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 Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:37 am
 Nightingale paced restlessly through a clearing. Was she forgetting anything? She'd asked her mother, received some herbs in return--for easy pregnancy and healthy offspring, her mother had said, though she'd tut-tutted and said something about being far skinnier than she should be. Nightingale had taken care to gather a good deal of food, now piled in front of her...extra fruits, extra vegetables, inexpertly dried meat, even...another suggestion of her mother, who'd said she'd need strength for herself and for the offspring growing inside her. Though...Nightingale had considered foxbuns and caiman, and concluded that Kimeti birth more closely resembled caiman than foxbun...oh, but that wasn't important right now! She had to remember if she was forgetting anything! And what if...the doubts started creeping back in...what if the foals still came out twisted or dead? What would she do then? Oh, but there was one thing she could do. Nightingale had heard the stories. "If you could find a chosen one," she said, repeating what her mother had said to her, "the health of your clutch would be assured. But...where do I find one...?" Nightingale looked around. The swamp seemed terribly empty.
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Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 9:30 am
"If I may intrude," a stranger's voice began, "I could tell you."
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Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 9:32 am
Nightingale startled and looked around. "What...who...who's there?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 9:41 am
"One of those who you'd seek," the voice continued gently, stepping into view - actually, fading from one shape to the other as he hopped out from under a bush, which was... a little needlessly dramatic, but storytellers do like to indulge in dramatics sometimes. "Some of the blessed have places they haunt regularly, and can be found with some investigation. But there are also some who wander in search of those who need us, such as yourself, if I'm not mistaken. My name is Wildflower Breeze, how do you do?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 10:06 am
Nightingale blinked. Did that bird just turn into a Kimeti? No, she must have been seeing things. But that's what the stories said, wasn't it...? Oh, she was being rude. "My name is Nightingale, sir," she said, dipping her head in a short bow. She pawed at the ground shyly. "I'm...you say you are a Chosen one and I...well...but of course you know that...err..." Nightingale shifted uncomfortably. "You've...met a lot of mothers in your day, right? How do they...handle this?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 7:41 am
"Some take it rather worse than you are," he said with a warm smile. "It's very common to be nervous the first time. You seem to be quite well prepared, however," he chuckled, nodding at her stockpiled food.
He gave Nightingale a weighing glance, and concluded with a gentle nod, "Yes, I do believe you'll be fine. It will be uncomfortable, make no mistake, and if you can have someone help you, it will be easier. But, your preparation, caution and care will keep you and yours safe and well."
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Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 7:50 am
"Oh, oh really?" She smiled with relief. "My mother will certainly help with whatever I need, though perhaps she'll complain and scold me the whole time. Err...for your trouble..." Nightingale gestured vaguely towards the pile of food. "You're welcome to take something."
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Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 8:03 am
"Very kind of you," he said, nodding again. He picked a fruit he hadn't tried before, something oblong and bright yellow. Very discretely, while he made an elaborate but silent bow, he left a long sprig of mint in its place, then turned and left.
Let her children learn from her example, he willed to the swamp. Let them be well-prepared and kind-hearted. Though, perhaps a little more confidence wouldn't be amiss, he added wryly.
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