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(Naw it's completely fine XD, I wrote one just as long) +++ The stallion would shift with slight uncertainty, trying his hardest not to let his head droop and literal depression swamp his features. He didn't want to go back to the way things were before- whatever he had with Noda, he liked it and wanted to keep it. However, he could only want the best things for her now. He couldn't even bring himself to think otherwise. Getting her memory back would be everything for her, and he couldn't stand in her way. . His orbs flicked down to the ground as the swirling emotions inside threatened to spill out. Riptide's nostrils flared as he sucked in a breathing, calming his spinning mind. The world seemed like it was spinning, his footing wavering and the sky tilting. Nothing seemed right anymore. Although he knew this part was just dizziness, he still felt like it corresponded with his emotions quite well. If it were a perfect world, he'd want her to get her memories back and still view him the same way. All he ever wanted to be to her was a friend and someone to help in times of need, but when she remembered, she'd never see him the same again. He'd return to his herd, mind numbingly alone, and it would drive home just how solitary his life was. As she had said before, he needed to be less closed off, but after this... he didn't think he could. The one mare he wanted to be around wasn't going to want to be around him in a day's time, but there wasn't anything he could do about it. . He tried to keep from deflating as she responded, dipping his cranium slightly, although his audits flicked backwards. "I really do hope it works, for your sake." He replied, then, tail twitching, nodded slightly. "....yeah." that part was even more reluctant, as he didn't want to go back to his normal life. A life of boring safety, where he stood atop a hill and watched out over 7 mares which he didn't allow himself to get close enough to to want to be by. A life without anyone he knew or loved. His chest ached to be with Rue, or someone from his foalhood, someone he truly... knew. "Goodnight. Sleep well." He murmured, watching her walk away, orbs fixed on her form before she stopped by her mother. He then retreated a little ways away and lifted his muzzle to the air, sniffing for danger. Still unable to make out scents, he reluctantly closed his eyes, his own exhaustion being his greatest enemy as he fell into a sleep almost immediately. . Ripp awoke in the early hours of the morning, before the sun reared above the hills. His orbs flitted open as he groggily lifted his head. Muscles aching, he stretched a leg before walking forward, feeling sore and tired, but most of all, put down from the events before. Most of the emotion had fallen into a pit of grieven sludge in his stomach, and he felt more empty than anything else as he limped upward slightly and lifted his muzzle to scent the air. After he did so, he turned back to gaze upon the forms of Liona and Noda, a sigh escaping. |
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As much as I hate to do it on such a cliff hanger, I think this is where I have to stop tonight as it's midnight and I have work in the moring 0.0 But I will be back tomorrow evening! )) ***** The following morning, Liona was up before her daughter, and that was on purpose. She hated that she had to keep secrets from them. Both Noda and Rip needed to know the truth but without the plant to make Noda remember, there was no way she could convince her of the truth. The black mare rose from the ground and quietly walked towards the stallion yet to notice her. .
“Hey Riptide, how are you faring?” She asked, allowing her dutiful gaze to quickly assess the wounds over his body before looking back quickly over her shoulder towards the sleeping body of the red mare. “Do you mind if we chat? Alone.” She asked, offering a reassuring smile so he didn’t think she was luring him away to pick him off. .
Once they were out of earshot, Liona’s soft body language became more tense and concerned. Her orbs stared off in the distance as they walked, her mind racing behind them to quickly find her words before she completely scared him off. .
“Look, I know that the story I told you about the survivor’s recount of events from that day was shady. But when you’re told that the one horse you live for; whose sole purpose for you breathing is just ... gone … rationality no longer exists.” Liona began, skillfully keeping her emotions pushed down as she touched on the old wound. “I went there … to the place where the fire happened immediately after I found out but …” Her gaze dropped as she sucked in a breath to calm her thoughts. “Rip, there were so many bodies. Of so many creatures that lost their lives to the flames, not just horses. They were all too chared and reduced to piles of flesh and bone to recognize. Her scent was in what scrap metal was left of the box you yourself said she describes. But all burnt flesh smells the same. It was impossible to tell without a doubt, but … what else was I to believe at that time with what I knew? There were at least a dozen bodies of equines that any could have easily been her.” Liona searched his eyes for understanding but as a stallion who did not know the loss of a foal, she didn’t expect him to fully understand - that would be wrong to demand from such a young horse. . There was a stillness between them before Liona began again. “There was a lot that happened after you left that she’s completely forgotten. Noda confided in me a lot before she left the herd and its not my place to tell ... but what I can tell you is that she isn't safe here." Liona's voice faltered just the slightest as she breathed the last sentence. The thought of pushing away her only offspring - her one true love in this lifetime - was nearly impossible for her to do ... and now, she would have to do it again. . "I was the one who convinced her to leave the first time and it took everything to do so." She sighed as if this conversation was draining the life out of her. "She as to remember for herself or she won't leave again, especially now with the amnesia, she already feels like everything has been forcefully ripped from her." The mare searched for understanding in the stallion's eyes and hoped he would take her at face value. "We need to leave this morning before Silas finds out the two of you are here." . ***** .
Back underneath the shade of the tree, Noda woke to find herself alone. A small rush of panic washed over her as she scrambled to her hooves and walked into the clearing with frightened, searching eyes. Had this all been a dream? She looked down at her body. Her wounds were healing and nearly granulated in which meant that she was NOT in fact waking up for the first time back in that field again. . "Mom? Rip?" Her shaky voice called out over the wind. She took several deep breaths trying to calm both her mind and her breath which both seemed to be getting away from her. Where could they have gone? . "Noda?" The red mare froze in her tracks as a voice called out behind her. She had no idea who the voice beling to but for some reason, it made her blood run ice cold. . "Noda? Is that you?" The voice too, almost sounded shaky and frightened - as if she were a ghost. "That's imposible." Slowly, with her heart racing to break out of her chest, she turned her head around to find an all too familar pair of blue eyes starting back at her. THE blue eyes! . "W- Who are you?" The mare's quivering voice was so soft, it was almost a whipser by the time it left her tongue. The bay paint stallion had the most confusing look plastured across his face. . There was almost a tinge of anger as well. As if he thought she was playing games with him by asking that question. "What on earth do you mean, who am I?" His once uncertain tone was now firm and near commanding, but remained at a neutral volume. . Noda replied with the same speal she had given her dam about her amnesia now that she was certain that whoever this was knew her in the past. Hopefully, this wasn't also a stallion she had wronged. |
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(No problem, I had to go to bed as well. I can't wait to write about this!) +++ Riptide was gazing at the slowly rising sun when he heard a quiet rustle. His audits twitched that way as he turned his head, seeing that Liona was awake and walking towards him. His cranium dipped slightly at her question. "Better than yesterday." He lied. Truthfully, he was in physical pain as well, but the mental pain was excruciating. It was either that or emptiness, though, and the empty feeling was scaring him, so he preferred the pain. At least that was something, proving he wouldn't go back to his herd a husk of his former self. His shoulder twitched at the question, gaze lifting to her again as he studied her for a moment before nodding. Although he wasn't completely sure what she was going to do, and although he didn't trust her, his wariness didn't go so far that he wouldn't talk with her alone. Maybe it would be a chance for her to explain her behavior. . His own body tensed slightly as hers did, muzzle lifting to scent the air. Once he decided it wasn't from an outside threat, he looked to her, waiting to hear what she had to say. A wolf probably couldn't scare him off now, as he needed to know what was wrong and if it involved Noda. That was his main goal, soaring far over his own safety. . His audits pinned back as horror crept over his expression, her words leaking into his mind like a poisonous plague. A shudder rippled through his body as he thought of the sight, the smell, but most importantly, the realization that your daughter was likely one of them. That the horse you loved the most may be gone forever, torn away, reduced to ashes... literally. His thoughts immediately dashed to Rue, the twisting in his stomach getting worse. He then thought of leaving his whole herd, everything he had ever known and loved, his mother, his friends, everything. He may not understand what it was like to think they were dead... but he didn't even know if the herd had survived. It had been years since he left. By now, he had lost all hope of finding any of them- and that had felt quite the same. . His gaze refocused as the dam started speaking again, worry flashing across his face at her words. That didn't make sense. That couldn't be- she wasn't going to leave her dam, especially after just getting back, and she wouldn't listen to him. She had known him for a week or two- what was he to her but a fleeting helper? How could it be so bad that Liona pushed her away? That must be excuitiating- finding the thing you love more than anything else and having to send them away again. That would be like... like him finding Rue here and having to go back to his herd. Doubt crept into his mind if he should even look for Rue. That... that was his old life. Liona's voice crept back in, and finally, the plant made sense. If Noda didn't remember, she'd never leave, but if she did... she would understand. The twisting in his stomach worsened yet again. "If she remembers she likely won't go back with me- I can't keep her safe." He deflated a little, trying not to let his barriers break as his mind processed this. "Who's Silas?" His audits pinned again at an obviously stallion's name, senses feeling heightened. Almost at the same time, his pelt prickled with the familiar feeling of danger. He snapped his head around and scanned the area, then sniffed the air. At first glance there was nothing, but then a faint, unfamiliar scent tickled his muzzle. "Noda!" Panic crashed across his face and poured into every part of him, spurring him into a quick Gallop, ignorant of the pain as he flew back over the crest of the hill to find Noda.... and a strange stallion. That only spurred him faster before he skidded to a stop beside Noda, audits pinned. "We need to leave to find the gingko plant." He said lowly to her, too low for the stallion to her, his eyes burning with reigned in anger and wariness. They were in a sticky spot right now, but he was not going to let this stallion touch her, no matter if it cost him everything. His lifted his cranium and glared at them, audits still pinned, stepping slightly in front of her. |
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Liona watched the subtle tightening of the stallion's features, hinting to the emotions he was feeling but proving well to hide. Time here in the territory had allowed her to refine the skill of reading others. It was the only way that she was able to survive - and keep others alive - around here for so long. Her audits pricked at his last words and she tried to replace his doubt with a reassuring smile. "Look, what happened in the past needs to be set aside to deal with later. When she remembers," she insistantly put emphasis on the word deeming it more like it was a command. "With you will be the safest place for her in the entire world, and she will know it too."
Liona was hesistant once more as he asked about Silas. Not because she didn't want to tell him who he was, but moreso for not knowing where to begin. But before she could even breathe another word, the air was stolen by a familiar scent and her stomach dropped. "Noda," Liona whispered and launched her frame into a gallop alongside the stallion who had seemed to notice and sense that danger as well. ***** The roan stallion listened to the mare's soft words as she gently spoke, his interest peaked and a devilish smirk peeking on his muzzle. "So you really dont remember me. You're mother didn't mention me?" His tone had complelely changed to one saturated in concern and interest in getting all of the information that she knew. "No, she didn't mention you ... are you from the herd?" She answered and watched as his face turned soft and sweet before her eyes, causing a familiar heat to rush to her features as her orbs darted to the ground, intimidated by his gaze. Rip had made her feel this way before. "Noda, I'm Silas ... your mate." The stallion lowered his head and neck to appear less intimitating, reading her like a book he knew like the back of his hoof. He stepped forward and ever so tenderly caressed her muzzle, drawing her eyes back to his. Whatever that gut wrenching fear she had found in them before in her dreams was nowhere to be seen in their depths. As a matter of fact, they made her feel warm and seen. Though she was utterly shocked by this new piece of information, her emotions remained calm in his presence, almost trance like. Noda smiled at him just briefly before guilt settled across her features and swam through her body like a stream. How could she forget she had a mate?! "I'm so sorry I don't remember you," She whispered, closing her eyes to deal with her emotions. The stallion stiffened for a moment before again, taking a step towards her and gently touching her neck in a reassuring way. "No, I'm the one that's so sorry Noda. I left you in that fire. You must have passed out from the smoke because I thought you were dead. I couldn't get you out of that tin can contraption of the humans'. It tore me in two to leave you there." His voice cracked, allowing his vulnerable emotions to break through the obvious trauma and guilt Silas had been supressing since that horrific day that changed all of their lives. Noda briefly pushed her forehead against him, "I'm sure you did everything possible. It's not you're fault." She whispered. The stallion remained silent, his face lost in the mare's white mane. "You could have died because of me. I left you there." Though it was almost like Noda was meeting this stallion for the first time once again, she had an unfaltering faith to believe all the words he spoke. How could he fake emotions and pain like this? He had to be her mate. He had to be telling the truth. But why would her dam not tell her about him and instead want to send her and Riptide on some quest for a flower or root, or whatever, when Silas was here and he was her mate?! At that moment, the sound of distant hooves began to filter through the pairs ears as they seperated and as Noda turned to see who was approaching first, the familair grey stallion slid up next to her in a defensive manner. The red mare caught his words but was too caught up in his body language to address them first. "Riptide, it's okay. This is Silas." She began, still using a calm and reassuring voice. Maybe it was almost ... happy? Silas erected his form, displaying his status as a dominant creature that was not afraid of this stranger, but for the sake of Noda who seemed to know him, he stepped back respectfully. "Easy kid, what's your problem?" He snorted, releasing the building tension in his frame. Liona trotted up on the other side of the grey stallion, but propped herself in the middle to diffuse the situation. Without saying anything aloud to where her lead stallion would hear or see her features, she turned to Riptide with pleading eyes to calm down and let her handle the situation. This would be a delicate dance, but she was the only one that knew the correct moves to avoid an explosion from the ticking roan time bomb beside her. With Riptide's focus, even for a brief second, she stepped forward in a way that asked for space - respecfully - and began to speak. "Riptide, this is Silas," She paused, her eyes glinting with a flash of worry for a brief second before she continued, knowing it would be just another blow to the guy who didn't deserve it. "He's the leader of our herd, your natal herd ... and ... Noda's mate." Her words felt like punches as she knew he was at least friends with her daughter. She asked for the space as she had a slight worry he might try to kill the stallion, as she literally just warned the younger stud about this horse. But it was too risky to cause trouble right now. Liona had a very delicate relationship with Silas since Noda's suppsed death and she couldn't let him know she had any doubt in him or it could put others at risk. Liona turned to Silas, giving him her most believeably calm features and dipped her head. "Silas, this is Rue's son, Riptide. He and Noda were friends and foals before he left. He was just helping her get home." She made her words sound believeable and reassuring as the stallion peered over her form and over Riptide's; a challenging glare was replaced by one more friendly. "I see," He answered and Liona felt as though she could breathe. "Yes, he was going to help us find a plant to help rid Noda's amnesia." Silas faltered for a mili-second at the mention of Noda getting her memories back. Though Riptide had his own feelings towards Noda getting them back, Silas had the even bigger reason for her to stay in the dark. The big stallion subtly gulped and regrouped his thoughts without missing a beat, readjusting his stance and stepping closer to Noda. It was a move he felt would strike a nerve with both of the other, but the clueless red mare invited his presence in sheepishly. "Are you sure that's what she needs rightnow? I mean, she's obviously still recovering from the fire and besides, are you even sure that plant is safe for a mare to consume that's in foal?"
Liona's eyes widened for an instant, taking the blow without wavering. She had forgotten this and turned to Riptide who she knew would be clueless. But neither of them were as shocked as Noda. "Wait, what?" The red mare was dumbfounded. Wouldn't that be something that was pretty obvious to her? Shouldn't she have been the first to know if that were true?!
"Yes, my dear. You had just told me not long before the fire." He said before turning back to the dark mare. "Liona, you have been with them for how long and you didn't tell her?"
There it was, the first seed to be planted for doubt to sprout and pull Noda away from her mother and anything she said in the future. "No Silas, I'm sorry. I was caught up in my own shock and emotions to find out she was alive. It slipped my mind." Liona tried to reach Noda, but she seemed lost in her own thoughts, recoiling herself from them. The black mare felt her heart breaking again. The pattern was already beginning again and without the plant, there would be nothing to pull Noda away from this monster. |
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Riptide flicked his audits back with unease, his hard learned caution shadowing his every move. He battled with emotions, logic, his heart, and wariness of the whole situation. He wanted nothing more than to whisk both Noda and Liona away, back to his herd, where they would be safe and happy for the rest of their days. Where they wouldn't have to worry about strange stallions and murky swamps and memories being lost. They could build new ones. However, his logic told him that it was impossible, and his heart told him that he needed to put Noda above all else. That meant doing what was best for her, despite the consequences for him. What the black mare was saying made sense, if he looked at it on a very basic level, but he needed to understand more. He could feel a whole network of things balancing on one another, waiting to be snapped, just under the surface. He knew there was so much more, and this was frustrating him. . After he had stopped beside Noda, he quickly assessed the situation. His first instinct had been ready to fight for her, but then he realized that they had been close, nuzzling, even, and the mare seemed relaxed. This was a stab to the heart that she didn't trust him as much as she trusted a random, dangerous stallion that she came upon out of the blue. Her words solidified the pain already stabbing through his system. His audits pinned further, for a couple different reasons, his piercing glare focused on Silas before he looked to the black dam. He didn't have the heart to ignore his again turmoiling emotions, and at her pleading glance, stepped back with an irritated snort. He did not lower his posture into a submissive stance, however, keeping his cranium high. His gaze faltered as she started speaking, then the ground seemed to drop out from underneath him. Eyes immediately glassing over, he stared at her in disbelief, though he wasn't really seeing. This horse was Noda's mate? She had a MATE? His breath seemed to strangle him as he struggled to not let his carefully placed emotions collapse down on him. Nostrils flaring as he finally sucked in a shuddering breath, Rip truly didn't know what to think or say. The hollow feeling just turned into an empty cavern inside of him, to the point where he felt ready to go lay down somewhere and not get up. Noda had a mate. The horse Liona had warned him about. A horse that obviously caused trouble for her. A horse he could see right through. If anything, his time had taught him when to see someone faking it, and although this stallion looked like unicorns and rainbows on the outside, Rip could see the twisted look in their eyes. . His orbs snapped back to Silas as Liona spoke to them, standing stock still as he pressed his overwhelming tide of emotions down into a small locked box. His muzzle flickered with distaste as the stallion glanced him over, faltered at the mention of the herb, then spoke. Audits pinning as they stepped closer to Noda, he settled for just that, watching them with obvious distrust. "Why don't you let HER decide, huh? Sh-" He stopped mid sentence as the end of Silas' sentence hit him. The sheer amount of weight in those words almost broke the little resolve he had at the moment. Rip quivered slightly in restrained anger and shock as the stallion called Noda 'my dear' and acted like they OWNED her, not trusting himself to speak lest he break. . After a long moment he blinked and looked to Noda, orbs flashing with insurmountable grief for a split second before going back to normal. "It is not any of our place to tell you what to do, Noda. If you would like to regain your memory, I will support that. I'm sure we all will." He stated quietly, dipping his head to her before stepping back again. He felt like he shouldn't be here, couldn't, couldn't do anything, but he didn't know where to go, and didn't want to leave them with Silas. |
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Noda's head was swirling and her body still as stone. Her head throbbed and she felt dizzy as all of this new information was splashed onto her like a bucket of ice water. She didn't know what to think. What was really true? She looked to Riptide and the pit in her gut nearly swallowed her. She had done exactly what she didn't want to do and that was hurt him all over again. She should have came on this trip alone, pushed her adulterous thoughts away and sent him back to the mares that had never wronged him. To the mare she knew would never treat him (at least) wrong. Oh, why couldn't she have just stopped to think of someone else than herself for once?! Perhaps the old her wasn't gone, just lurking right under the surface and still leading her decisions. . Silas watched the three swimming in their own thoughts. The stallion was pushing thin ice as he tried to insert himself into the dealings of he and Noda. What could this stallion know about her that he wouldn't? Perhaps he jus simply felt possessive of her? That thought made Silas' skin boil, but a tiny fact laid rest assured in his mind. She had wanted to come back .. to him! The stupid stallion had brought her right back into his embrace. And while the others might have been noble enough to stay silent and let Noda "decide for herself," Silas was not. . "Noda, I mean - ... this journey has already been stressful enough. That hike over a mountain ... your body can only take so much and it's not just you that you have to think about." Silas insisted, offering her another charming and gentle look. However, Noda's orbs were piercing the ground beneath her feet. The only way he knew that she had heard him was the slight twitch in her audit closest to him. . Liona's skin was on fire with worry as she watched her daughter trying to find a steady stance with all of this new information thrown at her. This was exactly why she wanted her gone before Silas found out that she was here. The stallion was brilliant in the tactics he used in order to get others to do what he wanted, even if they didn't know it at the time. He'd drop big bombshells on them to shock their senses, make them feel bad for 'his failures' or how their actions made him feel, no matter how justified, and then they would just play into his whims like mud with one charming smile. Noda had fallen into this trap before and this time would be no different. . There was no way that Liona could reveal the true reason that Noda had left him in the first place. Noda wouldn't belive that the two of them had concoted a plan that involved an all too eager palomino stallion in order for her to disappear into the night. Noda wouldn't believe that during the night of that fire, the flames were not the only thing chasing her that wanted to end her life that night. Besides, even if she did, Silas would only use it against her. Twist his own stories into the truth like thorny vines to sheer holes in the actions behind these allegations. He had done it all before and Noda would have no idea. The only hope now was for Liona to go on and find that plant and somehow get it to her daughter without Silas knowing. She remained silent, trying to be the mediator so Silas wouldn't kill Riptide who has still injured and at a disadvantage, despite how he asked. They would help her. It would be the last thing she ever did if it had to be. . Noda finally lifted her head and spoke, a bit of confidence resurfacing in her voice. "I can't leave, not right now." She looked to Sila's comforting face and flashed him a brief smile. There was so much weight behind her own eyes, a new responisbility place on her shoulders. "I can't leave him again, I'm sorry. Maybe we can go for the plant after everything's settled a bit." She suggested shyly, now turining to catch a glimpse of Rip. She nearly couldn't face him. He had said for her to do what she felt was right - and she was - but that didn't mean that it didn't still crush her heart at the same time. As much as she didn't want to see him go, she couldn't ignore the fact she had a mate and soon to be a foal that was also his. This was a family she had started to create before her life fell apart. She couldn't abandon it again. She couldn't hurt anyone else again. |
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Riptide closed his orbs for a fleeting moment, feeling like his airway was constricting again as his mind plagued him with thoughts of his herd, Noda, Silas, Liona, and Rue. All the problems he had seemed to pick this opportune time to slam into his mind in a mental assault good enough to put most horses out of commission. He opened his eyes quickly, the lingering sick feeling in his gut reminding him he could still get attacked at any time. Now he didn't trust any of them. How could he. Noda had fallen for a new stallion as soon as she saw them. Apparently he was as good as chopped liver to her. Liona knew more than she was letting on, still. He obviously couldn't trust Silas. He was completely alone and entangled in something he had left long ago, and he wasn't pleased about it. . Ripp wanted nothing more than to embrace Noda and whisper to her how he would always protect her, no matter what happened or what she did. He wanted to convince her that he was the right one for her, that he needed her and vice versa. He wanted to bring her back, away from this place. Away from this horse that wanted him dead, it seemed, and was obviously tricking Noda. . His audits pinned with annoyance, eyes flashing with fury as Silas spoke up and tried to convince Noda otherwise. "Funny how you're too scared to let her choose for herself." He sneered quietly, shifting his weight slightly to be in the best position if the healthier stallion did try to attack him. He needed to think of a way to fix this quickly. He needed to make Noda believe that this was wrong, that they were lying. He could tell they were, Liona knew they were. Noda, however, was much too trusting. . He turned his orbs to the fiery red mare as she started to speak, his eyes flickering with guilt, sorrow, a heavily betrayed look, and fear before it all disappeared. Not fear for himself. Fear for her. He didn't know what Silas would do to her, but he knew it couldn't be good, especially if she already was ... going to have his foal. That thought crushed his soul and heart yet again, hollowing out the empty pit more. He looked away as Noda glanced at him, not wanting to meet her gaze right now. She had abandoned him after a split second and the word of a stallion she didn't even know. He had an excuse to be hurt. Without another word, he turned and trotted off, limping heavily, out of the territory. Silas didn't have grounds to attack him if he left the territory, so he'd find a place to hunker down and think. Then he could find Liona and force her to explain exactly what was happening. Right now, however, he could barely breathe. Panic, that terrible betrayed feeling, the pain- it was all clouding his mind, causing him to forget his physical pain and push himself into a canter. |
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Silas's body twitched as his blood boiled. Under normal circumstances, a stallion that found his way into his territory would have already been knocked into the dirt, begging for mercy long before he ever even realized his mistake in trespassing. But this was a delicate dance, you see. Noda didn't know this justifiable side in him. Most were scared of him and how he chose to protect his family and herd, but Silas called it the only way to ensure safety beyond a doubt. . However, Silas quickly realized that he didn't need to beat this opponent into the dirt. This battle would have to be fought with psychological warfare. As Noda spoke and it was evident that she was going to choose him, he stepped into her space and caressed her features, a glint in his orbs just daring the forgein stallion to retaliate. . Liona was quite used to putting on a show for Silas, but with her daughter standing right in front of her, making a clearly very wrong choice, she had to fight extra hard to make sure her outward emotions expressed believeably. She dipped her head abrubtly and smiled. "You know, I think you're right, my love. We can worry about that later on, there are definitely more important things to deal with, first." She smiled to Noda and then Silas - mustering everything she had in her to look him in his cold, lying blue eyes. "How about I go collect some things to mend those wounds and we can worry about everything else later?" She asked the question to the red mare, but it was the roan stallion who answered. . "I think that's a great idea, Liona. Noda and I need time to catch up on out own. We'll meet you back with the herd." Silas gave her a charming wink and then gave the stallion one last smirk before turning with his prize in tow. . Noda had this wrenching feeling twisting in her gut as she watched the pain in Rip's orbs. The sound of his voice made her audits ache. Despite knowing she was supposed to be with Silas, she wanted more than anything to be cut from these bindings of mate statuses and responibilites and throw herself into his embrace. Beg him to get her far from this place and the three of them, including her dam, could just make a run for it. But ... the words never slipped her tongue. As a matter of fact, she couldn't even bare to look up as Silas encroached on her or even when Rip tore away in the end. Her heart was making this so much more complicated than her brain knew it to be. She had to stay and that is why she remained quiet as Silas spoke to Liona when her words once again failed her and then he guided her towards her natal herd. . Before Liona could turn around to say anything to Riptide once the pair were out of earshot, he was already halfway back across the meadow. She sighed deeply, knowing how hurt he must feel. She too, was dealing with her own turmoil. Her own failures as a mother and friend. She decided not to run after him. After having the book - no, the entire shelf and the wall it was standing against fall on top of him in the form of Sila's twisted stories, she knew he needed to breathe on his own again and gather his thoughts. Instead, she slowly made her way back to the edges of the swamp where she would indeed collect the plants she had told Noda and Silas she would, but she also had to quickly figure out how she was going to make a two day trip in half the time and the stallion not notice. |
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If Riptide could throw up, he would've vomited all over the flipping grassland by now. Silas was by far the most disgusting thing he had ever seen in his life, and if he could, he would never let his orbs fall upon that abomination again. However, he couldn't leave yet. For reasons he knew he wouldn't be able to explain for years, he was going to fight for Noda. He was going to win her back, because she didn't know it yet... but she was his. His to protect. She could do what she wanted, but no other stallion would touch her after he was done. Although pain clouded his mind, a sharp, feral, dark spike slithered its way in. Something that he had only felt once before, and something he knew he wouldn't feel again after this. . It took him a while to get where he wanted, a small field with overhanging trees and a small pond that they had passed coming in. His sides were streaked with sweat and one of his wounds had broken back open, splattering blood over his light coat. He ignored this, however, going straight to stand under a hanging willow. Now was time to think, then he could rest. No good plans were made on no sleep, but he needed to contemplate how to start. . Ripp closed his eyes and let his mind wander. It obviously went to the conversation he had just had. What he first noticed was that Silas got irritated quite easily. Under that charming facade, the guy was fragile and not that good at hiding their emotions- Noda was just blind. He had no problem saying that, because it was true. She had everything ripped away from her, so right now, she felt starved and desperate. She would cling onto anything, no matter how... precarious. He wasn't focusing on her right now, though. First, if he healed, Silas wasn't a huuuge physical threat. The stallion wouldn't risk their life in a fight, and Ripp guessed they were equally matched, if he wasn't a bit stronger. Now, his greatest Strength at the moment was the fact the other stallion was severely underestimating him. Just because he was young and, at the moment, quite hurt, did not make him stupid. . He decided, with a bit of thinking, that he should rest, then talk to Liona. They needed to get the plant, obviously, and he bet that he could do that. That way, Silas would think he left, and no one would miss Liona or suspect anything. She could explain what it looked like, and he could run the errand. With this thought in mind, he dipped his muzzle into the pond and drank, the cool water seening to wash the pain away from his mind. After a couple minutes of grazing, he went back to the willow and closed his eyes again, letting himself drift into a much needed sleep. . Ripp awoke not too long later, perhaps an hour, feeling mildly refreshed. He immediately scented the air. Smelling no threat, tail flicking, he limped forward and inhaled a bit more water, feeling starved of the liquid. Pushing thoughts of the conversation out of his mind, he steeled his determination and trotted towards the swamp Liona had led them to before. When he arrived, he used his nose to follow to faint scent trail of the mare, hoping he'd find her there. He stepped carefully, nosing his way through the branches. Soon, he reached the small clearing, audits perked. "Liona?" The young stud would call, voice low. He was ready to fix this, and he didn't care what it took or how much it hurt him. He wasn't leaving without Noda. |
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Noda followed beside Silas as he led the way towards the herd. He was incredibly kind as he spoke, telling her about her new herd mates, as well as the ones that might remember her from before. He also mentioned the orchard (apparently one of her favorite places) which was still in season with crisp red fruit he would have to take her to in the coming days when she was up to it. He seemed to pick up on her uneasiness, but didn't push too hard, whether that was more for him or her, she would never know, but it was appreacaited. Right now, all Noda could do was blame herself for this mess. . "Hey, Silas?" Noda finally breathed which promptly stopped the stallion's ramblings as he turned to her. "Yes, my dear?" He replied. "Do you know the reason why I left?" She asked very sheepishly, her orbs never leaving the dirt between her dark hooves. There was a beat of silence and then an abrubt snort before the stallion spoke. "Eh, it's not really something I like to think about." He answered vaguely. When Noda lifted her gaze, Silas was not the one looking away. Her breathe caught in her chest. What could she have done that was so bad he didn't want to tell her? "But, I want to understand. Was I made to leave? I just don't understand why I would leave?" Noda pleaded, her voice cracking under the weight of her worries and sheer exhaustion this day had brought on her. Sila's audits pricked and he softly snorted once more. "Yes, you were made to leave," he began, his eyes narrowing on the horizon as he gathered his thoughts. Noda stepped forward, ready to not miss a single word he said as she was already in shock by this new discovery. "There was a colt who used to be apart of the herd, a pesky, irritating stud colt," Silas grumbled and instantly, the face of Ragnarok flashed in her mind. "A palomino?" She questioned and Silas turned to her, studing her features. "I thought you said you didn't remember?" Noda quickly recoiled, "Oh no, I don't, it's just that he showed up not long after I found Rip and was adament that he and I were involved but ..." She trailed off, finding the intense stare she recieved from her mate to be intimidating- dear debilitiating. He arched his features, wanting her to continue. "a -and then Rip ran him off and we never saw him again. Even then I said there was no way." Noda tried to shake off her sudden nervousness with a breathy chuckle, but Sila's features stayed strained like he was thinking behind the expressionless gaze of his blue orbs. For a brief second, Noda felt a familairly fearful sensation come over her that she had only felt during the last of her nightmares. The nightmare where she experienced the blue eyes for the first time. But why now? Sure, Silas was protective and a little cold to Riptide, but ... he had been nothing but kind to her. Sweet even! . "That stallion ran off with you. Stole you in the middle of the night. I went out to find you. That was the night of the fire." For Noda, it all clicked now. No wonder he didn't want to talk about it! Not only did he think she had died that night, but she had been taken away from him even before that. She offered him a soft smile, tenderly stepping towards him. He stared back at her without words, his gaze was a bit softer now as he tried to understand what she was doing. She reached her neck out against his taller frame and gently nibbled at a piece of his mane right behind his ears. "I knew it had to be something like that. How could I ever have left you?" She spoke kindly into his audits and his body physically relaxed. "Exactly," he smirked cutely. "You wanted me and this family as much as I did," He hummed, gently touching her flank. They shared this bried but intumate moment together before proceeding on as before for introductions and reuninions with a herd she hadn't seen in well, ... who really knows how long. . Liona's mind raced with a million different thoughts as she quickly put together a few plants for Noda. Comfrey, chammomile, and ginseng root to not only treat her physical wounds, but the anxiety and stress she was no doubt combatting in the presence of her past. Liona's plummage lashed out angrily behind her as she cursed herself. This was all too hauntingly familair. She used to make this exact basket of herbs for Noda before in order to deal with Silas on a daily basis. It was some sick comic joke for her to be doing it all again. The mare paced and snatched things around the hollowed stump as her own chastising continued until the dark mare couldn't take it anymore. "Ah damn you, Silas!" The mare howled and landed a double barrel kick to the tree, causing a loud cracking sound to erupt through the swamp. . Liona hadn't noticed the young stallion approach and quickly turned her frame to organize the plants strewn about in order to hide her embarassment for her outburst. She wasn't supposed to be the one with out of control emotions. She had to keep it together for her daughter's sake. "Listen kid, I'm sorry for how all of that came out. I wanted to tell you the truth but ... that damn stallion likes to tell it all himself in the most frustrating ways possible." The older mare began her raging ramblings once more but forcefully made her self stop and take a breathe. She allowed a moment of silence to pass over them before scoffing once more. "Well, now you know why I didn't want Silas to find out the two of you were here." |
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Sunny
