Plot 004: Ships in the Night

Liam | Scout

Sure, having been born and raised in Onea, Liam was used to snow. He dealt with it on a yearly basis. Being a scout, he had often had to traverse through deep drifts and blizzards before he could find shelter. But a storm this bad. This was unusual. Especially without any warning from the weather witch. Between Alya's winds and Cascade's snow, it was rather difficult to continue with the party he had been assigned. Not to mention Liam wasn't exactly used to being a team player. As a scout he spent more time on his own depending on his own self reliance. He wasn't used to having to look after others. And it seemed as though the shield leading them felt much the same way.

The stallion braced against the cold, wind whipping his forelock into his eyes, but he dare not close them. If he lost sight of the others, he could be lost in the cold, and with how bad this storm was turning out to be, and the fact that the cultists would be celebrating their blood-letting tonight, Liam had no interest in being out alone. After all, he wouldn't even be out in this mess if it weren't for those damn Serorans.

Yes, he understood that herd relations were important and blah blah blah, but that wasn't his problem. Liam is certainly no diplomat, but the desert dwellers had likely never seen snow before, let alone experienced and Onean blizzard. If they didn't help who would? Liam watched Haku stop and take count, then he just barely heard his remark and looked back to find a good chunk of the group missing.

The bay stopped and looked around, trying to catch a glimpse of the missing group, but all he saw was swirling white. "Well that's damned inconvenient," he sighed, waiting for Haku's decision. Would they continue to find the Serorans? Or look for the rest of their group? Liam was sure the rest of their comrades could survive this storm, after all they were Oneans. But the Serorans? They didn't have a snowballs chance in hell without their help.

1/5 355 words

Clyde|Raider

Snow to the left, snow to the right. The large stallion narrowed his eyes and pulled his ears back, he was born and raised in this land and knew how to survive in this type of weather. But it never meant he liked it, it was actually the opposite. Clyde hated the thick snow, it always made it harder to move through and would clump up on his leg fur. He watched as Icabod bounced and played in the snow, her pulled his ears back slightly and left his thoughts to himself. As their leader Haku spoke of the dogs and shrugged as he joined him and Liam. “Wouldn’t them canines leave us just where we are at now?” He asked aloud as his head lowered to the snow covered ground where he then snorted, moving the snow slightly.



He looked around as the snow fall before them, getting thicker and thicker with every passing moment. “this was just lovely” he said to himself as he waited for Haku to make up his mind on whether they were going to keep moving or look for the missing members of their team.


Word count: 191
1/5

Haku | Sheild

Idiots. They were all idiots!

Haku forced himself to keep from grating his teeth together, annoyance simmering beneath his coat. The snow was beginning to freeze creating a sheen layer of ice on everything it touched with its wicked fingers. Perhaps he should have been a merchant as his father had asked of him, at least then he wouldn't have the travel with this lot. " For now we will keep movin'! The more ground we can cover before the sun sets the better." Blue eye's glared at Icabod as the hefty stallion pranced around like a colt seemingly none the wiser to the shield words. "If you get lost, its on your own head. I will not hold your hoof and Hira will certainly not send a search party after you."

'Kaia, help me not kill them,' the words were dry against his mind. 'But I would certainly never hear the end of it if I were to fail because of their incompetence.' Without another word, the pale stallion pressed forward; wind biting at his back as he pushed against the snow. Once they reached the cover of the forest, the gusts would subside and the journey may become more bearable. Onea's piney woods were dense and perfect cover for the frequent and long winters of the north; but shelter drew more than just horses looking for easy passage.

As the party reached the safety of the trees, the winds began to die; thwarted by the sturdy wide branches of the pines. It made Haku grin, the knowledge the he was right lifting his already overflowing confidence. Perhaps they would listen to him now. 

2:5

Liam | Scout

Well that was... unusual. Seeing such a large stallion, a raider especially, prancing through the snow like a love struck filly. A coy grin pulled at the stallions lips, this would certainly be an interesting story. Though he doubted anyone would believe him. The idea of a raider frolicking through the snow was so unconventional he would likely be labeled a liar. Ah well, at least he could keep the image in his head to chuckle at in the future.

Attention snapped away from the raider when Haku spoke, and the scout nodded. Moving was not only important to completing their mission, but staying still, even for the short time they, had set a chill in his joints that caused them to protest trudging through the forming drifts. This really was going to be a bad one.

Liam kept his head nearly on the ass of the horse in front of him. Partly to block some of the wind, but mostly to keep from loosing his way. It was growing harder to see through the white. He did manage to catch the words which the prancing stallion had said to their leader and he sighed. "We have to find the Serorans. They don't stand a chance in this," he said, mostly to Icabod. It had been the initial plan after all. "If we go back to Skeldr without them, I imagine the War Lord will enjoy having our hides for a new rug. Kaia knows the Stone Circle could use the decoration."

2/5 254 words

Haku | Shield

His chest released a heavy sigh and with it a small fog against the biting air. They did have a point, as much as the stallion hated to admit it; taking cover in the shelters of the forest simply would not do. Hira, their lord, was waiting and trusted Haku with such a simple task. He could not- no WOULD NOT, disappoint her. "Once we have reached the bottom of the mountain, the storm should be stable enough to continue on. For now, let's just focus on getting through this weather without loosing each other." A hard glare was sent in Icabod's direction. The young ones always thought themselves invincible, as if nothing in the world could keep them from their objectives. It was a good trait to have on some occasions but it also led to bull-headedness and over confidence. And while the raider was not a foal in body he certainly had not matured in the mind. 

Another breath of wind flew through the maze of trees nipping aggressively at the shield's pale neck. The wolves pelt that hugged Haku's shoulders had never failed him except in the season's deepest winters when snow began to cling desperately to the soft fur.  It made him long for the warm fireplace and comfort of his bed. He was no raider, no scout. He was not made for the elements but for serving Hira. And served her he did, even if it meant trudging through the slop of snow and ice as it hurled itself from the heavens. 

'It's a good thing I enjoy her company so much.' The thought was dry but honest. He would not be here if he didn't have any respect for the mare. 

As the moment passed, blue eye's caught a glimpse of a shadow beyond the trees. It lasted a mere second before it was gone, swallowed in the flurry of snow as it whirled around the party. The shield's brow furrowed, straining to see the shadow once again but with no luck. Could it have been a mirage hidden in the pines and ice? Perhaps. But Haku had learned long ago not to discount anything so easily; especially when sight was lacking.

"Keep moving and stay together!"

3:5

Liam | Scout

This really wasn't his thing, as Raiders were generally the ones expected to protect traveling parties. But seeing as he was the eldest scout in the party, and likely the one who had experienced more situations like this than the rest of them, he would do everything he could to make sure the mission was completed successfully. Yes, the Shield Haku was still in charge, but he was more used to remaining in the comforts of Skeldr. Liam had spent the majority of his life in a tent.

The stallion followed after Haku as he spoke to continue down the mountain, hoping what he said about the blizzard easing up was true, but the reality was that this storm was only looking to get worse. That would've been enough to worry about had a shadow not rushed between the trees in his peripheral. Before he could get a better grasp on what it was, a yelp rang through the air and his attentions were turned to Icabod. As his heart calmed from the sudden excitement, he grinned. "Careful, you never know what's under the snow. And you could wander straight off a cliff in a white-out like this," he said as cheerfully as he could to the rather sullen looking stallion.

Once that was sorted, Liam trotted up to Haku, keeping a sharp eye on the trees around them. "We ought to be careful," the scout said to their leader. "There are dangerous beasts roaming about tonight. Let's hope there are no mares with the Serorans." The first snow of the season was always an eerie night, and Liam did his best to avoid being out in it, but tonight he didn't have a choice.

3/5 285 words

Icabod|Raider

Icabod stopped in his tracks. He whirled around to face the scout. It took all his strength not to make a complete ass of himself about the reaction. "I was born on this mountain and I've lived on it for years. I know how to be safe and frankly, the edge is way over there." He snorted stubbornly.
Icabod turned back around and kept trudging through the snow. His ear twitched when he heard Hyde's comment but he didn't really care, simply ignored it.
After a few more minutes of walking, the roan stallion noticed an approaching threat. He stopped once more. "There's a predator watching us." He whispered while gesturing through the trees. "What should we do about it? Don't really feel like getting eaten today..." Icabod waited for a reply. If he let his eyes off of the shadowy figure he was sure it would attack.

Icabod|Raider

Icabod stood for a moment, unable to move as he watched the scene go down. Then a wolf was on his back. The raider leaped into the air with a manly shriek. HE bucked wildly, trying to remove the beast from his back. "Hold on, Liam! I got you!" He called as he bounded through the snow. The wolf clung to his back. Claws pierced his thick fur and skin sending streaks of blood down his lighter red fur. He picked up enough pace through the snow to get the wolf off balance. It tumbled to the snow and crawled away before Icabod could strike it.
He bounded towards Liam as quickly as possible. Icabod sent a hoof down on one of the wolf's heads. But, it was no use, there were too many of them. He wouldn't be able to stop all of them alone. He supposed that it was a good thing he wasn't alone. He reared and struck at another wolf that snapped at his legs. The roan stallion glanced around at the other stallions in the group. "How do we beat them!?" He shouted in terror. It wasn't often that Icabod was scared, but the circumstances were less than perfect.

Haku | Shield 


It took a single breath  for the pack to descend on the party, fangs bared and hungry. Haku could hear Liam's screams behind him, followed in quick succession by the others. He moved to turn, prepared to push away the ravenous canines from his herd mates and crush their skulls beneath his hooves, but the sudden pain against his back told him otherwise. The rip of skin was a disgusting sound, no matter if it was his own or someone else's, and it made his ears curl in disgust. The pain came next, sharp stabs against his spine as he struggled and bucked to fling the beast off. "You fiend!" the words flew from his lips as the rage and fear grew within him. He was no scout, no fighter, but he would not die today.

Haku spun once before allowing his weight to drop into the snow. He aimed to drop onto his back and crush the wolf beneath his mass. It would enough to surprise the beast, the pain releasing itself as it lost hold, but quickly it darted away. There was no time to celebrate though. With a wince, the Shield pushed himself back up and charged at the pile that had massed themselves over Liam. Head down, the paso swung; curled horns paving a path as the creatures scatted in an attempt to avoid his attack. 

He swung again, this time catching a wolf in the curve of his horn. Haku could feel its weight against his head and with every ounce of muscle he could use, lifted the canine up and flung it against a nearby tree. He heard the sickening crack of bones and pinned his ears once more. He could only hope he had shattered its spine. 

"Make them wish they were never born!" He cried out in response to Icabod's panicked question. "Show them no mercy."

5:5

Clyde|Raider

Hearing their leader yell out and push his way threw wolves and making his way to the group, he watched as wolves ran and other came, he pulled his ears back at the sounds much like Haku had done. Seeing as Liam reared and helped him he nodded his head to the silver bay and got to his hooves and with one kick of his back legs he shook off a wolf that had attached itself to his hind leg. "Are you okay?" He asked Haku and Liam before he grabbed another wolf with his jaws and flung it away from them "we should take this time to try and do something" Clyde spoke quickly as some of the wolves took off away from the group. "They won't stay away for long and I agree... We can't hold this up for to long.. There are way to many of them" Clyde added and hated every word of it, he never enjoyed running away but knew very well when he was out numbered and when it was time to live over allowing such beasts to kill him. 

5/5

Haku | Shield


"Filthy cowards," the pale stallion spat, kicking another wolf behind him. The other's were right, the scope of the pack had only grown in number as they banded together, no doubt driven by their starvation. He eye'd another beast as is flew past him and toward Liam, its ribs very clearly defined beneath its thick winter coat. Onea's winter was long and this years had been especially unforgiving to all that lived on the land. Still, it did not mean the equine were ready to give up so easily. 

Haku charged froward, grabbing the wolf that just passed him by the neck and biting down hard. The creature struggled and yelped, clawing desperately at the shield's face and neck as it tried to free itself. But today, the stallion was angry; his already irritable state fueling his desire of destruction. With a heavy swing of the head, he sent the wolf flying into a group of other's, the wind very clearly knocked from their lungs. 

"Find the leader!" he shouted orders to his herd mates. They would not flee here like dogs with tails between their legs. "Once you destroy it, the others will leave!"