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 Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2014 6:31 pm
Arian...
Missed her grandsire. She missed her granddame.
She even missed the mother and father she didn't remember very well.
There had been brothers and sisters, she thought. She did recall her cousins. They had stayed a little longer, but they, too, had eventually left. Yet here Arianwyn remained, too weak to be swept up in the great family journey. Had... had they left her to die? Were they ever going to come back? Real fear flattened her feathers, and she drooped all the more on the cave floor. Perhaps... she would be alone forever. Perhaps... they had truly left her, and would not return.
Woebegone, the little mare winced over her wounds, realizing for the first time since they had left that her family might never be back. It had... it had never occurred to her, and now she couldn't escape the thought of it. What if, what if, what if? "Hmmn?" she asked, when she heard that now familiar voice. Then, raising her head, she met Keiran's eyes, and realized what he'd said.
"It should be enough," she stated simply. "If you could just... get me that bowl over there."
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Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2014 10:19 pm
The stallion studied the mare with his glowing red eyes, the long strands of his tail coiling and uncoiling in consideration. She looked dazed. . . Not that he truly blamed her. The mare had been put through quite the ordeal, and the fault lay squarely with him. On the one hoof, he had truly not meant to disturb the peace by lingering; but then, the lesser's of these lands were far more aggressive than the ones in his homeland, skinwalkers excluded. Additionally, the more Keiran studied Arianwyn, the more he realized just how small she was. . . .
This was not to say she was not strong, she was not true to the blood -- his own mother was small but not to be underestimated. Still, Arianwyn had her flowers, her coat, her aspen grove to protect her. . . or she had. No, Keiran would have to leave, but even if he did, he feared it would be too late. If she left, what if they assumed he had left her with foal, like some predators did? The thought of abandonment in such a fashion sickened the stallion, for the ignorance of lesser's always left a bad taste in his throat. Even though they were far beneath any kalona of true blood, he resented their ignorance perhaps more than their lack of good breeding. Their species was no truel fault of their own -- not everyone could be blessed! But their brains, their knowledge, their understanding, well, that was on them!
Still, while the wheels of his mind worked, pondering what this attack on Arianwyn truly meant, he quietly did as he was bade. Stepping forth, he picked up the designated bowl and brought it back to the mare, setting it before her. He continued to watch her, closer now, so he could get an idea of those wounds. He knew a few tricks himself, but he'd wait. . . wait and see what Arianwyn would do with this sort of plant. He doubted she'd appreciate taking advice from the stallion that put her in this predicament, anyway.
".....they won't do this again." He finally stated, firmly, with his usual stoic resolution. No, he made up his mind. He'd simply have to stay. There would be no leaving her now, even if she were sick of him. Until the threat of the lesser's was quieted, he'd have to clean up the mess he made. The pale, white mare was worth that much. . . even if she spurned and scorned him. It was the least he could do, after all.
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Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2014 10:29 pm
He was so strangely silent. Mostly silent, and if not quite silent, nearly always stoic and short of phrase. He did not waste words, nor mince phrases. Had Arianwyn not been in pain, she would certainly have taken further note of this, and perhaps even remarked upon it, but as it was, she took the valerian, and began to make a remedy with it. It required concentration, and hers was admittedly a little lax as of now. Still, she was practiced in this art, and even pain could not make that preparation for naught. "Tell me, did... did you find any Kalona along your way? Any white ones? You may have said something before, but I can't quite recall." And oh, it was difficult to think.
Talking was a distraction, and one that she needed for the time being. With one ear, she listened for intruders, and with the other, she listened, waiting for Keiran to speak. Oh, it was almost... too much, knowing that his very presence within her forest had put her in this predicament in the first place! Yet he was good natured, it seemed, and had probably not intended to bring the wrath of the two leggers down upon her. She worked away, whispering the words that her grandmother had often spoken over such medicines, and wished keenly that her family had been there to help. It wasn't fair that they'd gone and left her. She missed them, and she needed them! Didn't they know that? Didn't... didn't they want to be with her, near her? Why had they left her all alone?
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Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2014 10:42 pm
Keiran was not accustomed to such remedies. He knew of a few things, licking at a wound, bathing it in water, putting pressure on it to stop bleeding, squeezing out any infection if necessary, and sometimes rubbing a few plants helped. . . but mostly, the stallion simply let the injuries heal on their own. There were others in the herd who were more knowledgeable about plants, but this valerian was new, even for him. So, he simply watched Arianywn, quietly intrigued but ever alert for movement outside.
Just let some animal, some lesser draw near. Just let them try to pull something with Keiran in such a state. He honestly did feel bad. Some might believe kalona were without feelings, but it was not true. Pride, aggression, boldness, predatory natures, certainly. . . . but there was more to them than simply that. They were not mindless monsters, like skinwalkers; they had feelings, they had attachments, they had loved ones whether they ever admitted the words or not, or confessed it themselves. They had weaknesses, fears, concerns, and uncertainties just like any other. . . they simply were made of something more than a lesser. They had grit, they were survivors, they were blessed by the great spirit Kalona.
They also had brains. . .and Arianwyn was proving that. Her knowledge was far different from his own, and he had to wonder who had taught her; her herd, obviously, the ones missing, the ones that she now asked about. His ears twitched, one swiveling around to focus on her, before turning back to listen to the sounds surrounding them. ". . . no. There were none." He quietly consented. A small part of him regretted having to confess such a thing, having to cause her disappointment on top of physical pain. He was no fool, he knew her herd, her family, the ones who had left her so protected had been important to her. She was alone now, as he was. .. the only difference, he had Maeryn and Black Skull to return to.
Arianwyn did not.
". . .You were the first I met. You still are the first I know of." And nobody else in the land seemed to have any more of a clue on where Ghost Claw had faded to. Keiran seriously doubted any of the herd being alive. Had they been, why would they abandon one of their own for so long?
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Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2014 10:50 pm
And she was disappointed. Oh, how bitterly Arian was disappointed. "I think... that you'd said that. But I'd hoped..." How she had hoped! Surely, if any of her kin were nearby, he would have encountered them? It wasn't fair, it truly wasn't fair! How could they leave her like this? Why had they abandoned her, left her to her fate? Were... were they even going to come back? Did... did...
Had...
Had they left her for dead?
Given her up for lost? Arianwyn stared, subdued, at the bowl before her. The remedy was nearly complete. It would take some time to make it potent enough to truly cure her ails, but if she took it now, the pain would lessen. She didn't... she didn't think she had it in her to endure pain alone (all right, not entirely alone; after all, there was Keiran to consider) within the cave where she'd once known the comfort of family. Her parents, her grandparents, had often spent time with her in this very cave.
This cave that was now a refuge as well as a home. "Thank you, anyway." If she could have cried, she would have, but she felt that she'd used up all her tears.
It hurt her terribly to know that no one like her was anywhere to be found. Maybe they'd wandered too far. Maybe... lessers had killed them. Oh, that was an awful thought! She was torturing herself with her thoughts, but she couldn't help it now. Forlorn and morose, and leaned her head down to drink from the newly prepared tonic.
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Posted: Wed Mar 26, 2014 4:30 pm
Keiran felt uncomfortable as various emotions swept through him. He had no comfort to give the mare, no kindnesses he could tell her to ease her emotional pain. It was clear she was distraught, obvious that she was hurting at the reminder that none of her kin appeared to remain. It was a strange thing, really, given he could not understand such logic as her former herd. Even if she were weak and small and not as capable to make a great journey, why leave her alone and vulnerable? Though she blended in well to the aspen trees, it was not fool proof, and it didn’t take away the threat of the lessers in the area. Ah, but he was a fool to have lingered. Had he not made such an obvious show of himself, perhaps the pale mare would not be in such a position. . . and even if he left, they still might kill her if they thought her with foal. Things he hadn’t thought of until now, until it was far too late.
Still, the large stallion did bow his head and glance away, not wishing to just stand there and stare. He kept his ears alert, his tentacles twisting and writhing, clenching in response to his own thoughts and uncertainty. How was he to make this right? The lands were no longer hospitable to her, and yet, he doubted that she would be receptive to leaving with him. Now was not the time to push, to ask. . . and she certainly hadn’t been receptive to his own form of courtship. Not that he was surprised. Kalona mares were tricky, and though he’d spoken to Malice and even his own mother before his many travels from Black Skull, any advice he’d received simply didn’t help. “I am sorry,” he finally rumbled quietly, an apology for his interruption of her peace, for his inability to find her kin outside the great grove. “…If there’s anything I can do I. . . I will.” It was his own vow, his own promise to the petite kalona mare.
It never had been his intention to get anyone hurt.
Still, the large beast did turn and step outside. He couldn’t help but assume he would be the last soquili she wanted to see, and with how painful it was just to watch her drink. . . she was in a bad state, and no kalona wanted to be stared at while so vulnerable. Or maybe that was simply Keiran. Either way, he was not one for small talk, and he had nothing more to say. He was not good at comfort, and he did not know if that was what the small mare needed. . . and if she did, she certainly could not wish it from him. He’d have to make it up to her, somehow, someway. For now, he’d give her peace and her pride, and make sure nothing got too close to her little patch of land.
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