||=Bluebird

[Black Thorns]

Here, they whispered, little mice chattering in his ears whispermurmur canyouhearme heisherenow, now! Sobrius peered into the sweltering heat of the night, desperately searching for God and his angels to descend upon him, a demon, the Devil's minion mindlessly doing his bidding. Oh and how he would burn! He knew it, they knew it, they sent it in little whisperchattermurmurs to him, he will die and it will hurt and he will be screaming and they will laugh and he will be red. So red. So so so red. A slow, deadly smile sneaked up his lips. The puppet had cut his puppet strings, but he could never lose his puppeteers. He turned, suddenly, his little fingerpuppets waiting for his command. Pleasure rolled off of him at this thought- oh to be a puppet master! To control them! To be the one whisperwhispering in their ears and painting them pretty colours- and what pretty colours they would be painted! What beauty!

It was then that he saw them crest the hill. Simply dots on the horizon...

Dark, Ramaskith smoke, evil smoke, vapors of death and horror and love and children poured from his mouth. "I look to you, my warriors, those who choose to follow our Lord's command, and my own, to carry out a sacred duty. We are the chosen, the righteous, and those who oppose us shall ultimately suffer! The summer breeze kisses our cheek- a cheek that we do not turn! We will fight to the death, bloody and horrible, and we will emerge victorious! We may be mere puppets, but our puppet strings tie us to the Promised Land!"

You lie, little one, such lies... liar liar, liar! Liar! LIAR! LIARLIARLIARLIAR-

Sobrius ground his teeth together, squeezing the voices away, forcing them out, out, goawayplease. "Now follow me, if you are not the cowards Ramaskith will never tolerate!"

His hooves pounded against the group, legions spreading behind him- wings, they were wings, devilish wings to drive him deeper into hell, send him further into the inferno and hear the cry of their souls as they all burned with him, dying, dying, screaming and crying and pain, so much pain. And he would laugh. Their own damned fault. The angel wings flared out in return, spreading behind his opponent. His. Noone else would touch him! Sobrius wanted to drive his hooves deep into him, feel the flesh peel, blones splinter, his legs turning deep red, before he in turn recieved the same- and then God would strike him down for opposing him, and he would be cast down. And he would burn. Burn, burn! BURN!


"And it is through the light of the summer dawn that we meet, both to be cast to heaven and to hell for our deeds! I, the sinner, you- you, the saint!" Sobrius barked, "And so it shall be- and who is to strike first, my friend?"

Sobrius let loose a powerful kick to the stag's chest.

"Then again, I was never one for taking turns!"

[lady shady]

Johnny, get your gun, get your gun, get your gun,
Take it on the run, on the run, on the run.
Hear them calling, you and me, every son of liberty.

Laoch stood at the top of the ridge and paused. In the darkness of the early summer morning, his breath came out in ghostly puffs, surrounding his face. He looked back, past the troops he had with him, past the faces of stags deathly afraid and the expressions of those eager to fight. No, it was Repla he sought, Repla the roan mare, heavy with child. His child.

They were to advance on the western border today, as Oser had commanded him before he sent him here. The troops were ready. Just past this valley lay the border. If they could take it…

Suddenly, the general’s ears pricked as he heard the deathly tramp of hooves. What? This was supposed to be a surprise attack! How had Ramaskith…?!
But it was too late for questions, and it was to late to go back. Before him, the horses were streaking towards them, faces set. At their head galloped their leader, screaming, the words ripped from his mouth as the air flew past him. Laoch reared, running to meet him. ”For the Western Kingdom, boys! For freedom!” Battle cries echoed around him, and the two groups were suddenly one mass of angry bodies. He felt a kick square to his chest and he met the insane eyes of their pale leader. The fighting had begun.

Whirling, he struck out with both back hooves, landing a solid hit to the stag’s ribs. The thud and sickening crunch of bone and bodies filled his ears, and he sucked in a breath, trying to block out all of the noise. Focus, Laoch. This is for your family.

--behind the post--
uhm, I forgot what injuries you wanted for Sobrius

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[Abba]

That is really all we are
simply singing for the girl
that makes us try so very hard...

Repla had been following the poor, scared stags for a few days to get down to this border. Rasta had told her to stay with Laoch - that of which she had thanked the mare profusely for - in order to be the healer for these boys. She had managed to calm a few of their souls by reminding them of a home - of someone they loved. Her being pregnant also added onto the situation and caused them to be able to focus on something else. But, as the stag came out and attacked Lao she flinched. "Lao!" she choked out. Though, it wasn't long before she pulled back the pain of contractions slowly beginning to slide through her body. It was time for the foal. In the middle of the battle. Collapsing to the ground under a tree a few feet away from the bloody massacre she pleaded "Lao, please don't pay attention to me. You can't die..." her voice hoarse and choking on her breaths as she began to push...

[/blockquote]

==into the mind
.174 words
.Poor Repla - DADDIE'S LITTLE GIRL IS COMINGGG[/size]

[Black Thorns]

Sobrius recoiled from the attack, wincing as he felt his ribs give under the angel's hooves. God-sent, he was, to banish demons from the earth. Hades would not be pleased. Summer heat drew sweat form his skin, stinging hot fire in his wounds as he whirled around, kicking out and missing the stallion. This was war- warriors died, he would die, and best it be under this one's hands. If he let go now it would be quick, and this... Lao, would not prolong his suffering. Nice ones did not hurt him more. The puppet masters would not be pleased. They liked agony, scream, cry for them and they will love you, dance and they will laugh, prance about as if you know something anything nothing. Nothing at all. His teeth were daggers, digging into his opponent's flesh and tearing into it, bloody, dirty, badbadbad. He wanted to be hurt the same way. He wanted it worse. Deliver the blow, Lao!

"Kill me!" he cried, eyes desperate as they screamed no in his head, pleading, "Make it end here, Lao! Make it stop! I don't want it anymore, do you see? Make it quick, make it fast, make it hurt and you will be good, don't you see? Just do it!"

[lady shady]

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Screams. Fear. Blood. There was so much blood…
Laoch grunted, biting back a moan of pain as he felt the other stag rake his teeth across his flesh, peeling back the hide and drawing forth a fresh stream of blood. How long had they been locked together in combat? Hours? Days? Mere minutes? He had lost all sense of time…

The sudden shrill shriek of his opponent tore through him, begging for death, begging for mercy. The request startled Lao as much as it frightened him—such submission threw him off guard? Was this a trick? And if it wasn’t…

The stag’s eyes were rolling, rolling back into his head as if he were trying to glare at his own thoughts flying through his brain. Should he—no, could he? Was this fair combat? No, he was a warrior. This was Ramaskith’s man. Kill him. Win the battle. Let it be finished. With grim resolve, he took the opportunity. He knew the place, knew how to do it quickly…and as much as he hated the knowledge, he knew that it was what he must do—

A sudden movement caught the corner of his eye as a messenger dashed by, crying before he rushed off again, ”She’s foaling, Commander! It’s time!”. His breath caught in his throat, his action arrested mid blow. The moment of hesitation had cost him though. Suddenly seeming to have changed his mind, the stag threw himself at Lao. He felt his weak leg give way, and he bellowed in pain. Adrenaline lent him the energy he needed. Eyes swimming, he heaved himself at the other, mouth gaping. A swift tightening on the jugular, the horrible sweet rush of blood in his mouth, a quick kick to the head to be sure…the stag had to be dead. Or as good as dead.

Now limping painfully, Lao dragged himself through the field of bodies dead and dying. It was impossible to say who had been winning, but they had all lost to death, who surely must be laughing. However, without their commander, the eastern army was quickly retreating. ”Retreat!” he cried hoarsely to his own remaining troops, ”It is finished!” He nodded to the messenger, darting in and out, charging him to spread the order.

And Repla…he must reach Repla. Stumbling along, he never knew how he did manage to find her but suddenly there she was, there they were together. Her flanks were heaving and he reached down to stroke her neck, muzzle still warm and red with the enemy’s blood. ”I’m here, Repla. I’m here…”

—behind the post—
ohmygosh, babyyyyyyy foalllllll!!!!

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[Abba]

Flowers fade
the fruits of summer fade, they have their seasons
so do we, but please promise me that sometimes
you will think of me

Repla continued to heave in and out, her breathing beyond labored as the pain seared through her body. She snapped out at the air, her ears pinned tightly against her skull and her eyes squeezed shut. She couldn't deal with this pain. She snapped out once more, this time digging her teeth down tightly into the bark of the tree she was beside as she muffled a scream. It wasn't long before she felt his muzzle against her neck, the blood smearing against her red coat and then his voice. He was here. She opened her eyes for a few seconds before she pushed again. "Lao - It hurts!" she choked out, her body trembling from the pain - a layer of sweat building up on her coat which was slowly beginning to shed from it's winter state. Soon, the baby's legs had emerged from her body, and then the head. She screamed out in pain and with one last push to finally get the baby out and then her head collapsed to the ground - her body completely drenched in her own sweat thanks to the summer heat. Her eyes still closed. The baby letting out a tiny whimper as it blinked - looking around at it's surroundings, luckily blocked from most of the sights of the battlefield before it's eyes landed on Lao. It cocked its tiny head at him, attempting to stand and falling again as Repla lay still minus the twitching muscles and back from the left over pain. At the moment, she didn't have the energy to attempt to clean her at the moment...

[/blockquote]

==into the mind
.267 words
.baby is here[/size]

[Black Thorns]

He smiled.

Oh, how fast it should be, how swift and supposedly painless! No, Laoch could not, would not, hushush do not tell of this sin. No, Lao would keep it quiet. Sobrius wanted this. He needed this. He needed the little itty bitty ones to chew away at him, eat him through and through and he should not be found. Yes, he craved that feeling, even after he was dead and gone and he would not feel it. Then he should be alone, shouldn't he, and they would not bother him and it would be quiet, so quiet, silent even. The puppet would snip his strings and fall into the spear. His puppeteers, though, should they disappear? Do they flee to another? He did not know, should not know, and did not care, should not care.

The blow came quickly. It as hard, hard enough that yes, it would kill him, but not hard enough to cause the death to be as swift as Lao surely was planning. "You- have sinned-" he gasped out, "sinned- far more than- the sinner-in all of us." His breath came in short, heavy bursts, a shining sword cutting through lava rivers of despair. "You- have murdered- an innocent man. And I will wait- for- you in- Hell... Devil by- my side."

Liquid fire spread through his veins, singing him, forcing him to his knees. He saw it about him, then, the dark redness. It stained him. Stained him so. Oh, how his puppet master should love him... stained red, blood-colour, force him down into Hades and his Persephone should soon follow. He longed for love, yes, the warm carress of another. Through the hot wetness of his own liquid he would find suh... Firt pink, red, brown and then he would be gone... Darkness blotted his vision, Hell already appearing before him. Oh... But wasn't that mother, there? His first victim? Father and sisters... And the holy innocents. and the damned ones. And him. He was always there.

Forgive me father for I have sinned

"Forgive... me..."

Fear clenched in his stomach as he felt them slipping away. Utter terror gripped him. No! No! They were leaving him... he was dying! He was almost dead, gone, and there would be nothing! There was no salvation, nor was there punishment for those like him and he had wasted what he had!

"No..." he moaned, "No I... No..."

His vision swam.

Darkness filled him.

He was gone.

The puppet had ceased its dance.

The lunatic had ceased his ravings.

[lady shady]

Isn't she lovely? Isn't she wonderful?
Isn't she precious, less than one minute old
I never thought through love we'd be making one as lovely as she
But isn't she lovely made from love

Lao stood at her side helplessly, massaging her neck and doing what he could to make her comfortable. How was it that he’d just come from fighting in battle with a mind as cool as could be, yet when their foal was being born, it threw him into a near breakdown? Repla strained, breathing labored, and he sucked in a deep breath of his own, as if that would be able to help her. He didn’t know what to do! Little by little, he noticed the baby’s legs emerging—two perfect little hooves wrapped in gossamer. His breath caught in his throat, and he waited mutely as Repla heaved again—a tiny dark muzzle—and again—the head, its beautiful head! With a final effort, the head cleared her body and the rest of the foal slipped out into the world. For a moment, all was still, and then from inside the gossamer sac, the little legs were flailing, spindly sticks thrashing through the thin lining and struggling to stand. The foal immediately toppled to the grass again, where it seemed content enough to rest for a moment. Lao tore his eyes off of the baby for a moment to glance at Repla, who lay motionless, save for her shallow breathing. ”You did it, love,” he murmured, nuzzling her. ”It’s beautiful…she’s beautiful.” Tentatively, he lowered his muzzle to his infant daughter. This was their child. Their family. Their future. Lao stood in awe of the tiny creature.

Quite suddenly, he realized that Repla had yet to clean her. He knew it was untraditional, but he could feel the invisible formation of a deep bond already tugging at his heart. Lao bent his neck and began to dry the baby, long pink tongue sweeping gently over her tiny frame. If this wasn’t a miracle, then what was?

--behind the post--
Lao’s in love. Daddy’s girl for sure XD

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[Abba]

In the morning
it begins again, feels like fallin better strap me in
I think I'm running out of oxygen and it feels good, it feels good, it feels good

Repla shuddered, opening her eyes again as a slight breeze slid into the valley. She let out a tiny snort before pulling herself up and too her feet in one heaving motion. She flicked her tail - her legs almost giving back out on her as she remembered the feeling of standing after the pain. "Yes, she is beautiful," she said, before dropping her maw down also and helped to dry the baby who was now shifting a little - ears perked forwards in amusement at the scene. "what do you want her name to be?" she questioned as soon as the foal was dry and then gently bumped her muzzle to his. It didn't take long until she took a full sweep of Lao's body. She had know he had blood on him - she could feel it against her coat - but she hadn't expected him to have been so badly injured. It took her a few seconds to process it before she snorted and looked at him. "Lao, your leg!" she hissed, moving around the foal and gently touching his wound "How bad does it hurt?" she questioned - seeing him standing so that the pressure wasn't really on it. The little filly tried tos tand again, not managing much before letting out a tiny snort as dust flew into it's nostrils and then watching the two of them - wanting to be included in this fondling also.

[/blockquote]

==into the mind
.243 words
.So cute XD[/size]

[lady shady]

Close your eyes and I'll kiss you, tomorrow I'll miss you
Remember I'll always be true
And then while I'm away, I'll write home every day
And I'll send all my loving to you

Lao shook his head at her question, eyes still focused on their little filly. As she tried to stand again, he let out a laugh of delight, but it was cut short by the pain in his leg. He knew that before they had left, Rasta had given her gift to his mate, but he didn’t know if it would work. Also, he knew how taxing healing could be—he couldn’t allow Repla to strain herself like that right after the birth. Lao grimaced as he shifted his weight the tinest bit, sending a fresh jolt of pain up his leg from the sight of the injury. When Repla lowered her muzzle to inspect it, her butterfly touch made him wince, and it was all he could do to keep from striking out at her. Yes, his leg was in bad shape and couldn’t be ignored or it would grow much worse. But he couldn’t ask her to heal him—not now.


”It’ll be all right for a bit,” he replied, clenching his teeth. ”But…we’ll need to seek out a Healer for it,” he admitted. ”And don’t you dare say that you’ll do it—it’s too much, especially after the birth.” Lao turned to his mate, eyes serious. ”After that, we need to get to the valley as soon as possible. You and…” his eyes strayed to their still-unnamed filly, ”You both need to be safe.” He lowered his muzzle gently to her coat, shoving her gently towards the baby. ”Don’t worry about me. I think someone’s hungry,” he added with a smile, looking at the filly’s plaintive little face.

--behind the post--
poor Lao :\

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