MORPHOGENESIS ! [ rumpelstiltskin ]

[I R E]

i'm the POISON that you need

i'm the HAND that feeds

if you FOLLOW i will lead

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The wind whipped down through the crater, coaxing the shadows that the scarce foliage cast into life. The black menaces danced on the cracked, dry ground gleefully, as if they were glad she had come to visit, glad they had somebody to torment. In the distance, a coyote howled, and the brave Bleeze -- torment of horses everywhere, and eternally staunch grouch -- was cowed at last.

It was bad enough being caught away from her little grazing hollow at night, but now fear was beginning to creep in to the edges of her mind, obscuring her thoughts and sending her to high alert.

The wind caught at her tail and short mane, dragging each against her hide, and she lowered her head, turning it and skating her hind end around to peer behind her, broadside to the howling breeze now. She hated her horns, in that moment, they presented her a blind spot the size of the damn plainlands, and that made her even more fearful. Golden eyes sparking in the dark, Bleeze raised her skull-marked head again, appraising the half moon lurking above that cast just enough light to be too little. Deciding it was best to keep moving, the Welsh shuffled forward again, steps careful and delicate, as if she feared she would wake some terrible shade in the night around her, one with spidering claws and soulless black eyes, seeking to devour her.

A shrub scraped against a rock, nearby, and the mare nearly lost her mind, shying violently away from the noise and pinning her ears, head lowered and body tense as she readied herself to charge the threat.

Only, there was none.

Letting out a distressed huff, Bleeze picked her nose away from the ground again and allowed her tail to lash against her black flanks angrily. This was getting ridiculous; why should she be afraid of the dark?

Then again, dear Bleeze hadn't yet realized that our worst selves lurk in the dark, our thoughts, our feelings.

We are not afraid of the dark itself, we are afraid of what comes out of it.

[barrel]

The night was forever a love for this creature, the nocturnal vibe was simply alive with this equine. Shadows danced their wicked ballet, transforming and allowing everyone to visualize their greatest fears. Ah, to be like the night it would be the ultimate power. Silence had enraptured the land, no noise had been created since the nightlife creatures had sensed this being lurking. Lingering in the darkness was the handsome fellow, dark red roan flesh blended quite well yet was illuminated time and time again by the pale spotlight. Those divine, hefty horns sat on top of his skull radiant indeed though those Emerald gems put just about anything to shame. Nostrils drug oxygen deep within his lungs, though along with the life source came the divine perfume of a woman. Ah, it was always intoxicating and always welcoming though unlike most of his fellow gender he did not become insane. No, Rumpelstiltskin was shifting his direction toward the mare for a different purpose other than the pleasing of the flesh. Though if it did take place the creature would not resist.

Large hooves created crater like hoof-prints for others to follow or for that matter stay away, for he enjoy secluded meetings ones that did not involve an entire herd land. As he continued to near the beauty, a deep rumbling chuckle escaped his lips. Right away the dove would not have been able to see him but as the tones ended the mountainous framework exposed itself before her. Indeed for such a large creation he was quite well at being silent, silence was life for a true predator. A charming grin spread across his velveteen lips as words flowed carefully afterward. "Playing in the shadows are we dame?" Baritones were rich, and lathered in a bewitching charm. Though if one looked deep enough could understand that there was a deadly venom lurked within that irresistible charm. Stepping closer to the beauty, he examined her petite frame quite alluring it was but certainly he was not one to feed anyone's ego. A light chill was running through the breeze, and with this his inner temperature rose lightly. A bit abnormal than a normal being but not enough to harm anything or anyone.

A slight tilt of the skull was given, as his emerald gaze met her own golden one. Rum was always optimistic when it came to new meetings, for every creature was their own being and therefore they could react in any manner. So now he would have to listen, and watch, and look deeper to understand how this female worked. A bit of tension was in the air, derived from fear, excitement, anger? It was multiple possibilities and he doubted that the true answer would be given to him. "It is so pleasing to find another in the dark. " A sly grin covering his features as the pale light caught the gleam of his fangs. Oh yes, he was quite pleased with her thus far. What may she do in retort to his speech? Possibilities once again endless, thoughts swarmed the sadistic mind as the grand stallion stood almost statue like still, quite eerie and odd indeed. The aura about this stallion was not of the norm, quite the opposite really, it was unusual, and quite distrusting.

Word Count: 550.

[I R E]

the dark EVOLVING me as well

it lingers on from where i can TELL

i am yours and yours to BLAME now

Fear is a strange thing, it keeps us up at night, it is the monster in our closet, the hand creeping out from under our bed. For Bleeze, it was the shadow that crossed in front of the moon, a cloud, she noted, but it cast the crater in an even more eerie, kind of sickly-yellow light, barely enough to make out the shadows anymore.

And that was when the monster revealed itself.

It was a green-eyed thing, rather than the hellfire red the Welsh had imagined. The spark and glow of the twin pockets of emerald in the night was almost calming, were it not for the sound of footsteps drawing nearer.

Immediately, the Ramare froze, head dipping low with a quickness that was almost reactionary. She looked at the creature as it emerged, and the cloud in front of the moon chose that moment to depart, bathing everything in its dim silver glow again. It shed some light on the situation, literally, and Bleeze found herself staring at not a monster, as she had imagined, come to devour her soul, to rend her flesh, but a stallion. A monstrous one, but an equine nonetheless. A silent, but visible tremor ran through the normally courageous mare, muscles bunching beneath her sleek black hide before releasing, then bunching again. She was a compact, muscled thing, this little ram.

And this large dragon was built to terrify. His coat -- a coat of scales, she noted -- was glinting almost maroon under the silver light, and his horns cast a shadow almost larger than his body did. Her natural reaction, once she had settled slightly, was to step back from him, cloven hooves dragging in the dry earth and white stockings flashing beneath her dark form.

She took a breath, sides heaving once, twice, scenting him. He smelled hot, with tinge of acrid smoke.

"Polite of you to stalk around like that." Bleeze snapped suddenly, the words leaving her mouth like a whiplash. And hypocrite she was; rarely polite or well-mannered, this little bull-headed creature would just as soon break your ribs as give you the time of day. Her tied tail whipped several times over her flanks, the golden calcite jewel in the dark metal band flashing mildly in the night, much like her eyes.

The wind rose to stir her short mane again, and Bleeze's delicate Welsh ears flicked back, petite nostrils flaring. She couldn't very well turn her head to look behind her, now that this creep was occupying her line of view, but she longed to, to see what new horrors were lurching toward her in the shadow.

[barrel]

So this lady was not the talkative type, or not quite yet at least. For now it seemed silence filled the atmosphere as she looked him over, analyzing him, as if she began to detect every flaw and highlight of his appearance. A playful grin crossed his lips as she finally spoke, snapping ah so this one may be the fiery type interesting indeed. "Oh dame I do try my best." Sarcastic tunes rang out, and a deep chuckle filled the air once more as well. The stallion did note a bit of tension that seemed to suffocate the meeting, slightly less apparent but the scent was unforgettable. It was the slight taste of fear, and certainly this predator knew it far too well. Though it certainly was not him that threatened her, what had lurked otherwise in the shadows before his arrival? Inhaling deeply, he detected no other faint scents the only one was this dame's perfume. Could it be the night? Did that drive her a little batty, being here and not understanding what the shadows truly did to a being. Hmm it was the best option he could think up.

Rumpelstiltskin did work on fears, driving others to express their deepest fears and wants but in this situation he would do it just a bit more soft should we say. "While I stand here there is nothing out there." There was no ego driven tones in his voice, and truthfully Rum was not one to be prideful. Yet the stallion did note on many occasions when he was present usually he was the thing to fear the most. A deranged smile covered his features, as he spoke once again attempting to grasp the mare's full attention. "Wandering the nights is something you do often Dame?" A casual question but he was quite curious what was one doing in the middle of the night, if it is what feared one the most? Possibly she was trying to gain strength to overcome this fear or maybe she enjoyed the adrenaline that came with being so close to one's fear. Rum held his fear, but oh was it placed so far deep within that frozen glacier that one would perceive as a heart.

Rumpelstiltskin was a man of mystery indeed, he was all full of riddles and rhymes that it was almost cryptic to detect anything else. Though you see that is how this creature functions much like that of a puzzle, and a gypsy as one. Gaining what they so desperately want from each creature but never allowing the other in either. It was a crafty game and it did take years to understand, master, and work these tricks. A craning of his neck, made the muscles twist much like that of a serpent. Emerald eyes gazing at the lovely creature before him, and then of course the stallion had to step slightly closer. Though his aura was eerie, and distrusting there was a sense of protection one could receive after being so close to such a colossal giant. Rum, honestly would not allow this pretty little thing to get torn apart, no whatever if it came near would be simply demolished if it's intentions were aggressive or hostile in nature. Rum was not a horrid man, then on the other hand he was so which was it? Much like a coin, heads and tails two differences but which one is it? Or could it be both?

Word Count: 578.

[I R E]

and then we FOUND it all

caged inside a DREAM

soon it will see NO MORE

Bleeze did not like sarcasm. It was ingrained on her heart as an offense, though she employed its delicious sting often enough on others, she did not like it used on herself. A hypocrite, you could say she was. Here was this ruddy beast slinging words like he thought he could faze her, and that made her a little grouchy.

The muscles across the mare's black flank twitched as a chill clawed its way up her spine, whispering treacherously in her ear of monsters and murder. This drew her golden eyes hotly to the stallion positioned in front of her. She regarded him then as the maiden might regard the highwayman, both intrigued her, and made her wish for his departure at the same time. What was he up to, prowling about? Sure, she had been caught away from her haven stay, but accidents happened, and surely his sudden appearance was no accident.

"How long have you been creeping in the dark?" She asked lowly in response to his words, not giving him the answers he sought.

Though...she did hate being called 'dame' more than anything at the moment, even more than she hated giving out her name.

"Bleeze. My name is Bleeze." The Welsh said suddenly, looking and sounding displeased about it. When the male stepped closer, his neck arching in a grandiose and graceful display, she shuffled her cloven hooves back, the short tufts of mane on her high, cresting neck stirring with the movement. Another gust of wind whipped around from behind her, and she lowered her head, letting the hot air blow against her and soothe the cold that had crept into her bones at the thought of the dark.

She wished, in her heart of hearts, to simply turn it off, like one would a lamp. If only it were so easy as flicking a switch, tugging a string, to see the sun again, she might have been a believer of miracles. As it were, what she believed was that horrible things happened every day, and the dark followed every orange-blooded sunset, twining its greedy fingers over everything, and sometimes you didn't live to see the light again.

[barrel]

The petite creature backed away with his approach, which he very well expected. The tiny creature was slightly fascinating and therefore it drove the stallion to stay longer, and with these few thoughts; they were interrupted by the statement and question spoken by the mare. The lovely creature's name was Bleeze, odd yet in some fashion it did fit her, interesting how parents were such good fortune tellers to fit names so precisely. Then the question to answer to first, for it is only formal. "A predator lurks, just as a bird flies. " It was an answer, a cryptic answer letting her know quite obvious things. Rumpelstiltskin was never one to be straight forward, for one needed to detect what it was he truly meant. Baritones erupted once more, "Bleeze a pleasure it certainly is. I myself am Rumpelstiltskin or Rum whatever you please." One may think that the stallion would be embarrassed to speak his name, but oh no. You see just as Bleeze fit this mare, Rumpelstiltskin fit this stallion quite handsomely.

That fearing scent still clouded the atmosphere, damnit it was intoxicating though knowing it sprouted from this little fox he wished to know what the true answer to why the fear. Nostrils had inhaled deeply, pulling oxygen into his deep barrel chest. No other aromas lurked, with the exception of normal nocturnal beasts no danger was present other than himself. "You have a nasty fire Bleeze, it is exquisite to see a mare with a backbone." Those tones were slightly deeper, and held a different charm to them. One slightly more captivating than the previous, for it was crucial he continue to keep this mare within his sights. Illusive eyes met those fascinating gold ones, and kept their hold for quite some time. Waiting patiently for her next vicious words, yes Rum was growing fond of this little spitfire, and that was no good for this lady unless of course she didn't mind his presence which none would know that true answer but Bleeze.

Thoughts traveled away once again, taken to a more primitive mind set which truly did drive his predatory side. Rum was quite instinctive but also quite intelligent as well. Side stepping the massive creature turned his gaze back to the small structure, a mischievous grin and chuckle filled the silence. It seemed to echo slightly, and disappear quickly consumed by the numerous shadows that filled the lands. More thought on the fear, was more aimed toward the night itself. Which was quite a deadly thing, leaving one at times with just their thoughts and true self. It would be terrifying in general, but more so if one was not at peace with their own mind or soul. Even though frightful Bleeze did not so easily slide into his grasp, no if Rum wished to have this prize he would have to work a lot harder in order to have victory in this relationship. This was a hunt for certain, and that would be enough fuel to drive this stallion to the thing he wished so desperately.

Word Count: 514.

[I R E]

for we will not CONFORM

we're ghosts in the MACHINE

seek defeat in those who FEAR

The realization was slow to hit Bleeze, but when it did, she took another wary step back from the stallion. He was indeed the highwayman, the monster she had feared would materialize from the dark. She had never thought the monster she met in the recesses of the night would be such a gentleman, however, if gentleman he could be called. Lifting her white face, she eyed him again, but with a more logical mind.

He was a vision, that was certain, tall and broad and masculine in every sense of the word. Bleeze was not the smartest creature, she was easily impressed by such things, and that, combined with his velvet tongue, slipping its sensual tones against her ears, was soothing her, lulling her down.

As his gaze locked and clashed with her own, she dipped her chin in toward her chest, and held it for as long as he was willing, staring straight into him. If he wanted to challenge her, then by the gods, he would get a challenge in return. She inflated rather like a balloon with his compliment; she hadn't led a privileged life, had been forced to fight before, constantly the victim of a sharp tongue and the resulting low self-esteem, and so she was hard, and tough, on the outside, at least. Bringing her head up, she let herself breathe again, her crested neck arching and flexing under the silver of the moon.

They were opposites, these two black and ruddy creatures. One small, one large, one blunt, hard, and prideful, the other smooth and suave, with a honeyed tongue meant for deceit. He was intelligent, she was not, and if he twisted his tongue in just the right way, there was no doubt he could sway her to do what he wished, eventually.

Though he might make her angry in the process, because, like most brutish types, Bleeze grew infuriated when she didn't understand one thing or the other, or felt like she was being talked down to. Then again, he could just as easily cut her to the quick in the same way, find out what made her tick, what made her afraid.

Bleeze is not a complicated creature, dear, she fears herself, and like a child, fears the demons in the dark like you.

"What do you want?" She asked then, shifting as her tone calmed, lowering into its usual mellow husk.

[barrel]

Rumpelstiltskin had to chuckle when the stallion listened to the question that had left the very lips of the petite mare, for that question was far to broad. "Bleeze,I want many of things." A charming grin crossed his features, as he finished his reply. Rum was growing quite fond of this little mare. She was feisty and full of life, even if it did come out in such a bold and wicked manner. The stallion was still in favor of her, truly he was slightly curious as to her thought on him yet Rum was certain he had a nice idea. Bleeze was probably not fond of him, and in fact quite ready for him to leave. The tension that filled the atmosphere was still apparent and truly the stallion could not contain himself any longer. "Why do you fill the air with toxins?" It was a cryptic message that he spoke yet it did have meaning directed toward the fear that she emitted. Not many equines would have noted this, and the only reason Rum had was due to the fact he was more primitive than most.

Sliding closer with a serpent like movement, it flowed quite well for a stallion of his size. Rumpelstiltskin was curious as to how this pistol would answer to his previous question, for it would be interesting indeed. Would she fly off the handle as usual or would she simply reply in a manner unlike the others, for had he wound his way into her skull? That is what his goal was every time, to wind his way within their minds, for then his silver tongue was like puppet strings. Mastering his victims in whatever way he so pleased, it was quite difficult at times yet a challenge was always a pleasure. This dainty mare was certainly a welcoming challenge, it had been sometime and without a doubt Rum would cease this hunt. Every creature seemed to be so easily manipulated, and yes it was still rewarding yet there was something about a hunt that just drove this male insane. Rum allowed himself to walk past the little mare, and with this lowered his skull so that just the tip of each of their horns gently tapped if he had accurately spaced this.

The fellow continued for a few more feet, then allowed his forked tongue to release into the air scenting and understanding what was roaming the land. Nothing other than the two here, therefore with this information the grand beast turned back around to stand facing the rump of Bleeze. Rum was a gentleman in this sense not allowing himself to stand near her backside, for mares were ever so protective over that sort of thing. Yet they did hold their right, males were deranged creatures lately impulsive nasty things. Smirking lightly at his thoughts he allowed himself to pay close attention to Bleeze once again, slightly anxious to hear her responses. Composer held though, for it would be foolish and a childish nature giving away such emotions that really did not exist.

Word Count: 513.