|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 7:54 pm
Tuesday, September 21st
Well the whole taking Nashi to meet other foals idea was kinda thrown out the window. As soon as I uttered the words "other foals", she put a nasty look on her face and snorted.
"Nashi, dont be like that," I said sternly. "Do you really just want to hang around here all day with..." I looked at the small Alken buzzing around her head. "Oh nevermind. But seriously. You need a few friends."
Her answer was final. She pawed the dirt and shook her head fiercly. "Oh, I suppose you will come around sometime," I told her, giving up.
So anyway, thats the story. I might just end up dragging her to the Changeling HQ in the end. I really dont want her developing noises like Alken. If she does, well then I guess im gonna have to... send her to therapy? ( xp ) Aw, just kidding. But I dont know if I could stand BOTH of them doing that. Man.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Aug 19, 2005 7:59 pm
Wednesday, September 22
Imagine my terror when I walked out of the house in the morning to find Nashi standing upon the edge of a small cliff, eyes closed, and ready to jump. I screamed her name and raced up the cliff, terror in my eyes.
"What are you DOING?!?" I shouted, clutching her with all my might. She fought me, but eventually gave up. I knew she couldnt tell me, but I had the sneaking suspicion that she was trying to fly.
"Were you by any chance trying to fly?" I asked. She nodded her head with pleasure. "Nashi, I know this might upset you... but you dont have wings. You cant fly. So PLEASE dont try ok? You could kill yourself!"
She looked at me sadly. I knew that it must be upseting to be reminded of the truth. I felt terrible.
"Maybe someday, Nashi. Maybe someday." I stroked her neck gently and led her back home.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 7:22 am
On the way home, I suddenly got an idea.
"Hey Nashi, what do you think about going to pick some raspberries today? I mean, I know you have your own bush, but it would be nice to have our own special bush."
She looked up, forcing a smile. She was still a bit upset about what had just happened. I kissed her on the forehead.
"Ok, lets go! Just let me get some things from the house." I took a step, but turned back around. "Oh and Nashi? Dont bring Alken." She nodded and went to her stall to do the same as I was going to do. I smiled and shuffled inside.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 8:05 am
"What to bring..." I looked around my room. There was a bed, a dresser, and other peices of furniture, but nothing that I could really bring with us. "Maybe theres something in the supply cabinet."
I walked out of the room to the supply cabinet in the bathroom, which was currently filled with junk. I was scared that if I opened it everything in the world would fall out. Squeezing my eyes shut, I jerked the door wide open. Sadly, I was right. Before I could think to get out of the way, I was buried beneath a mountain of clutter.
"Great. Now what? I tried pushing it off of me. No luck.
"Nashi!!!" I yelled. "A little help please!!!" She trotted into the bathroom, looking for the origin of my voice. "In here!" Came my muffled voice from the clutter pile. She took a hoove and kicked the top of the pile. I did the rest. After I was out, I dusted my clothes off and thanked her. I collected a butterfly net, a very large basket with a cover (in case it rained), a blanket for picnicing, some sleeping bags, in case we decided to stay the night somewhere, and some other odds and ends. Nashi had decided on bringing her book on berries, a small hankie (which she had just found in the pile of clutter) and her picture of the rainbow.
"Nashi, we dont have room for the rainbow picture. Please put it back." She sighed and loped off to do so. I went into the kitchen and started making lunch. When I had finished making the sandwhiches and fruit bowls, I added some water to the cooler and put it all in a backpack (a quite large one, although it still did not fit the net sad ) I then added Nashi's book and hankie. "Ok, sweetie!" I called. "Time to go!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2005 8:22 am
When Nashi was ready to go, we headed out. We had decided to go west, away from the sea and towards the hills. There were also a few mountains that way, although I told Nashi we would NOT be hiking them. I hate hiking. So anyway, I let Nashi lead the way. She has a very keen sense of berries now.
Nashi pranced happlily ahead of me for most of the way, and I had a very hard time keeping up with her.
"Nashi! Slow down!" I called to her. She stopped and sighed, looking back at me. Her face told me that if I couldnt keep up, I shouldnt have mentioned the trip in the first place.
"Overconfident, you are." I mumbled. She rolled her eyes and stared up her quick pace again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 7:44 am
We hiked for about 6 more hours and it was dark outside before Nashi finally got tired. I had no idea she could go so long at that pace. It must have been all the exercise she got from Alken. At least he's good for something.
Unlike Nashi, I was completely exausted. She walked over to me, whickered, and nuzzled my arm. I smiled. "Are you tired, sweetie?" She nodded. "Well, I think its time we find a place to camp for the night. Its dark and I dont know if we should go any further. We could get lost..." Nashi hung her head. "Oh, dont worry, baby. Im sure on the way back we can find one. They DO grow wildly around here. I know it!"
She smiled and went about looking for a place to set up camp.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 8:00 am
Finally, after setting up in a small clearing of hard earth (the grass was much too moist with dew), we were able to rest. I stayed up for a while, making sure Nashi went to sleep, and Nashi sat and looked at the stars a bit; something she had never really done at home before. There was something in her eyes that night; it was almost as if she saw something in the sky that I didnt. I kept looking where she gazed, but all I saw was infinate sky and stars. She just sat there, staring, until suddenly she collapsed onto her sleeping bag, drifting off.
I smiled. She had found another one of her little likings. Berries, rainbows, and stars. What next? I fluffed up my pillow and went to sleep.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 1:22 pm
When I woke up in the morning Nashi was missing once more. But this time I wasnt upset. I just washed my face calmly and set out to look for her. As I might have guessed, her wonderful "berry sense" had found her a raspberry bush. She was standing there munching; paying no attention to me.
"Oh Nashi. Good girl." I walked over and stroked her. "You always know just where the berries are."
Nashi and I decided that we would move the bush closer to home, for we did not want to walk hours on end for a few berries. I gently uprooted it, and layed it on the ground.
"Now what?" It looked so feeble in that state. I had no idea how to bring it home. It wasnt very small, and had extremely sharp thorns. Nashi stared at it for a moment, and then smiled. She trotted over to the top of it and took it in her teeth, only to jump back with a bloddy snout.
"Nashi! Why'd you do that?!?" I hustled over to her and, pulling her hankie from the backpack, cleaned her up. "We have to find a way to carry it without poking ourselves." She closed her eyes and all the leaves from the bush shot off, only to be replaced quickly by new growth. The leaves literally sewed themselves together into a sheet and placed themselves beneath the bush. All I could do was stare in awe. Finally I spoke. "Did you do that Nashi?"
She nodded as if it was no great accomplishment. "Wow. Well then, I suppose we had better get this bush home before it dies. Heh..." I took the leaves in my hand and started pulling.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 2:39 pm
About 2 hours into our journey I realized we were lost. I had been dragging the bush behind me, Nashi following, and was just going the opposite way we had been going in the first place. Unfortionately, we had not made a path to follow. Every grassy, flower covered hill looked exactly like the next, and even at the highest hill there was no sight of home. I stopped abrubtly and dropped the sheet of leaves. Turning to Nashi, I spoke.
"Nashi, I think we're lost." She got a terrified look on her face. "But dont worry, I'll try to get us out of this. I mean, we cant be too far. Maybe... 4 hours away, but I mean, thats only a few miles! And I should be able to see the beach from here!" I looked down from the hill in every direction. Youd think that an ocean would be easy to spot. But no. Just hills and hills and hills. "Im getting really sick of these hills," I said, stopming my foot on a patch of taller grass. "Do you know which way to go sweetie?"
She looked around as I had, and then turned back to me, shaking her head. "Wonderful. Well, what are we going to do? We might be going the wrong way, so we cant just keep walking forward." She looked around agian.
"Lets go this way," I said, knowing that she hadnt a clue. I pointed to the right. "I think I... smell the ocean." I was such a liar. I really didnt smell anything but grass and flowers.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 2:46 pm
Nashi and I were both about to collapse. We had been walking for so long... and still no ocean in sight. I stopped and fell to the ground; breathing hard. Nashi did the same.
"So..." I wheezed. "You tired too?" Apparently she was, for she hadnt the energy to reply. I took the cooler from the backpack and put my dry lips to the spout. To my horror there was not a drop left. I set it down hard. "Im getting worried, Nashi. We have no water left, no food, and absolutely NO idea where in the world we are. This is really serious." She didnt look up at me. I knew she was just too exausted. I looked up into the sky and screamed.
"HEEELLLP!!! JUST GET US HOME DANG IT!!! WE DONT DERSERVE THIS!!!" This time Nashi did look up, surprised. "Sorry. I just got carried aw..." my words were cut off.
A small bird about the size of a lemon twittered and flew onto Nashi's head. Nashi freaked out and started bucking, but the bird only resettled its wings. "Nashi! Stop it! Its only a bird!" She calmed down but shook her head violently. I walked up and offered my arm to the bird as a perch, and it gladly took it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 2:57 pm
"Hello little birdie! Im sorry about that." As ridiculous as it might sound, the bird spoke back.
"Oh, thats quite alright, human. Although I was expecting a bit warmer welcome..." She shot Nashi a nasty look. "You asked for help?"
I nodded. "Well... uh... you see im not used to birds speaking..."
She rolled her eyes. "Of course you're not. I only speak every once in a while; when I see it fit, that is. Not any bird can speak, you know. Its only the special ones like me. I am of the wingsong race."
"Yes, well... we seem to be lost. Do you know where there is a house by the ocean?" I asked. She smiled.
"Yes, I know that place. Very nice trees there. And the berries are just exquisite! Acually, you were going the wrong way. Its really just over those few hills." She pointed a wing to the left. "Would you like me to take you there?"
My face lit up. "Oh, would you? That would be wonderful!" Nashi, who had begrudgingly been listening in to the conversation, perked her ears.
"Yes, I will, mortal. Just follow me, and be careful not to lose sight of me!" She lept into the air and flapped her wings with full force. When her wings moved they seemed to play a tune. I grabbed the leave-sheet into my hand and started moving.
"C'mon, Nahsi! We've gotta keep up!" Nashi stumbled to her feet and galloped after me.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 3:16 pm
We must have been following the bird for 3 minutes before the house came into view. After all of that hiking around, it sure looked welcoming.
"Look, Nashi!" I said, turning to look at her. "There it is!" She smiled and flipped her head around in joy. Her mane flew behind her beautifully. Soon enough, we were standing before the path to the front door. And upon the awning, the small bird was perched.
"Are you satisfied?" She asked. I smiled and replied a yes. "Good. For a return of favor, I have something I would like from you."
My jaw dropped. "I dont ha..."
She cut me off. "Now, now, dont be so quick to answer. Let me tell you what I ask of you first." I gulped. What did she want? "I would like to reside here. The berries will be a perfectly fine suppliment of food, so you wont have to feed me. And there is a spring nearby which my wings will carry me. Agreed?"
I was so relieved. "Yes, of course! You can stay in Nashi's stall if you'd like. Or in the house. We would love youre company!" She smiled.
"I can stay with the changeling. Thank you so much, mortal!" She flew off to find the stall.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 3:26 pm
Saturday, September 24
Its so nice to be home. I dont know if I can go on such a tough journey again. Like I said, I do NOT like to hike. I redid the walls of Nashi's stall (with the thumbs up from the bird, who says her name is Aaliya). It is a lovely raspberry-colored silk wallpaper.
Nashi has made friends now with Aaliya. At first, she was upset with me for letting her stay in her stall, but is now very happy. Alken is still very annoying, but Nashi is starting to grow out of him and plays with Aaliya more often. I am just extatic about this.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 4:14 pm
Oh yes, and I almost forgot! We replanted the bush in a small valley about an eighth of a mile away from the house. Nashi and I have agreed not to take the berries unless we ask permission of each other first. I havent really had a craving for berries lately, but Nashi seems to want them every day, regardless of the fact that she has a berry bush in her stall. I suppose the berries on our bush taste better or something. The percular thing about the bush, however, is that the berries always seem to grow back seconds after being picked. And once, when I took Nashi to get some berries, she accidentially ripped off a whole branch. But seconds after, the branch just re-appeared. Its almost as if the bush can never be scathed.
I will have to investigate this further.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 21, 2005 4:50 pm
Saturday, September 31
Today Aaliya decided to speak to me about Nashi. She flew in the window, scaring me out of my wits, and landed on my shoulder.
"Hello, Mia." She said brightly.
"Hi, Aaliya. Did you need something?"
She suddenly got very serious. "Acually, I wanted to tell you about Nashi. You know, about her power."
"Her... her power? What are you TALKING about?" I didnt remember Ceres telling me about any powers she had...
She sighed. "Nashi says that she made that sheet of leaves, you know, the one you carried the bush on? She doesnt understand it yet. She wanted you to help her, but I thought i'd talk to you about it first."
"Wait a sec, power? And she can talk to you?" I set down the magazine I was reading hard.
"Yes, she can. I can understand changelings. And yes, she does have power. Just let me explain." She climbed down from my shoulder onto my lap.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
