A fresh, new day with her treasured Jasmine within sight. Her black pupils were in contrast with the red of her irises. Her dark grey skin made them shine even brighter as they stared at Jasmine, never moving away from her. Her trunk was busy collecting greenery and pushing it onto her mouth, easing the hunger in her stomach a little more with every bite. Her tail swatted occasionally, chasing away the biting bugs that seemed to emerge with the heat and humidity as it fluctuated within the cavern room. Gadanai pushed through the brush and appear beside Jasmine, her trunk touching the giraffe softly as she neared the front end of the tall beauty. After being sure she was noticed, she reformed space, finding a new spot to eat, still keeping her possessive gaze on her unsuspecting "companion." Her ears fanned slowly, encouraging air to breeze over her body in effort to regulate her body temperature. --------- "Speech" Thoughts OOC: my preeecccciiiiooooouuuusssss @Jasmine

When the young gem had woken up that morning, not in the cold Orion room but here, it glued a smile to her face. Jasmine was very excited that it wasn't some sick twisted dream to taunt her existence. The two of them had spent most of the morning grazing on the green, filling their bellies and few words traded back and forth. The morning was long, but peaceful and she enjoyed it. Been far to long since she felt so calm and carefree.

Neck was stretched high up as she nibbled some of the sweet leaves before lowering back down to the branches on the bushes. Oddly enough, being back here in the green room left her fear of the great heights hidden away inside. Could be that she felt safe with her new friend and forgotten the fear of falling. Tho, it was still deep in her, dormant for now.

Jasmine would glance over to Gada when she felt the touch of her trunk. Giving them a smile, a leaf sticking out from her lips before returning to graze. The air was quite for now, just the sound of branches being snapped and chewing filled the air around the pair. This care free environment seem to dull the memories of the other rooms for now; for now she was happy and not alone.

- - - - -
"Speech"
Thoughts

ooc: such sweet drama

@Troy

Troy had fallen into a dark place. With Hasira down and out, he'd had no one to train under. No guiding hand to teach him. He'd taken to trying to train himself and though the colt had become physically stronger for it, he found himself lacking in emotional strength. It was a heavy blow on his self-esteem, and since he felt too weak to protect her, he'd left Jasmine alone.

He'd left her alone for far too long.

The guilt tore at him day after day until finally, he'd made up his mind to return to Orion and find his long-legged beauty and bring her back to their birthplace in Eridanus so that they could once again be happy together. Eridanus might have predators lurking, but so far, they'd left him alone.

He doubted they'd get close enough to Jasmine to hurt her.

He'd protect her. He'd always protect her. Even at the cost of his own life, he'd keep her safe from harm.

Except, he'd already failed.

When next he saw his legged beauty, she walked into Eridanus in the company of a brutish beast, all gray skin and muscle. He'd been heading for Orion, but the colt stopped and hid amongst the greenery, taken off-guard by the sight of his beloved with another. A jealous rage built in his chest, but he swallowed it. Surely she'd not found some new protector in his place? Surely he was just over thinking it? This was his Jazzy. She still wore the trinkets he'd given her... He still wore that which she'd given him... They were still bonded... right?

Except, as he looked at her now, she was bare. No trinkets. Not a single one.

"Jasmine." He spoke with a questioning tone as he stepped out, toned frame not the gangling youth he'd once been. He wasn't fully grown yet, but his pelt had smoothed into its shiny adult sheen and he no longer tripped over too-big hooves when he walked. The scruff of fur down his back had evened out, too. He was a stunning stallion in the making, but he wore a distressed expression on his face. Had he been replaced?

@Gadanai @Jasmine

All was calm and simple, she didn't seem to have a care in the world. Back in Orion, the young thing had set the trinkets she was given aside, in the little stone shelter she called her home. To keep them safe, but also because they reminded her of him and she missed him so much. It pained Jasmine to see them in her reflection at the river. So, it never dawned on her that not wearing them could pain the zebra so; for when she looked up as her name was called, the pain was clear on his face.

A waterfall of emotions came over her, all at once and with no end. Is that really . . ? Head lifted away from the branch she was feasting on and the attention was all on him now. There was an ache in her chest, her feelings were so jumbled up and it felt Jasmine confused. Was she happy to see him, mad or even scared? It didn't make munch sense as she stood there, staring over to him. The giraffe had grown herself, legs stretched up and her knobby knees were so knobby anymore.

"Troy . . ." His name slipped from her lips, smooth and soft; as she tried to grasp what was happening. The tall female would have ran to him if she was still in Orion, running to greet the one who she held so dear . . . but now her knees were locked. "Where . . . where were you?" Had he been here this whole time, in a place she was told was to dangerous to enter? Why didn't he bring her back here? Jasmine had to wait til a new soul to do that for him. There was pain in her eyes, as she stood there between him and Gada.

- - - - -
"Speech"
Thoughts

ooc: oh the pain

@Gadanai @Troy

Gadanai watched as a stripped creature stepped from the thickets, saying her treasure's name with such a look on his face. She felt disgusted by him and his looks. Who the hell was he and who did he think he was, talking to her treasure? Then... she heard his name from Jasmine and her eyes widened a little. Oh no you don't, you weird pony. As soon as Jas asked where her friend had been all this time, a low growl erupted from the elephant. Her ears shot up and out. A loud roar exploded, followed by the crash of brush and heavy feet as she charged at the zebra. A low vibration was emitted. Whether it was with magicka or not, she did not know; she was too busy being infuriated by the arrival of this trespasser who was too much risk to have hanging around. The big beast skid to a stop short of Troy, wedging herself in the space available between the two of them, ears still wide, making her appearance seem bigger than she already was. A loud blow of air was snorted at him and her trunk swung back and forth, warning him of the possibility that she may use the muscled appendage to strike out at him. --------- "Speech" Thoughts OOC: words @Troy | @Jasmine

He took a step forward when Jasmine stopped. She said his name, asked him where he'd been... and he opened his mouth to answer, but a rumble of heavy footsteps cut him off. He backed away as the elephant charged forward, the rumbling setting his hooves unsteadily across the ground. He didn't look overly brave, backing away from the charge, but once the elephant had blown their peace, he stood straighter. The pain in his eyes quickly vanished, replaced with fury. How dare this beast stand between them? How dare they interrupt what should've been a honest reveal, a touching reunion.

"Hey, back the fuck off, cankles!" Troy snapped, slamming a hoof down against the ground in warning. "This isn't any of your business!" He bared his teeth and showed he wasn't afraid. He'd spent too long worrying about whether or not he could protect Jasmine. He'd been isolated from her for too long. This was finally his chance to be with her again, and this brute stranger was getting in the way of that.

Jealousy became possessive rage, but in a last ditch attempt at avoiding conflict, he stepped aside, making to walk around the brute and towards Jasmine. As he walked, he spoke.

"I've been training." He explained hurriedly. "Training to be strong for you, to protect you. I was coming back, to bring you here, to take you home and get us both away from that barren cave." But his voice sounded accusing. "Who the hell is this freak?" He turned his head back towards the elephant in the room.

@Gadanai @Jasmine

The ache grew greater as she watched him, he was just right there and it felt weird to be so close. How long had it been since they saw one another? Far to long. As she waited for him to explain himself, the great thundering ran past her and charged the zebra. Oh no! Mouth feel open as she witnessed her new friend rush before her and keep the distance between the giraffe and zebra wide.

Her long legs carried her to the side of Gada and touched their grey shoulder with a brush of her fur. "It's alright Gadanai, this is just . . . Troy." But her words were covered up by the voice of the colt as he began to yell at the elephant. Jasmine's ears pinned back at the sharp words that were tossed to her new friend. "Don . . don't be so mean!" Sending a look of disappointment to Troy. After all, Gada was her friend now and his words were nothing that should even be said. Keeping her green gaze on him as he began to explain himself. So he was coming back?

Jasmine was still standing by the elephants side, "This is Gadanai, she brought me here . . . she is a friend." Glancing back to Gada and back to Troy. "You just surprised her . . ." Wishing the tension in the hair would go away.

- - - - -
"Speech"
Thoughts

ooc: thems fighting words

@Troy @Gadanai

It was a pleasure to see him step out of her way, to see him hesitate. Of course, such feelings were quickly cut away as he slung his nasty words at her. Cankles? Not my business!? Another deep rumble, but it was quiet enough for their words to exchange relatively undisturbed, although it did clearly express her displeasure. She held herself back because... becau..se... She looked at Jasmine, realizing the affect of her touch. It disturbed her on the inside, but she sucked it up, for she saw an advantage in her ability to be calm enough to use her words before her fight. It caused an increase of discomfort to see such looks on her treasure's face, however. Her rage bubbled up, blood boiling and eyes glued to the smaller mammal. "Don't make me laugh," she growled. "You went to train to "protect her," but if you really wanted to protect her, you'd of never left her." She raised her trunk and aimed a blow of snot at him, not caring if it hit or not; the action and it's meaning was enough. "I'm here to protect her now. I'm here to show her who really cares. You failed weird pony." --------- "Speech" Thoughts OOC: omg so hard to type with all the Gadanai energy @Troy | @Jasmine

Gadanai. So the cankle beast had a name. He made a mental note not to call her by it. She didn't deserve it. The way she rumbled at him over his friend, it was sick. He hated her immediately, even despite Jasmine's gross display of affection towards her. He stepped back again, looking utterly betrayed, then furious as the elephant addressed him mockingly.

"How dare you!?" He snapped back, ears pinning to his skull and head tossing back. "You don't even know us! You don't know shit!" He stamped against the ground again, turning to face the elephant head-on. "Jazz was safe in Orion! Hasira wouldn't let her get hurt! I only left for a few days! I didn't even go that far away!" But the boy was hurting. He was hurting bad, now. His blood, in contrast to the elephant's, had run cold.

"But you know what?" He turned his eyes on Jasmine, and for a moment, there was a pleading, pained expression there. It passed quickly. It became bitter. "Why don't we let Jasmine decide? She's not some trinket to claim." Though his eyes lingered on her horns, where there should have been gleaming jewels. It hurt to see them bare. It hurt to see her pressed beside Gadanai. It hurt so much...

...and that pain showed across his skin like ripples of black. It played against his stripes in rappid, erratic movements, flickering his white fur between ivory and ebony and that blue stone on his face lit up with the use of magic, but he didn't even seem to notice how it burned across his skin unnaturally. He kept his gaze on Jasmine, and as his flanks quivered under the pressure, and the magical display of shadows faded away, he begged her, silently, furiously, to take him back and leave this beast behind for good.

@Jasmine @Gadanai

The hurtful words that were exchanged between the zebra and elephant stung Jasmine deep. She didn't want fighting, she didn't want Troy to feel hurt or for Gada to fear she would break her promise of staying; she just wanted everything to be better. But how could it? This was worse then a rock and a hard place, and she was smashing in the middle. " . . .Please." Ears pinned back as she looked at Troy. "It felt like more then a few days . . " The ache in my voice, "I just wanted to see the green again."

But was Gada right? Could he had taken her earlier and not leave her behind? No no, if Troy would have know that he would have done that. Right? Yet, the statement made from Troy froze the giraffe. He wants me to pick between my friends? That was so much to ask for and it twisted her tongue as she frantically looked between the two of them. At the mention of trinket, she realized what he might be thinking, seeing her not wearing those he gave her. Why did she take them off, it just made her feel worse.

The words were stuck in her throat, not even sure what to say. If she went back with Troy, she would be with the one she held dear but she promised Gada that she would stay; and to break a promise was a horrible thing. "Please don't . . make me choose. You're both my friends . . ." Her eyes began to sparkle with on coming tears, this was just so hard to think about. Troy must hate her now for leaving.

- - - - -
"Speech"
Thoughts

ooc:Chosing is so haaarddd

@Gadanai @Troy