[ｃｒｕｍｐｌｅｄ ｗｉｎｇｓ]

Is everyone finished?

[Hell Hound]

I hate being such a bother I'm so sorry <3 but could you spare an hour or so? That's all I need c:
Again I'm so sorry I know I'm holding everyone back, I apologize

[ｃｒｕｍｐｌｅｄ ｗｉｎｇｓ]

it's fine I'm not in any rush

[Hell Hound]

Finally finished! Sorry for taking so long, and thank you for putting up with me

[ｃｒｕｍｐｌｅｄ ｗｉｎｇｓ]

Owner: Hell Hound
Name: Dakota [Dale, Kota, "Boar"]
Gender: Stallion
Story: He had never seen the beautiful transition to darkness ever before in his life. The thing we take for granted every day, this stallion had no idea it existed. In fact, he didn't even know about sunny days.
When Dakota came into this world and he opened his eyes for the first time, there was no bright light of the day he would eventually have to get used to. The stars were out but couldn't manage to shine through the thick clouds that blackened the sky so greatly and throughout the morning with only glowing blotch were the sun was hidden. Where Dakota and his herd lived was in a valley at the edge of the lands, touching the ocean. The gray waves were as miserable as the clouds as they crashed violently at the sand, dragging in anything it could into the vast ocean.
Dakota grew every day in the dark. It wasn't pitch black, at least not during the day, but it wasn't bright and never encouraged a cheery mood. He had never questioned the weather for this was all he ever knew.
Whenever he did ask, the elder would just sweep it aside and cringe like he had poked a still-tender wound. They knew what he did not.
There were lands not much farther than where they were, past the horizon but definitely worth the long day-walks. It had sun and sky to expose. The old leader yearned to return to the land the herd once called home but alas, he could not because a wild pack of savage beasts roamed the land. Despite the powerful paralyzing glare of the herd, over half dropped dead like flies. These insane nightmares had them out numbered, five to one. Every time a Chrysaora Basilisks pierced it's glare at it's victim, another would attack from the side and sink it's teeth into their soft flesh. However, the strong Chrysaora Basilisks would not go down without a fight. Mostly it took at least four creatures to overpower them, and only once it had tired out would it fall. They weren't the only ones who lost part of their group, too. Only a third of these critters remained after the battle with the much larger Chrysaora Basilisks.
The leader, who had managed to overcome his scars, was too weary to return to the valley. He did not know how quickly they repopulated or how early they mature. For all he knew the pack could have doubled in size. It was not worth the risk to let so many animals of his heard moan. He could not bear to hear their screams when they were forced to the ground and brutally wounded. He still had nightmares.
Besides, it had already been many, many springs ago, and the herd was used to this dark place. No one squeaked a single word of the painful battle. The new members of the herd did not have to know, for the leader did not want to give them false hope.

So for many years Kota lived in darkness. It wasn't so bad for him, for he was not haunted by any horrible memories.
He had over 1000 chances to see what everyone missed. When the sun woke up from it's deep slumber and said hello to the world with a magnificent entrance of colours. Most missed were the stars, as they shined despite the giant fireball going to rest, as it always must every night and when it's companion, the moon, comforted all the night creatures and provided all the light it could.
And one day, something happened. It was just like any normal day.
Dakota was not quite an adult yet but was mature enough to know everything about this world the herd lived in, but not the outside lands for he did not know they even existed. All the information he could ever gather up added to something about a beast of pain guarding the borderline, and that only savage creatures lived beyond their territory.
Still curious like a foal, he always enjoyed scouting the beach and splashing his hooves in the icy water. He had don't this so often that no one thought to ever watch him when, even a full grown adult was required to go with another, since the minute the cold water touches flesh the body becomes shocked, and the herd had lost some Chrysaora Basilisks that way. And one day he had wandered just a little too far.
First he went up to his ankles, and then his knees. He sloshed around in the water a bit, exiting to dry off when he got cold and then returning again, nosing the seashells snuggled in the sand. When a breeze whispered through his coat, he shivered and left the water. He decided to clamber on a small cliff edge that kissed the waves, hiding the current below. He decided to dry off on the rocks and enjoy the beautiful scenery and stare hypnotically at the dull blotch of light in the clouds. Dripping wet as he was, he placed his hoof on the slippery rock surface and, despite the animal's adaptation to cling on, he tumbled down the steep cliff and splashed into the water. One false move forced him to pay a drastic price.
At first he was stunned, and didn't surface. Luckily his light body pushed him up and he gasped for breath, instinctively kicking and pawing at the water to just barely keep his snout out of the water. This was working and he was being fueled by panic, which would end up draining more energy. With each wave he snorted water up his nose accidentally and squeezed his eyes tightly shut. He was being dragged under the surface on second and then thrown against the side of the cliff the next. He desperately tried to cling to the wall but the waves made it impossible.
Once the panic began to settled he realized how exhausted he was. He pawed the water as much as he could to avoid drowning but soon it just became too much to bare. Every inch of his body ached. He couldn't feel his numb legs, but kept them moving. He felt the cold sting his skin. Then, he felt nothing.

When Kota awoke he was tumbling through strong currents that pulled into a narrow river. He had passed out only for a few minutes but considering it was chilling water and his body had shut down for those moments, he clearly wasn't in good health. Luckily he struggled to haul his body weight onto a rotting log that glided nearby. Then, mustering up all the strength he possibly could, paddled to the shore.
When he felt the sand beneath his hooves and the air on his skin his knees almost gave out. His entire body was numb and he just wanted to lay down and close his eyes, even if it meant it was the last thing he'd ever do. But he channeled the little glimmer of hope within him that there was something he needed to find, almost as if fate had dragged him to this bank. When his tired eyes looked up, he forgot to breath. He a shudder shot through his spin. He stared at the strangest thing he had ever seen before. It hurt his eyes.

Over the horizon was a thin line of something white. He didn't know what it was. It was a bright sunny day in the valley, a day-walk away. The thing was a bright whiteish yellow that he had never seen before. He could tell it was not just a colour. And through his bones ached and his muscles screamed with every sore step, something pulled him to the lush grass and he walked through the forests, crossing many lakes and mountains. He couldn't tell why but some force seemed to tell him that was where he needed to go, but he stopped for a moment and looked around. Where was he? His numb brain has not thought to check before he began his journey, but as he recalled his thoughts he realized he had never seen the river that brought him here before. He couldn't go back, it was probably across the large body of water and he knew death would be upon him if he had entered the water again and let the cold succumb him. He continued to walk, slowly, one hoof after the other, pulling himself forward and taking every bit of reasoning to keep moving and not lay down to die.
Time was no longer a factor for his mind but his body had a ticking clock that failed to tell him that he had limited time to properly warm himself up before it would collapse whether he wanted it or not. Dakota knew of the threats of the cold water and worried that one of his vital organs may be close to shutting down. This made him walk faster.
Eventually, after many hours he reached the valley. Under the canopy of trees he did not see the sky or the birds soaring happily through it.
But when he did step out into the open area, his breath was taken away.
A magnificent swirl of colours burst in the sky. The faint blotch of light he gazed at every day was a great ball of fire. He had to squint to adjust his eyes.
Eventually he could open them all the way and he stared in awe at the amazing show. He whinnied with happiness, never felt so free. The setting sun felt warm on his coat like a hug like no other. He finally knew where he belonged, and here he was in peace.

Epilogue
No one knows what became of the savage creatures of the valley. Only skeletal parts remain to show the scars of whatever happened to the pack. Dakota found a new herd and his old one, upon mourning the loss of what they thought a dead Kota, word leaked out that he lived in the valley and finally the leader cracked. They traveled back to their ancient home, witnessing all the sunsets that kissed the land.
Extra:
Link Link
Again I am so sorry about being such a nuisance.

All your work paid off in the end though I know you'll take great care of this guy and I hope to see more art around Congrats!

[eleutheromaniac.]

Congrats.

[Hell Hound]

Thank you very much <3 I love him!!!