the waiting game //repost

[aPPY]

Keanu just stood there, listening to her yell at him as he looked into the trees; his movements paused. He would feel sorry, probably for a long, long time. It didn't matter that she didn't care. That she didn't care about his apology or that she wouldn't care if the roles were reversed. He didn't expect anyone to care about whether he lived or died. He winced, his eyes remaining closed as she seemed to have found something else to call him. Scarhead. Yeah. So original. He gently shook his head and pushed against the ground, walking forward. He wasn't going to stand here and listen to this; put up with someone else's ridicule when he got enough of it in his own head. He never got any peace. He was barely awake of Song talking to Oser behind him, her voice blending in with everything else. The rustle of the trees and the faraway birds. He couldn't separate them anymore. She called after him again, using her clever nickname and almost applauding his decision to leave.

The earth trembled slightly, most likely an aftershock making its way across these parts. He paused in his walking, looking down at the ground as the rocks near his feet shook and the ground rumbled. He sighed. Hopefully no one had been hurt elsewhere because of the shaking. They were all okay; for the most part. Nothing from the quake, of course. Just previous injuries to the body and the mind. Although, the shaking wasn't settling well with Keanu. It kept reminding him of that night, and the vibrations in the ground as the other animals fled the hungry orange flames. He took a shaky breath, his eyes closing again as he tried to push those thoughts away. They had tried to resurface earlier, and he had succeeded in erasing them. It seemed like it only lasted a little bit though. He forced himself to take a few steps forward, to at least leave these equines who didn't want him around. Who called him names and yelled at him; wishing their condition on him. As if he didn't have enough to worry about already.

The slight shaking felt like waves to him, and his mind was trying to compensate for something that wasn't there. Fuck. The word echoed through his mind. Yeah, he wasn't going to be able to push these thoughts away this time. Why did they always attack him? Was it because they contained memories of Ember? He righted himself, opening his eyes but unable to focus on anything. He lunged forward and into the cover of the trees; at least out of sight of Oser and Song so they couldn't laugh at him anymore. He was able to avoid running into trees, stopping once he thought he was far enough away and sliding down next to a fallen trunk. He whimpered helplessly; both in fear of what was to come and in pain as his ankle throbbed in protest to his hasty get away. He lay his head on the ground, his body relaxing with the sleep it thought was being given; only his mind knew they weren't going to be getting any rest. Just like every other night lately. Oh how he wished he could sleep.

// 566 words

I thought about writing out his dreams/memories/whatever and then making him get up and leave, but decided against it. I highly doubt anyone is going to go after him, but I'll leave him there for at least another post for y'all. I think he's on his way out though. Poor guy can't take much more.

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[lady shady]

Oser

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He looked down at the mare in annoyance. After all he had done to try to help her, this was how she reacted? He wouldn't stand for it. She could help herself if she was so strong. So strong...and yet so weak at the same time. His gaze softened momentarily as he saw her trying to keep the pain from contorting her face. But then she spoke. "...of course, unless Mr. I'm-so-mighty-and-important decides that I should get out?"
Well. Mr. I'm-so-mighty-and-important could find other matters to tend to if this was how she felt. His patience was running thin, and though he felt nothing close to hatred for either of the pair, he had to keep himself from splashing out of the river and into the woods, away from the two who obviously had their own issues to work out. Keanu seemed to beat him to it though. The cremello stag ran from the water, stumbling into the woods, startling Oser. What was going on?
He needed an explanation!
Hesitating for the tiniest moment, he looked down at the defiant mare at his hooves, then over at Keanu's retreating figure, disappearing into the green trees.
He wanted nothing more than to leave this irritating mare, but at the same time, he was reluctant. She was so helpless...but her attitude had seemed to say otherwise. He knew by now that she wasn't so helpless that he couldn't leave her for a few minutes. If he left her forever, that would be different. She was too weak for forever. But a few minutes? She'd be fine. Then why wouldn't his hooves move? If it wasn't concern, what was it? She met his gaze, fiery eyes blazing. They reminded him of sparks....sparks...wait. No. NO. He would NOT think of anything on this mare of something that created sparks in him. No emotional involvement! Just concern. And protection. She was his baby bird, for crying out loud! Baby bird! he screamed at himself, even more frustrated at the mare for making him hesitate, attracting--no, NOT attracting!--distracting him with her independent spirit and smooth hide and utter contempt for him...NO. Not happening. He needed to get away from her. Now.
He spun, sending water flying, barreling after Keanu. Crashing into the forest, he searched for the light colored stag. He could not pick his form out from between the trees, though. Odd. Lowering his head, he explored the area, knowing the other stag couldn't have gone far. He stumbled upon him on a clearing, collapsed. Worry gnawed at him. What was going on? He didn't like this feeling of not knowing the story, only guessing at bits and pieces of it. Seeing Keanu sprawled out there, a mix of helplessness, anger, and confusion washed over him. Why would he abandon his mate like this? He and the mare obviously had a rocky relationship, in fact, they seemed to hate each other one minute, and he seemed apologetic the next. Oser didn't know how to react. That explained the helplessness and confusion bit, but why anger? Because the mare is his mate and not yours? the little voice in his head suggested impishly. "NO." he said pointedly, realizing too late that he had actually said it aloud. He looked to the cremello, wondering if he had heard. Of course he had. He had gone and started talking to himself. All because of that infuriating mare lying behind him in the stream. He had started feeling again today. Feeling. Just wonderful. He sighed wearily and waited for Keanu to acknowledge him.

==behind the post==
635 words
a little recognition of how he feels about Song ;D

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[Black Thorns]

He was leaving. Why was he leaving? He couldn't do that! He couldn't just up and leave her with no explaination! She needed him here! Couldn't he see that? What if he never came back? She wasn't strong enough to be alone! Someone needed to be here, needed to help her, and everyone else had left... Here she was, alone. Again. Couldn't manage to keep the mares there, even. Though they tended to hate her for hurting their mates/ potential mates. She really wasn't liked. Especially not in the way she wanted Oser to want her...

But she doesn't want Oser! She wouldn't let herself want him. He was bad, just as bad as anyone else she had met. It didn't matter if he had helped her; he was helping her at first, and now he was leaving her to freeze to death in this river. Bad. He was a horrible thing and she shouldn't even pity him. He was wicked. Horrible. She couldn't want him, she would never want him. Never! She let out a snort, pushing away the water tickling at her nostrils. Horrible. She doesn't want him, would never want him.

She did! She wanted him so badly. She ached for him to come back, to be there and stand with her. Ached for him to forgive her, to lower his muzzle and brush it along her skin. She wanted him to whisper in her ear, to coax her out of the river... Then to lay with her as sharp pain went through her as her shoulder began to wake up, to lay there and comfort her... He should just talk to her, and tell her... tell her... Oh she didn't know! Tell her something, tell her...

She should tell him to bug off. Yeah. SHe should. She wouldn't let herself let him touch her, never! Hell, she'd stay in this river as long as she wanted to; she would only get out when and if she was ready. He wouldn't be the one to decide what she did! Oh, if she wasn't injured... He would be regretting ever even speaking to her! He would regret ever getting into her line of sight! He wasn't worth anything, No-one, nothing was worth getting attached. He was a pig, a foul thing. She shouldn't soil herself...

Oh but how she wanted to! She wanted him there... A shuddering sigh escaped her, water blowing out in ripples around her. Ripples. One thing starting everything else in motion. If she let him speak to her, he would get her out of the river, then he could touch her, then he could touch her affectionately, then... then... SHe wouldn't let him do that. No matter how much she loved him and wanted him he couldn't do that. Not even if she wanted him to just the littlest bit when she was in heat... he still couldn't. No.

He wouldn't even touch her. Wouldn't even talk to her.

Even if she wanted it.


--behind the post--
519 words.
It's short and icky. :/ Not much to work with though.

[aPPY]

Flashes of fire writhed behind his eye lids, mixed with maniacal laughing that could only belong to one person. Keanu twisted, digging his hooves into the forest ground and rubbing against the tree he laid under. Why wouldn't she just leave him alone? He huffed, standing in his dream and watching as the flames ate away at that forest. Listened to the screams of the animals who couldn't get away fast enough. Felt the air rush past him as the ones who did ran away. He just stood and watched the orange light inch closer to him as it destroyed everything in it's path. "Oh sweet Keanu," her voice echoed in his mind as her body formed from the flames. Her image flickered and wavered as she stepped closer to him. He stood still though, not fighting it. Maybe it would be over faster if he did nothing? "What bothers you this time, my son?" she asked and he immediately corrected her. "I am not your son!" he said, for probably the millionth time. He twisted his head back as she inched closer, the flames turning to embers on her pelt. "Oh but you are. Maybe not in blood, but I raised you. I made you who you are today. Not Aero. It was all me. You are my son," she smiled, "No matter how much you deny it. No matter how much you fight it. You are mine."

Keanu whimpered, stepping away from his false mother. She was right, but that didn't mean he would accept it. That didn't mean he would use all the time he had to change it. "I will never be yours," he whispered as her form faded and disappeared. He looked at the flames as they too, began to fade away. He turned and walked in the other direction, his head low. He would change it. He wouldn't hurt anyone again. He wouldn't give Ember that satisfaction again. He couldn't.

He jolted awake at the sound of someone speaking. He didn't catch the word but it had been loud. His heart was beating and a layer of sweat covered his body. He turned his head, looking up at Oser. He had followed him? Leaving Song in the water? His ears twisted back at the sight of the grey stag, shifting his body and pulling himself to the ground. He was a tad shaky but kept his balance, his leg protesting. He certainly wasn't going to fall in front of this creature. "What do you want?" he asked, his tone void of any emotion. He leaned against the tree he had collapsed under, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes. "Shouldn't you be helping Song?" he asked, opening his dull blue eyes again. "The cold water is going to do more harm than good now." he stated, taking another breath. His eyes slid closed again as he fought to stay on his feet. He was just so tired. It had hit him so suddenly once he had gotten away; all of those sleepless nights had come crashing down on him.

// 547 words

he's so tired. of everything. :/

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[lady shady]

The stag awakened suddenly and spoke as sson as he saw him there."What do you want? Shouldn't you be helping Song? The cold water is going to do more harm than good now."
Song?? Who was...? Then he realized. The mare. So he finally knew her name now. Strangely enough, the name didn't surprise him. It fit well with his baby bird picture of her. Song. He tried it out in his head, rolling the sound around. Unexpected yet perfect for her. He liked it.
No he didn't! What was he doing again, thinking about her when all she had been was ungrateful and a pain?? She must stay out of his thoughts; she was too confusing.
Confusing. He saw Keanu sag against the tree, and suddenly, he felt the weight of fatigue as well. Bliss and relief came as his emotions faded and simple weariness set it. It was easier this way.
"Listen," he told Keanu, voice flat, "all I want is an explanation of how all this happened. That's it. After this, if you wish, I can leave both of you alone. I'll go. Just, please give me an explanation"

--behind the post--
209 words
tiny header thing xD

[aPPY]

"Listen, all I want is an explanation of how all this happened. That's it. After this, if you wish, I can leave both of you alone. I'll go. Just, please give me an explanation,"

An explanation? He sighed, his side rubbing up against the bark of the tree. He turned his head to look at the grey stag, his eyes slowly opening half way. "She attacked me," he said, blinking slowly and shifting his weight. "She came running out of the trees...and attacked me." he said, again. "I don't know why... Maybe it was because I had accidentally kicked Raine before that... I always do that.. Hurting people." he looked to the side. He was always hurting people. "And...I just defended myself," No, that was a lie. He fought back.. Didn't he? He didn't want to...but he did. He sighed heavily, his eyes closing once again. "Just... Make sure she doesn't die, okay?" he asked. He really didn't want her to, even if she did hate him. He couldn't blame her, she had every reason to. But if she died, he would never forgive himself. He would forever be a monster, he knew that, but he wanted to know that if he did leave, she wouldn't die. That it wouldn't have been because he left her alone with Oser, because he had left her in that river and hadn't helped her. That if Keanu had stayed, she would have lived.

His legs suddenly gave out from underneath him and he slid to the ground with a grunt. His mind was foggy and he wasn't thinking straight. He was so tired. He didn't think he could stay awake for very much longer, though he fought to. He wanted to make sure that Oser would stay; that he would make sure that Song would be okay.

// 284 words

short. sorry. D:
say whatever you want quickly, before he falls asleep.

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[lady shady]

"She attacked me. She came running out of the trees...and attacked me. I don't know why... Maybe it was because I had accidentally kicked Raine before that... I always do that.. Hurting people. And...I just defended myself. Just... Make sure she doesn't die, okay?"

Keanu's explanation was brief, but to the point. All this time, Oser studied him, trying to decide whether or not he was telling the truth. The cremello's weariness convinced him that he was being genuine. Maybe he shouldn't trust that easily, but something about Keanu told him that he was trustable in this manner.

Besides, if what he had said was true...he hadn't known Song before today. Couldn't be her mate, couldn't be a lover...Oser felt like letting loose a series of joyful bucks. He contained himself. The mare was deliciously free. Wait. What was he thinking?? He couldn't care less about whether Song had a mate or not. It didn't matter to him. Suddenly, he felt uncomfortable. It's because you hate lies, his conscience whispered, and you're burying yourself in them. Admit it. You like that mare. She intrigues you. Fascinates. Attracts. Hurry back now to her. Hurry ba--" He flattened his ears and ducked his head fiercely, drowning out the voice with the rush of blood to his head. No. The voice was the one who was lying here.

But he should get back to Song. She couldn't be left alone for so long. He nodded to Keanu. "Thank you. I'll do what I can for her"

He turned and made his way out of the clearing and back towards the river. Back towards Song. Get a grip, he told himself sternly. She's wounded, and weak, and young. Not to mention a pain in the rump. He chuckled softly. Yes, he could be having these foolish thoughts now, but one word from her and she'd set him straight. When she saw him emerging, she'd scream at him, be ungrateful, rude, and stubborn, and this would all go away. In fact, who knew how it had even started? With this in mind, he marched out of the trees and into her sight.

--behind the post--
342 words, not including Keanu's explanation
Oser's being stupid.

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