"For every brother you bring to our
midst, you may keep a trinket all to
yourself. She will not be sullied or traded, unless you deem otherwise. But should you bring a mare here without a new brother first, then I will consider her property of the Lagoon as a whole and do with her as I see fit." - Garmr
The Offspring
None
Rules
• The Lagoon is where homeless stallions come to live as a brotherhood. Mares may not live here except as captives or companions for the Leaders.
• Soldiers keep mainly to fighting, Thieves keep mainly to raiding, and Associates may do both, neither, or act as diplomats. Members may issue their own battles and raids, but should generally consult the General, Marauder or Boss for permission.
• All major decisions are determined by vote, but the Boss maintains order within the Lagoon and has the final say.
• Elections for leadership positions will be held every TLI summer, provided the qualifying criteria are met.
• You can find detailed information about how the Lagoon works on the Rules page.
• Upon election, the Boss can issue a rule for members to follow during their tenure. It is up to leadership to enforce.
cold to the core Posted on January 8, 2023 at 12:18:59 PM by charybdis
there will be blood in the water The brute took Rivka and left Charybdis to wallow in despair, nursing a throbbing wound to her shoulder, and trying not to panic over the blow that had glanced off her belly. Blood rushed in her ears, howling like a storm, and she couldn’t even hear the pounding of her own heart, but she felt it there, thudding frantically in her chest. After what seemed an eternity, the small life growing inside her stirred, and the relief that flooded the pale mare’s veins proved overwhelming, so that tears filled her eyes and spilled over to trickle down her ivory cheeks.
The child seemed unharmed, and the pain was ebbing, but Rivka - Rivka was gone.
Though Charybdis is had not known the young mare from Paradise for long, she had come to mean much. When near all others seemed distant, going about their own lives, content with just residing in the jungle, Rivka sought her out, seemed to want to be with Charybdis. It gave the half-sighted mare hope, and the presence of the black spotted girl had started to ease the constant hollowing aching that had taken root in the heart of the red-shouldered leader.
Rivka had given her hope, and reason enough to stick to her course.
And now Rivka was gone.
A strangled sob caught in her throat, and Charybdis curled in on herself, as if trying to hold all the broken parts of herself together, Already, she dreaded the coming of darkness, when all the jungle seemed at peace in the balmy night. Except for her, and she would return to wandering alone.
A whisper of movement in the leaves, and Charybdis jolted ro attention, ears stiff and head swivelling toward the sound. A name rose to her lips, but she bit down on it, and just as well. The stallion who stepped into view was not the one she so desired to see. But she was glad, all the same, to see Nahual, and was grateful beyond words that he had come to investigate, perhaps having heard the distant sound of the altercation between her and the Lagoon brute, or caught a trace of the interloper’s scent.
Wordlessly, Charybdis reached for him, and after exchanging breath, she drew back.
His presence was a balm to her turbulent mind and heart, and with the aching loneliness dissipating, in its place, the smouldering embers of her great rage were stoked into a flickering flame. Once upon a time, another stranger had come into her home, and tried to take what was hers. He was no longer an enemy, or so Charybdis hoped, but back then, even injured, Charybdis had borne down upon him, seized her throat in her jaws, and cast him into the sea.
This time, she had been hesitant, so afraid for the well-being of her unborn child, that she had held back the full force of her rage. She knew now that this had been a mistake, and it burned her to think that she’d let the thieving bachelor off so lightly. Once before, the Lagoon had taken from her, and she had tried to be diplomatic. This time, she would show them her teeth, and make them understand.
The Ridge was hers to protect, and protect it, Charybdis would, along with all those who were drawn to jagged spine of towering stone that served as the off-center heart of her beloved Atlantis.
“Come wit’ me,” Charybdis asked of the white spotted stallion, and without delay, she turned toward the north and made for the sea, with Nahual following close behind.
———-
They made their way through the Lagoon slowly, for Charybdis was both cautious and cunning; she did not want to give herself away too soon. In many ways, the Lagoon was not so different from the Ridge’s sprawling jungle, the wetlands pressing in on all sides, as they waded through the marsh mud. It was a large expanse of land, likely to disorient those without a recognisable landmark and no familiarity with the trails. But the heart of Charybdis had hardened itself, and she continued on stubbornly, determined to find Rivka to reassure her.
If she crossed paths with the snake who had stolen from her first? Charybdis would strike swift and true.
At one point, a lanky figure revealed himself to her. The stallion bore wounds that were still healing, and was darkly coloured, not unlike Drogon. Perhaps unconsciously she’d made a sound, or some dark and dangerous expression had crossed her pale, mud-flecked face, for he seemed to wilt submissively under her gaze, and with a clear and meaningful jerk of his muzzle, he gave Charybdis some much needed direction.
Some time later, now nearly covered with the silty marsh mud all over, thanks to a few missteps from the unfamiliar trail she was tentatively following, Charybdis was moving agonisingly slowly (for the rancid taste of the muck still lingered on her tongue and she was not keen for another mouthful). And then, through a thin line of overgrown vegetation to the left, she heard the soft tones of Rivka’s voice, and her head snapped around so she could cast her seeing eye over the terrain and she leapt recklessly into view.
“You’ll run all you want soon enough, Rivka,” came the defiant promise. Coiled and poised to throw herself at the gold and white stallion, the moment he made a move toward her or Rivka, Charybdis stole a glance at the young colt who was even muddier than she, and one ear twisted back, listening for Nahual’s approach close behind. To the Lagoon brute, she snarled her threat. “If you ‘arm ‘er… if you set foot in my ‘ome again, I will come for de sons of de Lagoon. What sons I ‘ad are gone, and two of dem belonged to de Lagoon ‘erself.” With ears laced, she squared up against the older male, but did not make a move to close in on either Rivka or the colt near her side.
There seemed to be a wild pup nearby too, but Charybdis paid it no heed. She was hardly in the position to judge anyone else as being strange.
“I do not care for ‘arboring resentment and naming anyone an enemy, but for you and your ilk, I’ll make an exception if you are determined to be deaf to de words I speak,” This stallion likely knew nothing of her, but he’d soon learn if he continued on his path. She did not want to set her heart against this place, but if it continued to remain a threat to the safety of her own, then she'd have no choice. And so, without hesitation, she leapt toward the brute, bellowing from gaping maw. Something of the boys she’d lost still remained - she felt them. They had been born to the waters of the Lagoon, and Charybdis was no longer afraid, for the child within her was strong, and Rivka appeared to be holding up okay, and she had Nahual watching her back. This was not a battle for a prize, or a second scuffle over Rivka - Charybdis knew well enough that it would be impossible to guide her back to the border without whatever remnant of bachelors remained descended upon them.
No, this was something far more primitive. Before, she had held herself back, held all the anger and anguish in.