a ghost in your presence. )) [Open]

[tou]

He was caught off guard by her intense reaction, the stallion's head tilting to the side, slightly confused about her reaction. Why, it really wasn't all that terrible. If he hadn't been thrust into the real world when he was, he surely wouldn't be the character he had morphed into. Wouldn't have such tenacity, such slyness, such muscle mass. He'd be just another weak minded, dull twig that frolicked through the flowers day in and out. The behemoth snorted a bit, his nostrils flaring as he withdrew the surrounding oxygen once more. Uh, yeah, abandoned. he started, lushious tail swishing at his muscled flanks, the brute not entirely wanting to get into such. Long story short, I learned that a father can get pretty pissed if he thinks the child of his mate's isn't his. He chuckled, his deep tones resonating through the forestry. He looked to Seraph, his lapis lazuli toned irises expanding as his pupils dilated, struck by a ray of sunlight. It's really not all that horrid. He said with a small shrug, massive shoulders rolling.

[twi]

Tou’s words were intended to, if clumsily, comfort Seraph but they did nothing of the sort. How could they? While she could take physical pain in others without a considerable amount to herself, any other type hurt her. How terrible it would be to be cast out into the wild to fend for oneself. Her gray-blue eyes were wide when she replied, “But why isn’t that horrid? Of course it is! It not right, that’s what!”
She tossed her silky mane to punctuate her statement. What an awful thought, not to be loved by her parents but instead rejected and abandoned. Poor Tou.
So lost in thought was she, that she tripped a bit, going over a branch in her path, catapulted into the Shire beside her. She blushed and righted herself, stammering an apology. She was supposed to be lean and agile, a master of balance and speed. Just went to show how distracted she was over his past. She wondered absently why she cared so much about him already.

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[tou]

Seraph seemed to find his past burdens certainly much worse than he did. As she commented, retaliating against his nonchalant mannerism with the whole topic, his jaw cracked to reply. However, before any vocalization could be made, she stumbled over something had hindered her path, sending her toppling into his side. He hardly moved from where he stood, easily capable of bracing himself against her weight. His ears spun to tack to his skull, the male not entirely sure as to how to react to such. He found himself in an awkward predicament, tail flicking at his flanks as a cough echoed from his throat. He swallowed slightly, averting his gaze as he briefly inquired about her state. You alright? he asked, blue eyes flickering back to her form, not necessarily noting any substantial inflictions upon her frame. He paused a moment or two before looking away once more and responding to what she had said before her trip up. The way I look at it, if they hadn't done what they had, I wouldn't be who I am today. he said simply. The spot where her hide had come into contact with his was still tingling, the heat that had emanated from that location beginning to die down. It had been quite a good while since he had any physical contact with another creature, and at that, any that was non-hostile. He ever so slightly increased his distance from her, his change rather miniscule, but still calming to his buzzing skull.

[twi]

In annoyance, Seraph scraped a small hoof against the ground, carving a small rupture in the dirt she treaded upon. Why did she have to go and be so clumsy? The Shire had seemed to be gaining some cordiality, but now he seemed a bit embarassed and was drawing away from her, looking at her oddly out of the corner of his eye. She blushed.
"And who are you now, then?" She asked quickly, attempting the break the awkard silence between them. Though a kind-heated soul, always having the best of intentions, Seraph had limited patience and Tou's reluctance to devulge any of his past was beginning to get to her.
"I'd think you'd be scarred, but you speak as though your past has improved you," she added a bit cuttingly, more so than she intended to.
Lift two hooves, put them down and replace with two more, up down, up down, she murmured to herself, the song her mother had taught her when she had first been learning to trot. She would NOT trip again.

.................
Seraph can be something of a brat sometimes. Sorry.

[tou]

The burning on his side had dwindled down to next to nothing, the varge suppressing the shiver that wished to course along his spinal column. He noted how she seemed a tad perturbed by his reaction, the Shire slightly regretting his rude actions. Seraph seemed to be getting a bit uneased, surely not as calm as she had been. Her words were a tad more snappy, he thought, single brow rising from his orb as he noted this change. Ah, so an impatient one was she. Well knowing that, he could so easily push her buttons. However, he decided against going too far with that, not wishing to cause her to depart from his company. He paused for a bit, testing the boundaries of her lack of patience. A, simply a mere shell of my former self. he finally replied, flashing a smirk upon his mask as he taunted with more empty words. His thoughts progressed to focus upon her latter statement, the masculine beast trying to fabricate an answer within his dome. Well now, I never said I wasn't scarred, now did I? he said softly, his caudal appendage swaying at his posterior. And one does not learn the necessary survival skills of a vagabond when he clings to his dam's side. he reasoned. A single drop of liquid splattered upon his fine pelt, the stag's gaze lifting to the canopy, simply presuming it had been condensation that had slipped and fallen. However, he noted that what little sky that was visible was indeed a darker hue than previously. Another small drop plummeted upon his snout, the male shaking his skull to fling it off. Well isn't that just dandy. he muttered sarcastically, hoping that the precipitation didn't grow to be too heavy.

[twi]

Seraph knew that her companion was intentionally taunting her with his words, so she chose to temper her response to them. When equines tried to toy with her quick temper, it only strengthened her resolve not to give them any satisfaction.
Shell of his former self indeed. She snorted.
She was considering whether to reply or not, when he continued, “Well now, I never said I wasn't scarred, now did I? And one does not learn the necessary survival skills of a vagabond when he clings to his dam's side.” So, Tou had something of an ego. She didn’t mind egos, as she had been around stallions enough to know that they all had them. The fact that he considered himself tough interested her. It didn’t occur to her to disbelieve him, as she glanced appreciatively at the iron-like muscles rippling beneath his gleaming white pelt. Then the rest of his phrase sunk in. Clinging to his dam’s side? Seraph could feel her annoyance rising. Was he insinuating that was what she had done, having not been cast out into the wild at an early age?
“I see,” she replied somewhat tersely, not trusting herself to formulate a longer reply. She was still unsure of whether he had meant to insult her, so resolved to keep her tongue in check, as much as she could.
While they had been walking, the sky had grayed, its pure azure brightness replaced with sullen clouds. Seraph angled her neck and peered at the sky, blinking the first rain droplets out of her eyes. The rain was more sleet-like, possessing a snowy quality that only enhanced its sting. She shivered and arched her back, unconsciously glancing at Tou.

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[tou]

He loosely noted her reactions to his dialogue, seeing how she hadn't quite snapped as he had expected her to. The droplets had picked up in velocity a little, pelting his hide with miniature hunks of ice. A few stung his pale hide every now and again, though he brushed it off of his thoughts as he sensed her aggravation. Her words had somewhat of a sharp bite to them, the equine blinking a time or two in slight confusion. While he had fed her more words that had little weight to them, her tone of voice surely couldn't be about that ... could it? He looked down to her, brow ever so slightly furrowed in befuddlement. His maw opened to allow his vocalization to be spread once more. Sincere apologies if I offend with my words, Seraph. he said with genuine apologetic tones. His ears swiveled to press against their locale. I must've lost a good deal of my senses when it comes to social etiquette and other akin topics in my travels. he said sullenly, feeling somewhat bitter towards himself for having caused his temporary companion to be angered. It had been a good span of time since he had spoken to another life form, nonetheless a mare. Surely he was rusty with his manners, though that was no excuse for being rude, he thought to himself. The chilled drops continued to pelt him, mercilessly. As they progressed forth, he caught sight of movement in his peripheral vision, noting that she had looked to him, if not for a fraction of a second. It was only then that it occurred to him. Oh, dammit! I'm used to such weather. I'm rather forgetful that not all of us are. Tou spoke, shaking his head, mentally chiding himself. Do you care to seek shelter of some sort? He inquired. While he wished to continue his journey, he felt obliged to at least accompany her a little longer, hopefully to make up for whatever discourteous actions he had made to cause her anger.

[twi]

Seraph wondered if he knew what he was apologizing about. No matter whether that was the case or not, he was certainly going out of his way to be courteous and the fact impressed her. She could really like this guy, not that she had any especial interest, she told herself.
"No, no!" She said hurriedly in response to his comment. ""Don't say that. It's okay anyway, I'm not really offended. You've got to learn to put up with me and my mood swings."
While Seraph meant every word of what she said, she did not quite comprehend what she was saying until the words were out of her mouth. She suddenly paused, stopping in her tracks while Tou continued on. Mood swings? No, no, no!
Realizing that she still stood in the middle of the path, she effortlessly launched into a canter from her complete standstill to catch up with Tou. She barely heard his question about seeking shelter. Suddenly, all she wanted to do was leave him. But she could not do that, not after he had been so kind to her. Oh, what to do!
"I...yes...shelter would be fine." She stumbled over her words. "I mean, that it if you want to. Either way."
She glanced worriedly at the sky. The sleet seemed closer to snow now. Yes, winter was upon them and along with it, some unforeseen complications.

[tou]

The behemoth had hardly noticed that she had disappeared from his side until he caught the increased tempo of her hooves upon the ground. Dome swung slightly to watch as she caught up, the brute pondering what had caused her to come to such an abrupt halt. She seemed to be ... what was that, perplexed? Flustered? Possibly distressed by something or another. His suspicions were confirmed - though he was still unsure which emotion she seemed to possess, if not a combination of the three - when her own tongue seemed to turn upon itself, as if she were fighting with herself about some topic. He mentally shrugged off such notations, sifting through the words she had spoken, questioning of perhaps something she had said was what set her off. Or worse yet, maybe something he had said. He shook his head to more internal profanities that he projected towards himself, his banner lashing a time or two at his posterior portions. Maybe if he were more adapted to civilization, and other equine in general, he would have picked up on whatever had occurred, but he simply couldn't determine such. His crown dipped as he dodged a lower bough, the creature catching her words, but just barely. Well, if she had said yes at first, then so be it. He wouldn't allow her to freeze simply because she allowed him to choose. Shelter it is then. he nodded, bringing his skull up to its highest possible point. Neck arched, muscles straining as tried to get the best vantage point he could, blue visionaries scanning the encompassing acres. Lemme know if ya' see anything. He said as his eyes prodded the lands. His skull was still buzzing as he tried to sort things out mentally.

[twi]

Tou didn't comment upon her sudden stop, nor her flustered tone of voice and for that she was grateful.
She was beginning to wonder whether he had noticer her lapse at all when she caught his eye. The look within was certainly absent, as though his mind was on other things. Absent and a bit disturbed. Seraph's suspicions as to his being preoccupied were confirmed when he narrowly missed being clobbered on the head by a low-hanging branch. He just barely ducked in time.
Seraph, just a bit behind him continued her pace unfalteringly, not even bending her head as she passed beneath the limb. Sometimes being petite could be an advantage.
"Shelter it is then. Lemme know if ya' see anything," he said.
A delicate eyebrow lifted at Tou's lapse into some slight slang. Slang annoyed Seraph.
"Of course. I'll keep my eyes open for it."
She shivered. While her gleaming pelt was certainly her best attribute as far as looks went, her hairs were fine and her skin thin, making her unusuably liable to wind and cold. And winter had only begun. But on the bright side, at least she could look forward to the snow. Snow was fun to play in and when the crust developed, she could run atop it for miles, hardly touching the ground.
Hardly knowng why she asked the question, Seraph said, "Tou how old are you?"
Looking at him, Seraph had realised that she couldn't discern his exact age. His eyes were old, so very old. They had seen much. His frame indicated otherwise however, and while he was already a formidable size, he appeared slightly ungainly, as though his bone structure was not finished growing.

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