Welcome to Gaia! ::

((Open to any that might also be taking advantage of the light of a full moon to get some extra travel time in. If your kirin is a kirkani, I currenly don't want to see my two endure more than a fright and maybe a couple scratches. Also the two are not a couple they're just traveling companions and newly found ones at that. ))




It was a glorious evening the moon was full and there was a slight cool to the breeze coming from the mountains. Though most kirnidae were diurnal, a pair could be seen cautiously approaching a babbling stream. The stallion was a deep green hardly noticable but for his movement and the mare shades of blue with silver-stripes that gleamed in the moonlight. The followed a small creature who seemed at the moment to consist of a series of irridescent spots and pale blue eyes, the black of the keshi's main coat blending shadows.

"I really don't like this," the stallion grumbled as he followed the others. He looked back toward the tree's where somewhere his own familiar was perched.

"Will you stop that Darius? I don't know what your problem is, the moon gives plenty of light to see by," Hazalinia replied.

"Yeah and that's my problem. Anything watching can see us, especially with you two and your markings practically glowing out here."

"It'll be alright. We travel by moonlight all the time, get used to it."

A snort was the stallion's only reply. They'd been traveling all day with hardly anything to eat or drink and although the breeze was cooling now it had been nonexistent during the sunlit hours. Uncomfortable as he was at moving in the open the need for a drink was too great for even the paranoid Darius to turn back now.

The spotted creature who accompanied Hazalinia and Darius was Haze's keshi Shadow. They'd been companions since both were very young. While Haze took her turn to drink Shadow and Darius stood watch. The keshi was the first to catch the sound of the approaching stallion. He yipped to get his friends' attention. When she looked up Shadow tossed his head in the direction the stranger was coming from.

"Is it another kirin?" Haz asked straining to see or hear what had already reached her friend's senses. Shadow gave an affirmative yip.

Darius took a moment to get a quick drink before joining them. "Friend or foe?" he inquired.

"Only one way to find out," Haze replied. Then she called out to the approaching form, "The water is wonderful have you also come for a drink?"

Hazalinia watched the newcomer, he didn't seem to be a threat. She kept her distance respectfully not wanting to intrude on the stallions privacy.

Darius shrugged, "Not a foe but perhaps not a friend either," he mumbled. Then he spoke louder, "We'll keep a watch while you enjoy your drink."

Shadow looked at Haze and Darius and huffed with frustration; here was someone else out and about at night and they were just going to stand around. The keshi's ears were twitching with curiosity and he made his way over to the edge of the water. The gleam of the moonlight off his spots made it near impossible for him to sneak up on the blue and pink kirin so Shadow made no secret of his interest, giving an inquistive bark as he sat down a few feet away.

Indignant sounds came from the keshi at being referred to as "it", and he proceeded to yip and growl insults at the stallion.

Hazalinia trotted over, "Stop that," she told Shadow with an irritated huff before turning apologetically to the stallion. "I'm sorry about that. This is Shadow, my keshi. Have you never met a kirin with such a companion before?" The idea was odd to Haze whose had only really known kirin with familiars first her family and now Darius.

Shadow calmed a little then leapt to his friend's back, though he still kept an eye on the stranger.

Darius still kept a slight distance his instict still to keep watch while the others were distracted by conversation. He did throw in a comment. "You'll encounter more, but chances are they won't be as sensitive as Shadow there."

Haze nuzzled Shadow. "He's harmless really except when he's protecting me," she said turning back to Lucius. "It was just me and Shadow for a long time before we met up with Darius and Harper. I remember being with my family so its nice having company sometimes too. I hope we havn't intruded too much on you... " She bowed her head in apology. "Oh I havn't introduced myself. I am Hazalinia, though my friends call me Haze."

Darius moved closer. "If someone else could take watch, I'd love to get another drink. Perhaps I'm being overly cautious, but night traveling has never been my thing."

Shadow yipped an affirmative and leapt down from his spot on Hazalinia's back. After studying Lucius for a moment, he bounded over to a rock taking an alert stance; his large ears moved about to catch any odd sounds in the night.

"Yeah, Harper is my benu bird. He's off in the trees probably sleeping," Darius replied looking up from his drink.

Haze's tail twitched, "I'm sorry. I... I miss having a herd because its what I knew when I was a foal. It's dangerous out there alone. Do you ever...well I mean we can't be the only kirin you've met.. havn't you ever wondered what it would be like to not be alone? We're born to be in herds afterall."

Darius's head came up suddenly and he glared at the mare for her nerve at asking such a question. "You don't have to answer that Lucius. I understand if this is making you uncomfortable."

She's been alone with that keshi for too long. Not too long ago she was far closer to his situation than she'd like to admit, yet she'll get personal with him... Darius had been forced out of his own herd upon reaching maturity, it wasn't so bad for an adult stallion. Still he understood Hazalinia's longing for the family herd that was part of her earliest memories.

Following the flow of the laughing stream for a few nights now, the pale mare paused suddenly at strange scents on the air. The moonlight reflects gently off her pale limbs and muzzle, shining off the pearls in her mane and tail. Her bright eyes are wide as she searches for the kirin she smells.
Out of her sight, Gemini had to continue along the stream before spotting the group of three. Wait, four, including that little fluffy familiar. She chuffed softly as she debated going forward. She did miss her old companions... She knickered to announce herself, plenty distant away in case she wasn't welcome.