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 Posted: Thu Jun 18, 2009 10:37 pm
Still smiling softly, Kaliska looked over at the river, "I was just... Thinking... A lot has happened this past month. The Two-Legger that's helping to care for me is fishing on this side of the river and picking river reeds for making baskets -- to carry things in."
There was a slight pause before she turned back to look at him, "...Would you... Would you like to see her? If we move in quietly you might see her unseen yourself if you'd rather not actually meet her. She's pretty nice.. She even made me these bracelets..."
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Posted: Fri Jun 19, 2009 8:29 am
Nocturne blinked, canting his head ever so slightly at his new friend. A two-legger she said. . . ? Like a real one? Face to face? The ebony colt had never dealt with such a creature before, and most of his family tended to keep themselves distant from such funny creatures. His grandmother had told him stories of their strange packs and the funny triangular nests they could make seemingly appear out of nothing. . . They were an odd sort of creature, and one he had never given much thought about. He stayed away and let them be. . .
It just seemed safer.
But to know that his newest friend had one as . . .as a pet? A pet that made her trinkets, just like some of the woodsy animals might do?
Amazing really. The little colt peeked down at the feathered bracelets and string that Kaliska donned. They reminded him, briefly, of the sorts of jewels his grandmother and grandfather wore. . . things not found in nature. Were they from two-leggers too. . .? Quite possibly.
"I . . I think I would like to meet her." He stated solemnly, his red eyes widening slightly in curiosity and surprise. "They don't bite, do they? I heard that some of them try to capture soquili! And sometimes they have pokey sticks!" For being weak and frail looking, awkward things the little colt had heard stories of their hunts. A pack of them could take down a kalona if the were smart. . . .though Nocturne didn't really believe it.
To see a two-legged thing up close sounded kind of fun though, especially if Kaliska liked it. Why not? It certainly would be a story to tell his family later. . . and why shouldn't he meet one of the animals? If he were to take care and protect the grove, he might as well know what being around a two-legged thing was like. . . . even if he were only very little. "I don't mind if she sees me," he added with a little grin. "I want to get as close as I can, just to . . . just to see what one's like. I've never been near one before."
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 12:51 pm
"She's an outsider from the rest of her species, from what I can tell. Live's alone, away from the others... She's really gentle -- eats mostly plants she grows and fish, sometimes birds or wild boar." Kaliska stated, thinking it would sooth, "Never Soquili -- she seems to hold us to high regard. Otherwise she would be more aggressive chasing Tulgey out of her garden.."
Laughing softly, she moved towards the river bend, moving quietly through the long grass, occasionally leaping in a bound to see where she was going, bounding almost like a playful rabbit.
As they neared the water, a soft, foreign song rolled through the grass, Kaliska pausing as they entered the shadow of a large oak tree, making a soft noise of relief -- It felt good getting out of the sun, her dark pelt not designed for the warmth of the direct sun. She then crept forwards and crouched, peeking around the tree as she whispered, "See? There she is."
The women stood out against the dark forest, her long raven hair pulled back into a tight bun, and her clothing bright and colorful. She was harvesting reeds from the rivers edge, singing softly as she bundled the reeds and set them out to dry. She glanced over her shoulder, and smiled as she spotted the two soquili, turning softly as she dug into one of her baskets and took out a bit of fruit, "Heruse Cerakko. Kaliska, ceme enhesse?"**
"I have no idea what she just said." Kaliska smiled softly as she approached the two-legger, nibbling the fruit as the colorful native reached out her other hand to offer some to Nocturne, clucking her tongue softly in a soothing fashion, "But she's nice, see?"
**Rough translation from Creek: "Pretty horse. Kaliska, this your friend?" (reeeeaaaly rough)
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 2:15 pm
Nocturne listened, curious about this meeting that was to come. A two-legger. . .an actual, living, breathing two-legger. It was interesting to the little colt, as he didn't know much about their packs and the way they lived. He'd heard stories of them and heard rumors that his great-grandfather Cyn could actually transform in to one. . . (But of course, in his little colt mind, that was merely rubbish!). Still, a glance over his shoulder assured him that his mother wasn't rushing up to rescue her baby from harm and with a little grin he followed his newest friend.
While she pranced and lead the way, Nocturne kept himself within the grasses, trailing after in an easy manner. He wasn't too anxious, that was, until he actually peeked around the tree and saw her.
Boy oh boy did they look funny! Where was her fur? And why did they have tentacles instead of hooves? And what was that strange noise and jibberish she spoke? It certainly didn't sound like the birds song or other woodland animals he'd met.
Strangely enough, though he was tempted by the offering of fruit (and reassured by Kaliska's breezy-approach) there was something different. Something off. He was unaccustomed to such a creature and his little spiked tail swished anxiously behind him. . . Red eyes wide, his ears flattened not out of anger but out of uncertainty. . . .
Hmmm. . . . .
Still, he wasn't an agressive foal, but it was his turn to be shy. The air and feeling around the two-legger wasn't hostile and there didn't seem to be anything other than foreign scents upon her. The fruit she held smelled good and his little tummy rumbled as a reminder that perhaps he would do well in taking the gift. It certainly would be foolish to give up such treats!
Shuffling his wings, the black colt hesitantly approached. "I dunno what she said either but . . . but I guess she's all right. She's just so strange looking, I've never seen an animal like that before." Eyes glued on Acosta, it took a few minutes but the little colt finally made it to her hand. He sniffed at the fruit for a moment before taking it, his little tail wagging more happily in delight.
This wasn't bad. . .right? A new friend, meeting a new creature and getting a snack out of the deal. The spirits were certainly smiling down on him today, that was for certain! Finishing his fruit, the little colt relaxed fully though he did make sure to stand a little bit closer to Kaliska. But exactly who might be protecting who in the situation remained to be seen.
Secretly, two-leggers made him a little nervous. . .
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Posted: Mon Jun 22, 2009 2:37 pm
"Heruse Cerakko. " The two-legger crooned softly, "Heruse Cerakko. Mmn." She then broke off the roots of some of the reeds, feeding them to Kaliska, moving slowly as to keep Nocturne from spooking, before returning to her harvest, singing wordlessly under her breath.
Kaliska slowly walked away from Acotas, standing near by so they could watch her from a farther distance, "She doesn't actually eat those plants -- she weaves them -- using those weird things on the end of her forelegs -- into baskets and bowls.. See like those over there with the bright colors, holding the dried reeds." She crept up to the cluster of large, shallow baskets, nudging an empty one with her nose, "A lot of Soquili young, when really small, are actually put in these to keep them safe until they are old enough to travel. Praetoria, my adopted sister, was in my native's garden in one -- it was the safest way for Tulgey to transport her."
She then moved to a basket with polished river rocks, "And these? She hits them on each other and chips them into things for digging -- look, like that 'blade' she has for separating the roots from the reeds. She can also make fire by banging rocks together. I think its where they get their strength and powers from, the rocks. I think they communicate with different spirits with different rocks, giving them abilities they wouldn't normally have. Almost Everything they do requires a rock in the process. And she wears such bright, colorful ones around her neck, small beads."
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Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:16 am
The little colt canted his head ever so slightly, his red eyes focused hard on Acotas. She was an interesting creature, and if what Kaliska said was true, was very productive and resourceful. Her tentacle-paws seemed much more like a raccoons, able to grasp and hang on to things much more easy than (say) a soquili. But while grasping might be useful, they did look awfully frail and Nocturne was quite sure one stomp of his hoof could render the tentacle-paws useless.
Not that he would, mind, but he was proud of being a soquili. Even if he couldn't exactly weave things or braid things like Acotas or his great-grandmother Moppet the Raccoon.
Following Kaliska away from the two-legger, the little colt gave a small shake of his head. He truly was learning a lot, so much it was almost difficult to take in. "I wasn't born in no basket," he muttered softly, curiously reaching out to sniff at the thing before poking it lightly with his horn. "But . . . but I think you're right. My Gramma told me that she found my Uncle Raphe in a basket by the river, no parents or anything~! I always wondered why he might've been in one but I guess someone stuck him there. A two-legger or something. . . " He added with a small shrug, glancing from his blue-maned friend back to Acotas.
"They look awfully weak though, 'specially against us soquili. But I guess that's why they can make fire and use stones and rocks, to make up for their lack of fur and apparent strength." Still, the little colt strained his eyes to peer around the woman's neck; sure enough, there was a pretty little necklace made of rocks the colour of which he'd never seen before. A novel idea, to say the least; he remembered his mothers necklace made out of roots, and of course his grandmother's shiny jinglies but none were made out of stone like that. . . .
Hnn. Something the little colt would have to further investigate upon. Just in case it came in handy one day. "I haven't found shiney stones like that anywhere. . . But then I don't usually look for 'em," he added with another little grin. Maybe if he paid more attention he could find them hiding somewhere. . .something pretty and not like the plain stones in the mountains.
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Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 7:41 am
Kaliska was silent as a low breeze flowed through the field, tilting her head into the wind and closing her eyes before finally looking over at Nocturne with a thoughtful expression, "Tulgey... He sometimes hunts for the 'shinies', the rocks that are sought after by natives. Usually he keeps them for himself, but he also occasionally gives them to this one Soquili with a scarf-like pack on his back, along with medicinal herbs, in exchange for some of the oddest things -- Unusually patterned feathers, seashells, basically anything colored like a rainbow.."
She tipped her head back into the wind, finding it soothing, "And the blue soquili he gives them to.. Often brings them to Acotas - thats the word the others use for her, at least. Since they - the soquili and Acotas- don't understand each other very well, he sets them, and some of the herbs down, and she offers things in exchange for it. Often times he gives the stones, which are useless to him, to her in exchange for being brushed -- being brushed IS rather enjoyable." Now that she was comfortable, and finally having a friend, the smaller foal was turning out to be rather talkative as she explained things for him, "And she then takes it to where the other two-leggers and trades the gems for goods she cannot get for herself, as well as more of those beads around her neck."
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Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 8:21 am
The little colt gave a grunt of understanding, though it surprised him that a soquili might actually trade with a two-legger. If they couldn't communicate, how did one firstk now what the other was looking for.. .? "I've never been brushed by a two-legger before. . . but then, my mane isn't that long. And I don't have much on my tail either," he added as an after thought, bringing his tail 'round to study the pale fluff that decorated its tip.
"But I guess it works out for them, giving each other useful things and everything." The ebony colt wasn't entirely certain he would ever do something like that but to each their own. If some soquili could benefit from advantages of having tentacles to 'brush' and give gifts, than so be it. Nocturne preferred to be more self-reliant. . . or so he hoped. He was young yet, and still a little proud. He couldn't imagine asking help from anyone at this rate and therefor, to ask a two-legger seemed kind of strange.
"So does she live right here or does she move a lot. . .? And do you stay near her or just let her go where she pleases?" He couldn't help but question, foal curiosity getting the best of him. The little ebony one absolutely hated to be out of the loop and he wanted to have a clear understanding of everything around him. The more he knew, the more he could learn and the stronger he'd be. Mentality and intelligence were all a part of his training too, he remembered. . . It wasn't all brawn in the world of protection; it took wits and smarts too.
And if Nocturne had his way, he'd pass with flying colours on all such levels. Or so his pride could only hope. "You certainly know some interesting people and soquili," he added with a little grin. "I don't have a pet two-legger or nothin'~!"
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Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 9:28 am
Kaliska chuckles, stretching out before hopping onto a rock and curling her legs under herself, perched comfortably up high, "Not all the brushing is for the hair, actually -- the fur also can be brushed, its relaxing and gets rid of a lot of problems, like the salt from sweat, keeps your skin from itching or hurting, and Cools you down after a hot day of strong sun on dark fur -- According to Mecho, the one who comes and points out what he wants, say's its really good in the spring to get rid of shed hair that refuses to leave from winter.. Perhaps someday I can try and borrow her brush and try brushing you"
She closed her eyes as she listened to his questions before the young quarter-Kalona tipped her head over in thought and for a long while it seemed almost as if she had fallen asleep. However, she finally shook her head, "She usually stays around here, though she does move often times to hunt for food. Usually I stay close to the camp since I'm rather small. A good sized eagle could carry me off for dinner like they do the goats in the high mountains. Or at least,that's what I've been told happens sometimes. When I get bigger I'll be able to roam more without needing to stick with 'Uncle' Tulgey."
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Posted: Wed Jun 24, 2009 10:40 am
The little colt stood next to Kaliska as she curled up a top the rock. Though he hadn't really paid much attention to her size, seeing her curled up made her look even smaller. And she was awful small. . . Petite, in a sense, and almost frail. Perhaps her earlier tears and traumatic need to make such a difficult and grown up decision caused Nocturne to see her as a bit more genteel than most foals; regardless, he hoped that such tears didn't come back so soon.
Thankfully, the little dark filly seemed to have a small nest of support; from a two-legger, to some uncle T of some sort, and a handful of other names he wasn't entirely certain on. That was better than nothing, right?
Grunting lightly, a very typical response for the ebony boy, the red eyed one shuffled his wings lightly. One of his very first friends and soon, he knew, he'd have to go away. Goodness only knew that Numielle would begin to worry and, knowing her, she'd flit in to a panic searching for him.
What would happen if he never came back down the mountain again? What if he didn't get to see her or she forgot about him? Ugh. . . . Well, then, so be it. But he hoped not. It wasn't easy keeping friends when one lived so far away and the kawani was such a big place. But, such was up to the spirits. . . . At least he had found some good company while he'd been out and about. At least he'd have a story to tell his sister, Dove, upon his return. "Well, just make sure you watch out then. . . " He noted, tone serious and grave. His tail swished irritably behind him, not liking the thought of her being snatched up for dinner at all.
Though he couldn't object to an animal fetching dinner, he could object to them eating soquili or his friends. To do such a thing was totally uncool and something he had vowed to keep from happening. It was why he trained with his family as hard as he did, because he had to be the best someday. . . he had to take care of his family and his friends, to keep away the evils that DID lurk and were quite (if not obviously) present.
Though he often was told he looked like evil himself, Nocturne understood. He looked fierce because he had to be fierce for the good of others. HE would never wind up like his brother, untameable and misunderstood; he would never wind up like the darkness many assumed him or his family to be.
Of course, as to be expected, there was a call. And not just a call, but a sweeping shadow that fell over the pair. Nocturne himself heaved a heavy sigh, cringing slightly as he knew the dual-winged shadow and scent anywhere. Oh boy. . . .his mother.
"There's my Nockey-Face~!" The mare sang out sweetly, circling the two on her sets of wings. Her long, spiked tail trailed behind her, her own hair falling and tangling in waves. "Numi had wondered where you went, oh yes, yes she did!" She added, circling a final time before dropping delicately down to the ground nearby. "At first she had thought she might have forgot, but then Numi remembered that she would never forget, oh yes, she would never, ever, ever misplace her special-special." Tail swishing, it didn't take her long to bridge the distance between herself and her son. "So up I flew, and I looked, and looked, and looked but then I found you~! Oh yes, yes I did!" Beaming with pride, she nuzzeld her son before her black and blue eyes landed on a rock. . .
And not just any rock, but a rock with fur! Dark black and blue fur with blue mane and horns! "So the sneaky-special found someone special-special too~!?!" She questioned, quirking a brow and swishing her tail happily behind her.
Ooooooh~! Her son had made a friend! One of his friend friends ever, and not his sister or family! The little filly was very tiny, possibly still a baby, and Numielle couldn't resist. Reaching forward with her neck, she wanted to investigate Kaliska further, her gaze sparkling with warmth and affection. "Numi wants to know who this pretty special-special is. . . . ? I'm Numielle." And with that, she reached forth with her wings in an attempt to snuggle up to the strange filly.
It was just her way.
Nocturne groaned inwardly, glad his fur was ebony so it might hide the flush that coloured him crimson. Oh gawds. . . for as much as he absolutley adored Numielle, he had fast come to an understanding that she wasn't exactly the most . . . sane of creatures. She had seemingly never grown up and walked to a beat of her own drum. "Mom just . . . calm down. . . please." He half begged, nervous that his mother might scare his new friend away. Or worse, set her off in to tears.
Why did she have to be so snuggly? Whyyyyyyy. . .!?
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Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2009 5:53 pm
Squeeking slightly as she was nuzzled, the small Quarter-Kalona having frozen in hopes of not being noticed, Kaliska slid off of the rock and skittered away behind Nocturne, eyes wide as her eyes locked, not on the overly affectionate Mare's face, but on her two sets of wings, so soft and feathery. She quickly dipped her head to keep her from seeing any sadness that may wander into her eyes, "Y-you must be Nocturnes mother." She was a lot different then what she had expected. Two sets of feathery wings were not what she expected
Nockey-face?, She thought -- such an odd nickname. At least Tulgey calling them 'kittens' made sense. Or even Acotas calling Nocturne 'Heruse Cerakko' -- that was at the very least a language barrier.
With a soft noise, she darted her eyes back up, then down as she bowed her head, "I'm Kaliska..."
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Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2009 2:13 pm
Nocturne heaved an inward sigh, especially when Kaliska stared up at his mother. It was bad enough that the large, white mare was making such a scene but it was even worse timing! From what he understood, Kaliska was a little on the delicate size, both emotionally and physically. Especially with harboring issues when it came to wings, though it was no fault of his mothers, the fact she was graced with two sets was almost insulting. As if the spirits were taunting the little filly by all the various winged acquaintances surrounding her.
Numielle might not notice the filly's pain, but Nocturne certainly could spot it. Especially when she slid off the rock and went in to hiding behind him. Looking up at his mother, his wings half unfurled in a natural attempt to become a better barrier. Not that his mother would ever harm a soul, but sometimes hurts came in non-physical attacks. Like wings, apparently.
"Yes, she's my friend, Mom. And we weren't gonna go far," he grumbled, a little disappointed that his mother had to panic. It wasn't as if they had run off in to the sunset or disappeared from the plains. And though Kaliska was one of his very first friends, he didn't want to creep her out by his mothers nicknames, like special-specials.
Very lightly, he let his tail brush up against his friend in a reassuring, albeit awkward (and delicate) pet. He made sure the spikes didn't touch her, mostly using the white tip of his tail. Hopefully that wouldn't scare her away either.
Numielle couldn't have been more delighted by the prospect of her baby boy making a friend. And with a girl no less! The black and blue eyed mare was brought back, briefly, to memories of Penance and herself. Of meeting the little colt out in the woods, of getting her tail stuck in the bushes, and of meeting his family and playing with a bear! The fuzzy-wuzzy bear that she had been so endeared to. . . . mayhaps her own son might like to find a bear to play with?
Possibly, possibly.
Bears were pretty fun and full of awesome as far as she were concerned.
Her own tail wagging behind her, the mare shuffled her wings. "Oooooh! Kaliska is such a pretty name. Very pretty, oh yes, yes it is! Numi doesn't know any other's by such a name, but now she gets to know you." Beaming happily down at the little one, she decided to give her son another nuzzle since he was closest.
"Does pretty-pretty live by the river, or is she just visiting too?" Numielle wondered, canting her head down at the pair. It was nice that her son was making friends, though she knew that soon they would have to return back to the hillsides and mountains.
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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 10:01 pm
"I.... I live nearby, usually. But I also spend a lot of time up north, in the mountains..." Kaliska looked over at Nocturne for comfort before pressing lightly against his legs, letting his tail cover part of her, "Though I doubt I'll be wintering in the caves, even if I do prefer the weather up there -- I hear it gets cold, and there is white-cold that blocks the entrance for months. Doesn't sound..."
Considering Tulgey was mad, and while he apparently collected stores of food for the winter, if he lost it with her in the cave, she was small and easy to break in comparison. And in the dark of the caves, the thought made her shudder -- much better to be winter with Acotas, "...Safe."
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 3:39 pm
Numielle listened to the little filly, head lowered closer to the young one so as not to miss a word she said. Her brow knit together lightly for a moment, concern registering through the affectionate angeni-corn. To spend the winters alone and outside with no shelter was possibly a death sentence. But, on that same note, hadn't the little one mentioned she sometimes went up near the mountains. . . .
And Numielle knew people who were from the mountains!
Her tail swished happily behind her as she giggled, rump wriggling in excitement. "Nockey-face and our family live in the mountains too, oh yes, yes we do! We live way up high but live in a vast herd so can travel all around in the hills, yep yep yep!" Smiling broadly down at the little filly, Numielle was hard pressed not to scoop her up in her wings and bring her home. But chances were Penance wouldn't be happy, and of course, there was always her son Esper; things were awkward enough without him around and should he return to find a new foal. . . well. . . . .she didn't want to hurt him any more than she had. [And yes, Numielle did believe that Esper's need to be taken away came from her side of the family. . .]
Still, the little blue haired filly was rather adorable and ever so tiny. "But if you're ever without shelter or too cold, if you head over to those mountain's o'er yonder," and the mare jerked her head behind her, to where the hills and mountains rose high, she added, "You'd be more than welcome to visit and stay! Nockey-Face would like his special-special to show up I'm sure, and then you wouldn't have to be so cold, nope nope! Numi wouldn't let Little-Pretty be cold!" And that was the truth.
Unfortunately for Numielle, she didn't put the connection together that some in her family would be less than pleased. For though Kaliska was rather adorable and petite, her horns might set a few of them off. For better or for worse, Numielle couldn't understand such a thing.
Nocturne, on the other hand, wanted to keel over with embarresment. Yes, he loved his mother dearly and was very patient with her quirks. . . but he was intelligent enough to understand that not everyone would embrace her oddness so readily. Furthermore, the things that she said and the manner in which she spoke was a little embarrassing for the colt. . .
Yes, Kaliska was his new friend, but he would never be caught dead referring to her as his special-special. And his mother's over-bearing maternal instinct might also drive his very coy and shy friend away. Yes, it would be nice to get to see her again once they parted ways. . . . but. . . .well. . . . with luck, should they ever cross paths again, Nocturne could only hope he'd be well and truly alone.
Yes, he loved Numielle, but boy could she be a bit hard to handle and understand.
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Posted: Tue Jul 28, 2009 10:23 pm
Smiling softly, Kaliska smiled warmly feeling happier then she had in a long while, "Perhaps, someday, when I'm bigger, I'll venture further away from Acotas and come see you guys there. Otherwise if you head west a little, towards the ravine -" It was a dangerous area of the mountains, the temperate forest rugged and wild, "- And a little south-" a safer area then deeper in the rugged mountains, "Perhaps I'll run into you somewhere in the middle sometime."
"Kaliska, vtetv, vtetv*." Acotas stood, looking around for the young Soquili, then froze at the sight of the massive mare, eyes wide -- she hadn't seen her come in, and if the other one was her colt, it was quite possibly dangerous for the human to interrupt.
*Rough translation from Creek: "Come, come"
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