// turning tables [paddeh]

[lady shady]

AVA

He lay the choice before her, and she felt a pang in her heart. Since when had she been given a choice? When she was on her own, she could make her own choices. But with others? Her mind flew back to her previous mate, of how young she'd been, of not knowing that she'd had a choice. He hadn't given her one, assuming that she didn't want one, and she, being too naïve to know any better, had not taken her right to choose. And now Whisky...was setting that choice before her? A warm feeling crept into her chest, and for a moment, her emotions stilled. For the first time, she realized that he wasn't just saying it, didn't want anything from her. Whisky really did love her.

"Whisky," she whispered, "It means the world to me that you would let me choose. Thank you." She paused, looking up into his eyes. "I know you might expect me to go after all of that. I should go, for I may only cause you unnecessary heartache. But Whisky...if you don't mind...I'd like to stay for now. I...trust you." She touched his muzzle lightly with her own, breathing into his nostrils. Surprising as her decision may be, Whisky was safe.

--behind the post--
aw <3
springtime now! she'll be way less tense now that she won't be in heat

[/size]

[paddeh]

'Whisky, It means the world to me that you would let me choose. Thank you. I know you might expect me to go after all of that. I should go, for I may only cause you unnecessary heartache. But Whisky...if you don't mind...I'd like to stay for now. I...trust you.' Ava said, her voice soft, almost... caring. Whisky smiled, nuzzling her neck, then resting his forehead against hers. "Of course I don't mind," Whisky said, his voice tender and he pulled her closer to him.

Whisky was surprised, he had expected Ava to flee, especially when she learned he had followed her. But no, she was here, small paint form resting against him, and she trusted him. His heart skipped a beat, and he blew out his nostrils into hers, cradling her small head. He ran his maw dow her spine, enjoying this moment, wanting to last forever. It seemed like a fairytale, a dream. He smiled, brushing the forelock out of her soft chocolate eyes and he wrapped his head around her withers.

The mood in the air seemed to shift, and Whisky flicked his audits back. He could almost sense that Rama was coming soon. "Ava, dear, I really think we should leave, we need to go to the neutral lands, I think- he's coming." Whisky said, shuddering and nosing her withers. "Like, now." He added, glancing over his shoulder. He moved forward quickly, yet not too fast for Ava. He galloped slowly, watching her, growing more and more anxious.

He sucked in a breath, he had to tell her. "Ava- I, I have to tell you something. Please don't flip out on me, let me explain." Whisky paused, glancing at her nervously. "Around last spring, I ran into Rama killing a mare, and I hadn't realized who he was at first. He recruited me for the war, yet I hate him. Despise him, and I ran off before it started, because I am not apart of his army. But he thinks I am, and I think he is coming right now." Whisky ended right as they reached the neutral lands, and he stopped, turnig to face her, biting his lip. "I promise I never sided with him, he threatened to kill me and I snuck off because I can't stand him. Please, Ava, I'm really sorry. I never meant for me to even see Rama, let alone be recruited by him." Whisky said, hanging his head, his breathing course and rough, and tears slid down his face. He had betrayed her, and she had just learned to trust him.

"Ava, I needed to tell you, how would you trust me if you never found out and then one day you did? I'm really sorry, Ava, I hate him. And, I know your going to leave now, but I knew I needed to tell you." Whisky turned his head away, tears blurring his vision and running down his bay face.

. 529 Words

[/color][/size]

Shady, please don't have Ava flip out, I had him explain it all and how he never really sided with him D:
[/right][/size]

[lady shady]

AVA

Whisky cradled her head, and she sighed softly. His frame was strong, supporting both of theirs as she leaned into him. Briefly, she wondered how old Whisky was, for he possessed the strength of a younger stag, yet the temperment of an older one. She closed her eyes, deciding that it didn't matter. Her previous mate had been much older than she, and hadn't treated her the way that Whisky did. Thinking of him, she realized how well she had it. Here was a stag who loved her, who wanted what was best for her, who'd saved her life, for goodness sakes. For the first time, she felt the grip on her heart of the agony of Rhyn's death loosen. Did she love Whisky? Maybe, after all, she did.

"Whisky," she ventured shyly, pulling her head up to the level of his own, "I...I lo--" However, before she could finish, Whisky was speaking. "Ava, dear, I really think we should leave, we need to go to the neutral lands, I think- he's coming. Like, now." She looked into his eyes confusedly, not understanding. "Who's coming?"

"Ava- I, I have to tell you something. Please don't flip out on me, let me explain. Around last spring, I ran into Rama killing a mare, and I hadn't realized who he was at first. He recruited me for the war, yet I hate him. I despise him, and I ran off before it started, because I am not a part of his army. But he thinks I am, and I think he is coming right now. I promise I never sided with him, he threatened to kill me and I snuck off because I can't stand him. Please, Ava, I'm really sorry. I never meant for me to even see Rama, let alone be recruited by him."

She felt her heart drop to her stomach. If the agony had loosened its grip moments ago, it had clamped down hard upon her heart now. The pain was unbearably raw and fresh. Whisky...was one of Them? Inexplicable emotion seized her body, and she shuddered violently and involuntarily. A mixture of anger and hurt was bubbling to her lips, and she jerked away from him, backing a few steps.

"How could you? I trusted you. You're one of Them?! You're one of Them, Whisky?!" Ava turned away, murmuring quietly, "I can't even look at you. You sold your soul to him."

"I thought you were safe," she whispered.

She backed slowly into the foliage, tears beginning to stream down her face. Had it really been his fault? She remembered the fear the recruiters had always put into her in the past. But Whisky, she'd thought, was better than that. She'd thought that he was decent. She'd thought that he was brave. She'd thought that he was unafraid. She'd thought that she'd loved him.

She'd thought wrong. Sobbing quietly, she vanished into the brush, away from Whisky. Away from what could've been. He'd said that she could leave, and she'd made her choice.

--behind the post--
I seem to get a sick pleasure out of twisting the knife
listening to Turning Tables and Set Fire to the Rain as I was typing xD

[/size]