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Post by ∞ L U C I D I T Y on Apr 28, 2013 6:16:55 GMT -5
 F R E I D A[/color]
Black caves, water droplets, footfalls echo. This land was one that Freida thrived in. The dark, empty tunnels in deep, dark rock suited the mare quiet fine. They were away from other horses, from those who wished to hurt her. She missed her young children dearly but knew that they would suffer if they spent more time with her damaged self...
Soft pinpricks of light danced along the walls as Freida's coat glowed, the white stars in her multi-coloured coat glowing softly. Her pale, pale blue eyes appeared almost translucent in the dark as she carefully picked her way through the cave, using the bright purple-hued light at the end of her tail as a guide.
Ears flickered backward as a misplaced foot kicked a rock and it bounced off the walls, the sound amplified as it echoed down the cave. Keeping her ears facing behind her, Freida paused mid-stride as she waited for the sound of the clatter to fade from the tunnel. She had not seen another horse since she and her twin foals had parted ways and preferred it that way. Most of the horses she had known in her lifetime were brutal, abusive beings.
The tiny mare, a pony in fact at only 12.3hh, stepped daintily through the caves. The mare neither cared nor worried about where she was headed, as long as she kept walking, for if she stopped her memories and nightmares would surely catch up to her.
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Post by nessyo on Apr 28, 2013 8:36:32 GMT -5
Orpheus [/size]
For all her druthers, Frieda would not be alone for long.
That was really the danger of the waterfall. You were Totally Alone, until you ran into one of the watchman's twisted experiments, or his three headed "Son."
On this particular day, Frieda would have plenty of warning to this upcoming disturbance: from deep in the cave, a howling growling racket started, echoing around in all directions as the cool walls distorted the noise. It sounded like growling and angry bleating, mixed with an oddly disjointed terrified shriek, and the sound of many paws and hooves hitting the ground at the same time.
A moment or so later, the source of the disturbance came careening around a corner: the heavily decayed corpse of a deer was not shambling, as one might expect, but was rather running unsteadily at top speed, an impressive thing for a creature whose legs did not look entirely structurally sound. It looked terrified, if such a thing was possible in the recently undead, but it certainly had good reason to be. Most of the growling and shrieking was coming from the three-headed beast running behind it at top speed. Toast was On the Chase, and was so excited that the smallest of his heads- the snake head- was occasionally releasing gouts of excited flame in random directions, while the other heads focused on chasing the already-dead deer.
So enraptured by this game were the two creatures that they did not notice the mare in whose direction they were headed.
"speech"
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Post by ∞ L U C I D I T Y on Apr 29, 2013 1:33:00 GMT -5
F R E I D A [/color] A sense of foreboding filled the mare as an odd sounding racket reached the mare's sensitive ears. Flicking her tail slightly, the glow of her tail dimmed but her coat remained ever glowing. Freida pressed herself to the wall as tightly as she could as the howling, growling, bleating, shrieking noise grew ever louder and closer. The tiny female held her breath trying with all her might to blend into the slimy, dank cave wall.
Suddenly, a deer bounded past... or what could pass as a deer. It had an odd running gait, as if it's legs to collapse underneath it at any instance and it looked as if it had been dead and buried for quite a time... Freida's ears pinned back and the whites around her eyes showed. She wasn't sure what was going on here and her curiosity mingled with a heady fear.
Suddenly, her curiosity got the better of her as a three-headed creature careened past the glowing mare. With a loud snort, she took a few steps backward and attempted to appear invisible with all her might. A bright flame erupted from what looked like a snake head and Freida started quaking in fear and excitement. The chase had left adrenaline coursing through her veins and she merely wanted to chase after the two strange creatures, merely for the thrill of the chase but forced herself to remain in her half-hidden position. A bright lick of flame came awfully close to the fae's tail and she released a soft cry of shock as the heat reached her delicate skin, illuminating her purple-glowing tipped tail to an orange and red.
The clamour faded as quickly as it appeared but the multi-coloured mare remained in place for a number more minutes, breathing heavy and laboured from holding her breath for so long. Releasing a long sigh, Freida pried herself from the wall and shook out her coat before tentatively moving further into the cave.
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Post by nessyo on May 1, 2013 21:23:22 GMT -5
 Orpheus [/size]
As quickly as they'd come, the careening chimera and it's quarry were gone, down the thin halls of the bonegrounds. Toast did not notice Frieda, and it seemed that she was alone once more, as she continued forward-- but that was only the appearance of things, because Orpheus was never far behind Toast.
He was somewhat flustered at the Chimera's insistence of chasing his undead experiments, but had learned, by now, that there was no stopping teh Chimera once it got an idea in it's head. Or heads, rather.
Ordinarily, he'd make up the third figure in the chase, running after Toast to get teh chimera to stop. The only reason he wasn't now was because he had picked up on the presence of another mare, even when his guard-chimera had missed the stranger entirely, and had slowed to a halt to see what this stranger would do.
Apparently that was continue forward, and so the 'teke stallion sounded curious when he spoke, not moving away from the shadows he'd been lurking in: "You know, most people run from a sight like that." Far from being accusatory, his tone was conversational, mildly curious.
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Post by ∞ L U C I D I T Y on May 2, 2013 6:01:24 GMT -5
F R E I D A [/color]
A sense of relief could only describe what the female felt as her muscles relaxed slightly. Moving further and further into the darkness, Freida could no longer hear the weird animals behind her but kept one ear turned back just in case. Her coat glowed softly in the darkness, tail illuminating the way in front of the fae.
Imagination must have been playing tricks on her, because the mare thought she heard some more commotion behind her... Turning her head to check if the weird two-some had somehow snuck up on her, Freida didn't even hear the stallion until she spoke. The fae jumped nearly a foot in the air, a loud snort echoing around the cave as her heart thudded in her chest. Hooves tried to grip the slimy cave floor Freida back-peddled away from the stallion whom she had nearly collided into.
You know, most people run from a sight like that.
His voice was so loud in the dim... Freida pinned her ears back, the whites around her pale, pale blue eyes showing. Her reptilian-like tail swung back and forth, illuminating alternating sides of the cave as her nostrils flared, taking in the stallion's scent. A sweat broke out behind her hears and her muscles trembled and Freida took another step back to distance herself.
Wh.. Who are you? What sight? Wha... what do you want?
Her own reaction and words surprised Freida and her narrowed eyes and frown expressed as much. The brute had startled her and caught her off guard... not many could do that. Cocking her head to the side, the female swung her tail around to her side, illuminating the brute in front of her. He was handsome, that was for sure. Was he the owner of these lands? Her coat that so closely resembled the stars, space and the galaxies twinkled in the darkness, white dots appearing silvery in their glowing glory. Pale blue eyes regarded the stallion with wariness as Freida kept her muscles tensed, ready for anything.
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Post by nessyo on May 2, 2013 8:27:01 GMT -5
Orpheus [/size]
It took some time for the female to notice him, and Orpheus stood calmly while he patiently waited for that moment of recognition, where she realized he was another horse and not one of his own shambling creations. The light illuminated the normal darkness, casting light all about the place, and he made a mental note that he ought to acquire something like that. It would certainly make moving about the waterfall cave easier.
But the stranger was talking now, and Orpheus smiled widely, twisting his ears to her. She sounded terrified, which he found amusing: why people were scared of his subterranean home was beyond him.
"Oh, you know. The sight of my Chimera chasing oneof my Risen." he said vaguely, motioning with his muzzle in the vague direction of where he thought Toast and it's quarry might currently be. "But I am Orpheus, watchman of the waterfall of Zyth and local.. Nec-er." He had to be careful about throwing around the N-word, and caught himself with it partially out of his mouth. "Researcher. Local Researcher." There, a quick correction.
"As for what I want..." He paced a little ways forward, thinking on this question, as if she meant it in some great esoteric way rather then the immediate question she'd probably meant to pose. What DID he want? To cure death, of course, but that was a bit of a lofty goal at the moment, and he was attached enough to reality to know it. "hmm. Maybe a nap."
How considerate of this stranger, to have asked.
That cheerfully done, he posed some questions to her: "I suppose I should ask you the same questions-- Who are you, and why are you wandering about in my caves?"
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Post by ∞ L U C I D I T Y on May 4, 2013 2:46:23 GMT -5
F R E I D A [/color] Despite her first reaction, Freida's "training" and instincts kicked back in. Years of being a slave to the males of her birth-herd had taught the multi-coloured mare many things - first of all, to always please the male.
With this thought in mind, Freida approached the stallion and stood nearly nose to nose with him. She looked up through fluttering eyelashes, her pale blue eyes appearing almost white in the illumination provided by her own tail. A small, coy smile played around the fae's mouth as her tail flicked back and forth, as if playfully.
Oh, you know. The sight of my Chimera chasing one of my Risen.
One of your Risen? the mare asked, still gazing up at him. What is that? It sounds fascinating... it had the most curious run though, as if it were going to fall over! And your Chimera! Wow! Freida's tone was one of interest, part feigned and part genuine. She had never heard of a Risen before, but she was familiar with the magical Chimera even with her narrow and limited upbringing.
But I am Orpheus, watchman of the waterfall of Zyth and local.. Nec-er.... Researcher. Local Researcher.
A fleeting frown marred Freida's face but she quickly wiped it away, replacing the confusion at his correction with her look of adoration and seductiveness. It was a hard act to keep up but her years of intensive training and the punishments if she didn't maintain her facade allowed Freida to maintain her act.
It is a pleasure to meet you, Orpheus. I haven't met a researcher before! Does it have something to do with your Risen? Freida fluttered her eyelashes up at the brute, grinning with her half-feigned interest in his "job" position. From her mere 12.3hh, the stallion looked huge and she had to really lift her head to see him. Because of her height disadvantage, most of the other horses she had met seemed intimidating to say the least. But this stallion.. she wasn't sure if she imagined it, but there seemed to be a fragility to Orpheus that she hadn't seen in a male before.
His next words shocked Freida to the core though. A nap? That wasn't what she asked... not really, anyway. A nap? Why would he want a nap at this point! A snort made her nostrils quiver, the noise echoing loudly around the cave. Her ears flickered back and forth as she tried to puzzle out what he meant, if there was a second meaning behind his words. Her eyes narrowed, her facade temporarily forgotten, as Freida tried to figure out his words. And then the strange emotion that showed on his face! Gratefulness? She wasn't quite sure but any emotion that didn't involve fear or obedience on her part and dark delight and anger on others' part was hard to process for the tiny mare.
I suppose I should ask you the same questions-- Who are you, and why are you wandering about in my caves?
Still caught off guard, Freida didn't answer as she would normally would. Instead, she answered honestly and without her facade of desire and seduction. She answered merely as a normal horse that was shocked and confused.
Me? Well.. I um, I'm Freida, I think. She stumbled a little over her words, trying to concentrate on what the immediate topic discussion was and not what he had said about a nap... Why did he want a nap, and not to entertain himself with her, or some other form of entertainment she was sure he could think of. With a brief shake of her head to clear her wayward thoughts, Freida looked up at him with bewildered, sad eyes. I'm sorry if I'm intruding, Master Orpheus. I didn't mean to. I just like caves. They hide me well, you know? I can't hear them down here, the memories. My memories. Her voice was sweet, confused and oh so sad. Her pretense forgotten, Freida merely looked at the ground just in front of Orpheus' hooves, eyebrows furrowed in deep thought and her tail touching the ground.
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Post by nessyo on May 5, 2013 0:59:33 GMT -5
Orpheus [/size]
Orpheus had no idea how to respond to someone like Freida, and so he defaulted to 'mild alarm.'
All of her reactions to him seemed.. backwards, at least in his experience. First, she stepped strait up to him, speaking coyly and flirtatiously. It was the closeness that shocked him more than anything-- in general, other horses avoided stepping too closely to him because of the lingering smell of decay that came with his preferred haunts, and so he was used to a nice wide bubble of personal space. He didn't find her sudden closeness offensive-- merely shocking, and so he stiffened and backed up several steps before he caught himself, and realized how rude and inappropriate that was, for a leader. Her other reactions shocked him just as much: she acted as if she were trying to impress him, and then stared at his hooves. He'd never met a mare that acted like this, or a horse that acted like this.
Granted, he really hadn't met many mares-- they tended to avoid him like the plague, so he didn't have much in the way of reference points.
Somewhat ashamed at the rudeness of moving away as he had, he took a step forward and then maintained that somewhat uneasy distance, sincerely hoping he hadn't offended her too terribly. "You could say being a researcher does have something to do with my Risen," he answered, taking refuge in the familiar subject. A moment of hesitation, and he decided to simply be out with it: if she was going to be so... generous with regards to personal space, then he ought to be honest with her, and not mislead her into thinking he was something that he was not. "I, er. animate them, for a time being, which is why they move strangely. Before I revived them, they were dead."
The way she spoke of her memories had Orpheus looking at her with some kind of awkward sympathy-- she spoke of her memories as if they were awful things, and Orpheus did not like seeing things in pain. His tones became gentler, and he said softly, "Well met, Freida. If my caves are so comforting to you, then you may stay as long as you wish. " He was quiet for an awkward moment, unsure of what to say now, curious despite himself as to what these memories were but unwilling to cause her further pain by bringing them up. "At least you can see in them, I suppose; parts of them can be quite treacherous. I would be worried, but for your light."
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Post by ∞ L U C I D I T Y on May 7, 2013 6:07:54 GMT -5
F R E I D A [/color] It was the shock on the stallion's face that possibly stunned Freida even more than his "nap" answer. His retreat away from her confused the tiny mare and she felt a sharp pang of... what? Hurt? Pain? Rejection. That was it. Her brow furrowed and the mare blinked as her eyes prickled. She had always been used... and then a stallion turns away from her? All her years of training and being in that old herd had taught her that she had to be forward. Had to be ready. But this stallion's reaction was the opposite of what she was expecting, and that hurt..
So when the stallion stepped forward, the other side of her instincts kicked in - the ones that screamed at her to get away while she can. But, more of her training warred with her instincts: when a stallion asserted their authority, you have to bow down to them. Know who's boss.
With her confused emotions, Freida was surprised herself that she didn't turn tail and run. Or fight. Always fight while you can. Shaking her head, she took a small step back as the stallion took one forwards. Her ears flicked back and forth and her pale blue eyes showed her confusion and hurt. Why was she feeling like this?
You could say being a researcher does have something to do with my Risen
Freida looked up from the ground as the stallion spoke. Risen? What on earth was a Risen? The dainty mare flicked her tail from side to side - whatever side it didn't illuminate, tiny little white pinpricks of lights appeared on the walls from the mare's coat. Before she could summon a questioning response however, the stallion spoke, answering her unspoken thoughts:
I, er. animate them, for a time being, which is why they move strangely. Before I revived them, they were dead.
Oh. I've never heard of that before. Is it hard to do? Curiosity laced the mare's sweet voice - genuine curiosity. Her ears pricked forward keenly and her eyes lost their confused, hurt shadow. She stilled her tail by her right shoulder, illuminating the pair in a soft purple light. Her pale eyes blinked up at the stallion and she cocked her head to the side; her neck had started to kink from looking up at him from her mere 12.3hh.
Freida nodded in gratitude from the stallions offer. Not many would be quite as generous as to allow a stranger free roam. But really, would she pose much of a threat in her small stature against Orpheus and his Risen? With a soft snort, she let the thought pass for she sincerely hoped it would not come to that. The stallion seemed okay, not that she had much experience with nice stallions at all, but her past torments made her still wary.. Will I ever be normal? With a shudder, Freida pushed the thought into her deep mental recesses, locking it tight.
At least you can see in them, I suppose; parts of them can be quite treacherous. I would be worried, but for your light.
With a grim smile, Freida cocked her head to the side and waved her tail up and down. The stars on her coat seemed to wink and out a little with her forced smile.
Unfortunately, Master Orpheus Sir, being abnormal doesn't always has it's benefits, seeing in the dark or not. My... oddities have given me more strife over my life time than benefits. Her pale eyes looked down again, her posture radiating a deep sadness and obedience. Always willing to serve.
OOC: Sorry, a bit out of it tonight D: |
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Post by nessyo on May 8, 2013 19:43:12 GMT -5
Orpheus [/size]
Oblivious he may have been, but Orpheus never intended to do harm, much less to her emotions. Indeed, he was really trying to do the opposite. He noticed the hurt in his eyes and confusion entered his own. It was probably moving away, wasn't it. Oh, why didn't a colt's education cover 'how to deal with confusing females that wandered into your territory without warning?'
"I've offended you." he observed, sounding abashed and more then a little awkward. "I'm very sorry; I didn't mean to." He let that hang in the air, uncertain if he ought to add anything to it.
Thankfully, things ended up right where he liked them: animating the dead. "I don't find it very hard." Orpheus answered, "but I am the only horse I know who can do it, so perhaps it is. I think it's like any magic: if you have the aptitude, it shall come to you naturally."
The mention of hardships caused by her differences made Orpheus take a very sympathetic expression. "I can imagine so, but wish it wasn't." he replied. "It's such a beautiful oddity, too. Casting light! How could anyone hold such a useful trait against you?" He sighed, and swished his tail in distaste at the nature of horses and their intolerance of difference. "My... er. Abilities." he glanced down the way that toast and the Risen had gone, "were not well-received when they were discovered by my herd of origin. I am surprised Poltergeist allowed me to stay, honestly, when he learned of them."
Orpheus had no idea why this was the case-- raising the dead could be useful, just like having a bio luminescent tail.
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Post by ∞ L U C I D I T Y on May 10, 2013 5:11:12 GMT -5
F R E I D A [/color] Everything about this stallion was merely confusing!
Freida had no idea how to react to the brute in front of her, and it seemed like he had no idea how to react to her. She watched him carefully even as the stallion seemed to watch her and her posture softened as he spoke.
I've offended you. I'm very sorry; I didn't mean to.
A soft snort blew out of the purple-blue mare as she dropped her head in an acknowledging nod. Her eyes softened and the tight band of rejection around her guts loosened somewhat.
I thank you for your apology. I did not mean for you to feel bad - you are so different from them.
The last word she nearly spat out, disgust and fear lacing her voice as a dark emotion passed over face. It disappeared just as quickly and Freida fluttered her eyelashes up at the stallion and smiled weakly, her ears flicking forth to face the stallion.
I don't find it very hard. But I am the only horse I know who can do it, so perhaps it is. I think it's like any magic: if you have the aptitude, it shall come to you naturally.
Freida nodded, moving her tail unconsciously in time to her head bob. Her eyes narrowed in thought as she contemplated Orpheus' words. Magic? She hadn't heard of it before, but she assumed that other "magic" would be just as cool as what Orpheus could do with his Risen. Maybe she would have to take some time out and practice some of this magic...
The stallion's voice broke Freida out of her thoughts and she flicked her ears forward again, raising her head in order to look him more in the eyes - a difficult feat for her tiny pony stature. Freida had a sudden, random urge to raise up on her hind legs just to see the stallion eye to eye. A small giggle bubbled from her lips at the thought, but was quickly stifled with a small grin which soon faded as she processed the stallions words...
Beautiful? Freida snorted softly, smiling crookedly in a dark way. Thank you for your kind words, sir. I'm... I'm not used to them. So thank you. She averted her eyes slightly, shifting her delicate frame self-consciously. But Master Orpheus... I would not ask such a question lightly. My story is far from pleasant and I would spare you the... gory details if I can. I do not wish to taint yourself with the nightmares of my memories.
Freida continued to stare at the ground. Raising a forefoot, she absent-mindedly pawed the ground, her ears flattening against the back of her head whilst her tail flicked back and forth. No, she would spare this kind stallion the ghosts of her past if she could. But she would tell him if he were to ask... It's the least I can do for the kindness he has showed me in our brief meeting... the fae thought.
My... er. Abilities... were not well-received when they were discovered by my herd of origin. I am surprised Poltergeist allowed me to stay, honestly, when he learned of them.
Freida followed the direction of Orpheus' gaze briefly before turning back to him, lowering her tail a little so that the glare did not hurt her eyes as much. The small white pinpricks of light that shone softly on the walls shifted as the mare changed her stance slightly, stretching her neck down to relieve the strain that was starting to build from craning her head so far.
I don't understand, sir... Why would no one like your abilities? I can't see anything wrong with them? As long as you're not using them to create a huge army to hurt others, that is... But they are harmless... aren't they? Confusion coloured the mare's tone and she furrowed her eyes at him. Maybe she wasn't the only one who hasn't been damaged by the cruel minds of others... The thought made Freida a little less lonely and sad as she looked at the stallion with a new-found warmness and sympathy.
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