|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue May 04, 2010 10:46 am
 It was morning. She could tell by the sounds of birds echoing through the treetops above, and the crickets silenced below. She had only been in this world for a week, but it felt like an eternity already. It seemed like the welcome mat had fallen short of Wood Rot. Instead of being surrounded by a bright field of flowers with petals underneath her hooves, she was greeted by the smell of fungus and feel of worms squirming under her belly.
The little foal didn't mind, though. She was surrounded by life. She could feel it all around her, even if it was in a rotting log. The subtle sounds of ants marching to and fro, beetles and flies buzzing overhead... She was in the company of others.
Perhaps she was blessed in this sense. It may not have been the brightest world she first fell into, but she couldn't see anyways. And the log offered protection. She was well-hidden among the fungi, and felt safe.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 04, 2010 11:14 am
The morning seemed as peaceful as ever, as Warden stepped lightly through the swamp grounds. It was still fairly early and the buck was feeling rather peckish. Perhaps a few insects would do the job. Of course, what better place to find a good selection of bugs than a nicely rotted log?
It didn't take him too long to find such a thing. Though, the log he found had a surprise inside; a foal! From the looks of it, the young kimeti had entered the world relatively recently.
"Oh, hello there little one," he greeted while peering into the log. He had to wonder if she was comfortable in there.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 04, 2010 1:01 pm
Wood Rot froze at the abnormal sound. She had heard approaching steps, unlike anything her ears had captured yet.
The voice, though... The sound of another, was alien to her. Yet, it held a familiarity, the tingling of deja vu. She wasn't sure whether she should be scared or comforted...
"W-w..." The young foal tried to speak as this other voice did, but realized all too quickly that this task was much more challenging than she had first thought.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 04, 2010 1:08 pm
The poor foal didn't seem to be able to speak just yet. Not that he could blame her. Warden didn't remember a whole lot of his time as a foal, but he did vaguely remember that it was a bit difficult to deal with, having to learn how to do everything and whatnot.
"Shh.. it's alright. Just rest and gather your strength young one," he said before looking around. He'd have to find his breakfast in something else this morning, but that wouldn't be too hard. However, he felt he shouldn't wander away far, considering how vulnerable the foal was at this stage. The log would provide some protection, but it wasn't perfect. Having a set of eyes to watch out for potential danger wouldn't hurt.
It was the least he could do really.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 04, 2010 1:31 pm
Who was this image-less entity, seemingly smiling upon her? "Wuh..?" Her jibberish sounded like a question, though obviously it was hard to know what she was asking. Her closed eyelids fluttered as she tried to open them without luck. All she could see through her eyelids was the filtering light and a tall, formless silhouette standing close by...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 04, 2010 1:36 pm
Warden tilted his head at the foal, managing to hear somewhat of a question escaping her. He wasn't certain if she was wanting to know what he meant or something else. Though, he suppose he should introduce himself to maybe ease some of the confusion.
"Ah.. I'm Warden," he said while glancing around still. As he did this, he noticed some edible fungi growing near the rotting log. That should do for now.
The buck took a few steps towards the fungi and began to eat away at some of it, while wondering how long the foal would have to remain where she was.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 04, 2010 2:02 pm
A name.
It was a name he had given to her just then. She knew what a name was. In fact, she had one. It was what she was most certain of in this world. "W-wood... Rot..."
Yes. That was her name. Her identity. Her possession. Something that couldn't be taken away from her...
Another thing that the log provided was food. Wood Rot had no qualms about eating the insects that surrounded and comforted her. It was how life went. That idea was also ingrained in her mind from the dreams she had before the world welcomed her into it's cold arms. Life fed on life. And someday, the same life she ate would eat her... As she felt a worm close to her front leg, she slurped it up without hesitation. They were her favorites so far.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 04, 2010 7:24 pm
Wood Rot. It was rather fitting name considering she ended up in a rotting log soon after her birth.
His ears twitched slightly as he heard a light slurp; likely it was the sound of the younger Kimeti grabbing some breakfast as well. Most likely the log would sustain her well enough before it was time for her to get up on her legs and walk on her own.
"A pleasure to meet you Wood Rot," he said quietly while peering into the log once again. Over all, he wasn't entirely certain what else to say. The name she had given was probably the first few words she had uttered ever so she probably couldn't be too outspoken at the moment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 6:13 am
A pleasure? The pleasure was probably all hers. She didn't really have anything to offer him, with her inability to converse and do much of anything for herself...
Something caught her off guard, however. The sound of something slowly slithering her way. It made no steps, but still made a sound of moving. Dragging...
A large snake, who had most likely caught sight of the heat source in the log, came ever closer. It was large and, most likely, hungry... The scaly creature paid Warden no mind, figuring if it ignored the larger creature, the larger creature would grant it the same favor.
Wood Rot's ears twitched at the slowly approaching noise. What was that? She hadn't heard anything like it before... Maybe a big worm?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 11:10 am
Warden hadn't heard the snake right away but the movement caught his eyes. When he focused on what it was, he saw the relatively large creature advancing onto the log and foal, most likely hoping to get an easy meal. His bright golden eyes narrowed at it before moving closer to the snake to try and ward it away. If need be he could try stomping its skull in, but for the time being he'd try and see if it got the message.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 11:22 am
The snake froze mid-slither as the larger kimeti approached. He glanced up at the towering animal, pondered taking it's challenge, but ultimately realized this meal wasn't worth the possibility of loosing it's life. Just as quickly as it had appeared, the snake attempted to slither off.
Wood Rot was curious now. The sound was disappearing before she could even identify the mystery animal. Was it her new-found acquaintance who'd shooed this presence away? Her blind eyes turned once again to the shadow looming over her, quietly admiring the tall creature.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu May 06, 2010 11:26 am
Satisfied that the snake decided to find food elsewhere, Warden turned his attention towards Wood Rot who seemed a little curious or confused as to what had just happened. For now he'll stay in the region and make sure that the snake and others like it won't try to devour the foal.
With a weak smile, he looked down on the young kimeti before laying down near the log to relax awhile as well.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
