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 Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:51 pm
Ambrosia probably wouldn’t come this deep into lands she had been banished from, but it was always hard to tell with her. she always had been rash, rash and angry and vengeful.
Snorting to himself, the blue-eyed crossbreed turned his attention back to the world before him and raced onward. He was faster than she, but she had always had incredible endurance. If he slowed or stopped, she might catch up with him and he knew very well that there was no way in any reality that he could best that mare in a fight. Fleeing, un-hellenic though it felt, was the most sensible course of action, and was the one most likely to keep is hide intact.
This in mind, the Master Tactician pushed his long legs into greater effort and sent a silent prayer to any deity that might be watching that he might see a friendly face soon.
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:22 pm
 Meleager was on his way to a pre-arranged sparring match when he caught sight of the blue figure racing across the grass. He recognised Castor immediately; his colour was distinctive, not to mention that Meleager could make out the unusual combination of Ichsa wings and Reya tails. There was something not quite right about his haste - the grey stallion halted where he was for a moment, watching him, until he was sure. Graceful as he was, the tactician's tiredness was plain. And yet he was still running so fast... There was a sense of urgency about him. Frowning, Meleager changed his course to intercept the pale blue stallion. His match could wait; this looked important. Thankfully he was fresh and rested, and close enough that the swifter stallion had no chance to outpace him as he came up from an angle to meet him. "Castor!" he called as soon as he was within earshot, guessing that the other stallion's determination might close him off from the world around him. "What is it?" he added as he drew closer, voice marked with concern. This was not play or exercise, he was sure of that; this was serious.
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:34 pm
As the by now familiar voice reached his ears, Castor skidded to a halt and wheeled about to face the approaching Reya, his breath coming in deep gasps. Thank all Gods for that. “Meleager,” he managed after a moment or two of hauling air into his lungs, “I can’t tell you how...how glad I am to see you. I’ve come from...the border; my sister was there.”
Taking a longer pause than the gasps within his speech, the pale-coated crossbreed turned his head back the way he had come and frowned. “She tried to kill me,” he went on, in a rather indignant tone of voice. “Hated to run away, but...I always put my hide before...before my pride as it were.”
Giving a snort, Castor turned his attention back to Meleager and shrugged his wings. “I doubt she’d follow me this far, but I thought it would be safer to keep going until I ran into somebody capable of kicking her snow-white backside to Quirne and back.” Still panting and beginning to feel the tremble of exhausted muscles, the dark-maned crossbreed met Meleager’s eyes and gave him a slight smile. “I think you’d do just fine on that score, yes?”
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 1:57 pm
Meleager couldn't help smiling at Castor's indignant tone of voice, but he was no less worried now he knew the cause of the crossbreed's flight. "Yes," he agreed. It would be a pleasure to beat that b***h - and make sure she never came back to the Hellene territories again, he thought, suddenly fiercely protective of his friend. It didn't look like he'd get the chance, though; there was no sign of anyone following him.
Frowning again, the dappled stallion turned back to Castor. "You're alright, though?" he asked. He could see no obvious injuries, and his movement hadn't looked impeded by anything other than fatigue. If Ambrosia had tried to kill Castor, she hadn't done a very good job of it, the herdleader thought grimly. If she did turn up now - which looked increasingly unlikely - she would be in serious trouble, even if she had left her brother unharmed.
He wondered if this would be a recurring problem. He hadn't met Ambrosia personally, but he'd heard enough about her from various sources to know that she was a nasty piece of work - and best far from the herd, where she could not influence them in any way. He'd been only too ready to make her an outcast when he'd heard the plan of hers that Castor had foiled. She was an insult to the Hellenic spirit.
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:12 pm
Castor nodded his head mechanically as he recalled the gesture was generally accepted and smiled again. “Yes, I’m alright. I was lucky enough to spot her reflection in the river I was drinking from and make a swift exit. She didn’t get to so much as n** me.” Though he’d been forced to run away, he was quite pleased about that. He was still better than her, always better than her. “Not an experience I’d care to repeat, though,” the Master Tactician observed after a moment or two of silence. “I think in future I may stick to more central areas of the territories, unless I’m in strong company of course.”
He could not, however, expect Meleager to wander around with him whenever he felt like taking a walk. For all that they were friends, Meleager was the herdleader, not his personal bodyguard. Sadly. Meleager would make a very nice personal bodyguard, especially if he led the way into any potentially dangerous situations... Although if he was going into a potentially dangerous situation he really ought to be concentrating on that not Meleager’s toned rump. Bad hypothetical Castor, very bad hypothetical Castor; not clever at all. Very nice hypothetical Meleager-bodyguard. How close might he feel the need to be in order to carry out such duties?...
...And drifting off into fantasy land was not the thing to do right now.
Castor shook himself and looked back at his well-muscled companion. “Could we find somewhere shady to rest?” he asked, glancing about for a nice shady spot, and or somewhere to get a drink. “My legs feel like...” and this was where his ingenuity ran out. Weird and wonderful battle plans, yes. Similes? Not so much. “...Like really tired legs,” the tendril-winged stallion concluded with dignity.
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:38 pm
Meleager smirked. Castor had been looking at him in a slightly odd way for a moment, but seemed to be back to normal now. "That sounds like a good idea," he agreed. "There's a couple of nice spots near here, I think - water'll be a bit farther off, but there might be sweet-water fruit trees around," he added, smiling as he remembered their previous encounter with such trees. Castor would be fine after a drink and some rest - he was relieved about that. Because the herd couldn't afford to have an important member out of action, he told himself, although he knew that was not the only reason.
"I was..." Meleager hesitated. No, he couldn't leave now. His sparring match wasn't that important; it was more necessary for him to ensure that the Master Tactician - his friend - was safe. "Never mind," he said with a shrug, "I'll stay with you for a while, until we're somewhere where there are more Nequus about. For now..." He looked around, and shrugged again, then gestured with a wing in a direction he thought might have suitable shade and possibly water. "This way?"
It would be rather inconvenient if the Master Tactician could only travel in limited areas, he thought, remembering Castor's comment. Perhaps he needed a permanent guard of some kind assigned to him; that would save him having to see out, as he had put it, 'strong company' whenever he wanted to travel. Meleager sighed to himself. He had not been herdleader, he would happily have volunteered for that task. As it was that, that was not at all plausible, and he wasn't sure how Castor would feel about the idea in any case.
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 2:58 pm
Castor gave another nod and set off in the direction indicated. “Right, sounds good to me, and thank you. As I say, I really doubt she’d come this far in but you never can tell with psycho bitches like her.” Snorting and shaking his head, Castor did his best to push his sister from his mind. He would not, he decided, be telling his father about this encounter. It had hurt him enough the first time Ambrosia had tried to kill him, or rather have him killed. He doubted hearing that it had happened again, and had come far closer to succeeding, would make his sire feel any better about the situation, and suspected that it would make him feel worse.
Shaking his head again, the crossbreed made another attempt to turn his mind away from his murderous sibling and found his mind alighting on sweet-water fruits and Meleager. He had been happy that he’d been able to fetch down a fruit for the herdleader, not just for the sake of showing off either and he didn’t think just because Meleager was pleasing to the eyes, either. Badly phrased sentences aside, he thought it had made him happy because he liked the dappled stallion, and that was good seen as they were friends after all; liking your friends was good.
Smiling wryly at the obvious nature of that observation, Castor paced onward at Meleager’s side. His heart and breathing had slowed now, but exhaustion still ran through his whole body and promised the ache of strained muscle to come. He really didn’t want to have to run away like that again. “Meleager-ha...” the crossbreed smiled at the automatic instinct to affix a suffix, snorted and shook himself. “Meleager,” he began again, turning his smile onto the brown-eyed Reya beside him. “Do you think I should try to learn to fight? I mean I did a little when I was a colt but I was always terrible... I know that I’m not physically improved that much and no matter how hard I worked Ambrosia would still be able to kick the drek out of me but... I don’t know. It might help? Maybe? What do you think?”
As a fine warrior himself, perhaps Meleager would have some opinion on whether it was better for him to remain utterly useless and just run or to attempt to become slightly less useless and perhaps try to get a kick or two in before getting around to running. The former was probably the most sensible in his on opinion, was probably what he’d stick with but he still wanted Meleager’s opinion, and he’d wanted something to say, too so there it was.
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:24 pm
That wasn't a question he'd expected to hear from Castor. Meleager took a moment to consider before replying. "Honestly, no, I don't think it would help. If you don't have a chance of winning then you'd be better off saving all your strength for running. And by attempting to attack her you might just open yourself up to being injured more easily, and that... would not be good. If running works - and it seems to," he added with a smile, "then stick with it." The herdleader shrugged. "There's no shame in running if the alternative is death. I don't want you to die."
It was moment before he realised just what he'd said and added hurriedly, "The herd doesn't need more changes like that." It was an horribly ineloquent explanation and not at all the entire truth, but he was a little embarrassed that he'd said what he had; that attempt couldn't make it worse.
As they rounded the curve of a rise in the land, a copse of trees came into view and he started heading towards it. For the moment, he avoided Castor's eyes, and continued speaking while looking ahead. "I think there are better options. If you don't want your travel to be limited, then you'll need to take protection with you when you leave the central areas. A pain but... if you find a certain soldier you get along with them he or she could be assigned to you in particular." He glanced across as the pale-coated tactican, feeling less awkward now he was on a less-personal subject, but still unsure how he would take the suggestion.
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 3:40 pm
Fortunately for Meleager, Castor didn’t consider even for a moment that he could possibly have meant anything but what he said. Doubtless the Reya cared personally as well, they were friends, but the good of the herd was far more important than that. As he spotted what was probably their destination, the half Aeri pricked his ears up eagerly and found his legs a little more willing to respond to his commands.
“Yes,” he said after taking a moment to mull over all his companion had said, “I agree with you; running works and clearly need to survive so when needed I shall stick to that strategy. I like the idea of finding myself a bodyguard, too, most sensible. I shall have to keep my eyes open as I wander about for any likely candidates. Having my own personal muscle as it were would certainly discourage anyone from attempting to harm me, and Ambrosia wouldn’t be a consideration at all. While she is quite a good fighter, she was always a tactician first; a fully trained warrior would have her beaten every time provided I pick a good one, which I would.” He’d have to ask permission of said warrior’s captain, of course, but it would be a mere formality really. As a council member, clearly his body needed guarding if he couldn’t do it for himself, and he couldn’t imagine any of the mark leaders refusing him his preference of protector.
“I’d need somebody quite intelligent, I think,” Castor commented aloud as they drew nearer to the copse, “I don’t think I could abide spending so much time around somebody I couldn’t hold a decent conversation with.” So, powerful and smart; was that asking too much? No, no Meleager was both, and if Meleager could be both, why not somebody else? Of course the dappled Reya was far more special than any other stallion could be, but that didn’t mean one couldn’t hold similar qualities to the herdleader, not at all.
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Posted: Tue Jun 10, 2008 4:02 pm
"Hmm..." Meleager thought for a moment; it was true that intelligence was not a quality that showed up often in warriors, although those who became the best had to be reasonably clever. There was a certain amount of in-the-moment decision making required, after all. Still, that was a very different sort of intelligence to that that Castor possessed. Reminded of his companion's talent, the dappled Reya felt momentarily awkward: he was by no means as smart as the tactician. But they were friends; Castor must think he was capable of having a decent conversation with. The grey stallion smiled at the realisation that he was worrying unnecessarily, and turned his thoughts back to searching for likely candidates amongst the soldiers he knew personally. If he could think of a few possibilities, it would save Castor the work.
As they reached the shade, one he'd met recently sprang to mind. Ignatius; he had seemed intelligent, and he was certainly a good warrior. He had also been a little uncomfortable with the idea of a being just an ordinary rank and file soldier; perhaps this sort of job would suit him. And he'd meant to mention the scaled stallion to Castor anyway. Meleager still wasn't entirely sure if he could trust the mutant newcomer, but he could see how Ignatius had adjusted to the herd since they'd first met - if he was more used to the idea of being part of a herd, then that was good. Meleager certainly wouldn't put the Master Tactician's safety in the care of someone he didn't trust.
"I may know a possible candidate," he said at last. "A newcomer to the herd - his name's Ignatius. We've only met once, and I'm not sure about him yet, but he seemed intelligent - and he's definitely capable." More than capable; he had almost beaten the herdleader himself.
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 4:00 am
Castor gave a sigh of relief as they stepped under the leafy boughs and cast himself to the ground to have a thorough roll, and hopefully work most of the sweat out of his coat. A proper bath would be in order later, but this would do for now. As Meleager spoke, the blue-eyed cross paused in his rolling, lying on his back, and made a thoughtful noise.
“Ignatius eh?” he said, flopping down onto his flank before shuffling into a more upright position with his legs curled around to the side. “Sounds like an excellent possibility if you think he’s good,” the crossblooded stallion said with a nod, lifting his head a little to look up at the dappled Reya. “I know you said you only met him once, but anything else you can tell me about him?”
Having a name to start his hunt with was definitely a good idea, and if he was new he might not be too valued by his captain yet, might not even be in a mark... Still, if Meleager had thought he had talent on one meeting the former of those ideas didn’t seem too likely, and come to that neither did the latter. Oh well, perhaps he would have to make himself slightly unpopular; it wasn’t as though he really knew any of the captains yet, so he wasn’t about to lose a friend over this or anything.
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Posted: Wed Jun 11, 2008 2:27 pm
Meleager couldn't help smiling at the rather undignified sight of the Master Tactician rolling in the grass, looking for all the world like an overgrown colt - especially when he paused on his back. He resisted his amusement, though, and nodded an affirmation to the pale crossbreed's question. "Yes - I should say that we sparred, and the outcome was a draw. Stalemate." Meleager grinned wryly. "He's good."
It was a little awkward standing and looking down at his companion as he spoke; he glanced around, and, seeing no one, decided that it would be alright to let his guard down a little. As he continued speaking he sat down, keeping a appropriate distance from the other stallion - probably more than was strictly necessary. "He said he was considering sigma or omega force, and I'm sure he'd be accepted into either. But as I said he's new - and he admitted that he wasn't sure about being an ordinary soldier and following orders." The dappled Reya looked over at Castor with worry in his dark eyes. "I liked him - if he adjusts well he'll be an asset to the herd, but if he doesn't..." Meleager sighed. A soldier who wouldn't follow orders would be a risk, and a hindrance rather than a help in battle. "He could be a problem.
"I think he'll be fine," he added, "but I would like your opinion. That was, actually, why I thought he might be suitable - if he's your bodyguard he wouldn't be just an ordinary soldier, and it might suit him better - I don't know," Meleager admitted. He wasn't yet sure if he could trust the scaled Reya, nor did he know him well enough from their brief meeting to know if he actually was suitable.
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 5:16 am
Castor raised his eyebrows and whinnied softly to himself. “That is good, certainly worth investigating further...” Frowning thoughtfully and settling his wings more comfortably by his sides, the crossbreed considered the potential difficulties Meleager had raised. “I don’t know. Might be an issue, might not; depends on whether he’s willing to take orders at all or not I suppose. From what you’ve said, though it isn’t much, I doubt he’s here to intentionally harm the herd, unless he’s very clever and speaking so to make everyone believe he must be honest and such...” The pale-coated stallion blinked and shook himself; he was wandering off topic.
“Anyway, yes where was I? Oh, of course, yes; if he’s willing to take some form of orders he might do well. I mean, there aren’t really that many orders you give to a bodyguard, are there; they just do their job. Nominally he’d still belong to whichever force he joined/joins, but I imagine that wouldn’t mean much more than joining in training and exercises with them when I didn’t require him.” Now looking back over at Meleager, Castor gave a slight smile. “I think that if it was phrased right to him he might be happy to take on the position, most people will do what you want if you can just phrase things right. Sadly I’m not so very good at that, though... Still, yes, he would be far from an ordinary soldier if he was my guard... I’ll have to find him and see if he’s suitable I suppose, and if he is I’ll have to find a decent way to ask if he wants the post.”
He might well need help on that last bit; perhaps he would ask Iris, or perhaps Meleager would have some idea. He rather hoped Meleager would actually; he liked Iris of course but Meleager was his special friend and he felt he knew the dappled stallion better and trusted him better. Not that he didn’t trust Iris of course; he did trust her but... but Meleager was his special friend, and he felt more comfortable speaking about personal things with the Reya stallion than he did with the Ichsa mare.
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 9:30 am
Most people will do what you want if you can just phrase things right. Meleager nodded at the truth in the tactician's words. He didn't think that Ignatius would take much convincing, if he was honest. The scaled stallion was intelligent enough to see the benefits to him of taking on the position; so all that remained was for Castor to meet him, and see if he really was suitable. ...Ah. And he should tell Castor about the stallion's oddities, as well. Meleager shifted position awkwardly, hoping that Castor wouldn't hold Ignatius' strangeness against him. He couldn't see why the white-marked crossbreed would, but there was no way to be sure.
"There is one more thing you need to know," he began, watching Castor's expression uncertainly as he spoke. "Ignatius is... odd." How to describe him? "He has scales," Meleager said bluntly, "and spines in a place of a mane... His tail is strange, too - like nothing I've seen before. And his teeth are sharp," he added, remembering the feel of them on his neck. "I would say these things add to his talent in battle rather than being a hindrance - but there's no denying he's strange."
He didn't think that would have any effect on Ignatius' ability to act as a bodyguard, but it wasn't his decision to make. It was Castor's - but he trusted the blue-coated stallion's judgement. He had already given an insight that Meleager wouldn't have thought of himself; it was unlikely that someone who intended to bring harm to the Hellenes would speak so openly about his difficulty adjusting. That was a relief. It made it more likely that Ignatius would try to get used to his new situation quickly. And the herdleader liked him - he wanted him to fit in with the herd. And, more than that, it made him feel more confident in his suggestion of Ignatius as bodyguard candidate. He would not put Castor's safety in the care of someone he could not entirely trust; because he was too important to the Hellenes, and, Meleager admitted to himself, increasingly important to him as well.
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 3:39 pm
Castor perked his ears up at the description and raised his eyebrows. “Well, that certainly does sound strange. Still, might scare some people off on looks alone and that can’t be a bad thing, after all.” This Ignatius was sounding like a more an more appealing guard by the moment. Still, all he knew thus far were superficial things, fairly superficial anyway. They might not get on as people, and that would be no good so he oughtn't to get his hopes up on this scaly personage.
“Well then,” Castor smiled and nodded, “I shall seek him out and find out what he’s like... any idea where I might find him?" By the sounds of it, one of the sparring arenas was probably but which one was not. Still, how hard could it be to find such an odd looking stallion? Not very, surely.
“Anyway...” Damn, he wasn’t do good at this whole chatting thing. “Are...umm... are you well today? Any progress on the mate front?” He hoped not. It was selfish, but he wanted to keep as much of Meleager’s spare time for himself as he could. If the dappled Reya took a mate, or started courting in earnest, he might be forgotten; sidelined. He didn’t want to be forgotten by his special friend.
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