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Post by grace on Oct 28, 2010 6:03:39 GMT -5
;; the marsh flowerThe beach used to be the most beautiful place to spend one’s time. Where white rolling sands met with the bright foam of the aqua waters that crashed upon them. Dark shaded rocks would add contrast to the serene scene. This was not so anymore. The water remained still over the area. It drowned the sand, changing its composure and turning it to mud. The liquid was murky, swirling with debris and reflecting anything that chanced to float over its depressing surface. Lily pads swirled around red tinted knees as they pushed through the water. A cream colored tail floated along behind thick haunches, tangling with weeds and reeds. Over an arched neck a similarly dyed mane hung limply as pale orbs studied their reflection staring back up at them. The figure came to a halt in the midst of the marsh. Eyes turned away from the haunting specter resting on the surface of the pool.
Althea straightened her nape from its curved position and cast her gaze around the area. She tilted her head to the side, as if trying to remember what this place could’ve looked like once upon a time. For a moment, an image flickered before her. Bright colors replaced the dull ones that she looked upon today. She could hear the relaxing sounds of the waves meeting the shores and a warm breeze scuttled along the coat. Then she opened her eyes once more and let out a sigh. A sight such as this was almost enough to squash one’s hope.
Her withers flinched as a large fly settled on her pelt. She snorted and sighed once again before continuing on her trek forward. Her hooves had sunk into the mud below and made a muffled squelching noise as she pulled them loose of the dark substance. She untangled herself from a water lily stem she made her way toward a rock outcropping, hoping for less water… and less bugs. She’d stumbled upon the ruins of The Beach by somewhat of an accident. Lost in her thoughts she had somehow forgotten to stop walking as they trailed through her mind. She was currently without a herd, so staying away from those lands had probably occurred sub-consciously, though she wasn’t sure how. Memories of the past, much brighter than the thoughts of the present, floated through her skull as she sidled up to some rocks that had managed to stand their ground. Much to her pleasure the water was a shallower here, resting around her fetlocks.
She turned her slightly pointed ears around, straining for a sign of life other than the buzzing of mosquitoes and flies around the plants. A snake slithered over a rock nearby, coiling its way over the rough surface. Its tongue tasted the air that’d Althea had disturbed. The equine huffed and went back to her scoping of the area around her… ooc: i'm rusty so this is crap. please excuse it. i need practice!
word count: 487
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Post by tuesday4 on Oct 28, 2010 13:42:12 GMT -5
OWL ;;[/size] ---------------------------------
She walked with only minorly shakey movements. Her joints spazzed under her silver rose coat. Her far spread eyes darted, looking for danger. She knew not of where she was or where she was headed, she only knew of staying away from danger. And living. Living was always a bonus. Staying alive was definetely the most ultimate goal.
The sand beneath her ashy hooves slowly turned more murky and water logged. Except the femme couldn't see clean water within her range of view. Everything seemed dark and desolate. There was no life except the annoying buzz of mosquitos and other various assorted flying annoyances around her ears.
She shook her head, causing her silver threaded locks to flip flop according to the movement of her muscles. It had been another long day of walking, another long day of living. She knew there was a threat to her out there, but she didn't know what it was, or who it was, or where it was. All three of those nagging questions rotated quickly within her mind. They caused confusion. They caused pain. They caused agony. They caused worry.
The young mare decided not to worry about her not so imminent danger and to worry rather about her possibley imminent danger. She sensed very little to no threat around her. Minus the aforepercieved annoyances buzzing around her.
Her soft muzzle shot into the air as she sunk into the soaked sand. The water level rose instantly from hock to knee. She didn't dare to make a noise but the suddenness spooked her, causing her heart to beat rapidly. The dark water swirled around her now muddy knees. Her neck arched and sniffed the blackened liquid rippling around her legs. It smelled of water. She needed water. She parted her lips and drank a small sip.
Her head recoiled in shock of the absolutely disgusting taste. The concoction slid down her throat in a grainy, sloppy mess. It eased her thirst, and her hunger. She flared her nostrils and lowered her head. With the exception of the nasty sand like texture and the odd taste, it was still water. She breathed over the surface, causing minor ripples to shake the stillness. Her lips parted once again and she drank a few fast swallows.
That was all she could manage. The taste, the texture, it was all too vile. Her thirst had been minorly quenched, as had her hunger. It was an improvement, but a thorough fullfillment would be likely to make her sick.
word count;; 420[/size]
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Post by grace on Oct 28, 2010 22:17:54 GMT -5
;; the marsh flowerThe water lapped lazily against her fetlocks as a wind blew over the marsh, breaking the silence that had surrounded her. Flies still buzzed about on quick wings, bothering the air with their insistent pestering of anything living in the area. A frog croaked nearby and the sound of a splashed echoed toward pointed auds. Althea turned her head toward the sound, muscles going rigid with alert. She loved water for the lack of secrecy that it provided. At the same time, however, it was always hard to locate just where a sound was coming from. Sometimes before it was too late. She narrowed her light tinted eyes and stared in the direction that she assumed the sound had come from.
When nothing but silence followed, her muscles relaxed a fraction. Her heart pounded against her chest, almost as if it was threatening to burst out and start flying around. She lowered her muzzle to the murky water and drank the soupy liquid as she attempted to steady herself. The grit stuck to her tongue and she smacked her lips in disgust, though her palette was wet and she was more comfortable than before. She grimaced slightly and shifted her hooves from their sinking positions in the muddy ground. Her tail worried the air similarly to the mosquitoes. She couldn’t get over the sensation that another being was nearby. Maybe a little too close for comfort. She resisted the urge to pace, or to flee the scene altogether.
The mare glanced around and stopped when she noticed a light silhouette some ways away from her. Close enough that if she could see them, they could surely see her as well. With a snort she took a few quiet steps closer to the figure, keeping her movements as steady as she could. Althea wasn’t one to go around nagging strangers with the formalities of conversation, but it’d been some time since she’d come across another equine. She ignored the nagging voice in her head that told her going toward a stranger was a stupid thing. Curiosity overcame her and thirst for adventure drove her forward.
She could see the other figure more clearly now. It was a grey more, glaringly bright in the coat and rather simple in appearance. Though, Althea didn’t find it appropriate to judge others. She was nothing special herself. The other equine was shorter by a few mere inches. She took a few more hesitant steps forward, the water deepening once again and sloshing quietly up against her knees, soaking through her coat and caking it with more mud than before. She shifted from hoof-to-hoof uncertainly. Potential social situations always put her mind on over-drive. At this point she almost hoped the other mare was a threat so she would have an excuse to escape to oncoming awkwardness. ooc: i disappoint myself with this. i just felt bad for making you wait. enjoy the fail.
word count: 476
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Post by tuesday4 on Oct 28, 2010 22:46:37 GMT -5
Her muzzle rested just above the surface of the glistening brackish water. She continued to breath on it, and she continued to watch it, watching the little ripples her outburst of air would create over the mirroresque waterlogged wasteland.
Her long tail flicked lazily, splashing droplets every direction. There was matted dirt on her rear locks, hiding the silvery perfection that once shone so brightly. Her tail resumed its stagnant state as she let the air borne buggers fly and wreak havoc within her air space.
The stagnant air and liquid was not stagnant as the faintist ripple splashed up and across the nostrils of the little mare. She froze completely, locking up her joints, coiling her muscles under her untidy pelt. There had been danger. She wasn't paranoid after all. Her large mahogany eyes darted back and forth, staring off towards the source of the ripple.
There was a form after all. It had hair the colour of birch trees, but its pelt was more like that of dry desert ground. Details escaped the salmoned white horse since the other equine wasn't close enough and she could only see it from her peripheral vision.
She blinked quickly but the form remained. It didn't seem to be a specter, but it didn't seem to be too friendly. Whatever it was doing, it wasn't coming closer. So the question remained, friend or foe?
The little mare kept her head hung low and pivoted on her front hooves, making her face the unknown being. Her muzzle kept its place, just hovering above the swirling water, creating the previously amusing little ripples. She could see the other horse a tad better. And she could smell him. Or her. She couldn't smell any adrenaline on the faint wind, so her acknowledgement of a foe slowly waned. But a friend, maybe not so much.
word count;; 309[/size] |
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Post by grace on Oct 31, 2010 2:25:05 GMT -5
;; the marsh flowerShe shuffled her hooves for a moment longer. Indecision gripped her as she practically stared at the light coloured equine. She’d always had problems with social situations, even in the past. She wasn’t exactly the most talkative filly in the herd. Her parents weren’t the encouraging type either. Her sire was a lead stallion, too busy impregnating other mares and keeping the herd in a nice little organized circle. And her dam was a new addition to their herd, even as a foal Althea could see that, she was always on the outs with all of the other mares.
Now she was on her own, away from that silly little place. Where having a joyful life seemed to be forbidden for anyone old enough to know better. Althea had heard stories about the land of Night Sky from wandering horses passing by. They spoke of a beautiful place that almost seemed too good to be true to the filly. She’d always been bigger than the life that she was born into, or so she thought anyway. She’d travelled all the way here just to learn of that devastation that had been brought down upon the area. Nothing was as it had been described in the stories, and some places were even missing.
Althea carried herself closer to the stranger, just to stop when the equine pivoted around to face her head on. Her muscles bunched for a moment, expecting something else to happen. But the horse grew still again, funny. Surely they had spotted her; normally an equine would have called out. Whether it was a greeting or a warning, rarely did they ever stay silent when being approached. Althea started moving again, the water sloshing at her knees and occasionally splashing her belly when she had to force her hoof up out of the mud.
Finally she stopped when she was about ten or so feet away from the equine. Her nostrils flared a bit, trying to catch a scent of the horse. The musty smell of the marsh they were standing in dulled her senses, only smells of dirt and an undertone of decay met her deep inhale. She flicked her tail nervously as her muscles twitched with antici… pation. She opened her mouth to speak, drawing in air to form the word… And then her brain failed her and she had nothing left to do but close it again and follow thickly. She was on the verge of either just passing the horse by or turning back around to avoid looking like a mental case, if she didn’t already. ooc: rocky horror picture show reference, for the win.
word count: 439
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Post by tuesday4 on Oct 31, 2010 17:36:21 GMT -5
She stood. That's all either did. The little silver mare just stared. The little dirt mare, from the scent of things, just stood. Then it moved. It moved closer. Her muscles bunched again, waiting for the strike, or for the greeting.
Its movements caused ripples in the ebonite liquid. It rippled and shimmered, seemingly glowing of a previous life, of a past existance that was as beautiful as the shine it cast and reflected onto the two equines. The little silver mare wouldn't know, whould she? She stared at the liquid mirror and watched herself blink and flare her nostrils in the disturbed reflection. She didn't remember her own past, how could something inanimate remeber a past? It must have been glorious though, the little rose hued mare could feel it. Before everything turned to ruins, both in the physical world and in her mental one.
But it, she, stopped again. Why? Why wouldn't it say hi? Why wouldn't it attack? Why wouldn't it run away? Why wouldn't it do anything?! It was just standing there staring. And only a few feet away at that. One word kept running through the mare's mind, literally. RUN. Just that. Run. Avoid the confontration. Avoid the possibility of a fight. Avoid the possibility of death. Avoid the possibility of getting involved. Life was the ultimate goal, so let's live and run, right?
Her muscles wouldn't move. They bunched, but they would not expand and contract. They refused any movement. As did her joints. They seemed to seize up and hold the confused mare in her awkward position, that of constantly inhaling the murky scent of the mud around her legs.
Her large eyes darted around in her skull, racking her brain for some way to start up her muscles, to get her joints to obey the synapses in her brain. But nothing worked, and she was stuck. She didn't understand why her body wouldn't obey her mind. Its not like she was asking herself to anything ridiculous, just to run away, or even walk away, from the strange equine.
It was awkward. The mare decided that. They were staring at each other in a dumb silence and no one was talking. Someone needed to talk. Before she knew what she was doing, her head lifted out of the water and reach the same plane as her whithers. Individula droplets of water dropped from her loose lower lip back into its brackish home with light 'plop'ing noises. The ripples were light and faded to a faint splash by the time they made it the less-than-two-feet to her knees.
Hello a dry voice croaked. Her eyes widened and her ears pinned. She relaxed and became internally shocked. That had been her voice, she had said something! And what a voice. Her lovely bell tones had been replaced by what sounded like a literal frog in her throat! It was a true disappointment, for sure. Now, it was time to wait, and to hear the voice of the other horse, the other mare.
word count: approximately 507[/size] |
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Post by grace on Nov 5, 2010 10:56:15 GMT -5
;; the marsh flowerThe awkwardness of the situation didn't really settle over Althea much. It didn't register to her that she was supposed to be uncomfortable in that sense. She just knew that she was probably supposed to be saying something, making light-hearted small talk. Something besides just staring at the other mare. Hello.
Althea started slightly. She'd been so withdrawn into her worries about coming up with an opening statement that she'd forgotten the other being could speak as well. The mare's voice was rough, like she hadn't used it in awhile. Maybe she was also socially inept. Somehow she doubted it. Surely, no one else was cursed with the lack of social skills that she lived with.
She took a deep breath, Hi, really? That was the best she could do? There was a long pause before she spoke again. I'm Althea... She trailed off at the end. Unsure as to whether the other mare even cared what her name was.
Maybe she thought I was a threat. Dangerous because I hadn't made a move earlier. Maybe she thought I was mentally challenged, again because I hadn't made a move earlier. She sighed quietly and shuffled her hooves beneath the water's murky surface. Internally she was playing out scenarios of all the possible reactions she could be about to receive. ooc: this is short and terrible. i've been busy and i have some stuff going on lately. sorry.
word count: 219
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