Breakeven . [Shady] // Closed

[paddeh]

Here we go again,
I kinda wanna be more then friends…

Whiskey stumbled along through the forest, wincing slightly with each step as his ribs ached and chest pounded. He blew out his nostrils, his mind wandering to Ava. Sweet Ava. Wonderful Ava. Who was.. gone. Whiskey lowered his head to the ground, moving slowly along, it wasn't his fault Ramaskith has recruited him! He had fled though! He shook his head. He didn't want to think about it. He just wanted to get out of the south.

His ears perked up as a sweet scent filled his nostrils. It was fall…. but, it was mixed with a familiar scent. Could it be? No, she left. And he'd probably never see her again. Even if he did, she wouldn't want to see him….

He lifted his head, moving forward slowly towards the mare. He breathed deeply, closing his eyes and he pushed his way through the trees. The autumn air blew back his mane and forelock and he opened his eyes slowly. The wound on his chest had just stopped bleeding, and his knees quivered as his eyes say the brown and white figure standing there. Was it really her?

. 239 Words

Comments- YAY CUTENESS TEIM
Status- Finished
Muse- High
For- Shady // Ava

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[lady shady]

When you was just a young’n your looks were so precious
Now you’re grown up, so fly it's like a blessing
But you can't have a man look at you for five seconds
Without you being insecure

Ava paused at the edge of the pool. A single tear coursed the length of her dished face and slipped into the still water, sending ripples lazily away from the place where it had hit the surface. A cool breeze ruffled her forelock, and she lifted her head gratefully. Autumn. The summer had finally expired, and she would be one of the first to gladly see it off. It had been a long, lonely season for her. All around her was new life, mothers with foals, young horses slipping off together to create their own families, and she, in the middle of it all, had been alone. She’d missed Rhynn more than ever that summer, and though she could barely admit it to herself, her heartache had been tinged with something else…she missed Whiskey. She’d thought she’d loved him, and he’d betrayed her. Ava had done her best to push him from her mind, gone out of her way to avoid all other stags lest they remind her of him, but even after what he’d done, she’d found that she couldn’t entirely blame him. As much as she hated the war, perhaps it wasn’t all his fault. She remembered how excited Rhynn had been by the thought of fighting, how daring and brave the recruiters had made the whole gruesome affair sound…and the way she’d left…Ava flinched. She could not erase the sound of those heavy hoofbeats from her memory; the sound of flesh slamming into flesh behind her as she’d left. Whiskey could be dead now for al she knew, and she’d done nothing to help him. Her fear and anger had held her back then, but now she wished that she’d at least turned around and waited for the hoofbeats to recede. Guilt and worry had plagued her since that day, so much so that she had returned to the clearing multiple times, thinking to find him and help him if she could. Yet, though there was evidence of a struggle, she had never come across Whiskey again. She didn’t know whether to be grateful or fearful that she hadn’t found his body lying in the dirt. She snuffled softly and shook her head. It was too late now to let her mind rest on what couldn’t be.

Silently, she turned and walked away from the pool and back to the main riverbank. Wading in, she stifled a gasp as the cold water cascaded over her legs. Ava had just begun to pick her way across when a slight movement on the opposite side of the bank caught her eye. Her ears shot up and she paused, movement arrested in the middle of the river, much like a doe caught by surprise. Could it be? A horse stared at her from the opposite side of the bank, dark eyes questioning…Whiskey? Ava held her breath, afraid to move or speak, lest he evaporate suddenly into thin air. Was her mind playing tricks on her again? It was not uncommon, she had seen Rhynn this way a few times, though usually he appeared ghostly and phantomlike. Eyes wide, she waited for the creature to move.

--behind the post—
woot.

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[paddeh]

I can't decide if I'll let you save my life,
Or if I'll drown…

Whiskey couldn't move. It like his was glued to the ground. Her head dipped to the water gracefully, before lifting back up. Her head turned, turned to look… at him. Water dripped from her maw as they stared at each other. No, it's really her! His knees shook horribly, and his front legs gave way as he his knees hit the grassy ground. He wanted to speak, wanted to call out to her. His lips parted, but no sound came out. His ears were perked towards her.

A long silence stretched between them as they stared each other, his breathing short and rough. "A-Ava?" He stuttered, still not able to believe he had found her so quickly. But, was he imaging? He suddenly found himself leaping forward, his eyes sparkling in what he though could be possible. But her last words to him cut through him, repeating in his head. No. He slowed as he neared her, mere inches apart. All he could hear was his heartbeat pounding in his throat and their soft breathing. He stretched his neck, his maw touching hers softly. So, this was real. He wasn't imagining. He wanted to jump around in joy, but waited for her to say something.

. 270 Words

Comments- N'awww < 3
Status- Finished
Muse- High
For - Shady // Ava Bird<3

[lady shady]

Yellow diamonds in the light
Now we’re standing side by side
As your shadow crosses mine
What it takes to come alive

”Ava?” he asked, and suddenly he was beside her, so close she could feel his breath on her muzzle. Too afraid to reach out and touch, lest he really be a dream, she said nothing. But when he reached out and pressed his nose to her own, she could feel his warmth: solid good warmth of a living creature. He pulled away, presumably because she hadn’t done anything other than stare at him dumbly, and suddenly she found herself stumbling through the river into his side. Yes, he was really here. A little scratched up, albeit, but he was here for her. Burying her face in his mane, she felt the tears come again. They stood that way for a while, the only sound the rushing water, the wind in the trees, and her quiet sobs. ”I…I’m sorry, Whiskey,” she finally whispered. ”I never should have left…I’ve missed you. You…you don’t know how much I’ve missed you.”

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[paddeh]

She stumbled through the river to his side, stuffing her face in his mane. He wrapped is neck around hers, running his maw tenderly up and down her neck, surprised she wasn't screaming at him 'I… I'm sorry, Whiskey,' she whispered, 'I never should have left… I've missed you. You… you don't know how much I've missed you.'

Whiskey almost collapsed again. She… she had missed him? His heart skipped a beat, and he held her close. "Oh Ava, I've missed you so much. I thought it was the end for me after the last time we talked. I didn't want to live without you." Whiskey whispered, his eyes stinging. He blinked back the tears, shifting to look in her beautiful eyes. He touched his maw to hers, their breath mingling as he looked into her eyes. Oh how he had missed her… her voice, her smell, her eyes.

He remained silent, unmoving as the memories flooded back to him. He was so happy to see her, he didn't know what to say. He couldn't say enough to tell her how much he had missed her, how he was going to let Rama kill him, end the pain of not being able to be with her.

"Ava… I love you."

. 266 Words

Comments- N'AWWWWW <333
Status- Finished
Muse- High
For- Shady // Avabird<3

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[lady shady]

So I won’t hesitate, no more, no more
It cannot wait, I’m sure, there’s no need to complicate
Our time is short, this is our fate
I’m yours

His gladness surprised as much as it thrilled her. He’d missed her? Even after what she’d done? Even after how she’d run off? ”Whiskey,” she choked out, ”It…it isn’t your fault…about…about the war. But please…please don’t go back. I’ve already lost one to war; I couldn’t bear to lose you too…” She was pleading with him, huge brown eyes staring into his own as warm tears streamed down her face. ”Please, Whiskey, promise me you won’t go back!” Ava clung desperately to the hope that he would stay; she would keep him safe, they would run where the war and the demons of her past would never find them. She knew how to hide…

And then there he was again, telling her he loved her. Just like he had before she’d run. But this time, she didn’t hesitate.

”I…I love you too.”

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[paddeh]

'Whiskey, it…it isn’t your fault…about…about the war. But please…please don’t go back. I’ve already lost one to war; I couldn’t bear to lose you too…' Her soft brown eyes stared into his as tears ran down her face, and Whiskey's heart ached for her. 'Please, Whiskey, promise me you won’t go back!' She pleaded, and Whiskey stepped forward, wrapping his neck around hers and pulling her close. "Shhh… Ava. I promise, I won't ever leave you," Whiskey said softly, nuzzling her softly.

'I… I love you too.' His mind whirred as her voice reached his ears, those words, was he dreaming? He wanted to jump around in joy like a colt. He smiled as his eyes stung and his vision blurred. He couldn't be happier. He knew Ava was meant for him, and he couldn't bare to lose her- to let her out of his sight. The pain he had gone through…

Her scent so enticing, yet he thought she wasn't ready for it- they had just admitted their feelings for each other. He nuzzled her neck softly, listening to her soft breathing.

. 242 Words

Comments- Yey! -bounces in joy-
Status- Finished
Muse- High
For- Shady // Avabird<3

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[lady shady]

Heart beats fast, colors and promises
How to be brave? How can I love when I'm afraid to fall?
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow

When he promised never to leave, his voice so soothing, so tender…Ava’s heart began to slow, assured by the vow. She sniffed, sobs quieting, before nestling into his side. He would stay; he would live—this time she’d save the one she loved from the horrible bloody business of war. Whiskey would not leave her. It was enough.

They stood there for a while, she pressed against his strong side, he curled protectively around her while the river played with their fetlocks and numbed their legs. Ava sighed quietly, wondering how different things would have been if she hadn’t lost Rhyn. She surely wouldn’t have been here now, and the moment of realization was bittersweet. She had needed to lose Rhyn to find Whiskey; it wasn’t fair, but she’d had to lose one for the other. She and Rhyn had needed only each other—or had only she needed him? It dawned upon her that even had he not been lured away by the adventures promised by war, he would have had to leave the herd eventually. She couldn’t have gone with him. But at least she would have had the comfort of knowing that he was alive…

She continued in this train of thought, pensive. Had she stayed in the herd, surely she would have had a few little ones scampering by her side by this point. And as much as she still loved and grieved for her firstborn, a part of her ached for motherhood again. She would never be able to replace Rhyn, but was it time to move on, to start anew?

”Whiskey?” Ava whispered, voice barely audible above the rush of the river, ”now that…now that we’re staying together, would you say…would you say that we’re…mates?” Her heart skipped a little, worried that he’d think she was taking their relationship too far too fast, but they loved each other. He’d said that he would stay with her, hadn’t he? His soft assent almost brought tears to her eyes again. ”Whiskey?” she ventured hesitantly once more, ”do you…do you want a family?” A short silence stretched between them, and she grew anxious; perhaps a young stag like him didn’t want to settle down so quickly. ”Of course if you don’t…” she rushed to add, heart breaking the tiniest bit at the possibility that he’d say no. Ava couldn’t bring herself to finish, though, still hopeful. She knew now that she wanted another little one, needed another little one to fully heal. Shifting her weight slightly, she moved up a little to look at him, telling him with her eyes that she wouldn’t run off again, that she wanted this family. She wanted this foal more than she’d wanted anything in a long time.

--behind the post—
So, I decided that I might actually have her miscarry through an unfortunate accident…
But anyways. Powerplayed Whiskey a bit to move things along, so now go for it. And remember that Shady and proboards are rated PG.

[paddeh]

Whiskey and Ava stood there for awhile, the swooshing river speaking for them. His fetlocks numb from the cold, yet he would withstand anything for Ava. 'Whiskey? Now that… now that we're staying together, would you say… would you say that we're… mates?' Whiskey ran her words over in his mind, his heart seemed to stop as his mind went into overdrive. He really hoped it did, he was so happy he could not even speak. "Ava… of course, I can't imagine a life without you!" Whiskey said softly, playing with her forelock and smiling.

'Whiskey? Do you… do you want a family?' Whiskey's knees buckled. She… she wanted a family? He was so shocked he couldn't move, she didn't think she was ready, especially since she had lost her foal before. 'Of course if you don't…' Ava added, her voice rushed as she turned to look at him. Whiskey jumped and turned to look at her, "No! Of course I want a family, Ava! I was just so happy I didn't know what to say." Whiskey said, touching his maw to hers.

Whiskey waited, standing there with her a little longer, were they ready for this? Ready for a life, a family together? Whiskey felt confident they were, and he took in her scent, brushing her pelt as he moved to her hindquarters.

Whiskey dismounted, his eyes sparkling in happiness as his front hooves splashed back into the water and he moved up next to her, nuzzling her neck softly. "Ava, I don't know how I would live without you," Whiskey whispered in her audits, smiling.

. 334 Words

Comments- Please no miscarry, we agreed that it just 'didn't work'
Status- Finished
Muse- High
For- Shady // Avabird<3

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[lady shady]

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

When he said yes, when he said that that was what he wanted, she felt her heart nearly burst. A new life for them—a new life for her—he was willing to give it to her. Ava felt him draw away from her, but only briefly, and when he came close again…this time she did not run.


”Ava, I don’t know how I’d live without you,” he whispered when it was over, warm muzzle gentle on her neck. She laughed softly, equally delighted with him. ”You’d spend a lot less time chasing after a flighty mare, I’m sure.” Ava looked up at him, smiling. ”I’m glad you did, though.” Raising her own muzzle to his, she gave him a slight nudge. It was amazing, how complete she felt with him. For once, tears were far away.

The sky seemed to agree with her as the autumn sun peeped brightly through the passing clouds, sending golden warmth onto her bank. The wind picked up, chasing the white puffy clouds through the sky, turning them into pale streaks as they ran from their playful tormentor. Feeling playful herself, Ava struck out with a front hoof, splashing water onto Whiskey’s dark coat. The water shattered into a thousand crystal drops against his side, and she giggled.

”You’re going to have to catch me again if you want payback for that, I’m afraid!” she called gleefully over her shoulder as she pranced away. She splashed away from him to where he could not reach her, into the deeper water towards the middle of the stream. ”Catch me, that is, if you ca—“ A single misstep, one faulty foot, and she was in the water.

Briefly, she struggled to rise, but the current here was stronger than she’d thought. Instantly, she was being swept downstream, the frigid water swirling around her coat. ”Whiskey!” she choked. ”Whiskey!”

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