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 Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 1:04 pm
Kamiki 
Stormchaser gave a concerned look as he spoke of his father, and even more so when he scampered off. "You be careful," he said to the colt as he began to head back towards his home. His gaze lingered, unable to shake the uneasy feeling. Perhaps he could send Little Thunder out to investigate later? But for now...
...he gave a sigh and shook out his mane a bit, clearing his head. He looked back to Falling Rock with an apologetic look. "You said you were found under a rockslide...do you know what happened to the rest of your family?"
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 1:08 pm
Baby Pandah Falling Rock shuffled uncomfortably for the first time, now wishing that Flint would resurface from her mane and refuse to let her answer. But she knew he was pouting, and she could feel him giggling at her struggle. She looked up at Stormchaser a bit hesitantly. "My mother...was killed by the slide. And my father...well, mother's death destroyed him," she said. Flint's giggling stopped immediately. She was satisfied with the way she had explained it and fell silent, hoping the stallion would not push the matter further.
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 1:18 pm
Chaser felt like he just shoved his hoof in his mouth; she looked upset and he realized how callous or insensitive that question could have come off. "I'm so sorry to hear that," he said sincerely, trying to catch her eye as way of an apology. "Out of the ashes, though, yes?" he said, trying to cheer her up. "You're like a phoenix." He tried to give her a smile, hoping it didn't come off too forced. He cleared his throat again. "Well, uhm, the only reason I ask is because, if you, well, didn't have someone you could call 'home' or something, maybe you could come and take a look at my herdlands. They are quite grand, and I think my Mom and Dad would like you. We live on the mountains, you see, and all of have wings," he spread his for effect. "Its an old and terribly important mantle we carry."
He looked at her hopefully. "Oh, my mom and dad, they are the Alphas. That's why you should meet them!" he added in quickly, hoping it was sounding like he was trying to come onto her or something.
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 1:35 pm
Baby Pandah She smiled once again, glad that he had let the subject drop. "I guess so!" she said with a laugh. The thought of visiting a herd was both very exciting and very terrifying. On the one hand, she missed being around others, on the other hand she had run away from her father's herd because he had locked her within its boundaries. She didn't want to be stuck like that again. But the thought of seeing others like herself and having some protection other than Flint for a while was all too alluring. "I'd love to meet them," she grinned. She had no idea that his words could have been taken as anything but a nice invitation, and the fact that his parents were alphas only made her feel more in tune with him. They seemed so similar. She looked at him with equal hope in her eyes, already eager to see the mountains he spoke of.
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 1:43 pm
Chaser was surprised by how excited her acceptance of his invitation made him feel. "Wondeful!" he said quickly, tossing his mane over his shoulder and his tail swaying behind him. "That's great - I really hope you like it! It way up in the mountains but its very protected there! I have a big family! But there are others there, too!" He didn't know why he was rambling so...she had already agreed to go. "So uh, yeah!"
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Posted: Wed Jul 17, 2013 8:48 pm
"Lead the way?" she offered. It was just a surprising adventure that she felt very free in that moment. Finally she would be able to relax among new friends. That is, if his parents allowed her into their herd. She found herself hoping they would like her, something she didn't usually do. But there was something in her that wanted to be accepted after being on the run for so long. Her own father had not accepted her need for freedom, so it would mean a lot to her to meet others who approved of her adventurous spirit. Flint had to put a stop to this. He was all for Fall enjoying herself, and he knew how much she wanted somewhere to rest and to have some fun. He knew being alone was not good for her, not for this long. But it was better than getting caught by her father or something worse. "Fall! He could be a spy! It could be a trap!" he whispered urgently in her ear so the stallion couldn't hear. Falling Rock considered her familiar's advice for no longer than one second. "I'm willing to take the risk, Flint. Does he look like a spy to you?" she said, audibly enough for Chaser to hear. "Flint thinks you're a spy, isn't he funny?" she giggled, walking forward past the stallion, ready for the adventure to begin and hoping their journey would not be hindered by Flint's annoying warnings.
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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 6:07 am
Stormchaser gave a whinny of excitement and left into the air and, with an impressive display of agility, opened his wings and took flight from a still, standing position. He circled over her until she was ready to take to the air.
"A spy?" he asked, amused but a bit confused. "I'm no spy - well, unless you count for my own herd, but then I wouldn't be a very good spy then, would I?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:37 am
She watched him take off and marveled at how easily and beautifully he had done it. She was not quite so good at take-offs yet, but she enjoyed running to get a start anyway. Next to flying, running was her favorite thing. She gave one big HA! at his response and looked back at Flint. "See Flint, he's definitely not a spy," she giggled. And with that, she whipped her long mane out of her face and took off running full force, feeling the wind on her cheeks and closing her eyes for a moment. Finally she stretched her wings and lifted, galloping into the air gracefully.Flint sighed fatherly. He knew it was hopeless trying to stop her now. Her need for adventure and fun was just something he could never hope to overpower. He smiled lightly to himself, half worried and half proud of his friend. "Oh alright," he called as he saw Fall turn in the air and look down at him hopefully. And he jetted straight up into the air like a bullet, whizzing past the stallion and Fall and scouting ahead for them.
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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:46 am
Chaser watched her raptly. Sure, she hadn't been able to take off from a standing start, but it was just as thrilling to watch her gallop along the ground before opening her wings and letting the wind take her. Oh, his parents were just going to love her, he knew it! He followed her until she was airborne, then tilted his wings and changed directions northward "This way!" he called her, gaining altitude. "We live in the mountains." He turned his head to watch her carefully, reading her expression. Her certainly didn't want to make her uncomfortable being in that kind of environment.
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Posted: Thu Jul 18, 2013 9:53 am
She easily directed herself around, pointing her nose north. "I'll race you!" she said with a wild grin, and without waiting for another word she pumped her wing muscles and soared forward, her legs galloping on the air current.Races were her third favorite thing. She could just see a tiny orange blur that was Flint changing direction above them. With a determined expression on her face, she pushed herself forward as fast as she could go, keeping an eye on Flint for direction.
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 6:24 am
Chaser watched her zoom ahead with a dopey grin on his face. He let her go for several moments before flexing his wings and rocketing after her. He was one of the weakest of his family - not very strong but he was fast. He felt his wind whip through his long mane, the feathers of his wings. He was the best feeling in the world; at least, he used to think so. Looking ahead at the beautiful grey and fiery mare, he realized that flying could be even better.
They raced towards the mountains, and Stormchaser kept his eye out for the patrols. He certainly wanted to be close at hand in case she was approached. He didn't quite grasp why he was both excited and terrified about having Falling Rock meet his family. Most of them were quite nice, especially to winds, but they could be overbearing sometimes.
"This way," he called from behind her as they got closer, changing his trajectory slightly as the mountains came closer.
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 10:10 am
Flint dived for Fall, timing it perfectly and perching on her head. "Mountains!" was all he could manage to get out through the rush of the wind.Falling Rock was surprised at how quickly they had reached them and wondered how close the herd's territory was. She was so excited that she forgot about the race and turned slightly to follow Chaser. As she watched him pound the air with his large wings, she realized how nice he had been to invite her along. Fall could only hope that his family would accept her. Would he get into trouble for bringing an outsider? If he did, maybe he could come on the run with her and Flint. She frowned slightly, shaming herself for thinking of such a thing. She liked his company, but she shouldn't wish such things upon others. She looked over at Chaser, shaking the thoughts out of her mind. "Are we almost there?" she shouted eagerly against the air flow.
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 11:11 am
"Getting close!" he called back to her. Forgetting about the race, he slowed down a bit and made her to keep her pace. "You should probably stay close, so they know you're with me," he said, nodding to some forms in the distance - just dots against the sky at this point. "They are patrols for our herd. No one comes or goes without being stopped. That's the goal at least!" he added with a chuckle.
*
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**~* *
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*Meanwhile, the two brothers looped high in the sky, soaring on the winds as they patrolled the outer territories of their herdlands.
Jericho was the first to see the figures on the horizon. He squinted into the sunlight, trying to determine who was approaching. Their herd was large, and it wasn't uncommon for their members to come and go as they pleased. But just because they were flying didn't mean they weren't a threat. It could have very well been Firestorm and his ilk; at the very least that would require immediate notification of the Alphas.
"Border check," he called to his brother.
"Okay, let's go check it out," he said with a definitive nod. Not waiting for his brother to answer, he headed towards them, riding the wind and the high altitude.
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 11:52 am
And to think a couple of hours earlier she thought this would be another day of traveling and hiding out! She squinted at the two figures who were quickly approaching now, staying close to Stormchaser. Usually she was not one to get nervous, but she felt her stomach squirm at the sight of the official looking faces on the two stallions. What if they turned her away? She tried to smile politely, looking at Chaser for reassurance. "That's a good goal to have," she mustered shakily, cursing herself for letting her usual brave exterior slip.Flint puffed out his chest protectively, sensing Fall's nerves. She usually wasn't like this. Perhaps the presence of this stallion had her going soft? At that thought he sighed. He should have known that the young adult years would be even more difficult than raising a foal. He looked at the approaching stallions, hoping that this Stormchaser guy was as nice as Fall seemed to think he was.
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Posted: Fri Jul 19, 2013 12:32 pm
Jericho angled his wings against the wind and soared behind his brother. He was an adventurous guy, and he felt his chest flutter a bit with the excitement of an encounter. Of course, he didn't wish any real danger to come across him or his family! But ever since that damned skinwalker attack, he had secretly hoped for a chance to proove his mettle.
However as they grew closer, he was able to make out Stormchaser; the alphas' son. He was free to come and go as he pleased, of course, but he did have someone with him. Jericho trusted his judgement, but it was probably a good idea to check it out.
"Greetings, Chandler!" Chaser called back, excited to formally introduce Falling Rock. "And Jericho," he added, as he came in closer behind his brother. "Lovely day! I have a friend here I'm wanting to show the herdlands."
He hovered in the air and nodded to her. "This is Falling Rock. Falling Rock, this is Jericho," he said, nodding to the darker stallion with pink-tinged wings, "and Chandler," nodding to the spotted companion. "They are my herdmates, they are the sons of Belle and Zhuri, who helped found the herd with my parents!" He puffed his chest a bit proudly.
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