[O] THE CLOCKTOWER TELLS ME WHEN.

[WHIPSTER.]

KEEP MY HEAD ABOVE WATER

Sansa was out of breath. Her lungs were constricted as she stared into lands anew to her, lips dry and belly turning uncomfortably. It had been days since she had stopped last to feed and water herself, and she knew father would not be smiling down at her as she neglected herself. It did not matter though, she was here... Wherever here was. Tathra, others had called it. Mostly barren of other equines but recently it had started to flourish. The land here was young, just like she was. Sansa let her eyes scan over the valleys and meadows below, letting a small smile pull at the corners of her lips. The first real smile she had in weeks.

Her red skin burned under the sun as she chased a bird while it flew - it headed to places she had never been, and she was seeing things she had never seen in her favored deserts or canyon. Sansa had stopped briefly to eat, to take drink from such a sweet little ravine and now, she was running. It seemed her first response to everything. It was the subtle sadness that came with watching her parents die, a reminder always. But this gray winged bird made Sansa felt free for the first time in weeks.

The lavender covered the land like an ocean. Her heart was thrumming in her ears and her mismatched eyes widened. Her spindle legs slid to a stop, pushing up damp ground and grass that was fresher than she had ever seen. Sansa straightened her body out, letting sun splotch against her red skin, head lifting into the air. There was no one here. Once again she was alone, catching a small glimpse of the bird as it disappeared over the treetops. “Come back soon, friend,” she murmured, exhaling a small sigh after and focusing back on the finely smelling lands. Sansa wanted to disappear then, for whatever reason, but she did not hide behind the shadows.

No. Instead, Sansa danced.

open ||

[WICKED]

MORGANNA & NACHT

"Nacht, stop it,” Morganna warned, pinning her ears at her cousin as he reached out to nip her shoulder playfully. He laughed, dark blue eyes rolling at the seriousness in her tone.
    "You need to relax. What’s got your tail in a tangle?”
    "We’re in a new place, we don’t know anyone here, and all you want to do is play. We’re not foals anymore. Try to be mature.” She tossed her red tail in agitation. Nacht had always been a jokester, and she usually appreciated his talent for keeping the mood light, but today she was not having it. He needed to be serious.
    They’d just recently arrived in Tathra, their first time away from their parents and grandparents, and Morganna was intent on finding a place to settle down, if only for a little while. These lands were relatively quiet, which she had expected. Her father, Mazkii, had told her these lands were only just gaining popularity. That’s why she’d come. It was better to start her empire now, when the land was still young.
    Nacht had come along not to start his own empire, but to have an adventure. He loved seeing new places and meeting new horses, and what better place to do that than Tathra? Besides, Morganna was his best friend, and he couldn’t stand staying home if she were no longer there. So here he was, tagging along a few steps behind her, his dark blue eyes scanning the fields of lavender for any sign of equine life.
And he finds it in a pretty crimson girl, her eyes turned to the sky as she chases after a bird of gray. "Look!” he says to his cousin, his entire face brightening. Morganna flicks her ears forward in interest but says nothing else. She stands there, up to her belly in lavender plants, and watches as Nacht canters off toward the unsuspecting female.
    "Did you catch it?” he calls to the girl as he approaches, all smiles and friendly ears. She’s the first horse they’ve come across since arriving here, and he couldn’t be happier to see her. 

[RED]

WHAT KIND OF BUBBLEGUM HAVE YOU BEEN BLOWING LATELY?        

Around her, endless, the sea of lavender - bent and bristling against the wind, that gorgeous, bruisey pale purple, and the smell of it hanging hazy in the air. Arachne is choked by it. The flowers that brush her white-tinged skin and ripple all around her are beautiful, yes, but it is vast - scarily so - and the scent of it is settling like sand at the bottom of her lungs. The roan draws in a deep breath, turns away toward the edge of the field. From whence she came, the landscape changes, the lavender dissipating slowly into flat fields and rocks. She can see the many half-moon marks her hooves made in the soft dirt, her presence remembered, if not as much as she deserves. 

The land is pristine, barely touched. She breathes in the new air, tinged with that bitter floral taste, and observes the scenery with glowing amber eyes. It is more open space than she can ever remember seeing, and it starts a happy tingle in her chest, one which she can find no words for. The waving purple stalks, the beauty of it all, even the blindingly bright sky above her speak of promise. Arachne finds a smile on her lips, the one that cuts into both cheeks, like a shark. 

Then swiftly she moves forward, dappled legs a blue-gray blur where they are not covered by the tall grasses. The movements of her body look like clockwork, every dip and rise hand-carved, golden muscle working under sinew and skin. Confidence oozes from every pore, from that strange tiger's stare. Which is why when the slim shape emerges, dark and dusty against the horizon, Arachne does not bother even slowing her pace. Black curls swishing across her neck, she continues forward, head tilted in curiosity as she tries to recognize the shape. No one she knows - duh. Some frail girl by the stream, her perfect edges highlighted by the glaring golden sun. Inwardly, Arachne is already annoyed by this woman's femininity. The spindly legs and narrow hips. She has seen this type before - dollfaced, soft-spoken.

The roan slows, moving toward the stranger with her head up high and shoulders rolling, predatory. Arachne grins - as sweet as possible for a girl like her. Oh. Hi.


WHIPSTER. <3

[WHIPSTER.]

KEEP MY HEAD ABOVE WATER

She did not hear the pair as they moved into the fields, probably because her mind was singing songs she had heard as a child. She was entranced by this beautiful place. For a second, Sansa stops and takes in a sharp breath, having taken little time to rest. She stays still, ears flickering to and fro with the change of the wind. It is a sudden alarm, but she does not run. Not this time. Instead, the red girl turns and blinks as she is spoken to. Her mismatched eyes are filled with wonder and excitement, because they are the first she has seen since getting to the lands of Tathra. But this boy had no qualms of strutting up to her and talking, so a fire is ignited within her that's half anger and half a facade of arrogance.

It's too good of a day, though. Sansa smiles, shaking her head to finally answer his question. “I could never,” she said softly. Her voice was low because she is caught up in thought, to where her eyes wander and find a beautiful blur of blue gliding her way. They're stuck for a moment, but she's not impolite and also she is nervous. She remembers her fathers words, chokes back the memory: You will be a Queen, Sansa. To where all will love you. “Hi-” She quickly replied to the unnamed blue beauty, freckled with color but not quite burning like she. Has she been rude to stare? Did the pair whom had first come... Were they insulted by the way she lost herself in thought?

Sansa chews the innards of her lips, listens to the breeze as it just barely covers the sound of her rapid beating heart. “I'm very sorry. It been a long journey, my head is not on right.” The red girl sends a grateful smile toward Morganna, and then Nacht. But the curve of her brow raises and she pushes auburn tresses from her face to open up her gray eye to Arachne; who is beautiful, who is thoughtless, but she is different somehow. “My name.. My name is Sansa.” She decides they're worth her most cherished possession. And now, she leaned back and cocked a back hoof, patient as ever.


WICKED & RED || i love you both yes this is perf

[WICKED]

MORGANNA & NACHT

Nacht smiles at the red girl. A breeze whispers through the lavender plants and tosses dark hair into his eyes. He shakes it out, laughing. ?Well, not with that attitude,” he says playfully. "You’ve got to have more faith.” If she were Morganna, he’d bump her shoulder or do something else equally irritating.

Morganna, standing back from her cousin and the new girl, sees the other mare approaching. She observes the swing in her walk, the confidence in her proud stance, and is instantly suspicious. What is so special about this dame that she gets to come waltzing in here like that? It's not like she owns the damn place. Morganna moves forward, ready to join this strange group.

Nacht, unlike Morganna, is thrilled to see another lady join them. "Well, hello,”, he drawls, his black-lashed eyes drinking her in. Too bad Morganna chooses that moment to come strutting up beside him.

"You’re new here too?” she asks, not bothering to introduce herself. Nacht shoots her a sharp look.

"This is my cousin, Morganna. I’m Nacht.” He smiles, his handsome painted face lighting up. Morganna glares up at him. She would have preferred these two mares to not know her name. Not yet, at least.

The two of them could not be more different. Morganna; strong, sure, and driven. Nacht; spontaneous, playful, and free. But somehow, the two of them clicked. Probably because they grew up together, as close as siblings. Now, to separate one from the other would be to separate one soul. Like yin and yang, their opposing forces keep them in balance. They’re one, and that’s the way it’s always been.

[RED]

WHAT KIND OF BUBBLEGUM HAVE YOU BEEN BLOWING LATELY? 

The situation changes as fast as Arachne can register it - two shapes moving, their steps silky and long, from the comfort of the purple flowers. Arachne feels the hairs on the back of her neck bristle - outnumbered. She wills the smile to stay on her face, pearlescent, unchanging. Though it is three to one if they decide to gang up on her, the longer she looks, the more obvious it is that none of them have met. To console herself, she decides that none of them look like much of a threat. The red girl is built from the finest lines that Arachne can imagine; she is sure that the bones underneath are no less fragile. And the two who have appeared are very different and very amusing. The spider is not stupid. She catches the glint of distrust in the female's eyes, that vague shyness in her gaze, and smiles to herself. Perhaps something to watch out for. But the boy is merely goofy, his look warm and cheery. Her heart thrums inside her chest.

Sansa speaks, her voice soft. Everything about her seems as flighty and lovely as the bird that is now beating its wings in the distance. Arachne smiles at her, genuinely pleased by the innocence that is so obvious in the way she carries herself. However - the other girl's words are sharp. When she speaks, Arachne feels a cut of anxiety in her chest. You're new here too? The roan pauses a moment, meeting Morganna's gaze evenly. She does not speak until after Nacht is done introducing the pair -  taking her time to form the words smoothly. Yes. One eyebrow curves upward mischievously, daring Morganna to ask her again. They will either get along well or not at all.

I'm Arachne, she says, smiling. The rest will play itself out.

WHIPSTER. WICKED <3

[WHIPSTER.]

KEEP MY HEAD ABOVE WATER

Its not about knowing how to act. No, Sansa has had that down pat since day one. She is a pleasant woman to be around, tries to always smile. But this is no royal ceremony or wedding of kings and queens; it is a small gathering brought together by either nothing at all, or by fate. She thinks this because the mere sight of the blue spotted girl is as intoxicating as the pretty boys she used to watch in the meadows. Love has no gender in her eyes, maybe that's because she's awestruck. But the red skinned girl tries to pay mind to them all, lashes fluttering to listen to Nacht as he spoke. Their names are interesting, and the girls is pretty. It matches her face and the cautious curve of her brow, something that seems maternal. It's strange to see it in a young woman opposed to aged. Morganna is surely who keeps this silly boy in line. She exhales worry with soft breathes to hold back anxiety, soon Arachne has spoken her name. They've all said their peace.

Sansa's ears flicker slight, she looks at the pair and nods. “I'm new here, too.” Tathra was far less intimidating now than an hour before. She quickly looks about the lavender field and sends a look at Nacht, auburn curls bumping around her shoulders with the winds that seem to be picking up. “I can't lie, I'm glad I'm not the only one. I would feel quite silly, really,” Sansa rolls her eyes at herself, loosens up her posture because they are all as young hearted as she really was. They weren't formal guests of her home or anyone to fear. In fact, Sansa was already enjoying their company. And the wide range of spirit that made the air thick with tension was exhilarating, it got her heart race like no other. Her fathers stern voice melts into the voids of her mind, and for a little while I think Sansa can forget of whats happened, and what is to come. 

The red skinned doe pushed herself back a bit, her now relaxed position allowed the sun to seep through and continue to thaw her from the tension, because miles and miles of running has taken it's toll on her young body. Sansa is unphased right this second by the ache, so she looks at Arachne because she's the first one who came to mind. "There is a little stream to the east, right at the edge of the fields," slowly Sansa looks around them all, leaving off with her soft gaze falling into place with Nacht. The girl blushes under her thick skin. "Why don't we share a drink? I'd love to hear where you're all from."

It's a more childish move, she supposes. Her nose bumps forward toward the boy, before turning a shoulder and starting off. She mirrored the blue speckled womans confidence by the way her hips rolled and tresses of auburn sleekly strung over her skin. 

"Don't be too hasty," she jokes. Let the games begin. 

WICKED &amp; RED || idk help

[WICKED]

MORGANNA & NACHT

Morganna nods, stern faced, as the two females confirm her suspicions. ”Strange,” she mutters. ”I wonder why so few lived here prior to our arrival.” She flicks her gaze up at Nacht, but he is paying her very little attention.

Sansa met his gaze, and then met it again. It thrills him to be surrounded by these beautiful ladies, and to get a look from one of them? It’s awesome. If he ever returns home, he’s going to brag to his bachelor friends about all the female attention he got.

At three, Nacht is only now beginning to see mares as the sexual creatures they are. As a youngster, he and his playmates would ignore the fillies. They’d leave them out of games, run off during hide and seek, and be nuisances whenever possible. But he sure as hell isn’t running away now, so when Sansa flicks her doe eyes at him and invites him to get a drink, he nearly knocks his brain around he nods so hard.

Morganna watches her cousin with a feeling of disgust. What is this, breeding season? Oh, wait. With that awkward thought in her head, she turns her caramel eyes skyward and takes a deep breath.

”I’ll race you,” Nacht says to Sansa. His dark blue eyes flick toward his cousin and Arachne. ”Ready?” he says, willing the others to participate in his game. ”Set.” He presses one slate gray hoof into the soft grass, ready to leave the ladies in the dust.

”Go!” Morganna cries, and she gallops past Nacht before he even has a chance to realize what has happened.

WHIPSTER. RED

[RED]

WHAT KIND OF BUBBLEGUM HAVE YOU BEEN BLOWING LATELY? 

Despite the seriousness of the situation - the sternness on Morganna's face, the fact that this is her only first impression - Arachne cannot help grinning to herself, amusement blooming into starbursts of a smile at the corners of her cheeks. The childish adoration in Nacht's eyes, the huff that his cousin lets out, rolling her eyes upward to the cloud-spattered sky. It is more family than Arachne has had in her whole life, and it is starting a foreign feeling of giddiness in her chest. Her smile is small but genuine, dark eyes flickering between the group, and contentment flooding in warm waves through her system. Oh, God. What am I doing?

And then, as fast as it came, the contentment disappears - she draws back a step, pushing down the urge to be kind to these people. She doesn't know them, their background, their intentions. For all she knows, they could be murderers. Arachne exhales deeply, forcing herself to meet Sansa's eyes as the red girl speaks, her voice faint and beautiful. She forces the smile back on. Shrugs a meek yes. Despite how uncomfortable she feels, there is no reason to be rude.

She starts forward, lavender rustling across her pale blue chest, and only moves a few slow steps forward before Nacht's voice bursts into the air behind her. Startled, Arachne turns, stepping to the side. And by then, Morganna has shouted out, and they are off.

She wastes no time catching up, letting that fleeting, genuine smile cross her face again as she throws out her stride, trying to catch up to the three of them. It is a strange feeling, letting go. And though there is still a ball of suspicion, of anxiety, rolling around in her chest - Arachne cannot argue with the fact that at this moment, there is little to worry about, laughing into the headwind and rocketing toward the stream

WHIPSTER.@genuinewicked <3

[WHIPSTER.]

KEEP MY HEAD ABOVE WATER

Sansa likes the way this is turning out. She throws her head back to Nacht as she spins herself around and takes off. She just barely hears his challenge, kicking it into second gear by leaping off her back legs. She barley hears the pair as they start in on the race, proud that Morganna broke the surface first. And then, she looks back at the blue freckled Arachne with a smile on her face that lights up her features. The red girl likes to watch her, because the tension that was once on her face has seemed to fall away. They somewhat feel the same. Sansa whips her head back forward, giggling into the winds as lavender brushes her belly and legs. She is consumed by happiness, of peace. She is no longer running from fear, she is running for play. Around ten feet from the ravine, the crimson girl slides herself to a stop and jumps toward the path of the boy Nacht. She's laughing wildly and flinging her thick auburn curls about.

She trots closer to the water and flags her tail, exhales a lengthy snort and grins as the other three get closer and closer. She can't see whose first, she's too busy falling in love with each of them. It's all different: Arachne is fire burning her lungs. Morganna is flowers that weave into her hair. Nacht is the summertime butterflies and the kisses they leave on your skin when they land. It is the most comforting feeling. Sansa is at ease. She gazes at them all and shyly turns away to dance to the water. She is thirsty, sure. But she mostly wants to cover her affection. It's insecurity that eat her alive, reminds her that she is still weeping on the inside. She stills mourns her family, all she loved. Sansa chokes to herself as she leans down and purses her lips. She sucks in water in large amounts, but barely made a sound. She even dipped her maw inside, let cold roll over her face to ease her sudden self destructive state.

In seconds, Sansa is collected again and swings around to finally look at, and speak to her three companions. Her mismatched eyes land on the pair, firstly on the girl and secondly the boy. She likes how they've come this far together and probably plan many miles more. Morganna is mature and wise where Nacht is sweet, and ignorant. It's a blissful yin and yang. This leads her eyes to the blue freckled one — her heart thrums loudly for a second, her stomach flares with butterflies. It's overwhelming. Sansa doesn't know how to feel. What to say. “Where do you all come from?” She asks, directing her gaze to the pair again because they'll probably be the first to speak. They seem to be sure of themselves in a way that made them easy to talk to. Arachne preferred to observe, it almost seemed. The crimson girl silently giggles, she likes to be looked at. “I was so happy to finally find this Tathra, where few roam. I believe... These lands might be sacred.” She shrugs. “Who knows?”

[/span][/div]

WICKED & RED || hehe

[/div]

[WHIPSTER.]

Bump! WICKED