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 Posted: Sun Apr 08, 2007 9:29 am
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 11:02 am
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 2:54 pm
[.from the deep dark void.]
He hadn't been there long, his back rested against the tree while his battered and broken wing lay flat against the ground. His head throbbed, his breath rasped and he couldn't help but grow more weary with each passing moment. The almost earth-shattering cold did nothing to aid this state, rather it made him all the more drowsy. Blood loss was clearly not his friend, as exhaustion finally caught him.
He was rarely one to give in to such weaknesses, but the aerial combat and his brutal crash landing at been enough. Battered and bruised it had taken all his strength to drag himself to his human. She had been waiting, had grasped his head and whispered encouragingly to draw him away from the scene - one step at a time.
Step by step - bit by bit he had drifted away and finally she had led him onto the slopes where he would have once found Solace. Unfortunately, mother nature did not agree with this though for as Ayegali left him to retrieve some herbs he was rather overwhelmed and released a wounded cry... The irony of it all. He had attempted to play hero to one he didn't even know and now he would fail. He couldn't go home, he couldn't do anything.
Still, he was not so drowsy as not to let all his senses go and even with a blinded eye he could feel the back of his neck prickle - something or someone was behind him.
"Who goes there?" He growled, his peripheral vision somewhat hindered.
Perhaps it was for that very fact that he received a reply, for the voice came from a location that he simply couldn't see. It was hoarse from lack of use, almost uncertain but held a quality and emotion he couldn't quite place - it certainly wasn't pity so much as...empathy?
"A friend." The male replied, his hoof beats drawing nearer, "A guardian." He continued and paused briefly, Grencia was fairly certain he was hovering over that broken wing and that...well it made him a little uncomfortable.
"The slopes are no place for one in such a condition - you need warmth."
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 3:17 pm
Sides heaving, Blais raced back into the Elderwillow encampment in a rare show of uncontrolled panic. Overhead Celei's hawk tacked against the high winds to come in for a landing, her broad golden wings catching the sunlight. Blais only spared his companion a brief glance to assure himself that she was there to back up his story... it was too incredulous to be believed without the cynical bird's support.
But he shouldn't have worried, Flame all but melted out of the surrounding woods, and Tai emerged from his human's teepee with a very worried expression on his face. Both waited patiently for him to draw breath, treating him like they would any other adult... and not the barely grown stallion he was...
He almost forgot himself in the selfish thoughts the respectful treatment awoke in him. Thankfully Marahute trilled to bring his mind back to the present, so with one last gasp he blurted out the abridged version as quickly as possible.
"Grencia... he's hurt.. somewhere. Little fox saw him fighting with a black and red flutter soquili... and it ended badly. We gotta find him!" The last came out in a petulant whine, and Blais could have kicked himself when he saw Flame's face cloud over, but Tai saved him the trouble of explaining further.
"Where did you two come from." The mahogany and gold stallion rumbled, brown eyes darting between the large teepee camp and the distant thicket Esper was. Reading his old pupil's worry, Flame broke in before Blais could respond. "Tend your family Tai, then search the area between Elderwillow and Esper. Blais, where do you recommend I search?"
"North, we came from the north." the paint said, suddenly glad the fiery stallion had taken "over" per se.
"Good, I will search the forests from Esper's to the high timberland, you take the upper timberland leading to the slopes. I will leave a message with Gully for Crousader, then have him come and find me. Tai, take Edelsteine with you, her sense of smell is keener then yours. Blais, keep Marahute with you, the slopes are tricky, she can scout ahead." Orders issued, Flame half reared. "And keep all feelings of revenge in check, we do not know what occured. Let us just find him and keep him safe.
The comment was lost on Blais, since he had already swung around and cantered back the way he had come.
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:04 pm
"Neither is the forest." Grencia rasped, attempting to turn his head. Unfortunately he gave up rather quickly as the throbbing worsened and chose instead to keep his head still - if there was a risk he would fight again, he wasn't in the best of shapes but that wouldn't stop him... He was a warrior and for the sake of the spirits he wasn't about to beg for mercy now.
"Perhaps, but it is warmer and will keep the wind off you." The stallion (whoever he might have been) seemed so sure of himself. It was an eerie calmness, one that caused quite a bit of discomfort to Grencia but it was made substantially worse as he felt a nudge against his side. "Trust me on this one - if you remain here you will die." He continued, an odd rustling to follow.
"All that you have built up will be lost - do not waste it!" Oddly, this struck a chord with the firebird and he gave enough grown, but slowly but surely he began to pull himself to his feet. Whimpering and groaning, he looked a sorry side but was even more surprised when his good eye fell on the sight before him - well it sort of looked like a kalona but, what in the name of gods was in it's chest?
He seemed to flinch at the look.
"Are you going to just stand there?" Grencia muttered, stumbling uncertainly until he felt the leathered wing against his side - a surprising strong limb, much more powerful than his own but also, oddly gentle. It was with a little encouragement (and a jab of those bloody spikes) that Grencia did move at least a little ways into the forest.
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:17 pm
Heeding not a bit of the advice Crousader had given him, Blais charged through the underbrush blindly, unable to supress the pumping of the blood in his veins driving andrenalin into his surging limbs. Oddly, even his mind was ina rush, flitting quickly from one bent branch to another nearly missed hoof print.
Nothing.
"GRENCIA!" He whinnied, echoed above by Marahute's piercing cry.
Still nothing.
Eventually he fell silent and went about systematically searching the area, slowly working his way up the slopes until he reached the forest line. Heartened when he caught an unfamiliar scent on the wind, Blais whinnied again.
"GRENCIA!"
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:27 pm
GRENCIA!
The mysterious stallion's stomach plummeted as he heard the shriek. He could only gather from the swivelling ears of his new charge that the battered male in question was 'Grencia'. Still, despite his own dislike for company he couldn't exactly drop the battered on now could he? It was something his father might have done, something his herd might have done but rather than follow their example...
No.
Instead, the mutated soquili pushed forward, prodding and coaxing the injured being without concern for his own well being. For now, until the stallion was tucked against softer foliage and in warmer climates he would endure. Which would be long as the mutated one allowed the wind to discover 'his' abode...
It was nothing special, a grove of sorts with flowing water and enough space to lie in but otherwise it was rather shadowed - evidently this one favoured the dark.
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:37 pm
Marahute darted ahead the moment Blais's tone changed, her sharp eyes falling on the undeniable form of Grencia. His bright pelt and even brighter wings still stood out against the dull gray and green of the near-winter forest. Unfortunately the distance didn't hide the surprising amount of damage done to the proud wind's body.
Her own heart now stirred, Marahute screeched a warning to Blais and dove, backwinging above the trees to signal Gren's position.
Breaking into a fast gallop, Blais raced across the wide slop and into the woods, suddenly aware of bloody footprints and a very strange scent mixing with the familiar Grencia-scent. Laying his ears back, the paint whinnied again, hoping Grencia would answer since he could no longer see Marahute hovering over the trees.
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 4:45 pm
Grencia was in no condition to respond to Blais as he lay down once more and took a well deserved gulp of water. Ayegali hadn't quite mastered the art of locating water just yet and thus he was incredibly thirsty. Savouring the water, he could only afford a groan in response to the next whinny - honestly, it was as though all those he knew expected him to be super man.
Clearly he wasn't. Rather, he simply shook his head and cast a tired glance towards his own reflection - now he could see his own eye it turned him. He would have rather preferred that it had been completely gouged out.
However, while Grencia appeared in capable the mutated beast that he led him to the grove (which was much warmer) was definitely able. Thus, he gave a loud (unrecognisable) whinny in the direction of the approaching stallion before pulling back into the shadows where only the faint glow of the odd stone could be seen from the hollow part of his chest.
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Posted: Mon Apr 09, 2007 5:41 pm
Slowing down when he heard the return call, Blais trotted the remaining distance; wincing when his sensitive nose picked up the iron tang of blood in the air. Whatever had happened, it was worse then he had thought...
Eventually he reached the edge of the small grove, and his eyes fell on the sorry sight that had once been his proud uncle of sorts. Unknowingly his blood surged and he could feel his eyes burning... The nerve... Further thoughts of revenge started to permeate his thoughts, only to be interrupted when he parted the remaining bushes and the full weight of the situation hit him. If he is like this, I wonder about the other guy...
"Gren, what can I do for you."
Reluctantly he released a gentle whicker as well, more for the stranger who he still smelled in the area, and to call down Marahute.
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 5:00 am
The mysterious stallion chose to remain in the shadows, fully against the idea of 'calling out' at all. To him, it caused great discomfort to have so many in his little sanctuary. It was his home, but when he had witnessed the battle, saw the damage...something stirred within him and he had seen no other alternative. It was only now, as the numbers grew that he began to regret his choices just a little.
"Not talking would be a start." Gren muttered irritably, his ears swivelling at the sound. He turned his head slowly and only just managed to catch sight of the stallion through his good eye - a small groan would have escaped his lips but he suspected that causing offence really was not a good idea. Actually, it was not so much the risk of offence...he was just too tired.
"Is there something you wanted Blais?" He continued, opting to find out the real reason for the stallion's appearance. He was not to know that his battle had been witnessed, for all he knew...the herd could have been in danger.
Peachy
Just how many fights did people want to thrust him in to today?
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Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 6:34 pm
Brow furrowing in irritation, Blais snorted, opting out of the first childish thought that came to mind. Instead he ignored the stinging 'welcome' and just stated his business. "I came looking for you when word reached us that you had been in a fight. Everyone is worried..." He let the sentence drop at that, unable to stop the petulant humph that followed the pause. Bloody pride, Crousader was the same way.
After a moment he let his eyes wander away from his wounded herdmate, searching the surrounding shadows for the stranger.
(( *snugs Para* ))
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Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 2:52 pm
[.RP LOG.] Celeanor  Evil thinks not to beguile us by unveiling the terrible truth of it's festering intent, but comes, instead, disguised in the diaphanous robes of virtue, whispering sweet-sounding lies intended to seduce us into the dark bed of our eternal graves. - Terry Goodkind
Sweat coated Amarinne's creamy coat, darkening it to a rich ivory, while beneath the skin her muscles rippled and strained with all their might. But the rich earthen coils still held her fast, even seeming to tighten, as if the old gnarly tree wanted to be sure she would never part from it's company.
Pausing, she craned her head around to examine her hind leg, but closer inspection revealed nothing new... she was quite splendidly stuck.
Sighing, the unicorn relaxed her tense muscles and drew a deep breath, calming her mind as the elders had taught. Soon... I am not meant to stay here forever... soon the tree will let me go.
Paramekia Darkheart
He would have ignored them had they not been chittering above his head for the last few hours. Really he would have. Over the years he had mastered the art of ignoring those who refused to silence themselves. It had proved to be a valuable skill, one that no doubt saved lives given his levels of patience which left much to be desired.
...And yet.
His ears swivelled and he cast his amber gaze upwards towards the conversing creatures. Raccoons perched on branches, out of his reach, persisted in their gossip while song birds once again invaded his grove to 'inform' the raccoons of their discovery.
"Stuck, stuck!" They chirped, dancing in circles around the now silent raccoons' heads. Not ones to allow gossip to escape them, their attention was rapt. "The trees have her, the nymphs won't let her go - no, no, no!" Their chatter seemed endless to the solitary mutant but even he had a somewhat piqued interest.
He was only mortal after all and was rather intrigued to know what was stuck so close to his home.
"They won't let her go, they won't let her go!"
"Why not?" One raccoon interrupted, placing her paws on her hips - the mutant made a mental note, an observation, that this must have been the dominant in that relationship.
"Strrrraaanger!" The bird piped up, "Foreign Soquili - they don't like her. No, no, no!" The bird took the opportunity to flutter down and to perch itself on the mutant's horns, it's companion perching on the other. "They think she may hurt our friend!" They pecked fondly at the Mutant's head and he cast a somewhat bemused look upwards - as much as they chattered, they were a source of entertainment and company.
...Most of all, they understood.
"Honestleh...I'd reckon our baby would do plenty more damage to the Lil Missy than she would te him!" The raccoon stamped its paw and arched a brow inquisitively, daring the bird to object (it did).
"Nuh uh, she has a huge horn! All spirally and shiiiiny!" The first bird puffed up its chest a little and the mutant grimaced. A horned soquili this far up? How peculiar...
"Was she approaching?" At last the mutant spoke up, casting a warning glance to the raccoon as he shook his head to push the birds from their new perch. "Or was she moving in another direction?"
There seemed silence for a short while and the birds exchanged glances. Clearly, she had been going in an entirely different direction than his home and the 'nymphs' had simply decided to play in the cruellest of fashions. Not one for such tricks, the mutant was suddenly unimpressed with the news and released a snort that was more of a veiled 'show me'.
The birds obliged.
And thus, as they flitted through the trees the mutant weaved in and out of the shadows accordingly towards them. The journey was a swift one given the short distance between his grove and the playground the nymphs had chosen but alas...he stopped dead at the sight of the Ivory mare. Beneath his black coat his blood drained and the glowing orb in his chest lost its lustre.
Readjusting his weight, he seemed somewhat hesitant as he remained in the shadows. The glowing orb and unnatural aura of his eyes the only thing visible from such a darkened place - combine that with the 'crack' that occurred as he snapped a branch beneath his hoof and it would be clear that the mare was not alone.
"You see?" The bird trilled, one opting to perch on the mare's horn as the other spiralled about her head.
"You see?" repeated the second.
"Foreign Soquili!" They chimed in unison.Celeanor
Opening her eyes, 'Rine suppressed the frightened snort that threatened to send her calm demeanor speeding off into the sunset. The roots had indeed started to tighten, and soon she would loose feeling in the lower extremities as the blood flow was slowly cut off.
But to make matters worse she would swear by all she held sacred that the tree... or the aura around it... was giggling.
Hesitantly, she turned her head again to study the offended root; it looked even more unnatural now that she had experienced it's... temper. Oh how the elders would laugh at her for this... being entangled by a simple tree.
Again her muscles tensed as she tried to pull her way free, but with a very audible chuckle, the root tightened even more. Now she did snort, and on a whim, addressed the tree directly. "Please, I want only to travel down towards the valley... I did not intend to offend you." Her voice, though long unused in her lonely travels, still had a slight musical quality to it, as if she always sang instead of spoke.
Her answer was only a more forceful tightening of the coils, causing her to hurriedly bite back a strangled squeal. "Please, you are hurting me-"
Crack
Instantly her ears swiveled around, followed shortly by her head as the two birds joined her. Despite the pain in her leg, she managed a smile for the one that landed on her horn... though she did not understand their language she thought they must be here to help her. But something about them directed her attention elsewhere; the chirping was not for her, or for the cranky tree... it was for another.
Her delicate nostrils flared in response to the thought, and her bright emerald eyes shone hopefully as she surveyed the area; ignoring the vice-like grip on her leg.
Something soft and glowing in the shadows caught her eye, and after a long pause, she whickered softly. "Hello?" A twist from the root elicited a wince at the end of her greeting, and this time she couldn't help the trembling that took over her body.
Paramekia Darkheart "Enough." The mutant's voice cut through the air, promptly silencing the pair of birds in the process. Despite his apprehensive nature, the beast clearly had no problem in slicing through the air, his cool tone the icy blade against the humid blanket of the forest. Regardless, even with his dislike of the company of other soquili even he knew when it was time to step in.
Steeling himself the mutant slipped out of the trees, opting to avoid direct eye contact as he swept passed her form - a form that was rather small against his own. A form that was significantly more vulnerable than he was in the given circumstances...regardless of the size of that horn, she clearly had no chance of touching him as he assessed the given situation.
Needless to say, his eyes narrowed to mere slits as he watched the roots coil and twitch. Sometimes, he really did not approve of nymphs, particularly when they opted to blatantly ignore him.
"Baby darling!" The female raccoon materialised on a branch above the poor mare's head and clapped her paws, "I dinnae think they be wantin' te let go, ye know how the nymphs are!" She pointed out, causing the mutant to raise a brow questioningly and she...to roll her eyes in response.
Clearly, he needed direction in everything he did (or so the fluffball would argue).
"Cut 'er out!"
"Ye can't cut her out, she'll lose 'er leg!" The birds shrilled in alarm, the stallion watching the exchange with unusual patience.
"His mouth ain't that big ye ninny!" The raccoon snapped and then released a 'pfft' in response. "All 'e gots te do is use 'is 'orns and rip inte that root there - be enough pain to loosen it I do believe!"
...Time for the mutant to raise a brow higher.
"Oh." The bird couldn't really fault that argument.
And higher...
"So all he has to do is slice away at that root there?" The second bird mused, the trio opting to 'discuss' what the mutant should do as opposed to telling him. It was something they did frequently and something that always worked.
"Aye, that's what I be -"
"ALRIGHT!" The mutant twitched, the high pitched chatter grating on his nerves. Teeth clenched he eyed the trio pointly and they promptly shut their mouths. "If that is what you suggest then I shall do it." He muttered and still avoiding the eye contact of the peculiar mare he canted his head at an unusual angle and unceremoniously slammed his horns against the roots.
...He had very little love for the nymphs sometimes. Indeed them kept him well guarded but their games could be cruel. Holding a creature for a brief time was fine, holding them until they trembled was very different. Celeanor
Nothing. The birds had started to chatter again.
Ears dropping, Amarinne half turned to fix her captor with a pleading look. Nothing again. Sighing, the young mare then tried to think of what one of the Elders would do... if they had even mentioned sucha thing as this.
She thought she remembered something, but another memory.. the most recent one, sprang unbidden to her mind.
"Well my dear, you have done well! Young Bregent is a strapping lad, he will have no trouble finding his calling amoung us." The voice belonging to Honoured Elder Normae was tinged with humor, but at the time 'Rine couldn't find what was so funny.
"Indeed, I really -must- commend you, so often our new members are female... did you use those tricks I taught you to convince him?" Normae had continued, a bright twinkle shinning in her eyes. Uncertainly, Amarinne nodded. Then the Elder had laughed, causing the young unicorn to blush. "Elder, I fail to see what is so.. humourous... I only did as you instructed." The embarrassed silence to follow could have been cut by the knife in the Elder's glare, or so Amarinne fancied.
"Talk to me then Amarinne, how do you feel about that assignment?" Taken by surprise, she had immediantly blurted out everything... and was grateful to do so.
"It was at the end, when he said those words you said he would say... I could feel his honesty in them, and I wanted to know what they meant. I almost asked him, but I remembered myself in time and only said what I was taught to say." Her words sounded so unimportant in comparison with the worries she could see floating in the Elder's eyes, but when the anciant grey mare motioned for her to continue... she did.
"Then he asked me again... if.. if I loved him. On the way here was when he did. And again I responded as I was taught, that my love is first for the Great Spirit, second for the flesh of the earth. He.. seemed so sad, I wanted to ask him what he meant again and-"
"Enough."
"Enough."
Shaken out of her memory, Amarinne's gaze shifted away from her captor and the now silenced birds. Something was coming, something the animals in the forest and the misinformed tree spirit knew well. The last she guessed because the root had tightened again, almost reflexively.
Wincing, she adjusted her weight then looked around, almost missing his appearence... he was that much of a shadow.
Something primitive told her she should be afraid of the big stallion that paced brusquely pass her, something having to do with the heavy muscles, the too-obvious spikes, and the very sharp teeth. But she didn't fear him, in fact she had never feared anything just on appeareances. She did not, however, try to talk to him again; the animals had resumed their chatter,and it didn't take a spirit-speaker to realize they were talking about her to the strange stallion.
For awhile she tried to catch what they were saying, especially when it became obvious the stallion could understand them, but she finally just let her ears droop again.
Until his loud command silenced his comrades and caught her attention once more. Wide-eyed, she could only watch as he turned his head to the side and slammed his horns into the root. Oddly, fear was not one of the emotions coursing through her body now, it was something akin to relief, mixed with a bit of sorrow as the root slithered against her skin and loosened.
Why had the tree thought to detain her like this...?
Paramekia Darkheart As the roots began to loosen he gave another grunt of effort and twisted his head a little more to pull them away entirely. They briefly wrapped around his own horns, giving a rebellious tug but then as though they had chosen to reconsider, they promptly let go. A giggle, a whisper of 'playful' words and the trees (or rather their spirits) retreated once again. He had a sneaking suspicion that the coming of spring had made them restless. The spirits quivered with anticipation, waiting until the time when they could burst into bloom and transform the leafless forests into groves of great colour.
...Actually, he was rather looking forward to that too.
"See, she dinnae lose 'er leg." The raccoon pointed to the now free mare and bounced from the branch onto the stallion's back. He didn't even flinch, rather he simply took the opportunity to crunch his neck. Relieving the tension in it was his main concern, especially given the angle he had been applying pressure at and it was rather nice to have his companion scurry up his neck to massage the joints.
"Awk, sunny where would ye be without me, eh?" The raccoon cooed, using her tiny paws to get rid of the various knots in the stallion's neck. Now that the 'chaos' was over, the animals seemed to speak a lot more slowly. As calm over came them once again, it didn't take long for them to start chattering about other completely irrelevant things.
"Are ye gonna go te the lakes some day?" One of the bursts took the opportunity to rest on his back while the other perched on his horn and picked the leaves from the cloth around his head.
"No." The stallion responded none-too-subtly. Thus, flicking his tail he scarcely afforded a glance at the mare and opted instead to move back in the direction he had come. Now the nymphs had ceased in their games the mare would be able to make her way through the forests once more unhindered - it didn't really occur to him that they may try to the same thing again further on down when he wasn't present.
"I wonder what she uses to make 'er 'orn that shiny..." The bird on his back mused as it fixed it's gaze on the unicorn - she was terribly pretty but that was the biggest horn the lil creature had ever seen!
"Water, bees wax 'spect." The raccoon responded without looking round.
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Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2007 2:59 pm
[.RP LOG.]
...part one..."Lovey Dovey encounters the hermit, deep with the 'barren' regions of a desolate forest." `Swirly The sound of rushing water in a nearby stream was making Lovey twitch. Her mouth was so dry it tasted like dust and the call of nature was screaming in her ears. The latter of the problems could probably be taken care of except she didn't care for .. that to be anywhere near the baby. It would certainly be an experiment to see what exactly water would do the her new little one.
Caelen was off looking for the basket's mother. The idea made her want to smash things up and start attacking. The baby was hers or heads would roll.
Finally it was too much for her to fight off. Letting her nose nuzzle and dance in the warm-blue flames she whispered softly, "I'll be back sweet-one.. Just stay put." With that and several backwards glances Lovey made her way to do as nature demanded. Paramekia Darkheart "We saw it, we saw it!"
"Yes we did, yes we did!"
The voices persisted in interrupting his state of serenity and with a disgruntled snort the amber eyes slid open. They remained at mere slits, his gaze barely focused on the pair of avians now perched on his horns. For some time now they had been chattering about something rather vague, something completely obscure - really, the mutant would have preferred if they had gotten straight to the point.
"All glowy and - and -"
"Get to the point!" The mutant grunted again, lifting his head to give a shake. The birds fluttered onto a nearby set of twigs in response and continued to chatter to one another. However, one look at the very groggy stallion and they knew that riddles truly were not the meal of the day.
"We founds a basket!"
"All alone."
"And it smelt funny."
"Uh huh - not strong at all!" The birds trilled, prattling on but they had finally said something to gain his interest and the stallion was unwinding his limbs. With surprising swiftness, the stallion was already on his feet and was raising a brow at their chatter - another gaze to silence then.
"So, what you are saying is that some swine has left a woven basket in my lands?" The stallion saw the pair exchange glances and knew that he was certainly missing something. Something fundamentally important - why did they never just be BLATANTLY honest with him.
"Well...see, there's a baby in it." One of the birds offered and was stunned by the miraculous transformation on the fierce 'predators' face. He seemed to have developed a sense of urgency, eyes glazing over as though he had been physically gutted (and had the horn twisted in for good measure).
"Where?" He croaked, drifting out of his hidden grove to glance around the forest - the birds said nothing though and instant began to dart through the trees towards their 'treasure'. The mutant had little difficulty in keeping up, given their size they were actually rather slow but he was rather surprised to find the basket this close to his home.
"See!" The first bird chirped, perching on the basket and ruffling its feathers.
"We told ye it was here, aye!" The second puffed up it's chest and perched precariously on a rather fragile leaf of a fern nearby. `Swirly "That stupid stallion was right.."
The call of nature had been abated in one way but now it was so hard to stop drinking the cool soft water. Both of her ears were ticked backwards trying to listen in case someone happened upon the basket while she was away.
"Calm down Lovey.. nobody is going to come up and snatch your baby." All that was spoken in between deep swallows of water. It would be hard to tell if Caelen came back today or tomorrow or the day after... So gorging herself on water now would hopefully make the need for it slower to take over.
"Dumb mare.. why didn't you just move the baby over here with you."
She had finally had her share of water and then some, her stomach was puffed out a bit more than usual and filled with water, "Ahh.. now to get back to my sweet little one." It was hard to realize, but Lovey was walking a lot slower returning than when she had left. A belly full of water made walking a bit uncomfortable..
"A bit longer and I can collapse and nap around my baby." Paramekia Darkheart He wasn't happy - it was not so much the presence of the basket on his land that troubled him, it was the nature of it being here. Closing his eyes for a brief few seconds, the stallion regathered his thoughts and steadied his breaths. He was not one who thrived on anger but that basket had endured what he had...granted, the foal hadn't even emerged yet and perhaps that was a good thing.
At least it did not have to endure what he had.
"Told ye, told ye!" The bird on the basket chirped and bounced about on the woven top. So light was it that it scarcely made an impact but it was enough to encourage the devilish stallion to slip forward and towards the petite object. He had seen many baskets in his time and they had often wiggled but this one remained still - and they were right - it smelt of death.
"Dinnae tell ye it was all fiery too!" The second piped up from the fern, canting its head to the side as the stallion lowers his head and nudged at the side with his muzzle. He had no intention of opening it, rather, he sought to gain a reaction from it but in the process his rather heavy braids did bump against its top.
"So...?"The first bird bounced towards his muzzle and wiggled it's backside. "What de ye think, aye?" `Swirly She hadn't quite gained the small clearing, but she was close enough to smell the now familiar singed-scent, "Little one.. I'm back now... I hope you didn't.. OH!" Lovey's eyes went round as saucers right at the same time she stamped a foot down.
A big.. very big to be precises, stallion was standing over HER basket and looking at it with a mix of curiosity and something else? Lovey's first instinct was to bristle and yell and attack.. But that would serve to get her beaten bloody and the baby trampled in the mayheim.
She had to think fast and very carefully if she wished to avoid having a fight on her hand. Caelen was gone and it was up to her wits - what few she had - to keep that baby safe.
"I'm going to have to ask you to move back." The tone was firm, but giant green eyes were staring at the basket.. He had shaken it. Had that shake stretched the thin hold on life the baby held. Sleeping curled around it had warmed the flames up considerably, but not enough for her to feel safe.
"Yes.. move back.. that'll do." Paramekia Darkheart "Oooh, she wasn't here last time, was she Nono?" The bird on the fern fluttered onto the basket and wiggled its backside. It was from there that it planted its gaze on Lovey and then looked at it's 'partner in crime' who was watching the mare with equal curiosity.
"Ye be right Horne, she not be there last time - is she the momma?" The two birds fell silent as they considered this, clearly having no respect for the young mares request. Perhaps it was the fact that they had a 'powerhouse' standing behind them that they had such confidence, or perhaps they simply didn't care. Having lived in this forest for so long with this stallion they had grown used to their security and nothing was going to stop them from feeling secure now.
...Even if they could be transformed into chicken in the blink of an eye.
Nevertheless, Azumoth had straightened and was observing the mare critically. He had initially anticipated that the basket had been abandoned but clearly an incompetent mother had simply left it in his land. He could sense it was weak but no mother should have simply wandered off on it.
Releasing a grunt the stallion decided that perhaps it was best not to get involved and took a few steps back. There he waited for Horne and Nono to catch on - they promptly fluttered onto his horns and he gave another grunt.
"Get it off my land." He ordered darkly,turning on his hocks as he drifted towards the shadows once again. He was not going to lecture a mother on her inability to care for a child, it was not his place and he suspected he would lose his temper. `Swirly Ooooh drat! The stupid stallion had gone and puffed up his ego at being told to back away from her baby. "What.. what do you mean get off of your lands? I can't leave until Caelen comes back.. See I foudn this baby and I wouldn't go get water ealier so I left for a minute and then you came and ... Where could I go?"
Of course, all of that was said in a rush of pent up air and energy. The dumb stallion and his twittering-birds probably hadn't figured out in the least what she had said. Luckily he had taken a few steps back and she felt comfortable enough and confident for that matter to move forward and lip and nuzzle at the basket. She had kept the little one curled close to her body long enough that it was getting colder from her absense. Travelling right now wouldn't do well.
"And as to your rather rudely put demand I won't be leaving until my herd mate is back. He's out looking for the ignorant parents of this little one and you can't make me do a damn thing unless you wish to kill me and have the baby die."
It was the last of her energy that she was willing to spare on the stallion, now it was time to warm up the basket and protect it if indeed the stallion was in the mood to attack her for refusing to "get off his lands" what sort of ignorant speak was that? Paramekia Darkheart "Your death can be arranged, mare." Azumoth replied darkly, looking over his shoulder as he listened to the mare prattle on. Even so, she was lucky in that her words had piqued his interest and he was not prepared to ram her through with his horns just yet - although if she continued to challenge him he was fairly certain he could afford the time to honour his own words.
"These are my lands, as they have been for many years." Flicking his tail, the braids almost like whips he swung round and once again unseated the birds from his head. They opted to remain silent and perched instead, on the branch nearby his head. There were just sometimes when the terrible twins knew when to keep their beaks snapped firmly shut.
"And your idle excuses do nothing to aid your cause, even if you were to die who is to say that I would not aid the newborn?" His eyes narrowed to mere slits, clearly not appreciating he mare's immediate assumption that he knew nothing when in truth...he knew much more than she did. After all, this was his land and he knew everything in it (including the warmest areas).
"He could do a better job than ye could!" Horne squeaked from the branch and puffed up his chest.
"Yeah!" Nono joined n and gave a flutter of her wings, "Least he could keep it warm, aye?"
"Ye dinnae even know where te keep it."
Closing his eyes, the stallion opted to let their chatter die down on its own before continuing. He had done quite enough shouting for one day and would employ the use of earplugs at a later date. Instead, he simply lifted his gaze upon their silence and allowed his nostrils to flare in accordance with the thickness of the air.
"I hope you enjoy rain." He mused darkly, giving his tail another flick as he dropped his head again and fixed the amber orbs on the mare instead. This was his land after all and regardless of his anti-social stance he wasn't going to let anyone invade it or stay on it without his consent. Damsel in distress or not. `Swirly Lovey wasn't one for vulgarities, actually she abhorred them, for the most part the people that used them were too unintelligent to use bigger words or work problems out in a civilized manner. But a baby made of fire and an incoming storm certainly wasn't going to help out anything.
"God damnit son of a b***h!" Mumbling to herself before trying to position her body over the basket.. The stallion had been dismissed from her mind although the birds she hoped to gain some intelligence from.
"Alright.. I'm incompetetant, stupid, three-shades a moron, and probably two days away from my last brain cell dying.. but it's going to rain.. and I need to figure out where to take my little one.. it needs me." Her voice was strained. Lovey was a young mare.. not even halfway through her third year. It was hard to figure out what was to be done for the little one. The basket would balance on her back just fine.. provided she knew where to go to directly.
"Oh dear lord.. get me through this." Her movements were jerky and stiff as she nuzzled the basket.. Cooing as she jostled it and made a bit of a rucus using a neaby tree and hope to get it up onto her. "Shh little one.. momma's just taking you somewhere dry.. Don't you want to come out and see me little one? You're safe with me now." Paramekia Darkheart "That...is an understatement." The stallion murmured under his breath in relation to her swearing. He could think of worse things to call his own mother, he could probably curse her until the buffalos came home but it still wouldn't make him feel any better. Rather, he had opted to blatantly ignore all references to his own mother - not exactly easy when someone swore in reference to her though.
Nevertheless, as the young mare began to panic something did stir within him and he refrained from raising a brow. She couldn't have been any older than a filly, she wasn't even in her prime yet! With that in mind he was fairly certain she had absolutely no clue what she was doing; a worrying issue, particularly in the given circumstances.
"Do we know of anywhere suitable, Nono?" Horne cocked his head and his companion who returned his gaze with a thoughtful one of his own.
"Awk, well I know of somewhere...but it not be somewhere she could use, ye know?" Nono ruffled his wings and then with a gurgle, leapt into the stallion's mane for a bit of warmth. Despite the braids his mane was incredibly warm and the tiny bird was not going to say no to a bit of TLC when the temperature was dropping.
"Hm, hm, hm - then we be thinkin' of the same place, aye?" Horne joined his companion and made himself comfortable. If both birds were honest, they could already feel the grumpy stallion caving under the pressure - he may not have liked the mare but he wasn't as cruel as he let on.
"This way." Disregarding the birds' idle chatter the stallion began to drift into the shadows once more. Weaving in and out of the trees it was easy to feel the warmth growing as he moved deeper into the forests and away from the edges - clearly, he did know his lands well. `Swirly The little birds made almost no sense, she was balancing a baby on her back, and felt like an absolute idiot. Luckily the warmth of her back had made the pale flames that licked a her back a bit stronger and a bit warmer. She wondered if in a temper would the flames burn? Or perhaps sadness would extinguish them? Figuring that nobody was listening to her as she weaved behind the stallion Lovey mumbled, "Please live little one.. I won't forgive myself if I came to you too late."
Her mane was tripping her up, the mix of blue-purple, was almost comical in it's length and styling. Perhaps chopping it off and wrapping it around the basket would help. She giggled lightly feeling her mood lift even as a raindrop struck her nose. It wouldn' t be too much longer before the clouds let loose their god-awful fury. Stupid rain. Would spring ever shake off the remnants of winter and the flood of rain and snow?
The two little birds were more unusual.. but they didn't seem too hatefully inclinded towards her.
"You.. you called each other Nono and .. well I didn't catch the other's name." She smiled at them as best she could. Oi. Small talk was honestly the work of the devil or a very dumb soquili that felt the need to constantly chatter. Birds liked chatter right?
Waitaminute.. Did the stallion think she had called him name... Gah.. If she ever met a stallion that wasn't a raging idiot she would chain herself to his leg. "Not much farther sweet-thing.. then you'll be cozy-warm." Paramekia Darkheart "IT'S HORNE!" The tiny bird shrieked, apparently irritated that no one ever seemed to remember his name. In fact, he was so irritated that he leapt off the stallion's mane and bounced onto his back. A puff of his chest later and he unceremoniously stuck his tongue out at the mare. "And te think I was bein' nice to ye! I even made Azu come find yer and everythin'!" He continued, choosing to ignore the swivelling ears of the stallion.
"Aye, he be Horne and I be Nono!" The other bird trilled from the stallion's mane, more than content to cuddle into the thick braids. It seemed that this little one had no problem being remembered and found it very funny when his friend lost his temper - his beak was already quivering from an attempt to hide his laughter.
"Horne, HOOOORNE." The bird pointed a wing to Azumoth's horns as if to emphasise this point.
Nevertheless, within moments the stallion was ducking under a thick bow and had slipped into his now familiar growth. From within, both birds gave chirps of delight as warmth brushed over them. Heavily shielded by a number of overlapping canopies it was perhaps one of the warmest areas of the forest and clearly lived in.
Various parts of the soft fern covered floor were flattened where the stallion had made his bed while others appeared to have broken stalks where he had opted to stand and watch the world go by.
...To add insult to injury, there was a pool of fresh running water in said grove where a miniature waterfall trickled through and into the underwater rivers below. `Swirly "Oh drat.." The poor little bird seemed to be terribly enraged that she had forgotten his name and not his friends. And his "friend" was very nearly cackling with delight over the slight that had been paid to his friend's name. She would have to make up to the little bird later. Both of them were terribly fluffy and cute looking. No reason to make enemies.
It felt like a giant weight had been lifted from her shoulders when the warmth swamped around her like a soft embrace, "Oh my ah.. how beautiful it is in here." Her bright eyes swept around the little home of the strange stallion. It wasn't a violent bloodthirsty place at all. Perhaps she should thank him.
Basket first.
With a bit of wiggling and a minimal amount of cursing the basket was deposited on the floor where Lovey could easily wrap around it and sleep. "There now darling.. aren't you just pleased as can be? I promised you I'd get you warmed up and it'll be a short time before those flames crackle with delight."
Her nose snorted and nuzzled softly, she was essentially playing with the baby. Trying to lure it out or at least to earn a rattle. All the cooing, pleading, and prodding in the world had managed to get her nothing. Save for an initial grunt.
The basket was holding out on her.. she was sure of it or crazy. Paramekia Darkheart Azumoth gave a grunt in response to her observations, opting instead to give a light shake. The braids quivered against his sides and the cloth around his back gave a ripple of its own - enough to dislodge both birds. He didn't mind carting the pair around when he was walking but not when they had other places to perch. Neither argued though and instead, with a chirp they both flounced into the pool of water.
He gave it three seconds.
Three.
Two.
One.
"AZU! He's cheatin'!" Horne yelled as he was unceremoniously smacked into the water by Nono's wing. A flurry of activity and soon the pair of birds were sparring in the middle of their newly baptised bird pool. It should have been unsurprising that the stallion didn't respond and instead, he opted to lie back down on the flat patch of ferns he had so carefully moulded to fit his shape.
It was just then that above their heads the loud patter of rain could be heard, the droplets smacking against the protective canopies against their heads - he would bet anything that the birds would start singing and they wouldn't stop.
"Drip, drop. Drip, Drop!" Nono began, leaping to the edge and shaking his feathers out.
"Drip, drop. Drip, Drop!" Horne echoed as he joined his friend's side and puffed up his chest.
"Drip, drip, drop!"
"Go the April showers!"
Azumoth promptly shut his eyes and released a sigh in the ferns near his muzzle. `Swirly The urge to giggle was building up in the back of her throat. The two little ones, Horne and Nono, seemed to be fussing up a storm. What had Nono been cheating at? Lovey canted her head to one side as she watched them both in fascination. No, don't. Part of her mind made her pull back from the group. She had insulted one bird already and that hadn't felt like it had ended very well at all. Just let them sing in peace and worry about your own. Should she talk to the stallion? She didn't even know his name. Gah.. stupid niceties and small-talk.
While all of those thoughts filtered in her mind, her own body betrayed how protective it was. Probably a weakness as she was in an unknown stallion home.
One leg shifted.
Then another.
Then she settled. Ahh, perfection.
It was a bit awkward to lay wrapped around the little fire-basket and stay upright so Lovey gingerly leaned back til she was pressed flush against the wall. Her mane was swung over the basket, blocking it from view, as she tried to quietly begin singing. It wasn't so much that she was worried about bothering the stallion, but the fact that she could hardly carry a tune in a bucket. If she kept her voice soft and low it didn't sound bad at all.. But any exhuberant singing would be like nails on a blackboard.
"Hmm-hmmm-hmm-hm-hm-hm-hm-hmmmm" and the likes and she rocked her hair and neck around the little one, "Come out and see this.. Your mother was a dumb mare for leaving such a pretty one."
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