{Haunted} By The {Past}

[RAWR]

[atrb=width,500,true][atrb=border,0,true][bg=524947] Fear filled her entire body. Darkness began to fall over her and the rest of the land. Night was not something she looked forward to. She looked forward to the light creeping over the horizon in the morning. Shadows began to cast their mark among the trees, creating monsters in the night. In the dark, everything looked so dangerous. Tree branches reached out to grab her from time to time, the skittish mare jumping, flinching away from the fingers grabbing hard at her tail. She yanked hard at her tail, pulling it from its grasp and she turned to stare at the bush. "It's just a bush. Nothing else. It's just a bush. Just a bush." The young mare began to tell herself in her mind. She tried hard to convince herself that indeed it was just a bush. However, it did not make it any less terrifying. Gwendolyn as she was called wasn't really sure what had possessed her to make her way through the thick dense trees but at the time, it sounded like a good idea. That is, until she found herself lost amongst them. It seemed like a harmless idea at the time, with the rays of sunlight peaking through the canopys, but now, she was seeing monsters in every direction and she cursed herself under her breath as she made her way slowly through the bushes. Her ears swiveled upon her crania, the one nearling missing ear just a little stub as it moved around. Sounds were muffled in that ear which made her even more cautious of her movements and decisions. That nearly life changing day as a child still haunted her to this day. Never agian will her days be normal. She was forever scarred. The sound of water crashing filled her one good ear and was muffled in the other. She knew there was water near by but was not sure how to get there. The echos filled the air and she wasn't sure to which direction to take. However, just as soon as she was about to make her decision and make her way to the right, a loud crack from behind her startled her and she whinnied loudly in terror and darted off towards the left. Her petite paint x thoroughbred x shire body was lurched through the trees, feathers ladden hear hooves fluttered. Her dual toned eyes scanned quickly the area in front of her. Branches reached for her, tearing at her skin as she thudded towards the unknown. She soon slowed, her lungs unable to tolerate the running any longer. Eyes darted around, her breathing labored. The darkness enstilled her. It was quiet, all except the water which was now louder and surrounded her. She took in a slow deep breath, to fill her lungs but to also calm herself. Her heart was racing and her muscles twitched. Gwen only wished to reach the water and get her fill of the cool liquid. Her throat burned for it. She pushed herself forward, she knew she was close now. The branches attacked her legs again but after a while the touch numbed her. Her mind had drifted. Thoughts of her home haunted her yet calmed her. The familiarity of home was what she missed. The soft touch of her father comforting her. He was the only one of the male species she allowed to do so. Gwen knew he would not hurt her. But anyone else, well, she could not be so certain. She no longer engaged in coversation with males. The last time she did so got her into the mess she was in now. Gwen was in some sort of trance. Her limbs continued to move her through the darkness however mind was not in such a place. The thoughts of her father had taken her mind far away. Far away to a place she wished was not so tainted with the horrible memories of the one that changed her life forever. He was such a handsome colt. She would never admit now that when she was young, she had such a crush on the young colt. Her filly anticks were get him to play with her. Get him to notice her instead of the others. But that was far from what had actually happened and now her pelt was scarred forever with the memories of that day. She could not longer hear well out of her right ear and her health would never be the same. "Speech" "Thoughts" [Tag;; ] OPEN [Words;; ] [Muse;; ] [Notes;; ] sorry its horrible.. but i figured to get it started its okay...

[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]
[/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[ISSALYN]

V I T A L I S - -

Oh you sound so ruthless...

The days in the stallion's life had become monotonous and boring. The change of seasons was upon them, yet his herd was only just beginning to embrace the spring. Mornings were still often marked by frost covered ground, and the suns hours had not yet lengthened enough to put his mares in season.

Winter was a dreadful time of year for a stallion such as himself. The dreadful cold and snow kept his herd cooped up, huddled close for shelter and comfort. They didn't travel much, nor did he dare leave them for long periods of time. The herd was meager enough already without worrying about a mare succumbing to the cold or losing her life in the jaws of a brutal predator. Plus, he still didn't fully trust his mares. He alone led the herd, considering the voices of none but himself. Until the mares proved worthy, he would treat them like, well, mares.

However, the day had dawned bright and clear, and he was ready to get out and stretch his limbs a little. It was time to start deciding where they would graze during the warm season, as he wanted his herd to have access to the lushes grazing grounds possible. His father had been a bright leader, but the months leading to his death had handicapped the herd. They had grown thinner and weak...and that just wouldn't do for Vitalis.

He had spent the day wandering around, beginning to get a vague idea of which direction they should head. He wasn't entirely sure what all territory his father claimed as his own, but so far he had seen no signs of other stallions and had little reason to fear. His journey had led him to a forested area that he believed bordered the lakes his father had told him about. Ancient lakes, greater in size than any others known to his kind. He knew the lakes were large enough to form a boundary no land-dweller to the south or east could cross, and so he had decided they should mark the edge of his kingdom.

As the sun began sinking down, he ventured into the forest. The dark didn't bother him. He was used to being alone, and never considered what could be lurking in the depths of the shadows. Great trees towered over him, some areas so dense he could barely make his way between them. Stray branches poked at his hide, but he kept going, knowing he'd have to clean off later.

The idea of the forest enticed him. It would provide excellent shelter and security. If his herd could learn to navigate between the trees with ease, they could do well taking cover there at night. During the day, they could venture out into the damp grassy plains that he'd already explored before coming into the forest. Though wet, they seemed like they would provide nourishing grasses. If it grew too muddy, they could always scrounge along the forest floor, for it was quite vegetated as well.

As he continued moving stealthily through the shadows, the sound of rushing water made his ears prick forward. The lakes?, he wondered, feeling confident that he was nearing his destination. He continued moving in the direction of the sound, his pace slow and deliberate, but steady. He was not an agile stallion, nor one possessing great grace. Yet he was fairly lithe, so his steps managed to remain soft, especially at such a pace.

Coming into an area with slightly more light, he saw an odd-shaped shadow up ahead. It moved, turning slightly and then took off running. He could tell that it was another of his species, and he followed it's sounds as it descended through the trees. It nearly blended in with the shadows, aside from a bright marking across it's belly when hit by an occasional spectrum of light. The equine was perhaps a bit smaller than himself, no thinner, yet no heavier. Its build, from what he could tell, was not designed for power, appearing to possess no great strength or impulsion. It ran beyond his range of sight, but he still followed the sounds, not wanting to chase after it and give away his presence.

Vitalis was so fixated on following her, keeping quite a distance behind, that he failed to notice when she entered a clearing in the trees and approached a mass of water. In the light, he could tell why she blended in the shadows of the forest, for her coat was of the same hues. Still keeping himself to the shadows, he watched the other horse. He couldn't tell from that distance if it was a mare or another stallion, but its behaviors suggested the former.

She stopped to get a drink, and he debated on how to approach. It would be a good time to catch her off guard. Perhaps he could slink up behind her without her noticing, as she appeared to be taking a long drink after her fatiguing run through the timber. He knew he couldn't stay hidden in silence forever. What was the point of finding another horse if he just let them get away?

Decidedly, he stepped out into the light, the last traces of the sun showing off his golden coat. The blacks of his legs had been marred by dirt and debris from his journey, but the rest of his body was still mostly clean. His coat still held must of its winter fuzz, so the dapples that would appear in the summer were not yet visible. In fact, he looked more of a creamy gold than he would later in the year. Nonetheless, he felt his appearance to be strikingly handsome, and walked up boldly behind what he was most certain to be a female.

She was at the edge of the water on a small point of land, leaving no easy escape. He chuckled inwardly at the thought of this, feeling confident that he could cut off her path if she decided to run. However sinister his thoughts, he was cheerful on the outside. He moved into a gallop and closed the distance between them before she had much time to react.

"Well hello stranger," he spoke huskily, eyes moving over her frame now that he was close enough to admire. She, like himself, was not a common color. Not really his tastes, but he reminded himself he wasn't here to be picky about looks. The question was, did she have a quick mind? He'd already ruled out her talents in the athletic field, and found himself half hoping she would rise to the challenge mentally. "Don't worry, I won't hurt you," Vitalis added, hoping she believed him. This would go so much easier if he didn't have to chase her down and force her to talk to him.

[/size][/blockquote]

[RAWR]

[atrb=width,500,true][atrb=border,0,true][bg=524947] caena's thoughts had drifted and she would to seem to be in a deep transe like state. her mind in a time in the past. a tear had fallen from her one eye as the thoughts of what happened in her past overwhelmed her. never would she had thought she would be standing in such a place. no one would have ever thought that such a thing could happen to them. but that was her reality. it had happened. and it changed her life forever. never again would caena be able to stand near a stallion or colt alike and feel as if she was safe. they were a figure of anger, hurt, and scared her to death. never again would be feel comfortable in her own skin. the scars made her feel ugly. they made her feel as if no one could ever love her, not that she would be able to let a male figure near here again for such love. the one moment that seemed like a lifetime that happened in her past would forever change her life. it was thoughts like this that tore her apart. after a long moment stuck within her own mind keeping her in the past. but soon her eyes flickered open, darkness surrounded her. a small light began to creep up from the horizon but it was still dark, standing their surrounded by bushes. the sound of the waterfull engulfted her and acted as a calming sound. her heart now was no longer racing as she stood there, taking in a deep breath of the moist air. but this time, there was something else that filled the air. a scent. she was no longer alone. here dual toned eyes looked in the direction of the scent that filled her senses. she saw him in the distance. caena was instantly scared and wanted to run but her legs were frozen. frozen in fear that they would no move. they betrayed her. he was soon running towards her. her breathing had quickened and her heart beat fast. before she could even think, he was there, standing near her. caena was instantly scared. she snorted hastily and tossed her head, tossing her locks in every direction. her muscular legs began to back peddle as she pressed herself up against a giant trunk which instantly set her in panic mode agian. "well hello stranger." his voice was masculine and husky. caeana could feel his eyes on her and hers instantly went to the ground, not wanting to make eye contact. "don't worry, i won't hurt you." the young mare wanted to laugh. she wanted to laugh in his face at such stupid words. "why shhh . . ould i b. . believe you?" her voice was shaky and nervous. she tried to calm herself but it just wasn't going to happen. "you a .. are just a st . . . stallion." she swollowed hard, eyes finally looking up into his own eyes. "you are all the s. . same." caena knew she took a risk speaking to him that way but she really had nothign to lose. it wasn't like he could hurt her any more then she already was. "Speech" "Others" [Tag;; ] OPEN [Words;; ] [Muse;; ] [Notes;; ] sorry its horrible..

[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]
[/td][/tr][/table][/center]

[ISSALYN]

V I T A L I S - -

Oh you sound so ruthless...

Before the mare talked, he could tell he had startled her. Petrified, to be more precise. She was fairly trembling and the fear in her eyes was evident. The thought made him smile inside. Control. It was something he liked. It was also something that could easily be obtained through fear.

As she began to talk, he didn't fail to notice the quaking of her voice and the timidness in her expression. She was speaking words that were bold, but everything else said otherwise. "Didn't your mother ever tell you actions speak louder than words, miss?" Vitalis spoke in a sarcastic tone. He smirked then, and took a step closer to her. His nares opened wide as he took in a deep breath of air, savoring her scent and committing it to memory. His eyes quickly traced over her again, taking note of her physique. She didn't appear ill or near-death, though certainly not one who had enjoyed too many meals either.

He couldn't stop himself from blurting out the questions that came to his mind. "Where do you come from? Why are you here?" His words came out in a rush, and his brown eyes peered at her with genuine curiosity. He may be ungracious in many ways, brutish even. But he had no intention of hurting anyone who didn't force him to, and certainly not one of the female type.

Vitalis stepped closer again, now close enough he could almost touch her. He raised his nostrils to hers, the hairs on his muzzle coming close enough to tickle hers. He breathed in, and then blew out, a sign of relaxation. And then as quickly as he had made the gesture, he stepped back again. The buckskin stallion felt a safe distance - close enough to feel her pretense, yet not so close she was invading his space. However, he had a very vague connotation of personal space, and it's quite likely he was still overstepping her own boundaries.

[/size][/blockquote]

[RAWR]

[atrb=width,500,true][atrb=border,0,true][bg=524947] Fear had completely consumed her. Her body was numb and left her standing there defensless against the stallion that moved upon her. It was obvious that her words were attempts to sound strong and bold, but the quiver in her voice and tones proved otherwise. The stud seemed to hear it as well and the smile that lay upon his lips scared her even more. What was so funny? What did he find so amusing about the situation? She closed her eyes for a moment. Trying to pretend she was somewhere else. Somewhere safe. But it didn't work. His voice spoke out, bringing her back to the present, she was not safe. "Didn't your mother ever tell you actions speak louder than words, miss?" Gwen swollowed hard, his sarcastic tones sent chills down her spine. Gwen then began to attempt to speak as the stud brought himself closer. "She might ha .. ave if I e . . . ver got to meet her." Gwen's mother died a few short hours after giving birth to the young filly. His words didn't hurt in the sense that she missed her mother, for she never knew the mare. But it brought memories of her father, the only being she truely loved and knew loved her back. He eyes closed as she heard him taking in her scent. She did not wish to remember his. It was quiet for a few moments before the stud blurted out a mouthful of questions. "Where do you come from? Why are you here?" She looked into his own eyes with her own dual toned eyes. Why did he care? Why should she tell him? He didn't really honestly think he could fool her into believing he actually cared, did he? But his question made her think. Why did she leave the protection of her home? Why did she leave the love of her father? Gwen wasn't even really sure. Her eyes fell from his as she looked down at the earth, "I . . . I don't know." Gwen gasped as he moved in closer. She could feel the heat from his own body as he was close enough to almost touch her. Gwen instantly froze, unmoving as he raised his muzzle to hers, the warm air brushing her skin. He breathed in and out and soon, as quick as it happened, he backed away. Letting out a silent sigh of relief as if she had been holding her breath, she tried to relax. However, it just was not working. He had moved away but was still way to close for her to feel comfortable as she continued to stand still, unmoving, frozen. What he getting off to making her feel like if she tried to run, she would die? Was he going to hurt her? Gwen wasn't sure what to do. "Speech" "Others" [Tag;; ] OPEN [Words;; ] [Muse;; ] [Notes;; ] sorry its horrible..

[/size][/blockquote][/blockquote]
[/td][/tr][/table][/center]