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Post by Citizens In Equestria on Oct 12, 2015 23:25:58 GMT
The beaver squirmed a fair bit as Tara started to lift and turn him, a rather distressed look and feel about him. A worrisome chatter emerged from him as well, and in spite of there being few wounds (if you could count out the broken leg) on him he still seemed worried, scared even, and he kept turning his head around, looking at everything and anything in a panic.
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Pumpkin Vine
Junior Member
Camp New Hayven Refugee: Main Defense Trainer and Combat Leader.
Posts: 54 
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Post by Pumpkin Vine on Oct 13, 2015 17:55:47 GMT
Hearing their condolences, the mare simply offered a small smirked nod. While she knew most ponies would feel the way they do about hearing such news, Pumpkin had grown sour over the course of her past few years. Lightened by the way these creatures cared for a stranger, her confidence in their heart strength had encouraged her to try and dig a little deeper for that happy place everyone was looking for. She was a role model, an adult with experience, she needed to start acting like one. Unable to really respond however, the mare's burnt orange pupils shot down towards the earth as she managed to stay somewhat hidden. Turning to the two pegasai along with her, Pumpkin's voice had showed no signs of worry or panic, but mere alerted yet calm.
"We go down. Say hello. One of us stays here in case things get ugly. They simply return and alert the others and we conceal our caves better."
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Post by Moxie on Oct 13, 2015 21:30:09 GMT
"Right," Moxie nodded, "Though lets see how this goes first... We've brought ponies back to the caves without needing to resort to extreme caution in the past. Even so... be prepared to fight if necessary." Moxie put a hoof subconsciously to her hip where her dagger was tethered. She had learned to wield it well over the years, and even though it wasn't a weapon that was highly threatening, she could be lethally quick.
As they broke over the top of the last set of trees, Moxie angled them downwards, until they landed about 50 meters from the stranger. Their presence hidden no longer, Moxie called out to the newcomer as they briskly trotted towards the stranger, signalling with her wings for the others to spread out to her flanks to demonstrate their number. "Please, we mean you no harm, we only wish to speak. Are you here in peace?" Her scrutinous gaze rested on the stallion's face. He was young, about her age, and something seemed to be moving in his arms... was that.... a beaver? Her face reflected a perplexed expression as they drew near.
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Post by Tarascha Terastari on Oct 13, 2015 22:04:16 GMT
Tara had been getting very cautious and paranoid as the beaver had grown more uneasy over the time. He knew something was going on that was possibly dangerous for both of them. Maybe a wild animal. Or a storm was comming fast. Animals always had a way to sense these things long before he did. So he prepared himself for almost anything...
But apperently seeing and hearing a young pegasus mare that landed a little away from him was something he was not prepared for. As soon as she looked at his face, he moved one hoof backwards to pull the hood back up hastly, holding the beaver in the other hoof. Once his head was covered with the black hood again, he felt much more secure with the pitch black shadow hiding most of his features again. He was still very much freaked out but tried to not show it. In the wild it was being scary or submitting to something that was even more scary than you and right now, he tried to assume the first role of this rule.
He held the beaver tightly to his chest and studied the mare for a few seconds before answering in a serious voice "I am indeed in peace. I dont seek a fight if nopony brings it to me." Did that sound serious enough? Maybe. But he had no time to think about his words more anyway so he just went with it.
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Post by Flux on Oct 13, 2015 22:42:31 GMT
Following her gesture, Flux took a few paces to Moxie's right side. He kept himself calm and collected, and made sure that his face reflected that if this stranger decided on the path of hostility he'd get more than he bargained for. However, he kept his wings closed. This was partly to keep the image that he didn't think he'd need to go anywhere, and partly so that if needed he could duck them into his duster and into the latches on the blades kept within should the need arise. He kept quiet and let Moxie do the talking for now; she knew what was an acceptable path to take.
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Post by Citizens In Equestria on Oct 14, 2015 17:46:34 GMT
The beaver clung to the pony, giving the new groups of ponies frightful glances with his beady eyes from time to time, a bit calmer then what he was before but still nowhere near relaxed. In fact, in spite of being in Tara's grip, he started attempting to return back to the hood where he had laid before, reaching up with his little claws towards the head of the pony and his now up-pulled hood while letting out a low chatter, interrupted by the occasional wince as he moved his hurt leg.
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Pumpkin Vine
Junior Member
Camp New Hayven Refugee: Main Defense Trainer and Combat Leader.
Posts: 54
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Post by Pumpkin Vine on Oct 18, 2015 3:00:13 GMT
Staying further back and out of sight, Pumpkin felt most comfortable to the trees. They were.more then some old bark to her, they were family too. Glancing from the leaves, a newcomer was never truly a bad omen. It was however, a sign that this world was not getting better with them in hiding. Pondering their actions, the mare knew they weren't even close to ready to fight back, no matter how many self defense classes she scheduled. Sighing to this, her eyes never left the shadow of the stallions voice from below. Judging by the tone and angle of his vocal cords, a threat was not something she suspected. Her question was, could they trust him? She whispered under her breath at the situation before shifting to the creature on him.
"Interesting"
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Post by Moxie on Oct 19, 2015 14:30:10 GMT
Moxie saw the hood going back on as a good sign. This pony seemed shy... But then again, why was he trying to hide his identity? She began to weigh her words in her mind before her thoughts were interrupted by the look and sound the beaver was making. It was in pain! "Oh! Is he hurt??" She couldn't help herself. She broke from ranks and ran to the strange pony to look the injured animal over.
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Post by Tarascha Terastari on Oct 19, 2015 15:06:34 GMT
Tara flinched violently when the yellow mare ran towards him and moved a hoof into a pocket of his cloak, touching one of the poisoned darts inside but not quite throwing it yet. He kept his hoof inside there though, just to be safe and slowly nodded at the mare, holding the beaver out to her while keeping a close watch on her actions. After all, he had no idea who she was and what her intentions were. Might be a bandit out to rob or kill him.
He swallowed his nervousness down for a moment, calming his shaky hoof and answers back "Indeed he is. I found him here at the lake. His leg is completely crushed and he will be in even more pain once the shock wears off. He should get to a medical pony as soon as possible but I dont know any villages or towns out here."
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Post by Flux on Oct 19, 2015 17:09:41 GMT
Time seemed to slow down as Flux watched; Moxie's sudden movement had triggered his mind back into his old habits, and for once, he was glad for it. As she ran he watched the figure's hoof go inside his cloak and he dipped his wings into his duster, pulling them out moments later with the black edges of the blades gleaming softly. He was rather glad he'd been prepared for this but by the time they'd made it on it looked like the cloaked pony had paused as if waiting to see if Moxie was indeed a threat. Flux took only a few steps closer to them but left a respectable distance as he held his wings out and slightly lowered to the sides. He wouldn't do anything that might turn the situation ugly, but his posture and expression sent a clear message: If this pony hurt Moxie he would surely regret it. The pegasus kept his eyes forward and locked onto where the hidden face was so as not to attract attention to Pumpkin. If things went south it would be quite helpful to have surprise backup.
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Post by Moxie on Oct 19, 2015 19:17:42 GMT
Moxie fretted over the wild animal, speaking softly to it as she used the tips of her left wing to brush back it's fur on its leg to get a better look without hurting it. It looked bad, and Moxie felt the raw sting of the crushing reminder that she no longer had her spring paint at her disposal. It frustrated her beyond belief, she couldn't stand to see creatures in pain, and she coul dhave so easily have helped him right here and now. She looked up to the strange pony and held out her hooves. "Give him to us, we will take care of him. We have a doctor."
Moxie's mind was not thinking clearly. Normally, protocol for perimeter patrol called for careful assessment of a pony before any mention of camp or other ponies was made. In her desperation to help the animal as quickly as possible, she had thrown out that there were others by mention of a doctor, just trying to get the stallion to hand the creature over quicker. It wasn't a smart move, and it struck Moxie almost as soon as it had come out of her mouth. Her heart skipped for a moment and she swallowed, hoping the pony would not take advantage of the knowledge or keep the creature from her for some bargain...
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Post by Tarascha Terastari on Oct 19, 2015 19:32:47 GMT
Tara's eyes darted between the male and the female pegasi with great care and some paranoia. He was pretty close to just launch a dart at both of them right now but he had noticed how quick the stallion had readied his wingblades. If the pony could arm himself that quick, than Tara would really like to avoid a clashing with him. Especially after not taking good care of his own crooked leg for a few days. He would be dead on the ground in ten seconds flat. His ears perked up though at the mentioning of a doctor and he raised an eyebrow in surprise.
Were the ponies from around here? Was he mistaken and there was indeed a village or a town around here? Only one way to find out. "You got a doctor? Who are "you"? And why should I just give this poor animal to some random pony" He took a step back and let out a quiet, almost scared growl
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Post by Flux on Oct 19, 2015 21:55:05 GMT
The blue pegasus would have facehoofed if not for the fact that it wouldn't have helped and would only have made the situation worse, but he also couldn't help but respect Moxie even more. In the situation they all found themselves in, her heart still went out to the defenseless and wounded. Flux stayed where he was. Enough time had passed that he could start to see who this stranger was, beyond a name and a face, but who he really was. Another pony who cared. He still had to be careful, but let himself relax slightly, dropping some of the aggressive aura he was projecting. He instinctively assessed new situations for threats, but so far it seemed more and more like that wasn't something they would find here.
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Post by Moxie on Oct 19, 2015 22:09:17 GMT
"We.... we're...." Moxie was thrown now, having messed up, it sent her spiraling out from her tough and confident composure to unsure about what she should say to cover up her mistake. "... We're just ponies who need to know if we can trust you or not. So? Can we?" She toughened up a bit at the end, hardening her gaze, she stared at the strange pony seriously and waited for her answer.
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Post by Tarascha Terastari on Oct 19, 2015 22:43:43 GMT
Tara stayed mute for a few seconds and thought about the situation. What options did he have? It was him alone with a wounded beaver against two pegasi, one looking dangerous enough to cut him down with no efforrt at all, the other too close already to really defend himself if she should decide to attack him. Jumping into the lake was also an option but that would only lead to him either drowning or getting caught by the winged ponies anyway. It seemed like he had no other choice than to play along for now and flee later if he would need to. They did say something about a doctor and the mare's emotions seemed to genuine to be faked.
"You can trust me as far as I can trust you. And I'd really appreciate it, if said trust won't be used against me later." As a sign of meaning no harm, he took his hoof out of his pocket finally and placed it on the ground, now completely defenseless in case they would jump on him. He could only hope for the best at this point
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Post by Flux on Oct 20, 2015 15:53:20 GMT
Flux evaluated where they were at. The pony had taken his hoof out of the cloak and his words seemed genuine enough...but he was still slightly on edge, having never been in this situation before. At the end of the day it wasn't about them as scouts; one slip-up could lead to the downfall of the entire camp. However, he trusted Moxie and knew that he had to let her make the call. He folded his wings back to his sides but didn't take the blades off just yet; too many times this exact situation had gone wrong fast.
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Post by Moxie on Oct 20, 2015 17:00:07 GMT
Moxie hesitated, even though his words promised as much as they could that he was not a foe, she wasn't sure of their next move. "Are you looking for sanctuary?" she asked him, trying to decide whether or not to lead him to camp. If he was just passing through, there would be no need. "If not, you can give him to me and we will see to it he is taken care of, and leave you alone..." She motioned to the injured beaver.
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Post by Tarascha Terastari on Oct 20, 2015 18:20:49 GMT
"Not...exactly sanctuary. But I would lie if I said I'm not looking for a place to rest." Tara looked between the mare and the stallion again, slowly making up a plan in his mind. "Let's strike a deal, shall we?" In a jolt of confidence, he placed the beaver on his back and took a step towards the female pegasi.
"We both want that this little guy is getting back to health. But we also know that we cant blindly trust each other. How about this. You take me to where your "doctor" and "sacturary" is and in return I'll answer some questions and give you the beaver without resistance."
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Post by Moxie on Oct 20, 2015 19:53:34 GMT
"Its.... not as simple as that..." Moxie looked back to Flux and Pumpkin, silently wishing she knew what to do more in a strange situation like this, but hoped to have their support. Looking back to the strange pony with a furrowed brow, her hard gaze had softened to that of a plea. "Lives depend on you keeping what we show you a secret. Do you understand? If we take you to our doctor... you need to promise me on your life that you will never speak to anyone outside this forest about what you see today. And also... I hope you consider the benefits in staying." She reached out a hoof to him. "My name is Moxie."
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Post by Tarascha Terastari on Oct 20, 2015 20:56:53 GMT
That already sounded like a lot more than he expected. He had thougt that they maybe were a little camp with a few ponies, trying to survive on their own. But now that she talked about it, it suddenly sounded a lot bigger and more impressive. And the mare was obviously passionate about keeping it a secret from other ponies. With his curiousity sparking to life and instantly beating all doubts away, he reached his own hoof towards her to grab her's firmly.
"You and your companion may call me Tara. Or Traveler if you want to keep some distance from me. And I agree to all terms of the deal. Nopony will hear anything about your "sanctuary" from me. Oh and by the way. It would be much appreciated if we could move as quick as possible. For my and the animals sake."
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Post by Moxie on Oct 21, 2015 2:22:56 GMT
Moxie nodded, agreeing with him silently about the need to hurry along. The animal looked like he was in terrible pain, and it crushed her to think of what might be going through its innocent mind with these ponies wasting time talking while he was hurting. Glad to hear Tara was on board with keeping a big secret, Moxie smiled to him and pushed the facade of a tough forest pony group away and became more herself. "C'mon, its this way, we can take the shorter trail through the west face."
She opened her wings and happily bounded forward to lead them all, letting Flux and Pumpkin introduce themselves. Meeting a new pony always put a lightness back into her step, and she was excited to get him to camp now that he had promised secrecy. Moxie had always had a fault in trusting a pony's promise if they made it originally with sincerity, convinced they wouldn't go back on it later. Maybe this sadly wasn't always what happened, but she couldn't help herself from not learning her lesson. Trust just came to easy for the pegasus mare, and she stubbornly preferred to believe in the goodness of a pony before the bad. As for the others, well, it was up to them to decide if they trusted him yet or not.
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Post by Flux on Oct 21, 2015 4:20:59 GMT
One thing Flux admired about the mare was exactly that, that she was so fast to assume that every pony she met was good. It was part of what drew him towards her from the start; while he'd been regarded with suspicion by many of the camp members Moxie had become a fast friend. He had never tried to use his relationship with her brother as leverage to get on her good side, and he knew that his friendship with the forest mare was genuine. He nodded, mostly to himself, at her decision and smiled a bit as she had instantly taken off. He watched her for an amused moment before turning back to this 'Tara', falling into step a respectable distance beside him. He seemed to be alright, but unlike Moxie he was a bit more hesitant to extend his trust to strangers.
"You may call me Flux," he said, his baritone voice reaching the traveler's ears easily. "I should hope that you meant what you said. For your own safety as well." Flux left the threat implied, not wanting to appear outright hostile, but unwilling to let the cloaked one think that betraying them would not have repercussions.
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Pumpkin Vine
Junior Member
Camp New Hayven Refugee: Main Defense Trainer and Combat Leader.
Posts: 54
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Post by Pumpkin Vine on Oct 21, 2015 19:01:51 GMT
Watching the interacts carefully, each movement Moxie made had Pumpkin Vine on edge. What was she doing?! Pondering the meaning behind her natural kindness, this strange young mare could only teach her further on the ways of new life. Understanding that they were all heading back, Pumpkin had judged the earth pony with out a reason. He was new, and with that title, came a wave of untrustworthy emotions to follow. Knowing their leader would feel the same way, her burnt orange orbs never left the stallion as her wings lifted from the branch.
"Long way by hoof. What is your reasoning for coming out this far?"
Speaking directly to the blonde maned pony, her voice was accented beyond the normal equestrian. Deeper and rather strong to the ear, her tone was not threatening, but clarifying. Landing before him and aside the others, Pumpkin was an average sized mare, older then she looked as her gaze seemed relentless without much of a blink. Anypony could claim they were harmless and want shelter, even those hunting for runaways. With this burrowed in the mindset, her hooves were sturdy on the ground as wings closed assuring she was no threat initially.
"Why would you leave your homeland?"
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Post by Tarascha Terastari on Oct 21, 2015 20:29:05 GMT
Tara had flinched in surprise when yet another pegasus appeared from somewhere between the trees. He held back a snarky answer he would have normally done to vent some of his fear and surprise, quickly realizing that it would have not helped his situation at all and possibly would have only made it even worse. While keeping his safe distance to all of the three pegasi, he turned his head to adress the stallion first. "Flux, I have seen how impressivly fast you readied your wingblades. Trust me, I do not want to cause trouble for anypony if that meant that I had to clash with you."
Following that, he then focused his eyes on the second mare that had appeared from out of nowhere and nearly twitched when he met her gaze with his own. "E-Everypony has their reasons. I did not think that I would manage to continue my life as usual under the new queen. So I left and cut most ties to it." Tara tried to keep his explanation short yet satisfactory enough so the mare wouldn't be persistent and tried to find out more.
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Post by Moxie on Oct 22, 2015 3:45:17 GMT
Moxie had paused and turned to wait for the others at the crest of a hill. "C'mon slow pokes, that beaver needs to get some relief!" With a playful grin, she bounded down the steady slope and lead on towards the western climb, the shortest route to Celestia's Gate without flying. Moxie's good mood allowed her to loose herself in the forest surrounding her a bit, feeling the rush of the fresh air blowing through her mane as she ran. She extended her wings out and reminisced on when her feathers had held the unicorn paint that had painted her forest home so long ago. She missed spreading the paint for the seasons beyond what she could bare to admit. But this forest took care of itself and didnt need her... it both felt like rejection and like something majestically bigger than her to live within now.
Racing ahead, she kept her pace light and didnt escape the other's view as she lead the way up towards camp.
[Exit Moxie to Celestia's Gate]
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Post by Flux on Oct 22, 2015 5:54:23 GMT
"Don't forget that," he replied evenly as he turned and began trotting after Moxie. He was for the most part satisfied with how the situation had been handled, but there was still just...something. He never fully trusted a pony that wouldn't show their face, but his gut told him there was more to this stranger than he let on. Flux shook his head and focused. He'd gotten a flight in on their way out, now it was time to work on the ground; the thunder of his hooves the only thing he focused on as he ran.
[Exit Flux to Celestia's Gate]
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Pumpkin Vine
Junior Member
Camp New Hayven Refugee: Main Defense Trainer and Combat Leader.
Posts: 54
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Post by Pumpkin Vine on Oct 22, 2015 14:29:05 GMT
Studying the stallion closely, Pumpkin stood back. Allowing him to follow them first, she was hesitant to trust him. Thinking of just how many newcomers they have received in such a short time, the numbers didn't add up. Thinking this was a dangerous move, each pony that came was a risk, and this one was no different. How many more before a soldier or a spy shows up? It was only a matter of time. Turning to the grey stallion, her gaze never seemed to leave his presence.
"Noone would just up and leave their family. I'm watching you. Go on."
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Post by Tarascha Terastari on Oct 23, 2015 21:07:19 GMT
"I have as much reason to trust you as you have to trust me. And that is very little. Yet you dont see me judging you or any of your companions."
Tara tried to keep his face emotionless while continuing his way towards their so called "sanctuary", taking in a quiet, deep breath to calm his nerves. He turned his head back to the lake once before shaking it and following the pegasi, knowing that he had no way to turn back now. Who knew. Maybe this was a good thing after all. Or maybe it wasn't and he was doomed at this point already. At least he could make himself believe he would die while trying to help the injured beaver. What a heroic death.
[Exit Tarascha to Celestia's Gate]
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Pumpkin Vine
Junior Member
Camp New Hayven Refugee: Main Defense Trainer and Combat Leader.
Posts: 54
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Post by Pumpkin Vine on Oct 25, 2015 16:54:49 GMT
"Chosen words are not wise to the future of your existence."
Shaking her head and following behind, Pumpkin chose to heel back towards the end. Watching them slowly start to move in the direction of the caves, a twinge of uncertainty had hit the pegasus hard. Opening up her wings, burnt eyes looked to the skies. It was a beautiful day out, but the winds were off. Something wasn't right in the world, and it greatly started to upset her stomach. Were they doing the best that they could, hiding? Truly, she believed it was best, but saving strangers was risky. Walking and ready to defend herself if need be, the pony exited along with the others.
[Exit Pumpkin Vine to Celestia's Gate.]
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Pandemonium
Junior Member
Used to be Deuterium, now something frightening.
Posts: 91 
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Post by Pandemonium on Aug 11, 2016 10:00:13 GMT
[Enter Pandy from Celestia's Gate]
Pandy bolted out of the gate as fast as he could muster after his most recent fight. Now that he was out he had to get away. Couldn't have those guards finding him no sooner than he'd got out. This was the beginning of his story, and he was going to make it a tale for the ages. The sun hurt his eyes but his determination held up, even as he began to feel the sting of his wounds and the pressure he'd exerted on his body...
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