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 Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2014 11:45 pm
Gabe watched in curiosity as a black and yellow snake approached and settled in a similar position as Silk on Ayako. "Hello Pandora, it's nice to meet you." he said first, before considering the question.
"Hmmm. I can be the seeker first if you want. I'm pretty good at it though, just so you know." He bragged. Ara nodded slightly, worry for her son edging into her mind. The last time he'd found a new friend, the two had ended up in a world of trouble...at least he had Silk with him, she supposed, and he could fly now even if he didn't enjoy it.
"Alright, lead the way." she said.
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Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 6:32 pm
Pandora lifted her head to examine the colt and the snake around its neck before gently hissing a reply. Ayako interpreted that sound as a grumbled hello and chuckled softly. "Pandora returns your greeting. At least I think she is doing that," the filly took in Gabe's offer to seek first and she nodded.
Ayako glanced around the plain she was on before letting her gaze return to Gabe. "You need to close your eyes and give me enough time to find a hiding place."
Ayako had figured out that the plain lacked in hiding spots. Perhaps she could hide amongst the trees nearby? She gave her wings an experimental flap before trotting around and then taking off towards the trees. Could she manage to get into one of the trees? Ayako wasn't sure on what chance of success she would have if she tried to fly onto one of the branches.Zach nodded towards Ara before following the instructions that Pandora had hissed to him. Ayako had pulled away from him during his trek back by the open plain and so that was the direction in which he headed. He kept his pace slow for the moment before glancing sideways towards Ara. Had something small changed between them now that they had another shared experience in common? Perhaps it was time that he actually got to know more about the mare. Clearing his throat Zach made a few stammering attempts to talk before falling silent. Maybe now it wasn't the right time for this. Zach kept his eyes peeled for movement on the horizon as he let his mind wander.
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Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 8:07 pm
Gabriel dutifully closed his eyes, "Okay, since it's kind of open around here I'll give you to the count of 50!"
As he began to count, he could hear Ayako taking off towards the trees and made note of the fluttering of her wings. He wasn't sure if she could fly or not, so he'd have to look in high-up places just in case.
"47...48...49...50! Ready or not, here I come!" he shouted, opening his eyes and peering around. Ara sneaked small glances at Zach every few minutes. As they walked towards where she assumed her...daughter...was to be found, he kept starting to say something and then stop. She wondered if he was as tongue tied as her. How strange to have two children 'with' someone whom she had never spoken to accept in anger. Without the pretense of a fight, they didn't have much to talk about.
Ara thought for a moment, before realizing they had at least one thing in common. "What is she like?"
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Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 8:32 pm
In the end Ayako hadn't wanted to test her balance on a tree branch and had found a rather large rock that concealed her form nicely. The rock was amongst the trees and Ayako figured that perhaps Gabe might think to look up instead of along the ground at first. She could hear him shouting that he was coming to find her and she made herself into a tighter ball if it were possible before glancing at Pandora. Her father's familiar kept flicking her tongue in and out. Ayako wondered about where her father had gotten to. Would he be worried about her wandering off again?
She began to also wonder just who he was looking for again. Had he managed to find this mysterious mare and her son? Ayako could hear what sounded like Gabriel coming to seek her out and she let out a soft giggle before silencing herself. It wouldn't do to give herself away so easily.Zach was almost lost in thought about what he could possibly ask about Ara before realizing that she had just posed a question to him. He brought his mind back to the present before turning his gaze to lock on the mare. What was Ayako like? Zach found himself smiling without knowing it as he gave Ara a lengthy pause for effect. "What is Ayako like? She is at times the most remarkable, maddening, challenging, frustrating individual I've had to deal with constantly. But I could not imagine my life without her now. She doesn't always take my warnings that I give to her seriously but I think it is because she knows that she can charm her way out of disciplinary talks. But she's always cheerful no matter how gloomy I am."
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Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 10:26 pm
Gabriel bolted towards the woods as soon as he was done counting, hoping to catch a glimpse of Ayako in the canopy of the trees. He thought he saw a flash of color and so launched himself clumsily into the air to go up and see. Silk hissed his displeasure at suddenly being airborne, but Gabe ignored him. A few moments later, when a thorough search of the surrounding trees yielded no giggling foal, he gave up trying to stay perched in the trees and glided ungracefully down to the ground. He landed roughly and jostled Silk almost off of his neck. The snake snapped his fangs at his charge, a warning to settle down.
Gabriel pouted that he hadn't found Ayako yet. He began to search at ground level right after he passed a large rock which he neglected to inspect. Ara watched the expression of Zach's face change from brooding to fondly smiling at the thought of his daughter. Ara unconsciously mirrored his expression as she listened to his description of his - their - daughter. "She sounds lovely. I know what you mean. Kids can be a handful but...I wouldn't give up my Gabriel for all the shiny painted rocks in the world." the last was said playfully as she smiled at him.
She realized suddenly that they were having an almost pleasant conversation and looked away, a mixture of shyness and bewilderment entering her expression. Where was the haughty b*****d who had taken her things, threatened her familiar, and generally made an a** of himself?
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Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:23 pm
Ayako couldn't believe it. Gabriel had gone right passed her rock. The filly watched as Gabriel flew up into a tree before laying down closer to the ground. She tucked her wings as tight as she could against her body in order to make herself as small as possible. Gabriel had prided himself on being good at this game, but had she already managed to prove that claim false?
Ayako glanced to the resting snake against her neck before nuzzling Pandora softly. She had a feeling that her father would be showing up sooner rather than later. Having Pandora find her was usually the first step that Zacharael took.There was something different between himself and Ara this time. Zacharael would be lying if he said that he didn't miss the verbal sparring and violent sparks that always flowed between himself and the mare but this comfortable silence was strange, alien even. The stallion was almost tempted to say something that would grate on Ara's nerves if only to get a heated reaction from her. Zach sighed before realizing that perhaps this newfound civility of his was worth keeping around. Then again ... Zach glanced towards Ara as she spoke her piece about Gabriel. He knew that he hadn't stolen all of her gold rocks but he had taken a few. "Are you entirely sure of that Ara?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2014 10:58 am
Gabriel returned to the ground after surveying the area around him from the tree. He stomped a hoof in frustration. His other friend wasn't nearly as good at this game!
He looked around a little bit more, before an idea struck him. "Silk, you should help me look!" he exclaimed, shaking his head a little bit to jostle the snake into wakefulness.
The snake grumbled a bit but with a little more whining from Gabe he relented, knowing that the sooner he did what the foal wanted the sooner he could stop hearing about it.
Silk slithered through the grass, tasting the air. He rolled his eyes as it took him only a couple of minutes to scent a snake and a foal hiding behind the large rock that Gabriel had passed several times. He returned to Gabriel and slithered up his leg and then pointed in the correct direction with his tail. She wouldn't tell anyone about the early days where she'd been annoyed at the burden of a foal following her around, making venturing far and wide for materials very difficult. There had been times she'd wished she could trade him in and get her rock back because at least that she could carry. It still filled her with shame to think of those early days.
Ara scoffed, "Of course I'm sure. What value do rocks have compared to my kid? He might have been...unintentional, but I love him. What kind of question is that?"
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Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2014 8:22 pm
Pandora hissed silently at her charge a warning it seemed. Ayako perked up a little before relaxing. If Gabriel was close than there wasn't anything she could do to change the outcome of the game. She knew that she had hid well if it had taken this long for her friend to find her. Perhaps she'd find Gabe even quicker though. The filly giggled as Pandora dropped from her neck to slither away. That had tickled. Ayako paused though before realizing that it meant that Zach was closer than she had assumed. She expected that her dad would be arriving within a few minutes. Maybe it was time to alert Gabriel to the fact that company would be coming? Ayako sighed quietly. Would her father approve of her new friend? Only time would tell it seemed. Gabriel seemed to be the first friend that she could safely say that she enjoyed playing with.
She didn't want to lose this feeling. Ayako swore that if her father disapproved that she would have to do something drastic to make him change his mind.Zacharael merely remained silent at Ara's response before chuckling. It was cute the way that she got a little bit angry at his question. In all seriousness though Zach was glad that Ara was happier with Gabriel than she would have been with painted rocks. The stallion gave a gentle sigh before glancing silently to the mare walking beside him. "I was only curious about your state of mind I guess. I'm not sure if you've noticed but we aren't at each others throat. Am I strange for thinking that it is unusual for us?"
There was an small hope that this peace could last. Zach would even surprise Ara by returning those rocks he'd taken from her long ago. Perhaps then things could finally be smoothed over. It was worth a shot but he would have to wait for the perfect moment. The stallion scanned the vista ahead and noted the appearance of trees on the horizon. He would be guessing but it was a pretty safe assumption that Ayako would be found near this area. He gave his wings a good stretch before peering over to Ara. "Ayako will most likely be around here. She's pretty colorful so it shouldn't be too hard to spot her."
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Posted: Sat Sep 19, 2015 10:31 pm
"Thanks!" Gabriel whispered to his mother's familiar as he sneaked up to the rock the snake had indicated. He was almost bursting with anticipation, suddenly getting it in his head to try to scare the other foal hiding from him. He giggled to himself, not realizing it would give away his position, and leaped to the other side. "Found you!" he exclaimed, triumphant. Never mind that he had cheated. Ara knew he had a point, and couldn't place what was different this time. All of their previous encounters had held an undercurrent of confrontation even while they had been getting along (however briefly in the beginning of their acquaintance) and yet she just couldn't find any of the irritation or anger towards him within herself this time. She turned the feeling over in her mind for a moment and realized she was feeling rather fond of the overbearing stallion before her - to her shock.
"Not at all. I find myself shocked we haven't even started an argument yet, not really." she agreed.
At his words she wondered where Gabriel had gotten off to. "Do you think I could meet her?" she asked tentatively, hoping that this peace they had found in each others presence could last at least long enough to meet her daughter. Kettyn tag - and not quite a year later. Dx
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2015 12:00 am
Ayako's ears pricked forward at the sound of footsteps moving closer to her hiding place. The foal sensed that the game was coming to an end and she scurried out from behind the rock as Gabriel's "found you" echoed all around her. Her tiny legs kicked outwards as a bout of infectious giggles spilled from her lips. "It took you forever to do so though."
Ayako's playfully nipped at Gabriel's side before giggling again. Who cared if it meant that it was her turn to seek, Ayako was having a blast with Gabriel. A moment passed in which she panted softly before her gaze scanned the horizon. She wasn't certain when her father would show up but she knew he would. "Gabriel, I think that we might not be alone for much longer. Pandora left me and she only leaves when my father is close. We might have company soon. I don't know if you want to wait to hide or not."Zach breathed deeply. The stallion sorted the scents that filtered into his nostrils as his brain cataloged each one. There was the obvious scent of the mare walking next to him which he identified rather quickly. Another scent was approaching quickly and Zacharael placed his leg straight down on the ground and waited patiently. A moment later the familiar sight of his familiar wrapped around his foreleg brought an chuckle to his lips. The stallion was about to say something when Ara's question reached his ears. He had been silently listening to Pandora's report once more.
"I believe that you should meet her. If Pandora is telling me the truth Ayako will be found near that forested area up ahead." Zacharael paused before glancing to Ara. He gave her a quick look before continuing, "it seems that she is not alone though."
There was something he was leaving out of course but he was wanting to gauge Ara's reaction when she saw their children playing together.-[The Spoof]- Oh dear. It's been a while.
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Posted: Mon Sep 28, 2015 6:26 am
Gabriel's victorious laugh at finding the other foal turned into an indignant squawk as she nipped him in the side and taunted him. "At least I found you..." he grumbled. He'd find the best hiding spot and then who would be laughing! He thought to himself sullenly. He watched the other foal look off into the distance as if searching for something and found his gaze following hers.
He listened and considered her question, a bit apprehensive at meeting someone else all of a sudden. "I don't know...who is coming?" She watched the snake wind up Zach's leg and a fond smile twitched her lips upwards as she thought of her own snake. A cloud briefly overtook her tranquil mood as she remembered her last encounter with Zach and how he had threatened Silk, but she dismissed it. She'd not forget, but she was enjoying this new found peace between them too much to dwell on a grudge at the moment.
At his words Ara beamed at him, excitement bubbling in her chest at the thought of meeting her daughter and perhaps a friend as well. "Thank you!" she exclaimed, "Lead the way?" she said even as she picked up her pace, trying to hurry him along. Kettyn tag - I kind of don't want Gabe to have the chance to hide - so either Ayako can stall him or the two can be closer than they thought or something?
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Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 11:51 pm
Ayako could clearly lie to her friend but she found no reason to. Her father would not chase Gabriel away just out of spite, would he? There was one little flutter of fear in her chest for Gabe's safety. Zacharael did sometimes have a bit of a temper. Swallowing nervously the filly smiled brightly at Gabriel. "Pandora left me. It means that my dad will be around fairly soon. If you want we could wait until after so that you could get a fair chance at hiding. He would not mind if we played afterwards, I'm sure of it."
Ayako tucked her wings against her side and caught herself turning to face the direction that she had traveled in. Somewhere, rather nearby, was Zacharael. Momentarily Ayako wondered if her dad had found who it was he had been looking for. Her attention shifted again to Gabriel and Silk. She giggled softly before thinking of how to introduce her friend if he decided to stick close.Zacharael understood that Ara was excited to meet Ayako. He was wondering what Gabriel would look like now. There was something so rewarding about this fortuitous meeting. To think everything that had happened to them had come as a result of his meddling with Ara's artwork. The fact that they both had been granted wishes from the heavens was astonishing. Was there something deeper going on at work?
It was an introspective look that he turned on Ara before giving her a soft smile of warmth. This excitement that bubbled out from her was an different, yet interesting reaction to watch. "Thank you."
Zach passed in front of Ara and let his tail swish back and forth in a gentle motion. The spaded tip neared the place where his weapon rested but he left it alone. He was certain that Ara would not do anything to him right now. She was too keyed into meeting her daughter and Zach could not blame her.
A few minutes of silence passed before a blur of color on the horizon caught Zach's eye. The forested area was dead ahead and there was two smaller figures that he began to track. "Up ahead Ara is your daughter. She might be expecting us as she knows Pandora's cues."
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