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 Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 3:18 pm
He sighed contentedly. He knew where Sonata's tree was; he was there when she was born, that was how he knew the general area it was in in the first place. It had been quite a while since then, but it was very easy to find it again because of her distinct coloring. It was on the other side of Shrilal, he knew, but he enjoyed going straight through; it made the trip more interesting, to see so many birthplaces to so many nequus. It was almost too hard to believe.
Weaving around to almost the outskirts of the forest, he swerved around a relatively small tree and circled about, landing gracefully in his friend's tree. Spreading the flowers about the branches, weaving them in between twigs and in nooks and holes in the slender tree, he peered around for anywhere else to put them. Finding no place for the rest, he dropped to the ground and laid the few remaining flowers at the base of the trunk. He sat on his haunches to study his work a bit, then hmm'd and frowned; it was missing something. Extending a wing and curving it around his front, he pulled it close with his foreclaws and studied it. Finding a loose feather, he tugged it free and laid it with the few flowers on the ground. Smiling, he stepped back. Sonata would know now, if she visited her tree anytime soon, that Milo had been there and was looking for her. She was a smart girl like that.
Nodding to himself, the small Shrila jumped into the air and took off, heading outwards to the outer rings of the forest. He curved his path, following the outermost ring of trees, some still developing. It was always nice to explore; plus, he needed a break from his endless searching. Racing around the whole of Urin wasn't doing him much good, at all.
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 3:38 pm
Maurice sighed to himself and twisted his neck about to nibble at an itch on his shrunken flank. The food Utena had brought him had run out a little while ago and he was back to fasting. Opening one eye lazily, the stallion studied his rib cadge and gave a sigh; he did dislike not being healthy. For one thing it made it a lot harder to enjoy simple pleasure like the flight of a bird, or whatever it was you were suppose to appreciate these days, and for another it meant that should anything threatening happen along there wasn’t a lot you could do to harm it.
Still, hopefully soon that damn silly fruit would finally get around to falling and hatching, or hatching and falling, whichever way around it was happening these days. These days. There he went making himself feel old again. Still, soon he’d have a foal, which would make him ‘kinda old’ and possibly excuse his generally paternal and over-protective nature.
Yawing to himself, the blue-eyed stallion peered about to ensure that nothing nasty was heading his way and allowed his eyes to drift closed again.
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 4:22 pm
Milo flew onwards, until his bright eyes spotted Maurice, and his upper body stopped in mid-air while his back end kept going, causing him to almost perform some backwards sort of flip in the air. He managed to keep his balance quite easily, however, and merely hovered there as he studied the ragged-looking Ichsa.
Stallion, of course. Thin, malnourished, one fruit on the tree that was undoubtedly his, once (probably) bright coat seemed a bit dusty, and his ribs were showing, to say nothing of the other bones he could faintly trace from his position in the air. Single father, perhaps? That was the only logical explanation; usually the mares stayed and the stallions fetched food for them.
Intrigued and concerned, the predominantly white Shrila flew towards Maurice and his still-growing tree before pulling in his wings and plopping gracefully down on his haunches. "Hello there!" He offered; he kept his distance, of course. Parents always were a bit testy, he'd found, single ones especially. It didn't look like the blue Ichsa was about to attack anyone anytime soon, but it helped to be a good distance away. Making himself look small -- which wasn't too hard, in his case -- was always helpful, too. "Are you here all by yourself, sir?"
He just couldn't help it. "You look awful!" He blurted, twitching his tail. Normally the soon-to-be fathers didn't look that worse for wear. Goodness. "When was the last time you've eaten anything?"
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 5:12 am
The voice wasn’t one of a threatening creature so the Ichsa didn’t snap awake and fly into protective mode. Instead, he blinked his eyes open and gave another yawn. “Yep,” he said with a nod to the Shrila before him, “jus’ me an’ thanks for the observation.” He offered the little creature a crooked grin. ...When had he last eaten? It hadn’t be desperately long ago that the food Utena had brought had run out, but he didn’t know how many days it might’ve been; he’d lost track somewhat what with each day being pretty much like the last and everything.
“Not quite sure t’ be honest,” he went on eventually, “a while ago I guess...”
...Hold on. White Shrila, black markings, a decoration about his neck... “Umm...” the blue-eyed Ichsa frowned thoughtfully. “F’give me if I’m wrong, but is your name Milo?” He was certainly a distinctive little thing, how many like him could possibly exist in the world? Yes, there was a good chance that the winged little creature keeping a polite distance away from him was Sonata’s friend. It certainly was a small world, wasn’t it?
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 1:54 pm
The Shrila grinned and trotted a few paces closer; this Ichsa seemed pleasant and, as he had made no move nor comment pertaining to his presence, Milo felt it'd be alright to stay. Hopefully he wouldn't mind that the tribal-marked creature was a bit closer; some liked their space. "Sorry for that," he said with a sheepish grin, flicking his tufted tail. "That was a bit rude, sorry." You look awful, honestly.
He nodded a bit, his eyes flitting to the ribs that showed quite easily over the blue stallion's hide; they were even easier to trace from such a short distance. He grinned again and held up a claw, ruffling his wings a bit before extending them. "Hold on a bit, I'll--what?" His name. He knew his name. The little Shrila was certain, absolutely positive he hadn't even seen this stallion before. He wasn't from the herd, either; perhaps from the other herd? Perhaps, but... no, no; he would have heard of this stallion. He'd heard of almost all from the other herd. He was not from that herd. That must mean...
"You know Sonata?" He blurted out, eyes wide. That was the only explanation. He opened his beak to speak, ask any of the multitude of questions that plagued his mind, but he closed it. He did this several times before his mind became set, and he held up a claw again, the grin on his face long gone. His mind was in too much of a whirl to think straight. "I'll be back, don't go anywhere." And with that, he jumped into the air and zoomed off. He had been going to before the Ichsa had told him his own name and therefore basically told him he knew Sonata and he'd seen her and gods, it was too much!
- - - - -
The two-legs had been admirably cooperative; they'd recognized him, of course, especially since they'd given him the dream catcher that hung from his neck. He'd landed and in short order had received the may basket filled with all sorts of goodies that hung from his foreclaws. In even less time had he received the second may basket, clasped tightly in his hindclaws. It was a tad hard to fly, of course, but nothing he wasn't used to. He was the one always sent to fetch apples and other sorts of fruits at certain times of the year; it was on one of these excursions that all hell had broken loose in the herd. Oh well; nothing to do about it now.
He didn't think it had been too long since he'd left the stallion, and he remembered where his tree was, and shortly after the thought crossed his mind he spotted the single parent. He glided over, ignoring the weight of his burden that he was so accustomed to, and hovered near the stallion. He descended carefully and, very slowly, set both baskets down at once. He made sure neither would topple or fall before he let go, and he glided a bit to the side -- to give him space, of course, as Milo figured the stallion wouldn't want the Shrila right next to him while eating -- and performed a swift landing, to which he was accustomed and seemed to love doing. With a contented and relieved sigh, he settled onto his haunches and ruffled his wings about. "Here you go - and yes, my name's Milo." He forced himself to remain quiet then with a lop-sided grin on his face, filled with disbelief and wonder and concern and curiosity and a number of other feelings, but he'd wait until the silver-marked Ichsa ate before pelting him with questions.
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:19 pm
As the Shrila took off, Maurice chuckled softly to himself. Don’t go anywhere; as if he had much of a choice. Still, now at least he knew that this was Milo, that or the world was full of truly insane coincidences today. Or he was hallucinating, that was possible too he supposed by not very likely. Shaking his head over the retreating form of the monochrome feathered little creature, the blue stallion settled himself down to rest. Doubtless Milo would be back soon, and then they could talk.
*****
He had been watching the horizon in a vacant manner when the little flash of movement caused him to blink his pupilless eyes a couple of times and to focus on it. It was, he squinted, a very odd looking shape indeed. Sort of lumpy and ungainly but it was flying well enough. Very odd, and certainly more interesting than staring at nothingness. If he was right, and he suspected even at that far distance that he was, this was Milo returning as promised.
Indeed, before very long the thin Ichsa was able to pick out the features of the approaching shape and it was Milo. Milo plus a pair of baskets in any case; those little wings must be a lot stronger than he’d credited until now.
As the Shrila set the baskets down, the silver-marked stallion smiled his gratitude, said; “Maurice,” by way of introduction and grabbed himself an apple to consume. Another apple and what he thought had probably been a pear later, the dark-coated creature forced himself to stop eating as once again he recalled that eating too much after a fast made you ill.
Sighing contentedly, the black-horned stallion turned his attention back to Milo and gave him another smile. “Yes, I know Sonata; she was just fine last I saw her too, lookin’ f’ you though.” There, that was probably what was weighing on the little creature’s mind most. Doubtless the Shrila would have a multitude of questions about the female Ichsa, which he would happily answer if he could, but the skinny Nequus had figured it best to let him know she was well right from the start. He knew that he wouldn’t want to spend even a moment longer than necessary in suspense over such a matter.
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 3:17 pm
The black and white creature grinned, his feet planted firmly on the ground but his heart soaring. It had been two -- three? -- months too long, and he missed his little sister and friend dearly. Hopefully Maurice would be able to shed light on where he could find Sonia, so that he could find her quickly.
Not too quickly, perhaps; how long until Maurice's fruit hatched? The thought caused the little Shrila to cast a glance up at the growing tree where he studied the brown and blue fruit carefully. It looked fairly well on; perhaps Maurice wouldn't be there too much longer. Milo had no idea; fruit trees weren't his forte.
He glanced back to the sire of the tree, offering him a grin. "Nice to meet you Maurice, and thank you so much. You have no idea how greatly you've relieved my mind. Praytell - where was the last place you saw dear Sonia, and how long ago?" He was polite about it, waiting until after the stallion had finished eating. Smart, this one; many a Nequus, the Shrila knew and had witnessed, would eat themselves full to bursting after a time of fast and had suffered the consequences of their folly.
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 3:42 pm
The blue stallion frowned; his sense of time was horribly distorted of late. It felt like forever ago he’d taken Bastet back to her herd, met Lestra, fallen for the loopy mare, ended up here and then lost her to the crossbreed b*****d.
The weather was somewhat warmer now than it had been then, but that was about all he really knew. “Umm... Jus’ a little while b’fore I came here,” the Ichsa said eventually, hoping that this might be a vague clue to the Shrila.
“Last saw ‘er down in Qurine, she might well still be there I guess, if not I c’n prob’ly find out where she went when she left.” He hoped so at any rate; as with Utena he not only genuinely wanted to help the little creature out but felt indebted to him.
It would have been easy for the white and black Shrila to flit on about his business instead of coming over to talk, and presumably with the intention of helping before he’d even known that he, Maurice, had seen Sonata. If the well-spoken creature remained long enough, the silver-marked Ichsa decided, he would have to try to help him find the grey white and pink mare. It was the least he could do after Milo had brought him all this food.
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:13 pm
Quirne? Ah, of course; she'd always expressed interest in going to the ocean when she was a foal. Granted, she wasn't exactly a full adult yet, but that was besides the point. He nodded and smiled his thanks, flicking his tail over his hindtalons as he settled more comfortably on the grass. "Thank you very much, Maurice."
Before he came here? How long had that been? The Shrila's eyes flitted up to the single pure fruit, studying it carefully. It was fairly well on, and it wouldn't be all that long until it hatched, he supposed... But he wasn't very good with that sort of thing. It had probably been a few weeks, at least. Sonata might still be at the ocean, or she could be elsewhere, but... But she was alive and alright, and that's what mattered.
A question prodded itself to the front of his mind again, one he couldn't help but want to ask. Why was Maurice here alone? Had the mare up and left, not wanting to care for a child, and left Maurice to bring it into the world and raise it himself? Somehow... it just didn't seem likely that had been what happened. Perhaps... "Maurice," he began, picking and choosing his words very carefully as his bright chocolate eyes turned from fruit to sire with a soft smile. "I can't help but be interested, and if you don't mind the question too terribly, why are you here by yourself? You needn't answer if you wish not to." It was innocent enough; he couldn't see any signs of violence around the tree -- as far as he could tell, at any rate -- and perhaps the story was innocent anyway. Maybe.
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:46 pm
Maurice winced slightly. Well, he should have expected to hear the question from somebody at some point, he supposed. Twitching his pale wings uncomfortably, the dark-coated Nequus turned his eyes upwards to study the fruit which carried a heavy dash of its mother’s rich coco colouring. “She died.” He said eventually, looking still at the fruit rather than at Milo. “Before the saplings had even really started mixin’ t’gether.” The skinny stallion’s tendril wings drooped down to the bare earth and their owner gave a heavy sigh. “I was in Ryuten, gettin’ a basket of food from the ‘umans an’ part way back I... I dunno, I felt somethin’ change. Guess it must’ve been the tree startin’ t’ feed off me instead of ‘er.”
The Ichsa lowered his gaze at this point and looked blankly at the ground. “I dropped the basket an’ came ‘ere as quick as I could. There was a crossbreed waitin’ f’ me, horn covered in blood an’ grinnin’. I tried t’ kill ‘im, but ‘e was stronger then me. Knocked me down, dazed me too bad t’ get back up and fight an’ then ‘e tol’ me t’ remember that he could’ve killed me too, an’ that he’d see me again sometime. I passed out after that, an’ I guess he left.”
In an odd way, the telling of it almost made it realer. Maurice shivered to himself and finally forced himself to look back at Milo with a tight smile. “So... Yea, that’s why it’s jus’ me. Don’ apologize, y’ didn’ know.” He wouldn’t, the blue stallion decided, tell the Shrila that he had met that particular mixed blood before; that would just lead to questions he didn’t want to have to answer.
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 4:59 pm
Milo winced as well; he couldn't help it. The poor soul, he couldn't imagine such a thing happening to himself, or to dear Sonia. From his looks and his tone, the fruit had been the result of something more than a one-night fling with a pretty mare. "I.. I'm so sorry for your loss, Maurice.." He hesitated then, trying to pick his next words carefully. "It sounds like, from what you say, that this wretched creature will return at some point, though I don't think it will be for you." His chocolate brown eyes flitted up to the fruit for a moment before back at Maurice. "I wish you the best of luck raising your child, and protecting it from that brute." Chances were Maurice had probably thought of such a thing anyway, but it was nice to make sure, even if the event was such a negative thing. Still, after Maurice's first suffering Milo wouldn't wish anymore upon him.
He paused once more, turning over several matters in his mind before he hopped over beside the silver-marked Ichsa, gently laying a foreclaw on the stallion's whithers. He didn't bother asking if there was anything he could do for the Nequus. "I'll stay here and aid you until your fruit hatches, but after that I'm afraid I must leave to find dear Sonia. Unless, of course, you'd rather stay here by yourself again," he offered with a soft smile. "It's the least I could do to help you."
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 5:38 pm
The blue stallion hesitated at the offer, unsure of which impulse to listen to but very glad of the change of subject; there was never anything much one could say to condolences. The first impulse told him that it was saner to accept help and to make the most of the Shrila’s offer. The second murmured that this was a personal thing, that much though the little creature might be a help it was not his place to be here for long. It was a thing for a family to do, to raise a tree. A father an a mother, or just one of those and maybe some combination of relatives or dear friends but not a stranger. Honestly he didn’t know which way to turn, which to listen to, how even to react to the fact that the black and white creature had offered in the first place.
The stallion shook his head and peered up at the fruit once more. It was quite large now, looked almost too big for the branch it sprouted from which it hadn’t before. Maybe it would not be long now... In which case it wouldn’t matter too much whether Milo stayed or went so far as the need for food went. As far as Sonata went however...
The pupiless-eyed stallion snorted decisively and gave the brown-eyed Shrila a smile. “I think y’ should go lookin’ f’ y’ young friend,” he said with a nod. “I’ll not be stuck ‘ere much longer I think; what y’ve brought’ll probably last me though but in those extra days y’ search f’ Sonata could get ‘arder. Soon as the foal’s old enough, I’ll be ‘eaded t’ Qurine m’self.” The blue stallion gave a crooked smile. “Might even get there around the same time as you if the kid learns quick an’ ‘atches soon. If I do catch y’ there I’ll ‘elp y’ look, an’ that is the least I can do,” he chuckled with a grin to the smaller creature.
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 12:39 pm
Milo couldn't help but chuckle at the blue stallion's answer. "I won't be very easy in my mind about leaving you here, though. Especially if there's someone rather unpleasant after you," which was always a frightening thought. "I'm tougher than I look, I assure you!" The little Shrila insisted, trying in vain to flex his muscles before plopping down, a bit dejected, on the ground beside the silver-marked Ichsa.
"I really do, though. One of my best talents, besides gathering fruit, is throwing it," he said with a chuckle. "Gave Sonia's father a few good bruises before I left, nothing he didn't deserve. But on the subject, how is dear Sonata? What did you two talk of? Any information at all would be most helpful," he said. Not that knowing she was last seen in Quirne wasn't helpful, but, well... knowing more wouldn't hurt.
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 3:24 pm
“Well...” It was hard to think; for all the sleeping he'd been doing he was exhausted and memories were hard to pull fully into focus. “Umm... Well she tol’ me she’d left her ‘erd, that was back in D’ob where I met ‘er... tol’ me about you... Oh, then I offered t’ show her Qurine, so off we went... I offered t’ teach ‘er t’ glide a bit sometime... Oh, yea, then there was Bastet; Jala mare goin’ back t’ an arranged mating she’d run from ‘till she realized somebody else would have t’ take ‘er place... Oh! Oh yea, Sonata said she might visit ‘er soon, so I guess she might’ve gone on t’ where the ‘erd is; it’s not far from Ryuten... If I thought about it a bit I’d prob’ly be able t’ come up with directions for y’ if y’ like.”
So, an odd creature this Milo was, wasn’t he? Saying he could stay or go as suited and then insisting he wouldn’t feel right if he left? Perhaps he had assumed that he would be wanted and just said the other so as not to make him, Maurice, feel trapped or pressed upon. Not that he didn’t appreciate the offer but... “I really doubt y’d be able t’ do anythin’ t’ Moriarty other than piss ‘im off,” the tri-star marked Ichsa said after a moment with a shake of his head, unaware that he had used the crossbreed’s name. “He’s a brute, but not a stupid one. I wouldn’ want t’ see y’ get killed on my account... I appreciate the offer Milo, I do, but I can’ let y’ put y’self at risk like that.”
If only he knew how much longer the fruit would be a fruit it would help, he could assure Milo that he’d be after him within days or a week or two or whatever. As it was however he was stuck for anything much more to stay on the subject. If the Shrila was really so intent on staying he had neither the energy nor the heart to drive him off. The little creature only wanted to be helpful, and nobody liked being rejected. Giving a heavy sigh, the thin stallion returned his gaze to the ground. He wished Lestra was still here.
Shivering slightly in a chill breeze that rustled the leaves of the growing tree, Maurice shuffled a little closer to the trunk, ignoring how this change in position made the roots press into his bony frame. This was all too complex, too hard to think about and make plans for and decisions about. He would appreciate Milo’s company, yes, but there was that chance that the b*****d crossbreed would return and there was still that feeling that this was a thing that should be private. Still... company would be nice... yet...
The stallion gave a shake of his head to clear the circular thoughts; they were getting him nowhere. “I... I dunno. Whatever y’ want t’ do Milo,” he said softly, feeling very old and very tired. “I’d appreciate y’ help with food, and y’ company but I don’ want t’ put you at risk an’... an’ I dunno. I’m too tired. whatever y’ want t’ do. I can’... I can’ think right now.” He didn’t want Milo to leave. He didn’t want Milo to stay. It was all too too hard. He wished Lestra was still here.
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 7:10 am
Mio offered the Ichsa a soft smile. So, Sonata was either in Quirne or Ryuten... He'd figure out which to head to first in a while, perhaps. For the moment, his quandary lay in the form of a bony, blue-coated, silver-marked Ichsa stallion. A sigh escaped him as his gaze flitted to the ground at his feet, suddenly finding the thin blades of grass very interesting. "Well, I..."
Did he want to stay? Would he rather leave him here to go look for Sonata? What if he left and something terrible, in the shape of the particular crossbreed, befell the stallion? Crossbreed... Moriarty?
The little Shrila furrowed his brows in thought. It could be that the murderer had told Maurice his name, true, but.... but Maurice had sounded as if he actually knew that particular crossbreed. Perhaps he did, but the little white creature did not press the point. The poor Ichsa seemed to be having a hard enough time with their current conversation.
With a decisive ruffling of his wings, the Shrila sat up a bit straighter and offered Maurice a pat on the neck. "Well, then. I'm just going to say I'll stay here with you until your fruit hatches, and make sure nothing bad happens, and you can be stuck with me until then," he said with a smile. "I'm very hard to get rid of," Milo added with a small, lop-sided grin.
It probably wasn't exactly his place, a Shrila aiding a complete stranger with a fruit whose dam he'd never met, but.. He simply couldn't leave him here, whether the fruit was close to hatching or not, when he hadn't anyone else to help him. He figured the crossbreed -- Moriarty, was it? -- would be willing to help in his own way, which was much worse than no help at all from family. However, Milo pushed all negative thoughts aside for a later time and offered the blue stallion a smile. "Is that alright with you?"
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