"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.
moondust in your lungs Posted on March 16, 2024 at 02:12:07 AM by Vervain
✶
The swim had been grueling and terrifying. The water stretched so desolately vast all around them at one point that Vervain wondered if he meant to drown them both. The thought shook her quite exhausted form, renewing her tears and whimpering as the water threatened to overtake her. She had struggled some against it however she could. It must have been an obvious struggle to her kidnapper; he came up alongside her in the water. Fear increased her breathing and renewed her struggle to stay afloat. Tiring that much quicker, Vervain wilted after several long minutes.
Nervously, her dark eyes darted to the dark male still swimming beside her. She didn't want to touch him. She didn't want to feed whatever it was that made him take her. Yet Vervain took a steadying breath, tucked her front legs, and reached her head and neck across his withers and held on. At another point later in the swim, he had even shifted her on his back to that one of her legs could reach across him as well, giving her a way to hold on and mostly float alongside him. Vervain did her best to keep kicking when she leaned on him, and, whether she intended to or not, she avoided hitting him.
The brindled girl had hardly made it ashore on her trembling legs before his cruelty continued. The stallion jabbed at her, his nose pointedly driving into her flanks and the tenderest part of her belly. Vervain stumbled forward with a whimper. She barely stayed on her hooves at first as they sank into the sand. He never softened, never lightened up. His teeth caught at her flanks and hindquarters multiple times when she inevitably faltered. It was mostly unnecessary. As they went farther and farther from their beach landing, Vervain became more and more lost. She simply went on silently crying when her active sobs did nothing to dissuade the stranger. How would she ever get home?
Vervain didn't know how she managed to stay upright. It was like she was walking on rubber stilts as they plodded through the murk and mire of the marshland. The air had thickened some as they proceeded south, and the sweat-soaked brindle was panting. The trees grew roots that seemed to stretch like claws into the dark water. She'd never seen anything like them before, nor the great wads of moss that dangled from the branches overhead. If she had come here willingly, Vervain would have been staring fascinated at the world around her. Instead, she drooped, going as quickly as she could without falling -- which was inevitable and would happen soon now -- to keep out of his reach.
Finally they broke through the ring of the crazy-seeming trees and came to a grassy hill of an island within. Her hooves scrambled up the sand, and Vervain teetered on away from the stallion. Not two strides later upon noticing the lack of his teeth on her skin, the young mare slowed and fearfully turned her head, which was slung low, to look at him. She watched him only for a few moments before nearly crumbling to the ground. Vervain laid fully on her side, the sandy grass serving as a cushion, and did not look at the dark man who had brought her here. She stared blankly forward from where she lay with eyes that burned from both tears and the sea.
She didn't know what he wanted with her. She didn't know what would anger him or placate him. Thus, she did nothing, too afraid to do anything that would further draw his attention. There was little point as they were alone with no one else to draw him off. Fear and exhaustion exuded from her pores. The stinging pain from all the places he had bitten and nipped her began to rise, which made Vervain begin to pant while her body trembled. What would happen now?