Post by Oxyrrhodine on Jun 7, 2017 15:19:18 GMT -7
Nalyada’s eyes were wide with terror as she galloped through the forest, trying to glance back over her shoulder to see if the wolves were still following her without running into a tree. Sure enough, the beasts were still there, although there were fewer of them, something that gave her hope. She thundered on, desperately weaving through the trees with the slobbering beasts right on her heels. A pile of logs appeared in her path, and she soared over it, the wolves having to find an alternate route, buying her a few precious seconds. But she still couldn’t stop, still had the canines chasing her, drawn to the lone, helpless mare. And Nalyada had no choice but to gallop on, severely slowed down by the dense trees. The wolves were catching up again, she could hear them panting behind her, imagined their sharp fangs ripping into her tender flesh if they caught her.
Then, up ahead, light through the trees. An open space, the brindled mare hoped, where she could outdistance the wolves with her full speed. Nalyada veered in that direction, ever conscious of the certain death at her heels. It was then that the two wolves that she thought had vanished appeared from the undergrowth on either side of her, and she was too panicked to realize that they were herding her towards the light. All she could think about was dodging trees and brush as they came into her path; a collision would surely be the end of her at this point. Her brindled coat was soaked with sweat, her legs beginning to tire, but she pushed on, toward the light and its promise of hope.
Then, she broke through the edge of the trees, muscles coiling, preparing for a final burst of speed, and instead was forced to stop, throwing her weight onto her haunches with a squeal of fright. She skidded for purchase, front hooves stopping mere inches from the edge of the cliff that lay in front of her. The small rocks kicked up by her sudden stop tumbled over the edge and down, down, down, like her body would have done if she’d stopped any slower. A growl behind her brought her attention back to the wolves, five of them, all sharp teeth and slobber. She could smell their foul breath as they came closer, sunlight glinting off their sharp, white fangs. Forgetting the cliff, Nalyada backed up, until one hind hoof slipped over the edge, causing her to remember the danger behind her. She stood, frozen with terror, unable to decide which source of near-certain death she wished to take on. One of the wolves leapt for her, and she closed her eyes, trying to think of something other than her impending death.
But the impact never came. Instead, there was a thundering of hooves, the sound of an impact, and a distinctly canine yelp. Realizing that she was still alive, Nalyada slowly opened her eyes to see the black and white figure of another equine, nimbly dodging as a wolf jumped for her jugular, then turning to send it flying off the cliff with another strike of their hind hooves. Nalyada stared in awe as the overo horse (she could not yet tell if the stranger was male or female, as they were muscled as well as most stallions but moved with a certain feminine sort of grace) took on the wolves with ease, and such grace that they looked like they were dancing rather than fighting, a wide grin on their face as two more of the wolves joined the other one in flying off the cliff, and then the remaining two fled. Nalyada could only stare in awe as the stranger, her rescuer, turned to face her, marveling at the other equine’s beauty, at the sleek, powerful muscles that rippled under their battle-scarred coat, at the grace with which they executed even the simple pivot to face her. Now this horse was the adventurer that Nalyada dreamed of being, badass and capable and gorgeous. Although personally, she hoped she didn’t pick up quite so many scars. She really wasn’t a fan of pain.
And then, the stranger spoke. “Well, that was fun.” The words were blithe, casual, the stranger’s voice definitely feminine. Nalyada blinked at her, surprised. Whatever she was expecting the stranger to say, that certainly wasn’t it. “Fun?” she questioned, words falling from her mouth unbidden. “I nearly died!” Adrenaline was slowly leaving her body, leaving her shaking slightly, nostrils flaring as her breaths came quicker. She had nearly died! What was she thinking, setting off on her own to be a wanderer! What a fool this stranger must think her to be, panicking after the danger was gone, while the one who had done the actual fighting stood calm and unruffled. She forced herself to breathe, to compose herself, to act like a normal horse. “I mean, um. Thank you for rescuing me, milady.” She dipped her head politely to the overo stranger.
Who chuckled to herself, looking rather amused. “Milady,” she repeated, shaking her head. “That’s still such a weird term. Like I know it’s supposed to be respectful, but I’m not yours or even particularly ladylike.” Nalyada flinched slightly, afraid that she’d offended her rescuer, but the other mare’s tone was light and cheerful, seemingly just amused by Nalyada’s word choice. “How about you call me Mystic instead? Or even Mystic Shadows if you want to be really formal.”
Mystic Shadows. It was somewhat of an odd name, Nalyada thought to herself, but she supposed the horse it belonged to was a bit odd, too. Still beautiful and capable and many things Nalyada hoped she would one day become, but also a little odd. Nalyada responded with a polite smile. “It is truly a pleasure to meet you mi- Mystic.” She corrected herself as the overo gave her an odd look. “My name is Nalyada, and I must thank you again for rescuing me. Where did you learn to fight like that?” The Thoroughbred mix was embarrassed by the way her tone glowed with admiration, and ducked her head slightly, too shy to make eye contact. She still couldn’t quite believe that she was still alive, all thanks to this mare.
Mystic shrugged, casually tossing her rather unruly forelock out of her eyes. “I’m a retired assassin and mercenary, so obviously the training comes with that. And no problem. As I said earlier, it was fun. Do you want to maybe move away from that cliff?” Nalyada flushed as she realized that she was still standing near the edge of the cliff. She still felt foolish, being so panicked by something that this other mare seemed to view as entertainment. It was a difference in experience, she supposed, the painted mare clearly being a highly trained warrior, from the way she’d fought off the wolves to her powerful muscles and athletic build to her battle-scarred hide to the way she carried herself, all confidence and dangerous grace even when standing still. She even made her thick, tangled mess of a mane look good. In comparison, Nalyada felt like a foolish, flighty, filly, disheveled and unprepared.
And now, Nalyada was starting to realize that she was absolutely parched from her run through the woods. “Actually, do you happen to know of any nearby water? I am rather new to these lands, so I have little idea of where I may find things.” She hoped that she wasn’t asking for too much after Mystic had rescued her already. But the mare had rescued her, so she obviously wasn’t that bad. After all, she had no way of knowing that she’d only been rescued because the overo thought the fight would be fun. In Nalyada’s mind, the other mare had seen her struggling and so had come to help, just like she would have done for anyone else. If she was a capable fighter, that was. Unfortunately, she came from a herd where only stallions were expected to fight, so she had received no training.
Mystic continued to smile. “Well, I happen to be new around here too, but I passed a stream while tracking those wolves. I could show you where it is if you follow me.” And still, the mare was friendly and helpful, leaving Nalyada thinking herself fortunate to have found her company. But also, Nalyada was worried that she had little to offer in return. But still, she wasn’t so much of a fool to turn down help that was offered to her, even if it wore on her pride that she wasn’t able to offer anything in exchange. “Thank you, that would be most kind of you. Although I feel that I am already in your debt for saving my life, you assistance would be welcome.”
The shorter mare replied with a shrug. “Don’t worry, I can find you some other time to collect on that debt,” she said with a wink. Nalyada was pretty sure she was joking, but still, she was nervous, still wondering what she had to offer in exchange for the life debt she owed the painted warrior. “For now, the entertainment of your company is enough, though.” Nalyada found herself blushing once more, though the words were casually spoken. This beautiful, capable mare enjoyed her company! What a relief that was! “Well, follow me.” And with those words, Mystic turned and set off into the forest, moving with a near-silent grace that reminded Nalyada of a predatory cat. It would have made her nervous, had the mare been anything but helpful and friendly to her this entire time. As it was, she felt more secure, even going back into the place where the wolves had found her, knowing that such a capable fighter was by her side. Nalyada followed, careful in her movements but with considerably less silent grace. It made her feel self-conscious, tall and gangly and childish next to the other mare’s athleticism.
Luckily, Mystic soon broke the silence between them. “So, how did you find yourself wandering these lands?” she asked, friendly and conversational. Nalyada took a moment to compose her thoughts before speaking. “I had always dreamed of adventure, but never had the courage to seek it until a rather domineering stud took over my former home. That gave me the courage to leave, and I found my way here. Now, I’m wandering these lands trying to see more of the world before I choose to settle down in a herd.” She hoped the other mare wouldn’t think her too childish, with her dreams of adventure. She certainly felt like a child. With her scars and history, surely the other mare would have a much more exciting tale than her. Like maybe she realized that what she was doing was wrong and had to sneak away from her former life? Or maybe the rest of her mercenary band was killed by another tribe in revenge, leaving her the sole survivor? “And what of yourself, if you don’t mind sharing that tale?” she asked, eager to hear Mystic’s story.
“Well, the work was getting too easy and repetitive, so I was getting bored. Then the tribe leaders decided it was time for me to pass my bloodlines on for the sake of the herd.” She shuddered, then continued, “After I killed the stallion assigned to be my mate because the poor fool wouldn’t let me leave, I had to get away to avoid punishment. So I traveled for a while, and eventually came here.” The way she said it, it all sounded so simple, but what an adventure that must have been! “So it seems that we’re both here wandering in search of adventure,” she commented, smiling. Nalyada felt warmth spreading in her chest at the idea that this experienced mare considered her to be a fellow wanderer and adventurer. “Although I probably won’t ever decide to settle down in a herd. It just sounds so boring, being stuck in the same place with only the same horses for company.”
That got a laugh from Nalyada, soft though it was. “Trust me, it’s terribly boring,” she said in agreement. “I would know, I lived in one for three years. And I just don’t see the excitement in settling down and starting a family like all my friends from my former herd ended up doing. But then, I feel foolish as a wanderer, too, like I’m just a silly filly playing at being an adventurer.” She felt her face heat up. She hadn’t intended to share so much. “I mean, sorry. I shouldn’t be dumping my problems on you.” Through the trees, she could hear the sound of a stream, and she picked up her pace, passing by Mystic to drink from the cool waters. She knew it was rude, but she was horribly thirsty, and she had a feeling that the painted mare wouldn’t mind. It was worth it, as the cool waters trickled down her throat.
She heard Mystic’s laughter coming from behind her. “Wow, you were thirsty. And hey, everybody has to start somewhere. At least you’re out here having fun and not stuck in some herd, right? You just gotta pick up some fighting skills, see if you can find some lone wolves to practice on, that kind of thing.” The overo’s smile was encouraging, although the idea of practicing fighting was a daunting one. But Nalyada smiled in return. “That is true, I’ve felt so much more alive out here than I ever did while I was stuck in a herd.” She paused, considering her next words, wondering if she would be asking too much. “I don’t suppose you could teach me how to fight?” The question was soft, hesitant. But Nalyada had to ask, just to be sure if it was even a possibility.
Mystic shook her head. “Nope, sorry, I’m not much of a teacher. That’d be like you teaching somebody how to walk. Besides, I’ve got places to be and new lands to explore. Good luck on your journey, Nalyada. Hopefully we’ll meet again, someday.” Nalyada watched her pivot to leave, disappointment sinking in her chest. But she couldn’t ask Mystic to stay like a clingy foal. The mare had already done enough to help her, and besides, the amazon had her own life to live. Nalyada could only hope that, when they next met, she could be a more confident and capable adventurer like the other mare so clearly was. “Farewell, Mystic!” she called. “And thank you again for saving my life!”
Words: 2,436
Then, up ahead, light through the trees. An open space, the brindled mare hoped, where she could outdistance the wolves with her full speed. Nalyada veered in that direction, ever conscious of the certain death at her heels. It was then that the two wolves that she thought had vanished appeared from the undergrowth on either side of her, and she was too panicked to realize that they were herding her towards the light. All she could think about was dodging trees and brush as they came into her path; a collision would surely be the end of her at this point. Her brindled coat was soaked with sweat, her legs beginning to tire, but she pushed on, toward the light and its promise of hope.
Then, she broke through the edge of the trees, muscles coiling, preparing for a final burst of speed, and instead was forced to stop, throwing her weight onto her haunches with a squeal of fright. She skidded for purchase, front hooves stopping mere inches from the edge of the cliff that lay in front of her. The small rocks kicked up by her sudden stop tumbled over the edge and down, down, down, like her body would have done if she’d stopped any slower. A growl behind her brought her attention back to the wolves, five of them, all sharp teeth and slobber. She could smell their foul breath as they came closer, sunlight glinting off their sharp, white fangs. Forgetting the cliff, Nalyada backed up, until one hind hoof slipped over the edge, causing her to remember the danger behind her. She stood, frozen with terror, unable to decide which source of near-certain death she wished to take on. One of the wolves leapt for her, and she closed her eyes, trying to think of something other than her impending death.
But the impact never came. Instead, there was a thundering of hooves, the sound of an impact, and a distinctly canine yelp. Realizing that she was still alive, Nalyada slowly opened her eyes to see the black and white figure of another equine, nimbly dodging as a wolf jumped for her jugular, then turning to send it flying off the cliff with another strike of their hind hooves. Nalyada stared in awe as the overo horse (she could not yet tell if the stranger was male or female, as they were muscled as well as most stallions but moved with a certain feminine sort of grace) took on the wolves with ease, and such grace that they looked like they were dancing rather than fighting, a wide grin on their face as two more of the wolves joined the other one in flying off the cliff, and then the remaining two fled. Nalyada could only stare in awe as the stranger, her rescuer, turned to face her, marveling at the other equine’s beauty, at the sleek, powerful muscles that rippled under their battle-scarred coat, at the grace with which they executed even the simple pivot to face her. Now this horse was the adventurer that Nalyada dreamed of being, badass and capable and gorgeous. Although personally, she hoped she didn’t pick up quite so many scars. She really wasn’t a fan of pain.
And then, the stranger spoke. “Well, that was fun.” The words were blithe, casual, the stranger’s voice definitely feminine. Nalyada blinked at her, surprised. Whatever she was expecting the stranger to say, that certainly wasn’t it. “Fun?” she questioned, words falling from her mouth unbidden. “I nearly died!” Adrenaline was slowly leaving her body, leaving her shaking slightly, nostrils flaring as her breaths came quicker. She had nearly died! What was she thinking, setting off on her own to be a wanderer! What a fool this stranger must think her to be, panicking after the danger was gone, while the one who had done the actual fighting stood calm and unruffled. She forced herself to breathe, to compose herself, to act like a normal horse. “I mean, um. Thank you for rescuing me, milady.” She dipped her head politely to the overo stranger.
Who chuckled to herself, looking rather amused. “Milady,” she repeated, shaking her head. “That’s still such a weird term. Like I know it’s supposed to be respectful, but I’m not yours or even particularly ladylike.” Nalyada flinched slightly, afraid that she’d offended her rescuer, but the other mare’s tone was light and cheerful, seemingly just amused by Nalyada’s word choice. “How about you call me Mystic instead? Or even Mystic Shadows if you want to be really formal.”
Mystic Shadows. It was somewhat of an odd name, Nalyada thought to herself, but she supposed the horse it belonged to was a bit odd, too. Still beautiful and capable and many things Nalyada hoped she would one day become, but also a little odd. Nalyada responded with a polite smile. “It is truly a pleasure to meet you mi- Mystic.” She corrected herself as the overo gave her an odd look. “My name is Nalyada, and I must thank you again for rescuing me. Where did you learn to fight like that?” The Thoroughbred mix was embarrassed by the way her tone glowed with admiration, and ducked her head slightly, too shy to make eye contact. She still couldn’t quite believe that she was still alive, all thanks to this mare.
Mystic shrugged, casually tossing her rather unruly forelock out of her eyes. “I’m a retired assassin and mercenary, so obviously the training comes with that. And no problem. As I said earlier, it was fun. Do you want to maybe move away from that cliff?” Nalyada flushed as she realized that she was still standing near the edge of the cliff. She still felt foolish, being so panicked by something that this other mare seemed to view as entertainment. It was a difference in experience, she supposed, the painted mare clearly being a highly trained warrior, from the way she’d fought off the wolves to her powerful muscles and athletic build to her battle-scarred hide to the way she carried herself, all confidence and dangerous grace even when standing still. She even made her thick, tangled mess of a mane look good. In comparison, Nalyada felt like a foolish, flighty, filly, disheveled and unprepared.
And now, Nalyada was starting to realize that she was absolutely parched from her run through the woods. “Actually, do you happen to know of any nearby water? I am rather new to these lands, so I have little idea of where I may find things.” She hoped that she wasn’t asking for too much after Mystic had rescued her already. But the mare had rescued her, so she obviously wasn’t that bad. After all, she had no way of knowing that she’d only been rescued because the overo thought the fight would be fun. In Nalyada’s mind, the other mare had seen her struggling and so had come to help, just like she would have done for anyone else. If she was a capable fighter, that was. Unfortunately, she came from a herd where only stallions were expected to fight, so she had received no training.
Mystic continued to smile. “Well, I happen to be new around here too, but I passed a stream while tracking those wolves. I could show you where it is if you follow me.” And still, the mare was friendly and helpful, leaving Nalyada thinking herself fortunate to have found her company. But also, Nalyada was worried that she had little to offer in return. But still, she wasn’t so much of a fool to turn down help that was offered to her, even if it wore on her pride that she wasn’t able to offer anything in exchange. “Thank you, that would be most kind of you. Although I feel that I am already in your debt for saving my life, you assistance would be welcome.”
The shorter mare replied with a shrug. “Don’t worry, I can find you some other time to collect on that debt,” she said with a wink. Nalyada was pretty sure she was joking, but still, she was nervous, still wondering what she had to offer in exchange for the life debt she owed the painted warrior. “For now, the entertainment of your company is enough, though.” Nalyada found herself blushing once more, though the words were casually spoken. This beautiful, capable mare enjoyed her company! What a relief that was! “Well, follow me.” And with those words, Mystic turned and set off into the forest, moving with a near-silent grace that reminded Nalyada of a predatory cat. It would have made her nervous, had the mare been anything but helpful and friendly to her this entire time. As it was, she felt more secure, even going back into the place where the wolves had found her, knowing that such a capable fighter was by her side. Nalyada followed, careful in her movements but with considerably less silent grace. It made her feel self-conscious, tall and gangly and childish next to the other mare’s athleticism.
Luckily, Mystic soon broke the silence between them. “So, how did you find yourself wandering these lands?” she asked, friendly and conversational. Nalyada took a moment to compose her thoughts before speaking. “I had always dreamed of adventure, but never had the courage to seek it until a rather domineering stud took over my former home. That gave me the courage to leave, and I found my way here. Now, I’m wandering these lands trying to see more of the world before I choose to settle down in a herd.” She hoped the other mare wouldn’t think her too childish, with her dreams of adventure. She certainly felt like a child. With her scars and history, surely the other mare would have a much more exciting tale than her. Like maybe she realized that what she was doing was wrong and had to sneak away from her former life? Or maybe the rest of her mercenary band was killed by another tribe in revenge, leaving her the sole survivor? “And what of yourself, if you don’t mind sharing that tale?” she asked, eager to hear Mystic’s story.
“Well, the work was getting too easy and repetitive, so I was getting bored. Then the tribe leaders decided it was time for me to pass my bloodlines on for the sake of the herd.” She shuddered, then continued, “After I killed the stallion assigned to be my mate because the poor fool wouldn’t let me leave, I had to get away to avoid punishment. So I traveled for a while, and eventually came here.” The way she said it, it all sounded so simple, but what an adventure that must have been! “So it seems that we’re both here wandering in search of adventure,” she commented, smiling. Nalyada felt warmth spreading in her chest at the idea that this experienced mare considered her to be a fellow wanderer and adventurer. “Although I probably won’t ever decide to settle down in a herd. It just sounds so boring, being stuck in the same place with only the same horses for company.”
That got a laugh from Nalyada, soft though it was. “Trust me, it’s terribly boring,” she said in agreement. “I would know, I lived in one for three years. And I just don’t see the excitement in settling down and starting a family like all my friends from my former herd ended up doing. But then, I feel foolish as a wanderer, too, like I’m just a silly filly playing at being an adventurer.” She felt her face heat up. She hadn’t intended to share so much. “I mean, sorry. I shouldn’t be dumping my problems on you.” Through the trees, she could hear the sound of a stream, and she picked up her pace, passing by Mystic to drink from the cool waters. She knew it was rude, but she was horribly thirsty, and she had a feeling that the painted mare wouldn’t mind. It was worth it, as the cool waters trickled down her throat.
She heard Mystic’s laughter coming from behind her. “Wow, you were thirsty. And hey, everybody has to start somewhere. At least you’re out here having fun and not stuck in some herd, right? You just gotta pick up some fighting skills, see if you can find some lone wolves to practice on, that kind of thing.” The overo’s smile was encouraging, although the idea of practicing fighting was a daunting one. But Nalyada smiled in return. “That is true, I’ve felt so much more alive out here than I ever did while I was stuck in a herd.” She paused, considering her next words, wondering if she would be asking too much. “I don’t suppose you could teach me how to fight?” The question was soft, hesitant. But Nalyada had to ask, just to be sure if it was even a possibility.
Mystic shook her head. “Nope, sorry, I’m not much of a teacher. That’d be like you teaching somebody how to walk. Besides, I’ve got places to be and new lands to explore. Good luck on your journey, Nalyada. Hopefully we’ll meet again, someday.” Nalyada watched her pivot to leave, disappointment sinking in her chest. But she couldn’t ask Mystic to stay like a clingy foal. The mare had already done enough to help her, and besides, the amazon had her own life to live. Nalyada could only hope that, when they next met, she could be a more confident and capable adventurer like the other mare so clearly was. “Farewell, Mystic!” she called. “And thank you again for saving my life!”
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