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  • Beqanna

    COTY

    Assailant -- Year 226

    QOTY

    "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


    Playing with fire - any
    #1
    Jinju
    Little sparks dance across her skin as the air around her shimmers due to the heat her body radiates. She’s furious. She’s angry. She’s upset. And hurt. Hurt so badly. She had known that her sister was struggling, that she had a hard time dealing with the emotions of those who lived in the Taiga. But it wasn’t a weight she had to carry alone.

    Jinju had been more than willing to help her, support her, to stand at her side. She had wanted to share the wonders of motherhood with her sister, though they were both still young. Like she so desperately needed her father’s support and approval, she had wanted Heda’s too.

    Now, now that was all gone. Taken from her like the Reckoning had once taken her mother. Once they had been a huge family. One full of love, always action and someone to hold you close if you needed such embrace. Little by little it had fallen apart. Her mother was gone, just as Iasan and Terra had disappeared. Now Heda had left too, leaving on Ruan, Polaris and Enfys behind.

    As she stomped through the Taiga’s summer dry woodland flames licked at her legs. It did not bother nor hurt her. Her fire was raging. If the sparks and flames would still make one doubt, the look in her ruby eyes would clear it. Jinju’s ears are pinned back against her skull, teeth bared and she’s snarling at whoever crosses her path.

    Her path is easily trailed back, as her fire had set the Taiga on fire. Hormones out of control as her heart ached due to the betrayal.


    OOC: No babies please, wouldn't want to spook them too much <3
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    #2
    It had been a long time since Aten encountered a force of nature this powerful. He'd felt the crushing snow of winter, during a storm when the Falls was still around. He'd endured the Reckoning, as a yearling no less. He got through the storm that took Pangea away, even if he wasn't that close to it to begin with. He'd faced natural disasters and other things that could harm an animal as powerful as a horse.

    But never had he faced something like this. Forest fires were an unknown subject to Aten. He'd only ever heard stories during his foal hood, when his dam recounted the earliest times of her life before and shortly after becoming separated from her herd (though he had a suspicion that wasn't the whole truth). She wound up in a forest during a storm, and lightning came down from the sky, igniting one of the trees that the champagne mare had been using for shelter.

    Anahi often told him she suspected a higher force was watching over her that day, and that she couldn't be more grateful for being spared because it had meant she might not have had Aten and his siblings. The colt had nuzzled his dam before going to sleep that night, not knowing what tragedy would hit the kingdom a mere two moons after.

    Now, he was going to face one himself. Not that he planned it. The young stallion was relaxing in one of the Taiga's smaller meadows when the strange smell hit his nostrils. Though he did not know the cause, his instincts told him there was danger near. His head went up, nostrils flared, trying to perceive what danger could be lurking nearby. He didn't see anything out of the ordinary. No impending storms gathering on the horizon. No big cats or predators of the like hiding among the shadows of the trees.

    Wolves counted, he supposed, but he was no longer afraid of the ones who lurked in Taiga. He'd gotten used to them shortly after arriving when Ruan assured him they would not do him harm.

    So, what kind of danger could this be? What was his instinct telling him to be afraid of? The stallion's eyes darted back and forth, trying to pick out any sign, his temper getting a bit frustrated when he couldn't make it out.

    Then, he spotted something. A flash, out of the corner of his eye. Faint, but enough to tell him it was worth investigating. The stallion turned and galloped toward the light, wanting to know what was putting the Taiga in danger.

    As he edged closer, his instinct told him to back off, but his worry for the other residents pushed his legs to move faster. A poor choice, on his part, but not one that would have fatal consequences. He crested a small hill that led marked the beginning of a decline into a meadow that had become increasingly dry with the summer's heat. It was perfect for the danger Aten was about to face, the danger that, while beautiful to look at, was just as deadly as a predator.

    When Aten crested the small hill, he had barley enough time to slide to a halt, stopping just short of the flames licking at the grass and his legs. The stallion still felt the heat lapping at his fetlocks, and he reared up, his weight making him stumble backwards and having to throw his hind legs behind him to maintain his balance.

    He came back down, his eyes wide with fear. He hadn't received any burns to his legs, but he had felt the heat. What in the world was- Aten's mind flashed to the stories his dam had told him of the forest fire she'd experienced as a filly. The flashing light of the fire in the distance, how it struck fear in her heart, knowing that the danger could move faster than anyone thought.

    The raging heat, worse than the summer sun, sprouting forth the flames that licked at and devoured the meadow grass and trees like a mad predator. Could it even be called that?

    Seeing how rapidly the flames spread and the amount of grass being consumed, Aten decided yes, fire was a predator. He took another step back as the flames edged closer to him, worrying the stallion that he would get hurt. Of course, he still worried for the others though, his eyes darting up to see if there was any horse trapped in the fire.

    Some distance away, he spotted the silhouette of a dark-colored horse, though who it was he couldn't tell at first. No matter, he had to help. The stallion moved around the flames in front of him and galloped down, taking care to avoid the fire as he went. Aten was fighting with every instinct in his body, telling him to spare himself and get moving, but he had to see if this horse was in danger.

    Once he was close enough, Aten stopped, narrowing his eyes to get a look at the other horse. A couple of times, he had to look away due to the smoke, his lungs already starting to get heavy from being so close to the fire. He coughed a few times in between looking up to identify the horse, ignoring the stinging in his eyes from the heat.

    It did take a while, but finally, Aten figured out who it was. Needless to say, even though he'd heard of her gift, he was in shock. Why would she do this? What had happened to make her so angry? Enough to the point that she was setting her home on fire?

    Why had this happened?

    A million questions buzzed through his head, but Aten pushed them away. Even though the fire was spreading fast, he thought if he could calm down the mare enough, she might be able to do something about the flames surrounding her.

    The stallion reared up, calling out to his friend, "Jinju! You must calm down; the Taiga has been ignited by your flames! Please Jinju, answer me!"
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    #3
    The smoke alerted him first, and he sighed. He followed calmly in its wake, coating the forest in ice, the trunks and branches and leaves. A layer wrapped around the trees, suffocating the oxygen from the flames and dowsing them immediately, only so that he could melt it away as he continued forward to do the same in the next area. The melt and a dusting of powder-soft snow pooled to the ground and watered instantly from the heat, cooling the earth as he stepped forward, and forward. Working his way deeper, almost mechanically, into her outburst of fire.

    It wasn't the first time.

    Her hormones were igniting her power, sparking wildly out from her. So lost in her hurt, or her rage, she almost seemed to not even notice that she was setting blazes.

    Aten was already there, ahead of him and trying to calm her, so he continued unhurriedly. He trusted the young man could soothe her, if even just a little. In some ways, Aten was much like him, and sometimes he couldn't help but feel a little attached to him. Like a son he'd almost had once. Almost. Except this one was strong and gold, friendly and so intuitive. Not gray and grullo, blanketed like his father with white and spots and a dark face.

    Ruan continued restoring their forest, dragging himself from his thoughts. Aten was shouting over the roar of her flames, trying to reach her with his voice. Blue eyes glanced over to coat the golden man in a layer of ice, just enough to protect his skin from the lick of of her fire so he could push a little closer to her as Ruan returned to his task, gradually covering the last of the damage.

    Then he joined them, and he had to admit this was the worst of the outbreaks she'd yet caused. The biggest, the wildest. Something important must have happened to upset her so profoundly.

    "Jinju?" he called carefully to her, sliding up to Aten's side and settling a gaze of concern on her. He felt subdued, almost drugged, a bit sluggish. The bright of his eyes were a little duller, drained by the amount of magic he'd had to use, the distance he'd had to cover with it. He pushed just a little more and drizzled small drops of ice along her back. They sizzled and melted instantly against her heat but hopefully would pull her attention to them.

    "Jinju? Let's talk about it," he suggested a little dimly, breathing deeply. "Calm down and tell us what's happened?" He nodded a quiet thanks to Aten for arriving so quickly to try and calm her, and for staying to help him keep her at ease if they could.



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    #4
    Despite Aten shouting at the top of his lungs, trying to get Jinju's attention, the roar of the flames continued to drown out his voice. The stallion eyed the flames with distaste, angry that they were dissipating his efforts to try and get the dark coated mare under control. Almost as if sensing his thoughts, the flames lashed out at his hooves again, using the meadow grass as a way to get closer. The stallion jumped back, coming dangerously close to the flames with his back hooves.

    Aten let out an angry call, clearly fed up with having to dance around these flames so carefully. Here he was, trying to break Jinju from whatever had her trapped in her mind, and the flames were licking at him like the ocean waves. The stallion sidestepped away from the spreading fire, finding a way around so that he was closer to Jinju's front end rather than positioned on her side.

    Then, suddenly, despite the roaring heat, a cold feeling spread through Aten's veins, as if someone had pumped them full of icy water. Drawn in by confusion, Aten's head whipped around, trying to see if something had settled on his back, or, not likely enough, a blanket of snow had just fallen on him.

    Instead, he didn't really see anything obvious. No white powder, no strange animal or horse on his back. At first, he thought he had just imagined it, but as he started turning his head back around to continue shouting at Jinju, a glittering presence near his flank caught the stallion's attention. Eyes focused, but his vision cloudy due to the smoke, Aten did his best to identify what was now on his body.

    It didn't really make sense to him, seeing it like this. He couldn't really pinpoint what had settled over him; it just felt like a cold breeze, comforting him, but not trying to freeze him. Rather, it almost seemed like it was trying to protect him. But from what? If this was he thought it was, it wouldn't stand long against the flames.

    And yet, as Aten experimented by taking a step closer to Jinju, dangerously close to the flames, the heat didn't burn as badly as it had before. He still felt it, but it was much more bearable than just a few moments ago. Aten didn't know how far he could push this sudden protective shield, but he would try his hardest to get as close as he could to Jinju without having his skin melt off.

    So, taking each step carefully, and starting to call out her name again to bring her back to the present, Aten made his way toward the dark coated mare. The flames burned bright, right in his path, but the heat seemed to be dimming out at the edge. The cold feeling covering Aten's body also seemed to respond to it. Was whoever out there helping the one who had done this to Aten to protect him?

    He didn't know a lot of specific gifts here in the Taiga. He figured Ruan had a gift, given that Jinju did. It would also explain the cold feelings he sometimes got around the stallion, on the times they were together.

    Could that be the connection? Seconds later, the answer appeared in front of him. Or rather, next to him. Out of the smoke appeared the familiar spotted stallion, Ruan, a stallion whom Aten had come not only to respect and admire but also feel an attachment. Not necessarily one of father and son just yet, Aten thought, but enough of one that he knew he'd gladly give his life to save Ruan should the need arise.

    Ruan made his way toward his daughter, silently calling out her name along the way. Aten followed behind, noticing how Ruan didn't seem to be that affected by the flames. The golden stallion, on the other hoof, was beginning to feel the heat of the flames again. The cold feeling - ice, he was beginning to suspect as he looked down at the shimmering on his legs - was protecting him, but that didn't mean he couldn't feel the heat.

    Aten looked back up at Ruan to see the stallion sluggishly making his way even closer, his eyes glazing over with sympathy. The stallion was obviously tired from using so much energy protecting himself, Aten, and probably putting out the flames near the edge of the burning meadow grass. Doing his best to ignore the heat, Aten moved closer to Ruan to offer his support, enough that the stallion could lean on him if need be but far away enough so that, if Ruan didn't want help, Aten could move away.

    It got to the point where Aten was about three or so yards away from Jinju, Ruan standing right next to his daughter's stomach. Aten couldn't see what Ruan was doing from here, only that steam seemed to be rising from the filly's back. He wasn't as knowledgeable as some, but even he knew that steam was only created when water was poured on fire. Whatever Ruan was doing, it was an attempt to try and cool off his daughter's burning rage.

    Ruan continued trying to reach Jinju, his tone so quiet that Aten almost didn't hear him. The only acknowledgement he really got since Ruan arrived was a silent nod, a show of thanks for Aten's efforts.

    The golden stallion just nodded back, knowing they couldn't waste time. Even if he had noticed things were a bit different lately, something very bad had to have happened for Jinju to be reacting this way. He had to help in any way he could, no matter the consequences it had for him.

    Pushing the coat of ice to its near limits, Aten made his way closer to the dark filly. He could feel the flames trying to penetrate his icy coat, to get near the delicate skin that lay beneath, but he would ignore it for now. He'd only be concerned if the coat actually failed and he felt the searing heat taking off his golden fur.

    "Jinju?" he called, adding his concerned words to Ruan's. "Jinju, it's me, Aten. You've got to try and fight this; your dad is worried about you. I'm worried about you. The Taiga's meadow is in flames, and it will spread even further if you don't stop. Whatever happened, we can talk. Please, Jinju, come back, for your father."

    Aten wouldn't add for her to come back for himself. It was a selfish thing to say, to have his friend return only to satisfy his need for her safety. She needed to believe that Aten was in this for Ruan's sake, that all he cared about was bringing Jinju back to see her father again. Because even though Aten had feelings for the dark coated filly, he had a feeling another already held her heart. Just a dim gut feeling. It had been different with Sirana, for she held no love for the spotted stallion of her former herd. But he knew when love wasn't present, if that simplified things.

    Whether she cared for him as a friend or even perhaps like a brother, it didn't matter. Aten was just going to keep trying to get her back, for Ruan's sake, and that of her lover, if anything else.
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    #5
    Jinju
    She does not acknowledge their presence. She’s raging, fire burning hold and wild and she likes it. Needs it. It was all that what kept her from crumbling down. The fire was part of her and perhaps the dark side that came with the fire too. It could be destructive, and so was she. The burning Taiga showed that very clearly.

    Even though the flames lick at her legs, her skin, she does not feel it. It doesn’t hurt her. Not like it would hurt others upon contact. Her ears pin back, but that’s the only way she replies to Aten’s call. Then her father is there too, calling out to her, but it sound faint and for a moment she thinks she’s imagining it. But then, then there is ice.

    A shiver runs down her spine and she shudders. For a moment the fire flares, burning more intense, and then it slowly extinguishes. Trees that had caught fire keep burning, but the flames from the ground slowly come back to her, forming a protective circle as she slowly turns to face both males. Her gaze burns, ears still pinned back against her head. ”What’s there to talk about?” Heda had already left them anyway.
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    #6
    He was tired. Getting worse. Magic was draining, costly, and she'd spread her wild inferno a great distance this time.

    Aten's voice faded in his ears, and his eyes felt heavier, his breathing as slow as if he were asleep. And he wanted to. Suddenly needed to sleep so badly. To recuperate and recharge, let his magic replenish itself. Jinju was in great care though, with Aten here. The only thing Aten couldn't do that Ruan could was ice out the lingering flames. He could still reach her, could still calm her. A good friend to her.

    Her blaze sputtered out at his drops of ice to her back, but it didn't seem to have any affect to her mood. For a moment, it was calm. Then her fire came back to her in a protective circle around her. His ice-blue eyes sharpened again as he stared down at it, his jaw tight. He remembered their battle of magic before, when he'd needed her without realizing it. He wasn't sure this was the same sort of situation. Wasn't even sure he could handle a full-on battle again after rescuing their trees in her destructive wake.

    "What's there to talk about," she snapped, her ears flattened to her pretty skull. His gaze lifted to her, allowing his other senses to still be aware of Aten. He blinked, shook his head just barely. I can't fight you. He'd probably pass out before he could get her under control if she couldn't manage it herself this time, with his and Aten's help if possible.

    "The baby, Jinju," he reminded her quietly, concerned for his first grandchild that was already so special to him. She would never put her baby in harms way on purpose, of course. She would do anything to protect it. But was she certain this wouldn't harm it in some way? Warm the baby too hot? What if it didn't take after her fire and couldn't be protected?

    "Come talk with us.. Please."



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    #7
    Oh Jinju...

    What in the world could be bothering her so? Something had to be, or else she might not even be considering talking to Aten and Ruan when she was in such a rage like this. Ruan's ability to conjure ice seemed to calm Jinju down, as the mare's fire dimmed before shrinking to a circle just wide enough to envelop her and keep the stallions at bay. There was still a fire in her eyes, her ears pinned back, but she was willing to listen. She was willing to talk...

    Aten could use this. Whether it worked or not, he had to use this time to try and get through to the mare he cared for. She would never find that out, of course, but he could use it.

    Aten's gaze shifted to Ruan, and he immediately noticed that the stallion's attitude was different. He suddenly realized something; the stallion was getting tired, fast. He'd already expended a lot of his energy conjuring up the ice to dim the flames that had been kicked up by Jinju's outburst, Aten could only imagine how tired he was now.

    Deciding to take the bait and spare Ruan the effort of using his ice, Aten stepped closer to Jinju. He could feel the heat the closer he got, and he gave Ruan another glance. The message was simple, and would hopefully help the stallion.

    Take the ice coat off, his eyes said. He didn't want Ruan to pass out from using power to try and keep the golden stallion safe. He'd deal with the consequences later, and Aten could tolerate pain if it came to that. He didn't care about his own safety right now; what mattered were Jinju and Ruan. He cared for the mare as more than a friend, and Ruan as a trusted ally and friend if not father figure. But with the current situation, it seemed like the black filly and spotted stallion were all the other had in the world. And he didn't want that relationship broken up by anything. He had to try and help them, even if getting himself put in danger was the only way.

    Ruan spoke up before Aten could, reminding Jinju of a critical factor. It hurt to hear, but Aten phased it from his mind. He called to his friend in a soft voice, trying to break her out of the confines of her mind.

    "Jinju, please, listen. It's all going to be okay, but you need to stop spreading the fire. You need to take care of yourself. Think of your foal, Jinju. You need to keep the little one safe. As your father asked, please, talk to us. We want to listen and help you."
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    #8
    Jinju
    She’s shaking with anger, which wins more and more terrain. Her ruby eyes are full of unshed tears, but in reality, if they would roll down her cheeks, they would evaporate on instant. The beast roars when her father shakes his head, angry that he’s denying her a way to release her anger.

    ”The baby, Jinju.”

    He could as well have slapped her face with an icicle. Jinju stumbles backwards, gasping for breath at the same time and once she comes to a stop, the fire is gone. She doesn’t look at either of them, instead she stares at a random point at the ground, the burn of the fire still noticeable. It’s in the air too and with another gasp she glances around her, taking in the damage she had caused.

    When her father speaks again Jinju snaps her head up, teary ruby eyes searching for his ice blue gaze. ”Dad” she murmurs softly, then her gaze moves to the champagne stallion. ”Aten...” Then another sob, and she tears her gaze away again. Her was right, and she.. she had done all this. What had she done?

    ”My baby..” she murmurs, before throwing herself at both of them. Ruan first, her body still trembling, but from a whole other kind. Cooled down enough, actually enjoying Ruan’s cold skin, the tears now poor down her cheeks. Her gaze moves to her friend next, silently asking him to step closer too. Then she chokes out the thing that caused this whole mess. ”Heda.. Heda left us without a word.”
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    #9
    Even with Aten calling out to his friend, it was Ruan's words that seemed to break down the mare's defenses. With all the quickness of being struck by an icy ocean wave, the mare's flames died down. Jinju looked panicked now, though Aten couldn't tell really since her gaze was on the ground and not on either stallion. For a moment, all was quiet until Jinju looked around, and Aten knew at once what she was thinking.

    No doubt she was coming to terms with what had happened during her rage-induced episode. It hurt to know that more than likely Jinju blamed herself for this; he didn't want her to feel that way. But what could he say right now? She was obviously the only one with the power to control the living force of nature that destroyed as easily as it was created. Ruan had exerted himself trying to put the flames out, and Aten was without any gifts of his own and -

    Yeah he was going to be able to come up with any good excuses for this. And that hurt even more, because Jinju didn't need this guilt. Not with whatever else was hanging over her head.

    When Ruan called to his daughter again, Jinju's eyes went up to meet his. Aten found himself slightly unnerved by the clash of fire ruby red and icy blue, a feeling that was quickly shattered when the black mare's eyes met the warm brown of the champagne stallion. He heard her say his name before her gaze moved away again, a sob escaping her.

    Aten wanted to comfort his friend and tell her it was all right, but he wasn't coming up with any brilliant solutions. Anything that could've come out of his mouth would've made her sound like mother-of-the-year for stopping the flames to save her foal, but not good in the eyes of those who would blame her for the forest's destruction. Aten tried to come up with something to ease the guilt on his friend's shoulders, but before something brilliant came to mind, the mare was launching herself at her father, eager for his comfort.

    And apparently Aten's, if Jinju's eyes were telling him correctly. At first, he hesitated, not sure if he should intrude. But his instinct gave way to the need to comfort his friend. He took a step forward, but when his hoof came down on the ground again he knew something was wrong.

    It wasn't a flaring pain just yet, but enough to let the stallion know it was there. It didn't feel like the kind of wound one would get from fighting a predator or rival horse, or trying to out swim a current in the raging rivers criss-crossing Beqanna's land. No, it was a different type... smooth, clean, almost as if the skin had been glazed over and the hair trimmed off-

    Aten nearly froze from shock. It couldn't be, but he knew. It must've been from earlier, before Ruan came to the scene and helped the stallion by covering him with the icy coat. That also explained why he didn't feel anything earlier; the icy coat must've been numbing his pain. He really didn't want Jinju to know about this, so, to try and hide the fact, Aten forced himself to join his friend and her father. Each step made Aten feel as if a hundred angry bees with stingers set on fire were poking at his pasterns, and he had to struggle to control the grimace from appearing. He put on a facade and forced a concerned look, eager to just get over to his friend's side so he could stop walking and ease the pressure.

    When Aten was near, Jinju was still sobbing into her father's coat. Aten just stood nearby, showing his friend he would be there for her, but not wanting to make her uncomfortable. Jinju then choked out why she'd had this episode, something that left Aten puzzled.

    As with any other kingdom member who knew of the long list of Ruan's adopted foals, Aten had heard of the buckskin mare. He hadn't heard the most recent gossip about her as of late, but had noticed the lack of her presence around the Taiga the past few days. Sure, he understood how one might feel if someone important to a family left, but he doubted his mother or siblings would've acted this way. Or to this extent, at least.

    Perhaps Jinju and Head had some sort of understanding that Aten couldn't comprehend? Not wanting to say anything stupid, Aten glanced up at Ruan, hoping the stallion could take over and save the golden one from any repercussions.
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