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 Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:33 pm
She nodded. It was almost as though he could see into her mind but she knew that were silly. The area around her home had a distinct look to it, at least to her, and it would be easy to find if they got close enough.
She opened her mouth to explain where she had come from when Nikolas' words caught her attention. There was something very strange about him. She chose not to say anything about it yet though as the black one seemed to have things under control. As he nudged her again she followed him back the way she had come from keeping silent. She stuck close to Kristopher but kept glancing back every now and then at the other still puzzling over what he had said.
"Ummm...my parent's are not kalona..."She said finally speaking up finding that to be the only logical reason why they wouldn't be liked. Kris, at least, seemed nice enough, Nik was rather scary but she could see no reason why they wouldn't be liked. "I do not think...it would be a problem if they saw you..." Her voice slowly softened as she spoke realizing that perhaps it would be best not to bother Nik with questions. She was not sure how well he would take it.
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 3:57 pm
Nikolas raised his head in a jest as if it didn't bother him what her father was, he could tell from the filly that perhaps her parents weren't something of foul natured. A lip pulled itself back away from his teeth revealing that fang again, before his head lowered cold eyes watching his brother's back.
"Makes no different what your parents are, we are not like your placid kind. At one time we were feared, worse then your so called Kalona." Nik spat as he continued watching his brother. "Though I doubt you would understand what true power is like. To pretty much hold the world in your hooves to only lose it and become a mere shadow of what you were once." This he turned his head to one side.
"Thus the reasoning to forget the past and move forward. Starting anew and building from the ground up." Kris interjected looking back toward Nik who snorted, "Maybe here we can have a much different glory..."
"Like what? It's not like these creatures would accept us, you know that just as well as I do Kristopher." Nik snapped sharply before falling silent.
Kris shook his head looking forward again, not glancing down toward Ijn as they kept walking. Once and a while he would stop and look around, gathering information about the surroundings before walking again. Making notes about where things were so that they could find their ways again. Nikolas on the other hand had headed out a head of them. His white body slipping through the shadows, though always keeping close and insights of his brother. Hell would freeze over before he let his brother get hurt... Again.
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 4:50 pm
She truly did not understand what was being said. Worse then a kalona but they looked like any other horse? That didn't make any sense and it both worried her and made her more curious. Just what were they and what kind of powers had they once possessed where they could hold the entire world?
She chose not to ask. He seemed to be getting a bit agitated by her questions and she didn't wish to press her luck and test his patience. It did bother her, however, to have so many questions and know that they weren't going to be answered.
She watched as Nikolas made his way ahead of them. It was rather fascinating to watch as he almost seemed to glow in the dark. She remembered that she was supposed to be looking for signs of home instead of watching the curious stallion. She focused her eyes on the ground looking for familiar markings.
Her bright green eyes lit up like a lightning bolt when she found something. A trail of hoof prints in dried mud. This would be nothing special if it were not for the claw marks in the tree and paw prints on the ground. "Amal's been here..."She said softly knowing the signs of her father's familiar very well. "I think it's this way..." She called keeping her eyes locked on the ground following the trail that was heading further into the forest.
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 5:28 pm
Kristopher looked toward Ijn before turning and following behind her, Nikolas moving quietly off to the side, his form sometimes flickering into sight before vanishing again into the shadows where only the dappled lighting played off it in quick flashes. Kristopher looked down at the ground, wondering of what she was following before noting the indentations in the ground.
"So you know who created these markings?" Kristopher asked looking toward Ijn again. "Seems that something has created our path for us."
He mused over the ideas, before looking up again to find that Nikolas had placed himself on Ijn's other side. Creating the look of a body guard on each side of her. Though his cold eyes remained solidly forward, uncaring of what they were following. There might have also been an air of tension around him. Like something was going to happen and he wasn't going to like it too well...
"Caution brother." Nikolas turned an eye at Kris. "These lands don't belong to us, and those that do own them might not be enthusiastic about our being here." Kris said nothing as his attention was on the ground.
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 6:03 pm
She bobbed her head up and down then quickly took off down the path feeling more confident knowing where she was. "My father and Amal did..." She said keeping her eyes glued to the ground following the slightly curving path her father had unknowingly left.
She looked behind her as she heard the white one speak again. She didn't quite understand what he meant. Was something coming there way? She was pretty sure her father kept the area around her home well protected and nothing should be coming that wouldn't welcome them. Not wanting to think about something dangerous lurking in the dark she focused her eyes on the path again finding a bit odd that the prints were starting to look more like her father had been running.
She lifted her head and could see why. "Home!" She cried excitedly. Electric green eyes scanned the area around wishing that the dark had not fallen. Of course if it were not dark he would not be out here looking right now. Ijn had not come home at the sun's fall as she had been told to. The stallion sighed giving his head a shake and continued on his way back to the teepee. He had checked all of the usual places that she visited and had found no sign of her.
As he neared home a strange sight caught his eye. Two strangers outside standing on either side of a small tan creature. He crept closer to get get a better look at what was there more then ready to attack if he needed to.
He gasped audibly when he was able to make out what was between the two. "Ijn!" He cried very surprised to see that she had found her way home and that she was with two complete strangers.Ijn whirled about hearing her name called to see her father standing halfway in the trees. She smiled glad to see him. "Dad!" She made to move but he was already heading towards her."Get away from them!" He snapped in a tone not often heard. "What were you thinking wandering off alone?! Do you even know who they are?! I've been worried sick!" His tone was softening but his eyes were still harsh. He was glad to have Ijn home but he had told her on several occasions not to wander off without at least Amal with her and that was exactly what she had done.She looked at her dad a bit nervously, untrusting of him. He sounded very angry and that scared her. She took a step backwards not sure what to do. This was her home, her safe resting place, but at the moment it felt dangerous.
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 6:23 pm
The twins kept following Ijn as she followed the path upon the ground. Both froze when someone shouted for the filly. twin heads turned toward the adult stallion who held a resemblance to the filly between them. Nikolas's cold eyes regarded the stallion as his brother merely tilted his head to the side. Kristopher stepped forward, placing himself somewhat behind Ijn as he could feel that something was frightening her.
"Evening good sir. My name's Kristopher, my brother and I were only making sure that the young miss returned home safely." Kristopher spoke calmly while Nikolas watched. "So no need to be harsh on her."
Nikolas raised his head, pulling back a lip exposing the end of a fang as he watched the stallion before them. His white ears flicked back for a moment before turning forward once more. Eyes flicking from his brother and Ijn back toward the stallion that she had called 'father'. Ebony tail flicked behind him as he watched and waited. Making sure that nothing happened.
"Of course Ijn knows us. She wandered into our home by mistake. You should do well to not jump to thinking that we lured her away." Nikolas spoke up from where he stood, though got a slight glare from Kristopher whom had turned his head to one side for a moment.
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 6:43 pm
Xantir did not miss the glimpse of the pointed tooth that his daughter had. Before seeing this he had simply been planning on ignoring what was being said. They had no right to tell him how to raise his child, not when she could have been in danger. She needed to understand that the world was not such a safe place.
"Ijn...come here now." He said once again keeping his almost glowing eyes locked on Nikolas, or more particuarly on his mouth.
The little filly sighed not understanding what her father was so upset about. He had always been a bit of a worry wort when it came to her and her siblings' safety but she had never seen him quite so bad. "Yes dad..."She said in an almost whisper. She bowed her head politely to her two escorts. "Thank you for helping me." She said with a smile before moving to her father's side.
Once his daughter was close he stepped in front of her blocking her mostly from view. "Now..." He began, lowering his head threateningly. "What are you?" They weren't normal and he knew it. At least the white one had pointed teeth like a predator and that was never a good sign. He wanted them gone, now, and far away from his family. It was his job to keep them safe and Hell would freeze over before he let two threats just waltz in using his daughter.
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:00 pm
Nikolas pulled himself up beside his brother whom was watching the stallion and Ijn who went to his side, though it seemed slower then wanted. Something still scared her and it was more then likely how her father was acting. The warmth that had been within Kristopher's eyes seemed to puff out like a fire lack of wood and his eyes mirrored his brothers cold stone like eyes.
"We are like you, common breed of Soquili. What else could we be?" Nikolas asked turning his head to one side, an ear twitching. "Is your lack of sight causing you to be blinded at the obvious?"
Kristopher watched his brother, a somewhat concerned look came over his face, one that let identical fangs reveal themselves just like his brother's. Shaking his head, pale locks ruffling along his neck. Rash as always.
"We don't know what we are anymore..."
"I know bloody well what I am Kristopher. A creature of the night, one who doesn't dwell upon the weak emotions like most the creatures." He looked pointedly toward the stallion. "Like the weakness of taking ones anger out upon the younger generations."
"Nikolas..." Kristopher sighed shaking his head again.
Nikolas barely heard what his brother had said as he had paced a step or two forward toward the stallion. Getting a good look at him. He would seem the type to take his anger out upon Ijn. If one could feel the air, it would have been cracking with tension around Nikolas, his brother shaking his head behind him. Oh the trouble was about to be start, he could feel it.
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:30 pm
Xantir gave his head an angry toss and pawed at the ground. He did not like the attitude he was getting. He looked from the black to the white piecing things together, or at least trying to.
"You don't know?" He asked not quite understanding that. How could one not know what they were. His ear flicked to the side a bit confused what they meant by a creature of the night. They didn't look like skin walkers and those were the only night dwelling creatures he knew of. He snorted at the comment. "I'm not taking my anger out on her..."He said his voice dangerously close to a growl. "I'm taking care of her..."
The little filly peered out from behind her father to see what exactly was going on. she was a bit shocked to she that Kris's eyes looked almost identical to Nik's. She suddenly understood what Nikolas had been talking about when he said they wouldn't be welcomed here she just hadn't expected the threat to be her father.
Her ears flicked at the same phrase her father snorted at though for a different reason. They thought her dad was weak? She looked up at him her expression not really readable. "Dad..." It wasn't really spoken to any person, really only to her self.
He looked down at his daughter hearing her. "Ijn move..." With that said her nudged her to the side before taking a few steps forward preparing to meet the white one head one. "Leave. Now." He demanded. "Don't ever come back."
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 7:48 pm
Nikolas watched the stallion push Ijn to the side, huffing he looked back to his brother, the one who would always run to those younger then them. Before he looked black toward the stallion. Pawing at the ground with a pale hoof, Nikolas lowered his head watching the stallion before him.
"You afraid of what she will see? Trying to hide her behind the same shroud as yourself? Why not let her see what the world is really like?" Nikolas asked raising his head back up though letting it look like he was looking down upon the stallion.
"This world is different from the one we came from." Kristopher answered, before nodding to his brother and took a loop around the stallion to stop again. There he would wait to see where Ijn ran to. "But like there, we survive within the night, with all the rest of those you call Sinwalkers though meet we have no taste for."
"And you consider your snapping tone, 'caring' you should go back to mother and ask her if that's how she spoke to you."
Kristopher watched Nikolas from where he stood, letting his brother act first, he was always the one to do such things. He, himself were more the back up, if Nikolas needed it. Though his eyes warmed a bit when they looked toward Ijn, hoping she would fair from this misguided match. Though there wasn't any telling where things would go from here.
"So tell me, what kind of father are you? One too scared to let their children off their leash? Have to keep her close and tug on that leash whenever she gets too far away? Pathetic." Nikolas spat, "No wonder I never understood you mortals. You always use the weakest excuses to say you 'care' for your children when you only wish to keep them penned up and unable to experience anything." This came at a somewhat softer tone, though there was a mocking tone mixed within it.
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Posted: Thu Jul 10, 2008 8:19 pm
How would they know what he was doing? How would they know how to raise a child? It seemed to him they had none of their own or they would likely understand what he was doing.
Ijn stood close to the sidelines watching and listening. Taking in details as she always did, it was the only way to ever truly understand anything. She gave Kristopher a look asking him what was going on. She didn't expect an answer. She never got answers at times like these but she could really use them right now. The two were mysterious and even more so now that her father was challenging them.
Her father. She looked at him standing ready to attack but he wasn't. Why did he hesitate? If he really thought they were in danger shouldn't he be protecting her? Was he really weak?
His eyes narrowed at the mention of his mother. Would he be so cocky in his questioning if he knew that was exactly how his mother had spoken to him. His demands seemed to have gone unheard as he continued to question him and with every word Xantir cold feel his old blood stirring. "Shut up!" He barked finally still remaining motionless. "Are you going to leave or not?!"
The look on Ijn's face was pure disappointment. She made no sound but lowered her head losing herself in her own thoughts. He was weak. No, this wasn't right. He had always said he would protect her even when she was simply in a basket. Now that it was time to show it, though, it seemed he was unable to. All this time she had thought she was safe with him. Now it seemed she would be better off somewhere else.
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:56 pm
Nikolas gave a twitch before stepping back a pace, his head held high, as his lip pulled itself back a bit as he watched Ijn's father. Kristopher looked over toward Ijn, turning he walked away from his brother and the other stallion. Careful, but swift steps brought him close to Ijn. When he appeared at her side, from a shadow, he looked down at her with the same warm eyes he had when they first met.
"Something troubles you young miss?" he asked tilting his head off to one side a little, white locks sifting over his neck slightly.
"We'll be leaving here, but I wanted to see what kind of father you were." Nikolas snorted. "One that certainly doesn't appreciate the kindness of others. Self protection, did you even try to look for Ijn? Farther then normal?" Nikolas shook his head, it didn't matter. "You think you were caring about her, I doubt you even really left the safety of your own shroud."
Walking past the stallion, he headed over toward where Kristopher stood, his ebony tail twitching behind him. The brothers regarded eachother before Nikolas turned back to the father. Regarding him some, he snorted, the stallion looked no more impressive then a fungi growing on an old dead stump to his mind's eye.
"Come Kristopher, we shall leave so that this stallion can hide within his shroud. Dragging everyone else around him into his endless darkness." The tone was light, though there was also a sharpness to it like ice breaking against rock. "Farewell for now young Ijn, perhaps you will come visit sometime." He gave a small smile, though it was a bit strained as he wasn't used to being... Kind.
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Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 8:50 am
She shook her head not wanting to answer and closed her eyes not wanting to look at her father anymore. It felt like she had been lied to and this was a lie that had been spoken from the moment she was born.
Xantir's bright eyes continued to glare at the white stallion not even noticing that Kristopher had moved. Of course he had looked for her. Who wouldn't? He wanted to voice this but found himself unable to. He had not gone further then her normal play spots all of which were close.
A look of shock joined his anger on his face as the words finally began to sink in. He did not like hearing his world being referred to as a 'shroud', however, and refused to calm because of this word. They acted rather arrogant, the white more then the black, and it bothered him. His eyes followed him and as he turned he found them both by Ijn again. His first reaction was to bristle with anger again; it showed in his eyes.
"I am not dragging everyone into darkness..."He snorted. "And get away from her!"
Ijn had remained silent this entire time simply thinking things over in her mind. Things that did not seem to fit her given where she lived and how she had been raised. At the word 'farewell' she snapped from her thoughts. "No..." She shook her head firmly. "I will not visit."
A sigh of relief escaped him. It seemed there had been no reason to worry over the strange stallions in the first place. His little girl knew exactly how to act.
"I want to go with you..." She turned her face away from her father really not wanting to see his reaction to this. She knew it would not be pleasant, at least for her. While her image of him as a protector had already shattered she knew it could be worse.
He was stunned. It had shocked him so much that his voice and body seemed to be paralyzed. The only he found himself able to do was blink staring at her slack-jawed.
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Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 12:15 pm
The brothers looked at each other before looking back toward Ijn. Nikolas merely remained silent before looking back toward Kristopher, wondering of what the filly was saying. Had his words with her father changed her mind to returning home? Kristopher looked back toward Ijn, though didn't catch his brother's gaze on him. Though he could feel hos black eyes on him.
"you sure about that Ijn?" he asked before looking toward her stunned father. "If you come with us, you might not see your father again as we travel almost every night to a new place to sleep."
"If she does come with us, then she will be teh start of our new band of fledglings." Nikolas grinned. "True we can't turn her to what we are, but she can learn our ways. The ways of the night."
Kristopher shook his head before looking at his brother. He hadn't really wanted to sever the ties between Ijn and her father. But it seemed that she didn't want to even look at him right now as her gaze was turned away from him.
"So be it, if that is what Ijn choses, then let it be so." Kristopher nodded in agreement to his brother.
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Posted: Sat Jul 12, 2008 1:12 pm
Was she sure?
She turned slightly to steal a glance at her father. The helpless look on his face settled her mind. She turned away quickly and nodded her head firmly. "If you do not leave...travel is fine..." She said in the same quiet voice. It was almost as though she was trying to do meant nothing. Of course, to her, it really did not. This was what was right. Safety was a necessity for her right now and this place, her home, was no longer safe.
Her ears flicked at the mention of fledglings. That word. She looked to Nikolas curiously as he continued to speak about her learning. It seemed like a fledgling was a type of person or personality that could be taught. It didn't sound bad.
So, the choice was entirely hers to make. They seemed to have no problems with her being around.
"Ijn...think about this for a moment..." Xantir said sounding absolutely scared. He was. His baby was going to leave. He had thought that having your child taken forcefully would be the worst thing that could happen. He had never imagined that she would leave him, not like this.
He couldn't understand what he had done wrong. He hadn't attacked and she had fallen into no harm. Why was she acting like this? Was she upset that he hadn't further to look for her? Would it have been better if he had not snapped at her?
She didn't respond. Why did he have to make things worse. "Please...let's go...I...can't stay here..."
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