Taja walked silently along a dirt path that was lightly spruced with moss and rocks. The sun was shining brightly over head and she felt in a brighter mood then she had in a while. Though she knew that it would probably fade or at least lessen. Quickly she shook herself of that thought. She knew she needed to stay positive if she was going to get to her goal of finding herself again. But after spending a year isolating herself from others and pretty much any feeling other then despair. Her thoughts had been extremely negative as well. Admittedly she wondered how it was possible that she was standing there now.
Coming to a stop she let out a sigh. "I need to distract myself from my own thoughts." She said out loud to the air, not counting on a answer in return. After pausing for several moments she picked back up her pace as she continued down the path. The beach was not more then a few yards to her right and to her left there was the forest. Taja tried her best to stay out of the forests that covered the land unless there was no other option. She wasn't particularly worried that by going into the forests that she would slip into old habits but more so that she had wasted a year of her life encased in a wall of trees. She wanted to see the world and unfortunately forests were just a barricade to that.
Taja stopped once more when the path forked, one path going towards the beach and the other going toward the forest. "Which one do I choose?" She asked herself, mentally debating each option.
Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2012 10:15 pm
The stallion cantered along the shoreline, finding that moving fast was easiest atop the sand along the water's edge. Of course, being so close to the ocean meant that his emerald mane was soaked in sea-salt, and his hooves ached from the occasional waves that caught him off guard. Running along the water's edge was difficult with the ebb and flow of water; he couldn't always predict when another wave would rush up along the shore, and he didn't have the patience to stand there and wait for the ever-changing rhythms to sink in. He wanted to run, to feel the wind in his mane! He wanted- He wanted...
He noticed that his breathing was short, his steps seeming slow and heavy, and his ears flickered in recognition. Oh! He wanted to take a rest.
He stopped abruptly, then scolded himself as his muscles spasmed in protest. It wasn't good to make sudden movements like that, especially after continuing the same repetitive movements for almost an hour as he had been doing.
He eyed the shoreline, and frowned at it... he didn't really feel like being kinda-sorta-almost-wet anymore.
He turned and made his way up the beach, towards an area that seemed to be a transitional zone between landscapes. He kept his eyes on his hooves as he plodded through the heavy sand, wishing that he had wings to soar over this less-than-desirable terrain. But then, this was much better than mountains- he hadn't liked that very much... steep cliffs didn't agree with his stomach. Besides, here at the beach there was a lovely breeze! He chuckled quietly to himself.
Even when complaining, he saw the good in things.
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Posted: Sun Feb 26, 2012 4:28 pm
Taking in a deep breath Taja made her decision to venture into the forest. However that plan was quickly shoved aside when she found herself face to face with a rather large and very green stallion. Well, minus the white underbelly. He seemed to blend almost perfectly with the impending forest and had he come from the opposite direction she probably wouldn't have noticed him so quickly. Luckily for her he was coming from the beach and thus he stood out more like a sore thumb.
Taja smiled and dipped her head before returning back to a normal stance. "Hello there." She said in a pleasant but slightly shaking tone. Keep calm. She thought to herself. Since making her way out of the forest of doom Taja had encountered only a couple soquili. So to say she was a nervous wreck on the inside would be an understatement. Thankfully though it didn't show through as much on the outside. At least until she talked.
"It's a very nice day." Taja said, taking note of his slightly wet legs that had speckles of sand on them. She also noticed he was breathing a bit harder then most. Deciding to take a guess she smiled. "Were you running?" She asked curiously.
Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2013 12:22 pm
The large green stallion blinked owlishly at the mare, then grinned happily. It seemed that his body had demanded a rest at the perfect time- for he had company, now. That is, if she did not mind sharing this day with him. He returned her subtle nod and greeting, his voice rich despite his slightly winded state "Hello!" Her subtly shaking tone worried him slightly, and his ears flickered uncertainly. He hadn't rushed towards this area, he had been plodding rather slowly through the deepening sands, so he should not have startled her. Perhaps she was one of those shy mares, those who were hesitant around stallions for reasons of their own? He tried to make himself less imposing, suddenly feeling rather self-conscious about his large form. He didn't wish to upset anyone, especially not a stranger.
He continued smiling. "It is a very nice day indeed! Yes, I took the opportunity to stretch my legs." His legs itched, his muscles protesting standing still- he should continue to walk, to cool them down, but the short walk through the heavy sands had preventing them from seizing up entirely.
"I am Ayden, and i'm sure it is a pleasure to meet you!"
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Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:19 pm
Taja hadn't noticed that she had made the stallion uncomfortable from her own lack of confidence when it came to interacting with others. It was easy for her to feel comfortable with this stranger though because he certainly seemed so incredibly happy and kind. "It seems like we have that in common." She managed to smile again, this time her uneasiness towards him had seemed to lessen in her voice.
When the stallion replied with his own name, Taja couldn't help but grin back at him once more. "Yes, its a pleasure to meet you. I'm Taja." Her olive eyes scanned him for a moment more. It seemed like his demeanor had changed. Was he in pain? Maybe it was from all that running? Taja wasn't sure if the stallion needed to lie down or continue walking. It seemed like he had been heading towards the forest so, that seemed like a good direction for her to take. "Ah, you see, I was heading towards the forest and if you are as well maybe we could walk through it together?" Taja smiled a bit sheepishly this time. Was it too forward for her to ask that?
Huroggmeten
Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2013 1:34 pm
His ears perked at her smiles and the way her voice seemed to be more at ease; perhaps he had just been worrying overmuch about her earlier reaction?
Taja. He liked the way her name sounded. It seemed almost like joyous laughter, the easy syllables preceded by a solid 'T' sound. Her olive eyes seemed kind, an impression that was confirmed by her offer. "I would enjoy your company, and a walk, Taja!" His leg muscles relaxed appreciatively as he began to move once more, appreciating the chance to work out the lactic acid that had been pumping through them only moments before. He peered curiously at her sheepish smile, but did not comment for fear of making her uncomfortable again by pointing it out. "If you don't mind my asking, what brings you to this forest? I would not wish to intrude upon any business at hand." It was true, she had made the offer to travel together, but he felt that he needed say it just in case she had only meant to be polite.
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Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2013 2:18 pm
When Ayden responded to her offer she felt even more at ease. It had been so long since she had interacted with another soquili that she often worried that when she did encounter someone else that she would be awkward and unable to talk at all. Sure, there was a ton of room for improvement, however, this interaction had turned out to be much better than she had expected. "Thank you." She replied.
"I was just wandering the lands. It's been some time since I've seen them." Taja responded. She wondered how she would begin to explain further what she meant and if Ayden really wanted to know or cared. He was a kind stallion but that didn't mean he wanted to listen to her whole life story or problems. It was probably better to not explain it. "It's a long story I'm afraid." Taja laughed it off. "You are in no way intruding. As I have not seen these lands in a long time it's been just as long since I've talked to another. At least, one with more pure intentions." Living in the dark forest on the eastern side of the Kawani lands she'd encountered a great deal of darker creatures. If she was able to hide from them she did but you couldn't outrun a skinwalker or cursed walker all of the time.
Deciding once more that he probably didn't want to hear all of that she tried to ease the conversation into another topic. "What about you Ayden? Were you on you're way to a certain place?" She asked curiously.
Huroggmeten
Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2013 2:33 pm
He grinned inwardly at Taja's thank you, wondering whether to return in it kind. He had a good run today, and now he had good company. He couldn't ask for anything more... except, perhaps, to see her smile again.
Though he was relieved at her reassurance that he had not been intruding, he frowned at her deflective comment about those with impure intentions. Was this the reason for the mare's earlier hesitation? Had she been through such trials in her life that she could no longer trust even a stallion with no openly threatening features? He had no talons, or bladed wings, or even a horn. As far as his defenses go, his speed and size were all he had going for him. But he knew, in an instant, that he would defend and protect this mare if ever she needed it- even at the cost of himself. He was always willing to help out others in need, to the best of his ability, but something about her words bothered him.
"I was simply exploring, as well." He flashed her a quick grin, still somewhat perturbed by imagined threats. He paused, then spoke carefully, not wishing to pressure here. "Long stories can be shared on long journeys..?" He flushed slightly, wondering whether she would be willing to share her story with a barely-more-than-stranger, or stay at his side long enough for the telling.
~Kiana_Nala~
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Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 8:49 pm
Taja was slightly shocked at Ayden wanting to know the full story of everything and she smiled. It was a long story, with a lot of heartbreak for her which also made her worry that she might scare him off. She enjoyed his company, though she couldn't say for sure why yet. ""Well, I suppose if you really want to hear it I will tell you." She said warmly. Taja took a moment to think about where she would begin with how she'd come to be how she was now but she quickly figured out that it was best to start with how it all happened.
"Some time ago I had met a stallion and fell madly in love with him. He and I became mates but one day he was gone and I had no idea what happened to him. I waited around for a long time for him to return, searched for him after that and found myself in a broken state." Taja blushed a little. It was somewhat embarrassing to tell this to Ayden. "I was never able to find him or figure out what happened to him. As I said I was in an utterly broken state and couldn't get myself out of it so when I gave up on finding him I went into the dark forest on the eastern side of the Kawani lands and lived there for a year." She paused to look over at him, wondering what he thought thus far.
"I met many there who as I said were not the sort I'd like to encounter ever again in my life if I can help it. At that time I was just completely broken and if I'm being honest I didn't want to go on anymore. My first love was gone without so much as a word and I had nothing but him in my life. I mean my family was there too, but it wasn't the same?" This time Taja looked down at her hoofs for a moment. She didn't go into full detail about every little encounter but she had told him how she'd come to reside in that forest and it wasn't too hard to imagine what she met while there since few things chose to live there in the first place. When she had stopped thinking about what to say next she returned her gaze to him. "Recently I decided to leave the forest. I didn't want to be sad anymore but as you probably noticed I've lived in a shell pretty much up until now. I'm finding it's a bit hard to communicate with others." Once more she couldn't help but blush.
Huroggmeten
Awwwwww!!!!! <3333
Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 11:19 am
Ayden could not help but return her warm smile; his muscles had relaxed from his earlier flight, and he listened intently as Taja began to open up.
His head lowered a bit at her admission of falling in love with a stallion, then his ears pinned a bit as she continued. When she admitted her broken state upon the stallion's sudden absence, his ears pinned, and an unusual swirl of indignant anger (at the stallion), sorrow (for Taja, for the loss of love, and perhaps if the stallion had not left of his own accord for the loss of life as well), and strangely hope (that Taja had recovered, that this story did not end with the return of her lost love, rather the return of her ability to love...) He smiled in encouragement and perked his ears as she looked to him before continuing.
"I understand, and please never feel pressures to speak when you do not wish to share." he hastened to reassure her that he would not press where he was not welcome, and he did not want the mare to relive her nightmarish experiences merely to satisfy his curiosity. It was enough to know that she had been lost, heartbroken and feeling so terribly alone, and that she seemed to never wish to return to that state. That, of course, was a very good sign as to her recovery, but he didn't know why there was a little extra bounce in his step now. Perhaps he was a romantic at heart, and the thought of anyone losing faith in love was enough to make him sad. Or perhaps he simply found that extra rosey hue to her cheeks adorable.
He gallantly let her embarrassment go by without commenting on it, turning his emerald eyes forward as he responded. "... Though I have not lived through anything such as that, I can see how it would be difficult to communicate with anyone after being so torn by loss." He flashed her a quick smile. "... but, I think you're doing rather well." "I'm... glad you decided to leave the forest."
~Kiana_Nala~
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Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 5:53 pm
Taja couldn't help but feel a weight lift off her shoulders when she had finished telling the stallion about her life up until then. Or rather the downfall of it. It was nice to let someone else in for a change and even better that they were seemingly accepting of it. "Thank you for listening Ayden. I actually feel much better." She told him honestly, a warm grin making it's way to her muzzle. It had been a long time since she'd smiled this much. She quickly shook her head at his remark about not needing to feel pressured to tell him things like this. "No, if you'd like to hear then I'm willing to tell you. It might not be easy to say or for you to hear though."
When he flashed her a smile she couldn't stop herself from quickly returning it. "Thank you." She paused, blushing a little. "I needed to hear that." His last remark got a nod in return. "So am I." Taja let a small silence fall before she opened her mouth to speak again. She wasn't sure what to say. Ayden was just as nice to walk quietly with as he was to talk to. "I truly hope you never have to experience any of that." Taja paused for a moment. "How about you though? Have you ever fallen in love before?"
Huroggmeten
Posted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 7:34 pm
When she smiled, his spirits soared. Perhaps it was the assumed value placed on such a sight in light of her past, or he thought that he was the cause and so was pleased to bring an expression of joy to her- but, then, he had liked her smile before he ever knew anything of her personal history. "If ever you need to speak aloud to think things through, I am more than happy to listen." he was inviting future encounters, he knew, and a part of him was worried that perhaps their walk would end and they would part ways... and he'd never see her again, as it had been with far too many Soquili he had met over the years. Though he traveled, and rarely passed through the same place twice, neither had he found a companion for his journeys. He was glad that he was able to provide something for her, something that she needed. Even if it was just listening to her story, even if it was just the present that he would share with Taja... he enjoyed her company, and he was glad that she seemed to enjoy his.
After the silence past, he frowned thoughtfully at her question and turned his gaze skywards. Though tree branches began to break up the solid blue of the sky as they moved towards the forest, something about the vast expanse allowed him to play out his memories on that canvas. "No..." he said softly, thinking of the many stallions he had met over the years and the mares that had come and gone. Due to the context, he did not think she was referring to the love of family or that friends shared... but, then, he didn't even have anyone constant in his life whom he could call a friend. "I have never fallen in love... or thought I had." He looked back at the rose-and-wine mare, a distant and almost sad expression on his normally happy face. His eyes brightened as he attempted to lighten his own somber mood, though he couldn't quite flash her another smile because he didn't want it to seem insincere. Perhaps it was for the best, that he had never fallen in love- after all, it seemed that heartbreak and loss followed too closely on the heals of affection. "Well, yet, anyway."
~Kiana_Nala~
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Posted: Wed Jul 24, 2013 7:15 pm
Something about Ayden made Taja feel comfortable and safe. She couldn't express what it was about him that did, maybe it was his openness, or his kindness. Or just the fact that it was him. The reason didn't matter to her but she enjoyed it. It was a feeling she couldn't remember having before. It was possible she had at some point, but if so the feeling wasn't the same as the one she felt now. "Thank you." She spoke softly to him. "You're very kind Ayden." Taja felt the need to tell him this. It didn't seem to live up to her feelings but it was a good start. How exactly did you convey to someone that you're glad that you went through the dark forest to the east and managed to meet them because of it? It seemed like an odd thing to say to someone you'd only met once.
Ayden's response to her question seemed to catch her off guard. The mare found it hard to believe that he wasn't already mated and a father. He was far to kind to have never been in love before. Then again, that didn't mean that others hadn't fallen in love with him. When his gaze returned to hers she felt a little bit of pain piece her heart. Love had went wrong for her, but that didn't mean that she didn't believe it was possible for others to find love and have it work. Taja hoped Ayden would find someone who would love him for the rest of their lives. "I'm sure they're out there somewhere." She told him confidently. "Maybe you haven't met them yet. Or have and just didn't realize they were it." Taja smiled once more. Her expression showed warmth.
Taja took his more upbeat mood as a sign to talk about something a bit less troubling or sad for the both of them. "Do you always go running on the beach in this area? Or are you just passing through?" Her curiosity about Ayden had only grown more. He seemed to be the center of her attention both physically and mentally. Her mind couldn't help reeling over their conversation from moments ago and trying to piece together the strangeness of him not being with someone. It didn't seem fair or right. He was exceptionally kind and was quite handsome. How had he not fallen in love? Taja didn't believe that he'd encountered only a handful of soquili in his life so he must have met someone at some point in time that made his heart flutter and his brain consumed by them. Right?
Huroggmeten
After next week I should be able to tag again during the week instead of waiting until the weekend to do it. (I'm actually procrastinating on hw at the moment. >>)
Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:08 am
His ears flicked backwards at her compliment in a moment of self-doubt, then perked forwards again. "Thank you..." He hadn't meant to simply 'be kind' in the way some souls sought to be polite, yet since his offer had arisen from a place of pure honesty and a sincere desire to lessen her burden or ease her pain in some way... he supposed that could only be called 'kind'. "It would be my honor."
He lapsed back into silence as the mare seemed lost in inward reflections, moving quietly along at her side. His perceptive emerald gaze moved forwards, fixed upon the road ahead instead of on the mare's expression- to offer her some semblance of privacy, for he would not venture a guess as to what her thoughts held now, preferring to allow her to share when she was ready instead of interpreting facial expressions that could betray her innermost thoughts.
His glanced back at her, and then away, when she proclaimed that someone was out there- someone for him to love. If someone was out there, someone he could love- had he really passed them by, or had they merely not yet met? As if to answer his question, she went on, and he peeked at her- slightly stunned- and then slowly returned her warm smile. It was infectious, truly, such warmth in a kindly expression.
At her next comment, his smile split into a grin- truly this mare was remarkably perceptive! "This is the first time my hooves have found this beach, though I have galloped across similar sands before." A beach was a beach, and although there were unique attributes to all there were also similarities that seemed to transcend the discrepancies that tried to distinguish the landscapes. "I... pass through, many places. And many lives." Perhaps he was straying back to a heavier topic, but his voice remained light. He was, after all, merely stating facts. "I have not yet felt the pull to stay." It was as simple as that, wasn't it? Though he had found many interesting places, and had encountered one or two fascinating Soquili there, he'd always been able to... just keep moving. Either the terrain did not keep him ensnared, letting him go where he pleased without seeming to guide him in any direction, or... other living creatures simple didn't... chase him. He had been subject to many passing polite offers to stay, but he'd always been able to read into those offers and realize that it was more an offer of kindness to a stranger than any deeper desire to prolong their company. He didn't want to be pursued, not really, but it would be nice if, someday... someone was sad to see him go. Or, rather... he didn't wish to go at all. He did not want to be the cause of any sadness.
He glanced at Taja, wondering how many needless tears the mare had shed over the mistakes of others and hoping that he would never be the cause of any. He caught himself quickly, reminding himself that he was not so important a person to cause such dismay in her life- but, then, could not a rude stranger affect another? Why had he automatically cast himself in the role of antagonist? He had never felt that skin slide comfortably around him, and he could not think of an occurrence in which he had so behaved... was he really that worried about this mare's... feelings?
~Kiana_Nala~
Alright, sounds good! And, ack, I hope you were able to finish the HW on time. xd Things will be getting pretty busy for me around here, but I should still be checking in daily and will respond to your replies as soon as I am able. heart
