blue on black, tears on a river [any/nymph]

[Nymphetamine]

Like a Thorn to the Holy Ones

Nymph was always lurking, always aware just not present. As Tephra grew quiet, he knew he was equally at fault as any other who hadn’t recruited hadn’t followed through with their roles and tasks. The blood bay knew that as the land settled into that twilight-like slumber that other lands would encroach on their sleepy little volcano. So the stallion patrolled, silently, and alone. A vigil of one, or at least that was how it felt. The moon had gone across the sky countless times, seasons had come and gone, leaves turned from bud to green, to brown, grass had turned to snow time and time again but he just couldn’t fully get behind his new life.

Ever since Tephra was formed he just hadn’t felt right, he was there after the Reckoning and he had helped build the little group into the start of Tephra. He had looked for Killdare and Kimber, the two he cared for most in Chamber, and only the shell of Killdare ever was found. Killdare didn’t remember anyone, save Malis. And Kimber… she was nowhere to be found. It was as if his anchor to care had been yanked out from beneath him. The blue mare had vanished. She had been vital to his life, even if he was not so to her. Without a job to throw himself into, and without his heart’s anchor (begrudgingly so, how he wished he could have moved on from the mare who refused to admit they worked) he was left to fade away without protest. The darkness of the shadows had been his comfort, he could just slumber, and so he had. Years passed and he barely emerged other than the occasional foray to check the status quo of Tephra and the other lands. Kimber had a appeared years later for a brief moment in the meadow, but that was some time ago and it was only a moment before they were separated. He had been so furious with her and relieved that he didn’t even know how to respond to seeing her. So he simply didn’t. He regretted that now, for he was alone, and she was gone...again.

That night as no different, the summer air was cool and there was the slightest scent of rain on the wind. The bay’s eyes lifted to the sky but saw no cloud cover, not was there any other sign of rain. His body was finally filled out from his patrols, where his muscles were once sunken from years of slumber. He looked young, ten max though he hadn’t aged a day beyond his 7th year. (He had lost track of his age but he had to be getting closer to 20 now.) It wasn’t long before Nymph heard voices in the distance, and turned to see who stirred out of their slumber. His hooves fell confidently on their path through the shadowed ground beneath him. His ear swiveled as he caught an occasional word, and the tones grew slowly more clear. He rounded a bend that took him around a thorn bush and the voices finally became clear. Kimber. The damn mare had turned up in Tephra out of nowhere. Of course, it was in her nature to just appear after long absences. He stood hidden and watch her talk to a bay stallion. The blood bay recognized him but didn’t know him outside of knowing he was a resident of Tephra. He listened to the end of their conversation… Was Kimber looking for him? Curious. He might as well find out.

He pushed forward and moved out of the depths, closing the distance between the pair and himself with slow ease. He wasn’t rushed though his heart would tell you differently if it could. He was anxious to see her, make sure she was well. Nymphetamine emerged next to the two as the blue mare asked the third to show her around. Without interrupting, but not waiting for someone else to be able to speak he said well… the first thing that came to mind. There was not forethought and as he spoke the words he was just glad they weren’t the string of angry words that stemmed from his concern for Kimber. ”I told you all you ever had to do was call and I would be there.” No sooner had the words left his mouth, however, he was wishing he hadn’t lead with the corniest thing after a solid 3 years apart. His steel eyes looked over her, checking for signs of despair but found none. Sure she had old signs of battles fought, but nothing that was fresh or obviously causing her pain. His eyes ended their survey on her face, and he could have fired a million questions at her. But instead, he simply nodded, a small smile reached the corners of his lips.

He then turned to the bay, and he nodded a greeting to the stallion, Sorry to interrupt I’m Nymphetamine, I have seen you around here from time to time, but feel we haven’t been properly introduced... His hoarse voice trailed off so that the bay could introduce himself. Nymph couldn’t really help but keep part of his attention on the mare, he almost didn’t believe she was actually there, and if the sentinel bay weren’t there nymph would have run him muzzle over her to be sure. However, years of diplomatic training had taught him to hold his whims and keep mostly appropriate social structure around others who you were not familiar. For now, he would wait and allow this conversation to pass naturally and wait for his emotions to settle as well.

NYMPHETAMINE

I faced when you left me, A rose in the rain

sooooo rusty.