[PRP] Travels (Ashitaka/Orion & Eldrin/Lorcan)

[StrawberryRoseTea]

Eldrin had been becoming increasingly restless over the past few days. It wasn't that he didn't enjoy helping with his two brand new daughters. He was still fighting off his odd mixed feelings about having created a family but for the most part being around the two fillies was a joy. No, it was just his normal wanderlust tugging at him. He had decided the night before that he was going to rise early and steal some time for himself. Go explore some of the surrounding area. He hadn't had much chance to see what lay around the area of his daughter's mother's home.
So before sunrise he stepped quietly away from his sleeping family and, once far enough away that the noise wouldn't wake anyone, he took off at a gallop into the forest. Once he felt the tension that had been building in his chest begin to ease he slowed down to a nice meander, his feet instinctively finding a small track to follow. Much to his surprise and delight he soon found himself in a small meadow with a cheerful little spring. The sun had now risen enough to cast the area in a nice rosy morning glow. Taking a large breath, Eldrin sighed and let himself sink to the soft forest floor.

Lorcan had been dozing lightly when the barest hint of movement awoke him. Through barely slit eyes he watched as his bonded slipped away into the morning mist. A grim smile crossed his lips. He had been expecting something like that for a few days now. For as long as Lorcan had known him, Eldrin had never stayed in one place as long as he had been here. He knew that the stallion was true to his word about helping raise his foals and so would return later but how long he would be gone was another matter.
Stifling what would have been a very toothy yawn the spotty cat wiggled his way out from between the two sleeping fillies that he had been cuddled with. It wouldn't be so bad to take some time away for himself either. On silent padded feet he followed Eldrin into the trees. Despite Eldrin's head start and speed it was quick work for Lorcan to find his trail. He had much practice in finding the stallion. While they had been traveling together ever since El had saved him from a nasty wolverine they often found themselves seperate and doing their own things.
When he finally came to the little clearing Lorcan paused at the edge of the trees, to make sure Eldrin wasn't in one of his mopey self pitying moods, before strolling nonchalantly to the water where he crouched over his paws to take a drink. As per their usual neither said a word about the situation but brushed gazes and shared a mutual understanding.
WC:479

AstoriaFallen

 

[StrawberryRoseTea]

Hearing the rustling of two bodies approaching Lorcan's ears flicked and he stopped drinking. Judging that they weren't trying to be stealthy he opted not to warn Eldrin and turned to watch the situation play out. When the stallion and female bobcat emerged from the trees he was momentarily stunned. He hadn't seen another of his kind since that cursed race he had lost to his brother. He studied her bearing and, once deciding that she seemed friendly enough, offered her a small smile.

Not having been paying attention, Eldrin was taken off guard by the masculine voice breaking the semi-silence of his little clearing. Not wanting to receive company laying down, both because it was rude and on the off-chance that they had less than friendly intentions, Eldrin pushed himself to his feet muffling a groan. He knew he shouldn't have been running like that so shortly after having recovered from the rock fall he had been caught in but it had been a good release. Blue gaze brushed momentarily over the other cat before meeting red. His brain took a moment to reprocess the question that had been asked.
"Oh, yes, of course. Welcome." He shifted aside so that they could easily reach the water past him. It also coincidentally placed him in a better position to study the strangers. "How has your day been?" he asked conversationally, still trying to gauge the stallion's friendliness.

Lorcan moved aside as well to make room at the water's edge. His gaze continuously flicking back to the female. "Hello. " he finally ventured to say to her in greeting.

WC:271

AstoriaFallen

 

[StrawberryRoseTea]

El watched with a mild appreciation as first one then the other watched himself and Lor as they drank. He and his companion would have done much the same had they been the ones to stumble upon unexpected company. "It was really no trouble to either of us. A pleasure to meet you Ashitaka and Orion. I am Eldrin Bright-Tail. You may call me me Eldrin if you would like. My companion is Lorcan." El nodded his head with the formal greeting. When he met new people he had a tendency to err on the side of formality. Until he was able to get to know someone he always felt it safer to be polite as well as friendly. Though he could already feel himself relaxing a bit in their careful company.

Distracted by the female of his own kind, Lorcan was oblivious to the fact that El had already given his name. "I'm Lorcan. Nice to meet you Orion." He sat and gazed at her with a curious tilt to his head, his whiskers wiggling as he tried to catch her scent a little better. "You don't mind if I call you by name?" he adsked as an afterthought, following El's lead in manners for once.

Normally when the stallion was befriending others Lor just sat quietly in the shadows so he was unused to making conversation. "Did you travel far today?" he asked, taking a stab at small talk.

WC:245

AstoriaFallen

Sorry that took so long but TAADAA!

 

[StrawberryRoseTea]

Lor followed Orion's quick glance toward the stallions and was also satisfied that they seemed to be engaging in a conversation. Of course he had expected nothing less of El. The guy could have an engaging and charming conversation with a rock wall if he wanted to. Conversation was good for him too. Pulled him out of his moodiness. "Where are you from, if you don't mind my asking? I haven't seen coat patterns quite like yours before. They're very different from what I grew up with. Most of my family looks like different variations of me. "

Eldrin smiled and nodded his head in acknowledgment of the permission to use the shortened name. "Well, Ashi, I'm pleased that your leisurely wandering a brought you my way. I'm always glad to meet others. As a matter of fact Lorcan and I were just on a day stroll ourselves. Normally we are nomads and travel wherever we please but at the moment we've taken up residence not too far away. " A little farther than he probably should be given the fact that he was still recovering and he really should be close in case the goals needed him but he pushed that from his mind for the moment.

WC:206

AstoriaFallen

 

[StrawberryRoseTea]

At mention of a twin brother Lorcan's face lit up with amusement. However it then darkened quickly, like a sudden storm coming upon a bright spring day. "How ironic. I, too, have a twin brother." What he didn't mention was that he was no longer on speaking terms with him. Through no fault of his brother's of course but it was a bit of a complication to have to explain away one's own problems with wounded pride. Shaking his head Lorcan quickly cleared the darkness from his face and replaced it with an expression of fondness. "My brother matches my coat patterns but he is lighter in color. He blends in much better with snow and the like. I, on the other paw, prefer my forests." He dug his claws into the dirt as he spoke enjoying the feel of the rich loam underfoot. "I guess the rest of my family are more variations of the same. I haven't seen them in a while. We're all kind of loners." He gave a shrug that conveyed a 'what can you do' attitude. "Do you see your family often, Orion? Your brother?"

While Eldrin was watching the other stallion he noticed with interest that he seemed rather invested in the way that the two cats were interacting. Eldrin himself was rather amused to note that Lorcan was finally coming out of his shell for once. El nodded his head in agreement with Ashi's suggestion of a fated meeting. El himself didn't necessarily believe in fate but it seemed to be a constant in the lives of others and who was he to judge.
"You both are welcome to keep company with us for as long as you are in the area." he offered. "It has been some time since I've had the company of another stallion." He smiled in a friendly manner trying not to shift uncomfortably on his feet while his aching muscles began to complain about being forced to work again so soon after his reckless run.

AstoriaFallen

 

[StrawberryRoseTea]

Lorcan listened intently to Orion as she spoke of her brother. He looked over in detail trying to imagine another just like her, only male.
"It must be an interesting feeling to know there's another somewhere in the world that is almost indistinguishable from you. " he mused aloud. "I know that even if another family member and I were similarly colored our spots would still be completey different and our own. Does it make you feel comforted? Like you'll never be alone? All you would have to do was look at a reflection to know he was with you." Now that the thought had struck him he realized that he did something similar. When he saw his own reflection he saw pieces of his brother as well as other family members.

He was pleased to hear her talk about the forests so fondly and couldn't help but smile at how many similarities they had as she spoke of her brother some more. When she explained her relationship with Ashitaka, Lorcan couldn't help but marvel at the differences it had from his own relationship with Eldrin. Looking at her stallion companion he commented, "Well he seems like a very fine overgrown son to have. " he noted the pride in her eyes and smiled broadly at her. "Eldrin and I just keep each other company. He got me out of a bit of trouble once and after that we've just been together. Most of the time. I prefer not to follow him on his insane trips up the mountains in the winter but I always seem to end up following to check on him at some point anyway. " he grimaced in a fond manner in El's direction. "He may have saved me but I feel like I spend a lot of time taking care of him." He laughed as he realized he was speaking a truth he'd never really before considered. "Does Ashitaka ever do anything crazy like climbing mountains in blizzards or am I just lucky with Eldrin?" His question was good natured and friendly as he tried to learn more about this engaging female and her companion.

Eldrin was very pleased with Ashi's acceptance of his offer of hospitality. Despite the stallions fierce looks he seemed to be an uppstanding fellow.
"Well then I hope I don't disappoint as far as male company goes. " Eldrin chuckled at himself. "I'm told that I can sometimes be difficult to be around." He looked pointedly in Lorcan's direction. "But hopefully I can contain my difficultness for a few days. I wouldn't want to drive you away when they seem to be getting along so well." Finally Eldrin could ignore the protests of his tired limbs no more. " I hope you don't mind but I need to rest for a bit." He lowered himself carefully before he could fall down. Ashi had proven himself not a threat so far and El probably couldn't have done anything about it at this point anyway even if he had been.

AstoriaFallen