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 Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 12:07 pm
 Copper eyes stared up in wonder at the crumbling remains of weather word statue. Ruins, but the nomadic uni didn't know them as that, nor where they'd come from. Only that they were beautiful and mysterious, sparking in her a deep curiosity for their origin. The faded paintings on the walls were a particular point of interest. Swirls of earthy hues in designs and symbols she'd never before seen. Though that wasn't exactly saying much, as Habibi had experienced very little outside the tightly bound members of her romani herd.
She was no longer with her herd though, having left in pursuit of knowledge, the unknown, and the search for the beings they worshiped. Elementals, deities, they came by many name, and her tribe prayed to them for safety, good fortune. She wanted so badly to meet the creatures that made the rain that quenched their thirsts, the wind that cooled their backs in the brilliant heat of the sun. The others called her foolish, but she didn't care, there was more to their world then the desert and the familiar faces of her family and herd, and she was determined to see it.
She'd wandered as far as the edge of the desert, the sun an the stars as her guide. Stopping only when the crumbling walls of some forgotten civilization drew her attention. Walking betwixt the statues and archways, examining everything. So caught up that she hardly noticed the passage of time between morning and early evening. What are they? She didn't know, but she so wanted to. So wanted to understand what the paintings meant, what the worn statues represented. Frustrated by her lack of knowledge.
She glared up to the unresponsive eyes of odd creature before her. It was vaguely canine, with tall ears and a streamline snout, but no fox she'd ever seen walked on two straight legs, or were their paws so oddly misshapen. "What are you?"
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Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 12:58 pm
He estimated that he had been briefed for at least three hours on the subject. It rather defeated the definition of 'brief' but he had come to understand why it had taken such an extended period of time. There were a great many details he had failed to take into consideration, what he had considered necessary had turned out to be inaccurate and as a consequence the hybrid stallion had been forced to re-evaluate and reassess many of his plans. One might have said that after this briefing he had been delayed by a further day as he remapped his route and debated how best to proceed with his explanation.
...It had been a long night.
Alas, as the male traversed the sands he grew more and more grateful for the information he had received. The borderguards, particularly those who were well travelled, had proven to be an invaluable source of information. The tan male had very quickly realised that their advice was accurate and he had adjusted his course and pace to accomodate it. He had, for the most part, spent the warmest parts of that afternoon in the shade of a rock face. It was just a touch out of place and seemed to encroach of the sands territory but it served it's purpose. He had slept during this period, mused over the small things and made minor tweaks to his plans here and there until at last the sun began to set and he felt the declining temperatures upon his hide.
It was from here that the stallion pulled himself to a stand and with an abrupt shake of his form, he swung round to readjust his 'attire' quickly before setting off once more. He was without his companion for the time being, having agreed that she should spend time with her family before they moved further afield once more. Consequently, the stallion was finally allowed to follow his hooves just a little and his spontaneous side shone through. He'd been aware of a rough idea of what he wanted to achieve but he had chartered a course that would give him ley-wey to 'wander' so to speak.
And wander he did!
He weaved, he meandered and his hooves brushed aside the delicate granules of sand as he progressed onwards. One might have assumed that he had no intention of finding anything but sure enough, within time his senses detected a shift in the 'norm' and his gaze lifted. It was at this point that he came to a halt and afforded a pause to admire the horizon and the ruins that greeted him. Initially, he didn't spot another in his midst and after he had granted himself leave to admire he pushed on into the depths of the ruins to inspect the peculiar site.
His investigation was a slow enough one as he nosed against various rocks, statues and tablets. He found it impossible to decipher the texts upon the tablets, but he could recognise a human's work when he saw it. While the humans no longer existed, he could hazard a guess that they had once frequented this place.
How very novel.
His exploration proved to be enlightening and he was quick to make a mental note, but, if he had anticipated that he would be granted the evening to himself to uncover the mysteries of this place he was to be most disappointed. Sure enough, when the female voiced her query his ears snapped to attention immediately and his snuffling ceased. She wasn't yet in his line of vision, but he knew she was there.
"What are you?" he replied mildly, though it was perhaps a precautionary measure as well.
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Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 2:01 pm
Having thus far gone about her travels, few though they may be, Habibi had yet to encounter a single other soquili. Only the occasional lizard or serpent warming themselves in the heat of the day, but nothing remotely warm blooded. So it went without saying that the tawny mare wouldn't have suspected another so close, and certainly not in so worn a place. She didn't know much of ruins, but she could tell time had taken a toll on the buildings, and nothing had called this place home for ages.
Not that she could accurately gage the passage of time within the harsh realm of the desert. The shifting sand could reduce something fresh and new to aged and ancient in a few short weeks, but she didn't think that to be the case this time around.
Regardless, she was not excepting an answer to her questioning musings, and the voice of the male was enough to make the dainty uni stumble back in surprise. Gaping at the stature for a moment as if it were the culprit before common sense kicked in and caused her to look about herself. There was no one there to see, nothing but rocks and crumbling walls, but something had spoken, and she had already ruled out the possibility of it being the stone carving. It wasn't beyond the realm of her beliefs to consider it being the wind though, or some other construct of nature. She was a worshiper of such earthly deities, after all.
Pale lips pursed, she considered her response before speaking up. Her voice clear and carrying. "I'm a daughter of The Followers of the Sun." Her tone was matter of fact, as if that should clarify things.
"What are you?" The line of questioning was beginning to grow quite repetitive, but it seemed the right inquiry. Habi smiled, copper eyes glittering with curious excitement as she slipped away from the statue, following a line of wall towards a far corner, and where she was betting the voice had come from. Eager to see what exactly had stumbled upon her.
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Posted: Mon Nov 08, 2010 4:29 am
If only he'd been crueller and more manipulative! He could have used her spiritualistic tendencies to his advantage. Alas, he lacked the ability to toss his voice in any form and as a consequence, the effectiveness of such a plan would be hampered considerably. That being said, should the male ever decide to succumb to the unholy it was something to consider - practise a method in which to promote false gods; he'd seen it happen before on his travels and it had worked surprisingly well. Granted, he hadn't appreciated the outcome of these pursuits but they had been fascinating to watch, if only for a short period of time.
However, he wasn't granted a significant period of time to dwell on such topics as the female responded again. If he had been seeking clarification on what she was in terms of her species, he was to be sorely disappointed. The response he received was as about as clear as muddy water; anyone and anything could have been a 'follower of the sun'. Such responses were fairly exasperating to the stallion but given his adventures he had grown accustomed to them. In essence, the reply meant that he had to take a gamble - he knew not what this creature was or who they were. If they were anything like the humans in the southern jungles he would be in a great deal of trouble!
...Sun indeed, those humans were brutal.
Alas, one could never learn anything if they hid under a rock and despite himself he moved to greet whatever mystery female lurked out of his line of sight. Unfurling his wings, he gave each a flick and then with a quick set of beats he flung himself into the air. He had no intention of flying far and the wings served no more purpose than a springboard. It was with this extra thrust that he was able to leap over the wall at a virtual standstill and came to rest on the otherside with a muffled thump of hooves against sand.
It became clear to the stallion immediately that his gamble had paid off, the mare creeping away from him was evidently the owner of the voice. Alas, she seemed to be seeking him out by moving towards the corner of the wall - no doubt the 'thump' would draw her attention though.
He furled his wings close to his side once more and regarded the mare curiously for a few moments before concluding that she was unicorn and she didn't pose much of a threat - yet. Looks could be decieving as it were and he'd experienced that first hand before, best to be cautious rather than a stew later on.
"A traveller from the west, adhering to the call of mystery and intrigue," he answered her at last.
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Posted: Tue Nov 09, 2010 12:16 pm
The dainty mare's attention was indeed drawn by the sound of hooves connecting with loose sand over her shoulder, and she spun about to face the winged stallion. Metallic gaze sweeping from feathered wings to bejeweled brow as a wary smile twitched along pale lips that grew when he spoke.
"A traveler, truly?" Her voice was the coo of a dove. Soft and sweet to the ear. An eager lit betraying her curiosity. "I'm sure you've some amazing tales to tell." She'd only just left her herd in pursuit of the unknown not even a week prior, and already she'd stumbled upon another explorer, though she was sure he was far more experienced then she. He wasn't unkempt, but there was a air to him that seemed weathered, and she could only assume it was his many adventures leaving their mark upon him.
"I'm a traveler myself, or rather I hope to be. I've only just left home." She smiled all the brighter, a brilliant crescent of pearly whites as she moved closer on cooper hooves that glittered in the fading light of the setting sun.
"Do you have a name, sir traveler?" She mused, half lidded gaze lingering on handsome features. A touch forward, perhaps, but the Uni charmed as she breathed. Silver tongue forever flattering those around as she herself hungered for approval and attention. It wasn't really a conscious effort on her part, and she seldom realized she her flirtatious nature. "I'm Habibi."
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Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 3:07 am
He'd started off as an idealist when he first left home. He'd been determined to see the world, to experience the array of cultures that existed between various groups of creatures. Suffice to say, the winged stallion had been suitably naive in this and had failed to remember that certain cultures had traditions that could make his skin crawl and put his life in grave danger. Combine this with the rather extreme weather conditions within certain regions and well, 'weathered' was certainly something he became extremely quickly both in a physical and emotional sense.
...He'd educated himself very quickly.
Nevertheless, the experiences the tan male had endured were not enough to inspire bitterness and he had taken them in his stride. He had the scars to prove his travels, but he'd never really regarded them as anything terribly spectacular or exciting. After all, individual enjoyment was usually based on perception and preference - what he considered to be fascinating might prove to be dire to another. Francesca had taught him this, his fascination with ruins and history bored her stupid and instead, the tiny Usdia found interest in the more gruesome aspects of nature. Whether it be a shrunken head, a cannibal ritual or a giant flower capable of eating her alive, she was definitely more inclined to investigate it than map out a ruin!
Despite what his personal preferences might have been, it was accurate to assume that there was a universal quality that all adventures possessed. That lust for knowledge (whatever its form) and the twinkle in the eye were a clear indication of an individual's intentions. The slight spark he had seen in those metallic orbs had been unmistakable - granted, it had been loaded with other meaning to but he wasn't one to take advantage of that or rather, he preferred to ignore it. The last time he had caved to that pressure he'd nearly been killed; suffice to say that he had learnt his lesson well.
"I wouldn't say that any of my tales would be particularly amazing," he replied mildly, a warm smile creeping onto his lips. He may have been young, but the gesture itself was enough to cause very mild creases to form under his eyes. It was certainly an indication that he was weathered and a little worn, but it made his features no less appealing. "A little ridiculous, potentially stupid and well deserving of a roll of the eyes on certain occasions? Yes, I suspect that would be a better summary of the adventures I have experienced," he continued.
"Alas, forgive my lack of manners!" He quickly leapt from that little topic to respond to her introduction and gave a bow of his head. "Manners are something that one caters for well when they travel, given they vary from place to place. My name is Solstice, though the vast majority prefer to address me simply as 'Sol'," he lifted his head once more and fixed his gaze on the mare.
At present he couldn't quite decide how to take her; on the one hand she was exceptionally well kept, pleasant and potentially naive as he was in youth (although he probably wasn't much older himself)...but, on the other hand? The was an air to her that unsettled him ever so slightly; pleasant as she might have been her body language gave airs of something a little more. He was by no means declaring himself irresistable but there was just something he couldn't quite place.
A little paranoia, perhaps.
"It is always a pleasure to meet one who aspires to be an explorer." Introductions complete, he sought to return to more interesting topics of conversation, lest they fall into the mundane realms of the weather. "Although I should hope that you are suitably more prepared than I was," he continued, the corners of his lips lifting just a touch to transform the warm smile into a wry one. "Arctic conditions without a thick coat are eh..." he paused to consider the right words. When he'd felt it he'd let out an array of expletives but he couldn't really say those again, now could he?
"Extremely uncomfortable," he finished with a groan at the mere memory.
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Posted: Mon Dec 13, 2010 10:42 pm
Gilded hooves caught the light as she shuffled her feet in the soft sand. Weight shifting to rest more evenly, thus are more comfortably and better balanced. There was an art to it, as she'd come to learn through limited interactions with outsiders. Those used to a more solid, packed earth, could easily ind themselves off balanced as the wind shifted the send beneath their feet. Even the foals of her herd weren't simply born with the skill, and toppling over in the ever moving dunes was not only common, but quite amusing. The tawny mare could appreciate the humor in it, but was certainly in no hurry to make herself the subject of it. It'd happened enough when she was a child, she was determined to not let it happen again now that she was grown.
Part of that desire may have had something to do with the winged stallion that stood before her. Weathered and worn, he was still handsome, and appeared to be quite polite and well spoken. No, tripping was definitely not an option.
She listened intently as he gave a broad description of his travels and the reactions each story tended to draw from the audience, and she couldn't help bit laugh softly in response. Well spoke and apparently humble and not above high lighting his more humorous follies if the need arises. From there he jumped straight into introductions, and Habibi flashed him a bright and friendly smile as he shared his name with her.
"Solstice, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I'm Habibi, or Habi if you prefer." He'd given the option of a shorter name, she could do no less. She found him charming, funny, and that showed in the tone o her voice. Soft, with a tiniest thread of suppressed laughter. "I'm sure your stories are very interesting, whether thrilling or deserving of a roll of the eyes."
The returned to the topic of exploration was a welcome thing. Though what he had to say on the matter did make her think. Was she prepared? Not really. She'd left on little more then a whim and with no prior knowledge of anything beyond her little desert herd. It sobered the smile on honey lips, fading into something more unconscious, less bright, but still pretty.
"Ah, prepared." Copper eyes twitched to one side, but slid back up to his face at the mention of arctic conditions. It made her blink, head tilting to one side with the sweet of pink and dusty curls brushing the edge of one henna painted cheek. "Acrtic?" She'd never heard of anything refereed to as that before.
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Posted: Wed Dec 15, 2010 4:02 am
Arrogance had never benefited him. Other individuals might have been much more lucky than he, but, the half-angeni had long recognised that the positive qualities of such behaviour were limited. For a start, one of his very first adventures had nearly resulted in his death because he had been ever so slightly arrogant. Had it not been for the patience of his travelling companion (or was it stubborness?) he would not have been standing in this very spot today. Suffice to say, the weathered male had learnt quite a lot, very quickly and if a more humble stallion had been born from these lessons then he was glad of it.
Unfortunately, he hadn't learnt everything that he could - either that or he simply hadn't mastered it. While the mare demonstrated a startling level of grace upon the sands, he was not to be so lucky. He hadn't fallen yet but every now and again he could feel his hooves slip. It was only a matter of time before he lost his footing completely and landed chin first against the sand - very dignified. There was a flicker in his azure gaze, sporadic and impossible to 'time' but to one who observed him closely it would be a tell-tale sign of his struggle.
Maybe if he chose to stay here longer he would be granted the secret to the same level of grace she possessed.
"Habi?" he tilted his head to the side. "It sounds almost like 'happy'," he mused and offered a mild smile. It was a line that was liable to make many groan, wince or otherwise regard him with exasperation. A horrendous 'chat up line' to some, it was no more than an observation to the stallion who really did note that her name sounded similar to such a phrase! "Appropriate," he explained, a curt nod following his words as he brushed the topic aside and relaxed into the more comfortable subject he had chosen to adopt. If there was one thing the explorer loved to discuss, it was the oddities that he had encountered on his travels!
However when he was made aware of the mare's lack of knowledge relating to the arctic his eyes widened. Partially through a duty towards her safety and an absolute fascination for the terrain, he deemed it necessary to discuss it.
"You have never seen snow?" he enquired and then shook his head, his brow creasing into a frown. The shift in facial expressions aged him considerably, the details of his features chiselled by the elements themselves. It made him no less handsome, but he was definitely no dandy and would have been the first to admit this.
"Ah! It is something you must truly see at some point," he continued. His eyes grew wide, a flash crossing the blue orbs to indicate his enthusiasm. "Of course you will need to condition yourself before considering such a journey," he mused and readjusted his footing. He took a moment, his wings flaring outwards to assist him in keeping his balance. It was only when he was satisfied that he wouldn't slip that he spoke again. "I would suggest that you spend at least a year or two in the mountains - the arctic is one of the most hostile and extreme places I have been. Incredibly cold, the slopes would be a good starting point to begin your training," he began.
"Given the exposure and hostile climates of the slopes (though not so extreme as the arctic) they will assist in conditioning you. I would say that beginning in summer is advisable as it will give your coat the chance to thicken out. Persistant exposure to these climates will make it more coarse and it will last significantly longer," he took a breath, allowing this information to sink in before continuing. "Of course, the arctic would still be a shock in terms of how cold it is but it would feel much less er... extreme," he gave a shiver at the memory. He had intentions of going back, but only when he was prepared for it.
"That aside it is a very unique place," he returned from his digression to speak more plainly, lest he run the risk of boring her senseless. "It is like a pure white desert made of very cold fluff," he explained. He wasn't the most poetic of individuals and this was made worse still by his colour-blindness. However, his sight was not hindered by black or white shades and thus he knew that these were accurate. "There is nothing for miles, you can walk for days and see nothing but experience the vicious bite of the wind. No grass, no trees...not even a brief sign of life," he paused and cast his gaze towards the mare.
"However, just when you begin to think that no life exists within this barren wasteland that you see a movement. Humans, covered in fur no less! Unlike their cousins in these lands they have it from head to toe as opposed to merely upon their heads," he chuckled and shook his head. "They are unusual creatures but from a distance I was granted a very special secret," he leaned forward just a touch and shook his head.
"You see, in the desert you may never see water but in the arctic -" he paused and leant back again to provide her with her personal space. "You can smash your hoof against the ground at any point and discover that what you are standing on is water!"
Unfortunately the stallion had never been made aware of just how difficult it was to reach the water. He had been wary of the humans and they had been wary of him - thus he had never been taught all the secrets. It did give him the opportunity to learn more when he chose to visit again, but for the time being he would remain in the dark.
"There's even fish in it," he sounded almost dubious. "You'd never expect such small things to survive in such extremes, but there you have it."
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