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 Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:17 pm
 The sounds of the ocean... It was nearly the middle of the night now, dark in the places where the moon's light cast a shadow across the land. One Aeri walked across the sandy beach where the water didn't meet land, quietly kicking a bit of sand here and there. It wasn't a violent motion, but merely something to do.
The white and gray Aeri didn't seem hungry, his well-muscled body shifting under his skin as he moved. Maybe lonely, this one looked... Other herds were in grazing lands or near their trees, happily with one another for the night. With no family to speak of now, Zopyros had to be content on his own with the lady ocean for his companion.
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 7:02 am
The stallion’s name was Lucius, and he was looking for his son.
Still.
It felt as though he had been searching forever. As he sped on, Lucius snorted to himself; at least he was covering new ground now. Perhaps Vox had just moved down the coast or something. The brown-marked Aeri couldn’t imagine why he might have done so but it was a possibility. Right now, almost anything was a possibility. As he rounded a bend in the coast, privately wondering if that one-winged Bae he’d met was having any more luck than he was, a shape caught the tall Nequus’ blank orange eyes. An Aeri shape.
For a moment, his heart rate picked up and he almost called out. A moment later however, he took in the greys and whites of the leather-winged creature and sighed to himself, slowing from his charge to a canter, a trot and finally a walk as he approached the other stallion. A polite distance away, the morbidly adorned Nequus came to a halt and looked the creature he had almost taken to be Vox over. Really, they were nothing alike. Or perhaps they were; he didn’t know how his adopted son might have changed as he grew.
“Greetings,” the black stallion said eventually, wondering how this stranger would react to his appearance. “A fine night to be by the sea, is it not?” Hopefully the green-eyed creature wouldn’t take off in fear or disgust; he wanted to ask for news of Vox first.
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 10:20 am
The sound of hoofbeats against the sand almost startled Zopyros. He wasn't used to having company... But that fellow from the previous night, Shore... He had been good to talk to. Turning to meet the other approaching Nequus, the white and gray toned stallion took in the sight before him.
Vivid, truly, those colors... He wondered why the other stallion was covered in what looked like flame-red bones. He didn't start, though there was a bit of a stare as the other slowed his approach. Good... He had no reason to run if this stallion wasn't a threat. Maybe he was missing someone? Most did not come to this place merely to think as he did.
"Greetings." He replied, shifting slightly on his hooves... Unsure of wether or not this stallion had good intentions. One didn't judge upon appearance alone... But this other Aeri was quite intimidating. "It is... The moonlight is kind to show the way. What might bring you here, stranger?" He asked, being polite in his words though his curiousity showed. Zopyros might have been scared, if the other stallion had still been galloping towards him as he had been to begin with.
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 12:24 pm
Lucius smiled a little behind his bone mask at the stranger’s reaction. Though he seemed to have taken note of the strangeness he, Lucius, carried with him he was not fleeing. Those were the best Nequus; the ones who were aware and wary but did not skitter away in fear. One could not be brave, after all, if one did not fear to begin with.
“My name is Lucius,” the orange-eyed Aeri said with another smile, “and I am looking for my son.” Well, might as well get right to the point, mightn’t he? Other conversation might follow on if it chose to but right now he wanted to know if this stallion had seen his adopted child. “His name is Vox,” the boned stallion went on, “and he looks nothing like me.” At this comment he grinned a little; it seemed a fair thing to warn a Nequus of lest they believe that a whole pack of skeleton wearing Aeri were running about the place albeit it only until he began to describe Vox.
“I don’t know how tall he is,” the orange-eyed Aeri went on with a frown, “haven’t seen him since he was a colt but his coat is dark green with pale dapples, his mane and tail dark green at the base and yellow nearer the tips. His name is Vox... If you have any news of him I would be most grateful.” The orange-winged creature cast his gaze up to the sky and took in the shining shape of the moon that Vox had loved so well. “It seems I have spent a thousand nights such as this seeking him now,” the skull-helmed Aeri commented almost to himself.
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:03 am
There seemed no use in running in fear from something who wasn't threatening. This Aeri, Lucius, didn't seem horrible. He actually seemed rather nice... He wasn't attacking.
"I am Zopyros." He said after the introduction, a slight smile given to the odd Aeri with the bones. Hm... Looking for a son that looked nothing like him? Maybe he was adopted, or looked more of other family members than his father. It wasn't in the gray and white Aeri's nature to ask too many questions of why though.
He waited for the other to stop before he spoke, not seeming impatient to get this over with... But just curious of this new face. "I am sorry that I have not seen any Aeri like that. The only other I saw was called Shore, who was purple with gold markings."
Shifting slightly, he glanced to the moon before his green gaze turned back to Lucius. "I can keep my eyes open for him; I am near the ocean most of the time."
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:23 am
Lucius sighed, nodding in acknowledgement to the other stallion’s name as he did so. “Thank you, I would appreciate that... He used to live by the ocean too but I swear I’ve combed the coast from one end to the other now,” the curly-maned Aeri sighed. “May the moon guide you,” he muttered half to himself, recalling Vox’s saying as he peered up at the bright white orb again.
He wished it would guide him a bit better, but it didn’t seem to matter whether he traveled by day or night, either way he came up with no leads. That, he considered, was probably due to his son’s tendency to avoid group of people; if the green did not approach folk his dark coat could easily go unmarked by night. He could’ve gone anywhere in the world by now.
“In any case,” the boned stallion went on, shaking himself and lowering his gaze to regard Zopyros again, “I ramble...” Not that he really had anything to do but ramble. There was little in the area he felt he could comment on. Perhaps a question would spark some degree of conversation. “...Do you live here alone, Zopyros?” If he didn’t, perhaps somebody the grey and white creature knew had seen Vox. It was certainly possible, but the orange-eyed stallion tried not to get his hopes up; he was tired of having them knocked back down again he really was.
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 6:21 pm
Zopyros gave a slight nod. He really hadn't seen others around here. Shore had been the first he had ever met... But then again, he didn't actively go and seek other Nequus, not to mention most didn't venture out at night aside from Aeri.
"I can keep a watch for him, and tell him that your looking for him." Vox... He was sure that wasn't a common name, and he was bound to show up if he enjoyed the ocean. There weren't that many places to roam by the ocean that were safe, or had food.
He gave a slight smile as the stallion began to speak again, listening and watching him for a few moments. "Yes I do. I will keep an eye out for him... But there are not many Nequus who make their homes here, or stumble across my path."
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 3:46 am
Lucius nodded to the other stallion and looked about himself at the beach, the sea and the cliffs. "Yes," he said aloud, "Qurine is not a place which can support a great number of Nequus. Compared to palces like D'ob and Yisi each resident will need to cover more ground each day and eat more grass to support themselves due to the relative quality and density of food. Then of course there is the fact that there is a lack of fruit bearing trees and bushes here to supplement the diet. Add that to harsh weather conditions and I can understand why to most it is a place to visit rather than a place to live."
He'd rambled just then, he knew he had but oh well. "Still, to those adapted to the area I am sure any other place in the world would seem a poor one to live. There aren't any other views such as are offered here anywhere in Urin. Still, I myself am a wanderer by nature, I doubt I could ever really settle in one place no matter how beautiful it was or how good the grazing." Again with rambling, he really ought to learn to keep his copious musings on the world to himself.
The boned stallion gave a lopsided smile, which might or might not have been clearly visible to the other Aeri under the bone mask he wore. "In any case, I digress; my thanks to you Zopyros. If there is anything I can do for you in return do not hesitate to ask."
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 5:28 am
There was a slight nod from Zopyros. Of course Qurine was not like the plains, and could not support whole herds of Nequus. Maybe one herd, of a smaller size... But as far as he knew, Zopyros was the only one who lived here full-time.
The ramblings of Lucius meant little to Zopyros. He was content to meet another Aeri... Seems more Nequus than usual came to wander near the ocean shores.He had rarely met others, and now in two nights he had seen two different Nequus... And Aeri no less.
"Yes." He gave a slight smile to the other stallion, able to distinguish the good-nature in his voice that meant he was smiling. "You are welcome... And I can think of nothing that I need. Though if you wouldn't mind... A question." Sometimes, he had little tact... But he couldn't help it! He wasn't used to having company. "Why the bones? Aren't they heavy?"
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Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2008 6:41 am
Lucius gave a crooked smile at the question and shrugged his wide orange wings. "I suppose they must be," he said with a nod, "but I've worn them since I was a colt so I hardly notice these days. Their original owner was a fire elemental named Pyrus who lived some years before my birth. I assume that this is why they are the colour they are, and why they are warm to touch and glow a little." It was probably also why they fitted him so well, hadn't fallen apart and didn't imped his movements as they ought to.
"As to why," the vivid-maned stallion went on, a frown crossing his face, "well I suppose I felt it my duty. He had been a great dreamer for the people he lived with, the stories told of him paint him and evil creature wanting only power and control over the Nequus of the world but the ideas he had fascinated me. The strong of body and mind ruling and protecting the weak, and helping them to become stronger themselves. Still. His ideas were misliked and whether his ideas were right or wrong is immaterial. Had he been fairly challenged and defeated by a force equal to the power he wielded his death would not have inspired me to take on his remains. As it was however, a group of young stallions pretended to be interested in his ideas and became close to him. Once they had his trust, they struck him down from behind, betrayed him and gave him no chance to defend himself."
The dark-coated stallion snorted and shook his head, ears set back somewhat in anger; remembering how proud the old b*****d, the last of the murderers had been of his deeds always made him see red. "In any case," the Aeri went on once he had calmed a little, "I was disgusted by the tale of treachery pumped up to be some great deed and so I climbed to the place where he had died and took what was left of him with me. Since then I have... well, tried to carry on his spirit I suppose and done all I have been able to do to punish those who would betray as the ones who killed Pyrus did."
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 10:04 am
Nodding slightly, Zopyros was happy to listen to the story. He smiled a bit, wings shifting slightly. He wasn't impatient... Merely fidgety on occation. Lucius was one of the most interesting Nequus he had ever met.
"It is noble of you to do that... Hamper your own life to have Pyrus live on." It was something he doubted he could ever do. "I'm glad that you know the story... And are willing to tell it." The white aeri smiled, once again. He seemed good natured enough.
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Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 5:40 am
Lucius smiled, chuckled slightly at the other stallion’s words. “Thank you,” he said with a nod of his skull-clad head, “I must say it is always pleasant to meet somebody who doesn’t think it ‘creepy’ or ‘weird’ or whatever, and it is my pleasure to tell. The purpose of a story, after all, is to be told and to perhaps teach something, is it not?”
He knew what he’d learned from this particular story. Don’t let somebody get behind you if they seem too keen on your ideas, trust only those you have known for a long time and who have proven themselves worthy of it. Watch your back, always watch your back and do not underestimate what stupid people are willing to do to win the privilege of being allowed to remain stupid.
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Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2008 7:12 pm
The white Aeri gave a soft smile to the stallion. Even under the skull, he could tell there was a smile. "You are welcome, Lucius... I don't find it creepy or weird... Merely a good story. One does not find such devotion anymore."
He didn't get the deepest meanings of the stallion's words... But he gathered enough. "It is almost dawn... Surely you are tired? I know of a few places the sun does not touch to rest in around here."
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Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 9:45 am
Lucius smiled at the other Aeri but gave a shake of his skull-helmed head. “My thanks Zopyros,” he said with a bob of his head, “but I am not yet ready to rest. I can cover a good many more miles before my body demands that I sleep, and there are a different sort of folk awake in the day who might have different sorts of news for me.” There were a lot more people in general awake come to that. The Jala, many of the Bae, some few of his own kin, the Ichsa and even a few Reya. At night the folk abroad were usually Aeri or Reya with a few Bae and the odd one or two Ichsa or Jala. The more people there were, the more chance that Vox might have been seen be it walking or resting.
“It has been a pleasure to meet you Zopyros,” the orange-eyed stallion went on after a moment, “but your words remind me that I must move onward to the very end of Qurine and then on to D’ob. I shall return here if my first scouring of the lands fails, and even if I do find Vox I shall be returning here sooner or later. I hope to see you again when I do.” Giving a deeper dip of his head this time, the red-maned stallion smiled at the other Aeri. “Fare you well, Zopyros; may the moon guide your steps.”
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Posted: Thu Feb 14, 2008 5:40 pm
The white Aeri smiled back to Lucius. He understood his reasoning, and his search for his son. It got lonely... The bond of kin wasn't easily broken. His had not... But that story was not for telling now.
"It has been a pleasure, Lucius." He grinned softly, in a kind gesture. "May you fare well... I hope that you find your son. If I see him, Lucius, I will tell him that you are looking... And I will help him find you."
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