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Post by Indi on May 5, 2018 14:43:58 GMT -7
It felt good to finally be free. The simple joy of basking in the warmth of the sun was a treasure, after having spent so long in the depths of the labyrinthine caverns in which Sly housed her prisoners and slaves. Not that Native Dancer had been idle in the days and weeks since returning home. At the insistence of her daughters, she had taken a week to recuperate and recover from the ordeal, even whilst insisting in return that she honestly felt fine. True, her eyes had ached whenever she was out in the day, at least until the buckskin femmora was able to slowly adjust back into a world where there actually was light, rather than the darkness she had been confined to for so long. However, once that week of recovery had been taken, the Vigilum mare sought to jump right back into her duties. Given the turmoil that had taken over the realms while she had been absent, what with war being declared and thereafter fought between the Neutrals and the Helkaer Brotherhood, there was certainly plenty to do. Even now, in the aftermath of that conflict, there was more than enough to keep the Vigilum busy. And of course, there was still the unsolved mystery of Raen's murder... That troubled Nati. It was bad enough that a dear friend - who also happened to be her half-sister and a fellow member of the Vigilum - had been murdered. And brutally, at that. However, the fact that they still had no clues to point to the culprit, nothing to tell them who had done it or even why it had been done... it was very troubling indeed. When she had returned back to Mount Vigilum after her month away, she had hoped that the others might have at last found some small clue or perhaps that someone had finally come forward to claim the deed. Alas, there had been no such news. Nothing at all. What they had were a multitude of questions and no answers. And with the war that had broken out, there had been little time to deal with what had become a "cold case" of sorts, when there was more than their small number could handle as society seemed to threaten to tear itself apart. Whether they would ever find the answers as to who had killed Raen and why, Nati did not know. All she could do was hope. And continue seeking to make the world a better place. To that end, she had resolved on this particular morning to make her way into the Neutral lands. She had heard rumors of raids by the Helkaer and no doubt there were equines who were going to need help and healing now. She might not be able to solve the mystery of her half-sister's murder, but at least she could reach out to equines in need and see what she could do to help them in whatever capacity she was able. Nati had no specific herd in mind, allowing her hooves to carry her onward and she soon found herself drawn to the herd land known as Shadow Canyon. Character;; Native Dancer Tagged;; fleabittengray w/Clover Notes;; <3 Timeline;; While Clover is “free.”
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Post by fleabittengray on Jan 29, 2023 16:34:26 GMT -7
Clover always felt on edge. Today was no different. Raising Sven here in Shadow Canyon was a challenge. She knew that at any moment, Charm could come back to get her and she would be expected to give him any information she had managed to gather about the herd she lived in. She shuddered despite the warmth of the sun's rays against her back. She looked nothing like she had looked in The Whore House. She looked physically healthy. But mentally? She was traumatized. She had gone through so much trauma in her lifetime and she didn't think it would ever end. Even though her life right now was relatively good, the threat of Charm coming back to her loomed over her head - even when she slept, her dreams often became awful nightmares of that place she had spent so long in. At this point, she barely remembered her own mother, could hardly remember her scent or her voice and the memory of her face was fading as well. But she clung to the fact that she knew her mother's name. Ayoka. And maybe someday she would find her again. She was wandering aimlessly through Shadow Canyon that day, Sven off playing with some others in the herd. She was hoping for him to have a normal childhood. And to not get too attached to her. Maybe he would be better off if Charm came and collected her - but then, would not the Shire also want to take Sven with him as well? Her jaw clenched, her ears pinning against her skull before she sighed and forced herself to relax. She had to stay calm. She couldn't give anything away. And as she continued to walk, she became aware of a scent that she thought she recognized but couldn't quite place. But it wasn't one from Charm's brothel, of that she was sure, so she was relatively relaxed as she began to follow the scent trail which brought her in the vicinity of an equine she believed she had met once before. "Hello," she called out softly, nervously, her head hanging slightly in a display of submissive - something that had been literally beaten into her for so many years and the habit was hard to break. Tagged: Indi Words: 376 Character: CloverNotes: Switching this to current timeline! <3 Timeline: 7 years 8 months, Sven is 7 months, late winter, mid-day?
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Post by Indi on Feb 7, 2023 9:50:50 GMT -7
It seemed like a lifetime ago since last Native Dancer had set hoof so far beyond the boundaries of Mount Vigilum. She did not regret her decision to remain in Mount Vigilum, rather than taking up Casimiro's offer to join Omashu, though sometimes she wondered whether it would have been better for her daughters to live in a herd for a change. Living in Mount Vigilum, where strangers were frequent visitors, had done nothing to acclimatize the girls to socializing with strangers - though she knew well that they did their best to overcome their respective issues with anxiety and paranoia. Would life in a herd have been easier on them? Most everyone they knew lived there now. Given that they were grown mares now, capable of making their own decisions, Nati had encouraged the twins to really give thought to Casimiro's offer of a home, but they had both preferred to stick close to her.
Of course, Nati could not deny that it was a comforting thing, having the twins close and knowing how they were doing. The world was a dangerous place, especially for the timid of the world or so it seemed, and being able to keep an eye on her daughters was reassuring. And at least she did not have to worry about them ever being stolen. There were advantages, after all, to not being a part of any herd. After Phantasmagoria had dissolved with the death of her father, Nati had moved to Mount Vigilum with the intent that it would simply be an interim place to rest until she found a new home. However, during the period of time during which she had been juggling raising her two girls and trying her utmost to ensure Vigilum duties were taken care of, often entirely alone, living in Mount Vigilum had been an advantage that, even when things had calmed down she had not been ready to relinquish. And the fact that she could focus on her work without having to worry about someone coming along and stealing either herself or her daughters? That had been an added bonus.
It had also been nice to have the girls close during that uncomfortable period of time while she had been recovering. Nati had been well aware that there would be consequences for healing so many individuals. However, though she did not regret it, no matter what the consequences had been, she was not sure anyone could truly understand the consequences until enduring them. It had taken a very long time for her to get back on her feet and even then, still longer to be well and strong enough for more than little strolls on the paths of her mountainous home. After that... well, then had come Atreyu, and tending to him had taken up almost all her time, just trying to keep him alive. And poor little Rhianwen...
At least both were doing well enough today that she had been comfortable in placing them under the care of her daughters, giving herself an hour or so just to... get back out in the world after being away from it all for such a lengthy span of time.
"Hello."
The softly called greeting drew Nati out of her thoughts of the past couple of years and back into the present. The land around her was actually familiar, seeing as this was the land wherein Rhianwen had been born. The individual who had called out also seemed vaguely familiar, though Nati could not quite immediately place who the mare was and where they might have met. She had met so many equines over the years that it was hardly surprising that she might not immediately recognize someone. Especially when that someone was vastly different in appearance after spending time being well cared for, far from the horrors of the land she had been living in when Nati had first met her. Still, Nati was undoubtedly struck with the familiarity of the mare. Especially the submissive way the other femmora held herself.
'Hello,' she greeted, voice equally soft, while lacking the nervousness in the other mare's tones. A warm smile upon her maw, she noted candidly, 'Forgive me, but I feel certain we've met before.' Chuckling, she observed, 'I suppose old age is catching up to me, that I cannot quite remember for certain.' Character;; Native Dancer Tagged;; fleabittengray w/Clover Notes;; <3 Timeline;; 16 years old; late winter, midday.
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Post by fleabittengray on Jul 10, 2023 4:17:48 GMT -7
x CLOVER How long had it been since she'd come to Shadow Canyon? How long would it be until Charm came looking for her? He knew exactly where she was, he had been the one to send her here. She was supposed to get information for him, but so far, she hadn't learned anything useful. There had been a raid, but that was it. She wanted to obey him out of fear, not loyalty, but she was also afraid of interacting with the herd here too much. She was afraid of them getting hurt or dying because of her. Clover didn't know what to do anymore. Either way, she was screwed. Maybe she should just run away. Sven would be safe enough here, safer than he would be with her, at least... But Charm would find her. And she was weak. She had never done well holding up against his torment. Charm was too good at torture and manipulation. She shivered subtly, her body tensing at the memories that flash through her mind. Thankfully, the mare she had approached as distraction enough from them that they did not entirely consume her. 'Hello,' Even her voice, gentle and warm, was familiar but Clover could not remember where from. 'Forgive me, but I feel certain we've met before.' Hesitantly, Clover smiled at the older mare, even tried to give a little laugh. 'I suppose old age is catching up to me, that I cannot quite remember for certain.' Clover did not have age for an excuse, only her trauma, but she did not mention that. It would not be appropriate. "Let's start with a reintroduction, then, shall we?" the palomino offered, grinning bashfully. "I'm Clover. I live here in Shadow Canyon now..." she trailed off, knowing that if the mare had met her before she moved here, it would make sense if she wasn't recognized. She hadn't been in the best shape physically, back then. Indi | 321 | CloverSorry for the wait! <3 7 years 8 months, Sven is 7 months, late winter, mid-day
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Post by Indi on Aug 21, 2023 14:07:53 GMT -7
While she could not yet place a name or even necessarily a face to the sense of familiarity, Native Dancer could not shake the feeling of certainty that she and this palomino femme had met before. When, where, how, and why were questions for which she did not yet have answers, but that they had met she felt was a fact. Even if she could remember nothing to help confirm that fact. Just a sense of familiarity, not just in the appearance of the mare, but in her body language in particular. Even that was similar and familiar... but also just a little bit different too. Very odd. An intriguing puzzle to be solved, no doubt.
Though the smile was hesitant from the palomino, Nati's own grew, pleased to see such an expression. Even a little laugh somewhat escaped the timid femmora. At last, the familiar stranger was offering with a bashful grin, "Let's start with a reintroduction, then, shall we?"
Inclining her head in agreement, Nati answered, 'That seems an excellent idea.'
"I'm Clover. I live here in Shadow Canyon now..."
Though Clover's voice trailed off, recognition flared in the buckskin and she nodded, 'Of course... it was in the Free Lands... The Open Plains, I believe.' While it would hardly be right to voice it, she was pleased to see that Clover was looking so much better now than she had that day in The Open Plains. 'I am Native Dancer, but you may call me Nati. It's good to see you again.'
An understatement, really, especially considering the circumstances. She had worried a great deal about the palomino femme in the weeks and months following their first meeting. It had been clear that Clover had been living in a very bad place and needed help. Albeit, at the time, the other mare had not been willing to accept any help. Had been too afraid to accept any help, sadly. Nati wondered what had happened that had led to Clover finally getting away from whatever horrible place she had been in before. As curious as she felt, however, she was not entirely sure there was a good way to go about asking such a thing.
Mostly, she was just glad that Clover looked to be doing so much better now. Character;; Native Dancer Tagged;; fleabittengray w/Clover Notes;; <3 Timeline;; 16 years old; late winter, midday.
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Post by fleabittengray on Aug 25, 2023 13:01:45 GMT -7
x CLOVER Broken as she was, Clover hadn't done much interacting with the herd of Shadow Canyon since coming here. All throughout her pregnancy, she'd pretty much kept to herself. Through the labor and delivery, the pain, she was alone. She had been so scared, so dreadfully scared, but Sven had not been her firstborn at least, so she'd known what to expect, what to do, and though the process had been long and terrible, she'd gotten through it and Sven had been born. There had been complications, Clover fearing he had been stillborn at first, due to his lack of movement and breathing. It had taken several strong nudges before the colt began to cough and clear his lungs out - a cough that still lingered all this time later, despite him being weaned now and getting physically stronger every day. He was also a very timid boy, quiet, sometimes completely nonverbal. Clover worried for him. She worried a lot. She figured his flaws were all her fault somehow, but then again, she blamed herself for practically everything. 'That seems an excellent idea.' At least the woman was on the same page as her when it came to reintroducing themselves. 'Of course... it was in the Free Lands... The Open Plains, I believe.' The words triggered a faint memory, or walking with this mare through the Free Lands, talking, wandering aimlessly during her allowed time out of The Whore House. Goodness, she must have been just skin and bones... 'I am Native Dancer, but you may call me Nati. It's good to see you again.' A quiet little huff of laughter escaped the palomino mare and she gulped nervously. "It is very nice to see you again as well, Nati," she said, still speaking soft and slow and quiet. Almost like she expected some sort of negative backlash for speaking. For existing. "My son is here, too. I was pregnant when..." she tensed then, pausing, backtracking a bit with her words. "I found out I was pregnant a few weeks after I got here."Indi w/ Native Dancer 342 | Clovernotes 7 years 8 months, Sven is 7 months, late winter, mid-day
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Post by Indi on Aug 26, 2023 9:56:47 GMT -7
It was truly wonderful to see Clover looking as healthy as she did. There was still the body language and the way she spoke that was not exactly different from the way she had held herself and spoken the last time the two mares had encountered one another. However, at the very least, physically Clover was looking so much better. It was a relief to see. She hoped things would stay this way. That whoever had kept Clover in such horrible conditions would not be able to get their hooves on her again in the future. Did the herd know about where she came from and were they protecting her as she likely needed? The fact that Clover was here might suggest that someone here had rescued her, but without knowing one way or another, Nati was not going to assume anything. Perhaps it was something to look into when she checked in on how Chime was doing.
For now, however, her attention was completely on Clover as their conversation continued. The way they reintroduced themselves as if this was their first meeting, though Nati was able to note now when it was they had met. And something in her expression when the buckskin spoke of that encounter in The Open Plains led Nati to believe that she might have some notion of what Nati was talking about as well.
"It is very nice to see you again as well, Nati," Clover said, her voice just as slow and soft as the buckskin remembered. It was almost as if she was bracing herself, expecting... something negative. A reminder to Nati that clearly, the poor golden femme had been in a terrible situation before this. "My son is here, too. I was pregnant when..." Nati observed, quiet and attentive, as Clover tensed, pausing only a moment before she backtracked, continuing at last, "I found out I was pregnant a few weeks after I got here."
Smiling gently, the buckskin said 'I'd love to meet your son sometime.' Glancing about them, she added, 'I am glad to have found you here. At least of those I have gotten to know in this particular herd, they are excellent equines. And it is a beautiful place as well, which is always nice too.' Character;; Native Dancer Tagged;; fleabittengray w/Clover Notes;; <3 Timeline;; 16 years old; late winter, midday.
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Post by fleabittengray on Jul 21, 2024 14:26:01 GMT -7
x CLOVER It was truly nice to have Nati here to talk to. She hadn't expected to ever see the older mare again, especially considering what her living conditions had been for so long. But now, Nati was here, and Clover was free (for now) and had an adorable son who was growing into a young adult slowly but surely. Sweet Sven was about 7 months old now, and though he was a reminder of what she had come from, given who his father must be, she still loved him. Even if sometimes she could not look at him without seeing his father. Charm would haunt her forever, of that she was sure. But with women like Native Dancer out there in the world, maybe it wasn't so bad out there, after all... maybe she could stay free and Charm would forget about her... Maybe she could have a happy life without having to worry about checking over her shoulder every so often. Nati's gentle smile had her smiling back, timid and shy but a smile nonetheless. 'I'd love to meet your son sometime.' There was no hesitation as Clover nodded. "You can meet him anytime you'd like, Nati. I'm sure he'd love to make a new friend." And Nati was someone she felt she could trust, at least a little bit. Even if it was dangerous to trust anyone. 'I am glad to have found you here. At least of those I have gotten to know in this particular herd, they are excellent equines. And it is a beautiful place as well, which is always nice too.' Her smile widened a little. "I admit I haven't been the most social while I've been here, but... still, everyone seems quite nice and accepting. I am glad to have made it here."Indi w/ Native Dancer 406 | Cloversorry for the wait! 7 years 8 months, Sven is 7 months, late winter, mid-day
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