..:. Citizen Soldier

[deshy]

Shika lay on the gorund, her breathing was even, assuring that she was still alive. Wolf lay afoot.

... Running, ever running, the world flew by in a flurry of blured colours. The heat riding vastly behind, ever demanding to burn them alive. The crackling of flames resounded deep in her ears. The dark shape of her father galloped ahead, always checking back, making sure her feeble form followed. Though young she could still manage to run, and run pretty fast, finding it easy to keep up with him, galloping hard on his heels. She didnt glance back, not once, just kept running, pushing herself to the extreme. They soon came to a stream, Her father paused waiting fro her franticly, as she collided with him, He pulled her up and pushed her into thw river, where they both lay, watching as the fire quickly spread, watching as trees burnt alive, turning to black scorch marks as the fire sucked the life from them, then left and did the same to many others. She couldn't bare to watch any longer, curling up into her fathers side, gently falling asleep. The soft sound of running water gently soothing her. She awoke that next day, to find the fire had deminished to a tiny glow, leaving a trail of destruction in its path. She rose to her legs, seeing her father laying over a greyed and black form, she pranched over, half slipping on some rocks, but managed to keep her calm. When she neared him she soon relaised it was the shape of an equine. Her father , in hearing her approach turned to her, his face distored with horror. "No Shika don't come any closer, stay there." She paused obidiently, confused by his eager voice and the glance upon his face. Making her actually stop for one moment. Her Father soon turned and walked towards her, covering the form with his large shape. Placing his face along her side, and closing his eyes, a single tear dropped from his orbs. She burried her face into his chest, comforting him. Though he soon pulled away from her, gently brushing her shoulder. "Its time you moved on Shika, go about your own doings, go have a life of your own" his words came weak, filled with sadness, Shika blinked, shrinking back. "No Daddy i want to stay with you, please let me stay" She pushed herself at him, but he held her back with ease, pushing her away and in the other direction. Shika pulled back however and attempted to run back to him, only to be force away once again, this time the full force of him slamming into her, scaring her, making her run away from him, acros the stream and into the untouched woods."


Shika slowly came round, shifting her head. Though not just yet opening her eyes, the dream she had, was strange, she could even still feel the warth of the fire radiating around her. She had no clue why she had just dreamt of the day when he father had sent her off into the wilderness. It was just something that happened to her on occasion. She stirred once more, now opening her eyes to find a white leg obscuring her view. She smiled imediatly knowing who it be. Nipping at his ankle, then glancing up she spoke to him. "Why hello there love" She smiled, craning her neck to glance at him. Only to find his stance was cold and protective. Her smiled soon turning to confusion, glancing down, noticing the wolf laying right in front her. She flinched away, not liking what she saw, but also realising what hse had done all the same. "...I... did i?" Was all she asked, hoping Karuk would understand her question. She heard the defiant screeching of Kilton, wondering what could possibly be going on. She sighed, desperatly wanting to get on her feet again. But felt rather content as KAruk stood over her -literaly- protecting her from whatever danger it could be. Soon remembering the equines he had rushed off to save. "Did you save them Karuk, Did you..? Their not dead are they..? She blabbered on, hoping that they had reached safety, also hoping she would get to meet them, enjoying the company of others, wanting to make some more freindships.

...:.732

[/size]
Random dreamness that came into my head O.o
and the form on the ground was her mother, she was burnt, but Shika has no idea that it was. [/right][/size]

[Abba]

Who's to know if your soul will fade at all
The one you sold to fool the world
You lost your self-esteem along the way...

"Yes, stop with the bugging already, I'm tired, parhaps a thanks is in need, after all, i did just save your life" the words hit her ears and she gave out a tiny laugh. Ah, how adorable he was. Slowly he rose to his hooves, wobbling around and first and then turning to Karuk, inquiring who he was. He didn't seem very pleased about another stag being here and it caused Rasta to attempt to hold back her laughter, threatening to appear. As he coughed up some water she gently nudged his shoulder in worry only to have him turn to her. Perhaps we should go with him. Maybe he needs our assistance?" he said, though it seemed a little forced and as soon as she commanded Karuk to go help his love he seemed to jump.

Shaking her head she turned to face Apodis, her never-changing eyes staring blankly towards his face as she looked up to him. "Yes, a thank you is in order. But, I feared you were injured and was more concerned about making sure you were alive before I thanked a dead-body..." she said giving out a slightly agitated snort. Her hawk circled around, landing upon his back just to bother him and then skirting off to the side and onto her back after letting out a loud shriek of amusement. Though, she was a little worn out she was very willing to help as necessary. "You so wish to go back out into the river at this very moment? When you could just barely get to your feet?" she gave him a hard nudge without warning before stepping back. "Are you up to it? Or are you just claiming to be? I'm not letting you out there just because you feel upstaged..." she said, shifting around and kicking her hind-legs out as a wolf pounced from the trees, getting smashed in the face. A sickening crunch filled the air and then the wolf pounded into the ground, letting out a tiny whimper before falling silent. She shook out her back right leg, shifting a little and allowing her back to pop slightly - just enough to get back into place - and then moved forwards "To Karuk and the new Alpha we go..." she said before setting off at a brisk trot down the stream.

Upon arriving where they were she could hear the muffled sounds of the mare, but was unable to make out the words. "Three wolves in the bushes on the other side of the river. Five on ours." Rasta alerted, spinning around as a wolf jumped out, lunging towards the painted horse. She leaped forwards, slamming into him, feeling his ribs crash under her hooves with yet another set of sickening crunches. "Which side would you like us to take?" she questioned, pinning her ears and dropping her maw down to the ground.

[/blockquote]


==Into the Mind
. 500 words. Whole number
. How you like this Rasta? XD[/size]

[deshy]

"Yes, a thank you is in order. But, I feared you were injured and was more concerned about making sure you were alive before I thanked a dead-body..." Apodis pulled back feeling a little stricken. " Well I didn't mean it like that. I was just joking. Though thank you" his tone softened at the end, as too did this posture,gently bowing his neck in a respective manor. He hadn't really meant to offend her. Though sometimes his word came stronger than intended. "You so wish to go back out into the river at this very moment? When you could just barely get to your feet?" she gave him a hard nudge without warning before stepping back. "Are you up to it? Or are you just claiming to be? I'm not letting you out there just because you feel upstaged..." Apodis shook his head at her. Of course that's what he wanted. He wasn't just doing it cause he was annoyed with the other stag,he genuinely thought that they might need their assistance. And by the sounds of it they truely did.

He watched as Rasta silently moved ahead of him. He could see the other two over the other side of the river. Watched as a wolf leapt out towards them. She got there just in time to shield the other two from its snarling jaws, slamming her head into its side. Wolf collapsing into the stoned floor. He took in a deep breath getting ready to cross ythe river once more. Though just as he took a step into the icy waters, he felt that of claws along his back, raking into his flesh, tearing sounds of flesh resounded in his dainty satellites. The feel of warm fluid ran down his pelt. The claws ran further up his back pulling him down, another had joined the first. The weight became to much for his already weaken pegs. Falling to the ground he rolled over crushing the leg of one underlie, a clear snapping sound as the wolf too cried out in pain, desperately trying to pull free. He kicked out as the other attempted to jump him again. His hoove landing directly upon this ones neck snapping his head back, landing with a soft thud. Apodis snorted a laugh resounding from his lips, as he jumped to his hooves, clearly having way to much fun, now remembering why he once loved a fight. He parlance on the spot afront the tree line, knowing another wolf prowled the line, the heavy breathing gave him away. Apodis smiled into the shadows wanting him to attack,wanting to feel the rush as he killed. This was purely why he gave up fighting, it took over his sences causing him to act like a crazed beast. Apodis lunged into the bush grabbing the wolf by the neck. With a flick of his head, He threw the beast into the stream, galloping after him as the wolf ran of whimpering like the cowards they really were. He laughed high and peircing,kidding to a halt in the stream, spraying water over his already soaked pelt. Trotting high and graceful he headed to the others.

..:. 538
On me phoned
Randomness too :/ yeah recent a little crazy.

[/center][/size]

[aPPY]

"Why hello there love," she said and he glanced down at her. "Are you okay?" he asked, turning back to watch the trees around them. "...I... Did I?" He looked back down at her, sensing the confusion in her voice. He nodded once, "You did what was needed, Shika. Don't think it could have been any different." He gently stepped over her, turning as Kilton shifted along his back, pacing back and forth. He was sure the eagle would warn him of an advance. He lowered his head, gently nudging her shoulder. "Are you alright though?" he asked, worried that she had fallen to the ground unconscious, if even for a short while. Though she was just as worried about other things. "Did you save them Karuk? Did you..? They're not dead are they...?" He shook his head quickly, "No, no. They're both fine," He assured her, glancing to the side as Kilton turned sharply to the side, seeing them approaching. "See? Not dead." He smiled softly pulling his head back and watching as the two equines appeared.

"Three wolves in the bushes on the other side of the river. Five on ours." Rasta informed them, quickly eliminating a wolf that had decided to strike on it's own. The other equine was also attacked, the canine putting up a fight before the buckskin stag dislodged the creature and did away with it. "Which side would you like us to take?" Karuk twisted to the side, his ears picking up the sounds of growls as two wolves approached from within the trees. "Doesn't matter, as long as none of them make it over here," he said, glancing down at Shika. "Kilton, stay here." He looked at the bird and he swiftly hopped from his perch and onto the mare's flank with a nod. Karuk then turned quickly trotting to intercept the two wolves; not pausing and only moving forward. He sharply struck out with his forelegs, twisting and kicking with his hind. He heard one of them hit a nearby tree while the other only yelped, followed by more angry growling as it lunged forward. He lowered his head, the canine body colliding with him as he sharply lifted his crown, the wolf flying into the river and being carried away. He turned, looking back at Shika and seeing Kilton standing there, no wolves having succeeded in approaching. Karuk then turned, searching through the trees for the other wolf that Rasta had claimed was on this side of the river. His ears picked up the sounds of the other wolves, on the other side, mixed in with the crashing of the river. HIs eyes scanned the trees and the shadows, searching for the threats that lurked there.

// [lazy] words

bleh. /sucks

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[deshy]

His soft words gently pricked her audits, twitching towards the forth coming melody. "You did what was needed, Shika. Don't think it could have been any different." a gentle release of air escaped the mares lips, With a bow of her head, her orbs fell upon the crumpled shape of her attacker. She could have saved him, or atleast not killed him. Such an unfortunate soul. Pressing her nose into the thick quilt of the beast. Forgive me for this life i took and let him go peacefully into the otherworld. A brush of warm fell upon her shoulder, the feel of tiny electrical shots ran through. Immediatly knowing who that were. Karuk. She turned slowly her orbs falling upon his whitened crown, his soft melody comforted her sorrow. "Are you alright though?" Pulling to her walking limbs, stretching out like that of a feline. A gentle caress upon his shoulder as she sung. "I..Well i guess so, i just dont like killing for no reason, yes i know it was going to attack me, but i didnt have to kill him" She breathed in deeply, then pushed all the air back out her lungs with speed. "No, no. They're both fine," She glanced towards him, then in the same direction that he was. His bird, Kilton was making a racket, which had caused Karuk to glance over. "See? Not dead." She pushed a faulse smile to her lips, trying to look happy, though really she still felt bad for the wolfs death.

"Three wolves in the bushes on the other side of the river. Five on ours." The pale mare swooped in, her eyes glazed over, unmoving. Yet with out a doubt she plucked of another wolf. She made an involuntary movement, shying away from the mare's sudden actions.This is not good. More Canis lupis leaked out into their space. Snarling notes filled the currents, churning waters filled in the background. She hear his soft melody, though her audits too distant to pick up the correct notes. Kilton swiftly landed upon her shoulder, raking his claws into her quilt. Pushing at the bird with a gentle nudgeing, asking him to quite what he were doing, only to recieve that of beating wings upon her crown. With a quick release of air, a gust blew into the birds face, ruffling up his feathers. Watching in disbelief as they took out more of the creatures, she tugged at her lips, anxicously pawing at the ground. Closeing her orbs she spoke a soft melody "Please no more" She just couldnt take it anymore, taking of into the woods, leaving behind the morbid scene.

She flew into the nearby tree's, Kiltons claws digging deep into her skin, tearing parts way, letting the scarlet fluid leak out into the open air. Dodging the trees as she pushed by, occasionally tripping over those exposed roots. Just like they had been place specifically for her to stumble upon. Moving at a slow pace, though ever moving away from the scene, she just could not bare it anylonger, watching as those innocent creatures lost their lives, ever too easily. Pulsing into a slighter faster pace, folige now completly covering her splashed quilt. Her orbs closed as she attempted to rid the images from her mind. Only to find herself flyinf through the air, landing in a soft pool of moss with a thump, kncoking the breath from her, as she lay sprawled on the floor, Orbs closed. Kilton screeched, then took to the sky, vanishing from her side. She let out a deep breath rolling over onto her side, disapearing into her mindless games. Feeling like she was floating along a cloud, high up, way above all else, and the sorrows of the world.

...:.657

[/size]
/sleeeeepppyyy randomnesss[/right][/size]

[Abba]

Too late - this is not the answer
I need to pack it in
I can't pull your heart together with just my voice alone...

Rasta felt her breath go as she felt Apodis nearly get dragged into the ground from the wolves claws. But, what scared her most was the fact that as he began to actually fight a laugh of amusement escaped his lips. She pulled back, all of the animals on her side having had disappeared already.

He enjoyed the pain...

He enjoyed the kill...

He was too much like Scathashoun...

She flipped out, stumbling back a few steps before turning on her haunches and pulling into the forest. She needed to get away from these two stags. Karuk was nothing like Scath - yes - but if Apodis decided he disliked Karuk she knew she would incapable of stopping him. And she knew she would have to watch the brawl.

With the intent of escaping a scene which was wrenching her heart in two even more than it already was she broke into a gallop over the snow covered grounds in the direction that the mare had went. She didn't pay too much attention, and when she finally did she skidded to a stop, kicking some of the snow into the ditch before her. Upon taking a second glance at the vibrations she realized that the mare Karuk was traveling with was stuck in the ditch. But how she was supposed to get his mare out of here she had absolutely no clue.

She let out a quick, high-pitched screech of worry. Her voice was echoed by that of her hawk's which flew back quickly towards the two stags, curling around the two's faces and flapping it's wings incessantly. "Darling! Darling! Can you move? Are you awake? Are you okay?" Rasta called out feeling a familiar chill of worry slide down her spine.

She needed to get her out of there and she was yet again incapable of doing so...

[/blockquote]


==into the mind
. 310 words
. happy?[/size]

[deshy]

What the heck..? He shifted in to the stags Side. Confused at why both females had just vanished at preliminary times. He gave one look of confusion to the stag. With a kick of his heels, he sped after the mare. Sliding on the rocks, but never faulting his speed. Dashing into the tree's immidiatly after her. "RASTA!" He shouted to her, hoping the mare had not ventured too far, or worse. And had gotten herself stuck someplace, or unconcious. At the horrid thoughts he pushed harder, his golden spotted frame weaving gracefully through the brushes. He could sence her up ahead, panic filled the air around him. Panic reached his inards, pushing him yet further forward, rushing to see what could possibly be wrong. Meanwhile in the far distant reaches of his mind, the sound of on coming hooves followed in a ryhmetic pattern. he knew without a doubt who would be following him. Ignoring the fact, he turned his attention on finding Rasta. Following the panic and fear that filled the air, hoping it were her.

Her sweet melody sounded in the distance, making his ears prick pivotly. Though for what those words were he could not master. But the fact that she spoke meant she were okay. Slowing down he rounded some tree's. And there stood infront him was Rasta. Letting out a sigh, pulling up next to her. "Why did you run of like that?" With a gentle nudge he pushed at her neck with his nose, reasuring himself she were okay, actually standing there and all this was not a dream. he glanced down at what the mare seemed to be freaking over. Realizing that the other mare had fallen into the ditch. And in a rather odd way too. From just the way she lay and breathed, he could tell she were perfectly fine, possibly even comfrtal like that. Craning his neck down some more, he reached for the mare. "What you doing down their love? You okay arnt ya?" He jumped gracefully like a cat, springing to the other side, a shower of dust fell upon the mare as he landed on the very edge. Turning sharply on himself, moving up behind the mare then slid down into the ditch.

..:. 387
Blechhh

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[aPPY]

Everything seemed to happen at once. Kilton screeched and Karuk turned to see Shika's disappearing form. That instance gave the hiding wolf the time needed to attack and sharp claws were suddenly sinking into his pelt. He twisted, nickering softly in pain before he could stop himself. He kicked with his hind legs, teeth breaking thier hold as the wolf lost it's grip. The painted stag turned, seeing Rasta turn and flee as well. He didn't have much time to ponder the thought though, as the cananie growled and lept. At the same time he heard an ear piercing call from the forest, that he knew was Kilton. He was caught off guard and immediately stumbled, turning to look in that direction even though he knew he wouldn't be able to see anything. The wolf's momentum propelled it forward, though now that Karuk had moved, it sent the mammal into the river with a yelp. Karuk glanced at the disappearing form as the buckskin stag glanced at him before following the path the mare's had taken.

His breathing was already ragged and his leg pained him as he forced himself to canter through the trees. Kilton swopped down, finding him and squawking loudly before turning and gliding back. What had happened? He skidded to a stop once he saw Rasta and Apodis, the latter moving forward and disappearing from view. Where was Shika? Kilton screeched, sitting up in a tree and pacing back and forth. Karuk stepped up next to Rasta, catching his breath as he looked into the ditch they stood next to. "Shika!" he exclaimed, breathless, taking a step forward. Though, the buckskin was already down there and he stopped himself, a worried look on his face. "Are you alright?" he asked, trying to stay calm. She was always getting herself into trouble! He couldn't go a few hours without worring that she'd be okay. Was that the way it was supposed to be? Loving someone? He hadn't worried nearly as much with Katerina, but he was different then. He took a deep breath, releasing it in a sigh. His leg trembled and he had to step back onto the edge of the ditch, instead of perching on the side.

The other stag was down there though, and from what he had already seen, he though that maybe he could trust him. Rasta did, he could tell, so that had to count for something. Kilton gently bounced off the branch he was on, dropping down to stand next to Shika, his wings outstretched. He shrieked at her, angry, before turning and gliding onto his perch on Karuk's withers. He patted Karuk's skin with his feet before twisting away from the fallen mare and huddling in his wings; his eyes slits as he stared into the distance. He was not happy. Karuk gently shook his head at the display, turning back to Shika and the situation. She appeared fine, and hopefully she was, though the fact that he was up here and she was down there didn't please him.

// 522 words

blehhh

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[deshy]

Words echoed in the back of her mind. "Darling! Darling! Can you move? Are you awake? Are you okay?" she moved her head, once up slowly and once down. Acknowledging to the mare that she was indeed fine. Just wanted to sleep that's all. Just wanted to rid the horrid images of the dead wolf's body lying a foot. The one she had incidentally killed. Leaving behind a portal to those from the other world. Allowing that of evil -or good- join their ranks once more. She could feel it before hearing it. The beat of thundering hooves vibrated along the earth crust, then came the sound. Who ever if was were certainly rushing too much. Though as the hoove beat neared it began to slow. Then came a voice she hadn't heard before, one of that of stags. She began to move but felt a strange pain tingling up her legs as doing so. Without a noise she stopped moving and so did the pain. Laying their silently, listening to all going ons round her. Listening to the nature. But not much was going on to be honest. Twas to late in the winter,most having left by now or deep under hibernation.

The stag seemed to be talking to the mare, then soon realizing that she too, were about. Feeling it as his eyes fell upon her, then the move he made, soon o be stood behind her. Immediately feeling unsure, panic struck. Suddenly opening her eyes lifting her head to her surroundings,noticing that the buckskin was standing behind her. Though she still didn't trust him. She could feel his oncoming presence before actually seeing him. Knowing he would not be far behind any ways. Shika attempted to get to her hooves,not wanting him to see her like this, as for it would only just cause him pain and un needed panic. Though as doing so the pain returned causing her to fall back down again. Just as she fell to the ground his bay and white pelt came into view. His panicked voiced called out to her. "Shika!" glancing up to him, she noticed he looked a little shaken. More than likely due to fighting the wolves. Shuddering at the though, he spoke to her again. "Are you alright?" She pulled herself up a little, so that it made it easier for her to glance at him. " Yes I'm okay I believe, are you?" she spoke, feeling more concerned about him right now than herself.

Again she attempted to stand, though this time ignored the pain the best she could. Wincing a little she managed to pull herself up, though was finding it a little hard to put weight upon her front leg. It were the one she had hurt when they had founded the spring pool, and had trapped it in a crevice. Old injuries always came back. Never actually fully dissipating. Shaking out her coat, a large cloud of dust fell from within, she looked for a way of easy access to get out the ditch. Though the edges were pretty steep. It was not going to make for an easy exit. All the same, it was not that deep. Her head and neck reaching out the tops, glancing over the edges. Looking up to Karuk she noticed a red stain. "Karuk what happened to you?" panic easily filled her voice. She pulled closer to him trying to get a better look. Making sure that it either wasn't his blood or that if it were it weren't all that deep.

[Abba]

I forgive you
We were just a couple of kids
Trying to figure out how to live doing it our way...

"RASTA!" the words reached her ears and she let out a snort of concern before turning around slightly. "Why did you run off like that?" he asked gently nudging her neck in the process. She flinched away from him before she returned her attention to the mare below them. She did not feel like answering that question. She did not feel like revisiting all of the horrid memories which would be pulled up from it. And she dearly wished that he would simply just drop the subject. Scath was not something he would need to worry about until the war came around. And she would make sure of that. She coughed once and Apodis leaped across the ditch and went down inside it, helping the mare who seemed to be completely out of it.

Karuk soon arrived at her side - concern flooding all of his features though he seemed highly amused at his bird. "It'll be alright, Karuk." she said, nudging his shoulder in an attempt to keep him from completely panicking as the mare was pulled up from her ditch which she was situated in.

But of course, when the mare finally reached the top she was in fear. Worry filled her as she followed everything. Karuk was injured. There was blood, obviously. But they had just fought wolves - and if anything the wound seemed more superficial to Rasta than anything else. "Wolves caught him, I believe. Didn't bother any muscle... more of a flesh wound..." she whispered quietly, backing away from the group. It was strange - she used to love being around equids but now she was just merely put off. Maybe it was because she had seen a much different side of Apodis - the blood thirsty side. Or maybe it was because she didn't know what exactly she was supposed to do. She was a leader in heart but she didn't know how to lead her friends. She didn't enjoy bossing them around unless it was necessary. "Cave. To the north a little bit. Let's go there to re-cooperate. And don't you dare complain. Move. Now." she muttered, giving Karuk and Shika both a nudge before setting off at a slow jog, leaving hoof-prints in the snow as she went.

Was she really even a born leader? Or was she someone who cowered in fear...

[/blockquote]

==Into the Mind
. 400 words - magicalll
.I forgive you - Kelly Clarkson[/size]