The Lost Islands
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Meadow

Force-claiming is not allowed here. This is a peaceful, neutral area meant for socialising.

bite me
Posted on May 15, 2020 at 11:59:41 PM by CAIN



He was so torn. Part of him wanted to break down completely, collapse to the ground and surrender to his emotions. The other part wanted to stamp down the weakness and retreat into his shell for his own survival. But neither was the right answer and he knew it. So he ran. He ran to escape the pain that failure painted all over his spotted body. He ran to escape the battlefield he felt he was constantly a part of since coming to the islands. He ran to escape the darkness of his past. He couldn't outrun it, but he could damn well try. He still had some hope left to keep him going though. He had his yearling son Akello who still called the Desert home, at least for now but he'd started venturing out now into the world to find his place in it. His daughter Paisley was out there somewhere with her mother Primrose, probably in the Prairie still figuring out their next move.

He had decided he would completely sever all ties to his horrific past no matter how much it hurt. Primrose was free so that only left Vihaan. She was no prisoner and she knew that but she'd made a deal to be loyal to him and that was its own form of emprisonment. He could see that now. She'd beent true to her word and came back to him after the war, though she'd been gone much longer than he thought she would, and he knew there was something more to it. She came back out of obligation, not because she wanted to be there. Not because she thought of the Desert as her home. Not because she loved him. So he would set her free. No more deal. No more obligation. She could leave just as Primrose did. She was the last link and though it was much harder to sever that one since she'd been the one to break down his barriers and bring out feelings he didn't know much about or understand, he knew he had to do it to make it right.

Maybe then he could stop the punishment he was facing. Maybe then those around him could stop suffering and dying because of his own past crimes. He wished he'd been the one to get an infection and die instead of Geneva. His own bite wounds from the wolves still pinched but they had scabbed over and he felt much better. Geneva was an innocent who was trying to do the right thing. Zena was a young innocent, still so new to life. She didn't deserve her death. Zubeia was the sweetest mare he knew, so strong after what happened to her family. She didn't deserve her death. Yet he dug three graves and placed them in the ground and he'd never felt so alone. Even with Geneva's last son, Carbon, at his side, he felt empty inside.

So now that he was alone in the Meadow, he could let out all the pain and anguish directed at himself and race it off to face another day without them at his side. He didn't expect anyone to take much notice of a running stallion, let alone join him in his race. After all, it was obvious to anyone who saw the raw pain in his eyes that he wasn't racing for the fun of it. And yet a single ear flicked to hear the thundering of hooves and when he turned his head in curiosity, he saw the grullo tobiano racing to catch up with him. The scent threw him off at first, not male or female completely. The single golden eye watching him seemed wary but intelligent so with flared nostrils, he allowed hir presence to get closer, not sensing any hostility or ill intent.

Hir muzzle reaching out to brush his shoulder was unexpected but not unwelcome, his skin flinching at the sympathetic contact he felt he didn't deserve. Tucking his head to his chest, he let out a rattling snort, a single brown eye watching hir on that side, giving a flash of gratitude before he found himself slowing his pace little by little. When he reached a walk, he was by the other side of the Meadow, his sides heaving from exertion as he made his way with purpose to the stream of water so he could lower his head to drink. He gulped in the water, a single ear flicked back to continue watch on the tobiano in case shi slowed down as well. Did shi mean to get his attention to speak or was it only meant as a passing gesture, nothing more? Finally he let out another long winded snort before slowly turning to face the paint.

On any other day, he might be suspicious of hir or even open and friendly, but today, he was just exhausted, both mentally and physically at this point. His ears drooped to the sides as he lowered his head in defeat. "I appreciate your sympathy but I don't deserve it. This is my punishment and no one can save me from it. Nor should I want them to." Breathing in hir unique scent, he could pick up on faint hints of the Peak and wondered if shi was a Peak member. Did they treat hir as a mare like one of them or a stallion? Curiosity was still present in his mind, if only like a passing breeze, not strong enough to mention or ask out loud. He could assume that shi had reached out because shi had the same ailment as Vihaan, a heart of gold that sought to comfort others no matter their own pain. If only he could be as selfless. Maybe if he set hir free from trying to rescue him as well, he could truly be free of this curse.


Cain_stallion_6yo_Gypsy Vanner Mutt_16.3hh_black and white tobiano coat_white mane & tail_dark brown eyes_bound to none_Salem Desert

Father to: Akello(xVihaan), Legolas(xGeneva), Paisley(xPrimrose), Carbon(xGeneva), Zena(xZubeia), Twinge(xHarlequin)

photo by JNix@Shutterstock



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