current thoughts
"Your company is always welcome, Eiros. Thank you for coming back..."
recent activity
Spent most of the day sleeping in the birch, and was surprised to find Eiros sitting near him when he awoke. They had a long and bewildering talk, leaving Soona to ponder even deeper than he had at the time of the incident. They strolled through the forest to clear both of their heads. Later rested in the birch, only to have Soona be spooked by Saburo. Soona eventually took his leave when Eiros was beginning to grow uncomfortable. Left feeling better than he did before, although he wishes he didn't have to leave Eiros.
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wounds healed by Eiros
Highly cautious of other stags, may react fearfully if one approaches him.
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It may take him a while to trust certain deer.
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Deer being transformed into small animals spooks him, as well as forest magic in general.
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He is polite and friendly, but has severe trust issues.
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He is not a fighter, but he may defend himself and those he trusts if necessary.
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Has a minor stutter that comes out when he is nervous or frightened.
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Very insecure and ashamed of his fleeting desires toward stags.
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When he learns to trust another deer, he becomes very loyal to them.
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He may become spooked and flee for any reason, especially when strange deer approach or if he's in a crowd.
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Likes to sleep in places where he is hidden (tall grass, behind large trees, etc.).
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Will retreat to the birch forest if very frightened, for it provides the most cover.
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He may become clingy to some deer, especially those that he trusts unconditionally.
At the age of 27, a troubled man took his own life and was placed within the Forest. Through reincarnation, and with a new name, he was given a second chance to lead a fruitful life free of the demons that plagued him while he was a human. However, some of his memories were brought along with him, and although he cannot remember his name or his act of suicide, he remembers the fear and uncertainty that followed him throughout his life.
Soona had been tormented for as long as he could remember, and had always been a social outcast. He only had a couple of friends, one of which who he developed strong feelings for. However, when this friend found out, he had beaten Soona and threatened his life. They never spoke again, and Soona was left scarred and broken. This event was one of the larger contributors to his suicide, as it had haunted him since.
At the age of 17, Soona came out to his parents who promptly threw him out of their home. Alone and afraid, he had nowhere to go and ended up living on the streets for three years. Through a twist of fate, he was taken in by an man a few years older than him who presented Soona with a job opportunity in journalism. Soona lived with the man as he worked, and found that he enjoyed writing. He was beginning to feel at home, at a place where he had always belonged.
Things were wonderful for about a year, and then the man suddenly became abusive. Sexually, mentally and physically he tormented Soona, knowing that the younger man had nowhere else to go. Fearing of losing his home, Soona stayed and lived in fear of his housemate. Two years later, after the other man attempted to murder him in a drunken rage, Soona fled and took refuge at a homeless shelter. He was at his wits' end, with his savings he rented out a meager apartment and lived in paranoid fear that the man who abused him would find him again.
He never did, but Soona never stopped being afraid. Soona remained at the apartment for three years, and during this time he met a man around his age at the local bookstore where he worked. They grew close, and Soona began to feel trust again. The man moved in with him, and they began an intimate relationship. The feeling of love was mutual. Soona never felt so much security in his life, and even threw away the pills that he had begun to take for his extreme anxiety.
A few years later, the man that Soona grew to love was killed in a car crash. From there, everything plummeted. After months of tears, struggle and false hopes, Soona washed down a bottle of sleeping pills with bleach and never woke up.
Well...not in the real world, at least. He woke up in the Forest and felt free of pain, although his fears remained. His struggle to find trust and solace continued to live on in him even in his next life, and he seeks the love and affection of another as he had for so long. Perhaps then, his soul would finally be at peace.
Eiros
"Sweet Eiros... Gods, I feel...I-I don't know how I feel exactly, but...it's wonderful."
Daneth
"I was frightened of you at first, but you are a kind and gentle soul. Thank you for protecting me, and for being my friend."
Sianna
"You are very sweet, and very loyal to your mate as he is to you. Thank you for being there for me..."
The dragon doe perked her ears, searching for any sign of Eighteen. She had changed back into a deer, certain that he was gone for good tonight. She was bleeding on her sides and her left shoulder, but Honeyfur paid no mind to her new wounds. She didn't regret them, for she had wanted revenge for so long now for what that beast did to her 'sister', trapping her up in the hollow in the Old Oak. She shook her head to clean it of those horrible memories, and turned to look at the blue stag standing behind her. Her eyes were apologetic, but she didn't regret any of it.
"I'm sorry you had to be in the middle of that. I've had quarrels with that guy for a while now....If I startled you in my dragon form, I'm very sorry about that too. I just wanted revenge on him for holding my best friend Nanetta hostage up in his hollow in the Old Oak." Not wanting to startle the stag further, she walked toward him, her lime green eyes soothing, and her voice now more gentle. "I have to warn you, though you probably already know, Eighteen is not good company to keep. Besides...you're probably on his hit list right now. But don't worry about that, I'll be keeping a close watch on him to make sure he doesn't hurt you further, as I'm also doing for Nanetta....Also, don't worry about me either. I'm just doing my job like always," she said with a warm smile. Defending those in need is what she does best, and this stag was no exception.
(Oh yes, and a little side note: In her dragon form, when on her hindlegs she's at least 6 ft tall, so she's not a massive dragon ^^)
(Heh, yeah xD I need to finish her ref soon and put it in her bio.
Awww poor Soona ;_; I feel bad that he had to be in the middle of that, but HF wanted to do something when she noticed Eighteen being possessive over Soona, and mix some revenge on top of that and you get a battle hungry dragon o-o;
Lol that's alright, it's 4:13 AM here, so I should be crashing soon too xD Night! <3)
(Oh, nice! 8D Ahh yes, I figured she'd be vengeful, but Soona had no idea what's going on. All he knows is that Eighteen promised he wouldn't harm Honeyfur again, and, well...he should've never trusted Eighteen in the first place, but he is very much naive. *flicks him* =P Haha, it's the same time here, yikes! Alright, g'night! ^_^)
Shortly after Eighteen had been chased off, Soona limped over to a nearby birch and collapsed beside it, his chest tight as he struggled for breath. He felt overwhelmed with anxiety, fear, confusion and anger, and did not know how to handle it. His body shook with adrenaline; he did not yet feel much pain from the blows that he took from Eighteen's teeth and hooves. They looked bad enough, however; he had not sustained such injuries in all of his life. Well...not to that severity, at least. Forgetting for a moment that he was not alone, he started at the sound of a gentle, feminine voice. Soona watched as the dragon approached him, his heart pounding despite that he knew that she meant him no harm. Even so, he felt as if he could not trust anyone...not after what Eighteen had done. He promised...
Soona's ears slid back as Honeyfur spoke, grinding on his lower lip with his teeth. "Th-this all happened so fast. I w-was afraid he'd attack you...I prayed he wouldn't. Wh-why did he lie to me?" the blue stag stammered in a choked voice, almost sounding as if he was speaking to himself. He then looked up at Honeyfur, his misty eyes filled with a myriad of emotions, none of which were pleasant or positive. "I wanted to h-help him... I th-thought he cared..." The stag slumped against the tree trunk, forcing back the sobs that wracked his chest. His head was light and spinning, his heart rapidly pacing. Foolishly, he thought he had made a connection with Eighteen...he thought that he had found a friend in the frightening creature. But now, all of that was gone in an instant. Eighteen wanted to kill him. Kill...
(Gah, I'm sorry that the post is so weak. I'm tired from a long and am lacking my muse, mreh... ;; )
(Lol that's ok, I don't really have much muse either, so this might be a little short ^^")
"Th-this all happened so fast. I w-was afraid he'd attack you...I prayed he wouldn't. Wh-why did he lie to me?"
Honeyfur felt sympathy for the blue stag, and decided to lay down beside him. "It's just the kind of person...or, creature, he is. And like I said, don't worry about me. I'm fully capable of defending myself." She didn't know what to say to the last part. In fact, she was a bit confused by it. The dragon doe let out a sigh, angery at Eighteen at what he's done. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. It looked as if this stag was going to have a mental breakdown, just like Nane did.
Her green eyes turned to look off into the distance, determination ablaze within them. "He's a phsycotic creature, that's for sure. If Nanetta's mate, Flammel, hadn't swooped in and distracted Eighteen, and if I didn't fly in that hollow to rescue her...she would most likely be carrying his fawn right now." She grit her teeth and breathed out heavily through her nose, seething from the very thought of it. "I believe there's good in everyone...his is just deeply rooted." Scorn and loss covered her words this time. Eighteen is fully capable of being a wonderful creature to be around, fun and happy, but instead he chose to go down a path covered in thorns, and dead trees on either side of it.
"I wanted to h-help him... I th-thought he cared..."
"At this point, I don't think he even wants help, which is a shame....Hopefully he'll snap out of this insane behavior, but that's not something easily accomplished....I know it may be hard, but you must stay away from him. He's dangerous and unpredictable." She looked back at him, her eyes sympathetic. He didn't seem like the fighting type, so it was crucial that he stay far away from the beast as possible.
(...Nevermind then, I guess the muse just snuck up on me o-o)
@ Lady ~ Ohh, I know this song...and now I won't be able to help but make that connection as well, haha! Ahh, the '80s...kind of like the '90s, but with more embarrassing hair styles!
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Soona tensed slightly when Honeyfur settled beside him; he knew who she was, of course, but her dragon form unnerved him. It reminded him of Eighteen... The blue stag's ears rotated back against his skull as she continued to speak, and he squeezed his eyes shut and let out a shuddering sigh. "I kn-knew he was a killer, that he's a p-predator. But, I...I wanted to get to understand him. To be his friend. And now, he w-wishes to harm me. Whenever I get c-close to someone, I just end up getting h-hurt," he spoke in a strained voice, resting his cheek against the cool bark as he struggled to take in controlled breaths. "I know that there is good in him, as there is everyone...but h-he won't let me help b-bring it out..."
He sat in pained silence as the dragon's words reached his ears. She was right...he had to stay away. And yet, he still maintained the urge to approach the creature, to try and talk to him. Soona had been through so much in his past life that he did not very much care for what ended up happening to him in this one. As long as he could reach through to someone, anyone, he would feel as if he indeed had some purpose. Despite the brutality and wickedness of his ways, Eighteen still stirred a chord within his soul. It was as if he needed to reach out to Eighteen, even if it cost him his life. He opened his eyes and raised them to meet her own, and for the first time he noticed that they were of a pleasant emerald color. She was a gentle and kind soul, he knew...despite the antlers. Drawing in a breath, Soona let out a long sigh, ignoring the twinges of pain that began to surface as his adrenaline rush died down. "Th-thank you for caring," he spoke quietly, his cheeks reddening slightly. "I'm sorry...Honeyfur, was it? I...I am Soona."
(Mm...I don't think they know each others' names, but I could be wrong. Sorry if I am! XD; )
The forest was alive with birdsong. It exploded from the tree-tops at the first sign of the rising sun. The chirping night insects quieted at the sound; their shift had ended. Winged predators were about. Eiros was no predator, yet the crickets leapt from his hooves as he stumbled carefully through the grass. Was he prey? This was certainly the most likely of the two options, but aside from the birds, the forest was quiet. The brief commotion he'd heard in the distance earlier had long ceased...and so the injured stag ventured out. Balancing carefully on only three good legs, it was a slow, tedious trek for the river. The idea of finally allowing the cool water to wash and numb his broken limb was enough to keep him focused on the task.
That is, until he heard crying.
At first he had mistaken it for the twittering of birds, but as he drew unexpectedly closer he could hear the distinct soft hitching of a voice. Eiros froze. His head lifted and his ears sprang forward as he glanced wearily from side to side. 'Ignore it.'
A fearful, scolding voice in his head gave him pause. He responded by shifting his weight to his haunches in preparation to flee... but he didn't flee. The instinct to was no match for the sudden flood of concern that gripped his heart. Drawing in a stabilizing breath, the blonde lowered his head for better balance and hobbled in the direction of the sound. He knew he would be of little use...but he had to at least take a look. 'What if you can be of use? What then? Ignore it! Go back.'
Eiros swallowed back the uncertainty. He wouldn't do anything stupid...it was just a look. The stag ducked his head to avoid low hanging branches, mentally praising himself for remembering to leave his bell behind. If only he could manage to be quieter with the stuttered steps he was forced to take.
Then he saw him. A blue mass huddled at the base of an elderly birch. Eiros stiffened and ducked his head, having come upon him suddenly...but as his violet eyes hovered on the shuddering form, his breath caught. It...it was... “S-soona?”
His lips betrayed him, parting to stammer out the name before he gave consent to it. Even his soft voice sounded loud in the quiet morning, cutting through the stag's breathy sobs. The blonde's eyes widened, and assuming Soona would look up at the address he would be met with surprise and concern whirling in an amaranthine sea. It had been nearly two days since he had confronted the blue stag. He hadn't imagined their next meeting to be this...
Alone... Soona was all alone, Honeyfur having left his side not long before Eiros stumbled upon him. He shivered uncontrollably, his body curled up tightly around the birch. It wasn't the pain that was necessarily making him cry, but more of the emotions. His eyes squeezed shut and his muscles tensed, Soona could not help but think back to the events that had just transpired. Eighteen had seen him approach, and then nuzzled him happily like he always did. Then Honeyfur showed up, and worked Eighteen into a frenzy. He charged the doe...and Soona got between them. He did his best to protect Honeyfur, taking most of the blows from Eighteen's attacks. Somehow, he managed to stand his ground and make Eighteen back off...and then, Soona was an enemy. He was a deserter, a betrayer worthy of death. Eighteen wished to slaughter him, all because he for once decided to stand up for himself. Now he had paid the ultimate price, and he was back to his usual shivering, terrified and insecure self. There would never be peace for him, and now he lost his first friend. It all happened to fast...
A sob wracked at his chest, which ached along with his sides and haunch. Tears streamed down his face in hot rivers; he could no longer see through the cloudiness, but he did not care. He had ruined everything... Soona weakly pawned at the dirt and pressed his forehead against the birch's bark, gritting his teeth until his jaw ached. Why couldn't it end? Why was he placed here? He was not worthy of a second chance...
And then, a voice. Eiros's voice. Soona could recognize it from anywhere...its sweet gentleness was utterly unique, and would instantly fill him with some warmth. But now, he was too weak and humiliated to spring up onto his feet and gallop towards the blonde out of joy. No...slowly, he lifted his head and faced the stag. Through the blurriness, he could make out the golden outline of Eiros's lithe form, and although he didn't move he managed a weak smile. "E-Eiros..." he spoke quietly, his heart beating slightly faster. Forgetting his current state of health for a moment, Soona attempted to stand up, only to find that he could not support his weight as well as he'd thought. His knees buckled, and he collapsed heavily beside the birch with a small cry of pain. Fresh tears of frustration rolled down his cheeks, and he beat at the offending dirt angrily with his hooves. Why did Eiros have to see him like this, all weak and pathetic? Undoubtedly, the blonde was disgusted at the sight.
(I'm guessing that they would've heard each others' names during the fight, so it's quite alright! ^^)
"I kn-knew he was a killer, that he's a p-predator. But, I...I wanted to get to understand him. To be his friend. And now, he w-wishes to harm me. Whenever I get c-close to someone, I just end up getting h-hurt."
Honeyfur swallowed back the lump that was forming in her throat. It pained her to see him like this. Heck, it pained her to see anyone like this...and she felt helpless. She felt pressure forming all around her eyes as tears were being pushed to the surface, but she fought them back. The dragon doe was stronger than she had been, and she needed to be strong for this stag too. But the determination was soon overcome with guilt. If she hadn't rallied Eighteen into a fight, Soona wouldn't be in this position. He'd probably be happy right now, enjoying his time with Eighteen.
No! No...she had saved him. It would've been only a matter of time until this happened...and fortunate enough for Soona, she had been there to try and protect both him and Ozzie, though she knew Ozzie could defend himself. However, she had been exasperated when Soona tried to defend her. He didn't need to do that, for she had enough muscle and fire power to defend herself. Although, a glimmer of admiration had surfaced when she realized his intentions. Defending a complete stranger from a complete insane freak, exactly what she would've done...only he didn't have any powers like herself.
"I know that there is good in him, as there is everyone...but h-he won't let me help b-bring it out..."
The dragon nodded in understanding at his willingness to help Eighteen. "I understand your intentions completely....If only he were different, and not so psycotic, then things would be different too...but let's not waste our time wishing for things that may not come true. Life goes on, and I know for a fact that there are several nice deer here, a lot better company. If we dwell on one individual, how we will notice those that could be even better off?" Her eyes were gentle still, filled once again with that same determination, as well as wisdom, despite her young age. Whether he knew it or not, Honeyfur was here for Soona, like she was for her loved ones and any other innocent being...a hero, to catch him when he fell.
"Th-thank you for caring....I'm sorry...Honeyfur, was it? I...I am Soona."
Honeyfur slowly nodded her head once, a warm smile on her muzzle. "Of course....Heh, yes. Weird name for a green, scaley creature, huh?" she said, amusement playing on her voice. How she even got that name, she didn't even know. Everyday she pondered on it, but everyday she ended up having a headache afterward. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Soona. If only the circumstances were better...but just remember, there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. No matter how long that tunnel may be, there is always a way out...and darkness can't exist without light, or else there'd be nothing. Just remember that whenever you're stuck; that's what gets me motivated."
Finally, she noted his tense posture, and glanced around at her own body. "Oh, forgive me if my appearance makes you a bit uncomfortable. I can change back, though I'd have to go behind a tree and do it...it's, not a very pretty sight," she giggled halfheartedly, a guilty expression on her face. The last thing she wanted to do was startle Soona even more, and to her, he had been through enough already.
As Honeyfur spoke, Soona's eyes shifted to a nonexistent point of interest on the horizon, and he swallowed around the lump in his throat. He knew she was right, but he didn't want to believe it. He wanted to understand Eighteen; the two of them were kindred spirits. Eighteen was hurting and lonely, just like Soona. He deserved another chance, even if he did intend to end Soona's life. He had to try...
"I know for a fact that there are several nice deer here, a lot better company..."
Suddenly, Soona thought of Eiros. Gentle, beautiful Eiros...a creature who took the time to sit with Soona and speak with him. Soona had never felt so warm and comforted, even more so than when Eighteen would nuzzle him. With Eiros, those same feelings seemed to be stronger despite that they never physically touched. Yes...he should focus on deer such as Eiros rather than Eighteen. Oh, he would still try to help...but now that he had met Eiros, Soona had no desire to be slaughtered by a former friend. Perhaps in time, Eighteen would come to him for forgiveness, and Soona would grant it. But for now... He sat in silence for a moment, pondering the young doe's words. She seemed wise despite her age...and he was growing fond of those gentle, emerald eyes. Honeyfur was like a flickering candle in complete shadow; she brought a sense of ease to his aching soul.
The blue stag chuckled softly at the comment on her name and shook his head. "No, not at all; I think it is quite lovely. It suits you," he replied, looking up at her with a weak smile, and then bowed his head. "Likewise...although, it is a shame that he must cross paths during such circumstances, indeed." He blinked as she spoke, tilting his head slightly, his pain momentarily forgotten. "I...I will remember. Thank you, Honeyfur," he replied softly with a hint of awe in his voice. When she apologized for her appearance, Soona shook his head rapidly, his cheeks flushing. "Oh, n-no...i-it's alright. Now that I know it's you, I...it's n-not so bad," Soona replied quickly, his stammer coming through again. He chuckled nervously, and then winced as the pain in his ribs flared up from the force. His entire body ached, along with his soul; he felt utterly crushed. Honeyfur was right, in a way, but...he could not walk away from this. He could not abandon Eighteen...he must keep the light burning.
..But what was this, exactly? At the moment, the situation was unclear. What was wrong? Why was he upset? Eiros timidly stepped forward as the blue stag turned and spoke his name. There was a smile on his lips, but his voice was filled with distress. 'Pain' The sound gripped at his heart and hung there like a weight. As the blonde stood there, his mind racing and his legs immobile, Soona shifted his weight and began to rise to his feet.
He didn't make it.
The buck stumbled and fell, his cry of pain shooting through Eiros like an electric shock. “Soona!” he gasped, lurching forward without thinking. His leg protested the sudden swinging with a sharp stab of pain. He didn't care! He had to get to- 'Stop!'
The scolding internal voice made him slide to a clumsy halt within five feet of reaching the blue stag. The abruptness of it had been enough to snap him from his former thoughts. A cold shiver snaked wildly down his spine, leaving rigidity in its wake. 'Blood'. There...there was blood. It streaked the white-washed surface of the tree where he'd fallen against it, and peering closer at him now through widened eyes he could see more of it, dark and sticky mixed in with Soona's mussed blue fur.
“You're...you're hurt.”
Eiros' words were dry, much like the condition of his mouth. His tanned complexion grew steadily paler as his eyes roamed unwillingly over the stag. Over his friend. His weighted heart hammered in his chest at the emotions the word stirred within him. “What happened?” the blonde whispered, his ears moving back to lay flat against his head. He still hadn't moved. So cold he must seem, standing a distance away, staring down at the huddled mass of a stag with a look so conflicted it seemed almost devoid of emotion.
(AHH I WILL PUNCH YOU IN THE FACE! Pff, it's fiiiine! XD <3)
The concerned gasp reached Soona's twisted ears, as well as the desperate pounding of hooves against the soft earth and grass. Something stirred within Soona's soul; Eiros was here. Everything would be alright. The blue stag's eyes were clenched shut in pain after collapsing, disturbing most of his wounds and making the severe ache in his chest even worse. He took in shallow breaths, as he was afraid to breathe too deeply. And then...the footfalls abruptly stopped. Slowly, Soona opened his eyes and looked up to see the blonde standing still and staring back at him with wide eyes. At that moment, Soona's heart sank. Of course, he was foolish to think that Eiros would come closer to him. But now, he needed Eiros...selfishly, he needed his warmth and presence.
Soona blinked dully as Eiros spoke dryly, his head light and his vision wavering slightly. He wasn't exactly looking at Eiros anymore; he was staring into space, unable to concentrate or really think. The emotional toll had caught up with him; it was overwhelming him to the point of illness. The forest was beginning to tilt, and Soona's stomach lurched. The stag squeezed his eyes shut again and took in a desperate breath, the pain in his ribs flaring up as he did so. What happened... Soona then realized that he could not tell Eiros about his connection with Eighteen. If the blonde found out that he had once associated with the brutal creature...he dreaded to think of how Eiros would react. Soona did not want to lose his friendship...it would be all he had. He would not be able to live if he betrayed Eiros's trust as well.
"I-It's noth-thing, r-really. I'm f-fine. I w-wandered too cl-close," Soona stammered vaguely in a barely controlled whisper. The tears began to well up in his eyes again, and he looked away as he held back another sob. He wanted to tell Eiros everything, but...he couldn't. He just couldn't. Eiros...I don't want to hurt you, too...
'You shouldn't have come, you see? You shouldn't have come!'
The stag flinched. Whether it was from the internal scolding or the mirrored look of blank hopelessness he saw in Soona's eyes as the stag looked up at him...he didn't know. That look...that look! Had he had the proper amount of legs to pull it off smoothly he might have backed away from the blue stag in fear. Except it wasn't fear...not really. Only recognition. A memory of being broken and hollow; of losing everything. Feeling betrayed... It was all staring back at him now, those two glossy blue eyes revealing everything Soona's stammering lips fought to conceal. And then those eyes welled with a fresh batch of tears before tearing away from him. Eiros felt his heart torn with it.
He was hiding something. He was lying but... why?
'Does it matter? Who is he to you?'
Eiros' teeth clenched in a sudden stirring of anger. How could such despicable things be coming from inside his head!? How could he leave him? How could he pretend he didn't care? 'It's too much. Too much too soon! Think about this...'
But he couldn't think – not really – and that was what frightened him most. The blonde was becoming completely overrun by emotion. He didn't see Soona lying before him at all...but himself. Alone, battered, betrayed; clinging to the trees as though they'd spare precious energy or warmth or a single kind word! Except in his memory there was nobody standing over him. There was nobody who could help.
Suddenly the blonde's posture deflated and relaxed. His wide eyes softened and narrowed...then glazed a bit. 'Eiros...stop! You can't-' “Can you...can you walk? We should go someplace else...someplace safer.”
If Soona were more alert, he would have quickly picked up on Eiros's silently mixed emotions. His expressions and body language showed uncertainty, fear and distress...but Soona was too distant to notice. At this point, it didn't really matter. As long as Eiros was here, he would at least feel comforted and safe...and he did. If he were suffering from severe blood loss, he would've convinced himself that he was hallucinating Eiros's presence. Soona looked off into nothing once more as a pause settled between them, and he found himself becoming comfortable in that blank state of mind. He felt almost numb to everything...and it felt nice. Shadows crept into the corners of his vision, and he remembered to breathe again. His heart beat dully in his ears, which did not flick toward any sound...until Eiros spoke again.
The blue stag blinked at the question, his glossy eyes clearing somewhat as he gazed up at the blonde. It was incredible... All it took to free him of the shadowed confines of his mind was Eiros's voice. But oh, if only Eiros would smile. It broke Soona's heart to see the blonde so distressed, and over him no less. Soona was beginning to wish that Eiros hadn't stumbled upon him at all in his pathetic state; it seemed to almost be too much for the blonde to handle. A pang of guilt gripped at the blue stag, but he did not want to let his friend down. Friend... That's right, he had a friend. Someone who cared for him. Someone who wanted to bring him to a safe place. How unreal this situation felt...
"I-I can t-try," he finally ground out in a hushed voice. Looking up, he felt new-found strength as he gazed into those stunning violet eyes. Those eyes that swam with an overwhelming amount of emotions. He saw his own eyes...the helplessness, the fear that he always possessed. He wanted to tell Eiros that everything would be alright...but he did not know that for sure. Taking a breath, Soona carefully shifted his weight and slowly stood on shaking legs, leaning his shoulder against the birch for support in case if he buckled again. But he didn't, and he looked over at Eiros as he let out his breath. He then gingerly took a step toward the blonde, and despite a slight limp in one of his back legs from an injury to his haunch, and a small flare of pain in his shoulder as he moved, he could thankfully support his weight. Risking one more step toward Eiros, Soona offered a warm and reassuring smile, his eyes having since become significantly brighter. The blonde was truly all of the motivation that he needed.
No...
Why did Soona have to look at him like that? Did he not know what it did to him? The torment it put him through? So much trust and admiration... the stag looked up at him as though he were some angel of mercy come down from the heavens. A sickness stirred in his gut at the thought of it. The idea should have empowered him...but it didn't. He didn't want to do this. He didn't want to ruin this.
But he had to.
Eiros watched him rise, his own weariness no doubt matching Soona's as the blue buck fought to keep his balance. This time, he succeeded. The blonde thought to offer him something this time – a tiny, lopsided smile of encouragement. It felt like nothing compared to the one Soona offered him in return. It felt like nothing compared to what he wanted to do... Yet Eiros stood his ground as the male stumbled closer. The muscles in his soft jaw tensed as his eyes flickered to the blue's unsteady legs with a swirling of dread. The appendages themselves seemed to be intact. It was a miniscule silver lining. At this new distance Soona could no doubt see his own injuries plainly – though there wasn't much to them now. Most of the smaller scraped and cuts had healed into thin lines of scarring that too would fade in time. The gash in his shoulder was the most prominent, but even that had shrunk considerably... The leg would take a couple more days to heal enough to put weight on again. 'Who knows, now...'
With an uneasy sigh, he nodded his head and turned his gaze to the forest. He paused to think a moment, then silently limped off in a chosen direction. Away from the river. Away from any alleviation of pain.
It was a slow, agonizing trek. Eiros led the blue stag from tree to tree for support as his eyes searched his surroundings critically. It wasn't Soona's safety he was worried about, but his own. He didn't know what state he would be in after this...but he assumed nothing good of it. It would have to be somewhere he could hide for a while...there! “Just a...little further. Up ahead,” he called back reassuringly, though the emotion in his voice fell flat again. The grass was getting thicker – harder to hobble through. A young birch had fallen in a past storm up ahead and had gotten caught up in it's neighbor's trunk not far from the ground. There it hung, barely clinging to life by its splintered stump as the weeds grew up around it. “Here...rest here,” he breathed as he came to a slow stop in front of the tree. The thick grass looked comfortable...it drew a slight smile from his lips despite the sadness in his eyes. He avoided Soona's gaze.
That smile...it was the one that Soona had hoped for. It was small, but it was there, and Soona found himself straightening his posture and holding his head higher as he took it in. Eiros's face glowed with that smile despite the fear in his eyes, but the blue stag's heart was warmed nevertheless. Eiros wasn't going to leave him as he had feared. Indeed, his wounds would not take much time to heal. His suffering was caused more by shock and despair rather than pain; Soona had gotten off lucky with only scrapes, scratches and bite marks. Indeed, Eighteen could have mauled him if he so wished...so why had he not? Soona frowned inwardly at the thought, and then quickly cleared his pondering mind. He didn't wish to think about that, not now...not while Eiros was here.
His smile remained even as Eiros turned away, and he began to slowly follow the blonde in silence. Walking wasn't so bad after all; it was the wound in his shoulder that was giving him the most trouble, but he had enough motivation at this point to bear it. For a while, Soona's gaze was fixated ahead of them, mindlessly scanning the tree line...and then, he noticed something. Lowering his eyes, Soona's fears were confirmed: Eiros was limping as well. The blue stag held back a gasp and held his bottom lip between his teeth, his ears sliding back. What had happened to his friend? Was he hurt? For some reason, something told Soona that he should not ask. He couldn't explain it...he just knew that it would be a terrible idea. Swallowing down the lump that had formed in his throat, Soona tore his eyes away from Eiros's limping form and continued to look around. He felt wary, and extremely vulnerable; the buck wanted to be able to see someone running toward them. Hopefully, Eiros would be able to run if he needed to. If not, Soona would...what would he do? Normally he would run for his own life, but...no, not with Eiros. He would forget his fears and protect his friend like he did with Honeyfur. You are crazy... Stop putting these fantasies in your head! He's only tolerating you right now. Sighing inwardly, Soona pushed aside his own berating thoughts, his ears swiveling to every sound.
A slow and agonizing trek it was, indeed. It felt like the two stags had wandered for ages, and the pain in Soona's shoulder had spread down his leg and across his side and back. He clenched his jaw as he limped after Eiros, silently praying that they didn't have much longer to go. The change in scenery was noticeable: the trees became thinner, their bark pale and flaky. The grass was taller and thicker, the ground firmer beneath his hooves. They were now in the birch forest, and Soona left out a soft sound of relief. The birch forest was his safe haven for when he was frightened; he felt so secure in the tall grass, and even more so by Eiros's side. It was always so peaceful, so quiet... Soona's ears and eyes flicked up as Eiros suddenly spoke, and although he felt relieved he could not help but frown a little at the blonde's flat tone. Something was bothering the stag greatly, and it worried Soona. He wanted to know what was wrong, what he could do to help. But now was not the time...it would probably never be the time.
The blue buck then noticed the fallen birch, and he immediately recognized it. Indeed, he had passed by it quite a few times before but had never paid it too much mind. Why did Eiros take him here? Was this where the blonde would go when he was afraid or upset? Soona blinked as Eiros spoke again, and then nodded silently and slowly lowered himself down beside the tree with a strained grunt. Taking a breath, he relaxed against the thick trunk, and a small smile touched his lips as well. "The birch forest is my favorite place to be. The grass here is so much nicer. You just feel...hidden from the world," the stag said softly, looking up at Eiros after a moment. The blonde was not looking at him, or anything at all. He seemed as distant as Soona was. Swallowing hard, the stag continued, "Y-You should sit also. I...I saw that you have a limp as well. I am s-so sorry that you had to walk all the way here b-because of m-me." His voice was a little strained, and he looked away with a shamed flush upon his cheeks. Why did he always put others through such hell? Eiros looked as if he could barely stand him. Perhaps if Eiros's leg was not wounded, the blonde would have run off by now...
His eyes carefully followed Soona as he gingerly stepped past him toward the fallen tree. Eiros himself made no move to follow...not yet. He was like a statue: cold, immobile, watchful...even a little imposing in his strict silence. No, that couldn't be. There was a smile on his face, after all. A tiny upturned crease just above his chin. It broadened slightly as the blue stag began speaking. His voice was calmer now as he settled in the cradling grasses...Eiros could hear the hints of joy in the sweetly articulated edges of his tone. The blonde found his new companion to be a rather whimsical presence. Such gentleness...such willingness to please and be pleased. Qualities Eiros had never really found in other males before, and only in the occasional doe. Qualities he himself possessed...
But something was different. Even in pain, distress and despair...Soona's fire flickered brightly in Eiros' eyes. He couldn't guess it was his own presence that was fueling the blue stag's more upbeat attitude...it didn't matter. Soona desired life and he desired happiness... So why did Eiros feel his flame might just go out? It was a sinking realization. He couldn't be this way. It wasn't who he was!...But is it what he had let them turn him into? Was this Eiros: New and Improved? Impermeable to pain?
If that was true, why did his heart so ache?
The blonde closed his eyes, and when they opened again, they had softened and focused. He stepped toward the blue buck, carefully navigating through the grass. This time no careful distance was put between them. The brown-spotted buck came right up beside Soona, facing in the opposite direction, his hooves only inches from the male's side... and then he lowered himself. His face twisted in a wince as his weight was less-than-delicately settled on his broken limb. A brief shift to one side remedied the situation...but it also smashed his body right up against Soona's. “I'm sorry,” he gasped as he felt the other male flinch away from him. He had no doubt knocked against some of his injuries in the maneuver. “Forgive me, Soona... Don't worry. Whatever happened is past... Relax now...”
The blonde's soft, soothing voice had returned. His chest heaved slow and steady against the blue buck's ribs, persisting against the feel of the escalated pull and push of Soona's own lungs against his haunches. The tense, apprehensive stag was gone and in his place sat calm serenity. The stag felt warm against him in the crisp morning...so very, very warm. Electric warm. His skin twitched and tingled where they made contact. “Are you comfortable, now?” he questioned, letting his eyes glance down and rove over Soona's body critically. They lingered on the particularly nasty bite mark on his haunch...
[OHBBY. Baha. Oh hey in my post before I was talking about Eiros' injuries healing not Soona's, if that's what you thought I meant...sorry if there is confusion there :3 Also what ARE Soona's injuries exactly? Scrapes and cuts I get but you mentioned two on his haunch and his shoulder that I'll need more details of]
(Ohh yeah BB~ ;D Oh, I see! Haha, no worries, that probably just flew over my head as usual =P Ah, yes! He has a gash on his right shoulder, a sprained ankle, a deep-ish laceration horizontally across his back, bite marks that drew blood on his haunch and sides, open scrapes under his belly and the inside of his legs, a series of minor scrapes and bruises...and a pounding headache. Sorry, Eiros! DX)
The blonde was silent, yes, but Soona was beginning to feel less and less bothered by it. He knew by now that Eiros was a thinking creature who rarely spoke his mind, and he would respect Eiros's choice to remain silent. Even with the lack of conversation, laughter and smiles, the blue buck drew comfort from having Eiros just stand there. And then, Eiros was moving towards him. Soona looked up at the blonde, frozen in place as he drew closer and closer. His heart beat a little faster, although the world seemed to be going by slower. Before he could snap himself out of it, Eiros was standing right beside him, and then lowering himself. Despite being frozen in anticipation, Soona flinched when Eiros winced in pain...and was completely unprepared as to what would happen next.
Eiros was suddenly pressed against him, his lithe body molding to Soona's slightly bigger frame for a millionth of a second. Soona's own body may have been frozen, but his heart was not, and it raced within his ribcage and stirred the butterflies in his stomach. He had flinched, yes...but only because he was caught off-guard. It was a typical reaction, to flinch away from someone or something that falls on you. But he could not help but think that he shouldn't have flinched away...that he should have leaned in and supported Eiros. To rest against him for one second longer... No...stop it, now! Soona blinked, and Eiros was sitting up, apologizing and clearly flustered. "I-It's alr-right," he replied in a daze, looking up at Eiros with a small flicker in his eyes. It was a miracle that he could talk at all after that.
Just when he thought he'd gather his wits, Soona realized that Eiros was still lying against him...well, his chest, anyway. He could feel Eiros breathing against his ribcage...and his warmth. Not just the warmth that filled Soona when he would see Eiros smile, no...actual, physical warmth. Their chests were practically pressed together, and the blue buck could feel Eiros's fur and skin twitch. Soona's heart raced madly...it would be impossible for Eiros to not feel his pulse. Gods... It was then Soona noticed that he had been gazing at the blonde the whole time, and he started internally. Gods knew what his face looked like! He wanted so badly to move closer, to curl around Eiros...no. Eiros was here to help, nothing more. The question cut through the seemingly dead silence, and Soona looked up at him again with indiscernible emotion in his eyes. "I-I am...v-very much," came the whisper, not thinking of what he was saying. His cheeks were slightly flushed as his heart continued to race, and his eyes followed Eiros's until they rested upon the more serious wounds along his body. The blue stag chewed lightly on his lip, his ears sliding back slightly as he wondered what the blonde would do. But at this point, it didn't matter...feeling Eiros pressed lightly against him was enough. He could die happy if he so wished.
His wounds were worse than he'd thought... or at least more plentiful. Now that he was up close he could see into the mussed clumps of fur to spy every tooth-puncture, cut and scrape. The scent of blood wafted up into his nostrils, choking out Soona's...and every other smell that surrounded him. He might have grown plenty used to the smell but it never got anymore pleasant...especially when it belonged to a friend.
That word again...why did it sting so much?
Soona was staring at him. The male's deep blue eyes were becoming a constant, transfixed presence...but like the blood, Eiros wasn't growing anymore used to the gaze. That familiar edginess crept up his spine, threatening the calm that had settled over him. The blonde tore his eyes from the particularly painful looking laceration across the male's back before closing them, momentarily concentrating on taking slow, deep breaths again. Energy was beginning to flow. That familiar electric current breathed through his sides where their bodies lightly touched, slow and steady...much like its owner. Much too slow... But even now he was beginning to feel the emotional effects of the exchange. As Eiros focused on his calm energy, it flowed from him into Soona... and then the blonde's heart began speeding up. Heat pooled into his cheeks as blood rushed to his face in a sudden tremor of happiness, embarrassment and...longing. He wanted to get closer. He wanted to wrap himself around the male and hold tight and breathe him in and just...feel with him! No...no these were Soona's emotions. Soona's desires!
Then...why did they feel so right inside him? So right in fact, not even the harsh voice of his careful conscience could snap him out of it.
Eiros shifted closer...carefully this time, gradually pressing himself up against the blue buck's side, which in turn pressed him up against the tree. Soona was locked now in a double-sided embrace. They were rib-to-rib, and though he still felt the fluttering effects of Soona's emotions on his heart he concentrated on the blue's slower breathing to match it with his own. The warmth spread over him more completely now and the flow of the energy picked up with a shivering jolt. Soona could feel it too, the tickling sensation against his skin and the stirring of energy within him like restlessness...but not like Eiros could. For him the feeling was...exhilarating. It was like a rush of adrenaline without the get-up-and-go. “Me too...”
He didn't know why he said that...he didn't know why he said anything at all! Yet he didn't have the power to regret it. The longing and the desire intensified as the voltaic warmth pulsed through his veins. His heart threatened to beat wildly again. He had to say something...to distract himself...to distract them both! But what was there to say? The truth? No...he couldn't tell the truth.
Wait...what was the truth again? “Don't move...no matter what...okay?” the blonde coo'd softly, his voice a breath of air. He hoped the blue's loyalty and resistance to move was as strong as he felt, for soon he would begin to feel the stirrings of discomfort in his wounds. “Tell me...tell me who did this to you, Soona...”
Soona did not know what to expect as Eiros seemingly began to concentrate, his breaths deep and controlled. He looked up at the blonde with inquisitive eyes, his ears twitching in a mildly nervous manner. The anticipation was raw, and everything around them seemed to fall deathly silent. A familiar pounding continued to resonate in Soona's ears, blocking out even the sound of Eiros's breathing. He did not dare speak for fear of breaking the blonde's concentration. Static. The blue stag's body began to course with warm, humming energy, gentle electricity that pulsed within him like a second heart. A quite gasp escaped him, and his eyelids fell shut almost contently. He had never felt such a sensation before, but it was...incredible. Simply incredible. And then...calm. Suddenly, Soona felt completely calm. There a little bit of unease and uncertainty, yes, but his mind was clear. His heartbeat began to slow until it reached its normal pace, and the flush disappeared from his cheeks. So caught up was he in this new clutch of emotion that he did not stop to wonder what just happened, or why.
The blue buck's eyes slowly opened as Eiros pressed a little closer up against him, and his breath caught in his throat as this caused him to press against the birch as well. The blonde was so close to him, so very intimately close... And yet, Soona remained calm. He regarded Eiros with a passive expression, a small smile...and yet, a piece of subconscious wanted to do more. He wanted to give the lithe buck affection, to lean back against him and keep him warm and safe...but this new wave of emotion forbid him from doing so. Relaxed...calm... He made a small noise as the tickling sensation rippled through his body, and his eyelids fluttered shut again as he leaned his head back slightly. He...loved this. It felt so wonderful, so thrilling. The warmth, the energy, the electricity...the closeness. All of it was incredible...he felt that he wanted more.
A soft sigh fell from Soona's lips at Eiros's response, and much like Eiros didn't have the power to regret it, Soona did not have the power to reassure it. He wanted to...to get closer. But he couldn't move...it was too strong, but... "Gods..." The single word escaped Soona like the beginnings of a prayer. With a soft noise in his throat, he regarded Eiros with utterly content eyes, his eyelids heavy. It was odd...any fleeting twinge of fear or uncertainty was replaced with want and desire. Eiros's voice sounded muffled through the haze, but Soona understood so clearly. Another quiet noise in his throat, almost a very soft moan, was his response to Eiros's cooed request. The blue stag had the same smile on his lips, the same look in his eyes...his body still warm and filled with a pleasant current of energy. But when Eiros inquired about those responsible, Soona's eyes fell shut again with a low sigh.
"I...I do not know. It happened so fast," he managed to mumble, not bearing to face Eiros as he lied once again. The blonde couldn't know...he mustn't. Now that he had felt Eiros this close, this, intimately, he didn't want to let go. He couldn't... Soona inwardly prayed that Eiros would not press the issue for much longer, but all the same his heart lifted at the concern the blonde bore toward him. Gods, he cares...but why...? Opening his eyes, Soona looked up at Eiros from his position, a small yet reassuring smile returning to his lips.
"No, not at all; I think it is quite lovely. It suits you,"
Honeyfur smiled, warmed by his sincerity. "Oh, thank you." He wasn't the only one who had said that, but it was still always nice to hear a compliment everyday, even if it was a redundant one.
"I...I will remember. Thank you, Honeyfur,"
"Anytime," she said gently and sincerly, meaning it. If he was ever stuck in another bad situation, he was always free to go to her to seek out advice. Helping others was now her special quality and life job, which also included verbally helping. Hopefully he would be free of any more situations like this, but that was a weak hope, and the dragon doe knew it. However, it was best not to think of that at the moment.
"Oh, n-no...i-it's alright. Now that I know it's you, I...it's n-not so bad,"
Honeyfur raised her eyebrows, a little surprised and confused at his sudden change of attitude. Was he, nervous? She knew that her dragon form could be a bit intimidating, despite it being only a little taller than a human, but that was only when she walked on her hindlegs. However, she didn't have time to think on it long when she noticed him flinch. That's when she really took in his wounds, and again guilt washed over her. If only he hadn't been there at the time...but what choice did she have? She couldn't bear to watch Eighteen being possessive over yet another deer, so she had to do something to save Soona. Though it seemed, she had gotten him hurt in the process, which felt like a huge kick to the gut.
Suddenly, she thought of Eiros, and how he had fixed her wounds and broken leg before the incident. Perhaps he could heal Soona too? She was about to suggest seeing him, but quickly held her tongue. She had promised him she wouldn't tell anyone about his powers, and so she would keep that promise. But the thoughts of Eiros made her face fall, guilt now showing on it. Honeyfur hoped he still wasn't scared of her, or intimidated by her from their last encounter. She hadn't seen him since, so it was possible. If only there was a way to tell him she was sorry, that she didn't mean to startle him so much. It's true that she was only thinking of her fawns, but it still left guilt inside her for snapping at him.
Then a thought occurred to her. Would it be possible that Soona knew Eiros? She doubted it, since there were several deer in the forest, and since he was one of Eighteen's "possessions", she doubted that he was allowed to see other deer...but could it hurt to ask? If he did know him, perhaps he could relay a message from her? It seemed childish...no, it was childish, and she was far from cowardly, but she truely hadn't seen a trace of the brown stag anywhere she went, as if he were avoiding her. Before she knew it, she found that her mouth was moving, not remembering that she ever wanted to make it move.
"Hey, um...do you, by any chance, know a stag named Eiros?"
Indeed, Soona now felt that he could put his trust in Honeyfur and go to her when he was troubled. But for how long could he be a burden to others because of his many fears and uncertainties? It was just nice to know that he could trust at least one other deer in the forest...or deer entity, rather. Her dragon form was not very large, yes, but compared to her Soona was small. That, and he was still not very sure how to react around a carnivorous creature, especially after what transpired between him and Eighteen. Even so, he knew that Honeyfur would not hurt him, and among other things it was a massive relief.
Looking up, the blue stag noticed the strange look in Honeyfur's eyes, and he tried to place it. It was...guilt? But why? She looked very uncertain, and as if she wished to say something but couldn't find the words. Soona shifted his weight slightly and rested a little more heavily against the birch, his gaze shifting to the blue bowl as he waited patiently. He had all the time in the world, as life just went day by day for him. He had no schedule, was never in a rush...but perhaps that was what made him so lonely in the first place.
Honeyfur's voice suddenly cut through the silence, and Soona stiffened slightly in surprise. He had not expected her to ask about Eiros. His heart began to beat faster at the mere mention of the blonde's name, and he swallowed hard only to find that his throat was bone dry. Where was all of this nervous energy coming from? It was not negative energy, no...it was very much positive. It was the good kind of nervousness that one felt before walking across the stage during a graduation ceremony. But it was more than that... "Y-yes, I do," he replied slowly, turned his head away slightly as his cheeks became flushed. "I m-met him yesterday. H-He is...v-very sweet," he continued absently, a small smile forming on his lips as he gazed off into the distance. Sweet, yes, but also reserved and shy, and very timid. Soona never thought he'd be so patient getting to know someone who was like himself.
Eiros had given up trying to understand what was happening. This...this was... He couldn't think! Not about anything but Soona. How close he was...how he wanted to be closer...the little gasps and sighs and moans that escaped him and the way his eyelids fluttered and... his energy. No...yes! Yes he had to concentrate on that! Yet the blue buck was not making it an easy task for him. The process was not generally an unpleasant one for the recipient of the exchange...but most who participated were tense or anxious – uncertain of what to expect. Sometimes they resisted and the discomfort intensified...sometimes they were lulled so deeply into emotional sedation they barely reacted at all. Only once or twice had anyone opened themselves up to enjoy it...and neither time had been anything like this! What was different? Why did Soona seem just as deeply engrossed in their contact as...he was?
'It wont last...'
A stirring of doubt. A whisper of warning surfacing briefly before being pulled back beneath the waves. His brows knit as he rolled the words around in his thoughts a moment...but the blue's voice distracted him from juicing them for a deeper meaning he couldn't quite grasp. An answer to his question...except it wasn't an answer at all. Why was he...why was he avoiding the truth? His eyes lifted to meet the other male's with a glimmer of skepticism...but Soona smiled carefully at him and the feeling melted away. He smiled back defeat. Why did he even want to know? Why did it matter? Anything capable of producing injuries like these was something Eiros would naturally avoid, right...? Yet he wanted a name. A face. Something to feel contempt for, for doing this... For ruining everything...
Suddenly his head began to ache. A dull throbbing of pain pulsed to life between his eyes. He became aware of the tickling, like a feather against the insides of his skin; across his back, haunches, shoulder, and belly. It was light and almost pleasant...at first. Then the tickle became an ominous itch.
Eiros filled his lungs with air as his ears slid back to press against his skull. Closing his eyes, the stag gently turned and lowered his head across the blue stag's back, resting the weight of it between his wounds. His long, slender neck pressed against him, hugging him, and their bodies pressed even tighter together. The blonde let his eyelids flutter shut. “Tell me a story, Soona... A happy memory from the past. Something that... made you laugh...smile...anything. Close your eyes and imagine it again... tell me how you felt.”
His voice rose above a whisper now, clear and instructive to draw the male's complete attention. Soona would be feeling the effects too...the tingling in his wounds and the sense of instant relief as the pain flowed out of his body. Eiros wanted the blue's mind distracted, and maybe...maybe his, too. His body gave a little flinch as the first wave of it coursed into him, white-hot and angry...then quieted again, even as it continued to tear through his body. Another pulse, then another. The pain wound its way through him until it found the little points and slashes of itching dotted across his skin. It began to scratch. The blonde's muscles gradually tensed to fight against any involuntary movement. He clenched his teeth but kept his face calm as he waited eagerly for Soona's voice, hoping the male would not lot him down...
Another soft noise escaped the contented blue stag as Eiros laid his blonde head against his quivering back. The warmth and electricity intensified within him, and he shifted slightly, allowing Eiros's weight to settle a little more heavily against him. So close...so warm... At that moment, Soona never felt so incredible in his life. The tingles filled his entire body, tickling his hooves and belly along with those ever-persistent butterflies. He could die happy like this, just being so close to this beautiful and caring creature named Eiros. Nothing else in the world mattered to him now. Nothing...
The blue lifted his eyes as Eiros spoke his request, gazing upon that flawless face with a broadened smile. A happy memory... Yes, he did believe he had a few of those. Sometimes he tended to concentrate more on the unhappier ones, the ones that made him into the frightened and pathetic being that he was...but now, Eiros wished to hear the lighter side of his past. He never thought he would hear such a sweet request, and who better to share with than Eiros? Soona felt that he would do anything for the blonde...anything. Eiros had Soona's full attention, as he always did. It was impossible to not listen to him, to look at him. No pain... Soona blinked as it dawned on him, as that ever gracious wave of relief washed over him. Relief... He wanted to wonder, but that did not matter now. His mind was focused on just being there with Eiros. So focused on their closeness was he that he did not notice the blonde flinch, or the tensing of his muscles. The other stag hid his pain well, his expression calm. The blue's smile did not wane, and with a slight bow of his head, he closed his eyes and began to speak.
"It was a long time ago, but I remember it so clearly, even now. When I was very young, I went through a phase where I loved horses. So much so that I began to beg my mother to taking riding lessons. She was apprehensive at first, but eventually gave in to my demands," he began, chuckling as he recalled back how lovingly stern his mother was. She was always so concerned about him. "On my first day at the riding center, I had to ride a pony. Not like a polo pony, but a miniature horse. It was because I was young and small, but I thought it was humiliating. There were children there not much older than me who were riding normal horses after all. Of course, they had more experience than I did, but at the time the thought never crossed my mind. I was...er, still am quite stubborn." Soona grinned sheepishly at the blonde with another chuckle before continuing.
"Well, I was so determined to ride a horse like the big kids that I began to scheme. While my mother was distracted, I picked out a horse that was left unattended with all of its tack on. I got up on the step-stool, and somehow managed to get into the saddle. I remember that the saddle was so big compared to me, and from where I sat, the ground looked like it was miles below me!
"I was very quick to panic, and I suppose the horse sensed my nervous energy because it began to panic as well. Before I could blink, the horse tore out of the stable and toward the surrounding riding field, and I was clinging to the saddle horn for my life. The next thing I knew, I was flying...and then I hit the ground. Not too hard, amazingly, but enough to knock the wind out of me. I just laid there, stunned, and then I heard my mother screaming for me. I sat up, and she was running toward me, crying. In a moment she was kneeling beside me, looking me over...and when she saw that I wasn't crying or hurt, she began to laugh. And, I couldn't help but laugh with her. We laughed 'til our stomachs hurt."
Soona was looking beyond them now, as if he could see his mother in the distance, his smile broad and bright. "Oh, she scolded me of course, but she was still laughing a little. I told her that I just wanted to be like the big kids, and she just smiled and kissed my forehead. After the instructor saw that I was fine, my mother requested that I be put on a horse, but with one exception: she had to ride with me. Our request was granted, and my mother allowed me to hold the reins. I was so excited, nudging the horse's side with my shins...but looking back, I realize that it was an old trail horse who wouldn't have cared to trot no matter how hard I'd try." Another chuckle.
"After that, my mother took us to an ice cream shop, and she let me get whatever I wanted. Despite the humiliation I had gone through, I was proud to sit on a horse with her. And, it helped me take more lessons and finally learn how to ride." Soona gazed into the distance for a long moment, and then drew in a deep breath and let out a sigh. "That is...probably the best memory I have, as sad as it seems. I'm sure there are more, but that is the one that stands out the most to me," he said quietly, and then looked down at Eiros again. He suddenly felt a powerful urge to touch his lips to the blonde's forehead, just as his own mother had done...but he held himself back. Eiros was too comfortable...he would not be able to live with himself if he ended up frightening the blonde off after everything they had gone through. Instead, Soona offered his smile, his warmth. His body...
[LOL THANKS. I apologize that it was totally lost on him! Pffft]
Soona would not disappoint him. As the blonde stared into his blue eyes before they obediently closed, he knew he wouldn't. It was... deeper than just a story. It was deeper than life itself. 'W-what...?' The thought startled him, except it wasn't a thought, it was a feeling. A powerful emotion that suddenly overcame him. Yes...he would...he would do anything for Soona, even... 'Die?'
No. Eiros resisted the feeling. He closed his eyes against it and blocked it out. The blue stag began speaking and Eiros clung attentively to his words in the hope that he would get lost in a memory.
Well...he was lost.
The blonde's eyes blinked open as Soona's words grew more and more...strange. The stag's voice was light and cheerful as he began his tale. His eyes remained closed, his lips smiling as they moved... Eiros watched them critically, as though their movement would give him hints as to what...on earth the other male was talking about. If Eiros had ever lived a human life...he did not remember it. If he'd ever walked the streets of a human world he could not recall anything he'd seen there. He recalled the forest. The deer of many faces, sizes and colors. The creatures who were hardly deer at all... He recalled hearing stories of past lives. So many spoke of this...'human' world as though it were real...or at least, in regards to this forest, not a distant memory from the past. Yet how could one such as Eiros wrap his head around the idea of it? The stag's earliest recollection was curled against the fur of his mother's belly in the sunlight...not ponies and ice cream shops -whatever those were.
Yet Eiros said nothing. He didn't dare interrupt Soona as he got lost in whatever strange, dream-like recollection he was conjuring. The blonde could feel the warmth the foreign memories stirred within the blue stag...and so he concentrated less on the words and more on the feelings behind them. Embarrassment, amusement...pride. Even as his cells began to rearrange and reform, he smiled. As the first wounds began to tear into his skin, he chuckled as Soona did – if not just so that he was able to make a sound. One by one the torn flesh of every cut and scrape beneath the stag's blue fur came together and seamlessly sealed, and one by one they appeared again on Eiros. Despite his tense muscles his body still twitched and quivered in response to each sharp sting of pain. He simply pressed closer in response, urging the process to go faster...but he was as close as comfortably possible already. Soona was completely pinned between Eiros and the tree. He might not be able to leave even if he wanted to...
The blonde's eyes watered as he fought to keep his composure. His shoulder now throbbed as another gash was carved next to the one that had already been healing. The tendons of his ankle swelled and pulsed and the pain traveled up his leg. Teeth bit into his haunch and began ripping... When he felt tingling pressure upon his back, the blonde cracked his teary eyes to stare at the deep, angry slash in front of him as it slowly began to heal. His companion's story was ending, but he wasn't listening anymore. His violet eyes were transfixed as he watched the swollen edges of Soona's torn flesh develop a will of its own, sliding together like two bloodied lips in a reunion kiss.
He tried to hold it back but...he couldn't stop it. It was...it was too much!
As a hot knife slashed across his back, the brown stag buried his head into the blue buck's fur to muffle a strangled cry of pain. He could no longer focus on the other male's calm, happy energy...it slipped from his grasp and his heart began to race. 'You were right...It's too much...'
(Haha, no worries, I had a feeling he wouldn't understand! =P)
The smile fell from Soona's lips when Eiros's eyes opened. They were watery and filled with pain, and as Soona followed the blonde's gaze he gasped. His own wounds were healing right before his eyes, and he froze up momentarily as fear took over once more. As he tried to process what was happening, a new wave of emotion crashed into him mercilessly: anguish. The blue's own eyes began to water up, and he bit down hard on his lip as he heart began to race once more. He tasted blood, could feel his pulse through his whole body. A part of him wanted to kick out his legs and flee...but his heart willed him to stay. Eiros needed him to stay, and so he would. Tearing his gaze away from his healing wounds, Soona took in another shocking sight: wounds were appearing on Eiros's body, in the same places where the blue stag had been attacked. "Wh-whats happening?" he called out hoarsely, his head buzzing. He couldn't think at all, couldn't move...
And then, Eiros cried out. It was a cry of pain, and it sliced through Soona's very soul. A cold shiver traveled down the blue's spine even as the blonde pressed his face into his fur. Eiros was hurt, and it was crushing Soona. It was all too much... "Eiros...oh Gods, Eiros," Soona moaned, a strangled sob ripping from his chest as he leaned his neck into Eiros's shoulder. He held the blonde as close to him as possible, sobbing into his tawny fur as wave after wave of anguish and suffering smashed into him. "I've g-got you, sweet one...it's ok-kay," he managed to whisper into the blonde's fur, shifting until his lower body curled around the lithe stag. He did not know what was going on at all, but all he knew was that he needed to comfort Eiros. Keep him close, keep him safe... I'm here...
Edit: Nuuuu! It's mine!! *hisses* XDD Pff, go ahead and use it, s'alright!
Edit-edit: Omg, that post...is it pathetic that I teared up a little? DON'T ANSWER THAT. o-o Gah...I'm a little busy at the moment, but I'll reply ASAP! <3
[-rambles on and on-]
[EDIT: NUUU YOU STOLE MY BLUE TEXT -sob-]
[EDIT 2: LOL AWW -shot- That's ok take your time lord knows I did pfft!]
Eiros' tolerance for pain was far higher than most, but not exactly 'super-human'. No, he had simply learned how to deal with it better; how to keep it pent up and pushed out of focus. The surge of another's energy coursing through him like a spike of adrenaline also helped the cause. Eiros had absorbed worse than this. Shattered ribs. Poison. A punctured lung. What were a few scratches? Yet the stag felt momentarily overcome. It wasn't the physical pain that was too much...it was all of his pain combined. The surges of foreign emotion, so deep and loving and full of desire, threatened to undo him. He couldn't focus! He couldn't see past the overwhelming desire to curl into the blue's body and bury his head and just ...let himself go! The relief!
No. Soona had already found out what he was up to. He had heard him gasp. He had felt his muscles tense. He could feel a new, darker emotion welling up inside him as the blue stag's heart began to beat wildly. His body trembled. Soona was afraid...and why shouldn't he be? Eiros hadn't asked his permission, or let on about what he was, or warned him at all! Maybe...maybe if he had...maybe the other male would have understood. Now on top of scaring him, the male had also betrayed his trust. 'Good...it'll just...make things easier'
Except... that wasn't what was happening. It wasn't fear that began to fill him, but...compassion. Was that the right word? No...it was too overwhelming! The blue sobbed out his name in despair and... shifted to hold him closer. He cried. He buried his face into the blonde's brown fur. He... wasn't trying to run? Eiros shuddered when hot, damp breath fluttered against his skin as Soona spoke again. He strained to hear the muffled whisper over the beating of his own heart. “I've g-got you, sweet one...it's ok-kay.”
The stag's breath caught in his throat. The sudden surge of sympathy, tenderness and...love...was devastating. He had never heard such sweet words – not since his mother's careful embrace. The doe's love was genuine, yes, but dutiful...
...Soona was a stranger.
Soona was a stag!
And Eiros was completely lost in his embrace.
“I'm s-sorry,” he breathed, his voice small and defeated. It was all he could offer...all he could think of. His body betrayed him, wrapping around the other male's as though he were a small fawn. Tears spilled from his eyes and his body shuddered, completely wrought and...out of his control. The last of Soona's injuries had healed. For Eiros it felt as though a million points of his flesh were on fire. The tighter he squeezed into the blue buck the more the pain intensified...but then the quicker it would numb from the steady pressure. Blood trickled down his skin, hot and warm. None of it mattered. The blonde tucked and buried his face into the other male's belly fur, doing his best to mind his antlers, but it was hard to have thoughts now... Soona's energy continued to flow, now strong and clean. Now that the stag was all worked up it gushed into him like the blood from his wounds, feeding his hungry soul. Warm wave after warm wave after warm, electric, delicious wave. Each pulse made the pain grow duller – made his body feel light as a feather. He was invincible, with the blue stag by his side! 'But Soona isn't.'
The voice startled him. It sounded hollow and hopeless inside his head, as though not expecting to be heard. Yet it was right – so right it put a crack in his shell of comfort and let reality leak in. He couldn't stay like this. He was taking too much. “Soona... you...you have to go... You have to...Now...”
The urgency rising in the pit of his chest had not yet reached his voice. He shifted against the male in a weak attempt to pry himself away from him, but they were magnetized. He couldn't...
@ Saanra ~ Ahhh! Lol don't worry, I will in a bit. I was busy yesterday :<
--
Uncertainty. Fear. It consumed Soona all at once in an overwhelming, unforgiving flood. Denial. Confusion. Dark emotions entered his subconscious making him shivering and accelerate his pulse to unbearable levels. Sorry... Why was Eiros sorry? So confused... Lost... "Eiros..." the blue stag whispered into the blonde's fur, nosing gently into his nape. Eiros was...frightened. He shivered like a newborn fawn, like a leaf caught in a high wind. Blood... Soona smelled it before he saw it, and he let out a choked gasp at the sight of the newly formed gash that graced Eiros's shoulder. An ugly wound, the exact one that Soona had bore. Without thinking, Soona began to lap at it as gently as he could, clearing away debris and dead tissue. His head was light as the taste of copper overwhelmed his sense of taste and smell. He felt as if he would be ill, but he couldn't back away. Eiros needed his help...Gods, would he do anything for him.
And then...calm. The pulsing waves began to grow smaller, gentler as calmer energy flowed into the blue stag. They pulsed through his body, resonating in his chest and belly, tickling his hooves and antlers. What a feeling... A soft groan escaped Soona's lips, his eyelids fluttering. Invincible... Was that the word? He thought he heard it...and he felt it. Gods, did he feel it. Subconsciously, Soona leaned closer into Eiros, his lips pressed against his wounded shoulder. The smell and taste of blood was becoming less unpleasant, really...it was odd. Soona vaguely thought that he could feel Eiros's heart beating in tune with his own, side-by-side, as one. What a strange thought...what a strange feeling. Yes...he could feel it. He could...
"Soona...you have to go... You have to go, now..."
The blue's eyes snapped open, and he froze momentarily. He could not have heard what he thought he heard... Eiros was shifting weakly, trying to move away. Slowly, Soona leaned back and stared at Eiros, his heart plummeting as he read the urgency in the blonde's face. "E-Eiros, I...wh-what's wrong?" he whispered, his voice choked. The calmness was gone...he was overcome with dread and fear. That denial, that urgency...that desire to flee. But he didn't want to flee...he never wanted to. What was happening? Why was Eiros so afraid? "P-Please...Eiros..." He couldn't move...he felt as if he had melted against the blonde, merged with him. He wanted to obey Eiros's desperate command, but...he couldn't move. Terror welled up in his chest, and his breath began to come out in short gasps. Panic, pain...desperation. Please...don't make me go... Don't leave me...
As Soona lifted his head, Eiros started at the sight of blood on his lips. He had been so caught up in everything else he hadn't even noticed the blue stag's attempts at cleaning his wounds. Why...why would he do that? Didn't he realize they were his wounds? Didn't he understand what had just happened? This was not the reaction the blonde had been expecting. Seeing his blood smeared across the blue's mouth made his stomach turn. Yet even his reaction was more mild than what it should have been. He couldn't feel sick. He felt too good. Even as their confused, fearful emotions began to make disorienting circles around them, the energy was the same pleasant pulsing. It was constant. It was the last tethers of happiness that bound them.
It had to be broken.
Eiros closed his eyes tightly, forcing them away from Soona as the stag pleaded with him. He sounded so lost...so desperate. The blonde hated him for it. Hate? Yes! No... He didn't know! Frustration was building within him as more and more energy filled him like a cup. No, he wasn't mad a Soona, he was furious with himself! Furious he couldn't stop. He had passed the limit of what he could take without Soona feeling any major effects... soon the other male would begin to feel weak. Too weak to move...and he couldn't have that. Eiros feared he might lay there till there was nothing left. “Soona ...please. Go,” he tried again, feeling as though he had to gasp for air to conjure the soft, pleading words. He turned his head away to hide his expression as he fought to channel ever foreign emotion that entered into his consciousness. 'Thump, thump, thump.' His racing heart throbbed hard in his temples, the ache between his eyes growing and growing. Another stab of fear and dread gave his body a jolt.
He...he couldn't... HE COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!
“I said go! Now!”
Eiros spun his head back around to face the other male, his eyes narrowed and teeth clenched. Pain and anger mixed into a strangled tone as he fought to raise his voice. His violet eyes were wide and glazed over as he stared Soona's, doing all that he could to convey his will.
So much confusion... Soona had never felt so many different waves of emotion flood him. It was overwhelming, yes, but at the same time it was just...incredible. Despite the fleeting feelings of fear and uncertainty, he felt...so very good. Comfortable, even. At this point, he wasn't sure if that was only because Eiros was pressed against him. Feeling the blonde's lithe body wrapped around his was...surreal and enthralling. Welcoming and familiar... Like boiling water, however, the fear and desperation began to bubble up within him once more. Something was terribly wrong... He had to break...wait. Why was he saying this? This wasn't him... This wasn't what he thought at all! So much confusion... Soona's head began to throb, the beginnings of a migraine haunting him as he struggled internally. He wanted to stay, to comfort Eiros and just be with him...so what was this phantom command to run away? It buzzed inside his head, the will to fly slowly overtaking him. Overpowering...
Frustration...anger... Where were these emotions coming from? Soona could never be frustrated or angry at Eiros, never...what... The blue stag couldn't think anymore as the throbbing in his head intensified, and he groaned as a small wave of nausea hit him. He briefly recalled how he hadn't had a migraine in years.
"Soona...please. Go."
Eiros's voice was small, strangled. Soona stiffened at the weak command, his airway feeling as if it'd close in on itself as he struggled to breathe. His chest tightened, his heart accelerating to unhealthy levels. He didn't want to have a panic attack...not in front of the blonde... "E-Eiros...p-please don't d-do th-this," the blue stammered with great effort, although his voice was barely a whisper. Hot tears trailed down his cheeks, his body trembling. Eiros really wanted him to leave... It was too much, too sudden. The stag's world was beginning to crash down, his heart and body crushed. He couldn't lose Eiros...he couldn't...
"I said go! NOW!"
A powerful burst of rage, of fear. As if being yanked on a puppeteer's strings, Soona was pulled to his feet...or did he jump up? He could not remember despite it being a second ago. Their bodies had been ripped apart; the warmth was replaced with unforgiving cold. Fear...flight... The stag couldn't see; the forest was distorted, unrecognizable through his confusion and the white-hot pain in his throbbing skull. He realized that his hooves were pounding on the ground. He was moving. N-no...NO!
He stopped, tried to breathe. His breath came out in wheezing gasps, his legs shaking as he struggled to support his weight upon them. Despite standing in place, he stumbled, his vision wavering. A powerful wave of nausea hit him, forcing him to retch, the throbbing pain in his cranium merciless. Shivering, Soona slowly looked up, back to where he had lain with the beautiful stag. In an instant, it was over. He did not know what had happened, what he had done wrong... But he knew that it was his fault. It was all his fault, like it always was.
"Eiros..." Soona called out weakly, his voice soft and strangled despite the amount of air he attempted to free from his lungs. He didn't know what to do, where to go. He wanted to go to Eiros again, to curl up with him and tend to his wounds...but Eiros didn't want him near. "Please..." With a strangled sob Soona stumbled across the birch, but no matter how much distance he put between him and the blonde, Eiros's scent still followed him. It was too much... Soona couldn't breathe. Collapsing in a tall patch of timothy, Soona struggled for breath between uncontrolled sobs. He thrashed weakly, the throbbing pain intensifying as everything rushed back to him. In one day, he had destroyed his trust with Eighteen and Eiros...but Eiros was the one who he cared about the most. Eiros became the only creature that mattered to him...and now he was gone. Gone... The panic attack didn't last for too long. Soona was already exhausted, and soon he could breathe again. The tears wouldn't stop, the pain in his heart overpowering his migraine. He laid there in the grass, sobbing quietly, too paralyzed to move again. If a predator found him there, so be it. It didn't matter anymore...not anymore. Eiros...I am so sorry...
(Sigh...why do I torture my characters so much? Oh yeah...because it's FUN! >D)
The blue buck scrambled to his feet in a shot, and their connection was broken.
The flow of energy came to a sudden halt. With Soona's warm, supportive body no longer there to catch him Eiros toppled over into the grass with a gasp. He didn't feel cold...he couldn't, even if he wanted to. The other male's voltaic energy was still trapped inside him, spreading through every tissue, tingling and wonderful. The whirlwind of thoughts and fears and desires and dreads and...anger... that had threatened to drive him mad had gone quiet. It was just his heart beat now. 'Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump.'
It was just whispers. 'Soona go...please...go...'
He had gone. 'Good...you're safe now...'
A weary ghost of a smile formed upon his lips. Yes, he'd healed him. The blue stag would no longer be in pain...
Then the smile quickly faded again, and any shimmering of happiness or satisfaction he thought he'd might have felt in that moment vanished. He didn't really feel these things...simply thought that he should. In reality the blonde felt...hollow. It had all gone quiet, but no amount of peace followed. The hurricane was over, but the destruction it had left in its wake... Wait, that was it. Eiros was in shock. It had been too much. Too many emotions. Too many sensations. He had lost his cool and Soona had suffered and he had felt every second of it with him, and Soona...oh Gods, Soona had felt him too. That look in his deep blue eyes before he'd taken off, so afraid and lost and...crushed. A wail rose in the blonde stag's throat. It cut through the forest, silencing the gossiping birds overhead before it was muffled by a quick turn of his head into the grass. He couldn't explain it; where it came from; what it was... He just screamed into the grass until he couldn't anymore. Tears gushed out of his eyes as he closed them tightly, curling his battered body into the weeds. He trembled. “F-f-forg-give m-me,” he breathed, pressing his face into the ground, wishing it would open up and swallow him. “F-forge-e-et me...”
[Hey I deserve some of the credit! My characters are heart-breaking bastards! XDD GAH I CAN'T TAKE IT]
(OHGOD, this is so sad...and yet, I love the drama! Sorry, Soona! MUAHAHAHA~ XD)
Shock... Yes, that was the word. Like Eiros, Soona was in shock, his body numb and his head buzzing. Powerful sobs wracked his body as he struggled to process what had just happened. Not just now, but for the entire morning. So much had happened at once... First he lost Eighteen's trust, and now Eiros wanted him to stay away. But what just happened with Eiros hurt the most. Gods, did it hurt... It was unbearable. The pain of his past wounds had nothing on the pain that he felt in his heart. It wrenched at his gut, twisted his insides mercilessly. His body suddenly felt cold despite the warm rays of sunlight washing over him through the canopy. The blue groaned and shivered, rolling onto his other side and squeezing his eyes shut as a smaller wave of nausea crashed into him.
Soona did not hear the blonde's wail, no, for he then wrenched an anguished cry from his own lungs. This one lasted longer, was louder, was filled with the pain and anguish that he had pent up inside of him for so long. The cry was beginning to transform into a scream, and Soona thrashed his body against the ground feebly as he beat his cheek into the earth over and over... Enough. He slumped, completely silent save for strangled gasps as he fought for breath. His face and neck were soaked with tears, and white dots exploded in his vision. A bruise was forming on his cheek, and blood filled his mouth from when he bit down on it from the inside. He shivered, jerked, tried to curl into himself the best he could. Cold... Alone... Alone... He was doomed to be alone. Always alone. No...
He wanted to disappear, to be gone forever. He didn't deserve another chance, another life. This is how it would always be. It was torture... This was his own personal Hell. Alone...
"P-please...d-don't le-eave m-me..." Shadows crept into the corners of his vision, closing in on him. And then... complete darkness. Emptiness. A voice of the past guided him into subconsciousness. Rest your head... Rest, now. It will be alright...
(Whew...Soona freaked so much that he passed out. I'm a monster! >8D Hm...so, what shall we do from here? I guess we should probably rely on in-game events for the more dramatic RPs. Is there a chance of Eiros actually approaching Soona instead of vice-versa, I wonder?)
Ok you are kind of a monster pfft -giggle-
UMMMM whatnext uhhh.... Dunno? Definitely some more forest interaction, which I guess means they have to make up somehow, which probably means more RP XD Or not. Eiros will approach Soona if you'd like. I know he's been around in the forest (derp) but I imagine he'd stay hidden for a few days until he was well and calmed down enough to wander around after that. He will want to apologize heh...silly nugget. So we can do that in game and if you want to rp it we can or we can't just explain what happened ^^' I'm good with either!
Why thank you! *beams with pride for some reason* XD
Oh, I love that idea! We can wait a couple of days (Soona will be laying low as well), and we can plan out when Eiros will approach Soona. I would love to play it out in-game and then RP it on the comm later. Eeee...it's going to be either cute, heart-breaking, or both! Hopefully just the former though, haha!
Honeyfur's eyebrows raised a little. She wasn't anticipating him to know the brown stag at all. Relief flooded through her, but was soon replaced with guilt once again. She hated the idea of asking what she wanted to ask, because she knew that she could easily approach Eiros himself and apologize for her actions...but, again, there had been no sign of the blonde anywhere. Besides, even if she did find him, would he run away again? She didn't doubt it.
"I m-met him yesterday. H-He is...v-very sweet,"
The dragon felt a smile forming on her muzzle as she heard the words and saw the pink tint of a blush on his cheek. It didn't bother her, not at all. She had several friends with a mate of the same gender, so you could say that she was pretty use to it. Besides, if that's what makes you happy, then go for it...that's how she viewed it. Then she turned her head forward, looking out at the horizon. Her tail twitched as she figured that she was just jumping to conclusions. This was the first time she had met Soona, so of course she wouldn't know for sure...only assumed.
Wait...what was I going to ask? Oh right...
Refocusing her thoughts, she swallowed, getting ready to speak. "I hate to burdon you like this, but I haven't seen him in a while...so, when you get the chance, could you, tell him that I'm sorry for...snapping at him? I don't want him to be terrified of me for the rest of our lives...." She looked down at her clawed hands, her smile had vanished. Guilt seemed to be her most dominant expression this evening, because it once again took over, forcing the happy, understanding emotion into submission.
(Sorry for the weak post, I'm a little rushed at the moment since I'm supposed to be packing xD" I just wanted to put this up before tomorrow ^^)
(Aw, no worries at all! I hope you have a safe and fun vacation, Honey! c: <3)
The blue stag didn't notice the dragon smile, for now his gaze was fixated past the blue bowl, his eyes distant. He squeezed his eyes shut as another light-headed spell overcame him, but he was able to shake it off. The dull pain and throbbing in his fresh wounds was no longer debilitating; no, it was his heart that was causing him the most misery. He supposed he should have seen this coming, as no one seemed to like or trust Eighteen like he did. Well, he once did, anyway. He should have ran when Eighteen charged Honeyfur...she was more than capable of defending himself. Why did he have to be a hero when he is always such a coward?
His train of thought derailed as the dragon spoke again, and Soona looked up at her curiously. She looked...upset. And...guilty? There was so much guilt about her, and he did not understand why. He wanted to ask what had happened between her and Eiros, but he knew that it was none of his business. All he knew was that she was truly sorry for whatever had happened. Despite his hurt spirit and pain, the blue stag managed a small, reassuring smile. Bowing his head slightly, he replied in a soft voice, "I will gladly relay the message for you, Honeyfur." If I ever see him again... Biting his lip, Soona forced that thought from his mind. To not see the blonde again would be soul-crushing...
Soona was sleeping.
Resting against the ancient birch tree, he looked so... small, curled tightly into himself, his head tucked into his legs as though to shield it from the world. So innocent... like a newborn tucked into the grass. What was he dreaming of? Where they pleasant dreams? His body appeared fit-less, still but for the mesmerizing rise and fall of his chest.
The blue stag must have been somewhere, far from here, for he did not hear Eiros' approach. The blonde had done his best to stay quiet at he followed the scent trail through the birch, but his tender leg and the long, impeding grass had done little to aid his attempts. He hadn't known what he'd find, coming upon the male... The anxiety of the thought made his heart race. What would he see when those deep blue eyes looked up and found him emerging from the forest? Fear? Hurt? Anger? He didn't know if he could bear it... but Eiros knew he had to try.
So the blonde stood over him now, his amaranthine eyes a swirl of emotion. Part of him was relieved the stag was asleep... yet another part was impatient. Should he...go? Leave Soona to his slumber and try again another day? This sounded like the best immediate plan, and yet his hooves remained planted as they were and he found he could not turn his eyes from the blue male. When he finally moved, it was not back the way he came. Instead the blonde limped forward and fashioned himself against the other side of the tree...then settled there. He wasn't thinking, not hard enough! Yet his head felt perfectly clear as he rested it against the white bark and watched the other male sleep...
It was in dreams where Soona would usually find the most peace. To be plunged into a surreal world of warm light and pleasant circumstances was so much more comforting than the real world. He did not always look forward to his dreams, however, for it was not uncommon of him to suffer through a recurring nightmare or two. Nightmares that relived events of his past; nightmares that taunted him, made him wonder how things would have been different if only he'd done something. His nightmares reminded him that he was a coward, a shivering fool with no spine. And always, they would feel real...oh, so very real. Soona had lost count of how many times he'd wake up screaming, crying.
But there was no threat of nightmares, now. In fact, the blue stag had not had any since he had met Eiros. Truthfully, Soona had been thinking of the golden stag almost all day, and now his dreams were warm and welcoming. The sleep he was currently in was deep and restful, which was quite a feat considering that he could never sleep well at all. He had suffered through several sleep disorders as a human, but in his new body he found that they were much easier to overcome. He did not move at all in his sleep, save for the rise and fall of his chest and belly as he breathed. Soona was utterly relaxed, at peace. Yet, something was missing...
Despite the fact that he could not hear Eiros approach, even his subconscious Soona could feel a gentle presence materialize nearby him. A smile formed on his lips as he slept, and he made a small humming noise in his throat as a very familiar scent caressed his senses. Eiros...mm... Eiros...? The realization hit him, and Soona roused from his dream, blinking his eyes slowly. He felt disoriented after forcefully removing himself from such a restful state, but his heart was pounding too hard to re-enter it. And then, he remembered why he awoke in the first place. Turning his head, Soona gasped softly as his eyes locked with the golden stag's own. He was here, right next to the blue stag, voluntarily. He found himself frozen as he gazed into Eiros's eyes, although his smile was back and was as wide and warm as ever. Even if he were still somehow dreaming, it did not matter; his heart was light although it pounded away with nervous excitement.
"Eiros, I...I am so happy to see you," he finally spoke, his voice slightly distorted from sleeping. Blushing, Soona cleared his throat softly, his smile temporarily becoming sheepish in nature. He wished to lean in and sniff at his friend, but decided against it; he did not want to make Eiros uncomfortable, not ever.
His lean muscles tensed beneath his chocolate fur when Soona finally exhibited signs of waking. The expression on his handsome face changed, the corners of his lips lifting into a smile as a soft sound moaned from deep within his throat. The blonde's ears timidly lifted at the sweet sound, his violet gaze unable to turn away as he watched the blue's body shift. He held his breath as the resting male's pale eye-lids fluttered open. His lower lip tucked itself firmly against his teeth and he bit it a little in reassurance as Soona stared off into the grass, gently blinking off the hazy effects of sleep. The shifting of his head was surprising. Two painfully familiar rings of blue were suddenly upon him. The blue stag's eyes rose to meet his without any hesitation. Eiros's heart pounded in his chest, his fear building in the seconds his stare lingered. Surely as soon as the sleepy male realized who sat before him he would panic.
But...no.
He watched in amazement as a wide smile spread slowly across Soona's face. The blue stag was...seeing him. Actually seeing him, and...he was smiling? He was...h-happy to see him?
A lightness in his head reminded him he was still holding his breath...or was it the sight of the familiar rosy blush spreading across the other's cheeks? Eiros expelled the built-up pressure of air from his nose slowly as his ears slide uncertainly back along his head. Very carefully, he returned the smile, though it was no where near as bright. He didn't want to believe Soona's warm welcoming...he didn't want to accept it. There was too much fear and uneasiness in his heart still. That night...didn't Soona remember?! “I'm...I'm glad,” the stag managed, his brows knitting behind the cover of his mask. His eyes looked worried. “I'm sorry, I...didn't mean to wake you,” he added quickly, his voice lowering as his eyes shifted away, unwilling to hold that deep azure gaze any longer. He realized how foolish he sounded. He had been caught staring at the stag when he'd awoken... If he had not been intending to wake him, then that meant he had intended to watch him sleep! Eiros lowered his head a little, glancing off to hide his embarrassment.
Those violet eyes. That smile. That voice... This is what Soona had been longing for, and here Eiros was, sitting before him when the blue stag feared he would never see him again. It was such a relief, and almost a surreal feeling. He kept thinking that Eiros was a being that had manifested into his subconscious; a representation of the beauty and compassion that Soona would never be able to experience. He knew it was silly to think, but at times like these when he is still a little disoriented from rousing from a deep sleep, if felt like he was still in a dream as he gazed at the golden deer before him.
Soona could not read the nervousness on Eiros's face, nor the uncertainty as he still trying to blink the sleep from his eyes, but the smile was impossible to miss, no matter how small it was. That night... Yes, the blue stag had remembered it. How could he not? He would always remember. However, it was no surprise for him to act as if nothing awkward had happened between them; after all, Eiros sat right here before him after everything that had transpired. He no longer had anything to worry about...or so he hoped. The blonde returning to him was enough of a sign that everything would be alright.
It was then that Soona noticed the worried look in Eiros's eyes, although he tilted his head with the same warm smile as the blonde apologize. "Eiros...seeing you is much more wonderful than having a dream," he replied softly, and then coughed as his blush returned. "Er...well, you know. I adore your company, and...I was afraid I'd never see you again," he added in a slightly quieter tone, his smile becoming sheepish. He continued to gaze at Eiros's face even as the blonde looked away. He could now read Eiros's body language loud and clear, and it worried Soona. Whenever he'd see him, the blonde was always nervous and looked like he was ready to take flight at any moment. But why? Soona would never believe that anyone would find him frightening.
"Eiros...what's wrong?" the blue stag asked quietly, leaning towards the blonde slightly with a worried look on his face. He wished to nose at Eiros's fur in a comforting, reassuring manner...but who knew how the blonde would react to that? If Eiros were to flee after Soona got his hopes it...well, it would shatter him.
“Seeing you is much more wonderful than having a dream...”
Wh-what? What sort of peculiar thing was that to say? The blonde wasn't even sure if he was supposed to be embarrassed this time around the statement was so baffling to him - though Soona's cheeks turning a shade redder should have been a clue. Yet the blue stag stumbled quickly to correct himself, perhaps finding the comment as odd as he did. His alternative choice of words made more literal sense, but the feeling behind them?
Eiros turned his head back wearily, ears nestling back into his hair. His eyes were wide and childlike as he peered awkwardly at the sheepish smile and rosy cheeks of his companion. Yet as shameful as the blue buck appeared, he met Eiros' gaze eagerly...and held it. He swallowed, but his mouth was dry. The same old feelings were bubbling up again, uneasy and questioning. Soona's stare...the way he looked at him. He remembered now. Why had he come?
“Eiros...what's wrong?”
Right. He remembered now. The brown stag shifted his weight and lifted his posture a bit, letting his expression fall flat before fashioning himself a new one. A serious one. He did not hold the male's steady gaze, staring instead at the dirt. “Well I...don't know about any of that, but... I ...well, I just came to apologize,” he began quietly. “I should not have done what I did...not like that. I don't regret healing you, but I should have told you what I was doing.”
He seemed to be picking his words carefully, snatching them from some script he's memorized rather than letting them flow from the heart. “It was wrong, to do it like that. I betrayed your trust, and...I am sorry.”
Eeee, thank you Wocio!
Edit: I claim the second page in the name of...um...ah, forget it! DX
(I hope you don't mind an RP
The dragon doe perked her ears, searching for any sign of Eighteen. She had changed back into a deer, certain that he was gone for good tonight. She was bleeding on her sides and her left shoulder, but Honeyfur paid no mind to her new wounds. She didn't regret them, for she had wanted revenge for so long now for what that beast did to her 'sister', trapping her up in the hollow in the Old Oak. She shook her head to clean it of those horrible memories, and turned to look at the blue stag standing behind her. Her eyes were apologetic, but she didn't regret any of it.
"I'm sorry you had to be in the middle of that. I've had quarrels with that guy for a while now....If I startled you in my dragon form, I'm very sorry about that too. I just wanted revenge on him for holding my best friend Nanetta hostage up in his hollow in the Old Oak." Not wanting to startle the stag further, she walked toward him, her lime green eyes soothing, and her voice now more gentle. "I have to warn you, though you probably already know, Eighteen is not good company to keep. Besides...you're probably on his hit list right now. But don't worry about that, I'll be keeping a close watch on him to make sure he doesn't hurt you further, as I'm also doing for Nanetta....Also, don't worry about me either. I'm just doing my job like always," she said with a warm smile. Defending those in need is what she does best, and this stag was no exception.
(Oh yes, and a little side note: In her dragon form, when on her hindlegs she's at least 6 ft tall, so she's not a massive dragon ^^)
(Oh no, I don't mind at all!
(Gah, unfortunately I'm going to have to reply later, as it is very late now. I promise I shall post ASAP! <3)
(Heh, yeah xD I need to
Awww poor Soona ;_; I feel bad that he had to be in the middle of that, but HF wanted to do something when she noticed Eighteen being possessive over Soona, and mix some revenge on top of that and you get a battle hungry dragon o-o;
Lol that's alright, it's 4:13 AM here, so I should be crashing soon too xD Night! <3)
(Oh, nice! 8D Ahh yes, I
Shortly after Eighteen had
Soona's ears slid back as Honeyfur spoke, grinding on his lower lip with his teeth. "Th-this all happened so fast. I w-was afraid he'd attack you...I prayed he wouldn't. Wh-why did he lie to me?" the blue stag stammered in a choked voice, almost sounding as if he was speaking to himself. He then looked up at Honeyfur, his misty eyes filled with a myriad of emotions, none of which were pleasant or positive. "I wanted to h-help him... I th-thought he cared..." The stag slumped against the tree trunk, forcing back the sobs that wracked his chest. His head was light and spinning, his heart rapidly pacing. Foolishly, he thought he had made a connection with Eighteen...he thought that he had found a friend in the frightening creature. But now, all of that was gone in an instant. Eighteen wanted to kill him. Kill...
(Gah, I'm sorry that the post is so weak. I'm tired from a long and am lacking my muse, mreh... ;; )
(Lol that's ok, I don't
"Th-this all happened so fast. I w-was afraid he'd attack you...I prayed he wouldn't. Wh-why did he lie to me?"
Honeyfur felt sympathy for the blue stag, and decided to lay down beside him. "It's just the kind of person...or, creature, he is. And like I said, don't worry about me. I'm fully capable of defending myself." She didn't know what to say to the last part. In fact, she was a bit confused by it. The dragon doe let out a sigh, angery at Eighteen at what he's done. Not just physically, but emotionally as well. It looked as if this stag was going to have a mental breakdown, just like Nane did.
Her green eyes turned to look off into the distance, determination ablaze within them. "He's a phsycotic creature, that's for sure. If Nanetta's mate, Flammel, hadn't swooped in and distracted Eighteen, and if I didn't fly in that hollow to rescue her...she would most likely be carrying his fawn right now." She grit her teeth and breathed out heavily through her nose, seething from the very thought of it. "I believe there's good in everyone...his is just deeply rooted." Scorn and loss covered her words this time. Eighteen is fully capable of being a wonderful creature to be around, fun and happy, but instead he chose to go down a path covered in thorns, and dead trees on either side of it.
"I wanted to h-help him... I th-thought he cared..."
"At this point, I don't think he even wants help, which is a shame....Hopefully he'll snap out of this insane behavior, but that's not something easily accomplished....I know it may be hard, but you must stay away from him. He's dangerous and unpredictable." She looked back at him, her eyes sympathetic. He didn't seem like the fighting type, so it was crucial that he stay far away from the beast as possible.
(...Nevermind then, I guess the muse just snuck up on me o-o)
Everytime I see this blog it
OH, eighties you were so awesome. I had a skirt like that too, with the silly tights and everything. Big, hair, lol!
@ Lady ~ Ohh, I know this
--
Soona tensed slightly when Honeyfur settled beside him; he knew who she was, of course, but her dragon form unnerved him. It reminded him of Eighteen... The blue stag's ears rotated back against his skull as she continued to speak, and he squeezed his eyes shut and let out a shuddering sigh. "I kn-knew he was a killer, that he's a p-predator. But, I...I wanted to get to understand him. To be his friend. And now, he w-wishes to harm me. Whenever I get c-close to someone, I just end up getting h-hurt," he spoke in a strained voice, resting his cheek against the cool bark as he struggled to take in controlled breaths. "I know that there is good in him, as there is everyone...but h-he won't let me help b-bring it out..."
He sat in pained silence as the dragon's words reached his ears. She was right...he had to stay away. And yet, he still maintained the urge to approach the creature, to try and talk to him. Soona had been through so much in his past life that he did not very much care for what ended up happening to him in this one. As long as he could reach through to someone, anyone, he would feel as if he indeed had some purpose. Despite the brutality and wickedness of his ways, Eighteen still stirred a chord within his soul. It was as if he needed to reach out to Eighteen, even if it cost him his life. He opened his eyes and raised them to meet her own, and for the first time he noticed that they were of a pleasant emerald color. She was a gentle and kind soul, he knew...despite the antlers. Drawing in a breath, Soona let out a long sigh, ignoring the twinges of pain that began to surface as his adrenaline rush died down. "Th-thank you for caring," he spoke quietly, his cheeks reddening slightly. "I'm sorry...Honeyfur, was it? I...I am Soona."
(Mm...I don't think they know each others' names, but I could be wrong. Sorry if I am! XD; )
The forest was alive with
That is, until he heard crying.
At first he had mistaken it for the twittering of birds, but as he drew unexpectedly closer he could hear the distinct soft hitching of a voice. Eiros froze. His head lifted and his ears sprang forward as he glanced wearily from side to side.
'Ignore it.'
A fearful, scolding voice in his head gave him pause. He responded by shifting his weight to his haunches in preparation to flee... but he didn't flee. The instinct to was no match for the sudden flood of concern that gripped his heart. Drawing in a stabilizing breath, the blonde lowered his head for better balance and hobbled in the direction of the sound. He knew he would be of little use...but he had to at least take a look.
'What if you can be of use? What then? Ignore it! Go back.'
Eiros swallowed back the uncertainty. He wouldn't do anything stupid...it was just a look. The stag ducked his head to avoid low hanging branches, mentally praising himself for remembering to leave his bell behind. If only he could manage to be quieter with the stuttered steps he was forced to take.
Then he saw him. A blue mass huddled at the base of an elderly birch. Eiros stiffened and ducked his head, having come upon him suddenly...but as his violet eyes hovered on the shuddering form, his breath caught. It...it was...
“S-soona?”
His lips betrayed him, parting to stammer out the name before he gave consent to it. Even his soft voice sounded loud in the quiet morning, cutting through the stag's breathy sobs. The blonde's eyes widened, and assuming Soona would look up at the address he would be met with surprise and concern whirling in an amaranthine sea. It had been nearly two days since he had confronted the blue stag. He hadn't imagined their next meeting to be this...
Alone... Soona was all alone,
A sob wracked at his chest, which ached along with his sides and haunch. Tears streamed down his face in hot rivers; he could no longer see through the cloudiness, but he did not care. He had ruined everything... Soona weakly pawned at the dirt and pressed his forehead against the birch's bark, gritting his teeth until his jaw ached. Why couldn't it end? Why was he placed here? He was not worthy of a second chance...
And then, a voice. Eiros's voice. Soona could recognize it from anywhere...its sweet gentleness was utterly unique, and would instantly fill him with some warmth. But now, he was too weak and humiliated to spring up onto his feet and gallop towards the blonde out of joy. No...slowly, he lifted his head and faced the stag. Through the blurriness, he could make out the golden outline of Eiros's lithe form, and although he didn't move he managed a weak smile. "E-Eiros..." he spoke quietly, his heart beating slightly faster. Forgetting his current state of health for a moment, Soona attempted to stand up, only to find that he could not support his weight as well as he'd thought. His knees buckled, and he collapsed heavily beside the birch with a small cry of pain. Fresh tears of frustration rolled down his cheeks, and he beat at the offending dirt angrily with his hooves. Why did Eiros have to see him like this, all weak and pathetic? Undoubtedly, the blonde was disgusted at the sight.
(I'm guessing that they
"I kn-knew he was a killer, that he's a p-predator. But, I...I wanted to get to understand him. To be his friend. And now, he w-wishes to harm me. Whenever I get c-close to someone, I just end up getting h-hurt."
Honeyfur swallowed back the lump that was forming in her throat. It pained her to see him like this. Heck, it pained her to see anyone like this...and she felt helpless. She felt pressure forming all around her eyes as tears were being pushed to the surface, but she fought them back. The dragon doe was stronger than she had been, and she needed to be strong for this stag too. But the determination was soon overcome with guilt. If she hadn't rallied Eighteen into a fight, Soona wouldn't be in this position. He'd probably be happy right now, enjoying his time with Eighteen.
No! No...she had saved him. It would've been only a matter of time until this happened...and fortunate enough for Soona, she had been there to try and protect both him and Ozzie, though she knew Ozzie could defend himself. However, she had been exasperated when Soona tried to defend her. He didn't need to do that, for she had enough muscle and fire power to defend herself. Although, a glimmer of admiration had surfaced when she realized his intentions. Defending a complete stranger from a complete insane freak, exactly what she would've done...only he didn't have any powers like herself.
"I know that there is good in him, as there is everyone...but h-he won't let me help b-bring it out..."
The dragon nodded in understanding at his willingness to help Eighteen. "I understand your intentions completely....If only he were different, and not so psycotic, then things would be different too...but let's not waste our time wishing for things that may not come true. Life goes on, and I know for a fact that there are several nice deer here, a lot better company. If we dwell on one individual, how we will notice those that could be even better off?" Her eyes were gentle still, filled once again with that same determination, as well as wisdom, despite her young age. Whether he knew it or not, Honeyfur was here for Soona, like she was for her loved ones and any other innocent being...a hero, to catch him when he fell.
"Th-thank you for caring....I'm sorry...Honeyfur, was it? I...I am Soona."
Honeyfur slowly nodded her head once, a warm smile on her muzzle. "Of course....Heh, yes. Weird name for a green, scaley creature, huh?" she said, amusement playing on her voice. How she even got that name, she didn't even know. Everyday she pondered on it, but everyday she ended up having a headache afterward. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Soona. If only the circumstances were better...but just remember, there's always a light at the end of the tunnel. No matter how long that tunnel may be, there is always a way out...and darkness can't exist without light, or else there'd be nothing. Just remember that whenever you're stuck; that's what gets me motivated."
Finally, she noted his tense posture, and glanced around at her own body. "Oh, forgive me if my appearance makes you a bit uncomfortable. I can change back, though I'd have to go behind a tree and do it...it's, not a very pretty sight," she giggled halfheartedly, a guilty expression on her face. The last thing she wanted to do was startle Soona even more, and to her, he had been through enough already.
As Honeyfur spoke, Soona's
"I know for a fact that there are several nice deer here, a lot better company..."
Suddenly, Soona thought of Eiros. Gentle, beautiful Eiros...a creature who took the time to sit with Soona and speak with him. Soona had never felt so warm and comforted, even more so than when Eighteen would nuzzle him. With Eiros, those same feelings seemed to be stronger despite that they never physically touched. Yes...he should focus on deer such as Eiros rather than Eighteen. Oh, he would still try to help...but now that he had met Eiros, Soona had no desire to be slaughtered by a former friend. Perhaps in time, Eighteen would come to him for forgiveness, and Soona would grant it. But for now... He sat in silence for a moment, pondering the young doe's words. She seemed wise despite her age...and he was growing fond of those gentle, emerald eyes. Honeyfur was like a flickering candle in complete shadow; she brought a sense of ease to his aching soul.
The blue stag chuckled softly at the comment on her name and shook his head. "No, not at all; I think it is quite lovely. It suits you," he replied, looking up at her with a weak smile, and then bowed his head. "Likewise...although, it is a shame that he must cross paths during such circumstances, indeed." He blinked as she spoke, tilting his head slightly, his pain momentarily forgotten. "I...I will remember. Thank you, Honeyfur," he replied softly with a hint of awe in his voice. When she apologized for her appearance, Soona shook his head rapidly, his cheeks flushing. "Oh, n-no...i-it's alright. Now that I know it's you, I...it's n-not so bad," Soona replied quickly, his stammer coming through again. He chuckled nervously, and then winced as the pain in his ribs flared up from the force. His entire body ached, along with his soul; he felt utterly crushed. Honeyfur was right, in a way, but...he could not walk away from this. He could not abandon Eighteen...he must keep the light burning.
[SORRY FOR THE WAIT!] ..But
..But what was this, exactly? At the moment, the situation was unclear. What was wrong? Why was he upset? Eiros timidly stepped forward as the blue stag turned and spoke his name. There was a smile on his lips, but his voice was filled with distress. 'Pain' The sound gripped at his heart and hung there like a weight. As the blonde stood there, his mind racing and his legs immobile, Soona shifted his weight and began to rise to his feet.
He didn't make it.
The buck stumbled and fell, his cry of pain shooting through Eiros like an electric shock.
“Soona!” he gasped, lurching forward without thinking. His leg protested the sudden swinging with a sharp stab of pain. He didn't care! He had to get to-
'Stop!'
The scolding internal voice made him slide to a clumsy halt within five feet of reaching the blue stag. The abruptness of it had been enough to snap him from his former thoughts. A cold shiver snaked wildly down his spine, leaving rigidity in its wake. 'Blood'. There...there was blood. It streaked the white-washed surface of the tree where he'd fallen against it, and peering closer at him now through widened eyes he could see more of it, dark and sticky mixed in with Soona's mussed blue fur.
“You're...you're hurt.”
Eiros' words were dry, much like the condition of his mouth. His tanned complexion grew steadily paler as his eyes roamed unwillingly over the stag. Over his friend. His weighted heart hammered in his chest at the emotions the word stirred within him.
“What happened?” the blonde whispered, his ears moving back to lay flat against his head. He still hadn't moved. So cold he must seem, standing a distance away, staring down at the huddled mass of a stag with a look so conflicted it seemed almost devoid of emotion.
(AHH I WILL PUNCH YOU IN THE
The concerned gasp reached Soona's twisted ears, as well as the desperate pounding of hooves against the soft earth and grass. Something stirred within Soona's soul; Eiros was here. Everything would be alright. The blue stag's eyes were clenched shut in pain after collapsing, disturbing most of his wounds and making the severe ache in his chest even worse. He took in shallow breaths, as he was afraid to breathe too deeply. And then...the footfalls abruptly stopped. Slowly, Soona opened his eyes and looked up to see the blonde standing still and staring back at him with wide eyes. At that moment, Soona's heart sank. Of course, he was foolish to think that Eiros would come closer to him. But now, he needed Eiros...selfishly, he needed his warmth and presence.
Soona blinked dully as Eiros spoke dryly, his head light and his vision wavering slightly. He wasn't exactly looking at Eiros anymore; he was staring into space, unable to concentrate or really think. The emotional toll had caught up with him; it was overwhelming him to the point of illness. The forest was beginning to tilt, and Soona's stomach lurched. The stag squeezed his eyes shut again and took in a desperate breath, the pain in his ribs flaring up as he did so. What happened... Soona then realized that he could not tell Eiros about his connection with Eighteen. If the blonde found out that he had once associated with the brutal creature...he dreaded to think of how Eiros would react. Soona did not want to lose his friendship...it would be all he had. He would not be able to live if he betrayed Eiros's trust as well.
"I-It's noth-thing, r-really. I'm f-fine. I w-wandered too cl-close," Soona stammered vaguely in a barely controlled whisper. The tears began to well up in his eyes again, and he looked away as he held back another sob. He wanted to tell Eiros everything, but...he couldn't. He just couldn't. Eiros...I don't want to hurt you, too...
'You shouldn't have come, you
The stag flinched. Whether it was from the internal scolding or the mirrored look of blank hopelessness he saw in Soona's eyes as the stag looked up at him...he didn't know. That look...that look! Had he had the proper amount of legs to pull it off smoothly he might have backed away from the blue stag in fear. Except it wasn't fear...not really. Only recognition. A memory of being broken and hollow; of losing everything. Feeling betrayed... It was all staring back at him now, those two glossy blue eyes revealing everything Soona's stammering lips fought to conceal. And then those eyes welled with a fresh batch of tears before tearing away from him. Eiros felt his heart torn with it.
He was hiding something. He was lying but... why?
'Does it matter? Who is he to you?'
Eiros' teeth clenched in a sudden stirring of anger. How could such despicable things be coming from inside his head!? How could he leave him? How could he pretend he didn't care?
'It's too much. Too much too soon! Think about this...'
But he couldn't think – not really – and that was what frightened him most. The blonde was becoming completely overrun by emotion. He didn't see Soona lying before him at all...but himself. Alone, battered, betrayed; clinging to the trees as though they'd spare precious energy or warmth or a single kind word! Except in his memory there was nobody standing over him. There was nobody who could help.
Suddenly the blonde's posture deflated and relaxed. His wide eyes softened and narrowed...then glazed a bit.
'Eiros...stop! You can't-'
“Can you...can you walk? We should go someplace else...someplace safer.”
If Soona were more alert, he
The blue stag blinked at the question, his glossy eyes clearing somewhat as he gazed up at the blonde. It was incredible... All it took to free him of the shadowed confines of his mind was Eiros's voice. But oh, if only Eiros would smile. It broke Soona's heart to see the blonde so distressed, and over him no less. Soona was beginning to wish that Eiros hadn't stumbled upon him at all in his pathetic state; it seemed to almost be too much for the blonde to handle. A pang of guilt gripped at the blue stag, but he did not want to let his friend down. Friend... That's right, he had a friend. Someone who cared for him. Someone who wanted to bring him to a safe place. How unreal this situation felt...
"I-I can t-try," he finally ground out in a hushed voice. Looking up, he felt new-found strength as he gazed into those stunning violet eyes. Those eyes that swam with an overwhelming amount of emotions. He saw his own eyes...the helplessness, the fear that he always possessed. He wanted to tell Eiros that everything would be alright...but he did not know that for sure. Taking a breath, Soona carefully shifted his weight and slowly stood on shaking legs, leaning his shoulder against the birch for support in case if he buckled again. But he didn't, and he looked over at Eiros as he let out his breath. He then gingerly took a step toward the blonde, and despite a slight limp in one of his back legs from an injury to his haunch, and a small flare of pain in his shoulder as he moved, he could thankfully support his weight. Risking one more step toward Eiros, Soona offered a warm and reassuring smile, his eyes having since become significantly brighter. The blonde was truly all of the motivation that he needed.
No... Why did Soona have to
Why did Soona have to look at him like that? Did he not know what it did to him? The torment it put him through? So much trust and admiration... the stag looked up at him as though he were some angel of mercy come down from the heavens. A sickness stirred in his gut at the thought of it. The idea should have empowered him...but it didn't. He didn't want to do this. He didn't want to ruin this.
But he had to.
Eiros watched him rise, his own weariness no doubt matching Soona's as the blue buck fought to keep his balance. This time, he succeeded. The blonde thought to offer him something this time – a tiny, lopsided smile of encouragement. It felt like nothing compared to the one Soona offered him in return. It felt like nothing compared to what he wanted to do... Yet Eiros stood his ground as the male stumbled closer. The muscles in his soft jaw tensed as his eyes flickered to the blue's unsteady legs with a swirling of dread. The appendages themselves seemed to be intact. It was a miniscule silver lining. At this new distance Soona could no doubt see his own injuries plainly – though there wasn't much to them now. Most of the smaller scraped and cuts had healed into thin lines of scarring that too would fade in time. The gash in his shoulder was the most prominent, but even that had shrunk considerably... The leg would take a couple more days to heal enough to put weight on again.
'Who knows, now...'
With an uneasy sigh, he nodded his head and turned his gaze to the forest. He paused to think a moment, then silently limped off in a chosen direction. Away from the river. Away from any alleviation of pain.
It was a slow, agonizing trek. Eiros led the blue stag from tree to tree for support as his eyes searched his surroundings critically. It wasn't Soona's safety he was worried about, but his own. He didn't know what state he would be in after this...but he assumed nothing good of it. It would have to be somewhere he could hide for a while...there!
“Just a...little further. Up ahead,” he called back reassuringly, though the emotion in his voice fell flat again. The grass was getting thicker – harder to hobble through. A young birch had fallen in a past storm up ahead and had gotten caught up in it's neighbor's trunk not far from the ground. There it hung, barely clinging to life by its splintered stump as the weeds grew up around it.
“Here...rest here,” he breathed as he came to a slow stop in front of the tree. The thick grass looked comfortable...it drew a slight smile from his lips despite the sadness in his eyes. He avoided Soona's gaze.
That smile...it was the one
His smile remained even as Eiros turned away, and he began to slowly follow the blonde in silence. Walking wasn't so bad after all; it was the wound in his shoulder that was giving him the most trouble, but he had enough motivation at this point to bear it. For a while, Soona's gaze was fixated ahead of them, mindlessly scanning the tree line...and then, he noticed something. Lowering his eyes, Soona's fears were confirmed: Eiros was limping as well. The blue stag held back a gasp and held his bottom lip between his teeth, his ears sliding back. What had happened to his friend? Was he hurt? For some reason, something told Soona that he should not ask. He couldn't explain it...he just knew that it would be a terrible idea. Swallowing down the lump that had formed in his throat, Soona tore his eyes away from Eiros's limping form and continued to look around. He felt wary, and extremely vulnerable; the buck wanted to be able to see someone running toward them. Hopefully, Eiros would be able to run if he needed to. If not, Soona would...what would he do? Normally he would run for his own life, but...no, not with Eiros. He would forget his fears and protect his friend like he did with Honeyfur. You are crazy... Stop putting these fantasies in your head! He's only tolerating you right now. Sighing inwardly, Soona pushed aside his own berating thoughts, his ears swiveling to every sound.
A slow and agonizing trek it was, indeed. It felt like the two stags had wandered for ages, and the pain in Soona's shoulder had spread down his leg and across his side and back. He clenched his jaw as he limped after Eiros, silently praying that they didn't have much longer to go. The change in scenery was noticeable: the trees became thinner, their bark pale and flaky. The grass was taller and thicker, the ground firmer beneath his hooves. They were now in the birch forest, and Soona left out a soft sound of relief. The birch forest was his safe haven for when he was frightened; he felt so secure in the tall grass, and even more so by Eiros's side. It was always so peaceful, so quiet... Soona's ears and eyes flicked up as Eiros suddenly spoke, and although he felt relieved he could not help but frown a little at the blonde's flat tone. Something was bothering the stag greatly, and it worried Soona. He wanted to know what was wrong, what he could do to help. But now was not the time...it would probably never be the time.
The blue buck then noticed the fallen birch, and he immediately recognized it. Indeed, he had passed by it quite a few times before but had never paid it too much mind. Why did Eiros take him here? Was this where the blonde would go when he was afraid or upset? Soona blinked as Eiros spoke again, and then nodded silently and slowly lowered himself down beside the tree with a strained grunt. Taking a breath, he relaxed against the thick trunk, and a small smile touched his lips as well. "The birch forest is my favorite place to be. The grass here is so much nicer. You just feel...hidden from the world," the stag said softly, looking up at Eiros after a moment. The blonde was not looking at him, or anything at all. He seemed as distant as Soona was. Swallowing hard, the stag continued, "Y-You should sit also. I...I saw that you have a limp as well. I am s-so sorry that you had to walk all the way here b-because of m-me." His voice was a little strained, and he looked away with a shamed flush upon his cheeks. Why did he always put others through such hell? Eiros looked as if he could barely stand him. Perhaps if Eiros's leg was not wounded, the blonde would have run off by now...
His eyes carefully followed
But something was different. Even in pain, distress and despair...Soona's fire flickered brightly in Eiros' eyes. He couldn't guess it was his own presence that was fueling the blue stag's more upbeat attitude...it didn't matter. Soona desired life and he desired happiness... So why did Eiros feel his flame might just go out? It was a sinking realization. He couldn't be this way. It wasn't who he was!...But is it what he had let them turn him into? Was this Eiros: New and Improved? Impermeable to pain?
If that was true, why did his heart so ache?
The blonde closed his eyes, and when they opened again, they had softened and focused. He stepped toward the blue buck, carefully navigating through the grass. This time no careful distance was put between them. The brown-spotted buck came right up beside Soona, facing in the opposite direction, his hooves only inches from the male's side... and then he lowered himself. His face twisted in a wince as his weight was less-than-delicately settled on his broken limb. A brief shift to one side remedied the situation...but it also smashed his body right up against Soona's.
“I'm sorry,” he gasped as he felt the other male flinch away from him. He had no doubt knocked against some of his injuries in the maneuver.
“Forgive me, Soona... Don't worry. Whatever happened is past... Relax now...”
The blonde's soft, soothing voice had returned. His chest heaved slow and steady against the blue buck's ribs, persisting against the feel of the escalated pull and push of Soona's own lungs against his haunches. The tense, apprehensive stag was gone and in his place sat calm serenity. The stag felt warm against him in the crisp morning...so very, very warm. Electric warm. His skin twitched and tingled where they made contact.
“Are you comfortable, now?” he questioned, letting his eyes glance down and rove over Soona's body critically. They lingered on the particularly nasty bite mark on his haunch...
[OHBBY. Baha. Oh hey in my post before I was talking about Eiros' injuries healing not Soona's, if that's what you thought I meant...sorry if there is confusion there :3 Also what ARE Soona's injuries exactly? Scrapes and cuts I get but you mentioned two on his haunch and his shoulder that I'll need more details of]
(Ohh yeah BB~ ;D Oh, I see!
The blonde was silent, yes, but Soona was beginning to feel less and less bothered by it. He knew by now that Eiros was a thinking creature who rarely spoke his mind, and he would respect Eiros's choice to remain silent. Even with the lack of conversation, laughter and smiles, the blue buck drew comfort from having Eiros just stand there. And then, Eiros was moving towards him. Soona looked up at the blonde, frozen in place as he drew closer and closer. His heart beat a little faster, although the world seemed to be going by slower. Before he could snap himself out of it, Eiros was standing right beside him, and then lowering himself. Despite being frozen in anticipation, Soona flinched when Eiros winced in pain...and was completely unprepared as to what would happen next.
Eiros was suddenly pressed against him, his lithe body molding to Soona's slightly bigger frame for a millionth of a second. Soona's own body may have been frozen, but his heart was not, and it raced within his ribcage and stirred the butterflies in his stomach. He had flinched, yes...but only because he was caught off-guard. It was a typical reaction, to flinch away from someone or something that falls on you. But he could not help but think that he shouldn't have flinched away...that he should have leaned in and supported Eiros. To rest against him for one second longer... No...stop it, now! Soona blinked, and Eiros was sitting up, apologizing and clearly flustered. "I-It's alr-right," he replied in a daze, looking up at Eiros with a small flicker in his eyes. It was a miracle that he could talk at all after that.
Just when he thought he'd gather his wits, Soona realized that Eiros was still lying against him...well, his chest, anyway. He could feel Eiros breathing against his ribcage...and his warmth. Not just the warmth that filled Soona when he would see Eiros smile, no...actual, physical warmth. Their chests were practically pressed together, and the blue buck could feel Eiros's fur and skin twitch. Soona's heart raced madly...it would be impossible for Eiros to not feel his pulse. Gods... It was then Soona noticed that he had been gazing at the blonde the whole time, and he started internally. Gods knew what his face looked like! He wanted so badly to move closer, to curl around Eiros...no. Eiros was here to help, nothing more. The question cut through the seemingly dead silence, and Soona looked up at him again with indiscernible emotion in his eyes. "I-I am...v-very much," came the whisper, not thinking of what he was saying. His cheeks were slightly flushed as his heart continued to race, and his eyes followed Eiros's until they rested upon the more serious wounds along his body. The blue stag chewed lightly on his lip, his ears sliding back slightly as he wondered what the blonde would do. But at this point, it didn't matter...feeling Eiros pressed lightly against him was enough. He could die happy if he so wished.
His wounds were worse than
That word again...why did it sting so much?
Soona was staring at him. The male's deep blue eyes were becoming a constant, transfixed presence...but like the blood, Eiros wasn't growing anymore used to the gaze. That familiar edginess crept up his spine, threatening the calm that had settled over him. The blonde tore his eyes from the particularly painful looking laceration across the male's back before closing them, momentarily concentrating on taking slow, deep breaths again. Energy was beginning to flow. That familiar electric current breathed through his sides where their bodies lightly touched, slow and steady...much like its owner. Much too slow... But even now he was beginning to feel the emotional effects of the exchange. As Eiros focused on his calm energy, it flowed from him into Soona... and then the blonde's heart began speeding up. Heat pooled into his cheeks as blood rushed to his face in a sudden tremor of happiness, embarrassment and...longing. He wanted to get closer. He wanted to wrap himself around the male and hold tight and breathe him in and just...feel with him! No...no these were Soona's emotions. Soona's desires!
Then...why did they feel so right inside him? So right in fact, not even the harsh voice of his careful conscience could snap him out of it.
Eiros shifted closer...carefully this time, gradually pressing himself up against the blue buck's side, which in turn pressed him up against the tree. Soona was locked now in a double-sided embrace. They were rib-to-rib, and though he still felt the fluttering effects of Soona's emotions on his heart he concentrated on the blue's slower breathing to match it with his own. The warmth spread over him more completely now and the flow of the energy picked up with a shivering jolt. Soona could feel it too, the tickling sensation against his skin and the stirring of energy within him like restlessness...but not like Eiros could. For him the feeling was...exhilarating. It was like a rush of adrenaline without the get-up-and-go.
“Me too...”
He didn't know why he said that...he didn't know why he said anything at all! Yet he didn't have the power to regret it. The longing and the desire intensified as the voltaic warmth pulsed through his veins. His heart threatened to beat wildly again. He had to say something...to distract himself...to distract them both! But what was there to say? The truth? No...he couldn't tell the truth.
Wait...what was the truth again?
“Don't move...no matter what...okay?” the blonde coo'd softly, his voice a breath of air. He hoped the blue's loyalty and resistance to move was as strong as he felt, for soon he would begin to feel the stirrings of discomfort in his wounds.
“Tell me...tell me who did this to you, Soona...”
(Uh-oh, Soona got caught
Soona did not know what to expect as Eiros seemingly began to concentrate, his breaths deep and controlled. He looked up at the blonde with inquisitive eyes, his ears twitching in a mildly nervous manner. The anticipation was raw, and everything around them seemed to fall deathly silent. A familiar pounding continued to resonate in Soona's ears, blocking out even the sound of Eiros's breathing. He did not dare speak for fear of breaking the blonde's concentration. Static. The blue stag's body began to course with warm, humming energy, gentle electricity that pulsed within him like a second heart. A quite gasp escaped him, and his eyelids fell shut almost contently. He had never felt such a sensation before, but it was...incredible. Simply incredible. And then...calm. Suddenly, Soona felt completely calm. There a little bit of unease and uncertainty, yes, but his mind was clear. His heartbeat began to slow until it reached its normal pace, and the flush disappeared from his cheeks. So caught up was he in this new clutch of emotion that he did not stop to wonder what just happened, or why.
The blue buck's eyes slowly opened as Eiros pressed a little closer up against him, and his breath caught in his throat as this caused him to press against the birch as well. The blonde was so close to him, so very intimately close... And yet, Soona remained calm. He regarded Eiros with a passive expression, a small smile...and yet, a piece of subconscious wanted to do more. He wanted to give the lithe buck affection, to lean back against him and keep him warm and safe...but this new wave of emotion forbid him from doing so. Relaxed...calm... He made a small noise as the tickling sensation rippled through his body, and his eyelids fluttered shut again as he leaned his head back slightly. He...loved this. It felt so wonderful, so thrilling. The warmth, the energy, the electricity...the closeness. All of it was incredible...he felt that he wanted more.
A soft sigh fell from Soona's lips at Eiros's response, and much like Eiros didn't have the power to regret it, Soona did not have the power to reassure it. He wanted to...to get closer. But he couldn't move...it was too strong, but... "Gods..." The single word escaped Soona like the beginnings of a prayer. With a soft noise in his throat, he regarded Eiros with utterly content eyes, his eyelids heavy. It was odd...any fleeting twinge of fear or uncertainty was replaced with want and desire. Eiros's voice sounded muffled through the haze, but Soona understood so clearly. Another quiet noise in his throat, almost a very soft moan, was his response to Eiros's cooed request. The blue stag had the same smile on his lips, the same look in his eyes...his body still warm and filled with a pleasant current of energy. But when Eiros inquired about those responsible, Soona's eyes fell shut again with a low sigh.
"I...I do not know. It happened so fast," he managed to mumble, not bearing to face Eiros as he lied once again. The blonde couldn't know...he mustn't. Now that he had felt Eiros this close, this, intimately, he didn't want to let go. He couldn't... Soona inwardly prayed that Eiros would not press the issue for much longer, but all the same his heart lifted at the concern the blonde bore toward him. Gods, he cares...but why...? Opening his eyes, Soona looked up at Eiros from his position, a small yet reassuring smile returning to his lips.
( ^ CB *melts*) "No, not at
"No, not at all; I think it is quite lovely. It suits you,"
Honeyfur smiled, warmed by his sincerity. "Oh, thank you." He wasn't the only one who had said that, but it was still always nice to hear a compliment everyday, even if it was a redundant one.
"I...I will remember. Thank you, Honeyfur,"
"Anytime," she said gently and sincerly, meaning it. If he was ever stuck in another bad situation, he was always free to go to her to seek out advice. Helping others was now her special quality and life job, which also included verbally helping. Hopefully he would be free of any more situations like this, but that was a weak hope, and the dragon doe knew it. However, it was best not to think of that at the moment.
"Oh, n-no...i-it's alright. Now that I know it's you, I...it's n-not so bad,"
Honeyfur raised her eyebrows, a little surprised and confused at his sudden change of attitude. Was he, nervous? She knew that her dragon form could be a bit intimidating, despite it being only a little taller than a human, but that was only when she walked on her hindlegs. However, she didn't have time to think on it long when she noticed him flinch. That's when she really took in his wounds, and again guilt washed over her. If only he hadn't been there at the time...but what choice did she have? She couldn't bear to watch Eighteen being possessive over yet another deer, so she had to do something to save Soona. Though it seemed, she had gotten him hurt in the process, which felt like a huge kick to the gut.
Suddenly, she thought of Eiros, and how he had fixed her wounds and broken leg before the incident. Perhaps he could heal Soona too? She was about to suggest seeing him, but quickly held her tongue. She had promised him she wouldn't tell anyone about his powers, and so she would keep that promise. But the thoughts of Eiros made her face fall, guilt now showing on it. Honeyfur hoped he still wasn't scared of her, or intimidated by her from their last encounter. She hadn't seen him since, so it was possible. If only there was a way to tell him she was sorry, that she didn't mean to startle him so much. It's true that she was only thinking of her fawns, but it still left guilt inside her for snapping at him.
Then a thought occurred to her. Would it be possible that Soona knew Eiros? She doubted it, since there were several deer in the forest, and since he was one of Eighteen's "possessions", she doubted that he was allowed to see other deer...but could it hurt to ask? If he did know him, perhaps he could relay a message from her? It seemed childish...no, it was childish, and she was far from cowardly, but she truely hadn't seen a trace of the brown stag anywhere she went, as if he were avoiding her. Before she knew it, she found that her mouth was moving, not remembering that she ever wanted to make it move.
"Hey, um...do you, by any chance, know a stag named Eiros?"
(*squees, melts with!*
Indeed, Soona now felt that he could put his trust in Honeyfur and go to her when he was troubled. But for how long could he be a burden to others because of his many fears and uncertainties? It was just nice to know that he could trust at least one other deer in the forest...or deer entity, rather. Her dragon form was not very large, yes, but compared to her Soona was small. That, and he was still not very sure how to react around a carnivorous creature, especially after what transpired between him and Eighteen. Even so, he knew that Honeyfur would not hurt him, and among other things it was a massive relief.
Looking up, the blue stag noticed the strange look in Honeyfur's eyes, and he tried to place it. It was...guilt? But why? She looked very uncertain, and as if she wished to say something but couldn't find the words. Soona shifted his weight slightly and rested a little more heavily against the birch, his gaze shifting to the blue bowl as he waited patiently. He had all the time in the world, as life just went day by day for him. He had no schedule, was never in a rush...but perhaps that was what made him so lonely in the first place.
Honeyfur's voice suddenly cut through the silence, and Soona stiffened slightly in surprise. He had not expected her to ask about Eiros. His heart began to beat faster at the mere mention of the blonde's name, and he swallowed hard only to find that his throat was bone dry. Where was all of this nervous energy coming from? It was not negative energy, no...it was very much positive. It was the good kind of nervousness that one felt before walking across the stage during a graduation ceremony. But it was more than that... "Y-yes, I do," he replied slowly, turned his head away slightly as his cheeks became flushed. "I m-met him yesterday. H-He is...v-very sweet," he continued absently, a small smile forming on his lips as he gazed off into the distance. Sweet, yes, but also reserved and shy, and very timid. Soona never thought he'd be so patient getting to know someone who was like himself.
[:3 hehee. NOTHING IS
Eiros had given up trying to understand what was happening. This...this was... He couldn't think! Not about anything but Soona. How close he was...how he wanted to be closer...the little gasps and sighs and moans that escaped him and the way his eyelids fluttered and... his energy. No...yes! Yes he had to concentrate on that! Yet the blue buck was not making it an easy task for him. The process was not generally an unpleasant one for the recipient of the exchange...but most who participated were tense or anxious – uncertain of what to expect. Sometimes they resisted and the discomfort intensified...sometimes they were lulled so deeply into emotional sedation they barely reacted at all. Only once or twice had anyone opened themselves up to enjoy it...and neither time had been anything like this! What was different? Why did Soona seem just as deeply engrossed in their contact as...he was?
'It wont last...'
A stirring of doubt. A whisper of warning surfacing briefly before being pulled back beneath the waves. His brows knit as he rolled the words around in his thoughts a moment...but the blue's voice distracted him from juicing them for a deeper meaning he couldn't quite grasp. An answer to his question...except it wasn't an answer at all. Why was he...why was he avoiding the truth? His eyes lifted to meet the other male's with a glimmer of skepticism...but Soona smiled carefully at him and the feeling melted away. He smiled back defeat. Why did he even want to know? Why did it matter? Anything capable of producing injuries like these was something Eiros would naturally avoid, right...? Yet he wanted a name. A face. Something to feel contempt for, for doing this...
For ruining everything...
Suddenly his head began to ache. A dull throbbing of pain pulsed to life between his eyes. He became aware of the tickling, like a feather against the insides of his skin; across his back, haunches, shoulder, and belly. It was light and almost pleasant...at first. Then the tickle became an ominous itch.
Eiros filled his lungs with air as his ears slid back to press against his skull. Closing his eyes, the stag gently turned and lowered his head across the blue stag's back, resting the weight of it between his wounds. His long, slender neck pressed against him, hugging him, and their bodies pressed even tighter together. The blonde let his eyelids flutter shut.
“Tell me a story, Soona... A happy memory from the past. Something that... made you laugh...smile...anything. Close your eyes and imagine it again... tell me how you felt.”
His voice rose above a whisper now, clear and instructive to draw the male's complete attention. Soona would be feeling the effects too...the tingling in his wounds and the sense of instant relief as the pain flowed out of his body. Eiros wanted the blue's mind distracted, and maybe...maybe his, too. His body gave a little flinch as the first wave of it coursed into him, white-hot and angry...then quieted again, even as it continued to tear through his body. Another pulse, then another. The pain wound its way through him until it found the little points and slashes of itching dotted across his skin. It began to scratch. The blonde's muscles gradually tensed to fight against any involuntary movement. He clenched his teeth but kept his face calm as he waited eagerly for Soona's voice, hoping the male would not lot him down...
mmm gorgeous ♥
@ Sypris~ :'D
--
(I WROTE A NOVEL FOR YOU <3)
Another soft noise escaped the contented blue stag as Eiros laid his blonde head against his quivering back. The warmth and electricity intensified within him, and he shifted slightly, allowing Eiros's weight to settle a little more heavily against him. So close...so warm... At that moment, Soona never felt so incredible in his life. The tingles filled his entire body, tickling his hooves and belly along with those ever-persistent butterflies. He could die happy like this, just being so close to this beautiful and caring creature named Eiros. Nothing else in the world mattered to him now. Nothing...
The blue lifted his eyes as Eiros spoke his request, gazing upon that flawless face with a broadened smile. A happy memory... Yes, he did believe he had a few of those. Sometimes he tended to concentrate more on the unhappier ones, the ones that made him into the frightened and pathetic being that he was...but now, Eiros wished to hear the lighter side of his past. He never thought he would hear such a sweet request, and who better to share with than Eiros? Soona felt that he would do anything for the blonde...anything. Eiros had Soona's full attention, as he always did. It was impossible to not listen to him, to look at him. No pain... Soona blinked as it dawned on him, as that ever gracious wave of relief washed over him. Relief... He wanted to wonder, but that did not matter now. His mind was focused on just being there with Eiros. So focused on their closeness was he that he did not notice the blonde flinch, or the tensing of his muscles. The other stag hid his pain well, his expression calm. The blue's smile did not wane, and with a slight bow of his head, he closed his eyes and began to speak.
"It was a long time ago, but I remember it so clearly, even now. When I was very young, I went through a phase where I loved horses. So much so that I began to beg my mother to taking riding lessons. She was apprehensive at first, but eventually gave in to my demands," he began, chuckling as he recalled back how lovingly stern his mother was. She was always so concerned about him. "On my first day at the riding center, I had to ride a pony. Not like a polo pony, but a miniature horse. It was because I was young and small, but I thought it was humiliating. There were children there not much older than me who were riding normal horses after all. Of course, they had more experience than I did, but at the time the thought never crossed my mind. I was...er, still am quite stubborn." Soona grinned sheepishly at the blonde with another chuckle before continuing.
"Well, I was so determined to ride a horse like the big kids that I began to scheme. While my mother was distracted, I picked out a horse that was left unattended with all of its tack on. I got up on the step-stool, and somehow managed to get into the saddle. I remember that the saddle was so big compared to me, and from where I sat, the ground looked like it was miles below me!
"I was very quick to panic, and I suppose the horse sensed my nervous energy because it began to panic as well. Before I could blink, the horse tore out of the stable and toward the surrounding riding field, and I was clinging to the saddle horn for my life. The next thing I knew, I was flying...and then I hit the ground. Not too hard, amazingly, but enough to knock the wind out of me. I just laid there, stunned, and then I heard my mother screaming for me. I sat up, and she was running toward me, crying. In a moment she was kneeling beside me, looking me over...and when she saw that I wasn't crying or hurt, she began to laugh. And, I couldn't help but laugh with her. We laughed 'til our stomachs hurt."
Soona was looking beyond them now, as if he could see his mother in the distance, his smile broad and bright. "Oh, she scolded me of course, but she was still laughing a little. I told her that I just wanted to be like the big kids, and she just smiled and kissed my forehead. After the instructor saw that I was fine, my mother requested that I be put on a horse, but with one exception: she had to ride with me. Our request was granted, and my mother allowed me to hold the reins. I was so excited, nudging the horse's side with my shins...but looking back, I realize that it was an old trail horse who wouldn't have cared to trot no matter how hard I'd try." Another chuckle.
"After that, my mother took us to an ice cream shop, and she let me get whatever I wanted. Despite the humiliation I had gone through, I was proud to sit on a horse with her. And, it helped me take more lessons and finally learn how to ride." Soona gazed into the distance for a long moment, and then drew in a deep breath and let out a sigh. "That is...probably the best memory I have, as sad as it seems. I'm sure there are more, but that is the one that stands out the most to me," he said quietly, and then looked down at Eiros again. He suddenly felt a powerful urge to touch his lips to the blonde's forehead, just as his own mother had done...but he held himself back. Eiros was too comfortable...he would not be able to live with himself if he ended up frightening the blonde off after everything they had gone through. Instead, Soona offered his smile, his warmth. His body...
[LOL THANKS. I apologize that
Soona would not disappoint him. As the blonde stared into his blue eyes before they obediently closed, he knew he wouldn't. It was... deeper than just a story. It was deeper than life itself. 'W-what...?' The thought startled him, except it wasn't a thought, it was a feeling. A powerful emotion that suddenly overcame him. Yes...he would...he would do anything for Soona, even...
'Die?'
No. Eiros resisted the feeling. He closed his eyes against it and blocked it out. The blue stag began speaking and Eiros clung attentively to his words in the hope that he would get lost in a memory.
Well...he was lost.
The blonde's eyes blinked open as Soona's words grew more and more...strange. The stag's voice was light and cheerful as he began his tale. His eyes remained closed, his lips smiling as they moved... Eiros watched them critically, as though their movement would give him hints as to what...on earth the other male was talking about. If Eiros had ever lived a human life...he did not remember it. If he'd ever walked the streets of a human world he could not recall anything he'd seen there. He recalled the forest. The deer of many faces, sizes and colors. The creatures who were hardly deer at all... He recalled hearing stories of past lives. So many spoke of this...'human' world as though it were real...or at least, in regards to this forest, not a distant memory from the past. Yet how could one such as Eiros wrap his head around the idea of it? The stag's earliest recollection was curled against the fur of his mother's belly in the sunlight...not ponies and ice cream shops -whatever those were.
Yet Eiros said nothing. He didn't dare interrupt Soona as he got lost in whatever strange, dream-like recollection he was conjuring. The blonde could feel the warmth the foreign memories stirred within the blue stag...and so he concentrated less on the words and more on the feelings behind them. Embarrassment, amusement...pride. Even as his cells began to rearrange and reform, he smiled. As the first wounds began to tear into his skin, he chuckled as Soona did – if not just so that he was able to make a sound. One by one the torn flesh of every cut and scrape beneath the stag's blue fur came together and seamlessly sealed, and one by one they appeared again on Eiros. Despite his tense muscles his body still twitched and quivered in response to each sharp sting of pain. He simply pressed closer in response, urging the process to go faster...but he was as close as comfortably possible already. Soona was completely pinned between Eiros and the tree. He might not be able to leave even if he wanted to...
The blonde's eyes watered as he fought to keep his composure. His shoulder now throbbed as another gash was carved next to the one that had already been healing. The tendons of his ankle swelled and pulsed and the pain traveled up his leg. Teeth bit into his haunch and began ripping... When he felt tingling pressure upon his back, the blonde cracked his teary eyes to stare at the deep, angry slash in front of him as it slowly began to heal. His companion's story was ending, but he wasn't listening anymore. His violet eyes were transfixed as he watched the swollen edges of Soona's torn flesh develop a will of its own, sliding together like two bloodied lips in a reunion kiss.
He tried to hold it back but...he couldn't stop it. It was...it was too much!
As a hot knife slashed across his back, the brown stag buried his head into the blue buck's fur to muffle a strangled cry of pain. He could no longer focus on the other male's calm, happy energy...it slipped from his grasp and his heart began to race.
'You were right...It's too much...'
(Haha, no worries, I had a
The smile fell from Soona's lips when Eiros's eyes opened. They were watery and filled with pain, and as Soona followed the blonde's gaze he gasped. His own wounds were healing right before his eyes, and he froze up momentarily as fear took over once more. As he tried to process what was happening, a new wave of emotion crashed into him mercilessly: anguish. The blue's own eyes began to water up, and he bit down hard on his lip as he heart began to race once more. He tasted blood, could feel his pulse through his whole body. A part of him wanted to kick out his legs and flee...but his heart willed him to stay. Eiros needed him to stay, and so he would. Tearing his gaze away from his healing wounds, Soona took in another shocking sight: wounds were appearing on Eiros's body, in the same places where the blue stag had been attacked. "Wh-whats happening?" he called out hoarsely, his head buzzing. He couldn't think at all, couldn't move...
And then, Eiros cried out. It was a cry of pain, and it sliced through Soona's very soul. A cold shiver traveled down the blue's spine even as the blonde pressed his face into his fur. Eiros was hurt, and it was crushing Soona. It was all too much... "Eiros...oh Gods, Eiros," Soona moaned, a strangled sob ripping from his chest as he leaned his neck into Eiros's shoulder. He held the blonde as close to him as possible, sobbing into his tawny fur as wave after wave of anguish and suffering smashed into him. "I've g-got you, sweet one...it's ok-kay," he managed to whisper into the blonde's fur, shifting until his lower body curled around the lithe stag. He did not know what was going on at all, but all he knew was that he needed to comfort Eiros. Keep him close, keep him safe... I'm here...
I want my blue text back >8C
Hm? *is slow* XD Edit:
Edit: Nuuuu! It's mine!! *hisses* XDD Pff, go ahead and use it, s'alright!
Edit-edit: Omg, that post...is it pathetic that I teared up a little? DON'T ANSWER THAT. o-o Gah...I'm a little busy at the moment, but I'll reply ASAP! <3
[-rambles on and on-] [EDIT:
[EDIT: NUUU YOU STOLE MY BLUE TEXT -sob-]
[EDIT 2: LOL AWW -shot- That's ok take your time lord knows I did pfft!]
Eiros' tolerance for pain was far higher than most, but not exactly 'super-human'. No, he had simply learned how to deal with it better; how to keep it pent up and pushed out of focus. The surge of another's energy coursing through him like a spike of adrenaline also helped the cause. Eiros had absorbed worse than this. Shattered ribs. Poison. A punctured lung. What were a few scratches? Yet the stag felt momentarily overcome. It wasn't the physical pain that was too much...it was all of his pain combined. The surges of foreign emotion, so deep and loving and full of desire, threatened to undo him. He couldn't focus! He couldn't see past the overwhelming desire to curl into the blue's body and bury his head and just ...let himself go! The relief!
No. Soona had already found out what he was up to. He had heard him gasp. He had felt his muscles tense. He could feel a new, darker emotion welling up inside him as the blue stag's heart began to beat wildly. His body trembled. Soona was afraid...and why shouldn't he be? Eiros hadn't asked his permission, or let on about what he was, or warned him at all! Maybe...maybe if he had...maybe the other male would have understood. Now on top of scaring him, the male had also betrayed his trust.
'Good...it'll just...make things easier'
Except... that wasn't what was happening. It wasn't fear that began to fill him, but...compassion. Was that the right word? No...it was too overwhelming! The blue sobbed out his name in despair and... shifted to hold him closer. He cried. He buried his face into the blonde's brown fur. He... wasn't trying to run? Eiros shuddered when hot, damp breath fluttered against his skin as Soona spoke again. He strained to hear the muffled whisper over the beating of his own heart.
“I've g-got you, sweet one...it's ok-kay.”
The stag's breath caught in his throat. The sudden surge of sympathy, tenderness and...love...was devastating. He had never heard such sweet words – not since his mother's careful embrace. The doe's love was genuine, yes, but dutiful...
...Soona was a stranger.
Soona was a stag!
And Eiros was completely lost in his embrace.
“I'm s-sorry,” he breathed, his voice small and defeated. It was all he could offer...all he could think of. His body betrayed him, wrapping around the other male's as though he were a small fawn. Tears spilled from his eyes and his body shuddered, completely wrought and...out of his control. The last of Soona's injuries had healed. For Eiros it felt as though a million points of his flesh were on fire. The tighter he squeezed into the blue buck the more the pain intensified...but then the quicker it would numb from the steady pressure. Blood trickled down his skin, hot and warm. None of it mattered. The blonde tucked and buried his face into the other male's belly fur, doing his best to mind his antlers, but it was hard to have thoughts now... Soona's energy continued to flow, now strong and clean. Now that the stag was all worked up it gushed into him like the blood from his wounds, feeding his hungry soul. Warm wave after warm wave after warm, electric, delicious wave. Each pulse made the pain grow duller – made his body feel light as a feather. He was invincible, with the blue stag by his side!
'But Soona isn't.'
The voice startled him. It sounded hollow and hopeless inside his head, as though not expecting to be heard. Yet it was right – so right it put a crack in his shell of comfort and let reality leak in. He couldn't stay like this. He was taking too much.
“Soona... you...you have to go... You have to...Now...”
The urgency rising in the pit of his chest had not yet reached his voice. He shifted against the male in a weak attempt to pry himself away from him, but they were magnetized. He couldn't...
COLBY. GET ON MSN. You forgot
@ Saanra ~ Ahhh! Lol don't
--
Uncertainty. Fear. It consumed Soona all at once in an overwhelming, unforgiving flood. Denial. Confusion. Dark emotions entered his subconscious making him shivering and accelerate his pulse to unbearable levels. Sorry... Why was Eiros sorry? So confused... Lost... "Eiros..." the blue stag whispered into the blonde's fur, nosing gently into his nape. Eiros was...frightened. He shivered like a newborn fawn, like a leaf caught in a high wind. Blood... Soona smelled it before he saw it, and he let out a choked gasp at the sight of the newly formed gash that graced Eiros's shoulder. An ugly wound, the exact one that Soona had bore. Without thinking, Soona began to lap at it as gently as he could, clearing away debris and dead tissue. His head was light as the taste of copper overwhelmed his sense of taste and smell. He felt as if he would be ill, but he couldn't back away. Eiros needed his help...Gods, would he do anything for him.
And then...calm. The pulsing waves began to grow smaller, gentler as calmer energy flowed into the blue stag. They pulsed through his body, resonating in his chest and belly, tickling his hooves and antlers. What a feeling... A soft groan escaped Soona's lips, his eyelids fluttering. Invincible... Was that the word? He thought he heard it...and he felt it. Gods, did he feel it. Subconsciously, Soona leaned closer into Eiros, his lips pressed against his wounded shoulder. The smell and taste of blood was becoming less unpleasant, really...it was odd. Soona vaguely thought that he could feel Eiros's heart beating in tune with his own, side-by-side, as one. What a strange thought...what a strange feeling. Yes...he could feel it. He could...
"Soona...you have to go... You have to go, now..."
The blue's eyes snapped open, and he froze momentarily. He could not have heard what he thought he heard... Eiros was shifting weakly, trying to move away. Slowly, Soona leaned back and stared at Eiros, his heart plummeting as he read the urgency in the blonde's face. "E-Eiros, I...wh-what's wrong?" he whispered, his voice choked. The calmness was gone...he was overcome with dread and fear. That denial, that urgency...that desire to flee. But he didn't want to flee...he never wanted to. What was happening? Why was Eiros so afraid? "P-Please...Eiros..." He couldn't move...he felt as if he had melted against the blonde, merged with him. He wanted to obey Eiros's desperate command, but...he couldn't move. Terror welled up in his chest, and his breath began to come out in short gasps. Panic, pain...desperation. Please...don't make me go... Don't leave me...
[HOT DAMN I GOT MY BLUE
As Soona lifted his head, Eiros started at the sight of blood on his lips. He had been so caught up in everything else he hadn't even noticed the blue stag's attempts at cleaning his wounds. Why...why would he do that? Didn't he realize they were his wounds? Didn't he understand what had just happened? This was not the reaction the blonde had been expecting. Seeing his blood smeared across the blue's mouth made his stomach turn. Yet even his reaction was more mild than what it should have been. He couldn't feel sick. He felt too good. Even as their confused, fearful emotions began to make disorienting circles around them, the energy was the same pleasant pulsing. It was constant. It was the last tethers of happiness that bound them.
It had to be broken.
Eiros closed his eyes tightly, forcing them away from Soona as the stag pleaded with him. He sounded so lost...so desperate. The blonde hated him for it. Hate? Yes! No... He didn't know! Frustration was building within him as more and more energy filled him like a cup. No, he wasn't mad a Soona, he was furious with himself! Furious he couldn't stop. He had passed the limit of what he could take without Soona feeling any major effects... soon the other male would begin to feel weak. Too weak to move...and he couldn't have that. Eiros feared he might lay there till there was nothing left.
“Soona ...please. Go,” he tried again, feeling as though he had to gasp for air to conjure the soft, pleading words. He turned his head away to hide his expression as he fought to channel ever foreign emotion that entered into his consciousness. 'Thump, thump, thump.' His racing heart throbbed hard in his temples, the ache between his eyes growing and growing. Another stab of fear and dread gave his body a jolt.
He...he couldn't...
HE COULDN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!
“I said go! Now!”
Eiros spun his head back around to face the other male, his eyes narrowed and teeth clenched. Pain and anger mixed into a strangled tone as he fought to raise his voice. His violet eyes were wide and glazed over as he stared Soona's, doing all that he could to convey his will.
(HOT DAYUM SON!) So much
So much confusion... Soona had never felt so many different waves of emotion flood him. It was overwhelming, yes, but at the same time it was just...incredible. Despite the fleeting feelings of fear and uncertainty, he felt...so very good. Comfortable, even. At this point, he wasn't sure if that was only because Eiros was pressed against him. Feeling the blonde's lithe body wrapped around his was...surreal and enthralling. Welcoming and familiar... Like boiling water, however, the fear and desperation began to bubble up within him once more. Something was terribly wrong... He had to break...wait. Why was he saying this? This wasn't him... This wasn't what he thought at all! So much confusion... Soona's head began to throb, the beginnings of a migraine haunting him as he struggled internally. He wanted to stay, to comfort Eiros and just be with him...so what was this phantom command to run away? It buzzed inside his head, the will to fly slowly overtaking him. Overpowering...
Frustration...anger... Where were these emotions coming from? Soona could never be frustrated or angry at Eiros, never...what... The blue stag couldn't think anymore as the throbbing in his head intensified, and he groaned as a small wave of nausea hit him. He briefly recalled how he hadn't had a migraine in years.
"Soona...please. Go."
Eiros's voice was small, strangled. Soona stiffened at the weak command, his airway feeling as if it'd close in on itself as he struggled to breathe. His chest tightened, his heart accelerating to unhealthy levels. He didn't want to have a panic attack...not in front of the blonde... "E-Eiros...p-please don't d-do th-this," the blue stammered with great effort, although his voice was barely a whisper. Hot tears trailed down his cheeks, his body trembling. Eiros really wanted him to leave... It was too much, too sudden. The stag's world was beginning to crash down, his heart and body crushed. He couldn't lose Eiros...he couldn't...
"I said go! NOW!"
A powerful burst of rage, of fear. As if being yanked on a puppeteer's strings, Soona was pulled to his feet...or did he jump up? He could not remember despite it being a second ago. Their bodies had been ripped apart; the warmth was replaced with unforgiving cold. Fear...flight... The stag couldn't see; the forest was distorted, unrecognizable through his confusion and the white-hot pain in his throbbing skull. He realized that his hooves were pounding on the ground. He was moving. N-no...NO!
He stopped, tried to breathe. His breath came out in wheezing gasps, his legs shaking as he struggled to support his weight upon them. Despite standing in place, he stumbled, his vision wavering. A powerful wave of nausea hit him, forcing him to retch, the throbbing pain in his cranium merciless. Shivering, Soona slowly looked up, back to where he had lain with the beautiful stag. In an instant, it was over. He did not know what had happened, what he had done wrong... But he knew that it was his fault. It was all his fault, like it always was.
"Eiros..." Soona called out weakly, his voice soft and strangled despite the amount of air he attempted to free from his lungs. He didn't know what to do, where to go. He wanted to go to Eiros again, to curl up with him and tend to his wounds...but Eiros didn't want him near. "Please..." With a strangled sob Soona stumbled across the birch, but no matter how much distance he put between him and the blonde, Eiros's scent still followed him. It was too much... Soona couldn't breathe. Collapsing in a tall patch of timothy, Soona struggled for breath between uncontrolled sobs. He thrashed weakly, the throbbing pain intensifying as everything rushed back to him. In one day, he had destroyed his trust with Eighteen and Eiros...but Eiros was the one who he cared about the most. Eiros became the only creature that mattered to him...and now he was gone. Gone... The panic attack didn't last for too long. Soona was already exhausted, and soon he could breathe again. The tears wouldn't stop, the pain in his heart overpowering his migraine. He laid there in the grass, sobbing quietly, too paralyzed to move again. If a predator found him there, so be it. It didn't matter anymore...not anymore. Eiros...I am so sorry...
(Sigh...why do I torture my characters so much? Oh yeah...because it's FUN! >D)
The blue buck scrambled to
The flow of energy came to a sudden halt. With Soona's warm, supportive body no longer there to catch him Eiros toppled over into the grass with a gasp. He didn't feel cold...he couldn't, even if he wanted to. The other male's voltaic energy was still trapped inside him, spreading through every tissue, tingling and wonderful. The whirlwind of thoughts and fears and desires and dreads and...anger... that had threatened to drive him mad had gone quiet. It was just his heart beat now.
'Thump thump. Thump thump. Thump thump.'
It was just whispers.
'Soona go...please...go...'
He had gone.
'Good...you're safe now...'
A weary ghost of a smile formed upon his lips. Yes, he'd healed him. The blue stag would no longer be in pain...
Then the smile quickly faded again, and any shimmering of happiness or satisfaction he thought he'd might have felt in that moment vanished. He didn't really feel these things...simply thought that he should. In reality the blonde felt...hollow. It had all gone quiet, but no amount of peace followed. The hurricane was over, but the destruction it had left in its wake... Wait, that was it. Eiros was in shock. It had been too much. Too many emotions. Too many sensations. He had lost his cool and Soona had suffered and he had felt every second of it with him, and Soona...oh Gods, Soona had felt him too. That look in his deep blue eyes before he'd taken off, so afraid and lost and...crushed. A wail rose in the blonde stag's throat. It cut through the forest, silencing the gossiping birds overhead before it was muffled by a quick turn of his head into the grass. He couldn't explain it; where it came from; what it was... He just screamed into the grass until he couldn't anymore. Tears gushed out of his eyes as he closed them tightly, curling his battered body into the weeds. He trembled.
“F-f-forg-give m-me,” he breathed, pressing his face into the ground, wishing it would open up and swallow him.
“F-forge-e-et me...”
[Hey I deserve some of the credit! My characters are heart-breaking bastards! XDD GAH I CAN'T TAKE IT]
(OHGOD, this is so sad...and
Shock... Yes, that was the word. Like Eiros, Soona was in shock, his body numb and his head buzzing. Powerful sobs wracked his body as he struggled to process what had just happened. Not just now, but for the entire morning. So much had happened at once... First he lost Eighteen's trust, and now Eiros wanted him to stay away. But what just happened with Eiros hurt the most. Gods, did it hurt... It was unbearable. The pain of his past wounds had nothing on the pain that he felt in his heart. It wrenched at his gut, twisted his insides mercilessly. His body suddenly felt cold despite the warm rays of sunlight washing over him through the canopy. The blue groaned and shivered, rolling onto his other side and squeezing his eyes shut as a smaller wave of nausea crashed into him.
Soona did not hear the blonde's wail, no, for he then wrenched an anguished cry from his own lungs. This one lasted longer, was louder, was filled with the pain and anguish that he had pent up inside of him for so long. The cry was beginning to transform into a scream, and Soona thrashed his body against the ground feebly as he beat his cheek into the earth over and over... Enough. He slumped, completely silent save for strangled gasps as he fought for breath. His face and neck were soaked with tears, and white dots exploded in his vision. A bruise was forming on his cheek, and blood filled his mouth from when he bit down on it from the inside. He shivered, jerked, tried to curl into himself the best he could. Cold... Alone... Alone... He was doomed to be alone. Always alone. No...
He wanted to disappear, to be gone forever. He didn't deserve another chance, another life. This is how it would always be. It was torture... This was his own personal Hell. Alone...
"P-please...d-don't le-eave m-me..." Shadows crept into the corners of his vision, closing in on him. And then... complete darkness. Emptiness. A voice of the past guided him into subconsciousness. Rest your head... Rest, now. It will be alright...
(Whew...Soona freaked so much that he passed out. I'm a monster! >8D Hm...so, what shall we do from here? I guess we should probably rely on in-game events for the more dramatic RPs. Is there a chance of Eiros actually approaching Soona instead of vice-versa, I wonder?)
Ok you are kind of a monster
UMMMM whatnext uhhh.... Dunno? Definitely some more forest interaction, which I guess means they have to make up somehow, which probably means more RP XD Or not. Eiros will approach Soona if you'd like. I know he's been around in the forest (derp) but I imagine he'd stay hidden for a few days until he was well and calmed down enough to wander around after that. He will want to apologize heh...silly nugget. So we can do that in game and if you want to rp it we can or we can't just explain what happened ^^' I'm good with either!
Why thank you! *beams with
Oh, I love that idea! We can wait a couple of days (Soona will be laying low as well), and we can plan out when Eiros will approach Soona. I would love to play it out in-game and then RP it on the comm later. Eeee...it's going to be either cute, heart-breaking, or both! Hopefully just the former though, haha!
(Blurg, sorry this took so
"Y-yes, I do,"
Honeyfur's eyebrows raised a little. She wasn't anticipating him to know the brown stag at all. Relief flooded through her, but was soon replaced with guilt once again. She hated the idea of asking what she wanted to ask, because she knew that she could easily approach Eiros himself and apologize for her actions...but, again, there had been no sign of the blonde anywhere. Besides, even if she did find him, would he run away again? She didn't doubt it.
"I m-met him yesterday. H-He is...v-very sweet,"
The dragon felt a smile forming on her muzzle as she heard the words and saw the pink tint of a blush on his cheek. It didn't bother her, not at all. She had several friends with a mate of the same gender, so you could say that she was pretty use to it. Besides, if that's what makes you happy, then go for it...that's how she viewed it. Then she turned her head forward, looking out at the horizon. Her tail twitched as she figured that she was just jumping to conclusions. This was the first time she had met Soona, so of course she wouldn't know for sure...only assumed.
Wait...what was I going to ask? Oh right...
Refocusing her thoughts, she swallowed, getting ready to speak. "I hate to burdon you like this, but I haven't seen him in a while...so, when you get the chance, could you, tell him that I'm sorry for...snapping at him? I don't want him to be terrified of me for the rest of our lives...." She looked down at her clawed hands, her smile had vanished. Guilt seemed to be her most dominant expression this evening, because it once again took over, forcing the happy, understanding emotion into submission.
(Sorry for the weak post, I'm a little rushed at the moment since I'm supposed to be packing xD" I just wanted to put this up before tomorrow ^^)
(Aw, no worries at all! I
The blue stag didn't notice the dragon smile, for now his gaze was fixated past the blue bowl, his eyes distant. He squeezed his eyes shut as another light-headed spell overcame him, but he was able to shake it off. The dull pain and throbbing in his fresh wounds was no longer debilitating; no, it was his heart that was causing him the most misery. He supposed he should have seen this coming, as no one seemed to like or trust Eighteen like he did. Well, he once did, anyway. He should have ran when Eighteen charged Honeyfur...she was more than capable of defending himself. Why did he have to be a hero when he is always such a coward?
His train of thought derailed as the dragon spoke again, and Soona looked up at her curiously. She looked...upset. And...guilty? There was so much guilt about her, and he did not understand why. He wanted to ask what had happened between her and Eiros, but he knew that it was none of his business. All he knew was that she was truly sorry for whatever had happened. Despite his hurt spirit and pain, the blue stag managed a small, reassuring smile. Bowing his head slightly, he replied in a soft voice, "I will gladly relay the message for you, Honeyfur." If I ever see him again... Biting his lip, Soona forced that thought from his mind. To not see the blonde again would be soul-crushing...
I'm randomly gonna place a
Hehe, I'd be crazy to mind!
Soona was sleeping. Resting
Resting against the ancient birch tree, he looked so... small, curled tightly into himself, his head tucked into his legs as though to shield it from the world. So innocent... like a newborn tucked into the grass. What was he dreaming of? Where they pleasant dreams? His body appeared fit-less, still but for the mesmerizing rise and fall of his chest.
The blue stag must have been somewhere, far from here, for he did not hear Eiros' approach. The blonde had done his best to stay quiet at he followed the scent trail through the birch, but his tender leg and the long, impeding grass had done little to aid his attempts. He hadn't known what he'd find, coming upon the male... The anxiety of the thought made his heart race. What would he see when those deep blue eyes looked up and found him emerging from the forest? Fear? Hurt? Anger? He didn't know if he could bear it... but Eiros knew he had to try.
So the blonde stood over him now, his amaranthine eyes a swirl of emotion. Part of him was relieved the stag was asleep... yet another part was impatient. Should he...go? Leave Soona to his slumber and try again another day? This sounded like the best immediate plan, and yet his hooves remained planted as they were and he found he could not turn his eyes from the blue male. When he finally moved, it was not back the way he came. Instead the blonde limped forward and fashioned himself against the other side of the tree...then settled there. He wasn't thinking, not hard enough! Yet his head felt perfectly clear as he rested it against the white bark and watched the other male sleep...
(Woot! 8D) It was in dreams
It was in dreams where Soona would usually find the most peace. To be plunged into a surreal world of warm light and pleasant circumstances was so much more comforting than the real world. He did not always look forward to his dreams, however, for it was not uncommon of him to suffer through a recurring nightmare or two. Nightmares that relived events of his past; nightmares that taunted him, made him wonder how things would have been different if only he'd done something. His nightmares reminded him that he was a coward, a shivering fool with no spine. And always, they would feel real...oh, so very real. Soona had lost count of how many times he'd wake up screaming, crying.
But there was no threat of nightmares, now. In fact, the blue stag had not had any since he had met Eiros. Truthfully, Soona had been thinking of the golden stag almost all day, and now his dreams were warm and welcoming. The sleep he was currently in was deep and restful, which was quite a feat considering that he could never sleep well at all. He had suffered through several sleep disorders as a human, but in his new body he found that they were much easier to overcome. He did not move at all in his sleep, save for the rise and fall of his chest and belly as he breathed. Soona was utterly relaxed, at peace. Yet, something was missing...
Despite the fact that he could not hear Eiros approach, even his subconscious Soona could feel a gentle presence materialize nearby him. A smile formed on his lips as he slept, and he made a small humming noise in his throat as a very familiar scent caressed his senses. Eiros...mm... Eiros...? The realization hit him, and Soona roused from his dream, blinking his eyes slowly. He felt disoriented after forcefully removing himself from such a restful state, but his heart was pounding too hard to re-enter it. And then, he remembered why he awoke in the first place. Turning his head, Soona gasped softly as his eyes locked with the golden stag's own. He was here, right next to the blue stag, voluntarily. He found himself frozen as he gazed into Eiros's eyes, although his smile was back and was as wide and warm as ever. Even if he were still somehow dreaming, it did not matter; his heart was light although it pounded away with nervous excitement.
"Eiros, I...I am so happy to see you," he finally spoke, his voice slightly distorted from sleeping. Blushing, Soona cleared his throat softly, his smile temporarily becoming sheepish in nature. He wished to lean in and sniff at his friend, but decided against it; he did not want to make Eiros uncomfortable, not ever.
His lean muscles tensed
But...no.
He watched in amazement as a wide smile spread slowly across Soona's face. The blue stag was...seeing him. Actually seeing him, and...he was smiling? He was...h-happy to see him?
A lightness in his head reminded him he was still holding his breath...or was it the sight of the familiar rosy blush spreading across the other's cheeks? Eiros expelled the built-up pressure of air from his nose slowly as his ears slide uncertainly back along his head. Very carefully, he returned the smile, though it was no where near as bright. He didn't want to believe Soona's warm welcoming...he didn't want to accept it. There was too much fear and uneasiness in his heart still. That night...didn't Soona remember?!
“I'm...I'm glad,” the stag managed, his brows knitting behind the cover of his mask. His eyes looked worried.
“I'm sorry, I...didn't mean to wake you,” he added quickly, his voice lowering as his eyes shifted away, unwilling to hold that deep azure gaze any longer. He realized how foolish he sounded. He had been caught staring at the stag when he'd awoken... If he had not been intending to wake him, then that meant he had intended to watch him sleep! Eiros lowered his head a little, glancing off to hide his embarrassment.
Those violet eyes. That
Soona could not read the nervousness on Eiros's face, nor the uncertainty as he still trying to blink the sleep from his eyes, but the smile was impossible to miss, no matter how small it was. That night... Yes, the blue stag had remembered it. How could he not? He would always remember. However, it was no surprise for him to act as if nothing awkward had happened between them; after all, Eiros sat right here before him after everything that had transpired. He no longer had anything to worry about...or so he hoped. The blonde returning to him was enough of a sign that everything would be alright.
It was then that Soona noticed the worried look in Eiros's eyes, although he tilted his head with the same warm smile as the blonde apologize. "Eiros...seeing you is much more wonderful than having a dream," he replied softly, and then coughed as his blush returned. "Er...well, you know. I adore your company, and...I was afraid I'd never see you again," he added in a slightly quieter tone, his smile becoming sheepish. He continued to gaze at Eiros's face even as the blonde looked away. He could now read Eiros's body language loud and clear, and it worried Soona. Whenever he'd see him, the blonde was always nervous and looked like he was ready to take flight at any moment. But why? Soona would never believe that anyone would find him frightening.
"Eiros...what's wrong?" the blue stag asked quietly, leaning towards the blonde slightly with a worried look on his face. He wished to nose at Eiros's fur in a comforting, reassuring manner...but who knew how the blonde would react to that? If Eiros were to flee after Soona got his hopes it...well, it would shatter him.
“Seeing you is much more
Wh-what? What sort of peculiar thing was that to say? The blonde wasn't even sure if he was supposed to be embarrassed this time around the statement was so baffling to him - though Soona's cheeks turning a shade redder should have been a clue. Yet the blue stag stumbled quickly to correct himself, perhaps finding the comment as odd as he did. His alternative choice of words made more literal sense, but the feeling behind them?
Eiros turned his head back wearily, ears nestling back into his hair. His eyes were wide and childlike as he peered awkwardly at the sheepish smile and rosy cheeks of his companion. Yet as shameful as the blue buck appeared, he met Eiros' gaze eagerly...and held it. He swallowed, but his mouth was dry. The same old feelings were bubbling up again, uneasy and questioning. Soona's stare...the way he looked at him. He remembered now. Why had he come?
“Eiros...what's wrong?”
Right. He remembered now. The brown stag shifted his weight and lifted his posture a bit, letting his expression fall flat before fashioning himself a new one. A serious one. He did not hold the male's steady gaze, staring instead at the dirt.
“Well I...don't know about any of that, but... I ...well, I just came to apologize,” he began quietly. “I should not have done what I did...not like that. I don't regret healing you, but I should have told you what I was doing.”
He seemed to be picking his words carefully, snatching them from some script he's memorized rather than letting them flow from the heart.
“It was wrong, to do it like that. I betrayed your trust, and...I am sorry.”