|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 12:05 am
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 12:13 am
 Aras soared through the skies, breeze whipping his hair behind him. It was unusual for him to be flying, but Vasilissa had asked him to scout the lands and naturally he agreed, eager to please the mare who had shown him nothing but kindness and hospitality.
It was quiet, the lands empty except for those who belonged to the herd. He had expected this. The herd wasn't large enough to draw any real attention. The only 'visitors' they had were those who were traveling through; quite often to the hot springs which were a few days' walk from here.
So long as they were kind, they were shown the same hospitality he'd been shown the day he arrived here. As for those who weren't welcomed.. Well there was only one of those and Aras was not a member of the herd at the time.
A flash of colour caught his attention; bright red hidden in some bushes. Dipping his wings, Aras glided down, landing softly on the ground. Nosing the bushes aside, he raised a brow and frowned lightly. It was.. a basket. As far as he knew, none of the mares in the herd were expecting. Perhaps it was a gift? Lost?
At any cost, Aras decided it was something that Lissa should probably see.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 12:18 am
 Vasilissa walked along the shoreline, enjoying the sun as it shone down upon her, warming her to the core. It had been a pleasant day, void of any conflicts or problems. She'd even had time to herself, time to relax and reflect. The silence was welcomed and she took in every moment she could, wanting to savour it while it lasted.
Unfortunately, it didn't last very long. The sound of foot steps and voices met her ears and she turned, ready for battle. Instead of an enemy, she was met with her herd, all walking slowly and staring at something. Vasilissa raised a brow and stood high, trying to peer around the many heads to see what it was they were bringing to her. A capture? Someone injured? Treasure?
What she saw was something she certainly wasn't expecting. A basket?
"What in the world..?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 12:32 am
 Erynion moved over to Vasilissa and gave a dip of his head, a habit that he couldn't break no matter how often Vasilissa told him it wasn't necessary. "Lissa." He rose with a smile and inclined his head towards the basket.
"As you can see, we have an unexpected guest."
Erynion was the first to find out about the basket. He'd found Aras nudging it along and the two ended up putting the basket on a blanket so they could pull the blanket and, thus, the basket at the same time. It was safer for the basket and a lot kinder on their backs.
Staring at the basket; Erynion couldn't help but wonder what was inside. It could be a butterfly, like himself, but there was also the risk of it being a walker..
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 12:46 am
 Laeh nosed the basket curiously, sniffing about. Of course, she couldn't determine what was inside by smell, but that didn't stop her from trying. She'd shake it around if it wouldn't risk hurting the foal inside. A new friend! How exciting! When she heard basket, she thought maybe it could be another mini for her to play with; but the basket was large, unlike the ones she'd seen before coming to these lands.
Not to worry. A friend is a friend. It didn't occur to Laeh that a skinwalker could be inside and honestly, it probably wouldn't even bother her. Looking around at the others, she tilted her head. "What do you think it is?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 12:50 am
 Yálie stood a little ways away from the group. She was cautious of the basket, knowing there was a chance the thing inside could grow up to hunt them. Of course, she would never blame a foal for being born and should it be a skinwalker and Lissa accept it into the herd, she would try and do right by it.
But she knew skin walkers had certain urges, things hardwired into their DNA that they couldn't overcome, no matter how much kindness they were shown. That's just how they were.
Stepping forward, she spoke up. "I think we should keep it somewhere separate until it hatches. Just in case." She bit her bottom lip, unsure of how the others would react to her saying such a thing. Some of them may not see past the fact that it's a baby.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 27, 2012 12:59 am
 Alexi had simply followed the crowd. Still a new member of the herd, he didn't exactly feel like his opinion mattered just yet; something that was no one's fault but his own, considering how welcoming they had been.
He watched carefully as the cerynei mare, Yalie, spoke up and smirked. Smart girl, she knew the risks just as well as he did. Stepping forward, he gave a sharp nod. "I have to agree," his tone was gruff. "We don't know what's in there. We don't know what's coming to look for it."
His eyes looked with Lissa and hardened. He didn't like to get stern with her, he didn't like being that way with her, but some situations called for it and this was one of them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 1:55 am
 Eäryendë peered up from the water, close enough to the shore that she could hear the group conversing, but not far enough out of the water that she was at risk of drying out. Tail swishing as she rested on her front legs, she tilted her head to the side, eying the basket that was causing all the commotion and the drama.
"Um.." she spoke quietly and when no one turned to face her, she realised she was speaking too quietly. Raising her voice, she tried again."The basket!" Ducking under the water as all eyes landed on her, she stayed there for a few seconds before rising and speaking softly. "The basket is moving.."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 3:04 am
 Yggdrasil was the first to notice the mer rise from the waters and watch them. Were he not used to her skittish behaviour, her sudden appearance might have alarmed him. However, he had become accustom to her ways (after a few awkward encounters) and he greeted the mare with a smile and a nod of his head.
He watched everyone talk back and forth, wanting to keep out of the conversation himself. He didn't really have anything new to add, given he agreed with both sides. At the sound of Eäryendë's voice, his ears twitched and he looked down at the basket. Sure enough, it was shaking and rocking back and forth.
"Perhaps we'll be making a decision sooner rather than later." Leaning down, he nosed at the basket, sniffing it lightly. What was going to emerge?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 3:39 am
The little foal was snoozing inside his basket when he was awoken by movement. His movement, to be precise. Someone was taking him away from.. well, he wasn't exactly sure where he was at the time since he couldn't see anything outside of the walls that surrounded him. Though, they were more restraints than walls, now. He couldn't move around in them anymore, it was really becoming a bit of a bother.
The journey was bumpy and he wished whoever was moving him would be a little more careful and gentle. After some time passed, the journey seemed to get a little easier on his rump and then, just as it had, he stopped moving all together. There were many others talking around him and while he didn't really understand what it was they were saying, he understood that some of them didn't seem happy.
Noses sniffed and poked at the basket, blocking the trickles of light that slipped through the weaving, breathing in hot air. Eventually, he'd had enough. He wanted out! He was sick of being poked at without even knowing who was poking at him. He wiggled around, trying to free his legs from under him. With some effort, he managed and stretched his front leg out, claws ripping through the basket with ease.
A gush of air blew over his leg and the light of the sun warmed it. He wiggled his claws, flailing his leg some. What was waiting for him on the outside?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 3:50 am
Aras nosed at the basket, ignoring everyone around him. A brow raised, he sniffed at it and nudged it with his nose. The weaving seemed to resist his force, almost as if something was pressed up against the other side. He sniffed again, the scent of another wafting into his nose. He couldn't tell what that scent belonged to, but to him, at least, it didn't smell evil.
The sudden movement of the basket caused Aras to jump back in shock with a small cry of surprise. He wasn't expecting it to be so lively. Had he done something wrong? He didn't have any experience with baskets so he wasn't exactly sure what to expect or what to do.
Well, he wasn't expecting that. As the leg kicked through the basket, the first thing he - and he assumed everyone else - noticed was the claws that had replaced hooves. Aras took another cautious step back. He hadn't encountered anything that didn't have hooves. And the only thing he'd herd of that did have hooves were.. He swallowed hard. Best not to think of such things at this moment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 3:57 am
Vasilissa's eyes locked with Alexi's and she pursed her lips. As much as she didn't want to place a sense of danger around this foal before it had even revealed itself to them, he was right. As right as he was, however, she couldn't feel fear or hatred towards the foal. She was excited, eager to meet it and care for it as if it were her own. Which, really, was a silly thought since she had not once thought of children before. Of course, she expected she would have them eventually, but it had never occurred to her that it would be something she would do soon. Yet, here she was, forming a bond with a foal she hadn't met yet. Funny how things worked.
Vasilissa's thoughts were quickly interrupted by the excitement and caution that came with the basket's sudden movement. As the claw came out, Vasilissa stepped in front of the basket, blocking it from everyone else. "Behind me, everyone. Alexi, with me." Her voice was strong, commanding and left no room for argument. If this was a walker, they would have to act fast.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 4:03 am
Erynion stood out of the way as most of the discussion went on. He wasn't one to argue or involve himself in herd politics. Given he didn't actually live on these lands most of the time, he didn't feel his opinion was one that held any weight. But when the basket started moving, he moved a little closer to it, as curious as everyone else was, despite the possible danger that lurked behind the woven walls.
The leg that kicked out was mere inches from his face and the claws sent alarm bells off in his mind. He took to the skies with a cry, circling for a few moments before lowering himself closer to the group. It was safer in the air and he knew Vasilissa would prefer those who had wings to be in the air where they wouldn't get in the way of those less fortunate as they tried to escape.
"Has anyone ever seen feet like that?" He called from above, fluttering down a little so he was just above the heads of the others. "Lissa.. This doesn't look good.."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 4:29 am
Alexi was on edge at the site of the basket in the first place. So when he saw the claws, he was quick to move to Vasilissa's side, ready for whatever dangers were to come ahead. He had yet to fight against a skin walker and he had spent his whole life hoping he never would. As skilled as he was, he was no match for their strength and their unbeatable desire to see and taste blood, to cause death just because they could. Purewalkers, the ones who didn't have hooves like the members of his herd did, were a lot worse. He'd heard stories from his teacher that kept him up for days.
Shaking the memories from his head; walkers and his teacher alike, he concentrated on what was happening right at that moment. He moved a little closer to Lissa, their sides touching. Carefully, he leaned down to the basket and sniffed at it, nudging it a little roughly with his nose. Whatever it was, it didn't smell like a walker. Or at least what he thought a walker would smell like. Which, when he thought about it, was really silly.
"Whatever it is, it's certainly teasing us," he grumbled out, straightening himself.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 4:50 am
The foal in the basket kicked and scratched at the baskets, claws and hooves ripping through it easily enough. It took a few minutes, but eventually he'd torn a large enough hole in it that he could wiggle out. The light from the sun blinded him momentarily and he blinked his eyes, slowly adjusting to the light. eyes recovered, he glanced around at the faces peering all around him. Standing up on shaky legs, he took wobbly steps forward, a chirp-like sound erupting from a beak mouth. He fell to the ground as quickly as he'd taken the step and peered around once more, still a little confused.
Where was he? Who were these others around him? His turned over his shoulders and fluttered his little wings, another chirp escaping. His attention turned back to those around him, in particular the mare and stallion in front of him. Were they his parents? They were closer than the others were but they looked scared.. Standing on shaky legs, he slowly and clumsily made his way over to the mare, butting his head against her leg and rubbing against it, chirruping happily.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
