I am alone [open]

[Nadia]

The woman walked quietly along the treeline before veering off toward the beach. She didn't know if anyone was here or if anyone was still alive for that matter. She hadn't seen Cato since before she could remember. Fall was lasting longer than she had expected but maybe that was just how things were. The only thing she could hear was the sound of her hooves against the ground. "I don't know why I even stay here..." she murmured to herself. So far Nadia had cleaned out the roof of the little hut Cato had built - well what she could reach. The squirrels that had made home were either eaten or escaped. The girl was surprised she even knew how to field dress the little mammal.

Fire wood had been gathered and a large pile now stood out against the base of the mountain where camp was. Her hair was longer now and her bangs were braided and loosely braided to the hair in the back. Not that it mattered; there was no one here to be pretty for, even if she wasn't feeling that pretty. She was covered in mud and dried sweat; probably stunk as well too. Nadia didn't really care at the moment though; it meant she had at least done something for a change. The girl's stride was a bit different though; she was recovering from an abscess in her hoof. Something painful and she had used what little farrier tools she had to get it to drain. She still limped at times; not to mention she was still wearing a make shift boot right now to keep the sand and dirt. She'd soak it later.

What was what she got for not taking care of her hooves. Letting them get caked in mud and not to mention that sharp rock. She had gotten a lot done those days though. At least it was on her front right hoof and not the back. Some reason the front - for her - was a little easier to get to than the back. Sighing she hung her head a bit before looking out to the ocean. It was a little before noon and the sun was out and it was bright. A strangely warm day which she was enjoying; by doing nothing.

[Sam]

He wasn't sure why but this woman interested him. was it that she was attractive? Perhaps. Was it because her so called man was a rather large man and could probably throw him if he wanted to? Perhaps not, but while the rather large beast was away he was going to try his luck. So far he had been tracking and following the girl and she seemed to not notice. Sam had been a bit too close at times and she seemed to not notice; either that or she wasn't paying attention.

Sighing he leaned against a tree as she watched the waves thrash about. He had to go about this carefully; so far the girl had been scared and rejected what little advancements he made. But without that - well he couldn't remember the giant's name he was going to try a different approach. Leaning against the tree he sighed and just watched her for a bit. There was always a chance that he wasn't really gone and would come charging out of a bush or thicket toward him. Being out in the open made him vulnerable.

Pushing off the tree, he took a closer look at her; she looked a little worn to be honest and could use a bath. She seemed to smell and with the winds he could smell it even from here. His nose wrinkled but he assumed she had been working hard and he didn't spend all his time watching her. He had to eat and sleep. Taking a few steps out he looked around and did not see the rather large beast so he took his time to flank around her so he could be in her line of sight. This also allowed him to see if anything else was coming toward him from the north he assumed. "Beautiful day isn't it?" he said a bit roughly. He was perhaps fifteen feet away. He didn't want to scare her but it was also a short distance that he could try stopping her from running.

[Nadia]

She wasn't sure what to do now since Cato seemed gone. Was she really suppose to just stay here waiting for him? The girl startled as she heard an unfamiliar yet familiar voice, making her turn toward him. "Oh, uhm, yes it is..." she replied. She hadn't forgotten the few times they had encountered each other. Boot or no boot she'd try running and she could run it was just awkward for her.

The girl wasn't sure what he was doing here; if Cato didn't patrol anymore - if he was here then this was quite obvious he wasn't around. She wasn't sure what happened to her lover but it seemed he was gone. Sighing she kept an eye on the male in front of her. She was sure that her speed would be outmatched this time if she ran. Nadia wasn't about to be friendly with him and so just stood there watching him. Why was he always around? Following her? Saying hi to her? This wasn't his territory! Or was it?

Pawing at the sand she looked around for a moment to see if Cato was coming up; though she somehow doubted it. She would have seen him by now if he was around. If only he was around then she wouldn't have to worry about this man coming up and trying to court her or whatever he was trying to do...

[Sam]

He could sense that she might be nervous and perhaps for a good reason. They didn't know each other very well and the last he had made her an offer which she refused. He knew he was treading on very thin ice right now. If that beast of a man came here he was surely going to be running for his life. His only hope was that he could out run or pace the large male. It was good he had cut his tail a bit too; it didn't even hang down pass his hock; it was a bit of work to get it that short by himself but he didn't need it being tangled up in brush - or being grabbed.

Either way he felt awkward talking to her. "How are you?" his skin twitched in random places as nerves were getting the best of him and the flies. His tail flicked as well, his eyes looking around before going back to her. Licking his lips he really wanted to just whisk her away out of this land and get her to be part of his group. Not that he had a large one - in fact it was just him. He did hope to bring a few women in though. He was a good provider - or so he thought. He could hunt, fish and build things; much better than it seemed this male of hers could do. Sure he had built that hut but where was he? He hadn't seen any track or sign of the brute.

[Nadia]

She took a half step back as she thought of all the outcomes that were possible. If she stayed here alone surely there would be someone else that would come; be much bigger, rougher - might even force her. Still something told her that she shouldn't be thinking about these things as Cato could still be around but it was becoming more and more unlikely. Sighing she looked back at the male as he asked her a question. "I'm good." she said bluntly and without asking him in return.

Nadia didn't feel like being sociable right now. Sighing she licked her lips before taking a full step back. "What are you doing here anyway?" she glared at him. They were about the same height but he was surely stronger but that didn't mean she couldn't try intimidating him out or away from her. A light snort passed her nostrils as she flicked her tail a bit. She wasn't sure how to do posturing and what not but she wasn't going to take this anymore. It was obvious that she didn't want to be with him even if Citadel was out of the picture. She'd just stay here a lonely and bitter woman hoping he would come back.

Such a life she seemed to be living right now. Sure there was that Sef guy but she didn't exactly feel comfortable around him that much. He had a lot of magic he could use and the fact that he was the first of their kind on the island; somewhat made him related to her? She wasn't sure but after a few generations it was surely blended out and she had no idea where he was or how he felt about her. "Why don't you just leave?" she stomped a hind foot and continued to glare at him. Maybe he'd be stupid enough and leave? This wasn't fair. He always seemed to pop up when she least expected it.

[Sam]

He nodded as she answered his question but did not even bother asking how he felt. His only guess was that she was nervous and didn't feel like talking to him; which was fine. Slowly he was letting his guard down and eventually didn't look around so much anymore. The beast wouldn't waste time to attack; he would have done it already. Sighing he pawed at the sand bored as he watched her though he was surprised by her question. "I am just wandering around. Seeing what is left.." he said bluntly. Truth was he was hoping to take her back to his little shack or at least impregnate her. Both of those options would take time but to get the girl to carry his child would be easy. All he had to do was get on her, the rest would come easily.

"Why don't you make me?" he glared at the girl, snorting slightly. His body grew a bit stiff and he wasn't going to be so friendly now. That was just plain rude. She didn't own this land and if anyone owned it was that beast or him. Since he didn't hold any interest in it the beast did. He wasn't about to threaten her though; no that would not end well in his favor. He needed to be clever about this situation. Surely she knew his intentions or had an idea of them; since he had offered her to come with him when they first had met.

[Nadia]

She could tell that he wasn't pleased with her last question, his tone making her take a few steps back. Nadia couldn't fight him; she wasn't exactly all that strong and would only get hurt. The girl didn't like this and only wished there was a way of knowing if Citadel was here and how to call him. She couldn't just scream and run away. "You don't live here so you shouldn't be here." she said bluntly. She wasn't sure what else to say.

Nadia couldn't just start wailing on him. Sighing she took a few more steps back, she could just go back to the hut and bluff that Cato was resting in the shelter. No, that wouldn't do he might just chase after her. "If you don't mind I have chores to finish.." she nodded and backed up rather quickly before cantering off toward camp. She only hoped he wouldn't follow. The last thing she needed was to be bred against her will. Stopping near the fire she placed a few pieces of wood on top of the smoldering ashes. There was a pot hanging over it and she had made a sort of soup from various herbs, vegetation and a few rabbits she had surprised. It might not be much but it filled her stomach well. Nadia didn't like how she couldn't get big game; she needed a spear or to be overly strong. Without a male around she was only able to catch small animals and forage.

[Sam]

His eyes narrowed and he kept taking steps closer to her. Each step she took back he took one forward. This fiery little woman was not going to get away from him. "I can live here. You seem to be the only one here." he almost snarled. She was being rude and impolite. A woman should greet a man and try to accommodate him. Sure she did not have to stand there and be bred but this woman was so rude.

If they both had been full horses their body language would have been very different. His ears would have been back and he might have bitten her already. More steps she took backwards and so he took steps forward. An excuse and then she was off. Again eyes narrowed as she basically led him back home. That was dangerous but then he knew where she had roughly stayed.

Snorting he picked up a trot and followed her slowly. He did not want to go in barreling in case the beast was there. There was a clip clop as he slowed and walked onto the rock. "You're not going to get away from me that easy woman." he grumbled and walked closer to her. She was facing him though and a fire pit was in between them. He needed to get around that and try to gain her trust. Some how. He was not sure. He was cute or so he thought. Sam just hoped that he could get away with this. At least for a few matings to happen.

Sighing heavily he relaxed a bit. "Look. We got off on the wrong...foot. So to speak. Why not start over?" he looked at her and smiled softly.

[Nadia]

She startled hearing the sound of rock and hoof thinking it was Cato but frowned seeing it was that male. Really? Why was he following her? She wasn't in heat that she knew of? She had so many things on her mind either way that she didn't know or remember if she was fertile right now. "You can not live here and I'm not the only one." she put more wood or what she could find onto the fire. She wished that her fire had been this huge thing that lit up most of the camp.

Of course he had said that statement just before she left but she was not going to let him get away with that. His mumbling was not heard and she kept her eyes on him. She could not believe that this was happening. She did not want this to happen and she began breathing heavily as she watched him come closer to the fire. She didn't know how to get him to leave. Either way she would not relax until he decided to leave. "No. I don't want you here. Cato does not want you here." she said firmly. Nadia had to keep telling herself that he would come back. Cato would come back.

He would. Cato would, he had to. Sure there had been trouble with their bond or relationship in the beginning but she missed him. Nadia had to be honest though, that she did not know how to act around him much anymore. It seemed to be months since they last saw each other anyway. "Just leave." she had to stick to her guns. Wanting him to leave and expressing that want.

[Sam]

Narrowing his eyes he had about just enough of this chick and he hated using the human word chick. Females were not chicks. Whatever! It didn't matter. He'd take the kicks and possible bites she was going to give him. Usually he was so peaceful but something about this woman and her inability to know when she was alone and when to give up irked him. It was her loyalty that was pissing him off. Sure he would not worry about her if he had gotten to her first but there was a lot of men out there and so few women.

It seemed she was the last one. "I don't care what you or your dead lover want." he was bluffing about the dead part. He had no idea if the man was passed or not. His arms crossed over his chest as he stood there, watching her.

She was pretty and would give her a strong but stubborn son. Sam dare not think about it if he had a daughter from this girl. "No." he said firmly glaring at her. He could overpower her. He would. Nimble legs slowly picked up as he began walking around the fire toward her. He could now see that he was going to have to use brute force with this one. Usually the few women he had found were not happy and gladly took his offers. This one seemed to be stubborn no matter what. He assumed that she had just been beaten too much to realize a good deal when one came up. Sam did not usually beat women but he wasn't afraid to slap one now and then but only when they really deserved it and Nadia was slowly getting to that point.

"You might as well just give in Nadia. He's not coming back and I'll get what I wanted a few months ago." whether they began circling around the fire was none of his concern, he'd eventually catch and mount her.

[Nadia]

She tried to keep her mind busy with the thoughts that he was going to come back. That he was not dead. "He's not dead." she grumbled keeping her eyes on him and his body. Really if he wanted to be crazy he could try jumping or lunging for her over the fire. He began moving and so did she but in the opposite direction. He was going to try something she was sure of it. His body language said everything and she practically feared for her health and safety. Come on Cato.. she thought trying to seem relaxed but she was terrified right now.

He could not get behind her and even if he did she would fight to the very end. "I will not. He is coming back and he'll kill you." she was hoping or praying to the gods that this was true. Cato just had to come. He had to. Didn't he love her? At least had feelings for her? Hooves kept her moving around the fire. She had to stay away from him, try to at least. Really there was no point in fighting and she should give in but there was still hope that her love would come to rescue her.

This man would not be so bold and daring if Cato was here. He would be forced to run, would he not? Nadia could only hope. Cato had to feel some sort of affection toward her though. He had to. They had made love or well it was really just sex but it was something she would never forget.

[Sam]

He was not going to argue with the woman as he had not seen the body. Really there was no reason to argue with her. The other male might come barreling out of somewhere. The more he circled the fire the angrier he got at her stubbornness. She was not going to be easy. His equine skin began twitching as he got ready to just lunge for her and go all or nothing.

The longer he stayed here the more wary he became. What if she was right and he did come back? All hell would break loose and he'd have to either jump or try dodging. Judging by the girl's behavior she'd rather let the man do the fighting unless it was completely necessary. Really there was no point in prolonging this much longer. He was not exactly ready to mount but this was not his first cake walk and he knew what to do.

Giving the fire a bit of a birth he lunged for her in hopes of at least grabbing something of hers. Of course grabbing with his hands was a completely different thing than with his forelegs.

[Nadia]

The woman kept circling around the fire as if they were in some sort of courtship dance but it was not love on her face. No. It was more like fear. She kept watching him and nothing else really. So far this island had proved to not have any sort of predators or ones that could harm a centaur. With a weapon at least. She had no weapon. Suddenly he lunged for her, she screamed half rearing and pulled everything of hers close to her body. She kept backing up thankfully she was by the trail and not near the edge.

"Get away from me!" she screamed backing up rather quickly and bolted down the side of the trail and running away from him. Flight had taken over as she knew that she could not really fight him. Her heart was racing and adrenaline was pumping as she galloped as fast as her body would carry her. She was not running near the beach as the sand would only trip her up. She was running along where the dirt and sand met. Tears were not even in her thoughts as she kept running.

The rush she was getting or having was keeping her stamina up for now. She would just keep running. Find her family and try to rejoin. Hope and pray that she did not meet anyone from a larger group. She did not like the idea of having a three ton male trying to mount her. Cato was about as big as she could handle.

[Sam]

The girl screamed at him and ran off. He was not entirely surprised but she had ran but she had hit him in her rearing. He had pulled away just in time for anything serious though he did have a cut on his arm. Grumbling he heard her running off away and he began moving down the trail and cantered after her.

Sam didn't have to catch her just keep up with her. Snorting he couldn't exactly see where she had ran but the moon was out just a bit and he broke into a lope. Why would he use up all his energy? He'd eventually find her, he'd catch her and he'd mount her. She'd carry his child and give birth to it. By that time she would have come around to him and be his. Rather than that large beasts.

It's no use Nadia. I'll find you." he called out and heard it echo. Really she was just wasting precious energy to hold him up as he mated with her.

[Nadia]

The farther she ran the more panicked she became. She was slowly realizing that Cato was not coming back and that she'd be treated like most women. She would be caught, raped and then stay. It was the same for most centaur women. If they did not have a betrothed then they were fair game for almost any male.

This did not mean she was going to give up. No. She kept galloping, even if her lungs felt as though they were on fire. She had to try getting away from him. She just had to. Cato, if you'd only show up. That would stop him. she only hoped that it would. Nadia just assumed that her estranged friend was miles away from here. Doing what she did not know. She kept running though, even if it was now a slow gallop. The girl had to make it to some border but the land was expansive and she did not know where the boundaries were.

[Sam]

He was not going without this bitch. He'd take over this beach and she'd be his - whether she liked it or not. She'd bare his young and like it. Sam normally was not so mean or cruel minded but Nadia blatantly refused to go with him. Her mate or beast was gone. He kept a few hundred yards behind her, cantering slowly as he watched her run.

His eyes were keeping on her form of course, running form, the way she carried herself. It would all speak for what his child might have. After what seemed like a full blown mile she finally started to slow down. Sam would not catch her though until she was on the brink of exhaustion, when there was no fight left in her. That way he she would come with him or she would let him tend to her. It would only be for tonight though. She should be serving him not the other way around.

[Nadia]

She had hoped to run forever but it did not seem the case. He eventually caught up with her. The 'meeting' was not pretty but he saved her the pain and humiliation of being raped. For now.

It was morning. The woman had woken up before the sun but found her hind legs tied together. She could not exactly reach them either. So she was at his mercy for leaving there all day. She had cried during the night. She also had a few bruises here and there on her human torso. From him punching her when she fought back. Her body hurt but more so her heart ached. Nadia was so stupid to believe that Cato would come back. He had probably had returned to his herd of behemoths. Sighing heavily Nadia supposed that this was where she belonged. To some jerk that had to use violence to keep a woman that he didn't even care about. Years from now Nadia assumed that would have grown to love him but not right now.

She hated him and still foolishly loved Cato. The girl still hoped that he would come back to at least free her. To beat up Sam and take back his land. She would gladly leave after that if he wanted her to. For now though she had to lay here in the dirt, waiting for her captor to get up.

[Sam]

Honestly he was not caring if the girl was getting sore spots right now. She deserved it. Eyes opened with a flutter and he got up and stretched. "get up bitch." he grumbled taking the rope off her hind legs. He hoped that she knew better than to object to his wants. Even if she didn't he'd put her in his place with the back of his hand.

Even if Nadia did not get up he tied a longer rope to her rear coffin bone then took the length of rope tied it to the tree. The knots were complex and he hoped she would not bother with them. The way he had heard her crying last night it seemed she had given up. Regardless of how they had met or gottne together he was still the man and thus went to gather fire wood for their fire. Then he was to hunt, she would cook it - whether she liked it or not - then he'd mount her.

There was no real point in her fighting or arguing with him. He had won and she had lost. He hated that it had to be this way but if she hadn't been so hostile toward him...

[Nadia]

She cringed when he finally woke up and told her to get up. There was no need for vulgarity in her opinion. Once the rope came off she stood there, afraid to move. She was sore from the night before of running but she'd get over it. Nadia had worse things to worry about.

Like Cato was not coming and she'd be subjected to being bred with this asshole of a man. Feeling the rope around her rear right ankle - or whatever bone it was called - she sighed heavily. Turning around she saw that he was now walking into the woods. Trembling she only hoped that would not return with other males. She could handle being bred by one but not five.

Centuar men were so prideful though and she half knew he would return alone. Rubbing her arms she walked the length of her rope until her foot was held back by it. Movement back was hard to do unless she hobbled a bit. The rope was a decent length but nothing she could work with. Sam came back with firewood, told her to light it then went back off with his bow and quiver. The fire was not hard to start and she made it so she could get to it with ease.

She sat down by the flickering flames, staring off into them. She wished Cato was here but again wishing and hoping did not work in the real world. She only hoped that he'd take her away from this place and that he would not take them back to the shack Cato had built so long ago. The place where they had given themselves to each other. As far as Nadia knew, the large man had been pure, like her. Her hair was longer by now as well, covering up her breasts for the most part. The top made out of fur also help with keeping her bits covered.

It seemed like an hour passed until she broke down again and wept into her hands. She would welcome death about now.

[Sam]

Sam was confident. He was sure that this woman would soon bear his child - whether she liked it or not. He would keep this land and create his own clan - or herd. Whatever it was called these days.

He brought back a doe for the woman to cook, field dressed and everything. He also had stopped to get a bag full of water. Coming back to 'camp' he dropped the deer on the ground and shot her a glare as he moved to set the bag down. Once he knew that she could be trusted he'd let her roam but of course for now she would remain tied.
"Cook it right too. You'll be eating it as well." he grumbled sitting down by the fire. He would watch her of course. There was nothing much else to do.