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 Posted: Thu Apr 27, 2006 11:55 pm
A faint blush colored the young stallion's face, but he arched his neck at the compliment and raised his tail so that it streamed out behind him in a flow of pale lavender. He caught her wink and returned it, a smile lighting up his face. It was strange; there was something about the ghostly young mare that made him want to get to know her better. She was... interesting. Yes, that must be it!
The plains were coming to and end in front of him, quickly shifting from smooth grasslands to the rolling hills before the forest and mountains. Khairi slowed his pace to a slow gallop and remained alert for anything that might trip him. At the edge of the forest he paused, looking up into the indigo sky. There, still touched by the sun's last rays, he could see Death playing. The stallion grinned and whinnied loudly, rearing.
"I've reached my horizon, little ghost." Khairi's tone was joking, but it held a wistful edge to it. Perhaps if he had wings she would fly with him... he shook the thought off and arched an eyebrow at the wind Soquili. "Perhaps, even though your horizon is a ways off yet, you'd like to stop and take a walk with me?"
A soft evening breeze rustled the leaves overhead and stirred up the sweet scent of night-blooming flowers. The sky was beautiful, certainly, but the woods... Khairi looked into the cool darkness of the forest and whickered softly to himself, ears pricked and straining. Perhaps she would not mind being tethered to the earth for a short while. He returned his gaze to the sky, expression hopeful.
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Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 11:14 am
At his words, Death twirled in the air and swooped down to the ground, landing at a running pace and slowing herself as she came to his side. Wind brushed over both of them as the air around her settled down to the way it was supposed to ber. Her snow white dove wings settled on her back softly and she smiled up at her new friend.
Well, she considered him a friend, Death wasn't entirely sure if he considered her the same way. Though she did hope so.
"A walk sounds lovely right now." She said to Khairi, her muzzle twisting gently into a sweet smile and her eyes softening.
Gentle chirping met her sharp ears and Death lifted her head to look into the forest. Her bonded friend Banhi lived in the forest. Sometimes Death wished she could take the girl away from the life she had in there, but at athe same time she knew that a human was a human and a Soquili was a Soquili. As much as she wanted to, she couldn't let Banhi ride her all the time. Death would go insane.
"It's sad you know? I realize the irony of my own name every time I think in my head about it." She let out a ghostly laugh and grinned up at Khairi smartly.
ninja
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Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 7:52 pm
As Death flew down to land beside him, Khairi felt a quick swell of happiness. He'd been afraid that she wouldn't want to walk on the ground with him, not when she could soar in the clouds. The blue stallion couldn't keep the grin off his face when she smiled at him. Feeling slightly foolish, he ducked his head and hid his expression beneath a wave of lavender hair.
"Really? I know a good trail near here." Khairi pricked his ears and stepped forward eagerly. The trees whispered softly overhead, and the cooler temperature beneath the trees felt nice after his run. Khairi looked up at the soft lilt of Death's voice.
"Ironic?" Khairi's expression grew serious for a moment, then he looked at her and smiled softly. "I am glad you are the one to carry this name. You're so nice, Death." His smile broadened and he gave her a friendly wink. "If you must relate your name to the state of death, then... well, at least you got the name. That way, death is good, and nice. Instead, of course, of being mean. Like Rahu..." He shook his head at himself. "Ah, I'm ranting and not making any sense."
The blue stallion snorted softly and twitched his tail, irritated at his inability to speak his thoughts well.
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Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 8:41 pm
"You make a lot of sense, and what you said is very nice. Thank you." Death said with a soft smile up at her larger friend. He looked like he was smiling under all of that shock of lavender hair, that made him slightly more endearing than normal. "Nice? Well, I suppose that's true, death isn't bad after all, it's part of life and perfectly natural. So I guess, there's no way that I could be cruel or evil."
Swishing her tail, Death decided to let the comment of Rahu pass because it didn't seem that Khairi thought well of whomever had that name. So she wouldn't be the one to push it. Instead she flicked her tail against his back leg to try an cheer him up and smiled at him in the hopes of him looking back down.
"So where's this path that you know of? It could be good to have a walk for a bit." She winked one of her soft grey eyes at him and looked around the ground in front of her.
ninja
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Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 12:52 am
"I'm glad you think so." Khairi sighed slightly in relief and glanced at her, grinning. "It's nice to find someone who can understand what I'm trying to say." He laughed wryly. "I've had... problems in the past, although those were more an issue of saying too much too bluntly."
The blue stallion fell silent, considering her words on the nature of death. When he spoke, it was slightly hesitant. "It is true, death is just death." He stomped a back hoof down uncomfortably. "When you take a wide view of things, it is a stage... but standing here, I can only see it as a wall."
Khairi paused, then turned to Death again and grinned. "Of course, this doesn't relate to you." He looked at her in an exaggerated way, a mock-serious expression on his face. "When I look at you, I don't see a wall; I see a pretty little ghost-mare." It was true; the darkness seemed to somehow emphasis the purity of her coat and made it shimmer in the moonlight. Her question, and the brush of her tail against his leg, brought him back to the world. A soft smile formed on his muzzle.
"Ah, the path, right." Khairi raised his head, ears swiviling, and studied the trees near to them. "This way, c'mon." The stallion headed to the left and down a fairly narrow, moss-covered trail. Moonlight filtered through the trees above and covered the path with a fine filigree of silvery light. "Its narrow here, but further on it opens up." He spoke over his shoulder to the little mare.
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Posted: Sat Apr 29, 2006 7:05 pm
She hadn't meant to make the poor guy so uncomfortable. With a gentle chuckle, she leaned forward and bumped her head against his strong neck softly. Death cast a playful grin up at the taller male and looked out into the dark forest with a quiet smile. It was really peaceful right now. She hoped it would stay this peaceful always, though she had a feeling that with Khairi it would be.
"A ghost eh? Do I really look like one?" She looked down at her hooves and chuckled softly when she realized that she really did. Aside from the ankh around her neck and her black mane, tail and hooves, Death looked pure white. Ghost was right. "Well now, I suppose I do don't I?"
Her laugh reverberated off of the trees as she followed behind Khairi. She trottted behind the blueberry of a Soquili daintily, making sure that she didn't step in a hole or anything in the night. She couldn't see anything very well, but Khairi seemed to be walking along just fine. So maybe it was perfectly safe, but Death was just used to flying in the air. The prospect of breaking a leg on the ground and tripping and falling was all too great for her.
Since she never spent as much time on the ground, Death was very much paranoid about it too. Maybe even more though than she should have been. Usually at night she was floating around in the moonlight.
ninja
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Posted: Sun Apr 30, 2006 11:44 am
The big stallion was slightly suprised when Death lightly bumped him, but certainly not unhappy. He grinned as he walked down the path, picking his way carefully in the moonlight. Khairi spent most of his time wandering the woods and foothills of the mountains, so he was completely at ease despite the darkness.
The stallion tossed his head and snorted, his large hooves sinking into the soft loam. The forest floor muffled his hoofbeats and the two were surrounded in a silence only broken by the soft call of an insect or night bird. It was so...calm, so serene here, and he smiled softly. It must be because she was with him that he noticed the beauty of the night. He hoped she would stay with him... longer.
"Are you alright?" He asked over his shoulder, glancing at the small mare in concern. She seemed nervous, walking hesitantly in his wake. He slowed down until the gap between them was closed. "Ahead there are a few fallen trees, but the path is wider so I can guide you past the last few."
Khairi looked back down at the path in time to see the first tree, a sturdy moss-covered log, laying across the path. "Right here. Watch it, ghost." He stepped lightly over the barrier and paused, waiting to make sure she could see it and got over it. "I'm sorry," Khairi's tone was apologetic. "I didn't think. I spend all of my time on the ground, especially in the forest, and I just take my knowledge for granted." He flattened his ears in shame. "If you want to turn around, I understand." His heart sank as the words left his mouth, but he wouldn't force her to continue.
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Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 9:18 am
((Sorry. I'm working through writer's block. ><;;; ))
"Now you're just being silly, Blue. Why in the world would I turn around now?" Death asked him playfully, her child-like personality shimmering around her for a moment before it was replaced by her normal calm demenor. With a delicate leap, Death opened her large wings halfway and floated over the logs easily, landing beside him. "I'm just a little skiddish on the ground, though I suppose that I should get more used to it shouldn't I?"
Death cast a wink in Khairi's direction and flicked her tail around as she walked a little around him, waiting for him to lead her to another place. Her little hoves pranced on the ground beside his larger ones and she flapped her wings brightly. Playfully.
ninja
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Posted: Mon May 01, 2006 2:03 pm
"Silly?" Khairi grinned and pricked his ears. "Well, when you put it that way, I suppose I am." He watched her float gracefully over the logs and whickered softly. "Very impressive. I suppose those wings of yours do have some use after all. "He winked playfully at her and walked forwards. Ahead the path began to widen, allowing the two soquili to walk side by side. The trees here were older and taller, reaching far into the sky. It felt almost... magical, especially with the moonlight shimmering down and touching everything with a silvery glow.
"It's not too much further now." His voice was a whisper; somehow it seemed wrong to speak loudly, as if it would destory the idea of magic and peace. Khairi could hear the soft sound of rushing water to his right and pickd up his step, excited to show Death his favorite spot. He glanced down at the little mare next to him and smiled softly. He might have only known her for a few hours, but it felt like a much longer time. Without really thinking about what he was doing, he reached down and nuzzled her gently.
((Don't worry about it! Take your time. <3))
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Posted: Wed May 03, 2006 12:21 pm
((Sorry that took two days. ><;;; *Stabbed for no originality*))
"Of course they have use, I wish I could show you what it's like to fly up there, but I'm afraid that I can't carry all of you on little me." Death cast him a cheeky wink and flicked her wings slightly before settling them on her back. Trotting beside him she let her long tail swish behind her as she set off, her soft grey eyes watching the world in front of her move as she kept going.
A soft giggle came form her as he picked up speed, her sharp ears catching the noise in the distance, the sound of water rushing down over rocks on it's neverending quest. She wanted to see this favorite spot of his, to see what made Khairi's mind work the way it did, to see why he was so... interesting and different. So kind and sweet. A bump of the other Soquili's muzzle on her made her turn her head and she reached up with her own muzzle and bumped it gently on his neck before nuzzling him. He was so nice.
The little wind Soquili wasn't sure what she'd done to deserve such a warm and caring friend, but Death had to say that she didn't care. She was with him and that was enough.
ninja
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Posted: Sat May 06, 2006 2:06 am
((haha... my turn to apologize. I haven't been very inspired lately and such, and I've been working on my teepee... so sorry for the wait! In case you're interested, here are some pics of the forest as I see it - Old Growth and Pool and finally waterfall))
The soft brush of her muzzle against him made him smile. She was the first soquili he'd gotten close to, and she meant everything to him. The blue stallion glanced up at the stars barely visible through the interwoven branches. He certainly wouldn't forget the time he spent with her. Flicking his ears, he focused on what Death was saying.
"You're strong, little ghost." Khairi grinned at her and laughed softly. "But not that strong, I'll agree. I think I'd be a little much for you." Ahead the path began to slope gently downwards and the sound of rushing water increased slightly. Khairi made his way carefully down the slope; although it wasn't slippery, it would be all too easy to slip and break a leg on a treacherous rock. He knew now that Death would be able to make it down fine.
A feeling of happiness washed over him as he viewed his favorite hiding spot. In front of him the path ended at the edge of a long, clear pool. In the daylight silver fish flitted beneath the calm surface, but at night the stars reflected in its mirror-surface and gave the pool a silver tint. Where the pool ended closest to the stallion was a small stream that meandered off into the forest. The trees here were thick and the undergrowth dense, providing shelter from the sun and from unwanted attention. However, the most startling aspect of this spot was the small, gracefull waterfall and the far edge of the pool.
A silvery cascade of water shot out into the open off the edge of a rock ledge and fed into the pool. The rock ledge beneath the waterfall created a small alcove; Khairi watched the world from that spot whenever he felt distressed, or needed a break from life. Although the ground was often wet from water, he'd managed to make the alcove a little deeper than it was originally, and he placed soft grass and pine needles on the ground to keep it warm. Khairi sensed Death coming up behind him and spoke softly.
"Its beautiful during the day, but I love it at night." He turned to her and raised an eyebrow, suprised to find that he was nervous about her reaction. "So. What do you think?"
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Posted: Tue May 09, 2006 8:00 am
Death blushed a little when he called her strong, she had to admit that she thought of herself as strong, at least as far as her wings allowed her to be. "Well, you probably would be. But I wouldn't very much mind trying." She snickered a little and stopped at the top of the slope. The wind Soquili wasn't afraid of heights or of a hill, but she didn't really want to walk down all that rock.
Something else was what froze her though. Her soft grey eyes widened as they drank in the sight of the beautiful valley her friend had just lead her too. Death had never told a soul about it, but she loved waterfalls for their serenity and tranquility. In every aspect of what they were they matched her very personality. Her heart swelled a little when she realized that this must be a very special place to him, for Khairi to show it to her at all was the most incredible thing of all.
Using her dove-like white wings, Death swooped down and landed softly beside the larger Soquili. Her eyes were still wide but she turned them up to him and let a genuinly huge smile cross her snow white muzzle. "It's the most incredible thing I've ever seen. Thank you so much for showing it to me."
ninja
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Posted: Wed May 10, 2006 8:13 pm
The smile that graced the white mare's muzzle was all that Khairi needed to see; he grinned and ducked his head, absurdly pleased. The young stallion had found this spot shortly after coming to the Kawani lands, when he'd still been alone. The spot had seemed to radiate a peace and calmness; he'd come there whenever he was feeling upset. Even though he stayed in a teepee now, he still enjoyed visiting the waterfall.
"I'm glad you like it." He said simply, smiling. Khairi looked up at the sky - it was still a deep, enveloping blue, but he wouldn't be suprised if it was getting lighter in the east. Despite the late hour, he wasn't tired yet; he didn't remember being this happy since he was with his parents as a young colt.
The night was so peaceful; off in the distance he could hear a nightengale call. Leaves whispered overhead as a warm spring breeze blew past and rippled the pond's clear water, then silence returned. The young stallion stood still, drinking in the scene and savoring the company for a second longer. Then he turned to the pale mare with a sinking feeling in his chest that filled him with suprise.
"It's getting late." Khairi said, his voice filled with regret.
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Posted: Thu May 11, 2006 7:42 pm
Death sighed contently for a moment and spread her large wings so that one of her wings could lay on Khairi's back, even if it was so much higher than she was. It was a move that she remembered her mother doing with her so long ago. "Of course I liked it." She said softly.
But her eyes turned sad and she nuzzled his neck for a moment before walking up to the water and taking a deep drink. Death didn't want to leave, but she had to find Banhi. She had forgotten about the girl for the day and that wasn't fair. Lifting her head from the stream, the mare turned her sad eyes to her new friend and smiled quietly.
"Yes, yes it is getting late. And I'm sorry Khairi, but I have to leave you now. There's someone very special in these woods that I left alone for the day and that isn't fair to her." Death looked away for a moment a flicked her tail against her back legs gently. "I hope we meet again someday." She trotted up to him and nuzzled him one last time before she sighed and turned again.
There was a straight shot into the lighting sky from this clearing. Spreading her large wings, Death glanced over her shoulder at Khairi one last time. Her smile spread a little and she flapped her wings, forcing her body up to the air and out of the clearing. The wind flew over her and spread her mane and tail out as she sighed.
She would have to meet him again. If she didn't...
Well, she wouldn't think about that now.
ninja
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Posted: Wed May 24, 2006 12:04 am
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