[dohtml] <table border="0" width="450px" align="center"> <tr><td><table align="center" background="http://i51.tinypic.com/2nqs3df.jpg" border="0PX" border color="#000000 cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr><td><img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/2eo8yo2.jpg" alt="image"></td></tr> <tr><td><table align="center" width="450"><tr><td><center><div style="font-family:verdana; font-size:9px; color:#47007d; width:410px; text-align:justify; text-transform:none; font-weight:normal;"><br /> <P><BR><P> The very air seemed to fill with the scent of lavender as the violet female daintily picked her hooves off of the frost crusted sand of the Ocean of Thynid. Her movements made no sound as she continued the slow two beat rhythm across the tightly packed sediment, lilac flowers sprouting in a random pattern behind her in the cracks that graced the surface. The faintest of mists wound itself between her dainty legs, contrasting with her deep violet hooves as they made their light indentations on the land. Kivani closed her eyes, letting the sensations of her surroundings wash over her as she seemed to float into the foam of the surf, letting the chill of the water invigorate her delicate limbs. She was blissfully alone, something she rarely experienced in her travels to the land of the mortals, and was determined to enjoy it for the brief time it would last. No pesky males to interfere and try to prove their dominance over all the other pathetic creatures of their kind, no vain females to try, and fail, to prove their supremacy in beauty over hers. Just her and the roar of the surf..
<p>
Kivani honestly could not remember the last time she had been this at peace, though she felt herself growing bored at the lack of mental activity. She found herself desiring another, mortal equine to break the monotony of her life, though only one of her dynasty would be of suitable quality. It had been quite a few generations since she had made a difference in the lives of her subjects, and she didn’t want them to think she wasn’t watching. Yes, the girl could remember with vivid detail all of those who had ever existed under her rule, as well as a good number of those who hadn’t, and she had a good feeling she would encounter one of them rather soon. The poor things were drawn to her like moths to a flame, and she would be very surprised if she would be ‘discovered’ in more than a handful of minutes. The equine unfortunate enough to find her should take caution though, if he or she has managed to lose favor in her eyes, especially the males. The males she could not stand, their masculine pride and superiority complexes were completely moronic in her eyes, and there were a precise few that she could just put up with, that is if they were smart enough to compliment her throughout their worthless days. She was a sucker for a good flirt, mortal or immortal, and was more apt to ‘overlook’ if bribed with a bit of devotion and praise.
<p>
Squeezing her eyes shut even more, she picked up her pace, the two beats transforming into three beats, and then gaining more speed still. Her lack of sight threw off her balance and she felt like she was truly flying as she raced into the resistance of the waves, the rush of the shear foolishness of her actions filling her with boundless joy. She ran for as long as she could bear to, the water parting before her to leave her on completely dry sand as she raced between the walls of dark water. Her muscles strained without the ache that accompanied those of mortals, as she lost herself in a fog of lavender delight, feeling as if all the world was watching only her. And, it was in a sense, her intoxicating scent filled the air around her, the land tinged purple wherever she graced her presence. The strangest oddity though was the delicate purple flowers that had grown in her path, and would continue to thrive long after the deity had left and the waters returned. Kivani smiled to herself at this thought, mentally imagining the looks they would get from the hippocampi that swam close enough to the shore, her spirits lifting with each hoof beat. The fog grew thicker around her, the mist of purple trailing behind her like a burning comet as she streaked deeper and deeper into the depths of the ocean, the walls growing even higher beside her. But finally, her step faltered, her front hoof landing awkwardly on the flat ground as she lurched forward, her knee almost touching the ground as her momentum carried her downwards. Bringing herself to a complete halt, Kivani sighed softly before tossing her dark, purple streaked mane impatiently. She had lost all interest in her own games, finally opening her eyes and letting them adjust to the sudden increase in brightness as she realized how far into this wretched place she had gone.
<p>
Growing restless again, she slowly relaxed her lips to a closed state once more, opening them again to appear at the rocky beach yet again, the large body of water beginning only a few inches away from her hooves. Stepping forward once to barely submerge them in the water, she stared down in amusement as she found her pale amethyst eyes looking back at her, almost ghostly pale in comparison to the deeper hues of their surroundings. She froze there, neck curved gracefully downwards, forelock tumbling in dramatic curves over her faintly dished forehead as she calmed the water beneath to reflect her image to an even greater extent. She smiled at her reflection, the only other being she considered her equal, as she admired the well-defined bone structure of her face, the shine of her lavender coat. Her overgrown tail floated on the shallow water, her mane almost touching its surface, beautiful details Kivani’s keen eyes did not miss. Vain could not even describe this mare, as she was a much more dramatic version of self-absorbed. The water beneath her gaze began to swirl and became more translucent in breathtaking shades of plum, slightly obscuring her image. Snorting in disdain, Kivani returned it to its transparent state before losing herself completely in her liquid mirror, mentally urging her dynasty to stay wherever the hell they were for a good time. She was perfectly content to stand there for quite a while longer.
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{word count - 1,019}<br>
{other - here you go G:}
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The weather was beautiful. The sun was a gorgeous orb of yellow, spewing its warmth with pulsating happiness. Its rays lit up the world around it, causing the stones of the beach, slick with salt water, to glow with its brightness. Rugar stood in the deep sand, and for once, allowed the cold water to rush over his hooves. How long had it been since he allowed himself to be touched by water? It seemed the only place he would allow it now was here. Angry water usually made him antsy, but today he took comfort in its roaring and crashing. He closed his eyes and tilted his face towards the sun, allowing his dark body to be bathed in its buttery warmth. It was a delicious contrast. Icy cold on his feet and soft warmth splayed out across his withers and flank, it caused a shiver to ripple through his body, and he tossed his dark violet mane as his teeth chattered together.

Why did the sun need to be out today? It was winter. It was winter. The sun didn’t need to be out, especially not on the coast, not on the Ocean of Thynid... This was the only place he knew that clung to a marine layer no matter what season. He was counting on the gloom. He was counting on the dark clouds brewing something cold and delicious. He didn’t need the sun, not today. All the sun brought was the memory of Adamma. He didn’t need to see her face when he closed his eyes. He didn’t need to feel its warmth when he lifted his face to the sky. The sky was supposed to match his mood, and today it did not match at all. It was enough that he was seeking the comfort of roaring water, all he asked for was the weather to cooperate and oblige to gloomy clouds and maybe a few fat rain drops. But no.

Rugar sighed deeply. At least he was alone. That was all that mattered. He could make the best out of a retched day. He could drown his thoughts with the water; allow the roaring and sloshing of the waves to over take his mind. That shouldn’t be too difficult, after all his hearing waned constantly. That was another reason he preferred to be alone. At least here he could pretend that the ringing in his ears was normal. If he concentrated enough on the waves and the sound of the water dragging sand and pebbles out to sea, it was almost as if the shrill ring inside his ears belonged with the waves. But if he closed his eyes, and concentrated especially hard, he could get so lost in the noises of the ocean that the piercing ring disappeared altogether. That was beauty. To not hear the dreadful ringing, the ringing like a tooth ache inside his ears that replaced anything he could hear with its awful scream. That was beautiful to him. If there was any beauty left in this world, it would be to be able to stand with the ocean water lapping at his hooves, and not have to endure the pain of losing his hearing to the sound of the whistle inside his ear drums.

He remembered what it was like when he first gained consciousness after nearly drowning so long ago. He woke up on the banks of the river, sand flecking his body. When he opened his eyes, he realized that he couldn’t hear. There was no sound. No birds singing, no water kissing the banks gently. He couldn’t hear the sound of water splashing against rocks. He couldn’t hear the sound of otters playing. He screamed, but no sound met his ears, only a dull and distinct ringing. It was painful, like a knife stabbing into his ears, and he begged inside his mind, “Please no... You took my love. You took my life away from me. You robbed me of my heart and the blood in my veins. Please don’t take my hearing. Oh god, please don’t take sound away from me too...” That was the only time he remembered crying. He was so young. He was barely two years old, and he sobbed with his legs tucked beneath him. He sobbed until the ringing subsided and he could finally hear the beginnings of the water splashing. The ringing never left him completely. It stayed hidden, drowned out by the sounds around him. Half there, half not. Like a ghost, always reminding him of exactly what he lost and exactly who he used to be. It reminded him of who he was now, too.

Rugar opened his eyes slowly. All around him was water. He stood ankle deep in it. He hadn’t realized that the tide had come in a bit since when he first arrived.

“The ocean does that, Rugar, you idiot...” he spat inside his mind. With a flick of his dark violet tail he turned on his haunches. Four beats walk. Two beats trot. Three beats canter. Rugar picked up the canter easily, and with water spraying out behind him he carried himself back to land. The speed and wind in his mane was intoxicating, and with the cold water clinging to his coat, he couldn’t help but allow his legs to take over. He bucked once, kicking his legs out behind him, and then he took off. He slowed himself around the corners of the cliffs that loomed above the beach, and with muscles rippling, began to pick up speed again. His black tipped tale flickered behind him, like some sort of dark flamed candle. He was about to close his eyes, to completely turn his body over to his heart, when a mare wandered into the path of his eye sight.

He wanted leap out of the way and keep running, but his mind was too slow to tell his body to react. He wanted to yell, but he couldn’t make his mouth work. Instead, he tossed his head upward and sent all of his weight into his haunches, leaning backwards and sliding on his hocks in the deep sand. He dug in with his front hooves, and with wide eyes, snorted in warning to the mare he was about to smash into
.
How completely ridiculous! What kind of mare just stood there, on the beach, staring like an idiot out into the water? Rugar’s nostrils were flaring as he skidded to a stop only inches away from her. The only thing that popped into his mind was plums. She smelled, to him, like plums. Warm plums. And he smiled then. The anger dripped away from his body and he felt unusually calm. He stepped backwards and dipped his head once, his dark purple forelock covering his eyes as he did so.

“My apologies... I... I didn’t see you.”

He said honestly. It was true. He hadn’t seen her. It was a lame apology, but it was better than the screaming profanities that he had to struggle to keep from bursting through his lips. It was obvious he was fighting with his words, trying to keep them as polite as possible. Rugar was talking quickly and speaking through his teeth. The adrenaline was still pumping through his veins, muddling up his mind and causing him to think a little crazily. He had a quick temper, and he usually didn’t try to keep it under control. But that was usually in the presence of other stallions. Rugar was a gentleman, and he knew how to behave as such in the presence of a mare, especially a mare that shared his dynasty.
The dapple gray stallion took another deep, soothing breath. Finally his words were under control. He felt confident that he could speak again without offending the mare.

“I am Rugar, and I am deeply sorry for almost running into you... I wasn’t quite thinking.” He smiled pleasantly. It was lame, but it was better than, “You shouldn’t have been in my way, you fucking idiot...” Rugar smiled inwardly, his entire being brightening. He had control. This was lovely.

Ooc: Lots of muse =) Sorry I fail at coding, so my posts will not look beautiful like yours ;)
Word count: 1,357

[dohtml] <table border="0" width="450px" align="center"> <tr><td><table align="center" background="http://i51.tinypic.com/2nqs3df.jpg" border="0PX" border color="#000000 cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr><td><img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/2eo8yo2.jpg" alt="image"></td></tr> <tr><td><table align="center" width="450"><tr><td><center><div style="font-family:verdana; font-size:9px; color:#47007d; width:410px; text-align:justify; text-transform:none; font-weight:normal;"><br /> <P><BR><P>The mare sighed deeply in the purest form of content as the water rippled faintly, blurring the edges of her image on the liquid. The weather adjusted itself slightly to match her new mood, the sun seeming to shine brighter upon her compared to the rest of the mortal land, as if it was trying to win her favor. She smiled at the thought, of the very sun and moon trying to gain supremacy in her thoughts, but she knew this was not the case, for she herself unconsciously caused these changes in nature just by the amount of her happiness. She snorted at her reflection in amusement, watching the faint ripples fade outwards before closing her eyes to succumb to the inexpressible bliss of the moment. It was rather ironic that it was this one mortal place alone, this place of bloodshed and violence, hatred and mistrust, that was the one place the mare could go and feel truly happy. Maybe it was the roar of the surf, or the smell of the salty sea air that spoke to her, or maybe it was the general isolation of the shore that she craved. Whatever the reason, Kivani always found herself here over all other places, mortal or immortal, when the sheer tedium of her life was overpowering her ability to enjoy it.
<p>
It appeared her solitary state would be soon cut short however, as Kivani sensed more than heard fast hoof beats quickly approaching her on the shore. The lavender mare sighed once again, but this time in distaste as she waited for the equine to finally spot her so she could get this encounter over with. Opening her eyes the minimal of fractions, she saw in her peripheral vision a stallion turn the corner to run perilously close towards her, the barest of smiles tugging at her lips as she saw his unusual coloring that was much like her own. A Venntis, she thought to herself, at least the masculine fool is a Venntis. Her heart sunk in her chest at the realization that should would have to converse with one of the male specimens of her species, something she liked to do as little as possible. Males were so dull, always trying to prove themselves to be mighty and superior over all the other pathetic examples of their kind, acting almost as cocky as the gods themselves. The females they considered vastly inferior were so much more pleasant to interact with as they providing mentally stimulating conversation versus empty boasts and ego rampages. Opening her eyes a fraction more, she took in his coloring, his mane and tail a matching violet and black combination to hers, though she had violet streaks and he black tips, his coat a luxurious dapple grey with.. a violet wing on his shoulder..
<p>
Kivani’s thoughts trailed off here, his name finally coming out of its hidden memory as the stallion finally noticed her. Rugar. Yes, she remembered his story quite well, or at least the story of his love, her death so tragic that the deity had buried it deep in her mind, hoping to lessen the guilt she felt for not preventing it. Kivani had seen the events unfolding too late, the poor mare had drawn her last breath too long before the goddess had noticed, Nymh had already taken the young soul. But, in her grief, she could not clearly remember whether or not she had helped to save the stallion who had so gallantly tried to rescue her, though she liked to think she had. How else would he have survived? The goddess had retreated into herself for months after that, feeling the numbness wash over her and clear her mind of the pain of losing one of her own to a fate so cruel. The lavender beauty opened her eyes softly as her heart softened in pity for the stallion and the burden he had to carry. But, tormented or not, she would not let on that she had any feelings other than contempt for a male specimen, though she would try to be less harsh towards him. Who ever said a goddess couldn’t have a conscience?
<p>
The mare tilted her dainty head toward the brute, watching with immense amusement as he barely managed to keep from slamming into her, awkwardly sliding to a stop only a few precious inches away. He must be lucky, for the goddess’ patience was short and surely such violent bodily contact would burst her fuse. A coy smirk spread across her lips as he backed up to a more decent distance away from her, noticeably controlling his anger. But, it appeared her intoxicating scent was working its magic, or the stallion had some sturdy self-control, for he restrained himself from spitting hateful curses at her, instead apologizing to her, for something she herself had caused. The mare’s smile became more genuine at his words, as they spoke well to her immense pride, though she responded to him quite bluntly, her voice almost dripping with feminine charm, uttering the insult as if it was the highest compliment.
<p>
“I noticed.”
<p>
She observed curiously at the stallions visible fight to control his anger, almost disappointed that he did not show her the full force of a stallion’s rage. She fought the urge to croon at this thought, imagining the subtle torments she could inflict if insulted in such a manner. She did not care that it was her fault for standing there like an imbecilic fool, only that she had gotten under his skin enough to bring out a darker side of him in comparison to the usual fronts males sported. Oh poohoo, I ruffled the poor boys feathers, she thought to herself, pleased at the pun the expression had in context, her ears perking up as he continued his words pleasantly enough. The mare was still not completely pleased with him however, and continued to respond in her characteristically frank manner.
<p>
“Apparently you weren’t.”
<p>
He didn’t know who she was. Her eyes narrowed dangerously as this realization struck her, her pride hurt by his lack of recognition. The more sensible part of her told herself that was no way he could recognize her on sight, as she was much more legend than substance to her mortals, but her ego was too bruised to let the brute get off easily for his lack of respect of her elevated position. No, she would not be too cruel to him for his ignorance, but she wouldn’t exactly gift him with her blessing either. Her limbs moved into motion as she slowly stepped around the male, letting her scent wash over him as she completed a full rotation. Stopping parallel to the stallion, she craned her neck upwards to whisper directly in his ear, her flirtatious voice not betraying her true emotions.
<p>
“Nice to see you again Rugar. It’s been awhile, what, two years now?”
<p>
She did not particularly care how mysterious she must sound to the male without the insight she possessed, rather relishing in the confusion she must have inflicted upon him. Well, she couldn’t be completely sure, maybe he remembered the stories of the lavender goddess who ruled his people. But, more likely she would baffle him to say the least, an idea she particularly liked. She continued to slink around him again, her flair for the dramatic clearly evident as she took the opportunity to lightly brush her muzzle against his side like an intimate lover, her hips making contact with his as she turned towards his head. She moved forward from him a few feet, turning to look straight into his eyes as she spoke her next lyrics, mock hurt injected into her brief lyrics.
<p>
“Dearest, you insult me, surely you must recognize me?”
<p>
She daintily blinked her eyes at him, the lavender globes seeming to widen in dejection as she waiting patiently to see how he would respond to her bizarre mixed signals. Was this cruel of her to do to her own species? A small smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she unconsciously answered her own question, not feeling the need to truly recognize it. A faint purr crept into her throat as she gazed upon Rugar, amusement lightening her spirits. She hadn’t had this much entertainment in a long time..
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{word count - 1,393}<br>
{other - crazy goddess time xD my muse exploded onto this}
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On top of being forced to control his tongue, Ruger was suffering a sensory overload, an overload that had the potential to throw the dappled stallion over the edge. He struggled to maintain his cool. He knew he had to. There was no use in allowing the sharpness of his tongue in this conversation. No use at all. His ears flickered towards the mare, listening to her sickeningly sweet tone. Her tone was flirty, but her words were harsh. It was a contradiction that confused him. It was as if she were being sarcastic, but with a more subtle edge. It was almost as if she knew him and he didn’t. It was like she knew that he hated contradictory speech, and that he believed you should act the way you feel and your words should match. Ruger struggled to keep up with her words.

She was a beautiful mare, he could admit that shamelessly. Her colors matched his, almost like a mirror reflection; a strange and skewed mirror reflection. His dark yellow eyes fallowed her as she circled around him. She moved, leaving the scent of plums in her wake. The smell was so strong he could imagine seeing a trail of deep purple wafting from behind her, entangling itself around his legs before disappearing through his nostrils and into his mind. It was a scent that would be difficult to get rid of after it had burrowed into his brain. It would be difficult to extricate after it had laid its eggs there and consumed his mind. He tossed his head upwards, flinging his mane in an effort to rid his mind of her. He needed to think. He needed to think so he could formulate an intelligent response. He needed to think so he wouldn’t lose control of his tongue...

Thinking was proving to be difficult, and Ruger assumed that this was her plan. She circled him, speaking seductively as she brushed up against him, whispering in his ear. It took him a moment for the words to register, and when he did, he snorted with irritation. Wait... She knew him? Ruger’s eyes widened. How did she know him? He hadn’t seen the mare a day in his life... Her features were completely unfamiliar to him... But she knew him? Ruger searched his mind quickly, mulling through pictures of mares he had seen before, spent nights with, enjoyed the company of... She didn’t come to mind. How did she know him and he not know her? He shook his head once more and snorted again, irritation finally getting the better of him. He stepped out abruptly from the circle and backed up three steps before stopping. At least he was free of her and her mind muddling intentions. Now he could think. Now he could formulate a response.

“Excuse me?”

Ruger didn’t bother hiding the irritation in his voice. After all, he had tried to maintain his gentlemanly attributes. It was she that threw away the respect when she didn’t oblige to choosing her words correctly.

“No, my dear... It is you who insult me. Believing that you can use your feminine valor to attain your way? Or is it only for your own amusement that you can so shamelessly throw yourself at me? What do you take me as? A mindless stallion who thinks only on impulse? What do you expect from me? Do you expect me to turn to gelatinous mush at the very touch of your body against mine? You have mistaken me for someone else. I do not lose myself so easily under the flirtatious façade of a pretty mare... My temper, however, I can not speak for. ”

Ruger snapped, and his ears flicked backwards momentarily before retaining their original form. He narrowed his eyes, glancing down upon her before taking another step backwards. He didn’t know her, and he highly doubted that she genuinely knew him. To flirt so shamelessly was inappropriate and absurd. To think that he would react upon it was even more so. The first thing that popped into his mind was whore.

“I do not know you, nor do I recognize you. So how is it, miss, that you believe to know me?”

Ruger asked. He raised his eyebrow, taking in her features once more before retreating inside his mind. He was curious and confused, and the fact there of caused him to lose his temper. He would have mentally kicked himself, but for some reason he didn’t really care. He was intrigued, deeply so. There was something about the mare that sparked something inside his mind. Something that he knew he should know, but couldn’t bring any information to his mind. He knew that he should probably recognize her, that he should probably be able to say, flat out, “Oh yes, I know you!” But he could not. He could only stand back with one ear perked forward, and the other back, pondering the reasoning behind her actions and trilling through the pages in his mind until he found something that remotely resembled her.

Ooc- I misspelled his name. Sorry. It's supposed to be Ruger. Like the gun.
Word count- 924

[dohtml] <table border="0" width="450px" align="center"> <tr><td><table align="center" background="http://i51.tinypic.com/2nqs3df.jpg" border="0PX" border color="#000000 cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr><td><img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/2eo8yo2.jpg" alt="image"></td></tr> <tr><td><table align="center" width="450"><tr><td><center><div style="font-family:verdana; font-size:9px; color:#47007d; width:410px; text-align:justify; text-transform:none; font-weight:normal;"><br /> <P><BR><P> The mare watched without emotion as the stallion took a few steps backwards, presumably to clear his head of her intoxicating scent, his expression a bizarre mix of irritated and confused. A small smile spread across the females countenance as she observed his minor victory over his fickle stallion emotions, pleasantly surprised by the lack of some lame pick up line that usually followed her wonderful.. ‘acting.’ Kivani knew how to secure her place in a male’s thoughts, as she should after countless centuries of practice, and hadn’t held back when it came to this one. He had fought her off all on his own, proving himself to have the ability to slightly redeem his gender in her eyes. She raised an eyebrow at his first utterance, an ear lazily flicking backwards as she waiting for the speech that would inevitably accompany the phrase. Stallions and their long-winded speeches..
<p>
Returning her audits to their attentive state, she listened as patiently as she could to the stallion’s words, her sharp mind instantly formulating a response to each individual sentence almost the moment he spoke it, filtering through which responses she would physically speak. The stallion seemed to be rather delusional, or at least living in some sort of dream world, where the charms of a female could not win them.. benefits with the stallion of their choosing. She snorted softly to herself, not rude enough to want to interrupt him, how dare he think he had the right to be insulted with her! The nerve of this young stallion intrigued her rather than infuriated her however; perhaps she was in a forgiving mood today, or perhaps it was the stallion’s past that influenced her reactions to his foolish, impulsive words. Either way, the female remained largely emotionally unaffected by the stallion, staring blankly at him as he finished his long ramble, her blank expression giving none of her varied thoughts away.
<p>
But no, the stallion still had to add another sentence, this time questioning how she knew him, but he could not recognize her. The female’s eyes glistened, a grin full of malice growing wider on her lips as she pondered for an answer to his question, finding none to be suitable without giving away her identity completely, or making her sound completely insane. What was she supposed to say? ‘Oh yeah, I watch you all the time from my purple home in the sky’ or ‘I know everyone sillygoose.. No, I’m not a stalker whose been following you all of your life!’ or perhaps ‘I know who you are.. because I watch people. All the time. You’re one of my favorites..’ No, none of these responses would do, so the stallion would have to go without an answer to his question for the time being. Realizing how long she had let the silence stretch between them, the female lifted her head to an exemplary height, her neck arched as her lyrics, filled with innocent amusement, flowed from her lips.
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“Dearest, a mindless stallion is the only kind of stallion that exists, in varying degrees of course, but all mindless in the end. My apologies for thinking you to be one of the more extreme varieties. I do commend you on your self-control however; you would be surprised how many of your pitiful gender have fallen at my slightest touch. But Ruger dear, you are wrong when you say I have mistaken you. I never mistake one of my own.”
<p>
Was she speaking in riddles yet again? The goddess snorted in amusement, for her mysterious tendencies were only her nature, something she did not plan to change for any equine, mortal or immortal, especially one of the male gender. Her patience was starting to wear thin, as she herself had a temper that matched, or even excelled, that of the stallion she toyed with. The boy was proving himself to be less amusing now that he was not caught in her spell, and the mare wished she had more.. feminine company. Well, she might as well attempt to get this over with, or at least suck the most entertainment out of the situation as physically possible. She took a deliberate step toward the male, raising her head to a regal level once more before continuing her speech, her voice, though neutral enough in tone, was dangerously low, her pale eyes narrowed as she gazed at the male.
<p>
“You still don’t remember me? Darling, don’t you remember your childhood stories? Fine, I shall give you a hint. Does the name Kivani ring a bell to you?”
<p>
The goddess settled back on her hooves, her flirtatiousness completely faded to be replaced by her usual godly countenance, her expression now almost completely serious. The male had passed her test and had joined the ranks of the few stallions she had ever remotely approved, but if he couldn’t recognize her after she gave him her name.. Well that would just cancel out all of her good feelings. The mare made a low humming noise, her impatience rising to new heights as she found herself wishing she had stayed in her own lavender world where she could completely control all the elements of her surroundings, and most importantly her companions. She loathed giving stately speeches of encouragement and conquest to the Venntis, a task she generally left to Sangis without regret. No, she preferred to keep her people humble, more likely to bestow a curse than a gift, as harsh as that may sound. Love was not an emotion the mare expressed well, though she truly meant only the best for those she ruled, even the stallions. She just wished she didn’t have to converse with them so. <br>"Speaky Speaky Speak"[/color]
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{word count - 952}<br>
{other - I managed to get it up before Christmas ! (:}
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Ruger listened carefully. His ears were perked forward, he was trying to make out the words, and he caught a few “Dearest, a mindless...” And then the mare’s words cut out and were replaced with a shrill ringing. Ruger flinched at the abruptness of it. The stallion’s dark ears flattened as his body shrunk back, almost a spooky jump of a flinch. The ringing was incredibly loud, like a siren in his ear. It pierced his skull and made it throb all the way into his spine. The pain almost took his breath away.

Ruger had learned how to cope in times like these. He learned very well how to read lips. Would she notice if his eyes left hers and trailed down to her lips? How else would he be able to tell what the hell she was babbling about if he didn’t? The dappled stallion swallowed dryly, trying with fierce stubbornness to ignore the pain that thrashed inside his head. He watched her mouth move, but the ache in his ears killed his concentration. For a moment a voice flickered into his mind. It told him to turn on his haunches and run. To run away with your wounded pride, and don’t look back. And then another voice chimed it. It said “Coward...” And that was all he needed. Ruger shook his mane once, shaking his head and in his mind, shaking away the pain that was still throbbing. He stood, grounded like an oak tree. He wouldn’t move unless asked. Cowardice gets you no where.

Through the afflictive ringing, the mare’s words were beginning to shine through again. He missed most of her spiel, but he could tell from her face that her words held sarcasm and venom. “I never mistake my own.” Ruger understood that. He shook his head once more and heard his ear pop with a sharp, dagger like pain that struck the back of his throat. He gulped again and concentrated deeply on the mare’s speech. The ringing was slowly subsiding. And now he was beginning to catch the gist of what she was saying. He could hear her words, although they sounded far off and under water. Almost a feint gurgle hung around them. Oh god, was he losing his hearing? For a moment he remembered waking up on the banks and hearing the ringing. He remembered crying. He remembered screaming “Oh god, please, not my ears... Not my ears...” He wanted to hear the birds sing. He was so young, but now the panic was beginning to feel fresh in him again. With every muscle of his iron will, he stifled the panic. With every ounce of will power, he smothered the flame of anxiety. And only then did the words she spoke begin to sound clearer. With extreme concentration and will power, her words were beginning to retain normality. He almost wanted to smile.

His face fell when the last of her words reached his ears. He must not be hearing correctly... After the ringing, he couldn’t be. He didn’t really hear the words, did he? She wasn’t... She wasn’t his goddess? She couldn’t be. He wanted to laugh at her. He wanted to laugh in her face and then dismiss her easily. But he couldn’t. He couldn’t because it made sense. The strangely familiar smell of plums that clung to her, her voice that rang inside his head, her face that was oddly familiar... All of these things plagued him, prodded his mind gently, whispering the words “You know who I am... You know who I am...” It made sense, and Ruger wanted to kick himself.

“You’ve got to be kidding me...” Ruger groaned. Was this some sort of test? Was she testing his sanity? Was she testing his ability to keep his temper under control? Did she remember his plea in the woods only a few weeks ago; His promise that if she would take away his pain, he would promise to never allow his tongue to stray again? Well. He had a bone to pick with her for that. She couldn’t possibly be angry with him for that. After all, his pain was not gone. His heart still bled, and his bones were still icy.

But suddenly, another memory flashed to his mind. His sooty lips tightened over his teeth, and his yellow eyes went icy. His face drained of all color. She was his goddess? She was the all powerful one? Hypocrite! He wanted to scream at her. He wanted to tear her apart. Where was she? Where was she that day at the river, when the water, with such cruelty, robbed Adamma of her life?! Ruger wanted to scream.

“You are the oh great and powerful Kivani? Where were you, your majesty?!” He spat bitterly, his ears pinned and his lips curled over his teeth, baring them fiercely. He took a step towards her.

“Where were you?! Where were you two years ago at the river? Where were you when she took that first breath of icy water? Where were you when I jumped in after her? Where were you when I grabbed hold of her, but the current was too strong for me to pull her to the surface? Where were you when the tide swept her away from me? Where were you when she was pulled under? Where were you when I felt her body slip from mine and watched as her life slipped from her eyes? Where were you, oh mighty queen?! I called out to you; did you not hear my voice? I called your name! I called to you! And where were you?!”

Ruger yelled. All attempts to control him were abandoned. He was already in too deep. He felt the icy cold water close in around him. He couldn’t stop himself now, even if it meant eternal damnation. His life already was hellish enough. When you have nothing, you have nothing to lose.

“You robbed me of the only thing I have ever loved. You robbed me of my happiness, and instead you awarded me with a life of dull pain and loss of hearing! Do you even remember? Do you remember my agony? Have you any idea? For two years I called to you and you never answered. For two years I begged for mercy and end of this pain that you cast upon me, and you never uttered a word. And what now? I just stumble upon you frolicking on the beach? How hard your life must be, queen. I envy your lack of consternation.”

Ruger’s ears were pinned, his teeth bared. His features were contorted with mixture of fury, anguish, and extreme pain. Where was she? She said she loved her people. She was supposed to be the mother of all Venntis. Where was she?

Ooc: MUUSE Oh, and I must say I have a dirty mind when I read "I got it up before Christmas" HAHAHA You must be proud of yourself XD

[dohtml] <table border="0" width="450px" align="center"> <tr><td><table align="center" background="http://i51.tinypic.com/2nqs3df.jpg" border="0PX" border color="#000000 cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"> <tr><td><img src="http://i56.tinypic.com/2eo8yo2.jpg" alt="image"></td></tr> <tr><td><table align="center" width="450"><tr><td><center><div style="font-family:verdana; font-size:9px; color:#47007d; width:410px; text-align:justify; text-transform:none; font-weight:normal;"><br /> <P><BR><P> At his words, the sun was almost instantly hidden by a sudden onslaught of dark clouds, the perfect symbolism of what occurred in the pale goddess’ heart. The calm foam of the ocean turned into crashing waves that threatened to topple the equines as they smashed cruelly against their legs. Even the wind picked up, howling around the two as it carried her dark, violet streaked mane in the air along its path. The female seemed to change also, her pale eyes darkening by two full shades, her coat seeming to vanish into the thick purple mist that grew around her bodice alone, seemingly unaffected by the wind. She took a step forward to match his own, responding only to her emotions he raised with his vicious, sarcastic words. The foolish stallion had raised the female’s temper, a task that was hard to do, but when she was in one of her rages, well, unless you had a death wish, they were generally unpleasant. Her ears pinned straight back, her teeth were bared as her neck whipped about like a deadly serpent preparing to strike. What right did he think he had to be angry with her?! Her, the one who had given him life, not once, but twice! Her, the one who had saved him from unknown dangers so many times she had lost count! The ungrateful little bastard! He would pay for his insolence!
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Her fury only built inside of her as his lengthy spiel progressed, her control of her own powers completely lost to her as they waged violently around them. The howling wind seemed to cut them like the bared teeth of a thousand hefty wolves, the waves of the cursed ocean striking even more violently against their unprotected pelts. The earth crumbled, cracking in a perfect circle around the pair, adding an ear splitting crunch to the deafening chaos of the other elements. Flames erupted from the circumference, completing a circle of fire around them and serving to trap them until the goddess was coaxed out of her rage. The whites of her eyes flashed, the fire reflected wildly in their infuriated depths, as she threw up her head without restraint, her mane thrown out wildly from her neck. His words washed over her, each syllable launching her fury in a violent crescendo as her emotions quickly spiraled out of control. As the stallion finally finished, she froze in place, the surroundings instantly calming as she glared at him, expression as cold and unmoving as ice. She spontaneously spat her lyrics with an eerie calm that seemed out of place in the uproar of the former scene, her voice amplified to echo off of the rocks.
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“Ruger. I thought you were different than the rest. But no, I was wrong; you are worse. Do you think I don’t regret not saving her every single day? That I don’t remember the look on her face as I watched her last breath escape from her lips to the cruel water? If you honestly believe the guilt for what happened does not constantly weigh on my mind, then you sir are an honest fool and have no respect in my eyes. I was too late, Nymh already held her soul. But I saved yours, you ungrateful stallion! How else do you think you survived the harsh waters? That was no mortal feat.”
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Her eyes flashed dangerously as she took a brief pause in an attempt to control her raging temper. She squeezed her eyes closed, feeling her fury toward this stallion course through her, pulsing like a second heartbeat. It had been a long while since the female had been this free of the burden of social etiquette, and she found herself enjoying the lack of boundaries she now had for her interactions. Her thoughts soon turned dark once more, her lids abruptly flipping open to allow her to glare at the stallion once more. Her flair for the dramatic taking over, she took all of her weight on her hind legs to rise into a dangerously tall rear, her raised legs kicking out in anger as the flames grew higher to flicker over her head. Lowering herself back down onto four hooves, she arched her neck towards her chest as her mane and tail turned to pure flame that danced upon her pelt without harm, an eerie glow cast upon the lavender mist. Her vitriolic lyrics flowed from suave lips, starting at a low volume that quickly rose to a howling screech.
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“You think I awarded you your suffering? Darling, you forced that upon yourself. Sure, I could take your pain away, restore you to your former happiness, but with it would leave your memory of her, something I know you would not allow. You think I don’t remember your agony? I was experiencing it too, you imbecilic stallion! You think you have lost? Try watching generation after generation of your children, the only creatures you have ever loved, perish, one after the next. Imagine how it would feel to lose one you cared about each time you so much as took the time to bat an eye rather than watching over them like a mother hen. My life is far from easy, Ruger; I may be a goddess, but I am not perfect.”
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The female was completely lost now, becoming a flaming beacon on the barren landscape as her entire being became of flame. The circle rose to over ten feet in height, the atmosphere dramatically climbing in temperature as the elements became hyperactive once more. The mare had always loved being overly dramatic, and even her blind rage this clearly showed, the flaming equine rising a foot off of the ground to glare down at the stallion. Impulsive words exploded from her lips, the true bluntness of her fury adding a harsh glare to the booming howl.
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“What do you want me to do? Bring her back? Even I have no control over life and death. Give up your fantasy, you blundering idiot. She’s gone. Move on. And don’t you ever even think of speaking to me like that again if you value your pathetic existence.”
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The female closed her eyes, flames slowly disappearing from her pelt as she lowered to the ground once more, her hooves landing lightly on the surf. The elements died down to a soft roar, the flames returning to their original height as Kivani slowly exhaled, letting the tension escape from her body. She was not calm in the slightest, if anything far from it, but she controlled her temper temporarily to give the stallion a chance to properly respond. She raised her head and narrowed her eyes at him with pure contempt; he had better watch his words if he wished to continue his comfortable life.
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{word count - 1,137}<br>
{other - baha, dirty minds xD I just realized how much text is in here.. >.>}
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I am SO sorry my posts will be a bit late. I am EXTREMELY sick and finding it very hard to just get out of bed. I will be back to myself ASAP!

The ground trembled as fire circled both equines. The dappled stallion’s ears were pinned, flat against his skull as he watched his queen in all her furious splendor. Her eyes darkened as Ruger’s words sunk in. He was in big trouble, but his stallion’s pride said otherwise. He watched her with hatred in his eyes, his teeth still bared at her. How dare she? How dare she believe she had the right?! The anger swelled up inside of him like the tides at their highest point, as the fire slowly ebbed. He listened to her prating, and for once wished that his hearing would fade.

“Don’t tell me that I survived because of you, Kivani. Don’t tell me that the reason I’m alive is because you cared enough to save me.” The anger in his eyes flickered dangerously. The fury that was inside him was unebbing and painful. How long had he lived with this hurt and anger so deep inside of him? Masked by the wings on his side, and the violet in his mane, he was a wounded creature seeking an outlet. Finally he had found it, and the dam holding back the icy black waters of his pain could not be held up any longer. Ruger let them fall. He let them fall without fight or struggle. He had sought an outlet for his electric rage all his life and he had finally found it. He had found it in his goddess.

“Damn me if you will, Queen,” And he mock bowed. “But don’t you dare compare your pain to mine.” He snarled and his sooty velvet lips curled up over his teeth. His light yellow eyes were darkened. One thing she had said hit home to him. It made him realize. If she did grant him his former happiness, it would also mean losing her memory. And she was correct. That was something he would not stand for. Her memory was the only thing he had of her now. Even if his body was no longer good, his mind would be perfect. The memory of the sun on her face, glinting off her coat, and the way her eyes smoldered when they stood side by side, her resting her head on his withers as they whispered their secrets. Or the memory of them galloping, her muscles tense beneath her coat. Her eyes were wide with excitement, a smile stretched far across her face as her hooves pounded beneath her, her mane whipping out behind her. It was the wings she never had. She would stand beside him at night, when he was so hesitant to leave her side, nestle her head in the crook of his throat. “You are my guardian angel...” She would whisper. And she would trace the outlines of his wings with her muzzle. Lovely. These were all he had left of her.

Ruger took a slow step backwards. His ears were still pinned by his facial expressions softened slightly. His eyes lost some of their darkness, but the hatred still raged inside of him. Slowly becoming more numb to the familiar pain of anger and hurt, Ruger drew his eyes to hers. If he valued his pathetic existence? Did she not know who he was? Perhaps she wasn’t as aware of his pain as she made herself sound. Ruger valued nothing anymore. Not even his life.

“Perhaps you don’t understand. My life isn’t valuable to me anymore. So if you take it, I’m afraid you would only be granting a favor.” He glared, and slowly turned on his haunches to face away from her. The tide was softening, and the water lapped gently at the beach, rolling over his hooves. He shivered at the contrast from the cold on his pasterns and the warm sun on his back.

OOC: Sorry it's so short and sucky

So, Salem, I know it's been a long time since I last posted to this thread - which I am terribly sorry about - and I was just wondering if you still wanted to continue it after all of this time? I've been so terribly busy at the barn, in addition to school, so I haven't had the time to respond yet. I understand if you don't want to thread anymore, but I just wanted to ask you first.