"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
Thanata looked up slightly at hearing what Brynmor said. He wanted her to meet the king of this land? She hadn't expected that to happen so soon. She figured he would've allowed her some time to get adjusted here before introducing her to the king.
Offspring? That was quite a name too. She briefly wondered what he looked like to have such a name. Even though Brynmor had assured the Friesian mare the king wouldn't hurt her, she still had doubts, and fears. However, she couldn't be rude, especially since this stallion had offered her a home.
The mare lifted her head a little and spoke up so he could hear her. Thanata's long mane masked her eyes as she nodded, "S-sure..."
Her surprise surprises him. Sure she seemed timid and hesitant, but it was only normal to know the one that reigned the land you lived in? On top of that Offspring was just as friendly as him, he was sure that the black king wouldn’t scare her away. After all, Offspring had always been the one to tell him he should be more welcoming and friendly if newcomers firstly entered the Tundra. In Brynmor’s eyes he was a fair and just ruler, someone who cared for those who lived in his land. And he was Brynmor’s friend, close friend at that.
”I promise you he won’t hurt you. In fact it’s the total opposite. If he knows of your existence and that you wish to live in these lands, it would be for the best that your scent is known to him and his to you. He can’t protect you – nor any of the other brothers – if they don’t know who you are.” He hopes his words made sense and in an attempt to comfort her he offers her another smile. Yet Brynmor cannot help it but to look at her slightly worried.
Looking at the taller mare he has to hold back a sigh, knowing that if he would release it she would think of it wrongly. ”I will stay here with you too, and I promise you that he will be nice to you.” Brynmor could now only hope that Offspring would be in a good mood, because Thanata really needed to see his good side. Not that the king would be unfair or moody towards them, but she really needed to see how great their king was right away.
His blue eyes sought her again, wanting her to see his genuine and encouraging smile, before he turned away to let his gaze wander across the Tundra’s lands. With a clear whinny he calls for his king, the sound echoing across the fields. ”It will be fine” he tells her.
BRYNMOR
@[Offspring]
@Thanata: I would prefer it if you won't tag me anymore, I rather keep track of my threads by checking them myself
Thanata drew in a breath. She knew that Brynmor was probably right, but at the same time, of course, she was scared. She'd have to meet the stallion that ran this land, instead of getting to live here quietly. He'd know she was here... what if Brynmor was wrong? What if this 'king' would act nice, only to do a complete 180 later on and show her a monstrous personality?
The fact that her scent needed to be known in this area relieved her, that at least the other horses who lived here would know who she was. Maybe they would protect her if she needed help... Thanata was shy around other horses, but she could fight if the need so presented itself. She just obeyed the flight instinct more. And around these horses, if they frightened her in any way, she'd run away as fast as she possibly could.
Brynmor, Thanata noticed, kept offering gentle smiles. Probably in an effort to reassure her. Thanata had to admit, it was somewhat working, but not that much. She was waiting for the arrival of the king, another new horse she'd have to meet, another horse that she'd have to get used to seeing around this territory. Just the thought of meeting a new horse made her very uneasy, and filled her with the desire to run away.
After Brynmor called for the king, he turned back to her to assure her it would all be fine. Thanata looked up at him for only a moment, but then her eyes darted away once more. She really just wanted this to be over and done with.
Monstrous is only one of many words to describe - physically, at least. He towers over many with statuesque height and massive weight; he is foreboding in his appearance with a thickened obsidian coat, marred by many puckered pink scars from battles both won and lost. With himself, and with others. His searing red eyes are intense and calculating, and at times, intimidating - a long stare would be enough to unnerve anyone, as it is much more difficult to see within the window of one's soul when the window is painted with the saturated color of blood.
Alas, it is only a word to describe his appearance, for within, he is anything but. Unless provoked, he is hardly a beast to be reckoned with. The threat always remains, simmering beneath the surface, a raging fury always bubbling like a steady brook within his heavily beating heart - but he has had little reason to act upon it; yet he would be no formidable foe if he were to allow his guard down completely. A lover, and a fighter, he remains.
His stark presence is seen along the dreary landscape long before his dark eyes are seen or his heavy footfalls felt; his weight echoes through the permafrost as he steps forward, approaching the pair after hearing the distant call of an old friend. The morning has been a long one, frigid and icy as most were, but he had grown accustomed to it. Covered in a thin sheen of ice, with his tangled tresses wrapped in frost, the King of ice has long since adapted to their lands, and has come to savor its brutal frigidity. He is one with the landscape, and it is one with him.
He observes the coal-stained female so near to his dappled companion, and he sees the weariness in her eyes. He pauses, a short distance away. He can sense the apprehension and concern, and he merely nods to each. He maintains his firm positioning for a moment, lowering his crown to seem less imposing. The air is stagnant today and the striking wind is absent, and so he moves forward enough to take in her scent and allow her to take in his own.
A stranger, though her scent reeks of her nervous disposition. He can hardly blame her; a land of ice and men is nothing to take lightly.
Nonetheless, he offers a warm smile, which tugs at the corners of his whiskered lips.
"Welcome. I see you have met Brynmor," He glances to his second-in-command, giving him a solemn nod. "and I am Offspring. There are many men, women and children here, though many are along the east side of the border as of now where the heaviest rays of sunlight are. The seasons are formidable here. Frigid, icy. There are a few caves in which you can escape the wind and snow, and there is privacy and companionship, whichever you need most of. You are welcome to stay. What is your name?"
OFFSPRING
the ice king of the tundra
Sorry for the long wait, guys!
Offy has been fickle with muse.
He was coming... this was it, the big moment. He was on his way. Thanata's keen nose picked up the smell of an approaching creature. She lifted her head, her long mane and forelock falling away to reveal bright almond brown eyes as she gazed into the distance. A dark shape was making its way toward her and Brynmor, but even from this distance, she could tell, or at least guess, who it was.
This King Brynmor had spoke of had arrived. Thanata felt like trembling in his mere presence, but knew if she showed weakness, he may try to take advantage of that. So she would not show weakness, no matter what.
His dark coat was dappled with white flecks and ice, making him seem like more of an Appaloosa rather than his baroque breeding spoke of. He had a tall, muscular body, marred with scars that showed he had been hardened by battles of all kinds. Thanata knew about that very well. She watched as he dipped his head in a sign of greeting, and kept it low, as if to make himself seem less imposing. Not that it helped reassure Thanata; the fact that he was taller than her, even with a lowered head, made her nervous.
He smiles at her, and Thanata finds herself intrigued. Could Brynmor's words have been true? Was this king really a nice stallion, unlike all of the other ones she had met in her lifetime? Would she be making a wasted effort in trying to be nice to him back? Would she be making a mistake in believing his kindness rang true?
Thanata listened to the King - Offspring - explain that there were other stallions, mares, and colts and fillies here in the kingdom, something that did make her a bit relieved. There were others here, thank goodness. She had a little less to fear, knowing that there were others living here that she could seek refuge with if she needed somewhere safe to hide.
She took in a breath; that question would've had to come eventually. Looking at Offspring's hooves rather than his eyes, the black mare offered a reply, "T-Thanata..."
OOC: It's all good Offspring, don't worry about it.
07-04-2016, 01:33 PM (This post was last modified: 07-04-2016, 01:33 PM by Brynmor.)
With my speechless calm eyes,
nothing is coming to rise.
Offspring and Brynmor were as different as night and the day. The king was a big, black and muscled stallion. His red eyes were the total opposite form Brynmor’s blue ones too. Brynmor himself was graying and would soon be completely white. He was much shorter – even small compared to both Offspring and Thanata – and probably much more agile. The only thing they had in common was there bulky built. But still looked short and little next to the massive black king.
However, that didn’t meant that the black king intimidates him, in fact, their friendship had grown over the years. Brynmor liked the king’s company and he cared more for Offspring than just the bond of the brotherhood. And that wasn’t simply due to the fact that Offspring was his king. They had met during Hurricane’s reign, but their second meeting had been during the time of their initiation and Offspring’s coronation. Brynmor couldn’t say that he had liked it back then, he still thought highly of Hurricane, but he also hadn’t questioned things. In the end it turned out that it had been good for the Tundra and that was what mattered the most.
A small smile pulls on the corners of his lips when Offspring stops, not entering her personal space and instead keeping his distance, much like himself. He drips his head in a reply to the unspoken greeting, moving a tad bit closer to the black stallion, but not enough to make it look offensive in Thanata’s eyes. Brynmor didn’t want to scare her any further.
While Offspring speaks he just looks at her, studying her a bit more. He didn’t know what happened that lead her to be this weary, but he did want her to know that things would be okay from now on. They would protect anybody who thought of the Tundra as its home. ”Offspring is a fair and just king. You are safe here, Thanata.” And he would personally see to that. He wasn’t much of a warrior, but he would try nonetheless.
Then his gaze moves to meet Offspring’s red eyes. ”I haven’t seen you in a while, how are you?” The change of subject was maybe a little strange, but he didn’t like the tension in Thanata’s body. And maybe, just maybe, she would get herself to trust them both a bit more if she would learn more about them.
