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 Posted: Sat Mar 20, 2010 8:08 pm
If she knew that clovers didn't grow on the mountain, she would be crushed for they were one of her favorite foods - for now, just because she can't find them, doesn't mean that they don't exist!
"A deer?" Brioso blinked; she had seen a few of them in the forest near her old home, but they would always dart off before she could go any nearer than a couple of meters... It was as if they would always know whenever she's nearby. Slowly, she nodded before hesitantly adding, "Um... I think so? Like the way they seem to leap and run forward at the same time?" She paused, trying to find a better way to put it into words, "The way they spring forward?"
She raised an eyebrow, wondering if that was what he was talking about; secretly, she had always found their movement to be rather funny when she first saw it. Then again, it did look rather fun as well, springing around like that... Looking up at the stallion quizzically, she continued, "Are those lunges? How long am I supposed to do them?"
Brioso started to feel a little worried; she was still tired from her last activity, but she was sure that it was something that would take more than just a couple of minutes to recover from. However, if she had to do it 'to her limits' again, she would probably end up as a pile of exhausted goo tomorrow... Then again, that's tomorrow's problem, right?
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Posted: Tue Mar 23, 2010 9:42 am
“That would be correct,” Azzinoth was pleased that she had been lucky enough to encounter a deer. They were even more shy than he, painfully so and did everything in their power to hide themselves and their young from the world. It was understandable of course, the first port of call when your kind was regarded as one of the tastiest specimens in existence. Not only did Kalona hunt them, but Azzinoth had taken note of the manner in which the humans chose to pursue them as well. He understood that they were subject to the same circle of life that all creatures were, but he could appreciate the necessity they felt when they fled from the slightest sound. If he did not have duties to attend to then there was a high chance he would have taken their lessons to heart and fled as well.
“Their ability to spring is not ideal for the limbs of a soquili,” the doctor confessed. “But mastering it over short expanses can prove useful in more questionable terrain,” he explained. She might have been young but even a child knew when to ask ‘how’ and ‘why’. Eventually her mentors would cover the issue in much greater detail and so, for the time being, he would only touch on it briefly. “Sometimes learning to leap as high as them can prove life saving,” he added after a few moments and nodded towards the empty expanse. By high noon it would be filled with soquili but early mornings were clear and as a consequence he was free to make use of the grounds as he saw fit. He could be grateful for small mercies that it wasn’t raining, if it had been then the tiny filly may have been prone to many accidents!
“And how long do you believe you can do them for?” he returned with a raise of his brow. It was another test for her, another reference to ‘limits’ but this time it had a twist. It was doubtful that the child would comprehend it yet but eventually she would learn and wouldn’t stumble into his subtle traps again. For now she was naive though and evidently, determined to prove she was strong enough to do anything for as long as he wanted, which wasn’t the healthiest view to have but she knew no better. “In all truth, the answer is relative...” he pointed out wisely.
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Posted: Wed Mar 24, 2010 8:06 am
"Questionable... Terrain?" The filly echoed, raising an eyebrow as she tilted her head questioningly. By themselves, the two words made perfect sense to her. However, when you put them together... It just made her rather confused; how can terrain be questionable? She frowned, resisting the urge to sigh. Looking up at the stallion, she continued, "What do you mean by that? And... And it might save my life?" Her eyes widened with surprise.
She paused at his reply, realizing that she had to do these 'lunges' to her limit as well. Flexing her limbs, Brioso smiled a little to herself, glad that they didn't hurt from the run. She then trotted a short distance before turning her head to briefly glance at the doctor, making sure that he was paying attention. Then, she inhaled deeply and exhaled to ready herself before springing off, her take off as unsteady as her landing; she wobbled a little at the landing but somehow managed to keep her balance.
She continued to do this, leaping and landing, leaping and landing... She didn't need to go too far to realize that lunges were really straining on her hind legs. After a few more, Brioso soon felt that although she still had the stamina to continue, her legs were literally aching for her to stop. Just as she was about to, however, the filly slipped and fell to the ground in a heap with a squeal. She laid there for a moment, too tired to get up. Then, remembering that staying put was not good for her, she scrambled up onto all fours before slowly making her way back to Azzinoth, face flushed red from both the 'accident' and the workout.
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Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 6:43 am
Azzinoth would have barked with laughter at the expression upon the filly's face if he hadn't had such control. She seemed completely puzzled and her naive mind couldn't compute the importance of this. This in itself was a healthy revelation, the lack of recognition for this sort of thing indicated that she was both young and untainted by the more unholy aspects of the world. It would give her mentors a good blank canvas to paint upon, she would be shaped and moulded into something that wouldn't destroy who she was - she wouldn't be jaded to the world so soon either! Alas he wasn't able to hide the smile completely and the corners of his mouth did lift at her query.
"That is not for me to explain, you will be introduced to such a thing by your tutors," he replied gently. To be honest, he doubted he could express himself correctly in Kawani anyway. His description would be littered with words she wouldn't understand and his accent would simply grow too thick if he was flustered. He refrained from commenting further as she went about her routine and was very pleased to note that she stopped before she had reached her true limit. She recognised her body's warning signs and drew to a halt...
He wasn't so impressed by her tumble though.
With a furrowed brow he bridged the gap between himself and the tiny filly to examine any damage she might have had. However, with the exception of the flushed features from physical exertion she wasn't limping and seemed more embarassed than harmed. For all intents and purposes she was a typical child then, she didn't break, she just bounced.
"What sort of foods have you eaten as of late?" It seemed he was done with the sports for now, either that or he was throwing a curve ball.
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2010 7:44 am
"Mostly bark..." Brioso simply replied without thinking, shuddering as she made a face at Azzinoth; back home, she had accidentally eaten a sour, unripe berry and had avoided berries for a whole week after. Bark... Bark was much, much worse! At least unripe berries still taste of something, and they're juicy. The filly sighed; if she could find a suitable alternative to the nasty, dried and rather bland thing, she would change her diet in a heartbeat! However, up at this altitude, she figured that there was nothing better and found as easily...
Then again, it won't hurt to ask!
"Well... Are there other stuff to eat?" She asked after a short pause, almost afraid to hope for a 'yes'. She had gotten used to the cooler weather and thinner air quickly; in fact, she rather enjoyed the cooler weather. It was homesickness and the lack of delicious, familiar food that was killing her passion to learn from the herd.
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Posted: Wed Apr 28, 2010 4:36 am
"Nuts," Azzinoth's simple was so curt and simple that most wouldn't have heard it. His accent would have hidden the word, but if she mulled over it for a while he had faith she would understand. In winter, the selection of foods was incredibly limited and sustaining oneself in such restrictive seasons involved a certain amount of skill. For the time being, Brioso was going to have to survive on bark until one of her tutors instructed her on how to shattered the nuts so that she could eat them. It wasn't the best of news for any individual (especially a child) but it was better than her starving completely and attempting to eat snow!
"In spring and summer the pickings are much better and the foods significantly tastier," he reassured her with a wry smile. She seemed to be trying so hard not to hope but her eyes gleamed with it and practically yelled 'please' despite her attempts. It was adorable and the smile continued to tease at his corners of his mouth as he spoke. She would certainly enjoy spring time but he wasn't entirely sure she would say the same for winter.
...Would the sudden shift in diet affect her training?
Probably.
He would have to alert her tutors to this, she could only be trained properly after her body was accustomed to this change. It would take a few weeks, but she would only be cleared for light training for the time being.
"Mmmm, have you any other questions?" he mused after a few moments. Really there was little else he could do for the time being, she was as healthy as any foal and with the exception of a few hiccups that could be dealt with swiftly. "Otherwise, I think we are done - yes?"
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Posted: Sun May 16, 2010 12:20 pm
The filly paused, staring blankly at the older Soquili for a minute before her eyes widened, finally making sense of what she had heard, "Oh! Nuts...?" She almost missed his answer, despite her eagerness to learn more about the available food sources on the mountain; it was the first time she had encountered anyone who spoke with an accent like his... In fact, it was the first time she had met anyone who spoke with an accent!
She had surprised herself by understanding everything he had said so far.
"My mother said that spring will always bring new life and food," Brioso nodded, before adding wistfully, "I wish spring would come again soon..." Being a spring baby, she had been rather spoiled for choice when it came to her meals - it was one of the reasons why, despite being born smaller and weaker compared to her siblings, she did not fall back where her physical growth was concerned. Looking up at Azzinoth, she shook her head, "Well... I don't think so..."
She was rather puzzled by why the training grounds was empty today, but decided not to ask - perhaps it was a herd secret? Either way, maybe she'll find out when she's older and actually a trainee rather than an onlooker.
"Thank you," The filly grinned happily, glad that the check-up was finally over; she was pretty stressed over it, after all... Knowing that she would not have to deal with it again was a huge relief for her, "I think... I might go take a rest now." She looked around the plateau one last time before giving a bow and trotting off, wincing a little at the pain in her legs but finding comfort in the fact that it will wear off in a day or two.
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