Unicorns of the Vale

Waves of green lap against a sandy golden shore; lazy summer clouds scud overhead before the breeze. The Summer Sea is a paradise when the unicorns come a-trysting each year from Summer's beginning to Summer's end. Storms come occasionally, but there is shelter in the thick, sturdy firs and the Singing Cliffs, whose fluted caverns are filled with the haunted call of the wind.

There is food in plenty here - the grass is thick and healthy at the edge of the beach, and fresh water may be found in secret pools among the trees and further westward, where streams from the edges of the Gryphon Mountains feed into the ocean. Be polite to the blue herons, and stay out of the water after a storm has passed, and the Summer Sea will keep you fed and cared for until the turn of Autumn.

Baked cream sands blushed saffron with the sea’s gentle caress. White foam frothed just off the beach while web-like tendrils of soapy lather laced through the washing tide. Clear blue waters pulled into a deeper gradient just in the distance, but closer to the white sand beach a rich green color comprised the cool ocean. It’s clearness spoke like crystals, or the thin sheets of ice on the boughs of trees. Within the blue-green tide glided fish as vibrant as the coats of unicorns, or even jewels as they were described in lays. Orange and black striped fish played tag among the skin pink and faded purple cushions of the reef like home. Spine stemmed sea plants the color of an low orange summer moon, and vivid red played the role of a miniature forest to the unbelievably blue and orange fish, as large as eyes, that hunted smaller many legged creatures nearly translucent except when they herded together to make a cloud soft gold color.

Overhead the herons gave voice to the thunder of the sea, playful in their hunting cries, as if in celebration for the horned beasts’ annual vacation to their shores. The singing cliffs too trumpeted great welcome to the fancy free guests that graced the shores, wind rustling grass amid the cheers and whinnies of the raucous beach. Long billed birds from inland fished in the shallow pools left in the rocky outcroppings, and further offshore the ocean whispered of a whole other world of creatures unimaginable and wholly secretive. Thudding heels against the sand and the ring of horn on horn played beat to the music of the sea.

A party was afoot.

“The summer is finally here,” usually collected Glittir trumpeted. She jumped into the air, black mane tickling her neck as she threw her head back and thrust her hind legs out in a kick before landing. Blasting a sigh from her nostrils, the unicorn relished the salty air in all its exotic foreignness. The bitter tang in the air clung to the roof of her mouth and down her long throat. She smacked her lips, bobbed her head, then she bared her teeth.

It wasn’t unusual for Glittir to have fun and shuck free of responsibility. After duties she took full advantage of her free time. Sun cast down on her back, and it was a carefree reminder of how unhurried this whole summer would be. Why should she be standing still on this seasonal retreat? Darkened legs began to churn, hooves gobbling the sands, and a laugh sprang from her throat. But both laugh and prance were replaced with a jarring silence when ahead the mare saw him. Even the distant cesious and raven dashed peacock of a stallion captured her breath. Memory of his thick voice played mischief in her veins.

Juju.

They were different, as polar as opposites could be. He was trouble, she was learned. He bold, she quiet. He was dark haired with pale eyes, and she had a pale coat with dark copper eyes. They held hardly anything in common, and as she tried to think on the subject she could only come up with one thing. They both liked to hear a good story. She stomped a hoof in irritation. The ground shifted with her movement, much unlike the firm soil of home, and she stumbled a bit. In her flailing attempt at finding purchase on the mud like softness of sand, she was reminded of their youthful banter, and the way he terrorized her as a filly. Juju played a much scarier monster than the gryphons before peace. To Glittir, Juju was the sting of a cut. Persistent and painful, accompanied by a great deal of worry from infection. A wound far beyond the skill of even an over-capable healer to clean. He had infected her, and his memory festered in her. Like the living, moving, earth underneath a rock, the stallion squirmed in her mind, niggling at her brain to be thought upon. If his memory were any more persistent she’d call it determined, and she obsessed.

Gawking at his shadowed form only further taunted her. Tears shed in the lonely night, hurts hidden in from the eyes of the world, grievances that grew heavier with age. Yet somehow…amid her hatred and brokenness she craved him like the verdant wet taste of spring clover in the creaking silent winter. In her eyes, he was very unlike the stallions of the ring. The colts she had grown up with were stern and plush, yet gentle in spirit.

He was none of these. He was bold and hearty, with a quick temper and faster actions. She only thought the stallions in stories could be capable of such personalities. After harried contemplation she recalled that the stallions of stories had uncountable problems because of their obnoxious identities. And she also knew that Juju was a carousal of debauchery. She snorted. She didn’t want any of that, no matter how attractive he was. No matter the persistence of her heart’s desire ‘he’ll love you, he’ll love you, he’ll love you.’

Eager to chase the frustration of the male from her mind, she spun and sped gaily away. With a cloying smile, though, her mind sung a favorite lay. He was the dust devil, and she was a storm caller.

Glittir

Sand scattered under eager hooves, and two voices clashed in their laughter far behind Juju while he scanned eyes across that stretch of crystalline blue that bled up into a blue even more intense. He huffed out a snort, glancing back towards Halarnd and Webb, who bickered across the white sands like two overgrown woodpeckers. Battling and cajoling as they hopped, the pair tried to entice him into their reckless, stupid game.

“Come on Ju! Don’t be a bore, not like the rest of the stallions here!” Webb called raucously, and Halarnd leapt onto his husky violent friend’s back. Before Juju could see what he would do just to make Webb scream so loudly, the black spattered stallion looked away with a snort. A tasseled ear flickered back as behind him now, Halarnd yelled laughingly, apparently fighting again as his voice bounced and rose in pitch “Webb won’t fight like these mares will! He’ll understand you leaving in the morn!”

Despite how this made him grin, Juju looked opposite the two stallions, canting his head back to prepare to call to the two of them but a glimmer of fawn against the darker cream of the sand caught his attention. Down the beach, with the holes of black in her face and that smokey mane that danced all across her pale body Glittir stood, and Juju went rigid.

It was as if his gaze had lit her afire – and immediately the fawn and ebony coated mare spun and took off. She ran as if possessed, with some intent to get somewhere, more than likely a point as far as possible from him.

It only took him a breath to gather his haunches under him and take off. He kicked out with such force that sand loosened under his toes, nearly laying him out like a fish on his belly but he caught himself with his forehooves, pulled himself forward, kicked off again and soon he was at a full out sprint – determined to catch her.

Instead of quietly chasing her, as might have been the most effective thing to do, he shouted out to her and leant to her the extra incentive to escape him – let her know that yes, the demon was pursuing her.

“Kitten!” he bawked, and laughter riddled his deep voice, the beat of his hooves tore up sand and sent clods of wet, sprays of dry matter all behind him in a trail that followed the rent he left in the ground. “Wait for me kitten!” he yelled, and the grin that split his lips was completely malicious.

He’d known years on the plains to stretch his lungs and his legs – he knew well his capabilities for cross country runs well surpassed young Glittir’s. She had remained in the Vale, bound by ring law and thusly remained a ring dancer, made only for the short bursts of speed warriors felt they needed, and the easy lope unicorns were all gifted to keep for a great many hours. She could not outlast him; he could pursue her much longer than she could fly.

It was just a matter of waiting for her to relent now – as always.


((OOC: Blue, I feel like a total kindeegardenurrr trying to follow that post up, I mean, honestly - it was beautiful. The bit about the ocean was SO easy to envision, and I just love Glittir with her thought processes. I love these two, oh so much. *Snirk.*))

As unicorns joyously tumbled out of the forest and danced and chased each other, another equine was making his own type of progress. Step by step, foot by foot, Teaparty Kettle was going around in squares.

The finely built bay stallion moved slowly through the sand, eyes closed, ears slack, his body like a marionette against the sun. He lifted his legs high and curved them out before him as if in dream. Three horse lengths, and he turned. Three horse lengths, and he turned. Three horse lengths, and he turned. A gentle breeze trembled in his upright mane and twisted his tail around his fetlocks. Edges of foam ventured toward him and sucked away back. Three horse lengths, and he turned. His coat was dark; the rich brown of deep forest trees, the black of blindness or deepest night. Only his forefeet showed a flash of white before they sank back into his tracks again. His hornless face was slender, sensitive, his expression far away. His breathing was slow and calm. Three horse lengths, and he turned.

The unicorns streaming out of the woods and now frolicking in the sand and surf was an impressive sight indeed. The stormdark unicorn couldn't help but watch their cavorting with a sad air. Twitching her skin as though to dislodge the mood, she started out towards a more calm section of the beach. Only hoofprints in the wet sand were testament to the unicorns passing through the spot she chose, but at least they were few and far between. White tufted ears swiveled at the sound of s scream, as She turned and watched a flaxen stallion racing out of the water, a red thing clinging to his thrashing tail. She watched for a moment more as he screamed and ramped. She shook her milk white mane, figuring it was a crab which caused him to scream so.

Dumb half-growns. She turned to the matter at hand, as she wandered into the water, pausing in the shallows, welcoming the warmth of the seawater upon her shanks. Another sound reached her ears, and she turned towards the singing cliffs, where another was out enjoying the isolation of the area. She watched the dark unicorn, stepping through the water in a strange pattern... Curious, She walked towards the shifting unicorn, snorting in surprise at its lack of horn or beard.Must be a Da... I wonder why they haven't drunk from the mere yet. She raised her head higher, ears tupiled forward even more, staring at the still shifting form.

She whistled, trying to get its attention, before she picked up her pace, lifting her knees higher to try and clear the water better. "Hist, hornless one! Can I be of any aid?" Her steady trot brought her to the stranger, now clearly a stallion, soaked in seawater. She wrinkled her nose at his scent, musky and burnt. No scent of plains or trees, or unicorns that she may have known. She eyed him inquisitively, wondering just where he had come from to smell so. Head cocked, she looked him in the eye, "What is your name, sir?" She asked, wonderingly, as she slapped her flywhisk against her side, it stung somewhat as the hairs were wet.

He was just as the lays said, no horn graced his brow, his tail was full, and she had to admit, the bay of his coat, although rich, wasn't nearly as bright nor healthy looking as the unicorns she knew. His mane rose above his neck in a black brush, shifting slightly in the sea breeze. He was taller than her, she mused, and more muscular too. She sincerely hoped that this Dayan stallion wasn't as vicious as the lays said they were, concerned, she almost backed up a step, plainsdweller ways pushing instinct to the forefront of her mind. At least if he made to attack her, she could flee safely.

Though the unicorn whistled, the Da kept walking, continuing on his small sandy path with no sign of recognition or awareness. Even as she first spoke, his eyes stayed shut, and his walk continued. It was as if she'd made no sound at all.

He was a refined looking stallion - well proportioned, and he'd be athletic and shapely if he had any muscle. There was sand all across his knees and chest, clinging to the damp hairs there, as if he'd gone down to roll but hadn't finished. He kept walking, and turned, with precisely the same number of steps as before. Then he leapt in the air as if struck by lightning.

He came down metres away, staring, his whole body braced in an arc of tension. His white-rimmed eyes almost popped out of his head as he faced the creature who'd so suddenly been beside him. He snorted, and then snorted again, the sound harsh against the murmur of the waves.

"King?! Get away from there! King! You silly foal, get away from that rock, it's moss covered and slippery! You'll fall in! Oh my... King! GAH! For the love of Alma, will you PLEASE stop eating that sea weed!?" Anequia called to her son, a hint of panic in her usually calm voice. He was much like her, adventurous, curious and a large bundle of energy who would do anything to give those who care for him a heart attack. She watched him from under a large tree, admiring the fact that he was so much like her.

But, there was a deep sadness returning, a sadness that both had stripped themselves of in hopes that they could live their lives again. Janus, the mate of Anequia and the father of King, had died a year ago, mauled by the razor claws and teeth of a young, starving pard. After his death, both had been stricken by huge bouts of grief and pain. Although King was only two, he knew there had been something horribly wrong, and knowing that, he felt for, and with, his mother. Each would cry, King more so after seeing or hearing his mother sobbing a few feet away. She loved him, her Janus, for he was her secret pond, the calming waters that soothed her soul and kept the fire of the dragon at bay. Without him, she almost felt as if she weren't ever going to be able to control herself. For years before Janus, she had a secluded pond as her haven, a place where she could escape to and, for the first time in a while, be calm like the water. But, she soon started to drift from the pond, and ventured to the Plains, not knowing that she was closer to her pond than she realized. It was Janus that helped her when her control was off. It was he who stood by her when no one else would. It was he she loved. It was he that she... missed.

For half a year afterward, the depression suddenly started to drift away. The high-tide of pain had returned to low-tide, sinking back into the ocean of despair and heartache as both realized that life must go on, that they must carry out his memory rather than repress it by being solitary and confined to each other. Both knew that one day, they would part, that life will change for the both of them, but until that day comes, Anequia and King vowed to make each other's life worth while with the sharing of love, teachings, wonders, and happiness. They had to stick by each other and venture forth into their new lives, the lives that Janus had wanted them to live if he were not but a soul riding the winds.

Now, the two had set off, traveling all over and meeting knew people, visiting the old family and friends wherever they went. Before returning to the Vale, Anequia's true home, she decided it was time to venture into the Summer Sea, her first time ever. She and Janus did not pledge, as it was not his custom and she respected that, so they never had a reason to come here. And although it had been a year since his death, Neq found that it was time to find either a friend or someone who can make her feel in control again. The Summer Sea, from stories she's heard, have always been filled with single unicorns looking for love, or even unicorns who were already courting others before the trip to the Sea and are ready to pledge their love to each other. For Neq, it wasn't necessarily for love, but of friendship. There were times when she wanted to feel loved again, but in doing so, she would put herself, and her son, in the path of destruction if the love was stolen away from them once more. Friendship was the safer option and it always held the possibility of love growing from it. It was here that she most certainly would find that, if not now, maybe the next trip. She was in no hurry and she could wait.

"Momma, you really shoulda seen tha' sea weed! It was slimy but it sparkled! It was pretty, just like you, 'cause you sparkle too!" King had come back from the water's edge to stand underneath the tree, the sun's rays proving too hot for him to be out there so long. Neq's eyes turned to him and she couldn't help but smile and laugh. He always knew how to make her feel better, whether she was sad or not. Not only what he said made her laugh, but the way he looked as well. His white legs had been soaked to the bone with sea water, and his coat was muddied to the stars and back, his colors being barely visible under the cake of sand and water. Sea weed had somehow found it’s way onto his withers, draping across his back and swinging down the sides. All of the whites on his body had been turned to a pale brown, the sand had burrowed its way between the hairs. He dripped, head to toe, with wetness, a pool of salt water beginning at his hooves. The funny thing was that he didn’t notice it. Kids, Neq thought, shaking her head.

“King, you do know that you look like a mud monster, right?” Instantly, she regretted what she said, for King’s face turned into a mischievous look. With an eyebrow raised, corners of his mouth crawled up into an awkward smile, and a rumbling started in his throat. He started walking towards her, stiff legged and his eyes were wild. He started to foam at the mouth, or drool actually, and the noises grew louder. Anequia knew better than to compare him to something, more often than not he will act like whatever he was being compared to. It was a game he liked to play and she would always play along.

Her eyes grew wide, her skin started to shiver, her breathing became heavier. She was always the victim, and her son always assumed that he was the villain. It was the way the game was played. The game also included her running from King, with him snarling at her heels like a wild dog. With a grunt she lifted herself from the grassy bed she made, resuming her shaking and wide-eyed façade. She kicked up her heels with a dramatic cry of alarm and distress, its echo bouncing of the rocky walls, falling gracefully into the ears of anyone nearby. She didn’t care if people heard her. She was enjoying her time with her son, only two years until he believed himself ready to be initiated and away from his mother. She didn’t want to relish on the idea, so she resumed her play with her son for the rest of the day.

It was up to others to join in. But, then again, knowing King, he would end up bringing someone into the game unknowingly, and also unwillingly. He was her son.

Anequia & King

He hadn’t ventured to the sea before and was stunned over the scenery. It was like the rolling back of Alma had change to the same color as the sky above, only some shades darker. Dendroica had just mentioned that the others, the southerners came to the sea once a year to frolic in the waves. Some pledged, committed themselves to only one for the rest of their life. He may be young but the thought of just keeping to one mare always seemed…well…weird…wouldn’t that become boring? On the other hand, he hadn’t really thought in fillies in that sense. Surely he had seen one or two that was pretty, but he had never really dared to ask them to dance.

A cloven hoof sunk slightly in the dunes. It was a strange sensation, so much different than grass. The wind seemed stronger and brought different scents to his nose than he was used to. Then suddenly a cry and ears swiveled to locate its source. Once found he set of at a swift gallop. He saw an unusual colored mare coming towards him, looking like she was chased by haunts. Pinning his ears he charged forward. He may not be an adult yet but he could perhaps hinder them. He hadn’t really the call of a fullgrown stallion so the cry came out a little highpitched, but at the moment he didn’t really care. What happened next went so quickly it was pure luck he didn’t break his neck. He thought he heard a call from the mare just as he charged past her. He flinched as he discovered that the darkish form that came behind the mare wasn’t a predator. It was a foal! With a grunt he made his best to avoid running him over. It went so quickly so he didn’t get a proper hold of the ground as he landed. His forelegs buckled and he crashed down, knocking the breath out of him. It also made him see black spots before his eyes. Gasping for air he rolled onto his belly, shaking his head to loose the ringing in his ears.

-Parus


(OOC: not the most cleaver way to introduce himself to others but..it was well meant)

“Mother! Come on!” The young filly called back for what was probably the hundredth time that morning. She pranced back to where Silvana was making her way through the Pan Woods; plodding would’ve been a good way to describe her movement had her stride not contained the graceful power of a warrior.

“The Sea isn’t going anywhere Maelona.”

Maelona narrowed her eyes and flattened her ears at the grulla mare, tugging at her beard before laughing and disappearing into the underbrush again. Silvana rolled her eyes and trudged on. She wasn’t looking forward to this Summer Sea adventure as her adoptive daughter called it but the endless days of Mae begging and pleading to go had to come to an end and this was the only option the mare had. Green tail flicked against her sides in agitation.

What others saw in the Summer Sea was beyond the mare… or perhaps it was just that she was too old for that sort of thing. Silvana snorted. She wasn’t too old, she’d just had her heart betrayed or broken one time too many. And there was always a chance that those old loves would be at the Sea… just as long as he wasn’t there.

Maelona flitted between Silvana, bombarding her with questions, and plunging ahead until the two finally reached the grassy downs surrounding the celebrated Sea. The caramel and chocolate coloured filly gave a series of bucks in her excitement. Silvana looked beyond the filly without interest to where the green met gold and finally blue. Unicorns of all colours were already playing in the surf, mainly the muted colours of the Valedwellers but her emerald eyes spotted a few wildly coloured individuals who must’ve come in from the Plains. Silvana’s tail flicked like a wingcat’s, distaste blossoming within her.

The salty wind toyed with Silvana’s green mane and she suddenly realized that Maelona was nowhere to be seen. Fear cursed through her veins as her eyes scanned the shoreline, a youngster like Mae shouldn’t be alone in a place like this where hormones and primal instincts reigned over common sense. She cursed under her breath and started forward, calling out in the hope that she was still within hearing range. Sure the youngster could look after herself, she was slowly nearing the age where she could start off on her own but her last promise to Mawiyah was that she’d care for her foal. Even though she never really forgave her sister for leaving the Vale, Silvana never stopped loving her and if she asked her to care for Maelona that was what she’d do - no matter how much the hard headed filly tried her patience and sanity.

Almost at the interface of sand and sea, Silvana altered her course to run parallel to the breakers. Where had that filly got to this time? She was so focused on looking for the star-eyed youngster; Silvana almost collided with a unicorn whose pelt sent shivers through her body. The mare stilled her now rapid heart beat and let seasons of anger replace the shock of seeing the charcoal and orange stallion here.

“Oh great, it’s you… Just when I thought my day couldn’t get any worse.”
*

Maelona had gone exploring, that was why she had come here after all. Her thoughts on colts hadn’t yet turned to love. Her hooves sank strangely into the loose sand as she zigzagged the shoreline, chasing rosy crabs and sea gulls whose eerie cat-like calls echoed overhead. Mae watched them for a while, the bright sun causing her eyes to sparkle in a way that was the envy of many, until a loud distressed call made her jump. White tasseled ears swiveled in the direction of the cry where a foal was chasing a full grown – she presumed it was the youngster’s dam – over the sands.

Amused Maelona set off in that direction, she felt light and carefree and playful. Perhaps she could join in whatever game they were playing – Silvana had never played games with her as she was growing up, nor had they been around many others her age with whom she could play. As she passed below a large tree, the start point of the whole fiasco, another shape appeared. The multicoloured unicorn charged at the mare and foal as if he were trying to protect them from…something. But his attempt failed miserably as he narrowly avoided colliding into the foal, instead crashing to the ground himself.

The chocolate draped caramel filly cantered forward until she was just a few strides from the fallen unicorn. Bewilderment filmed his brown eyes and while a part of her worried about how he was, his appearance of green and blue coated with sand, shells and dried seaweed, his mane falling haphazardly over his neck and eyes forced a snort of a laugh to escape her.

The snort became a fully fledged laugh when she caught sight of the colt that had been chasing his dam. He too was caked in sand and foliage, though his was still fresh from the sea. For reasons unknown Maelona couldn’t stop the waterfall of laughter and let it spill over the edge until it became little more than a trickle. Her short tail twitched as she waited for the others to converge before she dared speak.



((OOC: Silvana's part is for Bluey and Ra, second for Alcyone & Reina in case it wasn't clear ))

Glittir skipped away from Juju, his massive heels thundering a warning behind her. Stay clear of this stallion. He will not be what you want. Her tail flashed up, whipping back down again as she cut towards the sea. Clear water slid to meet her charge and with her splashing, her fawn underbelly became thoroughly soaked in little time. Her copper eyes took in the sight of the mares and their foals and shock thrilled through her in pulses, like an electrical storm in the sky with barely a breath between charges. What kind of dam would bring their foal to the Summer Sea?

This was not a place of fun and games for little ones. There was an age, a certain year that unicorns had to reach in order to partake of the activities at the sea. After all…the intent of the summer sea was…finding a mate. To mate. To conceive. Already this morning she’d seen Webb climb upon the backs of three mares. In jest of course, and they’d kicked him in the knees and belly, but had he been any more ready to fertilize life in the belly of a mare she’d have hit her side, fainted. It would be obscene to a foal. It was obscene to HER!

She threw her hooves into the sand, digging her heels into the wet sand. Waves surged over her canons as she gaped at the two foals, but the cool water and nice breeze did little to cool the indignation burning in her breast and in her eyes. Furiously she spat back at Juju, an angry cry. “Juju!” She watched him approach, and before he could open his mouth to release any cocky replies, she swatted her tail against her flank presenting her worst side; the side that begged for tradition and order and execution of that which threatened her normal way of habit. “Hark, behold the foals!” The black spots around her eyes did little to hide her expression, as they readily did at a distance. Her eyes glared at the distant forms of the foals, then she squealed and pulled away from Juju, smote the water with a quick stomp before she repeatedly began to churn her hoof, pawing at the water in utter irritation.

“Who in their sane state brings a foal to the shores of the mating place? Our people…they…they…” she looked at Juju, unable to say the word in front of him in the last dregs of her shy nature. One of the foals’ voices reached her ears however, and that last bit of sanity was ripped free. “Stallions ride on the backs of mares at these shores. You know this; not in barbaric savagery in the waves, but...but. By Alma! But were a pair to take a liking to one another and the stallion go unchallenged- You and I both know the belligerent ways of half-growns in these carefree times! Tradition is thrown down like the bonds of tyranny! We must do something! We must remind them of the glorious tradition of our people, and remind them why foals should not…” she silenced herself as another caught her eye; the feathers entwined in one stallion’s mane. The hornless head of a stallion down the beach. She huffed, her breath coming quicker as her consternation rose inside her, mind reeling.

“This is madness!”

Glittir

By the beard! Was this stallion daft? She wondered, watching him continue his useless pacing, eyes now shut tight. She was almost fooled by his aimless pace, she almost, just almost stepped forward to nudge him, lest he turned out to be in some sort of trance. As the bay stallion turned about yet again, She started, as he collected his haunches underneath himself, before launching himself into the air, all in the blink of an eye.

Snorting, She slowly lowered her forehooves to the ground, only now realizing that she had half reared as she had startled, instincts telling her to move. Grey eyes now narrowed, she planted her white heels wide in the sand, white tufted ears pinned against her skull as she turned viciously on the stallion her mood turning a complete three-sixty; Daft, half drowned, washed up, whatever! No sane beast would do such a thing in any semblance of their mind! And the dark mare sensed, that behind those now wide eyes, as he snorted over and over, that he had his mind. And with this sense, she continued on, a tirade now forming, "By Alma! What in all Alma's world was that! You daft, daft beast! Have you no sense? No decency?!! Why, I've never, never seen such an inconsiderate little colt such as you, ignoring another so blatantly, then going and having the sheer gall to scare them out of their mind!"She was stamping her delicate hooves now, tossing her head with each word of the last phrase, punctuating it, her teeth now bared viciously.

She blinked. How'd she get so close to this strange, hornless stallion? She blinked again, trying to remember whether it was she whom had closed the gap, in her fury, or the stallion. She looked up a little, now, oh wow, he was taller than her, she realized. Slowly, she backed up a step, sides expanding as she heaved in a heavy, somewhat shaky breath. Closing her mouth, removing the snarl from her velvet lips now, she unpinned her ears, thinking the whole time. She had gotten angry again. She sighed, closing her white lashed eyes for a moment, berating herself for getting so angry. He was surely new to the Summer Sea, and obviously of ill mind, to have been wandering so strangely....

Another sigh, and she opened her grey eyes, looking the stranger in the eyes, "Sorry." She muttered, before continuing, her words slow and overly, mockingly patient, as though she spoke to a young, addled, simpleton. "Let me ask again, now that I seem to have your attention, sir. What are you called, and, since you have the look of a wet grasscat, can I be of any aid, O hornless one?" Her lips curled a little at that last title, her annoyance clear. Although her anger had passed, she still couldn't help but feel irked with the dark stranger. Oh, the gall of him!



[Ooc: Don't take She's anger too seriously, she's already more than a little unstable, what with her conditions.^^ So please, don't take any of it seriously. ]

When Glittir stopped, Juju was shocked. It took him aback and when she snapped at him he obediently stopped, canting his head at her quizzically. He wasn’t quite sure if he should grin, or if he should look guilty, because he wasn’t honestly quite sure just why she had snapped his name or had stopped on the beach.

But then she spoke, and he knew. He looked beyond her, and to the foals – something he would not have noted for lack of care had she not spoken of them. However, they were noted now, and he ogled them.

Foals…?

He listened to Glittir as she raved, observing the mares with their little ones and he bit back laughter. He was not laughing at Glittir, but at these two mares – had they just dropped these little ones? Were they new mothers? Even to Juju, there was something that wasn’t quite right about the little ones playing in the sands where half-growns would be dancing their way to adulthood.

The mothers must have been desperate, or eager to be rid of their little ones in his mind.

He shifted, looking to Glittir as she barked at him about madness, and her anger made him split his lips in a grin and a low, broken laugh slipped out of his belly like a snake out of its hole.

“I’ll kill them,” he drawled, with a voice and deep and sticky, dark as smoke in the night and a grin as malicious and perverse as a grasscat wore sneaking up on its prey. “I’ll kill both the little ones.” He repeated, cocking his head and that grin did not falter as he slid his eyes from Glittir and towards the young ones.

“Or ought I teach the little tan filly the tradition of our seas? It is never too early to learn…” he rumbled, and he threw his head with a nasty, wraithlike giggle. He tossed his black tail over his flanks, and he started towards the closet set of parent and child – the filly and her dam who had come upon a fallen unicorn for all appearances.

He glanced back to Glittir, as if silently asking her to watch him do her bidding, though she had asked him to do nothing and she would probably scold him and bite him for what he was going to do. He sidled up beside the pair, to peer down at the fallen stallion as if curious, and then he looked down at the filly with a grin that was anything but friendly. Not the sort of smile any grown unicorn in their right mind would give to a little one.

“Hello, little one,” he purred, and his voice was too dark, too seedy to really be suitable for the situation. But Juju both intended to frighten the little one, and make the mare angry. He watched the little one a moment, and then quite suddenly and with a laugh he shouldered her roughly – with every intention of knocking the little filly on her side.

“Oh by Alma!” he cried, and shied and jumped to the side, as if bitten or stung. He cackled then, and wheeled on his dark hooves – kicking off and sprinting for Glittir with his tail thrown high. He pranced as he ran, bringing knees up high and showing her the broader side of his neck, nostrils flared and lips split with a grin.

“Shall I pursue the hornless beast?!” he asked her, pulling to a halt and ramping at her side, laughter lining his voice. “Or shall I take my reward?!” he cried, and suddenly – to be even more obscene, even more malicious and twisted in front of these little ones, and perhaps in front of Glittir as well he pitched to the side, twisted to face her.

“I shall show you what I want, Glit!” he laughed, and when he jumped up onto her back he was cackling like a beast, as loudly as he could muster. He wanted everyone to see.

- Juju

((OOC: Sometimes I'm ashamed of him. *snirk* Lycarius, I apologize for him - he wasn't raised right ))

“Zzz...Urr...ehhuh?” was the not directly intelligent first answer from the golden haired stallion. He moved his head a little, still with his eyes closed. “Uhhm...ahmmm...Just five more minutes...” Balios mumbled, then he stretched out on his side as the mare rised to her feet. He had gotten a bit spoiled having a grotto to sleep in at night. To be warm and safe, not having to worry about predators sneaking up on you was something new to him and he now enjoyed it to the fullest. Hearing the excited tone in his mate’s voice he opened one eye, then the other and after blinking a few times he rolled onto his belly again and yawned. She acted just like his sister. Nani was a whirlwind that was for sure and his dam had insured him that he had been too as a colt. Secretly Balios wondered how it would be to have a foal of his own...or rather of their own. How would it feel like? The stallion shook his head making his long and generous mane flow around him. However it didn’t really became as neatly looking like the mane on his mate. His scoutheritage made it stand in all directions, especially in the morning, and to make it all better it was full of bedding.

--

They emerged from the forest. Balios stopped in his tracks, eyes wide. By Alma this was...big...and blue. Others ran past under laughter and bucking, kicking their heels. He turned towards his mate. She seemed like she was glowing, and that was not just due to her coloring or that the sunstallion seemed to caress every curve of her body. The wind played with her mane and tail. Balios felt a tug at his heart as he looked at her and couldn’t help the silly grin on his face.

Many unicorns of all colors frolicked on the beach. Laughter, neighing and shrieking filled the air. Balios felt all sorts of emotions bubble up from within – it had to be released so he neighed – quite loud. Some further down the beach answered him. He neighed again as he semireared, taking two steps forward, his green eyes sparkled as he landed. His nostrils flared, trying to take in all the scents that surrounded him in just one breath. It was filled with the smell of the seaweed and the salt, from the others and he scented that some of the mares probably were in heat. Not that he had looked at another then Razi. Some had, when they first came to the Vale, tried to flirt with him. He wasn’t sure if it was due to the fact he was a new stallion or if it was because he wasn’t 'regular looking'. Nevertheless, despite some mare’s attempts, in some cases repeated attempts, he had always; nice but firm, let them know his heart was spoken for.

Balios felt himself getting filled with a new feeling. He just didn’t know what to do with himself. He made some twirly bucks, squealed and then set of towards the water at a fast pace, wildy bucking and snorting. The water cascaded over him as he jumped straight through the water. A rock, that was under water therefore unseen by him made the stallion tripp, falling head first into the water. It went quickly but those close enough might have seen that short glimpse of surprise before the little stallion went under. He emerged quickly. His mane was plastered close to his body and he snorted, coughed to get rid of the water he accidently swallowed and inhaled.

A bit calmer he trotted back to his mate. He couldn’t really tell what she was thinking but it looked like she had laughed, since she still had that look in her eyes that usually told him that she was happy. Balios shook the water out of his fur like a dog. He laughed at his mate. “I thought you liked water?”

-Balios

Razi ran out of the shadows of the trees and into the brilliant light of the sunny beach. Sand flew into the air sparkling like diamond rain as excited unicorns ran past her onto the white sand of the beach. The sky was clear and nearly devoid of clouds, it's bright blue color reflecting brilliantly in the lapping water of the sea. Oh the sea! It was immense. If she had thought the Plains were anything here the ocean rivaled it. It's folding waters and sparkling shore far surpassed the waving grasses of Alma's back. She smiled. From now on she would never refer to that stretch of land as an ocean.

Razi took in all this in rather quickly and as the awe faded ever so slightly the excitement that had over come her at the Vale started to once again burn in her veins. She was normally quite and reserved but here in the sun, the sounds of laughter and surf ringing in her ears, she couldn't help but prance in place. She laughed and whinnied along with her mate jumping along with him, the excitement in his emerald eyes was contagious. She followed him half way to the oceans edge before skidding to a stop in the soft sand and standing on her hind legs in a rear, smiling as she watched her love rush into the waves. She started as he tripped and disappeared for a moment, taking some steps towards the water. However, as he came out from under the waves, dripping wet, she couldn't help it. She burst out laughing. She felt like she was exploding with joy here. She gasped for breath, chuckling still as Balios came towards her, soaked to the skin. Her eyes shone still with laughter as he came to her side and shook. She shied as the water sprayed at her, but she laughed. As he spoke she smiled broadly.

"Oh I do! And I love you too, even if you do look like a drowned pard!"

She laughed and shoved his wet shoulder as she cantered down to the water's edge. She splashed her white hooves in the shallow water, kicking a spray of droplets back towards Balios.

"Catch me if you can, love!"

With that she gave him one last laughing and mischievous look before rearing and taking off through the shallows. She arched her neck and extended her legs to their full length, reveling in the resistance the sand gave her hooves. However, she became overly confident in her prowess over the looser ground. She kicked up her heels as she ran full out and as they touched back down she found herself slipping on the loose sand. She gave a startled squeal as she fell into the surf, spraying water and sea weed into the air and towards a rather disgruntled looking pale mare. Water washed over Razi's body as she lay on the ground trying to catch her breath. She coughed as salty water ran into her mouth and she rolled onto her stomach. She shook her head and, strangely enough, started chuckling. Her ribs and head hurt, plus she was now soaked like Balios, but she couldn't help but laugh at her own stupidity. She shook her head and turned her head towards the white mare she had splashed, golden eyes shining as the water lapped against her where she lay in the surf.

"I'm so very sorry about that miss! I guess I lost my footing. Are you all right?"

~Razi

((OOC: the now wet (and perhaps sea weed encrusted) mare is Sundew if that's all right by you Sunset!))

He squealed happily as his mate nudged him with her shoulder and aimed a loving nip at her rump. As she cantered off he couldn’t help but once more just stand and look at her, playing like a filly in the water’s edge. Others may look on him like a fool now but he didn’t care. He shied slightly as she splashed the water his way. At her challenge Balios tossed his head. He smiled and nickered towards her. “You may have the legs my dear, but I have stamina – I will track you down, dance with you under the stars and....” He stopped there, midsentence. Due to her quick departure she wouldn’t hear him anyway. The little stallion with the golden mane hadn’t, despite that they had been together for awhile now, advanced – making the pledge between them ‘complete’.

Wanting to make it correct he had spoken to other stallions in the Vale and found out the pledge between mates was really first fulfiled in the warm season, at the summer sea. Knowing his mates family and the culture she came from he wanted to make it right. He had snuggled close to her, feeling her warmth, but he had never tried anything. Nothing more than nibbling at her wither and the crest of her mane. What his mate thought about it he wasn’t sure, he hadn’t really dared talk to her about it. But in his head he had made a plan. Being the romantic that he was, the stallion hoped that he would be able to find somewhere quiet where he could court Razi properly.

The sun warmed his hide and the sand under his hooves. It felt so different compared to grass. He lifted his fronthooves and amazed he saw that they left a track. The stallion looked around quickly and then made some more tracks with one front hoof. He chuckled, he had enjoyed playing in the mud as a colt but this was even more fun. If you dug a hole it soon filled with water - that must be magic. Was it Alma, him or this place? Of course this place was created by Alma so it had to be her in the first place but still...that he could make water emerge – that was pretty cool!

He then realised that his mate had gotten a good head start, stopped his play in the sand and cantered after her at the same time as he thought of a proper place to make his pledge to Razi. He had to wait and see if the right moment came up, meanwhile he would explore the beach a little, to find that perfect spot to officially ask Razi to be his mate. Surely he had asked her that time and she had accepted it, he had asked her sire and dam and got their approval, but...still...if this was THE place for pledges – then he wanted to give Razi that too – so she would remember it in the future when things perhaps was hard. He had heard about the conflict with the wingcats. It didn’t bode well, he felt it. He wasn’t a fighter but he knew Razi were, and if her people called for help he knew she would come.

Balios dispersed his gloomy thoughts and laughed when he watched his mate frolic in front of him. There might have been other mares around but he only saw her. Then he gasped as she saw her loose her footing and forced himself to quicken his pace. As he skidded to a stop beside her, he nosed her over. She laughed so she wasn’t hurt, at least not so bad he thought. Then Balios saw the pale mare and shied to the side, eyes wide and snorting. A ghost!?! A scary seacreature that would eat his mate! Perhaps it took the form of a unicorn to disguise itself?! Stifflegged he walked closer again, head held high, ears slightly pinned but they didn’t show at all due to his big mane. Altho it was still quite soaked his smaller ears was completely covered. He placed himself infront of Razi, so his flank was near her head. Perhaps she would have a chance to get up and run if he distracted this unicorn like creature. He pawed the ground and stared up at the slender unicorn shaped thing.

-Balios

OOC: ok...Balios isnt really tiny, but he is somewhat shorter than the others..

Her fringed ears swiveled forward slowly, following Juju’s movement toward the filly. Kill the foals indeed, he’d never dream of such a thing. And yet he said it to her and her stomach twisted in delight. He sought to chase away the source of her discomfort. However brutal he was making himself out to be, Juju made it perfectly clear that a heart and soul still occupied his glamorous husk. Recollecting his words to further cherish their hidden meaning, Glitter repeated his sentence mentally, the end of which she’d missed in her shock at his words to kill the foals now coming to the fore of her mind. Her eyes snapped wide and she hoarsely called out to Juju, jealousy clawing up her throat. “You do not mean that!” She took a heavy step forward but halted, disbelieving. He wouldn’t…Juju would not teach the filly the act of consummating a vow. He wouldn’t touch her, or another mare, like that.

Glittir watched him carefully, her eyes flicking between the filly and his flank. Her stare was so focused that she missed the initial movement of the stallion, only noting him guffawing as he raced back towards her. The intensity of her gaze did not falter and no laugh came bubbling through. Her emotion was stale and flat like the stagnant waters of a green pool. “You are vile,” she finally announced to the stallion, turning her chin up at the sight of him. “Be gone, pest-” she started, then a weight crawled upon her back and rear, sending her lurching forward in surprise, legs splayed like a newborn.

Before any creature could get a good look at what Juju was doing, Glittir ducked her head and bucked. The night dark stallion’s weight slipped from her back, and she collected her hooves beneath her. “You cob,” she screeched, kicking out her hind legs three times as he crowded her rear. Feathered ears laced back against her neck as she swung away from him, rearing up and pawing in his direction in a tactic to draw a scratch or two down his neck and shoulder with her horn sharp cloven heels. “You baleful spider, a filled-with-evil nuisance you are, Juju!” she breathlessly crowed, then landed before him with a twist of her head and the clang of horn on horn. She sprang aside, drawing short her challenge, but fixed him with a dangerous glare.

“To crave a dearth of your attention is…I will not feign, it was a desire of mine. Yet time and time over you prove your worth naught above the dirt you trod so carelessly on. You behave as a mindless beast without the gift of speech and knowledge; though at times I think you long ago cast back that token from the goddess.” She tossed her head, ignoring the craving for comfort tingling under her skin. “Must you always treat me so? Must you always force me to berate you like a witless,” she looked up to the pair of foals before looking to Juju again, “foal.” Her silence didn’t last after the reprimand, yet her eyes did gentle somewhat. “Apologize,” she commanded, “act contrite and I will forgive your foolishness.”

Glitter

Juju had been expecting a violent reaction from Glittir, and when she started to buck he slid off of her, cackling behind her. He hadn’t expected her to actually continue her attack, and as she kicked out her hinds she caught him full on in the chest. Her hooves were small compared to others he had been hit with, and he had been hit many times but the sheer shock of the force was enough to leave him breathless.

He did not move quick enough to evade the three blows she dealt him, but jumped back as she spun – quite sure that she would attempt and run him through in her rage. He laughed as she reared, jumping forward with the intention of meeting her, she wouldn’t box him long. Yet she did not stay on her hooves as he had expected, she did box at him however and her hooves caught him.

The connection was enough to push him to squeal. The bite of her cloven toes shocked him more than it hurt him, he was a beast and had been in a great many fights, his pelt and his flesh had been torn by a great many creatures and he was accustomed to the splitting of his skin. He relished the loss of blood that came from a wound, and as he jerked back from her and clenched his teeth he jerked his head to get a look at his neck and shoulder in search of a well of blood.

She caught his horn, another blow which caught him off guard and it rattled his head, his teeth clattered and he snorted violently and threw his head as she sprang away from him, throwing her horn from his as she deftly, delicately leapt away from him. He stood and stared her down, teeth clenched tight again and nostrils flared.

He wanted to shout at her, but she was speaking and for once he found that he did not want to interrupt her. He liked her anger, to see the fire of an emotion in her that she worked so hard to secret away from others. It made him feel as though she were being intimate with him, and though her elevated voice and her cruel words did not particularly anger him, they did not make him feel good either. It was the wildfire in her eyes and her rash actions that made a fire swell in his gut. A fire that presented itself so fiercely and with such a sweet sensation to follow that he had formed an addiction to it, one far more potent than any of the other addictions he had nursed over the years.

She caused him so much turmoil, yet he could not, and would not walk away from her.

Juju slicked his blue tufted ears back, pulling them tight against his neck and the mess of his mane and he narrowed his eyes at Glittir. “Apologize?” he echoed, and his voice was deep and harsh, like the snap of a hound. He searched her skeletal face intently, as if he were trying to find some flicker in her expression, the beginnings of a smile that would tell him she was only joking.

He did not want to apologize. Why should he apologize? Especially to her, a mare.

His expression turned darker then, as anger took him. To hell with the fact her angry voice and hateful expression made his stomach twist in knots, and that admittance to the fact that she desired his attentions. He knew this already, he could see it well in the way she looked upon him when she thought no one would see and in those moments he feigned sadness following her rampages. This one was not so different, but it was altogether very different.

He did not want to apologize, and yet he felt he should. He was terrible to her, yes, he was a beast and a scoundrel to her. He treated her so horribly that he would not have blamed her had she desired to run him through, and yet there were times when he could come to her amicably and she would be kind to him.

How long had he tested her patience?

Moreover, why did he test her patience? Why was this creature, this black eyed tease, so important to pursue? Why did it whet his mouth to think of her, and make him ache and hunger in ways he had never known, ways that pushed far beyond the realm of instinct, reason, and even addiction?

“No,” he said, quite before he was aware of the fact he was speaking. He stepped forward towards her, lifting his head and dropping his voice. “You apologize to me.” He ordered her from between clenched teeth and pawed the sand vehemently. “You apologize to me.” He repeated, slowly this time, drawing out each word as if she were dumb, or as if he wanted each word to sting.

However, as quickly as this anger had overcome him he was able to draw outside himself, and look in on the situation. This would tickle her pink, seeing that she got to him, seeing that she had done something to him. If anyone else were to see it as well, they would know instantly what he was so loathe to admit.

He couldn’t allow her to see his anger, or the turmoil she caused because that was exactly what she wanted. Sometimes he hated mares, particularly this one but even as he hated her he wanted to devour her.

He sobered immediately, and smiled pleasantly, an expression that would not have fit such a face had anyone come to know the creature underneath that black drizzled pelt of his. “Forgive me, Glit,” he requested politely, ears twisting forward and then setting back as he stepped back a polite distance.

“I’m a heel.” He said, and the smile that twisted his lips was sickly sweet, the apologetic to his tone to his voice sweet enough to rot teeth. He wanted to nip her, to shout at her then, but he held onto that desire and flicked his ears forward towards her before he tossed his head towards the little one he had toppled. “Do I not deserve a thank you, though? I toppled the filly.” He stated proudly, and looked curiously back to her.

Alma help him – he wanted to run her through, and consummate a vow with her both in the same instant just looking at her. Alma help him. Glittir was going to drive him crazy.

-Juju

((OOC: I didn't figure that Juju needed to wait, but Lycarius, if you had something planned such as the little one coming after him let me know, and I will pull this down and we can go from there!))