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 Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 5:24 pm
"Who said anything about outfly? Didn't you hear what I just said? You're smaller than a kalona. All you would have to do is outmaneuver." He had seen Tapanga outmaneuver Lady Luck often enough that he knew it was possible. "Instead of whimpering about it why are you not bettering yourself? Have you never thought to practice? Practice makes perfect and, in some cases, perfection puts you a step ahead of a snarling mouth."
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 5:37 pm
"I wouldn't have been able to outmaneuver that kalona for very long, I would have just exhausted myself and made it easier for him to run me down." Kal snapped, frustrated that he could be made to feel so worthless and yet so determined to defend his position. Trying to juggle both emotions at once wasn't working very well for the little stallion, and it was evident in the way he pawed at the ground and half-paced.
"And it's not like I haven't tried, I've never been good at flying. I'm too weak and scrawny." He hated the sound of the last sentence coming from his own mouth, but there it was. He would never be good at any physical skill, he would have been utterly destroyed by that kalona if he hadn't been able to retain enough logical thought to stay one step ahead.
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 5:48 pm
"Really. That's what you think." He snorted once more, shaking his head. "In that case, boy, you have three things to look forward to in your life... Running forever, letting a mare fight your battles for you... Or being eaten by a kalona. For the sake of what dignity you have left, hope that it is the former or latter before it is ever the middle."
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 5:59 pm
Was that really all he had in store for him? He didn't want to have to run all the time, or stand back and let a mare protect him when he should be the one to do the protecting... And he certainly didn't want to be eaten.
"H-how can I be brave and stand my ground if I'm too small to fight back?" he whimpered, as much to himself as to the larger stallion. His anger gave way to a fit of despondency, he didn't even object to being called 'boy' this time around.
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 6:07 pm
"Not all who fight and defend stand as tall as I do. Not all who fight and defend are strong or large of muscle. They take what they have and find ways to use it to their advantage. They find that one thing deep inside that makes them just as large as I am on the outside. You, boy, need to find that." He nodded slowly, tone softening for a moment.
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 6:18 pm
Kal made a miserably noncommittal noise, but it was clear he was fretting over those words. He just didn't know if there was enough room inside him for anything that would make him feel big. "I-if I find that something, I-I'll be brave?" He glanced up with a mostly doubtful expression, but there was just enough hope mixed in for the look to be heartbreaking if Telikos had been the mothering type.
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 6:22 pm
Somewhere in his massive body he did have a heart... But, even with that, he was far from being the 'mothering type'. "It takes much more than finding one thing to be brave... Only a fool is never afraid of anything at all. Then again, there are some fools who fear everything. It's you to you to find that balance in between."
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 6:38 pm
Kal should have known there would be no simple solution, there were few things in life that had a simple solution. His wings slumped a bit. The little stallion would not have to worry about being the fool who was never afraid, he only worried if it was possible for him to stand his ground at all. "I-I really don't want to be afraid and have to run all the time... I want to be brave. D-do you think even I can learn to be brave?"
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 10:10 pm
"Honestly?" His brow lofted slightly as he looked down tot he smaller stallion. "Everyone has it in them to be brave... Even the weakest foal when first emerging from the basket. The world is big and there are many dangerous things in it. It takes a certain kind of bravery to face each day. Beyond that only you can answer your own question."
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Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 7:20 am
The little stallion started to despair. He had to be coaxed out of his basket by his parents in much the same way he had to be coaxed out of the bushes. But if Telikos said everyone has some measure of bravery inside them, perhaps Kal was just off to a slower start than most? He nodded slowly as he tried to take in the words of the larger stallion. "I-I think that answer needs more time..."
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Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:44 am
"Then take all of the time you need, boy... But be careful not to take too much time. It may run out on you." He snorted softly as he turned away from the smaller stallion. There was nothing more than he could say to him without repeating himself... And he didn't care all that much for repeating himself.
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Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 10:11 am
Kal dropped his head in consideration. That answer would probably take a whole lot more time. Inwardly he hoped he would have an answer for the next time he ever ran into Telikos, whether it was for the best or for the worst.
"Th-thank you, for the advice and everything," Kal said timidly after the larger stallion, not expecting much of a reply. It was probably time he got himself washed off and cleaned up anyway, looking like a drowned rat wouldn't be of any help in re-establishing his sense of confidence and self-worth.
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