Return me to the Light, my dear. [Socrates]

[Snowfrost]

SHIMRI.

They always had fascinated her, you know. Right from the first time she had stepped foot into the caves, wandering like a lost foal trying to find its way back to the herd, eyes wide and innocent as she was enticed by the glowing walls lit by wondrous moving worms. Shimri's favorite thing, it seemed, anymore. She still stuck out like a sore thumb against the darkness of the caves -- even moreso when the light ran along her back and outlined her body. Though she adored Ayla's Chambers more than anything she'd ever known, today the Outcrop seemed... well, it seemed to be drawing her in for an unknown reason. This was also the time when she stared into the blurring sight of the glowing walls, thoughts escaping into the air and memories washing over her.

It was true: Shimri had basically become a ghost in her own home. After she had been accepted into the herd by the King himself, Shimri seemed to... keep her distance. Sure, when Socrates was around she would be with him, but around the other horses? The white mare wasn't entirely one for socialization, it seemed. Her eyes widened some, her focus faltering; she swallowed lightly as the only thing she could hear became the simple beats of her own heart; the only sight that of the shimmering bright green-tinted light that surrounded the walls. This time of day, it simply was her favorite. The Chambers of Ayla held more beauty in them, but the pale mare was enticed all the same. A light, soft sigh escaped her lips. She hadn't seen the herd in ages. What did they think became of her? Did they think she just left them, or died off in some chamber of the caves? She was taken by the haunches into a chamber and killed by a wandering predator, or perhaps she drowned in one of the scattered water sources in the dark maze? The thoughts encircled her, and another swallow -- this time harder -- ran down her throat. Socrates, The blue-eyed mare blinked.

What did he think had happened to her? Surely he hadn't gone looking for her, or anything. This was his territory, after all -- he had to know where she was, right? Well, Ayla was rather large... perhaps even the King himself got lost in his home, sometimes. But still, regardless of it all.. Shimri couldn't stop the fact that she was thinking about him. She couldn't stop the thoughts about the fact that she was seeming to fade away from the world. Shimri remained immobile as she was entranced by the glowing walls. Her heart raced more and more. Why was that? It wasn't like something was approaching to make her shy, or worried. Shimri, worried... shy? It wasn't something she ever really experienced it. So then, how could she be sure that was the feeling drowning her body? Truth be told, she couldn't. The only thing that was certain was that today she felt stranger than any of the days before it, and today was the day that the worms lured her to them, the day her heart decided to escape her body and call through the tunnels; the sound must have echoed through the passages, and along the walls. Something... something must have happened like that, because that really could have been the only reason why she was feeling the way she was, right? It had to be, right?

Regardless, the white mare remained immobile. She forgot to breath, at times. In fact, it was like she herself was in limbo of life and death, what with her heart racing around and living on its own. The drumming sound echoed throughout her. Faster, louder -- it made her body rattle; and yet, she remained immobile. You're becoming a ghost, a shadow -- something meant to wander and vanish from the lives of others. "Are they all that keep me here, anymore?" The whisper was unexpected, but it came from non other than herself. But... that didn't make sense, either. He kept interrupting her trance. Perhaps the ghost should vanish; make the decision, follow a path. Fade into the black, or reflect among the glow.

Reflect among the glow.

Shimri blinked, having been staring off so long than her eyes grew dry and sore -- she was leaving the trance of the glowing walls, it seemed.

Fade into the black. Vanish.

But he returned to her thoughts again, the stallion who was so... different. Something about him, she couldn't understand. Something, just something. He...

A ghost among shimmering walls.

A short breath entered her lungs, and a pain shot through her body. He hit her mind again. Why, if he wasn't even around. A step back, and another short breath and fear shot through her body. Her haunches brushed against the limestone pillars. Shimri, Shimri...

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[Toaster]

Stress. It was weighing down on him, just like it so often did. It was waiting for him to fall, to trip over the jagged rocks that lined the vast caverns in which he ruled, and to never rise again. Yet, he had risen from it so many times before. This time, however, felt different. It was growing increasingly difficult to escape the tendrils of this kind of anxiety. There seemed to be no sure way to get rid of it. Usually, he’d have to wait it out and hoped that the feeling would get better. That whatever it was that was causing it would disappear. But it was dragging him into a depression that he did not want to go into. His mind was becoming clouded by paranoia due to it all. A recent meeting with a certain horse had proved that lately. Even the black stallion had realized how jumpy he had been at the time. He had thought that getting back deep into his caves was a sure way to shrug the feelings off. But now, even here, he felt as if he were going crazy. The multitudes of things he was feeling were a dangerous mix. He knew who’s fault this was, too. However, he felt a little ridiculous for letting it still affect him in such a way. But he was coming back. Whether it be in a few days or a few years, he was coming. Socrates knew it. And he was scared.

Pulling himself together a little bit, he sucked in a sharp breath. There was only one that could help him right now, yet that individual he had not seen in well over a week. Had she left him? The thought struck panic through the brute, causing his head to jerk up a bit and eyes to go wide. The thought of his white beauty leaving him was something he didn’t even want to imagine. Yes, his white beauty. She was his and only his. He hadn’t even gotten to know the mare that consumed his thoughts that well, but he loved her. Whether she returned those feelings for him were another matter, but in Socrates’ mind, she was his queen and his mate. From the first moment he had seen her, so many months ago, she had made him feel a calm he had not felt in years. He had to find her.

With a determined snort, he took off in a steady gallop across the massive chamber, away from the main waters where he had been standing before. A determined look was upon his face. He was completely focused on finding his white mare. Nostrils took in the scents of his surroundings as he ran through his beloved, glowing home. Through the sparse trees and expanses of ferns and towering columns of rock he went, dead set on not stopping until he found what he was seeking. It seemed like forever that he looked for her, yet there was no sign until he came upon the massive limestone outcrops. There it was. Her scent consumed him and his ears perked up, pace slowing to a trot and then a walk. “Shrimri” he called out, cautiously maneuvering around the tall pillars.

WORD COUNT: idk
NOTES: uhhhhhh hope this doesn't suck to badly.
MUSE: good, but the writers block kills me.
VOICE: viggo mortensen as aragorn

[Snowfrost]

SHIMRI.

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She continued backing up, pushing into the rock. She could feel the pain growing, but for some reason she couldn't believe it all to be real. She didn't blink, only stared. Shimri, Shimri. Shimmer with us. A shaky breath escaped her lips, but the sounds continued growing. Was this a dream, an alter reality? After being without company for so long, the white mare no longer knew what to believe. Her ears swiveled around nervously, her shoulders quivering. She continued putting pressure onto her skin. The pain grew more and more.

If it hurts, it must be real, right? But that wasn't totally the case. She continued backing up, pushing herself into the corner as she drew herself from the lights. She loved these worms that glistened along the walls of her home... why were they causing her pain, now? This reality they made, they entranced her into this world of theirs. If it was all a dream, how could she awaken?

More pressure was added.

Snap!

Her entire body grew frigid. The limestone crumbled from her skin, exposing the indentation and open wound. Red on white, what a strange color. Still as though solidified into ice or something of the same nature, Shimri stood there. Shimri

Shimri.

It echoed, it grew louder. She couldn't move. It grew warmer, nearer, solidified too. Her eyes ached as the air soaked into them, but her name was growing louder and louder in her mind. Go on, blink! Blink, wake from this. She urged herself, but she couldn't understand why this was all happening.

A shudder ran down her spine, and the mare's eyes closed quickly. The air returned rapidly to her lungs, and the sting in her hip ached so much that she felt she would cry aloud. Shimri shuddered, the cry escaping and echoing through the walls as everything evaporated and a sole word shot through her body.

"Shimri."

Wide-eyed, the mare gasped for air lightly as she lifted her head and looked around. He was there. There, in the shadows. He was there. He'd not left her -- no, not at all! There he was, he had to be of flesh and blood. Was it all wholly a dream? Was she there, now, back into her reality? Into the embrace of company? Had the ghost of her cave found her King now? The worms entranced her no more, but she felt wary and weak. It'd been days since she'd eaten, she was sure -- but that, no, that didn't matter. The white mare kept her eyes fixated on the black stallion before her.

Her breath was shaky at first, but she worked it all out. "S-Socrates." Feeble. Stupid, and feeble. What happened to the mare she was when they'd met? Solitude. Apparently, it was a nasty thing for the pale mare. Lowering her head as she twisted it around to look at her hide, her eyes widened again as she noticed nothing had happened to it. W-what the hell? She'd forget this, she had to. She was spacing out, that was what it had to be. Solitude was making her insane -- this was just the brink, the skin, the surface. Shimri's eyes met back to Socrates'. He'd saved her.

The white mare took a couple of steps forward -- first forced, then more fluid. And then she couldn't help it. A light exhalation and the mare nearly fell into the King's shoulder. Dazed, and breathing roughly, it took her a moment or two to realize what was all happening. Slowly, she was returning to her reality. This makes no sense, none at all. She shook her head as she tensed before pulling quickly away from her blue-eyed friend... well, friend? Hm.

Shimri knew this was all just crazy. She stopped, and all she did was stare at the floor of the cave for a bit. Perhaps this life wasn't hers. Perhaps she wasn't meant to be in the caves. Sure, she'd been alone for a while now... but she should have been strong enough to be alright on her own. Apparently this was proof that she wasn't. This was proof that she needed him -- him, and the herd of Covell. After a bit of time passed, the pale mare looked back up to Socrates with squinted eyes. The glow from the walls washed over her body, and she too almost glowed in its light.

"I-I'm sorry."

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[Toaster]

As he walked around one of the larger outcrops of limestone, his mare came into view. Her beautiful white coat practically glowed like the bright worms that clung to the rock around them and ceiling high above. He’d found her right when her eyes snapped open, and he wondered what she had been doing this entire time. She looked a little freaked out and shocked as her orbs locked onto him and stared. What was this all about? Socrates pinned his ears back, looking at her and trying to understand what was going on with his mare.

When his name came stuttering out between her lips, his confusion grew ten fold. She had always been so confident before this. Even the way that she had carried herself always seemed to scream strength and poise. But now, here, in the vast, jagged expanse of limestone, the mare appeared the opposite to the king. To him, she appeared weak and - dare he even think it - frightened. And to be quite honest, Socrates was not even sure what to say at the moment. All he could do was simply watch her, obviously curious and deathly silent.

And then the light mare came forward.

He watched, head high and ears set forward. He was about to ask Shimri where the hell she had been lately, but before his words could come to be, the mare had rammed into his shoulder. If it hadn’t have been for the way her body just slightly dipped closer to the ground, he’d of thought she was trying to throw herself at him. But it was obvious it was a trip that had caused this. Her weight against him caused him to stumble just slightly himself, though he caught himself just as fast as it happened and pushed against her a little as if to push her back to her feet properly. The mare was definitely not herself today. He’d never seen her so… off.

As she lowered her gaze to the rough ground, Socrates turned his body so he was standing shoulder to shoulder with her. He reached out a muzzle to gently brush against her cheek in a way that almost seemed as if he were touching something incredibly delicate. And she was today, it seemed. The touch he offered to her he hoped soother her a little bit. It also did the job of relaxing him as well, and helped block out all the negative thoughts that had been swarming his head just a minute before. Though the way her blue eyes suddenly looked at him as he pulled his head back caused some worry.

"I-I'm sorry."

For a long time, he just stared back, baffled as to why Shimri was saying such a thing to him at all. “Why do you owe me an apology?” he asked quietly. Was it because she’d disappeared for a while? Was it because she knew she had been worrying him with the said disappearance. Or, was it because she’d tripped and fell into him? Socrates was not sure.

WORD COUNT: idk
NOTES: uhhhhhh hope this doesn't suck to badly.
MUSE: good.
VOICE: viggo mortensen as aragorn

[Snowfrost]

SHIMRI.

[/size]

Because of E-everything; for worrying you, leaving you, falling into you-- Wait, what? No no, what? She was sounding like a star-struck filly fumbling over her crush. Hazy-eyed, the pale mare swayed some as she tried to regain control of herself amidst the fog that was her thoughts at the moment. Everything seemed surreal anymore, but at least she could know that one thing was real before her: Socrates really was standing with her, questioning her and worrying over her. She couldn't say for certain how she knew it, but she just did. She could smell his scent, feel his presence -- not to mention that she could see him with her very eyes.

And while she was still in her moment of haziness, he moved toward her; touched her; rubbed his muzzle against her skin. Her eyes widened slightly at the gesture, her skin twinging ever so minutely. It was unexpected, but after the moment of shock passed the mare fought back the desire to accept and yearn for more. Her breath caught short, too light to be noticed easily. Shimri's ears flicked lightly as she fought to look at something aside from his face.

The mare tensed a bit, thoughts racing around as she tried to regain the normality of herself. Tossing her head away from his eyes, looking toward the ground, the white mare murmured: "I just do." It was a feeble attempt at re-enforcing the Shimri they both knew so well, but at least she wasn't... spilling her heart out like a filly. Snorting lightly, the mare tried to collect herself while avoiding his gaze. It felt almost awkward, but at the same time she could feel that she was almost welcoming the feelings that were surrounding her when she was standing there with him. He'd found her, he'd brought her his company and his worry for her. Shimri was no longer alone, although before she had the company from the worm's lights that still fascinated her so.

Shifting her weight to her side, the pale mare couldn't help but glance back toward her King -- the shots of her eyes to his were short, but they were there and she was certain they locked each time. Her spine prickled, and her legs felt uneasy -- but it was her chest that was bothering her the most. Shimri couldn't explain it -- probably because she herself didn't much understand it, but right here, right now, she was nervous. It wasn't the type of nervous when a young horse is testing waters to see if they're too cold and is hesitant because this is its first swim. No, this was the nervous that evoked her first reaction, the one only she knew. She was nervous, like a stupid filly fumbling over someone she was fond of. Fond of. It almost sickened her, the words.

But there wasn't much to deny it, and though she fought it all it didn't take long for the emotions and purity of her heart to take claim over everything else. Sighing wholly, the white mare turned her face back toward Socrates, blue eyes releasing themselves to him. The first step was hesitant, but after the stumbling of moving it the rest were like a fluid over waxed stone. Gently, softly, the white mare pushed her shoulder into his own, sighing again as she pressed her cheek along his left wither. Her breath escaped softly, her entire outside completely tranquil and gentle. Inside, however, she was a pulsing, racing, nervous horse. Her heart was pounding louder than it ever had before, and she had a deep thought that it might implode on her if much more happened and she continued to fight it.

But she was realizing, as time progressed, that fighting anything was futile here. Her voice barely above a whisper, the white mare pressed her body to his in a sort of requesting embrace, her eyes glimmering in the glow of the walls. "Thank you, for finding me."

[/justify][/size]

[Toaster]

"I just do."

The king frowned a little bit. What in the world was his mare going through? This was not the same Shimri he had known before. Not at all. Though he liked both versions of her. Hell, he could even say he liked this version a little better. She didn’t avoid his touch, and didn’t snap back witty comments at him. She let him get close. She let him nuzzle her, which was something the stallion had been craving to do for so long now. Ever since the moment he had seen her, he had been head over heels for the mare. Her gleaming white coat was something he hadn’t seen before the day they had met. He’d like to think that the color of it brightened his day every time he saw her. And those gleaming eyes of hers. They were the prettiest shade of blue he’d ever seen. And she was looking at him. He looked right back.

She got closer to him then, and he looked rather surprised at how bold she was being with him. Their shoulders brushed, and his tense muscles relaxed from the contact. How the hell did she have such an affect on him? No other could make him feel so much at peace, just by their presence. She warmed him and comforted him. And, she was the only one he’d let so close. Shimri was like the sun in his otherwise cold world. She was the stars that lit up his black night.

As her cheek brushed against his withers, he felt himself collapsing on the inside. He wanted to spill all his troubles to her. To tell her all that was dragging him down into an abyss he couldn’t seem to escape. But, he had to stay strong for his mare. His queen. It was at that moment that the king remembered he hadn’t even asked her yet. He still considered her his number one mare, there was no doubt about it. But, maybe he should ask if she were ok with being by his side. This one, soft moment of theirs didn’t set it in stone, though. And so, he was about to request her to be his. Except, her voice came before he could get anything out.

"Thank you, for finding me."

He looked surprised, not knowing what she meant. It could of meant anything! Finding her now, or finding her in general? Perhaps she meant both? As she pressed closer to him, he rested his head lightly upon her back, staying silent for a long moment, deciding on what to say. Moister dripped to the rough ground from the rocks around them, echoing off anything it could find. “I…” what was he to say? He was not used to sharing moments like this. His ears dropped back, his face looked sad because he felt so hopeless. He was happy she couldn’t see it. “I’m happy I found you”.


WORD COUNT: idk
NOTES: d'awwww
MUSE: good.
VOICE: viggo mortensen as aragorn

[Snowfrost]

SHIMRI.

[/size]

As everything set in, the white mare found herself swirling in a sea of varied emotions and clouded possibilities. It was like Socrates was the rock supporting her in the river whose current was constantly trying to push her back. But there was a growing urge to let go, an urge to push him away from being a rock. Something inside was fighting back, protesting that she didn't need another -- she was fine on her own. And that was likely the old spark that Shimri had within the flame of her being. While the entire ordeal had shaken her, she was still and always would remain the horse who wasn't always predictable -- the one with a fire and spunk that would spark without a moment's notice.

She was, and likely always would be, the mare who kept herself closed to the world and all of its inhibitants. While this open Shimri was nice to see, she could never remain her. But somewhere deep inside, the mare felt calm in this state. He spoke, and something stirred within her. She fought it back, however. Murmuring softer than what was audible, the white mare sighed lightly and moved her head some -- as though she was a kitten warming up the place it was sleeping in, kneading and purring. Conflicting emotions were at play right now, but Shimri found herself winning with the desire to stay with him. She could fight back those fires, she thought bravely. Let a little of her other side show for once. But there was still that guard, that feeling that she couldn't shake. And it stopped her from moving further with him. Right now, she was content and felt safe. Odd, as though she was hanging by his mane alone, but still strangely safe.

She found herself speaking before she had time to think: "I won't leave you again, I promise. You're... I --" She couldn't find the words anymore, and she was pressing more into him. Half of her was tensing, but an overwhelming half of her wanted to give into it all. It was so odd, but she couldn't continue fighting it much longer. There was something there, something she knew existed since they'd first met one another. She'd never say it, but perhaps Socrates was the stallion destined to be with her. For a mare such as her to even think of such a possibility -- it was something unheard of, something she never did. This was a side of Shimri always hidden, a side most would love to see more of. But it wasn't her. Again, it could never truly be her. If Socrates was to have her forever, he'd need to keep the whole that she was. There were no more options, but she didn't want to leave. The caves were her home -- he was her home.

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