SotC

[Kesmi]

Kenjin
A tale of unforgiving sadness...

Can’t catch me Kisha. Echoed a voice from one so fair’s past. Oh yes I will Kenjin, oh yes I will. Kisha giggled as she darted after one who no longer exists.

It seemed like only a mere dream, two young foals darting about the native herd lands. Glossy wings folded to their sides as she darted past and under other horses there. The first one that passed under a bay mare was a creamy color, white and black flakes of color dashed his back and flank. A golden mane and tail swayed behind like banners. Sparkling blue eyes looked back toward the female that chassed him. Silver hooves dug into the ground as young Kenjin fought to remain a head of his sister, Kisha.

Bright blue eyes kept their sights upon the creamy tan brother a head of her. Her own pure white coat gleamed within the sunlight as she darted under the bay mare still following her brother. Her mane and tail the same color as his marking that they were siblings, twins in fact. More twin-ish then the later day Kisha and Kishan. Kisha and Kenjin were blood twins.

“Come back here Kenjin, You won’t get away from me so easily as you did the last time.” Kisha shouted after her brother who only laughed.

The days seemed to pass as all others. Full of play, laughter and happiness for the two younger foals, ones that seemed to grow slower then your normal breed of horse. Soon a stormy day came and the young pair were penned in with all the others as to no get spooked by the thunder and lightening that flashed and cracked around them. Kenjin, being the trouble making that he was and his sister following right behind, snuck out of the pen and headed toward the open plain. Unknowing of the plans that had been set by the humans for the young pair.

“We shouldn’t be out here Kenjin.” Kisha said always looking back at the other horses that slept in the pen.

“Oh come on Kisha, there’s nothing bad out here. The humans are indoors and the other animals are in out of the rain as well. So come and play with me dear sister.” He said challenging her.

Looking back once more at the pen where her, their family were sleeping she nodded to her brother. Smiling the pair darted off further away then their mother would allow, further then she could hear them. Playing to where humans were waiting, waiting to deal with something that could end their village…

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“So which one was it you said carried the mark of death?” asked a native as he watched the foals play out in the storm.

“The sand colored one. With the black and white on his back and flank. He means us harm.” Said an older.

“He’s only a foal, there’s no harm from him.” Said the first as he looked back at the playing twins.

“I’ve seen him deal death. The grass has withered beneath his hooves. I’ve seen it.” The old proclaimed, his voice raising higher a bit.

“You said that about the white one before something changed your mind. So what makes you think it’s the colt this time?” Jehin asked looking at the older Minust.

“Just just said the reasons.” Minust snarled smacking the back of Jehin’s head.

“If you said so. You sure if wasn’t just because of the drought?” Jehin asked rubbing the back of his head.

“Would I lie?” Minust retorted aiming to hit Jehin again.

“You have on more then one occasion.” Jehin said flinching at the possible strike.

Minust snorted as he looked back at the other two warriors he had brought with him besides the ill hearted Jehin. Signaling to get ready, the two soon leapt out into the open and rushed toward the foals. A length of twisted vine hung around the chest of one of the warriors, eyes set on snaring the colt from behind.

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Kisha and Kenjin were still playing as Kisha soon reared, a cry of surprise as the two warriors came out of no where and headed straight for them. Kenjin turned just as he was forced to the ground, his legs kicking, trying to get free. All was futile as his wings were bound tightly and another rope was tied about his neck. The rope was pulled harshly, pulling Kenjin along the ground as he fought to get free.

“Sister… Help me.” He cried as his hooves dug into wet soggy ground.

“KENJIN!” Kisha cried as she charged toward her brother looking to help him.

Her actions were stopped as Minust and Jehin got in her way, their spears pointed dangerously at her as one shouted something in a language she could not under stand. Her ears back, small wings flared at her sides. She paced back and forth, unable to get around. She would try one way, but get block by one of the two. All the while she caught glimpses of her dearest brother being pulled away.

“SISTER!” Kenjin still cried as he was pulled away from his sister.

His bright blue eyes looking toward where she was pacing, pleading for her to help him. Looking back to here he was being dragged, No! Not the cliffs! Anywhere, but there. Struggling harder against the rope he dug into the ground trying to get away, no he wouldn’t go there. He feared the cliffs after the stories their mother had told. His hooves slipped as he was pulled ever closer to the cliffs, his wings struggling to get free from the bindings that held them to his sides.

“No!” He whinnied loudly as he looked back at the ever pacing Kisha. “Sister!”

“Brother!” Kisha whinnied loudly as she backed away from those blocking her from her brother.

*Her small wings flaring at her sides she prayed that they would be strong enough to lift her over the humans. Her ears flattening back against the rain that pelted down at them, her coat was stained with mud, her eyes watching the humans as her wings flapped in the rain. Charging forward, wings still beating she leapt.*

’Mother, give me strength Kisha prayed within her mind as she leapt, wings beating furiously to get over the human’s heads.

“Don’t let her get near the colt!” Minust shouted as Jehin ran to try and catch Kisha by throwing a knotted rope over her head.

Her tracks were frozen as the rope had caught around her neck pulling her back. A frantic cry broke from her throat as she was hauled back, her footing lost as he flopped back upon her back in the slick mud. The other end of the rope tied off to a tree, keeping her from reaching her brother. She could only watch in horror, listen to his desperate for help. For mercy. All his cries went unheard by those in the pens, their mother went on sleeping while her son was dragged to the cliffs to meet a fate worse then death itself…

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“Alright you demon from the underworld. It’s time you went back to where you came from.” Minust said as a dark gaze was shifted to the frightened Kenjin. “We’ll teach you to wither the grass and crops. Teach you to scare the children in their sleep of death.”

One stone was thrown, fast and accurate, striking the colt in a shoulder. His voice cried out against the thunder that thrashed about the sky above. Soon more stones pelted young Kenjin like the rain against the parched ground. It wasn’t long before a crimson soaked the colt’s body. Many cuts graced his sides, head and legs. His head sagged in submission, hoping it was all over.

“Back to the flames with you. You DEMON!” Minust shouted as he charged at the sagging colt.

Kisha let out a frantic cry that echoed that of her brother as he was thrown over the cliff. She had felt his pain, his wounds, her head clouded with questions. Shaking her head she pulled against the rope that bound her to the tree, always looked back at the spot where her brother once stood. Her hooves digging into the ground, tears stained her already wet face.

The rope soon gave as Jehin suddenly sliced it clean through letting Kisha go. He soon turned to Minust with a foul glare as the older native seemed to laugh in triumph. Even laughing as the white, mud streaked filly dove over the cliffs after her brother. Hoping to save him, not knowing that it was too late. Too late to try, too late to pray.

“You murderous git, There was nothing wrong with that colt was there.” Jehin asked as he rounded upon Minust shoving him into the mud. “You selfishly killed the colt because the chief refused to let you have him. You greedy git, you should follow him over the cliffs for what you have brought upon us.”

“You don’t see it do you? You’re the only one who never sees the truth even if it was under his nose.” Minust grunted as he threw Jehin off him. “The colt was a demon and I took care of him. Now get out of my sights.”

Jehin glared at Minust as he and the others returned back to the village. The lone native stood at the edge of the cliff looking down. His own stomach lurching at the height. Shaking his head, what was done, was done. Nothing could bring the colt back even if he wished it. Head hanging he slowly returned to the village, completely forgetting about the filly that had followed her brother…

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Her body quaking as her wings opened to slow her descent from the cliff high above. She spotted her brother easily, his body bent and broken. Crimson spilt along the ground as if someone had dropped a clay bowl upon a stone. Tears welled within her eyes as she cried out mournfully. Her legs collapsed under her as she landed not too far from her brother’s body. As many times she tried to stand the results were the same.

“Kenjin, get up, please. Get up!” She pleaded to the body that laid before her. “GET UP!”

Tears fell from her eyes as the sky above seemed to share her mourning. After a moment she finally got to her feet only to collapse after two steps, but those two steps brought her closer to her broken brother. She rubbed her head against his cold face, tears falling upon his crimson stained face, her ears back as she didn’t want to move, didn’t want sleep, no matter how wary she had become.

’Sleep my daughter.’ Willed a strange calming voice that seemed to come from no where

Kisha shook her head as she forced herself to not sleep, not even close her eyes too long against the sting the tears gave her eyes. She pulled her body even closer to Kenjin, her own white coat becoming the same crimson color as her brother’s.

“No, I can’t. I can’t” She sobbed, not wanting to let go.

’But you must my daughter. You are wary with sorrow, you must sleep.’ The voice willed as a strange warmth, like a wing being placed over her body, comforting, caressing her, willing her to close her eyes to sleep. ’All will be well in the morning’ The voice whispered.

Kisha shook her head again, trying to ignore the warmth, the comforting feeling, the sleep that was consuming her clouded mind like a warm blanket. It wasn’t too much longer before Kisha gave in, into the darkness, into the strange warmth about her body. She gave into the sleep willed upon her, her soul, her heart crying eternally for her not to, but sleep came…

When morning did come, Kisha opened her red eyes and looked about where she laid. Up toward the cliffs above and around the sandy, rocky ravine in which she lay. She suddenly remembered, the rain, the cries, the pain and… Her head spun toward where her brother had once laid and not it was just a patch of grass that hadn’t been there before. Pulling herself to her feet she looked at the patch, then herself. Her white coat shown brightly within the quickly rising sun, there was no mud, no blood. Blinking up at the sky she wondered if it all had really happened, she didn’t believe it until something whispered to her.

’Never forget me sister.’ was all that was whispered before Kisha fled…, fled to never return to the spot where her life was torn in two…

 

[Kesmi]

The Back Story of the Alicorn
Part 1

It didn’t seem all that long ago when the two mass herds clashed with one another, over the lands of each others. One can barely remember the glistening of the golden horns of the unicorns as they charged forth toward their feathered foes. One can still barely hear the swoosh of wings as the Pegasi went to try and claim the lands of is earth bound brethren. All was complete history until now. But what truly happened to the two herds that still travel the distant plains, unyielding to the tests of time? Or the great guardians of the clouds, do they still watch over the lands below where their children play and learn to be free like the winds? One could only wonder what had ever happened to the two herds that battled that fruitless year, but here’s the story in hopes to clear up the strange creation of the Alicorn, the sealing of the two breeds into one being.

The ground shook as the mass herd of unicorns charged across it toward their summer feeding ground that happened to lay just besides the Pegasi’s breeding grounds. Over head dark bodies swooped and soared upon great black wings, the Pegasi were about ad enjoying the summer sun and warm thermals within their wings. Both sides seemed to like each other well enough, but it would soon end when a foal of the sky guardians falls to the horn of its brethren. But until that time the two herds lived side by side, one looking out for the other.

The foals always played together upon the Pegasi’s breeding lands where no one would thing trouble would begin. The older stallions and Mares kept to their own lands grazing well contentedly upon the grass mother earth provided for them. There was no fear of humans in this lands, it was too isolated at times too cold for the two legs to find them. Everything was truly peaceful, until one night in late summer. Two young Unicorn colts snuck out from the protection of their herd and into the lands of the Pegasi. The pair looked about for the filly they had played with, both wanting to court her when they were older to truly understand what was going through their minds.

One colt’s name was Hashin, son of the late herd leader who had fallen ill a summer ago and passed on. His mother was a widow now and lone in charge of her herd though others threatened to over throw her rule. The other colt was Kashin, son of a lesser unicorn. The two always acted like brother, perhaps they were…. Or perhaps it was their will to make mischief that caused them to be so close in personalities. One could never tell with the bright eyed pair. Their horns were barely a few inches long, but still able to do damage if the need arose. But let us not forget where this story ends, not in the happily ever after, that’s for certain, no. Happy is anything but the ending…

Hashin and Kashin searched the breeding lands of the Pegasi for Sicily the daughter of the Pegasis’ herd leaders, Than and Athena. Hashin joked with Kashin about how he was going to woo Sicily into being his, as Kashin snorted and pawed at the ground in agitation, now thinking that it was a bad idea to have ever snuck out with Hashin.

“Come on friend, maybe she will court both of us?” Hashin said over excitedly.

“Hardly Hashin. She has to chose from her own herd. You are stupid to think she will court one of us.” Kashin retorted looking away from Hashin

Hashin snorted at his friend’s retort and looked about the Pegasi who slept with their foals. Gorgeous black wings folded upon their backs like blankets. The friends walked silently amongst the Pegasi until they came upon Sicily and her father. Her mother was nowhere to be seen, probably dead like Hashin’s father. Sneaking up close to Sicily, Hashin made a small ‘psst’ sounds trying to wake the filly and not her father.

A small black head popped up from under her father’s folded wing. Blue/silver eyes looked around a bit before the filly noticed to two white bodies against the night sky. Looking at her sleeping father, Sicily pulled herself away from him and headed over to the boys. Her voice low she spoke to them…

“What are you doing here? Go back to your own herd.” She said with a sense of higher authority.

“Sicily, we’ve come to ask if we could court you… Later on in years..” Hashin said as he fidgeted a bit, Kashin was no calmer.

Sicily watched the colts with widened eyes, but she merely shook her head. Small black wings hung at her sides as she looked to the ground. Nothing good would come out of all this. Her father forbid her from courting of the herd, her father . The darkest and strongest of her kind, if he knew of her chatter now… The colts would be killed. Or worse… Lifting her head up, her wings spread wide at her sides, a defensive posture at best.

“Go back to your own herd. Mate with your own kind. I want nothing to do with you.” She hissed, pawing at the ground.

Kashin being the somewhat older of the two looked at Hashin, knowing that he was hurt. If not physically, but heart broken to say the least. Stepping forward, Kashin glared at the filly. His green eyes flickering with the flames of hatred, a trait rarely seen within unicorns. Rearing up he came down just before the Pegasi filly, his head close to hers, his horn pointed at her. Being only a friend, Kashin was acting more like a brother when it came to Hashin’s feelings.

“You filthy little winged pest. Hashin has feelings for you, and so don’t I. But I’d never stand in his way, but you. You murder every sense of love.” Kashin snapped rearing again, bringing his hooves down to strike at Sicily.

Sicily didn’t move away from Kashin in time and was struck in the head. A fitful whinny tore from her throat as she stumbled backwards. Surely it wasn’t enough to kill her, but enough to cause pain. Sicily’s cry rang amongst her kind, some groaned in their sleep, others seemed comatose. Could it be that her cry wasn’t heard? But… Why? Looking toward Kashin, she noticed that his horn was glowing, a barrier was surrounding them. The magic rippled off her wings as she was knocked against it. Was that why her father didn’t come to her cry? Or anyone for that matter, leaping to the side away from Kashin, Sicily looked panicked at the unicorn colt. Looking at Hashin he didn’t move to neither help her or his friend, he stood frozen. His eyes dark, lifeless it seemed as she was kicked around.

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I’m sure everyone can guess what happened without all the details of the slaughter. XD

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When dawn had risen from its nightly slumber, the leader of the Pegasi herd woke to horror and despair. For laying not too far from him was his daughter’s body, her eyes dull, feathers strewn across the ground. It would seem that something had gotten at her. Standing quickly, the Leader stepped over to his daughter. Calling out her name, to get no answer. Rage flared behind obsidian eyes, he knew, he could smell the scent of unicorn upon his daughter, his only Sicily.

A mournful and angered cry tore from the black Pegasi’s throat as his wings opened wide to his sides. His call stirred those of his herd and those of not, the unicorns rose in haste when they heard the cry. All heads turned toward the Pegasi herd in wonder of what was wrong. Hashin and Kashin stood quivering, Kashin still coated in the fillies blood. He had yet to bath, he was too scared, he didn’t know what had come over him. Huddling close to Hashin, the blood smeared against his white coat. Hashin’s mother turned toward the shaking boys. Her crystal eyes widened at the sight of them, what had happened? What had they done?

Taking careful steps toward the Pegasi herd, they broke aside showing the fallen body if Sicily, the herd leader’s only offspring. The large male Pegasi stood glaring from behind his daughter’s body. Ears pressed back against his head as he looked at the white, horned mare that intruded his herd. Stepping over his daughter’s body, head lowered he snapped at the white mare, whom in turn leapt back away from him and the others.

“Go back to your lands.” He snapped, “Go back and send the murders of my daughter to me. They will suffer the same fate in which my own had.”

The snap was more of a command to one that was not of his own herd. Her own ears back, the mare snorted at the order and didn’t move. Her crystal eyes watched the black stallion before her. Horn glowing in the early light of dawn, Zahia’s eyes continued watching the male, no words spoken for many long minutes. It seemed that Zahia was stalling for some reason…

“No Than, I will not hand over my son to you.” She said calmly, not looking for a fight this early in the morning, “Nor will I hand over his friend.”

Fire flashed behind the stallion’s eyes as his name was spoken by the white mare before him. Than stepped closer to Zahia, his wings slowly opening as he pulled himself closer pace by pace. Tension spread throughout the Pegasi herd as they all backed away giving the two heads plenty of room if a fight was to break out, not one saw that the unicorn herd turned to flee with the two boys in bloody toe.

“You will give them to me Zahia, your herd can’t protect them for ever. You know that and I know that. We will find them and I will give them the same death as my Sicily endured.” Than hissed through grit teeth as he stood over Zahia. “Mark my words Zahia, this will end our ancestor’s bindings of friendship.”

“Don’t you think I know that Than? But I will protect my herd from yours until my body lays upon the very earth I was born upon.” Zahia stated with all the calmness her kind were known for. “If it’s war you want Than, mine and I won’t flee from it.”

It was the answer Than had been seeking, war. War with their earth bound brethren had been foretold many eons ago, but it never came to pass until now. A broad smile came over Than’s face as he lowered his head to look into Zahia’s crystal eyes with his own black ones. He hadn’t need to say anymore as the white mare turned to flee after her herd that was barely a speck upon the horizon. Than and his own watched the cowards flee with the young boys within the center of the protective circle.

Than turned away from the fleeing herd and back to his little Sicily, her life taken before she had a chance to live it. Shaking his head he lowered his head in mourning as four of the higher ranking Pegasi stallions stepped forward to remove her from sight and to a grave that had been dug only moments before. Than’s mind was thrashing with anger and grief, a bad combination for that time of morning… But he wouldn’t have it, his anger would keep for ages…

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Many years passed since the death of Sicily, but the anger was rooted deep that early spring. Deeper then the tree roots of the large redwood and stronger as well. Than’s mate had died trying to give birth to another hire, only giving his mourning more meaning for revenge. Day and night scouts flew the skies searching for the white brethren that had fled so many years ago, but all reports were the same, nothing. It seemed that Zahia and her herd as vanished from the ends of the earth, but all was for not, they were still there, just in hiding. Waiting, waiting for the day that they could reclaim the lands that they lost within their retreat from the Pegasi.

“Mother, please. We don’t need those lands anymore.” Said an older Hashin as he stood beside his mother.

“Hashin, those lands will be yours once you have come to lead. I want you to have your lands back.” Zahia said as she looked out over her herd as they slept.

It was late night in late summer when the pair came to speak. Zahia had taken her normal place upon a stone that jut out of the ground like a small ledge, her son often came to be with her. He was older now, his coat was of the purest white, his horn a bright golden color, eyes a soft hazel color. He turned his head toward his mother, she was old and fading. Her body nearly see through, her horn was dim within the moon light, barely a beacon to guise her way off the ledge. Zahia had lived longer then she had hoped to, but in these times she dared not relinquish her lead to her son, the accused killer of the Pegasi filly.

Upon the anniversary of the slaughter, Zahia lead her heard back toward their summer grazing lands. Those that were now under Pegasi rule, where she knew Than would be waiting, waiting to punish whose that had taken his only child away from him. Hooves pounded the ground like the thunder of a late spring storm, horns glowing like stars that winked upon the nights skies. That night would most likely end both races if the gods would have it. Unknown to the two herds, the gods were watching, waiting. Waiting for their rime to appear and end the senseless feud that had split friends from friends and lovers from those they cared for.

 

[Kesmi]

Past of the Wanderer

It was cold and dark, the sun hadn’t shown in days. The earth was wet and muddy, slush and remnants of snow as it was slowly being melted away by the rains that had fallen for what seemed like forever. Sweat poured from a dappled mare as she had given birth to her last. She wouldn’t survive this, she knew that, he would be her last and she would be given to the spirits that night as well. Her sides gave one final sigh as the foal was freed from its protection and given its first breaths of freedom. With his freedom came the costs of her life, her mortality and even her love. The mare laid still as the colt opened his eyes and called out to her. Head tilting to one side, he stumbled to stand, his mother still unmoving her eyes closed beneath their lids was only glass.

He called again, his young voice pleading her to move, to at least look at him. He didn’t understand that she wasn’t going to move, or get up to greet him. Ears falling back, the young colt looked around as the rains once more fell from the skies above. It seemed that today was one of sadness and he couldn’t understand it. Cuddling close to his mother’s body, the colt weathered out the day before snarls sounded about him. Dark shadows slithered through the bushes and trees, dark bodies pressed themselves into the shadows as they moved.

“What’s a little one doing out here?” Snarled one of the shadows.

“Don’t know.” growled another as the shadows drew closer, drawn by the smell death from the mare’s body

“It would make a good after meal desert.” Barked a third as something slinked from the shadows lapping a pink tongue over a broad muzzle

“No, no. It’s too scrawny to be of any meal now. Let us take it back and watch over it. When it’s fattened a bit. Then and only then will it be good eating.” Snapped the first as a large black creature came to stand before the cold a head of the other two. “But the mare behind it will keep us until the rains have stopped and others come out of hiding.

The colt had had enough of all this, his eyes darted from one creature to another as they swarmed around his mother. Crying loudly the mare still didn’t stir as the smell of death grew stronger about her, standing quickly and haphazardly, he bolted from where he had once lain. But something knocked him off his small hooves and into the grass once more. Large grey paws placed themselves on either side of his small body, fear stricken eyes watched in horror. Drool slipped from the long muzzle and oozed to fall on his neck, the colt started to shake as the larger black female knocked the grey male off his paws freeing the colt. He took no time rolling and getting back up to bolt once more. Leaving the creatures to snarl and fight amongst themselves, and to feast upon his unmoving mother.

Hiding himself amongst the bushes, though they lead to little shelter as he watched from a distance as his mother was eaten little by little. First by the larger female then by the two smaller males that were left in shame for disregarding her rules. Their song filled the skies as the rains poured and the creatures left, his mother not as he remembered her as… Anymore. He turned and bolted further away, the images of his mother being eaten forever placed within his mind. He could never escape from them, never run, never hide. He would always remember what happened even when the years passed and he was accepted by the Cimarron her, his mother’s herd. He would always remember and he would never forget that someday, he would always try and protect everything from the creatures of his past. The large black female and twin grey males, though their phantom ways elude even him, Wanderer would always…. Remember.