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 Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 10:06 am
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Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 11:30 am
The past months had been a whirlwind for Ethan. It seemed, as he got older, that time passed more quickly. The winters seemed less biting and harsh on his thin pelt, and . Or... maybe that was just due to him feeling like he had honest happiness for the first time since foalhood. It was like a warmth in his chest that kept him going. And, well, having Hunter's side to share during the cold nights didn't hurt, either.
But it felt like in turning away from focusing on an absent father in order to find the answers to who he was, he was finally able to actually find himself. He had a family, now. Acceptance. Soquili that loved him for who he was and didn't shy from his spiraling horns or cloven hooves. Even though they were different - large and winged, graceful and confident, they listened to him, to his stories, and to the lessons he had learned from his travels.
Hunter had encouraged him to get to know her herdmates - his herdmates now. HE learned that the old alpha, Angel White - had followed his own calling in the form of a diminutive unicorn mare, and that in his absence, Raven and Aiden had stepped up to fill the vaccuum... though neither was quite at home with the responsibility. Raven, while well-traveled (and a frighteningly impressive stallion - midnight black with a massive wingspan) preferred quiet reflection time that was not afforded him as alpha. And Aiden was young and had never left the herd for very long, and his inexperience colored his decisions. He spoke with the pair more, telling them of his travels and the soquili he had met on his journeys. And slowly, he noticed that Aiden began to come to him for advice... and Raven took the opportunity to relax and spend more time to himself. And before Ethan knew it, other herdmembers were coming to him with questions, concerns, and decisions. And... as Ethan learned more, he was stunned to discover that Aiden was Bronwyn's son... his own grandson... a fact that left Ethan reeling and weak in the knees for days.
Ethan wrestled with regret for days after that... once more the folly of leaving again after meeting Hunter. But after some reflection of his own - and some long words with his mother, Rosemary, who had taken to stay in the herd... at least for a while (though Ethan had a fond suspicion that perhaps she might just stay all together) - that his own quest had not been finished then. Had he stayed behind and not come to the realization on his own that he didn't need to find his father than that question might have nagged at his heart for years. That it would not have made him the stallion he had grown to be. And ultimately, he did not know that he had sired foals when he had. He was lucky that Hunter had been quick to forgive him. However... that did not mean that all of his family had.
Deirdre in particularly, his daughter from that first fateful encounter, had been distant and cold. And Ethan knew it was long overdue that he take some steps to bridge that gap.
The night air was blowing cold, and it dawned on Ethan, almost embarrassed - that it was nearing the time of Yule. In his years of travelling, there hadn't been much time for festivities. A smile crossed his face as an idea worked itself out.
Trotting out, he looked around for his children - particularly his younger ones, to help him begin to put his idea into motion.
Fiacha Dunne careened about the meadow on long legs before plowing into a large drift of snow with a jovial whinny. It was quite cold out, but the hot-blooded young stallion didn't care. It was a clear day and a large amount of snow had fallen the night before - powder-fresh and ripe for play. For the moment, he didn't care who saw him acting like a foal. It WAS his first winter, after all, even if he had grown quite a bit from when he had first emerged from the basket. Later, he could worry about the chill of the wet snow on his hide or his wet wings.
But in the distance, he heard the call of his father, and he quickly rolled to his knees and then staggered to his feet with a sheepish grin before shaking like a dog.
His ears canted forward and he cantered with a spring in his hooves over to where his father was. "Coming!" He called as he shook out his wings, sending clops of snow flying.
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Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 12:10 pm
Dunny was exploring the snow with her brother, perhaps not as enthusiastically. She waded in the cold powdery fluff with a smile on her face, her long, prehensile tail waving about for balance and grabbing a hold of low-hanging branches from the bare trees. Her honey-colored hair blew in her face as the wind picked up, and she shook out the snow from it as her brother went head-first into a nearby drift.
She giggled at him, trying to duck away from the spray as he shook off the snow. But her long ears pricked as his when she heard her father calling. "Coming," she echoed after her brother, trotting up behind him to where to father was. She was a bit of Daddy's girl and smiled widely coming up to him; she hoped she wasn't going to be scolded; but she didn't think she had done anything to warrant one...recently, at least.
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Posted: Wed Jan 22, 2014 1:12 pm
"Ah, there ye are" Ethan smiled as two of his foals... Spirits, they weren't really even foals any more, were they... approached him looking curiously to him. It brought a smile to his face to see them romping through the snow, and a part of him wanted to just shelve his idea and play with them for now. But he had been delaying the issue of finding a way to approach Deirdre, and he had duties to his family - important ones that would establish traditions, and share meaningful beliefs while they were still young.
"Ah know that ah've spoken to the lot of you about the spirits, an' where our family comes from. But did ye know that this is coming up on a special time o' year?" His tail swished, and Ethan suddenly found himself feeling a little odd - he could see himself in his foals' eyes, and he could almost remember his mother saying these same words to him years and years ago.
"The winter is a harsh time. Food is harder ta' find, and it gets real cold."
He smiled as he saw the still snow-flecked foals, "The snow can be fun, but ye might regret rollin' in it in an hour or so," He chuckled.
"But comin up is the middle of winter, an' that's a special time. The winter's almost half over, ye've made it this far... and it's the miraculous time when the night is just the same length as the day. It's called th' solstice... and we celebrate Yule. Do ye remember that?"
Fiacha whickered as he came up to his father alongside his sister Dunny. Still feeling in high spirits, he scooped up some snow onto one of his wings and shook it at his sister.
He quickly turned his attention back to his father, pretending like he was paying attention all along.
"Uh, yes, father... I remember you mentioning it..." he hesitated, giving a sidelong glance to his sister. "Uh... somethin' about fires.... and gifts...." He trailed off, hoping that his sister remembered more and he could pretend like he had all along, too. He vaguely remembered his father talking about it a few months ago... but there had been some particularly intersting clouds passing overhead and he had been working on learning to fly and his mind had been elsewhere.
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Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 5:43 am
Dunny trotted up with her brother, putting on her best 'innocent' face, even though she had bits of white snow still stuck all in her mane and jewelry. She couldn't help but give a sigh of relief when the lecture seemed to be more about traditions than scolding. She tried to pay attention, but found herself distracted whrn Fiacha threw some snow her direction with his wing.
She let out a little whinny of surprise, sticking her tongue out at her brother, because he know full well she lacked the wings to so subtly retaliate, but then she realized Father was asking her something and she snapped her head back towards him.
"Yes! Presents!" she said excitedly, her tail wrapping around her back leg in excitement. "Are we getting presents, Father?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 8:35 am
Ethans' ears drooped and his face flattened, "C'mon ye two - is that really all ye remember about Yule?" He exasperated. "Th' presents?" He sighed, shook his head. Foals. Was he that bad when he was their age.
"Yeah, there'r presents, but it's more than that. E'rey day from Yule, the year is givin' way to the light. Each day's a wee bit longer. So on Solstice, we celebrate the "rebirth" o' the sun. And ta celebrate the sun ... an' to help keep us warm on these cold nights, we're gonna get a Yule log... an' borrow some fire ta get it lit. With tradition, we're supposed to start th' log with a bit o' last year's log... but since this is our first yule together, we're going to start it now, the herd o' us." He smiled.
"An' there's more'n that. We gather some fruit - oranges or apples if'n ye can find them. They're hard ta find, I know - but this time o' year you can still find some apples at least. And we take them around to the rest of the herd, an anyone else we can find that's hungry. That represents th' sun that's startin' to come back. An' while ye do, ye sing to those trees that give ye the fruilt - "Wassailing" them. To thank them, and to ask for a bounty through the next year, wishin' them good health... and then ye sing songs to the soquili ye bring the apples to." Ethan smiled - he was looking forward to that. while he and his mother shared fruit with each other, there weren't other soquili around to share with - he had been kept alone and protected as a foal.
He took a breath, "But yeah, there are presents. In th' winter, even though food can be scarce, the winter does bring a bounty all it's own. An it's also a time where the veil is thin 'tween this world and the next. And we remember that by Cernunnos - the horned god..." Ethan grinned - he loved that story growing up - it helped make him feel like he fit into a bigger picture, "... or the Gifting Stag. He leads th' procession o' the dead and chases down wicked souls... but also inspires the' good ones who kept Yule traditions to share their bounty and gift to others."
"So ye foals - yer gonna help us get this ta'gether. Dunnly - I want ye to find us a good, strong ash log wih yer brother. And get it out to the center of the herd, an' make sure all the ground around it is cleared o' snow and grass. Then - here's the tricky part - Fiacha - I want you to get a good long, dry stick and see if you can borrow some two-leg's fire. Just dip the' end in it till it catches, and bring it home quickly but not too quickly that ye put it out."
Ethan smiled. He'd send these two out on these errands to get things started, and then go find Deirdre.
Fiacha snickered as he got his sister, but his father's words reigned him back in as he sighed. His ears drooped a bit as well as he felt a bit embarrassed for not remembering, but at least he wasn't the only one.
Eventually, he made himself listen, and the ideas and concepts that his father spoke about piqued his interest. The snow was fun, but these 'games' and tasks seemed important... and interesting.
"I bet I can find a GREAT log... and quicker than Dunny." He grinned. "And of COURSE I can get some fire! That sounds easy!" He boased.
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Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 10:19 am
"Hey!" Dunny called to her brother, stomping her hooves petulantly. "We're supposed to find the log together!" she whined. She looked back to her Father and tossed her mane demurely. "Don't worry, Father, we'll do it! And I'll find apples and oranges, too!" Some of the racoons around the lands had baskets of fruit that kept ripe in the winter...she would just have to find them.
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Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 11:38 am
"Then you'd better keep up!" Fiacha called back as he dashed through the snow. While he didn't draw attention to it, he kept his wings at his side - the snowy weather and dampness weren't ideal flying conditions anyway.... it totally wasn't just to do this activity with his sister...
"I bet I can find a better ash log than you can!" He teased as he headed for the woods.
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"Good thinkin', Dun. G'luck you two, and remember ta' thank the raccoons and sing to them if'n they can getcha some fruit." Ethan's tail flicked back and forth in pride and amusement and he chuckled as the two set off, eager to accomplish the task he had put before them.
Now... the hard part... but he was already looking more forward to this after talking of Yule than he had before. Traditions were meant to bring family together, after all. And what better time to take on an undertaking of mending a relationship and starting anew than Yule?
First though, Ethan needed something to break the ice. And he was willing to look a little silly to do so. He headed to the edge of the woods himself, and found a few branches that he could snap off. Then, with a little help from a herdmate, he got them tied to his horns with vines, giving them the look of antlers. He spread his celtic blanket over his back and gathered a few items, then went looking for the russet pelt of his older daughter, Deirdre
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Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 1:46 pm
Dunnly nuzzled her father quickly before turning tail and romping after her brother in the snow. "Hey, wait up!" she called to him, bounding and slushing through the white snow and in towards the forest trees.
Deirdre had been rather stand-offish to everyone since the grand arrival of Ethan. She was never exceptionally close to her family, preferring to hand around the outskirts of the territory and keep mostly to herself. She was deep introverted, and still harbored quite a grudge against her father. She didn't express it, though, or ever let out all the anger she felt about abandoning them or their mother when she was a foal. Her sister has been so fool hearty to think he was anything special and now that he decided to stick around (for now) after knocking up her mother again? Well, only time would tell how long that would last.
She has been enjoying the cool, quiet serenity of the snow. She liked how still it made everything. Birds didn't chirp, leaves didn't rustle... it was very calming.
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Posted: Thu Jan 23, 2014 6:33 pm
There.
Ethan's ears canted forward as he saw the russet colored mare by herself at the edge of the forest. He paused for a moment, gathering his confiedence before heading over to where she was resting.
Ethan was fully aware of how ridiculous he probably looked with the branches lashed to his horns as he picked his way through the knee-deep snow. A few bags were tossed over his shoulders and the buckles and leather creaked as he walked, signaling his approach.
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Posted: Thu Jan 30, 2014 8:30 am
Deirdre's ears spun around upon hearing the approach, and soon she looked over her shoulder to see her approaching father. She blinked, jumping quickly to her feet, caught off guard at the sight. It took her a moment to realize this wasn't some strange Cerynei but her father wearing some ridiculous embellishment on his horns.
Has it been anyone else, she may have laughed. But being it was her father, she frowned, looking more annoyed. Her tail flicked behind her and she ruffled the feathers of her wings. She flipped her long sash around her neck and gave him an expression that clearing communicated to him what she didn't need to say: What the hell do you want?
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Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 9:18 am
Ethan felt his chest tighten and took a breath, steeling himself against the disappointment when he couldn't even summon a tiny smile from his daughter. But he didn't balk, he refused to balk. This was something that was Important. She was his daughter, and he needed to show her that she was important to him.
He didn't stop, and made certain that he didn't even hesitate in his advancement until he was just a body's length away from the glaring mare.
"Now here's a mare that dinnae look like she's got the Yule Spirit." Ethan said, deepening his voice as much as he could and continuing the act. "This be the season 'o family. In the coldest and longest o' nights, ye need the warmth o' love, o' family, and the hearthfire to keep ye warm and thaw that heart o' yours."
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Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 6:33 am
Deirdre's ears pressed back against her head. "Oh ho ho, that's rich, coming from you," she sneered, turning her back. She put her nose up and shook her short, honey colored mane with a derisive snort. "I'm a grown mare now, I can take care of myself," she huffed. "You know who needs the warmth and love of family? Freakisaurus looking little fillies without their fathers, that's who."
She looked over her shoulder with a sneer. "Alittle late for that, don't you think?"
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Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 7:05 am
Deirdre's words were daggers, ever so expertly aimed. Ethan flinched when her back was turned, not wanting her to see the pain she successfully inflicted. He deserved that. Hunter had been so friendly, so happy to see him, and even the rest of the herd wasn't too antagonistic towards him... even though deep down he KNEW he deserved it. Ethan almost felt like he needed to hear it, despite the fact he had been putting off this conversation for too long. But this time, he didn't push back the pain, he felt it, really let him feel the loss and the guilt for having perpetuated a fatherless upbringing on his own daughters.
"Ah know..." Ethan said, his voice turning serious. At least, it seemed, his act had succeeded in letting him speak with her, rather than send her flying. "Ah know yer all grown up, now Deirdre... and a beautiful mare. It surprises me every day how beautiful you and your sisters are - confident, elegant... much more'n me. I cannae begin to apologize for not bein' here when you were fillies. Had ah known, I ne'er would'a left."
He took a breath. "I ne'er knew mah pa growing up. And that always hurt me, too. It... hurts me more'n I can say to know that I inflicted that on mah own daughters."
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Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 7:14 am
Deirdre clenched her jaw at her father's words. She kicked at the ground iwht her deformed hoof, digging into the cold, muddy dirt. And snorted, "Beautiful..." she spat. She didn't think she was very beautiful at all... her hair was short and oddly colored, with the horns of a demon, long implike ears, and a misshapen hoof that made her look like some kind of deformed club-footed mistake that should have been left to the wolves as a newborn.
"You should have stuck around, foals or not," she sneered.
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