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 Posted: Thu Oct 07, 2010 1:44 am
The forest was quiet today; serene, the barest hint of a wind just beginning to stir the autumn dusted leaves that lined the floor of the woods. A few stray blue flowers bloomed near the base of an old, gnarled oak tree, and the sun was beginning to move lower in the sky, smearing the pale blue with streaks of red, orange, and lavender.
Cethian sat with his back to the oak tree, his head resting against its massive trunk. His knees pulled up to his chest, his arms were resting across the tops of his knees as his fingers plucked at one of the blue flowers.
Another day... he thought with a quiet sigh, tugging at a particularly stubborn petal. Another day gone and away. What have I done with myself?
Cethian had explored, as usual. Poked his nose into the decrepit old caves, climbed some of the ancient maple trees that provided low, thick branches perfect for gripping. He'd sat near the top of one tree, simply gazing out at the forest beneath him for quite some time until his legs had grown stiff and his stomach rumbling had forced him to climb back down.
And now, here it was, nearing evening, and Cethian had not done anything out of the ordinary. He was beginning to think his life at the present time was quite dull, although he was not exactly displeased by it. On the contrary, he was quite content without the excitement and bravado that many craved. Cethian curled his tail around his waist, absently running his fingers through the familiar, slightly bristly fur.
What might this evening bring, eh? he thought idly, his wolfish ears twitching. Will it be the same as it has every day for the past several years? I would assume so. But...perhaps maybe this time, something might different could happen.
...perhaps.
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Posted: Fri Oct 08, 2010 10:57 pm
 This day had been a good day. A lazy day, certainly, but a good day. The woods smelled delicious, and the delicious handful of raspberries Rori's grandmother had provided her with, in place of her usual small bushel of grapes, had only made the day that much better. There was something in the air today -- the brisk breeze of autumn blowing through the trees was more refreshing than usual, and everything seemed fresh. Even the clearings Rori frequented seemed to have a different feel about them. There was just a good energy about the day.
The blonde had been walking since noon, when her grandmother had sent her out for her usual picnic. Though typically Rori would be home by now, she had been unable to resist the urge to stay out. Of course she'd popped by the cottage and let her grandmother know that she was alive and well and would be back at a later time than usual; her grandmother hadn't seemed too concerned, though perhaps that was because it was about time for her afternoon nap.
Rori had found many new areas today that she'd quite enjoyed -- a pile of climbing rocks, a small waterfall into a pool at the end of a creek she'd always wanted to follow, a large three that seemed almost it could be a protective home for small creatures (though Rori wasn't quite curious enough to find out if it was, indeed, someone's shelter). Her legs were starting to get tired for the second time in the day, and she was aware that soon she might like to take a small rest somewhere before heading back home for the evening. Already the sun was descended in the sky enough to cast an array of warm colors across the sky, creeping across the usual cool blue of daylight.
Rori continued weaving between the trees, keeping in mind where the path home was though she had left it often this day. Leaves shuffled and crumpled beneath her steps, and Rori looked down to watch her booted feet push through the thin layer of them on the forest floor. A flower caught her eye, blue and lingering into a season it wasn't long for. She walked towards it a brushed it with her toe, carefully, and sighed. Looking up, she had a sudden urge to climb one of the tall oaks she was now walking through, but she knew she didn't have the height or the energy to even try. Amongst the base of one tree, however, she noticed a figure -- brown as the trunk he leaned against, though not camouflaged enough to be mistaken as an ingrown addition to the scenery.
"Oh!" Her voice was quiet, though she had noted that the wind was settled and very little noise was occurring aside from her exclamation, quiet or not. She looked about her, making sure she hadn't entered a fence without realizing it at some point, though that was a rare occurrence in the woods as it was. She looked back at the figure, silent as she tried to decide whether to say anything, divert her path, or just turn around for home now...
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 1:41 am
Cethian had almost gotten up to leave.
Almost. However, he had decided to stay just a few moments extra than he normally would have, absently tugging on the petals of the tiny blue flowers that sprouted at the base of the tree. HE didn't know exactly why he had decided to stay longer than usual; perhaps it was simply because he was attempting to do something different from what he normally would have. Or perhaps it was because he was curious as to if anything would be differet today than it had been yesterday, or the day before yesterday, or the hundreds of days before then.
It hadn't. So, brushing off his pants, Cethian put both of his hands on the ground, preparing to push himself up.
"Oh!"
He stopped. Wolf ears pricked upwards, catching the startled, barely audible cry. He had heard something, hadn't he? Yes. It had been quiet, but it was distinct - the voice of a human.
Turning silvery eyes sideways, Cethian glanced to his left, his gaze falling on the surprised, unsure face of a young girl standing in the brush not too far from where he sat. He could not make out her features very clearly (the brush and leaves obscured his vision partially), but he could glimpse tousled blonde hair and pink cheeks.
This was unusual. Cethian had not seen another person this close to where he lived in quite some time. He stood up, walking over to where she stood and eyed her curiously.
"Hello." he said.
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 11:13 am
Of the three options, the last was looking the best. Should she say anything, she might feel obliged to stick around for a while if they struck upon an actually interesting conversation. Though, to be honest, it seemed a shady situation -- he was a dark figure sitting below a gnarled tree in the cast of its shadow, which gave the whole situation a sort of suspicious air; though of course that was a ridiculous thought. On to the next option, were she to simply divert her path, there was every possibility of her being talked to anyway, or even followed, which could still lead to a conversation that might keep her out later than she wanted or intended. If she turned around... well, even if they said anything, she could pretend she hadn't heard them.
As she was just about resolved to turn and go, the figure began to stand. She decided to pause and see what the person might be doing -- perhaps they would walk away, and she wouldn't have to choose after all. But no, she noticed that the other's steps, once up on their feet, were towards her. She stood, wavering, her weight shifting onto her left leg as she prepared to turn and walk away as planned, though she was sure at this point she would just look like a food if she decided to do that. Her eyes watched the feet, then traveled up and noticed a tail, the red vest (what a nice color), and finally his silver eyes, framed by windswept brunette hair.
"Hello." He was the first to say a thing, and Rori's first response was to furrow her brows, as if she didn't understand. Of course she did -- well, the language at least, though she wasn't really sure what compelled him to approach her. Still, she didn't have to be rude just because he'd ruined her plan of possible escape, did she? No. She shook her head lightly and a smile smoothed over her lips.
"Hello." Her weight redistributed so that she wasn't poised to turn any longer, settling in her place on the forest floor. "I'm sorry to disturb you, I was just, uhm, exploring a bit." Her hand was making a useless gesture towards where she had come from, sweeping towards where she had, initially, been going. "I can turn back and leave you to your rest, I didn't mean to intrude."
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 1:04 pm
Standing in front of the girl, Cethian could see her much more clearly now, in the waning light streaking across the sky from the slowly setting sun. From her youthful, slender face, she was perhaps a one or two years younger than he, and a good several inches shorter. Golden hair curled under her chin in a fluffy, short cut and her eyes were wide, luminous, an unusually bright scarlet that matched her tattered cloak in color.
Cethian studied her carefully. Interesting, he mused to himself, folding his arms across his chest and tapping his chin. She had seemed to be turning to leave before he had spoken, but now she pivoted slightly, turning fully to look at him, her expression unreadable. Who is this girl? I have not met anyone in this forest for several years.
Though he had been to the villages nearby, and wandered the streets of various towns, the forest itself was where Cethian made his own home, in a small wood cabin he had built himself. It was tiny, but comfortable, with just enough space for himself and his belongings. Cethian had never needed much before, and he did not need much now. However, his home was secluded, buried deep into the heart of the woods, which was perhaps why he had never before had any visitors.
"Er," said Cethian, feeling slightly unsure of himself. "I...that is not necessary. I was not resting, after all. My name is Cethian. May I inquire as to your name? Are you lost, perhaps?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 4:41 pm
The male's arms crossed and his finger tapped his chin, apparently in thought. He was looking Rori over, a strange curiosity in his eyes. Rori couldn't say what he found so fascinating, but she was certainly feeling a bit more self-conscious; in her youth, she would immediately think of the skin pattern on her right cheek and over her eye, but she was more observant now and knew that he wasn't only examining her face. Even if he had glanced at the red, it didn't seem to capture his attention.
As he tried to speak, he seemed almost off-guard, a bit 'out of his element' or what have you. He stammered at first before replying that there was no need for her to turn back. Then again, she never thought it was necessary, she had just assumed that she'd been somehow intruding, and it would be nice if she'd intrude no further. Wrong assumption, apparently, though assumptions usually have some flaw. The blonde was a bit surprised to hear mention that he wasn't resting, though that was her own personal preference and experience -- she didn't usually sit under a tree in the forest and end up not resting. She wondered, though, what it was he had been doing.
"Cethian." She repeated his name, and smiled. It was a nice name, smooth on her tongue. "My name is Rori. I'm not lost, just wandering. I should head back soon, but I was going to find a place to sit before I began my walk home." She hadn't seen a rock or much to sit on, but she really wasn't all that worried about finding a patch of grass beneath a tree, similar to Cethian's seated place before she'd approached. She looked to her right at a tree and tilted her head, "Do you mind if I sit?" She didn't really wait for an answer, turning and approaching the tree she'd spotted; so far as she knew, it wasn't his tree, so hopefully he wouldn't mind.
The girl settled under the tree, both legs folded beneath her, her back not yet resting against the trunk, for now. She looked back at Cethian, tilting her head slightly and looking him up and down once more. "So, if you don't mind my asking, what was it you were doing before I came along?"
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Posted: Sun Oct 17, 2010 12:08 am
"Rori." Cethian said, testing it. It was a simple name, not particularly difficult to say, and it fell from his lips quite easily. Having skulked around the villages oftentimes (most of it was when he was bored and wished to observe the people in town), Cethian had heard his fair share of complicated, tongue-twisting names. He found it quite refreshing that hers was not so unusual.
"Oh," he said, when she answered him. "I am glad you are not lost; that would be somewhat unsettling, seeing as how it is a forest where it is not easily navigated. I am used to it, but it would not be pleasant had you gotten lost."
Cethian had been living in the forest for longer than he could remember; it was his home now, like the small wood cabin less than a mile away where he slept. He knew nearly every turn, every tree, every leaf, it seemed, but for those who had not been born under the wide oak tree branches, it was a maze of confusion.
"Er." he said again. "Yes, of course you may sit." Somewhat helplessly, Cethian watched her step around him, moving to sit under the tree he had just been at. She tucked her legs neatly beneath her and looked up at him, her dark eyes large and scrutinizing.
"Uhm," said Cethian, walking back towards her. He sat down a few feet away, facing her, plucking at a stray thread in his vest. "I was, er...meditating, so to speak. I come here to rest my mind. Sometimes I observe the events of the day."
He gave a short shrug, almost sheepish. "Although I cannot say it has been all that exciting. It never is."
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Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 2:55 pm
"It can be quite a confusing forest, that is true." She smiled and gave a small nod, then continued, "Luckily, I've slowly gotten to know this place." Thought she knew the forest well, it had taken her some time to get used to its... well... its largeness, and mystery. The town, of course, was mapped and had a certain 'orderliness' to it; the forest, on the other hand, was untamed and left to its own devices, animals carving paths that didn't always run straight or follow any sort of 'logical' pattern, trees and bushes often growing in clumps that could look almost twin to another. But, she had been careful, and learned in waves what the forest surrounding her grandmother's house looked like so that she could navigate it.
Though she hadn't exactly waited for his permission to sit, she replied to his permission with a, "Thank you," as she made herself comfortable. As he thought about her question and made his way towards her, she watched him move; he had a different way of moving, somehow, different from anyone she'd ever met. She couldn't quite place her finger on exactly what it was about his movement, but... she liked it.
"Meditating..." She thought about it for a moment before commenting, "That seems like a fairly good thing to do from time to time. I'm sure many people could probably benefit from sitting aside to do so." She thought for a moment, then added, "Me included, probably." She smiled over at him, then tilted her head slightly. She could ask why his day wasn't exciting, but she could also imagine that he wasn't nearly as impressed with most of the forest as she was; after all, he grew up here, and in comparison, she was only a recent addition to those familiar with it. She could still be surprised, but it was less likely that he could be.
"Well, that could be considered a good thing." She finally did lean against the tree behind her. "But I'm sort of exciting, aren't I? Well, I mean, I didn't exactly jump at you or anything -- but I'm something new!" The blonde girl grinned at him and settled against the bark behind her.
"So, tell me about yourself, Cethian. What did you do with your day, even if it wasn't very exciting?"
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