a ghost in your presence. )) [Open]

[tou]

Single large shoulder rolled, the muscles rippling beneath his alabaster tones. I sure hope so. He said, lapis lazuli visionaries searching the sky for any signs of this storm giving up. His attention turned to Seraph, a gentle smile drawn upon his face as he watched her antics. Her own excitement seemed to radiate onto the Shire, causing a stir within the pit of the boy that was simply pure joy. Barrel shook a little as a chortle pealed from his jaws, the brute advancing closer to the girl. Velveteen maw traced her spine from her hips to her withers as he moved to the side in which the wind had begun blowing. His structure took the brunt of the weather, blockading his girl from the barrage of flakes and nipping wind as they started off, their own little escapade, just the two of them. A whispery sigh passed his maw as such a thought trailed across his mind. Forever he had been on his lonesome, just a simple wanderer. No true meaning to his life, nothing of value. But boy how that had changed, all because of one girl. His girl. His head turned slightly as he allowed his gaze to rest upon her, his strides slow, eased, as he remained at her side.

[twi]

A thought occurred to Seraph, jumping into her brain unexpectedly. Her eyes widened at the thought of the possibilities it held. She sucked in a breath of the crisp air, pausing in her reverie long enough to lean gently against her wind-break's white side. Her skin tingled where it had been brushed by his muzzle.
“The neutral lands.” The words were spoken as a half-whisper. Her premonition of war had begun a feeling of unrest until swelling to certainty. Perhaps it was part of being a Healer. War had begun. She knew it with all her heart. She would always be in danger, until it expended itself. But the neutral lands held a promise of safety, stability. Did she dare hope?
Her head swung around to face Tou’s, carefully rubbing against his much larger one.
“If we could get to the neutral lands, we would be safe there. I feel so much unrest around me, so much turmoil. I feel unsafe, Tou. But the neutral lands could be what were are searching for. Have you ever heard of them? Few have.”
She was surprised at the hope in her voice. Did she really want a home that badly? She wanted more than that, she knew. She wanted what a safe haven could offer to her and Tou. She looked at him, her eyes luminous in the low light of the storm. Her breathes came in little puffs of fog, expending themselves seconds later.

[/color]

[tou]

Her weight upon his barrel caused a strange warmth to crawl and pirouette across his hide, before his skin was overwhelmed by the chilled environment once again. He nearly jumped a little as her low words swiped across his eardrums, the baron having to direct his harks in her direction to catch the syllables. Her touch to his facade caused that heat to regenerate, the boy's tail flicking contently at his posterior. His thoughts returned once more back to what the petite gal had said, Tou's skull tilting to a single side. A sudden urge of protectiveness swarmed his innards as she spoke of such vulnerability. He unconsciously shifted closer to her, til his alabaster brushed against her own colors. What turmoil do you speak of? He inquired, tones hushed, a hint of fear - not for himself, but his new found love - notable in his vocals. And can't say I have. I know nil of these lands. He commented, the varge suddenly on high alert. His consistently scoured the terra firma with his orbs, though returned back to Seraph occasionally, sometimes remaining on her for a little longer than he so wished. Hm. Well, if they hold as much promise as it seems ... lead the way. He affirmed, offering up a tilted grin.

[twi]

Seraph shook her head wearily, feeling tired. The pain. Other souls cried out for solace from their own pain, both mental and physical. Sometimes the feeling sought to overwhelm her, as of late. How she wanted to heal them, to heal them all. She could not stand pain, it hurt her so. At the thought of another brutal, bloody war, tears began to form at the corners of her eyes. Not another one, please not another one. War felt like a living, breathing entity, sluggish and undecided in its thoughts, true, but malicious all the same. It sought to kill and destroy.
She looked sadly up at Tou. She had wanted to keep the fact that she was a Shaman a secret, just a little bit longer, but decided that she would not mind relinquishing it to Tou.
“Look Tou, there’s something I haven’t told you. I was planning on telling you, honest, but not yet. I…” her voice faltered and she looked at him sadly out of liquid eyes, fastened on his. “I’m a Shaman. I have great healing powers. I hurt every time another is hurt. That’s how I know.”
She realized that the desire to help was beginning to pervade her thoughts, overwhelming her consciousness until she could think of nothing else. But to help the wounded meant getting involved in the war. The very thought terrified her.

[/color]

[Abba]

*You will find a pendent of your choice stuck to a tree branch*

[tou]

His brow creased in the center as he tried to absorb everything she had just said. A shaman? Hocus-pocus and all? The stallion shifted a little, blinking slowly a time or two. He was rather flabbergasted, as he had never been a believer in anything of such other worldly mannerism. Why, if one could physically heal another, why not bring back the dead, or cause peace on earth? It was as if everything he had believed and had been taught was wrong. Though the little voice that whispered to him encouraged him to not believe her, that murmured cruel objections to the boy, he struggled to ignore it, to shove it aside and think on his own. No, she couldn't be lying. They wouldn't have come this far, just for her to make up some random nonsense. But on the other hand, it would be like him coming out and saying he was a goddamn unicorn. Tou's maw had parted slightly to allow the presence of words, despite the fact that they hadn't quite come to his jaws. He coughed awkwardly, barrel heaving as he did so, pressing his side against her own. Though a good portion of his senses refused to believe her, he'd support her either way. A Shaman? He said, skull tilting slightly. Well that's a new one. He said lightly, brushing his muzzle along her neck line. That sounds horrid, m'dear. he said with empathy, his brow now creased in concern for his girl. The tears notable in her eyes jerked at him, causing his own stomach to turn on itself, becoming nauseous. His velvet maw stroked her nape once more before he spoke. Well I'm here for you, Seraph. No matter what. He felt the need to support her strongly - it probably wasn't like she ran around telling every breathing thing she was a healing beast. Lips twitched up into a calm smile, his eyes simply radiating with his kindness.

[twi]

Seraph could see that he was struggling inside. Was he unsure of whether to believe her? She watched him fearfully, afraid that he might denounce her claim, say that she was lying. But no, he would never do that. He was not like that, at all. She felt the tears threatening to spill over. The horrible ‘what-if’’ lingered in the air. What if he did not believe her? She had not even considered the possibility when she had told him.
His words, when they did come, were compassionate and controlled, showing no sign of any disbelief. She breathed a sigh of relief. There. That was over.
She raised a delicate head to look at him silently. The silence in the air seemed almost tangible, to her, as her mind spun in a turmoil. She knew what she wanted, what she wanted desperately. The longing within her was almost unbearable. She felt like stamping a hoof in frustration. The choice lay before her and she hated it. Why should she have to chose? She stared hopefully at Tou, as though he could read her thoughts and help her decide. Not that it was her choice to make. She really did stamp a hoof, feeling frustrated and uneasy. She could not make the choice without his consent - indeed he was a key piece to the decision- but hated to ask. She did not want to ask. Ugh.
The feeling that she had to help, that she had to do something, was strong. How could she let all those souls die when she had the ability to help? Yet if she wanted a foal, she refused to get involved in the war. She would never put it at risk. She was seven years of age, past the time when many mares normally became mothers. She did not want to give her chance up for the sake of some stupid war and yet she knew that she could never choose both.
She sighed. Perhaps it would not matter either way, for she would not ask him for a foal. She could not. But she could ask him about fighting. Fighting and healing.
“I could make you invincible.” The words were spoken quietly, half under her breath. “Whatever wounds you sustained, I could just stand by your side and heal you. You could be untouchable. And I could heal them -the wounded- heal them all. We could bring the war to a faster close if I, we chose to help. We could be the turning point. I hate wars. I hate them. Yet so many will die and the knowledge breaks my heart. Even if you chose not to fight, I could still help.” The words were spoken in the rush, all in one breath. What had she just said? If Tou chose to abandon the idea of hiding out in the neutral lands for she knew there was no other name for it, and join the clash between forces, then all hope of a foal was gone. She hated the idea.

[tou]

His honars swiveled in her exact direction when her obvious frustration was observed via a single rise and fall of a dag. The Shire's dome lowered, cocking lightly to one side, as a single brow arched perfectly in question. But her words answered his questioning, as far as he was aware.The things she whispered into his ear, like a demon upon one's shoulder, were of immense power. Invincibility. The very power to reign over whatever, whomever one wished. To strength to overcome any obstacles, defeat any who got in the way. But with it, the loss of self control. The lack of will power to control one's lust for more and more power, the want to destroy, to decimate. He had realized that he had spaced a little, staring past her into the possibilities, the very things he could achieve if granted such a surreal power. His gaze refocused, settling upon her own as his caudal appendage flicked in thought. He could see himself easily abusing such a power. Sure, he was relatively level-headed. But how couldn't someone get out of control with it. He swallowed a little as he tried to recompose himself, thinking of how to respond. I ... I don't know m'dear. I'm simply a wanderer to these lands. I know nothing of its history, of the back story behind this war. Nor do I know which sides fight for what. To throw myself in the middle of it, to just jump on for a random side. He shook his head slightly, shifting his weight. And what if you get hurt? What if somehow you get far too injured to have the strength to heal yourself? He inquired, tones lowering as he spoke the next part. I don't want to lose you, Seraph. It'd be so horrifically early. He murmured, blue eyes gentle. His gaze dropped, for he could so easily see that she wished to help. And while he didn't want to stop her from doing what she truely wished to do, he couldn't bear to lose her, so soon after winning her heart. It would be torture, a cruel game life had played. He was torn, feeling as if were literally ripped in half, his skin crawling, mind buzzing dully.

[twi]

Seraph was a silent observer to Tou’s deliberation. He looked tormented by his thoughts and Seraph suddenly regretted saying her previously spoken words. Why had she thought it would be a good idea to give up so much all for the sake of some war?
His words, when they came, relieved her. She listened as he voiced his doubts, wondering why she had not thought of them herself. Always so impulsive. She nodded quietly once he was finished.
“I don’t think…or at least I’m pretty sure that I cannot heal myself with my powers. When I dented my head, I couldn’t seem to make the blood stop, as hard as I tried.”
She wondered why she had said that. Was she trying to shoot down her own idea? Probably.
The way Tou looked at her, Seraph knew how immensely she had disturbed him. She drew a shaky breath, overcome with guilt.
“Just forget it, forget I ever said that. You’re right. I don’t want to join a war,” she said, lowering her head.
So what did she want? She did not have any daring plans for the future, their future. But she wanted something, some purpose to chase in life.
“So what shall we do with our lives instead?” she asked quietly. No war. The prospect filled her with relief. There was no shame in hiding from the brutal clash, in the neutral lands, but what then? She lifted appealing eyes to Tou, hoping he would have the answer.

[tou]

He couldn't help but feel responsible. Responsible for being the one to separate Seraph from something she seemed to really wish to do. Even if that thing was perilous, she still seemed to yearn to do such, to be able to assist the wounded, to help those who couldn't help themselves. This tiny little monster of an emotion wormed its way throughout his muscled frame, crawling into every nook and cranny, ever crevice that composed the Shire. He couldn't be so selfish as to keep her from what she wanted, just for his own satisfaction. But as she spoke of her inability to apply such healing works to herself, it caused a small stab of pain in the boy's core. And so he had to choose. Pick to serve only himself, keeping her from doing what she was destined to do, fated to be. Or help her be happy. Allow her to do as she pleased, to not keep any chains upon her, as keeping her away from the war would be.

But the creature refused to pick her future for her. Refused to allow himself to do such a horrific deed. As the fae asked what he wished to do opposed to the war, the leviathan shifted. Blue sights lowered to her as he spoke. his tones held no calm emotions, no gentleness. His typical tunes were impossible to be found, completely absent from his dialogue, for if he allowed so much as an ounce of tender heartedness, he'd give in, be incapable of allowing himself to do this. Seraph. Do you want to join this war, or don't you. Please, pick for yourself what you wish to do with your future. While I may be with you in it, you must decide for yourself. Don't not do what you deeply yearn for, simply because my feeling will you not to. As he finished, he feared that perhaps he had been a tad too cruel, for his tones had risen here and there, but he had felt it necessary to be firm if he wished to knock some sense into her petite skull.

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If it's too difficult to read in that color now, cause of the new skin, let me know and I could change it.