A NEW Soul Arises (Nyx)

[Captain Flighty]

[smear:704e05]there are no heroes[/smear:0e7005:1]
[smear:0e7005]JÖRMUNGAND[/smear:704e05:1]
[smear:704e05]in life, the monsters win[/smear:0e7005:1]

The colt stood stoically beside his mother; her pale flesh nearly invisible in the still silence of the fog. The blood stained frame of his sister stood in the waters just beyond the shore. Blood dripped from her lips as water cascaded down her frame. The ivory creature at his side stared out at Naga and simply watched. Jör waited, his oceanic eyes managing to watch them both somehow. Lashiel's words continued to swirl in his mind; "Listen to that which breaths beneath your feet, my son. The world has a heartbeat, a voice, this land has a soul, it has a voice. It is your duty to learn to commune with it."

His sister's reply to that had set his nerves on edge. "This is not something that can be taught. When you open yourself to a mindless cur, mother, you can't expect much of the seed it left in you."

Lashiel's response; cool, even, almost monotonous in tone had rippled with a sort of barely contained violence. "I expect much from the seed of a traitor, my daughter. I expect the traitor's seed to learn her place, I expect her to do as she is told." Jör understood little of what they spoke, but he could hear the subtleties of violently peaceful conflict between the two. Some would see two tempests about to destroy the world with their hatred for one another, others would see an impish child turning into a venomous beast as she prepared to slay her mother, and a mother who was prepared to eviscerate her own child. Not Jörmungand. He saw the beauty in the violence, the unity in the hatred. Nothing could severe the bond between them. They were forces of nature; a hurricane on the horizon and a lightning storm racing to meet it; they would one day burn the world as it drowned around them.

A violent chill raced down the colt's spine and he took an involuntary step away from his mother. Yes, child. A voice, though it was no voice, but more a sense of the meaning of those words; flowing up from his hooves and settling 'round his heart. They will destroy and be destroyed, but from that destruction new life will arise. Those cryptic words ensnared his heart and a sense of contentment; of expectation for the future came over him. The voice was gone then and his eyes refocused upon the scene before him. Lashiel's granite eyes were colder than he'd ever seen and behind them there was a horrid rage; deep in the recesses of her stone heart, but her lips were curved in a smile of pride. His oceanic eyes slid toward his sister and her rage was a shadow compared to his mother's, but it was concealed by nothing else. Her lips curled back from her dangerous teeth and he was certain that she would soon try to kill him, but as the thought occurred to him, he knew he was safe so long as his feet touched the ground of the Sanctuary.
[smear:a3a308]SPEECH[/smear:693904:3]

[♥ F.ABLE ♥]

Nyx

Golden sun colored nares quivered delicately, drawing in the smooth zephyrs that were flowing through the misty, frozen forest. Bright, golden pools were gazing around the icy landscape, searching for movement while twin onyx auds with gold edges twisted slowly to and fro, gathering up what little noise drifted through the dense conifers. A deep vibration rumbled through the vixen's core and she grimaced. She was feeling the late signs of hunger and it was beginning to get a sharp edge to it. She needed to find her dam, and soon. Her tongue flitted over the currently dull points of her lengthy canines that, for now, weren't much longer than normal equines. However, they were the only enamels that had sprouted from her gums. While other foals her age were still sporting smooth, toothless gums, she already had a wicked set of fangs. She was, quite proud of them actually, and often flashed them at her dam with a childish grin. Though Ijosid was blind, the mare very rarely left young Nyx by herself for too long, and surprisingly she took very excellent care of the young vix even without her sense of sight. But for the first time, Nyx was alone. Or so, her primary senses told her. She began blinking very rapidly and suddenly, noticed a brighter orb of light among the mist. It was enticing to the young vix and curiously, she moved through the forest, taking care to keep quiet, toward the unknown source of light. As she grew closer, a form appeared before her, and slowly it engulfed the glowing orb, holding it within its caverns like a cage holding a bird. She realized suddenly, it was her dam! She had seen the life force within her own dam! Giddy with joy she rushed toward her dam and began devouring the source of nourishment her dam provided, taking away her hunger. Deep within the young foal, was her history, not yet ready to come forth and reveal itself to young Nyx. But soon, she would remember all of her past, all of her past lives, her past lovers, and children. Her past battles, and enemies. Soon, all would be revealed.

Once her stomach had swollen to max capacity she withdrew her dome from beneath her dam's barrel and swiped a bright pink tongue across her lips. She turned her gaze up to her dam, before telling her that she was going off for a while, her dam merely tipped her dome. She knew Nyx was capable of taking care of herself, much better than some foals her age. Turning on one hind flint, she spun around and began moving off into the mist, away from her dam. It wasn't long before an unusual scent drifted toward her nares, she lifted her dome and dragged in a deeper breath before lifting her upper lip to draw some of the air over her scent glands. It wasn't a scent she had ever tasted before and it made her very curious. Auds pricked and banner up she moved in the direction of the strange aroma, unaware that she had crossed over into someone's territory. Her heart nearly jumped out of her maw when a giant of a brute appeared out of no where, enamels bared with a fog horn like bellow roaring from his lungs. Pools wide and breath coming in ragged gasps she just stared up at the stallion, speechless. When he addressed himself and asked who she was, she simply answered her name. He stared at her for a few moments longer before leading her deeper into the lands, and to an equine he had called Lashiel. She followed obediently, though there was a sharp look in her pools, her only sign of defiance. She wasn't one to take orders from anyone, but currently, she was in no position to fight back. While she followed the stranger, she let her pools gaze around her, taking in her surroundings. If for anything other than just to sight see, it was to help her find her way if she had to make a quick escape. Through the fog she noticed three glowing orbs, similar to the one she discovered within her dam. However, their hues were much different, though similar to one another, their colors varied drastically. It wasn't long before they came to a clearing, and the sun was able to break through the dense cloud cover. The slight rise in temperature helped to clear out some of the fog, enough for the visibility to be almost perfect. That's when she spotted the three other equine in the center of the clearing, an adult mare and two younger ones, her children. She gathered most of this from scent alone and from the similarities that their inner orbs seemed to share. She still was unsure what the orbs were, but they were very interesting.

The white ess turned her dome at the approach of the stallion, and her façade was expressionless. Her pools moved from the brute and came to rest on Nyx. They were cold and calculating. Nyx felt as if she knew this vix, and the connection was right there at the edge of her mind, but when she tried to reach for it, it disappeared. She mentally shook her head to clear it and calmly gazed back at the ess before her. She wasn't sure if she should address her first, or wait until she had been spoken to first. She wasn't even sure how she would address the vix. She turned her gaze to rest upon the young stud beside the white ess, and curiosity flared again. Who was this? Her nares quivered as she pulled in all of their scents again, jogging them into her memory. But she took extra note of his aroma, she wanted to know exactly who this young one was and why he was looking at her like that.

Word Count: 990
Status: Done

Speech

[Captain Flighty]

[smear:704e05]there are no heroes[/smear:0e7005:1]
[smear:0e7005]JÖRMUNGAND[/smear:704e05:1]
[smear:704e05]in life, the monsters win[/smear:0e7005:1]

He knew without question, without hesitation or confusion that the Sanctuary itself would rise up to destroy anyone that did him harm. He could feel it all around him and flowing through him. The Sanctuary had laid claim to him so firmly that he knew he would never escape it, nor would he ever wish to. He felt more at home than he ever had before. He'd lived here all his short life, but finally he was truly home as the connection was made between his mind and the life of the Sanctuary.

Jörmungand's silvered ears tipped back then as a nebulous sensation prickled along his flesh suddenly. His eyes turned away from his mother and sister, though he was still highly aware of them both. He looked out into the fog behind himself; slowly turning to face whatever lay beyond it. Something was there; he could feel it with his new senses. Something new and familiar all at once.

We know this one. the voiceless words rang through to his very soul once more and his flesh twitched with the sensation. His jaws parted and then stretched wide as he tried to rid himself of the strange ache in his skull that the words were beginning to cause. Take heed of her. the words seemed to be a warning, but the young colt was having difficulty understanding the subtleties of the phrases. His jaw flexed again and his tongue traced along the spindly contours of his horrid teeth. He took a deep breath; shaking his skull; his still fluffy mane flickering along his foggy hued flesh.

Just then; Lashiel turned to face the direction Jör had, and he glanced at her to once more see that burning hatred beneath the cold pride. He swallowed back the trembling in his heart as he felt the land pulsate around him. "It seems we have a visitor." Lashiel spoke then; her cold eyes narrowing as two forms began to appear as shadows in the fog.

The colt realized rather suddenly that he knew one of those approaching; though he could not see or smell them; the land beneath his blood-hued hooves was an entirely other set of sensory organs. He shivered again and found himself smiling as the Sanctuary seemed to praise him silently for his realization. The sense of recognition for the other shadow that approached increased as he let his new found senses take her in. Her. He knew without really concentrating that it was a filly. Feel her heart beat, it belongs here. the soundless words cascaded through him.

The guard lead the young filly out of the fog then and Jörmungand's senses followed her every move; his eyes never leaving her flesh the moment she was in sight. He watched as she stared at his mother with cautious rebellion and he grinned. "Oh look, you've found a new toy." Lashiel spokein her smooth, sultry tones. His ocean green eyes traced the thin contours of her inky frame. The gold that highlighted her seemed to shimmer in the silvery light of the Sanctuary. And then her eyes turned to him and his breath caught in his throat. A thousand emotions filled his young heart; the land beneath his feet nearly quivering with the sensations they shared. Know that soul. New flesh. We lost her once. The soundless words slammed through his soul so quickly that he could barely understand them. Keep. She's ours. Always has been. Lost her once. TAKE HER!

Jör's oceanic eyes widened and he stepped toward the filly; interrupting the words that might have come from his mother's parted lips. [smear:a3a308]"We will keep her mother?"[/smear:693904:3] he spoke then, just barely managing to make the statement a question at the end. He worried that his mother would hear the order in the words. He might not need to fear for his life while in the Sanctuary, but he was somehow certain that he needed her for now and that no matter his connection to her land, it was still her land.

"She certainly is a pretty one, isn't she my son?" Lashiel replied, a cold smile in her voice.

Jörmungand moved closer to the filly once more; ignoring the social bounds of personal space; his eyes never leaving hers. He could hear his mother speaking to the guard; something about going to look for the filly's mother. He didn't care though; he was communing with the land beneath his hooves and trying to understand what was happening. After a moment more he leaned closer still to the filly and whispered in her gold lined audit; [smear:a3a308]"I know what you are..."[/smear:693904:3] And as he spoke the words the pale while spindles that grew from his flesh flickered with light.
[smear:a3a308]SPEECH[/smear:693904:3]

[♥ F.ABLE ♥]

Nyx

Her flesh began to feel irritated under such scrutiny and it twitched unconsciously. Her pools flickered easily from one to the other, taking in their frames. The vixen obviously was the lead lady of these lands, from the way she held herself to the way the brute that only moments ago seemed like a merciless killer, was groveling at her feet. She recalled the curse that had fallen from his lips that obviously belonged to the moon washed vix; Lashiel However, her pools narrowed as the vix spoke, her tones were insulting. As the lead lady, I'm sure most equine are fair game when it comes to your toys, but, please, do understand that I do not mean to be rude, but I am not. There was a slight snarl to the end of her tones. She was not going to be insulted in such a way by a complete stranger. Something inside her twisted violently, as if trying to tell her something, whether it was trying to warn her to hold her tongue or to enforce her words. Considering her current situation, she was not in the position to defend herself again an adult if they wished her harm, but that didn't mean she would let everyone just walk all over her. She lifted her dome, staring into the cold depths of Lashiel's orbs. Her pools then turned to the ocean green ones of the young stud that stood before her, gazing at her with such intensity. She wasn't sure what was behind his expression, what he was thinking as he gazed at her like that, but she felt nervous. Heat rose in her face and her heart beat erratically. She mentally shook herself, clearing her mind. She leaned her head toward him, reaching out with her golden muzzle, not quite close enough to touch but near enough to feel the heat rising from his flesh. Her pools grazed over his body, taking in the deformities that decorated his remarkably colored frame. He certainly was a sight to see. She had never met this young one before, and now that she had, she wanted to know him more. She moved her orbs down to stare at his chest, gazing at the glowing orb that was caged within his frame. It glowed brightly, and it began to change colors, as if an array of emotions was playing within him. Perhaps they could see the light of their orbs reflecting in her pools, but Lashiel spoke something. Possibly in response to Nyx's previous words, but she was too focused to hear them. She should probably apologize and ask her to repeat herself, but she didn't want to offend her, even though it was an accident that she had not been listening. Flicking her auds, she turned to Lashiel, What was that? Too late now, she realized. Ignoring her would have seemed just as rude.

She turned her dome back to the young brute as he spoke, his tones obviously for his dam that stood at his side and slightly behind him as he moved even closer to her frame, seeming to ignore the simple boundaries of personal space. However, Nyx didn't mind this at all. In fact, she was silently asking him to come closer, to allow her flesh to graze against his own. She wanted to know what it felt like. Was it as soft as it looked? She ran his words over in her mind again, "We will keep her mother?", she could sense that it was difficult for him to make it into a question. He had clearly meant it as a statement. Though inside, her heart seemed to do a little flip at his vocals, her bodice tingled with irritation. Her lips drew back over her fangs that were already unnaturally long, her other foal teeth just starting to emerge from her gums. I am not an object that can simply be possessed, she snarled, though she smiled at him after speaking, and added, But you can ask me nicely, and then I may consider it. But I'm not easy; it'll be a challenge, if you're up to it. She winked at him, and turned to Lashiel as she responded to her son's lyri. She blinked at her in thanks. She wasn't going to openly thank her for the compliment, if that's what it was supposed to be. She was proud of her looks, and her bodice, but she wasn't completely vain. She then turned to look at the young brute before her as he moved even closer to her, his breath was hot in her aud as he whispered to her, "I know what you are..." She turned her pools to his, wide with surprise. What did he mean by that? He knew what she was? She tilted her head at him, her expression confused and serious. She felt cold all at once, and a fear crawled up her spine to sit uncomfortably in her stomach. She whispered back, almost painfully, What do you mean, you know what I am...? She paused and sadness crept into her expression, What am I..? She watched at the strange appendages on his bodice seemed to glow, very similar to the strange markings along her own bodice would glow in the darkness at night. If he knew what she was, and it was something that she obviously didn't know herself, perhaps they were more alike than just their strange additions. Maybe he could help her to understand the strange feelings that would creep up within her. How she felt as if she knew strangers, how she felt hate toward some strangers or love toward others. Maybe he was the key to figuring it all out. She decided then to formally introduce herself, not just to him, but to the other three equine in the clearing. My name is Nyx. She turned to gaze at all of the equine in turn, taking in their expressions as her words sank in.

Word Count: 1,001
Status: Done
Speech

[Captain Flighty]

[smear:704e05]there are no heroes[/smear:0e7005:1]
[smear:0e7005]JÖRMUNGAND[/smear:704e05:1]
[smear:704e05]in life, the monsters win[/smear:0e7005:1]

The golden eyed filly snapped something at Lashiel and Jörmungand couldn't help but to grin; his lips pulling up at one corner. The land seemed to tremble out from beneath her feet and rumble toward him. It was a sensation of wariness, not fear, but the echos of it; a remembrance of something long ago. The foggy hued colt chuckled and he turned to see a frigid, empty smile trace across his mother's features. He could see the delighted fury in her gaze; hidden beneath the cold, darkness. "My sincerest apologies." her words bordered on sarcasm, but they mostly sounded dead. "I don't toy with the weak, little one." she added, her words almost a compliment, though Jörmungand wasn't sure he could have seen it as such were her in the filly's place. The guard that had brought the filly moved away then; hurrying to obey Lashiel's commands to find the filly's mother if she was about.

Lashiel turned to look at her son then; her granite depths narrowing with an unreadable emotion. She was aware of the terrain's reaction to the filly, but Jörmungand knew, as his mother stared at him with her unfathomable eyes, that she had far less understanding of that reaction than he himself did. Of course. the Sanctuary spoke to him once more and he saw the twitch of Lashiel's lips as she was aware of the communing of the land that she ruled and her son. In that moment, Jörmungand understood that Lashiel might be the one to try to take his life, rather than his sister. He was not afraid of Naga in comparison to the fear he held for his mother.

Again he felt the reassurance of the Sanctuary that he was safe here; in it's heart. He smiled as he turned away from his mother and back toward the filly. A smile forming upon his lips yet again as his turbid green eyes met hers. He could almost feel her looking through him; seeing something that even he himself could not. He liked the fire that sparked in her golden eyes at his words though, the look of dangerous rebellion boiling just beneath the surface. She flashed her teeth at him then and he grinned back; lips parting to reveal the mouthfull of dagger teeth his young frame had been born with; dangerous teeth that he barely managed to conceal behind his lips. The white spindles along his flesh flashed with soft light once more and his auds tipped forward to hear her words. His heart trembled at the flirty sound of her vocals and the playful wink she gave him. A low growl of appreciation slid from deep in his chest in response to Lashiel's question.

He'd seen more striking filly's in his days; creatures his mother brought him for entertainment; toys he was meant to break; nothing he was meant to get attached to. And of course he hadn't, non of them had been truly appealing to him. Not like the onyx creature before him. She was stunning in a whole new way; in every way, not just in appearance or presence but both.

"What do you mean, you know what I am...?" the filly asked then; her eyes wide as she whispered the words. He saw the sorrow in her then as she spoke again and he did not like that he'd caused it to be there in her eyes. He brushed his velvety lips along her cheek then as they moved toward her audit once more. His eyes slipped closed; his heart trembling as the land flooded him with emotions and thoughts yet again; flickers of things that belonged to other souls; souls that had called the Sanctuary home and left pieces of themselves in its grasp. [smear:a3a308]"Eternal."[/smear:693904:3] Jörmungand whispered in her ear; his lips brushing against her flesh this time.

Jörmungand felt Naga moving further out into the lake; able to ignore the frigid temperatures due to the hot spring that bubbled up in multiple places in the Sanctuary; including within the depths of Hydra's Lake. "Welcome to Serpent's Sanctuary, Nyx." Lashiel said then; her tone certainly not welcoming, but Jörmungand heard the way she spoke the filly's name as if she knew it and he wondered why. His eyes narrowed, but it didn't matter right now, his eyes couldn't leave the filly.

Jörmungand felt a pair of equines approaching then and he knew yet again without looking who they were; more guards; these ones meant to keep an eye on him. Lashiel slipped effortlessly into the fog and Jör smiled, pleased to be alone with Nyx; not counting the guards whom he considered nothing at all. [smear:a3a308]"I am Jörmungand. Won't you stay with me, beautiful Nyx."[/smear:693904:3] he asked with a boyish grin.
[smear:a3a308]SPEECH[/smear:693904:3]

[♥ F.ABLE ♥]

Nyx

She turned her gaze around, continuing to draw in the sights. This place, seemed so familiar to her, but something inside of her recoiled, as if she had gone through a bad experience before she had left this place. Though she wasn't aware of what it could have possibly been. As the guard left, presumably to locate Ijosid, she simply acknowledge it with a mere flick of her aud. Her banner flicked mildly about her hinds, the golden strands reflecting the winter sun and glittering. Her pools turned to look at the colt again, noticing the way he was still continuing to gaze at her, it was interest that he hadn't seen in the gaze of any other equine before. Something within her prodded at her memory once again, as if trying to assure her than once before, she had been looked up in a similar way as this colt was currently, but when she reached for it, it again, moved just out of reach. She mentally growled at herself. It was so annoying that she couldn't figure out anything about herself. She knew she was different, she sensed it in her dam, the way her sightless, empty sockets would gaze at her. There was obviously something about her that everyone seemed to notice, and once she had spoken her name, everyone seemed to have an instant opinion about her. Some, seemed to know her, though she'd never seen them a day before in her life, while only a couple seemed to look at her with fear. Not the run away and hid kind of fear, but more of a respectful fear. However, she could not understand such behavior. She was only a young foal, what could she have possibly done to cause such reactions from others, complete strangers for that matter. It puzzled her, and it sometimes infuriated her. No one had the right to just assume that they knew her, when as far as she knew they certainly did not. Her pools drifted over to Lashiel, as she gazed coldly down at her son. There seemed to be a hidden communion between the two, and the hues of the inner orb within Lashiel lashed about with a hidden persona. She flicked her auds toward it, interested. A small buzzing moved around her ear, and she flicked it irritably, as if it were a blood sucking insect. But as it continued to irritate her, she noticed it wasn't an insect at all, but a tiny, high pitched inner voice. It was trying to whisper something to her, a message of some sort. She realized with a jolt of surprise, it was the orbs that were making the noise. Within the chambers of both equine that stood before her. They were trying to reveal secrets of the two equine, secrets that they would never openly admit, but that Nyx would just know. She couldn't make out the words and before she could even attempt to, Lashiel spoke again.

Though the lyri was directed toward her son, she could detect a chill to the tones. She wasn't sure why, but it made her nervous. She wasn't scared of the lead lady before her, but at her current age and size, she would be no match if Lashiel decided to kill her. The cold look within her dark pools assured her that she wouldn't have a bit of trouble doing so and probably wouldn't feel the least bit guilty for it. Her auds pined back into her short tresses and she glared at the white ess. She wouldn't let herself be intimidated by her. She heard the growl that rumbled within the colts chest at his dam's lyri, he seemed to be agreeing and in some way, appreciating the compliment from his dam. If that had been her intention, Nyx wasn't sure. Then, he moved. He came closer than he ever had before, his flesh touching her own and a strange sensation moved through her flesh. It was hot and cold all at the same time, and she shivered involuntarily at his touch. She leaned toward it through, savoring the strangeness of it, the difference it held over that of the touch she had received from others. The touch of her dam, though there was the affection that any mother had to her child, it was still reserved, as if there were no other feelings behind it. The touch of her prey, filled with fear and the desire to fight for survival, it was different. Though she didn't kill her prey, she still took enough life force from them to leave them weakened. Thus in the end, perhaps making them easier prey to other predators. Something that was not purposeful nor preventable. It was just the circle of life. Right now, she felt her mind spinning, and the whole world around her seemed to be moving in a circle. She swallowed hard and closed her pools, willing her center of gravity to begin working properly once again. Her pools flashed open as he spoke, the tones seemed to mean so much to her, or at least they were supposed to. They were the key to something unknown to her, something hidden within her that was desperately trying to break free. Like a box full of memories, that was locked, and only the right key could open it. He lyri, though not quite the correct key, seemed to weaken the lock, letting the lid of the box crack open for a split second, before slamming shut once again. In that split second however, a flash of light flooded her vision, and once it cleared she saw a grown vix before her; her dished façade and onxy bodice was familiar to her, and when she turned to gaze at her, it was like she was staring at her with her own pools. She gasped quietly as the vision disappeared just as quickly as it had come. She turned her pools to him. Hundreds of questions were racing around in her mind, but as she opened her mouth, no words would come.

Her pools flashed over and noticed the other equine once again, swimming in the great waters not far from where they stood. She wondered who this other creature was but didn't voice that question either. Her pools then darted back to Lashiel as her, not so welcoming tones uttered, "Welcome to Serpent's Sanctuary, Nyx." The way she said her name suggested yet again that she knew Nyx, long before this meeting. A frown placed itself upon her lips and her brows furrowed. This was so irritating. As Lashiel turned and faded off into the mists, she ignored her. Her vision turned to the equine that were moving toward them, and supposed they were there for their protection. She wasn't sure she needed it from anything in these lands, except maybe from Lashiel. Her auds turned toward the coltine before her pools followed, as he spoke in response to her name. Jörmungand... She turned the name over and over in her mind, savoring it and placing it into her memory. She wouldn't forget this one. Ever. She smiled genuinely as he continued to address her, and her smile turned into a look of surprise as he asked her to stay with him. She narrowed her pools and smirked gently, If you think you can handle a challenge, then I will stay with you as long as you want me. She moved her muzzle toward his flesh, and slowly drew her lips across his nape, from his shoulder up to his jawline where she paused, blowing hot breath across his skin. She wondered what he was thinking, and what he possibly saw in her.

Word Count: 1,291
Status: FINISHED!!!Speech

[♥ F.ABLE ♥]

BUMP

[Captain Flighty]

I'm absent. I have no computer....ilu