.:Along Came a Spider:.

[stolenhart]

There is a feeling to evil that all are attracted to but most are repelled. A seductively disgusting feeling that entraps even the innocent and the wary leading them down a path that fulfills the dark joys of their hearts before destroying their souls. One in the thrall of this feeling can be hard to identify for evil comes in pretty packages more often than not. And the wary and knowledgable would know not to judge based on packaging but on heart and character. That being said, Gra'dh stepped onto the scene.

Blacker than the blackest sin in color, and if the truth were known in heart -though no one would ever know the truth-, Gra'dh was a mare built for the battles the world throws at her. Hooves ringing like blood soaked bells across teh cracked pavement of the dead city, she wandered aimlessly letting fate guide her. Fate is, after all, the wind that blows where it will. A smart being knows fate controls all, but the same being can in turn learn to control fate. Gra'dh had learned to control fate, though to look at her, it would not be known.

Despite her black color, with the subtle red highlights, she was bone thin, almost corpselike from starvation and deprevation. For a mare of her muscular stature such a state meant death was not far away. What she had eaten in the last few weeks had not been enough to sustain her, it kept her moving, looking for greener pastures. She would never tell of the history behind her deathly state, she would take that to her grave. With no shine to her dark hide she aimlessly wandered, nostrils flaring for food.

Gra'dh a name that meant Love in a language long forgotten was feeling anything but love at the moment. She felt hated hunger, hated exhaustion, and hated lonliness, with no one to manipulate she was truly alone. So down an abandoned sidewalk she wandered, head hanging down to her knees, mane listless and dull, eyes a faded black, horn a broken jagged mess. A terrible sight, with a terrible heart bent on terrible things.

[faitaccompli]

Libby watched as the stag moved away. She had been very pleased to meet Capello. He seemed like quite a great individual. She was only dismayed to see him leave her so soon. She wouldn't have minded overly much had she not still been terribly stuck in the predicament of such direness, her hock seared with pain as it was, rendering her so immobile. She could not take a step in any direction, her hock caught in debris so, let alone pursue the hellion in the direction he had chosen. That now left her alone.

She looked about her, feeling absolute dismay. She did not like being alone in the foreboding and intimidating city atmosphere, and she was upset. She was quite lucky, though, she realized, because even if she was saddened, at least she was not threatened. There was nothing in the general vicinity to harm her, or at least she couldn't see anything directly that might prove so. She peered into the dismal atmosphere, trying to remain positive. She managed to do so until the evening air began to surround her, and darkness engulfed her like an all-knowing shroud of fate. She looked about her, peering into the night, wondering if the shapes she saw were the familiar ones of the day, or if they were new threats that might claim her at any given moment.

She waited for what seemed like an eternity, though she knew it was only a few moments in true darkness. The oppressive smog seemed to make each second slower than the last. It was truly beginning to be a terrifying experience. Libby tried to collect her wits, to make herself calm, as she was so wont to be. So much was new to her here; should she have come at all? She didn't know the answer to that, but she did know now that she had chosen it, she couldn't go back. Not now that she had lived so much life already, and not now that she had met her last leader, Capello. She wondered much where he was now, and who he had met. Perhaps he had found the mare Mayuma. She hoped so. She also hoped he came back with her. There was something secure, not to mention safe, in numbers. She was usually in control of her emotions, but now, between unease and uncomfortable pain, she knew that she needed others she could feel that safety with. She was loyal, and also possessed quick wit, but a fighter she was not.

Suddenly, a new fear was struck into her heart. Within the regular night sounds, she now heard another. She hoped it was Capello, but something told her this was not a horse she knew. Well, she was pretty sure it wasn't a horse. For all of her experience, it did smell like a unicorn. Friend or enemy she could not say. Libby shifted fearfully and called out with all of confidence she could muster, "Hello.....? Is someone out there?"

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[bee]

Capello felt terrible for leaving poor Libby. He had gone off in search of other unicorns like himself, sharing the same interest in living in a land in which Zerkzies was followed, but his search came up dry when he lost his way to the claiming grounds. Silly fool, just about getting himself lost. He was ashamed that he didn't know his way well enough around the lands, and nearly got stuck in some thick forest. And to think he had left poor Libby to get lost. His thoughts turned bitter as he returned to his land, unhappy with his poor manners.

But, when he spotted the femme once more, his eyes and expression brightened. So she hadn't gone anywhere since he left her. He made her way back to her. She was beginning to look familiar to him. He couldn't claim that many faces of horned-ones or even equines were imprinted in his mind yet, because he hadn't met many. But it seemed that Capello was getting somewhat used to seeing Libby's face, her slender horn, her sturdy legs and body. He was kind of happy to have her as company.

His legs took him far, back to the Rua. The tall towers stood high above him. The gaps in which the glass once was placed that signified a window were now distorted and broken, some shards of glass still pointing in various directions with ragged edges. The window holes gave the buildings an almost evil stare. In this dark time of day, the buildings had frightening faces painted on them with the long shadows and broke windows. Capello, though, was not moved by these horrid faces. He was big enough that it was hard for others to hurt him without making a strike himself, and thus made him a little less afraid of what was lurking behind the shaded covers of the shadows.

Capello approached Libby once more, his hooves clattering against the peices of ashphalt. "Libby, please excuse my rather impolite exit minutes ago. I was in search of other equines, but got myself lost in the process."

His sheepish declaration made him feel a little stupid, but he felt the need to apologize. When Capello really got a good look at Libby's face, she looked frightened. This sparked curiosity in him. Was she nervous when alone? Should he not leave her anymore? Why was she afraid? His harks answered some of these questions when they informed Capello of another presence. He stood tall, his face straight once more. His nostrils flared, taking in the scent of the other presence. A unicorn, definately. The distinct smell gave them away.

"Who goes there?" He called, taking a slight step in front of Libby, in a somewhat protective manner.

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{{Heya Bee, I hope you don't mind, I don't usually leave notes in posts and feel free to delete this, but it's me Fai. I wanted to first say nice post! One thing I just wanted to clear up though. In my last post Libby is surrounded by darkness, and so I assumed it's night, but in this post it's day for Capello. I'm willing to do either, but if you wanted, just tell me if you want me to change my post or if you want to make slight amendments xD....}}

[stolenhart]

Voices. Voices searing across the labyrinth of her mind. They called to her, pulled her away from death's walk and towards life's giving light. She neighed, loud and ringing, picking her pace up. Someone was out there, another life, another chance to manipulate, another chance to rule. She rounded a corner at a quick walk, following the voices echoing off the delapidated buildings. Where, where, ah there.

"Gra'dh, a foundling", she snorted, slowing to a walk when she saw the two unicorns before her. A mare and a stallion stood before her. Gra'dh took the time to study them as she approached slowly. She gave a tired whicker in greeting, letting them see her corpselike state. Such a broad horse to be so thin, it looked as if her last meal would never come, she would die before her last meal.

"I am called Gra'dh", she introduced herself stepping just out of their reach. Her black horn shone a malvolent black, the broken end ragged and sharp, sharper than it used to be when it was two feet long. The edges glittered a scarlet red, as if it were bleeding, but of course it was not. She lowered her head in the symbol of equine tiredness, sides heaving, as she stared up at them. Hated exhaustion. It would be gone soon, she could claim the land as her own, or perhaps find the stallion himself and rule from behind the scenes. Best for now to play the weakened invalid.

[faitaccompli]

Libby had worked herself into such a state, as her normal calm seemed so far as to not come until light, and in such case the light felt unattainable, as if it would never come, or not at least until darkness had sucked life from Libby's frail form. Something in this thought seemed not to just signify the current moment, but also serve as almost a prophecy of what was to come. Her spirits were dimmed quite further with this diminishing thought. She had come in search of hope, but thus far she had found nothing close to the sort.

She shivered, trying desperately to shake away that feeling, realizing it was exactly what would be her downfall, even if the rest of her thoughts remained untrue. She needed to keep hope, as she always had, shining like a beacon through cloud-stirred ocean skylines. She would not give up so easily. Instead of shrinking back in fear, she began to ease her composure, and open her orbs further. She had closed them out of fear, and, she'd like to think, at least a little out of introspection. It did make her feel more secure, but she would forget that. She needed to now open her eyes and be brave, facing the world.

Libby opened her orbs and suddenly felt quite glad. She beheld the much-welcomed sight of Capello approaching her. She felt secure with him, even if he had just come and left, and they hadn't even known each other save their once former meeting. She just felt very put-out almost that he'd leave her there. She was not so secure in this environment. Libby felt a little doubt toward her new leader. She did not want to feel this way, but he had left her here, still stuck with her hoof under this rubble. She didn't want to feel this way toward him at all, for other than this little mishap, she quite enjoyed his company, and admired the traits he appeared to possess. It was just hard to think through her excruciating pain. She was good with thinking through things, and with dealing with others, but physically she shied from pain. She wasn't weak, she just wasn't very tolerant of the flames of hurt that seemed to engulf one more frequently as they grew. She decided to give Capello the benefit of the doubt, for maybe he hadn't realized she was so trapped by debris and unable to move. She had stopped the painful, merely futile attempts to free herself quite a while, and now she had all her weight off of her hock. She hoped it wouldn't impair her walking too much. No permanent damage would be done, but she knew the leg'd be sore from being trapped so long. She had told Capello she was trapped on his lands, but she had been foolish in being so light in her commentary. Perhaps he only needed a suggestion to free her, and really, he most likely hadn't realized.

In any case as it stood, here he came. She heard his words and was much calmed. He spoke so gallantly, and seemed to naturally lead. At the same time, he did not appear to hulk over her, and instead of making her more wary, made her feel quite safer.

Then, she heard another, approaching faster and faster before she could offer a response. Capello immediately moved to protect her, and she felt very grateful. Her heart went out to him, and she felt concerned that he'd get injured by the stranger on her account. The stranger made herself evident and Libby sighed in relief; she was indeed was a unicorn. She hoped that this mare would join with them, for as much as she admired her new leader, he did need something to lead. She wanted this mare to join, but, suddenly, at the same time she was a bit apprehensive of the stranger, for her bearing seemed weakened, yes, but somehow ominous.

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[bee]

Long shadows were cast because of the moon that hung in the sky. At night, the land look quite desolate and dreary, sucked of colour and life. The word was monochrome at night, and the ruins, rubble and ash kicking around in the Rua added to its lifeless state. Capello, though unafraid of the darkness that enveloped him, watched as the shadows were deformed as he moved slightly. He stayed in front of Libby slightly, but his long frame relaxed when the other creature made their entrance.

Something strange about this other creature made Capello a little nervous still. He was somewhat wary of the stranger, but it was probable that the cause for this sentiment was either the hour of night that Gra'dh had made her entrance or the fact that Capello still had yet to find out her intentions in his land. The wary feeling made him stay alert and slightly cautious, just in case. But he could tell by both Gra'dh's scent and her long, slim horn that she followed Zerkzies. Always a good sign.

"I am Capello, leader of the Rua, and this is Libby, a member of my herd. May I ask what your buisness is in this neck of the woods?" He asked skeptically.

His glance wandered to Libby. Capello quickly realized that her hock was surrounded by rubble, and realized why she had seemed so distressed. What a fool he had been to leave her all alone, trapped and unable to fend off any creatures lurking in the shadows. It must have frightened her so. Capello felt ashamed for leaving her. He wished to prove his leadership to Libby, but knew that leaving her alone trapped was probably not the best way. He vowed to help her more and be more attentive.

"Libby, let me help you with that hoof!" He said, moving towards her.

Capello kept his cautious and attentive disposition, but aligned himself with his back hoof aimed at the rubble. He drew his leg back, and struck the rubble. It didn't budge at first, but he struck it once again and finally Libby's hoof seemed free. The brute hoped that he hadn't caused her to have a wound or be too hurt by his careless actions.

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[stolenhart]

Capello was it? A different name than what came from her neck of the woods, or rather world. And Libby? A somewhat drab name for a unicorn. Why did dams give their children names that had no meaning? Their little foal would be a disappointment to all. Of course, Gra'dh was not one to talk. Her name was Love in some forgotten tongue, but there was very little love in her, unless it was for love of power. Gra'dh lived for power, though at this point in time she would live for a bit of grass and clean water.

"I am looking for a new home, for all that it is none of your business", she snorted, tossing her head a bit with the last remnants of her dying strength. By her first foal, she had never been treated so rudely, even when she had been at the peak of physical fitness. Even her enemies would offer her a safe haven to recover from her starvation. She snorted again, appalled by his rudeness, though secretly amused by his suspiscion.

"I am weary from travel, starving because what fodder there is is poor, and thirsty because the water between here and there is little more than mud puddles. As far as it being woods, I don't see many trees", she added snidely, wanting to make him dance at the end of a string, but holding back for now. Soon, once she recovered her strength, once she assessed his lands, then she would strike. Until then. "I apologize for my harsh words. I forget myself in this weariness".

[faitaccompli]

Libby watched the two 'quines with intense interest through her pain. She wondered what would come now. Poorly they would prove as a match in a fight for sheer strength's sense, but Libby had a feeling that the two that stood beside her had minds that would prove to their ultimate benefit, if not lead the small harem to victory in the end. She could not say when the battles would begin; or when the war would be over, if it ever did come to an end. For all she knew, it could extend well beyond their lifetimes.

"They say all good things come to an end, Equilibrium," he said to her. He stood by her side, but that only made her shiver more. It was cold out, but not nearly as cold as the being so close he seemed to put a freezing grip on her heart. "Good times end. But the bad times. They rage on and on. Never can tell when they plan on endin', huh my little flower?"

The voice she remembered. The advice she would heed. But the touch she did not want to think of. It made her shiver, here in the night, even with the protective Capello close by her side. That made her wary another moment. What if he wasn't at all what he seemed? What if he turned deceitful and cold? No, she needed to trust. Blind trust had kept her alive, gave her will, and even as she had lived so far (for she counted age in experience and not years), and she could not and would not let it go now. It was too late for a deficit in trust. She watched his movements, and was glad for his attention once again.

She enjoyed his fussing over her, though she generally was content to be in the background of doings. She felt she could and would have need to rise to the occasion for this brute.

He looked at her, and then he was speaking to the other. Libby became more aware of her, and turned to her. She seemed dark and mysterious. But held a special something in her, though Libby could not say what. She felt drawn to the darker being, oddly enough. And she was female. Libby knew she had an easier time trusting ones of her own gender.

Her focus was returned to Capello upon his offer to free her. Finally! She was very much relived. When he broke her free, she pulled away with a soft cry of relief and a little bit of pain. She didn't dare to put weight on it, afraid of crying out louder in front of both. If they abandoned her as a weakling now, even saving hope wouldn't rescue her. She looked down, and noticed where Capello's friendly, but striking hoof or the sharp rubble had drawn blood. She wanted to bend down to lick it clean, but knew she couldn't reach that hock. She'd have to have a search for water.

She listened now, her attention back on the newcomer. Gra'dh. She smiled at her, and then heard her speak. She thought of trying to console the mare. She was very close to speaking, but decided maybe Capello, being so leaderly as he was would want to handle the situation at hand.

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[bee]

Capello felt a little like he was getting it all wrong. He was acting much like a new leader, without any experience or any passed time on his side to give him advice. He was like a newborn foal in terms of his situation, still learning the ways of this word. Even though he had seen others lead, he had never lead himself. He had never been strong and confident and taken the lead. He had always seemed to stand on the sidelines, not bothering to step forward. Now that he had stepped forward, though, he had almost left a distressed herd member and was insulting the newest member.

Capello hadn't meant to insult Gra'dh. His inquiry was curious, rather than insulting. But she was obviously unhappy by his tone. She talked to him with cheek and rudeness, and Capello was a little surprised by this sudden dislike for him. He was wary of her, but he didn't dislike her or anything. Just something told him that he needed to be careful around her. Her response was snarky and a tad arrogant. But she was still an equine in need, and Capello needed to come to her aid.

"It's quite alright, Gra'dh. I can see that you are exhausted from travel. You are welcome to stay in the Rua for as long as you like, and if it suits your fancy, you could even join our herd. There is a small stream at the end of the Rua and shrubs and loose grass sprouts everywhere." Capello offered simply.

Libby, who was finally free from the rubble that had cuffed her hoof, made a soft cry in pain. Capello felt bad for the mare. She had been trapped for quite some time, and there was now a ring of blood were the rubble, and possibly Capello's striking motion, had drawn blood. Poor Libby, he thought.

"How is your hock?" He asked softly.

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[stolenhart]

"I thank you for your welcome", Gra'dh replied as she watched Libby move about, not freed from the rubble of her prison. As the stallion asked the mare about her foot, Gra'dh actually approached the mare, giving her a friendly, encouraging whicker. "Come, sister, lean on me and we shall use both our strengths to find a more comfortable place to rest injuries and weary souls". Gra'dh came along side the mare, noting that she was a few inches taller, and despite her skeletal frame, almost as wide as the other. But then Gra'dh had been built for one purpose, to fight. And she gloried in bloody battle.

"If you will lead on good stallion, and find us a comfortable place to rest injuries, I at least would be in your debt immensely", Gra'dh told the stallion, giving tiny encouraging whickers to the mare at her side. Everything would be alright, Gra'dh was saying by body langauge, flicking ears left and right.

She glanced around to study the ruined city, wondering what kind of beasts could have lived in such a place. Great structures were now little more than rust riddled trees, slowly disappearing back into the earth from whence they came, such was the fate of all creatures, but for Gra'dh it would be many centuries yet. Things were slowly coming into her fate and soon, oh so soon, she would have as much power as she wanted a more, and not have to rule herself. What delicious manipulation.

[faitaccompli]

Libby stood watching the two equines even now. She still did not test her weight on the hoof, cocking it slightly, hoping they did not take her offhand position as insult. She tried to straighten the rest of her body to make up for the fault in her countenance of conformation. Her neck was held even, but upward, as she tried to level her gaze as though to read the thoughts issuing from her two newest companions. They were quite a pair, different in many ways, and yet bound by the very blood that ran through their veins. So was the kinship of all unicorns, deep in mutual agreement of status, thought some might show more outward hostility than others. A horse is as a horse does. But she liked to think the bond of the unicorns ran deeper.

Libby studied Capello, glad he had freed her. She watched as he addressed the new mare. She at least assumed she was new, as Capello hadn't mentioned her before, and he seemed to just be meeting her now. She didn't seem to be nor addressed herself as the one other mare Capello had mentioned, and Libby had spared some thought to as she had waited. She studied, not talking until she was addressed. She liked to observe good manners when she could, and she took the moment that seemed to be absent of fear to regain her composure mentally, just as she had physically. It was hard to collect herself, but with the two's company, it seemed much easier to gather her wits about her.

Then Capello spoke to her, and she swallowed the lasts of her apprehension. He seemed quite concerned on her behalf. "I am quite alright, thank you!" she said, smiling, though in truth her hock hurt quite a bit, and she wished she could turn and lick the running blood from it. She was started to feel a bit light headed. She laughed a little more at her weakness. It was always best to make sharp situations softer, not lighter in gravity, but at least softer around the edges. It was ok to make light of situation, but not make it into a joke. Therefore, her laugh was good-natured and welcoming, instead of mocking what had become of the group that was now forming.

She then heard the mare, Gra'dh, she had said. Gra'dh began to talk, and Libby felt almost as if she was speaking specifically to her. She felt called to the tone of voice, even. She felt almost as if this other were some long lost kin. Next, she realized she really was being addressed by the other. She smiled, and tried to step forward. This made her cry out again, but she hobbled forward anyway, coming closer to Gra'dh. She finally was near enough to touch her, and she did. After a moment, she leaned against her and listened to her speaking. This let her fall into a very relaxed lull, relaxed from company and lulled from exhaustion and loss of blood. She knew they could all do with a good peaceful rest....

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[bee]

Capello watched, before his eyes, a new alliance begin to form. Gra'dh had accepted the invitation to join them for a little, hopefully for life, but that was entirely her choice. Capello could attempt to persuade her to stay, but whatever she chose was what she would do and the stag wouldn't try to stop her. He watched with gentle brown eyes as Gra'dh took to Libby quickly. He beamed slightly with happiness for the two's close bond, but didn't let it show.

Capello had learned, long ago, to be outright and upfront about your emotions clearly wasn't the most intelligent of choices. Equines were known to have the capacity of reading others quite well, and that proved as a disadvantage to Capello. He would like to have control over his own emotions, because if he didn't, then others could guess what he felt and interpret it the wrong way. It was just a way of preventing future accidents and misunderstandings from occuring.

The long, lean brute heard Libby answer him, and his heart softened for her once more. He was glad to hear that she was alright, but it looked like that hoof needed some attending to. When Gra'dh allowed him to take lead, he agreed quickly.

"But of course, Gra'dh. It's along this way." His lyrics were spoke clearly, with a certain knowledge that was just right for the situation.

The ivory-pelted unicorn angled his body away from the group, keeping at a slow pace so that Gra'dh and Libby were capable of seeing the bright hue of his coat in the still darkness. He was also slow because of Libby's leg. He knew it would take some effort, so he stayed close to them in case they needed aid. He began to start forward, towards the place he knew a small stream ran through. Beside it was a cushioned patch of grass suitable for resting and sleeping. The rua, surrounded by cracked and broken ashphalt and concrete, definately wasn't comfortable before Capello's time. But now that long, tall stalks of grass had grown, they were able to sleep comfortably without disturbances.

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