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 Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:33 am
Her head turned, her mother and father were still sleeping. They wouldn't wake for a while, at least she hoped. Sengdroma normally took this time in the morning to explore the land around her. She had come across many new creatures and plants in her explorations. Each day, she moved farther and farther to learn new things. There was always something exciting just beyond.
Making her way to her feed, Sengdroma shook. Dirt, leaves, and other debris falling to the ground. She again looked to make sure her parents slept. Quietly, her hooves moved over the earth and into the forest, she wasn't sure which way should would be headed this day, so she just walked. The sun seemed to almost call her in it's direction, she nodded her head in understanding and made her path towards the large orb in the sky. Today was the day of a new adventure.
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Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 7:22 am
All the hard work he and his comrades had fought for had been destroyed. In the years they had slumbered or flown to far off reaches, sinister creatures had sought to manipulate the vulnerable. Now even the most holy of species had transformed into almost monstrous beasts. It was with a heavy heart that he grieved the loss of their innocence but it did steel him. Providing him with greater strength, it encouraged him to work harder to revive the lost ways that he and his comrades had lived by. Long forgotten concepts and traditions would be reborn...even if he was forced to take one tiny step at a time he would do so. After all, a tiny spark could set an entire forest on fire, no?
It had been with this in mind that the Angeni had adopted a number of individuals into his fold. Each had different qualities and quirks, varying strength and weaknesses. However, they also had one thing in common - they had a willingness to learn and as of yet, had not been touched by dark hands. Granted, Cyn Generis was aware that in time all of his new 'children' would be forced to face up to their adversaries but he would do everything in his power to make certain they were ready.
This 'project' of his had started in Islagiatt territory. It had only been after that land had been purged and secured by the Soquili that lived upon it, that he had moved on. Whispering his goodbyes to his grove as he embarked on a journey that wasn't necessarily life changing for him, but was for others. He was honour bound to do such a thing, a firm believer in the old ways he simply couldn't permit them to die out. If he were to lose faith then eventually the entire Kawani lands would be consumed in chaos and anarchy.
...Ironically, that was what his ultimate adversary had sought. Kiyoshi had always desired for absolute chaos so that he might reform it and control it. There was method in his madness, Cyn would at least bow down to such intelligence but he could never permit it to happen.
Today had begun much like any other day for the Angeni as he pushed his way through the long grasses of the meadows. The spiders in the depths of his mane were stirring, murmuring to one another with gossip and other idle chit chat. The 'driver' continued to alert the Angeni to any possible obstacles, occasionally changing out for another arachnid as they adopted 'shifts' to accomodate their master's new duties. Everything was quiet...
While the Angeni could sense no immediate soquili in his vicinity or any signs of life other than bleary eyed birds, he could detect the very slight lick of heat on his flank. It simply alerted him to the fact that the sun was rising up to begin yet another day. Ah, but perhaps there would be just a little rain to provide him with a small amount of respite today. He didn't ask for much, just something to cool down his ebony coat.
Coming to a halt, the Angeni released a soft sigh and gave his limbs a stretch. He had been walking for hours now, it wasn't something that bothered him too much - but coming to a halt had made his limbs lock up anda little stretch was in order!
"Morning, you lot," he murmured, obviously referring to his 'pilot' and his 'crew'.
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Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 9:45 am
Making her way to the eastern woods, Sengdroma quickly became more alert to her surroundings and the sounds of nature that encompassed the area. Her eyes darted from object to object, her nose catching scent of different animals around her. She was still young, impressionable. Her mother and father made it a point to teach the young filly that she should show respect to all living things, be it plant, animal, or other Soquili. As always, Sengdroma listened intently to the words of her parents. She pondered on her lessons as she walked along.
She had yet to learn of the many different types of soquili, though her father had warned her of the pelt covered and spiked tailed type. She was told if she ever were to see these, to run as fast as she could and seek shelter and help. Sengdroma didnt' like the idea of running, it was a cowards way, was it not? She knew she was small now, but, when she was older...she'd show those Soquili that not all are scared.
Up ahead, she saw a large black figure. It was another soquili, he was massive in comparison to the others she had met. Her head tilted as she looked over him, his mane and tail were full of volume and quantity....and his wings. She stopped. She had sisters with wings...and her father had wings...but not like that. She crept a little closer out of curiousity, why on earth would another soquili need so many sets of wings?
Unfortunately, Sengdroma had yet to learn the art of stealth. As she made her way closer to view the larger stallion, her small hoof landed right on top of a brittle twig, causing a rather loud snap. Sengdroma lowered her head and cringed, knowing that it wasn't nice to stare...much less sneak up on, others. She waited for her scolding from the adult.
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Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2008 6:51 am
Cyn Generis was renowned in the forests for never using his wings. While they were unharmed and fully functional, he had chosen to 'abandon' them in much the same way as he had rejected his sight. He considered it a form of penance, casting aside what he had once valued so highly above all other things. In his arrogance he had paid the ultimate price, the value of such things had become almost trivial. Over the years he had grown so to these changes that in place of these now unused appendages and senses he had been granted something of much greater use.
No longer a child of the skies, his limbs had become more muscular and his body more powerful. He was substantially heavier than he had once been, no longer lithe and capable of 'gliding' or so some might have assumed. He had become more capable in Soquili to Soquili combat and despite his handicaps, was arguably one of the best in the Kawani. That being said he had always been incredibly tall, towering at 18 hands he was a frightening size as it was - it would have only been safe to assume that such mighty wings had been used to keep him airbourne if he so choose!
Nevertheless, there were other reason for his choice to hide his eyes from view. Banishing himself to an 'eternal' darkness had been as much for his own safety as it was for others. Blessed with the power of foresight, he simply needed to look at a creature to know the events that would shape the course of its life. He would see their birth, their life and finally their death in all it's glorious or gruesome detail. A long time ago when he had been young and rather arrogant he would have savoured such a skill, but now he deemed it as a curse. For one to be able to see so much of a creature they barely knew, to be aware of their ultimate undoing...was simply too much power. He had been cursed with such a gift for a reason, after all it had been his choice to disrupt the flow of time to save his lover when she had grown ill.
He had wanted the chance to save her.
Instead the spirits had ensured she died, he had been forced to watch. His punishment was to become more severe though, as these angered entities locked him in his equine form. Though they may have shattered the hourglass he once held in his hands they had ensured that the dust fell in his eyes. It had been this that had been his undoing for in that moment he could see all of time, he could see the creatyre die and rot before him. Or that was how it had been to begin with, his punishment for trying to alter life's natural course. As he had matured it had lessened, he was able to halt such visions before they became too severe but the punishment had done it's job.
If he was going to have to watch that, he'd sooner be blind.
It was a sad tale and one that only his arachnid companions were aware of. Through his restless slumbers in the caves they had learnt of his secrets and had sworn to protect them. He was their treasure after all and they wouldn't permit it to be marred. He certainly wasn't perfect but as an Ancient creature he was almost certainly unique.
Alas he wasn't permitted very much time to discuss any of his days itinary with his crew as the hair on his neck rose. While his companions had yet to alert him to the presence of another, instincts already told him otherwise. This was confirmed shortly after as the twig snapped and his ears flicked towards the sound. It seemed that the creature that had been so clumsy, had gone very still...
"A child, Sir!" The 'pilot' at last reported from his vantage point on the Angeni's horn. "Alone."
The Angeni nodded once to the albeit silent voice.
"You have no need to cower in the grasses, small one." He addressed the filly quietly so as not to disturb the slumbering creatures near by, releasing a delicate chuckle at the child's clumsiness. He had definitely seen worse than that, one of his fondest students had been one of the most clumsy he had met. "I do not bite, contrary to belief."
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 5:50 am
Her eyes widened in an almost fearful state as the large stallion spoke. She was hopeing that he would have assumed it was just a small forest creature. Alas, she was caught. Her mother and father had taught her to take responsibility, so she slowly made her way forward for him to see her. Completely oblivious to the fact that he had cast away his sight.
She cringed at the thought of a scolding, but at the same time, she was thankful for the chance to be able to gaze over the stallions features a little more closely. Step by step, her little hooves carried her closer. Stopping just slightly right of the stallion, her ears flattened and her tail tucked in close to her rump. She was thinking to herself about how the next time she would definately have to be a little more careful when curiousity strikes. Next time, she would try to be a little more aware of things that she walked over.
Sengdroma couldn't see or hear the small companions that resided within Cyn's mane. She assumed that the stallion actually saw her standing there in front of him. Her nostrils widened as she took in the unfamiliar scent. She had not idea that it was the scent of legend.
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 6:20 am
Now he could sense her. The hair on his neck flattened once more and a small smile lifted his equine lips. It was true that he couldn't see her, but he had taken note of her attempts to close the gap between them. As a result he could accurately place her mere steps away from him and more to the point, could confirm that she was both small and slight. His pilot had already informed him that it was a mere child but he often preferred to let his instincts have the opportunity to conform or reject such observations too...
However, her cowering had not gone unnoticed by the stallion. Her 'aura' had changed considerably and while he had initially assumed it was through fear at his size, it was clear that something wasn't quite adding up. She hadn't spoken yet, she hadn't made any further attempts to intrude upon his personal space. But, there was something intimidating her - having never raised a child in quite the same manner as the majority of Soquili did, it had occured to him that her views might be a little different than his.
After all over the course of his life the Angeni had grown to understand that observation and 'spying' were merely ways of acquiring information. So long as the individual made no attempts to hide or deny their activities when discovered, there was no reason for him to be angered. If they had ill intentions he would have noticed it a long time ago and acted accordingly. Thus, he was rarely angered and rarely understood the logic that went behind teaching children not to look at something they found interesting.
Granted, staring and then whispering cruel words to a cohort was a little different but in principle, admiring something of interest was nothing something he would speak out against. The Spirits only knew how often he had admired the thing he had wanted most...
"You need not cower, small one," clearing his throat the Angeni turned his head in the direction of the filly and flared his nostrils. She was clearly a foal, the scent she carried was not a mature one and appeared to be a mix of a variety. Having yet to find her own and having yet to grow into it, she was still linked to her parents in that way at least. That being said, at least he knew for definite where she was now!
"I do not bite, contrary to what those around me might believe."
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 6:50 am
Her head tilted one way, then the other as Cyn spoke. A small, courteous smile crossed her face as he assured her again that he did not bite. Sengdroma held back, but only for a moment more. She was sure that if she was to get a scolding that it would have happened already. She came to the conclusion that this stallion was friendly and apparently not upset that she had been staring at him. She had still yet to realize that he didn't 'see' her.
After Cyn's reassurances to her, Sengroma took a few more stall steps forward. Stretching her head and neck out, she tossed her nose up a few times towards his wings, her eyes then catching sight of his large black horn. She stopped, her focus shifting from his wings to his horn. Her eyes widened again, she had not met a unicorn yet either...but now, she was confused. She had yet to learn of cross breeds or shared traits. Her father had horns, but they weren't like this stallions.
She retracted her head and neck, standing there in front of Cyn. Sengroma was eager to learn about his traits and how he came about them, but she didn't know how else to express this to the stallion. She just stood in front of him, wide eyed and looking back and forth from his horn, to his wings, to his mane...then her eyes caught glimpse of his leg wings. Her head lowered quickly and peered around the stallion, as if double checking to see what she saw. She nickered just slightly out of delight as she came to the conclusion that he really did have wings on his hind ankles. She didn't understand, but she was delighted.
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:00 am
Cyn was a hybrid - he had not been born into this world by another Angeni and a Unicorn but instead had adopted the appearance upon his descent from the heavens. That had been many hundreds of years ago, long before the corruption of the races and the loss of the old ways. Those who had possessed such traits as his tended to do so out of choice as opposed to through birth. It was safe to assume that Cyn could recall no parent given the nature of his very existence - it was a complex concept to understand and one he often preferred not to discuss. To discuss his passed was to relive too much pain and suffering.
He had been arrogant when he was young, he had been obssessed with his own beliefs. The qualities and quirks, his powers...everything had let to his ultimate downfall when he had gone too far. However, not once had he ever considered submitting to the darkness. While he couldn't face the light any longer it was easier for him to become neutral and to sleep. In sleep he could do no harm or good, even subconciously and thus no one could complain or celebrate.
It was his preference.
Nevertheless as she continued to inspect him he detected the soft breaths upon his further and wings. He always had been an oddity to Soquili - as an Ancient creature he possessed all eight sets of wings. His ears were embraced by wings, his back and hooves as well. While those by his hooves and ears served little purpose, those on his back had once played an invaluable role in his life. That being said there had been a time when those wings by his ears had been used to - they had often drooped or perked according to his mood - now they seemed to be dead.
The horn though? It was nothing more than a weapon to him... He possessed the ability to heal using it but never dead. There were unicorns who had been born with that duty in their hearts, he was a warrior and a guardian who was responsible for their care. So long as they performed their duty, he would perform his.
Alas, as she continued to inspect him he did encourage his wings to give a twitch. In particular those on his hooves gave a little flutter and buffeted the fluffy fur that surrounded his 'foot'. It was a simple movement, but aware that she was inspecting his form (given the position of her breath on his body), he knew where she was and what she was looking towards at the given time.
"They look strange, do they not?" he chuckled softly and gave the wings on his hoof another flutter as he spoke, shifting his weight so that he was in a much more comfortable position. "They do not fly very well, unfortunately."
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:21 am
Had Sengdroma been vocal, she would have squealed at delight upon the fluttering of the ankle feathers. She jumped and smiled as they moved quickly, she looked back at the angeni with a WOW expression on her face.
She was intrigued, so say the least, by this massive stallion. He was larger than her father, who she had thought to have been the largest soquili alive. Of course, that being the naive thoughts of a foal.
Curiously, she wanted to see just how large this stallion compared to her father. She stopped, gazing at Cyn for a moment, then made her way to his side. She had no wings to furl out to compare with, but she had her small framed body.
She stood next to Cyn, head held as high as it would go, she stretched her legs and puffled out her chest. She cast her eyes sideways finding that she hardly made it to his shoulders. At least on her father, her head came to his withers. She snorted slightly at the comparison.
She wondered how this soquili had come to be so large, her parents hadn't had the chance or reason to tell her of the different breeds except for the dangerous ones. Sengdroma was certain, now, that this particular Soquili was not one of those breeds, by looks nor personality. She smiled, gently and quickly nudging the stallions leg in greeting and acceptance.
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 8:58 am
Some Angeni were created small, some were created to be monstrous in size. In the past, the size of an Angeni was judged upon the duties they had been chosen to perform. A more diplomatic Angeni would be slighter and would require less bulk, whereas a combative Angeni would require more strength and thus they would be blessed with a great size. Alas, in the younger generation height was generally based on the size of your parents and became decidedly less complex to understand. As a guardian of his kind and to those of the more vulnerable species he had been large although it really didn't help that the insane amount of hair made him seem even larger than he already was.
Nevertheless as he listened to the tiny filly prance about nearby him, he couldn't help but smile. This smile quickly turned to bemused laughter though as his pilot explained precisely what she was doing. He had often had adults compare their size to his but that merely required a brief glance. To have a foal measure her size was somewhat comical - he was sure she had her reasons for it but all the same. It was just as well his laughter was soft and would be nearly impossible to be considered as anything other than light hearted.
"You will grow in time, there is no doubt of that," he assured her despite the lack of conversation she provided. The nudge against his leg and the intrigue in her [removed](according to his pilot) though, did indicate that she was an inquisitive creature...to what extent she was, and in terms of what conclusions she was capable of drawing remained to be seen though.
"Though I might advise you do not lift your head in that manner, it is unwise."
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Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 10:11 am
She smiled as Cyn laughed, she took no offense as she knew she looked silly, but she just wanted to know how much large he was than her father. It was by several hands at least. She took a few steps away after she was done, her ears pivoting to listen to Cyn as he spoke.
As he advised on not raising her head in such a way, her head tilted and she blinked, as if asking why not?
Her small ears and bustling mind full of thoughts and wonder had yet to hear the small voices that were speaking to the stallion. Wouldnt' she be in for a surprise when that was revealed? Sengdroma was thinking to herself what an amazing soquili she had happened upon. She was thankful now that the twig had snapped and caught his attention, other wise, she might have not had this opportunity. She couldn't wait to get home to 'tell' her parents.
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 6:41 am
Some would cry foul and call him a liar upon the revelation that he had the assistance of spiders as he explored. Some would claim that his wisdom and words were false, whispered to him by another being. However, Cyn was an individual who had long since developed a thick skin. He would permit those individuals to question him and proclaim he wasn't as he appeared, but to those who chose to listen he would provide his utmost attention. After all, the Angeni made no attempts to hide his companions and more often than not he spoke of his gratitude for them. Just because he didn't introduce them on an immediate level did not necessarily mean he had lied about their existence.
If no one enquired, he simply didn't inform them. It was something that was on a 'need to know' basis. Spiders in his hair, guiding him around obstacles was not something that anyone really needed to know. He was indeed blind but even without them he could function, he simply needed to be more aware of his surroundings and employ the use of instincts even more. In short they made his life easier but he tended to enjoy their company too. They were a comfort to him and the only ones who understood him.
Nevertheless as her head tilted her silent question was whispered to him by his pilot and he gave a slight nod. She was indeed an inquisitive one, it was unfortunate that she chose not to speak with him...his lack of sight made communication difficult but he had his methods. He simply had to rely on his companions and trust their judgement in relation to this little encounter.
"It will hurt your neck and limit your peripheral vision," he explained after a few moments. It was ironic that he should speak of 'vision' when he had none himself, but he knew that a propped up head usually meant that the individual could generally see more of the ground than what existed around them. "You will leave yourself vulnerable to predators if you can only see the ground and not what lies behind you..."
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 7:56 am
Again, her ears flicked then rotated to focus on the words of the angeni, soaking in what advice he could offer. Sengdroma, like most of her family, had a thirst for knowledge of things they did not know or understand. Even though she didn't speak, Sengdroma still made typical horse sounds. She nickered and bobbed her head just slightly as if saying "I understand."
She lowered her head back to the appropriate level, her eyes darting side to side to see how much of a difference it really made. Seeing that Cyn had told her the truth, she smiled. She had learned something new.
At this age, Sengroma would be unable to draw the theory of this stallion being a phony, even if she had paid attention and saw the spiders in his mane. She would find it quite interesting that such a large stallion travelled with such small friends. She, at this point, would be uncapable of understanding their true reason for being with him. Perhaps when she was older.
Once she was done testing Cyn's words, she looked back to the stallion. She took a few steps back closer to him, her head bobbed and she sounded off in what seemed to be small soft grunts. "Tell me more," she pleaded with her actions. It didn't dawn on the small filly that even though this stallion was being friendly, that he may have other business to tend to. It didn't occur to her that she may be stalling his plans for the day. Instead, she thirsted for more of his knowledge. The only adults that really ever spoke to her were her parents. She had older siblings, but they were often too busy to go explore with her. Sengroma was excited to find another adult that made time for her.
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 4:30 am
Cyn Generis had no particular plans for the day, he rarely did. While he had been given a task by the spirits he wasn't guaranteed to find those that he required each day. Not all his encounters would present him with a potential apprentice, some individuals simply weren't suited to learning the Old Ways. Their minds were too closed at this point, however in time Cyn could onyl hope that experience would open their eyes. He never dismissed a creature entirely, he merely accepted it wasn't ready at this point in time. If they should find themselves and open their minds at a later date he would be waiting for them...
Alas, regardless of what plans he might or might not have had, Cyn Generis was not an individual who spouted off random nonsense of facts. Her desire to learn more wasn't something he could accomodate on the spot. He had no material for study, nor could he make any further observations. His spiders were at a loss, they could describe her body language to him but it was simply too early in the morning for anything else. No substantial observations could be made about anything - if she wasn't specific about what she wanted, he couldn't help her.
He was a guide and a mentor, this much was true. But a mentor and a 'teacher' were decidedly different. He was not destined to teach her from the ground up, he only had the ability to teach her what he knew best. Unless he could sight further potential in her, he couldn't plant that seed and cultivate it. Given the time of day it was, there wasn't even an opportunity to test her through chance encounters!
Foals needed to learn how to sleep in.
Alas, his ears did pivot somewhat as his companions once again made reference to her lack of company and he grimaced somewhat. According to her height she shouldn't have been alone at all. A wayward foal, exploring just a little too far from home perhaps?
"Young One, where have you left your parents?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:48 am
She stopped for a moment at his question, she looked a little off guard. She hoped he wasn't going to return her to them so quickly, she had enjoyed the encounter. She blinked a few times, her expression blank for a moment as if in deep though. Her head turned, she couldn't exactly remember which way she had come from.
Glancing from side to side, her eyes caught the color of flowers that she had passed on her way in. "I remember those!" she thought to herself. She turned back to Cyn and smiled. She tossed her head a few times, "Follow me." her actions said.
Sengdroma turned her small frame and took a few steps, looking back at the large stallion to see if he was following. She pawed at the ground quickly, excited to take her new friend to her family. Wouldn't her father be proud? She didn't realize that Cyn was an angeni breed, nor did she realize that this was the breed of soquili that her father held high above others. Scythe had told his children stories of the valor and honor of the angeni kind, but he had never meet one in person....he'd only heard the stories that others passed down. This would be a shock.
Like most other foals her age, Sengdroma was full of energy and spunk. Not really hyper, but definately active, and like most foals, impatient. She whinied at Cyn as if saying, "Come on, this way!"
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