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"I think we could do a little of both, Subira." Ikinya smiled, although her legs did ache a little from the long trip she was more than fine with pushing her body's concerns aside for the sake of seeing what there was around these parts. She did notice however there were plenty of other Usdia here and a soft smile rose on her features, it had been a long time since she'd seen so many in one place that were not her family.

Yet, when a mare approached she looked up, dipping her own head curtly despite the towering females beside her. "It is a pleasure, Mar'liel..." There! The name Malis again, and this was her granddaughter. Noting the tusks erupting from her mouth she wondered absently if it was hard to eat with them but allowed it to remain but a curiosity. "Thank you for your welcome, we are honored to have received such a kindly invite for such a grand event your family is holding..." Indeed, what a festivity! She wondered if perhaps any of her other herdmates would show, but she and Subira had left some time ago. "My name is Ikinya, Alpha of the Yectenehua herd. This is my daughter, Subira." She nodded her head to the large mare beside her.











Glancing to the new arrival Subira was equally interested to scope out the mare before them. She had the most fascinating traits she'd seen in some time, tusks and small horns...and that hair! It looked so tightly woven together; not quite knots but not braids either...fascinating! "Pleasure, Mar'liel." She dipped her head low, thanks to her staggering height. Oh, father would have loved it here, it would have made for a lot of new scrolls but perhaps she'd be able to tell him all about it when they got home.

"As my mother said, we hail from the southern lands; deep within the temperate rainforests. We were informed by the runner you have sent this run by two herds? Its nice to hear such alliances exist, it must bring your numbers to staggering proportions?" She inquired, her chocolate hue'd eyes much like the usdia beside her full of curiosities of her own.

However, while Ikinya and Subita had believed they had gone off on their own mother daughter adventure, they were not there alone.

The massive angeni, having been on a research mission in the Secluded Grotto north of the Troll lands had not been there when his petite lovemate Ikinya and his daughter Subira had gotten the invite. Instead, he had decided to investigate when he overheard some of the hippogryphs and Ulun'suti discussing the festival they had been invited to.

As he neared the territory, the stallion had become distracted by the local plants and observing the garb and physical appearances of the other travelers, his mind racing as he took mental note after mental note, organizing them and trying to set aside a game plan.

While he wasn't much of a storyteller himself, as he still had an unfortunate stutter when nervous or overly excited, his love of learning and study had brought him here -- stories were people's way of teaching lessons and entertaining each other with telling snippets of culture and history. As it was the Clydesdale-like Angeni was simply trying to stay out of the way, observing and overwhelmed for choice. Learning more about the different breeds and cultures gave him more he could teach others, and as the angeni of learning he could also teach others who were interested, and perhaps even find some who needed an understanding ear to listen to their woes, always wanting to help.

However, when he spotted the pale purple with white-cyan and black markings from the edge of the woods he was standing by, his first option was clear. He spread his wings, using them to try and funnel his sound towards his daughter, unable to see his mate in the forming crowd, "Subira?"





"Oi! Watch it!" A Niximp stallion took a stumbling step back, having nearly gotten thwapped in the face by the angeni's wings.

In a sharp contrast to the angeni, Chance McKinsey's entire reasoning for being there with his partner in Crime Lucky was greed of a more physical manor. To him, a party was not only a good opportunity to find suckers to be swindled into his cons into giving up their well earned items he could then, in turn, sell off, but it was also simply a place he could set up a little gambling operation and play games and pranks in. Any other imps or even perhaps some electric elemental Ulun'suti could play a game of sparks with him, the dice game a fond pass time of his. But other games were to be available, hidden away in his back back and that of Lucky. Along with any loot they might acquire over the days of the gathering.

It was same such greed that, spotting the angeni's rich regalia of gold jewelery, and brilliant feathers, caused Chance to quickly change his tone, laughing good naturedly, "I suppose I should apologize for my tone - I should have been paying better attention to my surroundings and not been so rude about it -- It's just been a long journey and I've spent a little too much time away from the water."








"oh" Cuauhcoatl scrunched his wings tight against his body once more, embarrassed he had nearly bludgeoned the Niximp with his wings, something he wouldn't normally do as he was so used to being around the smaller breeds as much of his family consisted of them, "I-I'm m-most sorry - it's n-not your you fault."

He blinked in confusion, only then realizing the somewhat shorter than normal Usdia had four sets of horns and obvious aquatic features. This was his first encounter with a Nixie or an Imp, though he had heard of them. He was about to ask the Usdia a question when he shook his head clear, turning his attention back to his daughter, unsure of if the mare had heard him.

Perking her ears up amidst the bustle and hustle of the crowd the mare gave a soft frown, she could have sworn she just heard her name amongst the chattering voices all around her. Thankfully for her size she glanced around as she could see over top of nearly everyone's heads; not spotting anything but she was was positive she'd heard it...and it sounded awfully familiar. Finally in her scanning search she spotted the glorious wings of her father; another head sticking up above the crowd as she met his eyes for a moment.

A most brilliant smile caught her face as she was so happy he was here, knowing like her he would be most thrilled with such an event. "Father! You came! Come this way!" She called back, turning only slight as to not be rude to their current company. She smiled as Ikinya seemed a little shy under the such polite welcoming, especially with her full title and all. She couldn't help it, despite such a daunting role her mother had such modesty. "Fascinating..." Subira reguarded Mar'liel, smiling sincerely. "It seems the two herds are perfectly in sync then, I did not imagine such a grand scale symbiotic relationship could happen between soquili..." Certainly something to be seen in the grand image, she imagined behind the scenes of just this clearing. "Our herd is very similar, including members which travel to do trades. I think thats with most though, not everyone can stay in one place but in hearts we're all family." It was interesting, to have such similarities and such differences in the world around them, hidden in places one would never see unless in times like this.



Perking her own ears up as her daughter seemed to become grossly consumed in something, she wondered why, since she couldn't see much in the tangle of bellies and legs of all the larger soquili around her. Blushing softly as Mar'liel addressed her so formally, she wasn't sure if she could ever get used to it. At home she was just Ikinya, and she liked such informality...but she supposed it was for the sake of politeness. "Please, Ikinya is just fine." She smiled regardless, but immediately as her daughter spoke she felt her beat quickly.

ba-dump

Father? Cuauhcoatl was here? Turning her head as Subira and Mar'li began conversing a little more deeply she ducked her head to try and see traces of her beloved but she couldn't. Oh thank goodness....she had wanted him to come, but he hadn't been home at the time. Thankfully her other children wished to remain home; so she felt at ease leaving the herdland in their capable hooves along with their dear friends. "Cuauh..." She whispered, hoping he would come into sight soon....despite them being together for some time...she still felt like a young mare swooning whenever he came around.

mindsend

Amirynth

Galla Sile moved toward the gathering on wary claws. Her whole body moved with the agile grace of a guard. The sounds of laughter carried over the air, and lingered in the summer air. Her ears flicked back and forth at the sound. She was being much more cautious than normal, motherhood brought that about.

Yvaine was more than old enough for rangings, she was grown by flock standards. She had been keeping watch for the flock now too--following in her footsteps. But still, in her heart Yvaine was her child and needed protecting despite her age or her standing in the herd.

It was a mother's instinct to shelter the ones she loved, especially her own. To see her daughter standing tall beside her (figuratively since she was small like herself) in her own right made her proud. At the same time, it increased her worries. Yvaine was as head strong as herself and as prideful.























Yvaine walked ahead of her mother, though her mother hated it. She was Flock though, and she understood when Yvaine had followed in her footsteps that she wouldn't literally be following in her footsteps. She needed to prove herself in her own right, so when the word came that there was a mass of soquili not far away she had eagerly volunteered to investigate. It wasn't until later that she discovered her mother was going to.

Her mother had long been a guard, so it was natural and it was natural with her mother's blood flowing in her veins that she should want to go to. She'd been walking as a guard for some time now.

The Flock was eager to make sure that no armies were amassing nearby. If they were, it was paramount that they know as soon as possible to prepare. What would the Flock do if war came to it? Especially in these vast numbers? Could they withstand it?

She wasn't sure, and she didn't like that.

Moving forward, she reached the edge of the soquili group. They had already deemed that it was not a raiding party but rather a celebration. She called out to the soquili nearest her, "What's going on here?" She pressed her features into friendly lines.

(( Opening for someone to jump in and answer me. XD Please!))

The Angeni grinned brightly -- He hadn't expected to find any of his family here, so this was a pleasant surprise and made him feel a bit more at ease knowing he wasn't going to be alone, possibly making people uncomfortable by his pestering questions and instead could spend some time with his family, observing with them and having someone keep his curiosity on a shorter leash for everyone's sake.

He turned his attention back to the niximp beside him, "If you'd exc-cuse me, my daughter is calling. I'm sorry about the wings.."








"S'all right , sir" Chance smiled warming, ducking his head a bit, "Perhaps you can find me later and pay me back with a friendly game or two. Meet me by the river should you take interest. Bring the kid to if you want."

He then quickly trotted off into the crowd, heading for the water. He glanced ver at Lucky, the Usdia being fairly certain that the Otter had likely swiped a few of the gold beads from the stallions tail as he was prone to do, and did not want to receive the blame for it -- that is if the quick handed Otter was caught. Chance was a con-artist and a gambler, preferring to use his wit to convince people to give him their things willingly, not steal them away without their knowing better, but his companion's habit was something he didnt exactly try and stop unless it was to both of their best interests. Especially since the otter gave him a cut of the spoils and was one of the best at slight of hand entertainment and running up games, "Hey, Lucky --See a spot good for setting up?"









The river otter stood up on his haunches, craning his neck as he looked around and fighting to keep from becoming overbalanced by his pack, loaded with his tools of the trade -- as well as one of the golden ball chimes, already tied up in a bit of cloth with some of the beads, his sticky webbed fingers had gotten on, careful that he had not been spotted or got too greedy, "I think I see a clear enough spot by that fallen tree. We could use the log as a table for a shell game or ivory cards..."








Grinning, the Usdia nodded, ears flicking before moving forward so the two could claim the space and begin setting up.

After all, they had ponies to fleece and games to play and ladies to flirt with.







---------------------------------------------




Meanwhile, Cuauhcoatl traveled through the growing crowd, traveling over to Subira, and smiling warmly as he spotted Ikinya as the crowd parted enough to let him see to the ground. He slowed as he approached, recognizing that they were talking with someone, not wanting to interrupt without an introduction.

With a large number of soquili gathering in the herd next to their flock, the queen had scent several scouts out to investigate the vitterfolk's gathering.

While the mother and daughter team, or at the very least the daughter, had decided to head straight in, a particularly petite member of the flock, older than either of the other two guards combined and more a tuned to the old ways of the flock that the queen still upheld, had taken a longer path, sneaking in and hiding in the trees where most could not spot her, and traveled with careful ease, trying her best to avoid notice as she neared the heart of it, observing in silence.

Kamunyak had, from the start, doubted the trolls were gathering forces to start a war -- or if they were it would be to try and find the cursed gate of the skinwalkers. The trolls were a friendly group and the mare had, through an earlier encounter a few years prior when the skinwalker Neva had managed to escape her and she, in her blind frustration and exhaustion, had walked right into the outskirts of their camp and had taken out her aggression on one of the nearby trees. It was then that she had helped the trolls develop a better understanding of the flock territory and culture so they wouldnt need to worry about their talon footed neighbors.

However her heart dropped to her stomach as she watched the girl step headstrong into the party, openly asking what was going on. The masked mare rolled her eyes up in exhausted prayer as she buried her face in her talons, Great spirit mother deliver me from these Children. First we have Vaniania tossing honey cakes across the ravine for them, and now this filly think you go on a scouting mission and just ask the people you're spying on what they're doing. And protect us in what is clearly going to be changing times..

Steeling herself, she hopped down from the tree's, stepping out of the wood to make herself obvious to the herd matriarch, having met her once before, hoping it'd let Malis know that this was no attack or raid, and approached Yvaine so the alpha could see she knew the pair, "From what I can tell it's a story telling festival."

L'inglesou felt the same kinship that the mare spoke of, but he knew her for who she was to him. Apart of him felt pained that she could not immediately name him that she did not know him for who he was.

"I am your own flesh and blood," he spoke quietly. "You're brother L'inglesou. The years have been long Mar'li, but I thought you'd remember your dear brother better than that." He smiled, giving out a throaty deep laugh. It did his heart well to see her.

He turned his head to the younger girl and noticed how alike she looked to them, and how she said 'mother.' "You're own child sister? I feel old now." In truth, he wasn't that old, but he had taken a long time to find Nessie while his sister seemed not to have found any trouble.

He could smell the swamps on them, the smell of home. "Do you still stay in the swamps?" And then, with some longing he spoke gentler. "I have missed you," he said simply.

((I dont' have little graphics for him nor the ability to make them. If someone wants to make me one, I woudln't be opposed!))

Ikura nodded with excitement in response to her sister's question. "Tusks?! Really!?!" She asked excitedly. Now that they had finally arrived she was becoming anxious. The journey had been a long one and she was ready to get herself into a bit of trouble.

Lowering her voice to a whisper, Ikura leaned in close to her sister. "You think we might be able to sneak off soon?" She asked. It would be difficult for sure, what with Uroko, Tethys, her older brother Nigiri, and her fathers... Well she was certainly up for a challenge.






Sashimi had remained fairly quiet throughout the journey. While the excitement was nice for a change, he did find it to be a bit over-whelming at times. The colt had been gazing about at the scenery and their surroundings when his brother spoke. "I'm not sure really. It looks as if there might be a lot of other soquili around as well. Maybe we'll meet someone new?" He smiled at his brother.

He was fond of the colt and even though he didn't know the answers to most of his questions, he still tried to answer them as best as he could. "I've never met the Vitterfolk," He started off. "I've never really heard much about them except what Tethys has mentioned. I think they're supposed to be friendly though. I mean... they're nice enough to host this big gathering for everyone. They can't be all that bad then can they?"

"As for harpies, even if some of them do show up I'm sure we'll all be safe enough. Uncle Uroko wouldn't let them take us." He gave his brother a reassuring smile.





Uroko smiled as he heard Tethys speak to the foals. She had such a kind heart and handled them so gently. It had always been a trait that he had admired in her. It was also why he had become so close to her while she was tutoring him. He only wished that they hadn't grown apart so much recently. He could feel a distance growing between them, like she was hiding something from him. Or perhaps he had done something to offend her? The stallion couldn't think of anything that he had done, but mares were so fickle and he hadn't ever fully understood them. Instead, he had simply given her the space that she was requesting, even if she never voiced it out loud.





Onigiri and Akiko had been trailing behind the small herd a little ways. They weren't so far that it was dangerous, but enough so that they had their privacy. He couldn't remember how he had gotten so lucky as to have found Akiko. It was simply as if she had popped into his life one day and never left. Well, he supposed that wasn't exactly true. There had been the whole ordeal with the stallion and the two mares being rescued. Akiko still called him her 'knight' but really he had only been along for the journey and hadn't actually done much of anything. Yet he had to admit that he was quite fond of the nickname. It gave him a sense of pride to hear her say it.

"It looks as if we're almost there." He nuzzled the mare warmly. She had wanted to stay at home at first, but he had managed to persuade her to come along. After all, it wouldn't have been safe for her to stay alone. The crowd was likely to worry her some, but he had a feeling that she would end up enjoying herself if she just gave it a chance.



Akiko returned Onigiri's nuzzle with a smile. While part of her wished she had stayed behind, the larger part was glad that she had come along. Behind without Onigiri would have been worse than facing the long journey and the strange soquili. She only hoped it wouldn't get too terribly crowded. Although by the looks of it there was already a large group gathering.

"I see that. I don't believe I've ever seen so many soquili before. You don't think any skinwalkers will show up do you?" She shivered at the thought of the deadly beasts. Though she had to admit, she was curious whether a large crowd would attract or repel a walker. Hopefully it was the latter.



"I think this journey has really been good for them." Nori responded to Gunkan's question. "It's nice to see the family together at one time for a change. Although I have to admit I'm surprised Ikura and Kisu haven't run off on their own yet. Though we're only just arriving so we'll have to keep a close eye on them." The stallion noted the girls whispering together and felt a pit growing in his stomach. He wasn't sure what they were up to, but he wasn't bound to like it.

"You know, maybe with Uroko, Nigiri, Onigiri, Akiko, and Tethys keeping an eye on the foals we can get a bit of alone time together." Nori gave his lovemate a sheepish smile. It had been a long time since they had just been able to enjoy each other's company. Who would have known having foals was a 24/7 job?






Gunkan was about to slow the pace of the herd when he saw Onigiri and Akiko fall behind, at least until he realized they had fallen back on purpose. Letting the two have their space, he continued on at the same pace. "It is nice, and you're right about the girls. I'm sure their plotting something."

While Gunkan knew the fillies little adventures nearly gave Nori a heartattack, they wouldn't be the same without them. Taking the excitement out of their lives would be like taking away his ocean or the air they all breathed. He knew that Nori felt the same as well, even if he might not admit it out loud. Gunkan only wished that they'd give him a break every now and then.

"Some alone time would be nice." Gun returned the smile. "I'm not sure if we've been alone since we found Onigiri's basket." He chuckled at the memory of Nori tripping over the little thing. How long ago was that now? It felt like ages.

[Nyx will be taking over Gunkan now]


-sorry if it requotes you. I had to add in banners. Feel free to snag the one for gun if you want.