Hoofbeats in my Head

[mystic;]

My eyes searched everywhere. Nervously, of course, I stepped closer to the water, leaving my shelter of trees. Karma followed me closely, ever-hovering by my side. I smiled down at her, attempting to comfort her, but I knew it wouldn't reach my eyes. She shivered against me and I sighed. I was the one to blame for her fears. Every night during the first week or so after her birth, I would scream at every noise, thinking he would come back for her. I shuddered and approached the water. Karma's eyes darted and I nuzzled her. She calmed some and I took a drink. She laid down on the soft, mint-green grass and sighed. Her nightmares had gotten worse, I knew. She writhed and whimpered at night and I watched, desperate to ease her worries. It was easier said than done. This morning had gone by quietly, and both of us had been calm. Something about this lake, though....it reminded me of...that day. When he took me away. That was the beginning of two very long years I would never forget. The memory gave me chills and I focused on the better part of that time. I got Karma, didn't I? I loved her more than anything. More than life.

Despite the bitter memory and constant worries, I laid down beside my daughter and smiled. She was drifting off and, though I wished she'd wait until we were safer, the peaceful look on her delicate face had me grinning. She was so sweet, small, and mine.A part of me. I would NOT think of her as a part of him. Never. Only the silver lining of his torturous captivity. I rested my head on Karma's back and she sighed again. I prayed for words, hoping she would speak to me sometime. Sometime soon. She had never uttered a single word to me. I closed my eyes and released a single tear. The gentle wind caressed my neck and back, and ruffled Karma's fluffy mane. I let sleep take me, forgetting that danger could lurk so close...

[{♥L|uvy|Luv♥}]

Steady hoof beats marked my steps as I trotted along down a small path to the water. Timber lined the soft dirt path, enclosing me and making me feel uncomfortable. I knew that wolves walked these woods. My pace automatically reacted in recognition of my fears, sending me into a tight canter. My long banner flowed behind me, swaying in cadence with my canter. Black flints scratched softly on the ground as I moved, leaving small, shallow lines in the soil in front of the large hoof prints. I look through the trees and see as small glimpse of the black satin liquid. I round the turn, and come to it. But then I see something not normally seen. I see one large mare, and one small mare, sleeping. I wander to the water's edge, and step in, slowly as always. The water was seasonably warm. I caressed and licked at my muscular legs, softly washing them. I waded through the water, making my way slowly to the other side. I came up out of the water to investigate. I walked over to them, sniffing at their bodies, trying to identify their scents. When I had memorized it, I waded back across the small lake, to the opposite shore and laid down, eyes fluttering to a close. I drifted into a dreamless sleep immediately.

[mystic;]

Despite my fears, worries, and thoughts of my past, I slept soundly. For the first time in what feels like forever, I slept without a single nightmare. I was still half awake when I heard the soft ripples of the water nearby. The thought that it might be something bad never crossed my mind, and the gentle sounds, like waves, took me under. I slept deeply. My dreams were not horrible, not bad in any way. They weren't happy, nor sad. Well, I guess the fact that Karma was in them made them good. I was just standing. Watching. Karma was running around a field. When I had said there were no nightmares, that was before this dream. Karma ran around happily, and I smiled and looked on. But something caught my eye, something she didn't see....two golden eyes glared at her from some bushes. A sickening smile, one that sends chills racing up and down your spine, spread across a black face. A growl ripped from it's sharp canine teeth and sent Karma into a panic. She froze. I couldn't do anything. Move, or talk. Suddenly I was Karma. It approached me, grinning the whole way, and sniffed at my tiny legs, and neck. It backed up. Just as it was about to attack, I jumped back into my own body, woke up from the nightmare and gasped. "No!" I shook my mane and looked at Karma, nuzzling her.

Another scent crossed with hers and I very nearly took off running with her. But I kept calm, as calm as I could, because Karma was stirring. The scent was horse, and it eased the nightmare away. But a new wave of panic ripped through me and nearly knocked my air out of me. It tore at my lungs and my heart. I pictured his face. "No.." I whispered. Had he found us? The scent was male. But why didn't he just kill us in our sleep or wake us and take us back? I gazed around, standing to my feet. Karma blinked and looked with me. A black form on the edge of the water, across from us, sent a thrill of fear through me, rocking my body with surprising force. I nearly lost my footing, and Karma watched with wide eyes. A strange gasping came from my mouth and I dropped beside her, wrapping my head around her. I stared at the black form, and I could feel my eyes wide with horror. Was it him? The form seemed smaller, but then again it was across the water. I gazed at the creature and realized it was a different breed. And color! I remembered the dominant black features on....him...but he also had white. I looked at Karma, her half-pinto features. The bay patches. I calmed, hugged her closer, and stared at the mystery stallion. He seemed to be asleep. If I was smart, I would run. Now.

[{♥L|uvy|Luv♥}]

I slept in a dreamless sleep, feeling absolutely at peace. But then a sound woke me. A soft feminine cry of distress. My eyes fluttered open, and my head slid across the ground to look in the opposite direction. I saw the mare on her legs, staring directly at me, eyes wide, stance posed for take off. I rose slowly, taking my footing on the slippery, dew covered grass. I groaned softly. Wasn't exactly the easiest place to sleep. I walked one step over to her, but paused, not wanting her to take off. Ominous clouds barreled towards us at a leisurely pace. I took another step forward, head low in an act of peace. I took a deep breath and opened my mouth to speak. "Peace, mare. I wish no harm. Please. Do not frighten the young one." Lyrics slipped in a deep bass from my maw.

I looked at the young mare, twitching in her nightmare. Her legs moved in quick, subtle movements as she ran in her dream. I sighed. I moved slowly towards them, wanting to get closer so that I could talk softer as not to wake the young filly. Soft cries slipped from the filly's mouth as she dreamed, murmuring things such as, "No, don't," and "Get away." I felt sympathy for this filly. I crossed the small lake in no time. When I reached the bank where the mare took refuge, I rose slowly from the water, towering heads over the mare. I lowered my head so that it was closer to her height. "Please mare, I do not wish harm. I am just here to pass through, but I wanted to rest. I promise to leave you alone and never bother you again if you wish, but you seem on edge, and as if you are running away from someone? I wish safety for the foal, and I can stay here with you to deflect the stallion or mare you run from. Consider it. For the safety of your daughter," I spoke in a low voice.

[mystic;]

Inca::

I shuddered, seeing him approach. Karma leaned against me, but did not shake with fear as I would have expected. I heard his words then. Please mare, I do not wish harm. I am just here to pass through, but I wanted to rest. I promise to leave you alone and never bother you again if you wish, but you seem on edge, and as if you are running away from someone? I wish safety for the foal, and I can stay here with you to deflect the stallion or mare you run from. Consider it. For the safety of your daughter, he said. I looked at my daughter, then carefully stood. She copied me and hovered close by my side. "My name is Inca. But I doubt you would be able to deflect the stallion we run from." Karma shook some then, though she didn't really know her father.

Karma::

As we stood, I hovered by Mom. She was trying to comfort me again, glancing down at me, suppressing her chills. But I don't know, something about this horse...he didn't seem scary. I had a good feeling about him. But how could I prove that to my mom? I had never spoken a word in my life... not that I couldn't, as I was fairly sure I was not a mute. But why would I? Why should I? I just didn't want to. I glanced at the stallion and then at Mom. I shot her a shy smile and her eyes lit up a little. She must've been happy I wasn't scared. But I could see behind her careful mask. She was torn between wanting me to live without fear, and wanting me to be protected by it.

[{♥L|uvy|Luv♥}]

The mare doubted my ability to protect them from another stallion. My head rose some. Of course I could. I looked down at the little filly who shyly hid beside her mother. A certain innocence, a beauty floated about her. The instinct to protect her was overwhelming. I took a step forward. "I promise to do all that is in my power to protect you and your daughter. Who is it you run from that you would doubt my ability to protect you from him?" I asked with genuine curiosity. My large, ebony frame shifted from one side to the other, my head tilted. My satin banner flicked irritably back and forth, scaring away the bugs that looked at me as food. The air was thick with humidity. Insects floated mindlessly around the sky, and water snakes slithered through the ebony liquid glass. The black sky, only barely lit by a quarter moon pressed down on us, staring at us with tiny trinkets of stars.

(small post, sorry)

[mystic;]

Inca::

Karma was quiet, as usual. It made me so nervous and impatient. She should say something right? Most young fillies are hyper and talkative. Maybe it was because she was so cut off... she had no friends, and that was my own fault. But I had to keep her safe. I glanced at Benson. His strong, proud look told me he knew he could take care of us. I sighed. He could never save us from the stallion I feared. Even if he did physically, I highly doubted my ability to let go of him emotionally. The fear that he'd come. That he'd somehow find me. I shook my head sadly. "Sir, the stallion is my daughter's father. Karma's biological father. But he is in no way her dad..." I sighed. He could never be her dad. Never. I didn't want him to, and we in no way needed him. "He was..he wasn't good. And he's very smart, and strong. I do not doubt your ability to protect us from very much, but you don't know this male we hide from."


Karma::

Mom kept talking to the black stallion, but she didn't look happy. She looked sad. She always looked sad. I let out a frustrated sigh and stamped a hoof. Mom looked at me with a confused look. "What is it Karma?" she asked. I shook my head and stared at the grass. She sighed like I had and turned back to the black stallion. I felt a little guilty; she didn't need anything else to worry about.

[{♥L|uvy|Luv♥}]

Cheer up and dry your damp eyes,
and tell me when it rains,
And I'll blend up that rainbow above you,
and shoot it through your veins

She spoke of a midnight terror that had kept her on the run for a while now. I felt sympathy for this mare. Her daughter stamped her foot, and let out a sigh. She stared off unto the tall grass where I had been sleeping prior to our little gathering. I looked at the filly with my eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "Is there something you would like to say miss?" My deep bass filled the air in a soft song. Her mother mirrored my confusion with her feminine features.

A soft wind blew as we waited for this little filly to speak up, carrying the sweet scent of the blossomed honeysuckle. I looked towards the wind, and saw the white blossoms ready to be eaten. I lifted one hoof, and then the rest, carrying my frame towards the delicious flowers. I bit off a full branch, and carried it back the the mares. I put it on the ground in front of them and then motioned to it with my nose. "Help yourself."

Cause your heart has a lack of color,
and we should've known,
that we'd grow up sooner or later,
cause we wasted all our free time alone

[mystic;]

KARMA:

The dark horse asked me if I wanted to say anything. Did I ever! But I just lowered my eyes and turned my head away from his beckoning eyes. My mom, despite what I'm sure she wanted, had taught me to trust no one. But, a part of me did trust this horse. But I would not speak. No, I couldn't. I'd vowed to myself. What kind of mare would I be if I broke my own promises?


INCA:

Karma stayed quiet, and I sighed again. I didn't let myself cry here, because I always saved that for the time of night that my daughter was fast asleep and the only sounds were her soft even breath and her steady heartbeat. Oh, what a comforting sound. I was pulled from my thoughts as I watched the dark horse move toward a tree, white and soft yellow blooms covering it's branches. He returned with a branch, and the buds looked delicious. He told us to help ourselves. I glanced at Karma and nodded, letting her know to go first. She nibbled one, and then broke it off to finish it. I, too, took one from the branch. Sweet honeysuckle filled my mouth.

[{♥L|uvy|Luv♥}]

Asleep in our warm cocoons, we dream of lovely things,
We're both gonna wake up soon,
so we hope that tomorrow brings, us our butterfly wings

Benson
The filly did not speak, but only stared at her hooves. Her mother said nothing either. I lowered my eyes. When I brought back the flowers, her mother gave a silent approval to her daughter to eat. The filly was so skinny! I wondered if she ever got anything to eat. They silent wind blew a breath of more honeysuckle across the lake and to us. I took a deep breath of it in and let it out ever so slowly. It was a quiet summer night. My favorites. I loved sitting out by the lake and pondering meaningless things just to pass the time. It was so peaceful out here. I loved the sound of the soft flapping of butterfly wings as they fly past my ears. I loved the smell of the flowers blooming, filling the air with their floral scent. And the warm water as it hit my pelt when I would finally decide to take a swim was even better. I awoke from my reverie and turned to go into the water.

Amalia
The smell of fresh meat was so tempting, I couldn't bear to let this opportunity go. I flew in circles over them, only soaring. I didn't want to alert them to my position. Finally I couldn't take it any longer. I tucked my wings back and dive-bombed the mare. I came in behind her, and opened my jaws wide to place them around her neck. I landed square on her back and wrapped my jaws around her neck as far as they could go. I clamped down as hard as I could and didn't let go. My claws dug into her back and my wings folded them self back at my sides. I shook my head back and forth hoping to tear the skin and paralyze her. I scratched at her back, hoping to further the damage. My jaws never left her neck. It was all happening so fast. The taste of her blood in my mouth only drove me further into a feeding frenzy. The smell of blood cut through the summer air like a razor.

[mystic;]

OOC: Powerplaying!

Inca

I watched Karma eat quietly and occasionally glanced at Benson. Something felt strange, and I started to feel very unsafe. Was it Benson? I started pacing a little until I heard something above me. Karma looked up and her eyes got wide. "Mama!" she shrieked. I stared at Karma, shocked that she had spoken, and then realized something was very wrong. Karma jumped to her feet and ran at me. But something sharp dug into my neck before she could push me out of the way. She stopped dead in her tracks, eyes wide and full of terror. "Mom!" She turned to Benson, but I wasn't sure what happened next. I was blacking out, probably from loss of blood. I could feel the sticky mess trailing down my back and neck. Then I was shaking. I was brought back from the blackout with the quick movements. I reared, desperately attempting to knock the wolf off. I bucked repeatedly, but this only ripped my wounds. I cried out in pain and turned on my side, rolling to try and crush the wolf beneath me. I could only hope it would at least scare her.


Short post.

[{♥L|uvy|Luv♥}]

Amalia

The horse reared and bucked beneath me. I held on her neck, hoping she would tire. Then she did something I wasn't expecting. She dropped to the ground, and a bunch of dust rose. She then rolled onto her side. I tore into her neck, hoping that the loss of blood would cause her faint. I really didn't want to lose this kill, but considering the horses around us would probably try to save her, I would have to defend my kill. And the large black horse across the river didn't look too weak. She rolled onto her side and I jumped off, flapping my wings. I raised into the air a little, until she was all the way on her side, and then aim for her neck, and tried again.

Benson

I saw the wolf come down to attack Inca, and I took off across the river. The water slowed my limbs by creating drag, but I ignored it and continued to plow my way through the water. I made shore and ran full speed at the wolf. Inca rolled to the ground and the wolf jumped off, but dove at her again, teeth bared. I jumped over Inca, and slammed my head into the wolf's ribs. A loud yelp filled the air. I felt the bones split when I hit her. She fell to the ground and I fell on top of her. I stood over her, snorting and baring my teeth. I scraped the ground with my hoof, ready to take her life. But then I remember that Karma was here. I didn't want her to see me like this. I didn't want to scare her. The wolf cowered beneath me, terror in her eyes. I bent my head down to hers. "I'll give you ten seconds to get out of my sight," I whispered. The wolf nodded, taking quick, shallow breaths. I released my stance on her, and she immediately took off into the air, whimpering at the pain. I ran back to Inca, laying down next to her. Blood was everywhere. I ran to get some large leaves to bind the wound. I wrapped them around the wound and used vines to tie them in place. Then all I could do was wait.

[mystic;]

Karma

The wolf lifted my mom up so she was standing. Out of nowhere, a rush of air blew past me, and a black mass took the wolf down. Mom collapsed and I ran to her side. Benson took care of the wolf, although I had hoped he would kill it, and even let me help. "Mom?" I whispered. She was passed out, and losing blood fast. I looked her over, feeling helpless. Tears started streaming down my face. My only hope was her faint breathing. I leaned my head against her chest and felt the pitiful heartbeat. "Mom, please...please wake up," I choked up. Benson returned with leaves and wrapped them with vines around her wounds. I struggled to compose myself as I watched my mother lay there on the ground, barely alive. All this time, running and hiding, and a wolf is what finally brings her down. "She's strong," I said confidently, mostly to myself, but also to let Benson know I knew she'd survive this. Mom whimpered in pain and I lay my head on her shoulder, on spot that was covered in blood. "It's okay, Mama...we'll take care of you," I whispered. I cursed the wolf in my head, hoping it would die somewhere. Sure, it was probably hungry. But it should have gone after me instead. I was smaller, weaker than my mom. She could have taken me into the air and left my mom alone. She'd have Benson anyways. Who cared whether or not I was dead? I only caused problems anyway. I was a burden. But my mom...she was much more important. She would live...right?