I Was Lightning, Before the Thunder [Kylin, Any]

[Klaudius]

Under the mask of night he had slipped from her side.  It was a hard decision but one he had to follow through with.  She had decided to remain here on the island. He had offered her an alternative and she declined.  So with a heavy heart he had went to Tephra without her.

Months went by and not one moment did the thought of her pass him by.  His plan had always been to return to visit her, but the idea that Brennen wouldn't allow it remained in the far reaches of his mind.  Maybe it even maybe him grin a bit but that was beside the point.  Another hope he had was that Kylin would follow him, eventually.  That hope soon vanished as time drew on and the lavender and cream mare didn't show.  Slight worry buried itself deep within him.  Bringing him from his dreams every now and then, wondering if she was okay.  The only way to know was to set out for the isle and find her...

The distance is short and travel time even shorter by air.  Great wings bring him to the land easily and soon settle him upon the beaches.  Not bothering to call out as he was sure that a member of the islands new order would find him soon enough. He wasn't concerned about sneaking around unnoticed.  It was hard for a horse of his color anyhow.  Plus what fun would that be?...

Klaudius

I was lightning, before the thunder

@[Kylin] wanted to get a visit in before baby  my timelines suck but Id say this is after their night (maybe 4 months) and before Karat is stolen.

[Mosrael]

A sleeplessness has plagued her that night. From beneath the tropical canopy, she'd stared longingly towards the stars. Her mind was miles away, drifting towards the memory of that day upon the beach. So much had changed for her. Not only had her father taken over Ischia, but she could forget him. Their moments together had been brief, but the desire that pulled at her gut was still a powerful memory.

Never before had she ever wanted anything so badly before in her life. It had been refreshing, to lose herself so completely to her passions.

She felt the tugging once more, and her body shifted against the desire of her. Klaudius was long gone, enraged by her father's new position. Even if he had chosen to remain, she couldn't imagine that he would want her still.

Moving from her spot between her sleeping family members, she made her way to the beach. With a purposeful stride, she wove through the trees until she felt the delightfully cool embrace of the sand as her ankles sank into it. Perhaps a cold swim would distract her.

Cantering forward she splashed into the frozen bank she delighted in the water as it enveloped her body. Diving beneath the surface she delighted in her new ability to breath comfortably within its torrent. Popping her head above the surface once more she swam closer to the shore, digging her hooves into the sand as the water continued to swell around her. Although she shivered, she welcomed the distraction however brief. Casting her eyes towards the shore she was startled to recognize the spot as the place where they'd met. For months she'd been avoiding it, afraid of the feelings that would consume her. It was startling how vividly she saw him there, standing elegantly. His lavender striking against the black of midnight. Frozen, she reveled in the sight of him, embracing the dream even for a moment...

OOC: @[Klaudius] in case it isnt clear, she sees him but has convinced herself that it's just her imagination.

[Kylin]

He had left, without allowing her to say her goodbyes. One night. She had agreed to share one night with him, one night in which Kylin had been his. But all it would be was one night. She just had expected him to be still there when she woke up. By leaving like that, Klaudius had effectively broken her heart.

It would be a lie to say she hasn’t longed for his presence, for his touch and the way he pulled her close. She wants to nestle against his side again, feel the tips of his feathers tickle her sides, and breath in his scent as she basks in his attention. Many time she had stand on Ischia’s shore, watching Tephra’s looming volcano. Once Kylin had even made it out to sea, only to change her mind half way and move in the direction of the river instead.

Nowadays Kylin does not leave Ischia anymore. Her barrel is swollen, and her fins are no longer able to hide it. There is no way in denying what their one passionate night had led to. The prospect both excites her – like a fluttering thrill in her stomach – and scares her at the same time. In her heart, she loves the child already, but she fears what other feelings he, or she, might confront her. It are the same feelings – the excitement and fear – that hold her in their grasp right now. She had been near the beach, but just hidden underneath Ischia’s dense foliage. Close enough to see Klaudius descend from the sky.

She does not notice the other woman on the beach, she is unaware of the watching eyes, and all she sees is lavender. He looks as magnificent as always, and her heart skips a beat from just the sight alone. Before she knows it, Kylin’s legs carry her out onto the beach in a hurried trot, both her lavender ears pointing forward and a soft whinny leaving her lips.


@[Klaudius]
@[Mosrael]
Sorry for the wait <3

[Klaudius]

Slowly they filter through the jungle forests and find him here on the beach.  Not one, but two reunions slowly form.  His eyes first find the bay mottled mare splashing about in the waters.  She comes up to him as though he is some sort of mirage.  Too perfect to believe, right?!  She stands still with a look of disbelief, all he can do is grin.  The bulge of her body is undeniable and inside he knows what she carries...

That is when another approaches and his attention turns.  This mare is who he has come for.  Who he had promised, he'd return for.  As his silver eyes lay upon her, he is taken aback by her natural glow.  The roundness of her sides causes a look of satisfaction on his facial features.  All he had ever wanted was right in front of him. "Kylin!" He exclaims in joy.  Body turning to face her as lavender limbs draw him nearer to her.  Wings shuffle with his gait and not before long he is at her side.  Embracing her, lips finding her soft flesh.  He had missed her scent, her touch, her smile.  "I've missed you so much... Won't you please reconsider coming to Tephra?  I want you, Kylin, and our child to grow up surrounded by family.  With love and support, protection..." He pulls away from her as he speaks to look into her eyes.  Seeking any morsel of acceptance of his proposal. 

In their shared moment, he nearly forgets that Mosrael barred witness to their greeting.  He hardly considers her feelings.  After all, the only reason he had hooked up with her was from Kylin disappearing...

Klaudius

I was lightning, before the thunder

@[Mosrael] @[Kylin]

[Mosrael]

Mosrael

i'm way too
good at goodbyes

It doesn’t take long for another to break into the peripherals of her vision. Lavender and white the mare is hauntingly familiar as she does not hesitate to approach the figure of Klaudius. Startled, Mosrael is quick to realize that the apparition of the man who inhabited nearly all of her thoughts was not that at all. He’d actually made the journey to brave the potential wrath of her father. He’d returned to Ischia.
 
For a moment she harbored hope that he had come for her. To wrap her once more within the warmth of his embrace, but reality was quick to set aside those childish dreams. Helplessly she watched as the strangely winged mare rushed to him and the two embraced like forgotten lovers. Familiarity and affection enveloped them and Mosrael slowly felt a part of her shatter into one million pieces.

He had not come for her. In fact, it would appear that it had been quite the opposite. A frown replaced the stunned expression upon her face and she exited the water, peeling her gaze away from Klaudius as he rained kisses upon the other woman. She refused to surrender to the heartbreak that threatened to overtake her. She was stronger than that and she knew that she did not need him to validate the woman within her. With a determined flick of her tail she easily found the path that would carry her to the center of the island and, without a second glance, she disappeared onto it. 

@[Klaudius], @[Kylin] Mosrael is out. lol

[Kylin]

Her attention is solely focussed on the winged lavender male on the beach. His sudden appearance flues different emotions inside her, and she is torn between anger and hurt versus the excitement and thrill to see a long lost lover again. Honestly, Kylin had not expected Klaudius to come back. How could she? She had been asleep when he had whispered his promise to her, and all they had agreed upon was one night. One last night.

And now, Klaudius too, returns to her. Did this all mean that Kharon would make an appearance soon too, to bring another piece of her heart back to her?

Before she knows it she is smothered in his embrace. “Klaudius,” she murmurs, as tears are rolling down her cheeks – both of joy and sadness. The lavender and cream woman does not hesitate to push herself against him. She might not fit as nicely against his side as before, her swollen barrel preventing her from melting in him, but it doesn’t keep her from trying. Her muzzle gently trails down the curve of his neck, only pausing so she can breathe in his scent deeply.

The spell is broken once he pulls away, and speaks. “I’ve missed you too..” she murmurs, but as she speaks, she takes a step backwards. Her heart aches and as tears fill her eyes to open a flood, her ears flick back. At first, all she can do is shake her head, mentally screaming at him. How could he ask this of her? Ischia could offer all that, if he had only decided to stay. “I can’t.. I won’t..” she says, again shaking her head as tears roll down her cheeks. The places his lips had just touched are tingling, burning with a sensation that is both good ánd bad. “You know I can’t..”

Kylin both hates and loves Klaudius for asking. Her heart skip a beat, realising how much he cares for her, that he loves her and wants her and their baby near. But at the same time, she hates him for leaving, and hates it even more that he now asks of her to abandon all she knows. Others had asked he to leave Ischia in favour of another land before him, and her answer always has been ‘no’. Even if she hates to have to give such an answer, it is the only right one.

She might not be loyal to the Brotherhood, but she is loyal to Ischia. Brennen had promised her that they wouldn’t kick her out of her home, and in return, she had promised to stay out of their business.


@[Klaudius]

[Klaudius]

She is perfection.  All he has ever wanted or needed, plus so much more.  The slight glitter of her wings intrigues him as does the softness of her touch.  He only wishes these moments could last longer.  That she would agree to be with him, day in and day out.  The first thing he sees in the morning and the last he sees at night.  This is idea is short lived, as she is once again refusing his proposal.  Obviously with perfection comes stubbornness...

Their shared embrace slowly releases and he is left gazing upon her.  Trying his hardest to understand her affection for this place.  It gives her nothing and still she stays.  It is a harbor of constant pain and heartache, yet, she stays.  It causes his head to tilt in confusion.  He has been patient.  Waiting for her to join him.  To start a new life.  A family.

Together.

A rumble of distress rises within his throat as he turns his face away from her, "Can't you just visit, for a while...?  You'll see it's not so bad, Kylin."  Looking back to her with pleading eyes, he can see she isn't leaving.  Not for him, not for anyone.  It wrenches his gut into knots at this realization that again he would be leaving Ischia without her...

Soon he decides their touches are again fleeting moments.  It was almost too much to bare, and her refusal leaves a soured taste on his tongue.  His muzzle reaches for her.  Lavender lips placing soft kisses along her skin.  All he can do is whisper her a promise, "I'll return soon..."  With that he turns to depart from her side.  Wings lifting him into the salty sea air and transporting him back to Tephra.  

Klaudius

I was lightning, before the thunder

@[Kylin] <3 obviously he doesn't expect her to agree but it'll make for a dramatic exit and enter on the birthing thread

[Kylin]

Like he had been waiting for her to come to Tephra, to join him, she had been waiting for him come to Ischia to join her. She does not understand why he had to leave, though the little voice in her head keeps telling her he chooses her family over theirs. He had caressed her so lovingly, he had made her feel like she is special, like she deserved to be happy. And just as easily he had taken it away from her.

For a moment, a short, very sweet moment, she had thought he had come back for her, to stay. They could live their lives, happily and surely Brennen would allow them to stay. He had allowed her to stay, had he not? Even offered her a place among the ranks, which she declined. Perhaps in the future, but not now. Her loyalty is to Ischia, and not her ruler.

The idea of leaving makes her nauseous, and uncomfortable. Sure, she had left Ischia before, to visit Hyaline, twice even, but what he is asking her is to leave permanently. So Kylin shakes her head again, her breath a sharp intake followed by a sob. Pleading her teary hazel eyes search his silver ones, her lower lip trembling. “Can’t you stay? Please, Klaudius, stay..” For me.

Having forgotten her previous anger – though the hurt remains – she leans into him. Her body ghosts after his touch, and her own muzzle reaches out to place soft kisses all over his face. As if that would change his mind, as if that could make him stay. He does not. Tears freely run down her cheeks as she watches him leave. “Guard my heart well..” she half yells, half whispers, after him. He carries a piece of it with him as he leaves.


@[Klaudius]
Just a reply to wrap it up <3