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 Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:32 pm
If Anelisse had arms, they would have been crossed over her chest and she would have been tapping her foot at Fenghuang by now. "Gender is never an excuse, or else your gender would have been kicked out on its collective rump a long time ago and none of us would be born. I think that you're just determined to be obnoxious, though I don't know why. It's not like I ever did anything to you." Nor did Raccoon, the only possible other culprit. No amount of hair swiped could possibly have accounted for this sort of personal vendetta.
And a personal vendetta it was, even if had just been two meetings. "I think that you're just...obsessive. And form vendettas for no reason. And don't you walk away when I'm talking to you!"
Huffing a bit, she nevertheless turned and stalked after him, not because she was in agreement with him on any topic but more because she wasn't going to let him get away with being such a difficult stallion without an argument or an explanation. No one would ever mess with her and insinuate that SHE needed to be cleaned and/or fed, especially when the only reason she was dirty was because he had splashed her! "You're a fine one to talk about needing to be cleaned. You smell as though you haven't been within a mile of water in a year!" A bit of an exaggeration, maybe, but still very true.
"And I don't need anymore color. I have all the color that I need, THANK YOU."
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Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 5:54 pm
There was the mare he knew, even if she was gaunt her spark had come back and she was laying into him in much the same fashion as she had done on the day they'd met. He came to a halt as she stood before him and patiently listened to her vent. Slowly but surely she was forgetting that she was meant to be depressed and had embraced the distraction that was her insufferable (but loyal) stallion. He found it ironic that she had referred to him as obsessive, he would have been inclined to agree with her in that respect though he had no vendetta against her. He'd had his reasons for splattering her with mud and it had worked, she was up on her hooves and she was lecturing him because he was misbehaving. No more sulking, no more moping, he was a rather good distraction if he did say so himself... even if it was a bit of a test upon his ego.
"Touche, gender isn't really excuse even if that was meant to be a joke," he pointed out patiently, raising a brow as she further lectured him. She spoke at great length about his apparent vendetta until it all culminated into an insult regarding his smell. Ah, he was wondering when that was going to come up and frankly he was a little surprised she'd let it go on for this long. He knew he stank and he had a good reason for it too - for a start he hadn't seen any water that wasn't frozen in a damn long time, or at least he hadn't seen enough unfrozen water to bathe in. He had many combats (all viable) for such a remark and it was taking all of his self control not to correct her.
Needless to say, it didn't last long when she completely tossed out his kind gesture.
"Alright, let's make one thing clear -" his tone had darkened considerably, the weariness creeping into his voice now that her lecture had subsided. His ears were still ringing, but he was sure that would fade in time. "I haven't seen water, real water in about six months. In fact, the only form of water I have seen came in the form of ice." He furrowed his brow, shaking his head as he recalled the awkwardness of his travels. Eating snow had been an interesting experience and watching the humans as they melted the ice near their fire had been equally as fascinating.
"I haven't washed in that time because it is too dangerous where I have been and there weren't even open areas of water to bathe in!" He pulled himself to his full height as though he were going to yell and then promptly sighed, slumping his shoulders again as he relieved some of the tension in his limbs. He possessed the ability to control his temper even if he had instances where he might have looked a tad imposing in the process. "And you'd think that'd be the end of it but it really isn't because I am no longer built to handle these temperatures, my coat is so damned thick that I'm sweating bloody cobs!"
"I. Can't. Help. That." He reiterated this statement before releasing a snort and shaking his head. Moving round the mare to continue on his way towards the trickling of water that he could hear nearby. "Just for the record, I never said that I wasn't going to clean myself up - was just inviting you to join me since I had just covered you in mud and figured you might appreciate the gesture. As usual I'm wrong," he shrugged lightly and with that in mind, moved forward once more. He only had one last thing to call over his shoulder as he went.
"And the colour thing is a figure of speech, Princess. Wasn't meant to be taken literally!"
Now if she chose to follow him then so be it but he had done his duty and she had stopped moping for the time being at the very least.
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Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:11 pm
And some Soquili craved society. Stupid Soquili, all that company did was exasperate and madden and depress, or some combination of the three. This stallion in particular, he was just so very infuriating! The nerve of him, taking that tone with her! As though she were some little thing to be lectured and intimidated, who did he think he was talking too, Mister Mud Thrower? Ooh, if she weren't such a peaceful and sedate creature, she would REALLY give him a what-for!
"Well, you can't say that this region is frozen, because I can see all too well that it's not. The river in this area has been open for days, if not longer, so if you wanted to bathe, you could have so don't you try and do that thing where you try and explain things without any sort of backing!"
She wasn't following him. She hadn't followed him originally, and she definitely wasn't following him now, even if she DID happen to be moving in the same direction as him and towards the same general destination. Following implied you were going where they were going, and what SHE was doing was trying to finish this discussion, something that HE didn't seem to respect. But she was NOT following him. "And you can stink if you want to, I just think that it's rather pot-calling-the-kettle-black of you, not too mention it is VERY rude to imply that a lady is ever less than pristine. If you weren't so very determined to upset me, I'd keep you around just so I could actually teach you how to properly converse!"
By this time, she was in fine color herself, her indignation and anger having brought color to her face as well as fire to her eyes. Walking quickly, she had caught up with Fenghuang before he reached the water and gave him a level look before announcing, "But even if YOU are determined to be a savage, I'm sure that I am not going to stoop to your level. So please, feel free and encouraged to wash; unlike SOME, I will not be flinging mud your way."
Turning up her nose, she came to a halt as she reached the riverbank, giving Feng The Shoulder once again. Without giving him even a glance, she tilted her head and tugged off the red band of hair from her braid, then shook her hair out until it was all loose about her shoulders before flouncing (it could only be called a flounce) into the water. She'd show HIM!
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Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:39 pm
Well that definitely one hell of a welcome back, he couldn't fault her on originality as she completely disregarded everything he had said. He could be called many things but he was not a liar. The hair rose on the back of his neck and his jaw tightened as she finally had the opportunity to push his buttons. You could call him a cad, a ruffian, a thief... but nobody and he meant nobody EVER called him a liar. He grit his teeth harder as she persisted, seemingly determined to have the last word. No one could accuse him of not doing his duty and he'd clout them if he did - she'd certainly got her fire back and looked the better for it.
...Even if he now desired to leave her company immediately.
"You know you can call me a lot of things," he murmured softly, shaking his head as he watched her parade into the water. "You can tell me I stink, you can call me a ruffian, a cad... Most people would take that as an insult, more callous than mud throwing," he snorted and release a soft chuckle. His expression contorted into one of discomfort and he drew away from the shore. He had little intention of cleaning himself now, the spirits knew that as the sun rose he would simply end up smelling the exact same way in a few hours anyway.
"But don't ever call me a liar," his words were sharp, in complete contrast to his usual tone. Yes, even the prankster could have his serious moments and he could land verbal lashings in an admirable fashion when he wanted to. "I never asked you to understand or care where I've been, however that doesn't mean you can stride into my life and make assumptions. You have no idea where I have been for the last six months and you do not have the right to inferr that I make it up. Anything with even the slightest level of intelligence would see that I speak the truth!"
"I didn't pry or make assumptions on why you were wallowing in a pit of misery, you could at the very least show the same regard," he snorted again, a bitter chuckle underneath. He was tired, completely exhausted and he had to deal with this. He'd dragged her up from the ground to her almost normal firey self and his repayment was something he could barely stomach. "Then again I'm just the insufferable stallion who lives to torment you, right?"
Falling silent the stallion carefully pulled a small jewel from his pelt. She hadn't noticed it in her misery, blinded by her own self pity and he supposed it was somehow appropriate. She was still in a bubble and still blinded to what lay right in front of her eyes so even pretty things could be surpassed. He tentatively lowered his head and with the greatest care, placed the hair piece upon the ground beside the hair that had once bound her braid - he had faith that Raccoon would find it.
"Well congratulations, Princess," he lifted his head again, tossing his unruly bangs from his eyes. "You win! Give my regards to Raccoon - hopefully she will enjoy her gift," he added and with that moved away from the mare. Ah yes, he didn't conform to the typical nature of a stallion and didn't always marvel at the female form. For the time being her beauty was marred by his anger at her accusations and he had little desire to even recognise her existence. It was a wonder he even felt duty bound to remain after she had called him what he considered to be the greatest insult.
He was not a liar.
Right now, his interest was not in cleanliness or further conversation with the mare and once he had gotten out of her immediate vicinity he lay down with a muffled thump, his reindeer pelt coiled around his form in much the same fashion as a blanket. She could bathe all she wanted and while he may have been in earshot and view he was going to be practising an art that his entire family had mastered over generations - selective hearing. For now, he just wanted to sleep and the spirits knew he deserved that much at least.
...Personally, he was beginning to think that he should have stayed with the Inuits rather than coming home.
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Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 6:55 pm
Anelisse was halfway out into the water when she heard Fenghuang's comment about being called a liar, and the tone it was delivered in, so very unlike anything she'd heard from him, was enough to make her hackles raise. How DARE he put words in her mouth? She had never once, not ONCE called him a liar today, just insufferable and mud-throwing, all of which were true. Turning, she fired back in a tone more aggrieved than anything she'd used so far, "I never said you were a liar, you irritable stallion! I DID say that the water isn't frozen down here, as you can very well see, and even if you were in the cold regions, you're not NOW. You can get grouchy all you want, but now YOU'RE the one who's getting all uppity, and about something that I never said! I'm not a filly, so don't patronize me and talk down to me like I am one! You think I don't have any sense at all, that I can't see that you've gotten all hairy? However, I WAS raised NOT to pry into people's personal lives, and I'm not going to go off and ask or expect you to detail your life to me just because you smell!"
Whether or not he'd heard everything, or anything, was debatable as he'd already turned away, and she was more than willing to do so herself by that point, turning away and stomping out into the middle of the river with a scowl. Once there, the scowl darkened even further; without Raccoon's assistance, she had no way to wash her hair, or even scrub herself. Well, she wasn't about to let something that insignificant get to her, not when she was blazing with righteous indignation. Ducking under the water, she wet her mane, then proceeded to 'swish' herself around in the water with as much vigor as she could. Oh, but she was going to talk to that Raccoon after this, for bailing on her today of all days!
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Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:12 pm
Alright, that was it! He'd never been great at the selective hearing thing anyway, was still too young to fully master it and as a consequence his eyes shot open as she tried to get the last word in again. His jaw tightened considerably and for a short while the stallion chose to twitch under his blanket in fury. He had have a mind to slap her senseless while the other half of him wanted to resist the urge and to behave. He was in quite the predicament with his rebellious spirit warring against the expectations of his family - his family could at the very least, place pressure on him like none other even when they weren't present.
"You think I'm irritable?" he roared, pulling himself to his hooves with such force that the pelt dropped from his flanks. He strode towards the mare with such conviction that he could very well have walked through her. Wading into the water, he send quite a number of large waves in her general direction before deliberately placing his head under the water to grab her mane and drag her back to the surface. He was tired, he was filthy and he was really not in the mood to have a childish argument. It was ironic that he was actually persisting with this one if that happened to be the case.
"You are the most arrogant and blind mare I have ever met in my LIFE - you spend your days cooing to your own reflection! You live your entire life in a world of dreams and don't even understand what's real and what's not," he spat angrily, narrowing his eyes as he threw his weight into the water and sent another wave. It was certainly not one of the most conventional ways to have a bath if he did say so himself, but that wasn't his immediate concern at this precise moment in time. "You are selfish, you are inconsiderate and you are obssessed with how people should be. You are completely incapable of realising that soquili do not follow rules that are set in stone because we are free!"
"You should be bloody amazed that I've even been around you this long, that I've even gone so far as to try and see what hides behind that freaking wall of yours," he seethed. His jaw clenched and he moved away again, kicking the water out from under his hooves with each step until he had reached the shores. "Christ almighty...you're lucky I love you," he muttered, though whether or not she would pick up on that as he strode back to his 'blanket' remained to be seen. He'd vented, he'd raged and he had failed miserably at pretending to be deaf.
...So SUE him.
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Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:30 pm
How utterly, utterly impossible! Anelisse could almost have called it quits there, but no; he just couldn't leave well enough alone. She wouldn't even have needed to hear him admit that she was right or apologize, his continued silence would have been enough for her. But no, he couldn't even do that.
She had to give him points for daring, though; she wouldn't have thought it possible that he would have dared to touch her hair. As it was, she would have yelped at the pull on her hair, had she not been underwater; instead, she came up to the surface gasping and coughing, definitely not in any sort of dignified fashion. However, she wasn't coughing enough to attract any sympathy, or if she was, she would have hated to hear what Fenghuang was holding back.
As it was, everything that she was hearing was bad enough. Each comment, each remark, each word, hit her like a razor-edged dart. As with many vain people, her her ego was a shell, and once pierced...
By the end of his diatribe, her eyes were downcast and she was looking away, blinking rapidly. By the time that he was making his way back to shore, she had turned her back on the shore completely and once again given into her tears.
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Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 7:51 pm
Feng had always been one of the most amiable creatures in his family. He was the most relaxed, the most playful and was generally the one who wasn't irritated by things. He had always prided himself on being able to laugh off certain insults, had always assumed that his hide was thick enough to let the words bounce. Apparently this wasn't the case though and he had indeed let the petite mare push his buttons to the point that he had lashed out both verbally and physically. Oh it had been his intention to leave her reeling but in hindsight, nearly tearing her hair out to make her look at him was something he definitely should not have done. Even he couldn't surpress the guilt on this one and he heaved another weary sigh as he came to a halt. He hadn't even reached his blanket yet and he had sworn that this time he wouldn't turn round but... He knew that sniffle and she was in tears again. This time it was different though as the tears really were because of him and what he had done.
"Oh, very brave Fenghuang..." he murmured softly, rolling his eyes and lifting them heavenwards to inspect the otherwise cloudless skies. "Your parents would be proud of you," he drawled, clearing his throat as he regathered his composure. There was no point spinning round to deal with the weeping mare when he looked murderous. The glint in his eye would have to be lost and his jaw definitely needed to slacken - thus it was only after about two minutes that he was 'relaxed' enough to turn around. He didn't look imposing at the very least, but he also didn't look terribly guilty either - if she expected him to grovel it wasn't going to happen. After all, that would be hypocritical after everything he'd just said...
"I'm sorry, I should've... I'm tired and I lost control, I shouldn't have hurt you," he offered. He didn't want to paint pretty pictures or flower up his words for fear they would sound dishonest. However, at this moment in time he was still reeling at the fact that he had acted with hostility. He could safely say she had pushed every button he had and while that wasn't a good thing, he was astonished at exactly how he had reacted. Now he understood why his brother was always so insistant upon training him when he was younger. "And before you say it, I know that's not a viable excuse..."
"But you should probably get out of the water...Water may not be frozen but it's - it's sstill winter and you could... you could catch a chill," he pointed out softly, choosing to withdraw at that point to his blanket. Needless to say, he'd come to the conclusion that he'd said enough and done more than enough shouting for at least the next ten years.
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Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:11 pm
She still had her pride, Anelisse was quick to remind herself. Sure, her ego had taken so many hits it was practically unconscious, but she had her pride.
Fenghuang could have been staring at her with murder in his eyes at the moment, but she wouldn't have noticed, having turned her back so that he wouldn't be able to see her tears. She hadn't considered the fact that her snufflings were audible until Feng spoke, but her response was quick, if muted; she stepped further out until the water was all the way up to her chin and lowered her head, becoming nothing more than hair floating on the top of the water.
Granted, it was a bit late for that when he'd already heard her. Still sniffling, she lifted her nose out of the water, far enough to speak once again in the same listless and dejected tone as before. "You said what you said and you think what you think, lord knows I'm not going to try to make you feel anything you don't want. Don't worry, even if I'm arrogant and selfish I'm not that bad."
Having said that, she dropped her nose once again, snuffling into the water. He was right about the water, it WAS cold, but she'd rather be numb than deal with this any more. It was just too much, too soon.
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Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:34 pm
Alright she was definitely doing this on purpose and if he didn't know any better she was making a very sorry attempt at drowning herself. Her dejected musings merely caused him to raise a brow and it was with a sigh that he trashed back into the water again. It was just as well he had such a thick coat to combat the chill or he would have sought out heat long ago. Alas, such was the way of things and as he closed the gap between himself and the mre once more he released a sigh. He truly felt like he was dealing with a child at the moment, her behaviour echoing that of a tiny filly when they had been informed they would not be getting an apple before bed time. He supposed it could have been cute to some, but when it involved the mare's health the situation changed considerably.
He merely stood there for a short while, continuing to observe the floating hair before he dove his own head underwater and nudged the mare's head back up again. He wasn't attempting to rescue her from drowning, but he wasn't going to shout his lungs off to be heard either. Regardless of how odd this might have looked, he was content to remain under her chin until he had finished speaking...
"You're right, I'm not going to take back what I said until you prove me wrong, but I don't expect you to bother with that anyway," he shrugged loosely, snorting the water away from his nostrils in the process. "You may not know how I feel and you don't need to know, but just because I was blunt enough to state my opinion doesn't mean you have to sink into listless depression," he grunted a little at the effort of keeping his neck at such a bizarre level.
"I have faith that you're better than that and I'd rather not see you catch the chill of death just to get sympathy because I guarantee you will regret it later when your nostrils are runny and you look like death warmed up," he pointed out smoothly. "Now will you please get out of the water...?" He enquired gently, well aware that her coat wouldn't be able to handle as much of a chill as his own.
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Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:50 pm
If Ane had known that she was even jokingly being thought of as playing for sympathy, she would have snorted and kneecapped the individual in question. Regardless of how things looked, she was neither trying to drown herself nor play anyone's emotions. No, what she was trying was nothing more than to have a good cry in peace. But apparently she wasn't even allowed to do that, stupid stallion.
Still, she was starting to get very cold by this point, and she had to concede that there was logic in Feng's argument. She wasn't about to admit that fact, though, and merely turned and waded out of the water, shaking herself off in silence.
She just didn't understand this stallion, not one bit. First he was tormenting her, then he was baiting her, then he was yelling at her, then he was contrite and trying to look after her welfare. For all of his insults towards her, she could have laid a few choice ones at his feet at the moment, not least of which would have been being schizophrenic. Or something similar. All that she knew was that there was no dealing with him, because he didn't behave in any way she was familiar with. What she would really like to do was grill him on exactly what he had against her; obviously she'd just heard what he thought of her, but that didn't explain why he had come back again. She wished that she had actually heard his last mumbled comment, because there's absolutely no way that he would have actually said that he loved her. Stupid stallion, having to mumble and not speak clearly when he was having an argument!
All these things she thought as she shook herself out, wishing once again that she had Raccoon's hands to help her out by wringing out her hair. Now that she was out of the water, the bright afternoon sun was proving inadequate to combat the cold of the breeze. Her own small frame did nothing to help, and without wanting to give him the satisfaction she found herself shivering before too long. Stupid wind, stupid weather, stupid everything!
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Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:06 pm
No sooner had the mare begun to shiver than she would find the warm reindeer pelt slung across her frame again. He had moved quietly, permitted her to muse over her own thoughts and without shaking the water from his coat he had simply acted on instinct. Tiny mare combined with a thin winter coat and an unhealthy exposure to cold water generally added up to a very cold mare. His instincts had proved to be accurate and it was with a soft snort that he had provided her with the warmth she needed - no strings attached or personal space invaded. While he rather missed the embrace of his coat he would recover it eventually, after she was dried off and not about to keel over. He liked the posessions he did have but he also wasn't selfish enough to withhold them when they were needed elsewhere.
"Lie down, let the grass and sands warm absorb the water," he ordered calmly. He wasn't intending to be bossy and was merely addressing her in the most practical manner possible. He had seen how the cold could affect creatures and wouldn't wish it upon anyone. Fevers weren't pleasant and given her current condition she was suseptible to them. Spirits knew he was well aware that his company would not be received well if he had to tend to her through a fever as well - gods forbid she may very well have a fit at his continued presence.
"If you feel your limbs lock up then rub them on the ground," he added. Satisfied he had given her decent advice he drew away and gave himself an almighty shake, spraying water about his immediate vicinity. It wasn't long before he looked like a very puffed up and tired plush toy, not the most dignified of appearances but he wasn't one who was generally concerned with that sort of thing when his health was at stake. Thick fur or not even he could feel the cruel bite of the water on his legs.
Nevertheless he was seemingly content at that point, satisfied in the knowledge that his blanket should have kept her warm enough to avoid an immediate chill. Yes she would be uncomfortable for the time being, but she wouldn't be desperately cold. He on the other hand was more than happy to roll in the grass until he was nearly completely dry and warm - the sun did have a habit of causing him to heat up incredibly fast anyway. Ah, the joys of a ridiculously thick coat!
Needless to say, provided she didn't call him a liar she could call him every other name under the sun. He had expressed himself and made his thoughts known, if she considered him erratic in his behaviour then that was fair enough. Rest assured he had little intention of declaring his feelings in any sort of audible manner if they were going to be rejected though! No, he had made them known and she had missed the opportunity - she didn't have to understand him. He could be insufferable provided she remained healthy and started eating properly again.
That was his duty after all, he had promised to take care of her even if she didn't see him or couldn't comprehend how or why he chose to do it.
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Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 9:27 pm
It only took a few moments for Anelisse to decide on the best course of action at the moment. The heaviness of the pelt had taken her by surprise at first, but it had only taken a moment for the delicious feeling of warmth to start to overcome her back before she decided that this she would deal with. Undoubtedly it was a peace offering of sorts, he realized that he had been acting utterly reprehensibly and was trying to make amends. She would probably be grouchy if she had to walk around smelling like he'd been all day, so it was understandable that he would be on edge. Even if he'd brought it about entirely through his own behavior.
Settling down on the ground, she wiggled a little so that the edges of the hide were tucked in. Adjusting herself a bit more, she drew back into the hide so that only her horn and nose poked out in front; them aside, she could almost pass for a hairy boulder, or a burrito. Almost.
And from this vantage point, she watched her companion for a bit with scrutinizing eyes, watching as he shook himself off and rolled around and fluffed out like a baby rabbit. Odd, but it did seem to dry him out fast. Then again, HE wasn't white and in danger of acquiring epic grass stains from his rolling, unlike some other Soquili.
So she just lay there, snug in the hide and watching in silence for a time before suddenly saying, in a voice much more calm and 'normal' than anything yet today, "What sort of creature has hide like this? I've never seen anything this rough and hairy, not even about the humans' compounds."
It was perhaps a bit peculiar and random a question, but Anelisse was not completely senseless. Sure, he was an incorrigible and rude and mean stallion and had managed to bring her to tears with his behavior, but he also apparently had moments where he could be considerate and even kind. Ish. She could respect that, and consequently decided to indulge a little curiosity rather than waste anymore energy being angry or irritated or sad. Besides, he'd been the one to accuse HER of not making any efforts to know anything about him, so she would take that as an invitation to be as nosy as she felt like being. If she were the type to be nosy, which she naturally wasn't!
Nothing wrong with a healthy curiosity, though.
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Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 8:11 am
Frankly, even if he had been white it was highly unlikely he would have cared about grass stains. In a season like this, comfort and health were considerably more important about how many grass stains a soquili had strewn across their form. Rolling in grass and dust was often the quickest way to dry off, granted you may look a tad messy afterwards but it was better than freezing to death. He was fairly certain that any foal would have squealed approvingly at the sight of his 'fluffy bunny' image though, even as he gave himself another shake and flicked his tail against his flank. Prior to returning to the Kawani he had been subject to the scrutiny of a child and he had initially been asked if he were a Skinwalker, while amusing at the time it had begged the question of just how imposing he was beginning to look as of late.
"It comes from a reindeer," he replied smoothly. He hadn't even picked up on the conversational tone, hadn't sensed the shift from anger to curiosity. He was simply too tired to keep up with the change and as such was now running on autopilot. If she spoke, he would answer and this would generally mean he didn't end up with a headache or anymore emotionally strained than he already was. Hopefully once she had satiated her curiosity he'd be able to sleep too!
...But the reindeer pelt was not a peace offering, he would be taking that back.
"They reside up north in the frozen wastes, the humans there hunt them for food and clothing," he explained. He didn't really care if she hadn't the slightest idea where the frozen wastes were, nor was he terribly bothered if she was interested in further details. It had come from a reindeer and evidently it had been a big one, for it covered her with sufficient ease and gave him more than adequate cover too. Granted he didn't agree with her statement that it was 'rough' though, it did need a good brush to smooth out the hair and remove the flecks of mud but it was usually a very soft blanket.
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Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 9:04 pm
"Reindeer." Obviously some sort of relative of the local deer, if darker and rougher and scruffier. Not that she had ever touched any of the local deer of course, but from a reasonable distance they looked smooth and pet-able. They were more her size, though, and would be more of a waistcoat than a blanket...
Not that she was going to seek one out to wear one. That was one thing she never quite understood, the way that people liked to kill and dismember some animals. Raccoon had scouted out her share of encampments and told Anelisse about the hides that made up the teepees and the very garments the humans wore. It was rather disturbing to Anelisse, and made all the more perplexing the fact that many Soquilis seemed to dot the Kawani lands and live among them in their teepees. What was there to prevent the humans from deciding to try Soquili hide? Not that her race would EVER give up their hides easily, of course.
Mulling on that, she gave the blanket a suspicious look, wondering what sort of fate its original owner had come to. It wasn't that bad of a hide, being rather warm and soft; hopefully the original owner hadn't been too upset to die at its time. If nothing else, it had given its life to keep others warm? Maybe it had been a voluntary death, maybe it had given its life for some old friend or a young child, or a parent...
Just thinking about it caused the tears to well up again, though this time they were for the unknown dead reindeer. Shifting the hide slightly, she nuzzled against it, murmuring, "Thank you for your sacrifice." She would have liked to have known that reindeer, they probably would have gotten along well if all of it was as nice as this hide, even if it WAS brown.
No sooner had that thought finished than she was drawn up short, struck quite suddenly with the fact that she was commiserating with and feeling sympathy for a hide, even crying for it. God, this was getting almost laughable, her inability to control herself and her emotions. Undoubtedly that was a large part of her problem right there; her mother's new children were probably much less emotional. But she wasn't going to think of them right now; the emotion THEY evoked was much less pleasant than the simple anger she'd felt earlier. A mere growl was enough to satisfy THAT thought, at least for the time being.
By this point, Fenghuang himself had ceased to be something to worry about; had she been paying attention to him, she might have wondered what he thought of her random little waltz from tears to murmurs to snarls of anger. However, his reactions or thoughts (if he had even noticed) would have to wait. Shaking her head in an effort to sort herself out, Ane found herself yawning. After a few more minutes, her head was on the ground and she was curled up, eyes closed in a mostly peaceful sleep.
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