"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
08-14-2016, 06:54 AM (This post was last modified: 08-14-2016, 07:15 AM by Jinju.)
Jin Ju
How ironical could things get? Like mother, like daughter, they might say. Her grandmother’s reasoning for dropping her daughter of at the Den had been completely different though. It had been a punishment to her grandfather, a way to get to him. But eventually her mother had been reunited with both her parents and was raised like every child should be raised. However, it didn’t seem like her mother had learned anything of her own experience at the Den.
At first her mother had been thrilled and the bay and white mare had pampered her little girl. Even to the point that her now adult brother had grown jealous of her. Not that Jinju had been aware of that, she simply was too young to recognize it, but her mother had. And now she was back to favouring her son, banishing any thought of her daughter out of her mind. It was her appearance that had made her mother excited, physically Jinju was a perfect copy of her father, jet black skin and two red orbs. That was it, nothing more nothing less, or at least, that was what Esileif thought when she dropped her few weeks old daughter at the Den.
She wanders around, completely unaccustomed to her new environment and not at all understanding the situation. In her experience it was like her mother disappeared from one moment to the next and the newborn girl just didn’t understand where things had gone wrong. Even in the fairies excellent care she had started to lose weight, the food just wasn’t enough to beat the distress. Jinju whinnies loudly, desperately calling for her mother, but no response comes. Not yesterday, not now and probably not in the future either. It doesn’t stop her though, but the fatigue starts taking its toll on her, quieting her as she dozes off.
OOC: So.. No herds and no Tundra. Although I really really really do love the Tundra, Bryn and Igni there are enough. This girl should go elsewhere. Preferbly someone who doesn't just raise her, but also guides her onto a certain path. Maybe some sort of lifestyle or believes? I def can see her go onto a slightly darker path. Open to some plotting! ^^
Raxa didn't know why she was lurking around here. Possibly to just check and see how the foals who were here were doing? The brindled mare still wasn't sure she wanted to be a mother one day It wasn't that she disliked foals, she just didn't know if she'd be a good mother or not. Come to think of it though, she'd been thinking more on the matter ever since Jedi asked her about it. Did she really want to raise a foal of her own one day?
Well, it didn't matter now, because fate seemed to have something else in store. A foal's call reached the brindled mare's ears, drawing her attention. She walked toward it, wondering who could've let out the call. Her blue eyes picked out the form of a black foal laying in the grass, apparently all by itself.
Raxa almost questioned the matter, but remembered what this place was for. Silently cursing the dam who had abandoned the foal, the mare walked over to the foal, lowering her head to sniff at the small being. She didn't appear hurt, which was a good thing.
Raxa gently nudged the foal, "Are you okay little one?"
She’s roaming outside of the Jungle today, trying to track down a particularly annoying member of the Jungle - her sister.
Larken has been avoiding her lately, spending her days traipsing around outside of the Jungle and trying to escape any small bit of responsibility that Lexa throws her way. Lexa kind of understands. Larken’s life, not including her trip to the Chamber, has been free and easy up until this point, her days spent wandering the Jungle and occasionally testing out her abilities on the kingdom’s foliage. To have her big sister waltz in with her new crown and start trying to change the way her life has been … well, Lexa can see how it would be a bit rankling. But, she can’t afford to have her sister doing nothing. The Jungle is weaker nowadays, and they need everyone to pull their weight.
She can’t find the damnable girl anywhere at the moment though, and she’s making one last ditch search through the adoption den. She’s not exactly expecting to find Larken here … but there’s always that remote chance that Larken might think she’s being tricky by hiding in the last place anyone would expect her to be.
She sighs quietly as she crosses the border into the little territory, brown eyes peeled for any sign of her sister. It becomes quickly apparent though that her sister is not here, and she is about to turn around and head back to the Jungle, when the soft, pitiful cry of a young child reaches her ears. And in the den, there’s only one reason for a child to be here …
She can’t help but follow the cry, and within moments she discovers the child. She is surprised to see that another has beaten her there (she hadn’t caught the scent of anyone else in the den) but she can’t help but approach them still. She wants to make sure the foal is ok.
“Hello.” She lets out a soft nicker, so as to not surprise the pair by her approach. She nods in greeting to the mare (clearly not a relatively to the foal, both by appearance and scent), catching a whiff of the Falls. Friends still, she hopes. “Is the child alright?” She takes a few steps forward, head bending down to look at the little bundle in the grass. It’s a little filly, dark as pitch. Her voice lowers, soft. “Hello there. What’s your name? I’m Lexa.”
It was the first nudge that wakens her, but she only wakens fully once the conversation reaches her ears. Yes, she had heard the first mare’s words, right after the gentle nudge, but she had been too far away to be able to take in the words. After all, she had been off into the world of dreams and she also didn’t know where she was or what was going on. Sitting up Jinju turns to look at both mares, blinking her eyes a few times before staring at them with two blood red orbs. She nickers, softly, but clearly once again calling for her mother. The black girl doesn’t remember what her mother looked like, or how she smelled, but she did know that it wasn’t either of these females.
Their presence is soothing though. Although the Den’s fairies would make sure they were all safe and they definitely tried to console the children a bit too, but they couldn’t make up for the loss. These two mares probably could. With time Jinju would probably forget about her real mother – unless she was told about it of course – and start referring to another equine as mother.
She reaches out into the direction of the black Appaloosa mare, once again nickering softly and eager to connect with someone that could relate to her. Her head tilts a little and if she could she would’ve frowned, before things clicked in her mind. Jinju parts her lips to speak, but only a hoarse whimper comes out. The second attempt goes better. “Jinju” she replies, a bit hesitant and obviously still confused about the whole situation.
While both of them are looking at her the black filly starts to stir a little, growing restless and uneasy. It eventually drives her to her feet, struggling to get her long legs underneath her body. Her stance is stable, as she is already a couple of weeks old. Jinju calls out again, hoarse and high pitched, before throwing a desperate glance into the direction of the two mares that had come to keep her company.
Raxa's ears turned back, hearing another approaching. Her electric blue eyes made out the form of a black mare, an Appaloosa apparently, who smelled of the Jungle. Silently gritting her teeth at the knowledge of such a place, Raxa kept a calm facade, instead just gazing at the mare as she walked up to the mare and the filly.
"Not entirely sure. I just found her here, alone, so I'm assuming like the majority of the foals that are here, she was abandoned," Raxa whispered to the mare, taking great care to keep quiet so the foal wouldn't hear her. The foal looked old enough to start forming memories inside her little brain, so hearing that her dam might've abandoned her, whether for good or not, would trouble her greatly.
Raxa watched the little filly reach her muzzle out to the black mare that had arrived at the situation a couple of seconds ago. The brindled mare had grown used to horses sneaking up on her at this point, so a new mare suddenly showing up didn't phase her this time around.
The foal got to her hooves, letting out a call, clearly for someone she wanted to appear. Raxa's eyes softened, saddened for the little one's plight. She knew what it was like to feel alone at this age, to feel abandoned...
"Your name is Jinju? That's a very nice name," Raxa complimented, giving the filly a smile.
Lexa can sense … something, from the roaned mare, though she can’t quite put her hoof on it. Annoyance, hostility? Or is she just reading too much into the mare’s stance? Her opinion of Falls members has been slightly tainted by the recent reports of hostility from their diplomats. It’s nothing overt however, so she leaves it unchallenged as the mare informs her of the child’s state.
“Poor thing …” Her brown eyes turn back to the child as the girl begins to stir. She’s taken aback for a brief moment as the girl reveals a pair of startling red eyes, but recovers quickly, cooing as the girl reaches out for her. Unusual eyes are nothing she hasn’t seen before, though red is very unusual.
Like the roan, she pretends for the moment not to have heard the girl’s quiet calls for her mother. She’s not sure how to handle that particular question just yet. She’s loathe to lie to the girl, but … how do you tell a child such terrible news?
The girl reveals her name, her poor voice clearly hoarse from hours of calling for her mother. “Jinju is a lovely name.” She agrees with the roan as her heart twists. Lyris had been, well, a less than ideal mother. But she’d still done her best, she’d still tried. She’d never left Lexa and Larken in the den like this poor girl’s mother has.
Jinju struggles to her feet and calls out again and Lexa lets out a tiny little sigh. She can’t postpone it. The girl will likely try to stay here if she thinks there’s a chance of her mother coming back. And, as much as the faeries try, the den is not a good place for a child to grow up. “Jinju … I don’t think she’s coming back.” She reaches out tentatively to the child, trying to give her a comforting touch. It’s a bit awkward - she’s never been good at comforting people - but it’s something.
08-19-2016, 04:39 PM (This post was last modified: 08-19-2016, 04:39 PM by Jinju.)
Jinju
She’s unaware of the reactions her red eyes cause. Her mother had been so thrilled to see them, taking them as a sign she had inherited more of her father than what you might think at first glance. Other than her not so ordinary eyes she looks completely normal, plain even, without anything fancy to dirk her up. Unlike her older brother Rhavi, who’s mane and tail existed out of flames. But the red eyes had been the reason why Esileif had kept Jinju around for a little longer, hoping she would soon show any of Offspring’s other legacies. And when they didn’t showed.. Well, we all know where that brought her.
Nonetheless she doesn’t notice the startled reaction from the spotted mare, especially since the brindle one doesn’t seem to be paying attention to it at all. The only thing she shows is pity and an aching heart, not yet motherly though. Jinju is too young to recognize it though, just as she hadn’t notices how poisonous Rhavi could look at her. For a moment the compliments take her aback, and the black girl only blinks at the two mares. Saying thank you seemed too odd in this situation.
Jinju’s ears are twisting, ready to pick up any sign of her mother coming back to her. There was none. Just as her head was about to drop towards the ground in defeat, Lexa spoke up. The black filly looks up when hearing her name, soothing herself in hearing the sounds coming from another’s lips. Almost like she was back at her mother’s side. But the message that followed shattered her to pieces. Jinju could only look up and stare at her, red eyes filling with tears even though her mother was an unfamiliar creature to her. In due time she would even forget about this meeting, as she was too young to remember it all.
”N..Not. Not c-coming b..back?” Her broken voice and the hiccups make it hard for her to reply. She had never felt so alone, so scared. Her mother wasn’t coming back, but.. Who was it? Who was her mother? With tear filled eyes she turns to look at both mares, watching each of them for a short moment before moving back to the other again. ”You..You’re not my momma?” She questions, honestly not understanding anything of the whole situation anymore. One of these two had to be her mother, right? Why else would they be near her? A mother was always near her child, right? Yet at the same time Jinju’s emotions are all over the place, her heart longing for something that is long gone, and at the same time eager to find a replacement. A better one too. Right now, she needed to hear them say it. She would believe anything they said in order to get rid of the confusion.
Hearing the pained tone in the filly's voice nearly broke Raxa's heart. The mare wasn't sure if she would ever be ready to be a mother, but... at least she'd had one for a little while. This small filly didn't have one, and probably didn't remember if her former mother had actually brought her here. If that was the case, then she probably thought that her mother didn't even love her... because now she wouldn't be coming back...
When the filly questioned if either of the mares was her mother, Raxa almost didn't know what to say. She wasn't the filly's mom, but, well, this was a place where foals were dropped off, abandoned, and mares took them in all the time. The mare didn't know if she'd ever make a good mother, but, she couldn't just leave this little one here. She could at least take care of her until she was old enough to make her own decisions.
Raxa stepped closer to the filly, brushing her muzzle against her shoulder to try and comfort her. Looking into the filly's saddened eyes, the mare's own electric blue softened, "If you'd like Jinju, I have a safe place you can come with me to. You'll be okay there, and I can take care of you. Would you like to come with me?"
08-24-2016, 05:42 PM (This post was last modified: 08-24-2016, 05:42 PM by Lexa.)
the dead are gone, and the living are hungry.
“N..Not. Not c-coming b..back?” The halting, broken tone breaks her heart. She can’t imagine what it’s like for the little girl. It must be like having her whole world ripped away from her. She hates that she had to tell the girl but … she has to know. And knowing now is better.
“No, neither of us is your mother.” She shouldn’t really be speaking for the roan, but it is fairly obvious that the child is not her blood either.
The roan steps forward then, nuzzling at the child and offering her a home. And without thinking, Lexa steps forward to do the same. Her dark muzzle against the girl’s muzzle, brown eyes wide and concerned. “Or, if you like, you could come home with me Jinju. It’s safe there, and warm, and there are lots of other mares. Perhaps even some other foals soon that you could be friends with.” There are so many mares in the jungle that it seems likely that someone will have had a child this season.
Her brown eyes glance briefly at the roan, then return to the girl. “Of course Jinju, I won’t be offended if you would rather go with this mare.” She just wants the poor girl to be safe.
As she waits for the child’s answer she can’t help but wonder what has come over her. She’s never been a mother before, and doesn’t plan on having her own blood child any time soon, but … she feels for the poor girl. And she knows she would do her best if Jinju decided to come home with her.
When Raxa’s muzzle brushes her shoulder, her heart flutters. She looks up at the brindled mare, a hopeful glitter in her eyes, and a smile already pulling on the corners of her lips. But then she notices the look and then she says that she isn’t her mother. That’s all she hears her say, the other part of the sentence just gets lost. Jinju staggers back, tears re-appearing in her eyes. Jinju cannot help it but to put a slight blame on the mare, as she was once again broken. So instead her eyes move towards the black spotted mare, but she says just the same. ”No momma..” she mumbles, head dropping towards the ground.
Jinju only looks up when the black appaloosa mare reaches out in her direction, muzzle gently touching hers. Red eyes meet brown ones, concerned ones, but it’s different from the reddish one. Slowly, almost carefully like she’s afraid to get too excited, her ears start turning forward. She blinks a few times, her red orbs still shiny due to the tears, and head tilting a bit to the side. ”Home?” she repeats, the sounds unfamiliar to her ears. Her gaze moves from the dark one to the roan one, hesitant and confused with all what is going on. On top of that emotionally exhausted.
”I.. I like warm and safe..” Her gaze moves to Lexa. Although she isn’t really aware of the dangers out there, safe sounded good. Warmth too, just as the promise of more horses there. On top of that, she felt somewhat comforted, almost at home. They might have said they weren’t her mother, but they were the ones acting like it. Jinju would soon forget any memory of her real mother, replacing het by a foster mother instead. Hesitantly she takes a step closer to Lexa, this time her own muzzle reaching out towards the black and white mare.
