&& follow me down [servin]

[aPPY]

The sounds of hooves against rock are sharp and loud, the vibrations from the step before running forward and blending into the next. It is quiet, on this summer day. The sun sits high in the sky, beating down on the inhabitants of the land, especially this one, where there is little to offer in a form of shade or comfortable resting place. It wasn't a big deal though, the palomino mare easily gliding across the not so easy-to-glide surface. There was a hint of a breeze in the air, the smell of sand and dirt flying around even though there were no such thing here. Rock, and more rock, as far as the eye could see. On the horizon, just a bit further, she knew was the East. She paused, the breeze picking up for a moment and pulling at her mane and tail, trying to rustle a winter coat that was no longer there. She breathed deeply, closing her eyes and tilting her head to the sky, to the sun, and feeling the sun against her pelt as the rays warmed her. She smiled softly, feeling as if the sunlight was part of her, lightening her already golden body and twisting the hues to create the bright golden that shone from the sky each day. It was true, that her pelt bleached out each summer, darkening in the winter but remaining just a shade lighter each year. She sighed, pulling her head down and shaking it, arching her neck and feeling the vertebrae pull and shift, popping before she relaxed again, turning and walking forward as before. She turned to the West, the direction the sun would go as it set. She picked up a slow canter, cautious of the slippery ground she traveled across, though drowning in the feel of the air passing over her skin; pushing against her form. She loved how movement was an effort, a way you fight with the air around you. The fast you went, the harder you fought, until you reached the moment that you came to an understanding, and moved forward with little resistance. She breathed deeply once again, the air skimming over her like a rock skips across water; fighting the gentle barrier between the two until it breaks.

She closed her eyes, carefully testing herself and pushing faster. The sounds of hooves against rock loud in her ears until they were only skimming the top of the ground, and the sound of her breathing overpowered her footfalls. She ran to savor the freedom. How much longer would she have it? She ran from the East, from everything she had ever known, and hated, and just kept running. She ran because running was a feeling unexplainable. Because, running made her feel as if she could fly, and never be tethered to the Earth, though she still was. It made her feel as if she were a bird, for a fleeting moment. She believed she was free, and she believed that life could always be this way. And that this freedom could never be taken away. She began to slow though, her gallop shifting down into a slow canter, and then a trot, and finally a halt. This freedom was not permenant. This freedon could be taken away, and would as soon as Ramaskith rose to power. Power over them all. She closed her eyes, striking the ground as if it were him. As if she could possibly change what must lay in the future. There was very little she could do, she knew, but she desperately wanted to be free. To remain in this state that she was in. Not belong to anyone or own anyone anything. Not be under someone's command. Free. She wasn't sure how much longer this freedom would last, but she wasn't too optimistic. She jumped forward, hooves impossibly finding their footing across the rock and propelling her forward. Eyes closed, she continued to run. She ran until she was one with the air, and the wind, soaring across the ground as if she were not touching it. As if she was a bird, no barrier between her and the open sky.

She smiled to herself, her eyelids red with the rays of sun shining through. Was it setting already? Perhaps she had been running much longer than she thought. She peeked through her lids, slowly opening into the shining light; reds and pinks and yellows extending across the sky with the descension of the sun. She inhaled deeply, her chest swelling as she ran, exhaling shortly after as she shook her head; mane shifting and whipping back against her neck. Her eyes somewhat adjusted to the light of the setting sun, revealing the land around her. It was much the same as before, almost as if she had been running in place, though she noticed that the ground was cracking under her feet, adding to the many cracks already present around her. She began to slow, far too focused on her feet and the ground beneath her to see what lay ahead. She glanced up, seeing the ground level off before a drop. He locked her legs, intending to come to a stop, though her foot hit a depression in the ground and sent her tumbling forward. Her golden form slid across the rock, a squeak of pain fighting its way past her lips. She stopped, lifting her head carefully to look at where she lay; just next to the drop a few inches away. She breathed a sigh a relief, carefully twisting to move away, though the movement resulted in a cracking sound and she froze. The ground she lay on started to crack again, spiderweb fissures appearing in the slate and breaking away before crumbling beneath her. She nickered in fear and desperation as the section she lay on twisted to the side and sent her down the side of the cliff and onto a small ledge, where she almost fell off again. Her pace quickened as she forced herself to stand, the leg that had struck the rock before almost giving out underneath her. She stood though, looking in the direction she had fallen, seeing more dirt and rocks continue to slide down, cascading off the edge. She sighed, silently cursing herself for not paying more attention to her surroundings. She knew the ground became less stable, it wasn't as if she had never been over here. Why hadn't she realized where she was? She sighed, moving to place a hoof against the side of the cliff. It was very steep, but not unclimbable. Though, the dirt shifted again, and she knew that she would be sent over the edge of this ledge if she attempted to go up it. She shook her head helplessly, turning and slowly laying back down. Her leg started to throb, and she knew she had to have done something hitting the rock like she did. She sighed again, laying her head on the ground, mind racing as she tried to think of a way out of this mess.

// 1191 words
ah anni. what have you done to yourself?

[/justify][/size]

[Snowflake Smoky]

Eyes shot open, as the sun went down. He was almost done surveying this portion of, what so far, was very unfortunately an island. The friggin hurricane had spun him far far away from the home he'd once known, and frankly everything that interested him. There was absolutely no life so far, and nothing he could snap at for his bad luck. There was only one upside to this desolate, depressing story. For once, he didn't have that feeling he was being spied on. He'd been running here and there all day, ever since washing up on that dratted beach. He certainly wasn't home, and he wasn't feeling as strong as he normally did. He would recover though, as the powerful being that he was. He would have to begin his regal pursuits all over again if it turned out that he was trapped here though, and he really wasn't interested in that. He bore these markings with pride, proof of his trials and his right to the throne. Not that it would be that hard to state a claim, considering how empty it was. As best he could judge, he'd come to the middle of it though. An island that took two day's run to breadth. That wouldn't be half bad to rule, really. Especially with an isolated population, he could rule very easily. How to set about doing that though... He'd need a following first, something that hadn't been necessary by the virtue of battle in his home. Everyone has to leave home sometime though, and perhaps it had just been his time. He could found a new herd here, collect those who bore markings to make him proud. He could make this place as regal as it probably claimed to be. Claims to grandeur were nothing new.

He was approaching the edge of a long cliff, wondering what lay over the edge. It would be beyond nice if it looked down into a grass filled valley, with a collection of mares just waiting to be claimed by a glorious war general who would protect them from the mean stud who kept trying to win their attention. Right. As if he'd ever want anything he didn't work and deserve to attain. When he took a second to glance over the edge, something did catch his eye. In the fading light, a golden body lay trapped on a ledge, pinned on its side as if it had fallen. Actually, considering the depressed state of part of the cliff just above it, it seemed as if she had fallen. Despite a good sense of self preservation, he couldn't just leave someone there. It was cruel, especially considering this was the first life he'd come across in this new terrain. You, he told himself, are a royal, pig-headed idiot, who obviously has no desire to live. Emphasis on the royal of course, but especially the idiot... Idiot. He stepped forward, leaned back on his haunches, and slid down to the ledge.

It was a speedy and unpleasant adventure, but he survived. He sprayed the mare at the bottom, for she was of the female affliction, with dirt. Not that he wasn't absolutely coated himself after that run, beautiful bay coat soiled by a tan dust that he didn't think was going to be making its way off his coat anytime soon. He shook himself anyway in the attempt, having more success than he'd bargained on. "Sorry about that. May I help you up miss?" It was only manners, schooled into him by tradition and good breeding. If only she should comply with the polite manner of being, he might actually begin to be impressed by this place.


wc: 617

[/background]

[aPPY]

How stupid was she to have not payed attention? Falling off the side of a cliff? It was absurd. People would probably think she did it on purpose or something, though she most certainly didn't. The sunlight began to fade and she heaved a sigh, the warmth the rays offered disappearing and leaving behind to cool, night time air. She rolled onto her side, stretching out her legs carefully. The one pulled just a little, but otherwise gave no pain. She sighed in relief this time, hopefully by morning she would be able to climb off of this ledge and back to the real world. She turned back around, intending to force herself to get some sort of rest so that she could worry about her predicament in the morning, though foot falls sounded from above. She twisted again, looking up to the edge of the cliff but seeing nothing. She turned away again, brushing off the noise and trying to somehow sleep. Though, the foot falls were there again, and this time accompanied with the sound of shifting dirt. She jumped, turning to see a dark figure, in what remained of the disappearing rays of sun, sliding down the edge of the cliff and towards her. She quickly scrambled to her feet, only to be sprayed with dirt as the creature arrived on the ledge. She coughed, the dust flying into the air around her and she shook her head before looking to see who exactly had stupidly come down here. He, for it was a he, shook himself in a feeble attempt to rid his coat with the dirt that was already stuck to her own. Why had he come down here? She suddenly felt very helpless here, stuck on this ledge. Though, with the recognition of that feeling, her mind pushed her into a protective state.

"Sorry about that. May I help you up miss?"

The question seemed genuine, but she glared at him for a few moments. Why should he be worried about her, and getting back up to the top of the cliff? Did he think her incapable of it? She could tell from his muscled build that he was active, and probably in battle, as were most. She had been lucky so far, the few stallions she had come across being the exception to most that she had known in the past, though, it seemed her luck had run out. And now she had no where to run. "Your help?" She asked, her eyes narrowing as she looked at him. He was dark in color, and even in the moonlight she could see that his eyes were an unnatural shade of green. As were the markings that ran along his pelt. They were strange, and they shimmered when he moved, not some solid color. It made her uneasy, he was not natural. A new feeling of dread overcame her. Who was this creature? What was he? His words and tone used to speak implied that he might be some sort of gentleman; referring to her as 'miss' and asking to help, though she immediately did not trust him. "I think I am perfectly capable of helping myself," she said, glancing at the cliff for a short moment and quickly returning her attention to the stag in front of her. The unknown that stood rooted in him was throwing her off. How was she to know what he was capable of? And with her leg, which had begun to throb once again, her confidence was slowly dwindling. What if he decided that she was being rude, and attack her? She suddenly regretted being so rash. She was quite sure he would have the upper hand, not only because he seemed to be a fighter of sorts, but because of the difference in height as well. It would be a fight she would surely loose.

And what if he decided to take advantage of her? Like so many others would. Was that his plan all along? This train of thought actually spiked some fear in her, though she tried to hide it. What would happen if he knew she was afraid? Though, the surfacing of fear made her just a little bit angry, at herself and at him. Why was she allowing herself to be so weak? She was better than this. It was just a stag, she could handle the situation. And him! For coming down here like this and acting as if his services were needed, or even wanted. She didn't even know him. But that just made her more fearful. She returned to the questions of who he was; what he was. She almost moved a stride backward, but froze before she could move a centimeter. That would be exactly what he wanted; for her to be so afraid that she would begin to try to run. Even though there was no where to go. She couldn't help it, she glanced up at the cliff's edge again, wishing that she was up there, where she could run. Where she would have a better chance if it came down to exchanging blows. She looked back at the green-marked creature in front of her. She tried to sound solid and sure, but she was afraid that it wouldn't come out that way. "I don't need anyone's help."

// 891 words
geeze. anni. jumping to conclusions, are we?
gosh she kind of went the opposite way i had planned. haha.

i imagine him laughing at her. which will only infuriate her further.
but i have to admit, it is rather funny.

[/justify][/size]

[Snowflake Smoky]

There are too few phrases in the English language for the term 'taken aback' and yet there are far too many to describe humor. Yet the concepts of humor and humility are far too little linked, and the idea of being taken aback at someone with a lack of both certainly doesn't have a single word to sum it up. Still, that was exactly how the princely equine that was, in a single beautiful unexplainable word, Servin was feeling. Shouldn't an unmarked mare approach him with a sense of gratitude? Certainly even mares fought to gain their unique signatures. Then again, perhaps the poor thing simply wasn't capable of producing the beautiful, otherworldly skin stamps. Really, he ought to be laughing, for what was an equine without their unique markings? How could a herd boast power and prowess unless it had at least one equine of every shade of the rainbow? He couldn't fathom a culture where fighting wasn't the norm and Temoks weren't the superior breed. Maybe he was elitist, maybe he was ignorant, but he was far from prepared for the world into which he had tumbled.

The more agitated the lady got the more the corners of Servin's lips twitched. Eventually, as she huffily got to the end of her clipped speech about not needing assistance, he broke out into good-natured and jovial laughter, a sound he hadn't heard emerge from his own maw since he was just a colt. "Where I'm from Madam the proper response to that would be 'Yes please' or 'No thank you, I don't need assistance at the moment.' Regardless, it is painfully obvious that you're both ridiculously scared of me, and in not perhaps dire need of assistance, but certainly a hand to help you regain your footing. Firstly, while my markings don't denote honesty, they should indicate some status presence to you. Though maybe in this land they don't judge based on number of markings. Secondly, whether I'm marked or not, I'm as solidly equine as you are, and perfectly safe to rely upon for help, unless" he flashed her a wicked smile. He'd won hearts before of course, but he was much more amused with her protests than he would be if she fell easily. He never took anything less than a challenge upon his shoulders. "you judge me to be something else. In which case, I'd be happy to slip on a mask and play the part. So stop over thinking and let me help you hobble your golden shiny self back up to the top of the cliff before something tries to eat us. Then you can go run away or assault me, or whatever it is that unmarked women do to convey gratitude."

The break from manners was a way to bait himself into keeping his patience really. She hadn't been horribly polite to him, so he could concede the ethics and etiquette battle for now and shrug of the mantle of the gentleman caller. He'd much rather be a wicked demon of a stallion sometimes, though he could be reasonably patient at the moment. He could never explain his mood swings to his parents, for as long as they had been a part of his life. They were as much a part of his royal frame as his strong hocks or his aging muzzle were. He simply wouldn't live without his disposition, as it made him as regal as he was. The world would simply have to deal with it. "In addition to that, you may call me Servin. I would hope that even in this land proper practice for speaking with foreign dignitaries is to address them by their whole name. I would ask you to remember the 'king' at the beginning of that, but I don't think that might be the one battle I'll ever lose." He said it with a sense of humor and a glint of pleasure in his eye, but he knew she'd probably react as violently and finely as she had before. He certainly couldn't be the first one to have learned that beauty is sometimes explosive. It was always the mystery of seeing which direction the blast would go that kept them there. It was the twine suspending from the sky, holding him to his spot to see what happened now. It was the dainty hand of his gods, watching him again, stalking their favorite noble in his new home. It was a drive, a reason, a beautiful thing. If only he knew it's name...

[/size]

[aPPY]

Anni's eyes narrowed as the arrogant creature replied to her own response to his question. Corrected her on how to properly say things! His head was so large she could quite possibly be able to see it from miles and miles away! And there he went again, commenting on his markings. Honesty? Status? The only other equine she knew that had markings similar to his were placed across the body of a murderer, the one responsible for all of this. The stag standing in front of here was surely insane to think that she would trust someone with a similarity to the beast that was fighting to take over her world. The way he said 'safe' made her tremble. She was not safe, and she knew it. That smile he threw at her made her eyes narrow more, her ears swivel even further back against her skull and anger seep to the top. She knew he was bad news, and here he was just proving her thoughts correct. How foolish was she to go running about like she had, and end up here? So horribly foolish. A mask? She almost laughed. It was no mask. Every stallion was like he was suggesting. Every single one. She had thought that perhaps she could trust a few of them, here and there, she had come across a few good ones, it had seemed. Though, it appeared they were the slim exception, not any where close to the norm. And here she was, stuck in close proximity to the norm, and she had no way to escape. Golden, shiny self? What the hell kind of person did he think he was. "Gratitude?," she spat at him, "I do not believe I owe you any gratitude, or trust for that matter. Those blasted markings," she said the word with so much disgust, throwing it at him like a tangible thing, "Show no sense of honesty in thie world." She narrowed her eyes at him, confidence growing as her anger rose to the surface. "The only thing they symbolize is death and murder, because the only other that wears them is the cause for everything that is bad in the world. So forgive me if I seem a bit unwilling to accept your aid." She hissed the last sentence, wishing she could just lunge forward and attack him, she she couldn't. She knew that. He was much taller that her, also a much more expirenced fighter, if not from his words than from the definition in his body. And then there was the issue of her injured leg, which chose that moment to remind her that it was there. She closed her eyes and let out a quick snort of air, rocking back and shifting weight off of the limb. She opened her eyes, staring at the stag as he stood in the same spot as before. Unfortunately, he was the only living creature around here, as far as she knew. No matter how much every atom in her body screamed to just let him go, that she'd be fine; she knew she had to let him help her. SHe wouldn't be able to get up the cliff side. She clenched her teeth, staring at the ground. What was she supposed to do?

He broke the silence again, telling her his name. Foreign dignitaries? Who was this insane creature? She froze at the word 'King.' He said it simply, conversationally, but it made her sick. Someone else thinking that he could take over? Ramaskith had given himself the title of 'Lord,' and now another crazy equione had given himself the title of 'King.' She didn't know which sounded worse. She took another step back, eye locked on the stag. "So that's why you're here," she said, rying him carefully. "You thought that because we are in such a state of unrest that perhaps you could just jump in take over Forma Silvestris yourself, huh?" She shook her head, several times. It made sense now, the marked ones. They foreboded evil and death. Of course he would be yet another mad man come to take over her home. "A self-titled king has no place here. The Lord has more than enough threat as it is. You've already lost the game. You won't cause anything other than destruction." Her eyes rose to meet the stag's. Who did he think he was, other than some random king, to come here and not only join the fighting, but start a new side to this war? Was that all there was in this life, in her home, was constant fighting for the territories? Why?

// 786 words
trololol. Anni thinks Servin is either going to join Ramaskith and they be all marked-buddy-buddy.
or he's going to start his own side of the war and throw FS into even more chaos.
she doesn't like him.

[/justify][/size]