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 Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 6:02 pm
To the contrary, Thousand doesn't seem concerned by his admission at all. She seems, if anything, sympathetic. Just because her own mother would rather die than admit pining doesn't mean Thousand is entirely tone-deaf to Waterside's frequent staring contests with the vacant treelines and perked ears at every bark.
"Of course!" she says. And she laughs, yet again. She doesn't seem to go very long without it. "We feed our guests well. Gotta fatten them up for the sharks, after all. We can go and grab a bite--if you've never had marlin you're in for a treat. I will eat so much I will be sick, and you are welcome to follow suit. Tomorrow you can corner the Matriarch and break her down."
And she kicks up her heels, trotting towards the food and looking over her shoulder to make sure he follows.
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Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 5:05 pm
Hero gave Thousand Blows a goofy smile. She was kidding about the sharks, she had just said so! He didn't think he could take them all, although maybe sharks were really nice and didn't want to eat bright red bucks with far too much hair... When the doe laughed, Hero laughed with her - convinced she really was just teasing now.
"Oh, I haven't! It would be an honor, thank you!" Hero followed after, but he was no where near as good at trotting/running/jogging in these conditions.
The buck got a few strides and soon sprawled in the sand, having tripped in the thickness. He brushed it off and tried again, thankful that his skin covered up his embarrassed blush.
This time, it was a hidden whole that sent Hero to his knees. Really, if he kept up this pace he would break a leg.
So, he just followed slower - picking his way but nonetheless following Thousand Blows like a loyal puppy to the promise of good food and the hope of his blessing on the morrow.
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Posted: Sat Apr 28, 2012 8:19 pm
Undoubtedly when the morning comes Hero's belly will be full of fish, and perhaps his dreams will be full of song and story, as he has been entertained as well as feasted. To those that approach wisely, the Tidewalkers are excellent hosts.
As dawn creeps grey over the sand, he will be startled from his sleeping by a light kick, enough to hurt but not enough to injure.
And when he opens his eyes, Bitterleaf will be standing over him, transparent as a ghost and her eyes aflame in blue light, with a look on her face that tells him clearly to make no sound. She tosses her head as if to say "follow me," and behind her, further from Hero, a solid-fleshed eaglehound with gleaming blue eyes echoes the movement in perfect synchrony.
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Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 8:14 am
Hero was used to his own time-schedule. So, naturally, he had stayed up far too long to be up this morning. When he was so rudely awaken, it was with heavy-lidded eyes that he saw the ghostly figure. He couldn't have spoken if he wanted, convinced he was still dreaming with the Tidewalkers. Never before had he felt so welcome. Surely, he would need to return some day!
He struggled to his hooves, the only sounds coming from his reluctant belly - which was saying it was far too full since it was used to meager and rare meals during his travels.
The buck blindly followed Bitterleaf wherever she went. He would stumble here and there, but his mind was still cloudy. Where was she taking him? Would there be more good food? Was Thousand Blows around somewhere too?
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Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 4:08 pm
If the boyish little doe is party to the discussion that will follow, she is hidden well. Bitterleaf leads him down the beach with her even, soft-footed stride in the shape of the eaglehound; it leaves pawprints in the sand but the ghostly mare's steps make no imprint.
When they are far enough away that the wind and breakers will drown out their talk from the dozing Tidewalkers, Bitterleaf turns. The mare's body becomes more solid, the eaglehound dissipating as if made of fog until it vanishes into the breeze.
"I trust you've had a good time," she says, but there's no hospitality in it, and she gives him no time to reply. "Tell me again why you seek my blessing." She is testing him, feeling out for sincerity and seeing if she receives the same reply, and her gleaming eyes narrow. Clearly, she expects honesty and will accept no less. Nonetheless, there is a distinct feeling in the air that she has already made plans, whether to bless him or not.
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 6:30 pm
Oh, good, they stopped. Hero looked up, his eyes had gotten much less clouded. When his intentions were questioned, the last of the sleep drained from his mind. He stood up straight, hooves touching and head held high. It was not in his nature to lie, but maybe Bitterleaf didn't know that.
"I seek your blessing so that I may begin my Quest. I understand that I can do so without it, but the MotherFather has chosen you to become something only myths were made of. With your blessing, I am confident that I will suceed. My Quest will be to assist all those in need, to protect those that may not be strong enough to protect themselves, and rise to whatever Challenges that come my way. Every Hero needs a benefactor, and I was hoping that benefactor may be you - in the form of a blessing from Bitterleaf, and through you maybe the MotherFather as well."
His little speech done, Hero tried not to fidget, convinced that after coming this far he may be walking away without what he came to get.
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 6:39 pm
The silence goes for so long that it's hard to say whether she was listening. Bitterleaf doesn't much go in for fancy speeches, but she's also felt acutely aware of her own inarticulate words when she's been called up to bless this or that needy creature, and she feels even more so now.
Her eyes scan the shoreline for a long minute, her heavy hair tossing in what breeze rises off the water.
Well, screw it.
"Then you have it," she says, and she flicks her wings as if to punctuate it. "Good work."
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Posted: Wed May 23, 2012 6:42 pm
Hero could literally feel the weight lifted from his shoulders in relief. Everything that got him up to this point was not in vain. The buck bowed low, "Thank you, Bitterleaf. I will not let your blessing go to waste."
When he stood up, his eyes beaming brighter than normal and his gaunt chest thrust out proudly.
Of course, he did not know that the hardships had really just begun.
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