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 Posted: Wed Oct 14, 2009 2:56 pm
The Kawani lands were miserable.
Rarely did Auguste choose such a pessimistic outlook, preferring instead to make judgment only after sufficient time had been spent in the study of a thing, but he thought the description was apt considering the circumstances. He'd been traveling for months, passing through several pretty settlements that could have provided shelter and good company, but none of them had pulled at him. Despite his present dissatisfaction with the land in general, Auguste could admit one thing: it elicited a strong response from him.
Now, if only there was less mud.
Brow wrinkling in displeasure, he attempted to ignore the heavy suction noise as he hauled himself up a hillside slick with after-rain mud. His expression was a grim one, a mask of concentration; at the very least, he would make it to the top of this hill, and he would not fall on his rump in the process.
Who had angered the gods enough to warrant this kind of hideous landscape? he wondered, snorting in displeasure when his back leg slipped a little.
Glancing down at his legs, mouth tugging into a deeper frown when he observed the mud marring them up to his knees, he sighed irritably. Brown showed up so well on a gray coat.
Well, at the very least, once he crested the hill, he'd look around for a river. It was a bit chilly, but not nearly chilly enough to warrant walking around looking like a vagabond.
Dipping his head slightly, he continued his plod, only more annoyed when the crow that had taken a liking to him landed on his rump, rustling her wings and looking amused.
"What do you want, Monavette?"
"Oh, nothing. I simply enjoy having you do the grunt work, love." She snickered, if such a thing was possible with a beak.
He rolled his eyes, flicking his tail up to swat at her. Despite the action, it was a gentle whap, and not nearly enough to upend her. "Lazy woman."
"Grumpy old man. You're almost there, and there's something pretty on the other side for you."
Mood improving, hoping she meant a grove of apple trees or something similar, he renewed his efforts, lifting his legs higher to cover more ground.
He finally reached the top and, tossing his hair back, looked around for the "pretty" Monavette had mentioned.
He saw little in the way of apples, though his eyebrows slowly rose at the sight of a brown rump only a few yards in front of him. He stared a moment, mouth thinning, before swatting Monavette with a little more feeling.
"Hey!" Taking flight, the crow rolled her eyes at him. "She's pretty, yes? Well, what you can see. Go on, say hello."
"Don't you have children to see to, or somesuch?" Without waiting for an answer, he shook himself, though the act did little to dislodge the mud running up his legs.
Gaze falling on the female rump once more, he approached, clearing his throat as he went. "You there. Can you direct me to a river or lake? A decent sized body of water, at least, so I can rid myself of this filth."
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Posted: Thu Oct 15, 2009 1:50 am
She would have agreed with him, had he voiced his thoughts, and not merely asked for a directions. It was miserable at the moment; the seasons were at that damp, misty, bare tree and mire stage - though eventually frost would rim the branches, and then there would be the blanket of snow that covered everything in a clean white pallette.
'Hello.' she said, upon turning and looking at the one who had addressed her in slightly imperious tones. You there, really? she thought, but it was with an amused edge.
'Oh my. You are a bit more muddy than Soquili, are you sure though?'
Meena always thought it was best to just put up with the mud at this point and wait till the ground hardened with the frosts. True the water as well would be very cold, but at least there might be only one bathing needed, rather than several. For now she would just wait for the mud to dry on her and then pick it from herself or let it flake away.
'If you really are determined to be more wet, sure I can direct you to a Lake.'
It was surprising to her that she wasn't even dwelling on that the fact that under the muck he was an attractive male. She supposed it was because she'd gotten used to stallions coming briefly into her life and than never being seen again.
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Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 4:25 pm
Briefly, Auguste reflected on the fact that Monavette had been right - the mare was pretty enough once she turned around and he got a look at something aside from her backside. She wasn't his usual type, and while that might have seemed like a flash judgment, that was generally all it took.
Of course, going for the fast-paced, flighty mares was the root of his present troubles, now wasn't it? Regardless, he certainly wasn't in the humor to be entertaining amorous notions of much of anyone. Why he was still thinking on the matter was beyond him, except for the fact that he was a male, and he'd been lacking in companionship too long.
Mouth dragging down at the corners, irritated that he could be so simple, he glanced over her head. In the distance, he saw little else aside from muddy ground - not exactly his hopes fulfilled. While he wouldn't normally consider unsolicited advice, the mare before him presented a logical notion. He could simply wait for the weather to improve, and clean himself once at the end of the day, or he could suffer the tedious work of attempting to rid his hide of mud three, four, five times a day.
Eyes falling back to her, he sighed a little, closing them. "I suppose I'm not. I'll live with it for now."
The breeze lifted his mane, blowing it in his face, and he wrinkled his nose. While dashing under the right circumstances, having such a voluminous mane could certainly be a hindrance when it wanted to.
Expression smoothing, he considered her a moment longer. Without intending to, he'd been rude - and Auguste preferred to only be rude with actual intent. He'd been distracted by his predicament, but that really wasn't any excuse.
"Forgive my rudeness. I'm Auguste." Tipping his head slightly, voice deepening on the accent in his name, he smiled slightly. "You are?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 7:47 am
'Probably for the best, and if you can keep dry for a while it should dry and crumble away.' Meena said, a pleasant smile on her face. Now that he was stood and talking, she took the opportunity to look him over properly (though she wasn't sure why she was bothering, this encounter likely to end up as the others did). She inwardly tossed away such thoughts as he was talking and she wanted to pay proper attention for however long she had his company.
'That's okay,' she said, acknowledging his apology, and his introduction with a dip of her head, the braids in her mane falling forwards. She caught one with her mouth and flicked it back out of the way, grinning as she did so.
'Meena. It's nice to meet you Auguste.'
As she said his name she hoped that she was pronouncing it right. It was a nice name, and one she'd not heard of before.
'You're new to these parts?'
It was pretty much a statement and a question wrapped in one. She was fairly sure she'd not seen him around, and her mother definately hadn't or there would have been threats of her playing matchmaker..again. But she didn't want to assume that he was a newcomer as she wasn't the greatest traveller. He may have been here for a long time, as long as she, never crossing paths.
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Posted: Sat Oct 17, 2009 10:02 am
She was... cute. He wasn't thinking in the aspect of being physically attractive, as he'd already mulled that over and dismissed the topic, but her mannerisms were cute. She seemed friendly enough as well, and there had been a time when he would have directed his son toward her, attempted to ease him out of his shell with just such a personality. That time was long past, however, since he had gone traveling and Auguste had no idea where he was. That might have been for the best, all things considered; the last thing he needed was to have his children be fully aware of the miserable failure his life had become.
Well. That was rather pessimistic as well. He needed to give his head a good dunk and stop sulking.
"I am new, yes." It was likely obvious, given his fussing about the mud and his general lack of direction in the lands, but it was kind of her to ask rather than assume. "I've been traveling for some time, though I seem to have chosen ill as far as the time of year is concerned."
Tone and expression wry, he glanced about once more, doing his best to see the beauty beneath the muck.
Nope. His imagination didn't extend that far.
Seizing a thought, he looked back to her once more. "Do you know these lands, then?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 21, 2009 1:33 am
'Passing through then? It's a shame, these lands will be lovely again once spring rolls around, you really aren't seeing them at their best.'
Meena gave a small nod.
'I do, very well. I was born here, as were my six siblings, and our rambling family tree lives all over these parts.'
Family. Well, let's not pursue that thought pattern, or you'll never get out of it. Though she briefly let herself wish that she was telling this stallion that her own children played here.
'Do you come from far away, and is there a particular reason for being in these parts?' she asked and then added.
'Forgive my many questions, I rarely get to speak to others outside my family and family friends, and the conversation is predominantly female.'
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Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 7:20 pm
She was talkative, but he didn't mind. Auguste wasn't against conversation, per se, but he wasn't entirely the most loquacious stallion on the best of days. He didn't mind others chattering at him, however; he'd been lifemated to a particularly talkative mare, after all. Despite his somewhat cantankerous nature, he didn't actually mind the more cheerful sorts.
He just felt a little bit out of place, that's all.
"I'm... seeking a place." That was safe enough, wasn't it? No need to bore the young thing with the details of his love life. No, especially not considering the highlights were all very firmly in the past. "I'm not certain if I'll stay here long, but it's a consideration."
Truth be told, his bones weren't getting any younger, and the colder months were beginning to get to him. It wouldn't be wise for him to go traveling about amid snowstorms and the like. At the very least, he ought to stay until the ground thawed and traveling would become easier.
Eyes flicking to Meena, he considered her a moment, offered her a very small smile. "I don't mind the questions. This is where my hooves took me, and so I am here."
He swished his tail behind him, frowning a bit as he flicked mud on his leg. Well. Wonderful.
Giving her a long, quizzical look, he asked, "Where is your mate, then?" After a moment, he realized that he likely sounded incredibly rude, and added, "My apologizes. You mentioned your family, and I assumed."
After another long pause, he sighed. "This is what happens when you get old, Meena. You begin to offend everyone, and half the time, you don't even mean to do it."
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Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 5:46 am
'A place to settle? If you wish to winter somewhere you could consider the Kawani village.' she said thoughfully.
'Of course that is only if you do not mind the company of two-leggers - it is their village, though they are good at leaving us to our own devices. My family tends to winter there as there is always a large fire burning and it keeps the surroundings warm indeed.'
There she went, rambling again. She gave him a wry smile.
'I have none. My family is my mother, my sisters, my brothers - my nieces and nephews. I'm an aunt, and a great aunt many times over. Not a mother though.' she gave a small laugh at his latter words to cover the discomfort she felt. How sad she must seem, the spinster of her family.
'You are old? You do not look or seem that way to me. And you have yet to offend me, be assured of that.'
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Posted: Thu Dec 10, 2009 9:38 pm
His day wasn't entirely a waste after all, and anyone who knew Auguste knew that if he could admit such a thing, even in thoughts, it was a compliment indeed. Not only had he found the Kawani lands in tolerable time, but he'd met Meena, and for all intents and purposes, she seemed pleasant. Friendly and helpful, to be sure, which was a necessity in any land, he supposed. He wasn't entirely used to having a near stranger spill so many of their personal tidbits upon just meeting them, but he supposed that was all right as well. He simply wouldn't reciprocate.
After all, he very dearly wished to avoid thinking of his mate - ah, former lifemate - much less speak of her to a young, pretty thing. It would only put a damper on the surprisingly pleasant conversation.
Not that he supposed things could get much worse, considering he was covered in mud, his hair was flat, and he was hungry and tired. But, well. One could not have everything.
"I suppose I would like to settle eventually." His lips turned down into a frown, and he pawed at the ground, as though a little restless at the very thought. "We shall see. And yes, my dear, I am old. I have two children grown, though I haven't seen them in some time."
Well. So much for not sharing personal tidbits.
That wasn't so very damning, however.
Giving her a brief, appraising look, he asked tactlessly, "Why not? You seem friendly and attractive enough. Is there a shortage of stallions in these parts?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 3:26 am
That was probably her largest fault; talking too much about herself too quickly. But he seemed not to be affronted by her divulging of her personal affairs (or lack thereof), and merely mentally chided herself to try and turn the conversation to less female things.
'Really? Pardon me but you do not look old enough,' she said, a flattering smile on her lips. She was enjoying speaking with Auguste very much, and she hoped to stretch the moment as long as possible. She would speak of her sister who was younger than herself, and involved with a stallion who too had children, and indeed grand children, but that would be rambling on about herself again. Maybe when he was more comfortable, and they were better acquianted.
An ear flicked at his slightly blunt comment, but she answered it in good spirits.
'I don't think so? More a shortage of stallions that wish to be in a relationship I suppose.'
She didn't like to think that maybe there was something wrong with her, she couldn't think what that could be but there had to be a reason she never saw those she met more than the once.
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Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:55 am
At her compliment, he snorted, not believing it for a moment. While youth was not quite so far behind him as he liked to allude, it was true that with the birth of his children he'd felt he had become instantly, well, old. He'd been a father young, sure enough, and it had been something of an accident, but he'd adapted. He was lucky, he supposed, that his children hadn't been entirely willful and difficult to raise - being young and inexperienced, things could have turned out a lot worse than they had.
Of course, here he was, a stallion grown with no mate and no idea where the aforementioned children were, but he'd done well enough by them when he was raising them, he thought. Certainly he hadn't been the best father, but he'd tried. He'd done what he could, what he knew how to do.
Hopefully, Gaspard and Corine understood that.
His ears flicked toward her, and he mused, "I suppose it is much more in the mare's advantage to find a mate than it is the stallion's. Such is the way things have always been."
He'd chased around a mare or four back in his day. He hadn't meant anything serious, but certainly no harm; he'd been arrogant and reckless, childish in his belief that it was all fun and always would be. And then he'd ended up saddled to a mare with foal, and his life had changed drastically.
He thought his father would be proud if he'd still been alive. After all, rather than run from the responsibility, they had made it work. They had raised two children together, and they had learned to care for one another beyond the flirtation of youth.
And then she had left.
Brows drawing together, he shook his head slightly, as though to rid himself of the thought. He'd done quite enough moping about her on the long walk to the present, hadn't he? And it wasn't as though he was exactly alone to be moping.
"You'll find one." Expression grim, he eyed her. "Just be certain he's the right one. I warn from personal experience - I was not the right one for my mare, and she was not the right mare for me, and we certainly made a mess of it."
... there he went again, telling her things. But he supposed it was in the sake of giving caution, so it was fine.
Yes, because he was warning a young mare not to make the same mistakes he and his former mate had made, it was fine.
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Posted: Sun Dec 13, 2009 3:39 pm
She suppressed a smile at his response to her compliment; she wasn't what could be considered old, but she was far from her filly days.
'I suppose you are right, although there must be some out there willing to settle down, or there would be no families.' Meena was a romantic at heart, though the dream was slowly dwindling into what was likely to be.
When he fell quiet she wondered what he was thinking of, and then his next words revealed much. There was an old wound to his heart, and by the look on his face as he spoke, it had yet to heal.
'I thank you for your advice.' the mare dipped her head in a courtly fashion, a soft look on her face as she straightened.
'I hope that if my heart find its companion that it will also be a wise choice.'
The heart wasn't always wise though, but she supposed that was learning was for.
'Would you like to walk towards the Village?' she asked, after falling silent for a while, looking at him with her head canted slightly to one side.
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Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 8:53 am
Her response was simple and sincere, and he liked that. She didn't dwell on what he had told her, and didn't ask questions that he wasn't inclined to answer. It made him smile at her, a little, though the look was fleeting, so much so that it might have even been missed.
"That sounds fine." He lifted his legs, grimacing at the state of them once more, and gestured with his head for her to go on. "Lead the way, then. I have no idea where this village is."
Truth be told, he had no idea where anything in Kawani lands was, but she already knew that.
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Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 9:05 am
She did just catch his smile, and that slight change of expression gave his face an altogether new look. It was very pleasant, and she squirrelled that thought away to be mulled over later, not wanting to seem like a dolly-day dreamer when she was in company!
'Probably a good idea for us to move before you get rooted in the mud.' she commented, with the faintest hint of amusement, a merry look in her eyes.
'Of course.'
Meena gave a small turn on the spot to orientate herself, before setting off at an easy walking pace, her tail swishing gently as she did so. She led him towards a long line of trees, behind the bare branches and cold trunks was an incline that looked down and over the valley where the Village was located.
'So you've not seen your children in a while then?'
She supposed that not every child stayed near where they grew up, indeed out of the seven of them, only herself and her sister Adrienne had not wandered far.
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Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:25 am
Trudging along behind her, entirely unimpressed with the landscape, Auguste let his thoughts wander to his children. He wondered how Gaspard and Corine were? His son was quite, a more delicate sort than he was, though he hoped new lands would suit him. Perhaps Gaspard had simply needed to get away from home, learn how to become his own stallion? Truth be told, Auguste had not been the best father. He'd been a good protector, certainly, and had taught the boy manners and respect, but he'd been withdrawn and cold a great deal of the time. Not because he hadn't cared, certainly, but because he had difficultly expressing emotion.
His father had been the same way. Stern, strong, and largely unemotional. Growing up, he'd learned from his father's example, and hadn't felt that he was lacking. Of course, his mother had been a gentle, sweet sort of mare, nothing like the flighty, spirited thing that had been the mother of his own children.
Sometimes, he wondered how they felt about their parents. If he saw them again, perhaps he would ask.
"No, I haven't seen them in some time." Longer since he'd seen Gaspard than Corine, but still a fair amount of time. He thought of his daughter, similar to himself in temperament - so detached that sometimes he worried about her, really - and wondered. Had she found what she was looking for? Would she remain unchanged, or would her travels have shaped her into the sort of mare she would be for the rest of her life?
His expression became melancholy, his tone thoughtful as he mused, "I wonder what they are like now."
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