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 Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:16 pm
Theron had been walking for quite some time, and was beginning to get weary. He looks around for someplace quiet and secluded to rest his hooves for a while and to give some individual love to his daughters. He spies a rock with a flat side just off the path, and he goes and sits up against it. He takes the sling with Lily and Tamara off, and holds Tamara in his arms while he makes a cradle of sorts out of the sling on the ground. Lily plays contentedly with her toes while he cuddles Tamara to his chest.
He might not have even noticed Isolde walking by if Lily hadn't giggled loudly at just the right moment.
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Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:38 pm
Vanya nodded slowly, still staring off into the distance. Would they remember her? Would they hate her? What would they do if they did either...? She was afraid to find out, which was the true basis for her fear. In her mind, she knew that was she had done, or almost done, was an accident. It hadn't been her fault anymore than she could have helped the rain. And yet, she knew that others were not always so logical. Emotions ruled many far more effectively, and emotions could make one highly illogical, especially when it came to protecting their young.
Logic said that she shouldn't be held at fault. Experience had shown her otherwise.
Her gaze slowly lowered, then turned to rest on Takis. Her friend had ended up quite a bit taller than she; which made sense, really, in their maturity, they'd both sprouted up, as teens will do. Made sense that he end up taller than she. Still, as she looked up at her friend, a frown crossed her features. She could see the strain wearing on him, just standing here with her. And she wasn't sure how, but she just knew that there was nothing she could do to make him leave here without her.
"You don't have to do that, you know," she muttered softly. "I can take care of myself." Physically at least, right? Heck, if she got in a tough spot, all she needed to do would be to loosen the wards, let chaos reign, and make her escape. Not that that was a desired choice to be made. Funny how her 'curse' could also be considered a possible 'savior'.
She didn't think on how much Takis had already done for her on a mental level. How he'd affected her personality and her confidence, just by the simple act of being her friend.
Vanya squeezed his hand lightly, a small gesture, but a large one at the same time. "Yes, I know where we're going," she admitted, that single sentence revealing that she'd made up her mind. "To the Tree. The Great Tree. He is calling us," she trailed off, giving no hint of whether she was referring to the Tree itself, or someone else. She only squeezed Takis' hand again, and started towards the source of the calling, stepping slowly, but surely, towards the home she'd left behind.
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Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:52 pm
Takis watches his friend, and nearly cries with relief when he can tell she'd changed her mind about running away. He looks down at the top of her head as she walks past him. He does not follow through with his first inclination, which is to kiss her blue hair like his mother used to do with him to comfort him. Instead he smiles encouragingly when she squeezes his hand in return and begins to move on.
The Great Tree? He? Questions float around in her mind, but he decides against voicing them. She'd tell him when she was ready. At least, he has to believe that for himself. Guardians, it felt so good to move toward the source of the call. The cool breeze tickles his fur and he smiles.
"I know I don't have to," says Takis after a period of silence. "But I want to. I...I'll always be there for you, Vanya," he says.
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Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 9:52 pm
Artemis, trained huntress that she was, quickly took in all the details around her. Yes, there were lots of Faun about the giant tree, but most seemed to be just as confused as her own companions. No, they hadn't been the ones to call them here, that was for certain. She had a singular quarry, one that she may not have seen before, but would recognize instantly upon sight.
There!
A tall, strangely-ornate male standing on a platform of sorts, a glowing staff in his hand, and similar little lights dancing about his antlers. Not exactly a subtle figure did he make. Artemis smirked slightly, then dropped the expression for a more serious visage. A male? Calling a gathering like this? That implied that he held some power; was some sort of leader or something.
Well, that never worked out well.
Frowning, she decided that like hunting, knowing one's opponent was the best option before making any other decisions. Time for quiet reconnaissance, rather than stalking up onto the platform like...some man would do.
Slipping nimbly through the growing crowd of Faun, Artemis weaved past a couple with a child, and a bright orange female with purple and white hair, before nearing the platform for a better look. Though she could see much from afar, close observation provided much information about one's prey, everything from behavior, to state of mind, to an estimation of strength and possible skill in a scuffle.
Something about this male caused her frown to deepen. She sensed power here...much power. Different from her own, and yet... Well, to say the least, she wouldn't be picking pointless fights here. Not that she would in any case. Men did that. Not sensible women.
There was power in this male, however. Power and strength and...an air of something ancient and wise. How odd. Quite the curiosity.
The smile began to return to her face as she thought, perhaps, this journey might prove worth the effort afterall.
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Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 10:20 pm
Amadorine's purple eyes stared wide around her as more fauns than she could ever remember seeing in her life. Instinctively, she knew the male with the large staff that literally radiated power was the one who had called out to her.
Another adult faun caught her eye in passing, as a female that reminded her of the purest moonbeams passed by her. Ama's eyes followed the other female as she tried to understand why she couldn't look away. Finally regaining motion of her limbs, she stumbled a little, then walked up beside the moon-beam female and placed a hand on the woman's shoulder.
"Your horns are fantastic; did you get them enchanted?" An innocent question, considering she had no clue who the woman she was addressing was.
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Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 10:22 pm
The silence was easier to deal with than the conversation, even if both felt uncomfortable. Vanya, just a step ahead of Takis, kept her eyes facing forwards, showing no visible reaction to what he'd just said. However, it'd caused a new sort of stirring in her stomach, for some reason, this one unrelated, at least directly, to the call that they were now answering obediently. She was uneasy for some reason that she could not name, and it was all she could do to keep the frown off her face.
Instead, her expression stayed neutral, and she felt like a hypocrite for suddenly trying to will the Tree into sight. Awkward silence would have to do...but after a while she couldn't stand it anymore, and muttered, "I...I don't know what to s--"
As if Fate had decided to smile on the young female for the first time in her life, Laisidhiel rose into sight above the tree line, growing closer as the earth passed beneath their hooves. The words died on her lips, as she gazed at the wonder for the first time in a long time, it seemed. Even though she'd left here when she was a small child, she figured that the tree wouldn't look nearly as enormous when she returned as an adult.
She was wrong.
Taking in the sight, she had to admit, that even she was momentarily speechless. She could only imagine Takis' reaction. So, she turned, pleased to drop the awkward conversation in turn for becoming his personal tour guide. "We're here, Takis," she said in a reverent tone, gesturing before them with her free hand.
"Laisidhiel."
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Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 10:30 pm
Her full attention was on the strange male faun with the staff at the moment, which was a mistake and she knew it. Artemis tensed immediately at the touch on her shoulder and whirled around...but relaxed upon seeing the female Faun there. The bright orange one she'd just passed, she took note from her passive observations, and she seemed like a lovely young woman. Her question seemed to amuse the deity though, and the response with a light laugh, and a smile.
"No, my dear, I'm afraid I was born with them. Not many others like them," she admitted honestly, reaching up to pat the other's hand on her shoulder.
Well, what better way to gather information now, having already used her own eyes to little avail. "My dear," she started, head tilting curiously, and in a disarming fashion. "Could I ask if you know exactly what's going on here? What this gathering is about?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2011 10:37 pm
Takis, too, had noticed the awkward silence his declaration had given way to. Why wouldn't she respond? Had he said something wrong? She was keeping always a step ahead of him, so he couldn't see her face, but from the side it looked like she was scowling. Why could she possibly be scowling? Maybe she doesn't want to be protected. Or even to have his undying support.
And then Takis is forced to confront his own stomach-turning realization, although his stomach is more filled with butterflies than bile. Takis realizes he wants her by his side forever. He doubts she'd want him as a mate or anything, but...he can't deny his feelings for her. She was his best friend, and he never wanted that to go away. He lapses into his own kind of silence.
Women are complicated, he decides not for the first time since he'd met her.
And then she'd jolted him out of his little reverie by pointing out the looming tree in front of them. What had she called it? Laidshiel? Something like that. Was this the home she'd left and feared returning to so much? How could she fear this? It's amazing, and beautiful.
Around him he sees other fauns walking toward the same Great Tree. He'd never known there were this many like them on the Isle. "Look," he murmurs, gesturing around them. "All of them fauns, like us. What could be going on?" he wonders aloud.
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 8:42 am
Seda kept moving on and on until she finally made it to Laidshiel. She looked around and saw many other fauns, so everyone was coming home! She gathered closer to see their leader. She also noticed a female faun that looked like no others. She saw moonlight in her eyes, who was this beautiful creature? What was this call all about? Seda was nervous and wished to hear.
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 9:14 am
 Pan had been "communing" with the trees as he so often did. He liked finding new trees but he still hardly ever ventured far from the Tree of Life. Oh no, not Pan. It wasn't that he was afriad, he just felt that the trees on the island were not the same. Not as 'awake' as they were here. Even his rocks, his friends, didn't seem to dance as nicely as the ones in his homeland.
So, Pan found the place where everyone was. He hadn't been that far away anyway, but he heard the call had came. He then saw someone he once knew. A pink Faun. This made him smile greatly. He walked over to her and began to play a soft melody which made his rocks dance for her.
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 9:32 am
Amadorine wasn't oblivious to the other faun having tensed up, and she readied herself for a rather unpleasant encounter as she was turned upon. However, the female surprised her with a delightful laugh and smile. Ama's eyebrows raised up high at her answer.
"Born with them? They're beautiful, like they were made with pure moon light." She fought the urge to reach up and touch her own antlers, which had lost quite a few leaves in her mad dash across the island.
"I honestly don't know much about what is going on." Her cheeks turned a rather bright tint of red. "I don't live with the other fauns; I live with my adopted father and his recently grown family... or with Thom and his makings. I was hoping, perhaps, that you would know."
She suddenly gasped, then held out a hand. "Amadorine, by the way. My father would kill me if he'd known I wasn't using the manors he taught me."
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 1:52 pm
Artemis raised an eyebrow herself at the ramblings of the young woman. What a delight. She processed the information about her family, but tucked it away for later. She was definitely more interested in what was going on right now.
Ah yes, introductions...of course. "Amadorine? What a lovely name, my dear," she crooned with a smile. Then, she took the other's hand with a sparkle of amusement in her eyes. She didn't believe in mincing words...
"You may call me Artemis, dear. Goddess of the Hunt."
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 6:01 pm
Kishi heard a familiar sound and turned her attention to see if her old friend came. By the looks of the crowd, the call to come home went out to a lot of faun.
She finally spied a familiar, albeit older, face among the other faun. She got up and bounced towards him, remembering the music he played and how much she enjoyed it.
"Pan!" she smiled at him, and noticed he brought his rocks. She wondered how useful they were now that they were adults, because she found her strange ability had become more than just a neat trick like she originally thought it was. Surely his had too.
She rolled back on her hooves as she put her hands behind her back in a leisure stance. "It has been a while, how ya been? Did you come for Rais' call, too?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 6:54 pm
Honestly, even Vanya was tempted to smile at the sight before her. Afterall, it wasn't the Tree itself that she feared...but it's normal inhabitants...or at least their possible reactions to her return.
Maybe...maybe they won't remember me...
She could hope, right? Well, that would be her time with Takis speaking, trying to turn her into an optimist.
And then she cast a wary look over all the Faun gathered here and hope seemed slim. They hadn't seen anyone else on their way here, but there were certainly more Faun than she ever remembered seeing at the Tree here now. There would likely be someone here that would recognize her. Just her luck.
Well, too late now to turn back. Takis would likely stop her anyway. She turned her attention back to him and couldn't help but smile a bit the feeling of awe practically radiating off of him. Ah, dear Takis. She patted his arm and nodded. "Yeah, lots of them. And no idea yet, so I guess we'll have to go find out, hmm?" She said the line with an even mixture of sadness and humor.
No choice but to move on.
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Posted: Tue Aug 02, 2011 8:14 pm
 .
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.A tuft of orange fur twitched above the hedgeline. It wiggled to and fro, causing some nearby birds to stop their foraging and watch in caution. Behind the hedgeline, a teen faun was doubled over picking up beads she had dropped, her tail bobbing like a fuzzy traffic cone amidst the green of the forest.
"Drat. Drat. TRIPLE DRAT!" She stamped a ruby hoof in frustration, driving one of the beads into the ground. "GAAAAAAH!!!" Myrielle twitched in frustration. Sure, if she hadn't been running. Sure, if she hadn't been twirling the necklace around. That wasn't the point.
All the Fauns were heading back to the tree, and Ella was running late. "I'm going to be in so much trouble."
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