Welcome to Gaia! ::

Cyrus glanced around and pranced in happily. He shook is neck as his withers twitched. He looked around through his forelock and neighed softly and lowly.

Cyrus ears twitched to his sighed and seen the small foal, he walked over to it cautiously and neighed greetingly followed by a short snort. His emerald green eyes watched piercingly but in a softer tone than most would think.

The filly met his gaze with discomfort, which was soothed as he backed away. "I guess not..." Bobbing her head slightly in agreement, she followed his eyes to rest on a human standing not far away. "Oh. She's... somewhere." She turned abruptly and craned her neck to peer through the trees. "There."

Hiabi had seated herself at the base of a large trunk once she realized the foal wasn't going to wander far. Rather than hovering over the filly's every move, she leaned back against the bark and stared throughfully into the canopy, keeping a listening ear on her actions instead.

"Er.." She turned again to face him, her ears drooping slightly. "I didn't mean anything like that." Her gaze fell to the ground for a moment before she lifted it again. "You're not bothering me any." She did her best to sound cheerful, and even took another step or two toward him. "Really."

It was true, Hiabi did not desire companionship from anyone. Perhaps that is why she had been so taken aback when she learned the foal was to come into her care. What plans did the spirits have in mind?

She had been following Tai blindly, in a sense, not knowing nor caring where they were headed. She was just absorbing the sights and reveling in the feel of the wind brushing her skin and mane. Thus, it had taken her quite off guard when he had skidded to a stop, and she nearly fell over him before pulling to a halt herself. "Huh?" Kourin had caught his expression, and was quick to follow his gaze into the clearing, settling at last on the bear. It took her a moment to fully realize what exactly was going on, but once she registered the thing was unlikely to take kindly to them, she too began to shuffle backward, and wondered whether or not it had noticed them.

Hiabi was seated outside the tent she shared with Kourin, her attention focused on a task she was attempting to finish before nightfall. Skilled fingers were busy fastening stone arrowheads to carefully carved shafts, strapping them tightly with leather... But she was not so distracted she would not hear another if they were to approach.

Kourin could have sworn she heard her mind ticking as it raced to find a solution; some kind of answer to solve this sudden problem that unraveled before them. "Tai!" She couldn't believe what he was proposing. Getting out, sure... But it was clear he wasn't planning on leaving with her, and that wasn't something she could agree to. "Not without you..." Her tone was amazingly calm; it wasn't hard not to panic when she wasn't worried about herself.

Hiabi had risen to her feet long before Lequoia spoke; her approach had alerted her of the other's presence. "No..." In fact, she hadn't seen them since they'd been with Lequoia earlier, and she'd decided to return here to finish up. "You do not know where they were headed?" She automatically assumed no, and had headed into the teepee to retrieve her bow. When she reappeared, she set to the task of eyeing the landscape for signs of them, and trying to guess where they might have gone.

She glared at him, a stubborn streak shining in her eyes. "No." Kourin butted his shoulder with her nose, attempting to get him to budge before the bear decided to move again. "You're going."

Hiabi's expression was far more nondescript. Determined, focused, maybe; but panic or concern were nowhere to be seen. She lifted her quiver and draped it over her shoulders, and ran into the forest with a silent resolve to find the foals in safety.

Kourin shuffled backward, more waiting for Tai to follow than anything. She wanted to be sure, rather than turning tail and just hoping he would. "Come on..." Her expression was almost pleading, but she was ready to bolt.

Hiabi did not wait for Lequoia to move, nor did she pay any particular heed to the direction she was headed once they'd reached the prior mentioned teepee. She had tracking knowledge of her own, and took no hesitation in employing it to find the foals.

"Come." She saw the bear before them, but her voice was low and calm. Grasping her bow in one hand, Hiabi reached foward with the other, her palm faced upward as she tried to coax the foals behind them. "You will be fine."

She gave the colt a quick pat on the shoulder as he neared before fully adverting her attention to the bear. He was studying them; weighing his opportunities and undoubtedly judging what to do next. There was a part of her that hoped he would turn and disappear into the forest; she did not desire to bring him misfortune. Hunting for need was one thing, but bears were majestic creatures, and much of the corpse would be wasted. Go... Despite her wishes, he leaned back on his haunches, standing his full height and lashing out at the air with his forepaws. She had seen this before, and knew he had chosen not to back down. "I am sorry, brother." Hiabi took haste in knocking her arrow, drawing the bow, and firing - sending a shot that landed just under his jaw, lodging in his neck.

Kourin could feel her knees shaking now that the tension of the situation had loosened, and it seemed as though they would be well. Even Tai's reassuring nuzzle did not calm her nerves, and the bear's pained roar caused her ears to pin as she closed her eyes in displeasure.

Hiabi turned from the bear as it fell, and instead focused her attention on the foals. "You are both well?" She spoke softly as she looked over them both, kneeling to run her hands over Kourin's face and withers. "Be calm." The young woman whispered to them, still petting the filly's coat. When, at last, she was satisfied, she stood and eyed the fallen beast. "I cannot carry it alone." She hadn't really meant to imply Lequoia wasn't capable, but she doubted the two of them could tote it back to the village.

Kourin opened her eyes at the sound of Hiabi's voice, and turned her head to look at her. The sound of it was soothing to her nerves, and combined with Tai's companionship and her caretaker's gentle touch, she felt rather safe indeed.

Lakota whuffed contentedly, trotting through the trees that lined the shores of the river he lived on. Today, he'd decided, was a good day to see if he couldn't find a pretty flower for Tabitha. The sun was shining brightly, and contributed to his cheery mood.

Lakota froze, hearing something move by the river. Carefully, he crept forward, peering curiously through the trees and hoping that it wasn't anything dangerous. As he brushed aside a stray leaf with his nose, he spotted Kourin, and immediately relaxed, pushing forward to make himself visible. Even as he did so, he whickered a greeting. "Hello!" His neck was arched, and his eyes positively sparkling--he loved meeting other soquili, and something about this mare piqued at his curiosity--she'd looked almost poignant, staring at the water.

Bobbing his head in a less formalized form of greeting, Lakota smiled back. "I am Lakota. It's nice to meet you, Kourin." He looked upstream and downstream idly, curious as to where she'd come from--it wasn't particularly important, but he WAS curious by nature. "Are you looking for someone?" he asked, an expression of vague concern flicking across his face.

"....ah." he replied, eyes twinkling. "So I take it you have a lot on your mind, then? I can leave, if you want..." he pawed at the ground, looking a bit awkward. "I mean, I don't want to interrupt your thinking..." he tossed his head, causing skeins of hair to flutter lightly.

It was not uncommon for Kourin to walk the path along the river here. It was, however, unusual for Hiabi to travel with her, as she was now. Not that she minded. She was glad to be able to share the early hours; they were among her favorite in the day, and in a way, she wished the human would develop a similar appreciation. How could she enjoy the morning light with her bond when so often she slept through it? The mare snorted in mild disgust, oblivous to the questioning glance she recieved from her companion.

"Do not look at me that way." Hiabi reached out to set a palm on the soquili's neck, running it along her shoulder. Though she could not tell what exactly it was Kourin was thinking, she could read expressions and feel her vague emotions. It was an odd bond, she had to admit. One she would not have been able to see herself involved in four seasons ago.

"It wouldn't hurt to wake up a little earlier every now and then, you know," she muttered to noone in particular. Her mind didn't rest on the thought long, though. The rustling interrupting the soft morning chorus pricked her attention, and her ears rolled forward. "Hm?" Kourin could tell these were not birds nor small mammals. The sound had a different quality to it; one she couldn't quite corner. In any event, it intrigued her, and she followed her curiosity - Hiabi trailing behind her, mutually interested.

"You would do well to take more heed in your surroundings," she warned abruptly, disregarding tact and formalities entirely. If the boy were to turn and face her, he'd notice she was standing quite a bit off... Nearly far enough to need to raise her voice to be heard, but not quite. An almost-blue Soquili stood a yard or so off to the side; Hiabi must have taken lead at some point.

Kourin had established the source was a human during their approach, but now that she could actually see it, she was a little taken aback. He was much younger than she had anticpated; or so she assumed, judging by his size. In honesty, she wasn't exactly experienced in judging the age of two-legs. Aside from that, though, she found him to look really quite normal. Boring, in fact. She couldn't keep her attention from wandering.

The way he drew his dagger instinctively made her smile inwardly; that was a start. The way he addressed her, however, did not. "I am Hiabi; nothing else." He was startlingly quick to apologize. So much so, the words sounded almost hollow... rehearsed. That thought made her frown, though the expression really wasn't much different from her previous.

And, as to be expected, he was full of questions too. She couldn't help but sigh to herself. "I am a hunter, not a warrior." The word made her wince; she haded the feel of it on her tongue. "Warriors are heedless toward other lives and many thirst for blood and honor above all other," she commented plainly. "Do not confuse the two." And she adjusted the bow draped over her shoulders.

Kourin had done just about everything she could think of, short of breaking out at a gallop and running around the area... That thought didn't really appeal to her at the moment; it seemed inappropriate, at best. Instead, she took a second look at the boy. He seemed careful, in a way. Not guarded the way Hiabi was, but self-concious. It musn't have been a very pleasent feeling. Don't be so hard on him. The mare butted Hiabi's shoulder with her nose, earning herself little more than a passing glance.

It was blatantly obvious he considered himself a 'warrior.' It suited him, too; he was quick to lose control and she could feel him growing emotional. She might have laughed, if she wasn't so stoic. "You are mistaken. Hunters kill to survive, warriors kill... to kill." Granted, the image of a warrior was overly romanticized. They seemed glorious and heroic on the surface; she couldn't blame him for finding it appealing. In practice, though, she found them far less honorable. They pushed for praise and let their emotions control their actions. Not always instincts, but tainted feelings - love, anger, sadness, disappointment. She could not respect someone that felt it necessicary to kill to earn honor. It was only a guise to satisfy bloodthirst. "Take it as you will," she commented absently, ignoring his tightening grip. "It will not bring you honor." Glory, maybe, but not honor.

The boy's sudden flare in temper unnerved her; it was something she was very unaccustomed to, Hiabi being so level-headed. She tried as best she could to ignore it, but her unwillingness to stray too far, and the lack of distractions made it difficult. Kaga's approach had provided a great deal of relief, and the mare sighed blatantly. "Hello," she offered, ears tilted forward curiously.

Hiabi shook her head, dark umber locks swaying slightly. "You can call it that, yes," and she paused for emphasis. "But ask what one thinks when he feels his hand wrap around the life of another, choking its last breath." Her expression sobered, and her brows furrowed. "Not sadness, nor regret. Not appreciation." The woman raised her arms into the air and folded her hands behind her head. "Triumph. Pride. Some happiness, even." And she fixed him with her gaze for the first time. It was steady; calculating. Maybe even piercing. "To lose the feeling of grief when taking the life of another is to lose part of yourself."