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 Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 1:00 pm
 Somnium stretched his wing and snorted with satisfaction. It wasn't back up to 100% yet, but he could definitely use it for shorter flights. He wasn't totally grounded anymore, and thus it was time to take advantage of that. It did rankle a bit that Thistle, of all the idiot fluttercorns in the world, had healed him enough to get to this point, but Somnium could overlook it for the moment. Anything was worth being back in the air.
But he wasn't there yet. Soon though. Soon he'd take to the skies and leave this pathetic little family behind forever. They were holding him back, he knew. All the flutters and his grandmother, and even his father. As long as he stayed here, he would never be a true Kalona. And he'd never be able to face his mother without fear until he had embraced his heritage thoroughly.
That's what the young Kalona told himself this was all about. But it was as much a quest to find himself as the journey of any young thing.
Those were the thoughts circling trough Somnium's head as he approached his father for the last time.
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 1:23 pm
 Tlocatl was unaware of any familial discontent among his firey son. He was chilling at the bottom of a nearby dune, just watching as the desert's night life scurried around. He was sated and therefore did not care to, well, move. This was a night off, one in which he basked in the spoils after a good hunt.
Mildly, he did think in the back of his mind how he had become such a kept soquili. His wings were finally healed enough, he could fly. Wyrsa had left her mark, though, and he hated being somewhere she could get to just on a whim. But as he would never admit it to himself, he needed the administrations of the two-legged Sanika.
Soon, he promised himself. Soon, he would leave this place. He was healed, his sons were well grown (and healed, no thanks to their biological mother), and it was getting to be time to move on. Maybe find a worthy mare that revelled in his flight, instead trying to take it away at any possible moment.
And he was not her's. However many times she said it, it was not true. He was a kalona, and he would not answer to the likes of that.... that.... GROUNDED MARE. Wolfbane was completely unaware of the turmoils surrounding his brother and father. All he cared about was his own... administrations on the desert creatures. He knew his father was not far behind, he could see those simmering flames in the dark night. Maybe he should bring his latest victim to him.... even without one ear, he tended to cause more pain and suffering. Maybe.
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 1:31 pm
The flames that flickered around his hooves announced Somnium's presence quite effectively as he came up behind his father. Now that the moment was here, now that he was finally going to do this, the younger stallion found he wasn't quite sure what to say. He stood there, silently, trying to gather his thoughts and arrange them just so. The only sound was the crackle of the fire he and his father both carried with them.
"I'm leaving." Finally, he'd said it. And with the verbalization came a firming of will. Nothing Tlocatl could say would change his mind.
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 1:42 pm
Ruadh saw another spark of flame moving towards that which announced his father. Looking down at his eventual mule of a rather bloodied and torn jackrabbit, he gathered it up and went to the males in his family, wondering what was going on. The two of them had not really been by each other for some time.
Tlocatl raised his head when he heard his son coming near. As Somnium gathered his thoughts, his father simply watched quietly, allowing him to say his peace.
When he heard what was said, the kalona beamed proudly. His ears perked and teeth showing in a pleased grin, Tlocatl looked fondly on his son. "Excellent, Somnium! As well you should. You are a handsome and strong Kalona stallion now - it is more than time you make your mark on this world. You will go forth and claim all that is rightfully yours." Oh, he could not be much happier.
He did not add that he felt his sons were too old to still be around (for he could not fault them for Wyrsa's attack which left him reliant here too), nor did he mention that the same mare was out there in the world - no doubt lurking in the shadows to finish them off.
No, this was a joyous occasion, and one any kalona father would be proud. He should do the same, but this was Somnium's moment. And, he could put himself aside...just this once.
Wolfbane was close enough to hear his brother's announcement. As Tlocatl gave his speech, the stallion pinned his one remaining ear. Mark on the world? Neither of them cared to leave a mark.... he had left many. There were some of his victims out there... scarred and beautiful. Neither of them had the imagination to leave such a mark.
However, if Somnium left - as he seemed to be content on now - that would mean there would be more prey for less kalona in the area. Now, that was a good thing. It seemed only right that he give him a going away present.
Walking silently to his brother, Ruadh Wolfbane dropped down his victim and then broke the creatures neck so it would not escape. With a toothly grin, he nudged to creature (which was still alive) toward his brother... a snack for the flight ahead?
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 1:52 pm
Somnium blinked, speechless with surprise. His father...was happy about this? Everything the young stallion knew of said that Tlocatl should be angry, should be forbidding him to go, should be shouting at him to stay!
Or...maybe this was how Kalona were? Nah, that couldn't be it. His father had lived his whole life with flutters and his mother, how could Tlocatl possibly act like a real Kalona? How could Somnium, for that matter, unless if he went out and lived with real Kalona?
The black stallion nodded mutely at his father's speech (that had to just be a feature of all fathers, he was certain) and was lost in thought again until something was dropped in front of him.
Ruadh, as usual, had been playing with his food. Somnium looked from the broken creature that was amazingly still alive to his brother and back again. "I guess that's a goodbye from you too."
He grabbed the meal by its neck and launched himself into the blackness of the night sky, wings pumping strongly. Even with the injured wing, he could still get a fair distance away before he was forced to land.
It was useless and pointless, Somnium decided as he flew, to wonder at his father and brother. From this night on they were part of his past. And his future...was Kalona. He had heard there was a burial ground where they gathered. That seemed as good a place as any to go.
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Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 2:01 pm
Tlocatl watched his son's flight until even the flames could no longer be seen. This was as it should be. Turning to his silent son, the stallion stared and sighed. "I suppose you are staying for awhile yet?" he spoke, wondering if this shadow was truly there or merely a figment of his imagination. But the blood spoke that he was indeed really there. This son of his made no sense to him. And why he chose to stick around didn't make sense - he was still flight-bound after the encounter. He should have left long ago.
Wolfbane just stared silently, and then turned and walked back towards the teepee. Yes, he would stay. Not forever, but at least for now. That young unicorn that looked like a bloody night intrigued him... and he wondered what 'mark' he could leave on her. She would be his good-bye gift to himself and to this place. He rightly almost purred at the opportunities.
Tlocatl shook his head is dismayed astonishment. That was not a son of his, surely, that was not. Looking at the teepee, he made up his mind. He would leave tonight as well. But he would keep an eye on his mother. She had gotten far to lax since that encounter with him and her new beau. What pathetic creatures, the both of them.
The kalona turned back to the edge of the desert. Yes, it was time for him to leave too. He was getting soft. One step after another, Tlocatl left. Choosing to walk away from the home he had become far too reliant on. He would return, sure, but he would not stay there for such a long time ever again.
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