A Place Called Hell {open}

[stormflower]

The unicorn did not know exactly where she was and so was beside herself with a frenzy to be in a place she recognized. She hated unfamiliar surroundings and the notion that she was lost. She had wandered into the wilderness with not set destination and was now paying dearly for it. She wondered if she would ever feel sane again.

Mayuma glanced over her shoulder and flicked her silver tail in thought. So that was the way she'd come. She had only to go back to her living hell....or continue on in the hopes that she'd come across somewhere better. She whickered to herself; her light blue-grey eyes flashed with something like defiance at the world, defiance at the panic she no longer felt. She was in control of herself enough to be properly quiet in this unknown land.

[bee]

The ivory stag knew this land. This was once the great Manhattan, home to many bustling humans. An image of a human danced in his head, animating itself to walk among paved streets, a suitcase in hand and constantly glancing at a watch. The human kind had once walked these lands. It was quite long ago, but they had, once. Manhattan had been quite crowded, but very popular. Capello didn't have any memories of this time, but he had heard about it from others older than himself.

His muddy brown eyes swept over the empty streets, cracked and broken, tufts of yellow-green grass poking out in random holes in the street. It was almost saddening to see what New York had become, but Capello was rather glad. Without the existence of humans, this terrain made a great home. His dull hooves clicked on the pavement, making muffled echoes as the sound bounced off the nearby ruins of humankind. His long, pointed horn glinted off the sunlight.

Capello's optics spotted something quite unusual roaming the lands. Another equine, her scent told him she was a femme, who looked quite frantic and distressed. He strayed away for a minute. But, seeing as how she calmed down, Capello approached quietly, yet making himself seen. He paced over to her, his face straight and unreadable as usual. He possessed almost a talent at not showing an emotion unless he really insisted to. This saved him from unnecessary mix-ups when others read his expression. He opened his maw, speaking to her clearly.

" 'Lo, miss. I'm Capello. May I ask who you are?"

Capello wasn't exactly always friendly. But this time, his tone was light and untroubled. He merely wanted to make another aquaintance in this land. The femme seemed to have calmed a bit, but Capello just wanted to make sure she was okay. He knew that sometimes it could be stressful around unusual places like New York. It wasn't like the luscious fields and clear waters Capello had once known as a unicorn.

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[stormflower]

Mayuma swivled her head around at the entrance of a demon in this little hell and whickered a neutral greeting at him. She was not in the position to be hostile but did not have it in her to be friendly, yet, so looked him over with a guarded expression in her silver-blue eyes. "M'name is Mayuma. May I return the gesture?" She was elegant in her own way, refined, keeping her wild and defiant streak down below. If, and this was a very big if, she got to know this stag, he'd find out she was more than this dull, emotionless fae she was showing him.

Her horn sliced the air as she turned around fully to face him, glimmering with a silvery, mother-of-pearl gleam as she really took in his appearance. He was a tall stallion, less than a hand taller than herself, with quick, lean legs and a sturdy body that must have broken some hearts in his day. Not that he was old; in fact, he was a young unicorn like herself, but she still embodied the foal-like joy towards the world whereas he barely let her skim the surface of his mind. Mayuma braved a smile in his direction and lowered her head a little, in a sign of respect. "This is old human territory, isn't it?"

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[bee]

The brute couldn't help but notice her colour, and her eyes. The hue of Mayuma's coat was pearly white, a colour almost reflected to Capello's, but his fine, thin fur not pure white but a mere light shade of grade. She, however, was pure white with a mane and tail to match. It was elegant and pretty, Capello noted. She was of good build too, with long, sturdy legs. Her eyes were a piercing shade of blue. Some people found the blue-hued eyes frightening, but Capello was much too used to them. They were unusual, sure, but he didn't mind them.

He watched her as she turned to face him, speaking to him clearly. Capello was, really, only Capello. Unfortunately, he didn't belong to any herd or any home. But he had dreams of starting his own herd of fine unicorns, on one of the terrains nearby. But for that he would need a mate or some mares and permission for Zerkzies, both of which he had not. But the idea still lingered in his head, not wanting to escape it, presenting itself to him once again when it saw fit. Soon, he would have his own home.

"I am simply Capello. I live in New York, obviously, but do not belong to a herd. Yet. And yes, this is human territory." Capello explained calmly. "You seemed distressed. Are you alright?"

Capello didn't mean to be nosy, but he felt a little concerned for this mare. Was she lost? He didn't know the terra well enough to direct her in the right direction, but he could always try to help. It was a little unusual for him to act this friendly to a stranger, for sometimes he was known to get a bit hostile. He meant well, but he had trouble trusting others. His guard always seemed to be up.

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[stormflower]

"I do not belong to a herd either." She raised her chin again and studied him, noticing with amusement his desire to help her out of a sticky situation right away. She bit her tongue to silence a chuckle. He was nice, polite. But then again stallions could be so ill-tempered that the slightest annoyance could send them into a rage. Her silvery pelt shivered as a wind blew over it and her eyes closed halfway, creating on her face a soothed, calm look that he'd no doubt take to be false, as a worrying male as he was.

"Thank you, Capello, I am alright. The new surroundings were a bit disconcerting but now I have gotten used to them. I just miss the fields and meadows of my old home." Even as she spoke she felt a painful knife go through her heart. She could never go back. That was that, and she would not mention it again. The unicorn mare met his gaze again and smiled warmly at the opportunity for friendship she saw there. "These are claiming grounds," she said quite suddenly, as if she had known it all along but had chosen only this moment to confirm her suspicions. Mayuma knew what this male was doing here, and she wasn't sure whether she was all that opposed or not, and that haunted her.

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[bee]

Capello observed the femme's reaction to his words. He watched as she made her face cool and calm, a pretty good attempt to mask her real sentiments, but unconvincing to the stag. He knew that underneath it all, her feelings were probably much different. But he didn't bother to mention it or reveal her original feelings. Mayuma seemed like a quite decent vix, but there seemed to be something a little more under the surface. It intrigued him a little.

"I understand." He said to her first comment. "Yes, these are the claiming grounds."

It felt a little weird confirming this fact. It was obvious to him, but not to her. He knew the grounds a little better than Mayuma. But he had come here for that reason, claiming. He knew how confusing it could be in new surroundings, and he also knew how comforting it was to live in one specified place. He, too, missed the fields and meadows, but a cobblestone ground would work too. He made his face straight again, and then opened his sculpted maw to speak clear words to her.

"I came here for that reason as well. I am interested in starting a new herd, and I need some mares to accompany me. Would you be interested, m'lady Mayuma?"

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[stormflower]

Ah, there it was, the thing she had been expecting, the words she equally dreaded and longed for. But could she summon the strength to do it all again, to love and be loved, to put herself at the mercy of a male that might, for all she knew, rise up and strike her down like Moxxus had done? And would she defend herself like she had?

All this angst must have shown on her face and gentle, sea-blue eyes, for she felt the warm strirings of her heart react to her emotions, and though she was careful at hiding them most of the time, when she got too pensive she weakened. "I think I would, sweet Capello, but you must promise to be a good leader." That last part was a bit of a tease. She could tell that he would be kind.

[bee]

Anticipation made his heart move a little faster, pumping blood into Capello's veins at a more irregular pace than before. He was a tad bit anxious about her response. If she chose to accept his gracious offer, he could finally be allowed to claim a terrain for himself. This was a big step for him. Becoming a leader was exciting, but, like most jobs and positions, it held responsabilities. It required him to hold his head high and be confident in his steps, in his path that he chose. But he was ready.

The stag couldn't help but smile at her words, at her nature. He could sense that it was hard for her to trust, and it was the same with him. But she accepted it none the less, which made Capello believe in her just a little bit more. He grinned at her teasing tone, but also noted a serious tone underlying the joke. He was being counted on for the first time in his life, and it was important. His ears flickered towards her, and he spoke calmly to the vixen.

"But of course." He stated simply. "Now follow me. We must travel to the unclaimed lands and state our claim. I believe Zerkzies must grant us permission."

The ivory brute turned his body away from Mayuma, pointing it in the direction of the horned-creatures' lands. Zerkzies would surely gift him with the title of leader if he was worthy, wouldn't he? Capello was ecstatic, pleased yet a tad troubled at the same time, but these emotions were hidden from the light of day. He would prove to the world that he certainly could lead and be responsable. His long, sturdy legs yearned to run, his body preparing for the movement and journey.

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