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 Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 1:32 pm
Azumoth was never wrong, or so he would argue. He wasn't wrong in how he looked and he wasn't wrong in how others looked. He wouldn't appreciate someone disagreeing with him especially when he had taken the risk to compliment. Nevertheless, by her very expression alone it was clear that he was showing his age in terms of how he expressed himself through his words alone.
...Ah yes, now he remembered.
Slowly but surely he recalled one of the rare occasions in which he had crept into the Lowlands to explore. On one such occasion he had met a flutter who had never even been greeted with general courtship. On the contrary, she thought his manners were rude. To let her make the decisions, to lake her take the lead...they were all deemed to be an affront. It had left him reeling and highly confused to say the least. It had been in that moment that he had known on no uncertain terms that he just didn't fit into that society.
As odd as it might have sounded he just couldn't exist in a world without chivalry. He couldn't exist in a world where mares simply drifted towards a stallion even when he made no attempt to court them. What was the point? He was an artistic stallion and a very expressive one when he desired to be - to live in a world where such things were unappreciated and deemed unnecessary made him appear obsolete.
It had been that, which had helped him to 'progress' in terms of his views on relationships. He couldn't force a mare to appreciate his way of life, the way he moved and the way he viewed each little thing. He couldn't subject them to what they deemed to be an affront - what he was and could have been was outdated.
Maybe one day it would change, but he had little faith in that.
"I am glad my words were of some use," he mused after a few moments, his demeanour shifting as he returned to his shell and stretched his neck. With his mother now done he was able to move and relieve the stiffness in his limbs. In some ways he could have rivalled a cat as he stretched out before allowing his wings to billow out - he could have sworn they creaked.
"I nae be mindin'," Moppet took the opportunity to leap up onto the mare and calmly sat at the base of her neck. Once she was comfortable she gave a small chuckle and shook her head. "Now, all ye gots te do is look for bee's wax - ye can ask any critter in the wood te get it fer ye - when ye get it ye jes' rub it inte ye hair a lil bit," She didn't have any bees wax but she did demonstrate by curling the hair in her paws and then arching it over to the right side of the mare's neck.
"Now, if ye be doin' tha' in the mornin before ye go out...the bee's wax should hold ye hair in place and it shouldnae move about quite so much, especially the wee tiny bits."
Azumoth didn't seem pleased by the advice but chose to say nothing as he furled his wings against his side once more and drifted outside into the forest beyond the Grove. Moppet could do nothing more than shift a little uneasily.
"He jes' dinnae understand the trials of a female," she mused with a small sigh.
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Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 11:32 pm
She was young.
Where Azumoth was rather hard-set in to his ways, the young mare had very little experience in certain areas of life. She was a wild spirit and was still learning the ins and outs of the world, hoof print by hoof print. Though she was thoroughly flattered, and inwardly beaming by Azu's words, the young mare plum didn't know how to respond.
What did one say besides thank you?
The intelligence behind the black stallion's mask was apparent. The way he spoke was unlike any way she had ever heard. The way he voice his opinions, the way his velvet words ever so carefully formed themselves. . . . It was as if every word was fragile and if he weren't careful they might transform and twist in to something awful.
Thankfully, the mare couldn't allow her passing thoughts to idle. Before she knew it, Moppet had scurried and perched upon her shoulder, taking her mane gently in her paws.
It was delightful.
Her smile grew at the touch of another, even if it were nothing more than the small raccoon. Despite their many differences, there were moments of similarity to be found between the two. Day and night, optimism and pessimism, despite all the reasons, despite the circumstances, Bella herself had long since been deprived of touch.
It was nothing compared to Azu, but within her short lifespan there had been little to befriend. One of her only friends as a foal had been Feena - the flutter and she had tried to gather shinies. But despite their prancing games, Bella had lived and learned on her own.
Hence her extreme trust and naivety.
She had met Meshach days earlier, and had been able to let loose and play as a free spirit. . . . But of her small friendships, they all lacked one thing: physical contact.
As it was, the raccoon's fur tickled her neck and caused the hair to prickle. The bushy tail of the striped lady was almost ticklish! There was something comforting about a touch, something real. . . .
How lucky was Azu to have someone so lovingly care for his mane and tail!
Amber eyes bright, she made a mental reminder of the suggestion. Bee's wax? That was something she'd never thought of! But perhaps. . . . yes, perhaps she could try it? Maybe in the morrow, or whenever she next found the wax!
"I would have never thought . . . " She began, pleased by Moppet's advice. But her words died as Azumoth exited and the raccoon shifted her position. Hmm. . . Bella's ear twitched, turning back round towards the furry creature.
Uh-oh. That uneasy feeling she had hoped to have avoided suddenly returned. It tickled her stomach and the mare almost heaved a sigh. Silently she lowered her head, her bangs taking advantage of gravity and dropping again before her eyes. ". . . .It sure isn't easy," she admitted with a half-smile, tail swishing behind her.
". . . . . But males are quite an enigma in their own right."
And Azumoth was far from an exception.
Was that her cue to go, to follow? Or was she to attempt to find her own way home? Oh, part of the mare doubted the latter. Wander at night yet again in Azu's forest?
No. The black stallion just wouldn't have it. "Well, ma'am," she responded with a gentle smile, neck craning to try to steal a peek at the little raccoon. "It was surely a pleasure to have met you and your lovely family. Your kindness won't be forgotten!" And wasn't that the truth! Those within Azu's grove had allowed her to take refuge from the storm. . .
Such a gesture wasn't easily repaid!
On top of that she had been able to witness the signs of family firsthand! The way she coddled Azumoth, the pickings and teasing of the little birds in the trees. . . . It was a beautiful memory and one she was blessed to have witnessed. There was light in the world and it did her heart good to know Azumoth had it.
Even if he stayed holed up in his walls. . . .
If worse came to worse, he still had a window called family that could lasso in the light.
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 8:45 am
"He's got 'is reasons but he ain't that hard te read, jes' watch him...More ye watch the more 'e talks sometimes!" Moppet chuckled lightly as she gave the mare a pat and leapt from her back. All in all it had been a pleasant experience for the raccoon to have met the mare - she was barely even out of adolescence but that optimism was infectious. Sometimes the raccoon did feel like giving up hope but she soon discovered that if she did, that would be very dire indeed.
All the same it had been an odd few months.
The stallion could agree to this observation wholeheartedly as he drifted away from his Grove and down the pathway a short bit. He didn't intend to leave the immediate vicinity at that precise moment in time, but he wasn't going to be accused of eavesdropping either. He had just told the girl that her bloody hair was perfect and his mother had gone and undermined him, words could not describe how infuriating that was!
Urgh.
He shook his head and allowed his braids to 'whap' against his neck gently. While he had slept most of the day it had been along one and he was still tired. In truth he hadn't managed to sleep at all well in the knowledge that Bella was in his presence, he didn't like to feel vulnerable. That being said he refused to show it and thus he held himself well despite the protesting limbs and the urge to yawn repeatedly.
Choosing to lurk a distance away he was partially hidden within the shadows, but the teal glow of the orb in his chest remained a constant reminder of his existence. Lighting the beaten pathway in which he now stood upon it would be easy for the mare to locate him...She was right in her assumption that he wouldn't permit her to wander about blindly in his lands.
If only for her own safety and his own sanity.
However, as his mother had said it had been an unusual few months. Having lived a quiet life for over nine years it came as an unsettling change to have a constant stream of visitors. They even ignored his warnings, did as they thought was their prerogative and had absolutely no idea how dangerous that was. They didn't know what lurked in his forest and he did - why had every single one of them decided to defy him?!
It hadn't even started with his failure to control his lust for blood that faithful day. It had started as far back as when he had discovered that flaming basket and the adoptive mother - both lost in his forests. He hardly considered the forest to be a labyrinth himself but he could only assume others did.
...Maybe it was a challenge in the lowlands, the first to explore it and come out alive or perhaps they were all suicidal. He didn't know but it irritated him to constantly have to guide the foolish to their own lands. He was not their guardian, their protector or their parent and yet for some despicable reason something had decided he was.
He shook his head again and cast a rather dutiful gaze about him, taking the sounds and nearby smells into account. Three was much movement this evening but mostly in terms of th animals returning to their homes. This simply meant that he would have to watch his step, not a difficult feat but it would slow him down somewhat.
First thing first...
"Are you quite ready?" He enquired, his voice booming in the quiet forest before the Grove. It wasn't difficult to tell he wanted to move, and soon.
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 9:07 am
Well, it was time to go. The mare took note of Moppet's words and tucked them away for future reminder. They might server her well down the road, and surely everything that had happened within the woods had served as encouragement. Azumoth may not like her much, and part of her did realize and understand his frustration with her blatant rebellion, but. . . .
It was worth it.
She had made an oath, she had made a promise - if not directly so - and as Azumoth was going to assume she would give up and fail, Bella refused to do as much. She would show him, one day. . . . And maybe someday, somehow, he'd accept such an idea. He wasn't a criminal and he wasn't a beast or monster. . .
He was Azumoth, plain and simple.
Pushing her way through the tangles of the grove, the mare poked her head out. Glancing around the shadowed woods, Bella couldn't help but feel as if this scene had happened before. It had, though, during their first meeting. He had been her escort out of the woods. . . . And it seemed he would be one tonight.
Part of Bella wanted to apologize, but she stopped herself. He didn't have to guide her to safe grounds or be such a gentleman escort. He was doing this by choice. . . or necessity? Probably the latter, she mused. Who wanted a silly mare lost and turned around. . . ? Anyway to get rid of her, for sure.
Still, despite the impatience in his voice, Bella laughed and flashed him a smile, completely unperturbed. "I'm coming, I'm coming," she assured hastily, pushing the rest of her out of the tangle of vines and greenery.
Shaking out her hair, a few damp, stray leaves sticking to her mane, Bella trotted over to where Azumoth stood. Her tail swished lazily behind her and she looked up at the male. Her golden eyes were bright as she waited for Azumoth to get their little show on the road.
"You were right," she finally spoke, voice gentle. "Within the sanction of your grove I . . . I forgot about the weather outside." Relief stained her words, admitting to her earlier fear. Nasty weather and Bella truly didn't go hand in hand. . . .
"Thank you. I . . . I hope I wasn't too much of an inconvenience, but I do truly appreciate the safety you offered." How could she ever pay him back for such kindness? He easily could have dropped her off elsewhere within the woods, or left her to her own devices but instead. . .he'd taken her to his home, his sanctuary, and harbored 'the enemy'.
. . . not that she THOUGHT he saw her in such a light but she surely had done little to please the shadowed stallion.
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 9:32 am
He definitely didn't see the mare as an enemy, had she been one she would have been dead. While he was naturally a withdrawn individual he was not against ripping anything deemed a threat to shreds. Tearing a creature apart was not difficult with strength and limbs such as his - he could impale them, crush them or if he was feeling sadistic he could torture them in ways that were unimaginable to the naive mare.
Ah yes, he had a bit of a violent streak in him, but a very controlled one.
Nevertheless, as she laughed and flashed a smile to him he quite literally gulped. He had sounded like the grumpy old man he was and all she had done was laugh, she hadn't even taken offence or deemed it necessary to look ashamed for making him wait. It was strange but he wasn't angry so much as bemused, especially when laughter seemed to completely transform her face - why had no other male informed her she was radiant when happy?
Morons, every single one of you. He mused inwardly, casting a mental glare of daggers towards the lowlands for their lack of appreciation. Really, their inability to compliment or to court in any way shape or form annoyed even him and he wasn't the one who desired to be romanced! Admittedly he wasn't against romancing someone but that was beside the point, he'd tried once and they...just hadn't got it.
Another bad experience on his part!
"Hmph," he was a wonder when it came to conversations, someone would offer up an opening and he would grunt, snort or do something glutteral that would leave them gawking. Maybe if he, for once in his life, actually spoke back then he might find that most soquili could hold at least a slightly intellectual conversation.
"I was asleep," he pointed out in a plain manner in reference to her thanks, shaking his head as though to say that she hadn't been a hindrance. That was a lie of course, she had made him feel incredibly uncomfortable but it had been the honourable thing to do. To have her wander round in a daze, potentially terrified by what was happening around her was most dishonourable.
He would loathe any stallion that did that.
However, as she drew nearer and he caught side of the leaves in her hair he was presented with a number of choices. He could pretend they were there and potentially humiliate her later or he could...fix them. Either way it wasn't the most comfortable of positions for him to be in. Especially when one required him to touch her.
He was curious though.
"Hold still," he murmured gruffly as he arched his neck over her own and very carefully plucked the leaves from her mane. She was awfully small and her hair tickled his nose but he resisted the urge to sneeze and instead, withdrew and spat out one of the leaves that had become lodged on his fang. Not the most gentlemanly of things to do but he looked enough of a fool as it was.
Once he was sure that the leaves were gone though he gave a slight nod and began to move down the path once more.
"And never doubt the words of one who is so old as I am, we are rarely wrong," he was obviously referring to her words about the storm in that statement.
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2007 6:08 pm
Bella was slowly learning to take his rough attitude with a grain of salt. Even though the storms had long since passed over head, Bella couldn't help but imagine a small, grey rain cloud floating idly above Azumoth's head. She understood he had his reasons for such defenses, and life had dealt him a seemingly difficult deck, but sometimes she wondered if it was truly so difficult to smile.
The closest to such a rare expression she'd ever seen had been upon their first meeting - he had smirked softly once, and only once. Occasionally his eyebrows arched in a confused or startled expression, but mostly he sulked within his personal rainstorm.
Not that it bothered Bella.
"Hold still."
The command came as a bit of a surprise but she did as she told. Making sure not to move, her gaze dropped to her hidden hooves as Azumoth leaned over and poked at her hair. The same disheveled hair that hated to listen had, apparently, been creative and picked up a touch of greenery. She resisted the urge to laugh, holding her breath so as not to move or disturb his delicate work.
As had happened with Moppet, even the briefest of touches caused her heart to flutter. It tickled where part of his neck had brushed against her own, and even her hair felt as it wanted to stand on edge. Strange, really, but it left her with the mildest form of a desire for more.
Sure, she could have as much doting and attention and affection as she wanted if she but returned to her teepee and the lands where the humans dwelled. But it wasn't the same. . . Not only did Bella mistrust the intentions of the sneaky, two-legged creatures but they were different than the creatures and soquili of the land. There was something about them that Bella couldn't quite accept, something that kept her away from the tribes and planted firmly upon her plain.
Bella grinned as the black stallion spit and spluttered, dislodging the green leaves from his teeth. Lowering her neck and stretching out her front legs, the cream mare gave Azumoth a bow. Her disposition was playful as she threw the male a good-humored wink before stating, "Many thanks, my fine sir, for rescuing me from the greenery of the forest." Chuckling, she rose and followed the stallion down the path. "Such leaves can be fickle to remove, especially if they decide to tangle!"
And with her head of curls, it didn't take long to accomplish. Where Azu had a ready set of hands through Moppet to take care of his hair, Bella did not. There was little to be done about knots or tangles except wait for jer mane to shed and wash out.
Azumoth had truly saved her from disaster! In an exaggerated sense. Despite her teasing play, Bella was thankful - she was oblivious to the leaves and could have walked around for the rest of the night without realization.
Humiliation indeed.
Trotting beside Azumoth, though a little behind so he could lead the way, Bella mulled over his statement. Amber eyes turned to study the black coated male, studying his appearance and finding little flaw. "I believe you're knowledgeable and wise, yes," she admitted softly, ears twitching as she caught sound of the quiet movement of animals within the shadows, "but you make it sound as if you're ancient."
She herself was young and optimistic; as a foal she had lived by the rule that she had to question everything! As it was, though rarely wrong Azumoth might be, there were still certain matters and issues Bella refused to believe or give in to. With a rueful grin, Bella couldn't help but add, "But remember, you are speaking to one who is young and naive - it is my duty to question everything, just as it is my duty to learn. If one never doubted, disbelieved, or questioned than knowledge would never grow and the ability to learn would grow stagnant."
If no one questioned those that taught, than change would be obsolete. . . and if everyone knew everything. . . then what else was there to know?
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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:33 am
Oh yes, Azumoth had that ever present storm cloud over his head that often flashed with lightening while mildly irritated. Each of his trusted companions had their own way of referring to it but Bella's was probably the most accurate. Hell, if he ground his teeth in exasperation there would probably be a little rumble of thunder in the cloud before a new down pour started and he began to trudge around in an even more 'sour' mood than he had previously been in.
Honestly, to picture a mini storm cloud made his grumpy persona seem almost comical!
Nevertheless this stallion was most certainly not naive or unaccustomed to the company of a mare. He had known the 'pleasures' of their company and had assumed his role accordingly - he knew how to bend and manipulate them, to make them quiver with desire and yet it always felt so cold. He'd always regretted it the following days and so he had opted not to do it again - and he hadn't. However, he was not so disciplined and gentlemanly as to sometimes fall into what would have been considered 'corrupt' ways.
Had he know she wanted more there was very little standing in the way of him giving her more. Unfortunately, what did stand in his way was a rather huge inferiority complex that could only be cast aside at one particular time of the year...Such a time of year was not one when he wanted the mare to be around. Mmm, but had he know the mare would have been left quite a bit less naive than when she had come inside the dark forest.
He may have been sultry, but the dark touch of a brooding stallion was often the most addictive. A nibble here and there...A whispered word. Really it wasn't hard and if he had more confidence in himself he would have probably fallen into the ranks of a Rake - he'd probably be a damn sight more sociable too.
Shame he wasn't a mind reader, really.
"I doubt they would have tangled," he replied smoothly, glancing back at the mare as she caught up (sort of) with his stride and continued with her chatter. While he had found it mildly annoying to begin with, she was beginning to remind him of his mother - her constant optimism should really have been infectious but his little storm cloud (who shall henceforth be known as 'Pooky') was a persistent little fellow.
She just wouldn't give up, that was what held his interest and she blatantly ignored his veiled comments in favour of a jest. Left to his own thoughts he could have sworn this was what his mother referred to as finding something that 'compliments you'. He was beginning to get the feeling that anything he said would be countered by a light hearted coo...
He hated it when that happened.
His family did it all the blood time!
"And you forget that I am ancient," he certainly felt it but she had him cornered on what she said next, "...Touché on your closing words." He raised a brow and provided the mare with what could only be described as a rare yet critical eye. Apparently she was much sharper than he had given her credit for and that was just a little more disturbing than her optimism - if he wasn't careful she would figure everything out.
And he wouldn't let that happen...he liked his dreams.
Lapsing into silence once again as though uncertain of what to say the stallion quickened his pace just a little and began to weave along a rather unclear path. It was a precautionary measure on his part, the ground in this area was completely steady and neither stallion or mare (especially mare) would be subject to landslides.
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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 2:02 pm
For as much as Bella could hold a one-sided conversation, she wasn't completely immune to the idea of silence. She herself could enjoy and appreciate the natural sounds of the world. A soquili didn't always have to speak to communicate. . . .
And so it was, with nothing more to say (at least for now) Bella trotted besides Azumoth quietly. Occasionally she paused to sniff at an evening flower here, or admire the fireflies that lit up the sky there, but she made sure not to hold up the black stallion or get in his way.
Though some places of his woods were more intimidating that others, the trail he walked wasn't at all dull. In fact, as it seemed like a growing habit to find herself escorted out at night, the forest was indeed beautiful. An intimidating sort of beautiful, but beautiful nonetheless.
Every now and then the peek of a star-laden sky broke through the thick canopy. Did Azu ever get to see the stars within his woods? Or what of the waterfalls or lagoons? As beautiful as the solitude of the forest was, there were still a few places that rivaled the woods.
The mare was content to enjoy the last few moments of the shadowed stallion. She knew without a doubt he wouldn't invite her back, but she also knew that he wasn't going to get rid of her so easy. It would be a growing development, really, and it would take a lot of time, and a hell of a lot of persistence. Though the black stallion had his family, he still needed some friends of his own kind.
((Sorry for the short post, as well as not doing much in it. o_O; I'm thinking we getting close to wrapping it up? <3 ))
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Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 2:57 pm
Bella seemed to think that the stallion was completely confined to his forest and while this was partially true he had seen the outside world. Given that his favourite food was seaweed he often had to venture out to the coasts but as with all things that the stallion chose to do...his outings were always during the evening. At most, when soquili looked up towards the sky they would see nothing more than a 'kalona' - while they would worry, about the ominous presence it would do nothing more than keep going.
He was rarely disturbed, often landing directly in the water where he could dive and search without being noticed. He'd perfected that art as a child and had also mastered the art of getting the seaweed rinsed clean before it dried and became sickly to taste. Unfortunately though, it was one of those foods that required a selective palette and more often than not...people really didn't like the taste.
Ah well, he'd always been an oddball.
That being said he had flown amongst the stars and had marvelled at the beauty of the moonlit sky. There were many secrets held in his forest but one secret that few realised was just how far it reached - the mountain stops weren't really as far as many assumed. Most of all, no one could see him from there and he was free to gaze down upon the lands that lay beneath him...and the creatures that roamed it.
Nevertheless, all of this was entirely irrelevant to the silent pair as he at last led her out of his forests and glanced expectantly towards her. It had taken a little longer than he anticipated due to her meandering and his sense of decorum. He'd slowed his pace ever so slightly every time she had stopped and marvelled at something he had seen to many times. She hadn't noticed, or she hadn't seemed to but all the same it had slowed him down.
"Pick your way down slowly," he advised, his tone low as his wings dropped from his sides and the 'tops' hit the grass. He had the most unusual wings to say the least and without further a due they seemed to twist, clunking unseen bones into place as they pulled themselves into an upright position. When unfurled they were rather impressive in terms of size but that would have been a given due to the complex nature of their structure.
"Stick to the beaten paths made by the animals, they are more familiar than you are with the slopes," he added, not to be patronising but more of necessity. Having little else to say he gave a curt nod and his hooves sprung to life, bursting forward at a rather abrupt gallop - a sole manoeuvre to push the male into the air.
Once up though, a few beats of his wings found him soaring up and around to head back into his forests - opting for the quickest root it would seem.
[[I'd say that's a wrap <3]]
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