"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
Gryffen has confused her, thrown her world out of alignment. Yet this time he has done so without laying a rough hoof on her. In fact, the child who grows within her womb had a beginning much different than that of his older sister. While Minette cannot say she was a willing participant, the conception of this baby was gentle, almost loving.
She shakes her head to clear her anxiety, pacing.
Minette cannot help but think of Sette during this time. Where she is, who she loves, who loves her. The mare's labor is progressing rapidly, much faster than the first time. Since she returned from under the earth her brand has healed. With the increased weight of her stomach, her aching joints have been a torment and she has spent many long hours near freezing herself in the rivers that flow down through the mountains. As well, countless hours have passed in which she has tormented herself with her capture and the death of Not-Minette. On top of it all, there is the white wolf who has suddenly sprouted angel wings...
The gray mare is not sure how much time passes but soon enough she sinks to her knees with a groan, and begins to push. Just as before she can sense Gryffen nearby, but this time his presence is more of a comfort and less terrifying.
Why? she thinks, but she is too exhausted to pursue that train of thought. She simply accepts the protection of the stallion for what it is, and concentrates.
Quickly, much quicker than Anguisette had been, her son is born. Minette has a moment's heart ache looking at him. She hesitates to touch him, wondering if his life will be one she has any say in. Gryffen had promised to change, but what were words? It was his actions that would tell the story.
After a brief moment, Minette cleans the boy, nuzzling him and encouraging him to stand and then nurse. Exhaustion is written in the lines of the mother's body, but already her body is taking in warmth from the spring day to heal her hurts. The gray mare is still unaware of the dark god's gift to her, but she sighs gratefully when she notices that a great deal of her aching is gone and the blood has stopped.
ooc: I'd planned to have Gryffen "choose" Leck's name, so Min won't call him anything yet. ;-) You can feel free to play her, either of you.
He watches her stomach grow and swell and this time, deep down, he knows he’s going to get what he wants. She is bigger this time around and the child inside her is strong. He constantly watches her and when she looks his way, all he does is give her a faint smile. He doesn’t force his company on her, he lets her seek him out. It was all part of the plan. As much watching and observing as the pale stallion does, he has noticed a difference in her since she returned from Carnage’s tormenting grip. The way she spends so much time in the freezing depths of the river where she had once avoided it at all cost. He still has not mentioned to her how he watched her brand heal in a matter of seconds, something he thinks about often. Yes… There was something different about her but he couldn’t put his finger quite on it yet.
A groan reaches his ears and he sees her collapsing to the ground. It is time. He moves closer to her but keeps a fair amount of space as he had done the last time. His red eyes are intense as they stare at her labored figure. When she looks to him, he nods encouragingly and places a look of worry and concern on the features of his face. The ravens are loud above their heads in the trees as they watch the spectacle as well. There is no way that this child will be taken from him. Quickly, the foal slips out into the world and the ravens break out into a chorus of congratulations. A thin smile spreads on his lips as Minette cleans it up and finally he takes a few steps to join them. The feathers of his wings ruffle as a cool mountain breeze blows through, buffeting the strands of his forelock away from his red eyes. He looks down at the child and the pleasure in his gaze is real. ”Well done Minette.” He murmurs to her, his muzzle brushing against her neck in a sign of affection. ”You gave us a boy after all.” He lowers his head towards the boy, inspecting him carefully. ”If you don’t mind, I’d like to name him Leck.” The name means nothing to him in meaning but there is power in a name that you give to a child. A connection that defers from all others. His blazing iris’s take in the mare and notices that she doesn’t seem as exhausted and worn out like last time. Odd. He offers her a smile before looking back to his son. I have so many plans for you, he thinks, but what your mother doesn’t know won’t hurt her.
10-05-2015, 04:34 PM (This post was last modified: 10-05-2015, 04:42 PM by Leck.)
He was comfortable in the dark. He liked it in there. The light is too much. That he doesn’t like. The colt entered the world, and it is so bright that the pain, even through his eyelids, burned to the back of his eyes. He hissed venomously, like a snake, and pressed his face to the strange ground, trying to escape the burning. He couldn’t, and for a moment he withered and kicked. He was surprised to find that he could kick, that he could stretch his legs out all the way.
That distracted him from the pain.
Eventually he adjusted, and slowly opened bleary dark eyes. The world was colorful too. The colt’s lips twisted into a sneer. Bright and colorful, and full of strange shapes. One shape, large and looming and white reached for him. The colt recoiled, flopping like a fish. It touched him and he screeched, a strange keening sound that was too loud from his small throat. He didn’t like the touch, didn’t want it, and finally it was his resistance that caused him to get to his feet. He stumbled away, weak on unused legs. He didn’t understand why the shape approached. He didn’t know what it was and why it wanted him.
But, his belly hurt. He panted and whined. He had never been hungry before, never needed to eat. He didn’t understand the hunger just as he didn’t understand the shape before him. More than anything, it was his confusion that made him mad, vicious with bared teeth and ears laced against his skull.
Soon another shape approached and hovered near the first. They seem similar in size, texture and intent. He looked at them a little closer. Were they looking at him too? Are these shape like him? He didn’t understand, and he yet he felt tied to them, like an unwilling boat to a dock.
The colt shook his head violently, and nearly tumbled. His teeth snapped, and still his stomach hurt. Through the confusion and overwhelming bubbling rage he heard a single word. It drifted to his ears like soothing music. “Leck,” it said, and for the first time, the little boy smiled.
Gryffen names him with an affectionate touch on the mare's shoulder. Unconsciously she leans into it, a small smile flitting across her features. All through the winter months he has not abused her, nor forced his company upon her. And yet she found herself drawn to him, curiously. They share company. They do not speak of the first child, the one stolen away from the white wolf. Theirs is a tentative peace, perhaps edging towards the precipice of more.
"Yes, of course that's all right." Minette murmurs. The name, Leck, feels strange and foreign to her ears. It is different from the lyrical consonants of her home, but she considers it a concession in she and Gryffen's new relationship. They are both taking steps.
Minette cannot help the deep love she feels for the boy even as a seed of wariness buries itself in her heart. She feels a pang of guilt at her caution. His ears fly backwards and he snarls, the sight incongruous with his young age.
"Hush, little one. Come, nurse." Using soft words, Minette tries to gently, unsuccessfully, encourage the boy to eat. He is stubborn and furious and the pale gray mare is surprised. Sette was quiet, curious and full of eagerness. Leck burns with an energy that is closer to rage. She feels a chill, glancing from Gryffen to Leck, who is the white stallion's miniature.
Minette shakes her head. I'm being ridiculous, and tired, she thinks dismissively. She decides to give the boy some space, knowing he will approach when the pain in his stomach becomes too much. Instinct will kick on if the boy is to survive. She winces at the swelling of milk, and hopes he does not remain resistant for long.
"I am glad he is a boy, for your sake. I know you wanted a son." Minette says, and means it. She cannot lie, even after all she has been through. Perhaps even more so, her emotions have been refined by fire and each is clearly written in her dark eyes. They are filled with relief and peace. What is more startling is the emotions that are missing from her gaze; fear, pain and exhaustion.
"Leck." Minette speaks the boy's name for the first time. "It's all right, now. This is your father, and I am your maman."
The pale gray mare lets herself begin to believe that they could be a broken family remade.
The boy is strong and he snarls and kicks furiously, his wolf cub made in his own image. Pity he hadn’t inherited the trademark red eyes that ran in his family. Still, this one he could truly use. This one he plans to create in his own image. It seems it won’t be hard, he already is filled with rage and spitting fire. It reminds him of himself when he had been a child. Very similar indeed. However if the child doesn’t cooperate then it will pull his charade with Minette into tatters and pieces. So he steps closer to his son, his muzzle nudging the boy to his feet. He fears nothing especially not from his own child.
”Now now none of that.” He urges the colt, a rather commanding look sent from father to son. There would be time for that later. ”You’re hungry aren’t you Leck?” He encourages him quietly, gesturing to his mother. ”You’ll need your Mother for that.” He gives him a wisp of a smile before he moves back to the mare’s side. ”He will come around. Boys will be boys and he is definitely quite the boy.” He laughs, pleased with what Minette had birthed for him. ”He’s a handsome fellow. I’m very proud of you both.” A knowing look. ”I know you will want him to stay with you but he’s quite headstrong already. When he’s old enough I’d like for him to go the Chamber. Perhaps Warship would be able to mentor him, give him some training. We can make a better future for him.” He looks at Minette as if looking for her permission. Of course he has full intentions of doing most of the training. Leck will be his fathers son, of that he is sure. He nuzzles the mare when she looks away but his eyes stay locked on his son and they narrow. For boys will be boys wouldn’t they?
10-06-2015, 12:02 AM (This post was last modified: 10-06-2015, 12:08 AM by Leck.)
Despite his defiance, Leck began to tire. His snarls grew weaker, and soon all he could do was stand quietly, a look of hostility on his face. It is this quiet that allowed him to begin to understand the shapes. They made nosies, they moved. Finally, Leck understood they were communicating. Rumbling to each other in turn.
And the spots on their faces, those were eyes, and they were looking at him.
The first shape, it seemed to coo, and it didn’t approach him. Leck decided it was harmless. For all his earlier screeching, he was no longer afraid of it. The other shape Leck wasn’t so sure of. It approached him, authority radiating from it. It touched him, and Leck summoned the last of his strength to strike, lashing out at it like a viper.
He knew at once that was a mistake, though he hid the knowledge well. His stomach roiled, and he pulled his lips back to hiss, but the sound died on his tongue. Something about the shape cooled the colt's rage, told him that this was not a situation he could control. This shape wouldn’t coo at him, this shape would make decisions, and Leck wouldn't be able to stop it. Resentfully, twisting away from its touch, Leck allowed himself to be shepherded forward. After all, he already decided that shape was harmless.
Hungry, the shape had said. Was that the pain in his belly? Mother, he had called the harmless one. Mother could ease the hunger. Once Leck allowed the fog of rage to fade, his instincts kicked in, and with no further urging, he fell upon Mother, drinking greedily.
The huger was ferocious, and stating it was like petting the beast. Leck felt his strength mount. The colt grinned, and bit down hard on the teat, eager for more, more food, more strength. Slowly, he was becoming aware of the words being spoken around him. He knows Mother now, she provides food. And he knows Red Eye, he gives commands. For now he needed them. He needed Mother for food, and Red Eye to protect him. Leck has realized that his own pitiful strength was underdeveloped, it was not enough to protect himself. He needed both of them, Mother and Red Eye, at least for now.
Leck released Mother when he could eat no more. He didn’t know how to speak, so he communicated in the only way he knew. He snarled, and ground his teeth. Soon, very soon, he would not need them. But, for now he smiled. For now he must make them love him. If they loved him they would protect him and feed him.
10-06-2015, 03:23 PM (This post was last modified: 10-06-2015, 03:23 PM by Minette.)
la jeune fille marquée
Minette squeals as Leck bites down harshly, and she grazes her teeth along his shoulder until he lets go, what amounts to a sharp reprimand from her. She immediately nibbles his mane apologetically. He is, after all, only a baby.
"Easy now, little one."
Fully sated, he settles a bit, although his mannerisms are still more wolf than horse. Minette hides a small smile from the boy. He seems to imagine himself a ferocious monster. The mother hopes that Gryffen will be able to give him a constructive outlet. Perhaps boys really were just very different from girls.
Minette gives Gryffen a sideways look, contemplating how deep the trust that is growing between them is. She shifts to ease the pain in her legs as the white stallion speaks. She can sense no falseness to his tone, and she breathes, deciding to take a proverbial step forward.
"Yes, you're probably right. He has a lot of energy, and I think you might know better about how to raise a boy than I do. Just wait until he's a bit older, for me? I want to make sure he is strong and well." Minette nudges Gryffen gently, adding, "And please, take good care of our son."
She joins the stallion in watching the boy look at the world around him for the first time. While Gryffen envisions one future for her son, Minette is thinking of one in which they can be a family like the one she came from. Close knit and caring. This thought prompts her to make a joke.
"So, are you going to leave me all alone here when you boys go to the Chamber, or will you bring me some company?"
The words feel awkward coming from her mouth, almost unnatural and she is not above seeing the irony in lightly teasing that stallion who was once her tormentor. But as the days pass and Gryffen's claws remained sheathed, her comfort level grows. The contrast between the horror of the dark god and the home she has returned to is so great she does not wish to examine the reasoning too closely. She only wants to accept.
A wave of affection and peace washes over Minette and she reaches out her muzzle to ruffle Leck's forelock playfully, hoping to entice him to relax. Her nose bumps against a hard growth. Her eyes widen and panic shoots through her chest. The colt protests with a growl but she does not release him, her mind full of fear.
She has been trained to it, and it is a hard habit to break.
"Gryffen?" Her voice is urgent, but soft, trying not to alarm the boy. "Leck, I think there's something wrong with Leck."
Please, please, she thinks, don't let him be affected by what has happened to me. I will never forgive myself.
He can tell that the colt has realized his mistake at once. The moment he lashes out at his father, Gryffen’s lips curl into a snarl but he doesn’t retaliate. For they understand each other, wolf and cub. And deep down, he is pleased with the pure viciousness of the boy. This one would succeed where others had failed. He can feel it in his bones. The crop of children this year would all please him (mostly boys too) and it would be hard to surpass them next breeding season. But of course he would try.
Leck’s plan is to make them love him so they will protect him. Gryffen can’t love his son the way Minette will easily do. Gryffen isn’t capable of such a thing. However he will protect him regardless because it serves him in the long run. He will not allow this boy to be taken from him when there are so many great things he will make the boy accomplish. Although the child is rough and wild, Minette seems to be consoled with his description of how boys are. Even better, she is falling for his words easily. He pulls lightly at the base of her mane, so different from the way he had pulled at her months ago. ”I’ll wait till he’s at least two or three. There’s plenty to learn here for now.” He will show the boy the ravens and their usefulness. He will show the boy the way to travel the precarious ledges of their mountain home. And deep in the caverns of the Mountains, he will teach the boy how to hone his viciousness into an art form… A way that would be useful. He has no desire to stamp the restlessness out of him. His wild and reckless son.
Minette breaks into his thoughts and he gives her a half smile. ”I’m working on that.” He responds slowly, a glittering in the depths of crimson. There were slim pickings in the field but he had his eye on someone else’s mares at this point. Perhaps that gift would be enough to fully have Minette fall head over heels for him. It seemed to be working so far, the way she leaned into him and fluttered her lashes. It hasn’t always been easy to keep up the charade but luckily the Chamber offered him plenty of outlets to release his true self. Suddenly Minette is full of alarm and he moves to her side to eye the growth on the boys head. His muzzle brushes briefly against the hardness and suddenly he starts to laugh. Oh my, this kid was going to be something after all wasn’t he? ”It seems he is growing horns.” He ruffles his wings thoughtfully, wondering how on earth a kid of theirs ended up with a trait like that. The wings of his were a gift from the Chamber and as far as he knew… Minette had nothing. Unless she was hiding something from him…
