; keep trying.

[azul.]

; z a c k.
-- I don't care about anything,
All those things I tried to be lately.

The first leaves were beginning to darken of the season, and it brought back a few adolescent urges. The urge to go and play in the crinkling foliage with Cloud was almost undeniable. But Cloud ws gone. I hadn't heard from the palomino brute in years, and it had been a lonely few years. Still, it was hard to not remain in good spirits, despite the situations I'd always been in since arriving here. I was still homeless, still lonely, and without a herd. Not that it mattered much. Radars delicately pricked forward, lingering prints of equine surrounding me. Strangely enough, this warm, crisp place was deserted. My lips moved slightly, stirring the silent nature with soft sounds, almost as though I could read the print in the ground. As if they could tell me who was here, and where they went. "Wrong again, I'm afraid." Crystal tinted eyes lifted, and stared down the winding scenery, trees dotting the path, where the beats disappeared. A sigh snuck out of my ebony mug, limbs pushing off the soft ground into a smooth, collected lope.

I glanced around, dished crown set high on an arched boa. Where would anyone be right about now? It was almost sterio-typical to see most brujo's ushering ess' to their realm, in hopes of building a strong herd. Oh, how far I fell from that band wagon. A smile dotted onto my facade, crystal pools suddenly diverting to the faint hum of a river, it's coloring matching my pool tints. My smile grew more reserved, and I gave a quick glance to the area around this rolling river, then move towards it. Blinking, limbs advanced up to the point of falling into the clear azure, but I stopped just short of it, and stared in it, laughing. I'd been here, possibly, two years? A stout seven year old, I didn't have any noticeable scars. Nothing that could distinguish me from anyone else, besides my eyes. Giving a faint toss of my slender crown, I watched the dipping waves push past me, carrying my memroies away in a quick, lulling motion. "Hey, pal. Hope you're doing okay." Gentle, nurturing lyrics carried to the waves, like the immature hope that they would be taken away was real. I knew Cloud couldn't hear me. Still, it felt like it had to be said. Radars suddenly sky-rocketed towards the clouds, and I listened closely, catching the faint sounds of movement. The smile on my ebony maw vanished, and I started to drink my fill, waiting quietly.

[nuzzer2]

{ A S T E R I A }

It was a lonely position to be queen of a land full of mares – there was no stallions to lean on, no stallions to flirt or have fun with; but also no stallions to boss you around and force you to breed with them. My duo colored frame was carried across the lands by four steady pillars as I searched for a potential brute to breed with – it wasn’t a question about what I wanted; the moonglade herd were too small, we desperately needed to reproduce and quick. The trees spoke of great wars was coming and that Moonglade would be a part of it too – and so I needed to breed, needed to produce a filly who would step up and claim the throne if I fell while the drums rolled.

I knew of the fate which would fall on Moonglade if a filly from my line wasn’t present to stand up – the glade would wither and die, we had already used a lot of its resources and the price we paid was the small package of energy it drained from my now and then. I quickened my pace as I realized that it was getting late already – soon I had crossed the border to the Zukura Brook and I was now sniffing at the air trying to scent if other equines were present. Sapphire orbs widened slightly as the musky scent of stallion reached my nostrils and a happy smile crossed my lips – this would be easy! I wasn’t very old and this would be my first foal, but I had heard of the effects a mare’s heat had on the stallions, so why would this one be any different? Yep I didn’t hold very high thoughts about stallions, to me most of them were tyrans – power-hungry monsters with a need to boss mares around like lifeless dolls.

I closed in – and soon he came into my sight; at the river stood a black stallion – yet it wasn’t his coat that my eyes were drawn to, no, it was his sapphire orbs. I stared at the stallion for several minutes before shifting my weight – emberassed – from side to side while I mustered enough courage to move forward and join him at the water. I carefully let my pillars carry me to the black brute – how was his personality? Would he be good enough? I didn´t have that high expectations but hopefully this one would be alright. “Well hello there – mind if I join you for a drink?” I questioned the black hellion with a sweet tone before lowering my crown to the water slowly – carefully keeping eye contact with the dark male at all times. The cool liquid slid down my throat easily yet I drank slowly – slow enough to give the poor stallion a chance to catch up.

[azul.]

; z a c k.
-- Don't know, don't know what I'll do in the morning,
Now, more than ever, if you don't succeed the first time then baby,

Soon after I detected where the sounds came from, I caught the sight of a splashed essa, quite a beautiful equine she was. I dropped my crystal eyes to drink again, seemingly ignoring the mare, but the effect was lost when the creature remained silent. What was she doing? A minute passed, then another, and I lifted my crown, fat drops of sweet azure dripping from my ebony mug, and I watched the mare curiously. We met eye contact - was she staring at me? I shifted my weight onto a stiffened hind limb, and I looked around shyly. By the time I looked back at the essa, she was approaching me slowly, almost hesitantly. I flashed her a soft, delicate smile and dropped my crown again to swallow more of this cool, refreshing liquid. Radars flickered slowly, tresses falling over my crystal clear orbs, blocking the image of myself in the azure's rippling reflection.

"Well hello there-" Once more, I lifted my crown, the essa much closer than what she was before. She stopped off to my side, and I let my smile brighten slightly. So, I really wasn't alone! Maybe this day wasn't as dull as I'd previously believed. "mind if I join you for a drink?" I gave a faint nod of my dished crown, my maw parting in a respectful manner. "Of course, be my guest." Again, I shifted my weight and stepped to the side, angling my body away from the pinto beauty, my crown facing her. We watched each other as we drank, but I lifted my crown, looking the mare over. Nares widened, inhaling the essa's sweet, heat-filled scent, and snorted slowly. That was what everyone thought about, wasn't it? Momentarily forgetting about what I was doing, I glanced around, stomped a fore-pillar assuredly, then questioned the black splashed female, always keeping up my kind, respecting tone. "Are you a loner, too?"

When I realized that I had been rude, not revealing my name to the essa, I blinked my crystal tinted eyes and spoke again, feeling my facade heat up. If I could blush, I probably would have. "I'm sorry, miss, I'm Zack." Lyrics carried out softly, and I tossed my crown, enjoying the feeling of my thick, clean tresses slapping my ebony, scar-free neck. I let a smile remain on my mug, watching the essa in a curious manner.

[nuzzer2]

{ A S T E R I A }

I continued to watch the black stallion with curious orbs, he seemed like the perfect gentleman – was he a hallucination? I flared my nostrils slightly causing the water to ripple around my maw, before raising my crown to focus more on the mysterious hellion. Soon the winds shifted – carrying my heated scent to his nostrils – and I almost giggled as I saw him stamp his foreleg into the ground, so the scent was really effective eh? Just like the scene with Bambi and his little girlfriend – I moved in closer to the slightly nervous stallion, strangely enough my nerves were completely at ease so I moved with graceful light steps.

His smile coaxed me closer and I returned it with a soft smile of my own before reaching out – carefully letting my muzzle slide across his coal shoulder. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Zack – I am Asteria” I answered in a soft – and slightly seducing – tone. There was absolutely no reason for me to reveal my position as queen – so I ignored his question for now. This was unknown territory for me – I had absolutely no idea of how to seduce a stallion all I knew was that I needed him to agree and hopefully soon. I mentally wrinkled my nose at myself and my behavior – would this Zack be too much of a gentleman to comply with my wish? Would he understand at all or would he leave? I raised my crown slightly – letting it hover just above his shoulder as I sought out his sapphire orbs. “I was hoping you could help me with a problem Zack – I know it may be much too ask.” I let out in a tone completely void of any emotions.

“I’d like to have a foal from you – the drums of war has thundered and I desperately need a heir before its too late” I finished in a serious tone. Yep there I spilled my whole life-story – pretty much anyway, I felt quite beside myself today and I sincerely hoped that Zack wouldn’t think of me as some cheap mare who was just looking for a good time in the hay. I stepped back – creating some distance between us – giving him enough room and time to chew on my hard request. Perhaps he would even return with me to the Glade? I knew that was too much to ask – he seemed like a wanderer; a rogue without a home, one who would feel caged if bound to a territory and mare – and somewhere I understood him perfectly well.

[azul.]

; z a c k.
-- Just keep on going,
Keep tryin'.

My gaze dropped to the shifting azure again; atleast I was happy enough with this temporary companion, and I didn't feel such an empty moment of solitude. I bobbed my crown back and forth, watching the essa as she began to advance towards me. From the sheer lack of seeing another equine, I shifted my weight in an anxious emotion. Still, when the splashed ess threw me a soft, sweet smile, I felt my shoulders loosen up, and I settled down, radars flickering towards her, maintaining a gentle smile. When we were close enough to touch, I twisted my crown to one side, watching her with a puzzled little emotion, surprised how she stretched out her arched boa to lightly rub my muscled shoulder. And how surprised I was that I shivered in a quiet, pleased manner. How could this equid have such an effect on me already - and I didn't even know her name!

While she was still touching me, I tenderly reached out, slightly bending my coal tainted boa to touch the ess' neck softly, lips running over her satin skin with such a delicate nature, I didn't know I could be so gentle. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Zack - I am Asteria." Asteria. The calling flashed through my mind over and over, sticking there. I nodded to her, her tone making me arch my boa. "Asteria.. It's nice to meet you, too." I caught onto the slightest trace of a flirting tone in her lilting voice. I blinked twice, crystal orbs locked with Asteria's sapphie glints, but it seemed that the moment passed, much too quickly. I retracted my mug, and stared at the splashed equid as she started to speak, her emotionless voice sounding a bit odd. "I was hoping you could help me with a problem Zack -" I could certainly do that, so what was the problem? "I know it may be too much to ask." The smile that rested on my kissers faded slightly, taking on a confused twist.

I was about to question Asteria's meaning when she started to speak again. Then I understood what she meant. "I'd like to have a foal from you, Zack -" My mind blanked completely, and I stared at Asteria, my coal tinted mug parting slightly. I listened to Asteria continue her speech, but the words never really sunk in, and I didn't register it. A foal? A foal?! I remained open mouthed, and from the fact that I felt that was rude, clamped my mug together, until I spoke. My voice was almost weary, still kind, but so confused. I'd never been faced with something like this! "Are you sure?" I started, my voice cracking slightly. I took a deep breath, smiled faintly, and started to speak again. "I would be honored to give you a foal - only if you want one. I couldn't lve with myself if you regretted this decision." My tone was equally serious, and I watched Asteria closely, but my crystal orbs soon faded, glancing towards the Breeding Grounds. My first time there, with a stranger. Granted, Asteria seemed sweet, one I could live with, but it just felt odd. "So," My voice began, and I took a small step closer to Asteria, offering her a welcoming smile, "shall we, go there now?" Oh, how awkward.

[nuzzer2]

{ ASTERIA }

- it's your lucky day

I sent the black stallion an award winning smile before reaching out and napping playfully at his thick mane; he was so easy to be around, so cool calm and collected and I felt myself relax completely in his presence. His answer to my question didn’t completely shock me instead it was his willingness to do it already which caught me off guard, but I didn’t show it – I wouldn’t, so instead I nodded to show my opinion of the matter. Pale legs carried me away from the dark brute and towards the breeding grounds with long dancing steps; only at the edge of the clearing did I stop and wait for him to catch up. “You coming Zack-boy?” I called out in a teasing tone while a grin played on my features.

The trip there was rather easy and without any distractions and soon we found ourselves back at the Zukura Brook in need of a little time to rest and talk. The thought of leaving him after our little ‘fling’ had occurred to me more than once, but I couldn’t get myself to leave his soothing presence – was it possible he would come with me? I eyed his handsome body and the boyish features with a soft gaze, I wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t want to – like me he could be bound by something else or perhaps he was too much of a loner to stay in one place. I reached out and touched his neck – letting my muzzle follow his muscles to his slender ears letting out a deep breath, before lowering my head to his. It was a funny thing being pregnant; winter had arrived and I knew it had been a last second thing – but I was quite pleased with the choice I had made. “So any regrets?” I asked him in a curious tone. I knew I didn’t regret a thing – to be honest I was quite optimistic and excited to see the little baby that would come out of this, hopefully a filly, but a colt from Zack would be more than alright too.

I edged a little closer to the black hellion sucking up the heat which poured from his body. “What will you do now?” I questioned him in a casual tone – I didn’t want him to feel obligated to anything, this had been a fling with no strings attached, yet somewhere along the road I wished for more. Was it possible to feel attracted to someone you had only spent so little time with? Apparently. I thought of Chiron and of the Glade and waves of worry washed over me, I couldn’t stay away for much longer – already I had been away for more than expected and I knew the herd probably needed me. I twisted my duo colored head in Zack’s direction to stare directly into his sapphire orbs. [/color][/size]

[azul.]

; z a c k.
-- Late after work, watching comedy on tv.
No one can tell, I'm feeling worse more and more.

A soft smile played up my gentle facade, handsome features brightening. Crystal orbs glanced around us, then returned to the splashed ess' gentle tiara. My vocals vibrated in a surprised chuckle when Asteria nipped and pulled at my inky tresses, my dark limbs shifting, dancing on the rooted ground where we stood. Dished crown turned quickly, and my lips parted to reveal pearly teeth which gently latched onto Astera's splashed boa, tenderly nipping her in return to her playful motion. Tresses whipped around, flicking my hind quarters, and my limbs carried me to Asteria's shoulder. I stretched my neck out to bump her again, but she slipped from my grasp, moving off to our destination. I watched her for a moment, remaining solid on the firm turf, but when my.. companions? voice carried to my perked radars, teasing and kind, I let out a loud laugh and jumped forward into a long stride lope, neck long and low. I continued to advance towards her, clinging close to her equally large frame.

-inserts mario theme song music-

Within much time, I had made my rounds, and was following behind Asteria, much farther behind. Despite the chilly weather, I had broken out in a warm sweat, beats of sweat radiating off my ink stained statue. Limbs hurried forward to meet the carrier, slowing only within range of Asteria, reaching out to nuzzled her back. She must've known, because she too neared me, her breath running up my muscled boa. Her warm breath made me shudder, radars flicking back towards her. Crown lowered from it's arched position, a soft sigh deflating my chest, and my warm neck stretched up and over her withers, resting on her with a gentle smile. Bright orbs drifted around her frame, imagining her, carrying my, our child. It was a strange thought. Cupping in my companion's words, I let out a small, quiet laugh, words floating from me in a steady, constant tune. "Not a single one. What about you?" Crown tipped upwards, bumping the overo's poll with a playful, teasing smile.

Limbs stepped to the side in a gracefull manner, brushing up against Asteria slowly, lingering with my nares resting on her soft neck, inhaling her sweet scent. The mood soured soon though, when the female's lyrics floated to me. My smile faded for a few moments, and a deep, burdened sigh escaped my windpipe. "Well.. " I started, looking at Asteria, crystal tinted orbs serious, "I don't have a home, you already knew that though. I was thinking, of maybe finding a home, serving under a king." I continued, smile returning to my facade. "I was also thinking, um, if you'd want to come, I could help to raise the foal with you.." Absently, I stepped forward and began to lip at Asteria's inky tresses, small breaths leaving me in a rythmic manner. If only I knew who she actually was.

; EW. BAD.

[nuzzer2]

{ ASTERIA

Patient orbs rested upon the hellions black bodice as I awaited the dreaded lyrics – did he regret our little spin off? I sincerely hope not. I twisted to head around to stare straight ahead once again in the direction of Moonglade; the Glade was tugging at my body – or well, more like yanking, for me to come home. Soft muzzle danced across my body and for a moment my worries drifted away as I closed my eyes and enjoyed the gentle touch; was this a dream? If so I would be most unhappy to wake up. The quiet rumble of his laughter soothed my raging nerves and I felt myself relax completely – a gentle smile spread on my lips as the words I had longed to hear spilled from his mouth.

I turned my head slightly to follow him with my light orbs as he came to my side – and then my heart stopped beating for a second. His comforting smile disappeared and for a second or two, I feared the worst – would he leave me? Slender auds pricked forward to listen intently to his words and soon I moved my head away from him to stare at the horizon. “I’m sorry but I can’t Zack..” My tones were apologizing and filled with agony – was he one of those stallions who only believed in the power of the body? I clenched my jaw slightly for a second before twisting around to meet his azure orbs. “I already live in a herd – and I can’t abandon them” I snapped my jaws together at the end of my sentence before gathering enough courage to ask him. “But you’ll be more than welcome to come with me” I finished my sentence with slow trying lyrics. I still didn’t want to tell him of my position – or my land for that matter; I just wanted him to think of me as a completely ordinary equine – one that he could cherish for her personality and not rank. I felt his teeth gently napping at my mane and instantly I replied with a playful nip aimed at his muscular chest. [/size]

[azul.]

; z a c k.
-- What can I be sure of, I really don't know.
Who in the world enjoys being alone?

For a few moments, I began to fear my little decision in mating to Asteria. Not on my side, of course, I was rather excited; but what if the pinto beauty regretted this? Crystal orbs dropped to the powedered loam beneath myself, then lifted, trying to catch the azure orbs of my friend, but she was looking away. Alarmed, neck stretched out flat, lowered, soft nicker making my throat rumble. "What's wrong, Asteria?" I questioned, curious orbs steady as I watched her for some sort of clue. Maw parted again to speak, but nothing rose to me, and I waited a few moments, emitting a gentle sigh, and I felt the air around us soften when Asteria's small stature slackened. Sweet smile returned on my dark lips, and the soft lift in her lips made my heart begin to beat normally once more, if only for a few minutes. At least she was feeling better about this last minute choice.

It didn't help my nerves when Asteria turned away. I immediately felt blood shoot through my veins, already coursing from a few minutes prior to use returning from the breeding grounds. I remained rooted to the ground though, radars quietly cupping in the essa's soft, apologeting words. Her tone made me cringe absently, and my crown dropped an inch or two. I exhaled a long, soft breath before replying, voice etched with a confusion. "Oh.. Um, okay." Tone was filled with hurt - was this really what she'd explained it to be? A harmless fling, meant to be for nothing? Crystals searched the ground underneath me, then lifted, staring right into a pair of azures. I blinked, momentarily surprised, not able to continue when Asteria began her speech again. "I already live in a herd - and I can't abandon them." Orbs parted slightly; what did she say?! The way I usually saw things, it was a stallion to mares ratio - if I'd understood and knew that Asteria was a queen of a mare's realm, maybe it wouldn't have been a shock. "You, already live in a herd.." I repeated quietly, trying to mask my surprise.

Radars dropped slightly, but then lifted intently, Asteria's nervous lyrics carrying to me - this time, with a much more prospective idea. Orbs brightened, and my voice whipped out much faster than I'd imagined, excited and cute. "You'd think so? I'd be able to live there?" Lyrics ended with one note of a laugh, smile creasing my facade playfully. So maybe I wouldn't end up as a loner after all. More fits of laughter echoed around us, warming the chilled air, feeling her teeth graze my chest, and I replied contently with my teeth snapping out and nipping at Asteria's front legs, just above the knee, twisting my neck around.