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 Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 4:15 pm
"You know, I'm not sure. Maybe you'd just owe me a free future healing of the injury of my choice. That seems fair to me, what do you think?"
Zaphiro's eyes were dancing with mirth as he too ducked his head; while he didn't have a horn to snag in the branches, his curls had been known to get caught from time to time and no one liked getting their hair pulled!
On the positive side, though, the low branches only extended a short way into the woods. After the first bend in the path, they'd have a bit more space on the path to the spring. And that reminded him...
"Idle curiousity moment; this peaceful relaxation place you wanted; was that for a temporary rest, or were you thinking in terms of potential living space?" It probably would have been a good idea to ask that earlier, but oh well. Better late than never.
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 3:00 pm
"I'm sure I can manage that, Zaphiro," She answered with a warm smile, "Do you make a habit of getting injured?" The mare laughed softly and ducked her head to avoid some branches hanging down.
Thankfully, her horn behaved and didn't get caught up in them.
"I'm not quite sure," she answered, "I have not yet decided if I will stay in the area or not. Perhaps I shall, perhaps I shant. It depends on the company."
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:46 pm
"Not usually, no, but it's always good to be prepared for contingencies, wouldn't you say?" The look that accompanied that statement was utterly and completely banal, but his eyes were sparkling. The very idea, him being accident prone! He was the one who tended to go around and others OUT of trouble, not get into it himself.
At her comment, however, he found himself nodding thougthfully. "I see. Because I just realized that this place we're going to isn't very fitting if it's a long-term residence you're looking for; it's peaceful, but popular. You'd get a lot of company if it was your home, so maybe that would keep you around! Or drive you away, depending."
In his case, it would be the latter; he liked company, but a little peace every now and then was rather pleasant. Not so many requirements for introductions!
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:06 pm
"I suppose so," She answered, "Though I do hope that you don't ever need my assistance in such a way. I would hate to see my first friend in the area injured."
Hm. Much company was not something Hienna would be too pleased about. The mare did enjoy conversations but most Soquili found talk about the weather or texture of grass scintillating. Hienna, it was safe to say, did not. At all.
"It depends on the company, I suppose. I grow tired of mundane subjects of conversation. This is the first real one I have had in some time."
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:14 pm
"Well, I'll keep that in mind. Though I have to say, it's already too late for that logic to apply." Now Zaphiro was actively grinning, turning to give Hienna an amused look. "Or have you already forgotten how we meant? Granted, it's been a long walk and all, but MY forehead is still throbbing from before."
A slight exagerration, of course, but he couldn't help but tease a bit. After all, it's not every day he met someone by running into them!
But even though he was teasing, that didn't mean he couldn't be serious when the situation warranted; and Hienna's last commented certainly warranted it. "And that's very kind of you, Hienna; I'm gald to know that this hasn't been a waste of time for you, either."
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:20 pm
"Ha, I had forgotten about that. My apologies, again, Zaphiro. Perhaps I could make it up to you some how?" She had a grin on her face, though, just to show she was jesting as well. While she was not accustomed to much joking around the mare was trying.
It wasn't every day she got to relax in such a way with another person. It was nice.
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:29 pm
Zaphiro tilted his head to one side, acting as though he was seriously considering the idea; then he was chaking his head, chuckling in his deep fashion. "As long as you actively refrain from doing it in the future, I think I'll be fine. We can call it negative reinforcement."
Still chuckling, Zaphiro finally paused, glancing about them at the surrounding trees. "Almost there; this way, and watch your head!" And then once again he was shouldering his way into the trees, moving off of the path onto a lighter path, one much less traveled.
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:33 pm
Once more, Hienna was careful with her head and horn as she followed the stallion. "That sounds reasonable." A pause. "Do you think we'll see each other again after this, Zaphiro?"
Often times she'd meet someone and never see them again. That grew tiresome as well. One conversation did not a relationship make - platonic or otherwise.
Of course, otherwise wasn't an option for the mare, but she was simply covering her bases in her thoughts.
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:41 pm
Head ducked so as to not snag in the branches, Hienna's voice was rather muffled to Zaphiro's ears, but audible enough for him not only to hear, but also to comprehend. Since this part of the trail was a bit narrower and the trees lower, he couldn't exactly look back, but he WAS able to nod...though whether or not she saw that was anyone's guess.
"Well, I can't forsee the future, but hopefully we shall. If you wind up staying in the area, I'd say it's almost a certainty; I'm almost constantly on the prowl these days, so if you're around, the odds I'd see you are high."
Which was, frankly, a pleasant thought. Oftentimes Zaphiro was ready to flee the company of others as soon as he met them, or shortly thereafter; this meeting had proved to be the exact opposite. "Frankly, this has been a very enjoyable meeting so far, and if I were to never see you again I think it would honestly be something I'd regret."
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 2:40 pm
"Perhaps I'll stay for a bit and see how I like it, then. Your company is certainly worth it." The mare smiled even if Zaphiro couldn't see her. It was definitely a pleasant thought. Truthfully, it wasn't often that Hienna had met a match for her ponderings. Future debates and discussions were something to look forward to.
At his last words the Mare blushed a bit, "I agree, it has been quite an enjoyable meeting and I too would regret never being in your company again. I truly would."
Nobody had told her that not seeing her again would be a regret.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 2:55 pm
Zaphiro wasn't exactly sure why, but Hienna's assurance that she would, at least temporarily, stay around made him feel as though a great weight had been lifted; indeed, upon considering it he realized with a small bit of surprise that he had actually been regretting the inevtable parting with Hienna. After all, it wasn't often that he could talk with someone else as an equal rather than a paternal figure, and that lack of 'responsibility' was nice.
"Hopefully it's not out of line for me to say this, but I'm very glad of your decision. I think I"d be forced into withdrawal if I were to be completely deprived of your company already; one conversation is mere whetting of the philosophical appetite."
Smiling, Zaphiro suddenly blinked as he stepped out into bright sunlight; obviously the trek had ended, and he hadn't realized it! "Well, here we are; one relatively peaceful area, complete with water."
And indeed it was; the large clearing was home to five cold water springs of varying sizes, with lush grass growing interspersed among them. Sunlight poured in through the break in the canopy, and all things considered it was a nice place. "Was this the sort of thing you had in mind?"
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 3:02 pm
Those words simply deepened the mare's blush, "It's not out of line at all. Just something I am not used to. I concur, however, that it would be quite the unfortunate thing. It is such a rare thing to meet someone as such as you who can...withstand...my wordy nature." Once more she was speaking slowly, trying to pick her words carefully. It was easy to see why, when in a normal conversation with the mare, others would think her slow.
"Or...My slowness to get it out." She smiled as the clearing came into view and the peacefulness of the place washed over her like a refreshing rain. Ah. This would do perfectly. "Oh...It is beautiful here."
Hienna looked around a moment before trotting towards a spring of water and looking into it thoughtfully, "Aye, perhaps I'll stay longer than a bit."
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 3:10 pm
Sometimes the coloring of a Soquili could be a disadvantage; in the case of both Hienna and Zaphiro it could only be an advantage, since their naturally dark coats made it harder for the bright colors of embarassment to be ascertainable. Indeed, though this time Zaphiro was actually looking at Hienna, he only noticed the dark purple of her face, nothing more. And her words were far from problematic!
At her 'confession' about her speech habits, Zaphiro first looked at her in surprise, then actually started chuckling. "Surely you jest, Hienna; it's an honest pleasure to talk to one who's not talking at the speed of light; and as previously mentioned, there are those of us that ENJOY speaking about more than just the weather."
He trailed off as Hienna suddenly took notice of the abject beauty of the location, her pleasure at his find as sweet as though it were his own. "It really is a pleasant place, isn't it? Sadly it's not always private; I and many others tend to pass through on a regular basis." Though those visitors tended to be aerial; the split in the trees made this place seem an oasis to those traveling by air. "But I'm glad to know you approve."
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 3:15 pm
She laughed softly and turned her head to look at the sapphire stallion, "Oh, aye, but they are far and few between. Most believe me to be slow due to the way I speak. I simply find it wise to think of your words before speaking them."
Hienna turned completely to face him, tail swishing back and forth in lazy pleasure, "Always private or not, it is quite a lovely place and one I could get used to. It's quiet, and peaceful and..." She pondered a moment, "I would say perfect, though perfection does not exist. So I will say near perfect."
Indeed, it was one of the few times she was thankful for her color. Were she white, he would have seen the blush from a mile away.
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Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 3:23 pm
"I suppose that such practices would lead to a lack of unintentional insults...though it must make it harder to justify those insults that are intended." Zaphiro kept his face straight, acknowledging her comment but unable to resist teasing her about it. The desire to tease her seemed to be quite strong, likely due to her apparent seriousness. Or maybe it was just because he liked to tease?
Either way, it was enjoyable. As was her satisfaction with the location. Once again his smile widened, the white of his teeth bright against the dark color of his face. "Near perfection is hard enough to acheive on it's own without contemplating the impossible; I'm glad to know that you like it, at any rate, as it's one of my favorite places as well. The water is constantly cycling, so it's sweet and pure; great for swimming, if a little cold, and decent company when there's no one else around."
That reminded him of something else, though; something that was less pleasant. "I should warn you, though; there have been...less savory types known to frequent this place."
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