A world where horses evolved to communicate and build like man, is on the brink of war. Its leader's unreasonable after there only children turn up dead on the outskirts of the Ferelden border bar one. In a game of thrones and swords, who will come...
Word had gotten out that the prince of Gilrona and the princess of Tourmaline had gone missing only days ago. The kingdom-wide search had begun. A hefty reward had been placed on the heads of each missing royal member for 10,000 detri. Having that much gold would kept a family going for the rest of their lives let alone a single horse. Moonrunner, a lightly built chocolate brown stallion adorned with rose gold jewellery stood near the border to Ferelden, a forbidden country owned by no horse. In short, it belonged to whoever could survive long enough to live there. It was home to dragons, goblins, you name it- it's probably there, festering in some godforsaken bloodstained cave.
Moonrunner was accompanied by his friend, Tiriset. Moonrunner looked like he belonged in some royal court, not on the border of the most feared place on the continent, whilst Tiriset, was dressed rather... poorly. A ragged coat hung from his shoulder, torn at the edges by an unrelenting blade. A set of rusted silvery ear rings hung from the base of his left ear. Both stallions gazed across the border, their bodies tense as a fire raged off in the distance, clearly the work of a dragon. They looked to each other, the 10,000 detri hanging in their minds like a basket of dragons eggs, alluring yet hard to come by.
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Tiriset
A scream shook the forest behind them, snapping the two stallions back to reality.
Birds fluttered frantically to the sky, their calls like fingernails on a chalkboard. The trees behind them seemed to grow in size, the darkness between the aged oaks crawling forward like a wingless dragon, terrifying the closer you got. The forest, now deadly silent was as terrifying as the forbidden lands behind Moonrunner and Tiriset. Pulled in by some unseen force, the two stallions took unsure steps towards the oaks mixed with dark and foreboding pines, their hooves growing confidence like apples on trees- slow but the final result was worth the wait. A trail appeared through the trees ahead as they walked side by side towards where the scream originated, the scent of blood flooded the two stallions senses.
Unnerved Moonrunner looked to Tiriset with a knowing look. They knew that if the prince and princess were dead it would be on their heads. Grieving kings were not to be messed with. Any death was justice to them as long as it helped quench their thirst for vengeance. Shafts of light penetrated the green leaves above their heads, the sun was warm like water from the hot springs in Milerid. The trees were beautiful, the same rich greens that adorned the banners of Gilrona. The forest seemed alive, even without the usual critters running around like spies. The trip here had been rough, countless bandit camps littered the outskirts and activity in the area had only increased with the 10,000 detri reward plastered in everyone's mind and on their lips.
The king of Gilrona had had one son. His name was Hermes and he was the king's most treasured 'item' in the castle. King Hedrick had never showed much affection to his son Hermes which had only caused a distant relationship between the two. King Crestoc of Tourmaline had never been able to show his daughter Artemis, too much love. She was his life and only treasure. Compared to Hedrick, Crestoc was a kind and caring king. But for reasons unknown Hermes and Artemis, Crestoc's daughter, had grown incredibly close in the last few years as noticed by the royal courts. They attended every continent event together. It was said that the two would probably merge the kingdoms together through marriage. But of course, it was forbidden which is what the butt of most rumours are today. The gossip was always of how Hermes and Artemis had run away together because of a love child. This was proven to be false. Artemis wasn't pregnant. At least, not to the kingdoms or the king's knowledge.
Moonrunner and Tiriset stepped into a clearing of horrific circumstances. Blood stained the grass, a cart broken to pieces was smashed into a tree and a make shift fire had been put out and smeared across the ground. The bodies, well most of them, of Hermes and Artemis lay in the clearing. Both of their throats had been slashed, Artemis looked particularly torn to pieces. It was odd. She wasn't one to have been fighting. She was the princess after all. Hermes looked hardly touched, his eyes still open like he was killed swiftly and straight away.
"Look at the prince" Moonrunner murmured, disgust clear on his face. "Barely a scratch on him, eyes still open, he died first. Coward probably tried to run away. No slashed throat would have killed him that quickly though". "Hmm surely theres a spear wound or an arrow? Only thing I can think of is ma-..." Tiriset started to say, his gaze widening in panic.
Moonrunner looked around through the trees straight away, "It cant be! Its forbidden". The stallion retorted through gritted teeth, panic clear in his narrowing gaze. Tiriset had moved to look at Artemis, sadness in his eyes. Whatever had killed them had been looking for something. The way it had tore her apart was clear enough evidence.
Frowning Tiriset looked away before turning to Moonrunner, "Do you think she was actually pregnant?". "Doesn't matter, she definitely isn't now" He shuddered, sorrow clipping into his voice, "You know we are gonna be killed if we are found her-" A spark of hot red light shot through Tiriset's head with a loud crack, he crumpled to the ground only a few seconds later, his eyes glazing over with the signature of death plain in his gaze, his mouth still open from unfinished words. Moonrunner jumped in surprise and looked over at his friend in panic and shock. Frozen in place he stood and watched as a hooded figure emerged from the dark forest.
"You know, I was enjoying your little sleuthing until you worried about yourselves" The mysterious figure sighed, raising her head to let the hood slide from her head.
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???
She was beautiful, palomino by colour with the most vibrant green eyes. Wavy pearl locks adorned her perfectly shaped head and with the flutter of her eyes Moonrunner was truly frozen. A chill ran up his legs as ice sparkled, it cracked and splintered as it grew slowly up his ankles. The rose gold he had bought with his hard earned detri turned red hot, remoulding against his very skin causing searing pain to erupt from the area. He scream tore through him, deep and seething with pain. A small emerald formed in the front of his neckband which had now formed into a beautiful web like ornament. Darkness started to surge over his mind. He was losing his very self to this enchantress.
"Ill see you soon dear" The mare whispered slyly.
The world floated from underneath his hooves. Black engulfed everything. The only thing was the small emerald illuminated against the black abyss of his mind which was now his prison.
