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Post by Saz on Sept 7, 2014 10:55:49 GMT -5
Indy
-- The past few seasons had been incredibly rough on the small band, with them having to contest for food, shelter and safety. And for months on end Indy had been attempting to convince herself that she wasn't pregnant, that she wasn't incubating the spawn of the kinslayer, that this was all just a terrible dream. But with her stomach swollen larger than it had even been before, and with her mood becoming more erratic with every passing day, her anxiety grew and her inner turmoil became more potent with every twitch and kick she felt from the foal inside her. This was real. This was happening and there was nothing she could do about it. Her mental state was more fragile than ever, anything from the unexpected snap of a twig or the brush of someone against her would make her flinch or wince before she could react otherwise. These had become second nature for the warmblood mare, flight before fight, which would have been unusual before her encounter with the dunalino, but now... now it was her survival instinct, it was what kept her alive. Their most recent journey had been since the end of spring, they managed to find a small group the shelter with for the majority of winter and spring, but when summer began to come around they had split away from the stallion and his mare who had offered them protection and sought their own path. After some time in a form of safety with others, Bagheera had come up with the idea to find her nephew, Magpie, but it was definitely a bit of a long shot. However at this point in time it was all they had, what with Indy nearing her due date and all of them being utterly exhausted from the stress of the constant moving. Their cautious asking around had brought them to a large crop of land covered with an aspen forest, it was a beautiful place to wander to, but they were all on high-alert due to their knowledge that no matter how pretty something might seem, it could be hiding some incredibly ugly things. Sides heaving with exertion, Indy paused, leaning on a nearby tree for support when she began to feel the sudden pangs that were far too familiar and far too scary. "Bagheera." She murmured the mare's name with increasing urgency. "Bagheera, I need to... I need to find somewhere safe." Indy panted, lowering her head as she attempted to inhale deeply to calm herself and to help with the pain. Nostrils flaring, Indy jerked backward as an unfamiliar face appeared ahead of them, her heart rate increased and she let out a worried sound as she began to feel increasingly nervous. They were in an unfamiliar place, with unfamiliar surroundings and now there was a stranger and she was pretty sure that she was going into labour. |
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Post by Swede on Sept 27, 2014 15:40:00 GMT -5
Magpie had had a rough time during his stint as herd leader thus far, but what young stallion hasn't? Experience came through mistakes, and learning from them. His mares had scattered in the winter, through doubt in his leadership or whisked away by another stallion, he couldn't tell. Perhaps both; Cam had vanished too, and normally Magpie would be inclined to think he might've been doublecrossed, but his cocky pride had taken a beating lately and he wasn't so sure anymore. It was difficult to imagine Cam would leave without Breeze, in any case. Though the mare had little affection for him, she was the only one left, and she at least liked him enough to not feel motivated to seek out something else. Magpie had dutifully provided companionship and protection for her and for little Hespera. It was a little scrap of a herd, and fell far short of his coltish dreams of grandeur, but it was better than nothing. He wasn't a polished leader by any means, but he had learned a little, and reexamined his attitudes. Above all he'd realized how much more challenging this role was than he had initially believed. As such, he frequently roamed through the territory inspecting for any signs of intruders. In the grand scheme of things, he was not a particularly threatening stallion to others- small herd, no reputation, just another upstart who happened to have a territory that could be quite tempting to the opportunistic. If he wasn't vigilant, he might get kicked back down to square one like so many overconfident youngsters before him. Hmph... when he was little, six years had seemed ancient. Not until he actually reached that age had he realized how much there was still left to learn. Suddenly he paused. He could have sworn he heard something, or perhaps a scent... tensing a little, Magpie moved forward again, weaving between the trees quickly. He knew every inch of this forest by now, and something was out of order. He was determined to find out what. ~ Most horses lose a great deal of weight in the winter, but the two colts had done so in an exaggerated fashion, looking quite pitiful as they shuffled along. Stormcrow had been sullen and irritable since getting knocked on the head, and Merlin, though ever trying to remain optimistic, was mostly quiet. He sensed that Indy and Bagheera had enough worries without him complaining like a little foal. He had been tired, cold, and hungry for so long, stressed by their constant dread of attack, but they all were. Glancing at his little brother and cousin, Sirius' strained expression softened a little. The spring weather warmed their bones and allowed them to eat a little better than before, but the situation was desperate. Indy needed somewhere safe to be; they all did. Meanwhile, Sirius had been forced into the role of pseudo-lead stallion, something he was far too young and inexperienced for, but he'd done his best to be strong example for the colts. Unfortunately it had resulted in him being a bit cold to them as well, something he felt guilty about. Hopefully his mother's idea would pan out- according to her, Faradera's other son resided somewhere here, and could perhaps be relied upon for assistance. He was someone Bagheera knew and trusted; if he turned them away, they wouldn't have anywhere else to go. Sirius stiffened at a sudden change in atmosphere. It was almost imperceptible, but the group had been on high alert for months, and particularly in another stallion's territory, he was desperately aware of the slightest signal. A minute or two passed as they meandered among the trees, but then it became clear- a muffled set of unknown hoofbeats and the flickering figure of a stranger between the aspens. "Try to keep calm, we'll find someplace nearby," Bagheera said soothingly as Indy fidgeted. She sensed what was happening, and the timing was impeccably bad; then again, no time was a good time for this, not in their situation. The black mare paused as Sirius became visibly tense, and the cause for his agitation soon became clear. "Magpie?" Bagheera said questioningly, taking a step forward and initiating contact in order to nip any potential confrontation in the bud. It had been a few years since she last saw him, and he'd filled out considerably, but there was no mistaking him. Her eyes flickered uncertainly towards Indy. This would have to be quick and awkward, and it wasn't ideal, but at least theoretically now was better than before they had come here. At least now they were within the confines of Magpie's territory and thus a modicum of safety- if he accepted them, that was. "Bagheera?" Magpie blinked. His gaze roamed over the pitiful band in confusion, settling briefly on Sirius before concluding reasonably that he must be Bagheera's son from the stallion she had lived with for a while before rejoining King's herd. The two yearling colts bore quite a bit of resemblance to his sire as well. The other mare was completely unfamiliar to him but she seemed to be quite distressed. The implications of the whole scenario swirled in his head; why were they here? Had something happened to his sire? If so, where were the others? The other mares.... his mother, his sister. "What are you... doing here? What's going on?" "It's good to see you again," the black mare said warmly. "I realize this is a bit unexpected, but unfortunately we're in a bit of a predicament. I can explain fully later, but the gist is that we need somewhere safe to stay. I was hoping you might have room in your territory, at least for a little while. I realize we aren't the most ideal of guests- your aunt, a bunch of colts, and a pregnant mare- but you're the only one I could think of that I trust, and we would be eternally grateful. Indy, she... she needs a safe place." Bagheera's tone lowered as she spoke. "I- of course, you're welcome to stay, I'm sure Breeze would appreciate the company," Magpie said, still quite bewildered but not so heartless as to turn away a group that had clearly suffered on their own, particularly not when they were his own flesh and blood. He frowned a little, glancing at the chestnut mare, before understanding dawned on his face. "Right, um, I haven't seen signs of predators in weeks, and you're the only intruders in a while too, I think most are too busy taking care of themselves after winter to bother snooping around occupied territories. So anywhere in this part of the woods should be okay, if you want to be alone- or if not, you know, whatever you feel like," he said, growing flustered. He liked mares; he certainly wasn't very good at interacting with them. Not like this. It was easier to court a mare than to comfort one. |
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Post by Saz on Mar 18, 2015 17:56:24 GMT -5
Indy--The chestnut mare was currently using all her willpower and strength in her weakened and fragile state to keep herself upright and somewhat calm. She barely took any notice of the group until the thickly-set tobiano turned his attention on her, she hesitated as she processed his words and then bobbed her head in a vaguely appreciative motion before she swallowed roughly and cleared her throat. "I... uh... Thank you..." She paused again, her brow creasing as she concentrated on trying to remember what Bagheera had called him. Mudpie? No... Mag? No... Magpie? Yes, that was what she called him. "I'll be... okay... I think. Thank you, Magpie." She murmured, almost talking to herself as she turned awkwardly away from the group and sidled around the tree she'd been leaning against.
With her breathing becoming more labored by the minute and the contractions increasing in both pain and frequency, the chestnut mare only made it a short way into the aspen forest before collapsing to her knees and groaning in pain. Her eyes closed as she grimaced as the contractions became almost unbearable and nature began to take its course. Attempting to clear her mind, Indy concentrated on her breathing as much as possible before giving one last heave and bearing her foal into the world. As she allowed her head to fall back against the soft, grassy floor of the forest, she was granted a temporary reprieve from the aches and pains of birth and she had thought it was the end. After all, who had ever heard of having two foals at once? What were the chances she was pregnant with two foals? It had never even crossed her mind that it could be possible...
And then the pain came back, thankfully to a slightly lesser degree but the mare was in a full-blown panic by this point. Why was she going through this again, hadn't she just given birth? Maybe she was dying! That monster had killed her... he had used her to carry his spawn and then it had killed her. These thoughts span around her mind in a detached fashion as the pain wracked her battered body, the mare panted, gasping for breath as her eyes rolled in her head and the pain finally stopped. She lay there in a vague stupor, staring into oblivion for a few moments as the reality of her situation sank in. Not only had she been forcebred by that dunalino horror, but he then made her carry twins, and now she had to care for them. Her body trembled at the thought of him and she was moments away from loosing herself to hysteria when a quiet noise brought her back to the present. She lifted her head and glanced behind her, staring numbly at the two bundles by her back hooves.
A horrific thought struck her as she stared at them, pitifully wriggling and squirming in the grass. So easy just to leave behind. So easy to strike down... So, so fragile. Just one step would end them... Then the squeaking whinny from the darker coloured foal halted the thoughts in their tracks. Her heart all but melted at the sound and almost immediately her maternal instincts kicked in. She had already lost one foal, this was her chance to make up for it. They would be raised as kind and worthy souls, even if they did have his blood running through their veins... Perhaps one day they would strike him down rather than the opposite. Who knew... Indy stumbled upright, being careful to avoid her newborns as she regained her balance, wobbling a little not unlike how the two newborns at her feet would be all too soon.
She exhaled sharply, blinking tiredly before lowering her head and nudging the two foals and gradually cleaning them up. It was tiring work as she had to alternate between the two to keep them from squawking in disapproval. Finally they were both clean and she stepped back to examine them. She remembered when she first lay eyes on the dunalino and how taken with him she was, and fortunately it was no different when she stood there and gazed at her daughter who was vainly attempting to stand. Her gaze then travelled to the beautiful red dun son she had given birth to who was watching his sister in mild surprise before he too attempted the same movements. Indy allowed herself to smile gently as she watched her offspring stand for the first time, stumbling around as they attempted to get their toothpick-like legs in order before they slowly found their way toward her.
She nickered sweetly and gently nuzzled her son and daughter before carefully guiding them either side of her so they were able to drink. She flinched slightly as both foals began to nurse with vigor, but soon relaxed as the pressure from her milk soon relented. She sighed, her head drooping and her eyelids half-closed as she began to feel her exhaustion setting in. She yawned loudly, startling her son and daughter, they both stumbled backward, almost exactly mirroring each other's movements as they gazed at their mother in surprise. "It's okay, my loves, I'm just tired. I'm sure you all are feeling tired too. Now, we should be getting back to the herd, so we can all settle in together." The chestnut mare spoke in soothing tones, turning carefully and pulling her children so they were snuggled into her sides.
They wandered slowly through the aspen forest, halting now and then as one of the foals stumbled and had to regain their feet. Soon enough they found the deer path that her small band had come into the territory using, and they began following that toward the sounds of low voices. Indy halted not far onto the path as her son stumbled, she stepped toward him, nudging him back to his hooves and smiling gently, "Come on, little one, it's not much farther now." She murmured and then paused, "Though, I do still need to name both of you, but perhaps that will be something to be done once we have all slept and settled in." Indy nodded and then continued to lead her children toward the rest of the herd. The trio emerged from the treeline, sunlight strongly illuminating the clearing where Magpie had lead his aunt and the rest of their small band. The chestnut mare nickered a tired greeting to her friends, momentarily closing her eyes and inhaling the new scents deeply, checking to see if she could sense anyone else. She was unsure, so she continued forward, ears flicking warily as she focused upon Magpie and Bagheera, she plodded toward her group, a sense of security enveloping her as she finally halted within a few feet.
Clearing her throat, Indy smiled at her friends, "Guys, I'd like you to meet my children," She paused, nudging both foals forward into the view of the entire herd and it was at that moment that their names occurred to her. Shifting slightly, she gently rested her muzzle on the red dun colt, "This is Rune, my son," She shifted her muzzle to the dunalino filly, "And this is Myth, my daughter." She spoke with a calm tone, even though beneath her breast her heart beat wildly, unsure of the reaction she may get from the family that was torn apart by the father of these two foals. She glanced nervously toward Stormcrow and Merlin, anxious to see whether the two colts would react angrily at the appearance of her daughter, who was an almost exact replica of her father. The father that hopefully they would never meet again.
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