|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 10:52 am
To be frank, her parents probably would have disowned her for a second time if they got wind that she was a warrior. Admittedly she wasn't the best at fighting, she had been taught to be a 'trickster' to ensure her survival. However, she had been a part of many wars, had seen both the horrors and victories - it was probably enough to make the gentlest of kirin quiver in absolute horror. Alas, she'd been dulled to those horrors from the beginning and she supposed that in some twisted way her hallucinations while drugged as a child probably assisted in that.
"I'm usually right," she confirmed with a smirk, though it wasn't designed to be smug so much as teasing. She hadn't really met many Kirins, had been accustomed to unicorns on the battlefield alongside the warriors. It seemed that a great many kirin followed the ways of the recluse and she was the oddity. Alas, she probably would have died of boredom if she had attempted to follow in their steps, she wasn't very good at keeping quiet.
...If Syri hadn't already noticed this!
"Everyone has to start off somewhere though, I remember a young filly joining the ranks and the more seasoned healers had to instruct her on how to use her horn. Same principles apply, you have the basics now you just have to hone them!" she leaned forward and grinned mischievously. "Although probably best not to try on the open sea, not so easy when the ground beneath you is uneven," she advised.
"Eh -" she started a little at his introduction and then giggled, holding out her tail as if to shake his, though he probably wasn't aware of such a custom. "Shizukii, a pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"Though if I forget your name I am sorry, I recognise faces but sometimes names... they have a way of escaping me," she confessed.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 10:59 am
He liked her! She was perky and nothing like the others he had met. She had spunk, it was such a refreshing characteristic.
His head lifted in enough time to see her tail, he tilted his head and looked a bit confused again. Perhaps it was the way they greeted one another in her land? He held his tail in the same manner, not really sure what to do, but not wanting to disrespect her gesture.
"It's alright, I answer to almost anything," he laughed. He had never really stayed anywhere long enough for anyone to know his name, quite truthfully. "And, as far as the water..." he looked a little embarrassed, "I have only tried on the shores of local lakes. I can't say that I have enough confidence to try elsewhere." He gave a large grin and turned his head.
"Would you care to walk, perhaps find water and a place to relax?" he was interested in hearing more of the mare's thoughts and outlooks on life, but he had to find somewhere with water, he was parched.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 11:09 am
Oooh he caught on quick, with a delighted smile she wove her tail around his own and gave it a little shake. After that she quickly detatched herself (aware of personal space) and allowed it to return to it's usual place, swaying to and fro behind her rump. Greetings and introductions now properly complete she listened to him with the same courtesy as before. It was only when he mentioned water that her stomach gave the tiniest rumble to remind her that she had neglected to feed it this morning, she couldn't exactly pinpoint what had distracted her but heh, now was as good a time as any, right?
"Well, if I said 'hey you' would you answer to that?" she enquired. "Or 'Mr Beasty'?" she considered this for a few moments and very nearly persuaded herself to come up with a suitable nickname. Reminding herself that this was often too familiar for most foreigners, she dismissed the idea. She'd just have to find a way to remember his name.
Maybe a weird poem?
Word association?
...Meh, she'd dwell on it.
"Mmmm, water would be very nice," she confirmed with a curt nod. "Although I no nothing of this region, have relied on a guide for the weeks I have been here. You know where to go, yes?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 11:16 am
He was a little shocked when her tail touched his own, but he just went with the flow and laughed, "What is that called?" he inquired. He enjoyed learning of new cultures and traditions.
The smile seemed permanent on his face now, she made him laugh again with her suggestion of a new name. "Well, if that is what you wish to call me?" he looked over to him, bareing his teeth trying to do a 'beasty' look? He hadn't enjoyed such company in many months.
"Me?" he shook his head, "I have no clue," he gave a slight shrug but started to wander at an angle through the woods, "I just normally follow the breeze," he offered her a grin, "my nose will find the scent sooner or later,"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 11:29 am
"Shake!" she announced proudly and waved her tail a little. "Where I come from we shake in greeting, if you touch then you know you are genuine - although those with hairy tails struggle a little," she explained. "Instead, they will raise their hoof and give it a wave or if they are comfortable, let you shake their tail with your own...they just don't get as much movement," she chuckled, recalling how utterly confused she had been by the concept when she had first joined the military. She'd been even more confused when it had been a normal stallion with a normal tail that had taught her.
It had been a "he wants me to do what with his tail?" moment.
"Mmm, I think that Syri will fit properly," she reassured him and leapt forward just a touch to join him. She'd never been one for falling behind unless she was at the back of the rank and file, and even then she had always been accustomed to having another individual beside her at all times. "Although if I come up with something new? Well, I will definitely let you know," she added after a few moments. "You can call me Zukii though, almost everyone does... much easier to pronounce."
She was more than content to putter along beside him until the moment he confessed that he hadn't the slightest idea where he was going either. She seemed to hesitate then chuckled and shrugged her shoulders as though unconcerned by the news. "Eh, follow your hooves as you see fit and I will follow mine, perhaps they will work together to find a suitable place to reside."
She looked down at her hooves.
"Though I would like to order some food on the side with my water, yes yes?" she churred towards them, though it would have been virtually impossible to tell if they had heard and taken heed of that request.
"Lead the way!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 11:42 am
"A shake," he repeated to himself. He would have to remember that when he greeted others. It was much more entertaining than the nicker and wait that he normally offered. "They wave?" he stopped in his tracks and gave it a try, "Like this?" he did the best wave he could before settling back into a steady pace.
"Zukii does make it easier," he looked over to her and smiled, "I'm sure we can find fitting to eat." He had noted that there seemed to be an abundance of berries and small fruits in the area. He found it amusing that she spoke orders to her hooves in jest.
"You've quite the personality, Zukii." he trodded along slowly, his nostrils flaring from time to time, taking in the scents that changed. It wasn't long before the crisp scent of water crossed their path.
"There we are," he said non-chalantly. "Not far now,"
"Tell me about your ventures, Zukii. What wonders have you seen in your life?" he inquired of her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 11:55 am
She really did speak orders to her hooves, made requests and hoped that they would find them fitting. She was led by them after all, meandering in no real direction other than the one her hooves chose for her. If her path was laid out, then on multiple occasions it had sent her in circle and had led her into rather peculiar places more than once. Alas she never questioned them and accepted everything as it came to her, everything in her stride. If there any came a point at which her life was in danger then she was sure they would drag her out of it in much the same way as they'd led her into it.
...Well, unless it was her time to go.
"Eh, is that a compliment or an insult?" she enquired teasingly and shook her head, causing her pendant to bang against her nose for a split second. She started, gave a snort of surprise and quickly regathered her composure. At least it hadn't whacked her in an eye, she would have been preoccupied for more than just a second. "Some might say one has to be loud to be heard in certain places. No use being quiet and unfortunately, I find it difficult to stay hushed. You must notice by now I never shut up," she pointed out merrily. The more she spoke the thicker her accent got and no doubt in time she would have to be told to speak more clearly.
Eventually they did reach water though and as she surveyed the various berries and foliage around her, she considered his request. She'd seen a lot of things in her life but she wasn't entirely sure what he constituted as a 'wonder'. What she considered wonders oculd be very different from his. "Well, what would you like to hear? I am not sure what you consider 'wonder', is it miracles or just pretty things? Is it scary things, horrifying lthings, things that make your hide your eyes behind your tail?"
"You explain what you mean, then I tell."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 12:04 pm
He tried to stifle a laugh as her pendant swung between her eyes, "Oh, I'm sorry..." he shook his head. "I don't mean to laugh," he knew it was rude to laugh at other's misfortune, but she took it in stride.
"A compliment, definitely a compliment," he offered a chuckle and raised a leg as if waiting for a playful blow from the mare. "And I like the fact that you enjoy talking. Makes it much easier when the one you are talking to actually enjoys speaking back!" he had run into several soquili, kirin and non alike, that didn't seem to enjoy company.... Much less conversation.
He made his way over to the water and took a sip, then looked up to her. He had never thought of exactly what he considered a wonder... His mind suddenly blank, "I... I'm not sure?" his head tilted. He was sure he didn't want to hear anything so terrible that he would wish to hide. "Let's, lets start with the pretty things?" he laughed, feeling a little childish.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 28, 2010 12:47 pm
"Oh laugh all you want," she grinned good naturally and went cross eyed as she observed the trinket on her horn. As problematic as it could be, she'd been given it as a gift and wouldn't remove it. Well, she couldn't remove it herself without help but even if such aid was available, she wouldn't take it. "It helps to remind me that I'm really not as graceful as I think I am sometimes," she shrugged her shoulders lightly and then 'eeked' just a touch as she tried to lean her head away from the pendant - the jerked movement had caused it to swing precariously close to her head one more.
"So long as I am not fatally wounded, I see no reason not to find humour in it," she pointed out. "Besides laughter is one of the best medicines for the injured," she mused over this statement. Reminded of the unicorns and their frequent jests to the fallen, she recalled how often they would call for laughter unless the individual had difficulty breathing. It was a good distraction and made things far less scary than they really were. "But I will thank you for the compliment, very pleasant to receive," she confirmed with a much more delicate nod.
Nevertheless the conversation once again found itself back to her adventures and she pucked her lips thoughtfully. What had she seen that she considered to be 'beautiful', completely unparalleled to anything else she had ever seen (excluding stallions of course).
Yes, she could admire the male form and did it without guilt or embrassment.
"Hm, well there was the time I went to Japan and saw the most strange buildings. Then again when I came here I saw very strange buildings...so pointy," she shook her head a little and returned to her original story. "Anyway these buildings were huuuuuge, bigger than trees in some cases. But what was stranger is they had pictures on them...the most pretty pictures I had ever seen," she canted her head to one side. "Well the strange reptiles were pretty but the ghostly white humans were strange."
"And the floors were made of stone, not mud and were all different colours with pictures on them too! I spoke to one soquili and he said 'Ryu' which means 'Dragon'," she peered thoughtfully at her hooves and continued. "Either way the biggest one I saw was the most amazing, I wandered up really close to it and discovered that it was a part of the mountain. The humans, they are so smart there," she shook her head rather quickly, yelped and ducked her pendant.
Unsurprisingly, she fell silent until it settled once more.
"Either way, they had somehow persuaded the mountain to open it's mouth really wide and they had built their big building in there with the walls all the way out. It had such pretty gardens," she sighed softly as she recounted this. "A little loud though, they had humans all dressed up in shiny metals that went 'clank, clank' everywhere. But they were very nice, fed me very nice fruits everyday," she clucked her tongue.
"Alas, after a while I wanted to see more so I moved further south to explore what was there, more buildings down there and there was this really big one. I even bumped into another Kirin, a kirin!" There was another flash of her pendant and yet this time she didn't flinch, instead, she swung round in a rather abrupt manner. Her tail coiled round her pendant and for a while she held the most unusual pose, only standing straight when she was sure she wouldn't take her own eye out.
"Turns out that's where the alpha of the humans live, their king. They call him an Emperor there, but his home was huge in comparison, like a city! It had houses inside it big enough to rival the one in the mountain, though not as unusual since the rock didn't swallow them up. However, paintings were very nice and the gardens... Ooooh if you had seen the gardens."
"...Little quiet for my taste though," she confessed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 5:37 am
Syri just looked towards the mare as she spoke. She talked of places he had never heard of, much less seen. He knew that the two leggers of this area had small buildings or huts, he couldn't imagine any being much bigger than the ones he had already layed eyes on. Her story amazed him.
His imagination ran wild with ideas of what the buildings and gardens must have looked like, he just couldn't believe that the mountains found so much favor with these two leggers that it allowed them to live inside it!
"You have definitely seen wonders! Did the mountains not threaten to swallow the two leggers whole?" his head tilted. He had never seen a mountain bow to any creature.
He again leaned down for another drink of the cool water, once he had his fill he looked around for a few morsels to eat. Breaking the conversation, he offered, "Zukii, would you like some food while we chat?" he made his way over to the closest bush and began to snap small twigs that doned berries on them. Once he had gathered a few he headed back over, placing them in front of his new friend.
He headed back over to gather a few branches for himself, he spoke over his shoulder. "I don't know if I would like to travel to a place like that, but it leaves much to the imagination trying to see it within my own head." he broke off a few more twigs and returned. He lowered his body to the cool earth and continued,
"Please, Continue?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 10:34 am
"I wondered this too," she confessed and released a soft sigh. "But even in bad weather, the mountain made sure that the rocks fell away from the city and into the ravines nearby," she explained. She wasn't sure how the humans had gathered such favour from the mountain spirits, but whatever they had done had ensured their safety and security. To her knowledge there were no sacrifices but she had seen mighty temples, she didn't know what these represented but perhaps they had something to do with it? Without any way of communicating efficiently with these humans it was impossible for her to know though.
...Even the native soquili hadn't been entirely clear in their explanations.
In fact, they'd been quite tight lipped!
"It seemed to be a very well kept secret, for all their good manners and grace, the soquili that resided in that region preferred to seal their lips. I wasn't allowed to know, as an outsider I don't think I was privvy to the details," she gave greater detail in relation to her lack of knowledge and then turned her attention to his immediate question. Her stomach had already started to growl a number of minutes ago, it would be unwise for her to reject his offer. "Oooh, those berries will be lovely, thank you!"
She took a few moments to sample the foods, lapping her lips to catch the juices before they could dribble down her chin. They were satisfying to say the least, she was more than glad to have given them the time of day. Admittedly they weren't her most favourite food but they were a lovely substitute and she would be sure to dine on them more often.
"Mmm, but you wish to know more?" she considered this and picked up a twig with her tail to inspect the leaves. "Well, let me see..." she had covered Japan, it had been the closest country to her former home. However, where had she been led after that? She'd been led to a region very similar but they'd all spoken a slightly different language and it had been much, much bigger. What had the soquili called it?
"Oh, China!" she chimed in with her usual enthusiasm and settled into another of her stories. "Well, it's very similar to the other place I was in. The architecture was much the same, these massive stone buildings with pretty pictures, extravagant gardens and the humans... well they had the brightest silks on," she explained. "But the city that I found there, their main city with their own 'emperor' was even bigger than the one in the last place - seriously, I didn't even know they could get any bigger..."
"Cept, you can get very bored of all the architecture after you've explored it," she murmured softly and swayed her tail from side to side. "I opted to go west rather than stay in the east but my hooves disagreed and took me north. You know what I found there though?" she went very quiet, waggled her brows and leaned forward. "I found the biggest stone wall, I didn't even know what it was for but they were a bit more open there. The Soquili there explained to me that it was to do with a war - they were keeping the 'bad people' out with this massive structure - either way, there was no passing."
"Disheartened, I think my hooves agreed that we should probably go west, might I note that it is very sandy out there. Despite the snow on those gorgeous mountain peaks (they're huuuuuge), it's a complete desert there. I got caught in a sandstorm there, if it hadn't been for the intervention of one of the nomadic soquili I suspect I wouldn't be here today," she took a breath and eyed him thoughtfully.
"Have you ever been to a desert? It's really quite an experience..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 29, 2010 11:17 am
He quietly finished the small meal he had gathered for himself as he listened to his friend. She had traveled great distances in her life. One day... One day he would have to travel to see these great places. He listened as she explained of the secrecy, the other soquili, the wall, then finally the desert.
He had been to the edge of a desert. It had been a vast span of nothingness except sand. He had been detered from traveling as he had been told of the lack of water with the exception of few, hard to find, oasis'.
"I have traveled near a desert, but I have never traveled through one. I was warned that water and food would be scarce," he stated simply as he thought about that visit. It had been years ago when he was still young. Every new place had astonished him in how different they were from his own home.
"I know other soquili traveled and lived in the sands, but we'll just say it wasn't my pick to explore." he laughed lightly. The thought of starving or dehydrating in a barren land had not sat well with him.
"I have traveled far South. I'm not sure of the region's name, but the colors there were amazing. There were flowers and creatures of vibrant colors. All shapes, all sizes...." he thought back to his visit to the tropical lands. "The sea always blew in a cool breeze, and though the sun shown down upon me, it never seemed to burn. Have you traveled there?" he inquired.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 4:18 am
"I've been to tropical forests but I don't think I've been to that one," she shook her head and rocked back on the heels of her hooves just a touch. "I would say this place is very far away from the other places I have been, but that does not mean there are places that don't rival it in temperment," she mused. She had been to a few 'tropical' forests but they'd all been slightly different than one another. That being said, she would have bet all her trinkets that she had been here before (or nearby at least), it wasn't like her hooves to leave an entire continent to the north untouched! Nevertheless her interest was piqued and she filed away the details for future use, if there were tropical lands down south then obviously she was going to have to investigate these for herself, right?
"The air was very heavy and warm, much easier to move around at night," she murmured softly as though recalling her travels. "That being said they were very beautiful, despite the heat and the awkward terrain," she smiled just a touch and let her tail sway from side to side before coiling around her hindleg. Ah, she really had been to many places but it was highly unlikely (nigh impossible) that she had seen them all. She was only just beginning to dent the surface of this Kawani Province and it would have been rather unwise of her to start exploring another place. Alas, her hooves had firmly decided that for the time being she would flit about here and there around the Kawani and when they deemed it appropriate they would take her on another journey. Hopefully, they would take her south to these forests he spoke of...possibly the beaches as well!
"Methinks you should travel through the desert at least once though," she murmured gently and tilted her head to the side. She had rather enjoyed her time in such a sandy world despite it's trials, that being said she had been blessed with a guide part of the way through to ensure her survival. "I'd advise that you travel during dusk or dawn though when it's not too cold or too warm," she explained. She fell silent for just a touch as she gathered her thoughts and considered her words carefully, after all, there were some moments when she would trip, stumble and hiccup over the language and she found it just a touch embarassing. Forget the fact that she frequently smacked herself in the face with her jewel or tripped over her tail when she became too enthusiastic, it was the language barrier she found most irritating.
"Water and food are fairly scarce but not impossible to find, the place isn't devoid of life - so long as you know how to hunt it down you're safe," she reassured him. "Although if you could find a guide I would probably say that would be a good idea, I had one (actually I had a few) and they made sure I didn't die of heat or lack of sustenance - very helpful creatures and so chatty too!" she definitely had a great deal of affection for foreigners, seemingly recalling them with great clarity for their behaviour, personality and traditions. They all had their quirks and on occasions that made up for how bland certain regions could be, they made the tiniest things seem incredibly important. To be frank, the desert was a prime example of that... she hadn't appreciated this region in the slightest until she had met her guides and they had transformed it into something truly magical.
"They're the only creatures in the world who would know where everything is," she explained softly. "The only ones who would show you the miracles that exist there because they're the only ones who know about them. The desert has it's secrets to an outsider, but the natives see and hear all," she released a small sigh and then chuckled. "One day I shall have to see this jungle of yours, but you must also see the desert, yes?"
"But you should tell me more about this jungle, I talk too much - your turn!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 6:09 am
The more she spoke the more his mind began to wander. Was the desert really as magical as she made it sound? Perhaps he would travel back to it one day, if the winds carried him there. This time, he would definitely find a guide like she had suggested though. "You know, I think I just might try going back there one day... If it's as mysterious and magical as you say, then I would like to see it."
He shifted his weight slightly, stretching out one of his front legs from beneath him. "I believe I would like to see it...." he bobbed his head slightly.
"Ah! Well," he laughed and took a moment to recall his adventures within the jungles to the South. His smile broadened, it had been a beautiful place full of wonders to him.
"The forests there are different from the forests here... they are much more dense and full of vines and flowers. There are creatures there that live fill the trees with life. I even saw frogs that stuck to the sides of trees, vibrantly colored frogs. They had blues, oranges, and red hues that covered their body, there webbed feet almost sticky so they could crawl about!" he had stared at these small frogs in amazement for the longest time. The only other frogs he had encountered were the large amphipians that swam in the lakes of his home.
"In the forest, they have many many different types of plants and flowers. Large -large- leaves that catch the rain, the soquili there use these to help them gather water. You drink the water pooled in the leaves as you travel, there is always an abundance of water to drink as you walk along. And the floewrs!" he almost gasped as he recalled the different flowers in the region.
"Zukii, they are beautiful..." his voice drifted as he thought back. "Think of the flowers here... multiply their color by 100! They are bold in color, their petals large and elegant, and their smell...." he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath as if taking in their scent, "They smell so potent that it surrounds you from every angle. "
He opened his eyes and looked to her, "The soquili there are also vibrant. Most are colored so brightly that it always seems like a carnival is going on. They adorn themself with the vines and flowers from the forest. The females and males alike are so beautiful..." He didn't want to be mistaken for one that fancied the males, but he recognized beauty when he saw it. "You must travel there one day, you will be amazed by what you find...."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Jul 04, 2010 8:07 am
It really did sound quite a bit like the forests in the African regions, however, his explanation seemed to involve a great deal more colour. More interestingly, the soquili that resided there seemed to be a touch more welcoming and hospitable than they had been in the African forests. Perhaps she had merely stumbled upon a number of bad spots on her journey, she'd certainly agrivated a number of human tribes while she was there, but she was intrigued by the mention of these particular creatures. If these forests to the south were truly as colourful as he said, then she was just going to have to take a look at it for herself!
...Just as well she wasn't colourblind, eh?
Admittedly she had seen heavily adorned soquili before, extravagant in their own unique ways but she could appreciate his standpoint as well. There were moments when a foreigner just had to stop and stare, no matter how rude it might seem. On occasions there were soquili, other creatures and landscapes that just needed to be marvelled at. It was a bonus if they were attractive (she rather enjoyed the male form) but at the same time, fascinating to see how they presented themselves to the world. Suffice to say, vines were a new one on her when it came to decorations, leaves she'd heard of but vines...not so much.
"I will promise to see it then," she said with a firm nod. It might take her a while, her hooves might meander here and there, but her interest was piqued and she knew her hooves would humour her. "I will visit these soquili and other creatures, see their strange decorations and inspect the flowers - they sound a little like the forests in African but more hospitable," she confessed with a wry smile. Alas, she hadn't considered the bugs that existed in the south but who would offer up such a concern in the face of something so interesting?
"Then you will visit the deserts with a sound guide and we shall compare notes, yes?" she smiled pleasantly and tilted her head to the side. "I will decide if their is magic in your world and you will decide if there is magic in mine!" she coiled her tail around her leg to stop it from swaying here and there before releasing a soft sigh.
"Mmmm but as lovely as travel is, how long have you been here? You do not seem well travelled but you do not seem native either," she could be direct when she wanted to be, though she wasn't sure if she'd used the right words in this language. For all she knew, she could seem rather abrupt and rude.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
