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 Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 8:26 pm
 You’re only as old as you feel.
Smiling to himself, Safi strolled along the bank of the river, the old maxim floating about in his mind as it had been ever since he’d parted ways with his daughter. The two of them had been off on a wander together, as they were wont to do whenever time and circumstances allowed; however, as they’d parted ways, Saiena had tossed back a teasing, “You’re such an old fart sometime, Daddy!”
It wasn’t a barb. Sai’s grin was clear indication that she was teasing, and, Safi knew his daughter’s humor too well to suspect it was anything but a tease. Still, it got him thinking, as thinking about his age always did.
He loved who he was. He was proud of who he was. He lived a full, wonderful life, had many great friends, two wonderful children…but how did that all pack in? When did a Soquili pass from ‘mature’ to ‘decrepit?’
“Not any time soon, thanks much!” The usual ending. Besides, he wasn’t even sure that MATURE was a word that applied to himself, at least not in the mental sense!
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Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 8:37 pm
 He was big now, or at least almost big, and he needed to start going out on his own. Papa was alright with him wanting to stay around home but he knew that his Mama was right. He couldn't hide behind them forever. He was getting too tall for that.
It didn't make it any easier to wander off alone. Kizuka wasn't with him and that certainly didn't help. He was used to her being around to keep the spooks away. Unless those spooks were Memory, she was alright since she hadn't eaten him.
If he just took it careful and took deep breaths and stayed calm he'd be alright. It would also help if he didn't run into anything but he doubted he'd be that lucky. This far down the line he wouldn't have gotten enough of Grandda's trick.
"Come on Wadi .... you're big now. Nothing scary by the river. You can handle this"
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Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 8:46 pm
After a moment of silence had passed after his remark, Safi frowned slightly. He made random comments, that was Cerdi’s cue to chime in with some sort of affirmation…or something. But there was nothing, no ‘hell no, Boss!’ or similar comment from the usually ever-present fox. However, as Safi glanced at the place at his side where Cerdi usually trotted, he remembered that he’d finally sent Cerdi off to do something interesting and solitary for a change, giving both of them a bit of time apart. Considering how hard it had been to convince Cerdi of the merit of (gasp) leaving the boss, Safi was amused that he hadn’t realized he was foxless faster.
“Oh well; looks like it’s just me and me, Safi old boy. Good thing we like our own company, no?” Chuckling, Safi ran one feathered wing through his mane, then suddenly cut a little caper right on the bank of the river. Today, he was a free stallion; no kids, no familiar, just he and himself, able to do as he pleased.
Whatever that was.
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Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 8:55 pm
As he walked along he chanted to himself that he was a big boy and it would be alright. He wasn't exactly paying attention to anything as he walked but not paying attention made him feel somehow safer. If he didn't pay attention then he didn't notice twigs snapping or little things skurring around.
It also meant that when a squirrel ran in front of him that he jumped and had to hold back a completely childish squeak. He stared at the dirt before his hooves for a bit before he got his heartbeat back under control. Just a squirrel.
Shaking his head and shivering he continued down along the river bank. He knew how far he could get and still be able to make it home before dark and he wasn't anywhere near that. He at least had to get that far before he freaked out and ran home.
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Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:05 pm
Just because he was capering on the riverbank didn't mean that Safi couldn't be attuned to his surroundings. Unlike Wadi, Safi was used to wandering on his own, used to being in random situations, and used to meeting strangers. All of that kept life interesting, after all!
Which was maybe why he noticed Wadi before Wadi noticed him, flicking an ear at the sound of footsteps and turning to see the other stallion, picking his way up the bank as though walking through a mine field. For a moment, Safi merely watched, one brow raised in a curious look, before chuckling and calling out, "Expecting the ground to cave in, or don't want to injure the grass?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:14 pm
The sound of a voice sent him flailing backwards a few steps as he looked up wide eyed at the other stallion. "Ahh....Oh lord..." He took a deep breath and panted slightly as he tried to make his legs stay still. He couldn't be shaking like a little colt forever. Though from the way he was going that was starting to look like a good option.
"N-no .... though the ground could cave in but it hasn't rained in so there wouldn't be soggy pockets for that to happen." Dah had told him about the dirt getting sticky if stuff got too wet and he didn't want to run into that.
"I just ..." He'd been scared but he didn't think he could admit that so easily.
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Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:22 pm
Somehow, Safi hadn't been expecting to throw the other stallion so far off balance. To put it mildly.
"Well, I've been wandering this part of the river for a bit, and it's never once even SEEMED like it was about to cave in. I was only joking with you, so don't get yourself worked up on my account."
Grinning, Safi folded his wings behind his head, hoping that his friendly grin would help set the other stallion at ease. He was awfully twitchy, if he was set off by something as simple as a joke, and Safi never liked to see others uncomfortable. Especially on his account. "In fact, don't let yourself get worked up at all! Why waste time when you could be enjoying yourself?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:31 pm
His laugh was a little forced as he tried to get himself under control. "That's easier said than done." He'd almost jumped when the other stallion had moved his wings having not noticed them until now.
He'd never seen something like that. Memory had wings but hers had been different. Taking another deep breath he'd been about to try to take the other's advice when something skurried though the underbrush not far from them.
It sent him skidding to the side toward the water. "..... i'm hopeless." He'd almost jumped when his hoof touched the water but managed to stop that from happening.
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Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:39 pm
Twitchy fellow, wasn't he? Still, there was something amusing about the excessive jumpiness of the other stallion even as it was concerning, and Safi had never been one to deny the humor of any situation.
Consequently, he was still smiling as he trotted down the bank towards the other, veering to poke at the shrubs Wadi had lept away from before turning back to look at him. "Probably a squirrel, or maybe a chipmunk. Nothing to be that put out by, but they ARE fiendishly clever as scuttling about when you aren't expecting. That said, they aren't worth diving into the river for, friend." At the very least!
"Let me guess; you're not really around here that much, are you? If at all?" Considering that there was nothing at ease about the other stallion at all, that seemed a safe guess.
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Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:45 pm
"Actually i don't live far from here." He couldn't have been that far from home. He had only lost sight of the lake a bit ago and the lake wasn't that large. You could walk around the lake in less than a day even though that was just barely.
"Squirrels are horrible things. You accidentally sneak up on one and you'll get teeth in your legs before you can think." He'd startled enough of them or his sister had and he'd gotten in trouble for it. That was almost as bad as startling foxes.
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Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 9:51 pm
"Really?" That was a bit of a surprise, and Safi couldn't quite keep signs of it out of his tone. Given the way Wadi had almost fallen into the river at hearing a rustle, well...
Oh well. It takes all kinds, right?
Still, the idea of being bitten by a squirrel was pretty funny, and Safi was chuckling at the very idea. He knew that Cerdi would have a few things to say about the very idea of a squirrel DARING to bite him...too funny.
"Well, that's why you make sure to make a lot of noise so that the squirrels know you're coming! Otherwise, it might not be a bad idea to try and snare a familiar or something to clear the ground..." Smiling, Safi brushed off his legs with his wings, then offered a wing to Wadi in greeting. "I'm Safi, by the way."
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Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:02 pm
"My family lives by the lake" He nodded slowly as he walked away from the river. No reason to chance a fish brushing him and him jumping again. If that happened he'd probably end up knocking into the other stallion and that would be a bad idea.
"Familier?" None of his family had anything like that and he couldn't think of what it was. With the way the other stallion, Safi, was talking it sounded like something that could be useful if it didn't scare the life out of him first.
"Wadi." He bowed slightly as his grandpa had taught him. "N-nice to meet you"
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Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:08 pm
Ah yes, the lake! Nice place the lake, albeit huge. "I imagine you get a lot of exposure to the water then, living out by the lake...and yes, familiars. You know, random little companion animals that like to theoretically provide companionship?" Chuckling, Safi retracted the wing, replacing it alongside the other on his back for at least a few minutes before he invariably began gesturing with it again.
"I've got a fox, personally. Don't ask me how I came by him, because one day I didn't have a familiar, the next I had a fox following me around that called me 'Boss' and seems to think I'm the greatest thing since sliced bread. Nice enough little fellow, if a bit clingy. But I tell you, you have a familar, you'll rarely be lonely! And if foxes aren't your thing, there are other companion animals out there; I know that hawks are good socializers, and rabbits if you're up for the hoppy type."
If there was choice involved, of course. "But anyway, it's nice to meet you as well, Wadi. You feeling a bit less jittery now, or would you like me to run screaming through the shrubs just on the off-chance there's still something lying in wait?"
And he almost managed to say that with a straight face!
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Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:14 pm
"Yes ..... i'm not all that fond of it, or more actually what lives in it." He shivered slightly at the thought of all the fish and creepy things that lived in the water. Kizuka liked to play in the water so he usually let her go first. That way the fish left and he could play without worrying too much.
"I've never seen one of those before." He scrunched his nose slightly. "all the small things I've seen usually startle me too much." Nothing would want to be friends with him if he'd just jump every time it appeared out of the underbrush. At least he couldn't think of anything that would want to deal with him that long.
At Safi's idea he laughed. "Ah, no. I don't think that will be necessary. You'll just have to, ah, deal with me jumping i fear." His sister got used to it and even Memory had started to ignore it in their meeting.
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Posted: Sun Jul 15, 2007 10:22 pm
"Ah well, not everyone is of an aquatic mindset. I'd rather fly than swim, all things considered; not too mention it takes longer for feathers to dry out than hair besides, but that's just personal. To each their own, right?"
And in the case of this stallion, it seemed very much to be his own thing. Was there anything that DIDN"T startle him, or was he merely of a rather delicate nature?
Quirking his head, Safi studied the other stallion, taking note of the relative sturdiness of Wadi's bones. He didn't LOOK fragile, but one could never be too certain based on looks alone. Though as far as looks went, Wadi wasn't unpleasant to look at. His hair was rather interesting, being both curled AND braided, and he had the strangest, most fascinating eyes...
Somehow, though, Safi doubted that a nervous stallion would much enjoy being studied for a long time, so he quickly went back to his more relaxed state, giving the other a grin. "Jumping I can handle. I'll just put my wing above you and hold your feet firmly on the ground that way; who knows, maybe it'll break the habit!"
The fact that Wadi had laughed was a good start, but Safi still wanted him to get a bit less tense. If you were tense, you REALLY couldn't enjoy yourself as much as otherwise, and that was a fact.
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