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 Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 9:29 am
 It wasn't all that often that Ironforge wandered down from the mountains, his heavy coat was a good excuse for this as it was far cooler in the height - but the truth of the matter was he just didn't have a reason to stay in the lower flats and valleys. Today however he'd made an exception to his daily routine and made his way into the shaded woods in search of better foraging. One got tired of eating the wind-blown mountain grasses after a little while.
So here he was, aimlessly wandering and snuffling at the ground here and there when he found something that looked appetizing. He was in fact so lost in his search that he didn't notice the presence of another until he was quite close and the wind shifted to bring him her scent. "Hello?" He called out into the woods, head swiveling to see if he could find anyone around.
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Posted: Wed Jun 23, 2010 12:41 pm
 The soft pink colored mare sobbed as she lie underneath the trees. She had run as fast and as hard as she could. Running until she couldn't move any more, she collapsed to the ground, tears running down his face. She couldn't shake the look on her parent's face as the skinwalker had attacked. Her father had ordered her and her mother to run while he tried to hold the skinwalker off. Kamala and her mother had not made it far when her mother tried to bound over a fallen tree, mistepping and fell injured. Kamala had pleaded with her mother to get up, to run.... Her mother only looked at her, fear in her eyes. "Run, Kamala...Don't look back... We love you. Now run!"... the words rang in her ears. From the mist of her thoughts she heard a voice in the near proximity, she shivered and tried to silence her sobbing. She didn't want to meet anyone, not like this...
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:07 am
Ironforge had been sure he'd heard something as he looked about - and he nearly convinced himself that he'd been imagining things when the sound cut off, if it wasn't for the wind bringing her scent to him that is. No there was definitely someone out there and once he realized the sounds he'd heard had been crying the shaggy stallion couldn't just walk away - someone might need help. Someone might be wounded or lost or any number of things that no responsible beast would ignore.
Ironforge might not come across as the friendliest of creatures - but he liked to think of himself as responsible, so with a slight snort he gave up his search for tasty snacks and went off to track down the source of the crying he had heard. Once he got close enough it wasn't hard to miss the pink mare - her color stood out in the forest greens in much the same manner his own pale hide did no matter how much she tried to hide. Peering at her for a moment as thought trying to determine if she were wounded or crying for some other reason Ironforge finally decided to speak, his voice gruff but not unkind. "Miss? Do you need help?"
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:12 am
Kamala looked up as she heard the sound of hooves drawing near to her. Her eyes, still red from the tears, searched for the origin of the sound. Slowly a large white figure came into sight, he didn't seem to wish her any harm.
Her lip quivered at his question, she didn't know what she needed right now. "I... I don't know where I am..." she hadn't been paying attention as she was running. She had done what her mother said, and now she was lost. "We were attacked," her voice cracked, her eyes once again filling with tears as she thought of her parents.
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:20 am
Upon hearing her Ironforge deduced that while she was by no means a foal - she was quite a young mare, a young lost mare he amended which in itself might have explained why she was so upset - and lost was bad but could be dealt with, it was her second remark that actually worried him. Attacked? Snorting slightly he eyed the area around them warily. What if something had followed her? Of course if something had surely it would have attacked her while she lay crying he told himself...no she must have outrun whatever it had been.
Right - he probably ought to figure that out. Get the details...then figure out what to do he told himself. "We?" He questioned, suddenly worried that there might be someone wounded out in the woods. "Attacked by what..were you hurt?" He asked drawing a few steps closer for a better look.
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:34 am
The young mare looked up to the stallion with her bright pink eyes, she took in a deep breath and tried to explain. "My family... my parents. They told me to run and not look back...It was a skinwalker... My father, he tried," she began to cry again as it all played back in her mind. "My mother fell... I couldn't make her get up, she just layed there!"
Tears now rolling down her face again she lowered her head to the ground, she didn't know what she was going to now. "I ran...I ran like they said...and I don't know where I am...." she was broken hearted and weak from her escape. "They're gone...."
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:46 am
Skinwalkers! As bad and in some ways worse then Kalona's to be sure, and Ironforge disliked them both equally. Vicious cold hearted beasts they were, as terrible as the young mares story seemed to be Ironforge had to admit it was probably something that happened from time to time and sadly he had to say she was probably right. Her family was almost certainly gone - and going back to look for them would just be foolish. The wretched skinwalker was probably still creeping about glorifying in his kills.
"Your father died bravely" He told the filly, though this might not be very comforting "And your mother would be proud of you for being brave enough to keep going like she requested" He further told her though this too might not be the most comforting - it was meant to be, or at least he hoped it would keep her from feeling to guilty bout surviving the attack. "Were you wounded in the attack?" He asked again - he didn't see any wounds on her but she was laying down and he wanted to make sure.
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 6:52 am
She rolled her head then lifted it as Ironforge spoke, "My father was the bravest stallion I knew...He gave his life for me...." her words trailed off. She knew her parents had wanted to run, to get away. "I... I only hope it was quick." she managed to squeak out in regards to their deaths. She didn't want to believe that they had suffered long.
In regards to the stallion's question, she shook her head. "No...I'm not injured," she rolled her body so that she could stand. Her coat was covered in drying sweat and dirt, "I'm just exhausted. I ran until I couldn't run anymore..." she shook gently trying to remove some of the debris.
She finally took a good look at the strange stallion, "What...What is that?" she peered at his saddle. She had never seen such a thing.
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:33 am
Ironforge decided not to tell the mare that the quickness of their deaths likely had allot to do with the temperament of the skinwalker - they were all vicious perversions of Soquili kind true, but some were crueler then others. There was little point in enlightening the mare to that fact however as it would just make her feel worse and that was far from what he wanted to do so he kept his silence on that front. It had seemed like a rhetorical comment anyways.
He was pleased to find she wasn't wounded however - that had probably helped in her escape, no blood trail for the skinwalker to follow. "Understandable" He told her after a few moments "Perhaps we can find you a place to clean off and rest safety" He stated, though it was more to himself then to her, his mind calculating the area and the best place to let her recover.
It was her question that snapped him out of these thoughts and twisting his head slightly to look at the saddle for a moment before responding. "It is called a saddle by two leggers"
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Posted: Thu Jun 24, 2010 7:37 am
She took a few cautious steps towards the stallion, "I would appreciate it..." she felt vulnerable out here in these lands alone. She had never traveled solo before, her family always traveled together.
"A saddle..." her head tilted, "You've seen two leggers?!" her voice surprised, her family had always avoided the creatures at all costs. "Were you captured? Do you want me to take it off?" she looked at the buckles and snaps trying to figure out how to remove it.
For a moment, her mind left her parents and settled on the stranger. It dawned on her that she didn't even know his name. "I'm Kamala..." She offered.
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Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 5:20 am
Ironforge snorted slightly "Just doing what proper" He tried to brush her thanks off in his gruff voice, somewhat embarrassed by it, really he was only doing what any decent Soquili should do - of course decency seemed to be a rare commodity now a days, everyone was too wrapped up in themselves and getting what they wanted. shaking his head slightly to rid himself of such disparaging thoughts Ironforge gave the mare a slight smile.
"Quite some time ago now...but yes, I have seen them. Do not worry with the saddle it comes in handy from time to time and doesn't bother" He assured her, besides Prospector would be ever so upset if his favorite seat went missing. Ironforge had no idea where the wopletinger was at the moment - but he'd show up again. Always did.
"Ironforge" He introduced himself and with a wistful look at the mountain's arching up a ways behind him, motioned towards a game trail. Kamala was likely far to tired to make a trip into the mountains at the moments. Perhaps after she'd rested some. In the meantimes - "I believe that leads to a small pond" He told her "Some cool water and a bit more rest and you'll be back in good shape again" - at least physically Ironforge was sure the loss of her family would be something terrible to deal with for quite some time. Turning towards the trail he started off assuming the pink mare would follow.
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Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 5:38 am
Kamala indeed took pace behind the large stallion. He wasn't overly friendly, but he was kind in his own way. Her muscles were still sore, but they seemed to work out little by little with each step.
"Well, if you ever decide you don't want it..." she smiled and shrugged a bit. "I'll take care of it." Her eyes looked around the trail, it shook her nerves. She quickly paced up closer to the stallion. "You have a strong name," she offered to him trying to make small talk. "I could use water. Thank you," her voice trailed off as her thoughts once again drifted to her recent losses.
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Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 5:16 am
Ironforge tipped an ear back slightly as the mare moved closer, it had been a while since he'd spent a good deal of time with anyone other then Prospector and while the little horned rabbit was good company he was hardly another soquili, pausing slightly to let her move up beside him he let his sweep the trees for a few moments. nothing amiss that he could see - but he could barely blame her her nerves given what she'd already been though. "There is nothing in the woods" He assured her in a kinder voice then normal "And if there is I certainly won't let it harm you" He further promised.
Skinwalkers....you see the damage they caused? Wreaking families, destroying futures...if he had it his way he'd just wipe them all out. Knowing that this train of thought would just lead to irritation he let himself be pulled away from it by the mares comments on his name. "Ironforge? I suppose it it, the two-leggers gave it to me. I believe it was the name of one of their settlements"
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Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 7:46 am
She looked up to the stallion, a slightly embarassed look on her face. He had known what she was doing and why she moved closer. "I... I appologize..." she shook her head. "I don't expect for you to protect a stranger... Just maybe..." she paused, she didn't want to sound rude, "You're a large stallion, and look quite intimidating," sometimes her truthful nature got the best of her, she hoped he wouldn't take offense.
"Tell me, what are they like?" she refered to the two leggers that had cared for Ironforge in the past. "Are they as bad as others say they are?"
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Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 5:50 am
"Don't be silly" He told her "There is nothing to apologize for" The poor mare had lived through a rather grueling experience - it was expected that she be nervous, even more so because she was not used to being on her own. Ironforge had not expected to run across something like this in his journey for a tasty snack - but he could hardly leave the poor mare alone now that he had come across her.
He did however snort slightly at her next comment,eyes narrowing slightly. "But you should expect it" He told her in a slightly offended tone, offended that she had doubted his morals "It is the right thing to do, no stallion worth his salt could just walk in on someone in need and then walk off again, but it happens all to often these days I suppose, no values in todays society" He harped with a long suffering sigh. But the mare seemed eager to change the subject and Ironforge was willing to let her. "The ones I knew were not so very bad, they treated me well as I was useful to them...but it was not the same as being free to do what you wanted, go where you wished"
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