xx.Lost in this Moment

[»starla]

But the river keeps runnin'
Othello;;
Don't even know that I'm around.

Iron clad hooves beat the terra into a flurry of flying dirt and debris.The thuder was all around,filling up every inch of existence,drowning out everything else.Battlecries fluttered here and there,soon lost in the pounding tunes.Human and equine,blended into one,flying on the wind.The clank of metal layed heavily in each horse's ears,along with man's metalic voice.And then,they were falling.No...floating,on a sea of nothingness.The noise faded,and weights were lifted off tired backs.And then,darkness.

I tilted my cremello skull skyward,up up up to the top of a high cliff.I have often thought of what it would be like to be of another element,this being one of those times.But,where one door shuts,another opens.With a heavy swish of my whipcord,I was lift above the cliff.Of all the element equines,the Airs know what its like to fly.And what a marvelous feeling it is.I landed on long,pale legs atop the earth mass.I lifted my orbs,gazing at the massive stones spread out far and wide.Nares tested the familiar breeze.There was a very faint scent of equine,which was suprising,considering the Valley had not been in conscious existence for very long.About a 100 years ago the Ancients came across it,and developed miraculous skills.Perhaps it was because they actually listened to the earth.
For a while the equines in Nyore Valley thrived,their numbers growing large.They lived in peace with each other,all four Elements did.And then came the day of the Plagues.Horrid diseases wiped out nearly all that lived here,save a few.No one knows really what happened to those few.Perhaps they passed on their talents to others,which would explain why there are still equines of Elements.I couldn't say,for I have no memory of how I got here,or when I developed the power to bend air.But as the first king the Valley has seen in decades,I've got a lot of work to restore everything,from the Highlands to the Lowlands.

A shrill call lifted from my maw.A fore hoof fell heavily to the earth,sending powerful air waves after my tune.I could feel the ground vibrate as it grew lower,and yet,louder.I could feel it being sent out in all directions.It would certaintly reach any soul within a great distance from myself.I could only hope they would listen.

[sigh]

"What is your name, dear femme?"
My eyes opend wide, the bitter voice snapping through my peacefull sleep like a whip cracking in the still dawn. I lay still, my nostrils beguining to flare as my wide eyes rolled in their sockets, taking in the dim forest that surrounded me, the trees shrouded in mist to the point where they took on the appearence of eary gohsts hovering above me, their visiose claws straining to rip at my delicate flesh. Delicate... that was one way to describe me, and my airs. 'Delicate as a golden flower, the petals ready to fall to the earth in a shredded heap at the slightest tremble of the sodden earth'. Yet, I didn't fall apart right now, though my body shook, and my golden colored pelt was slick with sweat, I didn't shred to pieces though how much I wished I could. Oh what a welcomed fate that would be, to die right then and to not have to deal with the owner of that voice....
"I asked your name, /mare/. Why do you not answer to me?"
The voice was still as smooth as a crystal lake, still as charming as a warm ray of sunshine, though this time there was something else there, as if the lake had a stick in it. I couldn't move, weather it was fear, or something else, I don't know. I just couldn't. I knew if i stayed here I was going to die, and die painfull with no remorce for my passing. I was starting to feel as if something was pressing against my chest, and my normaly kind eyes, now wild with fear, turned their gaze to where the feeling came from. There was nothing there, nothing holding me, so why couldnt I breath? Or could I breath, just my air wasn't comming strait to my lungs. This made no sence, what was I doing? Why was I scared? Suddenly the image of a lake with a black stick came to my mind, a stick that moved with the current lazily floating its way around...
"Answer me damnit!!"
Suddenly, the stick I was watching took on its own path, swimming against the current, and now twords me with shoking speed. A stick shouldn't be able to do that... but more pressingly why was i suddenly in the middle of a lake? Why was I suddenly standing here knee deep in fridgid water, my hooves sucked into a foot of mud. I tossed my head my soaking wet mane slapping against my neck and splashing the now turbid water against me, and into my eyes. A shriek of terror ripped out of my throught as now I couldn't see the stick, the moving stick, the stick that was less than twenty feet fro mme and quickly aproaching against the current. I still couldn't move, couldn't breath.
"You should of spoken while you could..."
Suddenly, I knew the stick wasn't a stick, but an aligator headed twords me. How I knew it, I wasn't sure, but I knew it then. Another scream left me as I could feel it brush against me, against my chest that still couldn't draw in a breaht, and slowly the creature rubbed against me, its hard scales hurting as they scraped against my skin. Or atlest, I knew they should be hurting me, the pressure they put on my wet skin should of hurt, though it didn't. Or did it? I wasn't sure, I could no longer think. If my thoughts had been confused before, now they where well beyond the point of insanity. Insanity? What had happend to me to make me insane? Why was I so scared now... what was it that I was running from? Wait, why was I running? Why was I no longer stuck in a pond full of mud and about to die at the teeth of a gater? Why... Why was I headed strait for a cliff, my pounding hoofs giving no hint of stoping? I wasn't afraid of the cliff, not at all, if anything it promised me peace; peace and serinity away from that voice. Voice? What voice? Yet, I didn't have time to contemplate that as i was suddenly falling, falling down down down, the air painfully struggling against me trying to keep me up. Air... why couldn't I controll the air? The ground was comming up fast, I closed my eyes ready for the pain....

The golden and cream mare jerked awake, the sudden harshness of her movement was enought to unlock her joints, and with a gasp, she stumbled forwards, her knees hitting the ground before she could steady herself. For a moment, she remained as she was, her two front feet buckled beneath her, pressing into the damp ground, enjoying the cooling feeling the mud had against her trembling legs. She felt like she had a breaking fever, her brilliant skin covered in a sheene of sticky wetness that attracted flies to swarm around her; and her whole body shook weakly, the trembles seeming to sap the strength out of her strong limbs. Finaly, she forced a deep breath to flare into her lungs and slowly she pushed herself upright, where she wavered slightly, her legs splayed to hold her weight up.
Not that she was heavy, if anything she was well underweight, her ribs showing from beneath her somewhat dull spring coat. The only bulk she seemed to have to her was the hard muscles that now rippled spazmatically beneath her skin as she trembled, trying to force her brain to slow down so as she could recap what had startled her. She knew the dream had something to do with her past, something to do with a... 'voice' was it? But what voice could send her into being so fearfull with just a few words, she hadn't a clue. Well, she had a clue, but she wasn't about to go there, she didn't believe in dwelling on the past, and she didn't want to admit to even herself that she wasn't in controll of her own dreams.
Suddenly, the trembling throughout her stopped as she forced her muscles to tighten. What was she doing, letting a dream get the best of her like this? It was just a visioin her brain made up, be it of the past or not, there was no reason for her to be reacting like this. Without warning, nor a sign she was about to do so, the mare took off at a recless speed, seeming to be uncaring to the fact that she was surrounded by trees whos branches scraped her sides, and whos trunks would be rock walls should she missstep. Yet, she didn't care, she needed to clear her mind of the memories that dared to break the sturdie dam she had built up around them. She could almost feel the cracks starting to appear, the memories daring to flood her mind.
Snorting loudly, she ducked her head and shook it hard her wild mane dancing hilter-skilter as she didn't so much as break stride, but instead seemed to put on another burst of angry speed so as now her feet barely seemed to touch the ground, her body veering dangerously close to the trees solid trunks. Her lungs burned with the feeling of air as it rushed into them, filling them to their utmost capacity before the air was forced out in a sharp snort. Now this, feels good. If her lips could form the emotion, she would of been smirking, but instead now her amber eyes flickered with a spark of freedom, of the glory of her running, her ears layed back against her skull the sound of her pounding hoofs matching the sound of the blood that she could hear flushing her veins.
So entrapped was she in the gloriouse feeling of her run, that she didn't notice at first as the trees began to thin, and the edge of the forest come nearer and nearer, it wasn't untill the footing turned slick on what felt like a slab of stone that she noticed. Slowly, she eased off her speed untill she was down to a lope and then a floating trot with her head and tail held high above her back, her stature nearly that of a proud stallion instead of a mare. Finaly, she allowed her movements to stop, her feet standing square with her body still held proudly, her eyes taking in this new land with one steady sweep. Instant disslike for the area filled her and she shook her head slightly a snort flaring her nostrils in distaste.
The place was bland. There was no other word for it. Stones stood around, looking intresting enough but that was about it. Other than that... nothing caught her eyes, nothing seemed out of place enought to capture her wandering attention. Or atlest... that was her first thought. A burst of wind caught her off gaurd, and she had to stumble to the side as it caught her full broadside. It took her less than half a stride to regain her balance though and as soon as she did, she pivited around on her hind leg, her eyes and hears twirling to seek the caster of the wind, as her nostrils dragged the air through them, seeking every last scent availible to them. There was no way that, that wind could of been natrual, no way for it had held a message within it.
If one where near enough to her at that moment, they would of been able to tell that the air around her almost hummed with intencity, the element clearly awaiting her slightest command. Finaly, her eyes found him, a lone gohst looking figure atop one of the stones not far from her. Automatically, her ears pinned back and she arched her neck, her body automatically falling into defencive mode. A light breeze twirled dirt around her legs in a slight cyclone as the air around her now litteraly crackled with aprehention, clearly betraying the fact that she was worried about seeing another equine and one who seemed to have the same ability of air as her.
Slowly, ever so slowly, the air around her seemed to calm, the breeze dying off slowly. There was no reason to over-react, sure he was a stallion (the scent on the wind told her as much) but who knew maybe he wasn't as bad as other stallions, maybe he was... diffrent. Still not relaxing her posture, she conjured up a trickle of wind, and into it spoke "What be your name, Brute." A shutter ran through her as she recognized the words, but it was too late to change them as the breeze gently carried her whispered words to his ear, the wind swirling around him before relaying the mares message into his ear. Forcing herself to relax, she continued to wait him to approach her.

[[OOC// DONE!]]

[»starla]

But the river keeps runnin'
Othello;;
Don't even know that I'm around.

Pale orbs fell to the earth below my slates.It was lush and green with Spring,but did not yet have the fullness that would come during the summer.Summer...a time of blistering heat,and pelt for me.Unfortunatly,with such a pale color,the sun is not a welcome friend to warm me up when I am cold.Mostly,I tend to keep to the shade,but my wandering nature drags me out.As thus,I get burnt every summer.
Spotting an enticing-looking patch of grass,I lower my cranium,velvets lapping at the soft blades.The gentle snorting wasn't enough to clear the patch of the dirt and dust.But before I could use any bending to my aid,something caught the corner of my eye,or maybe it was the sudden tension in the air.I returned to grazing,awaiting the breeze to calm.I knew there was another there,oh yes.Nochalantly,I turned to a different patch of grass to give myself a better view of the equine.The dust around her feet was dancing to her tune.An unskilled bender might at first think she was an earth bender.But that is what mentors are for,to teach foals otherwise.
The dirt began to take on a funnel form.Still,I continued grazing,ignoring the small wisps of air that made my tresses shift positions.At last,I could see the horse begin to calm.The air,too,calmed.

Soft,yet tense words reached my auds.It was at this point that I glanced over in her direction,matching the tunes to the face.She seemed more than stiff...perhaps frightened.That would explain the defensive bending upon her arrival into the land of the stones.For a moment I stood there,observing her quietly.We could have talked through just air mail.But she seemed to be waiting for something more.At this point,I wasn't sure if I wanted to approach her.She was apprehensive,and I got the impression she was also unstable.I couldn't,wouldn't make that worse.And yet,she wanted me over there.Suit yourself..
From a stand still,I leaped,like a jumping horse the humans hold so highly.But Othello,the distance is so great..
Have you forgotten I am the Air King?
There was no notion of bending,but suddenly I was landing lightly before her,trotting when my talons touched the solid ground.I halted,leaving a respectable distance between myself and the femme.My dipped my crown low to her,rising back up with a small,warm smile.
I got your message.
I waited to see any response I might get before going on.
I am Othello,and I must say its good to see another Air bender.
I had forced myself not to get my hopes up of seeing another like myself when I sent the call,and yet,look at who is standing before me..

[sigh]

So, we are going to be an idiot today, are we not? The bitter voice redgistered in the mares head as her own, but even so, she bit her tongue, feeling like a scolded child. What was she playing at? She knew she was edgy around others, stallions expecialy, but here she was awaiting him to aproach her and... and what? Force her to join his herd? Take her under his watchfull eyes? Claim her as his. Her warm eyes suddenly flickered dangerously a if she where debating attacking the stallion before the words left his mouth, before he could state his claim on her... The air shuddered around her again though with force, she quieted her brain. This was foolish, she should just turn and leave before she ended up hurting or killing the stallion.
But it was too late, she had already been fool enough to start a conversation, and to turn away and run would both be rude and mean she was turning her back on a stallion, a mistake she would not replicate any time soon. At that simple thought, her withers shuddered as if trying to disslodge a fly and she drew her neck up untill her chin rested against her chest, her jaw visibly clenched. Once again the mental image of a wall came into her mind, and spiderwebbing across the wall where many dark cracks, here and there a thin stream of water was leaking through the dark, the waters coloration being a dark dark blood red. Why was her past so suddenly bothering her now? Was it because of that stupid dream she'd just woken up from?
Realising she had closed her eyes, she quickly opend them, at the same time as she forced her tence body to loosen up. As she did so, it took all of her self controll to keep from re-tensing and to keep her mind from bending the air into a defencive swirl as with stunning grace the stallion bent the air and appeared before her. At first she couldn't keep the aprehention from her eyes, and the air around her twitched though nothing more as she forcefully kept her worried thoughts at bay and made herself look at the scene as if she where some on looker and it was not herself that now stood face to face with the stallion. As she took this view to mind, the aprehention in her eyes slowly started to disolve, and her body loosen. Though she didn't compleatly relax, it was clear that she was giving the stallion a chance to prove himself 'trustworthy'.
With almost a cold gaze, the mares eyes looked him over, taking in his almost albino looking skin, taunt over muscles; before finaly wandering to meet his eyes. Blue eyes, the kind of eyes that one would expect to be cold and hard, and look upon you with distain, yet... Her own eyes soften slightly as they took in the warmth his face held twords her. There was nothing harsh about him, nothing that spoke of him hurting her, just... years and years of knowledge, a humming readiness to lead and do what was right for himself and his family. Instantly, her eyes flicked away from his and she seemed to look past him rather than at him, clearly unsure of herself right then. What was she doing? She should of run when she had the chance to, now here she was stuck to have a conversation with him... a conversation she had wanted.
['I got your message']
No, realy? If you hadn't I would of worried that you had something wrong with your ears. Momentarily her eyes looked directly at him, her expression one that showed she wondered if he thought her a fool or an apprentice to her powers. Yet, she didn't dare voice her thought, she didn't wish to offend the stallion, seeing as so far he had done nothing wrong so far as he was aware of. Once again her eyes looked past him, her mind struggling to keep the feeling that she was watching from a distance. It wasn't untill he fully spoke out his second sentance that she looked back at him and when she did, it surprised her to see something that looked like... joy was it? dancing across his features. Once again her eyes looked him over as she debated an answer, before she finaly said in a somewhat flat voice "Indeed". For a moment it seemed that that would be all she said, before finaly she seemed to relent and said in a slightly more kindly tone, "My name is Pesadilla." She could see no reason why not to atleast try and be nice to the sta... Orthello. Yet, she also wasn't about to strike up small talk with him.

[»starla]

But the river keeps runnin'
Othello;;
Don't even know that I'm around.

Realizing I had made the mare nervous upon arrival I glanced down at my ebonies and took a few steps back,glancing back up at her through long pale strands of my forelock.Its a wonder how others keep their mane shortened.Well,for the fire equids,its really no question.But aren't 'mustangs' supposed to have draping tresses to block the flies and heat,and a long,strangly whipcord,perfect for swatting flies?While this was running through my skull,I could see more apprehensive thoughts running through hers.At that moment she took in my orbs.I stood there,letting her read me and gather herself.Clearly her past wasn't pleasant.Having been there and done that,I let troubled ones have their moments.My stablemates used to say that was why everyone warmed up to me so.I shrugged inwardly,noticing the fae had broken the gaze.A less friendly expression took the previous' place,which caught me off gaurd.However,I still stood there,straightening my nape,after having it lowered for her comfort.Her words matched her face,but I took it all in stride.I knew her type,after having traveled a long ways to get here.Eh...you meet horses of every type going long distances.Skinny,short,fat,tall,mean,nice..and everything inbetween.

Her tone itself held an untold story.All the feelings of her past were held in those deep liquid orbs that held me in their grasp.And then,the air about her changed,no longer crackling with tension and the expectancy of danger and betrayal.I saw her soften,every so slightly.
Pesadilla.I had never heard that one..At least it wasn't Star or Blaze,like human's horses were often named.I tell you,you'll find some of the most unique names out in the wild,where the free horses roam.
You say 'indeed',Pesadilla,and yet you seem unpleased with my presence.
I wasn't about to stand there,unwelcome.However,I got the feeling she really wanted some company,or was actually glad to see another of Air,also.
I won't keep you any longer.. were my calm words...For she had to have been going somewhere,right?
With a respectable nod,I turned on my haunches,half expecting her to call me back,half expecting her to be glad I was gone.In truth,I really couldn't tell what she wanted.Her expressions may have been clear,but her intentions were not.I had come across that kind too.It was best to give them their space and let them figure out what they wanted.Besides,we had greeted each other and exchanged names.Thats really all thats required when meeting a stranger.She didn't seem one for conversation,and I okay with that as long as I didn't do further damage to her shaky state.

[sigh]

So... this stud has a brain to him... interesting... It was a struggle to make her mental tone bitter as if she where judging the stallion from a distance, and as if she where 'queen of the world' so to say. She didn't want to be bitter, no, infact bitterness was the last thing to her nature. She wanted nothing more than to speak in placid tones, to smile sweetly and let her eyes warmly welcome the stud before her... yet that personality was lost. Gone with years and years of being put through mental and physical hell. So, instead of the open warmth she so wished to show twords him, she continued to make her eyes harsher than necisary, her face hiding the turrent of emotions that twirled colorfully through her mind.

Though she was having a hard time latching onto one emotion and keeping it, she finaly managed to puzzle one from the bigger knot. Self hate. Self hate for calling her present to this studs attention; for still standing there and speaking to him; for still not moving even now that he was clearly too close for comfert; for not giving the guy a chance to show that he wasn't as bad as she figured. At that last thought her eyes once again 'refocused' onto him, and took in his meek appearance as he clearly vied to make her feel more at ease around him. Slowly her eyes looked back at his, and still only saw the openness to them. Against her will, she felt her body un-tence her muscles ceasing to quiver with the tention of being ready to run or defend in a seconds notice.

She didn't know why, but as she continued to watch the stallion (even as he spoke about her not meaning what she said) she felt... calm. She didn't feel as if she needed to run anymore, if anything she felt the urge to stay right there and talk to him more. Shaking her head, she used it as an excuse to look away from his calming blue eyes and as she stilled her forlock fell like a cream vail over her eye, allowing her to see his outline, though making it so she was unable to look into his eyes again. Though the fact that she couldn't fully watch his every move bothered her slightly but odly she once again found herself not bothered by it too much, probably due to his calm and respectable manner. Either that or her burning hunger for the company of another equine was overriding her better judgement...

But wait... since when had she had some sort of 'burning hunger' for company? In her mind she had been running as far away as possible from all contact she had, trying to avoid others as best she could. In her mind if she stayed in one place too long, she would become too attatched, too welcome, and then she would be hurt. Hurt, betrayed, and just left for dead. So, since when had she thirsted for company? The hair that fell before her eye was slowly falling away, slowly settling back to the center of her forhead, only a few whisps saving her from looking at him, saving her from her own unorthadox thoughts. Yet, it would seem she need not worry as he spoke, his tones polite, before he turned away. Her first reaction to this was reliefe, reliefe that he was finaly gone, and she had no reason to be rude to him and show him the door. Also, she felt a sudden pang of regret...

Regret? Regret for what? Slowly, she straitend up, both her hind feet now flat on the ground, the hair no longer shielding her line of sight. Her eyes remeained upon the retreating back of the stallion, unable to hide the mix of regret and confusion that swirled in them. She wanted to call out to him, wanted to tell him to wait, to feed the ravinouse hunger she had for anothers company. Alas, her nature and past held back her words, the fear of what pain would come to her if she did speak to him again. Though, he had walked away, had told her goodbye and had not forced her into a corner as all others had. All the while she thought, her eyes continued to watch him move off, her ears swivling around to keep alert to her surroundings, aswell as shave off the top of the pent up anxiety within her.

Finaly, she seemed to come to a disision, and took a slow step forwards, her ears lain slightly back in aprehention. Her hunger had won out; that and the fact that this stallion was diffrent, of that she was now sure... not that she had a habit of being correct, if anything she was constantly wrong about everything. Alas, one had to jump off a cliff to learn how to fly, so forcing her faquade to take on a stoic air she struck off into a trot after the stallion, her floating gait carrying her lightly over the rocks. Yes, she could of just used the air around her to 'flit' to where he was, but that would of given him little to no warning of her aproach. Besides, she didn't trust her mind at that moment to be still enough not to make the air do something she would regret.

So, with her light strides making a loud 'click' at every step, she made her way twords the stallion, her regret for her dumb choice rising with every movement. This was stupid. She didn't have to do this, she could of just left it as it was... Alas, curiocity was burning in her, fueled by the desire to just be around another equine. As she neared him, her faltered slightly though she forced herself to continue on so as soon she stood before him, blocking his path to keep him from moving on. Aye, he could just barrel through her, chances where he was ten times stronger than her physically, but she wasn't too worried about that seeing as she had yet to meet one that could bend air as strongly as herself. Without anger to the gesture, she laid her ears back, warning him not to run into her. Not sure if he stopped or not, she quickly said, I apologize if my manner is...less than friendly, its been a few moons since I last spoke to an equine. She didn't look at him as she spoke, instead dipped her head in an apolagetic mannor before looking back at him to see if he was even bothering to look at her or had moved on.

occ// Ohmy I'm sosososososo muse dead haha sorry

[»starla]

But the river keeps runnin'
O T H E L L O;;
Don't even know that I'm around.

With each step I took I was beginning to believe the half of me that guessed she wouldn't follow.Perhaps she actually did just want to be left alone,and was in fact not in the mood for company.I was a little dissapointed in myself for not trying harder to make things right before just leaving.I probably shouldv'e told her where I resisded,so that she wouldn't feel the rushed pressure of having only a small window of time to talk to me before I was gone for good.With these thoughts,my steps did not falter.The massive stones were now becoming more sparse as I was coming closer to the boundary line of Sollin Stones.I could see the flat and gloomy terrain of Vlatador Flats off in the distance.For now the salf flats were quiet,not alive with the screams of anger and revenge.There would be a period of peace in Nyore Valley for a while as everyone is too concerned with settling down instead of fighting.I kept my orbs fixed on the flat,knwoing the day would come when a younger stallion would challenge my position,as the way of life calls for.I knew one day I would be overthrown so that a new legacy could take my place.But for now,Shang Mountain and all its glory needs a leader to guide in arriving Air equines.

To my suprise,the sound of hoofbeats approaching broke me from my thoughts.All at once the ess was before me.I stopped abrubtly,my hinds skidding underneath me.I regaining my posture and took a step back.This shy,unsure Pesadilla was now demanding me to stop with only her existence.No air bending to whip me back around to face her or anything.One could believe she was actually a normal horse,if they saw this scene.
Now she seemd so bold and confident as she stood before me,skull bowed in an apologetic manner.I was taken aback at what she was sorry for.I had caught nothing she had done wrong..
My auds stood erect as I listened to what she had to say.I had guessed she hadn't been in a social environment for some time,which is probably the case for most equids traveling here.Benders are viewed as outcasts and freaks,shun from their herds.Not to mention the long,lonesome journey one probably has to endure to get to the Valley.
With a gentle touch,I lifted my skull ever so slightly,seeing the wisp of air form,then support her chin,raising her crown.With that same strand of air I moved the forelock that had scattered about her visage.With a clear view of her pools,the air wisp dispersed,and a smile was planted onto my features.
Do not apologize,Pesadilla.You have done nothing wrong in my eyes.Come,tell me about your journey.
I flicked my dial,motioning for her to walk with me back into the land of Sollin Stones,away from the dreary Vlatador Flats.

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