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 Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:19 pm
"Correct, these are hotsprings," he confirmed, taking the opportunity to savour the warmth that was provided by the shelter of the rising cliff faces. Here the wind found it nearly impossible to reach, even the most brutal of gusts would be repelled leaving only the faintest taste of a cool breeze. Every now and again the mists did waft around his head, an indication that the winds were ever present but for the most part the steam rose without disturbance and drifted up to the skies. Needless to say the higher they went the less visible they were but that was a rather moot point.
Having provided the mare with ample time to grow accustomed to the scene he then proceeded between the various pools and on occasions, for no other reason than it felt nice, he would dip his wing tips within them. Dashing his coat with various water droplets, he bowed his head to avoid some of the lower reaching areas of the gorge's walls and moved on. That being said it wasn't that much of a walk towards the waterfall itself - one need only drift towards the light on the other side of the gorge to see for themselves - though it was inadvisable to step any further into the light...lest they die a rather brutal death.
As if to demonstrate this, Ambroise came to a halt just on the edge of the light and peered out. It was there that he was greeted with the presence of the waterfall, large in comparison to anything in the lowlands, the water plunged down into the rocks far below, yet the little 'window' the gorge's end provided permitted one to admire the rainbows that lurked with the cool spray it emitted.
"Your senses are not without merit," Ambroise continued, glancing over his shoulder towards the mare from his position by the light. A mild smile remained on his lips and he returned his gaze towards his waterfall. Needless to say, he rarely required an explanation for his love for the slopes when he could see such things as these every day of his life... anything in the lowlands paled in comparison.
"Why not see for yourself?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:38 pm
Thanking the spirits that she hadn't stumbled onto this place by darkness, Elizabeth watched with a smile as Ambroise made his way between the springs, following far enough behind that she wouldn't have to worry about crashing into him if he stopped suddenly. Glancing at the pools as they drifted through them, she found herself resisting the urge to just slide in and soak up the warmth; there would be time enough for that later, when she didn't have to worry about keeping anyone waiting.
Pausing to contemplate the pools and the mists, she wound up falling behind Ambroise as he continued to the gorge's edge. Looking up at him, she couldn't be sorry she had.
It was such a beautiful scene, the dusky stallion, highlighted by the brightness beyond him; around him, the mists curled like something out of an old fairytale, a being of mystery and magic. But more than anything else, she was struck by the look on his face.
She'd seen him smile in the clearing when encountering his mother and her human, but this smile seemed different; it was a soft, gentle smile, one that seemed to her to be one of true attachment and affection. At his invitation, she stepped up to the edge of the gorge beside him, looking out at a scene so beautiful that it made her catch her breath. The waterfall wasn't huge; certainly not as dramatic as anything that she'd imagined, but beautiful nonetheless. It was an amazing sight.
It wasn't the waterfall that she commented on when she spoke, though, her voice soft in comparison to the rumble of the falls. "You really love this place, don't you?" While it might be assumed that she was referring the the falls, she wasn't; instead, it was a much larger place that she spoke of, the Islagiatt itself.
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Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 6:34 pm
"On a level that is nigh on impossible to fathom," he replied softly, his gaze remaining fixed on the beautiful scene. It wasn't his usual manner of reply though, while it came as swiftly and as smoothly as his general speech - it wasn't quite so 'robotic'. On this occasion none could have accused him of making the appropriate noise at the right time, he was simply confirming that her assumptions regarding this location were completely and utterly correct. While he had a true affection and love for his family, while he would guard them and protect them with his life...it was difficult for them to inspire such passion.
He didn't just love his herd for the sake of those in it, for the most part that appeared to be Seresai's job. He was very much in love with the land and would see to it that it remained pure and free from corruption as long as he possibly could. If any could truly grasp the depths of his love for the majestic mountain ranges he resided on then perhaps they could begin to understand why he was so insistant upon routine. These lands had become his children and he tended to it in the only way he knew how...
It was something even his mother couldn't understand, an avid believer in happy romances she hadn't even realised that Ambroise didn't really 'require' one. The ranges had given him all the love and appreciation he had ever needed - or at least they had until recently. His mother's continued reminders that she would like him to have a happy ending, coupled with his best (and only) friend's announcement that she had found her soul mate had left him a little out of sorts.
Everyone else had moved on, while he had been embraced by the slopes and caressed by her winds. He'd assumed he would never need anyone other than 'her' until his only friend had left him and there was that saying that often inferred that one didn't realise what they were missing until it was gone. Even he needed a little companionship. Unfortunately he had encountered a number of issues with the idea of acquiring one in the manner that his mother spoke of - most of the issues tended to revolve around his abrasive personality. He had been apt to give up soon after he'd even begun to look given that she already had six grandchildren and was unlikely to need any from him...
"Maybe I should get a pet," he mumbled almost incoherently to his own musings, however bizarre the comment may have been to the mare.
Nevertheless, shaking such thoughts from his mind, he flicked his gaze towards the mare as she admired the scene and released a soft sigh. Abrasive as he might have been, at least he had the ability to make visitors smile when they were in his company - even if it had nothing to do with his almost non existant sense of humour.
"Is there anything else you require this evening?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 04, 2009 6:56 pm
Perhaps because she hadn't spent a great deal of time with him, didn't know his 'prickly' or 'abrasive' personality, seeing Ambroise like this didn't seem at all strange to Elizabeth. No, she took that back; it was strange in that she hadn't seen him so meditative before, but it seemed in other ways very natural. After all, everyone needed something to love, no matter who they were or what their story was; for some, it was another Soquili, for others a familiar; some had their children, or their humans, and apparently for Ambroise, that thing was his herd. An unsurprising fact, given how much she'd heard about how busy he was keeping the herdlands safe. Really, how COULD anyone live a life like that if they didn't care for what they guarded?
It had been a brief moment, but in that moment she felt as though she'd gotten to see the real Ambroise, the one that lurked beneath the severity of duty. Rather than push her luck, though, she simply smiled and remained silent in response to his comment, looking out over the waterfall with a meditative expression broken only by his inquiry about her comfort. The remark about a pet was strange, to be sure, but it wasn't so dramatic as to make her gasp!
Glancing about the area, she reflected for a moment and then shook her head. "I don't believe so. The grasses back at the end of the gorge should provide me with all I need for food, and there is warmth and water here. I'm sure that I'll be fine, but thank you."
Though having answered that, she found herself wondering something else. Pleasant as this day had been, she wasn't the sort of mare to mourn the inevitable; she was on her own now. It had been extremely kind of Ambroise to stay with her as long as he had, but she knew that she couldn't expect him to stay through the night or continue to be her 'tour guide' the next day. That in mind, it was best to tie up a few loose ends before he departed.
Looking at Ambroise, she gave him her warmest, most thankful smile. "You've been a great pleasure to spend time with, Ambroise, and at the risk of being repetitive I have to tell you how thankful I am for your company and indulgence today. I'm certain that I would neither have seen so much nor enjoyed myself half as much if I'd been with anyone else, much less on my own. I do have one more request to make of you, though." Looking back through the mists of the gorge, she gathered her courage, then asked with the daring of one asking a great favor. "Would it be alright for me to stay on and explore your herdlands for another day or two? It's so vast and beautiful, I'd like a chance to observe more now that I know what I'm seeing." Thinking a bit more on her request, she continued, "But only if it wouldn't be a bother to anyone or an intrusion on anyone's space."
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Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:47 pm
((Caji, your pony is farting rainbows...))
"The soquili of this land are kind and the majority appreciate company far more than you can imagine," he replied smoothly, withdrawing from his place by the 'window' to return to the warmth of the mists surrounding the sheltered pools. "They would be more than happy to make your acquaintance and now that Venom is aware of your presence he will leave you undisturbed," it was a very roundabout way of saying 'yes' to her request. He had hoped that through these words she would gather that she wasn't imposing on anyone regardless of whather or not she happened to be unannounced. The only time he could foresee issues would be the 'Dead' forests that resided on the slopes but in order to reach those she would have to trek to the other side of the mountain... Certainly not a feat one could achieve in the space of two days.
Nevertheless, that inevitable moment had come in which both soquili were expected to part ways. She had been splendid company and that was quite the compliment from one as critical as he. She had been polite, considerate and had even tolerated the over exhuberance of his mother with a grace few possessed. All in all, save for her lack of planning she had demonstrated herself to be a mare worthy of his respect and he had been honoured to have her company. Unfortunately that was quite the mouthful and Ambroise had all but exhausted himself with general chit chat and explanations - thus, the mare would never receive the compliments she deserved. Then again it was unlikely she would accept them either!
"The pleasure was mine," he reassured her as he continued to move through the pools. Satisfied that she would remain safe from the worst of the weather and that she had ample supplies of food, he would leave her in peace and permit her the opportunity to savour the treasures the mountains had to offer. This was what she had come here to see after all, the least he could do was ensure she experienced some of the qualities the mountains possessed.
"That being said I will wish you a pleasant eve and take my leave, I sincerely hope you enjoy your time here this evening." With a somewhat stiff smile (his usual smile), he disappeared into the gorge without waiting to hear the mare's response. Really he could have predicted it, she would exchange more pleasantries as was expected of one with manners and then he would go... It was time she had a break from such things and instead he took a liberty.
What became of her the next morning would remain a mystery to him, though he sincerely hoped she enjoyed the rest of her travels. Or at least this was what he would have expected, though unbeknownst to him he would be receiving one hell of a lecture in the morning from his mother if he left the mare alone!
Alas, life was always full of surprises...
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Posted: Mon Jan 05, 2009 8:06 pm
Sometimes, the best pleasantries possible were the ones left unsaid. Perhaps it was the place, perhaps it was the length of the day, perhaps it was the fact that she was, for once, utterly lacking in things to say. Whatever the reason, though, it was with simply a smile and a nod that she acknowledged Ambroise's 'permission'. It was somewhat silly to have doubted such a welcome, but one could never be too certain when visiting new places. Everyone, herself included, had their little eccentricities, and it would be the height of rudeness to assume anything.
It was a great pleasure to contemplate the next day, especially now that she had been assured that she didn't have to worry about Venom. Perhaps she would take the eastbound trail she'd seen earlier; going any higher up the peaks was hardly necessary when there was so much to see just around here! Even if she would be seeing it on her own, it would be an adventure.
And really, she couldn't complain on the hospitality she'd been shown thus far. Watching Ambroise disapear back through the mists, she allowed a smile to play across her lips before turning and surveying the various pools that surrounded her. They all looked so delicious and inviting, she was already delighting in the prospect of a bath.
However, there was no sense in wasting the little remaining daylight she had, and with a determined shake of her head the mare started on her most difficult challenge yet: Finding the perfect corner to sleep in.
Who said that mares couldn't work?
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