Welcome to Gaia! ::

(( is it ok if we continue tomorrow xd because the shower awaits me 3nodding ))

((*luffles and apologizes to Skada* Sorry dear! *clings*
We're under a Tropical Storm Warning and Flood Watch here..
O.O ))

Sibalto stood as a stone while Vib snuffled at his leather trappings. He snorted and smiled in a whistful way. "You do not know these things? I remember being free... When I had no fear for ropes to entangle me, and leather to bind me... And now that I have my human-" He paused to nod toward her as she slipped off to finish dressing-"I do not know if it is the ropes or her voice that makes me stay. "
He shook his head. "This thing on my head, it is called a bridle.. The humans use them to direct us to where they want to go, or lead us on occassion.. The thing on the ground there.. It is a saddle.. I understand it helps the human's stay upon our backs, though in truth it does not seem to effect the Lady one way or another."

Taria ducked behind a bush and dressed, tucking her breeches into the tops of her knee-high boots. She brushed a stray lock behind her ear, and checked her hair- now bound in a braid- before stepping back around the corner. To her amusement Sibalto seemed to be getting along well with the sparkling stallion and his gentle mare.
"Have you made friends?" She murmured and he nickered, eyes turning to her for a moment. She smiled, and turned back to her things. Taria pulled on her vest and reorganized her packs, letting the horses talk as she began to clean and check her saddle.

((Right now my Settler Chara Lady Taria and her stallion Sibalto are speaking with Vibrant Shades of Death and his mare... So if you'd like to speak to them... I don't mind..))

((*hugs Sirenz* You are awesome!
And I'm willing to Rp, I'm having fun..
So if anyone wants to join me...
blaugh ))

Zyll frowned. Pale faces meant trouble. Not wanting her father to come up with his bothersome fantasies of her marrying one, she carefully slipped away.

She climbed on top of a large rock to watch from above. A sigh came from behind her. Embarrassed, she spun around. Her father usually came here, and she hadn't seen him below. "Fa-"she exclaimed, and stopped for, with horror, she realized that it wasn't her father but worse- it was a pale face!!

"Hello!!" He smiled, then turned away. "Nice view up here, eh??"

Not knowing what to say, Zyll hissed, "Stay away from me, pale face!!" scream

He merely grinned. "I'm liking you more every minute, darling." He took a step closer. "How would you like to- ah!!" He lost his footing and slipped off the rock!! eek

"No!!" Zyll found herself shouting. What was it about this man that was different from the others?? She jumped down expertly, for she was trained to do it. She noticed that he had grabbed onto a branch that ran along the rock. "Here!! Take my hand!!" she called, living with a new hope: that this man would not die.

Fortunately, he managed to grab her hand and swing down. "Thank you, kind missie," he said, then turned and headed toward the gathering.

Zyll's heart broke. That was it? The moment of awkwardness was over?? Part of her desperately wanted to talk to him again, while the other was glad that he had gone.

"Zyll!!" It was her father. "Zyll, who was that??" He emerged from the bushes and came to stand in front of her.

"I did not get his name, father," she said bitterly. Though I wish I had...
A crack in the bushes startled her. Another man appeared. An indian, not a pale face. Not HIM!! she thought.

"Zyll, I would like you to meet Sasha." Her father beat the man's back. "Get to know each other. That way the marriage will go more easily."

Zyll stared at her father in horror. "Wha-what??" she managed to say.
Not Sasha!! Anyone (well, maybe not ANYONE) but him!!

Sasha made his move. "Zyll, I've longed to meet you..." He leaned to kiss her.

"No!!" Zyll shrieked. Then, after a long stare from her father, "At least until after the wedding!!"

Zyll then turned and dashed into the gathering, trying to find the pale face. She asked all of the pale faces, and finally one answered.

"You must mean Christopher!!" he began. "Yes, he's leaving now. He's going to what he said is a 'better place'. You'll find him at the dock."

Zyll thanked the man and then rushed to the dock. There she found Christopher, next to a chestnut clydesdale. He was packing various things into large bags.

"Christopher!!" Zyll shouted. "It's me, 'missie'!!"

Christopher spun and something magical sparkled in his eyes. "Oh. Hello."

"Take me away!!" My father is trying to marry me off to a murderer!!" she cried, and ran to him.

Surprised, he hesitated, then nodded. "I understand. Hop on!!" He gestured to his horse's saddle. When he saw how unsure Zyll was he smiled. "Come, now. Rhoda won't bite!! Right girl??" He nuzzled the mare. She snorted.

At that moment, Zyll's father, Sasha and the entire hunting patrol leapt from the bushes.

Zyll leapt onto Rhoda, and helped Christopher load the bags on the saddle. Then he pulled himself up. Zyll's father grabbed her hand and tried to pull her off. An arrow barely missed Christopher's head. Fortunately, Rhoda kicked out at Zyll's father, and dashed away before any more arrows were shot.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Zyll snuggled against Christopher's warm body. They were far from the camp, but Zyll couldn't feel better.

"Don't you miss your home??" Chris asked.
((I'm gettin' lazy!! Look...............^!!))

"Between you and me, that man may be my mother's husband, but he's not my father." Zyll whispered. "My mother is dead, and the tribe abuses me. I just discovered why: my father was a pale- I mean, one of you."

"Oh." Chris managed to say. "I see." Then, without notice, he turned in the saddle and kissed her.

Zyll tensed up, preparing to get away, but stopped. Something felt right. She barely knew him, but still. He was kind and understanding. What more could she ask for?? She returned the gesture and then turned away, blushing.
Rhoda, you are a lucky horse, to have known him longer...
.................................................~~~~~
~~note: this has ended FOR ME. feel free to roleplay either Zyll, Christopher, Sasha or Zyll's 'father'. OKIES?? hey, feel free to join the hunting patrol!!

((Hime, Lorako ~ send me a PM if you still wanna continue our RP. i'd love to, but it also depends on you two. *nodsnods*))

Manovia eyed James' actions as well, but tossed her head as Wambli called to her. With a nose into her human's shoulder, she poised herself, hind legs gathered and ready to launch, front legs poised to leap forward the moment he was in the saddle.

James knew 'Via's hint and swung himself lightly into the saddle, holding her back before she could dive forward. "Easy girl. No races just yet, alright?" Watching the indian girl, he couldn't help but admire the seemly fluid connection between horse and owner. The fact that such a creature allowed a human to ride her was even more stunning. These people truly were something to behold, it seemed. More so than the life he'd come from, anyway. Clicking his tongue once, he urged Manovia forward letting her catch up to Wambli's flank before holding her at the pace set for them by the other pair.