"But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura
The days grew shorter as midwinter grew closer. Night crawled across the land quicker, until the hours of darkness out numbered the hours of daylight. The sun would try to shine through the clouds, sometimes thick with snow. Sometimes it would take days or weeks before the sun was able to crawl through the cloud cover.
Today was a good day, the winter sun was out even if the heat wasn't beating down on his back like he liked it. He sighed, releasing a warm breath that turned into a foggy cloud. Snow hadn't fallen yet, thankfully, but the ground was frosty with the oncoming winter storms. The temperature was cold, but only felt a little draft through the thick shaggy fur that covered him.
He had wandered from the Forest, doing little except wallowing in his thoughts of guilt and shame. Twice now he had failed at being a herd stallion, at keeping his mares safe and it was eating away at his soul and his heart. So he wandered, contemplating returning home to his mam and da, to going back to what he knew, to giving up. To finding his daughter, giving her his love and best wishes and directions on how to find him, should she need to.
He was not so lost in his thoughts though, that he did not see her there amongst the sparse vegetation of the Meadow when he cleared the woods. He tilts his head to the side, watching her and despite his failures, he makes his way towards her. His large heart unwilling to let her suffer in silence if he could help some how. His warm eyes landed on hers and he manages a warm smile. "Greetings lass."
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wow pls excuse. it has been a hot minute since she's been written :|
I'm so tired of being here
Suppressed by all my childish fears
It was chilly.
But she did not mind it terribly. It seemed to match the winter storm that continued to silently rage on within her fragile heart. Noellen has long since left the jungle behind her – leaving the refuge it had once provided her for her childhood home beneath the willow tree within the meadow. Quark had simply removed her from the cove and taken her back to where she felt Noellen would be the safest to recover fully from her horrible ordeal.
But although there were no scars or disgusting brands that remained etched into her skin (the generosity and kindness of the dragon-mare knew no bounds), the star girl longed for the familiarity that the meadow provided her. Her sons were old enough to be independent and had parted ways from her.
She had no one.
All she had to keep her company was the harsh reality of the world and the lingering desolation that came with that knowledge.
She had once been a naïve, bright girl who knew no evil in this world. But she had since been sullied and spit on and stepped on and pushed into the dark, gritty earth beneath her feet until her spirit had been crushed and forced into the smallest of cells. Every male figure in her life (with the exception of her four beautiful sons) had done her wrong and she wondered if she was meant to live her life alone beneath this willow tree.
It was better than the alternative – betrayal and malicious intent.
Her ears twitch slightly at the sound of footsteps approaching and she brings wary emerald green eyes to meet those of a grullo man. Her eyes had once been lively and joyful, but now they merely dulled in comparison to what they once were. But they were not as flat as they had been during her time within Khaos’ cruel hands. She had finally become more aware of the world and had decided to come out from behind her wall of numbness.
The star girl offers him a timid smile and she dearly hopes that his intentions remain good.
She couldn’t handle another one.
“Hello.”
Noellen
html c insane | pic c marshmallow-child.deviantart.com | bg pic c trixxblue.deviantart.com
Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go.
He knows the moment she sees him, when those green eyes turn dark with their sudden hardness. Some one, likely a male, had done her wrong. He sighs inwardly, wondering what it was about his gender that thought it was okay to break all these mares and then just toss them to the side. It hurt his heart, made it ache in ways it was hard to fathom. He wanted to pull her to his chest and cuddle her close, breathing in her scent and giving her his heart and warmth to help heal the pain that still made her green eyes shine.
But he didn't.
For now he just stood there. Her wariness coupled with his recent shames make him stay put. His body relaxes, giving her enough space that she was comfortable. His ears flicker towards, then swivel around as he takes in their surroundings (checking for threats).
Her voice is timid and quiet. He manages a smile in return. His brown eyes roving over her silvery black coat, seeing no wounds that might make her more skittish. They find her green ones again and for a moment there is nothing but quiet between them. He is unwilling to break the silence at least at first. He doesn't feel up to making small talk, but he had approached her after all.
"I'm Tiernan." He introduces himself, head dipping slightly. He watches her another moment. "Cad is ainm duit?" Gaelic slipping from his lips as he forgets himself, forgets where he is. An apologetic smile. "What is your name?" He repeats himself. "I am sorry. My mind is elsewhere ya ken?" A small shrug to brush it off. "Are ya okay lass?"
