[C i a r a] Claimence in Asseria

[summer]

Ciara

You speak out all you feel is defiance...

Loneliness was the only word to describe it. It was a settling pain in the soul, one that longs for another nearby. Longing for another voice, someone that will welcome you, that won't turn away when you are in need.
That’s exactly how Ciara felt today. The emerald grass stretched for miles, along with rocky terrain, towering trees, and glassy blue water that rushed down the curvy streams. Now that she had made it to LOR, she was glad she had came, but now it was time to be accepted into a band.
Ciara, her smooth, black coat, slowly walked into Asseria. As excited as she was, she was nervous, and hesitated. Then she moved on. Ciara, it's a new chance. Let go of those memories.... But you know how memories are. The more you don't want them there the more they come. That's how Ciara felt.
Ciara stopped moving. Here was a good place to wait. She wondered if anyone would take her, because, well...no. They wouldn't find that out. She could be different now. Right?
She wasn't sure. It was all a big lie. Evreything. Back there. Not anymore, though. Of course.
Don't think about it...
Ciara didn't think about it. She didn't want to. She couldn't.
Gently, her nicker shattered the stillness. It scared her. It was like something breaking glass, that first moment, seeing the object hit the surface and seeing the pieces fly and the crash... That's how suprising it sounded. She remembered evreything, now.
They'd caught her. She had been two years old. The humans, with ropes and cursing words had forced her home. CRACK! The whip had tore her flesh. She tried to run. Ciara had pulled. They had brought her back. Small spaces. Old, musty, wooden walls. Closed in, can't run...pitchfork, lashing in her neck, face, no! Run, run, run...
Ciara remembered it. It was too torn up and confusing. Only parts and bits she remembered. She had been panicked. Was that why? Now she was here. That's all that mattered.
What also mattered was to hide herself from others. The side they didn't want to see. The panicked side...
Ciara arched her dial, struck at the ground with her front dagger smoothy and confidently. Or so it seemed. She was going to be accepted into a band, and she knew it. She hoped. Her whole bodice was shaking but she got out of it by pushing it away. All the fear was pushed into another world, Ciara's old world, the place she'd left behind.
Now it was all new.

All you need is some self-reliance

F I N I S H E D

[summer]

BUMP

[Zodiac]

A sleek ebony shape slipped through the bushes, irons crunching a confident two step on the mossy floor, littered with twigs and leaves from the brambles that sliced at his hide, creating shallow gashes that dripped blood, long and ugly, marring his otherwise perfect figure. Dark occult flicked to and fro, alert for any movement, while auds twitched and swiveled, aware of any sound. Nares inhaled, taking in the aromas of other equines, but his target was not just any horse. No, the King would not take on just any horse. He would take on only the Darkest, or slaves, if they were Light. He had no intention of claiming any Neutrals, dolts that they were, unless they were willing to embrace the Darkness. Which was why, when he detected the stench of Neutral upon the air, it was with some resignation that he abruptly switched courses and took a more direct route toward her. There were no Darks, and no other equines that were alone. So, he was going to find her, and either enslave her or make her become Dark. But the King'd take it slow. He wouldn't be rude (so like his father, he was) unless he was absolutely sure she would not be Dark. And if it was completely obvious from the beginning that she would not budge, well, he'd force-claim her. A thin smile curled about his maw, sickening and dangerous. It would be fun to play with a new toy. Sideways Glance would enjoy it, as well. He hastened his pace. Now he had left the bushes behind, and was two-beating down a lush grassy slope toward a large valley, where he could see the distinctive equine form of his target. Now that he had seen her, the King trotted even faster. His ebony cords and tassels whipping about in the wind, he raced toward her, his powerful form clearly visible in the great blazing ball of fire overhead. As he neared her, the Dark slowed to a halt, right in front of her. The game had begun.

Zodiac gave a brief incline of his noble cranial to the mare, indicating his respect of the female race, but also defining his doubt as to whether or not she'd made an able regular herd member. Flicking his ebony cords, his dark optics inspected every inch of her, admiring her fine lines and curves present in nearly every feminine. The stallion pawed the earth briefly, his head cocked slyly to her, before he circled her boldly, noting every flaw in her appearance, and every beauty. Then he halted in front of her again, his mocking smile playing over his lips again. The truth was, Zodiac had very little experience in the area of claiming, despite the fact that he quite looked as though he knew what he was doing. He had only been leader of a herd for a couple of weeks or so, and the only other member, currently, was Sideways Glance, his Queen, whom he had not claimed but had come there of her own accord. She was to have equal power to him, so the King could not claim anything over her, but at least he could chose which loners would be fit to live in their herd. And he hoped she'd be able to, slave or not. Straightening up slightly, Zodiac jauntily introduced himself, his tones as smooth as silk.

"Greetings, my lady. I am Zodiac, Dark King of these lands. And you might be...?"

He left his sentence hanging, wanting her to reply and not be intimidated by him. It seemed they were the same age, so she should have no trouble. Just because Zodiac was a Dark didn't mean he was a brute or a moron. No, he was actually quite smarter than the average equine, and very capable of ruling, though rather inexperienced in that area as well. But he was entirely confident he'd quickly adapt to the situation. He was enjoying his place as King immensely, seeing as he was able to do whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted, which he had certainly not been able to do under the guidance of his father, who had put a restraining leash on him. Zodiac valued free will almost more than anything else in the world, which caused him to be very independent and not willing to work with others for gain. But he would obviously have to with Sideways Glance, although she was a different case. The King liked her already. Now let's see if this mare will be the same.

[summer]

Ciara

Cause this world is gonna always try us

And all you wanted was to run for cover

Dark.
Ciara was not afraid. He approched her, and she snorted. Not pleased. She looked at him, in his eyes, and she saw what she didn't want to see...too much. Too much darkness. Someone who wanted just to play games with her. Now she looked at him sharply and coldly.
Ciara looked as cold and stony as she could. Features awaited him to leave. She could tell that Zodiac liked her. She didn't care. Well, it was hard not to like her, apperance wise. Her burgandy wrapping and ebon banners gleamed slightly in the bulb's light. Nares widened as she intook another breath. She curved her dial gently and stared at him, warily and hatefully. Ciara did not jump to conclusions. It was what she saw in his eyes that turned her off. Darks. They were all bad. All of them...
She remembered.
It was like a flashback. You stupid, stupid filly...Ciara....I hate you...you're so disrespectful...you should see how lucky you are...I think you deserve to be somewhere NASTY... I hate you, and you know it... Don't get that idea in your head that I actually like you...We're leaving you here where you'll easily be caught...It's all your fault for refusing to be dark...stop staring at me like that, as if I'm some witch...that was nasty, young filly, and you will be hurt...I'm going to kill you if you come back...I'll tear your flesh until the blood is like paint on the emralds..stay here in the open where we'll never see you again...they'll catch you, those cowboys....they'll whip you....I'm glad that you'll be gone...this is so funny, I love the screams of pain...Ciara, don't think that I'll miss you...
Her mother and father. Those were their words. She couldn't remember, she couldn't...it would crush her down...no.
Back to the present. Seeing Zodiac there, she hoped he hadn't seen the fear in her eyes and the anger. It was something she didn't want anyone to ever know. It was a past that should be gone, another world, and she didn't want to know it ever again. Hate was all she had left of that place, and of darks. That's why she had become a neutral. Her mother and father had both been darks, and when she had refused they had hated her for it, saying she was supposed to be their princess. Ciara remembered before she was old enough to make a decision on her alliance, the cooing and loving they said over her, Oh, my sweets...my little princesss....one day you'll be queen of the darks...oh my little painful baby...ooh, don't you love the scream of the dieing, love?...
Hate. It was there. And all she could see was her mother and father, all she could hear was her mother and father, all she could feel was the pain her mother and father had caused when she had seen Zodiac. Hate. Forver. Ciara awaited his vocals.

"My name is Ciara.
"And don't get one faint thought in that shadowy brain of yours that I'll come with you. If you're smart you'll leave, and quick.

Well here's for yourself and no other

[Zodiac]

The mocking smile around Zodiac's lips widened, and his occult nearly danced with glee as the mare spoke, each syllable ringing with defiance of the Dark race. So she wouldn't come quietly. He hadn't missed that brief flash of fear in her eyes, being very detail oriented, and it made him smile more then ever. Not afraid to show his emotions, he tossed his cranial again, ebony tassels coming down in a great shower upon his nape. The King was certainly willing to nip her to show dominance and, more importantly, to claim her, if need be, but not just yet. He just wanted to show her he wasn't frightened of her big words. What could she do, anyway? Scream at him? The smile widened even further and Zodiac displayed chipped yellowish teeth, trademarks of his life as a Dark. It must be because she was a Neutral that she thought he was beneath her, idiotic to pick sides. Well, it was because she was a Neutral that it would be so fun to pick on her, if she thought she was all that. Some brilliant thinker this one was. If she thought she was going to get away from this unscathed, or, more importantly, unclaimed, think again. Being a Neutral, made her, in Zodiac's opinion, a coward and so he doubted she'd try and defend herself if he attacked her. Which he had no intention of doing, as he didn't want to mar her pretty hide until he'd had his fun with her. It would be an excellent idea to use her to reproduce; her offspring would no doubt carry her traits. Lost in though, Zodiac suddenly tore himself to the present as he realized that she might try to fight back. If she did, he would surely overpower her, but he'd have to take it slow still. The Dark spat at her hooves, still grinning.

"Those are big words, coming from you, darling. Think you've got the guts, or the brains?"

He followed this with a snide laugh, sneering at her. If she threw herself into a rage, it would be all for the better. If she refused to become angry, it would still be fun seeing what she would do. And if she simply fled, Zodiac would catch up with her. You see, baby, any tactic you decide on will quickly be overthrown by the Dark. Like he's said before, he's uncannily brilliant, and though you may boast of how you can stop him, you'll eat your words soon enough. Grinning hideously, Zodiac slapped his ebony buttocks with his sleek cords, a sharp blow. He pawed the ground with one dagger, his cranial held high, his grin looking more like a sneer every second. Her nose was so high in the air she couldn't see the ground below her, and her brain so minuscule it was amazing how she could even process what she was saying. All this emanated from Zodiac, his aura practically screaming his opinion of her in her face, wanting her to be provoked, to scream in rage, or at least watch the muscles in her face tighten as she attempted to hold in her fury. Lucky you, you've gotten yourself in a tight spot, and no one can get you out of it.

[summer]

Ciara

We're all searching for that special something

Devil.
Dark.
It was just too much. Well, some things get to be to much, but this time Ciara didn't like it one bit. Like, she had lived through many hardships and dealt with lots of obnoxious idiotic equines but when it came to her past...her memories...things that latched on to the bad times seemed to get her going.

"I don't care what you think. And it's none of your buisness if I've got guts or brains, or whatever other idiotic ideas you're getting into your head."

Naw. She saw the smile. Mocking, twisting, knowing. Too smart for his own good, maybe? She looked at him. Her whole composure softened. The memories slipped away as she tried to relax herself...in, out, breathe in, out, in, out. Not ubnormal breahting, but normal breathing, but she said the words in and out in her head, soothing her.

"What do you want from me? I'm a neutral who leans to the light side. Well, maybe not to the light side, but certainly not to the dark side. And the opposite of dark is, as you must know, light, so what do you expect? You're not stupid, and don't put me off with a foolish smirk or some blah blah chatter, and tell me what you want and why you're here."

(Ok, if you get a chance to respond, sure, go ahead, but since this is short I will add more on if you don't respond for a while but if you're on, I'll love you to say something)

But we keep on running

[Zodiac]

((Please accept this free stick with which you may whack Zodi for being inactive. Truly, I am SOOOO sorry I haven't responded earlier, I promise I will reply sooner from now on!))

The King's wicked smile widened. He pursued her doggedly, not stopping to think about what would happen after, just enjoying the moment and relishing the power a Dark had over someone who had been abused earlier in life. He could tell just by the glazed look in her eyes as she remembered, and Zodiac truly appreciated whoever had done the beating, as it was making his job a whole lot easier. If they hadn't, she'd probably be cocky and have no idea what havoc a Dark in a position of power could create. And right now, he was, and she wasn't. He had a home, and she didn't. She had nowhere to run. She was all his. A flicker of something crossed his face, but it was quickly silenced. Whatever that emotion had been, Zodiac didn't care, and he didn't bother to ponder it as he stepped right up to her face, his fetid breath breathing right on her face. He faced her, equine to equine, just like any challenged one would do, except this time there would be no fight. The King had it all planned out. And when she spoke, the last words dropping like a stone, it was like signing her own death sentence, whether she knew it or not. Her entry to Hell. Zodiac's face would have cracked with glee if his wicked smile could have gotten any wider. He jumped back, dancing nimbly on his slender Thoroughbred legs, irons striking the ground without a sound. His slender neck reached out, jaws snapping and crunching together, but she was just out of his reach. Not that he cared. The King halted for one moment to gaze into her eyes, his dark occult saying all the words in the world. The cruel look on his face was, frankly, frightening, and it would send shivers up the spines of much braver equines. The Dark spoke, his voice deadly soft, each word slicing into her skin like a dagger.

"You know why I am here. I want you, Ciara, and it cannot be simpler than that. And nothing you can do can change that. Get that into your thick skull, slave."

With these final words, Zodiac lunged forward, his ivories grazing her hide, the claiming nip placed upon her. He pranced back, just out her range, grinning again, the harsh look in his eyes replaced with nothing but insane glee. Now she had no choice but to come with her, like Mother Nature had deemed it to be. The laws of nature could not be changed, even this Neutral knew that. And now he had a toy, a pretty toy, for just himself and the Queen. Oh, she'd like his little gift. Perhaps he'd just give Ciara to Sideways Glance to play with, as a present. Oh yes, that would be just delightful. The King's ebony cords cracked against his hindquarters with a sound like a whip, and he moved forward again, though with no physical intention but to speak. His mouth grazed the soft hair of her ear as he whispered into it, injecting his own little drop of poison into her.

"You belong to me now. Your life rests with myself and the Queen alone, and at the drop of a coin, it can be taken without a second thought. Don't think you are worth anything now to anyone."

With that, Zodiac turned away, but his movements were no longer bouncy with happiness. They were more refined, and far more elegant and powerful-looking. The grin was no longer there, and instead a harsh look was on his facade, his lip slightly curled, his occult hardened. He was determined to drill somethings into her head the moment they got to Mala Muerte, especially if they were going to meet the Queen. And he was certainly looking far more like his father now, who had always moved with an elegance unknown to common equine. Zodiac would beat Ciara until she learned that resistance was pointless, though he believed she might already have learned that due to her earlier masters. Good job she'd been enslaved before. She might only have known freedom for a few short days before she was in chains again, and that thought made the King's chin thrust out in the simple cruelty of the thought. Oh yes, Ciara was no longer a free equine. Zodiac began to walk back, his cords in the air, his cranial held high. He threw some words over his shoulder, each syllable ringing with power.

"Come, slave."

((If that was powerplaying, or illegal, please let the admin tell me!
And I'm sorry, Summer, but that had to happen. Forgive me?))

[summer]

I will post soon. Don't worry about it, I forgive you (I'm glad you did that haha) I can't wait. Just don't completely kill her, ok? jk haha I WILL POST SOON don't worry I just don't have time now....I have to think about it too...

[Zodiac]

((Hee hee. But how about we move this to the Dark lands, where Sideways Glance can post too. What do you think? Ciara's already been claimed.))