Hot and Cold [Open]

[phantom]

Laurel

Mists wreathed beneath the entwined branches of the forest, creating a dark atmosphere of mystery and danger despite the noon day sun that shown everywhere except this cursed place. It was clear that this was the meeting places of devils and a place of great evil, at least, it was clear to most equines. Naively trotting into the forest was a young chestnut roan mare by the name of Laurel who was humming as the swirling mists closed about her. "Yes, this is much better than staying out in that blazing sun! One can hardly believe that winter is almost upon us! The young mare often talked to herself, finding that she was much better company than most other equines that she came upon.

Switching her long red tail the femme continued along what appeared to be an old deer path, observing everything with bright blue orbs. Standing at 13.3hh her height marked her as a pony though her build was much more curvy and solid than most others. Her stockinged legs cut through the mists decisively and her head was held high as if she owned the forest despite the fact that with each step she took she wandered a little farther from the path and was soon lost amongst the black trees. Slowing to a stop Laurel snorted softly, "Blasted mists," she muttered as a sharp breeze cut across her back, causing a shiver down her spine. "Oh, now it feels like Autumn!" Grumbling she turned in a circle before arbitrarily picking a direction, hoping that she would soon return to the sun.

[★SPACED]

R    H    A    S    K    O    S


“I got blood shot eyes, and there's blood in my teeth
I got a ripped up jacket and a friend who's a thief”

Time seemed to be passing at an increasingly fast pace, leaving Rhaskos in a whirlwind of uncertainty. Too many events had been crushed into the past month, too many changes. It had forced him to rethink where he was and what he was doing - it had made him face the mirror and seek answers in the depths of his butter-gold eyes. He was no leader, he knew it - he'd always been made to be a soldier, to live his life comfortably serving another for a good cause. Still, Nerissa was not doing anything about the coup that Rhaskos' own nephew had staged, and Rhaskos knew that his grandfathers old family were now suffering underneath the cold, absinthe flavoured rule of Schindler. This, above all else, grated on Rhaskos morals. 

He could not remove the thought of his fathers now ex-wife, a sweet lady, being forced to bow to the likes of Schindler - a shark, cruel and vicious. It lay heavy on his mind as he slipped through the mists, a shadow, unknowingly moving with the grace of his heritage. He didn't frequent the Misty Forest often, if at all, knowing that it was often a place of unfortunate circumstance - although today it had seemed the best place to escape his thoughts. So far that thought had been proved false.

"Oh, now it feels like Autumn!"

A voice rang out, quite clearly close, making Rhaskos jerk his handsome head upward - suddenly desiring the need for company.  He picked up his stride, rounding a corner and pausing as a small mare approached, completely unaware of his presence. He used this small moment to examine her, finding comfort in the hue of her coat, vibrant and pleasing to the eye. He was building his own harem now, and similar to his father, Rhaskos had an eye for beauty. She may not have been the leggy, straight-backed, avian boned doves that his father had loved, (and, admittedly, Rhaskos had quite an adoration for them, too), but she had a vivacious strength that the coal-skinned man could not ignore. 

He, himself, reflected the blood that ran through his veins - his famous father having left him with the grace and the beauty of his line. His bones were sharp, squarer than his brothers and sisters, and broader, too, but still slick throughout his cheekbones and jaw. He stood tall, broad-shouldered and deep-chested. Yet his skin was black, not blue, as most of his siblings, and his hair cascaded in a mane-like tangle around his gentle face. It was his eyes that belonged to Paradisum, his sire. Golden and lupine, surrounded by a thicket of ebony lashes. He watched her approach, unsure as to whether he should get out of her way and choosing to remain where he was - she'd look up soon enough. 

phantom sorry it's a bit crappy! Laurel is adorable!

[Diati]

It had been a long time since he'd been through here. The forest was heavily laden with mist, as always. The perfect place to lie in wait, to swoop in on an unsuspecting mare, shattering her hopes and dreams for the future and burdening her with one's own desires all at once. A shiver of excitement raced down the stallion's spine, though he was somewhat disgusted at the memories that coincided with it. It seemed like such a long time ago, a family he created that was no family. A child born from lust and greed, an innocent mare left broken and alone. The strong desires remained, lurking just beneath his skin. But in the time that had passed, Glaedr had damn near torn himself apart with guilt. He knew what he wanted, could not deny his needs, but instead was planning different ways to go about satisfying them.

Trying to keep those dark thoughts from his mind, the stallion instead focused on his feet. With such a thick fog covering the ground, it was easy to lose your footing, or, even worse, almost run head on into a stranger. Glaedr hadn't realized anyone was in front of him, until he gently bumped the stranger's side with his nose. All at once, the strong musk of another male clouded his mind, the sweet scent of a female dancing nearby. His ears shooting back, Glaedr snorted and hopped back, pawing at the ground with mock irritation, trying to hide the inevitable flash of embarrassment he felt. Out of the way, you empty headed worm!

Pawing and posturing, the creamy colored stallion still looked about for that mare. Her scent was clean of any claim, and while Glaedr still struggled with self loathing, he knew his plan at hand, knew he had little time for else now but to act. If he was to truly be happy once more, there was much work to be done. This would be where he started. Creeping up on an innocent lady, are we? He crowed, posing as the upstanding citizen to protect the unseen damsel. How disgusting.

It's alright, young lady! Now, if she were actually some old bag, Glaedr would have a lot of back tracking and running away to do. He prayed she was what he hoped, for all this show he was putting on. Though there are creeps lurking about in these woods, I will protect you. At that, he snorted again at the strange male before him, puffing out his chest and really putting on a display. He had no idea what he was up against, but to hell with the odds. He had to win.

(Oh, Glaedr. Thinking you're all that and a bag of chips.)
phantom ★SPACED

[phantom]

Despite being utterly lost with little hope of her ever returning to the sun Laurel was humming happily while she trekked along. She figured that having a bad attitude on top of everything else would only make the situation worse so why not at least pretend that she enjoyed walking through the now decidedly creepy forest. Out of the way, you empty headed worm! The words of a flustered stallion rang out through the mists and the mare's delicate cranium snapped to attention searching for the source. It sounded as if there were at least two other equines the angry one and the one who incurred the angry ones wrath. It was with no great sheepishness that Laurel spotted the pair of stallions who were almost directly behind her. Had she really just walked past them in the mists without even realizing it? Now that she was thinking about it, she did remember passing a very horse shaped shadow mere seconds ago.

Shrugging it off, she trotted over to the two stallions with a bright smile, maybe one of them could tell her how to get out of this cursed place. As she got closer she started to slow her pace apprehensively. The angry one was a creamy stag with a pale white face and an ego bigger than most mountains. His posturing and promises to protect her from danger was so funny to her that she couldn't help the guffaw that burst from her lips. "Are you serious?" The indignant little mare glared up at the stag, "What makes you think I need protecting?! I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself!" She stomped a tiny hoof into the ground with a snort before looking at the other stag. He towered over her and was a uniform black, she figured he must have been the one that she unwittingly passed earlier as he was almost indistinguishable from the shadows.

Shaking out her mane she gazed up at the two stags. "Now do either of you know the way out? I've been wandering about here for forever! Oh! And my name's Laurel, who are you two? You seem like a Daryl to me." She said to the black stallion, "Or a Ghost..." she mused.

[Whipster]

complicate my future

Ivanov could not positively identify any of them, pale blue optics focused more so on the area in which he had to work with. This was delicate, partially for the first intruder; partially for the second, who thundered on displeasure toward the first. The painted stallion could not quite tell if he had stumbled upon the woman first, his sense of time was deluded, and seconds could really be hours. He wasn't sure. Grandfather kept him pretty occupied with chatter, always keeping avid about Ivanov learning his way of King. The heir, important to the bloodlines.

The cherry hued stallion stepped forward a few steps, arching his neck to stress his audits forward to hear, catching the tail end of the woman's retort, catching her name. Laurel, was it? Ivanov grinned at her, taking careful steps to approach, head cocking to one side and maintaining his black locks. Ivanov's first introduction came as he slowly slipped into view of the men, focusing on his slow heart beat and loudness of the breeze. "I wouldn't believe it if you told me you've never... preyed before," he commented toward Glaedr, keeping his face even and tone polite. Somewhere behind his eyes there was malicious intent.

He turned his head then to the woman, clearing his throat and straightening out his body to face her well instead of sideways. Wetness clung to his shoulders and underbelly from the most that hung heavy in their faces, made him brighter and more out of place; a ruby among gravestones. He leaned toward Laurel, bowing his dished crown to her in salutations. "If I have disturbed something, my apologies." Ivanov's smile was faux, but was chipper and dandy. He felt spirited standing there, looking over at the close stud and the one distanced farther.

"If it's any consolation..." he chuckled softly after, batting his eyes at the woman. "My names Ivanov."








for phantom, ★SPACED, Diati _____ for laurel, rhaskos, glaedr and ivanov

[★SPACED]

I'm going to pull Rhaskos out of this because I won't have much time for posting in the next week, and I don't want to hold everyone up x Diati Whipster phantom

[Diati]

The three quickly became four. Another lone stallion emerged from the swirling mists, smooth and cool, interrupting as if it had only been the sweet little mare and himself all along, only before throwing a snide comment at the cream colored man. Glaedr's temper raged; he didn't like being intruded on or being belittled. That's cute, Ivanov. He hissed, barging his way between the two, as if he could block off the red stallion's view of Laurel. But if I were you, I'd make like our other little friend, and go back into the mist and off to whatever cesspit you people keep crawling out of, and forget this ever happened! Snorting, Glaedr's eyes bore into the man in front of him. Everything hadn't been going hunky dory before, but this was just ludicrous.

For just a moment, his glass eyes wandered to glance back at the spunky little mare. Part of him hoped she wasn't simply more offended that he cut in like that; if her temper was an indication from before, Laurel could be a handful. Albeit a small one. She was loud and rambunctious, and very adamant about her skills. Though he could do without the loud part, Glaedr was already becoming defensive of her. What was he even doing there? He hadn't a place to call home yet. What business did he have trying to drag women into his wandering misery?

Still. It was a place to start. And the company was always nice. Keeping a strong stance, Glaedr refused to back down. He wasn't afraid of whatever consequences lay before him.

(Sorry for the shortness @-@'
phantom , Whipster)