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 Posted: Wed May 19, 2010 6:51 pm
 Frenzy was not pleased. She'd been searching the southern edges of the swamp for three sunrises, seeking a mare or a stag. The weight of her young was throwing off her balance, and she had to delay her much-anticipated trip; both made her temper shorter than usual. On the fourth sunrise, she stopped to rest, and to crop a low-hanging branch of its leaves, grumbling to herself. Maybe she'd have better luck if she searched further north, but she didn't want to turn back when she was so close to the coast.
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Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 9:37 am
The swamp here at the southern edge was so different than where she usually walked, and this is what intrigued Webweave the most. How was their home so similar, and yet so different with just a few days' walking? But to better understand the kimeti and their way of life, Webweave had decided that she should wander about a bit more, and observe and take notes of the differences in plants and lifestyles.
What she'd taken to doing lately, has been to go farther than she'd been before, and the last few days had taken her south, towards where she's heard there lay a coast and a harsh lifestyle to go along with it. She had heard of the doe promoting this life, Bitterleaf her name was. But she had yet to meet her. Someday soon.
But where she walked now, was in the wake of another, as she had for the day before, also. This other, was a flustered female, heavy with child and obviously searching for something. Not wanting to have scared her the last night, Webweave had waited until this morn' to reveal herself, if indirectly.
She walked around to the side of the doe, but a few meters away, where she also stopped to stretch her neck out to graze at the leaves of a tree. This inadvertent way of presenting her company, Webweave thought would be sufficient, as then she would not be intruding, and would not be demanding of the other, either.
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Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 10:20 am
Frenzy was tired -- that was it. That was the only reason she hadn't noticed until a yellow-blue-black mare came walking around the tree. The moment the mare came into view, Frenzy's head snapped up, gray eyes catching the movement.
Though she had no plans to coddle her young later, she was protective of them while they were helpless. To make them as strong as possible, she needed a blessing for them.
"I've been searching," she huffed as she heaved herself to her feet, the simple action now an unbelievable chore, "for you."
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Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 12:18 pm
The mare's eye cast over to the stirring doe and watched as she was observed and responded to, and finally spoken to. And though her eye watched the grey doe, she was still grazing and calmly withdrew her mouth from the branch as she chewed the last mouthful of leaves. She patiently waited for the doe to stand, and even waited a few tense moments afterwards to respond in any way other than looking at her.
Her head raised so that she stood at her full height. Golden, with contrasting black swirls, the mare was about the height of a tall buck, and her coat shone in the rising sun's rays. When she spoke, it was a very distinctly female voice, and yet it was deep and full of knowledge, a voice that storytellers envy, and it seemed to come from all around, as if it were a distinct part of the swamp. "Ahhh.... I see.... Might I ask why?" She was thoroughly curious, not sure why the doe could possibly be looking for her.
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Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 12:28 pm
Frenzy staggered a little when she was finally upright, silently cursing the added burden of her young. She wasn't a very large doe, either -- quite small, actually, for how much she could eat and run. "I need a blessing for the little ones," she answered, watching the mare keenly.
They needed the best start possible, after all, since she couldn't stand the idea of bearing foals who were weak from the beginning. The blessing of a mare would provide them with another measure of strength.
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Posted: Thu May 27, 2010 11:33 pm
She blinked once. Twice. Three times. Silently, not quite believing the words coming out of this doe's mouth. Having blinked four times, she finally manages to swallow the last mouthful of leaves that she had almost forgotten about. She had never been outright asked for a blessing before!
Webweave was unsure whether she should be blushing and honored, or whether she should be uncomfortable and refuse a demand such as that. All she could come up with was, "Oh?" and a raised eyebrow.
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Posted: Fri May 28, 2010 8:44 am
"Yes. They will need to be strong to survive the swamp, and I will help them as far as I am able." Frenzy flicked her tail, restlessly. "Can you help me, wise one?" If not, she judged that there were a few days yet for her to search before she had to find someplace secure to leave the sacs.
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Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2010 3:25 pm
"Oh... well... Yes I suppose I could try... I can only ask for a blessing from the Motherfather, ask her to lend your babies strength and courage, but it merely that, my child. It is a request, and a nudge, if you will, but in the end, it must be them that decide whether they will thrive or not. But here, come closer." She beckoned the pregnant mother over, knowing that she could convince the Motherfather of adding another bundle of life, but not quite sure if she would be able to ask for strength, for survival for the little ones.
Nevertheless, she figures that even just one extra bundle of limbs, and a sincere prayer for their increased strength for a life of hardships ahead, should do just fine! Anyways, one extra means greater chances of a few surviving, at the very least!
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 5:43 pm
"I would appreciate whatever aid you could lend me," she answered, making her unsteady, wobbling way over to the mare. "My apologies -- I have never given you my name. I am Frenzy." Though, she could hardly live up to the ferocity of her name with the weight of her young as a burden.
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Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 10:02 pm
She nods, and waits patiently for the doe to come closer, even takes a step or two of her own to lessen the distance. "My name is Webweave." And she leaves it at that, as the two kimeti close the distance between them. When she's close enough to touch, the mare bent her neck down, resting it across the doe's shoulders and closes her eyes, whispering something inaudible, something that only she and presumably the swamp could understand. As she mumbles, the area around them seems to go hazy, and all the bugs rise up in unison and begin to circle the pair, not close enough to touch, but should one poke a nose out, would interrupt their pattern of flight. After a few seconds of this dance, a few songbirds lift up into the air and circle around the pattern of bugs, once, twice, three times and then fly up and away, followed closely by the bugs. They all disappear and the swamp goes eerily silent and stays that way for a few tense seconds after the mare stops whispering.
Only when the sounds start coming back does Webweave open her eyes and lift her head once more. With the return of sound, she knew that at the very least their request was heard, as far as whether it was answered, only time would tell! Softly, she says aloud, "Now you need only to wait, Frenzy. But I wish you all the best with your coming brood."
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Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 4:14 pm
"A pleasure to meet you, Webweave." Frenzy remains tense as Webweave lays her neck across her shoulders. Though she can't clearly make out what the mare is whispering, the words somehow put her at ease. She turns her head ever so slightly, watching as the fireflies circle them, weaving a mesmerizing dance, until they are joined by songbirds. The whispering ends, so smoothly integrated into the silence that Frenzy barely notices.
Finally, Webweave lifts her head, and Frenzy stirs. "I thank you for your blessing, Webweave. May you live long and well." She turns, and disappears into the trees once more -- back on her course south, towards the sea, towards the doe with pale eyes, towards her fate.
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Posted: Wed Jun 09, 2010 7:31 pm
Webweave dips her head in a final thank you and you're welcome, and then only lingers to cast one last gaze over the pregnant doe that walks away, now with one more bundle to bring into the Swamp.
She, too, sets off on her way, picking her steps carefully as the thoughts in her mind mull about and melt into one another, keeping her from being able to have any concise completed thoughts. Perhaps with some more walking she would be able to clear her head... or maybe she should head out and find somewhere to take a nice little nap... Blessings could take a lot out of one!
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