// without you [abba]

[lady shady]

I can't look, I'm so blind
I lost my heart, I lost my mind
Without you

Oser wandered alone, head down, spirits in a state that could be most kindly described as low. It was summer, but the beautiful weather was doing nothing to help his morale. Everywhere he looked, the lands were coming alive again; it was the season for lovers and foals. The single haunting thought came to him again, something that had occurred to him months ago yet something that he had dared not think about until now when the season forced him to. What if...what if Song was carrying his foal? He knew it was selfish and stupid, especially since he would never see her again, not after what she had done. But...what if? He couldn't get it out of his head.

He made his way through the long grass at a slow traveler's trot, trying to forget the way that he automatically slid into the gait waiting to hear her hoofbeats beside him, as if they still were practicing together like they had this time only a year ago. For once, he allowed himself to wallow in emotion. Oser had slipped off to the neutral lands to be alone. The sight of all of the newly-minted happy families had been getting to him more than he was willing to admit. Once Laoch had returned, as he had said he would, he had sent him out to the West to prepare for conflict. He had intended to join him...he would join him. He needed a few days himself.

Up ahead in the vast stretch of grassy plain, he glimpsed a slender black figure. Great, just what he needed when he'd come here wanting to be alone. Something about her looked so familiar though...Oser paused, stopping to watch the approaching stranger from a distance. Why did he feel as if he knew her?

--behind the post--
poor depressed Oser xD

[Abba]

Pressure's on
now your heart is beating
to the sound of my name and i say find me

The ebony mare shuffled through the trees. Her mind horribly distracted with thoughts about Scath. He was on Rama's side - or so she thought. And she already knew what it was that he was capable of. She didn't want to be against him. It was something that scared her down to her bone. She was deathly afraid Scath would want to rise up - and kill people. Just the blood of the recent war scenes had caused her to retreat back to her spy duties.

It wasn't long before she pulled up around Oser - her audits flicked forwards and she allowed her quiet hooves to pick up and prance a bit over the dried terrain. It was much different from the last time that they had met. It was much warmer and there was nothing to bother them. No one else was in the area other than her and this stag. "Well hello, handsome!" she chirped before sliding in around his side and allowing her tail to curl around his legs as she had the first time she had met him. "Does the almighty Alpha remember lil' ol' me?" she questioned allowing her audits to perk up and her blue eyes to look directly into his. "I hope the world has been treating you right as of late. Rama has no right to win this disastrous war. But why should we worry about that when it is Summer?" she said with a tiny flick of her tail - her scent flooding the pasture.

It was time to have some fun...

[/blockquote]

==into the mind
.267 words
.Oh Raine, Raine, Raine.[/size]

[lady shady]

I am lost, I am vain
I will never be the same
Without you

Raine. Her name came to him suddenly, and just in time too, for she was approaching. She called out a friendly greeting, and he responded with a silent nod. He wasn’t in the mood for this. However, something about her was infectious, and he couldn’t keep the corners of his lips from tugging upwards into a small smile. ”How could I forget?” he asked smoothly, not showing the fresh wave of pain hitting him at the memory of their last encounter, when…Song…had been injured. But she had drawn closer, pulling his attention off of his own thoughts. What relief. Perhaps it wouldn’t be so bad after all to have a little company. ”I’m afraid, my dear, that the war has been weighing heavily on my mind. I came out here to rest for a bit before the fighting begins in earnest.” Oser paused, letting a charming expression slide subtly across his features. ”But what about you? I can’t imagine what a pretty mare such as yourself would be doing out here unaccompanied by some amorous bachelor!” Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, he saw a tiny movement. With a flick of her tail, Raine teased him with her scent. Oser stiffened, cautious. Thank goodness they were out in the open, where there was quite enough fresh air. He moved away slightly, not trusting himself. The last time this had happened, everything had been a disaster, and he was not about to let that happen again, no matter how tempted he was. ”Raine,” he sighed quietly, ”don’t tease me so.”

--behind the post--
yeah Raine, don’t tease him XD

[/size]

[Abba]

Don't defy it burning the thought
of calling back your name, maybe it's not
different and because I see some play you did...

Raine snorted and let out an airy laugh. "But what about you? I can't imagine what a pretty mare such as yourself would be doing out here unaccompanied by some amorous bachelor!" he said almost jokingly. Shaking her head she circled him once allowing her tail to trail around his legs. "It's hard to take them seriously when they aren't close to what I picture myself with." she said - her velvety voice seeming to purr from her mouth. "Someone strong, slightly cold, mysterious..." she purred before flicking her tail again, "Someone tall... someone handsome... someone that entices my sense of adventure..." He paused and she laughed at his next comment "Raine, don't tease me so." Her audits perked up. "But, darling Oser you are teasing me by just being here. It's only fair," she mused - her blue eyes showing sincerity. Sensing that he would be surprised she looked up directly at him, "Don't be surprised - you are a ladies man after all. It does help that you fit the picture of someone I'd want to be with perfectly," her velvet voice getting softer and more alluring with each word. The slightly setting sun allowed a light breeze to blow in - her black coat losing a bit of it's sheen though it did have a bit of the oranges and yellows reflecting ever so slightly off of it. "Besides, it is quite simple to keep your mind preoccupied..." she mused before flicking her tail and stopping so that her withers were right in front of his maw. Turning her neck so that her head was facing him she gave him a tiny smirk - her eyes playful.

[/blockquote]

==into the mind
. 291 words
.Don't ya' just love Raine? XD[/size]

[lady shady]

I can’t quit now; this can’t be right,
I can’t take one more sleepless night
Without you

His ears pricked against his will as she moved closer, and he shook his head like a dog, snorting, trying to get her scent from his nostrils. Raine’s voice was oddly soothing even as she disobeyed him, continuing to tease. ”It's hard to take them seriously when they aren't close to what I picture myself with: someone strong, slightly cold, mysterious…someone that entices my sense of adventure. Darling Oser you are teasing me by just being here. It's only fair," she murmured, letting her tail drag across his fetlocks. "Don't be surprised - you are a ladies man after all. It does help that you fit the picture of someone I'd want to be with perfectly," At this, he stiffened, taking a small step to the side. He’d barely said two words to her this time. Maybe his behavior the last time they’d met had…but no, she’d left then. Had he been that obvious with Song? His heart contracted at the mere thought of her. Love—no, what he’d thought was love, no real lover would do to him what she’d done—hurt. It hurt badly. Raine brushed his side as she went by. Raine wasn’t hurting him. She wouldn’t hurt him, would she? His mind was like a foal’s, thoughts simplified and short. She surrounded him in her scent, and for a moment, he felt secure, safe, apart from the rest of the world, away from the war, away from his responsibility. She always made him feel that way, didn’t she? The fading light shone softly on her raven coat, and he sighed softly. She was beautiful, it was true. So different from Song, but then again, perhaps that wasn’t such a bad thing.
"Besides, it is quite simple to keep your mind preoccupied..." Raine’s whisper interrupted his thoughts, and he sensed her movement cease. She had stopped with her withers less than five inches away. In the semidarkness, he was close enough to feel the heat radiating off of her pelt. He unthinkingly accepted her unspoken invitation, reaching out and letting his charcoal muzzle melt into the inky black of her coat. Oser felt his heart crack again. She was right there, yet the loneliness was unbearable. He moved closer, moving to rest his head along the length of her back, closing his eyes momentarily. Above them, the stars were winking in the navy sky; the moon was rising; and all over the island, he knew that lovers both young and old were looking up at them together. ”Raine,” Oser tried again, ”don’t do this to me.” But what was the point of resisting? He wasn’t really sure anymore.

--behind the post--
yay, longer than I’ve written in a while. I dunno if that’s good or bad…
but anyway, he’ll get even closer, and then…yeah. cbox discussion.

[/size]

[Abba]

So now you're crying,
Open the mind and to hide what you're looking for
Deceitful smile ohh you don't want it to get you,

Raine laughed and looked back up at him, gently allowing her muzzle to run against his neck and begin to massage at it. "Oser, come on - it shall keep your mind preoccupied," she said swishing her tail again in offering. Her body twitched and she looked up at him. She wanted this so bad. Why was it that she had fallen for the one person that wouldn't care? She wasn't supposed to care. But here she was, caring. Why was she caring? She was screwing herself up. Everyone she didn't care for cared so much for her. But the one that she thought she loved - didn't seem to care enough back. Maybe he would give in soon enough? Though, something in her highly doubted it. Her heart slowly beginning to break as she pushed in a little closer - wishing and hoping that he might feel the same way that she felt for him...

[/blockquote]

==into the mind
.157 words
.urmmm little muse[/size]

[lady shady]

I can’t win, I can’t reign
I will never win this game
Without you

He heard her murmur something back over her shoulder to him, and she swished her tail gently again, inviting him nearer. Oser felt her tremble, and when he met her eyes, he saw the spark of emotion feebly flicker. Raine would love him. She would love him in the way that Song never had, that Rasta never had, that zoet never had. Why couldn’t he see that? He made a soft sound in the back of his throat, a whicker in the darkness, as he felt himself give in. His muzzle trailed along her spine as he made his way behind her. The gray stag rose gracefully on his hind legs, wrapped her in his embrace, made his way closer…but it was all wrong. A dizzying wave of confusion swept over him, and his front legs dropped to the ground, his purpose not accomplished. Pressing his forehead to her side, Oser felt his throat constrict. Weren’t they both just lonely souls, floating out here in no man’s land? What could be so wrong about letting one cure the other? Sighing softly, he touched his muzzle to her own before wrapping his neck around hers, pulling her close to him. ”Raine,” he began, unable to keep his voice from breaking, ”Raine, I’m so sorry, but I—I can’t. Please understand me, my dear. You make me feel—no, it’s just too soon. She won’t get out of my mind, and it’s too soon…” He ran his muzzle lightly over that warm black hide, seeking comfort from her presence. Making his way around to face her, he pressed his forehead to hers, looking into her blue eyes through the fringe of his forelock.. ”Stay with me, Raine? Please? I feel like you’re the only one who understands…” he whispered, pleading with her not to be angry with him. He wanted to, but…his heart wouldn’t let him forget. He couldn’t see Raine go either though. He couldn’t have one more mare desert him like this. And for some crazy reason, maybe it was the look in her eyes, the hint of pleading of her own, that made him think she would understand, that she would help him. ”Please, Raine. Stay with me?”

--behind the post--
poor babies. “just friends” never works :\

[/size]

[Abba]

Hold me now
and come on out
and find me 'cause I've been waiting my turn...

Raine trembled as he pulled away from her. Her heart breaking into quite a few broken pieces. He pulled her closer. "Raine, Raine, I'm so sorry. But I-I can't. Please understand me, my dear. You make me feel - no, it's just too soon. She won't get out of my mind, and it's too soon..." He explained and she unlooped his neck from around her and slunk backwards. Her eyes clouding over slightly. "And you said not to do this to you? What about me? What do you think you are doing to me?!" she called out dropping her head down only to feel him touch his forehead against hers. "Stay with me, Raine? Please? I feel like you're the only one who understands..." and then he pleaded again. She snorted and shook her head slightly - shaking the tear free. "Fine," she whispered back, pinning her ears slightly as she backed away again. Everyone she cared for - didn't care back for her. Why? Why was it like that? why did she get heartache when she wanted to cause others the heartache? It wasn't right... It wasn't right at all...

[/blockquote]

==into the mind
.197 words
.still little muse[/size]

[lady shady]

I can’t rest, I can’t fight
All I need is you and I
Without you

”Fine.” he heard her whisper before she turned away. As she did, his muzzle brushed her eye, and he was surprised to find a dampness there, moisture that he did not expect from one such as Raine. ”Raine,” he called out to her in the darkness, ”wait…” Oser hurried after her, taking care not to stumble in his haste. ”I’m really…I didn’t realize…Look, Raine, you don’t have to stay. Forget about me. “ He shook his head, struggling in his own misery. ”I’m not what you want, anyways, Raine. Few want a stag with only half a heart left. And no one wants a stag with even less of a heart.” The stag sighed, lowering his head. ”Trust me, you’re better off like this. If anything, you deserve more. I won’t force you to stay.”

[/size]

[Abba]

I never thought
That you would be the one to hold my heart
But you came around and you knocked me off the ground

"If forgetting about you was a easy as a swish of a tail I would have done that already," she nearly hissed before taking in a short breath and pulling herself back. She shook her head - flicking her audits forward as he said the next words. "I'm not better off like this. I'd never be better off like this. I'm playing games - getting too close to things that could dearly injure me more than anything else. And you really are one of the only things normal in this wonderful messed up world I've created," she whispered, standing still for quite some time. Nothing moved - not a blink, not a swish of her tail. Nothing. "Please, explain to me how I am better off like this. Truly - I'm afraid of most stags because one tried to kill me as a foal. I believe you may of heard of him - he goes by Scathashoun. I've been trying to cause them misery - find a way to get him back, but blood causes me to fall to pieces. I'm broken enough to be in the same boat as you - so explain to me how I am better off," she said, a few more tears falling as she shook her head in disbelief. Why had she just spilled all of this. This wasn't helping anyone. Not one other person.

[/blockquote]

==into the mind
.238 words
.Poor Raine[/size]