Meadow
Force-claiming is not allowed here. This is a peaceful, neutral area meant for socialising.
Posted on December 3, 2019 at 03:53:06 AM by CAIN
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He was used to the smell of fear in the air since Everglow had been in panic mode since he first spoke to her. The new sensation of Vihaan's fear had him a little puzzled, his ears flicking as he kept a more careful eye on her through all the distractions. There was suddenly something almost exhausting about her, like she was barely holding on at this point. Maybe it was all a ploy to try to trick him, make him drop his guard. That wouldn't happen. But otherwise he couldn't help but wonder why she put such a burden on herself. Why did it mean so much to her what happened to Everglow? Why couldn't she just let the other mare go? It wasn't like Cain promised her a lifetime of pain and misery. If the mare chose to spend her days in misery, that was on her. He wanted to bring her into the herd and defend her. She was the one being stubborn. He had a feeling taking Vihaan was the better deal. There was something fierce about the mare and her nobility in protecting others intrigued him. Sure, Everglow was fiesty, but she liked to draw attention to herself too whereas he had a feeling if he came across Vihaan alone, she would fight him herself tooth and hoof without calling for backup. Though he had to remember Everglow's handicap. Backup was almost always her best option. When he gave his name and teased her about her words, she looked furious. At least that was more like the mare he was getting used to at this point. Maybe she was raised differently so she wouldn't understand that words were just words to him until proven otherwise. He had no reason to trust her just as she had none to trust him. Only time would tell in the end. She may be all honor and codes, but he had none of that in his background, only pain and betrayal. He could see the horror in Vihaan's eyes when he offered the deal. He didn't regret his offer. If she took his unborn child with her, she'd know that if she didn't come back, he would have more than a mare to come back for. He would do anything to get to his child. It seemed only fair to him, though the timing was poor. When the stallion chose to speak, he was glad to see Vihaan's anger directed at someone else for a change. She spat words back at him, saying he fought for nothing and Cain smirked. Maybe so, or maybe he fought for himself, for his own greed, just as Cain did most of the time. He didn't understand Vihaan's motivation himself so he wouldn't put in a word on this particular argument. He knew others would see him and see only a mindless beast, bent on pain and chaos. Maybe they were right, but that's all he knew for the last 4 years of his life. He understood violence better than anything. He was intimate with the sensation of pain and he knew how to give it back in force. He had yet to think of anyone on these islands as a rival. Not the stallion Rougaru who dared to stand between him and a mare in the Common, not the mare who challenged him for the Desert, not the mare who tried to raid his herd and certainly not this scarred stallion who attacked for the hell of it. He saw only a base need to protect what he saw as his and an urge to drive others back that could be a threat. While the stallion was still here, he was still too close for Cain's comfort. When he made to gnash his teeth toward Everglow in response to her biting words, he watched with fascination as Vihaan moved ever closer to the other mare, as if shielding her. He hadn't moved a muscle besides his head and teeth, wanting her to know that he was only bluffing in this case and yet still she moved to protect. It was an odd thing to see. When she spoke to him, scolding him for his actions, he snorted. "Then don't label yourself as such. I have agreed to the deal, but not to take her disrespectful tone lying down." He lifted his head, meeting her gaze. He wouldn't touch Everglow, but that didn't give her a right to talk to him however the hell she wanted. He listened as she turned to Everglow then, letting her know that she would be right back. His ears flicked back as she continued to reassure the other mare, telling her that she chose to bear this. A mare thinking this way confounded him. He would need to study Vihaan further. She turned to the scarred stallion then and he felt himself tense, ready to get between her and the other stallion if he even thought about making a move. He listened as she spoke to him calmly, asking him not to go toward Everglow while she was gone. As she went to turn back to him, she suddenly laced her ears back and turned back on the stallion, more venom in her words this time. Cain felt his skin shudder with pleasure at this new side of her. Oh, that was nice to hear. His ears pricked, watching her with a new appreciation as she started toward him. He let her make the first moves, wanting her to know while he had made the deal in a forced way, he wouldn't physically force it upon her. He would let her choose the rate at which this happened as a sign of good faith. He let her look around before she seemed settled on a group of trees. Turning toward it, he let her move around him, that way he would be between her and the scarred stallion should he think of doing anything. He let her pick the pace as they moved to the trees but as she turned to him a different mare, his brow furrowed in puzzlement. She suddenly looked so frail and tired and he wished he could tell her to take that burden from her shoulders, that it was no longer hers to carry when she chose to come under his care. He knew that she wouldn't trust him for that though, not yet anyway. Maybe in time. As she reached to brush her muzzle across his neck, he inhaled sharply and tensed at the touch, still reactive after all the fighting with the other stallion and the mares. Her soft word caused his nostrils to flare, tasting her fear as he watched her with curious eyes. When she told him not to hurt her, he lowered his head and flicked his ears back. "That was and will never be my intention, Vihaan." He said her name to make sure he got her attention. Again, she had no reason to trust his word, but it was good a vow as any. He had never meant to harm, only to take what was his and drive back any obstacles in the way. He waited as she turned away and positioned herself, taking his time so as not to make her feel rushed or pressured. He knew she didn't want lingering touches or anything and that wasn't his style anyway so with a soft sigh, he lifted himself onto her as gently as he'd ever mounted a mare before. It was like she was glass and he was afraid to break her. He didn't even try to bite her withers, knowing that she would stay still as she could. He dismounted just as gently when he was done, stepping back to give her space since he knew she wanted to touch him as little as possible. He was trying to show respect for her wishes the best he could in the circumstances. As soon as she looked at him, he seemed to know that she was waiting on some kind of cue. He gave a nod and followed as she moved back toward Everglow. He was sure she wanted to get back to her. Once she reached the other mare, she told him that she would come back to the Desert and he nodded in acknowledgement. No more words were needed with her. He could only trust her word at this point and hope it paid off. He watched as the mares turned from him, watching their backs as they walked away. Ever vigilant, he made sure he saw no signs of the scarred stallion or others, his nostrils flaring to taste the air just in case. He would defend them if needed, but he was sure the last thing Vihaan wanted was for him to follow them. With a heavy sigh, he finally turned toward home only once their shapes had blurred and then disappeared into the horizon. He headed back to the Desert then to await Vihaan's arrival. Cain_stallion_5yo_Gypsy Vanner Mutt_16.3hh_black and white tobiano coat_white mane & tail_dark brown eyes_bound to none_Salem Desert photo by happinesseater@deviantart |
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