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 Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 4:21 pm
 As the sun set a young mare woke from her usual afternoon nap. The thicket she had chosen as her hiding place had been undisturbed proving it safe yet again. The sound of birds fluttering in the branches above as they settled in for the night reminded the silvery-striped mare of something. She whinnied a thank you to those who kept a lookout, even though it was their own they were protecting. The resulting chirps were friendly enough and Hazalinia assumed they were a "you're welcome."
With the birds content, Hazalinia felt it was safe to venture from her hideaway and to the nearby stream for a drink. She looked up and smiled at the darkening sky as the first stars appeared. For as long as she could remember Hazalinia had a fondness for the night. Perhaps it was because her coloration made it safer for her on her own as she was to blend with the evenings shadows. Still it made for a lonely life for a herd animal. A herd, Haz though with a sigh. She had vague memories of ties to a family, but they were uncomfortable memories. Something had gone wrong, something that had driven her away from that security. She huffed willing the memories away and causing a few extra ripples in the water were she drank.
Still she knew she was not alone in her preference for evening and early morning activity. She'd encountered other Soquilli though usually they were just two travelers passing through the same area. There had yet to be any she'd know long enough to trust let alone to consider a friend. It might be nice to have someone else with whom to journey, to laugh and swap tales. Hazalinia shrugged off such thoughts. It was a silly dream but still one never knew what the night would bring...
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Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 4:52 pm
 The moon's soft light reflected off a dark blue coat and Stardust shivered briefly. There was no chill in the air to cause the reaction and this made the stallion wary. For the longest time - that he could remember - this sensation was usually followed by encounters with other Soquili. Stardust didn't mind the advance warning. Some encounters had been less friendly than others. His ears swiveled back and forth to catch any sounds of movement but nothing came of the exercise. Maybe he was just cold. The night's air was cool but not overly so. Maybe he was becoming sensitive.
Marching through the foliage that blocked his path Stardust's ears caught the sound of running water. His tail flicked softly before the decision of a cool drink made him turn to follow the sound of the water. Soon enough he'd come to the source.
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Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:05 pm
Some noise from the few birds still awake caught Haz's attention and she turned. The warning was soon followed by the sound of something approaching the stream, something with hooves. Another Soquili? She held herself alert, ready to run if the stranger appeared dangerous or threatening. And so with the moonlight reflecting off her stripes, she waited to see what the night brought her way.
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Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 5:20 pm
The sound of the water was most definitely closer. Stardust nosed his way through one more set of bushes before he glimpsed the moon's light reflecting off of the flowing liquid. He emerged into a clearing that was washed in moonlight. It was sort of breathtaking in it's beauty. With his gaze intently on the water the stallion had not taken a full scan of the clearing he now stood in. As he moved closer to the streams edge something registered in his peripheral vision and he straightened quickly.
'Well well well. This is an unexpected encounter.'
Stardust's gaze narrowed in surprise before they focused on the other Soquili that shared this clearing with him. Moonlight filtered along the mare's body bringing sharp detail to the stripes that adorned her.
'Almost like the sky itself at times,' thought the stallion as he paused at the water's edge. He did not wish to startle the mare as it already looked like she was about to flee. He lowered his head and lipped at the water self-consciously before allowing himself another look at the female. Moving back a few steps Stardust sighed before speaking.
"If you wish to drink then be my guest. I will not harm you."
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Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 6:00 pm
Hazalinia's breath caught a bit at the sight of the stallion; he seemed a bit of the night sky come to earth. She relaxed a little as it seemed he simply wanted a drink.
She gave her head a proud toss, the ringlets of her mane bouncing, when he finally spoke to her. "I've already had my drink this evening. Thank you though. Please feel free to drink your fill." She paused and winked, "I won't harm you either."
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Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:29 pm
Stardust watched as the mare tossed her head before returning to the stream's edge. He took a longer draft of the cool liquid before stepping through the stream just to let the water swirl around his legs. His gaze studied the mare carefully as the silence of the night descended upon the two figures. Taking another glance at the sky and the moon in general Stardust turned his attention back to the blue and white mare.
"So this may seem cliché but I don't think I've seen you around these parts before."
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Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 9:50 pm
Haze stepped a little closer definately feeling more at ease. "One shouldn't fear cliché if it gets you the answers you seek." She took a moment to look up at the moon comforted by her glow. "I travel a great deal and have only been hear a couple of days. Its a nice spot so I thought I might stick around for a little while. I havn't encountered anything all that threatening and the birds are quite free with offering warnings." She turned her look fondly to the trees where most of the birds now slept.
"Are you a local?" she inquired returning her gaze to him.
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Posted: Sat Nov 07, 2009 10:02 pm
Stardust shook his head in response to the mare's question. He stepped out of the water on the mare's side before pausing in his motions. "I don't think I could be considered a local. I am more a wanderer. I don't stay in one place for too long before the desire to up and move gets too strong. There hasn't been much of a reason to stay in one place for too long."
Stardust mentally shook himself. 'Great now I'm flirting with a strange mare. What is wrong with me?' However if the mare didn't catch the subtle flirty comments he wasn't about to make them glaringly obvious. Instead he shuffled his feet before speaking again. "May I ask whom I have the pleasure of addressing? I am known as Stardust."
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Posted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 6:01 pm
Haz nodded understanding the wandering life. She tried not to pose too much as he drew closer and could it be he was flirting with her? She decided to further close the gap when he finally made his introduction. "Its good to meet you Stardust," she replied grinning at the very suitable name. "I am Hazalinia Moongazer," she tilted her head a bit to show off the crescent that surrounded her eye. "A fairly common marking in my family thus the herd name." A slight snort escaped her at the mention of her family but she continued on. "You are free to call me Hazel or Haze if you wish; I know my full name is a mouthful."
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Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 3:45 pm
Stardust dipped his head in a very subtle bow as Hazalinia introduced herself. The marking that surrounded her eye glowed in the moonlight as well and Stardust shifted before realizing that she had moved a little closer to him as well. This was very interesting. Moments ago it seemed that she wanted nothing more to flee the clearing when he had arrived. Over-analyzing the situation wouldn't make it better so Stardust merely pondered this for a moment more.
"I am very pleased to meet you Hazalinia Moongazer," Stardust inhaled dramatically before laughing softly, "You're name is indeed a mouthful. I will have to take you up on the offer of shortening it to Haze."
Shuffling his feet once again in the silence that ensued Stardust turned over this encounter thus far in his mind. While he wasn't always a social creature perhaps he'd gone about learning things the wrong way. There was certainly an awkwardness to meeting a mare alone at night but something in Haze's words earlier sparked a cord in the stallion. Maybe it was time to let fate take over. As Stardust came to this conclusion he remembered something else that Hazalinia had said.
"I don't mean to pry Haze ... and you can refuse to answer ... but where is your family?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 4:35 pm
The mare laughed with Stardust to his reaction to her name. In the resulting silence Haze ducked her head for another drink. Having woken up recently to her most active time of day she was starting to grow hungry, but she wasn't going to interrupt an interesting encounter for something so basic.
When the silence was broken Haze was startled by his question. Seems he's an observant one, she noted while trying to find a proper way to answer.
Finally she just shrugged it off, "I don't even know any more. I've been on my own for a long time." No need to go into why, not with someone she'd just met. Someday perhaps, but right now she just did not want to think about any of it. Instead she tilted her head and asked him, "How about you? Is there a family out there somewhere missing you?"
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Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 4:55 pm
Stardust watched as Hazalinia moved to drink more from the stream as he waited for any response from his question. When it came the stallion listened carefully before letting his features soften. Perhaps he had been wrong to ask. He bit down on the apology that he was going to offer as Haze might find that he was belittling her. Instead he focused on her question to him.
"I'm not sure. There might be someone out there missing me. But for now I just consider myself alone. Present company excluded from that statement."
Stardust observed the mare before letting his own hunger be known. A loud rumble filled the silence of the area and Stardust laughed. "Guess I'm in the mood for something more than just water."
He ducked down and ripped a few of the tender shoots of grass before chewing silently on the mouthful. While he may be alone he knew most mares didn't like stallions that talked with their mouths full. He swallowed quickly before flicking his tail gently in Hazalinia's direction. "Aren't you hungry," he tilted his head to the side and spoke with humor, "I'm sure I heard something rumble besides my stomach."
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Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 5:53 pm
Hazalinia looked at Stardust a tad envious of his not knowing one way or another. Haze knew, sure some may miss her, but she would never be welcome back to what she'd known as a foal. Her laughter at the rumble of his hunger was a bit over-the-top so greatful was she for the distraction from her thoughts.
She ducked her head and gave a sheepish grin. "Sorry about that," she said and giggled. She watched him for a moment as he grazed before she could no longer deny her own hunger. It felt strange to be grazing beside another, but very nice. Between bites she explained how she tended to be an evening dweller. "Its unusual I know and I don't often run into others, let alone those who make good company. This is a novel experience."
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Posted: Wed Nov 11, 2009 6:56 am
Stardust continued to graze as Hazalinia spoke about how she was more active during the night. In an odd way he could almost agree with the mare's decision. Being up during the evening one would tend to be more alone with their thoughts. It was also a time when one could count on being left alone.
He chuckled softly under his breath as Hazalinia finished her explanation. His ears twitched lightly as he contemplated what to say. "I'm glad that you are enjoying my company Haze. I think you may have a skewered sense of what is unusual though. Your idea of staying up during the night is shared by others - whether they be like us or different. For example, I tend to like doing things by the light of the moon myself. I have talked with others who feel safer going about at night," here Stardust paused before giving himself a good shake. He hadn't come here to lecture. He continued - more slowly this time, "I'm sorry. Sometimes I get too wrapped up in what I'm talking about and I don't realize that I am rambling. And I think I'm doing it again."
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Posted: Tue Dec 01, 2009 6:56 pm
Haze hoped he didn't mind that she ate as he replied. The grass seemed sweeter this night and she was enjoying it. She thought for a moment about his observation a part of her tempted to take offence but instead she simply said, "It seems you have all the luck with evening encounters. Oh don't worry about rambling. After all its a rare chance to talk to someone else other than the moon. Though she is good company as well." She laughed again. She did feel a bit silly at playing the flirt but she was having a good time all the same.
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