An Apology to the Air

[Swifthoof]

Katori, you are my future. Without you, I would have none

The bay couldn't help but smile at Shetan's words as she pulled up another mouthful of grass from the ground which was slowly starting to turn to mush. Lifting her head to the sky, she sniffed the air, her instincts telling her that spring was coming soon. That and she could feel the air getting slightly warmer not to mention that the days were getting longer. She always did like spring, but she preffered autumn. It was much more prettier.

Her thoughts were soon interrupted from a fierce neigh. She looked over at Shetan to see him leaping away from her before he reared, his hooves slashing at the air. Green orbs widened as she felt one of them strike inches from a vital spot on her head. Snorting, she stepped back, watching Shetan with careful eyes.

Her ears pricked at his words as he told her to run, but she stayed where she was. The logical side of her mind told her to get going, but she pushed the thought away and planted her hooves into the snow, determined not to move. She knew it was a huge risk and that he might injure her or worse, but she didn't care. She would stay with him no matter what.

As he threw himself to the ground, she could see the veins on his flame colored pelt and she let out a nicker of comfort. She knew that it wouldn't really help, but it was all she had now. Ignoring her common sense, she cautiously came up beside him and rested her head on his neck.

Easy, Shetan. I'm here she said, her voice soothing as she nuzzled him in hopes of calming him down. Then again, she knew that he could possibly turn on her, but she knew that it was worth a try.

[[R].ebel]

'Kill her, you weak fool!'

'I will not! I am not a killer like you!'

'You are mine, Shetan! You come from my blood! You will do as I say, or I will make you do it!'

'No! I will not!'

The battle raged within Shetan as he stood rigid like a statue, legs trembling with a sense of rage. He was fighting with all his might to stay standing away from Katori, but the fiery furnace that seemed to burn in his eyes showed such coolness and darkness, as if the soul of evil had taken over. Ears pricked to a comforting nicker, Shetan fully knowing who it was and how much it strengthened him. A familiar smile twitched at his lips, but by the look in his eye, the battle still raged.

Suddenly, he felt a familiar touch on his neck. His first instinct was to shy away from it, but then his body relaxed, knowing who it was. Shetan felt the fire inside him die down, for just a moment, and then it returned with a vengence. Only a moment after she touched him, a terribly fierce neigh escaped his maw and fiery red stallion whipped around to face the bay mare, eyes burning with a corrupt hatred, but that was not Shetan. Within easy striking distance, Shetan half reared, but he forced his head down, keeping at least one hoof on the ground, while the other tried to strike out. Shetan was fighting. He would not allow himself to hurt her. He could see her through the fire-clouded eyes, she the only light at the end of his tunnel. Body shook as Shetan stood, fighting every urge his father threw at him to kill her.

'I love her, father. I will not harm her and you will not make me. For her, I would give my life.'

'Foolish boy. How is it that you are my son? Such a coward and a weakling!'

"...weakling..."

His own fathers' voice escaped the clenched jaws of the stallion as eyes burned with anger, only this was Shetan's anger, not the fiery spirit of his father. Shetan snorted, hot air exiting his nostrils, as he looked at Katori, forcing his voice forward.

"This... this is what... I have feared... I-I don't... want you... to g-get... hurt... I... won't let him.... hurt you..."

[Swifthoof]

The mare stayed by Shetan's side trying her best to calm him down, whatever it took. She could tell that he was fighting hard too even if he was as immobile as a tree. She could see his legs tremble, see the darkness in his eyes that held the spirit of his father. If she was anyone else, she probably would have left then and there, but she wasn't and she was determined to stay by his side no matter what it took. She always was a stubborn one.

A heartbeat after she had touched him, she felt him turn on her and she leaped away, watching him cautiously. Warning bells rang off in her head, but she continued watching him, not caring about her own life. Her only concern was him and him only. Emerald eyes met his fiery ones in defiance, hoping that the spirit of his father could see that she wasn't moving an inch. As he struck out with a hoof, she backed away, her raven colored tail twitching.

Katori let out another nicker in comfort, her eyes never leaving him. Taking a step forward, she snorted softly, but was still ready to dodge in case he attacked.

This... this is what... I have feared... I-I don't... want you... to g-get... hurt... I... won't let him.... hurt you.

Black tipped ears pricked at his words and a small smile couldn't help but cross her face as she nodded in encouragement. I know you won't, Shetan. You can fight him! I know you can! she said, taking another step forward and obliterating any thoughts of her own safety out of her mind.

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[[R].ebel]

I know you won't, Shetan. You can fight him! I know you can!

A snort escaped the fiery stallion at her words; but it was a snort of determination. Shetan forced his hoof to the ground that had tried to strike Katori, his legs still shaking to keep them glued to the snowy ground. Closing his burning eyes, Shetan tucked his head, his lathering body starting to glisten with the dripping sweat. His body shook as his tense muscles showed against his hide, showing how much it took to keep him still. Inside, he fought, but not with anger, with a calmness and coolness, thinking fondly of Katori, who stood right there with him.

'I will not lose... I will not lose Katori by my hoof, or the hooves of any other, or the claws or teeth. I will have to die before she does. And that goes for you to, father. I love her. My love is stronger than your hate. Leave me, now.'

Shetan's body slowly released its tension, his muscles loosening as the heat within his body resided. His head started to drop as the weakness of having his body so tense and fighting for so long settled in. Opening his eyes, they returned to the soft gaze they used to be, Katori being his first view. For now, it was over. At this thought, Shetan's legs gave way beneath him and he collapsed on the snow, his chest heaving for a fresh breath, a distant look in his eye. The cold snow against his hot body caused steam to rise up around him, as he closed his eyes to rest, his father's spirit leaving a final shuttering thought in the stallion's head.

'This is not over... I will return...'

His own eyes too tired to open, Shetan knew Katori was still there. He knew she wouldn't leave him, even though he had asked her before. She was still here with him, and she was his strength, his power against his father. He felt horrible that he was so weak; it felt as if he would look so weak to her. If something happened now, how could he protect her? In the darkness of his mind, he called for her, hoping to hear her soothing voice.

"Ka...tori..."

[Swifthoof]

Another nicker escaped Katori as she could see Shetan fighting with every ounce of his being. His body gleamed in sweat with effort as he continued to fight the battle within him. For an instant, she wanted to run up to him and hold him, but she knew it would be too dangerous. All she could do now was watch and hope.

Jade eyes watched his every move as his muscles began to loosen and she let out another encouraging nicker. Seeing his gaze soften and return to normal, she sighed and felt her body relax with relief. He had won, just as she knew he would. The soft sssss of the snow steaming up brought her back to reality as Shetan had collapsed to the ground, seeming to be exhausted. She couldn't blame him.

Ka...tori..

At his voice, she quickly trotted over to him, skidding to a stop beside him. Concern filled her eyes as she lowered her head and touched her nose in the spot between his ears to let him know that she was there and wouldn't leave him. Letting out a soft snort, she lowered her body beside him and laid her head on his neck.

Shhhh...rest now. I won't leave she whispered, nuzzling his neck, unaware of another form watching her.

[/size]

[[R].ebel]

At her touch, Shetan let out a relieved sigh. She was still here and for that he was grateful. Eyes partly opened to try to seek her out, but he could not see her. Instead, he felt her lay beside him, the mares' head upon his heated neck. Ears pricked to her voice, it bringing such comfort.

Shhhh...rest now. I won't leave

The stallion allowed his eyes to close so that he may rest, the comfort of her words easing his tension. He knew he needed rest; it would only make him stronger. But as he started to slip into a dark sleep, Shetan felt that they were not alone. Shetan's eyes snapped open and he forced his head up to look around, eyes wide and threatening to call back that flame that burned in his heart, desiring to take control. His first concern was Katori, but Shetan did not know if he could stand. Even more so, he didn't know what was out there, or if there was even something out there. Shetan's voice still exhausted, he spoke through a heaving breath.

"Katori... Are- are we a-alone?"

[Swifthoof]

Dark eyes watched the pair as the scene unfolded in front of him. The flame colored stallion looked like something was taking him over..as if he was possessed and the bay mare didn't even have the common sense to run away. She always was the stubborn one thought the stallion, his dark coat blending into the shadows despite his sand colored mane and tail. He was a unique looking horse with a brown coat so dark it was almost black. But that wasn't what made him unique, it was his mane and tail that were the color of the sun with some black streaks in it.

A soft snort escaped his nostrils as he noticed the stallion seeming to take control and collapse to the ground, the snow steaming up from the heat of his body. He's no horse that one.. he thought as the bay still stayed beside the other, refusing to leave.

Katori... Are- are we a-alone?

Katori's ears pricked as Shetan's words and she raised her head and looked around, her nostrils flared to take in the scents around her. The wind shifted, bringing it the scent of another horse. Jade orbs narrowed as her ears bended back to her skull, her teeth baring.

Who's ever there, show yourself! she ordered, looking in the direction of the scent. There was movement and a large form stepped out, his dark coat and dirty blond mane standing out against the white land.

A real shame, Katori....You can't even recognize your own father..

At the stallion's words, Katori stiffened as her eyes widened in schock and she felt as if the breath had seeped out of her lungs. F-father..? she said, her voice shaking.

[/size]

[[R].ebel]

Nostrils flared as the wind shifted, catching the scent of the strange stallion before he showed himself. Ears pinned in a threatening way, showing Shetan was clearly ready to fight, even if it meant his death. The soft-burning flame that always seemed to flicker in his eyes intensified as a strange stallion made his appearance, only after Katori had called him out. He made little use of what the stallion said, his mind too focused on what the stallion was doing here, but Katori's voice easily flowed through his mind.

F-father..?

Shetan looked to her in surprise and then back at the stallion. He didn't know if this was a good thing or a bad thing, but for now, he would treat it with caution. Though still extremely exhausted, Shetan snorted and forced himself to standing quickly, nearly loosing his balance but catching himself and standing with a rigid, untrusting posture to this stallion whom Katori had called father. His legs nearly gave way again, but Shetan forced himself to stand, though it was hard. The red stallion looked to Katori with question, but also suspicion. Not at her, but at her father.

"This... is your... father?"

[Swifthoof]

Katori could only stand there in schock as she assessed the situation, not even noticing that Shetan had stood on shaky legs. Heck, she felt as though shaking herself and she didn't know whether to run to her father or attack him. Brief images of her foalhood flashed through her mind and she recognized the mane and tail immediately. It was one of the things she used to seperate her dad from the rest of the herd, so he was easy to find unlike her mother who had been a bay like her.

This... is your... father?

Auds pricked to Shetan's words and she nodded. I..thought he was....dead.. she murmured, more so talking to herself than to the other two.

Lucian had stayed silent as Katori had ingested his words, his tail flicking back and forth in the chilly wind. His eyes then flicked to Shetan and back to Katori, wondering why she was even with this...demon. It was all he could say for the horse that he saw nearly attack her. Dark brown orbs went back to his daughter.

I'm very much alive, Katori. You were too young to remember, but after the wolves had attacked our herd, I had managed to escape. I tried to find you but I was captured by the humans and was a fort horse for a while until I broke out about a year ago. For a while, I was a loner until I came across this land a few days ago and well, here I am he said, a small snort escaping his nostrils.

The bay listened quietly as Lucian spoke, still a little stunned to have found him..or more so for him to have found her. It was a bit much to take in to say the least. A small sigh escaped her as she looked at Lucian, not knowing what to say.

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[[R].ebel]

Shetan's eyes narrowed at this stallion, feeling threatened by him being here. He didn't know why but he knew he didn't like it. Shetan didn't want to act outwardly towards Katori's father though, especially if she had a good relationship towards him, but from the looks of things, Katori wasn't sure. He could feel that she seemed to be in shock at the discovery, and he would certainly feel the same way if something like this had happened to him. The red stallion stepped a bit uneasily in front of Katori, seperating this new stallion from her, whether they were father and daughter or not. With a snort, he spoke to the stallion, his voice still a bit weak but showing a slight distrust.

"So... who are you?"

It was more of a statement than a question; Shetan wanted an answer as he wanted to know more than just that this was Katori's father. With his own father's soul within him, Shetan had little good experience with fathers, so it was only natural for him to put hostility towards this stranger.

[Swifthoof]

Lucian watched as the stallion stepped a bit in front of his daughter as if he was protecting her from him. A small smirk couldn't help but cross the stallion's face as he watched Shetan, his eye just as cautious. He could tell that he was suspicious of him and that he didn't quite trust him yet. Not that he cared, the feeling was quite mutual with him as well.

So... who are you?

His dark ears pricked at Shetan's words and he looked over at him, his eyes cold. My name is Lucian, boy. Now if you don't mind, kindly get away from my daughter before I tear your head off he said, his voice hard as he took a step forward, his ears pinning back to his head. He made to shove him away, but was stopped by Katori who was glaring at him, her green eyes flaming in anger.

You have absolutely no right to try and interfere with my life. You can't just suddenly pop back in and tell me what to do. she snarled, baring her teeth at him.

Lucian met her eyes with his own angered one, paying her no mind. You'll do as I say, Katori. I'm your father and that's final he said, his voice low as he flicked his eyes toward Shetan. You..stay away from her he growled, seperating him from his daughter.

[/size]

[[R].ebel]

My name is Lucian, boy. Now if you don't mind, kindly get away from my daughter before I tear your head off

The fiery red stallion's ear pinned at Lucian's words, eyes flaming. He lost all thought of what had happened earlier with his own father and even lost the feeling of exhaustion, forgetting it completly. Now, he knew he didn't like, or trust this stallion named Lucian, whether he was Katori's father or not. But before Shetan could act, as he really wanted to, Katori stepped in, cooling Shetan for a moment.

You'll do as I say, Katori. I'm your father and that's final

If his ears could have gone back any further, they surely would have. Seeing Lucian try to push Katori around flamed soul, actually calling for his father's spirit to ignite his heart and kill this stallion. Only the sane part of himself made him stay, as this still was Katori's father, but when the stallion spoke again, that was it.

You..stay away from her

Nobody stood between him and Katori; Nobody. The moment Lucian put himself between Katori and Shetan was the moment hell broke loose through Shetan. The torrent of fire was released as Shetan let go of all that was himself and allowed the burning fire of hatred and death to consume his eyes once more, whether he was weakened or not. With a fierce neigh, Shetan's reared, hooves striking for Lucian anywhere they could get. The flaming spirit of his father gladly pushed forward for Shetan's mind and heart.

"Nobody stands between me and Katori! Nobody!"

[Swifthoof]

Before Katori could do anything to try and calm Shetan down, all hell broke loose. Lucian snorted in anger at Shetan's words and before he dodged Shetan's flailing hooves, he pushed Katori out of the way, making sure she was in the safety of the trees and not between the two horses.

Turning back to Shetan, he pinned his ears to his head as his teeth were bared in rage before he started circling the stallion, looking for the right opportunity to strike. He soon came up behind Shetan and quickly reared, aiming his hooves for the other's back.

Katori wasn't really one to sit back and watch it unfold, so she ran out from the trees and tackled Lucian to the ground. A tiny bit of regret seeped in her, but she pushed it aside. It wasn't fair for Lucian to just come back and expect her to be an obediant little foal like she was all those years ago. Times had changed and so had she.

Lucian snorted in surprise as his daughter tackled him to the ground and he tried to push her off, but she had him pinned good. She's gotten strong he thought.

I'm only trying to protect you, Katori. He tried to attack you, I saw it he said, baring his teeth at Shetan.

Katori started to respond when Lucian suddenly pushed her off and got up before charging at Shetan, his teeth aiming for one of his legs. He was a little older than them, but only made him the more stronger and experience.

[/size]

[[R].ebel]

Shetan dropped to the ground, eyes searching for the stallion, his hooves having missed thier target. Hollow eyes searched for thier target again, body stiff and rigid for battle. Eyes that seemed to burn from within watched the stallion as he began to circle Shetan. The red stallion stood still, only watching the stallion with burning eyes of hatred, expecting the next move; and he was correct. The stallion bolted for Shetan's back, but Shetan quickly leaped out of the way, just in time to save his back from damage. Quickly, he spun around to face the attacker, ready for another attack, but his eyes beheld something different. Katori had pinned her own father to the ground.

At the site of Katori, the fire in Shetan cooled enough to allow his own mind to think. Fighting was senseless. First of all, Shetan was really in no condition to fight. He was already weak, and though he was fighting blindly with his father's aid, that would only last for so long, then Shetan would be in a serious bind. While Katori had her father pinned, the red stallion quickly worked to subdue his father's restless spirit. It did not take long for him to cool the fires within him, as even his father's restless spirit grew weary at times. Again, Shetan's body fell weak, the tension of his muscles having sapped the energy out of him, but he held his ground against his legs will.

Again, Lucian came for Shetan, teeth bared and aimed for Shetan's hock. Quickly, the red stallion mustered all that he had left and bolted to the side, evading the attack and running straight for Katori, nearly toppling on her as he tried to stop, his muscles still not having recooperated and screaming for rest. Shetan gritted his teeth against the pain of exhaustion and looked to Lucain with determination and defiance, that ever burning flame within his eyes showing quite clearly. With a forced, exhausted, but threatening voice, Shetan spoke quite clearly to Lucian.

"Fighting is pointless, old fool... I love Katori... and I would never do anything to hurt her... I would never let anyone hurt her... I would die for her... If anyone... will protect her... it will be me... Despite what you may think... I will not lay a hoof on her... And Katori is old enough to make her own decisions... "

Shetan snorted, his chest heaving as sweat glistened off his body, but that burning gaze in his eye never left. Though weakened, Shetan was still willing to fight if Lucian kept coming. He would fight to the death if he had to. Nobody was going to keep him from Katori. He already had the trouble of his father's soul who was trying to get between him and Katori, he wasn't about to have to fight another one.

"Leave us be..."

[Swifthoof]

Lucian snorted in frustration as Shetan managed to avoid his attack, almost running into Katori. The dark stallion whirled around and made to attack Shetan again, but his ears soon pricked to his words.

Fighting is pointless, old fool... I love Katori... and I would never do anything to hurt her... I would never let anyone hurt her... I would die for her... If anyone... will protect her... it will be me... Despite what you may think... I will not lay a hoof on her... And Katori is old enough to make her own decisions...

Katori watched to two stallions, but mostly her father. She knew that Shetan had managed to take control of himself while she had Lucian pinned down, but she worried if he would lose control again. He's stronger than that she thought, looking over at the fire pelted stallion who looked like he was about to collapse on the spot. Stepping toward him, she supported him with her shoulder and then looked over at Lucian who was watching them with his eyes narrowed.

Leave us be...

A snort escaped Lucian at Shetan's words as his gaze flicked over to Katori. She only nodded, her eyes cold. I'll leave for now. But I'll be seeing you around, Katori. We have some catching up to do he said before turning around and galloping off into the trees.

Katori only watched him before she lowered her head, looking at the snow. What a happy family.. she muttered sarcastically, shaking her head.