|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 5:56 pm
His eyes went wide at the elders words. This stallion walked with death? Though his parents may have tried to hide news of the death walking herd from his ears he had overheard some other herd members speaking about it. They worried that it was another plague, like the one that had decimated the herd some time ago, and wondered if they would once again be faced by dying relatives and the need to relocate. "What does it mean?" He questioned the elder and then turned back to Love. "Is it true? Is Carnivore one of the death walkers?"
Alaunus' ear flicked but otherwise he remained motionless. "Then your friend is of the dead." Before he could speak again young Gawain had asked a question. "I do not know what it means young one, only the Spirits know of the truth behind it all." Then he turned his attention back to Love, who seemed to be questioning his abilities to speak with the Spirits. Such was the ways of those outside the herd. They could not understand that Spirits existed and that some within the herd could communicate with them. "It is true, I could smell this Carnivore upon you, but the Spirits confirmed that he was indeed from the Hell Herd."
As Love stated that he did not believe him Alaunus let out a chuckle. "Then perhaps you will believe me when I tell you the Spirits have spoke of your past as well. You were once a horse of the two-leggers, and it it the very beast that you wear upon your back that killed your bonded human and set you upon the path that you are on today." The old stallion fell silent waiting to see if Love would try to tell him he had must have overhead him speaking with another horse at some point to know these things.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 7:01 pm
Love watched him and blinked as he heard everything. He had to physically shake his head to clear it. Turning first to the foal he answered the question."No. He is a loner as i am...and as such we are two loners simply going the same direction. He was born here..." from what i can tell "Which makes him very much... alive."
Next he stared at the male in front of him. "Again... all this is obvious." He was talking without thinking. "The colorful paint i wear shows my relations to the humans..." He shifted the pelt on his back. "As for this pelt... it was gifted to me by the people of my rider as a thank you... My rider's scent still remains on the pelt... i'm sure you could smell it and the scent of fear humans give off."
Love nodded his head. Proud that he proved all the other's misguidance.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 7:14 pm
Gawain considered Love's words. But how could the friend be alive if the Grove Keeper said he was of the dead? The Spirits would not lie to the old stallion, they never lied. Perhaps, if possible, the horse Love traveled with was both of dead and living, though Gawain wasn't entirely sure how such a thing would happen. Certainly it might be possible, anything was possible really. Now another question burned in his mind and being curious about the world Gawain just had to ask it. "Have you seen any of the death walkers? I heard they live near a mountain and that many horses fear their presence." More importantly how did they even manage such a thing? And what did they look like? Did they eat like normal horses? So many question he wished to ask, yet he somehow kept most at bay for now.
The old stallion smiled slightly. "I can delve deeper into your past, reveal that which cannot be identified by sight or smell. But it is obvious you are not one to believe that things such as Spirits exist." It saddened him to know that horses such as Love were so easy to shrug things off like that, call those who believe it such crazy or merely think it was coincidence that told them certain information. "I know I cannot sway you into believing what I say, yet I must insist that you show more respect to others beliefs. I do not mock you because you were once a servant of the two-leggers, yet you think we are foolish because we believe in something that you cannot see or hear."
Oh youth, always so curious, and yet these questions and answers were things that young ears such as Gawain's should never have to hear. "There is a reason to fear them young one. They are not natural. Certainly Love will agree with me on this, beast who walk the land that were once dead is a sign of things to come. The outcome of this is not yet known to us, but I fear the world as we know it may change dramatically if that herd spreads out." He returned his gaze to Love. "What are your thoughts on the death walkers? Do you think they have come here for a reason?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 7:48 pm
Love shook his head. "I am sorry... i meant no offense...however...my brain doesn't seem to be willing to wrap around your beliefs." He tossed his head and shuffled his feet. "I have met one of their mares... she was biting but she didn't look scary."
He shrugged. "I agree that when your dead... you should lie down... however, i believe anyone who pulls oxygen into their lungs... is a living being who deserves a chance to live." Nodding his head he flicked his tail to shuffle back again.
Carnivore was going to be the one to beat his father and take over the herd. The friendship he was making with Carnivore would not be broken because of his new power.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:00 pm
So he had seen one of the walking dead. Even though he was young and scared Gawain somewhat wished he could gaze upon those horses. Though certainly the way the herd spoke of them, and Love's interaction with one as well, he would one day get his wish. Hopefully though it would not be his final day on earth when that happened, though if that was what the Spirits wished for his life then he would accept that death.
"Did she look like a normal horse?" Gawain asked. He wondered, if by chance these death walkers looked like normal horses then how would others know who they were? If they were to pose as big a threat on the lands as Alaunus said they would then how would the herd and other horses defend themselves when they could not distinguish normal horses from those of the dead walkers. A bit of a shiver ran down his spine.
"It is not easy for one who has never heard of such things to accept them at first mention. While you cannot fathom what it is like to share my belief I also cannot begin to imagine or understand the desire to serve the two-leggers." Their herd had had only a few run ins in the past with the humans, and had lost a few members to them, but Alaunus had never experienced life with them and likely never would. He was old and no two-legger would pick him over a much younger and stronger horse. The Spirits has ensured he stayed a wild horse for a reason, and because of that he had climbed the ranks of the herd and became their Grove Keeper.
"It is true that those who live deserve to do so. Yet I think that when those beasts make their move against the true living you may change your mind. The dead walkers could very well be the end of us all." He hated to say such a think in front of Gawain but it was the truth and the colt would surely be exposed to it at some point. Best for that news to come from his mouth than that of a stranger who was merely trying to scare the boy.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2011 8:22 pm
Love shook his head. " She looked like a normal horse aside from the toxic gases floating about her head."Glancing around he hesitated. "You say when and not if... Carnivore will be strong enough sooner then later... and then he will take over the hell herd... He will stop any war between the normal horses and the walking dead."
Love tossed his head. "Tell me more...I will try to be respectful... Tell me the story about your spirits... are they your...ancestors or...something else?" He flicked his tail and looked behind him. He didn't want carnivore to do something stupid while he was gone...
He side stepped. "As for living with two-legs... i lived with one... he was my rider... and he loved me... more then the woman he was bonded to."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 7:21 pm
Ears perked forward. Toxic gas floating about it's head. Was that what distinguished Hell horses for normal horses? And this Carnivore friend of his will stop the upcoming war? Could that be true, that a horse born of Hell blood would turn the tides of war and restore peace to the lands? Gawain hoped that was the case, the peaceful lives of not only this herd, but every herd out there, was at stake. Still he couldn't help to voice his concern over the situation. "But...what if Carnivore doesn't stop the war?"
"Let us hope that your faith in Carnivore is not misrepresented then." Perhaps Love would be right and this spawn of dead walker could bring an end to the war. But if not, it would only bring disaster. Alaunus listened to the whispers of the Spirits but even they did not know the answers. Sometimes one could not know the truth until it was happening. The old stallion was glad for the change of topic, he would much rather speak of the herd beliefs than to speak of a possible end of life due to the death walkers.
"Indeed, the Spirits are our ancestors. Those who have died ascend to the Otherworld, and from there they guide us, share their knowledge and at times protect us. They are scared to us, much like the oak and owls are." At this he inclined his head once more towards Herne. The small owl bobbed its head in response. "They are the wisest of our kind, and their words are whispered to Elders such as myself who have the deepest connection to our ways."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 7:35 pm
Love tried. God help him he tried... to not scoff at the idea of owls being wise.. hadn't the other day he seen an owl fly into a tree branch? It fell directly in front of his feet. He had called for Carnivore and continued walking. Maybe this was a sign. He flicked his tail as this idea settled on him.
He glanced at the foal and sighed. "That is a bridge we will have to cross if it happens to fall in our way." He nodded and then looked back to Alaunus.
Love stretched his neck slightly and nodded. "So the ones who walked this earth before us are the ones you hear?" He glanced at the owl. "So do you have your own owl? Or do you all share one?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 7:49 pm
So...even Love wasn't one hundred percent sure Carnivore would stop the war. That was a bit of a frightening thought. He had to trust in the Spirits to keep the herd safe, as they always had. But as Love put it, they would cross that bridge when they got there should it happen. He remained silent as the stallion turned his attention back to Alaunus. The question posed made the colt take a step forward. "An owl cannot be shared, they bond to only one horse. Herne only watches after me because he is bonded to father and father wishes for me to remain safe." Suddenly he realized that he had spoken out of turn and that the question had been direction at Alaunus and not him, Gawain lowered his head a bit.
Alaunus bobbed his head in a nod, causing the vines in his mane to dance about. "Yes, they are the ones that I hear. They have seen and experienced things that we have not, and can also see things that will happen in the future." His eyes turned to Gawain as the colt took it upon himself to answer the next question. He smiled lightly at the boy letting him know he was in no trouble for doing so. "As Gawain says an owl is bonded to only one, as are all sacred animals. It is only Maponus that can hear what Herne has to say, though he watches over us all. I do not have an owl, though at one time, I had a fox who was my companion. I am afraid she died when a terrible sickness came across the herd some time ago." Alaunus dearly missed his friend but knew that she had joined the others in the Otherworld and that kept his heart at peace.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:00 pm
Love pondered the little foal a moment and then he smiled to let the foal know he appreciated the info. He flicked his ears back to the older horse and stomped his foot lightly. "Im sorry to hear that.... You probably don't appreciate random strangers coming in and stirring up bad memories."
He snorted and then glanced back over his shoulder and then thought about the strange ways of the humans and how they differed from those of these horses. "When an animal dies, it is the two-leggers custom to skin them and wear the pelt." He had assumed that it was because they didn't wish to part with the animal.
He then thought how that could be taken and shook his head. "Im sorry... i didn't mean any disrespect.... i was simply thinking out loud."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:08 pm
Seeing that both Alaunus and Love were not mad for him speaking out of turn Gawain lifted his head and smiled at the two. His ears perked forward at Alaunus' words, he had never known the stallion had had a companion animal, this was the first time he had ever heard it mentioned. Perhaps once one died they were not spoken of again. The mention of wearing pelts snapped the colt out of his thought. "Father and mother wear pelts." He had always thought father looked so powerful under the pelt of a bear, whereas his mothers lynx pelt gave her a refined look.
Alanus smiled softly at Love. "They are only bad memories if one makes them out to be. She no longer suffers and has joined our ancestors in the Otherworld and one day we will be reunited." His attention turned to Gawain for a moment as the colt spoke of his parents pelts and then back to Love. "No apologies needed. And it is true, Maponus and Shylah do wear pelts. While not worn by all in the herd, those with pelts wear them to represent an important facet of their life. For example, Maponus wears that of a bear to show his strength and stamina." Perhaps that was the reason the two-leggers wore their pelts, or maybe it was to honor the animals. Alanus would likely never know for certain.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:19 pm
Love shifted slightly and looked from the foal to the gray stallion. "I see... So where did he get the bear pelt?" It was simple curiosity... Love had seen bares when his rider had hunted... He knew now that if you left them be they tended not to bother you... however... if you go throwing stones.... He really did miss raindrop.
He flicked his tail and pulled the pelt from his back and then re adjusted it. It was soft because of how the indians had tanned it... however, it did itch on occasion. He nodded. "If this pelt represents anything is pain and death..." He shook his head.
"There was so much blood... the cat came out of the cave above us and knocked my rider to the ground before i had a chance to do anything." He hesitated. They didn't want to hear about his troubles. "So tell me more about your herd."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:31 pm
Gawain remained silent as he listened to the two older horses talk. The story of Love's pelt was a sad one, though he had never seen a two-legger before and had not experienced loss Gawain knew well of what it felt like. Many times now he and his siblings had been old the stories of the disease that had ravaged the herd and killed off all but a few. Those words always stung his soul. "You wear it in memory of your rider?" Why else would Love continue to keep something if it represented pain.
"The winter of the disease a great storm fell upon the lands. Snow fell deeply and near the mountain there was an avalanche, the bear met it's end there, as did the lynx that Shylah wears." They would never kill an animal just so that they could wear it's pelt to show of strong or smart one was. No, that would go against all their beliefs. Alaunus' eyes fell upon Gawain for a moment. "You are wise young one." His eyes turned back to Love. "You do your rider a great honor to wear the pelt of the beast that killed him, even if it does represent pain. You said that he loved you more than even his woman, and the fact that you wear this pelt shows that you loved him more than anyone else."
Alaunus shifted his weight slightly. His old bones aches sometimes. "We are peaceful horses, our beliefs keep up safe. The knowledge of our ancestors is passed on to each generation, so that they may know well the ways of the herd and ensure that any mistakes made in the past are not repeated." He and the other elders had made a terrible mistake once and the herd had suffered for it. "Though we have our traditions and beliefs one of our most important things is the next generation, for without foals our ways and herd will die - as all others will as well." Any herd would die off without new foals to grow and continue on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:45 pm
He nodded and smiled at the foal."Maybe wise beyond your years..." He snorted and turned to the old gray stallion. "I should return to Carnivore before it becomes too late....I would hate for him to worry about me..."
Glancing back at the foal he shook his head. "You must try and remain a foal... growing up comes with time... so there is no need to rush into it." He flicked his tail and looked back to the older stallion.
"Thank you... you have given me much to think about... and trust me i shall think..." He glanced at the foal once again. "Behave yourself and when i come back this way i expect to hear all about the mischief you got into... but i will expect to see a strong horse as well."
Nodding he sighed. "Please send my apologies to your leaders... i would hate for them to think poorly of me for my trespasses..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2011 8:55 pm
Gawain nodded his head to Love. "Don't worry, I can only grow up so fast." He said with a bit of a chuckle. Really did the stallion like he would suddenly wake up next morning and find himself to a full grown adult. The mere idea of that made Gawain shake his head. "Thank you for talking with me Love, I look forward to meeting you again." He did wish to see the stallion again once he was older, if only to show him how well he had grown and he would certainly never forget their meeting.
Alaunus inclined his head slightly. "It has been an honor speaking with you and I am glad I have given you such things to think about." The old stallion smiled. "You have not trespassed, only those who wish to harm us are trespassers. I bid you a safe and good journey Love Stories, may we meet again sometime and continue to talk as friends." Dipping his head once more Alaunus turned towards Gawain. "Come young one, we must return you to your parents, they will have been looking for you." With a small nudge Alaunus got the colt moving, the two walked some way before turning into the thick trees and disappearing from view.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
