beginnings // appy

[lady shady]

Ava
Trying hard to reach out
But when I tried to speak out
Felt like no one could hear me

[/i]

Ava lengthened her stride, allowing her hooves to skim over the ground. The sharp rocks stabbed at her feet painfully, but she was grateful that she was feeling anything. Pain was better than feeling numb and lifeless. Anything was better than becoming a shell, practically a member of the living dead. And she was too young to die, Ava told herself. But then again, so was Rhyn...

Brushing aside the whispers of her past that echoed the loudest in her loneliest moments, Ava came to a halt, the pain hitting her full on. Her hooves throbbed, and she shook her head at herself, irritated at the stupid thing she had done. She wasn't some reckless filly anymore, she reminded herself. Picking her way across the rocks more carefully now, she searched for a place to cool her feet, which were sending shoots of discomfort up her legs with every step. The faint roar of a waterfall met her pricked ears, and she moved toward the sound.

It was in this way that she came to the bottom of the cliff, where the icy water slammed into the stream before gurgling off in the opposite direction. She picked her way along the shoreline, searching until she found a small beach where the water was calmer. Wading into the protected area, she allowed her hooves to soak. She dozed on her feet, the freezing water working wonders on her sore hooves. Fluttering her eyelashes to stay awake, Ava shifted her weight and wished for a little company. She hadn't seen another horse in a while, and a friendly face might be nice right about now. She let out a loud whinny, calling to any other equine in the area. Part of her knew that this too was stupid; for all she knew, she could be attracting some ill-intentioned stag, but at this point, she didn't care. Like the icy water washing around her legs, the numbness was starting to wash over her again. And Ava would do anything to prevent that from happening.

--behind the post--
347 words
Breakaway by Kelly Clarkson
short post, sort of weird as it's a beginning and I'm going to have to get used to Ava

[/left]

[aPPY]

adalie

Adalie weaved through the trees, moving at a fast trot and waiting for the chance to be able to lengthen her stride to something faster. She wanted to run. Leaving the others had been a good choice. She had been making everything worse, but now she was free again. Hopefully Rasta would be okay but it wasn't her problem anymore. She didn't have to worry about anything except herself, the trees around her, and the soil that covered the ground and cushioned her foot steps. The weather was nice here, the air not too cold or hot and only a little humidity in the air. The sky was blue and the sun was clear; only a few clouds spotting the horizon.

She nickered quietly when the area opened up; finally. She stretched her legs out, bounding across the ground at a fast canter. She seemed to float across the ground, her feet barely skimming the earth to propel her body forward again. Her mane and tail trailed behind her, lifted into the air with each stride. The sounds of rushing water reached her ears and she slowed a little, skipping forward with her ears pricked and a happy bounce in her step. She stopped at the edge of the cliff, her body pelted with the icy water that sprayed form the waterfall. SHe looked down, seeing a rather easy way to walk down, but wanting to jump from the rocks and land in the water below. Sadly, the water didn't seem nearly deep enough and the rocks that littered the ground would prove dangerous for landing. She huffed, a spark of unhappiness because of this discovered fact, but slowly started to make her way down to the river below.

A sharp whicker was voice from below and she stopped suddenly, notcing the other horse for the first time. Her ears perked again with renewed interest. At least she wasn't alone here! She nickered in reply, not knowing if the stranger had been calling to her, or just out to anyone. She started forward again, being cautious as she worked her way down the cliff face but not being very slow about it. ONce she reached the bottom she trotted forward, easily keeping her balance across the slimy rocks and stopping at the water's edge. She took a quick drink before saying anything, the stikingly cold water washing down her throat. She then lifted her head, shaking it just a little and finally taking in the other horse. She was a mare, of course, white with brown patches. Her body was a little stockier then Rasta's, but still had the arabian characterisitcs. She nodded in greeting, "Hello, I'm Adalie," she introduced herself, her voice wisping into the air and being caught into the roar of the waterfall that poured down next to them. She smiled, hoping the mare was friendly, she was quite tired of the other equines she had come across so far.

// 500 words[/size]

[lady shady]

Ava
Everybody loves a winner
So nobody loved me
Lady peaceful, Lady happy
That's what I long to be

[/i][/right]

Ava pricked her ears at the sight of another horse. This new one was coming down the cliff cautiously, rendered noiseless by the roar of the waterfall upstream. Gracefully floating across the ground and avoiding the slippery rocks that surrounded them, the other horse approached her. She was bay, Ava noted, with light blue eyes that reminded her forcibly of Rhyn's. As the mare leaned down to drink, a memory struck Ava with the force of a freight train.

It was late springtime, and Rhyn was discovering the joy of the water. The herd had come to a small stream to drink, and for the first time, her son was discovering that water could be fun to play in as well as to drink. He had leaned down, just as this mare was doing now, though he had to spread out his spindly legs so that his muzzle could brush the water. His baby blue eyes had focused on his own reflection, and he had begun to cavort around, battling with his image. He sent up splashes, letting out tiny whinnies of excitement, and... she had bent down and joined him, forgetting the dignity she was expected to have as a mare. She herself had still been very young, not even four years old. She and Rhyn, sending up little splashes, playing together under a warm, round sun...

The new mare's voice brought her back to the present, introducing herself as Adalie. She smiled in a friendly manner, and Ava nodded back in greeting. "I'm called Ava" she replied in an answer to Adalie's unspoken question of her own name. She laughed softly, grateful to have some company again. Maybe this time, someone would stay for a while. And that someone would be this bay mare, not some pathetic stag that she couldn't believe she'd ever thought she'd loved. The young stud's voice echoed in her head again...

'But I love you Ava. And you said that you were mine...' She pinned her ears at the stag, so young and so sure that he could have her just because she had said so in a moment of stupidity. 'No,' she said flatly, moving away from him. 'I don't want you here anymore. Just go.' Confusion rippled across his face before it was replaced by a teasing understanding. 'Come on, Ava,' he said playfully. 'Don't play games with me.' But she wasn't playing games. Why had she gotten herself into this situation again? Why had she even let him this close? He approached her again, snuffling playfully at her mane. She launched a kick at him, hitting him square in the chest. He staggered back in shock. She lunged at him fearfully, wanting him away, away from her, away forever. He pinned his ears and his voice grew cold. 'I see then, Ava. You weren't playing games. The whole thing was just one big game to you, wasn't it?' And he turned and fled into the forest.

But she hadn't meant to hurt him. She was just confused, lonely, in need of a friend. She looked up to find Adalie still gazing at her, and she lifted her head. "I'm sorry. I seem to have slipped off into my thoughts again...it's a pleasure to meet you, Adalie." Searching for a way to call attention off of the awkward moment, she voiced a question. "And how did you come to be here, Adalie?"


--behind the post--
597 words
Maybe This Time by...I have no idea who xD
Sorry, lots of flashbacks for Ava

[aPPY]

adalie

The other mare introduced herself as Ava. A nice, short name. Easy to remember. She seemed to be preoccupied with her thoughts though, not really focused on what was going on now. She nodded slightly, smiling at the other mare but not sure what to say now. It would be lame to mention the weather or something, that wasn't a really good conversation filler. She looked off to the side, the awkward silence growing as she swished her tail from side to side and a small breeze caressed her body. The mare, Ava, seemed to realize her attention had drifted though, quickly apologizing for her spacyness. Adalie smiled again, "You too," she replied, not sure how to carry on the conversation. Although, the mare took the chance and asked her a question. At least someone had something to say.

"Just wandering around," she replied, shrugging. "I was up in the North, but nothing was really keeping me there." She sighed, thinking of Rasta and hoping that her attempt to keep Scathashoun there worked. At least the golden mare would probably have Bon to help her as she recovered, but Scathashoun would be so much more too. She did feel slightly bad for leaving, but she didn't think she had any other choice. Rasta wanted Scathashoun to stay, and so Adalie tried to get him to. And because of the mutual dislike between them both, she didn't want to cause him to be fed up again. It wasn't her place to stay anyway, and its not like she was looking for some place to settle. She liked to wander and explore, so it was better to leave no than later. It was the best choice at the time and she didn't particularly regret it. Perhaps she would go back in time.

// 311 words
mreh. i feel like i just started to ramble.
not much muse right now. lol

[lady shady]

Ava

Adalie replied quickly and easily, saying simply that she had been wandering up north and had had no particular inclination to stay there. "The North?" she asked, mainly to make conversation, as the other mare let out a tiny sigh that revealed that she too, had been momentarily distracted by her own thoughts. "I've heard it's beautiful there. But the closest I've ever been was--" Here her voice became softer and sadder. "Was when I lost my son. He passed near the border" Normally, she wasn't so forthcoming with strangers, but she trusted this mare for some reason. Maybe it was her eyes, those light blue spheres that reminded her of Rhyn's, or maybe it was her calm and unassuming demeanor, but she felt safe with her. Shifting her weight, she let out a small snort of pain, flinching at the feeling in her hooves. She waded deeper into the icy water in an attempt to numb her feet more. Glancing back at Adalie, she explained herself, murmuring with a hint of self-deprication, "Don't mind me. Stupid thing I did, really. Tried to run with all of these rocks everywhere and bruised a hoof. " Laughing softly at herself, she continued, "I felt like I had to, though. This was the closest to open space I've seen in days and a little freedom never hurt anyone, right?" As her own words reached her ears, she sucked in a breath, regretting them. A little freedom never hurt anyone? What about Rhyn? Freedom hadn't done anything for him but claim his life. She stood still, head lowered, and pushed this thought out of her head for the time being. Rhyn was gone, and there was nothing she could do to get him back.

--behind the post--
311 words
no more song lyrics for Ava until I can find good ones xD

[/left]

[aPPY]

adalie

The mare seemed interested that Adalie had been to the north, repeating it as a question. She nodded slightly, yes it was beautiful there. The rivers and greenery were pretty great, although most of the places around here were abundant in water it seemed. The mare seemed to hit a hard spot though, her thoughts going back to something bad that had happened. She listened closely as her voice began to fade, saying that she had lost a child near the northern border. Adalie quietly looked to the ground, not sure what to say in reply to that. She had never really dealt with death at all in her short life thus far. She guessed her parents were probably gone by now but she would never find them to be certain of it. To loose a son or daughter must be very hard. She remained quiet, leaving the chance to the other mare to speak first. She didn't want to just change the subject as if she didn't care that the mare's colt had died; she did care, at least as much as she could for a stranger's loss.

Ava shifted in the water, the rocks pushing against her frogs. Adalie winced herself, only imagining what the hard, sharp surface must feel like under the other mare's feet. She then spoke again, basically scolding herself aloud with her explanation. Adalie gave a short laugh in tune with the other mare's. She shook her head, "No, I suppose not," she replied, confused at the sudden intake of breath after her words. Perhaps it was just the rocks under her feet again. She smiled gently, "What brought you here?" she asked, the same thing Ava had wanted to know. It was an easy question with a simple answer, she didn't want to appear as if she were overly curious and ask too many questions, especially questions that might hit a sore spot. This mare obviously had a tragic past so far, for someone so young.

// 340 words

[lady shady]

Ava

The other mare nodded in sympathy, choosing to say nothing. Ava understood; it was a delicate subject and was probably better left alone.
They made small talk, tossing meaningless short laughs and phrases back and forth until Adalie asked her what had brought her here. "Some stag," she responded with a touch of bitterness and confusion,"some stag that turned out to be different than I had thought him. I couldn't stand his presence any more, so I left. I suppose it was wrong of me, but I just didn't know what to do. I hope you'll understand...?" She ended her explanation with a question, not wanting the mare to think that she had set out to hurt him, or that she regularly and purposely damaged those she came across.

The sun climbed higher in the sky, and a light sweat broke out on Ava's flanks even though she was standing in the icy water. All she wanted was a short rest, and she could be on her way if the mare had tired of her company. She knew that she must appear strange, grieving yet destructive, confused, alone. She didn't blame Adalie if she wanted to distance herself. Ava certainly was used to it.

--behind the post--
214 words
bleh :|