335 words | Open

After her meeting with Pierce the mare needed some time to think, to reflect on all that had transpired since then. It had been a few days, and still, her mind felt clouded and uneasy. She’d located the edge of the forest, the trees touching but with ample room for her to graze. Elowyn chose to do so here, endeavouring to clear her thoughts.

So far, it was not helping.

The twilight hour was upon the wood, dying sunlight dappling the wild flowers. It made for a pretty scene, one that was tarnished by her inability to pay attention. Lost in her memories, it would seem, Elowyn grazed, snacking on the grass at her heels while she recollected the days of old.

While it had been nice to see Pierce again, she couldn’t deny the great sense of guilt that came with happening upon him. It weighed heavy on her shoulders but why? It wasn’t as if she had committed some great act of treachery and if he felt she had, her way of apologizing sat her in attempt to find him after all these years.

He’d changed but only in height and weight. When they met, they were merely foals and now, well now they were both so grown.

The champagne hued equine breathed a sigh through her nostrils, lifting her head to spy the distant trees. It was unclear as to what she sought here but regardless of her intentions she had to admit that it was a sight to behold.

”What a beautiful time of the year.” It was a sentence she spoke unto herself, unable to contain even another singular thought inside her own skull and thus instead she dared speak to the nothingness around her. She found, on occasion, that the bark of the trees, the blades of sashaying grass, they were good listeners.

And so, she ambled onward, sneaking a snack from the grasses at her feet and attempting to collect the plethora of jumbled thoughts inside her head.

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R O M E O

Leaving the safety of the Moraine Mountains, Romeo was determined to find some new members for his herd. It was definitely about time that some new life was brought into the lands. How else was a herd supposed to grow without inhabitants? Sure, he could easily steal members, but he wasn't that determined at the moment. He would settle for recruiting members the old fashioned way, and actually going out to meet them, himself. He wouldn't even bother with sending a guard, at this time. The chestnut tobiano king made his way down the mountains and towards Oxwater Wood. He moved into a gallop towards the land that he knew he could potentially find new members. The dense forest of the smokey forest faded to a lesser dense forest. Water could be heard as the streams slowly came into view. He slowed to a walk as he neared the water source of Oxwater Wood.

Sapphire voids shifted across the forest as he looked for any other sign of equine life. Sure, the evening wasn't the best time to go out and find members, but he didn't mind. If it meant potentially bringing a new friend home, then why not? His gaze shifted ever so slightly up towards the heavens as the sun was just about to set. The wildflowers of the land tickled his lower legs as he slowed to a halt. A breeze swept through the area, carrying with it the scent of another. The scent immediately caught his attention and he glanced around trying to catch sight of the other equine. Not seeing them, he made his way further into a slight clearing that had way more wildflowers than he could ever imagine. It was there in those wildflowers that he saw a beautiful creature. Sapphire gaze swept over the young mare as he cleared his throat announcing his presence. Had she heard him? Only time will tell. Though, he wasn't about waiting around right now. He stepped into the clearing with ease, but stopped a respectable distance away from the mare. Allowing her the personal space she deserved.

Good evening, he greeted her, though continued shortly after, my name is Romeo. Might I perhaps know your name, please? Talking to mares definitely did not come easy to this five-year-old stallion. He'd only talked to one mare so far, and was still determined to find members for his herd.

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tag Emorymoss
words 401
notes i hope you don't mind if i throw romeo in here. :3 recylced, but still works lol.

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309 words | Promise

The winds fell over her, bringing the sounds of other creatures into her ears. It was peaceful here, alone against all the thoughts that tumbled along her head. It was easy to get lost in the jumbled mess, and thus she didn’t hear the sound of another approaching at least, not until he spoke.

Her head jolted upwards, eyes wide as she turned to face him, surprise registering along her features. It took a moment to recognize that it wasn’t Pierce and instead another stallion. His appearance here was sudden but not impossible. She’d been roaming, she must not have realized how far she’d gone.

Whispers of her mane fell about her features and she had to peer beneath to see him.

”Oh, hello.” She offered, taking in his appearance. His coat was tarnished, as if painted with rust but he appeared to her as kind, opting to allow her space before offering his name. The title eased itself into her ears followed by a question and Elowyn relaxed, easing the tension in her shoulders.

The evening continued to fall, darkness sinking all around them but the light of the moon presented her a glimpse of him. His tobiano frame was much different than hers, two sides of the same coin. The mare smiled pleasantly.

”Nice to meet you, Romeo. I am Elowyn.” She was tempted to add that she hailed from the Smokey woods, that she’d only retreated here in fear that Pierce held contempt for her from their earlier interactions. Pierce wouldn’t, he wasn’t that type of creature but Elowyn was something of a masochist.

She exhaled softly, turning fully to face the creature whom shared her space.

”What brings you here so late, Romeo?” He could ask her the very same question but it seemed safe to divert the conversation toward him and off of herself.

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R O M E O

He seemed to be out and about away from his lands most days, but would always return at night. Whether or not that day was successful was another thing entirely. Most days, of course, weren't that successful and he rarely met anyone. Other days, however, he was at the top of his game and was meeting a lot of other equines. It was nice to have the occasional conversation with another, but he hoped one day he might get lucky enough to bring another home with him. As he had spoken to the mare before him, he noticed the way her head jolted upwards and her eyes were wide. He could see the surprise upon her face and he offered her a sheepish grin. He hadn't meant to scare her.

Oh, hello. He heard her greet him in response as he watched her peer at him beneath fallen whispers of mane. Once he had introduced himself, he noticed the way she seemed to relax and he was definitely happy that she was now calm and relaxed. He remained a respectable distance away from her, knowing it wasn't just for her safety, but his as well. He didn't truly know how she would have reacted to his presence and had stayed a distance away in case she would have reacted badly and kicked at him. He glanced about him at the landscape, his sapphire voids shifted over the land and up towards the heaven as darkness took over the sky, but light from the moon shined down upon the land.

Stars glittered in the heavens and he smiled at them before glancing back to the mare before him. Nice to meet you, Romeo. I am Elowyn. He heard her introduce herself and he dipped his crown towards her. It's a pleasure to meet you, Elowyn, he mused lightly, letting the lyrics slip free with ease. He watched as she turned to full face him, though every now and then his sapphire gaze would shift around the landscape watching for any danger. What brings you here so late, Romeo? He heard her question and he thought of how best to answer that.

I figured I would take a nightly walk in the cool air before settling back home for the rest of the night, he answered in response to her question. What about you, Elowyn? What seems to have you so distracted? He inquired, truly wondering what could have had her distracted to the point she hadn't noticed him when he arrived.

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304 | Promise

The night had gotten away from her, the moonlight strayed too high in the sky. She’d not meant to get caught off-guard here so late in the eve but fate had a way of surprising her. Interesting though that this stallion had found her here, amid her thoughts, lost in the reveries of old. She spied him from beneath tendrils of her mane, and smiled appropriately.

”Same to you, Romeo.” She offered though she wasn’t entirely sure as of yet whether that statement was true. He seemed pleasant enough but in reality, what did she know of this creature? Ever on guard, Elowyn remained suspicious. Though such did not appear in her features. As suspected the conversation turned back toward her and she felt flustered. It was difficult to explain what went in on her head. Mostly it was worry, failure to live up to the standards she set for herself. She paused and took a breath.

“My thoughts have a way of leading me out here, under the moonlight. I think better when alone...not that I mind you appearing.” She added, in case he thought she was telling him to leave. She welcomed the distraction; it was nice to get away from all the chiding that went on inside her brain.

”You mentioned home, where do you hail from, Romeo?” She smiled slowly, recounting her interaction with Pierce and her offer to join his herd. Previously, she’s not had a place here, this world was simply hers to wander with no one singular place to rest her head but now, now she had a home with him. She thought of Pierce then, and the similarities between the creature that stood before her now. Was it her imagination or did they look alike? Why did the name Romeo sound so familiar to her?

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R O M E O

Romeo easily caught her spying at him under the soft tendrils of mane that fell over her eyes and the smile that graced her velveteen lips. In return, he offered his own polite smile towards her. Same to you, Romeo. He heard her say and dipped his crown slightly in response. Silence fell over the duo and it almost became deafening to the young king. My thoughts have a way of leading me out here, under the moonlight. I think better when alone...not that I mind you appearing. Ah, so she was out here just trying to clear her head. He wondered if she knew the night time was a dangerous time to be alone. Shifting slightly on his hooves, he gazed at her with sapphire voids. Letting your thoughts run wild under the moonlight is definitely a fun pastime for me, though, I must admit it's also quite dangerous to do it in a place like this. You never know who or what might try to attack you, he mused aloud, letting the lyrics slip free.

I'm not trying to frighten you or anything, dear Elowyn. Please don't take it like that, it was merely just an observation, he added almost too quickly. He truly hadn't meant to frighten her, if it had happened. You mentioned home, where do you hail from, Romeo? Quirking an invisible eyebrow, he thought about his homeland. The mountains were an exquisite place to be under the moonlight, especially on the highest peak. Thousands of stars looking down at you as you just stood there gazing up at them. The moonlight lighting up for the forest floor below and shining upon the mountain ranges. It brought peace over the stallion whenever he was in his home. I come from the Moraine Mountains, he answered her proudly. It was evident he was proud and excited over his homeland.

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356| Promise

There was something oddly familiar about Romeo, the way he carried himself, the way he spoke, she recognized it but...why? They’d never met before, that much was entirely clear and yet she felt as if she knew him...

The palomino mare paused as Romeo spoke, warning her of the dangers under the moon. Of course, he was right, but Elowyn could take care of herself. She’d spent so many nights out in the wild searching for Pierce that this felt like home now, only, it wasn’t. She belonged to the Smokey Forest, with Pierce at her side.

The mare smiled, remembering the day he’d asked her to become his Queen.

”I come from the Moraine Mountains.” It clicked then, like a switch inside her brain. Visions of Pierce in his youth complaining of his brother and his father, back at his home...the Moraine Mountains.

She could not hide the shock that registered along her features as she recognized Romeo for who he was. Not just a King, not just a Stallion but Pierce’s brother.

Elowyn opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out, realization dawned all along her frame and suddenly she felt so exposed under the raw moonlight. How had she not seen it sooner, the similarities between the two were uncanny, two peas from the same pod.

I come from the Moraine Mountains. The sentence repeated over and over inside her brain. Despite the shock that enveloped her, Elowyn attempted to remain calm, composing herself beneath his stare.

”The Mountains...” She managed, swallowing hard. ”Must be a nice place.” Her cadence had changed, something about her tone was off but Elowyn attempted to remain unfazed. It felt impossible now that she understood who Romeo really was. What would Pierce think of his being here? How rocky was their relationship? There was so much that Elowyn was not privy to considering her re-entrance into his life.

”Do...do you have any family?” It was a shoddy attempt at prying into his life without revealing that she knew who he was but perhaps it wouldn’t see through it. Perhaps she was a good actress after all.

Having noticed the way she had paused when he had mentioned the dangers under the moon, Romeo couldn't help but think about his homeland and how extravagant it looked under the moon's light. Though, of course, her smile didn't go unnoticed by the chestnut beast. He had no idea why she was smiling, but didn't bother questioning it either. Sapphire voids shifted over the landscape before making their way back towards the light colored femme. The shock on her face was apparent as he spoke of his lands. Arching an eyebrow, he pondered on whether or not to inquire about the shock.

It wasn't long before she parted her lips to speak, but no sound escaped her, and he tilted his crown slightly. He watched her and waited, wondering if she would explain herself. Instead all he heard was, the mountains... must be a nice place. Though, he had also heard the swallow that had come from her throat. The tone in her voice hadn't gone off into non-existence either. He had caught the hint of her tone change. Is there something wrong, Elowyn? He inquired with ease, hoping to at least try to calm the mare before him.

Do...do you have any family? At her question, his auds perked with ease and he shifted his gaze across the landscape once more. A soft sigh escaped his barely parted lips. I have an older brother, who I'm hoping to reunite with, one day, he mused, sadness dripping from each syllable that escaped his vocal chords. It was evident that he regretted the fact that his father had strained the relationship between himself and Pierce.

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tagged Emorymoss
words 275
notes he misses his brother :3

E L O W Y N

little by little
day by day
what is meant for you
will find its way

─

’Is there something wrong, Elowyn?’

The question lingered in the air long after he said it, clearly noticing her change in demeanor. Luckily though, the conversion in topic came easily and she was surprised by his answer. When she reunited with Pierce several days ago, she’d not been expecting him to impart the knowledge of his family unto her but now that he had, it sat along her forefronts. Who knew that days later she would meet his brother, here of all places. Until this very moment she thought to hide her identity, leave Romeo where she found him and rush off to her King and tell him of her discovery. That had been the plan since the moment she’d discovered who he was and yet, her hooves remained in place.

’I have an older brother-‘ She almost nodded in agreeance. Yes you do. she thought. I know him well. but she didn’t vocalize any of this. Instead, she bowed her head a small amount, meeting eyes with him from across the clearing.

Would Pierce be angry with her if she brought him back to the forest? Would he be thrown if she appeared with him at her side, would he be ready? They’d only just found one another again; she didn’t want to topple a relationship that had only just begun.

”I...What happened?” It had been clear she’d meant to say something else but at the last moment, another sentence appeared off her lips, a guarded question.

She tilted her head to the side and juddered marginally, a motion that said she was abashed.

”If you don’t mind me asking, of course. I don’t mean to pry...” But she did, she needed to know the context of her mate’s history through the eyes of those whom had deluded him.

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Promise

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I...What happened?

Three simple words, but a stutter had meant that she had wanted to say something else, but had quickly changed her train her thought. Tilting his crown ever so slightly, he eyed the mare, wondering just what was on her mind, and why she had changed the lyrics that had come from her vocal cords. What, exactly, was she trying to hide? Or desperately trying not to mention. The question was clearly a guarded one by the undertones of it, and Romeo almost immediately and instinctively began to build up a wall between the duo. What all should he tell her? Should he tell her the truth? Or lie about it? What all did she actually know but was refraining from mentioning to the painted beast.

Straightening his stance, he shifted slightly and raised his crown. He had never had a reason to be on edge before, but now all of a sudden, this mare was making him want to protect what was in his mind. Not missing a single movement that she made, he watched as Elowyn tilted her head to the side and made a motion that meant that she was abashed. Unfortunately, however, he wasn't about to fall for the being abashed moment.

If you don't mind me asking, of course. I don't mean to pry...

Did she actually mean those words or was she just saying that to try to get a response out of him? He didn't truly know, but he was hesitant on answering the question. Shifting once more, he glanced carefully around at their surroundings before casting his sapphire voids back at her. It's a long story and one I'm not sure you're ready for, he mused lightly before adding, though, if you think you are ready, I might be willing to reveal the past.

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