Dare

[morgan]

M o r g a n , L0VES[/color]

[/i] Forest. But to be tempted in something totally naughty was even more attracting to her. And, besides, by the look of it nobody seemed to be around except for a few people, and they didn't even seem to be interested in her particaulary ... So why not?

Her uniform was almost pulling her in, for a figure of speech. It was just so ... So inviting. She pulled down her stockings to a little under her knee length and took a deep breath,

You will regret this, Morgan. Don't do it.

One part of her urged. She gulped down the tightness in her throat.

No you won't! What's SO bad about it, any-who?

The other side cooed. Swallowing everything and everything, she quickly ran in to the brush, breathing like she just ran a 5k.

Nothing.

It seemed to quite in this ... In this place. Dark, spooky, but quiet.

She began to sing a little, walking deeper. Oh, God, she knew this was a mistake but couldn't quiet pull herself away.

Lord, please protect her.
[/ul][/color]

[Valunce]

There was no use in praying if the forest wished to take a life then it would. Ignorant humans foolishly dared to venture into its depths time and time again, he knew not whether their elders and betters beseeched them to remain within the safer confines of the school, nonetheless young students inept at magic crossed the boundaries.

Over the past few weeks activity upon the borders had increased tenfold with adults now seemingly protecting the outskirts, centaurs had spied upon small groups trekking far in and it was reported that they searched for in vain for something. What it was the centaurs neither knew nor particularly cared, what they grew angry of was the disturbance of their land.

Valunce felt a little protective, not so much for his tribe as he knew they could handle themselves, but moreover for the few younglings who slipped past the nets, frequently he patrolled the boundaries also wishing to gaze upon the beauty of the lake, he could hear their approach from several hundred metres away, as noise travelled quickly through; usually there was nearly silence, no wind blew or birds chattered their quaint songs in the morning. All would be deathly quiet if not for the numerous dangerous creatures abroad.

Valunce picked up the sounds of a human, presumably female, she was speaking, or was that how the humans sang? It was quite unlike centaurian ballads. Galloping through the undergrowth he meant to scare her off before she got herself into much darker places. Slipping an arrow from the quiver upon his back he struck his bow and ground to a halt, choosing a spot to await her approach, the landscape naturally forced her to come his way with large rocks obscuring her and his view.

He now patiently waited wondering why humans were so foolhardy.

[morgan]

M o r g a n , VANiTY[/color]

[/b]

She called out, voice hanging like fog. Myabe someone else was curious and ... She placed her hands on her left breast, to listen to her heart and try to calm it. Nothing was out here ... Or atleast she told herself.

What fool would she be if she believed this? Maybe a big one. Or maybe not. She ventured deeper, getting darker and darker. Hauntingly beautiful.
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[Valunce]

Valunce had chosen his spot well, it was clear vantage point allowing him an easy shot at any prey, none could encircle without taking a wide route round throguh the strewn boulders hereabouts. Valunce could hear the human's approach undaunted they appeared to soldier onwards, he knew they wouldn't survive long in the forest and felt all the more compelled to drive her away before the dark creatures of the night began to venture out from their slumbers.

Easing cautiously forward his hooves rang off the sharp rocks beneath with only two feet he wondered how the human could maintain balance in such difficult terrain. Valunce marched onwards passing looming boulders and coming to the mouth of the gulley that she would be forced to traverse, here he could halt her advance.

The human then spoke out and Valunce answered gruffly in a deep booming voice wishing to scare her off quickly.
"Human...it isn't safe here, turn and go back." He urged spying her coming his way he kept his bow low, but his muscles tensed ready to let fly an arrow. He paced nervously now, pawing the ground restlessly, would she heed his warning and turn back? Or would the natural stubborness of youthful humans take control? Always they were so ignorant.

[Saul-in-darn Niña]

The fickle nature of both centaurs and humans, they both seldom believed they were ever wrong. He expected foolishness from humans, for them to wander alone, even without a wand from time to time, but centaurs usually travelled in packs, were they not taught to stick together? But much had changed since Saul-in-darn Niña had been here last, perhaps their quaint, rustic ways had changed. A great believer in change had he been, yet now he wasn't so resolute, the changes that he had witnessed especially unto himself were thoroughly displeasing and a major thorn in his side. His plans could so easily go awry, though they were adaptable to an extent as all good plans are. But he had gazed too far ahead into the future, and been met by unlikely, nigh on unforeseeable, circumstances.

Always should one be willing and open to learn, from this painful lesson he most assuredly would; he had known his enemy but had grown complacent and fear of the darkness had waned, he had believed he had absolute knowledge of his enemy and so the unexpected had caught him out.

Long he had assessed the capabilities of this centaur and had come to many conclusions, above all that his love of humans clouded his judgement. That was his major weakness, one that he couldn't control, as emotions were uncontrollable and as changeable as a vicious storm, starting and dying as suddenly as it began.

Centaurs were a curious species, quick to judge especially when protecting their homes, when they claimed to be such cautious creatures, so more complex than mere humans. Believing themselves immeasureably superior to humans was their main downfall an arrogance they believed they had not. Wise beings yet clouded by the stars with which they hoped to forsee with, such irony nature often dealt out.

A piercing chill wind tore after the towering beast moving quite clumsily along with little grace; scrambling over the rocks. Wind began whipping up, started simply as a breeze ruffling the centaur's fur and the dark leaves still clucthing desperately to their life force. Gradually increasing in force around it, a voice wafted upon this air a quiet but commanding voice, piercing the very soul, one would have the strange sensation of all secrets being lost, the mind shattered and laid bare before the world. This voice was aged and knew what few knew.


None are safe...open up to your fears.

[Valunce]

Valunce's heart missed a beat, he sprang forward giving a whinny of alarm. The voice was so cold and sudden, heavy heart thumping Valunce's mind reeled feeling a momentary loss and sadness. As sudden as its appearance it disappitated. Valunce held his bow drawn now adn he pawed the earth in agitation, what had that been? He peered around suspicously, few could easily approach him without being seen or heard, there were some gifted centaurs and other, perhaps more deadly, creatures that clearly could creep up upon him. His muscles were as taut as the bow as he drew it hard to his ear, clopping around clumsily, there was nothing there, merely a scattered of leaves blowing to indicate in which direction it had fled.

Feeling slightly ashamed Valunce for panicking so frightfully Valunce nonetheless remained wary keeping his bow raised and his eyes watchful. His ears twitched catching what little sound there was, solely the wind gusting and the human's noisy ambling along this way. The human, perhaps she had spoken in such a fashion? He found it unlikely but he reasoned he knew not what magic they could weild, surely it must have been her. But such words to be uttered by one so young, they made his skin crawl.

Turning again to check up upon the human's progress Valunce's wariness increased tenfold and he backed away cautiously, his hooves scrambling upon the jutting rocks, diving behind a sizeable boulder which only came to his chest still, he peered past it, now regulating his breathing once more and assessing the situation in a much more centaurian manner.

Whilst keeping a watchful eye upon the human he pondered upon the harsh words. What could they mean? What fears had he to open up to? None sprang to mind instantly; admittedly his father sparked a nervousness in him, but not outright fear, perhaps fear for hurt caused to Mirren? The first part seemed clearer to him, the human, if indeed it were her had meant the troubles of the forest where only courageous or foolhardy races lived.

Valunce had been somewhat spooked, but now he had calmly broken down the problem and dealt with it, partly "safety and fears," he murmered still pondering on the meaning.