A V D O T Y A SHE WAITS; SEETHING, BLOOMING.
Early evening had mercifully broken through the hold of midday, bringing with it a cool breeze that bit pleasantly at Avdotya’s sweat-soaked body. Even a mare as well-adjusted to the desert as she found herself cursing the intense heat at times- and right now happened to be one of those times. Her hooves dragged lazily in the sand as she approached the glittering shore of the oasis. It was surprisingly without any occupants and the sight of that brought the slightest hint of a smile to her parched lips. She always appreciated a moment of quiet after a long day.
The cool touch of the water was a welcome and refreshing sensation upon her skin. The mare reveled in the near-instant relief of the heat that radiated from her body and took a rare moment to herself, letting her guard down if only for a second to enjoy the water. She waded into the pond until it reached her withers and remained there until her mind made itself aware of her indulgence, but even then Avdotya only drifted to a depth that lapped at her shoulder. It was not often that she was able to take advantage of the oasis being so quiet on a hot summer eve.
While the woman’s fiery eyes lingered on the shore, she gently used her muzzle to spill water over her back. It had been a long while since she was last able to cleanse herself of the dirt and grime that collected on her black hide. That much was evidenced by the change in the water around her, going from pristine and clear to murky in little time at all. With the amount of dust that had come off, it felt as though she had shed a layer of her own skin... quite fitting, really, for a mare many had often compared to a serpent in the past.
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 Minutes felt like days in the Desert, and Torstein was sure he was going to pass out from heat exhaustion. There was ... basically no shade in the desert, and his dumb ass had decided it was a good idea to wander around out here! It'd be a lie if he didn't say that he was wholly regretting the decision. There's no way that 'beneficial' plant was out here, among this arid mess of death. But eventually, bless whatever gods there were up above, he managed to stumble upon a literal oasis. Never thought these things were real... huh, he mused with a huff from his parched lips. And while the water was calling his name, he sought out other things first - namely, food. He felt like he hadn't eaten in ages, and that very well might have been true.. He had stumbled upon the outer, southern border of the oasis. Lining the little slice of heaven were large date palms, years old and ripe with (hopefully delicious) fruit. Trotting up quicker than you would think possible for someone of his size, his head dropped immediately to the sand. He hastily lipped up any fallen fruits, munching satisfied on them in a brief moment of bliss... Eyes half-lidded, even his mind went silent while he enjoyed the satisfyingly tart fruit. But he quickly ran out, and grumpily he stared up at the tops of the tree. There were hundreds of them up there - but just a smidgen too far up, even for this tall stallion! Contemplating what he should do, a (slightly) brilliant (and slightly stupid) idea crossed his mind - he was certainly heavy enough to hit the tree and knock some of them down, right? Sliding up to the palm with the ripest fruit, he lined his left haunch up with the sturdy trunk of the tree. Glancing over his shoulder, he rocked his weight heavily to the right and then swung it to the left, effectively booty bumping the tree to hell and back. But boy, did the booty bump work! The loud THUD that accompanied it shook the tree, vibrating the palm fronds and sending a handful of fruit flying off their stems. He managed to knock the tree hard enough to partially dislodge one of the branches that housed the hundreds of dates... however, it never fully fell. Instead, it was left dangling precariously... but now within Tor's reach. He lipped up the remaining fruits from the sand (grit and all), and while still munching away, looked up towards the dangling branch. Realigning himself to face the palm, he reared up onto his back legs and firmly planted his weathered hooves along the thick trunk. Stretching his neck out, he was just barely able to grab the branch... and down it came. Right on his face. Ears pinned back and hooves still planted on the trunk as the branch tumbled past him, Tor re-evaluated how he probably should have thought that plan through more thoroughly. He was left with a nice little cut along the bridge of his nose, which stung with the dry breeze whipping through the desert. What the fuck ever, he snarled inwardly, dismounting the tree. Meandering over to the fallen branch, he leaned down and picked the entire thing up in his mouth. He'd be damned if he didn't get to enjoy the cool water while munching on some delicious fruit. And so he trotted around the palm-lined edge of the oasis, looking for an opening that lead to that tempestuous, refreshing water. He found one, and slid between the palms towards the oasis, practically humming with sated satisfaction.. Oops. Stopping in his tracks, looking a fool with a large fruit-laden branch in his mouth as he was left staring at what'sherface. Wasn't that miss resting bitchface from the meetings with the overly flashy painted stallion...? ".. Uhm, guess I wasn't the only one with this idea," he mouthed, sounding muffled from around the branch firmly planted between his teeth. Action. Thoughts. "Speech." @Avdotya! <3 ↤ Reference Image - - chest cavity: CLOSED - - 666 words - - code Ⓒ inkbone ↦ [ please tag @Torstein in all replies ]
I have three eyes TWO TO LOOK ONE TO SEE
She lived up to the name he gave her, that's for certain. Her statement elicited a scoff from the stallion. "I'm certain a cut can't be called a concussion, but if you insist." He certainly wasn't about to be scared away by the likes of her, no matter how icy her RBF was. But he was probably going to be required to see this woman more often than not.. so souring this relationship was not a great idea. Thus, he bides his time - and instead of sidling into the oasis' waters with the chilly mare, he perched alongside it on the cool, stony edge. Body lowered to the ground, he tucked his back legs neatly under his haunches as he rested his right shoulder against a stone. Hooves and hocks hung over the edge, dipping into the refreshing waters below. The branch was nestled between his forelegs, the fruit-bare portion tucked under one to avoid the impromptu buffet slipping off the edge and into the waters. "I was, as were you," he stated matter-of-factly, his head and attention dropping down to the fruit as he picked off one at a time to munch. Unlike her apparently, he was much less situated to the heat, and it left him feeling drained far more quicker than the smaller mare. The fruits were a nice, pleasant treat that quenched both his thirst and hunger, although more so the latter. "Can't say I've seen any other inhabitants around here with a spear," he mused, his eyes never leaving the task at his hooves. Lips closed around a small section of fruit, attempting to peel them off of the stem all at once. In doing so, one dropped into the water, eliciting an ombre ear to flop lazily forward as he watch it sink to the water's bottom. Subsequently, his gaze returned to the dark mare as she continued bathing... looking instinctively for the spear he had spoken of earlier. This was the first time he really had a chance to look at Avdotya, other than for a few mere passing seconds. She had a sort of dark brutality about her, and it was far too easy for Tor to tell that she held much more power than most would assume. Her scars spoke volumes. "Fruit?" he offered pointedly. And as his gaze dropped down to the stone at his hooves, something else stirred. He felt it, straining against the shroud that Novus had cast upon it. The Triennial Eye peeled open, the erratic movements of its pupil feverish. Tor's gaze remained down at his feet, although his peripherals had her in sight should she approach. The pupil, so sharply contrasted from the red around it, sought out the mare. Upon seeing her, the frantic movements stilled, and its gaze remained unwavering. It was drawn to her, and sought out her gaze. Why now, and why her? And then Tor's mind went quiet. The Triennial Eye attempts to make eye contact with Avdotya, who will feel a distinctive pull towards its gaze. Should it maintain eye contact for two seconds, it will be able to relay the following quip of information to Torstein: Bad.. maybe deceitful. And that is all. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Action. Thoughts. "Speech." @Avdotya oooh ↤ Reference Image - - chest cavity: CLOSED - - 535 words - - code Ⓒ inkbone ↦ [ please tag @Torstein in all replies ]
I have three eyes TWO TO LOOK ONE TO SEE  AVDOTYA
they have achieved nothing altered nothing and will die for n o t h i n g - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - He was not one with an ear for sarcasm, it seemed. Nevertheless, Avdotya disregarded him as he settled himself along the water like an overgrown hound, his prize sitting pretty between to front legs. She would have shaken her head disapprovingly had she cared enough, but the mare saw little point in investing her energy into judging him so heavily. While he dined on his branch-full of fruit, she finished the remainder of her bathing regimen and slowly began to make her way back to the shore.
Her gaze drifted back to him at the mention of her spear, words that instinctively drove the mare to look to it where it sat leaning against an old tree. The pointed old weapon had always been a constant companion in her journeys; it was there in her hours of anguish and it was more often than not a part of her times of triumph. To some, it was a simple item, but to Avdotya it was a proven partner in battle. "Very few know how to use one." She replied simply, shaking the dribbling water from her body and reaching down to fasten the weapon back in its place upon her leg. Finally, she turned to look at the hulking stallion. "I received it from my birth-herd. A gift from the matriarch for those worthy enough to wield it." For a fleeting moment, her heart yearned for the Davke.
She was pulled from her thoughts a second later when he offered her one of the fruit that still remained on his stone table. "Are you sure you do n-" she was interrupted by the macabre opening of his third eye, a scene that she could not take her own eyes off of. The idea of throwing her spear to it crossed the woman's mind, but her focus was far too trained upon merely studying it.
When she was finally able to shake herself from him, a spark of confused irritation lit mind. "What in Solis' name is that?" Avdotya questioned him, stepping back from the stallion almost defensively. Whatever that eye was, she had a creeping feeling that it was not just for seeing.
@Torstein I don't think Av has ever been this creeped out lmao Tor was impressed by her skills with the spear, simply put. For if it was not for her spear, the painted stallion surely would have perished at the beak of that massive, prehistoric bird. It became all the more obvious to him, now, why she was so skilled with such a weapon; she seemed to have had it all her life, and judging from her scars and the hide upon her back, she was not young. It did not take her long to notice the Eye, nor did it take Tor long to notice how quickly she had quieted. His head raised up, moving to look in her direction instead of merely out of his peripherals. The pupil of the Triennial Eye stayed firmly fixed on her, rotated as his head did so that it never appeared to even have moved. Upon eye contact, it hissed into Tor's mind. B-ad... she might be d-eceit-ful. it croaked, words broken as the shroud once again closed in on it. But this time, it remained physically open. And Tor's face, despite the new knowledge, never read as if he knew anything more, or had discovered anything new. Instead, he regarded her with a quiet gaze, and rolled his shoulders. "It's a mutation," he explained, "that back within my home nation, afforded me the pleasure of being able to manipulate other's free will." He paused, and a quiet smile tugged at his lips. He knew where her concerns would lie, especially with that statement. "But truly, you need not worry," he explained even further, still seated in his prone position. "Upon being cast into this land, whatever I was able to accomplish with it before has been rendered useless," he shifted his forelegs, moving them apart to offer a glimpse at the spines upon his chest. "It's now just become another nigh useless mutation that graces my body." Head lowered, and sucked up another fruit between his teeth. "My name is Tor, and my apologies if the Eye bothers you.." he stated open-endedly after swallowing the fruit. "Might I ask your name?" Action. Thoughts. "Speech." @Avdotya oooh ↤ Reference Image - - chest cavity: CLOSED - - 348 words - - code Ⓒ inkbone ↦ [ please tag @Torstein in all replies ]
I have three eyes TWO TO LOOK ONE TO SEE AVDOTYA
they have achieved nothing altered nothing and will die for n o t h i n g - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Avdotya's stare did not yield until that of his single eye had. Whether that was her own will or the stallion's, she would never know, but she was entirely aware of her distaste for what had just occurred; when he eventually explained it, that sensation of repugnance began to swell. While such an ability was, indeed, impressive, she did not much appreciate the idea of her own mind being explored by a man she barely knew. He went on to describe its loss of power, but the woman studied him with suspicion and even doubt in her eyes. Solis had granted her command of the ground that lay beneath their feet- who was to say he had not given this one a gift of his own?
"How unfortunate." The mare remarked quietly. She chose not to make skepticism known, though he had suddenly become one to keep an eye out for among Solterra's numbers. If she played her cards right, he could prove to be a valuable ally.
After a few moments, Avdotya's metaphorical hackles fell back from their raised state. She relaxed once more and eased into what conversation they had, then took a bite from the date he'd offered. The taste of such sweetness on her tongue never grew old. "It does not so much bother me as it did catch me off guard," she explained, "I do not often see eyes upon others' foreheads." He was the first, in fact, and she would be quite happy for him to be the last.
"I am Avdotya." The mare returned his introduction with one of her own and then settled comfortably into the sand just before the dampened shore of the water. It felt as if she had committed herself to at least a chat now that they found themselves exchanging names, so for that she figured it would be best to relax her aching bones while she could. "What is it that brought you to leave your strange, three-eyed nation, then, Tor?" At times the serpent woman's words were not as fluid as they could be- this was apparently one of those times.
@Torstein She was an interesting beast, and someone Tor would choose not to cross anytime in the near future. After all, she was his Regent and he did not have an immediate deathwish. Instead, as she took upon his offer of the fruits, he stood and waded into the soothing waters of the Oasis. He had manners enough to let her bathe unintruded before him, and take his turn after her. The obvious change in coat color was so much more apparent in his white and plum fur, the dirt falling off and allowing the glistening fur to regain its original vividity. As she continued to speak, he glanced back up towards her, a chuckle rising from his throats. "Still, I'll apologize," he remarked, "Although I can't say such a reaction isn't uncommon." The soft pink of his mottled muzzle dropped to his shoulder, scooping the slowly-turning-murky waters of the oasis up and over his back. Her question caused him to pause mid-bath, and ears briefly pressed against the circular base of his horns, an embittered snort rolling from his nostrils. "I did not leave," he remarked, bringing his head up to regard her with his gaze. "I was thrown here. Through a portal." He paused, and a low rumble of laughter graced his lips. "Sounds absurd, doesn't it?" It was, really. They sought to destroy his nation; he was sure that with him gone, they had. His father was nothing more than a figurehead, now, in his old age - much like his mother was her entire life. Tor had pulled the strings behind Stolthet, had made the decision, was the judge, jury, and executioner. Without him, there was no Stolthet. "But it matters little. I'm sure there's nothing left of my homeland anymore, now that I'm gone." He was bitter, and resented how everything was stolen from him. It came across his words as he spoke. But he shook the thoughts from his mind, choosing not to dwell on something that would only leave him overwhelmingly furious. Instead, he directed the conversation back to the dark mare. "And what of you? Have you always called Solterra your home?" he questioned, visibly relaxing now that he was no longer speaking of his own past. "You seem to know this place awfully well." Action. Thoughts. "Speech." @Avdotya I promise I didn't forget about this thread... ;-; ↤ Reference Image - - chest cavity: CLOSED - - 381 words - - code Ⓒ inkbone ↦ [ please tag @Torstein in all replies ]
I have three eyes TWO TO LOOK ONE TO SEE
Idle eyes regarded the mare before him as she lost herself to thought. Her scars spoke words to the trials she had endured, and Tor was soon lost in his own thoughts as his mind swiftly reminded him what the Triennial said. Bad.. maybe deceitful. Her history and the fate of her family would explain her general demeanor and that ominous warning. But just like that, as soon as the conversation began, it was ended as the Regent took her abrupt leave. So he was left, alone, in the Oasis where he would soak in the soothing waters until he lost track of time. Eventually, he'd wade out of the waters and return to the brutal sands of the Court, the fine grains sticking to his moist hide as damp hoofprints were left in the wake of his trek. Action. Thoughts. "Speech." AND DONE. *NOW* the trophy for longest thread goes to.... /drumroll/ ↤ Reference Image - - chest cavity: CLOSED - - 381 words - - code Ⓒ inkbone ↦ [ please tag @Torstein in all replies ]
I have three eyes TWO TO LOOK ONE TO SEE |
