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 Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 1:00 pm
 He was just returning from his trip to Ryuten, and his chance meeting with the Aeri mare Vierna. While he was alone, nothing but his hooves steady pace and easy rthym to keep him compnay, he allowed his mind to slip into thought. Mostly about this new knowledge he had gained of his mother, and a colt that use to be his best friend. Could he remember anything of Tuiro? What sort of stallion was he? How did they come to be friends? Aitumn had never really took much notice of his memory loss until late, with the Zaknafein affair and now with the things that Vierna was telling him. He didn't believe she'd have reason to lie to him, but still it would be much better if he were able to remember on his own. And then there was his mother, the sickly mare who had given him up to a herd of Aeri. He wasn't angry persay, and he supposed he could understand, but her decision did still irk him.
Would he not give his life for his own foals? Why hadn't she? Perhaps she hadn't wanted to take care of him at all, and it was an unfortunate situation for her. It wasn't that uncommon, to have a mate or lover leave and have the other parent take care of the fruit and tree alone. Perhaps this was the reason. Still Aitumn was more perplexed than he was angry, for it was such a long time ago and there was no reason for him to be selfish now. Though the jala did wish to get some sort of answer to these questions and musings.
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Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2008 4:05 pm
 Between the lands of Shrilal and Ryuten, passing between the border at will, happened to be the seasoned warrior at rest. The body of a Bae was short and stocky, but his teachings had taught him to use that to his advantage. Serenely and without care the top-knot Samurai stallion rested upon all fours with a rather pecular item stuck in the ground no more than a foot from his nose and within grabbing distance.
His name was Bakufu, his trade was the way of the blade. A pecular item indeed, which he happened upon at such a strange time and way that none seemed to think him compitent after hearing the tale. Though none could deny his skill with using such an item, one of which none had been able to duplicate.
As it was, Bakufu happened to be in a state of mental rest, thinking of nothing and merely enjoying the bleakness of the world around him. Metitation he had come to call it, for it was rooted in the field of discovering answers for many questions that required a calm mind. At the moment there was nothing to disturb the little Bae stallion and his quiet afternoon, neither wind nor chill to irrate his hide and make it twitch. Even in a winter such as this.
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Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 6:02 pm
While going along at such a brisk yet controlled pace, the blood bay Jala had no trouble carrying the woven basket between his teeth. His strong kept locked withing a light arch while his knees bent evenly to absorb any of the shock from his jogging. If ever there was a time for the fit stallion to drop a fruit from his charge, this wasn't the instance. For even while his mind may have been lost to his pointless ponderings, his body was fully aware of its self and the movement it meant to persue.
However, as he was nearing the border to Shirlal once more a brint gleam from the winter sun distracted his attention and caused his dull, dark eyes to squint against its harshness. Whatever sort of item it was, the sunlight reflected from its surface with a particularly vivid talent. Finding it difficult to continue in that direction without squinting, and running the risk of stumbling, Aitumn slowed to a gradual hault that did little to disturb the fruits within his possession. Just what exactly was that? The fit and sleek stallion pricked his ears in the direction, peering around the painfully bright item to spy the figure of a Bae directly to its side. He supposed Nequus came into strange items at times, but the gleaming metallic object was the strangest Aitumn had come into contact with. Though it did run a close race with Lucius' bones.
The idea to wander over and inspect the item came to mind, but Aitumn was in a bit of a hurry to get back to Cressida and tree, and he wasn't exactly a social butterfly. Besides, strange Nequus sometimes prefered to stay that way. With this in mind, Aitumn took a step back on his way.
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Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:55 pm
Bakufu was quite aware of the other by the sound of hooves crunching around. A single ear flicked unnoticed in the direction of the unknown individual but other than that the samurai bae made no move to notice the other. The atmosphere was a peaceful one, but his thoughts had been disturbed already and there was no going back to the ease of meditation. In the nick of time apparently, for the stranger's hooves moved again.
"Stay awhile. Your hesitance must have been for something greater than a mere glance." Unlike quite a few Nequus around, the samurai had no problem speaking his mind to others. Besides, its been awhile since a good conversation had come to pass in the last week or so, and he was eager to hear news other than his own. Perhaps even a good bit of listening would do him some good as well. Although as his eyes cracked open against the world to view this stranger and the basket he was carrying, something else seemed to catch his attention. The atmosphere changed. Perhaps it was the way the Jala carried himself, or the distant look in those hollow eyes, Bakufu couldn't help but c**k a brow.
"Excuse my manners. My name is Bakufu, what may I call you, Stranger?" Nequus often wander around the whole of Urin for many reasons, but a wandering soul could prove deadly if left unguided. This fellow, it would seem, had just such a problem. It was quite easy to see.
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Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:19 pm
What was this? First a strange item and now a curious bae it would appear. Aitumn wasn't normally enthusiastic about meeting strangers for the first time, but he supposed spending so much time with Cressida had dampened those feelings quite a bit. He still wasn't comfortable opening up to anyone, as any mindful Nequus should consider, for a verbose Nequus may very well give to much of themself away if they're primarily focused on just speaking.
Never the less, Aitumn paused once more to step in the direction of the mysterous bae stallion. "Well met, Bakufu. I'm Aitumn." An observant little thing it would seem, that or he was just lonely. It was difficult to tell. At this new angle Aitumn was able to get a fair view of the metallic object sticking out of the ground, its darker end somewhat worn. He could guess that's where Bakufu had carried the thing, but he wasn't certain.
As for something more than a glance, Aitumn considered his question once more. "Indeed. I am interested in that curious stick you have before you." It looked like a stick anyway. A long, thick, silver stick. Only problem was, it didn't quite look wooden like a stick should, which left Aitumn feeling that his word choice hadn't been very appropriate. He would make due with it though, no sense in correcting himself with a word that would be just as strange as the first when it came to fitting such a strange object.
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Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 11:34 pm
"H-oh." So the Jala was interested in his blade? Now that normally would have been an interesting conversation, but Bakufu was more curious about Aitumn, then Aitumn was about the blade. You see, when a Nequus got that distant look in its eye it often meant that something important was on its mind, and wandering thoughts that jumped from place to place with no answer were quite the distraction from the awareness of the world around them. But perhaps Bakufu could spin the situation around a little bit.
"That is my blade, a sharp stick just as capable as a Reya or Ichsa horn. I've found many uses for it," Bakufu began, nodding his small head just slightly as he did so. He was much smaller than the Jala, even for a bae, but Bakufu was completely relaxed while in close proximity. "However it does take some skill. I find meditation is the best way to go about clearing one's mind from unwanted thoughts that may hinder a warrior in battle." Off-handed. Simple. Uncosequencial. If he was lucky Aitumn would take the bait, and perhaps he'd be able to rid this stranger of some unwanted baggage. It would draw on his concious if he didn't at least try, the bae calmly realized.
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 10:09 am
Strange name for an even stranger item Aitumn concluded. He supposed it was something the bae had made up, for he had never quite heard of the term before. However, he did assume such an item was grasped at the dull, thick end where it looked like Bakufu would have held it in his teeth. Although he was unsure of how effective the small creature could use such a thing. It would be interesting to see, that's for sure.
Where as the blade had caught Aitumn's attention enough to wander over, it was the mention of 'meditation' that pricked the blood bay's ears. It wouldn't do to have his mind stuck on the past and the discontent he felt for the subject that was his mother, so maybe it would be best to inquire further. Unknowingly the Jala took up the bait set up by the samurai stallion. "Meditation? I'm afraid I haven't heard of such a thing. How does it work?" Yeah, no need to hide his obvious interest in the matter. After all Aitumn wasn't very fond of the way his mind delt with the unknown, and the unceasing questioning was enough to drive any nequus to strange techniques.
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 11:35 am
Perfect. And the stallion didn't beat about the bush either, so he probably wasn't on the shy side. No need to hold back now. Bakufu shifted his weight onto a hind hoof, allowing the weight of the world to roll back onto his being. Or so it felt like when he wasn't in meditation. "Meditation is the first step to enlightenment, it allows the mind to fully open to itself and answer its own questions," the short bae went on, glancing to the basket Aitumn held within his teeth. Fruit. Hmm, well they were terribly close to Shrilal, it probably wasn't a stretch of mind to think that this jala was on his way back to a tree and possible a mare. Best not keep him for long then. Alright then, quick fix it was.
"First you take down whatever mental barriers you have in place to prevent any sort of disagreeable thoughts you may get from time to time. In order to meditate, you'll need to consider every aspect of your mind. It may be a gradual process, so I'll await your word on when you're read to continue." Normally Bakufu would have gone through the entirity of the stages first, but it would be quicker if Aitumn were to go along step by step as he explained them. Patiently the oddly colored stallion awaited word from his new 'pupil'. Heh, an interesting proposition if he were to ever meet the blood bay again. He seemed like a strong sort, well fit, and sensible. He just may have potential if they were to happen upon each other again.
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:12 pm
Aitumn was by no means a genius, in fact he considered himself rather normal, but he was still able to follow the train of thought described by the little bae stallion. Where Bakufu had learned it though, was something beyond the grasp of the jala's intellect. And enlightenment? Aitumn didn't want to become some sort of mellowed out softy thinking about everything instead of acting, he just wanted to calm the thoughts in his head. Perhaps though... he could give this meditation thing a try. If it'll help. Which the bae seemed to think it would.
With the final decision to try the technique out made, Aitumn allowed his neck to relax as he smoothly placed the basket on the ground by his hooves; just in case. It wouldn't be a good idea to be caught off guard, not when he needed to return to Cressida and the tree soon. He was confident though, that if an attack did come from the bae that he'd be able to move out of the way fairly quick enough, if not be able to counter attack. And of course, if all else failed his speed would ensure his survial. Now, what was this about disagreeable thoughts?
Consider every aspect of his mind. Hmm. Since this had to do with his mother perhaps he should just think of her, and every aspect of what he had ever thought of her. He was angry with her. That's the first thing that came to mind, and it surprised him slightly. He understood her reasoning though, right? Yes, he did that too. What else did he think about her? She was sick, apparently enough so that taking care of him as a foal would have been a terrible burden. He was saddened. Yet he felt pity for her. Slowly a more full picture of what he was feeling toward his mother and information Vierna had given him was begining to form. "Okay. What's next?" Maybe it'll work. Maybe it won't. It was worth a shot either way.
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:24 pm
Bakufu awaited quietly for the jala's confirmation that he may continue with the describtion, but would need to trust the other stallion's word. This would be much easier if Bakufu were a seer, he considered, for then he would be able to help guide the other's thoughts and be sure that the right path was taken. However, at this point it was just a pipe dream. Something he could perhaps work toward when he saw fit to do so.
At the confirmation from the jala, Bakufu allowed such thoughts to slip away as he went on about describing the process. "When you have discovered your true feelings or thoughts on every aspect of your issue, you may move onto the last process of the technique. The solution. What is it you wish to do and why? You may keep this to yourself if it is a personal matter." A quick fix for what seemed like a hindering problem, hopefully in time Aitumn would become more acquainted with the technique and would be able to revisit the fundamentals of meditation for whenever he may need it.
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 2:57 pm
A solution? That's really what Aitumn wanted to know, wasn't it? The blood bay bobbed his head slightly to show he had heard what the other had said and understood. Well, sort. Understanding was a difficult thing to grasp. In order to fully think of what he wanted to do with the situation, Aitumn once more considered his feelings for his dam. Anger, understanding, sadness, and pity. Two negative. Two postive. Altogether he supposed he was neutral when it came to the mare, and that his feelings evened each other out.
He did not wish her ill-will for her decision. Thus what was the path his action would be toward her? What could he do to give himself an open mind and free will. Almost right as he thought it the words slipped his mouth, leaving him somewhat surprised. "I'll forgive." Forgive? Pardon the action and simply accept it? The blood bay considered that this course wasn't completely faulty. He didn't have to do anything. He didn't have to feel negative about his past. Which is just what he wanted to do: go on living his life without a hitch. Once more the blood bay nodded, this time in astonishment and acceptance. He could forgive her for the actions she took so long ago, and he would be better for it. "Thankyou Bakufu, I feel I have gained more than I ever could have on my own." Indeed, he owed the strange bae a debt of gratitude.
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:24 pm
Ah. The traveling wanderer had finally settled onto a proven path, and Bakufu could sleep through the night knowing he had helped some otherwise troubled individual. The bae bowed at the neck deeply before speaking. "I live around here year round, so if ever you or your kin need assistance with an issue or you would like to further explore the wonders of meditation you may seek me out here. Go well, Aitumn Bloodbay." It was, after all, the samurai stallion's custom to call others by a second name that matched their color or perhaps some other trait.
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:29 pm
Hrmm, interesting fellow. Aitumn may very well have to continually visit the little bae at points in his life, he seemed to have a very useful technique. And lets face it, Aitumn was still very curious about the blade and how such an item may be used. "I'll be sure to do so." And with that the blood bay once more picked up his basket and was on his way into Shrilal. This journey had taken longer than he had previously expected and he didn't like to keep Cressida waiting too long for the fruit. Assured that his mind would not longer give him any problems about his dam, Aitumn rocked forward into a smooth lope that hardly rocked the basket between his teeth. He was, after all, more attuned to his own bodily movement than most and knew how to control the placement of every hoof and the bend of every knee that would help support the shock of each step.
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