|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 7:48 pm
Alucard had panicked a little to see his companion upset, but let out a soft sigh of relief when he heard Khalidia bounce right back up emotionally (and literally). If it had been him, he would have wallowed in the thought for hours... maybe even had a bad dream about being a sky-Kirin! Those celestial beings had to bump into each other sometime, though. They just had to.
He allowed himself to hope.
With a kick of his hind legs, he was next to her again in two gallops, trotting with her into the tunnel leading away from the mouth of the cave.
"You know... maybe all the caves I saw are interconnected. Which means there should be a way to get to the one behind the waterfall." He was trembling, too, as they walked together, but with excitement. Exploring was going to be so fun, and who knew what was waiting for them out there? "We'll be able to see the moon from there! That cave has lots of holes that look outside."
He considered her thoughtfully for a moment, turning his head towards her and still keeping one eye on the way ahead. If the cave wasn't safe, and the path too narrow, he wouldn't know how to help her if he was stuck behind. "Let's make a deal. We'll walk side by side when it's wide enough, and if it's too narrow you'll let me walk ahead. And if I bump into anything that might hurt you and tell you to run, you'll turn around and head all the way back to here. I'll follow you when I can. Does that sound good?"
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 8:15 pm
Khalidia blinked at him, then shook her head giving a heavy snort of discontent. "But then you'll be in trouble, and I won't be able to help!" she protested, sounding a bit sulky. "I don't want to run away and leave you to get hurt. We're friends now, right? I wouldn't want to abandon you, ever." she pawed the ground firmly, then snorted again. "I'll let you go ahead, but... if there's a bad thing, I'm only going to back up enough to give you room to take care of the problem."
From the tone in her voice... she had absolute faith in his ability to do so, no matter what the threat.
"Can we go see if we can find the waterfall cave now? I want to see the moon again!" she told him, sounding just as excited as he. "And maybe we'll find something interesting... like... like... I don't know, but we'll know it when we find it!" she laughed again, then started to walk daintily forward, going slow enough that she could take in the few scents there were as they came. Some part of her was also a little worried that the rocks above them would fall, but if that had been a danger, he would have known, and he would have warned her. This was his home.
Suddenly, a thought hit her, and her head jerked up, tail swishing. "Maybe..." she began, words coming slowly. "Maybe there's a big creature like us up in the sky, and another down here, in the ground. And... and they can't get to each other. That's really why the one in the sky cries - so that his tears will reach her, and... and she can drink them...and..." her imagination began to falter as her immaturity caught up with her - later, as she grew older and understood male female relations, she might be able to amplify on this new thought, but for now, she laid it to rest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:19 pm
"And make the trees and all her children grow?" He asked, making a gentle attempt to finish off her sentence. It made sense, after all. Every animal he had seen so far had to drink, and something told him the trees liked water, too. He slowed, and suddenly turned about on the spot, intentionally letting his hooves clip at the stone ground below them. Strange. For some reason the ceiling felt very high and far away now, and all the noises they made reproduced themselves as echoes.
As Alucard's eyes adjusted a little better to the gloom, for some of the moss-covered rocks glowed faintly, he saw three other tunnels like the one they had just emerged from, leading off from the antechamber. A cool breeze, supposedly from the outside, was drifting in from two of them, but the last one was silent.
"Hey, I think one of the two breathing tunnels leads to the waterfall... maybe if we went and listened at each, we'd be able to hear it?" He glanced at her for a moment, then continued, as he bounded towards the further of the two tunnels, "I'll check this one, try listening at the other one. Watch your step, though... there's lots of rocks to trip on. And call if you need help."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 9:43 pm
That might be it, she reasoned, turning the thought over and over in her mind. It was a nice one, she decided, then was turned away from her inner ponderings by the echoing sound of his hooves. What was happening here and now was even more fascinating, so it was easy to let her attention come back to the present. She looked up, trying to catch sight of the ceiling, but couldn't, and sighed softly. "Wonder where it ends..." she whispered before listening to his plan.
"Alright! Make sure you yell if you find it, or anything else interesting!" she told him as he went ahead, picking her own way towards her tunnel a bit more slowly. Her eyes hadn't adjusted as well as his, and she was still fairly blind; the fresh air gave her hope that the moon would soon come into view and help relieve that handicap. She felt badly that she couldn't help out more on this exploration...
When she was several feet down her tunnel, eyes wide and legs shaking, she paused, active imagination kicking in again. What if it wasn't a Kirin lying in wait down here, but some terrible beast? What if she got eaten? A shiver ran through her, but she forced herself to stand her ground, listening hard and long, sensitive ears straining forward as she tried to catch any hint of the thundering waterfall.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2009 11:59 pm
Alucard was as still as Khalidia was for a while, but eventually shook his head and headed over to her, making sure his hooves fell loudly so she wouldn't be startled. He didn't think anything malicious was in this deeper part of the cave - it felt just as cosy, as familiar as the one he had spent his first few waking moments in. All he had heard from his tunnel was the wind and the distant, light patter of rain, not the roaring, gushing sound he'd expect of a waterfall.
Her tunnel seemed the longest of the three, and the most distant from the one leading to his sleeping place. He brushed her very gently when they were right next to each other.
"Hey, it's just me. I think you've got the right one, mine just leads straight outside again. Let's press on, shall we?" He whickered softly at her, and continued on the path before them, tail swishing gently.In the last, dead-end cave, something not-quite-unrelated to Alucard and Khalidia opened her eyes and yawned, woken by the echoes. She rose from where she was in the center of her pool, which was shallow enough for her to be only semi-submerged while sleeping, and fed by dripping water from the running river above. She had been asleep for a long, long time.
Silarial moved to the mouth of the tunnel, dripping out a trail of water, and was just in time to see two other not-quite-unrelated somethings heading towards the waterfall. One smelled ordinary, the other, of blood. Both were very young. Hatchling foals, apparently.
The grown Kirin shook herself from head to toe, clearing most of the water from her body. Then she made her way amongst the stalagmites in the large chamber, as quietly as only someone who had walked the same path many times before knew how. Her cave had been invaded, but the intruders seemed harmless, and she wanted to know more about them.
Maybe they had gotten separated from their herds, and needed help finding their way back. Or maybe they had been abandoned as eggs in the forest, like she had been many, many moons before. She would follow them until they had enough moonlight to see her, she decided, and then try to approach them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 12:14 am
"I think you're right." she told him, following after him happily, ears relaxing. "I heard something like what the sky did, that rumbly sound, only it's far away and it doesn't stop. You have to be real quiet to hear it though." She was silent a moment, and then she sped up a bit, just enough to gently prod his flank with her nose.
"Maybe when we get to the waterfall, we could go swimming." she suggested, then giggled flicked her tail. "Only if it isn't deep and fast though... I'm not too good at swimming yet. I usually only go wading. But sometimes I see little fish. They're pretty." She thought about continuing to chatter, then realized that the male was probably getting sick of listening to her. She fell quiet and simply began to take it the sounds of the cave again, growing more interested in her surroundings as she became totally sure of the fact that they were safe.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 3:12 am
Swimming? I... I don't think that's possible. It's still raining outside, and the water moves kind of fast... and you'd have to jump." Alucard gave her a faintly incredulous look. "With your legs I'm sure you'd make the jump, but the river would carry you away really quickly. And then you might go under." He shuddered slightly at the thought. Shortly after hatching, on the second night, he had tried to breathe water and choked. It was an awful feeling and he was glad he had only stuck his nose into the water.
"I have never gone wading... maybe I can try with you, someday. And I like fish too, they can be kind of... tickly. And playful, in a shy scared way. Kind of like you," He teased, butting her shoulder with his face, high enough that his baby horn didn't poke her. As they turned a bend the sight made him straighten his neck in wonder.
"Look, we've arrived!"
Setting Change
It is still raining outside, and it's no longer a drizzle. Every once in a while lightning branches across the sky in inverted parodies of the trees below, which are taking a lashing from the wind. The tunnel leads out to the Waterfall Grotto, yet another naturally-formed chamber about the size of Alucard's cave. Cosy. Or it would be, if everything wasn't damp and the rocks weren't host to rich vegetation, slightly strange in appearance but much tastier than grass. The waterfall goes past in a sheet to the right between two thin pillars, dropping adult-Kirin-length to foam and crash below in a pool before the river continues outwards. There are other gaps facing outside as well, and sometimes a random gust of wind will blow the rain in. Water is dripping in places from above and a luminous flying insects are flitting lazily about. Overall a beautiful and definitely peaceful place. Perfect for dates. ;D -cough- I mean...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 1:24 pm
She gulped and snorted, shaking her head. "If the water is that fast, I don't want to go... I like slow, shallow water." She'd been about to retaliate for his fish comment when he announced that they'd arrived, and as she looked over the cavern, her breath left her in a whoosh. "Oh my..." she whispered, eyes going very wide. She took several steps forward, moving carefully on the water slicked surface, and carefully nibbled on one of the hanging vines - it looked and smelled so yummy! "It's delicious! And this place is so beautiful... it's perfect!"
She laughed and went to turn to face him again... and promptly fell, legs splayed around her, a surprised expression on her face. "Hey... no fair..." she pouted, not getting up right away. "Bet you won't fall. Why do I have to be the clumsy one in the pair?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 10:03 pm
The colt had been eyeing some pretty, brown-speckled mushrooms growing not too far from them when Khalidia fell. His head whipped round back in her direction again, and, preoccupied, he failed to notice an older Kirin standing quietly in the shadowed tunnel behind them.
"Are you alright?" Asked Alucard, concerned. He was somewhat relieved to note none of her legs looked like they were at weird angles, and she didn't sound like she was in pain. He stepped daintily to her side, and was about to nudge her to help her up when he slipped on the slick ground as well, falling heavily on his side with a squeal of surprise. "You've lost your bet," he teased again, once he recovered his breath. He tried to pick himself up, but slipped again and landed on his belly.Watching both foals flounder about, Silarial couldn't help bursting out laughing, especially when the male failed to get up again. Realising that she had blown her own cover, the mare delicately picked her way towards them, avoiding the large patch of slippery moss that had caused both to lose their footing.
"Excuse me for not announcing myself earlier... I didn't want to interrupt your chatter." She said in a curiously musical voice, gentle and low. "Here, let me help you up. Try to step on the solid stone, not the moss and algae." Silarial planted herself with four solid hooves, and stretched out her neck to help push Khalidia up. The filly was closer, after all, and she had lain there longer.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 7:47 pm
Khalidia had been about to start giggling and laughing herself when the sound of a strange, new creature broke in. She squeaked in surprise, trying to turn and failing - she couldn't get enough of her balance back. Instead, she craned her neck, trying to see who this person was who found them so funny. When she caught sight of Silarial, her eyes went very, very wide. "Hey! You're one of us!" she called out, sounding almost accusing, though she hadn't quite meant it that way.
It was only that revelation that kept her from shying back when the other female moved to help her up; after all, Alucard was like her, and he'd been wonderful so far. This new Kirin couldn't be so bad either. "And we weren't chattering - I was. Now that I found someone to talk to, I can't seem to shut up." she told the other cheerfully as they both worked to get her to her hooves. "Alucard doesn't talk as much, but he's smarter. I'm Khalidia! Who're you?" she continued, hardly remembering to stop to breathe as she moved carefully, sticking to the rock as Silarial had advised.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2009 10:14 pm
"I am Silarial, and I live in the deepest part of this cave; and yes, I'm one of you." The mare flicked her tail in acknowledgment - normally she would have nodded, but her head was occupied. After months of solitude, filled with the sound of water and wind, the little filly's voice was refreshing and faintly disconcerting all at once - Silarial's ears were unaccustomed to the noise and twitched slightly as she listened. With Khalidia back on her feet again, she gave a satisfied toss of her head, and went over to Alucard to nudge him up as well. "Well, the two of you don't look like brother and sister... where are your herds?"Alucard was in awe of the stranger. He had not known before that the simple cave he sheltered in had other chambers further in, nor that there were other inhabitants. As he staggered to his feet he leaned against the older Kirin for support, a strong feeling of guilt growing within him. "I'm not smarter than Khali, just a little bit older. And I think too slow to respond quickly to what she says." He hung his head, ashamed that she should think so highly of him... and for another reason as well. "I'm sorry. I didn't know this cave was yours. But I need a place to hide from the sun in the day and... and Khalidia needs somewhere to stay, too."
He looked up into Silarial's longer, older face hopefully; she had helped them up, so that meant she was kind, right? Alucard wasn't sure what these "herds" were that she spoke of, but he thought from his words she would be able to figure out that neither he nor Khalidia had one.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 12:46 pm
"Herds?" the younger female asked, blinking a few times as she tried to figure out what the word meant. Then she laughed, tossing her head. "Like all the animals I saw that were with several of their own kind, right?" she asked, excited that she'd made the connection. However, her joy was short lived, and she became more subdued as she answered the question, shrinking back into herself slightly. "We don't have herds." she whispered softly.
"Alucard was the first one like me I ever saw... I only found him tonight. Well, he found me, I mean. I was alone till then." There was a moment of silence, and then Khalidia moved closer to the male, affectionately rubbing her neck along his. "He's my herd now, I guess." she murmured, though she sounded a bit hesitant - she wasn't sure he would accept the tie between them. "And I'm sorry too, if we bothered you - we didn't know you were here, Silarial. Do you not want us to stay here? Do we have to find somewhere else?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 11:44 pm
Silarial lowered her head and pawed the ground, pretending to consider their request heavily - the truth was, she had already made up her mind long before. The cave was too quiet, her life too empty. She also sympathized with their plight; it seemed they too had hatched from abandoned eggs. While the mare continued to ruminate, Alucard flicked his tail happily, nuzzling Khalidia in return.
"And you're my herd, too," he whispered back.
Secretly, though, he was worried. She was much too nice. Deep down inside the vampire Kirin had a suspicion that Khalidia had not the need or the heart to hunt the way he did - with her love for other animals it was likely she would be horrified if she ever caught him drinking blood. Thankfully the cave and the forest were large enough for him to "vanish" every time he felt the need to prey on something. Maybe he could even get Silarial to distract her...
He leaned against Khalidia, weaving a potential web of lies. If this was the price he had to pay to keep her around, so be it."Alright, you can stay."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 5:41 pm
"Yay!!" The filly enthused, laughing happily, unaware of her friend's troubled thoughts. "We can stay! Isn't that great, Alu? An' we won't be any trouble, I promise. We can stay in the cave he lives in - it's pretty close to the front - and we'll be quiet and you'll hardly know we're here!" she was about to ramble on about how much they wouldn't bother her, until a thought struck the young Kirin. She blinked and snorted, looking up at Silarial with a curious expression.
"Unless... you need a herd too?" she ventured tentatively, hoping the other wouldn't be insulted or annoyed by the thought. "If you live here all by yourself, it probably gets lonely, right? We can keep you company when you want it, and only leave you alone when you need some quiet and some space. And... we don't know much about most things. Maybe you could... help us learn?"
If the adult refused, Khalidia had no doubt that she and her friend would be fine; they were already learning quickly, and they would help and protect each other. Really, she was trying to be thoughtful, offering Silarial a place that no one else could fill; that of a leader and, if not mother, than at least guardian.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 6:48 pm
You? Quiet? Silarial stifled a smile as she pictured the filly doing her uncomfortable best to silence herself. No, that wouldn't do at all.
"Run around and explore the entire cave if you like; and the forest as well. You don't have to be quiet, except maybe in the afternoon when the poor bats are napping in the other exit of this cave... I'm assuming the two of you will take the drier exit that leads right out to the river.
From what I've observed from Kirin herds passing through the forest, herds are usually led by a stallion, not a mare. However, since there is no stallion around just yet..." Here, she winked at Alu. "I'll fulfill the duties of guiding and protecting both of you.
First lesson, then." Mane falling in a curtain towards them, she turned and nibbled at a dull-coloured fungus. "Everything in this part of the cave is edible, but not always tasty. Some help you when you're sick and others just help fill you up. It's best not to eat too much at once, so that in winter you'll get a steady supply of food. The plant left alone will prosper and sprout other plants, while a plant that is eaten is just... breakfast. Also, there are other animals in this cave like the bats and the mice; don't forget to leave some food for them, too."
She surprised herself with how much she talked when with the foals. With the passing herds and rogues she had been curt, sometimes even hiding herself away altogether. Silarial enjoyed teaching more than she expected to.
She shifted a little to let either foal have a taste of what she had just eaten if they wanted, watching carefully for their reactions and prepared to take questions.You've got that about right, Thought Alucard when he heard her comment on taste, mentally comparing the flavour of blood from an old squirrel and blood from an adult cave mouse. A worried frown touched his brow; maybe if he lived on blood, he couldn't stomach what Silarial was asking them to eat? He watched Khalidia and decided to try what she would.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
