|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 9:06 pm
 |
|
|
 |
((This is a private RP between my (~Latonia de la Courtel~) Aveshar and Cajmera's Vulpine... Expect discussion of the Kalona events to follow. Note: Ave is Maxed on Stats.))
The land was noticeably more somber than the last time he had traveled here... The woods devoid of much of their natural birdsong, still strongly scented of smoke and hot rock. He had yet to cross paths with a wondering stranger, and usually this area was thick with wandering winds, grounds and unicorns, enjoying the peaceful forest but near enough to watch the villagers. That in itself was unusual, enough that he paused to re-evaluate. He certainly hadn't made a wrong turn...
Aveshar considered his surroundings with a tilt of his head, flicking his spaded tail as he did so. Not a wrong turn, but something was definitely not right here. There were broken branches and half-scorched trees on the edge of the woods near the village. Evidence of a struggle scattered throughout... And the village itself had been clearly ravaged, scorched by fire and marked with death. Even the usual herd was not to be seen in force, perhaps slaughtered, perhaps recovering from injury. He had no way of knowing.
'What a time to travel.' He mused dryly. 'I clearly missed out on quite the event...'
Though exactly what that was, he had no idea. Whatever it had been, it was kept within the borders of the land for the most part. Certainly none he had crossed paths with had mentioned anything like this... This almost seemed like war. Like an invasion, a targeted attack.
"On whom?" He wondered aloud, his steps muffled by the thick forest loam. "The local herd? Then how did the two leggers get involved? If it was on the village itself, it would make sense that their herd would be injured.. But this seems to go beyond the village and their pets..."
He had seen a Soquili or two scatter at his approach, gratifying but unnecessary. At the moment he had nowhere near the appetite to hunt something so large, and they were of no interest. Still, he wanted to know what happened, and the only way to do that was to talk to someone...
"Very well then." He sighed to himself as he began moving through the woods again. "Let's see who is around." |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 12:50 pm
|
|
|
|
Only a few days had passed since Vulpine had parted ways with the Kalona herd, and the passage of those few days had done nothing to cool her temper. She would take the head off of anyone who would dare suggest she had gotten sentimental; as far as she was concerned, the Great Herd had outlived its usefulness anyway. Infighting and a lack of direction had fractured the herd’s original cohesiveness; greed and gluttony had caused many of the Kalona to act out on their own. For a Kalona like Vulpine, who had originally been a loner, it was only a matter of time before she cut her loses and left.
But she had never had a chance to do so; instead, the knowledge had spread throughout the herd that there were some of their number who had, horrifyingly, decided to abandon the principals for which they had gathered, fought, killed, and died. At first, this seemed too incredible to believe; they were Kalona, after all. Pure blooded, pure minded, superior Kalona who fought to uphold their ideals. The thought that there were Kalona from the herd who had abandoned this mindset, who embraced the lesser breeds of Soquili, who would even interbreed with said lesser breeds of Soquili, was enough to turn the strongest stomach.
Vulpine had originally joined the herd, even hating herds as she did, because she approved of and believed in the message it preached. She had put up with herdmates whose behavior she abhorred because she had believed they all followed the same belief system. Sure, she had intended to leave the herd because she couldn’t take the chaos and lack of challenge anymore, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t still a believer in the message. Kalona were, and always would be, the superior breed.
She hadn’t had much of a plan for life after the herd. Not originally, anyway. She had mulled over the idea of returning to her previous homeland, in the region beyond the mountains. She had also considered the idea of staying here, continuing the herd’s work on a smaller basis. Just because she was alone didn’t mean she couldn’t still kick butt, couldn’t kill.
But learning of the defection of many of the former Herd, a purpose came to Vulpine with almost frightening clarity. She lived for the hunt, for the kill, for the challenge, and for the Kalona race. She would stay here, in this land, and she would seek out the Kalona who had turned their backs on their race and their beliefs. And once she found them…
~~
That was the long term goal, anyway. Vulpine’s short term goal was proving much more frustrating: becoming comfortable with the forest. In her homeland, there were no forests; just scrub brush. But the forest was the most likely place for the Kalona defectors to have gone, and would provide her with the best possible base of operations. She just had to get used to the low hanging branches, the exposed roots, and the numerous other hazards conspiring to bring her down.
She had been lying quietly amidst the roots of a large tree, trying to will away the pounding headache she’d acquired earlier in the day. There had been little success, which might account for her rotten mood. That, or it could be because she was a Kalona, she reflected with a mirthless smile. Or…
Vulpine paused, flicking an ear backwards. Was someone moving? Moving…past her? Narrowing her eyes, Vulpine rose, cat-like, into a low crouch. No one was going to catch Vulpine unawares, headache or no!
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 03, 2014 6:26 pm
|
|
|
|
Aveshar wasn't really too concerned with the entry of the Kalona Herd, or their abrupt disbandment and departure from the lands. He certainly had no interest in joining anyone's herd, considering he had no stomach for being someone's underling. The black stallion had long ago decided if ever he were to be part of a herd, it would be one of his own making. However, at the moment he did not have the taste for such large groups.
He was relatively tolerant of smaller groups and preferred one-on-one interaction... Though there was a certain joy in gathering his childern together and hunting as a group just for the sake of it. Still, the presence of the herd, and their goals was of some interest to him. He wasn't sure exactly what they had a mind to accomplish, though it very clearly was not successful. Then again, with that many strong personalities in a single herd it was not too surprising to see the alliance fall to pieces. Still, perhaps he would have the good fortune to cross paths with some of the lingering members of the herd so he could get a better feel for the situation.
For the moment, he was a free spirit, without a cause or the responsibility of a herd. His children were grown and on their own, and no longer required his care. Instead he had the freedom to wander, to see what he could find in his journeys. And while he had not discovered anything interesting of late, he wandered on.
***
He wound around the trees like the predator he was, well at home in the shadows of the forest and able to move almost silently. He was more fond of forest and glen than open grassland, favoring the soothing shadows and cooler temperature. Even in summer the woods were tolerable, compared to direct sunlight in the open.
He hesitated at the change in wind, tilting his head and drawing a deep breath. That and the soft sound of movement made him pin his ears and bare his teeth, growling a warning with a snap of his tail. He knew there was someone else out there, and was willing to bet it was a kalona.
"I know you're there." He rumbled, glowing eyes narrowed. "And I am not afraid." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2014 7:18 am
|
|
|
|
Well, well, well. In spite of her pounding headache, a small smile crept across Vulpine's face. She still wasn't a fan of the forest, still wasn't at home here among the trees and brambles. However, they were perfect camouflage; no Soquili used to relying on sight would get very far out here. Instead, the other senses came to the fore; listening for the sounds of movement, breathing, or other life signs; smelling the scents of new arrivals or passers-by, feeling the vibrations as larger creatures went racing past. It was an excellent exercise in sensory deprivation...at least for a normally sight-driven predator like Vulpine.
Still, just because the woods were not Vulpine's element didn't mean she had lost all of her skills. Stealth had always been second nature to the mare; her relatively small stature (for a Kalona) paired with a natural desire to observe before striking had made her prize secrecy and sneaking around. Even out here in the woods, she retained her stealth abilities, and she felt that she had pulled off her rise with great care and silence. However, the deep-voice rumble of a voice calling her out was swift; someone had either seen or heard her, and her advantage of stealth was gone.
However, speaking had made the stallion lose his own advantage, as his deep, growling voice drew Vulpine's eye straight to him. Without abandoning her defensive crouch, she turned in the direction of the voice and was greeted by the sight of a tall, powerful-looking stallion. Her smile widening, she raked him over rapidly with her gaze. Broad, curling horns; spiked, leathery wings; a long, spade-tipped tail; sharp, cloven hooves...and the teeth that were bared in Vulpine's general direction were sharp fangs. Whatever else the stallion was, he appeared every inch the Kalona.
And this made things even more interesting, she reflected with a slight smirk. After all, she had made it her mission to hunt down Kalona defectors. She didn't recognize this stallion, but as the herd had numbered in the hundreds, if not the thousands, that was hardly surprising. She would need to use her wiles and her smarts to sort this matter out, however long it took.
Straightening up ever so slightly, she drawled back to the Kalona stallion. "Well, if you're not afraid, then that makes two of us. Though I would be disturbed to think that a Kalona of any gender or mindset would be spooked by something as ridiculous as another Kalona. If my time in a herd taught me anything, it was that whatever is going to happen, will happen." She lifted her chin, giving the Kalona a challenging look. Name-dropping her connection to a Kalona herd was only her first step, but it was an important one. It was possible that he had never been a part of the Kalona herd at all, but if he had been...then she would find out!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 1:44 pm
|
|
|
|
His glowing gaze had cut through the shadows easily, and he could see her as she turned to consider him. The defensive crouch was noted idly, but did not affect the way Aveshar stood. He was tall and proud, and larger than this mare. If she chose to rush him out of some foolish impulse, he would meet her as he stood: staunch and unwavering.
But she seemed a least moderately clever, for her size and fairly neutral coloring made it easier for her to blend into the deep shadows. Aveshar himself had little luck blending, for though he was night black, his markings gave off their own peculiar light. It was rare indeed if they were inclined to dim, and to this date the light had never faded. On the one hand, it was a peculiar trick to learn to hunt with such an unusual trait... On the other, he was very nearly ideally suited to night hunting.
And he was rather fond of diving out of a star-spangled sky to end a life, when the mood took him. Brushing such thoughts away with another idle flick of his tail, Aveshar considered the mare as she evaluated him. And he knew she was, whether or not she said so. It was Kalona nature, to consider a newly-met stranger and categorize them as adversary, worthy opponent, prey, and so on. Content to allow her come to her own conclusions, Aveshar flicked one ear and considered her markings for some clue to her parentage. Nothing in particular stood out to him as familiar. While he did not know every Kalona in the lands, he knew a great many of the more powerful families and lines. As this mare's subtle sweeps of color did not match any of them, he guessed she was part of the Great Herd that had invaded.
And been so sadly unsuccessful. Which may -perhaps- account for why she was hiding in the shadow of the woods?
"Fear of one's own kind can be trained into any foal, or likewise trained out of them." Aveshar retorted idly, tilting his head slightly. "This can be done in a family unit, and perhaps more effectively than part of a herd. Though I would not know for certain, I have no taste for following anyone's whims orders but mine own."
He bared his teeth in an unpleasant smile. "I am no one's follower, willing or otherwise... I gather you found it not to your liking either... Or you would be there now, instead of here. Would you not?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2014 11:42 am
|
|
|
|
Touche, stallion…to a point. Vulpine would admit that there was a lot to be said for the power of familial conditioning; she knew it was largely from her parents she had learned her proper Kalona attitudes. It was because she had been born to her family that she was a proud, independent Kalona mare who feared no other creature. She certainly didn’t fear her own kind; if she was meant to die at the teeth of a Kalona, then obviously that Kalona was a superior fighter and deserved to kill her. It was the same way that Vulpine herself felt no qualms about killing others; superior force and skill meant a superior creature, and inferior creatures always deserved to die.
This should be a belief ingrained in the mind of every Kalona, particularly every pure-blood Kalona. But the events of the Kalona herd travels and the ultimately failed invasion had proved that just because the ideals existed did not mean they were universal. She had seen weakness among her own kind that was enough to permanently sour her expression. She had seen Kalona fall to the hooves of REGULAR Soquili; never mind the fiercely beating wings of the winds, or those dangerous sharp unicorn horns, but to regular Soquili! She could only hope that those Kalona who died so shamefully had had no children, or even any siblings. Genes like that did not deserve to live on, period. But even worse than those Kalona were the cowards; the ones who fled before battle, or from the battlefield itself. No proper Kalona should ever fear death; to die in a fight was the ultimate glory, as far as Vulpine was concerned. The idea of death taking her when she was a worn, shriveled husk, too weak to fight back or, worse, too pathetic to appear interesting as prey, was positively repugnant.
The fact that this sort of Kalona existed was confirmation that possession of Kalona blood, even pure Kalona blood, was no guarantee that fear would be non-existant. But Vulpine persisted in holding the belief that every true and proper Kalona was born knowing this; how else could one explain how some Kalana with inferior parents grew up to become perfect examples of the species? In her time in the herd, Vulpine had made the acquaintance of a Kalona stallion whose parents were pacifists , as ridiculous as the concept was. Yet the stallion himself had been an above-average fighter. She wondered what had happened to him after the herd breakup…she hoped he had not defected. It would be unpleasant to have to kill him…but if she had to, she would.
This stallion was unknown to her, and she would have to make up her mind about him. So far, he was being nondescript, for a Kalona. Without rising up from her crouch, she replied to the stallion’s smooth words with some of her own. He wasn’t the only one who could talk well when necessary. “A true Kalona would be above influence on something so important. If you can be trained to fear, you aren’t a Kalona, foal or no.” Though her tone was level, the words were delivered with the barest hint of a snarl. “And my choices of being in a herd, or not, are mine.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Sep 05, 2014 5:29 pm
|
|
|
|
While Aveshar was a firm mind that his business was no one's but his own, he did idly wonder what the Kalona Herd had actually planned for their attack. As he had been away from the lands at the time, he only knew what news he had gleaned, and there was a certain curiosity in the concept of a massive Kalona herd falling to the regular native Soquili of the land. Not that he doubted the presence of Unicorns and Wind, for of course they would all band together to defend their homeland. But still, the curiosity remained.
Surely in-fighting, betrayel or sabotage had to play a part in such a significant failure? While Aveshar had known his share of spirited Soquili, regular and otherwise, the regulars were just that. Their personalities might be significant or special, but the shell housing it. Well, he just didn't understand how the whole thing had come about.
Then again, this mare was crouched in the woods as though she were hiding... But telling him any creature that could be taught to fear was not Kalona. The concept was so stupid he made no response, just giving her a speaking look. Even if she wasn't hiding, she certainly looked the part.
"I didn't realize Kalona was synonymous with fearless..." He mused idly. "After all, I have known many Soquili -even Ground, Wind and Unicorns- that were fearless... What does your peculiar little philosophy make of them? For they do not fear, but are obviously not Kalona."
He grinned, a baring of teeth more than a smile as he flicked his tail. "So then, it follows that if things that are not Kalona can have no fear... Things that are Kalona can fear. It doesn't make them less kalona, it just makes them worth less in your eyes."
"I do so hate to destroy or trivialize your little theory... But there are some glaring holes you may wish to address." The words were delivered with a brief look of false sympathy, but it faded in a moment. "Or not, as you like. Though if you choose not to address the points I've raised, I'll warn you that you do sound a bit foolish with your current ideology."
The stallion gave a shrug, careless if his words roused any fury in her. He knew she was still trying to determine what she thought of him, and Aveshar had never made himself an easy mark. He certainly wasn't going to start now, not for one of that fool herd who failed so spectacularly. She didn't scare him and he woudn't grovel or tip-toe around. Her herd wasn't here now, and if they were he'd have said the same thing. They had failed, and they were Foolish. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Oct 03, 2014 9:42 am
|
|
|
|
If she were asked directly, Vulpine would have to think before answering what the Kalona Herd's ultimate goal had been. She might be an idealist, but she had never been a starry eyed one. She knew that whatever the herd's rhetoric was, there were far too many Soquili involved in the herd for everyone to have a like mind. She herself had supported the 'prime goal,' as she saw it: taking over some of the prime, prey-heavy regions of the Kawani lands, eliminating as many of those weird two-legged Kawani as possible in the process, and driving back the lesser Soquili while cutting down the b*****d Kalona and the ones who'd lost their way.
Easy as pie. She still embraced those ideologies, she's just changed the priorities. Traitors would always be more important to address than annoyances. She had yet to decide if this Kalona was the former, but he was certainly proving to be the latter! This was why she'd never been a herd-driven Soquili, Vulpine thought with an angry snarl. Being in a herd meant getting along with your herdmates, and while she would always respect other true Kalona, that didn't mean she would like them. She preferred physical sparring to verbal sparring, after all.
And she definitely didn't like verbally sparring with this stallion. Either he was an idiot, or he was simply an arrogant SOB. It was already bugging her how casually he stood, with no thought for defense. If she decided to attack at this distance, he'd have no time to react defensively before she struck. And what if she had an accomplice, hidden somewhere in the trees? Granted, she scorned such sly and sneaky methods; she might enjoy a good ambush once in a while, but it was always one on one.
And anways, what was wrong with him, trying to drag his own race down to the pathetic level of the lessers? She was starting to strongly doubt this one had been herd, but he might be one of the Kalona that had drawn the herd: ideological defectors. Possibly he had a frilly little flutter mare back home as a mate, with whom he'd fathered a brood of fanged fluttery children. Disgusting. "I'm sorry your mental capacity is so small that you think Kalona being fearless by nature means fearlessness is an exclusive trait. Kalona should be fearless; to be anything but is a sign of some sort of blood deficiency. But I've seen cowardly Kalona, just as I've seen brave...regulars," she said, spitting out the last word with obvious disgust. "They are flukes as much as the cowardly Kalona, but flukes exist in all forms." Like large, proud Kalona stallions who blasphemed their own race for the sake of playing devil's advocate.
Well, she hoped that was the case. Much more palatable than him having that flutter waiting in the wings.
~Latonia de la Courtel~ Gah, I'm so sorry, Latty; I forgot about this one @@
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Oct 04, 2014 10:46 am
|
|
|
|
Aveshar considered the mare with a mixture of emotions. On the one hand he was somewhat disappointed that she had not mounted a physical attack to retaliate after he'd taken the time to cut her little theory to ribbons. On the other hand, perhaps it proved she was more clever than her stance on the matter suggested. He couldn't be sure yet, he was still to amused by her concepts regarding fearless or fearful Kalona to really decide.
While he had seen a Kalona or two that surely belonged to the great herd, before it broke and scattered like a wave crashing to mere droplets against a rock, this was the longest conversation Aveshar had had with any of them. He wasn't sure if there was a true plan behind the great herd, or if they had all gathered in the hopes that their individual goals were shared by the group, and that was why everything had fallen to pieces. Either way, it was a right and proper mess and little had been accomplished in the long run.
He had little care for the fact that he had annoyed her, and let it show in his face as he pinned a warning ear. He rather imagined she was eying him for an attack, and while he could react quickly enough, it would so thoroughly vex him. When vexed, he would be far less likely to let his prey slip away unmaimed, much less unharmed. Still, he could tell his words about lessers had annoyed her, and couldn't help but find amusement in it.
She certainly looked as if she expected to find him wrapped around the hoof of some inconsequential species... Producing inferior blooded children through a simpering lesser female. Oh, if you only knew... Her insults barely made him bat an eye, unimpressed by her fury.
"Those who are fearless may simply be stupid." He shrugged. "I do not put much stock in it, the way you seem to. Emotions are inconsequential if one's actions can speak for themselves. I care more for intelligence than philosophy, at any rate."
Cajmera LOL no worries at all honey! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 9:02 am
|
|
|
|
Vulpine might be a lot of things, but she was not an emotional fighter. It was how she'd survived for so long, by putting emotion aside when it was time to get physical. Rage and passion tended to blind a fighter; they forgot to be alert and attentive, too wrapped up in the idea of blindly inflicting pain. She'd seen enough Kalona, even before the days of the Kalona herd, end badly because they couldn't keep their emotions in check. So, just because she might want to lay into this Kalona didn't mean she would; he might be odious, but he had yet to confirm that he was the type she was hunting. And even if he was, she wouldn't charge him face to face, on unfamiliar terrain when she was otherwise handicapped.
She might be a mare on a mission, but she was neither stupid nor suicidal.
"They may be stupid, or they may simply have nothing to fear. And fear has a way of influencing actions." Vulpine couldn't help the show of scorn that curled her lip, not directed at the stallion for a change, but rather at ghosts; the Kalona who had turned tail and run, rather than fight. "Anyone can talk a good game, but a philosophy that isn't supported by action is nothing. Just as much nothing as a Kalona who talks a peaceful game and cohabitates with a lesser, possibly worse. At least the peaceful Kalona is admitting they're a deviant, which means they're at least partly aware of the consequences coming their way."
Because it was inevitable; no one could live such a shameful life and not have it catch up to them eventually...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 07, 2015 11:05 am
|
|
|
|
Aveshar considered the mare in silence, his gleaming eyes unreadable as he examined his opponent. She was clever in the way that all predators were clever, a patient, devious sort of cleverness. She wouldn't charge him outright for what he had said, her's was a patient fury. It raised his estimation of her slightly, made him fight to conceal a smile. He almost wanted to challenge her, to see how she would move as she sought to harm him... To punish him for his words or lay into him as he trampled her theory.
A pity she would not be so foolish, the idea amused him. Regardless of her reserved demeanor, the meeting seemed a fortunate one in his esteem. This land was redeeming itself in his eyes, though the methods were peculiar.
"Just because you feel fear does not mean you have to react to it." Aveshar rumbled idly. "So what then is it you punish? The fact that they felt fear, or that they reacted to it? That they let it control them? In my mind, the only weakness lies in one allowing fear to control your actions and force you into doing something regrettable."
He tilted his head, making a soft sound of amusement. "Cohabitates with a lesser? Do you mean sharing the land with or sharing a den with? It seems to me that chasing an excellent food source out of the land just to prove what a predator you are is incomparably stupid."
He almost wished he knew where Kanti denned now... See what this mare really thought of one of the natives. "And I would like to point out it is an arrogance bordering on weakness to judge that which you have never known. I say again there can be strong examples of other breeds just as there are weak examples of Kalona."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
