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 Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 5:39 am
Ves'tacha gives a nod and her smile returns. "Very good. Though they are not rules. Rules are structure placed by outside forces. Rules, by their very existence, challenge one to bypass them. Rules are the boundaries the uncreative mind places about itself. I neither give nor abide by rules. My words are promise and warning."
She allows her feet, under the water, to sidle her. A grin playing in her eyes, "But that you accept my nature is well. I likewise will accept yours. But now that such is accomplished, I find it growing late. I had thought to seek again the road before making camp. Have you other thoughts or options?"
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Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:28 pm
"I throw caution to the wind then, both warning and promise I'll take. But I won't deter to journey with you awhile." For a moment, he considered. "If it's not too taxing, only a short ways away are those who raised me. To them, I'd like to leave a promise that I will come home again when my journey has ended. My mother, Ailbhe, would worry otherwise."
He waits to see if Ves'tacha is okay with this, neither wanting to displease the woman who had raised him or lose track of the woman who held his attention. "It's only a short walk, no more than a few minutes out of the way."
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Nyx Queen of Darkness Crew
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Posted: Sat Jan 07, 2012 5:28 am
With an expression of inquiry paired with a smile, Ves'tacha nods. "Indeed, conscientious Lucian, leave taking of those one loves must be a priority. When wandering you never know what may befall and how long you may be apart. Would you prefer that I wait here that you might make such farewells in private?"
Ves'tacha hadn't expected such courtesy from Lucian. Then again, she hadn't expected him to still be near his mother. After all, if it had been her mother, he would have learned and past the manners of speaking. But gaje did not always follow the ways of things.
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Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 4:39 pm
Lucian considered a moment. "I'll only be gone a moment, don't let your wanderings spirit you away without me."
***
It was not too long and he had returned, a smile on his lips for Ves'tacha, "How strange it must seem to you, for me to stay close to the lands I was raised in? I can tell it's not your way." It was odd to stay so close, but after losing Anaon...he had needed to be around someone he knew, so he had stayed close to Karloff and Ailbhe so as not to feel so adrift in the world. But he had stayed awhile, and it was time to drift though he had never drifted very fair--not since Karloff had told him of...the one.
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Nyx Queen of Darkness Crew
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Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2012 5:33 pm
Ves'tacha enjoyed the clear water and the easy grazing along it's banks as she waited for Lucian's return. At his return she looked up with a smile and a slight nod before returning for another mouthful of sweet grass.
As he speaks, she finishes her repast before turning to him. "It is not for me to judge your ways. My people choose not to be tied to a place, free to wander with the wind. And in such freedom we lose fear. We do not fear the loss of a place. Hunters are easily avoided as we have no ties to keep us near their traps and spears. We can travel with the seasons, holding no fear of harsh weather. Indeed, the freedom from such fears allows us to live more richly, laugh more easily, and love more fully."
"But to have ties, roots. To know your place in the world from the bonds to which you hold. I can see why value could be placed in such things. However, our wandering nature does not necessitate that we do not stay close with those we love. Our families are our bond, our past and our future. Staying close to family I readily understand.
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Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2012 10:54 pm
Lucian listens to her, the way her words flow so easily. "But at that, I feel I should be honest with you. I should give you warning and a promise. On our journey, you will see the whole of me. If you decide to part ways now, I'll understand." He pauses, thinking how best to go on. Anaon, who he'd thought would come to him again, had understood but would fair Ves'tacha?
"Sometimes, the hunter finds their prey by mere accident. I knew you were near because I could almost hear your heartbeat, and smell the taste of your sweet blood." He pauses a moment to let it sink in, "I am not violent--but I do carry a darkness with me, a taste for blood and small animals that I will surely have to quench on our journey together. I can promise you I will never harm you, but I can't promise you that I will not hunt in front of you or ask to taste your blood. So this be my promise--of never hurting you, and my warning of what I am. Free to take or leave, I understand." He waits for her decision, hoping that the journey will not end before it begins.
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Nyx Queen of Darkness Crew
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Posted: Wed Jan 11, 2012 6:11 am
Ves'tacha was taken aback. He did not look like one of the dark twisted breeds. He had no fangs, no leathery wings, no horns, no hairless tail, no animal hide. And he clearly could care for others.
But she had already given her word to accept his nature. Ves'tacha would remember to be more clear on the nature of others before agreeing to accept said nature. But she was a mare of her word.
And he had given fair warning, with a promise. She was intrigued, and somehow interested. "I appreciate your words, surprising Lucian. This gives me pause, for it is not something I expected. Yet I believe your word and will trust it, but you should know my nature. I will protect innocent, intelligent life. I find no fault in killing those who would harm others, but a familiar or Soquili or even a human who does no wrong nor harm I could not tolerate seeing harm fall upon. I likewise can not condone suffering. I understand the need to eat, to hunt if that is your nature. But only if those you prey upon are killed as swiftly and cleanly as possible. I will not stay to watch you play with a wounded animal before satiating yourself."
"Likewise, I will not stay should you choose to spill my blood. One must trust those traveled with. For companionship and protection. If we travel together, I will fight to protect you and expect the same in return. If I am given wound by accident or another, or even if I decide it is needful and let it loose myself, you may ask to taste. But neither by your action nor your inaction should my blood be given lease to the air."
"If you can understand this, my nature, then we should have no problems in the journey." Ves'tacha had spoken more than was her usual want, but she knew those words needed to be said. Now she waited for his response. Would he agree, would he choose not to travel with her, or would he attack? She did not brace herself for an attack, choosing to believe in his honesty. She hoped such trust would not prove fatal.
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Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 7:45 pm
Lucian breathed deeply. "That I can promise you easily. Your safety I'll put above my own, and I do not hunt for anything other than hunger. I am not a sadist." He shuts his eyes and breathe deeply, "If ever it's too much for you, I'll hunt further away. Anything you ask."
He watched her gently, she had taken the whole thing gracefully. She was taken back, but not angry--a bit cautious. "Is my promise enough for you? If it is, we can journey on as soon as you wish."
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Nyx Queen of Darkness Crew
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Posted: Thu Jan 19, 2012 9:00 pm
Ves'tacha nods, "It is enough. And I thank you for it." That seems to settle the matter in her mind. She looks towards the west and the sinking sun.
"The day draws to a close. If we are to begin our journey, we have little time before we must stop for the night. For even should you be able to see in darkness, it is not something of which I am capable and I will not risk injury to unseen terrain. Unless you know of a quicker way to the path through the woods, I will have to retrace the steps which lead me here. But that will take the last of our light and we will have little time to find an appropriate camp." As she finishes speaking, Ves'tacha takes one last drink from the stream before taking a few steps closer to Lucian, waiting for his reply.
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Posted: Sun Jan 22, 2012 7:47 pm
Lucian liked the feeling of warmth beside him as she came closer. "I know these woods as well as I know myself." He tilts his head, "Not far ahead is a shorter path that will take us out to the head of your trail--less circuitous."
Taking a long drink, he turns his head. "We can head on there and then rest the the head of the trail. There's a small den made of interwoven branches. Karloff made it as a shelter for those passing through--Ailbhe's family usually."
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Nyx Queen of Darkness Crew
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Posted: Mon Jan 23, 2012 7:34 am
Ves'tacha nods, "That sounds ideal. Would you lead the way then?" She waits for him and follows at his side unless the trail is too narrow to do so. Content with a companionable silence but happy to reply to conversation should he engage in any. Now that they have established companionship for the journey, she has no worries about Lucian and is willing to follow his lead.
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Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 10:04 pm
*****
Lucian stretched. They'd been journeying for a few days, he was feeling the need to feed again. But he didn't want to push it or tell her or make her remember again--his appetite. The call for blood and some meat was getting stronger, he was practically famished.
He breathed gently, "Ves'tacha." He began lightly and stopped. "I need to hunt. I understand if you want to part while I do...or if you want to come with me. You might not want to see me like that...I am not vicious or anything. I just--" He looked over at her, hoping again that she wouldn't be repulsed.
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Nyx Queen of Darkness Crew
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Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2012 10:25 pm
Ves'tacha had filed away what he had told her and not worried about it again. He had given her promises and that was enough for her. The journey had been going well and she found his companionship rather enjoyable.
She actually had managed to forget, not his words, but the reality behind them. But he had a need. A need she understood logically. After all, she it didn't bother her to know that a fox ate birds. Ves'tacha wouldn't hold it against someone to need to eat. But this wasn't just someone, this was her friend and companion Lucian.
Lucian the hansom stallion who had journeyed with her away from his lands and family. Who had been by her side when the storm stirred up such mud the path was a quagmire and only leaning on each other had gotten them through. And who had gifted her with conversation and laughter.
It wasn't a rule of the Roma, but something that most abided by, that you didn't part ways when traveling together except to part ways. There was safety, mutual protection, in traveling with others. Ves'tacha couldn't really call him a companion if she allowed him to go off on his own when he might be hunted himself while vulnerable.
While he could likely take care of anything more handily than she could, there were the traps of nature that could as easily fell a stallion. And if he stumbled into a pit or was struck by a viper he would need her aid. In good conscience, Ves'tacha couldn't abandon her friend because he needed to eat and his choice of food made her uncomfortable.
Ves'tacha was silent as she thought through his word and her decision. A slight shake of her head, "I will come with you unless you think my presence will make it more difficult for you. I do not travel often with gaje, but among Roma it is ill luck to leave one's traveling companions save when parting ways. Would it bother you for me to continue with you as you hunt?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 09, 2012 10:18 pm
Lucian watched as she thought. He wasn't sure what she would say. He'd enjoyed her company and her warmth. He'd never experienced much of traveling with someone who was not family, let alone someone who accepted him. It felt odd to be so at ease with her. There were few that he felt comfortable with at all. Yet, she had accepted every part of him so far.
They'd endured a storm together. You could taste the heat in the air, but nothing had been so noticeable as the heat that had been beside him as they struggled on together. They'd been barely able to walk through it. Each step had pulled their hooves deeper into the mud, and made them lean more on each other. They'd grown closer since then. The sound of her laughter made an odd thrumming in heart, and he was beginning to feel that maybe he had grown more attached to her than he'd previously realized.
When her decision was made and she said that she would stay with him, he blinked in surprised--that same heat surging for a moment before he quelled it. "Thank you," he said it gently as he lead the way away.
He lead them into the woods, staying only a few steps ahead of her. He would avoid bunnies and raccoons, one being to similiar to Ves'tacha and the other too similiar to his father's Diavolos who'd been raised with. But it wasn't long before, he found a small ground pheasant. Moving quickly, he ended it swiftly so that it felt little if any pain in it's death.
His face flush ashamedly as he drained the blood from the pheasant, staining his mouth with blood as a few loose drops fell down to stain the ground. He paused again, he knew it must be hard for her to watch this. "I can eat the rest after you sleep, if you like? Or at least wait till later?" He cleaned the blade and put back by his side as his eyes glanced up at her nervously.
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Nyx Queen of Darkness Crew
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Posted: Mon Feb 13, 2012 9:46 am
Ves'tacha had been watching the area around them. She had seen some of what Lucian did, but mostly she focused on watching for other danger. She told herself she was doing it to keep them safe. But she knew the sight disturbed her somewhat.
But it didn't disturb her as much as she had feared. He was quick, the death was clean. The blood on his mouth sent a chill of . . . something, crawling down her spine. But the pheasant was dead and him waiting to eat served no purpose.
Ves'tacha shook her head, then tossed her fetlock back away from her eyes. "You need to eat. It is a reality. It will happen if I am here or not. I appreciate that you wish to spare me discomfort, but I wish to spare you the same. Eat. I will wait."
Her eyes met his for a moment with a smile, but she didn't maintain the look. Instead allowing her gaze to move on, to scan the area for danger. She felt ashamed that she couldn't give him more support. And she hoped he wouldn't feel rejection as she declined to watch. But she was certain she wouldn't be able to keep her withers from twitching if she didn't avert her gaze.
At the same time, there was something so . . . primal about Lucian. Something compelling and entrancing. His diet instilled a quiver of fear, but the knowledge that he would not turn on her, that she was safe with him . .
Ves'tacha was not used to the mix of emotions Lucian called up in her. She let her fetlock fall back over her face as she realized she was flushing. Her pale fur did little to hide the rush of blood to her face but she kept her head turned, moving, to keep Lucian from seeing. He was strong and powerful and dangerous and well turned and a stallion. And Ves'tacha was beginning to think thoughts that were a bit more than what one should think about a traveling companion.
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