isolations. {falin}

[azul.]

R I K U

I don't want colors anymore;
Paint it all black.

Footsteps were muffled by the sound of falling snow. It made me blend into my surroundings, but it couldn't cover up that smile that remained on my lips. My limber stilts moved forward at an eager canter, and I sloshed through the freezing chill towards the lake. I was sure that Falin would be following me. Still, this 'victory' didn't feel so great. I had just found another companion to love and adore. Hopefully I'd receive the same affection. My heart ached to be filled. And that's why I was quite excited by this.

"Falin, welcome to Black Lake. I hope you'll like it here."

I slowed to a walk and turned my thin frame to face Falin. I smiled gently and then stepped closer to her, bumping her withers softly, nuzzling them. I stepped back, and looked around the realm, wondering where everyone was, but I wouldn't dare to bring them out unless the gray arabian ess wanted me to. Sapphire orbs looked towards Falin, and nodded quietly to her, smiling.

[thru]

FALIN

The femmes orbs opened wide, she began to absorb her new surroundings, her auds listen to the falling snow around her and the stag before her. Her mind was racing with the new surroundings and new equines she was about to experience.

Would she get along with the others?
Would they accept her into their herd?
Was there danger in this new home?

The stag slows and she follows, she doesn’t want to step out of place in these knew grounds, she is no longer in control of the situation. She must step aside and allow him to move first, she didn’t know where to go or what to do in these new lands. She prepared her vocals for speech, they were still not completely accustomed to speaking.

“Thank you, I’m sure I will.”

A smile crept across her muzzle with the thought of finally having a home, a belonging, a purpose. His legs stood firm and she did the same, her legs shook beneath her bodice, she had grown weak in the journey. The stag turned towards her now his flesh began to touch hers, a sensation so different so awkward to her, she was unable to move for a moment. She took a half step towards him, her muzzle buried into his withers, her maw parted slightly her teeth grazed against his pelt, she began a slight, tender nuzzle of affection towards him. She was overtaken by his gesture towards her, she was unsure of how to respond, she hoped she wasn’t out of line. She stepped back so she could read the expression on her stags maw, her auds kept close on his vocals and searching the new home.

[azul.]

R I K U

With a smile on your face, you did what I said,
You lied again.

My eyes finally steadied enough to catch sight of Falin. Her porcelain stature was nearly hidden by the falling snow, but I could see every feature about her. She looked shy again, like she had when I had seen her at Dekera Falls, but I had grown accustomed to it. She'd probably calm down soon enough, with time. Still, to see that she had actually followed me was pleasant. The smile that rested on my facade grew at the sight of her light frame, and I took a step closer to her, aerials pricking forward to catch her rustic lyrics. I could understand the tone; when I first came here, I felt so alone. I still did, but when I had friends, it became easier. I felt drawn to Falin, for the fact that I could understand some of the points that she made. This was much more than adoration.

"I hope so. Do you have any questions? I'd be glad to answer them."

My reply was soft, the lyrics leaving me in a gentle manner. My sapphire orbs rested on the powdered female, catching her limbs a little unsturdy. I was about to warn her to rest, but then she stepped towards me and started nuzzling me, returning the gesture that I gave to her. It surprised me, but I was glad that she did it. I felt like I was breaking the ice, metaphorically of course. I felt her step away from me and watch me carefully. I showed none of my surprise, but a small, nearly silent whicker left me, and I smiled. I remained still for a few moments, and then I looked around silently, swallowing. Stretching my neck out, I gave Falin one final nuzzle on her withers, and then I stepped to her side, speaking again.

"Do you want to take a look around? There's not much to this place, but it feels like home."

I answered slowly, thinking of the places that I could take Falin. The lake was frozen over, so we could easily get to some of the caverns that were at the far edge of the lake's edge. I'm sure that she would like it. Why did I feel like my heart was fluttering in my chest though?

[thru]

FALIN

The sounds reached her auds with ease, his vocals were charming to her, pleasant, soothing, she has never felt these feelings. Even when she was just a young filly she always needed to fend for herself.

He was so eager, and happy.
This new land was so much to take in.
He appeared to have a lot on his mind, maybe he would share with her?

A slight whicker had left his maw, her chest fluttered. She wasn’t sure how to respond to such kindness, she blinked to clear her orbs, her auds twitched around searching for others. She wasn’t sure how many, if any were out there. They never conversed the topic, she thought to begin by asking about them and find more questions later. She was so overjoyed with the new land swarming about her, she almost forgot to breath. Her nostrils opened and gasped for oxygen, she focused her orbs upon Riku, had he seen her? She felt childish at that moment she shifted her weight towards her hind haunches, her tail flicked about. Did she feel rain? Was it the insects she felt on her flesh? The fem returned her weight forward she stretched her maw out, her kissers moved at the whicker that left from her tongue. A slight curving of her maw caressed her muzzle her eyes gleamed at his façade, she has never peered upon such a stag before. The fem prepared her vocals for speech ready for the adventure that lay before them.

“Are there other equines in your land? We never spoke of it before, have you any offspring? How long have you resided upon this land?”

Stepping forward slightly, she was astonished at her words. She was rarely so vocal and forward. Her kissers reached out for his pelt, she nipped his mane slightly pulling on the tassels she sensed there was something of importance running though his mind at the moment. Was he comfortable enough with the fem to share with her? She opened her maw again vocals rang out with confidence.

“Is there something on your mind you wished to share with me?”

She stood almost touching his frame, the sprinkles turned to a drizzle. She didn’t mind the rain it always seemed to leave her refreshed when she dried. Her auds flashed about searching for a noise, the noise. Crawling senses trickled up her spinal cord she could feel it near to them. Her entire bodice shivered at the thought of it. Was it there? Was she dreaming? How would she tell? She couldn’t wait until it was to late...

[azul.]

R I K U

"Let's just have some fun," but that really meant nothing,
But what could I've done?

The way I seemed to joyful about this home for me was true, but the guilty feeling that I could like this place better than the islands kept coming over me. Sure, this place was nice, and I had found some things that I probably would never find. The love for a companion was different than love for a friend, wasn't it? At this point, I wasn't entirely sure. A soft sigh emitted from my strained throat as I thought.

The confusion that came across Falin's orbs was only there for a second, but I clearly saw it with my own sapphire pools and stepped back, trying to make her feel comfortable. A small smile stretched over my kissers and I looked around my home, looking at all of the small details. The rain sill fell, harder now, and it'd probably end up in a storm, like the many that I'd experienced in the spring season. This rain would normally progress into an outright battle between water and wind, and it would result in trees down. Still, this didn't worry me. I felt that we were safe, and so I wouldn't worry Falin. Aerials twitched, hearing a strange sound, whatever it was, it sounded like strange breath. Sapphire pools flipped over to Falin, and I saw her nares open wide, inhaling humid breaths. I laughed, and then nuzzled her. I sometimes forgot to breathe, not often, but it happened. My kissers opened to speak, and then I heard Falin begin to question me. I was ready for that, since we hadn't spoken about it back at Dekera Falls. It seemed like so long ago that we were back there.

"Yes, there are a few others that live here. One recently passed.. But, there is Jaliya, the first one who joined me. Then there's Serpent; I adopted him from a rather brutal pair in Hollow Woods. I also have a son and a daughter. Einjeru is Jaliya's daughter, and Snyper is my son, from the mare who passed, Africa, but Snyper ran away.."

Such a hard thing to say. I swallowed back a lump in my strained throat, and managed a small smile and then thought about the time that I had come across this place. It was probably in the summer of my first year here. Almost two whole years? I nodded to myself, and replied.

"I've been here for just about two years."

My vocals held a serious note, but they turned playful when I felt Falin reach forward and nip at my light tinted tassels. I laughed, and then sighed slowly, catching her question. She was so bold now, I really liked that. The smile grew larger on my dished features, and I nodded. I looked up in surprise, and then laughed. I reached forward, tugging at her soft tassels with joy. While still close to her, I replied, my voice gentle.

"Oh! No, I was just thinking of a place I always go to when I need to think. Do you want to see it?"

[thru]

FALIN

The stags story of his family was one she was quite used to, her family was similar to his. The actions the fem showed towards this stag were returned in the same manor, it brought her to a new feeling of compassion towards this equine.

Had she brought herself into another situation she would be vulnerable to be hurt?
He was so easy for her to converse with, how could his family leave him in such a manor?
She was eager to explore, but at what cost?

His vocals charmed her auds with ease, making her vulnerable to it, she would easily follow him anywhere he went. She knew it was close, it would always be there, she couldn’t escape it. It followed her from her home to where she met her first love, and now to these lands, Black Lake. Her orbs glazed over at the thought of him, she had repressed the memories until this moment, they haunted her. She found herself staring directly into Riku’s sapphire pools, her auds had laid flat against her neck, her maw opened revealing her porcelain teeth, her nostrils flexed open. Slow breaths at first, then rushed and frantic. The thoughts flooded through her skull, her heart pumped unsteady, blood rushed through her veins. She hadn’t had an episode in a month. Her weight fell on her hind legs once more, her forelegs raised slightly off the moist earth. Her vocals rang out of her throat for her lost love. Once her hooves were steadied on the ground again, her poll lowered towards the earth, her orbs only partially opened. Her auds relaxed, gravity pulling them towards the earth. Her lungs only taking in small amounts of oxygen at a time her heart beat irregularly for a few moments after the episode, until regaining its strength. Her tail was limp the insects went untouched from her carcass, her mind held the memories of him for just a few moments more. They escaped once more. Her façade went dull, her mind exhausted from the episode, but what about the stag? What would he think? What would he say? How would he react? She raised her poll to his level once more, her orbs partially glazed, auds slowly flicked, her maw opened, vocals prepared for speech.

“I-I’m sorry”

She felt ashamed, she was unsure of how to act towards another now, it had taken her so long to recover from the event years ago. She wasn’t sure she would ever get over them, the memories came so fast this time, faster than ever before. She had a deep past, and she knew it, she didn’t think it would ever affect her in such a way as it just did. She wasn’t sure if she should respond to his words, or just wait until he spoke of this new event. She did want to see a new place, she wanted to get out of this open land. She needed to move, she needed to stretch her legs, she needed to find shelter, she needed to explore this land. She stood before the stags bodice, waiting, for anything, for something, for him.


OOC: Wow I didn't see this coming xD

[azul.]

R I K U

Everyone feels shades of blue.
Seeking an escape from the pain,

Hardly a minute passed after I finished speaking when Falin did something. I couldn't say what it was, but her body became rigid, and I caught a glimpse of her pearly teeth. I was utterly shocked, and didn't know what to think. Obviously, Xehanort had a different reaction. "Hm, interesting. The subject is showing an unexpected change. Riku, do you know why?" That question simply puzzled me, and so I remained quiet, long enough to hear Falin's strained breaths. My crown tipped to one side, concerned, but not generally surprised, until Falin rose into the air, screaming out a scratchy call. I backed up in confusion, while Xehanort continued with his mindless speech. "Ah, she's not calling for nothing. She's calling for something, or someone. Where was this being? Is there a secret past?" That was something to be raised up.

I remained close to her, but my body was stiff, and I wasn't exactly sure what to do, but Falin's 'episode' seemed to have passed, and she looked exhausted. My sapphire orbs were shadowed, aerials pricking forward when she started to speak. "I'm sorry.." I gave a quiet nod, the muscles in my jaw tensing up, like I was trying to prevent myself from speaking. I released a small breath, and then looked at the Lake with worried eyes.

"It-It's fine."

My words were brief, and then I raised my crown, closing my eyes. What exactly could I do? "Riku, do something." Gee. I never would have thought of that. I released a small sigh, looked back at Falin, and tried to continue my words, like nothing had happened. That was hard, thoughts scratching at the back of my mind. I swallowed hard, and opened my mouth, reulctant lyrics floating from my strained throat.

"So, uh, would you like to see it- the cave?"

I questioned her quietly, and shifted my slender body, turning towards the large form of my shelter- my private shelter where I always unleashed my strongest thoughts. Would Falin be able to do the same? Maybe she'd explain this to me, this outburst that scared me so much. I blinked, and then looked at Falin, managing a tender smile.

[thru]

FALIN

Heart was left pounding in the cage her auds listened to the vocals of the stag. The beat ceased to be heard for a moment as she stood in shock. The deep pools flashed around the surroundings. The wisp of her tail was nearly audible to her, her legs shook in an uneasy tremble of thought.

What would happen between her and Riku?
What would she do with out a stag next to her?
Would she have another episode soon?

Her mind was racing, her thoughts appeared in all at once, she was unable to focus on them all at the same time she lowered her façade toward the earth to clear her mind. She watched as he looked to the lake and as his orbs gazed over to the cave, he wanted to get away. Did he want away from her? Did she frighten this stag off? Her eyes wondered off into the shadows of the day, the sun beat upon her coat, however she was unable to feel the effects of the rays. Her auds listened for him she needed to be sure he wouldn’t appear again. Her entire skeleton shuddered at the thought of him appearing again, even if he was only a memory, she couldn’t tell. Her hooves began to move backward, she wanted to give Riku plenty of space after this event. She didn’t want to lose this opportunity which he gave her, a new beginning was all she could hope for at the moment. As her hooves landed on the earth beneath her, her bodice twitched at the noises beneath her carcass. The dark shadow beneath her frame was swarming with the sounds of blood thirsty insects, they appeared upon her stomach, draining the fluid from her veins. Her maw lay partially open the insects began to swarm inside the gaps. Her tail was kept limp, she was to exhausted to keep her flesh from the hungry insects. Her lungs filled and emptied at an alarmingly slow rate, she was just able to get enough oxygen into her brain to keep her standing. She wasn’t sure how she should begin conversing with the stag again, she had never been put in a position like this before. She knew she needed to get away from the darkening lake, the shadows where becoming ever nearer to her bodice. She was curious of the cave the stage spoke of, she wasn’t sure if she would be able to be comforted there, or anywhere. Her poll was raised to his level, her orbs looking into his sapphire pools, her auds flicked listening for him, her maw parted slightly allowing her vocals to escape with ease.

“Yes..”

Her voice trailed off, she didn’t want to talk about it right now, she just wanted to get out. Her orbs glanced off toward the dark lake once more. She moved her bodice parallel to the stallion, she was ready to follow him into the cave in hopes it would take her from the view of this dark lake. Her lungs filled once more with the darkening air, she needed an escape. Her orbs rested on the sight of the weary stallion next to her, her façade angled to capture this view. There she waited for some type of action from the stag.

[azul.]

R I K U

That's flowing through you,
After a painful heart-break,

"Riku.. Does she not remind you of Jaliya? They certianly have these sort of panic attacks." I, frankly put, was speechless, because Xehanort was in fact right. "Well, at least she hasn't gone head-first into a lake yet." Instantly, my dappled skin twitched, and I shivered. To even think that that was a near tragedy that I'd been able to avoid was amazing. To think that it may possibly happen again, and that I'd have no chance to save her was frightening. I didn't want to think about it much, and I hadn't for the past two years, but now that dreaded feeling crept over me, it's long, bony fingers digging into my warm heart with a defiant force. I wasn't sure if I could take much more of the heart ache that Falin would surely bring.

Dark limbs started to pivot in place, but they stopped when glinting orbs spotted Falin copying the same movement. I wasn't entirely sure of what to do. If I remained close to her, I could frighten her, and receive the opposite affect of what I wanted. On the other hand, I didn't want to abandon her, especially if she was so insecure. "You idiot. Do something!" With a jolt, I started forward, a forced smile creasing my tense facade. I was too worried to do anything, so I remained silent, staring at Falin while she recovered. This was a weird incident that I was shocked like this. Not much phased me, but this, I was speechless. Orbs narrowed, watching the random reactions that Falin would show, when she shuddered at the sound she made, how she seemed so lifeless, like how she appeared at Dekera Falls.

Aerials stirred slightly in surprise when I caught Falin's faint reply. So she did want to see that cave. Absentmindedly, my orbs flickered in the direction of the secluded spot, suddenly glad for a reason to run through the middle of the lake and reach the shore. Maybe the freezing waters would wake me up, giving me a reason to respond. Giving the porcelain stained female a quiet nod, I looked away and jumped forward into a gliding pace, eager to escape the awkward situation. Aerials tipped backwards, listening for the sound of Falin following, but I kept going at a canter until I felt the first splash of the chilling lake water splash up to my chest, where I slowed, and started to wade through, breath coming steady from my open throat. "And why are you doing this?" Giving a soft sigh, I chuckled. Why was I doing this? Well, I don't know. I always thought in that cave, the dusky light streaming through crack's in the ancient ceiling. Maybe it'd help Falin. Glancing back wearily, I looked for Falin, and then continued my short trip to the far edge of my lake, glad for the peace and quiet. Blinking my bright orbs twice, I stepped out of the murky water, once believed to be deadly, now a pleasant thing, and shook off, disheveled tresses swinging in front of my facade. Patiently, I waited for my partner, eager to enter that serene building.