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 Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:17 pm
"The twins, they are male. The last of the purebreed males. With them and us, there are only four male naga... unless some of us pass the traits on to our male offspring," Zalashji said, giving a shrug. "Shal'zaru, the older twin, he is our leader. The females are just... plentiful, I suppose."
He put his tail around his brother's foreleg comfortingly. "We would never let them hurt you. You are one of us and we protect our own. Besides, Father is the one who told Mother and I about you and suggested we bring you to our herd where you will be accepted. I think, even though he will not admit it, that he cares and does not want his children to be hurt, not even by his mama."
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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 9:34 pm
Naj nodded, wondering what life would be like with no females around in comparison. "Strange...do you know what happened? Did they tell you?" He asked, tilting his head. He had to admit, it would be nice to feel accepted somewhere beyond just with one's own mate.
He nodded again and sighed, "Just doesn't seem like him to do that...I've seen him brutally attack things that come too close to home. Even as his child...they didn't want me around, why should he choose to protect me like this now?"
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Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 10:00 pm
Zalashji shook his head, fin crest drooping slightly. "They do not talk much about it. I gather there were intruders of some sort, and a disaster, possibly caused by the intruders. All that is left of the original herd are what now lives on the island and a few scattered mares around these lands." He gave a slight shudder, remembering the haunted look the elders often gave when the topic was brought up.
At his brother's question, he shrugged. "I do not know, brother. He warned me away from his herd's territory in the swamp, telling me they would harm me. He willingly went to visit mother and tell her about you not being with his herd and to find you. This he told us when he was not around his mother or sisters. Perhaps some of his actions are dictated by the pressure of his family?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 2:40 am
"Are you...trying to find the others? The ones you said are scattered through the lands? I'm sure they'd like to know they have a home too, just like me." Naj asked, giving his brother a curious look. "I'm sure it'd be nice to have more around...maybe we'll get lucky and others will be born too..." A slight smile crossed his face as he thought about the possibility of having children of his own with Ting. There was just the nagging notion in the back of his mind that they'd be in danger just like he was, despite what anyone said.
"Oh. Well...maybe...I didn't really interact much with the rest of the family. None of them paid me much mind, or moved me out of the way of things."
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Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 10:02 pm
"Mother said some of the scattered mares prefer to stay scattered. I guess they might be traumatized by whatever happened before they came here," Zalashji said, shrugging. "I do hope there are more foals in the herd one day." He leaned a bit closer to look at his brother's mane. "My mate has a crest like mine, but I wonder if any of our foals will get Father's mane. Or if any of yours will have a crest. Curious."
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Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2013 10:31 pm
"Oh...well...maybe someday they'll change their minds and come here." He mumbled, turning his attention back to the ground. He dug one hoof into the sand a few times, making a rather large hole and returning to feeling a bit awkward around his brother.
"Dunno...." Naj glanced up as his brother got closer to inspect him. He pulled his head back a bit, not sure how comfortable he was being that close at the moment. "Guess...we wait and see...if we have kids." He said, just wondering how easy that was going to be with two rather headstrong mares.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 4:45 am
Zalashji nodded and stepped back. "Well, if you are in the mood for a visit, the herd isn't actually too far from here. It is actually a wonder we never saw you before. You must be very good at hiding."
He walked a pace away, heading in the direction of the island. "I am sure Mother will be happy to see you, and you should meet the twins."
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 5:03 am
He nodded and watched his brother move away from him and start up the beach. "Alright." He smiled again, trailing after eager to meet someone new that would be nice to him. "And...sorry about hiding. I don't come here often, and usually I make sure from a distance there's no one around...for a long time." He mumbled, watching the trail in the sand made by his brother's tail.
"Do you think the twins will really like me? They're really protective of the herd, right? So even though I look like this, what reason do I have for them to really trust me?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 5:59 am
"You are Naga. What's not to like? Besides, they both too half-breeds for mates, so it is not like they will look down on you for mixed-heritage. They accepted me well enough and they will accept you," Zalashji told his brother, looking back at him. He grinned. "Besides, Mother will hoof them upside the head if they say anything to upset you."
He continued down the beach toward the herd's territory, keeping a watchful eye out for anyone else around. As they got closer to where the island was, a large figure rose from the sea and began to approach. Zalashji glanced back at his brother. "No worries. It is just Naz'jak probably coming to see who is on the beach. He is the younger twin and our main protector."
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 6:04 am
The stallion nodded and briefly glanced back at his own stumpy tail. After seeing his brother's, he just felt a bit out of place with it. Even more so than normal. "Right, I'll trust you. You are my brother...and so far not looking to hurt me like others."
He paused, however, as he caught sight of the other coming up out of the water. Naj stepped slightly closer after a moment, joining his brother's side to inspect the other. He surprisingly, reminded him a lot of Zala in several ways. "Uhm..hello...greetings...something?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 6:22 am
"Of course I would not hurt you. You are my brother," Zalashji told him, then nodded to Naz'jak. "Hello, Jak. I have finally found my brother."
"I can see that," Naz'jak said, looking the other stallion over. "You look a lot like your mother." He tilted his head, regarding him more. "Save the mane and shorter tail. Are you looking to come home to the herd?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 6:27 am
Naj shook his head and looked sheepishly to the ground. "Not as a permanent home, no...but a safe-haven to visit if you'll allow me. My mate as well....if she were to want to come along." He felt slightly bad for not wanting to be a permanent member living on the island, but he wasn't yet sure what Ting would feel about that.
"He said you'd offer protection...from my family. I just...I don't trust them. I'm afraid of them sending something after me to kill me. It's a never-ending fear, you understand."
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 6:43 am
"I have heard of your father and his herd. We will offer what protection we can. It is my understanding that the Loa they worship might not be as strong as the power of the Sea, so you should be safe in our territory," the older stallion said and nodded his head toward a rocky outcropping on the beach. "There are caverns there you and your mate are welcome to use.
Zalashji laughed. "Brilliant idea, Jak." He turned to his brother. "You can be close by without having to being in the middle of the herd. Mother used to live in that one over there before the herd claimed this as their territory. Oh, we should go see her, too."
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 6:49 am
Naj nodded and glanced back up at the older stallion, giving him a thankful look. "Appreciate it...I'll have to travel 'home' and see what Ting thinks...if she wants to move and live near the water or not." He looked toward the various caverns curiously, making note to go personally wander through them alone later.
"Yes. Yes where is she?" He turned his attention quickly back to his brother. The prospect of being accepted by his mother was becoming more and more appealing in comparison.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2013 7:02 am
"On the island. We will have to swim over. You are alright at swimming, yes?" Zalashji asked, realizing that his brother's short tail might not make it easy to swim like the rest of the naga.
Naz'jak cleared his throat. "His swimming cannot be any worse than my mate's is, and he has got a lot more tail than she does. He will[ be just fine. You two go on to the island, I still have to patrol here." He gave them a nod and turned to head down the beach.
Zalashji watched the older stallion leave then looked at his brother. "Come on. It is not that far a swim." He headed into the water.
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