window and watching the sunlight bounce off its soft green gems, its reflection dancing in his amber gaze.
"She named it Solemare." He explained, turning back to Ezmeralda with a hesitant grin tugging at the corners of his lips. His courage was quickly dwindling, memories from his younger years flooding in the back of his mind. He remembered he had done the same for Bihndi, buying back a necklace that she had adored, but been forced to sell. That certainly hadnt ended well, even after he had poured his heart and soul into everything he had done for her. Just this thought had caused him to pause, falling silent as he struggled to find his words once more, simply holding out the necklace to his friend as he came back up beside her. Ezmeralda would be different, right? She actually.. cared.. That didnt stop his heart from dropping, his mouth running dry as he studied the features of the painted mare before him, his overwhelmed mind suddenly quiet as he awaited a response.
The seconds the ticked by felt like hours. WC: 838 | Post #7 |
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Post by BlueUnicornJ13 on Jan 30, 2017 11:54:10 GMT -6
Ezmeralda | War-Forged | Herder
The silence that grew between them wasn't an awkward one. It was a comfortable quiet that allowed Ezmeralda to listen to the whistling of the breeze outside and relish in the clean feeling that was left after Muiris and Roselia had finished their work for the time being. Her nose wrinkled slightly at the thought of how dirty the water had been before Roselia had gone to fetch more. It was filled with dirt and blood and was almost black in color. To think that all of that was in her wounds and on her body made her skin crawl slightly. She wasn't afraid of getting dirty by no means, but if all of that had stayed in her wounds, it was likely they would have all gotten infected, and Ezmeralda knew of how painful and life-threatening infections could be.
Her eyes studied Muiris's face, seeing how it changed the moment Roselia closed the cabin door. It was as if he no longer had to hide part of himself or his emotions. She saw how his brown eyes drooped slightly in exhaustion and part of her wanted to tell him to go to bed to get some sleep. After all, knowing him, he hadn't slept after Roselia had found him and told him about the attack. Before she got the chance to even open her mouth to speak, however, his gaze found hers, and he started to speak before his breath caught in his throat and his body twisted anxiously. Something was different, and it made her brows knit together slightly in worry. Was something wrong? Did he not feel well or did he have some devastating news that he had to share with her? Countless scenarios poured through her mind as Muiris found his voice once more.
'I love you.'
Ezmeralda blinked in surprise. Had he said what she had thought he had said, or was it just her own mind playing tricks on her, making her hear what she wanted to hear? As he continued on, her ears flicked forward, listening carefully to the words that poured out of him, and she couldn't help that small smile that slowly danced across her face. He loved her? Of all the horses in Onea, he loved her? She found it almost unbelievable. She wasn't the typical War-Forged mare that stallions seemed to chase after. She was a herder, someone viewed as weak and practically useless to the majority of the herd. She wasn't as pretty as other mares that she had seen, and goodness, her personality was so awkward and she felt like she needed constant reassurance from those close to her. How in the world did he love her? She had never seen him like this though. It was as if the words wouldn't come out of his mouth fast enough, his voice cracked, and his eyes drifted around her, avoiding eye contact.
'I love you, i really do. More than just.. a friend.'
Before she got a chance to speak, Muiris was on his feet and making his way to the desk that sat near the bookshelves. Her eyes followed him and widened slightly when he returned with a beautiful necklace with green gems that sparkled in the daylight that filtered through the window, and she found herself dumbfounded that anyone would give her such a precious piece of jewelry. Ezmeralda looked up at Muiris's face to see a look of anticipation in his eyes as he waited for some kind of reaction from her. That was probably incredibly nerve-wracking for him to put himself out on the line like that especially after having his heart broken all those years ago.
A smile played across her lips as she stood up from her spot on the floor, and she immediately hugged him, trying her hardest to wrap her neck around the taller stallion's neck. A small sigh escaped her before she chuckled softly. "I-I love you too... more that just a friend."
Her mind whirled with thoughts and feelings and emotions to the point that she wasn't even sure if she would be able to form words to get the point she wanted to make across, but as she rested her head on his shoulder, feeling his strong heartbeat through his skin, it was the anchor she needed to finally speak. "L-last night I couldn't stop thinking about you... i-in between trying to get away from the Bloody Flanks. Every time I thought I was about to die, I thought about how much I wanted to tell you that I l-loved you, and ever since you found me, I've been trying to figure out how to say it, but it seems that you beat me to the punch." Ezmeralda giggled softly, feeling butterflies flutter wildly inside of her and her heart hammering inside of her chest. This all felt so unreal as if it was another one of her silly dreams, but when she felt Muiris's warm pelt against her own and the dampness of spots on her pelt where her wounds had been cleaned, she knew that she was awake and this was no dream. "You've helped me so much over the years, more than you probably even know. You mean the world to me, and I-I don't know what I'd do without you." Ezmeralda confessed with a quiet sigh of relief that the words that had been wanting so badly to be spoken had been said.
After awhile, the unicorn mare reluctantly unraveled herself from him, a look of affection and compassion painted across her face. The words were finally out, and Ezmeralda had never felt more relieved and excited than she was now. All of her doubts had been blown out of the water, and Muiris finally knew how she felt about him, and she knew that all this time he had felt the same way.
Her eyes traveled to the necklace that he still held, and a smile appeared on her face. Solemare. It was so intricate in design and showed how truly talented Muiris's friend, Fox, was at her talent. "You didn't have to get me anything, Mui," she started, glanced back at him with a coy grin, "but it's very lovely. Thank you. I can't say that anyone has ever given me something so stunning." Or even wanted to for that matter. It warmed her heart to know that he had been thinking of her and wanted to present this beautifully crafted necklace to her though she felt a pang of guilt for not having anything for him in return. It was then that the idea hit her.
Ezmeralda shyly craned her neck forward, hesitating for a brief moment before she placed a small kiss on his cheek, and she immediately felt her cheeks blush probably the brightest shade of red they had ever been.
Word Count: 1142 | Post #7
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2017 18:18:37 GMT -6
His heart felt as though it was ready to burst from his chest, his head feeling light from the anxiety that coursed through his system. Her soft smile as he rambled had somewhat put him at ease, but not enough for his mind to not play several different scenarios in the background.. some good, but most bad. He forced himself to recall the past, when they had peaceful walks through the forest, soft small talk, or when they had danced at the festival. His face was warm, flushed, but thankfully hidden from his dark coat. He found himself struggling to breath, his hold on the necklace wavering, the soft green light from the sun bouncing off the gems and dancing across the cabin walls.
Instead of replying right away, a small smile had played across her lips once more. His brow quirked as she stood, his own hooves taking a hesitant step back in his brief moment of self doubt. Why was he so... scared? Ezmeralda had proven time and time again that she was a faithful friend, their connection never breaking, even if they had gone weeks without seeing each other. He had even left for a good month or so, and they were still able to pick up right where they had left off, no love lost.
So why was he trembling?
He opened his mouth to speak, maybe to explain himself, he wasnt sure, but as quickly as the mare had got to her hooves, he felt her neck wrap around his in a tight hug. Muiris felt his own breath catch in his throat as she spoke the words he had been dying to hear.
"I-I love you too... more that just a friend."
He let out a soft breath of relief, closing his eyes as he pressed he buried his face into her hair. All of his insecurities and doubts were suddenly gone, vanishing as her warm coat touched his. Emotions still stirred inside of him, his heart still pounding, but now he felt.. at peace..
He chuckled softly as she spoke, teasing him softly about him beating her to it. A small smirk curled at the corners of his lips as sucked in a deep breath, her scent swirling in his nostrils. She smelt of dirt and blood, but he didnt care. He found his mind wandering to his mother, how she would be so proud, how she would tease him about finally finding someone to settle down with. If he could have one wish come true, he would wish that they would have been able to meet. His mother would have loved her..
"I dont know where I'd be without you, either." He murmured. Well, that was a lie. He knew exactly where he would have been; if not dead, at least still depressed and lost. He would not have grown into the stallion he was today, and he owed it all to her.
He felt the mare start to pull away, opening his eyes and untangling himself from her grasp. His skin tingled where they had touched. He felt as if he had more to say, but he found his mouth still dry. Luckily, she had spoken up again, claiming that he didnt have to get her anything. He laughed softly and shuffled toward her, looping the necklace around her neck and clasping it together. Oh, if only she knew, he felt that she deserved more than he could ever give her.
"It looks good on you, too." He breathed, his lips forming a lopsided grin as he passed her a wink. He would have to remember to thank Fox again for making the necklace so perfect. He stood quietly, simply admiring her beauty. It was then that she stepped forward and, after a brief moment of hesitation, kissed him softly on the cheek. He felt his breath hitch, his heart flip. His ears laid back as a sheepish grin found his features.
The stallion took a step forward, pressing his lips against her flushed cheek in return, lingering before wrapping his neck around hers again. "I promise I wont ever let harm fall on you again." He spoke softy. He was going to fight for her, harder than he had for anyone ever before. He was not about to lose someone else who was so close to him; not if he had anything to say about it. He nuzzled her neck softly, his ears flicking back at the sound of hoof steps at the door. Roselia was probably back with fresh water. The time had went by so fast.
He pulled away just as the door opened, shaking his mane against his neck. His head pounded again, but he pushed the pain away with a flick of his head as he turned back to look at the other unicorn mare standing in the door way. WC: 814 | Post #8 |
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Post by BlueUnicornJ13 on Feb 1, 2017 6:49:35 GMT -6
Ezmeralda | War-Forged | Herder
Ezmeralda had never felt so many emotions and feelings course through her body and mind all at once. She felt relieved that her feelings had finally been heard and knowing that he felt the same way. She felt excitement buzz within her at the thought of what the future held for them, and she finally felt at peace. Throughout her life worrying had always been her biggest problem. It led her down roads that she wished she hadn't troubled herself with in her youth. Even when she had first met Muiris, she had struggled with her emotions and feelings of self-doubt, but he had helped her so much over the years. He showed her the good things about herself like her compassion and trustworthiness, and he had helped her let go of some of those anxieties of being around others by sticking by her side no matter what happened to them: crumbling bridges, furious bears, and everything else that had been thrown at them over the years.
The thought of it all made her heart race inside of her chest and caused her to wonder if it was all real. This wasn't just apart of her wild imagination though. The feeling of the warmth radiating off of his dark pelt onto her own was real, and the sting that still remained from her freshly cleaning wounds were certainly a reminder that she wasn't making any of this up. Muiris loved her, and she loved him, and they had both said it out loud in front of each other. The very thought of it made a hot blush creep onto her cheeks.
Oh how her mother would be so proud and happy for her and adore Muiris. She had always wanted more for her than some insignificant arranged marriage that was so customary among the War-Forged. Her mother hadn't wanted her to end up like she had in a loveless marriage where she was only one of many wives that her husband shared beds with. She would have been so thrilled to see how happy Muiris made her and how Muiris treated her like something precious to him.
Her ears flicked back at the sound of his voice as he muttered just loud enough for her to hear. His words brought a warm smile to her face. All this time they had been harboring all of these similar feelings, and she had to admit that she found it a little funny to imagine both of them thinking the same thing without either of them actually saying anything. "I do know one thing though, I certainly wouldn't be who I am today if it weren't for you."
She wished that she could stay there wrapped in his embrace forever, but there was still so much that she wanted to say… though now that she had drawn back, she realized that her mouth had run dry. Well, she would have plenty of time now to tell him everything that was running around in her head some other time. Ezmeralda lowered her head slightly, making sure her horns didn’t get in the way as Muiris carefully secured the necklace around her neck.
She glanced down at the glistening, beautiful jewelry, marveling at its splendor before Muiris spoke, a lopsided grin gracing his face. The paint mare chuckled softly, her tail wrapping instinctively around one of her hind legs as a nervous habit. “T-thank you, Muiris. I love it.” Her eyes traveled self-consciously to the floor for a moment before she forced them to look back up at him. She didn’t want to miss a moment of this even if having so much attention on herself felt a little strange.
Feeling him kiss her flushed cheeks made her heart somersault inside her chest. It was just a kiss on the cheek, but to her, it felt like so much more than that. A coy smile played across her face. Her nostrils were filled with his earthy scent as he hugged her. Ezmeralda nuzzled his neck, listening intently to him speak.
"I promise I wont ever let harm fall on you again."
His protectiveness had always warmed her heart. No one other than her mother and sister had ever wanted to provide her with protection and made sure that she was taken care of and happy. She wished that she could protect him too somehow even though his job put him in the line of fire more often than not. Maybe if she learned to control her blessing more, she'd be able to use it.
Before she got the chance to speak again, there were hoofsteps at the door. Ezmeralda felt Muiris pull away just as the door swung open to reveal Roselia who held a pail of fresh water from the stream. It felt like she had just left! Ezmeralda still offered her sister a kind smile though, and when the sunlight sparkled off the necklace that Muiris had given her, Roselia's eyes widened slightly before a playful smile turned up the corners of her lips. "So what did I miss while I was gone?" Roselia set the pail down by the door and walked up to Ezmeralda, her eyes fixated on the necklace around her neck. "That thing is beautiful! Did... Are you two going out?" Realization clicked in her mind, and she lifted her head. "I can... go for a walk or something for a little while if I interrupted something... I don't mind disappearing for a few~" Roselia offered, winking at Ezmeralda before leaning to whisper into the older mare's ear. "It's about time that you dorks said something to each other instead of making goo-goo-eyes from across the room. You've been fawning over him for forever."
Word Count: 956 | Post #8
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2017 9:32:48 GMT -6
His lips twitched in a smile at her response, almost as if she had read his mind. He had more to say, but now he knew he had all the time in the world to say it.. or at least, thats how it felt. He felt invincible, a joy that he had not experienced in.. a very long time. He felt like he could smile without forcing it, his grin even lighting up his tired eyes. Was this what it felt like to be truly happy? He had been alienated from it for so long, he wasnt so sure.
He watched as her tail flicked around her legs - her nervous habit that he had always found kind of cute. Her eyes had darted to the floor, and then found his again. It was all these little quirks that Muiris loved her for. "You're welcome." He replied with a lopsided grin.
He wished he could have let their moment last forever, but there was... one little inconvenience. His eyes found the door as Roselia opened it, the pail of fresh water in her grasp. An awkward silence found the stallion as he shuffled a hoof across the wooden floor, his gaze dropping to his hooves. His breath hitched as the mare asked what she had missed, his ears twitching at the sound of the pail hitting the floor, water sloshing in its grasp. He worked up the courage to pick up his gaze just as Roselia's words made his skin run hot.
"Did... Are you two going out?"
His heart flipped as it seemed as though it wanted to jump out of his chest. His gaze quickly flicked toward Ezmeralda, scanning her features in hopes that he could.. read her thoughts, read the situation.. read something. He wasnt sure how this worked; falling in love with someone on his own. He had thought he would have been destined for an arranged marriage, stuck in a strained relationship with a mare whom he hardly knew. He licked his lips as he fought his own thoughts, trying to get his own dry mouth to work.
"I.. Yeah.." He mumbled softly in reply, dipping his head ever so slightly with his ears flicked to the side, a dumb smile present on his lips. He hoped that he hadnt been assuming anything; they had only confessed their feelings for each other, not discussing the future. However, he felt as though they had waited long enough- it was about time he stopped worrying about playing it safe and taking chances.
Muiris flicked his forelock so that it shaded his eyes, hoping to hide the exhaustion that was still present. Not only had he been up all night worrying, but all that nervous energy from early had depleted. Shoving back a yawn, his ears flicked forward at the younger mare's offer to "disappear" for a while, a small smirk finding his features. Oh, Roselia, how ever the blunt mare she was.
He opened his mouth to decline, as with the attack that had happened the night before.. he was hesitant about letting either of them out of his sight, but he knew how stubborn Roselia was and he didnt mind a little more alone time with Ezmeralda. "If you wouldnt mind... just.. stay close." He finally replied, concern in his tone, his voice wavering with uncertainty. Call it the warrior in him, but he couldnt help worrying about everyone's safety after such an attack. Who knew who was lurking in the shadows now.
His gaze shifted away as Roselia whispered something in Ezmeralda's ear, though he couldnt make out the words. His attention found the portrait of his parents again on his desk, his brow furrowing ever so slightly as his gaze played across the painting of his mother. His eyes flickered back to the two mares, more specifically trained on Ezmeralda. He still hadnt told her about the entirety of his trip.. why he had really been blessed with earth manipulation by Kaia. Why he had been a little off since he had returned. He turned away from the two ever so slightly as his attention dropped down to the dragon claw necklace against his chest, the one his mother had given him before passing away in his grasp. He turned it over slowly a few times with a gentle flick of his mind before dropping it back against his pelt.
Maybe that would be a story for another time. Ezmeralda had already been through a lot, and now they were happy.. he didnt want to bring down the mood. Chuckling softly to himself, he pulled himself out of his thoughts and glanced back to the two mares with a soft smile. His mother's death didnt have so much of a sting now. It still hurt, but certainly not as bad.
WC: 805 | Post #9 |
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Post by BlueUnicornJ13 on Feb 2, 2017 18:47:34 GMT -6
Ezmeralda | War-Forged | Herder
If she hadn't already been blushing before her sister had come in, she certainly was now! Her sister wasn't the quiet type at all, and Ezmeralda was accustomed to her teasing and playfulness. As soon as she saw her sister's eyes light up when she had noticed the necklace that now hung around her neck, she knew that Roselia wasn't not going to say anything. She offered the younger mare a lopsided smile and chuckled as she stared in awe at the finely crafted jewelry. It wasn't long before Roselia put two and two together though, and the other mare lifted her head with a sly grin toward her older sister before staring over at Muiris curiously. 'Oh gods, please don't say anything embarrassing. Please don't say anything embarrassing.' She thought over and over again as if the gods themselves would keep her sister from saying anything inappropriate.
She could see the uneasiness on Mui's face, and she tried to silently convey a sense of peace to let him know that everything was okay. There was no telling what was running through his mind especially since he didn't know Roselia that well. He probably wasn't even sure if Roselia would approve or be upset at him for trying to win over her sister and take her attention.
It was then that Roselia became quite embarrassing. "Did... are you two going out?"
Ezmeralda could have crawled into a cave and died if given the opportunity, but instead, she stood there with eyes as wide as dinner plates and cheeks a shade darker than tomatoes. She was unable to speak even when she tried to open her mouth to hush her sister. As she thought about it though, it was a good question, and her attention turned toward Muiris, watching as his eyes widened in shock at Roselia's rather blunt question. They had confessed their love for one another, but they hadn't really talked about their future or said whether or not they were dating. It was such a foreign concept for her to even think about, but it made her heart skip a beat as he responded with a mumbled, "I...Yeah."
The paint mare couldn't hide the smile that crept onto her face. They were dating. This was real and happening, and Ezmeralda couldn't believe the amount of joy that surged through her. Was this what her mother had told her about love when she was young? Were the butterflies in her stomach and her inability to keep from smiling and blushing like a giddy filly all signs of it? It certainly seemed to be, and everything that had just happened seemed to push down the horrid memories and feelings of the night before. The regret and guilt still sat at the edge of her mind, but the overwhelming feelings coursing through her right then was enough to make those thoughts almost disappear.
When her sister offered to leave for a little while longer, Ezmeralda felt a small pang of guilt for making her sister want to leave but was ultimately glad that she offered. She just wanted a little more time alone with Muiris, and then, Roselia would be free to come back. After the attacks last night though, she couldn't help but worry about her safety, and from the slightly hesitant look on Muiris's face, she could tell he was thinking the same. "Oh don't worry~ I won't go too far." Roselia reassured him before opening the front door once more. "Have fun you two~" And with that, she was gone and heading down the road.
Ezmeralda laughed after she knew her sister was out of earshot, shaking her head before looking back at Muiris with an apologetic expression. "Sorry about that. She's a little... blunt and not afraid to say exactly what's on her mind, and she'd never pass up the chance to tease me even now that we're older." Her green eyes studied Muiris from where he stood beside the desk, his eyes focused on the picture that Ezmeralda remembered was of his parents. A small sigh escaped her. She knew what it was like to miss ones parents. She had missed hers since the day that she lost them, and in these important times in her life, the longing for them to be there seemed to be the strongest.
She scuffed one of her hooves on the ground as her mind went back to moments before. "S-so we're um... dating? Like you're my boyfriend, and I'm your girlfriend?" Ezmeralda blushed and chuckled at her awkwardness before continuing, "I-I'm not trying to sound like I don't want to because I do very much want that. I'm just... a mess as usual."
Word Count: 784 | Post #9
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Post by Deleted on Feb 2, 2017 21:42:10 GMT -6
Muiris had felt like he was under the judgement of the gods the moment Roselia looked at him with a curious gaze. To say he was relieved when he heard her chipper tone and she had turned her attention to her sister.. well, that was an understatement. Of course, there had been a little inkling of concern, knowing how close the two mares were. Muiris didnt want to get in the way or step on anyone's hooves. He would never dream of stealing Ezmeralda away from her, but he wasnt sure if Roselia knew that herself. Luckily, the brunt of the teasing had landed in Ezmeralda's direction, giving him time to regather himself and soak in the situation.
His lips turned in a lopsided grin as Ezmeralda glanced over at him, as if she was trying to give him peace. Unfortunately, it didnt seem like he would be getting peace anytime soon. Even after Roselia shot one last teasing jab at them before skipping out the door, he was still coursing with nervous - and excited - energy. It was a strange feeling; feeling as though he could sleep for a week, but take over the world at the same time. He didnt like it, that was for sure.
He let out a sigh he didnt know he was holding just as the door shut, wind from outside swirling through the cabin from the movement. There was a brief moment of silence before Ezmeralda let out a little laugh, shaking her head and glancing back at him with apologies written in her gaze. A lopsided grin crossed his lips as he chuckled along with her, shaking his forelock from his eyes.
"She's something else." He replied with a lighthearted tone. "No need to apologize, she's just doing what siblings do." Not that he knew. He wasnt close with his siblings.. in fact, he had never cared to even learn their names. His lips pressed together as he momentarily thought back to his father's other children, wondering if they even remembered him. Probably not, as he was always with his mother, but it didnt hurt to wonder.
His ear flicked as she scuffed a hoof into the floor, another blush creeping across her face. He tipped his head in curiosity, studying her features with tired eyes.
"S-so we're um... dating? Like you're my boyfriend, and I'm your girlfriend?"
Ohh, right..
He stayed quiet as she quickly confirmed that they were on the same track, chuckling quietly to himself as she finished. She was a mess? If that was the case, he sure as hell didnt know what he was himself. Arching his brow, he sucked in a deep breath and let it hiss between his teeth, the first real breath he felt like he had taken since the start of this whole ordeal. His lungs seemed to dance with the presence of fresh oxygen, pushing away some of the nervousness that still stuck in the back of his mind.
"Y-yeah, i mean.." He said with a slow nod, biting his lip. "If you want it, and I do too.. We already know the worst about each other, so there really isnt anything to lose." He teased, his muzzle scrunching up in a smile. Pushing away his silly grin and tone, he allowed himself to fall more serious. "But... I-I've never had an actual girlfriend before.." He paused briefly, unable to fight the awkward grin that was fighting for control over his lips. He didnt know why he was telling her this, but he felt the need to. He didnt want to force her into this relationship, even if she had admitted herself that she wanted it. He just.. had to be completely sure. He could swear his insecurities were going to be the death of him, but he was still nervous considering how his last relationship had ended.
Stupid, he scolded himself. He should know better. Ezmeralda was different. Her love with real.
"So, that being said, I-I will make mistakes, but I will always love you." It was then that this whole ordeal finally sunk in. They were dating, actually dating. He had the privilege of falling in love with his best friend, and she felt the same way. He wanted to cry. He wanted to laugh. He felt like damn giddy colt again, but he embraced the excitement and allowed it to take over his anxieties. He lifted his gaze, searching the painted mare's face as he awaited a response.
WC: 749 | Post #10 |
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Post by BlueUnicornJ13 on Feb 4, 2017 8:33:45 GMT -6
Ezmeralda | War-Forged | Herder
Ever since Roselia and Ezmeralda were little, Roselia had been quite proficient at teasing and playing around with Ezzie. Their bond had always been strong and had only gotten stronger after the passing of their parents. Ezmeralda had had to practically raise her sister and make sure that she got food to eat and a warm place to sleep at night. It was more than any child her age should have had to do, but Ezmeralda couldn't have been more proud of the mare her sister had become, and she wouldn't take back anything that had happened to bring them to where they were today (even though Roselia could be pretty embarrassing in certain circumstances like right now in front of her boyfriend).
Her boyfriend... it sounded odd in her head to think that she had one of those and that it happened to be Muiris, her best friend. At this point in her life, she had thought that she would never be in a relationship. She had so many flaws and problems that she had assumed that it was for the best just like her seclusion from the public during her youth when her blessing was the most unstable. It didn't help that Ezmeralda's self-esteem was so low. She always found that she wasn't as pretty as the other mares of the herd and didn't have their sparkling personalities or parents with wealth that horses seeking an arranged marriage for their sons would be looking for.
She wasn't even sure if dating was what Muiris wanted. Sure he had said it in front of her sister, but maybe he had just said it to put Roselia's curiosity at ease. Ezmeralda wasn't even sure why these doubts were running through her head. She knew Muiris wasn't one to say things without acting on them, and he certainly wouldn't hurt her like that. That would be the last thing that he did, but her insecurities still ran high, keeping her from truly believing that this was what he wanted and that the situation itself hadn't forced him into saying it. She had to know for sure, and the only way to do that was hearing him say it.
Ezmeralda bit her lip nervously as she waited for his response. He had fallen quiet, and she could see his sides rise and fall with a deep breath. Her stomach knotted in anxiety, and her breath caught in her throat. What if he changed his mind and didn't want to be with her? What if he realized this was a mistake and took back everything that he said? Ezmeralda's heart hammered in her chest. When his head nodded slowly in agreement, she almost thought it was just her imagination or wishful thinking, but his words confirmed it.
"If you want it, and I do too.. We already know the worst about each other, so there really isn't anything to lose."
The unicorn mare chuckled softly with a small nod of her head. "You do have a point there. We've already been through more than others have together, and neither of us has left." She spoke with a slightly joking tone, though what she said was entirely true. They had both been through so many life-threatening situations, helped each other through rough patches in life, and knew many of each others flaws. Oh gods, she had been so stupid to not trust him after all of that they had been through. Muiris was someone she was incredibly close to and trusted more than anyone, but insecurities and the unfamiliarity of anyone wanting her had still plagued her thoughts.
The grin that had been on his face moments before was gone now, and Ezmeralda fell quiet, a small frown appearing on her face as worry bit at her gut.
"But... I-I've never had an actual girlfriend before.. So, that being said, I-I will make mistakes, but I will always love you."
"I-I've never had a boyfriend either... so I can assure you that I'll probably make plenty of mistakes too." Ezmeralda said with a soft chuckle before a more serious expression appeared on her face. If they were going to talk about this kind of stuff, she had a little something to add. "I also still have lots of insecurities about myself and why anyone would even want to bother being around me..." She paused for a brief moment, taking a shaky breath and letting it out through her nostrils. "I'll probably ask a million times if you're sure about this and if you still feel the same way... j-just know that it's just because I love you and I don't want you to feel like you're being pressured to stay if you don't want to." She confessed with a quiet sigh as her eyes shifted to the floor. It sounded silly to say now that she had said it, and others would probably think it was ridiculous and foolish to even think that way, but she knew that it would take a lot of reassurance and time for her to think any differently.
Word Count: 848 | Post #10
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2017 19:36:22 GMT -6
He added to her chuckle with his own as she replied, his lips quirking in a lopsided smile. Yes, they had been through a lot of life threatening situations. He often wondered how in the world they were still alive. Between bear attacks and falling bridges - two falling bridges - it was a curious fact how they were still alive. Either they were awfully stubborn or the gods had other plans for them.. This was certainly a plan he didnt mind at all. Not to mention, their own friendship had stood the test of time. Their jobs certainly didnt allow them too much alone time, and anyone who had seen a stallion like Muiris show that much emotion in his younger years.. they would have left him a long time ago. It was just this thought that reminded him how special Ezmeralda was to him. She saw something in him that others didnt see, including himself. He wondered if she knew it worked the same way for her.
He stood nervously as he waited for her to respond to his little bit of insecurity, his ears flicking in all directions as he anxiously looked for something else to focus on. It was then that she chuckled, and his brow quirked in question.
"I-I've never had a boyfriend either... so I can assure you that I'll probably make plenty of mistakes too."
His lips took on a half smile as he let out a soft sigh. This would be an interesting learning experience for the both of them, but that was surely what they liked to do best; learn and grow together. He had thought that that would be the end of the conversation, but then her face fell into a more serious expression. He watched her with curiosity in his deep amber eyes, his lips pressing together as she started to speak. He nodded slowly as she explained her insecurities, a comforting smile finding his features as his tired eyes softened. He knew what that felt like; to always be questioning one's importance to another. To never feel good enough. While he had long since tried to push those emotions and thoughts to the side, he knew even he still struggled with it.
He took a mental note to reassure her when he could. He never wanted her to feel like he was there because he had to be. He knew telling her not to worry about it would not help; he would just have to make sure to stay on top of it, not that it was any trouble.
"Well." He started with a sigh and pulling his lips back into a smile. "As usual, we'll be a mess, but I think we can manage." He replied in a slight teasing tone. While their insecurities could certainly clash every now and then, Muiris was determined to push his to the side in order to make it better for Ezmeralda.
The wind continued to howl outside, a tree branch tapping against the window. Muiris shifted his attention toward it, narrowing his brow as he noticed the clouds had gotten thicker since they had headed out that morning. "Do you want to help me bring in some fire wood?" He asked, flicking his gaze back toward the painted mare before him. "Looks like it might be getting a bit cold soon.. The Roselia will have somewhere warm to come back to whenever she decides to return." He offered, turning toward the door and fighting the wind to pull it open. It had been a while since he had had weather like this; hopefully it would be bringing some rain to push out some of their summer heat. WC: 616 | Post #11 |
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Post by BlueUnicornJ13 on Feb 7, 2017 14:39:04 GMT -6
Ezmeralda | War-Forged | Herder
Ezmeralda couldn't help the insecurities that bubbled inside of her. She had never in her life had someone that loved her (that wasn't family of course) and could put up with her quirkiness and odd behaviors and her dangerous blessing. The list of things not to like about her seemed to be a mile long, and yet here Muiris was. He had stayed by her side through thick and thin for years, and their relationship had grown so much since that fateful night when he had saved her from that terrible blizzard, and she had started to grow that day by helping him with his sorrows after the mare he was meant to marry left him. It must have been so hard and emotionally-wracking to confess this all to her after his heart had already been broken once.
She felt rather foolish now that the words had left her lips. Why did she have to be so insecure? Why did she have to worry about him not loving her the same one day and wanting to leave? She didn't want to make him feel trapped, but what even made these worries go through her head? She trusted Muiris more than anyone and knew that he wouldn't hurt her. Ezmeralda supposed that she loved and wanted to protect him so much that she even considered herself a threat to his happiness.
Her insecurities and needing to be reassured were things that she needed to work on, but Ezmeralda was more than willing to do that and so much more to make this work. A desire bubbled inside of her to be as close to what Muiris deserved even though she was sure she'd slip up every now and again, and like every couple, they'd probably butt heads over some things, but the fact that they were doing this was enough to make her giddy with joy.
Ezmeralda chuckled lightly, a small smile painting itself across her muzzle. "I think we can too." She agreed, his teasing tone making a laugh escape her. They were a mess, and both of them had their own set of problems, but Ezmeralda had a feeling that they would be okay. Her attention was taken away from her rambling thoughts by the light tapping of a tree branch on the cabin's window outside. Her gaze traveled to the glass and saw how the wind blew the vegetation outside more wildly than before. The clouds had even gotten thicker and more concentrated since that morning. Years of living in the rough, below-zero lands of Onea had taught Ezmeralda a lot about the weather patterns associated with the cold. The clouds and winds meant that winter was slowly coming and, along with it, colder weather.
Her head swiveled back toward Muiris as he spoke. "Good idea. It looks like colder weather is blowing through." The paint mare nodded her head, following him through the open door and was greeted by the chilling breeze that whipped through the trees around them. The unexpected chill sent a shiver down her spine, but the feeling of the cold air nipping at her pelt and the wind tossing her hair around her brought a grin to her face. "The warmer weather was nice for a little while, but I love winter-time. Hot chocolate, roasting marshmallows, and it might be weird but I kind of like the cold air." Ezmeralda confessed as they walked to the pile of firewood that sat along the side of the cabin where she began picking up a handful of the chopped wood.
Word Count: 596 | Post #11
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Post by Deleted on Mar 28, 2017 14:08:14 GMT -6
I SPOKE TO THE DEVIL TODAY, AND HE SWEARS HE'S NOT TO BLAME
AND I UNDERSTOOD, CAUSE I FEEL THE SAME The stallion nodded as the made their way toward the door, pulling it open to be met by the cold breeze blowing through his thick coat and messy hair. Muiris was not one to enjoy the warmth, at all actually. He seemed to be his own little heater, the summer heat only overwhelming him and making him feel like he was going to melt. Not to mention, the pesky bugs always drove him crazy when they made a home out of his woolly coat. He loved the blizzards and the snow storms, the wild wind and overcast clouds. He would do anything to get winter back, but he would just have to be patient and try to survive this season the best he could.
A small chuckle left his lips at Ezmeralda's confession for her love for the cold, almost as if she were reading his mind. Making his way to the wood pile against the side of the cabin, his ears flicked back to hide from the howling wind.
"Me too." He replied. "I'll take snow over the summer heat any day." The stallion carefully lifted a pile of wood, stacking them in his grasp as much as he could without them toppling over. Small bits of bark and kindle dropping, only to be shuffled away from the wind. He shifted away to allow Ezmeralda to get some as well, standing out of the way.
"Though, I've never roasted marshmallows before." He admitted with a lopsided grin, his soft amber eyes locked on the mare's painted pelt. As long as he could remember, his family never did anything of the sort. His mother had never been one who enjoyed sugary treats and his father had certainly not been someone who would do such a thing. In fact, Muiris couldnt even recall ever tasting a marshmallow in general.
He waited until she was ready and then turned to lead the way back into the cabin, squinting his eyes as they turned into the rush of the wind. A chill ran through his body when he stepped through the door, the inside of the cabin easily warmer than it was outside. He shook his mane, his messy hair bouncing against his neck as he tried to at least get the hairs to go back where they belonged.
Dropping his pile of lumber by the fireplace, he stacked a few logs up before grabbing for the matches off the mantle. It didnt take long for a fire to catch, slowly eating at the wood before flaring up in flame. WC: 427 | Post #12 |
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Post by BlueUnicornJ13 on Mar 29, 2017 18:52:30 GMT -6
Ezmeralda | War-Forged | Herder
Ezmeralda took in a deep breath of the cool breeze that met her as they stepped out the front door. It was a welcome sign that cooler weather would be coming soon, and the summer heat would soon become colder and colder until winter came again. She had to admit that the clear skies and beautiful green and flowery meadows had been nice, but she was certainly ready to not be sweating the second that the sun came up and to travel across Onea with fresh, white snow under her hooves. Maybe it was just her being picky and wishy-washy for loving one over the other for a little while and growing tired of it by the end, but she did like things about both seasons.
The soft rumble of a chuckle that left Muiris's lips created a smile on her face. It always seemed that his happiness was contagious to her even in now as her body ached so badly that she could hardly move and her heart still hammered in her chest at the thought of the terrifying night she had suffered through only hours ago.
Her ears twitched in surprise at his words, and a grin crossed her face. "Really? You've never roasted marshmallows before?" She asked, remembering all the fond memories she had as a little filly roasting marshmallows with her mother by a little fire that was barely large enough to keep both of them warm. It was some of her fondest memories of her childhood, and she still loved to light a fire on occasion when she could get marshmallows to roast them with her sister. "Well, we can change that if you'd like. Roasted marshmallows are a really good treat." Ezmeralda offered, a sheepish smile pulling up the corners of her lips.
Ezmeralda picked up a small pile of wood from the pile after Muiris had already collected his bunch, careful not to snag the precious jewelry that hung from her neck. The weight of it was already becoming a comforting, relieving feeling, and the thought of him liking her the same way she liked him still brought a feverish blush to her cheeks. How in Hireath had she gotten so lucky to have his love?
She carried her bundle of firewood after him, following him through the cabin's door to set the wood beside the fireplace. Sitting down and instinctively wrapping her long tail around her body, Ezmeralda relaxed as Muiris took a match and set a small pile of wood aflame, feeling the warmth of the fire already rolling through the cool room.
It wasn't long after the fire was lit that her sister, Roselia, knocked lightly on the door before poking her head inside. "Am I allowed to come back yet? Or are you guys still talking about relationship stuff?" She asked with a mischievous tone. Ezmeralda glanced over at Muiris with a slightly embarrassed, apologetic glance before smiling over at her sister. "Yes, you can come in, Roselia. Come sit by the fire; it was getting pretty chilly outside." Roselia nodded and closed the door behind her before walking over to sit close to the fireplace.
Word Count: 527 | Post #12 |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2017 10:01:38 GMT -6
I SPOKE TO THE DEVIL TODAY, AND HE SWEARS HE'S NOT TO BLAME
AND I UNDERSTOOD, CAUSE I FEEL THE SAME The stallion gave a soft nod as she mentioned them roasting marshmallows. It sounded fun, especially since the nights were no longer frigid with winter snow. "That would be nice, id love to." He replied with a beaming smile. He waited for the fire to light before he pushed the rest of the wood into a neater pile of its own. He didnt expect them too need too much, considering it wasnt all that cold out, but the crackle of the fire was welcoming.. and somewhat soothing as well. As the warmth bounced off his thick coat, the weight of the long night before and the excitement of the morning had started to push down on his shoulders. He could already feel his eyelids drooping against his will.
The knock at the door pulled him back to attention, his head flicking up in a jerk before he turned back to the door. Roselia poked her head in, her teasing voice floating through the small room. He let a smirk find his lips as Ezmeralda glanced at him with an apologetic look, but he shrugged it off. He had forgotten how little siblings could be, considering it had been so long since he had had contact with his own.
"Welcome back." Muiris greeted softly, flicking his forelock out of his eyes as the fire danced in his gaze. He allowed silence to fall between them, the only sound being the cracking and popping of the dancing flame. His ears twitched with every pop, his eyes focusing on the flicker. There was something mesmerizing about the warmth and brightness of the flame; something that could lull him to sleep awfully easy.
With a sharp inhale, Muiris shook his head, his messy mane bouncing against his neck. "Well, im sure you two have a lot to catch up on as well." He started, holding back a yawn by rubbing his muzzle against his knee. "Im going to try to sleep for a few hours. Feel free to keep the fire going for as long as you need it. Ezmeralda knows where the extra wood is."
He reached out and nuzzled Ezmeralda's cheek with a quick kiss before shuffling away to the back room. The rickety old bed was surprisingly welcoming as he crashed onto the mattress, snuggling into the blankets. A smile found his lips again as he recalled the events of the day. He had finally sucked it up. He had finally said what had been on his heart for so long.
That didnt stop the looming problem that was the Bloody Flanks' attack, but it certainly made it.. easier..
He couldnt be happier. WC: 442 | Post #13 |
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Post by BlueUnicornJ13 on May 13, 2017 11:53:02 GMT -6
Ezmeralda | War-Forged | Herder
Someone actually caring about her was such a strange thought, and to think that she cared about them to was something she had thought she would never have. It made her heart beat a little faster inside of her chest and a blush warm her cheeks. She'd never thought she would be lucky or good enough to even have a chance with someone like Muiris nor had she imagined falling for one of her closest friends. The thought of it all though brought a goofy grin to her face that she had a hard time shaking off as Muiris turned toward her with a small bundle of firewood to head back to the cabin.
Watching the fire flicker in the fireplace and hearing it crackle as it ate away at the wood, Ezmeralda began to relax. The attack of the night before and the eventful day she had had was beginning to take its toll on her, and she fought to keep herself from yawning or closing her eyes. Soreness was beginning to set into her muscles, and the wounds and bruises she suffered from ached, but all Ezmeralda could think about was how grateful she was to be alive. She could have died at the hooves of her attackers, but instead, she had been blessed to live another day and to discover feelings she might have otherwise never known about.
If it weren't for the knock on the door and her sister's appearance, the unicorn mare probably would have soon fallen asleep, but as soon as the door started to creak open, Ezmeralda's eyes widened for a moment, her heart stopping inside her chest. Part of her wondered if it could be those ghastly Bloody Flanks raiding them, but the sight of her sister's face peeking into the cabin caused the breathe she had been holding to rush out of her in a relieved sigh. They were safe. No Flanks were there to cause them harm.
As Muiris rose and nuzzled her cheek before giving her a small kiss, she felt her face flush, and a cheerful, coy grin painted itself across her face as her lips gently brushed against his cheek. Her green eyes followed him as he walked out of the room but not before she said, "Sleep well, Mui." Ezmeralda muttered, fighting back a yawn of her own before she turned her attention to her sister's bewildered expression.
A sheepish grin pulled up at the corners of her lips, and Ezmeralda glanced over at the crackling fire. "Well, we have a lot to talk about don't we?" She whispered low enough to ensure Muiris's slumber would not be interrupted the million questions she could already see Roselia formulating.
Word Count: 594 | Post #13
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