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 Posted: Wed Nov 10, 2010 11:12 pm
Thinking about it too much made her heart hurt, and so the young unicorn just focused on getting through each day, venturing further on into the world until her hooves hurt and night eventually fell. It wasn't the best life, and in truth, she was often quite lonely. Still, it was now or never to grow up and take control of her life, much as she might have loathed the circumstances.
Cautiously making her way to the river, she drank her fill and grazed a little, listening carefully for any sounds that might warn of approaching company. Much as she longed to see a friendly face, fear inherently kept her back; an encounter with a Kalona--or worse, a Skinwalker, would very likely be her last.
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 3:43 am
 The day was new and Rallie had already risen to start his daily routine. He was a big boy, it took him a while to get moving at any speed, especially on chilly mornings. Carefully his shook his head, being sure to miss any branches or debris that could catch his antlers. She shake of his head rippled down his muscles causing the coat on his shoulder and flanks to quiver as well. He snorted slightly. He made his way over the beaten path, he was parched and could use some water. His large hooves fell step by step like a heavy rock onto the earth beneath. It wasn't uncommon that he should run into other soquili in this part of the forest, many knew of the water source ahead. He enjoyed meeting new soquili and running into familiar faces. It was a nice change of pace to not spend his entire day alone.
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 10:10 am
Oh-oh. There was a sound. The mare's head had snapped up instantly at the sound of heavy hoof beats, and she tensed all over. What could that possibly be? Before she could flee for the trees, she caught a glimpse of a great many horns--and an even bigger body! Frozen with shock, Eva could only stare with both wonder and surprise, willing her legs to keep from trembling. Goodness, but what was he? She'd never seen such a creature before!
It was too late to run; he'd undoubtedly seen her, and she didn't want to encourage him to give chase, if it had crossed his mind. Without thinking, she arched her neck a little in her best impression of a frosty, indifferent queen, giving him a long and level look before she dared to return to grazing.
Ohgoodness, ohgoodness, oh goodness. What if he charged her while she was doing this? She hadn't seen horns or claws or wings on him, but that meant very little! Skinwalkers could shift forms, or so she'd heard! Maybe if she stayed quiet and acted a little cold, he wouldn't... well, do anything...
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 10:31 am
Rallie's ears swiveled and perked at the sounds around him as he walked along. In the distance his focus fell on a white figure, a petite soquili. He continued at his steady pace towards the figure which was close to the water where he normally drank. Upon closer inspection, he noted that the soquili was female, and seemed a rather regal one at that.
He caught her glance, it didn't seem out of the ordinary. Not friendly, but not exactly rude either. His voice was almost a rumble, "Good morning, Miss," he greeted her in passing. She didn't seem to want company and he didn't want bother anyone. He nodded his head slightly as he passed and continued on without another word.
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 10:40 am
Good.... good morning?
She blanched with surprise at the, well, the normal greeting, and found her head twisting slowly to watch the stallion as he passed. That was what she'd wanted in the first place; she didn't want any trouble, and so he could just go his merry way and leave her be! ...But now that he was, Eva was struck painfully by the sudden sense of loss, all too aware that this meant she'd be alone again, aimlessly wandering around this place.
Yet, this stallion was here. She didn't know his nature, or his intentions, but he hadn't even glanced her way after greeting her. That had to mean something, didn't it? She could always be careful! She'd keep herself on the tips of her hooves--but she didn't want to be left alone again.
"W-Wait," Her voice hitched, and the mare was suddenly on the brink of tears, swallowing them back for a moment as she tried to think of what to say next. "Don't leave."
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 10:53 am
He stopped at the sound of the mare's voice, his large head turning slowly back towards her. Her expression had changed from a solemn expression to one of almost desperation. He didn't mention that he had noticed.
"May I help you, Miss?" he would offer what assistance he could to the lady.
He turned his body back towards her, straightening up a bit as he waited to see what he could do for her.
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 11:27 am
Now that she'd gotten his attention, the unicorn was at a loss for words again, taking a few uncertain steps closer while still maintaining a respectful distance. "I'm lost." She finally settled for, hoping she didn't sound too childish. She didn't quite sniff, but the thought had clearly distressed her again.
"My... My family's gone away, and I don't know where I might find them. I'm not used to this forest, and it's... well, it's a little frightening. " She was stuttering and she knew she must sound like an idiot, but surely he'd understand! ...Well, maybe he didn't. From the size of him, she rather doubted anything would try to take a bite out of him, and the thought was a little comforting.
"Sir, have you seen anyone else like me? Unicorns?' Eva finally implored, wiping at her eyes with the tuft of her tail.
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 11:32 am
Though he looked large and bruttish, Rallie had a soft side tucked within him. His heart broke for the young mare, her family abandoned her it seemed. What a cruel world they lived in.
"I'm afraid I have not seen any others," his voice low and rumbling. He lowered his head a bit, trying not to be so intimidating. "But you never know, perhaps they are close." he offered her a large smile, trying to be as comforting as his large build would allow.
He had not seen any soquili, now that he thought about it. Before he really thought about it, he offered, "I can help you look, if you'd like." Rallie never really had anything planned, he just meandered along ever day. It would be nice to have some company while they searched.
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 12:16 pm
Oh. No, of course he wouldn't have. It had been weeks since she'd woken up all alone and surely her family had moved on by then. Why, maybe they'd even found their parents, and they were all living happily in a herd together... If she were lucky, maybe she'd meet up again with them one day--maybe her parents were there, too!
"That's alright." She told her, doing her best to offer a wobbly sort of smile. "I don't know; they might be. It's been a while since I've... I've seen them, but I think something must have happened."
Yes, something. She didn't know what, but she couldn't accept that they would just up and leave her for no reason! Eva just hoped that they were safe and well--and hopefully together.
The sudden offer made the young mare pause with surprise, blinking at him for a moment. "You'd... do that?" He'd take the time just because? She wasn't quite sure how to take it at first, but was tearing up again soon enough. "Yes, yes please! I don't exactly know where I'm going..."
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Posted: Thu Nov 11, 2010 12:28 pm
He saw the tears welling up in the young mare's eyes, he couldn't help but to try to reach out to her. "Now now," he nosed her gently, "Please do not get upset...We will look for them."
He didn't know what to do for her, it had been a long time since he had been around another that was so upset. The wounded soul of the mare was still fresh, it seemed as though she had not been long on her own.
"Of course I will," he nodded and stood up tall, his voice sounding quite convincing, "I just happen to know the woods well, and you are welcome to stay with me until you are ready."
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 4:29 pm
The gentle nudge was enough to earn another sniff out of her, but she dabbed even more furiously at her eyes. He was right, of course, and she was just embarrassing herself, getting all emotional like this! Things would be all right! "Thank you." She managed to choke out, then forced herself to give her head a shake and fixed pale eyes on him.
"I'm Evangeline." The mare's tail flicked shyly, and she finally ventured to ask the question that had been in the back of her mind all this time. "Are you... Are you a forest guardian? I've never seen such horns like that before..."
Just like a deer's! She knew Kalona were supposed to have horns, but these didn't look like mean horns. They were rather noble.
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 5:58 pm
He offered a friendly chuckle at the mare's question, "I am far from a forest guardian, dear Evangeline. I'm just a lone cerynei looking for his place in life." he continued to smile, glad to see the mare finally calming down.
"Rallie, the name's Rallie." He lowered his head slightly in a more formal greeting to the lady.
Raising his head, his blue eyes met with those of the mare. "So tell me, Eva... May I call you Eva?" He inquired quickly before going further.
"Where would you like to travel today? Do you have any idea of which way your family might have gone?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2010 2:36 pm
A cerynei... What a strange word. Were they all like him, so muscled and horned? That made sense to her--none of her adopted brothers had been quite so big! The slight bow of his head as he offered his name earned a bright smile, and she did her best to elegantly return the favor. How formal!
"A pleasure to meet you, Rallie." She murmured, tilting her head at the nickname before she nodded. "I suppose that's shorter, so that's fine."
There was a mild frown at the next question, and after a moment, the mare uncertainly shook her head. "I've been trying to stay north... We were hoping to get out of these forests one day and find the plains, the mountains... But I really have no idea if that's where they'll still be headed." There was another frown. "...Are there any shelters of sorts in here? Some place a herd could live...?"
She really was naive.
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Posted: Sat Nov 13, 2010 2:51 pm
"Eva it is then," he nodded and then took a moment to look around. The forest was vast, it would take at least two days to get out in any directions. "Well, then we will head north, at least maybe we will be tracking them." His ears swiveled and his nose took in the scents, there weren't any other scents that he could pick up.
"It will take at least a few days to get out, any way we go."
He nodded his head at her question, "There are several caves and thickets, we can check them as we go."
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Posted: Fri Nov 19, 2010 12:53 pm
Oh, but listen to him! He sounded like, well, a regular Huntsman talking like that. Eva couldn't help but be impressed, and her smile was almost a beam this time. She'd cheered up quickly, but it was hard to feel sad when he sounded so confident! Glancing to the north as though to consider, she finally nodded. "Well, we best get started, then. I'm sure they must be close; where else could they have gotten to?"
She was eager to be off it seemed, but before she could not-quite mince in place, she remembered herself and tried to compose herself with a hint of embarrassment. "Ah. Shall we go?" How mortifying of her, really.
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