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 Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2008 9:56 am
Ambroise was jesting of course, though his failure to adjust his tone of voice to demonstrate the level of humour made it difficult to discern. He had always been chuckled at for his dry humour, his dead pan deliveries and more often than not was misunderstood. That being said, it was rare for him to speak outside his family and when he did speak it was generally important - individual creatures had the right to be confused or to misunderstand him on these occasions. Elizabeth could have afforded some confusion though she appeared to be more astute than that...
Unfortunately she was not as lively as most though and her understanding of his humour was all but lost of the male as she reverted to general chit chat again. He could only suspect that she hadn't fully understood the humour and opted to continue forward without pressing the matter. His mother was a headcase, eccentric in most of her ways but she was a darling. She would lecture him for his lack of manners, nag him just a touch but she wouldn't hurt him at all - it wasn't in her nature. No doubt Elizabeth would become aware of that very quickly, otherwise she might find the red mare to be a little more than just overwhelming.
That being said the excitement and warmth that emanated from his mother may very well warm the unicorn. The spirits knew how cold the peaks were and any bit of shelter would be very much appreciated. Politeness or not, Ambroise sincerely hoped that he would be notified the moment Elizabeth felt too cold - there were manners and then there were moments when help was required regardless of how much dignity was lost! Alas he chose to accept her assurances on this matter and provided nothing more than a smile when she made reference to his company.
Well...it was more of a half smile than anything...
"You flatter me with unnecessary compliments," he replied smoothly, ruffling his wings lightly against his side as his hooves impacted with the rocky mountain path. It swooped up the mountain, across the slope in a manner that made ascent much easier on foot. On occasions it swooped underneath alcoves to provide shelter but for the most part it was fairly open. One thing was for certain though, it provided rather impressive scenary on the way up.
"However I assure you my brother is far from small any longer, though he remains as excitable," he mused. Dropping this subject though, he paused at the start of the path and gave a nod. "Ladies first..."
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Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2008 9:14 am
If nothing else, Ambroise could rest easy on the idea of Liz keeping mum on her degree of coldness. While she was a strong believer in personal dignity and always behaving in a manner to be proud of, she was also a firm believer in practicality and common sense; all the pride in the world wouldn't keep one from freezing to death, just like it wouldn't keep one from drowning or being devoured by wild beasts. There was no shame or humiliation in asking for honestly needed assistance, after all!
So she was able to rest assured in both her own abilities and Ambroise's pro-offered assistance that, should she start to feel too cold, she would be taken care of before anything bad happened. A bit optimistic of a view, perhaps, but in their short acquaintance she had started to adopt the opinion that if Ambroise said he'd do something, he would. It was hard NOT to have confidence in a stallion that could single-hoofedly vanquish a creature of Venom's type!
"Hardly unnecessary, I assure you. I know that in many ways, compliments are more social niceities than tangible, practical aspects of conversation, but I feel that they are just as important as 'which way to the river?'. If we are honestly touched or grateful or believe something, then it seems that we should share it with the person it pertains to. I don't know about you, but I"ve always loved real compliments." Smiling at that, she gave Ambroise a slight nod as she stepped up to the path, starting up it with the comment, "Thank you, although as I don't know where we're going you might have to step up and take the lead later!"
For now, though, the path seemed straightforward enough; no forks yet, as far as she could see. That was good, though, as it allowed for conversation without too much worry about...well, getting lost! And she was honestly surprised at Ambroise's words about Fenguang. "Is he really grown that much? He was just a little thing when I last saw him...but I suppose that it hs been months. It's amazing how fast foals grow up, isn't it?" Her voice took on a slightly wistful tone as she said that, reflecting on the inevitable progression of time. Saiena had grown, Kileyo had grown, Fenguang had grown...they all grew up so very fast, and when she wasn't there to see them. It was really rather depressing.
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 12:48 pm
Venom was not a difficult soquili for Ambroise to 'vanquish' - both were businessmen and as such both had seen potential in the other. Ambroise provided the territory and, provided that it did not affect a member of the herd Venom was permitted to enjoy his sadistic pleasures provided he kept the borders safe. It was certainly a much more dark approach to the defence of one's lands but Ambroise could argue about the relevance and the necessity for such protection. Chilvary, honour and so forth were needed in certain situations but with the changing attitudes of many soquili a more brutal approach was necessary... That was his take on it anyway.
That being said he wasn't one for discussing such topics and as such he often cast them aside in favour of others. In this case he had been blessed with a mare who was more than capable of changing the topics of conversation at ease. Content to let her lead him in such social niceties he listened to her express her opinions on compliments before noting that she had most certainly been provided with an upbringing not that far from his own. He was not one for compliments on a personal level, but he understood that in terms of social encounters they were often a useful device for starting a conversation.
...It was also polite accept compliments though one may prefer to remain modest.
"Your opinion is dulely noted," he confirmed gently, following after the mare as she proceeded across the trail. Ruffling his wings (a seeming habit), he mused over her words further before shaking his head. "You have my thanks for the compliment though I deem it unnecessary - perhaps that is how I should have addressed your previous remarks," he added at last. He had never excelled at this sort of thing, he had preferred modesty over everything. He could fight he knew as much, he had manners when they were required and he'd never needed anyone to remind him of it - it was bizarre to receive such compliments!
"Compliments are not something I require," he pointed out after a short pause and rolled his shoulders. He fell silent at this point and continued to trail after the mare until she addressed the issue of his brother's growth again. He provided a half smile at this, though it would remain unseen for the most part due to the angle at which she was walking. He wasn't terribly tall yet but he was certainly a lot taller and more graceful than he had been as a gangly foal!
"Perhaps you will have the opportunity to meet him shortly, it is easier to see changes than to describe them - no?"
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Posted: Fri Nov 28, 2008 3:55 pm
"Actually, that's a rather practical outlook; I'm rather of the opinion that expecting a compliment is the product of a rather unhealthy degree of conceit. Besides, it's always difficult to predict what others would deem compliment-worthy."
An upbringing that empasized the ladylike skills of hostessing, casual conversation, child-rearing and food-finding was hardly the same caliber as one that emphasized fighting and defense, border-patrolling, and herd leadership, but some behaviors could transcend social roles. Indeed, if Ambroise hadn't mentioned his own busy work schedule, Elizabeth would have had no idea what sort of life he led. On the other hand, she knew no other stallions who held such demanding positions; if all herd defenders had the manners of an Ambroise, then she'd be the first to advocate the role as a necessary rite of passage for all foals. Good manners ought to be embraced, not laughed at as they were by so many young Soquilis these days.
But she was dating herself with these thoughts, she knew, and that realization merely made her smile. She sounded like such a fussy thing, worrying about intangibles like manners! But if it was fussy, it was HER fussy, thank you kindly.
It was much more pleasant to converse than ruminate. At Ambroise's comment, she paused and looked back over her shoulder, giving him a look that was first surprised, then pleased. "Oh really? Is he out touring the slopes today, too?" Another pause at that, then a slight laugh before she added, "Assuming that we're actually in the slopes at this point. You'll have to forgive me if I'm off-kilter, we're already much...slopier than anything I've ever seen."
Very articulate.
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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 9:52 am
If Elizabeth was dating herself then the Islagiatt herd and it's ways must have originated from 'ancient times'. Manners had always been stressed as an important quality for all members to possess regardless of what responsibilities they chose to have. Manners wasn't an option for the Soquili on the slopes, it was expected and failure to have at least a select few was enough to warrant a swift kick up the a** (literally). It was certainly safe to assume that Ambroise had landed quite a few of those in his life, both to his own brothers and to his nephew, Kodah. That being said there was a reason that Ambroise had been adverse to the lowlands and held such low regard for those who lived there - her observations were similar to his. Manners were something he had never seen in the lowlands until he had encountered her...
Ah yes, the mare had been his introduction to the rarer creatures that lurked in the Kawani. The jewels that lay buried in the mud and sand, only to be discovered by sheer luck or by one who was dedicated to spending years in search of such things. As luck would have it, the fates had smiled upon him that day and had encouraged his wayward brother to go for a walk. Admittedly he hadn't been the most desirable of encounters given his foul mood, but had it not been for Fenghuang then Ambroise would never have been proved wrong in regards to those who lived in the lowlands. Thus over the course of the encounter his opinion had been changed ever so slightly from 'all of the lowland soquili are morons' to 'the majority of lowland soquili are idiots". This in itself was a momentous occasion and spoke of an increasing tolerance towards their kind.
Nevertheless neither had expressed such opinions in any great depth and while similarities were there they remained unspoken for the most part. While conceit had been mentioned, the subject was quickly returned to his brother and Ambroise mused over her question for a short while. If he was honest he wasn't entirely sure what his brother was up to, having matured he had mentioned something about exploring and left with a bounce in his step.
"I have no idea where Fenghuang is," Ambroise confessed at last, though a part of him assumed Fenghuang remained on the slopes. Given the sheer size of the location in question he still had a suitable amount of exploring to do and his hormones hadn't quite kicked in in terms of females just yet. "If we encounter him then you will most certainly know he is here, if not then perhaps another time...though you will be pleased to know the path you are on is as steep as it will become." Clearing his throat the stallion gave another ruffle of his wings and proceeded forwards, nudging the occasional rock from his path.
"The rock faces and slopes contain natural pathways that make the climbs easier so long as you know where they hide," he added after a few moments, "This is one of the most well used, if you had not yet noticed..." Perhaps it would have been interpretted as politeness on his part for accepting her lack of eloquence but in all honesty the stallion had already noted she was very particular about her choice of words on their first encounter. She was entitled to her slip ups...it made her more real, indicated she wasn't quite an image of absolute perfection and was much more approachable. That being said she was perfect in a manner of speaking, just not to the point of making too many creatures gawk!
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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 10:57 am
Unaware that she had managed to inspire such good opinions, Elizabeth was able to go on as she was without too much reason for blushes or dismissals. What Ambroise saw as something remarkable and jewel-like, she herself viewed as simple common sense and good breeding. If she was a jewel, then it was her most earnest hope that a diamond mine would crop up the next stream over. It might devalue the pre-existing stones by making them less rare, but a greater accessibility to the greater world would only emphasize their beauty and usefulness to those previously unaware such things existed.
Still, she didn't think of herself as anything particularly rare, and that mindset was partly what allowed her to be so modest, for the most part. Simplicity was ultimately a cornerstone of both her character and her life, for better or worse, and for all her fine talk of compliments she wasn't a mare who expected or needed them in order to be content.
"Well, I'm sure that it will be a pleasure to see him if we com across each other; if he's grown as much as you say, then I might not recognize him at first...but I'm sure that I'll know him by his behavior. Then again, he would hopefully recognize me; I can't say that I've really changed that much since our meeting, so if he remembers me at all I'm sure we would be able to renew our acquaintance with relative ease. Though regardless, even if we don't encounter him I'm sure that I will continue to enjoy this tour. You've already been so obliging, Ambroise, words really don't serve to properly express my gratitude."
At that she stopped once again, turning to give the stallion a truly warm, pleased smile along with a demure and lady-like bow. Though Ambroise might not regard himself as the most engaging or dramatic of companions, his presence had been exactly what Elizabeth had needed after her earlier distress; a companion whose manners and polite consideration allowed her nerves to settle and her spirit to be soothed. Excitement was all well and good, but at the end of the day she preferred things to be a bit more calm, rational, and comfortable. Conversing with Ambroise was hardly stressful; she didn't have to consider her words too much or try to figure out how best to hide her shock at some unseemly comment made in jest. Perhaps it wasn't the most energized conversation, but it was pleasant and allowed focus on the setting as much as the people.
From the bow, she rose up and looked around thoughtfully, looking up the path as he spoke and noting the incline. It was rather reassuring to know that things didn't get much steeper, although she had to admit to a bit of surprise at that notice. They were going uphill, yes, but it didn't seem hardly enough for a mountain! "Well, it's certainly a comfortable and easily traveled path, to say nothing of rather deceptive." An amused smile crossed her face at that thought as she gave voice to her inner musing, commenting, "It seems more that we're climbing a hill than a mountain, and part of me can't help but feel that we're going to go around a bend and pop out in a valley somewhere. Though I suppose it's rather naive to assume that there AREN'T valleys up here..."
Having reached that point in her musings, she laughed again, this time in a slightly self-conscious way, then gave Ambroise a smile. "Im sure that whatever is at the end of the path is worth seeing, and I look forward to seeing it. Assuming that I haven't gotten too cold first which, I can assure you, is NOT the case as of yet."
Indeed, she was feeling quite comfortable, thank you kindly.
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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 12:37 pm
He was fairly certain that he hadn't mentioned the cold this time round, her mention of it did alert him to the possibility that while she may not want to admit it yet, the cold was starting to bite at her. That being said he opted not to address such a situation and merely accepted her reassurances that she was fine. As 'thin' as her winter coat was in comparison to his own she was not yet hindered by the foul conditions and was in reasonably good shape. On further consideration he could also assume that it was meant as general chit chat as opposed to a reminder...the topic had been renewed though and as such he kept it in mind even if he kept his opinions and offers of aid to himself. She was stubborn in her own might and if she wanted to turn her tail to icicles before she was prepared to admit she was a tiny bit cold then he would permit it, he would just keep an eye on her and act in accordance with her shifting posture or stiffening limbs.
You see, he could be subtle when he wanted to...
Nevertheless modesty or not, Elizabeth was entitled to her compliments and Ambroise was entitled to his own opinions. She was a rare jewel amongst the rocks and he was sticking to it, he lacked patience with the lowlands and if anyone encouraged him to 'look again' there was a good chance he'd probably kick them. Manners were rare and fleeting in the lowlands, she was one of a select few who had them. Perhaps that's why the highland soquili had entertained so many mares with such success - what was it they said? Different cultures, different upbringings...? He wasn't entirely certain but he definitely got on better with those that resided on the slopes than anywhere else in the Kawani. Luckily for her he wasn't terribly expressive on this type of issue though it was highly likely his mother would give a squeal and dote on the unsuspecting mare.
"You will know it is him the moment you see him," Ambroise confirmed as she continued to speak of his brother. Really there was no denying that Fenghuang was as reckless and loud as he was as a child. Granted he had an ample awareness of his own limitations at last, but this didn't mean he wasn't more than content to take part in activities that the majority would find mad. That being said if she couldn't recognise him by coat alone then there was something wrong - he'd gotten bigger but he hadn't changed colour. "You will recognise his coat or you will most likely hear him before you see him - if it's a whoop of excitement then it is probably him."
Not that he would inform her of his brother's fascination with cliff jumping and 'skiing' around the slopes...
"Nevertheless I am certain he will be as welcoming and excited to see you as the day he spotted you previously," he added almost as an afterthought. If he was honest he would have suspected that his youngest brother would be decidedly more interesting than he was. An avid socialite his brother wouldn't struggle or require direction to converse, whereas Ambroise favoured responding as opposed to taking any sort of initiative in that department. Thus, while he didn't show it he was beyond uncomfortable with the current state of affairs - as gentle and modest as the mare was he felt under continued pressure to at least provide some form of entertainment until he could be relieved of his duty!
"Perhaps it is easier to assume that you are simply in good health and therefore the climb is not as strenuous as it would be to another," he offered as she changed the subject. It was a veiled compliment (sort of) but enough to make him speak again. "I assure you we are definitely on a mountain and that valleys to exist, though they are easier to see upon the peaks where gorges, caverns and other features of the land are far more visible." He was quiet for a short while and nodded briefly to indicate that she would need to turn just a little shortly.
"I always found the views of the waterfalls most spectacular..."
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Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 1:11 pm
Regardless of what Ambroise was thinking or suspecting, at the moment Elizabeth was being completely honest in saying that she felt fine. It was a bit chilly, yes, but nothing that would inspire her to hide in a cave with her tail between her legs...especially not when he mentioned waterfalls.
Really, it was amazing that she hadn't considered that there might be waterfalls up here. She'd only seen one before in her life, a rather low one that was MAYBE five feet. But it had been oddly mesmerizing, the sound of the rushing water and the rainbows that rose from the spray enough to entrance for what seemed like hours. It was an unfortunate side effect of lowlands; there was no 'down' for the water to head towards, so waterfalls were pretty much non-existent near her home.
That in mind, her voice held an almost childish excitement as she asked, "Waterfalls? As in, more than one? Oh, that must be SUCH an amazing sight to see, especially this time of year when the air is so pure and crisp. I suppose that you get to enjoy views a great deal more than we do, simply because you actually have views to enjoy. I imagine that might be a nice relaxant for you, considering how busy you must be as a rule."
Without really realizing it, she had started to walk a bit faster, intent now upon reaching the 'goal' Ambroise's words had provided before 'time ran out' and she got too cold. But if the slight echo in her ears was any indication...
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Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2008 7:36 am
Ambroise afforded a somewhat startled glance at the mare as she transformed from the very prim mare into a bubbly one for a split second. No sooner had she began to express herself though, than his expression was gone and had been replaced by a raised brow. So there was more to the mare than met the eye, a softness that wasn't just related to foals. She could appreciate a fine view but what was more entertaining for the stallion was the revelation that she became giggly when such things were mentioned. Apparently even Elizabeth had the ability to lose herself in a world of imagination...she wasn't terribly different from some of the mares within his herd in that regard.
"With all due respect, we are on the slopes and water has few places to go other than down or..." he paused briefly and shook his head. Even has a foal he had found the concept strange, he's never understood how water simply disappeared until his father had taken him into the depths of the caverns. "Or underground - there are only a very few select places that have flat land to rest upon," he fell silent at this, distinctly aware that further discussing the topic in this manner would make him sound patronising. Oddly enough he was only 'patronising' to his students until they earned his respect and she was definitely not a student, she was a visitor.
"That being said the views are spectacular, even to walk passed them while patrolling within their vicinity is an enjoyable experience...though cold if one is unlucky enough to be covered in mist during winter's darkest weeks," he rolled his shoulders at this. Admittedly he knew of all the waterfalls and had found that they were suitably more impressive in spring when the ice was melting, but when certain areas of the water turned to icicles it was another wonder entirely.
"I assure the peaks will grant you the opportuntiy to spot a few from a distance - though there are those that remain out of sight. Perhaps when you are well rested I will show you a few," he offered. For some that may have been a chat up line - the gods knew that when Biscuit or other stallions cooed it, it usually was. But for Ambroise it was a simple offer, for all his disgruntled behaviour even he enjoyed the moments when another could be delighted with something he could provide. Showing the mare the location of a waterfall or two was not necessarily difficult for him...
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Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2008 3:09 pm
Had Elizabeth known for even a second that she was being regarded as 'bubbly' or 'giggly', she would have been mortified beyond all reasonable belief. Giddiness was a behavior permitted in foals, one that didn't belong in mares, particularly not she herself. Maintaining at outward appearance of respectability and good decorum was extremely important to her; it was only among her closest friends that she allowed herself to relax her behavior...and really, that was only among Zaphiro and Hienna. Perhaps it was the time since she'd last enjoyed a visit with the pair, or simply the novelty of the chance to see waterfalls. Either way, she was absolutely delighted, apparently to the point of giddiness!
Still, she wasn't about to turn into a foal, capering around with no regard or sense for her surroundings or her companion. At Ambroise's commentary, she had stopped and turned around, listening with obvious (though mild) interest. It was all so very different from what she was used to, she was more than happy to listen to a lecture. "Really, I suppose that makes sense. up here, you have no level ground so the water MUST go down, and where I live we have nothing but level ground, requiring the water to progress sideways. There is a certain beauty in a river, but it's nothing nearly as dramatic as a cascading waterfall. And you have underground rivers? How very fascinating, that must be an amazing sight if there is enough light to see by."
Her voice had trailed down to thoughtful musing by the end, but her gaze was still directed at Ambroise. Really, seeing an underground river would be quite the sight...perhaps it would be possible to see one of those at some point, too!
But then she smiled, shaking her head at her own increasingly selfish behavior. Finding such locations would surely take a great deal of time, something that she couldn't ask of a stallion so busy and already indulgent to her presence as Ambroise. Perhaps some other time, the next time she took an excursion, she could see an underground river.
Still, that didn't mean that she wasn't grateful for what she had. At Ambroise's offer to show her more of the natural wonders of the lands, she could only smile and incline her head, saying with the utmost of sincerity, "I would be delighted, Ambroise, as long as you're quite sure you wouldn't be putting yourself out in showing me around. You've already been so very kind to me, I don't want you to feel obligated to put up with me and my questions just because you happened to show up."
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Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 12:21 pm
Perhaps it was just as well that Ambroise made no attempts to take note of her giddiness. He had opted not to make comments lest they be taken as some form of teasing or worse yet, be seen as an affront. In a manner of speaking it was just as well, for while he didn't realise it, the very fact that the stallion had held his tongue had granted him a rare insight into the quirks the mare possessed and yet chose to hide. You see that was the problem with etiquette, decorum and that rather questionable facade of respectability - most of which he seemed to live by himself. There were moments when rare and often desirable quirks were hidden far from those who chose to observe. One could only assume that had waterfalls not come up in conversation then he might never have been afforded to the opportunity to see such a thing.
Nevertheless, no sooner had he been granted such a priveledge than the moment was lost and she had returned to her 'usual' self. Having chosen to listen to him, he wasn't entirely aware of whether her interest was genuine or out of politeness. His brothers may have chosen to think it was a bit of both but he wasn't so sure. There were times when he leant his own ear simply out of politeness and others when he simply blanked and pretended to listen.
Having to listen out of genuine interest - that only happened once in a life time (seemingly) for this stallion. That being said he had considered her words with much more sincerity and interest than was customary for him. She may have disturbed him on his patrols but in the process had provided ample company and remained aware of his apparent schedule. Admittedly, he could probably drop his schedule in an instant but he was a creature of routine and while his parents wouldn't care if he missed a patrol it would make him fidget.
"We do have some level ground, Elizabeth..." Ambroise corrected with a half smile as she further gave away her naivity towards the mountains. That was another place he could have offered to show her, though given the season it was not the best of times. At this time of year the most she would see was a snow plain while in spring it would be adorned with countless flowers. Alas, he chose not to make further offers as she reminded him of his own schedule - that alongside the wrong season and it was a moot point anyway.
"During this time of year the underground rivers are a little more tretcherous to explore, in spring and summer they are much easier to navigate," he carefully nudged another stone from his path and turned slightly to follow the path she was walking upon - albeit slowly. Eventually she would reach the top and there she would catch sight of smoke - signs of a human but also signs of his own home.
"Nevertheless the waterfalls are something I can reveal to you, such sights are not those that would cause me displeasure - however might I note just one thing?" He arched a brow and then slowly shook his head, the strands rippling and bouncing gently against his shoulders. "I am not one bound by obligation, when it comes to visitors I can easily place them in the care of another if I have other duties to attend to."
"It is coincidence I appeared, but it is not through obligation that I stay either..."
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Posted: Sat Dec 20, 2008 2:36 pm
Elizabeth took the correction with good grace, bowing her head slightly in acknowledgment but otherwise allowing the subject to slide. It had definitely been established now that both of them knew the proper social graces, and that neither of them seemed to be inclined to give way and fully embrace or accept the other's compliments at face value. Fair enough, this was an impasse that was more than pleasant enough to accept.
So she stood where she was for a few more moments, allowing Ambroise to catch up with her before she once again started down the path. In doing so, she had a moment to observe Ambroise personally; while a large stallion (from the perspective of a small mare), he moved with a very pronounced lightness of foot and a great deal of grace. She couldn't say if it was the result of the precarious landscape he'd been brought up in, the natural result of being a wind, or just an inborn grace of manner, but it was certainly a pleasure to watch a stallion who could move without gallumphing!
Though after a moment of such thoughts, she quickly realized how ridiculous she was being and, blushing, looked away. How he moved or how he did anything were hardly her business, and it was hardly in good taste to...leer.
Recovering her composure with relative speed, though, she fell into step beside him once again, listening to his description of the underground rivers. It was with a soft sigh that she acknowledged the danger; true, with winter and runoff, low temperatures and all the snow, she could very well suppose that it would hardly be a place for a tenderfoot such as herself to venture. Still, rather than be unahppy at that knowledge she simply smiled, already contented by the majority of her visit thus far.
As the two crested the top of the current incline though, she paused, looking curiously off ahead of them. "Is that a smoke trail up ahead, Ambroise?" It rather looked like one, but surely there were no humans this far north, with their hairless bodies they would be frozen in no time!
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 3:04 am
For all her manners, Elizabeth was still female and if Ambroise had been his brother (or cousin) he would have reassured her that it was only natural to admire one of such a handsome quality as he. It was just as well that he wasn't either of the mentioned as he suspected that might have gone very poorly. This didn't mean her glances had gone unnoticed though, on the contrary he had seen them but as was usual for him, he chose to feign ignorance. It seemed that if he should respond to them in even the most remote way then it would cause the mare to shrink further into her shell.
He wasn't the most sociable or the most considerate soquili when it came to those outside his family but he only caused deliberate discomfort when the guests were unwelcome. That being said, to be admired in any sort of way was bizarre to the stallion who was accustomed to being snarled at and referred to as having the 'personality of a plank'. Ah yes, perhaps if the soquili knew of the lowlands were aware of the behaviour he'd endured they'd be more understanding towards his views. It was not his fault that his brothers were troublemakers, he was the messenger and the peace keeper - you weren't supposed to butcher them!
Still, to have a mare eye you up and down did feel somewhat unusual. In one respect he was his usual self, unsettled by the assessment of his apparent physical prowess. He was aware of his skills, he was a strong creature and took pride in maintaining a specific level of fitness but... On the other hand he was also a bit 'shy'. He had the desired level of modesty that most considered appropriate, but the irrational flutters of fear that often ran through his chest when another gazed at him in such a way were not uncommon. He knew of his faults and while he refused to change them and enjoyed his life as it was...that didn't make him feel any less uncomfortable when people stared.
...When people pondered and whispered behind him.
Males he could handle but as had been covered, females often considered him a gruff lout. Thus to have any semblance of interest in his form result in a blush had quite a few reactions. On one hoof he detected that faint sense of smugness his cousin often received when an admiring glance was thrown, another was that of gratitude for being recognised as aesthetically pleasing and the other... well, the flutter in the chest wasn't so bad when they approved and weren't tisking their disapproval at his lack of social graces.
He didn't have to talk when his job was observing!
Nevertheless while he remained unaware of her musings it would have been reasonably accurate to assume that it had been a combination of all three things. Rocky terrain certainly required a different set of skills to navigate but this didn't mean that certain soquili didn't stomp about anyway. His mentor and father had done well to ensure that for all his faults, he could at least hold himself properly - though this didn't mean they did not regret depriving him of a childhood that may have made him more socially adept...
Although as he cast his gaze upwards at her question, he did afford a small smile at the tell tale smoke drifting lazily into the clear sky above. He ruffled his wings and glanced only briefly towards Elizabeth as if to confirm her enquiry. This was his home and like the soquili that lived there, she would soon discover that even the humans had the ability to adapt - though if she envisioned a very hairy human and happened to mention it, it was unlikely that Ambroise would be able to maintain a straight face at that.
"Welcome to Islagiatt's Northern-most camp," he unfurled a wing and motioned to the smoke trail ahead. A little further in and flat land would be found, enough for a teepee to have been carefully set up within the shelter of an overhanging cliff.
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 10:55 am
It was just as well that Ambroise kept mum on the subject of her glances, for his lack of comment meant that she could assume (or at least imagine) that they had gone unnoticed. She had met mares before who told her that it was only natural to admire a well-built stallion and that such perusals were inevitably taken as a compliment by the stallion in question, but she had always just shaken her head at such talk. After all, she never appreciated being eyeballed herself, 'compliment' or not, not when the eyeballing was usually accompanied by looks and comments of the most lascivious sort! No thank you, indeed!
Instead, she allowed herself to be directed to the smoke, a bit surprised to have her suspicions confirmed. Amazing, that there could be humans this far north! When one considered the harshness of the wind, the roughness of the terrain...her own special Kawani companion usually went barefooted, which afforded better grip than hooves, but the idea of doing such a thing in the cold? Unbelievable!
She would have to see how they managed, before she left these parts. Who knew, perhaps she would learn something that could help Cajji when she returned. Then again, this WAS a different place...
She would just have to try and stop this 'assuming' business, she was really doing herself no favors! Best to just keep an open mind, and observe.
Resolving that, she looked from the stallion to the smoke trail, a smile of her own in place. "It looks most delightful. Shall we be stopping at all on our trek, or is camp actually up a different trail?" Unlike the lowlands, where even without a trail you could get from one place to another, up here she would be very surprised if it was even POSSIBLE to travel without a path...unless one had wings, of course.
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2008 12:24 pm
"The camp is on the same trail," he replied after providing her with the opportunity to observe her surroundings. As seemed to be common throughout this little tour, she often developed a wide eyed sense of wonder. Ambroise noted that it wasn't the expression of a child, but it was the face of one who appreciated each little thing she saw and deemed as special - in a manner of speaking her approved of it. He could understand now, as the moments progressed, why so many of the stallions within his herd often enjoyed sitting back to observe the mares that drifted by. When they were unaware of those who watched them they certainly gave away many secrets... Some of which, were unlikely to be shared willingly.
A fascinating subject, Ambroise would admit as much while not in the presence of his siblings lest he be invited to gatherings. He could 'leer' from a distance if need be but he was not content to muse and compare notes every time a mare crossed his gaze. On the contrary, Elizabeth was merely lucky she had caught and held his attention to the extent that he took note of such things - usually it was only his mother that he kept a look out for!
...All those tell tale signs - as though it was a puzzle to her, a mystery to be unravelled.
Nevertheless he wasn't one to dwell on a mountain path for two long unless he had the desire to be assaulted by biting winds and without furtheradue he moved off the trail slightly and continued up towards the flatter land. No sooner had he made such a movement, than his hooves touched the more even surface and he progressed with much more ease towards the rising plumes of smoke. There was no doubt in his mind that his mother and father would be home...but he had the sneaking suspicion his guest was more interested in Achak!
"The most beaten trails often indicate life or safe passage in these parts - where you see one of these trails..." he glanced over his shoulder and paused. "When you see one of these trails you will know you are within inhabited lands though you generally hear certain individuals before you see them," he mused, now thankful that Fenghuang had taken himself off for the day.
No sooner had he said this though than the teepee came into view, accompanied by the pots and pans that lay outside it in a rather large and disorganised pile.
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