Whistle gave into the colt's pleading whine, leaning down to nuzzle at his ears affectionately. The hopeful look on his face tugged at her heart, and she already had a weakness where glowing eyes were concerned. "Alright, alright. No more talk of girls and flowers. As for why they have such sad stories, I do not know my darling. Perhaps you should make up happier tales for the flowers you like best? Or maybe one day you will cross paths with some forest spirit that can make plants grow where they stride. That would be magic, and happy indeed."
She had no doubt there was some such individual out there in the world... And if any of them would find it, Arioso would be the one to do so. "Enough of that for now. I understand you're much more interested in the stories and the lessons than anything else. That is fine, I am sure I can think of something else to teach you before we return you to your father. But for now, a story you were promised and a story you will have."
She considered her options for a few moments. "The tale of the Angeni is a little scary and very long, so we will save that one for when you are older. Besides, your Grandsire has many of those, and he will be mad if I spoil the surprise. Since my old friends will probably not ever make their way to this land, we shall save them for another time as well. Besides, you have heard one or two of the less-thrilling ones, the ones that won't give your Grandsire white hair."
They wandered along in silence for a few moments as she considered the tales available to her. "Oh, I could go on for days about your father and his siblings getting themselves into all kinds of trouble, your age up through their adult years. And you well know to stay clear of your uncle, the Dark Fayth. Your Grandsire has done far too many dangerous things for me to hope to remember the stories of, but I can share some of those. We all go on adventures, and so do you, which is why your Papa is always coming to me for help finding you. I can certainly tell you stories of my early days in the land, and I have certainly walked the mountains and crossed paths with many of the native-born Soquili. I have seen Winds, Angeni, Cerynei, Flutters, Unicorns, mix-breeds of all kinds... I have seen the ocean, but I do not know any of the horses of the sea."
She laughed as he lost his train of thought and eagerly burst out that he merely wanted to hear a story he didn't know. Whistle was rather fond of Arioso's thirst for knowledge and stories, it was a trait his father had but greatly magnified.
"One day you'll know all my stories and it will be your task to tell me yours... But I suppose for today it is still my turn to tell the tales. Which means it is my choice as to which tale I tell today. And I think I shall tell you about the time when I was newly come to this land, and I found someone that reminded me of an old friend from my homeland..."
She had no doubt there was some such individual out there in the world... And if any of them would find it, Arioso would be the one to do so. "Enough of that for now. I understand you're much more interested in the stories and the lessons than anything else. That is fine, I am sure I can think of something else to teach you before we return you to your father. But for now, a story you were promised and a story you will have."
She considered her options for a few moments. "The tale of the Angeni is a little scary and very long, so we will save that one for when you are older. Besides, your Grandsire has many of those, and he will be mad if I spoil the surprise. Since my old friends will probably not ever make their way to this land, we shall save them for another time as well. Besides, you have heard one or two of the less-thrilling ones, the ones that won't give your Grandsire white hair."
They wandered along in silence for a few moments as she considered the tales available to her. "Oh, I could go on for days about your father and his siblings getting themselves into all kinds of trouble, your age up through their adult years. And you well know to stay clear of your uncle, the Dark Fayth. Your Grandsire has done far too many dangerous things for me to hope to remember the stories of, but I can share some of those. We all go on adventures, and so do you, which is why your Papa is always coming to me for help finding you. I can certainly tell you stories of my early days in the land, and I have certainly walked the mountains and crossed paths with many of the native-born Soquili. I have seen Winds, Angeni, Cerynei, Flutters, Unicorns, mix-breeds of all kinds... I have seen the ocean, but I do not know any of the horses of the sea."
She laughed as he lost his train of thought and eagerly burst out that he merely wanted to hear a story he didn't know. Whistle was rather fond of Arioso's thirst for knowledge and stories, it was a trait his father had but greatly magnified.
"One day you'll know all my stories and it will be your task to tell me yours... But I suppose for today it is still my turn to tell the tales. Which means it is my choice as to which tale I tell today. And I think I shall tell you about the time when I was newly come to this land, and I found someone that reminded me of an old friend from my homeland..."
