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 Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 7:57 am
To Vezian, this was a day like all others. He was playing by the creek that ran through his home, chasing the plentiful frogs as he liked to do. Of course, being of equine proportions, he was technically both faster and stronger than these smaller creatures. Yet he considered himself a friend to them, making sure to do them no harm while frolicking along the bank.
He knew all too well that whenever he looked down into the shimmering waters of the stream, he would see his reflection and relate the resemblances to the very frogs with which he played. His colors were more or less comparative to theirs, though his skin bore a layer of fine hair upon it. More alike were their eyes, however. Like the frogs, he found it quite easy to see under water, which was excellent in his opinion. Below the surface, all bodies of water held so many interesting particles.
So occupied was he with his daily fulfillment of activity that he failed to notice the unfamiliar, blue stallion in the vicinity.
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Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 9:38 am
It had been a long trek, up into the heart of the mountain range and then beyond, chasing the rumour of a small herd that was supposed to have secreted itself away in isolation on the far side. And yet after suffering the biting cold and ferocious winds for nearly a month, Cloud had found the valley, tucked away in the foothills of the Range, only to find it barren and bare of any life, let alone that of a herd of soquili with distinctive markings on their chests... So, he had turned round and retraced his footsteps all the way through the mountains, back to the Kawani lands.
It had been the latest trip of many that the stallion had undertaken during the past few seasons. Older now, no longer the wild young yearling or excitable young adult that he had been a year ago, the trip had been tiring, but not exhausting. His wandering lifestyle had given Cloud a solid, muscular body that could eat up great distances in an easy rolling canter. His coat was thicker now than when he had embarked on the latest venture, thick and fluffy from the long nights up in the mountains.
Shaking his short, punk-like mane from his eyes he paused, nostrils quivering as he scented water close by. Good, it was time to stop for a rest anyway, after all, there was no hurry, nowhere he had to be in particular..
Powerful legs strode smoothly over stony ground, cresting the small rise he paused, stormy grey eyes sweeping over the area in front of him. Instantly the brightly coloured colt caught his eye, frolicking along the river's edge. Tilting his head he watched the youngster for a moment. A colt out here alone? Or were the parents close by, only hidden somewhere? After scanning the area again and detecting no immediate threat, Cloud stepped forward, walking calmly down the path towards the natural crossing where the green-pelted colt was playing.
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Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:11 am
Identical green ears perked up as they caught a disturbing sound aside from the stream's churning and the frogs' croaking. It was a solid sound, one that was often heard during a rainy day or while running the plain with his assumed parents. One that would be made in varying intervals as frogs hopped or a twig was thrown. It was the sound of something striking against the ground. Hooves treading towards him, to be exact.
Vezian, being the confident colt he was, slowly turned and raised his head to face an older stallion with a striking blue coloring. This stallion's mane and tail were trimmed short and unnervingly contrasted against his elongated coat. His look seemed roughened by the elements. From his knowledge of the world, Vez assumed this male to be a traveler. Even though he'd never had the chance to confront another with such and interesting occupation, he could make assumptions from his imagination.
His feet shuffled slightly and his tail rose in anticipation of the encounter. Vezian's green frog eyes shone as they scanned over the accessories which adorned the other's ear and his head tilted when he could make out definite markings. The markings were like no others he'd seen before. Did they pertain to a particular herd of Soquili? No. Travelers were usually sole entities, were they not?
His breath caught a little when he factored in the toned body of this character, however. What if he meant harm? Though he hated to admit it, Vez was helpless if put versus the blue stallion. The colt knew simple trickery and was sly by nature, but he was now both much too big and too small to run in this particular situation. At least, in the worst case, he might just have a chance to slip away by coaxing the stormy male into hesitation. So, confidence restored, he straightened his figure and awaited the other's coming.
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Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:33 am
The blue male continued down the path, stride confident and calm. The weight of experience rested naturally upon the muscled shoulders of the stallion and was clearly visible in the way he carried himself, an unconscious assurance in his own ability.
Drawing to a halt a few strides short of both the river and the young male, Cloud dipped his head, expression shifting into a pleasant smile of greeting. he could see the shifting emotions on the young one's face and could well understand any apprehension the youth might feel. Cloud was large for a regular soquili stallion and he had met enough foals and youngsters in his time to appreciate that he seemed intimidating to them.
"Hello there, I mean you no harm. I was passing by and scented the stream here." Lifting his head once again he studied the youth, curious as to why the boy seemed to be out here alone. Sure he wasn't too young to be left, but any youth was vulnerable to predators such as skinwalkers and kalona.
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Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2009 10:51 am
At first, Vezian knew not what to think. This male was approaching him with a flawless, strong and confident stride. Before the colt could figure out a worthy strategy, the stallion was nearly upon him. Vez didn't exactly panic, but found himself frozen in place for a moment, staring at the grand shape that was gradually and steadily growing closer.
Yet the stallion stopped. Vezian's airway gave way to provide his lungs with the much needed oxygen as he rushed to classify the stranger as friendly in his mind. When the older stallion smiled at him, Vezian put on an awkward grin, hoping to appear friendly and nonchalant.
Now that the older one was standing but a few strides away, the colt could take in even more of his physical attributes. Even though Vez knew he would be tall, the stallion's true height when compared to his foal's height nearly made his jaw drop. Surely, one of the stallion's hooves would make well when crushing a brittle bone. So Vezian, trying not to gape and severely wishing his parents were there to back him up, stuttered out a greeting. "H-hello, sir."
His father taught him well as far as manners went, at least. And, at the thought of his father's teachings, Vezian's grin became true and the stranger wasn't quite as threatening as he was seconds ago.
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