|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Feb 22, 2006 7:50 am
Reunions and Revelations: Loki, Nagual-An & HaniaEchoLimaFoxtrot Nagual trotted through the trees. After the past few days, she figured they were the best place to try and run into other soquili. The sunlight peeked through the trees and dappled the forest view.
A butterfly crossed the path. Immediately, the filly stopped and watched it flutter around, and then away. Probably the with the attention-span of a gnat, Nagual was off...her mission forgotten. It was all about the butterfly and the filly giggled and chased after it. Cihiru What to do? hadn't been a very prominate question as of late, which was both relieving and surprising to the fair colored stallion. Isilme provided a much-needed dose of humor and company, giving him little time to ponder over the more trivial matters in life. But alas, here he was... meandering through the brush, alone, and bored, and without much of any idea what to do with his newfound time.
A gusty snort signaled his discontent, though the random wildlife carried on as though they scarcely noticed. "I wouldn't mind some company, you know," he muttered as he tilted his nose toward the forest's canopy. The birds nesting there ignored this too, and continued to chirp their melody with total disregard.
Sighing heavily, Loki dropped his muzzle and allowed his posture to slouch a little more than usual. He had been trying not to think of it, but found himself failing miserably: where was Isilme? And why was he worrying about it when he knew well she was a grown, independant mare, and he had plenty of other friends to occupy his time?
Annoyed with himself, and newly discouraged, Loki paused in his absent wandering to take in his surroundings (which he had been ignoring until then, as ill-advised as it was). It was a pretty day; the temperature felt just right, with spring more bravely announcing its presence. The forest here was less crowded too, almost mimicing clearing in the way the trees were spaced so sparcely. There was even enough room to run, but he didn't much feel like it.
Apparently someone else did, though. It was difficult not to hear the sound of crashing underbrush. Loki merely flicked an ear at it, only partially interested at first... Until he saw hints of a form peek between the trunks. Was that a Soquili? His interest piqued, the stallion took a tentative step toward it, testing the faint breeze as he scented it. "Hello?" he called suddenly, sounding surprisingly cheerful to his curious ears. EchoLimaFoxtrot Nagual heard the hello through her entrancement of the butterfly. In fact, the sound almost scared...she hadn't realized anyone was around.
When the filly turned to the sound, she forgot about her feet and stumbled to the ground. Rolling head over hoof, she sat up and looked in the direction. Immediately, she spotted the grey stallion.
Standing, Nagual shook out her legs and took a few tentative steps, "Well hello! You scared me, there...." Cihiru He felt himself cringe involuntarily as the filly (he realized then) went tumbling. Oops! That wasn't his intended reaction. Perhaps he should have approached a little less boldly; he could tell she had been distracted. Oh well, no turning back. She didn't seem much worse for wear, anyway.
"Er, sorry..." Loki took a few hesitant steps in her direction, bowing his head apologetically. "I hadn't meant to startle you. Are you okay?" He recalled foals were amazingly hardy, but she had just gone rolling across the forest floor... Either way, it couldn't hurt to be polite. Not that he'd approach it any other way.
"I'm Loki, by the way. Hopefully I haven't left too poor an impression." Why was it he always met others through less than ideal circumstances lately? While it did keep life interesting, he had been handing out quite a few apologies. More importantly, he was just waiting for the one individual that took him poorly. He really wasn't too keen on the idea of someone disliking him over an accident; it wasn't his fault. Or was it? EchoLimaFoxtrot Nagual smiled broadly, "Well, no harm done! I promise, I am not usually so... clumsy..." Of course, while she said this, her eyes twinkled in a way that explained she has in fact doubted her 'clumsiness' and been proved wrong many times.
By now, the effect of the fall had worn off, for she was indeed like a new sapling.... as long as a limb didn't break in half, it was fine. "Mine name is Nagual-An, and it is a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Loki!" Cihiru At least she was unharmed. Loki bobbed his head in understanding at that, and offered a welcoming smile. "I'm glad. And I'm sure you're not; don't worry." And if she was, he was none the wiser. The stallion was certainly a pleasing type... Perhaps too much so, at times. But was there such a thing as 'too nice'?
"I see," he said simply. "Well met, Nagual-An." And... he had no idea what to say from there. It was rather unlike him; he generally had a very easy time with conversation. He wasn't quite himself either though; remnants of his prior distress flashed through his mind. Loki shook his head to shoo them, displacing his faded mane with the motion.
Struggling to come up with ideas, he took a stab at something random: "What did I interrupt, if you don't mind my asking?" It was shallow for his tastes. Small talk. But it was something, and who knew... Maybe it would open the door for something more interesting. It was at least better than nothing at all.
Loki took the lulling silence as an opportunity to cast his gaze elsewhere, at the brightening sky that poked through the leaves overhead, and washed the covered ground in sunlight. It would be afternoon soon, he realized idly. And he readjusted his posture then, shifting his weight and resting one limb lazily against the earth. EchoLimaFoxtrot Nagual looked around. "You interrupted some-.... Oh yeah! The butterfly. Well, you see. I was just around the forest.... which I have been doing a lot more recently... and then I saw this butterfly. It was really pretty. I chased after it and then" she shrugged, "well, you know the rest."
"May I ask what you were doing out-" again, the filly paused in mid sentence. Her eye had found something in view and she wanted to check it out. Completely forgetting her manners, Nagual walked up and sniffed it. It was a fig that she had had before...sometime in her past. Without another thought, she pulled a piece away and grinned happily. Turning, her mouth full of the stuff, she asked, "Oh my! Loki, did you want some?" PhoenixGuardianMikazuki Hania yawned as he trotted out to the Soquili commons area, so to speak, and glanced around. Again, he would have to search around to see if he could find anyone he knew. He hoped he could meet some of his friends that he hadn't seen in a long time, truthfully--maybe he should take a look around.
As he trotted, he spotted a very familiar stallion along with a very familiar young filly. "Hm? Loki!" Hania called, surprised to see one of his first friends. "Oh, and if it isn't the noble young Nagual-An." Hania smiled, and made his way over to them. Cihiru He was a little surprised she actually remembered what she had been doing. She crossed him as the sort to get easily wrapped up in whims and drop them shortly after, paying them little or no thought from then on. "Butterflies are very pretty," he agreed, nodding slightly.
The first stab at conversation had been a bit of a flop, he noted with a hint of sadness, but there was some hope yet. "A whole lot of nothing." Loki's tone was a cheerful one, despite the disappointed mood of his reply. "Bored and lonely, you could say. And no butterflies in sight."
And that was random. He tilted his head at her, grinning with a raised brow. "No need to save some for me; I'm fine. Thanks though." In truth, he wasn't too fond of the root. It was one of the many things he discovered as a foal and didn't find very agreeable.
Another voice - a familiar but not-quite-forgotten one - pulled his attention away from the filly. He turned fully toward its source, hoping to spy the Soquili on the other end. "Hello, Hania," the stallion said with a smile as his gaze settled on the other. "It has been a while." A surprisingly long while. EchoLimaFoxtrot Nagual giggled, "The more for me!!!" She collected some in her cheeks and then walked back...just in time to hear Hania.
When she turned and saw him, she spat out all her figs. The glinted in his mane and stuck to his fur from all the filly-drool that had encased them. "Noble? Young? I have you know I am old enough to.... okay, maybe I am a little young...." Nagual eyed the stallion, all her pieces of root all over her. She broke down laughing.
The filly started laughing so hard she fell to her knees. Finally, her hysterical attitude simmered down and she had resorted to hiccups. Getting back on her feet, Nagual smirked at Hania, "Oh, I'm sorry... must have been the 'noble' factor kicking in." PhoenixGuardianMikazuki Hania laughed and shook his mane a bit. "Thank you, O young noble one," he teased. Sobering slightly, Hania greeted Loki. "Loki. How long has it been? Too long, my friend. How are you these days?" Hania hadn't seen the stallion in ages, and he had sorely missed Loki's stubborn personality.
Loki was a tad stoic, but he didn't mind. It was how most stallions were; he had yet to meet more than just Intrepid (who acted a tad like him) who were more open and friendly. "So then, Nagual, are you not so noble as to greet me in a more nice way?" he asked, eyeing the filly with amusment in his eyes. Cihiru 'Enjoy' would have been his automatic response... but he didn't have time for it. Nagual seemed to have other plans, he soon discovered. And poor Hania, on the recieving end. "Well done," he said instead. "It could be a good look for you." And actually, it would appear the other had more than figs about him. He had spent some time acessorizing, had he? The roots, though... Part of him did want to laugh outright at the absurdity, but the part of him that was relieved it wasn't him forbid it. He merely grinned instead, holding in his amusement.
Hania seemed to take it in stride. "Too long," he confirmed with a bob of his sculpted head. "I have been alright, I suppose. Well, not alright. - I'm doing well." There was a lot and yet nothing to catch up on at the same time. His life was a rather uneventful one. "My sister disappeared; I haven't quite decided if I enjoy it, or I should be worried. Maybe a little of both. A friend has been staying in the forest with me as well." And was he ever grateful for it. "And you?" EchoLimaFoxtrot Nagual stuck her tongue out at Hania, "Well, I would have a more appropriate greeting, but where is the fun in that? It is good to see you, though!"
Loki's tone took a saddened tone. To lose a sister? That was such a horrible thing to have to deal with. "I hope your friend has been helpful... I am truly sorry for your loss, Loki..." the filly bowed her head, not sure of the what response was appropriate. PhoenixGuardianMikazuki Hania nipped at the filly teasingly and then looked at his friend in concern. "Loki... that must have been tiring. You have a friend with you? I'm glad." Hania didn't like it that Loki had lost his sister. He wondered what happened to her. He'd never met the mare.
"Who is your friend?" Hania was always eager to meet someone new, though sometimes his stallion nature made him competitive. He'd met so many Soquili's, there were some he could hardly remember ever meeting. Cihiru He was so certain in Kali's safety, he couldn't help but chuckle at Nagual's remorse. Hopefully, it wouldn't cross her as offensive, but his amusement was obvious. "She's off doing whatever it is grown sisters do when they don't have to worry about their brothers. It's okay, Nagual."
Was it callous of him not to be concerned? He certainly hoped nobody would fuss over him if he decided to take a leave of absence. "Really, it's nice to have some peace for a while. - I'll go looking for her tomorrow, okay?" This was intended for the filly, in hopes of soothing her worries.
Hania's following question redirected his attention though. "Isilme," he said simply, a new smile lighting his features. "I would be surprised if you've met her. She was just passing through, and sounded rather shocked to hear there are other Soquilis here at all." EchoLimaFoxtrot Nagual jumped from Hania in a taunting manner. "Well, I am just not feeling the love here...." she smiled, not taking the words serious at all.
With a both, the filly nodded to the stallions, "I do hope to see you two around... and I wish you all the luck in the world with your sister, Loki! I am sure she can fend for herself, as you've said." She jumped forward and gave her luck to the stallion as an innocent peck on the cheek. With tail held proudly, Nagual ran further down the path to find another adventure. PhoenixGuardianMikazuki "Good bye, dearest Nagual-An," said Hania, and then turned his head toward Loki. "Isilme? I... I think I've heard of her. She sounds interesting." Hania watched Loki for a minute, then smiled. "Loki, do you... have a strong interest for her?" Hania was always up for matchmaking, though he didn't do it himself.
He himself had been so unsure of who he'd love for his mate, and Mahiri had been his chosen. He couldn't help it; he loved her more than anything, and would do anything in the world for his fox mare. Shaking out of his thoughts, he waited for his friend's answer. Cihiru There was a time he would have been taken aback by such a sudden departure... But that time had long passed. It seemed almost normal now, actually. "Thank you, and take care." And just like that, she was gone. It might have been just as well though; he was now free to focus his attention on the stallion, rather than dividing it and doing his best not to neglect either.
"Really? Well, then I am surprised." In truth, he did doubt Hania's honesty a little. He'd scarcely said anything about her, and it was unlikely Isilme had wandered much while he was unaware. White lies were curious things; harmless, but untruths just the same.
"Wait, what?" Loki's expression shifted quickly, fading from contended to jokingly accusing. There was laughter in his tone as he continued: "Firstly, what in the world makes you ask that?" And he paused before carrying on, his pondering apparent in his briefly distant gaze. "We were fast friends, I think. But I could be wrong - And I've hardly known her long enough to say, anyway." He hadn't meant to side-step the question, but it was a difficult one to answer directly. PhoenixGuardianMikazuki Hania smiled. "Ah, I see. Well, I'll no more of that topic. I'm glad to see you are well. Do you remember Mahiri?" Hania had yet to tell Loki the news of him being mated, and especially to the fox mare, whom Hania remembed annoyed Loki to no end. Grinning, Hania pawed at the ground with his hoof, watching and waiting for Loki's expression. His friend's expression from earlier when he had asked about the strong interest in a mare. Cihiru The ease with which Hania dropped the discussion disappointed him a little... For several reasons. He had actually been grateful for an opportunity to talk about Isilme; no other listening ears were really available, and it was something he had to admit he did want to discuss, despite his adversion to the approach.
A rather brutal end to what he saw as potiental conversation; it was a trade for a topic that could be tender. Loki warned himself to be friendly and cautious; he could see the fondness in the stallion's eyes, and he knew where it was going. It was one of the reasons he had been hesitant to return to his old friends - Was he the only one still without a mate?
"I do," he replied suddenly, smiling softly. "Shall I give you my congratulations, maybe?" He hadn't disliked Mahiri, particularly. She was just too high-strung for large doses. And how ironic for Hania to take her as a mate, if his suspicions proved correct. PhoenixGuardianMikazuki Hania sighed with disappointment. "Loki, I swear you can read my mind. But yes, it's her." He smiled, and then mentally noted the split-second disappointment in Loki's eyes. "Loki," he prodded, "I know that it's not my business, but I'd really like to hear more of Isilme. If she's able to keep you happy, that's good. If not..." Hania let the thread hang.
He despised any Soquili that made any of his friends unhappy, whether he knew them or not. "Mahiri's been doing well, and I find it interesting that she has even calmed down a little," said Hania, deciding to stay on topic while yet hinting to Loki to spill his secrets and fillings. Hania was willing to listen; after all, Loki looked like he needed to talk about something, and Hania felt that he needed it now. Cihiru He didn't quite understand Hania's sigh... Was it bad he had a pretty good guess at what he was going to say? It was an obvious conclusion in his mind; he couldn't help it. "Well then! I'm happy for you both. I find it hard to believe she's 'settled down' though. Really - It's Mahiri." Loki grinned jokingly in an attempt to lighten what he felt as a suddenly gloomy mood.
"Of course she makes me happy," he interjected, before he had a chance to really think. Well, that sounded awkward. And really, one of these days he needed to learn to contain his expressions a little better. It was a bit of a bother having everyone read him all the time. Whatever happened to secrets?
At any rate, he was glad for the opening. "She's a conversationalist, like I am - I doubt you'd appreciate it much," he added with a soft chuckle. "She talks a lot about beings I've never heard of, too... Hania, do you know who Epona and Windrunner are?" Probably not, he thought with an absent twitch of his tail. "I think it's interesting, anyway." PhoenixGuardianMikazuki Hania cocked his head. "I see. Another conversationalist? And you do sound happy, Loki. That's awesome. Epona and Windrunner? They sound like the Soquili gods." Hania had known about horse gods, but he hadn't realized they actually had names. He'd been wondering who his human had been praying to, and she had often said similar named as Epona and Windrunner.
"You even look happy. You're not hiding your emotions too much anymore either," Hania teased, smiling. It was good to see his friend happy. Loki had seemed stiff and lonely feeling before--more so than him when he'd first met Loki--so he was glad to see that Loki was feeling and even looking a lot better than before. Cihiru "You say that like it's a bad thing," he replied suddenly, his expression wilting with his mock pouting. Was it really so unnatural to want to talk and explore the nuances life had to offer? To appreciate aspects other than just running and play? It was all well and fun, but he couldn't stand only that.
And Hania knew them too? That was unexpected. "They are." Perhaps his ignorance was more isolated than he realized. It left him feeling a little silly and unknowledgeable. "Isilme says Epona created the Soquili, and Windrunner is their leader." She also said humans were dangerous, but perhaps it was best he didn't mention that part.
"I always was..." At least, he thought he had been. He was a generally cheerful individual, wasn't he? "I don't hide them because I'm bad at it. Don't think I don't try," he defended, poking his tongue out in jest. How disconcerting to realize Hania saw him as something other than what he thought he was... PhoenixGuardianMikazuki Hania smiled at Loki's gesture. "I suppose when I first met you, I must admit I thought you were a bit stiff and stubborn. I apologize for that now." Hania loved to run and play, of course, but that wasn't all he did. "So then Epona really is a Soquili god. Or goddess. And Windrunner is whom I often speak to by my lonesome, though I doubt he actually listens to me."
Hania had often prayed to the Soquili gods for his safety when he was young and by himself, but at least he'd been old enough to take care of himself until Miakoda had found him again. "Humans are dangerous if you don't know the difference," Hania suddenly commented, as he eyed Loki. "If you can't tell the good from the bad, they are dangerous in that they occupy your mind constantly, like a nightmare that haunts you. Don't let that get to you.
"Besides, Loki," he added, "I'm not sure whether or not you like humans, but if a Soquili you know advises you and tells you humans are dangerous, you should ask them to explain why. There are bad humans out there, but just as there are good Soquili, there are bad Soquili, so therefore there are also good humans. Life has to have a balance." Hania had learned this when he was young; he'd learned it the hard way.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 02, 2006 10:54 am
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 13, 2006 7:37 am
Rainy Days: Loki, Nagual-An, Tetyawna & IsilmeEchoLimaFoxtrot Nagual walked through the clearing, her head low and ears back to keep as much water out as possible. She didn't like this thick rain very much, the mare had no cover! Today was not a very good day for hunting for her precious berries... it was a day to just find some shelter from the rain. Making it to a little branch in the river, Nagual glared as raindrops splashed in the water, rippling in a confusing mess, "Not the best of days," she sighed under her breath and plunged ahead to walk through it.
Her hooves added to the strange rippling pattern in the river, but she was soon across and making her way to the cover of the treetops. Chamain Tetyawna was on her way to take another walk and travel this place a bit more. I can't wait to go.....yeeeeeee!!!! When she looked up to see that it was raining, she felt like she had just been hit by a stick. "Did it had to be today?" Luckily she was dry, since she found a cave to stay in. She waited for any other soquili to pass by and wanted to invite them in. Cihiru So, it was one of those days. A day where the earth rested, and allowed the clouds' blessings to rejuvinate it, inspiring new lives and refreshing old ones. Or at least, that's what his mother had taught him. He had accepted it rather eagerly too; the words stuck with him even then, after her time had passed and his had matured. They gave him an outlook somewhat different than most, perhaps, allowing him to smile broadly, despite the water streaming off his coat.
The sight he caught peeking through the treeline only reinforced it - it was a familiar figure, allbeit not unchanged. "Hello Nagual-An. Is something the matter?" The introduction was a soft one; calmly offered just as she pulled into earshot, with an accompanying nod of his head. Hopefully she would be neither startled nor insulted. Though she had grown since he last saw her, a disappointed expression was difficult to miss. Maybe there was something he could do to lighten her burden. EchoLimaFoxtrot Nagual looked up at the sound of Loki's voice, since her head was currently hanging low. She caught sight of him and smiled slightly. With a slight chuckle, the mare shook her head. While she dislodged some of the rain droplets, the space was quickly taken over by yet more rain. "Nothing is really the matter.... except this horrible downpour. I understand the rain helps give life.... it just doesn't mean I have to enjoy it!" She winked slightly and moved closer to him when she finally was near, hoping he might be able to wind-block some of the rain, or something. Her thick mane clung to her neck.
"Maybe we should find some shelter, do you know anywhere nearby, by chance?" Nagual looked back up at him hopefully, hoping for some relief from the wetness as they kept walking. Chamain She have been in the cave for a while now and still no soquili came. Hmmmm.....er.....maybe no one will come. Tetyawna was about to feel down but then she heard voices. The language she can understand, which means this wasn't any humans. Her head kinda poked out of the cave and looked. It was hard to see anything.
Not too far away, she saw 2 soquilis chatting. She squinted her eyes to try and see who they were. Tetyawna gave up and took her head back in. "Oh god...." The mare let the water drip from her head and waited for the 2 to come and find this cave. Cihiru And his hopes were promptly crushed. Not quite so brutally as a stone falling on a brittle twig, but abruptly enough he almost frowned. Almost. "Maybe if you called it 'wonderful' instead, it wouldn't seem so gloomy," he chimed. "It is lovely, isn't it?" Loki's teasing was too good-natured to be insensitive - or so he hoped. "Well," he started, straightening his posture a little. "I'm sorry to hear that, nontheless."
The stallion regarded her with a raised brow as she edged nearer, and mulled over the query for only a moment. "Can't say I do, I'm afraid. This is my shelter." He motioned toward the dripping, leafy canopy with his muzzle. "I'm sorry." Loki wasn't about to tell her, but he was really a bit regretful she didn't appreciate the weather as much as he did. "I suppose we could try to find something, if you'd rather?..." EchoLimaFoxtrot Nagual noticed the slight change in Loki's attitude. She was usually the happy and excited one, so she tended to miss a lot of changed. This time, though, the roles seemed a bit reversed. The mare gave Loki a smile, her eyes brightened, "It is lovely, I just wish it didn't make me feel three times my weight. It's too bad it cannot rain without soaking those caught in it." She chuckled slightly.
Looking up at the canopy, some large raindrops splattered her eyes. Shaking them out so she could see clearly again, Nagual chuckled slightly, "Yes, it is my shelter too, although not quite as convenient as I hoped."
In her blurred vision, Nagual caught sight of an opening in the rocks, with a slight orange color inside it. The mare stopped and paused, risking getting the insides of her ears wet by turning all her attention in that direction. She looked back at Loki and smiled brightly, "Would you mind if we made out way over there? There is still some tree cover by that rock opening, it looks like." Chamain Tetyana could see a bit more clearly now. Her eyes saw that a mare and a stallion were together. Her eyes widened as the mare looked straight at the cave or her. I think she sees me.... She was about to appear out of the cave but then she remembered the rain and decided it was best for her to stay in it. Cihiru Her change in attitude reassured him, though he hadn't been bothered much in the first place. "Must be a mare thing," he joked, wrinkling his nose at her. The burden of a water-logged pelt had never been much of a burden at all, really. And he wondered briefly if it bothered Isilme. That would have negated his teasing, he supposed idly. "Nagual, do you have a human?" It was a seemingly random question, but she could seek shelter with her, if it bothered her that badly...
"Nothing's perfect," he replied suddenly, turning toward her with a smile. "Certainly though, if you'd like." The stallion followed her gaze with moderate interest, settling on the cave before he moved toward it. It was bigger than he might have expected; not at all unsuitable for creatures of their size. He just hoped whatever lay inside wasn't unhospitable. "Away we go, then?" Pushing one hoof forward, he froze mid-step and waited for the mare to follow suit. EchoLimaFoxtrot Nagual laughed, her spirits rising with the idea of shelter, and the teasing by Loki, all in good nature. "Yeah, it must be... mares like to be pampered when available," she winked and walked with him towards the cave.
"No, I don't have a human." The mare wrinkled her nose at the thought. "Maybe one day, when I want to settle down or something, but for now I am enjoying my freedom.... even with drenching days like today!" As the approached she could definitely see the outline of a soquili. "Is it just more, or is there someone in that cave?"
Not really waiting for a reply, and excited by the idea of dryness, "Hello! Is there anyone up there?" Chamain The mare had spoken to her. Now Tetyawna's eyes were really big and she started to get excited. "Er....yea, do you want to come in for the shelter?" she replied quickly. Tetyawna waited for them to reach the cave entrance before speaking again. "Hi." Her eyes watched the 2. I hope they're nice.....
She motioned with her head to invite them in. "My name is Tetyawna. It's nice to have some others come up here." she smiled happily hoping the 2 aren't afraid of her. Cihiru "So I hear," he confirmed, grinning at the prospect. It wasn't unreasonable though - Who didn't like to be treated well? Well, within reason. Though it did depend on the context... But his thoughts were wandering, and he shook his head to clear them.
So much for that idea. It surprised him a little, actually. Nearly all the Soquilis he met initially were bonded to some human or another, but he had been encountering more and more lately that weren't... "That's respectable." Loki noted she was open to the idea, rather than bearing a fervent dislike for people.
"There might be," he commented, and squinted to peer into the shadows. The voice that exited didn't leave him wondering for long though. He flicked his ears at it, and with little reservation, pulled himself into the rocky opening. "Thank you for offering. - And hello. This is Nagual, and I'm Loki; pleased to meet you, Tetyawna." It was forward of him to introduce the mare, he realized, but... Well, it seemed polite at the time. EchoLimaFoxtrot Nagual almost bursted into the cave. Her fur and hair dripped water and soon there was a pool of it at her hooves. Shaking like a canine, the mare tried to get some off of her. The action, though, made most of her hair stand on end, except her belly which was clumped together as water continued to drip from it.
Despite it all, she was happy to be ina dry place, if only for a little while. Her eyes brightened even further and her ever-present smile slowly took place on her face. The mare bowed her head in greeting. She turned to Loki and smiled more, "Well, thank you Loki! Such a gentleman, saving me the work of introduction." Nagual laughed happily just for the sheer joy of it.
Pausing, the mare looked at her two companions, "You know... I think that is the first time I laughed today... how strange." Her cheeks turned a slight pink, but she giggled consistently for awhile. Chamain Tetyawna curtsyed to both of them. "Nice to meet you Loki and Nagual." She smiled at the stallion. It was nice of him to introduce the mare too. "Your welcome." She shifted to the side of the cave so that they have room. The rain was loud and when they talked, it would echo around the cave.
"Rainy day isn't it? Good thing everything will smell fresh and clean after this." Her head turned to the 2 and smiled. dustfeather Someone else enters the cavern...
The mare stops dead at the sight of others, breathing deeply as she inhales the new scents. She immediately spots Loki, but takes her time getting a good look at the others before moving closer.
Her own pelt is soaked from outside, and she snorts and stamps in irritation as the water trickles down her belly, tickling her.
A few seconds later, a very water-logged and pathetic-looking peregrine falcon trundles in after her, too soaking to even fly in. She's rustling her feathers irately, sending water droplets in all directions, and she nearly runs into Isilme's back foot. "Yow! Lassie, ye dinnae think Ah'm happy standing near this drafty entrance? Move yer feet!"
The mare drops her head, and apologetically lifts her foot so that the soaked falcon can pass. The feathered creature gives one look at the Soquili gathered, blinks, and then just finds a nice little space off to the side to get try, taking no further notice of the horses.
"Looks like I ain't the only one who's trying to find someplace dry. Hi, Loki." Cihiru He couldn't help himself - He had to laugh at the unceremonious shaking. Just something about the way rogue droplets splattered his already soaked hide, the walls, and anything else in their patch struck his amusement. "Feel any better?" he asked at last, giving her a grin.
And well, at least his intentions hadn't been ill-recieved. He hadn't expected them to be acknowledged either though, and the attention made him duck his head almost bashfully. "Nothing strange about it. Laughter does lift one's spirits."
"This is true," the stallion commented suddenly, bobbing his head in agreement. The rain did leave behind it a distinct crispness; a new and fresh sort of blanket on the not-always-grateful earth. "And a good excuse to make converesation, in the meantime. So long as one doesn't mind soggy company."
Needless to say, he wasn't really expecting any additional individuals to enter the conversation. It was more than a little surprising when another did - And not just anyone, but Isilme, he reconized immediately. With Alta not far behind, it would seem (and more than a little unsociable than usual).
"You could say that," he responded cheerfully, giving her a smile that would have liked to imply he was oblivious to the falcon's discomfort. "Welcome, Isilme. Meet Nagual-An, and Tetyawna." The stallion motioned to them in turn with their introductions, finishing with "and this is Isilme, as I mentioned." He might have given a welcome for Alta too, but she didn't particularly look conversational, so he thought it best to do otherwise.
"Anyway, I'd say you've come to the right place!" EchoLimaFoxtrot Nagual stuck her tongue out at Loki. Even though she was no longer a filly, she did it anyways, lightening her damp mood even further. "Well, actually, I do feel better! Just having the chance to lighten the load is exciting enough." She was about to appologize for getting anyone else wet, but that that doing so would ruin the moment.
"Mm...." she mumbled, licking her lips. "The berries will be plump and juicy after this! How could I forget....?" For a moment, it seemed that the smiling mare was off in a dreamworld, but what brought back by a couple of other voices.
She turned and smiled further at the newest arrivals. "Well, hello! It is a pleasure to meet you Isilme, and Alta," she nodded at them both. "And yes, I believe we were all trying to get out of the rain... except Loki, who only came for the sake of some company," She eyed the stallion out of the corner of her eye, the joking obvious in her voice. Chamain Tetyawna stopped staring at Loki and Nagual. "Thank you Loki." She dipped her head at the soquili who just walked in and bent her legs. I think I'm getting use to curtsying. "Nice to meet you Isilme." Her attention turned to Nagual of what she mumbled. "You're making me hungry now. Mmmmm....." The red panda mare started to dream of eating berries too.
She was dreaming happily but then tried to focuss back on the conversation. Tetyawna had just remembered seeing a familiar walk in too. Like what Nagual did, she decided to say hi to the bird. "Uhm....hi Alta." I think that is what I heard Nagual say to the bird.... EchoLimaFoxtrot Nagual sighed happily, bouncing from hoof to hoof. "I really shouldn't have mentioned berries.... because now I really want them!" The mare peered outside at the rain. Her expression remained wishful. "Agh! I cannot stand it....." With a smile across her face, the mare nodded to each individual, "It was nice to meet you Tetyawna, and you as well Isilme!" She added a wink in Isilme's direction.
Making her way to the entrance, Nagual paused to gather her strength, and warmth. She felt refreshed from her time in the cave. Turning over her shoulder, the mare called out, "Until next time!"
With that, she trudged out back into the rain. This time,however, her head held high and her eyes piercing the slight fog the rain created, trying to catch a glimpse of some bright red berries. dustfeather She eyes him for a moment, rather wondering what he had been saying about her...and then mentally shook herself. He's not her brother, she's being silly. Probably just that he'd met her. Curiousity about his friends, however, drives that out of her mind. Were these the ones that lived with humans...or not? They seemed like a cheerful twosome, and the grullo paint moves closer, her hooves clip-clopping against the cavern ground.
As Nagual teases Loki, the mare feels a flash of undefinable emotion, and her ears almost tap backward, but she catches herself in time. To make up for the motion, she smiles at the other mare. "Pleased to meet you too, Nagual, and you, Tetyawna." She eyes Alta for a moment, but seems to come to the same conclusion as Loki...the falcon is probably best left alone.
"Well, company's better in here than out there, and drier, too," the mare says lightly, shaking out her mane. "Storms are not the most conversational of things...they tend to talk too much."
One eye swivels around, and the peregrine falcon regards Tetyawna with that odd, sideways look birds have. "Hi, lassie. Ye another horse from around here, nae doubt?" Cihiru "Always the berries..." He was about to say something in typical friendly, teasing fashion, but Isilme's new presence made him think better of it. He... Well, he wasn't sure why. It just didn't seem right to jest in front of her, lest it was with her, so he didn't. "Good luck then," he said instead, somewhat grateful for an opportunity to give a farewell rather than trying to make sense of his reasoning for being here. Especially since he didn't really have any.
"Can't blame a storm for having a few things to say. It's not like they get to talk often," he joked, though he nodded in agreement. "Not a fan of the rain either, I take it? I guess I'm alone in that sentiment." He made a mental note to show Isilme suitable shelter closer to the areas they frequented; this cave wasn't particularly convienant.
But hm, he was surprised to see Tetyawna greet the falcon... And even moreso to hear Alta respond. She didn't sound as put-out as he had expected; not that it was a bad thing. He gave her his characteristic welcoming smile, but didn't quite dare to interject. Loki glanced to Isilme instead, regarding her with a raised brow. "Not having a good day?" He had meant the question more in regards to the falcon than herself, but it was open for either. Chamain Tetyawna looked at the bird and smiled sweetly. "I'm new here and yes I guess I'm from around here." She didn't understand half of what Alta had just said. When Nagual got up to leave, she neighed and wished her a safe journey. Her eyes bounced between from Isilme and Loki.
Her head was dry again and she was happy that she made a few more friends. The mare wanted to ask something, so she walked a bit closer to Isilme. "Is Alta in a bad mood?" Judging by the bird and how it came in, it didn't seem very happy. dustfeather Isilme bobs her head to Nagual, and moves aside so she can leave. She watches the other mare go, before her gaze flits back to Loki and Tetyawna. Her expression turns to slight amusement when the other mare strikes up a conversation with Alta, whose reaction takes her by slight surprise, but not much. The falcon was unpredictable in her whims. She's just glad her companion isn't making life difficult for her.
The grullo's mare brief bad mood passes in the next instant. "True. It's probably like being a foal around adults and then getting released among others of your own age," She says wryly, with a grin. "But no, I'm not a huge fan. Mostly because it tickles. It's warmer here for it, though, and it's much better than snow and hail, so I suppose I'm being a little whiney.
Although she realizes the open meanings the question has, she prefers to latch onto one, as if it was the only one she had considered. "She gets grumpy when her feathers are water-logged, she can't fly that well. So she's grounded somewhere until they can dry out." Her voice is kept low so that Alta can't overhear...but hopefully the peregrine falcon is too occupied anyway. She repeats much the same as Tetyawna turns to her, and eyes Alta as she fluffs up her feathers, preening vigorously, adding: "She's generally not that...um...social anyway, though. It's not in her kind's nature, they're not really much like us." Cihiru "Everyone's entitled to a bit of complaining every now and then, as far as I'm concerned." Honest enough in his comment, Loki gave her an earnest smile. He could accept it as a good reason too, to dislike something as wonderful as rain. "I have to agree though, most anything is better than snow and hail."
"I had noticed," he added good-naturedly, responding to the comment about the falcon's nature. To be truthful though, he appreciated Alta's company as much as most Soquilis'. When she was willing to give it, anyway. "And I think she's entitled to her bad days too, even if she is inclined to have them more often." He would have given her a teasing grin, but unpredictable tempers weren't something he wanted to risk just then. The stallion spoke softly instead, trying to sound casual while (hopefully) keeping the falcon out of earshot.
And he turned to Tetyawna then, tilting his ears forwad at a comment she'd offered earlier. "How are you enjoying yourself here so far? Suppose the weather isn't making a very good show, but it's not usually so stormy, I assure you." It was a good thing, too. The ground wasn't likely to accept much more water; already the mud was thick. Chamain Tetyawna smiled at Loki and replied delighfully. "Oh the weather is fine either way. The rain makes everything fresh, the sun makes most plants grow." It was true that she liked any type of weather. Snow was sometimes a good thing but other times it would just get annoying. Her eyes kept watching the falcon just incase it had heard what she asked.
"Hmmm......Alta's feathers are beautiful." She said instead of whisper. "Is she ever into talking?" The red panda mare asked Isilme and Loki. Her head titled when she thought she saw the falcon turn a bit towards them. Tetyawna wanted to know how this bird was like before doing anything else. Her favourite thing to do was make friends, it gets her excited.
The rain outside started to slow down and a little tiny hole pierced through the grey clouds. Sun light came from the hole and it was bright. It nearly looked like a path way for an angel to float down or something. dustfeather Isilme chuckles. "Especially after sitting in several days of it," She agrees. The storms she got back home were bad at the end of winter...they were used to losing several members of the band every year, whether the very young or the very old. But that was how life was: only the strong survived.
The grullo grins, but any more whispering will surely be noticed by the falcon, so she doesn't say anything more on the matter. She listens to Tetyawna, curious, turning her attention to the mare, but feels compelled to answer the question. "Sometimes. Especially if it's anything about flying or hunting or places she's been or someone else's been. She likes learning about the rest of the world, I think." So does Isilme, but the falcon thrives on it, whereas the mare has to have breaks from it. "Forgive me for being nosy, but do you live in a band...or herd, as I guess you call them...around here? I'm new to the area, Loki's been kind enough to show me around a little. Like the human village." Her nose wrinkles at that. She's still not quite sure what to make of it. Cihiru Loki scarcely had the same experience; the winters here were tame in compairison, and they were all he'd ever known. "Lucky for us, it never really gets like that here. The snow covers the ground in the winter, but I don't think I've ever seen a vicious storm or anything." He shuffled a little uncomfortably at the thought though. What would a snowstorm spanning multiple days feel like?
"More like she's been kind enough to put up with me," he chimed in, turning toward Tetyawna. He hadn't exactly forgotten she was there, but... It was easier to exclude her than he would have atmitted. It was just too easy to talk to Isilme (and only Isilme). Her inquiry was the only thing even reminding him what he was doing.
He hated to barrage Tetyawna with questions, but in light of his realization, he wasn't sure what else to do. So he did anyway. "Have you seen the village? If you don't mind my asking, that is." Hopefully she wouldn't find it too nosy or overwhelming. Loki was more or less grasping for straws at that point. Chamain She hoped that she was talking to her so she decided to answer. "No I'm not in a herd or anything." What she meant to say was, that she travels around these places alone instead of in a herd. Her ears twitched at the sound of the rain drops. Tetyawna let a long period of silence pass by before answering Loki's question.
"No I haven't actually. I've heard about it, that most humans live there." She smiled at him and looked up at the cave's ceiling. Then looked down like if she felt embarassed for not seeing the village before. It was not like she didn't want to, it was just that she couldn't find it. Of course she didn't wat to say she couldn't find it. Her head turned back at Loki. dustfeather "Must get warm in the summer," the grullo says, wondering how much warmer it actually does get. "But that must be pretty nice. The storms up north could be nasty...to the point where you couldn't see anything but white if you were out in it. And pah, " she adds, sounding cheerful again, "You didn't have to put up with me at all. I'd still be out there wandering, probably in on some forsaken plain with noplace to get in out of the rain."
"Ahh." Isilme looks a little put-out at the mare's response. "I've heard that, too. But I haven't yet seen one...a human, anyway."
Lost in her own thoughts, she doesn't add anything else, lapsing into silence as she listens to the consistant drip-drip-drip of the rain off of the cavern stones. Thunder rumbles close by. Cihiru Was she uncomfortable? Bothered by the inquiries, maybe? Silence was so difficult to intrepret. "Me neither," he reassured with a smile, just to be certain. "'Bands' aren't very common here. I think most everyone just sort of does their own thing... Some with the humans, and some not."
"It's a nice sort of warm, most of the time. And there are plenty of places around to cool off when it's not. Well, you'll see." This comment had been open to both of them, but Loki turned more fully to Isilme as he continued. "In a manner of speaking, you're still on some forsaken plain. Only difference is a shelter Tetyawna kindly shared with us. And some decent company, I hope! Not to say Alta isn't, of course." The falcon may or may not have been listening, but there it was either way.
"Oh, they do," the stallion confirmed, bobbing his head as he once again divided his attention. "Maybe you would have spotted one if you'd been willing to edge a little closer," he teased, and wrinkled his nose at Isilme. "Follow the river out of the forest - You should be able to see the village from the hills, if you'd like to visit some time." Her mannerisms made him think she did. Chamain Tetyawna's ears popped up when she heard how to get to the village. She nodded happily and pretended like she knew that already. Her eyes scanned outside if the rain has stopped. It hasn't but the hole through the clouds have gotten bigger. A sigh came from the mare. She wished to travel today, not be stuck inside a cave anymore. It was fun chatting with all the soquilis, but she still wanted to travel with them.
Her legs started to hurt from staying in one spot. Tetyawna walked around a bit in the cave and acted like if she was checking if the rain would ever stop. "We may be stuck in this cave for the whole day." She looked back at Loki and smiled.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 28, 2006 10:46 am
Princess: Loki & PrincessNel_Zelpher_2005 Princess snorted quietly to herself as she trotted through the clearing, stopping every now and again to investigate some new thing. Some plants she would nibble to see if they not only were safe but tasted good, while others she flattened her ears at and moved on. While she was by herself, she wasn't just exploring for the heck of it. She was looking for good places for her herd to stay, to eat, to live. So focused was she on her task that she didn't notice whether any others were in the area. Cihiru Loki may not have been a characteristically cautious stallion, but he did tend to keep his wits about him. At least, enough to serve him in situations such as this.
Despite the pandemonium coursing through his thoughts (Will she be okay? Will they be healthy? Can I even handle it?), the gentle crunch of brittle foliage was enough to stir his attention. He merely flicked an ear at first, but when the sound identified itself as steps, the mustang turned his head more fully to what he thought was their source.
It took him a moment to discern the figure through the slotting of the bordering trees, but he thought a welcome due once he spotted the Soquili. "Hello," Loki greeted, friendly enough as he pulled himself toward the clearing. Nel_Zelpher_2005 Princess jerked to a halt and turned towards the source of the greeting, ears pricked to better catch the sound. "Hello," she said cautiously, looking the stallion up and down. He looked strong enough, and so far he hadn't been outright rude or arrogant. Maybe it was just the first few stallions she'd met that were asses, then. Cihiru Well, that wasn't much of a welcome at all. It had been a while since he encountered an individual so tentative. Really though, he supposed it was unfair of him to expect everyone to be openly friendly. And maybe she'd warm up. It was just a hello, after all.
"Name's Loki," he offered, hoping to establish some sincerity. "Were you looking for something?" She had seemed rather distracted at first. Hopefully he hadn't interrupted anything. Nel_Zelpher_2005 She perked up a little more at the politeness in this stallion's tone. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad, if more stallions around here were like this. "My name's Princess," she stated, "And I am looking for something. I've got a herd...it's still small, but it still needs food, water, shelter. Best to map that stuff out in advance, I think." Cihiru Was that a hint of relaxation? A good sign, he noted with an almost invisible nod. "Glad to meet you, Princess," was his response, though he couldn't help but think what a name...
And he raised a brow at the following comment. That she had a herd did not surprise him. - She had a commanding posture about her, and it explained the reservation. He was confused by the context though. 'I have a herd' and 'map in advance' flashed as conflicting statements in his mind. So... What was she saying, exactly?
"A good plan, I'd say. Have you found anything hopeful so far?" It was noncomittal, but it saved him the trouble of trying to make sense of it. Nel_Zelpher_2005 She nodded. "Yes...the herd's fine where it is for now, but when the grass gets grazed down some I've found a couple places we can go next." Princess swished her tail, eyeing Loki. "What about you? Or do you just wander about?" Cihiru Well, that was fortunate for her (and her herd). It also inclined him to wonder idly if her selections were anywhere near his home. After all, Loki couldn't help but feel a little curious as to whether he'd be encountering many individuals. He was accustomed to a relatively isolated habitat. "Good," he said simply at last.
But what about him? That question took him a little by surprise, and he blinked a bit too deliberately. "Do I have a herd, you mean?" The stallion tilted his head slightly in contemplation. "Isilme and I live without a band" - it was a term he'd picked up from her - "but no, we don't particularly wander." Nel_Zelpher_2005 Princess tilted her head. "Hmm...so you have a mate." It was more a statement than a question. "Seems I've seen a lot of pairing up recently." The snort that followed was half disgust, half jealousy. "Lotta males strutting and preening, the ones I can't stand are the ones too arrogant to treat others with respect and the ones too weak to back up their strutting." Cihiru It would have been safe to say that was more than Loki bargained for. A lot more. She certainly was opinionated and open with assumptions, wasn't she? "What if Isilme is my sister?," he questioned with a ornery grin. After all, he had been living with Kali at one point.
"And I hope you don't mean to say they are hasty, or that everyone with someone is recently paired?" The stallion hoped his tone was friendly enough to be intrepreted as he intended it - unoffensive, despite the negative impression he'd received.
The following string took him back though. Was she getting at something, or just venting? He was a stallion after all, and she wasn't exactly easy to read. "Well, I hope I'm neither," he thought out loud. He certainly didn't strut! Nel_Zelpher_2005 Princess gave him a sideways glance. "Somehow I don't think she's just a sister...you seemed worried about something when I first caught sight of you. Foals, maybe?" She shook her head. "No, simply saying there's a lot of males competing for female attention. But you're polite enough to greet me, and you seem decent enough. So it's probably safe to say you're neither."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue May 02, 2006 3:18 pm
Considering the Future: Loki & Isilme
dustfeather The day was a hot one, so Isilme had decided this morning to walk down to the river and cool off. She had marveled at the heat here, in these southern lands: the summers where she had lived were warm, but short-lived, and nothing compared to the lazy heat of the day here. It's all she can do to not just fall asleep, reasoning that surely predators couldn't be out hunting in this. But she's too wiley to fall for that sort of wishful thinking, so at high noon, she's reached the banks of the river, and is snorting happily as she sends up sprays of ice cold water, which sharpens her senses and brings her more fully awake. As she idly plays, she tries to focus on the feeling of unease that has plagued her the past few weeks. She's been in one place too long: that must be it. She's never stayed in the same place for more than a fortnight. Alta has been oddly silent in the matter, when before she would have complained about the slow pace. Instead, the peregrine falcon had been off on her own, sometimes for days, and had come back only reluctantly. It was clear that the other female wanted to be off, but she oddly said nothing. It was a puzzle, and one that Isilme was reluctant to solve. She shied from those thoughts much as she would from a fly, not wanting to follow them to their obvious conclusion. Instead, she puts all her concentration into trying to catch several of the fish that flit past her legs. Now she's waded in as far as her stomach, which the water laps at, tickling. She blows a humerous bubble in the water, chortling, and ducks her head fully under to watch the fish. All too soon she's forced to come up again for a breath of air, her breath ragged. She enjoys swimming, something she's not often able to do, considering her home climate. Cihiru To say he was unaccustomed to the climate would have been reasonably far from accurate, but it didn't prevent him from being at least a touch uncomfortable. The heat had coaxed local insects from... wherever it was they disappeared to, and he found himself flicking his lengthy tail to shoo them then. Why was it they insisted on being so annoying, anyway? He never did anything to them!
But to say he didn't have more important things on his mind wouldn't have been entirely truthful either. Really, the irritated twitch of his decidedly less-scruffy hide was a nag in a forgotten corner of his mind. Other thoughts reigned decisively, causing him to pause his absent pace and declare "Today" to noone in particular. Yes, he would tell Isilme today. Sure, he hadn't quite figured out how, but... Well, that was a minor detail, and he wasn't about to let it discourage him. Act first, think later.
It was with that persuasion he set himself to locating her. Resuming the abandoned trot, Loki set off through the thicket with a more obvious air of purpose. Now, if only he knew where to find her; a tracker he was not.
He did have deductive reasoning to aid him though, and he did his best to take advantage. Besides, process of elimination didn't hurt either. While the river was not the first place he checked, it was the last, as following its winding path drew a familiar form into view, not long after wading splashes met his twitching ears.
"Afternoon, Isilme," he called as he neared, all but able to hide the amused grin stretching his velvety maw. "Having fun?" Drawn in by the coursing waters, the stallion pulled himself to the river's edge, and dipped his head to lip at them. dustfeather If she could start, she would have: but it's very difficult to move suddenly in deep water, and so she only succeeds in losing her hoof-grip on the bottom of the river and bobbing for a few seconds before she can calmly put them back down again, and start a search for the owner of the voice: Loki. "Come to join me in the river?" Isilme calls back, swishing her wet tail so that it sends up a spray of water. "It's quite cool compared to this infernal heat you call summer," she jokes, but she nevertheless moves closer to him and out into shallower water. Droplets course off of her belly and down her legs, and down her face: except for one portion on her back, she's completely soaked. The grullo mare sighs in contentment as a very faint wind blows onto her wet fur, cooler her even further. "That's much better. I don't even remember more than a few times getting to go swimming in summer to get cool. I didn't know it got so warm here." She wonders if she'll even need such a shaggy winter coat come snow time. Cihiru In the brief moment he was unsure if she would find her footing, the stallion lifted his head and drew a step nearer, throwing his forelegs into the river's current. Though the following inquiry smoothed his initial concerns, her startled response was not quite what he had anticipated, and he gave a sincere "Sorry, I hadn't meant to surprise you."
He smiled too though, and the apologetic expression quickly gave way. "That's not a bad idea. Though," he started, wading foward "I'm not too certain what you mean by 'infernal heat.' You don't think it's pleasent?" Loki's broad, jesting grin and ever-lighthearted tone belied his intention. "And I don't remember many blizzards. I did try to warn you."
"... Even though I was uncertain you'd stay so long at the time." Giving one of his ears a twitch, the mustang shifted his weight rather deliberately. "Is it really that bad?" As though his purpose just reoccured to him, his tone had sobered considerably, and his expression hinted at a genuineness that seemed almost out of place on his features.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 8:19 am
Reacquaintances: Loki & AlonaCihiru With the myriad of thoughts available to occupy his mind as of late, it was a wonder he had time to think of something as trivial as 'how long has it been?' How long had he holed himself up in the forest, isolating himself away from the friends he knew lived in the village?
It wasn't that he was unhappy. Far from it, really, but he couldn't help finding himself wondering how others were doing. How was the weather of life treating them? He made an attempt to check up, once... Hania's unexpected interception had cut the adventure far shorter than he anticipated, though not without giving him a taste of just how much had happened in his not-quite-absence. Even that seemed ages ago, though.
Maybe it was time he looked in again, despite a guilty concience. Isilme and the baskets would be fine, he assured himself with an I won't be gone long resolve.
Without further contemplation, the stallion distanced himself from the cave and family he called home, drawing himself nearer to the vallies with every stride. New ponderings took up residence, too: Would there be anyone there to greet him? And would it be an old friend? hanging gallow Alona slowly made her way through the forest. She needed a break from everyone. Lilly was determined to keep the mare at the teepee until the foals came, where as Cyrus was not about to let her out of his sight. She sighed luckily Kanti came to the rescue and got them to take a moment sight from her. She needed a walk, her limbs where stiff from little movement, and sore from the weight she carried. She stopped for a moment to catch her breath, resting against an old oak tree.
She heard the sound of hooves of a wandering soquili through the trees. Remined motionless and soundless hoping that she wouldn't catch their attention. She was in fear that it was Cyrus, or Kanti looking for her and at the moment she still didn't want to go back. She remained frozen hoping that she would see the soquili first. Cihiru Circumstance seemed to have other plans. No sooner than his hooves passed the nearest clearing's border, steps other than his own met his twitching ears. The stallion paused almost half-heartedly, casting his gaze about in an attempt to glimpse something. When nothing remarkable presented itself, he heaved a distracted sigh, and lifted a foreleg to continue on.
Something else caught his attention, though - A scent that didn't quite 'belong.' Halting again, Loki turned more fully toward its source, and greeted the wilderness. "Hello?" The indentity was not an unfamiliar one, but he hadn't recognized it past soquili then. hanging gallow Alona heard a hello echo through the woods. Out of the corner of her eyes she spotted the speaker. It was a white-grey stallion, and yet he looked very familiar to her.
"Loki..... is that you..." Alona said with a slight breath of awe. She hadn't seen him in months. She however, remained where she was hoping that it was him. There was so much she had to tell and so much had happen since the last time she had seen him. Cihiru The stranger's identity established itself before he really had time to ponder it. They may not have met in months, but Alona was not so easily forgotten. Pleasently surprised, and eager to see her, the stallion pulled himself toward her partially-hidden form, brushing past foliage.
"It might be," he replied with a bowing nod, and straightened himself with a characteristic grin.
As his sky-colored gaze turned to rest on her, realization struck him more fully. It really had been a long time since their last encounter. Hania having foals had not surprised him - But Alona? That was not at all what he expected. "How've you been?" hanging gallow "I have been doing well Loki, how are you" she said giving him a friendly nuzzle. "It has been ages since I have seen you lat I was beginging to wonder if you had taken off on me fox" she said with a pleasant smile.
He had still looked the same, with his characteristic grin and pleasant greetings, somethings about him would never change, and for that she was glad. She liked him for who he was. Cihiru "Good, I'm glad," he responded, returning the gesture in kind. "So have I, but about that..." Really, he couldn't blame her, but his expression faltered for a moment. He would have loved to explain his disappearence too, but where could he begin? Summarizing a few months of misadventure did not seem so simple.
Well, nevermind it. He opted not to touch the subject, lest she ask. "I trust you've been having adventures of your own?" The stallion fixed her with a knowing look and impish grin. "Really though, how much trouble can a bunny stir?" hanging gallow Alona gave a sweet laugh. "Yes yes I have had quite an adventure all on my own, oh where to begin. This bunny has created much of a stir here."
She said with a laugh, she had been quite a busy bunny.
"I have a mate now, as you can tell. Cyrus, though I am sure you have met him, and an adopted daughter named Kanti she is quite a handful stubborn as she is playful. And on top of all that I am a leader of a herd, with this round tummy to carry with" she said giving another laugh. Now that she thought about she did have alot of things happen. But she wouldn't trade any of that for the world.
"And what have you done fluffy fox, been up to no good, or just being sly and avoiding us" she said with a smile. She gave him a small friendly nuzzle hoping that it wouldn't bother him to talk about it. She was curious as always, and hoped nothing bad had happen to him. Cihiru "In that case, I think 'adventure' is a bit of an understatement. Sounds like you've been busy." That too was an understatement, he knew, but what other way was there to explain it? She had been up to more than he could have begun to expect.
"And a herd, too? How long has that been transpiring?" Loki gave her a suspicious glance, though his chuckle belied his amusement. "Who all did you take under your wing?" That impish grin overtook his jesting speculation. Surely there were some he knew, right? He hadn't exactly been gone forever.
It had been long enough to make her inquiry a loaded question though. "No good, I'd say." There was a brief pause, and then he started his thought with "Isilme's not very fond of humans, so I don't make it down to the vallies very often any more. - You should meet her sometime, if you haven't already." Loki's adoration was obvious; it beamed through even his joking expression. "She foaled recently, too." And though he did not say it outright, it was plain enough to see he was indeed a father. "We've been well," he added for good measure. hanging gallow "I see" Alona said giving him a sly glance. "Someone fell in love...not to mention is a father" she said giving him a small nudge, but making sure she didnt' over do it. "I wonder who...but I am glad you and your family have been well" she said giving a playful look. He apparently had been quite busy, and up to at least some good at least not pestering his sister again.
"Yes I have taken quite a few soquilis under my wings, even though I don't have any literally. There is Settia and Dyami and his family, Ayita and part of her family, Resi and her family, Celendria and Glory, Manitou, Lakota, and quite a few others, surprisingly it is very large for even me to imagine" she said with a small laugh. "And I have been with this herd oh I say about two months now, maybe longer, I can no longer keep the days straight I have been so busy" she said with a small laugh. "Yes not quite and adventure, but very very busy and I couldn't have imagined being this busy, it is quite a change since when I have first arrived here" she said with a small nod remembering the days when she lounged about having nothing to do. Cihiru Her teasing went far from unnoticed, but he did overlook it, if only because the word 'family' seemed to jog something in his mind... Besides his obvious fondness. "I don't suppose you've seen Kali around, have you?" It would have sounded like an abrupt change in topics, but he made an attempt at sense with "she's been living in the village, so I don't really see her either. She's bonded, actually." The latter was added as though it explained everything, but it would have been difficult to read his opinion on the matter.
"Me too, though. And I hope it stays that way, for both of us." He couldn't wish for much more than health and safety, really. "Congratulations, by the way," Loki added, mirroring her grin and planting her shoulder with a friendly nudge.
"Very impressive. Sounds like the Bunny has acquired quite the band, then." He was relieved to hear names he recognized, though the less familiar were equally refreshing. New faces were... Well, almost always a good thing. "Only two months though? Really, that's not long at all. I guess I can excuse your not telling me, then!" It was perhaps a little overly obvious he wasn't the slightest bit bothered, but he didn't seem to mind. hanging gallow "Hmm..no I haven't seen Kali around, I had no idea that she was bonded, which surprises me I suspected you would have before her" Alona said with a funny look on her face. Kali always seemed more unopened to other things, but than again, Alona could have been wrong.
"Oh and thank you, Cyrus is happy, and my adopted daughter well..she has taken to the habit of picking on me, but I am sure she is happy as well" Alona said with a little laugh.
"Yes we have quite a band now, and no it hasn't been for really long, but it has kept me busy, but I am happy with it. And yes new faces, it wasn't long ago I had tons of little foals running around in the herd, but even now they have grown" Alona said with distance look. She was thinking about what had happened then, remembering the foals running and playing and her just sort of watching and being happy.
"And you better excuse me for being busy" she said snapping out of her daydream and nudging him back playfully. "And I guess I will let you slide by as well, and congratz, you know I will have to eventually meet your family, hopefully sometime" she said with a smile. Cihiru "I see..." he started, trailing off as she continued. "Really?" What did she mean by that, anyway? Honestly, he could never really see himself with the humans. Especially not since he'd met Isilme: what had started as mild curiosity had shifted to apathy. Kali had always been much more interested in the unkown, and didn't have someone else's opinion to influence her decisions.
"What is her name, anyway? I'd like to know if I ever happen to meet her." 'Adopted daughter' wasn't particularly helpful in such a circumstance. "I'm sure she's excited too."
"Well, you won't have to miss them much longer." He had noticed her change in expression, and though it was a guess, it wasn't an entirely unfounded one. "Anyway, I'm glad you're happy."
Her jest threat did catch his attention though. "What do you take me for? - Of course I'd excuse you!" he teased. "Thank you, though. And I hope you do."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun May 21, 2006 12:34 am
Haphazard: Loki, Kael & Waya
Shariea The sky was bright, a deep blue that seemed to be utterly fathomless. Waya's dark tail flicked against the long sweet grasses as he sighed. He'd always enjoyed looking up at that sky, and knowing that it was the same sky that everyone else saw. That thought alone had comforted him through some long and lonely nights, more so in his childhood than now. He chuckled softly to himself, a smirk pulling at his lips. He wasnt so very much alone now was he? No Princess had made sure of that. Unwittingly he'd found himself thrust upon the role of protector for her herd. It was small yet, but...he wasnt alone. His blue eyes scanned back down to the ground as he took in a mouthfull of the sweet grass, his mind still wandering. His life had changed drasticly since he had set hoove in this place, The food was plentyful, the soquili, in general where nice. And...as of yet he'd not seen a single peditor that had the guts to attack even a foal. It wasnt a bad thing to be sure, but having lived all his live on guard.. it was too good to be true. Waya's ears swivled back and forth, listening to the world around him. The wind blew through the tall grass and swept over the plain towards him, toying with his long ebony tresses. He sighed and again raised his gaze to the sky, truely content in this moment of peaceful bliss. Cihiru Peaceful might not have been a word Loki would have used to describe the moment. Eventful, enlightening, or trying maybe, but by no means was it calm or quiet. That seemed to be the way things had been going, and one way or another, he was just along for the ride.
A ride he most certainly wasn't leading. "Kael... This way," he corrected, motioning with his head.The response was nothing short of mournful, with a dramatic last glance that quickly shifted to the jovial, excited trot it should have been. "Where're we going?" he questioned, pulling astride his father and fixing him with a gaze full of anxiousness."I suppose we'll find out once we get there. We are adventuring, after all.""But how will we know when we get there?""You'll know," he assured, bobbing his head a little. "Just keep an eye and an ear out, okay?" Loki nudged the colt with his muzzle, who in turn gave a fervent nod and bounded a few leaps forward before resuming his prance through the underbrush. Shariea The hoove beats through the underbrush reached Waya's ears like thunder. His charcoal ears flicked back behind him as he lazily lifted his head to greet the newcomers. First out of the thicket was a small colt, who's fur was like that of cream. A small smirked tugged at the corners of his lips, for the little one reminded himself of how he had been in his happier days. Striding not long behind the colt was his father, white as snow and a brillant contrats to the deep greens of spring about him. Waya's ebony tail lashed against the ground, brushing away the grass as he swollowed his mouthful. "greetings." he said softly, his baritone voice grumbling from deep within his chest. Waya was not one for much converstation with strangers so he politely nodded his head and went back to grazing. his long mane covering his crystal blue eyes from sight. His tail flicked against the grass again as he contently returned to his meal. Cihiru Fully taken in by whim, it was no surprise the sudden greeting caught the colt's wavering attention unaware. For a brief moment he stopped still, wide-eyed with bewilderment. There was no time for amazement with his concience though, so it faded almost as quickly as it had come, leaving behind an innocent grin and curiously wagging tail.
"Heya," he called, before Loki had opporunity to stop him."Mister," he added at a whisper. And "afternoon" was the accompanying introduction, with a polite bow well-suited to its friendly tone. He did pull alongside the foal though, and stood protectively with Kael's young form.Bobbing his head not unlike his father had, and scarcely bothered by the correction, he dared to take another step forward. "Hello mister."
He didn't seem too concerned with the other's disinterest either. The prospect of meeting someone - a stranger - for the first time far outweighed any concerns with deceny; not that he had much notion for them to begin with. Kael just fixed the stallion with his pale-hued gaze, and stayed his itch to inch closer."I'm sorry if we've interrupted you." Loki gave the other a sideways glance, thinking for a moment maybe they should just move along and let him alone. His son's expression was convincing persuasion though, so instead he took a stab at striking conversation. "You're a good deal harder to spot, and hear than we are, I'm afraid. I hope you'll pardon the intrusion." Shariea "No worries." he replied to the white stallion before him. "plenty of grass to go around, and no one should have to halt their fun on my account." he added as a small after thought. His blue eyes gazed through his thick mop of hair as he looked over at the colt. A smile once again pulled at the corners of his lips. He tossed his head and for a moment the hair from in front of his eyes left his line of sight clear. "Im Waya." He said, addressing them both. "Its a pleasure to meet you." he added at length, his baritone voice nearly a soft whisper. The Stallion pawed at the ground in front of him, and turned his gaze towards the heavens. "I suppose I would be. Your coloration stands out against the green of the grasses. But you look strong and able enough should anything come after you." he commented, noting the strong physical apperance of the white male before him. "A fine day for a walk...." he remarked finally dropping his gaze back to the two before him. Cihiru 'No worries' was one of the more pleasent responses he could have recieved, and his smile broadened at the sound of it. "I'm glad you think so," he said earnestly, giving his tail an idle lash.There was a tint to the stallion's expression hinting he might have continued too, but the colt interjected before he had opportunity. "My name's Kael. Nice to meet you too!" Though he introduced only himself, he did manage that much, at least.He did seem vaguely disapproving, but no reprimands were made. They could cover the finer points of politeness some other time. "I'm Loki. Well met, Waya," he finished with a nod. The following comment caught him slightly off-guard though; for a moment he was almost bashful.And despite his father's inner embarrassment, Kael practically swelled with pride. "Really?" he exclaimed, giving the stallion rapt attention. How come Loki had never mentioned anything like that? It sounded exciting."Thank you," he replied simply. He did like to think so, and certainly hoped so, for his family's sake. The thought of harm coming to any of them was an unbearable one. "Can't argue with that." It was an undoubtedly temperate day."Can we?" the foal murmered, and peered over his shoulder at Loki, then back at Waya (whom he'd taken an obvious intrigue in). Shariea A deep chuckled escaped the magestic black stallion as the little colt tossed his two cents into the converstaion. "Its a pleasure to meet you Kael." he said, still lightly laughing. "As well as you Loki. You have a very bright colt on your hands. Very much like his father in ways, Im sure." he said, a smirk pulling at the sides of his mouth. This colt did after all remind him of himself, back when life had been happy and the world was new. Everything was full of wonder and excitment then. "If you would like to go for a walk, I wouldnt mind. One can use company now and then." he said, the truth of that stament pulled from his heart. For one who had spent most of his life alone, to come to this place of thick green grass and warm sun was truely amazing. At times he did long for that still silence that he had come to love, but the laughter of friends was quickly over taking his heart and dusting off the hard shell that he'd put up around himself. The warm rays of light caressed his charcoal fur as he lightly snorted, ebony tresses flicking against the ground as he shook his past from his mind. "That is of corse.. up to you Loki." he added at length. Cihiru A softer smile washed over Loki's features; less amused and more sincere. "Thank you, but I do think he takes after his mother..." Eyeing the colt's painted coat in combination with his cleverness, he finished "in more ways than one." He would not have wished it any other way though, and his proud contentment lit his expression.At least the foal didn't seem to mind his fatherly notions. Kael accepted a fond n** at his mane with toleration, though it pulled his attention from Waya only briefly. "Can we?" he repeated, butting his nose against one of Loki's thick forelegs."I heard you, I heard you." Loki huffed a snort in response, but his gentle smile never faded, and it echoed in his tone. "Well," he paused, eyeing the two of them with a suddenly jovial expression. "Sounds to me like Waya's calling us passable company, Kael. Who're we to say no to that? Let's go." The mustang gave his son a gentle nudge; encouragement he scarcely needed.He was practically in motion already, but he met the allowance with a broadened grin, and took an energetic bound forward as if to lead the way. Nevermind he hadn't the slightest idea where he was headed; someone would correct him if he got too far off track, right? Shariea The dark stallion chuckled softly and shook his head at the exsited colt. "well now, he certainly has spirit and im willing to bet that comes from both his parents." he said with a chuckle eying loki with a knowing look. He sighed softly and started off after the dashing Kael, whom at a word had darted off ahead. "Seems he gathered too much engery just standing and listening to us talk." he observed watching the young one. Chuckling he followed after through the tall downy grasses. His tail lashed behind him and the suns rays warmed his charcoal back. Waya's blue eyes watched ahead of him in an attempt to keep an eye on Kael but he knew his father had that well undercontroll. He took this time to speak to Loki on a more level term now that the colt was happily springing about. "How long have you lived in these lush lands? Would this be considered a good year or is food always this plentyful?" he asked, pausing to take a mouthful of the sweet grass. Cihiru "It's possible," Loki replied noncomittally, a grin curling his muzzle. In truth, he would never have thought himself a particularly spirited individual, but perhaps that too was in the eye of the beholder. And he supposed he had his moments. Isilme, on the other hand... She had enough spirit for three. "He had plenty beforehand, I assure you." The stallion didn't sound particularly bothered though. In fact, Kael's youthful energy was fairly refreshing. It was a far sight different from the impatience he sensed in some adults, and had a curious way of renewing his perspective.
Giving Waya a final nod of sorts, he turned his gaze to the foal trotting ahead and pushed himself into motion behind him. "I grew up here." The stallion seemed to take a moment for thought, figuring mentally just how long he'd really been in the area. "Three seasons or so, I suppose? Not long, really." Though he was grown, Loki was still young, and even his lifespan didn't seem like much at all in the greater picture. "You shouldn't have trouble finding food, though it does get sparse when the snow covers the ground."He paused briefly at that, craning his neck over his shoulder to peer at the adults. "What's snow?" Kael interrupted suddenly, reminding his father he really had been paying attention. And not only was he listening, but he had not lost track of his thirsting curiosity. It shined still in his eyes, accompanying a soft innocence held there. Shariea Waya nodded softly. "Sounds like any other place... Yet.. Is it me or is these something timeless...something that clings to the soul and sucks one in? I already feel like I never want to leave.." Waya surprised himself with how much he opened up in that simple statment. Normally he would keep such things to himself. Perhaps this place with all the friendly faces was cracking the hard outer shell he had worn for many years. Yet, deep down her feared the friendships and close contact to others, it seemed that when he got close to others, when he felt happy..they went away. He'd learned that leson only on. When he was young a colt barely older than Kael was now, he'd been taken care of by a two legger. One day, one harsh winter day the two legger started coughing. That night was very bitter cold..and the next morning.. and every morning after the two legger was never seen. Waya snorted softly and shook his head from his day dream, two often had he dwelt on the past. His braided tail flicked against the ground, braids he'd worn since he was a colt. Braids that reminded him of his past. He chuckled as Kael's question bit into his mind. "Whats snow? My that you are young Yet." with a coy smile he dodged around the question. "You'll see what it is this winter im sure. " Cihiru Waya's response was a far deeper one than he had anticipated. The stallion took a moment to absorb it, merely flicking an ear and swishing his tail at first. "It is like most, I expect. Fortunately, I don't think you'll find much - if any - reason to leave." It might have sounded like an offhanded comment on the surface, but Loki hoped it would comfort without imposing awkwardness (for his sake, and the other's). And perhaps he was not the most adept at handling more personal matters; lightheartedness was his way, but at least he tried."I don't want you to leave either," he said simply, pausing suddenly to give one of his little hooves a stamp for finality. His intention might have been vague at first, but he added "then I couldn't meet you again... And Dad says good company is hard to find." He gave his short tail a flick."And worth treasuring," Loki finished, nudging Kael with a soft smile.The colt distanced himself in jovial indignation, but he was not indifferent to the subtle praise, and received it with earnest appreciation and another grin. Waya's answer to his question did cause his ears to wilt though. That was not as conclusive as he had hoped. "Winter's so far though. And how will I know when I see it?" Yes, that was a problem indeed. "I would want to recognize it, at least.""Well," the stallion interrupted. "Snow is cold, and white. It melts when you touch it, and falls in flakes, like frozen rain drops drifting from the sky." He renewed his smile, and dipped his head to Kael's eye level. "You'll know when you see it, I promise. And I think you'll like it." Shariea The dark stallion smirked softly and nodded his head. His blue eyes glanced over the valley, the thick waving grasses, grains and the green leafy trees in the forest. The stream a little behind him full of crystal clear water, No.. this place was paradice and he was stay here as long as he felt it was home. Home, now that in itself was an interesting consept.. He tilted his head softly and chuckled. He'd never really had a Home. The little colts words broke into his thoughts and he smiled, leaning down to look the little one in the eyes. "True enough..." he was deeply honored that he would consider him good company, normally he kept to himself and was distant and quiet. Yet something about this pair had brought him out of his shell for a time. "and If I left I wouldnt be able to meet you or your father again. So I suppose I shall have to stick around." he said at length with a chuckle. The colt seemed lightly put off at his offhanded remark about the snow, he wanted to know more about it, yet deep down, although he could admire its beauty... he hated snow. He hated the cold as well, So it was a sore subject to discribe to eager minds. He was glad when Loki stepped up to the plate and descibed it to his son. "Yes, You'll know it when you see it. After all... there is nothing quite like it. " Cihiru The painted foal met Waya's gaze with pure delight, a broad grin stretching his velvety maw. "Good! I'm glad," he replied earnestly. It may have been a simple comment, but it was clear he revered the acknowledgement. To know the stallion really wouldn't leave... That was a wonderful certainty.
"Nothing at all?" It was a rhetorical question, made clear enough by the way he peeled his gaze away from his elders and restarted his aimless trek. The prospect was exciting though; something he had a hard time wrapping his mind around. Most everything he knew had something almost like it. The trees, birds, rodents... Even grasses varied only slightly from eachother. Just how different was this snow?While he did prefer the warmer seasons, Loki wasn't particularly bothered by winter either. His coat grew plenty thick to compensate, and despite how little he appreciated the 'scruffy' exterior, it did come in handy. "We've a while yet before we have to worry about it, anyway. Might as well enjoy the warmth while it's here," he commented, nodding briefly."Oops," was the awkward response. Admittedly, Kael hadn't been paying much attention... The voice (familiar though it was) startled him and interrupted his train of thought, and by the time the foal found himself stumbling, it was too late. "Ow," he grunted as his form connected with the ground, and he shook his head a little. "... That was kinda clumsy." Stealing a glance over his shoulder, Kael snorted in annoyance at the twiggy offender.Oops? Loki blinked deliberately, then pulled himself toward the laying foal once the circumstance sank in. "Only a little." He hoped that's all it was - A little oops. "Are you alright?" he asked, and lowered his head to Kael's eyelevel."Yeah..." he murmered, trailing off. Something in the corner of his eye had snagged his attention, and he stole a quick glance about them. "Is this where we were going?" Loki had intentionally neglected to enlighten him, so he wasn't sure. It seemed a neat place though, even if he did lack the vaguest idea as to where they might be. Shariea Waya chuckled softly and nodded his head. The others where right after all, Winter had left these lands and wouldnt return for a few more months at lest. Summer was now in high bloom and brought with it the long warm days. His tail flicked against the ground as he turned his head to the location that the colt had been. Loki wandered over to his son at the word 'Oops' and he did hope that the little one was alright. He smirked softly as he too slowly approched the clumbsy foal. "Perhaps a Little, But we all have our clumsy moments." he commented with a smirk. The Stallion raised his gaze to look around them, a waterfall cut through the canyon around them, and the lush green grasses hugged the edges of the water. Shade was abundant and the cool breeze coming from over the water was indeed welcome. "Yes, I think so." He said at length.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri May 26, 2006 9:22 pm
Untitled: Kael & AstiaCrowfoot Tia leaned down, chewing on some grass thoughtfully. It was a nice evening, and she felt fairly happy.What should she do before night set in? Take a stroll along the forest? Wait, already did that a few hours ago. Eat? Wait a minute. Wasn't that what she was doing now? She swallowed one more mouthfull of grass, and stood up. What would she do? There wasn't much to do at this time of day.. It was too dark to swim, but too light to sleep.
Maybe she could go into the clearing? It was supposed to be very nice there, from what she had heard. Stretching her stiff limbs a bit, she casually began trotting in the direction of the clearing. She hoped. Cihiru What better way was there to round off a busy day than to relax, laze around, and do nothing at all? Kael was hard-pressed to think of one, so he didn't bother. He pulled himself home instead, slowing to a stop once he'd reached the sparse clearings he'd come to know so well.
It was as welcoming as it was capable, with the last rays of sun spilling between the breaks in canopy, washing over his tawny form and the blades of grass beneath it. The sounds of the forest had begun to still with the onset of night, and the young stallion twitched an ear lazily at the last trailing chirps for the day. And once they nolonger held his interest, he turned his head from the sky and bent to tug absently at the grasses.
A new sound roused him from his distraction though, and he flicked an ear again, decidedly more attentive. Were those hoofsteps? In his curiosity, Kael lifted his head and hazarded a glance between the trees. Crowfoot Astia was humming a bit as she walked through the clearing. The sun was setting, and though she was tired already. She smiled contentadly as the birds chirped their night song.What a way to end a day.Her eyes suddenly flickered open. What was that? Looking around, she spotted a creamy colored paint stallion, with interesting markings on his legs.
He seemed to be hiding between the trees that seperated the clearing and the forest. "Hello there, no need to hide..I don't bite." She called out cheerfully to the stallion. Cihiru Spotting the source of the steps was less difficult than he had anticipated it to be; his gaze fell easily on the bright Soquili traipsing through the underbrush. He was relieved to hear her greet him too, pushing aside questions of her nature that might have risen without it.
She thought he was hiding though? He laughed good naturedly, a soft and low sound signaling his amusement. "Who's hiding?" he asked as he peered around for another. And as his eyes pulled back and settled on her once again, he greeted her. "Hello to you too." Crowfoot "Oops!" She giggled. He wasn't hiding.. ahh.. Nice. She smiled at him, and walked closer to him, trying to get a better few of the soquili in the brush.He seemed pretty nice. "Anyway," she continued her introduction hastily, "My names Astia, but you can call me Tia." She had said that to so many soquilis.. Cihiru No, he wasn't hiding. He didn't chastise the mistake though, and overlooked her 'oops.' However, he did separate himself from the trees that obstructed him, and gave her a nod at her name. "I'm Kael. Pleased to meet you," he continued. "What brings you here?" It wasn't every day someone happened to stand on his front door after all, figuratively speaking. Maybe she was looking for something? Crowfoot "Nice to meet you Kael." she grinned.It wasn't everyday she met a nice soquili. She strecthed her legs, and stifled a yawn. She was a little tired, but too busy to sleep. "Brings me here? Oh, just passing by.." she nodded, "To get home.." she looked up at the night sky wearily.The bright lights from the heavens did not please her tonight, only hurt her eyes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 09, 2006 9:21 am
The Next Generation: Kael & ArunaPhoenixGuardianMikazuki Aruna trotted into a clear field, where she noticed many different markings of Soquili hoofprints. Obviously, a place where many of her kind gathered. She assumed it was either a herd, or a grouping of friends together chatting and/or playing. Not really feelin anything in particular, her thoughts took a turn to how and why she was named "Aruna", meaning dawn. She knew that Miakoda, her bonded human, had named her while she was still in a basket, but she also knew her father loved the morning. Was that the reason? Maybe she should ask. Hmmm, this alone time felt nice. She hadn't had much "alone" time in a while. Cihiru A calm day was a good day, as far as Kael was concerned, so he didn't find himself with much to be concerned about on this one. It had been average, with a somewhat absent-minded morning jog, a snack, and some idle wandering, bringing him to what he was doing then - running through the thickets. The stallion's powerful stride was not one of urgency, but a purpose of a different kind. His enjoyment was clear; it radiated off his contently determined expression, and the way he carried his flagging tail.
It felt like he could have gone on that way forever... And perhaps he could have, if not for stubborn physical limitations. Energy draining with each extended stride, the mustang finally consented to slow when the brush gave way to shorter, waving grasses. He snorted heavily as his pace pulled to a close, and when his hooves came to rest at a stop, shook out a gradiant mane (as unruly as his father's) at last. Bright blue eyes took in the field about him as he cast his gaze around, looking for nothing in particular until they finally settled on a figure in the distance. Kael twitched an ear at it, and scented the wind once or twice, but he stayed a greeting to catch his breath. PhoenixGuardianMikazuki She walked around a bit more, feeling calm and decidedly emotionless, for there wasn't really a particular emotion that had a name for what she was currently feeling. Her ears flicked back and forth, thoughts bouncing here and there in her mind as she shifted from subject to subject.
Okay, that was fine, but now, she was bored. She could use a little company now (one or two other Soquili were fine by her; after all, she only liked her alone time when she wasn't feeling up to dealing with others) and she needed to do something.
A random thought entered her head, and slowly, softly, but surely, she began to sing. It wasn't particularly a good song, but it had been something she had made up when she was helping a particularly close friend in need. And so, she sung, quietly, about the dawn, about friends, about family, and the night, about anything, really, but she sang. Cihiru It surprised him when the figure continued on as it had been, leaving him unnoticed and free to catch his breath. It surprised him even more when something sounding decidedly like singing met his tender ears. That was a song, wasn't it? At this distance he couldn't be certain, and there was only one way to solve that problem.
The robust stallion pushed himself into motion again, his quick strides drawing him nearer to the other. Once he hit comfortable earshot, he slowed again, stopping almost soundlessly. Rather than interrupting though, he listened, and waited for her to finish... or stop, he thought more likely. PhoenixGuardianMikazuki She stopped singing abruptly as a random thought entered her mind. She was thinking back to how her "family" had gotten so big. Hania had told her that most of the first few Soquili he met he considered family--especially the three Soquili named Loki, a white-gray stallion, Alona, a light brown mare, and Mahiri, her fox-colored mother. That meant she had already met Cynara...
...And Hania had met Moki, her other cousin whom she had yet to meet. Cynara had another sister, but she hadn't met her yet, either. Aruna had to laugh, however; she had such a big family. Hania knew so many; how he ever managed to ring in so many Soquili together and make them all family (well, at least in his mind) was beyond her. Oh well. She closed her eyes, suddenly feeling the beginnings of boredom. Cihiru He had been expecting the sudden silence, but the Soquili's continued obviousness was another story entirely. It was fortunate he hadn't any ill intentions; a predator would have seen an opportune moment. It was curious though... How could she (as he'd realized it was indeed a mare) not notice? He was right there. Whatever she was thinking about must have been involving.
"Excuse me." The stallion's tone was kind, much like his father's, and he lowered his head in a polite bow. "I'm sorry if I'm intruding. My name's Kael. Might I ask who this enchanting song has lead me to?" He observed her with a genuine, albeit soft smile, and gave his curled tail an idle flick. PhoenixGuardianMikazuki Aruna flinched with surprise as a soft male voice spoke, and she blinked, as if she just now realized she was still in reality. Turned, she tilted her head slightly, then flushed at his words. "Oh... I'm sorry, I guess I was so deep in thought I didn't notice you," she said, hoping he got her silent apology.
"A pleasure to meet you, Kael," she continued, "I'm Aruna." The only thing she held similar to her father was probably a small part of her personality. "You're not intruding, but you did surprise me." She offered him her usual half-smile, the expression usually in reserve for those she newly met. Kael looked oddly familiar, but she was sure had never met him before. Oh well. Cihiru Her surprise was more standard. Though he had hoped not to startle her, he had half known he would, and it was easy to overlook. "No need to apologize, there's no shame in that. I only wish I had something so engrossing to think about." It was plain to see he went unoffended.
"Pleasure's mine, Aruna." And he paused briefly, an apology washing over his features in addition to his words. "I'm sorry for that though. I'm not sure if the feeling is mutual, but I could use some company. Besides," he said, a new grin stretching his maw. "Your song deserved compliment, and I couldn't leave without at least doing that." PhoenixGuardianMikazuki "Ah," She made a sound, "Well, thank you for the compliment." She shifted uneasily. This stallion reminded her of someone, and it was annoying her to no end. "Kael, who is your father? For some reason, I feel as if I should know you."
She had this same feeling with Cynara and Jazz, too. Strange. Was Kael a part of her "family"? Could be. Or maybe not. He reminded her strongly (if a little) of father, but only slightly with his coloring. "And you don't have to apologize, either." She chuckled dryly.
She herself had noticed that she was apologizing a lot more than she usually would have, but that was all right. "My father's name is Hania. Does that ring a bell anywhere?" She returned to the topic of the fathers, since she had asked him about his earlier. Cihiru To say he was not expecting the topic of family to come up would have been an understatement. That it was entirely random was more appropriate, and for a moment he regarded her with a raised brow. "Loki," he said at last, a proud smile overtaking the faint confusion. "And my mother's name is Isilme." He was very fond of them both; mentioning just one felt awkward in his mind.
Perhaps that was why he so strongly resembled them both. Kael was a 'when I grow up, I want to be just like you!' foal through and through. It reflected in his mannerisms as much as his appearence. "Well, then I'm sorry for that too." The jest was something Loki might have said, but it suited him too.
The stallion shuffled his weight then, leaning from one hoof to another. His pinto coat rippled as muscles shifted beneath it with the movement. "Should it? I'm afraid it's not a name I recognize." Surely that wasn't some brand of trick question, though it did puzzle him. He wasn't aware Loki rarely spoke of anything outside their home and family; keeping to themselves was all he'd known. PhoenixGuardianMikazuki "Ah, so 'tis true," she murmured, more to herself than to Kael. "Nevermind. But that's nice." She smiled, seeing that he was proud of his parents. She loved her own parents dearly, as well, but she wasn't a foal who actually had the 'When I grow up, I want to be just like you!' idea. No, she was completely different.
"I'm sorry for the random topic change," she added, a wry smile on her facial features. "It's okay if you don't recognize the name. My own father tells many stories, and I've heard a few about your father, Loki." She couldn't recall much more than that, but that was okay. She should just enjoy talking with Kael.
Pushing the weird feeling she had earlier to the deepest part of her mind, she flicked her tail. The awkwardness of the conversation was something she hadn't meant to do, but that was okay, she guessed. "Do you always seek out company?" she inquired, wondering if he did. She didn't usually do so unless she was feeling particularly wanting of companionship. Cihiru Aruna was quickly establishing the idea that she was in fact a little stranger than he had first anticipated, but that was an opinion to remain buried beneath his good nature and earnest intentions. "It's true?" he asked quizzically, honestly confused this time around.
He had no desire to press a different standard though. It might have made him a 'daddy's boy', should someone care to bring it up, but a good role model never hurt anyone, did it? And he rather respected his parents.
"I'm not one to question the flow of conversation," he replied nonchalantly. "Hania, you said?" The stallion seemed to be reconsidering, much like one checking for something he might have overlooked in the shadows. After reevaluation though, he was most certain he'd never heard the name. "Loki must hold him in high regard; he doesn't associate with many he'd call friend." It was a noncommital response, but he doubted she would press.
Kael shrugged idly instead, then shook out his silky mane. "I wouldn't say 'seek', but I do think company is most always welcome." The stallion hadn't encountered much reason to feel otherwise. His limited encounters had always been positive, and though poor moods were scarce, solitude was available when he wanted it. PhoenixGuardianMikazuki "You're quite charming, aren't you?" Aruna said dryly, fighting the urge to roll her eyes. Kael was proving to be stranger than her, and yes, she knew she appeared quite strange to him. "Yes, it's true. Your parents like to keep things to themselves, my father says. I doubt he's met Isilme, but that's okay; he knows Loki well enough to know."
Kael was driving her insane with the way he was acting, but she fought hard not to make a remark on that, as he probably would be quite offended. He seemed the kind to really respect his parents, even to the point of clearly acting as they did. However, she could tell he was still different from his creators.
"I myself usually prefer only one or two others for company, but I like solitude from time to time," she commented. "And your father was the very first stallion my father ever met. Loki's in high regards with my father, even though they haven't seen each other in a while." She shifted from hoof to hoof. Damn, this conversation was a bit dull.
She needed to think of something interesting. But what? She mentally frowned in displeasure at the lull in the air. It nearly made her yawn. Nearly. Cihiru "I think 'annoying' is the word you're looking for." Her tone was anything but pleased; the voice of one who honestly thought him an interesting (or 'charming' as she put it) character. He seemed rather undisturbed though; almost pleased to aid. And though it might have sounded dim, his knowing expression told otherwise.
It did disappoint him he was wrong on the following note... He had wished she wouldn't have pressed. It didn't bother him as much as one might have expected though. He didn't need to know his father's every acquaintance; it struck him more as practicality than secrecy. It wasn't his place to speculate why Hania shared such things, but he didn't envy it. "Hania feels quite differently, I take it."
He may not have told her he'd gladly follow in someone else's footsteps if it meant he wasn't arrogant or irritable, had he known what she was thinking, but it certainly would have entered his mind. Fortunately (for both of them), he didn't; it was far easier to swallow unproven negativity.
Part of him wanted to ask if the reference to 'one or two' was actual individuals, rather than numbers... But that part was buried somewhere in the back of his mind, and he didn't voice it. "I expect everyone likes solitude from time to time." It was natural, as far as he was concerned. "I'm sure he'd be glad to hear that. He might even go find Hania some time." PhoenixGuardianMikazuki "Is it? Well, I wouldn't say that," Aruna said, though she secretly agreed. She was raised to be polite, yes, but she didn't have to be all the time. If she felt bad for someone (never pitied. She knew no one like to be pitied.), she was more kind and polite, even comforting. She didn't want anyone to confide in her unless they felt ready to, and even then, she had no business in it, unless she was curious.
"Yes." She smiled wryly at the thought of her father. "He's very different. Quite talkitive, but I suppose that's the way he is. He's very spirited." She winked at him, finally relaxing into the comfortable lull of the conversation. "Yes, all of us do, but my father absolutely hates it." She frowned, but she understood why her father hated being alone. "Well, anyway, with a change of topic, is there a mare out there that has caught your eye?"
She hid a grin. She had to tease Kael, mostly because he seemed to be unfazable, like nothing could touch him or his feelings. He was emotionless. She could hide her emotions behind an indifferent expression, but she had emotions just like any other. She was sure Kael did too, but he seemed to like to hide it a little. That was okay, because she was hoping to catch him off guard with her earlier question. Cihiru That was an unexpected response. The stallion quirked a brow at Aruna, doubting her sincerity. Her notion to cover it did not discourage his soft smile though, and he shrugged off the tangent with a slight nod. If she did not care to sieze the opportunity, he didn't either. Coming to some form of silent truce was hardly a bad thing.
"Sounds familiar," Kael murmered, alluding to nothing in particular, and he didn't bother clarifying. "No shame in that." Her shift in expression did come to his attention, but he thought it best not to question. Personal matters were exactly that - Personal matters, and he didn't care to pry.
And though her chipper (almost uncharacteristic) change in subjects did catch him off guard, he took it in stride, much like a graceful leap over a fallen log, as if it really wasn't so unexpected after all. It was a welcome change in pace, in any case. He had nothing to hide.
"Most everything catches my eye, but somehow I think that's not quite what you meant." The stallion gave his tail an idle flick, brushing it along the grasses at his feet. "No, I can't say there has, and that suits me just fine." It would take a tolerant, secure mare to accept his pleasing nature... For with it came a tendancy for unreserved compliments.
"And what about yourself?" How could he resist turning her question back on her? "Surely a lovely mare such as yourself has quite the entourage to choose from." Kael fixed her with a surprisingly earnest expression, only the corner of his maw curled in the faintest of grins. PhoenixGuardianMikazuki "I see," she said, musing slightly. "Ah... so my question is turned against me, is it?" She smiled, though it was fairly dour; maybe more grim. "I'd rather not think or talk about it. If you want, and if you're quite curious, I'll relay the story. I'm quite over it, but I still despise having to think what I went through.
"But yes, I do have quite an entourage, if you could call it that," she said with dry humor, golden eyes twinkling mischeviously. He might not have had any mare so far to have caught his interest, but that was fine. If he hadn't, then he hadn't. She wasn't one to try and dig through another Soquili's personal life, though sometimes she found it amusing to do so.
She had watched him closely to see if he had had any change in expression, but she could just barely catch a glimpse of even a gentle smile, which seemed to flare on his face for a split second before vanishing altogether. He looked like he had a grin on his face, but not really. She shrugged. "If I had to choose, I would choose to never come to know such an emotion anymore.
"But I would..." Love to have children. That, and Father's wanting to be a grandfather. I've also heard that Nora's gotten pregnant. Who's the father, I wonder? At any rate... She was to be aunt, at least, and she was satisfied with that, for now. She loved children (she probably got that from her father as well, hmmm...) though she did get tired of their constant movements.
Ah, well. Life was life. Things like that would eventually happen to her. She hoped. And whoever the "lucky" father was... she didn't want to think about that. Cihiru Wasn't it generally best not to inquire about topics you were uncomfortable with yourself? Reversal was only inevitable; the flow of conversation, even. It struck him as a little peculiar Aruna avoided it, but he merely granted her a nod. "That's unfortunate, I'm sorry to hear it." Kael's ears tilted briefly, flicking back in a faint display of displeasure. "Wouldn't ask you to retell it, 'over it' or not." He wasn't that curious, and it wasn't his business anyway.
"Undoubtedly... Would you call it something else?" he asked randomly, curiously raising a brow. Aruna may not have sounded annoyed by this 'enterouge', but he found it difficult to read her vague expression. Maybe she had a different take on it.
He didn't pay any heed to his mutual lack of emotion though; it wasn't that he was stoic intentionally. The stallion really didn't even think of himself as 'stoic' persay... Just subdued and not overly excitable. It suited him, and he wouldn't have had it any other way. He didn't have much to cover anyway, as his social interactions didn't extend far past family.
"Why would you deny yourself that?" Kael had guesses, of course. She sounded pained; her feelings were probably severed unwillingly. Clinging to a memory seemed foolish though, even if it was understandable. Buck up and move on, he reasoned. And from what he understood, mutual love far outweighed the pitfalls of disappointment. I'm certain deserving love will find you if only you'll open your heart to it., he mused.
"But you would...?" The stallion tilted his head quizzically, somewhat lost as she drifted to tangents of thoughts. He couldn't even begin to puzzle out what she was thinking; families and foals were all but at the front of his mind. He was more of a 'take things as they come' individual, reveling in the moment, though he did suppose he'd settle down one day. And he did want to love and be loved. PhoenixGuardianMikazuki "I would like to go with the flow," Aruna said, deciding to add something different instead of saying her thoughts. "I'm sorry, Kael, I didn't realize I had trailed off." She wondered what he thought about if for a minute, then realized that he was a stallion. A male. She almost laughed, though her mouth did twitch a big with amusement.
He looked like the kind of male to do things as they came; she would love to do that, but she held herself back. She didn't know why, really; she just did. Ah, well. She was a swing of moods; or so she'd heard, but whatever happened, it was all she really could do. Not that she was helping herself to understand herself.
Damn, she was confusing herself. Okay, take a silent deep breath, Aruna, she thought, and did so. She also realized she had skipped over an earlier questioned Kael had asked. "Oh, I don't know why I would deny myself. I guess you can say I'm waiting and doing what I can right now, really." Cihiru The mare's snap back to reality crossed him unnaturally, like a hastily tacked-on comment not exactly related to its origin... It was an outright contradiction, and mentally he accepted the former. The 'I would choose never to know such an emotion' statement sounded more genuine. "Nothing to apologize for. I hope they were pleasent thoughts," he added somewhat absently.
And what was she so amused over? That tucked away grin was her first real crack in expression, and was difficult not to notice. It was also difficult not to feel a what did I miss? sensation, as he hadn't the faintest idea what could have struck her as funny. "Do I have something stuck on me that shouldn't be?" he jested, making a brief act of checking himself over and swishing his tail. It was a short-lived facade though, and he settled quickly into his previous posture.
His thoughts settled almost as simply, dropping the faint discomfort with ease appropriate to its unimportance. He found himself pondering again instead... About how he'd earlier figured Aruna one to dwell. Kael resolved then not to let himself fall into that, no matter what. He would grow and move on, accepting the past as a cherished experience, regardless how bitter or bittersweet. Granted, he couldn't help but hope life was all spring and roses, but he did brace himself for difficulty.
"Waiting for what?" It was a more personal question than he usually ventured, but somehow seemed appropriate. Maybe it was because Aruna sounded as though she almost wasn't sure herself. PhoenixGuardianMikazuki "Pleasant thoughts, indeed," she murmured. Aruna's amusement rose at his odd question, for Kael had nothing on him. She assumed he was joking as he asked, however, and let it pass. Now that she thought of it, it was as if she was throwing pebbles into a lake with him.
His emotions were as ripples on the water created by the pebbles that were her words, appearing as fast as he liked it before settling down to what he was before. He was an interesting character to talk with, though she doubted the flow of conversation would stay on topic, since she herself often changed subjects.
"Waiting for what, you ask? I'm not sure how I would explain it to you," she answered in turn, but as she answered, she sounded still unsure; probably more doubtful. She couldn't really think of anything that would give her a stable, sure answer. Tsk. She was turning into her brother; they were both quite unstable in the mind now, weren't they? Cihiru Indeed? That was a rather offhanded way of brushing off a fairly harmless comment. He sighed inwardly at her sudden reservations, but shrugged off the disappointment and set his sights instead on the continued conversation (or lack thereof). She wasn't going to make it easy on him, was she? Aruna wouldn't even give him the satisfaction of feigning relief to hear he had nothing to worry about.
"Same as you'd explain it to yourself, I expect," he replied before really thinking. "No matter though, don't worry about it. I was only wondering, I'd hate to bother you." His voice remained even and calm, with a gentle overtone that should have made it easy to accept he really didn't mind either way. Granted, he would have preferred she explained herself (for her sake as much as his), but he wasn't inclined to badger her.
"That's all anyone has, anyway. The ability to do the best we can with what we've got. It sounds like a good plan to me." Perfection was, after all, an unrealistically tall order, even if it was something worth shooting for. He would have liked to offer more appropriate assistance too, but Aruna was anything but open, and he found it difficult to intrepret her notions at times. She probably wouldn't have appreciated it anyway.
Giving his tail another flick, he started again. "Speaking of plans, do you happen to have any for this fine day?" The stallion figured the answer was no before he even asked, but it seemed a good time to interrupt a potientally uncomfortable circumstance with smalltalk. She could dismiss it if she'd rather not bother, or take it as an opportunity to change subjects without initiating it herself... Whichever suited her, he didn't particularly care.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 13, 2006 5:00 pm
Lost and Found: Ti'ran & Inali
Teh_Sil Inali was once more enjoying leaving the plains, today going towards the dark forest of the soquili lands. Well, maybe not so dark, but it was different. The mountains loomed above her, casting shadows on all the trees. Suddenly apprehensive of her little adventure, Inali nearly gave up on herself right at the start. No, she was no coward! She would take on this dark forest. Rearing up onto her hind legs, Inali plunged into the darkness, feeling branches grab at her. Eck, this was awful! Well, no one was perfect- we all have moments of pure idiocy, and plunging into a forest was Inali's. Finally pausing in her long run to defeat her own demons, Inali looked about herself. Dark forest, dark trees- why, she could hardly see the sky at all! This was unsettling, to say the least. Snorting, Inali opened her silver eyes as wide as possible, as if that could help her any. The only light here seemed to come from her own mane and tail, causing her to shudder. It was like she couldn't breathe here. "Calm down. You aren't lost. You're just disoriented. You don't get lost. You're Inali." Talking out loud to herself, the red mare straightened her spine, trying to appear noble and indifferent to her own situation. Cihiru "I'm bored," was the sound that split the silence, though it would have been too far for the mare to hear.
"You're always bored." There was a half-hearted sigh, perhaps more exasperated than irritated.
"- I am not!" the companion insisted, and though it was difficult to see through the shadows, his expression was obstinate.
"Find something to do then. It's not my fault you have no appreciation for a casual stroll."
"Maybe if that wasn't all you ever did..." Ai'er paused briefly, calculating his options. It wasn't a bad offer, really. "Alright then, I will. Are you coming?," he questioned as he started off, glancing over his shoulder.
The unicorn sighed again, softer this time. "I suppose." He hadn't much better to do, after all. What harm was there?
At that, they were off, heedless of Ai'er's penchant for mischief. It wasn't like there was opportunity for trouble here. The forest was most always a deserted one, save for the stray chirps of wildlife and their drifting conversation. What even kept them there was a mystery; the area was nothing short of dull.
Except for those occasional wanderers, often misguided or disoriented.
The wolf's ears perked at the voice, and a grin tugged at his maw as he started toward it. He did enjoy the wanderers. "Don't get lost, you say?" A'ier had arrived just in time to hear the end. "Are you sure?" he queried, pulling himself into a beam of light cast through the canopy.
"Don't mind him," the soquili interrupted, trailing not far behind. "He doesn't have much chance for company." The voice might have been difficult to place at first, with his dark form blending so well in the shadows. Those curious runes though... They glowed a bit in the darkness, just barely casting a pale blue light. "Anyway, were you needing assistance...?" Teh_Sil Too preoccupied in her own present state of confusion to notice the two intruders, Inali almost missed the wolf speaking to her. Finally she looked down, and nearly bolted. "WOLF! WOLF! OH GODS IT'S GOING TO EAT ME!" She shied and whinnied, looking completely idiotic as her front hooves pawed the air, black and white markings alternating in a frenzy of frightened emotions. It was then she saw the soquili, and realized her mistake. She had heard that some took on 'familiars', as they were called, but she had no idea that something that would potentially eat a soquili foal would be one such creature. "Er... I'm sorry for that horrible display of... er...." Inali's voice trialed off. What could she call that? "Foalish behavior." Yes, that would do. Of course it would. "And I don't get lost. I get temporarily misguided." Trying to regain composure, the mare failed utterly. Instead, she seemed to collapse in on herself, looking rather pathetic. "Yes... I'm sure." But it was a weak statement, not truly meant. Inali's eyes then refocused upon the soquili himself, and the horn growing from his brow. "Doesn't that get in the way? Your horn, I mean." She was always meaning to ask someone, and now she had the oppurtunity. Nearly forgetting she was lost, Inali offered a small grin. "It's like having a branch on your head, only more pretty. I've never seen one of your kind before. What if you get tangled in a bush?" Ah, how talkative this mare could be! Still glancing warily at the wolf, Inali inclined her head. "How rude of me not to introduce myself earlier. I'm Inali, and any assistance granted would be quite kind of you, much as I hate to admit it. I apologize once more for my earlier behavior... I suppose one can't get rid of their instincts as easily as one thinks!" Though the soquili laughed, it was a weak one, without much humor held in it. Failure, of any sort, was not something Inali admitted to happily, or with much regularity. Cihiru If only one could hear him roll his eyes, she might take a moment to reprimand his rudeness. As it were though, noone was the wiser, and A'ier had a moment to straighten his composure (lest Ti'ran take notice and remind him how). "I'm not hungry. And even if I was, I think he'd have a thing or two to say about it," the wolf rebuked, motioning to the soquili over his shoulder.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." It was, perhaps, not the most graceful approach to his intentions, but it was his way of saying not to worry.
"You looked pretty lost to me," he scoffed, but the wolf dropped the topic quickly.
What a sudden, and odd question. "Not really." It wasn't like he could just take it off if it did happen to be troublesome. "I don't get tangled in bushes." Of course he didn't; he had more sense than that. How clumsy would one have to be? "Ti'ran," he replied simply. "And that's A'ier."
In a moment of uncharictaristic consideration, the wolf turned to Inali and offered what he thought was common curteousy. "You're welcome to call us whatever you can think of - provided it's nothing too outlandish, of course. I know our names can be a mouthful."
"Speak for yourself." Ti'ran snorted his displeasure, but offered no further objection. "What sort of assistance did you have in mind?" Teh_Sil Realizing that this unicorn stallion must have thought her an absolute idiot, Inali felt at once ashamed at herself. Was she a silly filly, to say whatever came to her mind? Of course not! "No, no, I didn't need any assistance. Thank you for your time." With those words, she crashed off into the bushes, making loud tromping noises for a good five minutes. She was perfectly lost, of course, but she thought as long as she kept in the same general direction... Five minutes later, she stood before Ti'ran and his wolf familiar again, blinking her eyes. "Wasn't I... just here?" Damn, she was lost. But to admit to it was failure. Simple failure. "Er... maybe you could show me... the general direction on how to leave here. And not abandon me. That would be nice." It would be just like a stallion, Inali thought, to lead her to a random place and just meld back into the bushes. Not that she could lose his blue markings. Taking a full moment, she eyed the stallion secretely, though perhaps it was a bit more obvious than she would have liked. He was handsome though, in a strange sort of way. He seemed like an ancient drawing, though he looked young. "I like your coat," she blurted out, before ducking her head again in shame. Cihiru To say he thought her an idiot would have been an unfair statement. She did seem a bit odd, but... Who was he to pass judgement so carelessly? Surely she was at least a little lost and confused, and didn't everyone have their moments of weakness? "Inali..." he started, dumbstruck by her sudden departure. "... are you sure?" The conclusion was whispered to noone in particular, and it faded quickly in the forest's murmer.
"You're such an idiot," A'ier chided shamelessly. His tone was surprisingly flat; he would have sounded almost serious, had the unicorn not known better. "Now what are you going to do?" Flicking his tail, he turned to set his gaze on the soquili.
"No worse than you." Ti'ran scuffed a hoof against the ground, kicking a fallen leaf or two at his companion (who shook them off as the settled on his coat). "We're going to wait."
"What for?"
"No sense chasing after her. She wouldn't have our help anyway." Leave it to him to sour virtually any encounter. What was worse, she seemed honestly lost. It didn't matter though. Even if they found her, she would surely chase them off. And he wasn't one to force unwanted assistance, anyway. "She might be back."
... And sure enough, there she was. "Maybe," the wolf replied with a grin.
Abandon her? Ti'ran seemed quite taken back at that, and for a moment, his expressionless visage cracked. "I'd be glad to." The unicorn was certain to recompose himself before responding, though that was easier said than done. Ignoring her stare wasn't particularly simple.
"Thank you." The stallion flicked his tail uncertainly, and took a moment to decide on a proper response. Wasn't he supposed to return the favor with that sort of thing?... But he couldn't find it in himself to compliment. "Nothing wrong with saying you like something; don't worry about it," he said instead, trying to soothe her shame.
"Should we find our way out of here... Or would you rather sightsee first?" After all, she had wandered here for a reason, right? Teh_Sil "It's just... er..." Well, he had saved her face, it seemed. Inali was at once grateful towards the unicorn stallion, letting the feeling wash over her. What humiliation would she face in front of these two though? It was only two... but still. Inali snorted once, pawing her hoof sheepishly in the dirt. "I came here to see what sort of soquili live here... you apparently." Inali grinned weakly, though she was still upset at having made a fool out herself. So much for first impressions. Maybe her second or third would be better. If there was a chance for such, of course. "I think I've sightseen enough... But if you'd like to show me around, I would not say no." Trying not to sound coy or flirty, Inali felt once more like sinking in on herself. Nothing out her mouth today had come out right. It was so frustrating! "Please forgive me for my earlier behavior... I feel I cannot make apologies profuse enough." Somehow Inali doubted the wolf would forgive her so easily, but perhaps the unicorn would. Maybe.... Cihiru Humiliation was self-percieved. It wasn't some impression they forced on her, or even a feeling they harbored secretly. If only she could convince herself, maybe she would realize they weren't against her, nor searching for her faults. "It's nothing," Ti'ran assured, his tone soft and almost gentle.
"Pretty much." A'ier was happy to interject. "It's rare to see others pass through here... Can't imagine why. It's a charming place, don't you think?" It was difficult to tell if he was being honest or sarcastic, but the latter was probably a safer guess.
The stallion wasn't one to read into things. In fact, at times, he failed at even reading between the lines; he thought nothing of the comment. "Nothing to apologize for." Shuffling his weight between his hooves, he flicked his tail again. There was nothing to forgive, either.
"Are you sure you don't want to take a look around? It's not as bad as it looks!" It was perhaps the first sign of it, but A'ier didn't always present himself with bitterness. In fact, he sounded almost... cheerful? Not so much his tail wagged, though. It idly brushed the ground.
Ti'ran considered calling him out; telling him not to push her to something she obviously wasn't keen on. On second thought though, maybe a look around wasn't such a bad idea. It was a beautiful area, albeit forboding in places. "Your call. It's no matter either way." Teh_Sil Not knowing whether the wolf was being sarcastic or serious, Inali kept her face serious. Charming... well, that was one word for it. Dark, dangerous, unpleasant... just three more that fell off the top of her head. Charming... if you liked unseen plants snagging at you until you thought they were a predator on your back. Looking around... well, maybe there was something to this forest, something beyond this harsh appearance. After all, many spoke of the forest's charms, and though Inali had yet to see them, they still could exist. "Well all right. I'll go see the rest of your forest." Watching the wolf's tail sort of give a half-wave, Inali grinned. "As long as you don't eat me," she said playfully. "I'll go. I'd be more than happy to look around. After all, I feel a bit safer knowing I'm looking around with a wolf and a soquili with a sharp thing on his forehead." Inali wasn't sure whether Ti'ran could use his horn as a weapon, and preferred not to find out. "Well, show me this forest isn't all fear and forboding." More comfortable now, Inali smiled softly, her silver eyes softening for the first time, looking much like moonlight. Cihiru "Sounds like you're not quite sold," Ai'er replied. "But you will be, I'm sure. They always are." These 'they' were left undescribed though, as he carried on. "I'm still not planning on eating you. You don't even look very tasty." The wolf eyed her briefly, one brow arched.
Ti'ran gave his companion an unappreciative glance, to which he dropped his play and disappeared into the shadows. "A horn, not a sharp thing."
"Actually, it is a sharp thing. You just call it a horn 'cause you think it sounds better. After all, you are a unicorn. It's only becoming of your race; we know you can't help it." A'ier didn't hesitate to remind them he was still hanging around. "Don't you mean 'a wolf that might eat me' though?"
"Does it look as ridiculous as it sounds?" the stallion asked suddenly, dropping his deatched nature for a moment. There was a brief pause before he continued. "I find it's better for healing." No, horns were not his choice in self defense. The thought of blood dripping down it, pooling and running off his face was not easily forgotten, and the smell was almost as repulsive.
"'Ran," the wolf called, knowing all too well the sudden silence. He could see the other's deatched expression without actually seeing it. "Let's go." Hopefully the mare wouldn't notice.
"Right. We'll try." Though Ti'ran did not return the eased expression, he was glad to see her relax. Where would they go, though? 'The forest', as it were, wasn't just a small clearing with a spot of interest or two. It's expanse was massive, with places surely even they hadn't seen.
What better place to start than the beginning? With that thought, Ai'ier took the lead, knowing without checking the soquilis would follow.
"What brought you here, anyway?" When they first saw her, she didn't particularly seem to be enjoying the scenery. Teh_Sil The way that A'ier and Ti'ran talked made Inali laugh quitely, though she tried to stifle it. Their easy companionship, and apparent knowledge of each other, made her a bit envious. To know someone that well must have been fantastic. A bond... she couldn't even contemplate it, and found it best not to. "No, your horn does not look ridiculous at all." Inali grinned, a soft smile that reached her eyes. "When I first heard of horned ones, I thought they would look silly, but they don't. It looks perfectly natural." Inali was curious about the horn, about what it was made of. It could heal?! "Is your horn magic then? It can heal?" Inali was almost tempted to cause some small injury to herself to see this healing magic, but decided that all though she was a silly mare, she was not that silly. Jolted about her own reverie by Ti'ran's question, Inali thought for a moment. "If there's a creek, or some sort of water, I would like to stop there, and get a drink. I enjoy the sound of running water as well." Inali was a curious creature- certain noises calmed her or excited her. Following A'ier in the few moments of silence, Inali turned to regard Ti'ran again as he spoke to her. "I wanted to see the forest..." It was rather embarrassing. "It frightened me, so I thought to conquer my fear by plunging into it without looking. It was a horrid mistake, obviously. But maybe the forest isn't too bad... at least it's inhabitants aren't." Cihiru "You don't have to be curteous. 'Ran knows how to appreciate brutal honesty." He was being sarcastic, of course, but the diversion was a relief (for Ti'ran, at least).
"Something like that." The unicorn was unwilling to elaborate though. In truth, it had been so long since he tried, he wasn't certain he still could. Healing seemed something of a lost art among his kin, and perhaps he was no exception.
A'ier picked up where the stallion left off. "I thought as much. Almost there," he offered cheerfully. Before long, the sound of water running over stones babbled not far off, and the wolf's path headed in that general direction. "How about a river?"
And a waterfall, Ti'ran noted to himself. It was further off though, out of earshot. He'd have to show her later; it was a welcome break in the forest's shadows. "Willingness to face you fears is noteworthy." He turned his pale gaze to her. "Overcoming them is admirable."
"Some of us aren't too bad!... Others are," the familiar drawled. One could tell he was jabbing Ti'ran, even without a proper address, but the stallion paid him no heed. "Anyway, here we are." As they broke through the dense foliage, 'here' quickly presented itself as a not-so-modest river, its width at least the length of a grown soquili. Teh_Sil A comfortable silence descended over Inali as she listened to the two friends argue and chatter while they walked. It was like bird song... well, not really, but it was the best comparison that Inali could think of. "This forest does not seem quite as forboding with company." Inali was still ashamed to admit her fear, but she was quickly getting over that. "A river sounds fantastic." Actually, it sounded a bit large, but that could be an adventure in and of itself. Hearing Ti'ran speak, Inali swiveled her head again, and inclined her head in embarrassment. "Thank you..." She found herself somewhat uncomfortable in his gaze, in a strange way she did not know what to call. "Well, both of you are fine." Inali gazed gratefully at Ti'ran, knowing that his familiar was teasing him. Then there was the river-rather large, flowing rapidly, though it seemed merry. Inali could almost see the sky and the sun, and felt grateful for it. Bending her graceful neck to take a sip of water, she felt the breeze lift and tease her mane so that it blew like silver cobwebs. Cihiru "I'd say that depends on your company," the familar commented absently. It was clear by then he was far more a conversationalist than his companion. And perhaps that he enjoyed playing the devil's advocate.
"I nearly forgot your mastery of the obvious." Ti'ran sighed and shook his head briefly. He turned his gaze from the mare though, in light of what seemed like discomfort. "You should thank yourself. I'm not the one that did it." The stallion never was graceful with compliments. Dismissing them was the best he knew how to manage, even when they were of his own creation.
A'ier glanced over his shoulder as he pulled ahead. "Thanks!" Though it was tempting, he overlooked the opportunity to take another stab at Ti'ran and pulled himself to the water's edge instead.
The unicorn eyed him warily, but didn't take long to follow suit. He too dipped his head as he neared the banks, and lipped placidly at the water. He would have been content continuing too, but the wolf invited himself into the river's flow, and seemed to make a game of splash-the-unicorn. "Don't get swept away," he snorted as he backed away.
"I won't," A'ier assured with utmost confidence (and threw in another splash for good measure). Teh_Sil Seeing that Ti'ran looked somewhat uncomfortable, Inali lapsed once more into silence. It was so difficult to understand stallions sometimes. Mares were easier to read, it seemed, than stallions who hid within themselves under layers of facade like a blanket. Watching A'ier jump into the water and splash Ti'ran, Inali laughed. "I think Ai'er wants something. A good soaking." With her front hoof, she gave the water a mighty splash in the wolf's general direction. This was fun! Of course, she couldn't leave Ti'ran dry and boring, now could she? Turning to face the black and blue unicorn quickly, she gave a kick of the water, enough to soak him if he didn't move fast enough. Knowing that retiliation would soon come from at least one of the pair, Inali swiftly danced away. Oh, she was defintely having fun! Cihiru It wasn't a concious effort; something he was aware of and made a point of hiding. That was simply his character. His emotions flirted with apathy, and he wore them like an expressionless mask; it was his method and his person.
But then, it was always easier to inrepret something one could relate to. Something she could empathize and identify with. Ti'ran was likely a bit different than that.
"I want nothing of the sort!" the wolf defended, a hint of laughter in his tone. Not that it mattered; he was already so far in, the water swept freely over his back. Another wave or two didn't make much difference (though his ears did droop a bit with his newly-weighted fur).
Ti'ran saw her move. He had been waiting for just such an occasion, muscles coiled and eager to react. As the opportunity presented itself though... He lost interest, and merely stood there as the splash fell over him, soaking his coat through and through. "Why did you go and drag me into this?"
The unicorn lashed his tail suddenly, droplets flinging to and fro. He wasn't one to 'play', but if it was a game she wanted, he'd oblige - and A'ier was more than happy to join in.
"Where are you off to?" the wolf called, dragging himself from the waters as Ti'ran lunged after the mare. Teh_Sil Though Inali saw Ti'ran's tail move, she did not do much to get out of the way, laughing as the water darkened her already quite dark coat. Then she bolted, knowing that she was going to be chased, laughing merrily. This was fun! She had not thought Ti'ran the type to indulge in games, but he seemed willing to enjoy himself, at least. Inali laughed again, weaving to and fro, clambering over rocks. Finally she reached a dead end, silver eyes widening in mock fear. "Oh no, please don't eat me!" That was directed to A'ier, if he had decided to follow her. Of course, Inali had another ace up her sleeve-- the gentle pool behind her. Suddenly, accompanied by a loud neigh, she plunged into the water, sending up cascades of it everywhere, while getting herself soaked too. "There, now I think we're all wet." She just had to see if she had marked Ti'ran and A'ier. Cihiru It wasn't everyday he coersed his limbs into games of tag (nor did he often have opportunity). The unicorn's pliability did depend heavily on whim, but as it were, he was feeling good-natured enough right then. At least, enough to be somewhat amiable.
Just not agreeable enough to laugh. From the way he was moving, it might have looked more like a race than a chase; his expression was as serious as ever. Ti'ran obviously wasn't irritated though, for what that was worth. He just moved easily over the landscape, taking obstacles as they came. Another fallen branch or trunk was but one of many, and he hardly paid them mind.
The course was less agreeable to the wolf's small form, but dodging under logs the Soquilis leapt over, he managed well enough. "Oh, come on," he drawled between pants as she slowed. Keeping up had been no small task. "'Don't eat me' sort of loses its draw after a while. Don't you have something else to say?"
It would have seemed she did. As Inali heralded her intentions with a triumphant neigh, the stallion watched A'ier stand near the water's edge with quiet amusement. "Hold on!..." was all the wolf could manage before another wave washed over him. And though he tried to wear a displeased expression, his amusement was obvious.
"It looks that way," Ti'ran commented drly. Literally, he noted with a vague sense of satisfaction. The ground was dark where her wake had landed near his hooves, but he was no more waterlogged than he'd been originally. "But that doesn't mean we're even." The unicorn threw his weight forward again, lunging into the shallow waters. His forhooves fell with the force of it, splashing water as he returned to all fours. He stamped the bank twice more, spattering liquid with each.
And then he returned to dry land, just as quickly as he'd left it. Water coursed off his sleek coat in streams, but he helped it along with as dignified a shake as he could manage, tossing his mane into disarray. "That's enough," he murmered, as though his disinterest wasn't already apparent. Teh_Sil Inali laughed, still dripping wet, at A'ier. He was a rather funny little fellow. "All right... what if I try to eat you?" Not that Inali could actually eat a wolf, but the idea seemed terribly amusing to her. How strange that the familiar should be more agreeable than the soquili itself! "Or... I don't know." Inali shrugged her red shoulders, losing interest in teasing A'ier quick. It just lost its flavour, after a while, she supposed. Well, it was hard to keep an educated girl occupied. She flicked her mane, internally laughing at herself. Watching A'ier get soaked once more, Inali laughed again. He looked more and more like a drowning rat as he got more wet. Pretty soon all his fur would be plastered down all the way, and he would look rather silly indeed. Glancing up at Ti'ran, and his nearly dry coat, Inali did a small fake pout, though it was ruined by her laughter. "Ack!" Inali was suddenly more soaked than before at Ti'ran's splash. He had gotten her, fair and square. As Ti'ran scrambled out and spoke, Inali trudged out from the water, shaking her coat in the most graceful manner she could manage. "All right, what do you suggest?" It appeared that Ti'ran did not have as much of a sense of humor as she would like... but he was handsome. And he seemed intelligent. "Do you live with a two legger, or on your own?" She was curious as to his living situations, and himself in general. "Tell me about yourself Ti'ran." After play, then came serious behavior. Cihiru A'ier was simply taken aback; he couldn't hide it (nor did he really care enough to bother). "Eat me? I dunno, you don't look like much of a carnivore to me." He didn't press though; shedding the water that soaked his coat was more of a priority. Like the others, he gave an uncerimonious shake, spraying the ground with droplets. "Hey, I don't laugh at you because you look like an idiot." The wolf folded his ears only briefly and gave his best impression of a stern expression... Though he was painfully aware of the way his damp coat laid in comic disarray.
"Chivalry loses its charm if you have to make note of it for others to take notice." Ti'ran snorted at his companion, offhandedly dismissing his crack at humor. "I don't suggest anything." He really didn't care much one way or the other, though it did cross his mind he should probably follow through on his offer. "Are you hungry?" It might have been an overly typical question, but he meant it in earnest. Besides, he would have been hard-pressed to think of something else to do.
Inali's following question inspired an untimely pause though. In his time, the stallion had done much and seen more, but he hadn't the slightest idea what a 'two legger' was. Luckily for him, maintaining his lack of expression was effortless, and his confusion hardly scratched his look of apathy. "We live alone," if staying together could be called such. There were certainly no two leggers either way.
The mystery quickly became one of his lesser concerns, as questions like that one (even indirect, as hers was) were beasts he tended to avoid like the plague. "There's nothing to tell." Inaudibly, Ti'ran sighed and shifted his weight uncomfortably as he racked his thoughts for a conversational distraction.
A'ier had been observing quietly until then, but the direction things were headed swayed him to intervene. "He is pretty boring, at conversation and otherwise." The wolf glanced between them briefly in an attempt to gauge their reactions. "Say a bit about yourself?" he questioned. "You're likely much more interesting. And prettier, too." Ti'ran shot him a glare at that, but it fell on blind eyes. Teh_Sil Inali decided right then and there that she liked Ti'ran and A'ier. A strange pair they may be, but somehow they provided the balance for each other. Silly Ai'er, happy Ai'er, and the strong and silent Ti'ran. They were the yin and the yang of each other. Somehow, Inali could not imagine them seperate. Laughing at A'ier's messy coat, Inali gently smoothed part of it with her muzzle, only to have it spring back up again in her face. "Well... I suppose your fur will just have to be groomed when it's dry. And I could to eat you." Inali grinned, showing off teeth that quite clearly were NOT meant to tear apart and rend flesh. "Am I hungry?" Contemplating that, Inali's stomach answered for it. It made a loud, surprising noise, causing her the upmost embarrassment. "ERm... I guess I am. My stomach strongly suggests that I am." That was awful. How impolite! But she could tell that neither soquili nor companion would really care- A'ier would likely be amused, and Ti'ran didn't seem to care much for the ideals of a true lady and gentleman. Inali missed Ti'rans confusion- he had such a bland face. Did he ever show emotions? She was curious, and wanted to see what she could get out of him. Not anger though... maybe he would respond to flirting? Maybe later. "You look so well groomed and well kept after though Ti'ran. No one combs your mane and tail?" Not that he had much of either, but they both appeared relatively silky and smooth. "And your markings shine so!" Ah, borth flirting and honesty was in the mare's tone. Laughing as A'ier called her prettier, Inali inclined her head. "Fair enough, though I don't think I would agree with the prettier remark. Ti'ran's coat is far more interesting, though that isn't the point. For now, I live with one two legger, and two other mares with their two leggers. It is an arrangement made most recently, but it is to the benefit and pleasure of all those in attendance. I have not much to say for myself- I don't have much memory of how I came to be here, nor do I have many friends. There's still so much I could learn about each species of soquili, though I'd rather avoid the kalona." Unpleasant memories haunted her. Cihiru Ti'ran remembered all too well what life was like before A'ier - It was by no means a partnership he had grown up with, though they were both quite accustomed. It might have been difficult to tell otherwise, and Ti'ran seemed particularly intent on hiding (or forgetting) it.
"Groomed?" he spat in mock horror. "We obviously have some things to set straight. This coat does not get groomed, ever." He shook himself again, more to fluff and straighten his coat than anything. "The perfection you saw earlier is natural." The wolf grinned a grin that could all but be taken seriously. "And in that case, I think I'd have to eat you first." Matching her show, he flashed a sharp incisor.
"It would seem that way," Ti'ran responded, ignoring her apparent embarrassment. "This way then." He motioned eastward with a tilt of his head, then turned and headed in that direction. It was opposite their final goal, but the grazing would have been difficult to match - and there were apples.
Apples sounded pretty nice right about then. He'd even go for a nice walk through a shallow stream - like the one they'd just departed. Anything at all to distract him from the discomfort roused by Inali's prying comments would have been welcome. "Noone," he said simply, glancing away for a moment.
"Unicorns are most all like that," A'ier added gracefully, much to Ti'rans appreciation. He stepped out quickly though, disappearing once more in the underbrush. "You should find more sometime."
"Six of you?" That was... Well, what was the word he was looking for? "Sounds busy." He had no desire to live with that many again; relative solitude suited him. If she was happy though, who was he to critisize? "I find it hard to believe you don't have many friends. Do you spend all day hiding in your hole?" No, that didn't seem like her, and it was certainly no way to live. That was the voice of experience.
The unicorn paused a moment then, halting his pace and glancing to the sky as he seemed to drift in thought. "Most soquilis are more or less alike. It's wiser to judge them as individuals rather than a race." Kalonas though... He understood the desire to lump them together. Perhaps a little too well; his eyes flashed briefly with rage. "Kalonas are an odd breed, but... They are not all that way." Just most. And the way he clenched his jaw might imply he was trying to convince himself more than anything.
"No need to worry about the 'used to be'," A'ier added. "It doesn't matter how you got here, so long as you're enjoying your stay and making the best of it." Optimism was an odd trait on him, though it seemed genuine enough. "As for freinds - You've got us? Well, you have me at least."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 14, 2006 12:40 pm
Twilight Destiny: Roxas & OathkeeperIvory_Marie_Vylhale Oathkeeper had been trotting along the quiet shallows of the forest's edge. His familiar, Oblivion, was as usual, balancing on Oathkeeper's hind quarters and preening his wings. It was a beautiful day, but there was something strange about the air. Oathkeeper suddenly had the feeling of being lost. As he continued along, more slowly now, he noticed the forest suddenly started to faze in and out before his very eyes. He began to swoon, growing quite dizzy from the occurance.The hawk stopped preening upon noticing his mount beginning to swagger wildy. He took to his wings quickly. "Oathkeeper! Pay attention!" Oblivion snapped, not realizing the full extent as to why Oath was swaggering so. The hawk dropped to a stop as all of a sudden his traveling partner dropped unconcious before him. He gave a loud screach, not knowing what to do. "Hey! HEY!!! OATH! OATH how dare you! Get back up! This isn't FUNNY! HEY SOMEONE! SOMEONE HELP HERE! My damn partner just blacked out on me!!!" he chirped shrilly. Cihiru What was he doing here? It would have been safe to say his guess was as good as anyone's. Though he didn't know, his hooves seemed to - they paved a path unaware. It was a seemingly endless one, winding through trees and plains alike. He'd lost track of the streams he crossed some time ago, and home had since faded to a mere word.
So, where exactly was 'here'? To his absent eye, here seemed relatively ordinary. There were average trees, a normal, clear blue sky, and the gentle murmur of forest life drifted through the air. So why was it something seemed so... off?
Roxas turned sharply, casting his gaze about him, only to find his surroundings as one might expect. He flicked his tail in agitation, but just as he lifted a hoof to press on, a voice split through the relative silence.
'HEY SOMEONE! SOMEONE HELP HERE!'
Compelled by the sound of urgency, the stallion thrust himself through the thickets, navigating the unfamiliar terrain to the best of his ability. The sight that met his eyes as he neared made him skid to a hault though. Who was that?
"What happened?" he queried at last, as he coaxed his limbs from stillness and neared the pair. Ivory_Marie_Vylhale The distressed hawk perched quickly nearbye the comer's face. He gave a flap of his wings and screached a slurred line of "Hewwaswalkingalongandthenblackedout! Ahk! Do something, stranger!" the hawk commanded, "He won't wake up!"There before them Oathkeeper lay still. He was breathing fine, but looked to be in an entranced sleep with his eyes closed. He felt a familiar presence...his body longed to get up to greet that presence somehow...but he couldn't move. Cihiru A question such as 'what happened?' usually demanded some sort of intelligible response... It was a shame the hawk's frame of mind wasn't willing to oblige. The most sense he could make out of that mess was 'blacked out' and 'do something', which was enough, he supposed.
Roxas shuffled his wings uncomfortably, and for a moment, he was at a loss what to do. What was he supposed to do? He wasn't exactly practiced with this sort of thing.
"Hey..." It was a vain effort, he knew before even trying. But what could it hurt? "Hey, get up." The stallion pressed his nose against the other, roughly shaking his shoulder before he turned to look around. "Is there water nearby?" Ivory_Marie_Vylhale The hawk had been about to snap a sharp "I dont know!" as a reply, but cut himself off upon noticing Oathkeeper's stir at the other stallion's nudge. "Oh, oh...do that again! He seems to be responding!" the sassy bird demanded once more.His head was spinning, but he could finally feel again...and something...no...someone had nudged him. The feeling was to warm and gentle to be the cold, sharp beak of Oblivion. He shifted lightly, trying harder to bring himself to get up. Cihiru There was little hesitation, though a voice inside him insisted on knowing why he was bothering with something so hopeless as nudging him. Shouldn't he be doing something more helpful, like... Well, he didn't know, but surely this wouldn't go anywhere. After all, he was unconcious!
But sure enough, he moved. Roxas's ears folded involuntarily, but he shook the other again. "Get up," he demanded, pressing once and twice more. "Oath." That was the name he'd overheard; he didn't bother wondering if it was the right one.
What if he didn't get up, though? The hawk never answered his question; he had no idea if there was water nearby. Think of something, he pleaded with himself. Ivory_Marie_Vylhale Oathkeeper heard part of his name is the distance and someone demanding he get up. Suprisingly, his eyes snapped open and he found the sudden strength and energy to get up. In mear seconds he was on his feet, shaking out the dirt and twigs from his mane and tail. He looked up at the face of a young stallion before him and blinked. "OW---oh my head...what happened? Who---what---uh---you seem familiar somehow..." Oath stammered.Oblivion sighed then fluttered above Oathkeeper. "Great spirits, Oathkeeper! NEVER do anything like that to me AGAIN!!!" the hawk raged. Cihiru Much to his relief, he didn't have to think long. The stallion clambored to his hooves as though he'd merely been resting, and Roxas was left standing a short distance off in what could only be described as a blank stupor. "I don't know," he defended, taking a step back to give the other space.
Maybe he'd fallen and hit his head or something; he certainly acted it. Something he said struck a chord though. "Who are you?" His brows furrowed as he straightened himself and observed. Yes, this Oath did seem familiar, though he coudln't place why or how. That was a comment he could at least relate to.
"I'm Roxas," he offered, particularly because it didn't seem like 'Oath' was going to. He could understand that too though. It must have been difficult to be sensible, having just come to and all. To make matters worse, the avian seemed intent on making sure the whole forest knew his plight. Ivory_Marie_Vylhale Oathkeeper shook off the last bit of his dizziness and smiled, bowing his head, "Please to make your aquaintance, Roxas. I'm Oathkeeper, and the loud one with the beak is Oblivion." He looked up at the raging hawk and sighed, "I don't know what happened, I got dizzy...and then blanked out. Really really strange dreams came flooding back to me---all such a blurr...it felt like I was being swung all over the place!" he exclaimed.
Looking back at the unique stallion he chuckled, "My guess is you helped me, eh? My sincerest thank yous." Cihiru Oathkeeper and Oblivion? The stallion rolled an ear curiously forward and cast his gaze between them. They looked average enough, but those names only jarred the sense of untangible familarity. "Hey," he said simply, as though it was an acceptable response to a formal introduction.
"No worries. No harm done, right?" Roxas offered a vague smile. "Wasn't much 'help' involved -- Yeah." He gave a curt nod, and then realized he never asked. "Are you okay?" He was acting more sensical now; that was a good sign. Ivory_Marie_Vylhale "I'm okay---I still haven't the slightest clue as to what happened, but it's in the past. I'm okay now and that's what matters, right?" Oath replied, giving a nod at Roxas. "So, where are you from and what brings you here? I've seen other clothed and half clothed stallions before, but you're something quite different" Oathkeeper continued, geniunely curious about the familiar stranger named 'Roxas.'Oblivion simply settled down on Oathkeeper's hind quarters and went to work preening his wings, as he usually did when he was bored or not particularly fond of the topic of conversation. Cihiru "Right," the stallion agreed amiably, relived now that he didn't have to worry about what to do or whether or not the other was alright. It was a mess he was glad he didn't have to confront.
"I don't know." It was honest enough. He really hadn't the slightest idea where he came from, and even less so what he was doing here, other than existing. It was more than a little unsettling when he actually thought about it. Where had he been before here, and what changed?
"You? And what do you mean 'quite different'?" One ear leaned backward uncertainly, and briefly, Roxas tried to puzzle whether that was a good or a bad thing. Ivory_Marie_Vylhale "Quite different, as in...unique. You're familiar and you don't look or act remotely similiar to the few clothed stallions I've met---oh, and that's a good think. Once guy with spikey yellow hair was a real introvert and the other two silver haired baddies were a nightmare to deal with!" Oathkeeper tried to explain. He pondered if the stallion before him was a little...mentally lost. "You don't know where you came from, or where you've been? Well what do you DO then? Where do you live?" he pressed further. Cihiru Unique, he says? He can accept that, he supposes... After all, far worse possibilites come to mind. And he too calls it a good thing; that's reassuring, in a way. It even coaxes his ears to roll into a more relaxed position, but they fold back again as the other continues.
He shifts his weight uncertainly, giving his tail a tentative flick. "Nowhere, yet." He's not entirely sure how long he's been here; he wasn't counting. Roxas is sure it hasn't been long at all though. Certainly not long enough to settle in; to call someplace 'home' and say he lives there.
He doesn't care for the way this conversation is heading - too many questions he can't answer for his tastes. In an attempt to change its course a little, he asks again "You never said. Where are you from, and what brings you here?" Ivory_Marie_Vylhale "Oh, okay. I'm from the south parts of the beach region. I live along the shoreline alongside my two-legger friend, Nokomei and my hawk friend, Oblivion. There are others who share our seaside teepee home, but I don't see then too often. I was out for a jog, like I always do when I came through this part of the woods and got a little lost. A sudden wave of something knocked me out and I haven't the slightest clue what it was or why I fell unconcious" he answered. Cihiru Oath takes his uncertainty in stride, and he's relieved for that. It means he doesn't have to try to explain himself; doesn't have to further build his image of idiocy. "Two-legger?" he asks suddenly, one brow arched. It's not a term he's familiar with, and he can only guess what it might mean.
"That part I noticed," he replies absently, drifting to his thoughts again. That was peculiar, wasn't it? It's not every day passerbys just sort of pass out, no explanation in sight. It isn't particularly what he'd meant when he asked though... He was curious about the other's reasons for being in this place, not this particular area. The question earlier made him think Oath perhaps lived somewhere else at one point. Ivory_Marie_Vylhale "A two-legger" Oath began in an attempt to answer Roxas' questioning statement, "Is a nay-tive Kawani, a human. They're kinda funny looking but many of them befriend us soquili."Oblivion peeked away from his preening and gave an odd glance at Oath as he was trying to explain the native tribe's people. Deciding not to put any input in he turned back to what he was doing.Oathkeeper sighed, "Well, I guess I'll never know eh? I've never gotten any crazy episodes like that before. Maybe...oh nevermind. Are you headed anywhere? Might I accompany you for a chat or something?" he asked. Cihiru A human? This term is vaguely more familiar; it triggers something in his mind. A 'click', as it were, that makes it easy to wrap his acceptance around. He nods his head slowly, vaguely, in understanding. He can't relate to wanting to share a home with one of these 'two-leggers', but to each their own.
"Guess not," he agrees absently, but he's actually focused on something else said. 'Maybe'. It's a partial statement... The beginning of something he neglects to finish, and Roxas is truely quite curious what he could have meant by it. "Not that I'm aware of." His trek is an aimless one, with no particular destination as of yet. "Yourself?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 23, 2006 7:43 am
Mountainside Misadventures: Kael & Kyerdustfeather Dawn is breaking over the little foothills beneath the mountains' shadow, clinging to the grass and bathing the world in vibrant shades of gold and pink. Shadows start to dissipate, breaking up as light permeates through the grasses and sparse trees that litter the landscape. The start of the day brings with it the chill of the night; it won't start getting warm until mid-morning, when the sun has had time to seep through to the world below. It's a cold time, and little puffs of breath can be seen in the frigid air coming from a sleeping colt, nestled in the shadows of a lone hill with a singular, rather dead-looking tree atop it. The foal shakes again as a soft wind blows across his tiny form, sending little convulsive shivers down his spine. He tries to dig his muzzle deeper into his flank, like a wolf does in the bitter cold. The colt is stockily built, like his mustang father; he's likewise inherited the famous claybank coloration so rare and valued. Of his grullo mother, little can be seen; but perhaps he favors her in temperment. He's a large boy, and his lower withers suggest that he will probably end up fairly tall, too. Isilme left the child out here while she went off in search of water. She's been gone since moonset, but that's hardly any time at all. The foal looks like he's settled in for the long-term, if need be, although he's vulnerable to any predators that may be about...but such is life. Cihiru At a glance, the foal may have seemed more alone than he was. Closer observation would have revealed another nestled not far off, tucked away in what grasses were to be had. His form was slighter than the first, but mutual dun markings and mustang heritage made visible their relation.
He seemed content with the arrangements at first, stirring little even when the chilled wind swept over his fuzz-coated form. Tides changed quickly though, and before long he was shifting uncomfortably in his previously quiet sleep. Little legs flexed with the motions of an animal running in its sleep, disturbing a puff or two of dust with his hooves until they stopped abruptly and he shot awake.
The colt clambored to right his weight and curled his limbs beneath him before frantically glancing around, ears folded. Morning landscape greeted him, as ordinary and uninhabited as he remembered - Not at all the brambled thickets the dream might have led him to believe. There were no scary monsters either; nothing with sharp teeth nipping at his heels. Soon, his paniced breaths slowed, and the way the morning light just barely peeked over the horizon even coaxed a drowsy yawn.
He looked around again then, far more level-headed this time. Neither adult was back yet, he noticed, though that neither surprised nor worried him. It was still very early; they musn't have been gone long at all, and he was assured they were exceptionally safe here.
With little to distract him, the soft rustling of his sole companion drew his attention. He seemed to be sleeping lightly, and there was a moment the colt puzzled over whether or not to wake him for the sake of company. It did sound tempting, given his current isolation, but he decided against it. Kael settled down next to the other instead, sharing what little heat they could offer between them. The contact might have roused him, but it wasn't a concern then. dustfeather The sudden warmth brushing past his form startled the other, and he jerks himself awake, his eyelids half rising, as if they just couldn't expend the full effort of opening. A familiar scent tickles his nose as he spots his sibling settling down next to him, and overly-large ears twitch back as his muzzle splits into a yawn that seems somehow too large for the rest of his face. "G'morning Kael." Kyer half-heartedly tries to steal his brother's ear as a chewtoy, but misses completely, snapping down on air. Drowsily, he shakes himself, squinting around in the dim morning light, before yawning again. Clearly, he's not much of the morning sort. "Mmfgh," is all he can really manage, and it's uncertain what he really means by it. The undercurrent, however, appears a bit grumpy. The claybank foal is rather hungry, but getting up and finding mother would be far too much of a chore at this point. He has no qualms in going against his mother's wishes, if he were slightly more awake. He flops his head down atop Kael's back, staring blearily up the hill. Cihiru Half-starting his brother into alterness hadn't really been the effect he was going for, but he didn't seem too overly upset, so the colt didn't spend long worrying over it. "Mornin'," he replied softly, sobered by lingering grogginess and the nightmare that had haunted his sleep.
He flicked an ear absently; the same one Kyer had tried to capture. "Mmfgh to you, too." Their father had never been one for mornings either. Kael seemed to be in a bit of a rut though. He was awake enough to want to move, but too tired and too lazy to bother. So he didn't. Not right then, at least. The weight across his back made him even less inclined, despite the hunger gnawing lightly at his stomach.
"What should we do?" It was a rhetorical question, for the most part, but his absent state of mind didn't require he kept thoughts to himself. He did want to do something... at some point. His hunger wouldn't stay passive forever, and boredom was sure to rear its ugly head soon. They couldn't very well just go back to sleep at this point. At least, he couldn't. Kyer probably could have. dustfeather Kyer rolls his head back to take a better look at his brother's face. Doing something was not really on the colt's list of things he wanted to accomplish today...at least at the moment. He was lively enough once he got going, but dragging him out of bed was a chore and a half. "I dunno," he says, sounding most unenthusiastic. Realizing this is probably an inappropriate answer, he lets out a dramatic sigh and lifts his head, shaking out his little frizz of a mane that he's so proud of. "I guess we could always explore the mountains," he suggests, and he brightens up a little at the thought, glancing over to the terrain with a more alert eye. "Bet there are some interesting things up there." And it'd keep his brain off of his stomach...unless they can find something edible up there. He's not a big one for eating grass yet, he's still young enough to need his mother's milk. Cihiru Kyer's curious peering was met with a surprisingly bland expression, tinged with drowsiness, but not unhappy. A corner of his muzzle even curled in a grin at his brother's half-hearted antics.
"We could." He seemed far less intrigued at first. "Looks like a bunch of rocks to me," Kael replied resistantly, unsure of trekking all the way 'up there'. Had their parents mentioned anything against wandering off into the wild unknown? He couldn't remember. "Okay." He was bored already, and they'd never been to the mountains before. Maybe it would turn out interesting after all.
With the obstacle of decision out of the way, the colt set himself to the last (and most difficult) immediate task. Actually standing up. Kael gave his brother's shoulder a nudge, then gathered his limbs beneath him and waited for the other to stand, or at least lift his weight so he could move without disturbing him. dustfeather His sibling gives him the snort he felt that the response deserved. "They're more than rocks," he says, sounding a little indignant. "How do you know there aren't any monsters or soquili up there?" Seems like Kyer rather relishes the idea, for he considers this a moment before continuing. "Something other than rocks, anyway." He's perfectly aware that their parents would probably not be keen on them heading off, which is one reason why he wants to. Forbidding him not to do something naturally assures that he will, in fact, be doing it somewhere along the line. He sticks a foreleg out, heaving himself awkwardly to all fours. He wobbles a little once he's up, but stays upright, his tail whisking behind him. He reaches out a hoof to nudge Kael, then grins sweetly. "Up you get, fuzzy." Cihiru "Says you," Kael responded, in typical juvenile fashion. "I don't want to see any monsters today." He generally had a healthy sense of adventure, but this morning, reality was still fresh on his mind. He couldn't simply wake up here. "Don't see why a soquili would want to live up there. It looks nicer down here." He was obviously just arguing for the sake of it at that point; his tone was half-hearted.
The colt inhaled deeply once his brother lifted off him. Even though he hadn't been particularly restricted before, the freedom was welcome. "Fuzzy?" He peered obstinately at the other, unappreciative of the teasing sweet expression. It took him a moment to decide he didn't want to retort just then, but when he did, he pulled himself up and steadied on his hooves.
"Lead away, sleepy." He gazed along the invisible path set ahead of them, leading to the mountains. It seemed so long to his comparatively small size, but an audacious corner of his conciousness couldn't wait to get started. Who knew what awaited them along the craggy surface? dustfeather "Monsters would be fun," the claybank colt remarks, head tilting to the side. "And maybe really tough soquili live up there...or there's a magical place up there that's more beautiful than anything down there." He's listened to his mother's stories with awe, and he believes - at least, for the moment - all the stories she's told. They fascinate him, and he hopes to one day meet some of the major characters mentioned. "Fuzzy," he agrees, his little tail whisking as he trots away from the flatlands and further into the foothills, making his way around the hill whose shadow they were sheltered under. The mountains may look close, towering over them, but distance is deceptive, and pretty soon Kyer's lgs start to ache. He looks at them, a little mournfully. Do heroes have to work up to this sort of thing, too? He hopes they do, otherwise he feels a bit of a wimp. Cihiru "You have a weird idea of fun," he admitted, eyeing Kyer with a most skeptical gaze. Monsters were big, scary, and vicious. That didn't sound like fun to him. Magical places, on the other hand, made his ears roll forward with a hopeful perk. "You think?" The pinto eyed the peaks in the distance. They seemed impossibly tall next to the hill that overshadowed them; a good shelter for a place like the settings in stories he'd heard so much of.
His brother's reiteration made his stubborn pout resurface as he turned to face him. "I am not." Rabbits and squirrels were fuzzy. He just had a short coat. It was dense though, guarding well against the still-chilly breeze. "Besides, that'd make you fuzzy too." He seemed content to leave it at that, and plodded off after Kyer in silence for a while, occupying his mind instead with what-ifs and promises of the not-so-far-off mountains.
Kyer's endurance didn't last as long as he might have expected though, and the colt found his attention on his sibling's struggles. "Can't stop yet. We'll never get there," he encouraged with a glance at their destination in the distance. But as it were, Kael wasn't any better off, and not long after, he could feel the numb pain of strain biting at his limbs.
Not good, he mused, still focused on the peaks they had yet to arrive at. Fortunately, they were nowhere near as distant than they had been, and he wagered they could reach them (without breaking a limb or two in the process) if they held out. "Almost!," the colt called, and sprung forward to the first signs of rocky surface with his last spurt of energy. dustfeather The foal looks momentarily disgruntled at the first comment, but he almost immediately perks back up. "No, not really," he says, looking at his sibling with a rather cool gaze. "If you have monsters, that means you can be heroes. Otherwise life'd just be really boring and dull and you'd die of that, wouldn't you?" In Kyer's mind, monsters and evil creatures were just the ticket. "I never said I wasn't," He says, with that wicked little boy's grin again. "But you're fuzzier." His spirit lifts, and his dragging walk turns into a brisk, eager trot to cover the distance. His legs ache, and even at this young age he knows he'll regret this tomorrow, but he doesn't care at the moment. "Who's stopping?" He calls out behind him, throwing himself into a gangly, long-legged canter. It doesn't take too long before he is forced to walk again, though, and take the terrain more slowly and seriously. Rocks litter the landscape, and if he puts one hoof wrong, he could easily break a leg. For a wild mustang, a broken leg is a ticket for death, and it's the one thing he does take seriously from his mother's warnings. He pauses in the shadow of the mountain, looking up as the slope starts to get more drastic. Cihiru "You're nothing like the heroes in the stories," he retorted, eyeing Kyer as he made a mental compairison. "I might, but..." The colt paused to weigh his opinion on the matter. It had potiental to be as exciting as it was dangerous, he had to admit that much. And that was most of what made it fun. No matter how hard he tried though, he could not convince himself it was a good activity today. "Ask again tomorrow." Everything would be different tomorrow... Except maybe Kyer's penchant for mischief.
"I am not," Kael defended, but his ears wilted. While his brother took off ahead, the pinto lagged behind, dragging his hooves in somewhat downhearted defeat. The call made him detach his gaze from the ground though, and his expression stretched to form an understanding smile. "Not me!" The colt had followed eagerly at that, pushing himself into a juvenile gait of his own.
The landscape beneath them shifted quickly though, from gently rolling, grassy plains, to a rocky dirt mix carpeted with pebbles. It caused him to slow as they came to it, lest he step on something he'd regret later.
"It's kind of steep," he stated obviously, inspired by his aching legs that burned in protest. There was no plan b though. Tall and perilous-looking though it was, there was nowhere else to go, and no turning back. "Let's go, then." Kael gave his short tail a little flick and placed a forehoof forward to begin his trudge up the mountainside. "But what if we don't find anything but rocks?" dustfeather The claybank foal gives the other a very chilly glare. "How would you know? You've never met one!" He rather fancies himself a hero, and being told that he doesn't resemble one is a bit of a blow to his ego. He whips his head up and around, prancing in a haughty, dignified fashion further up the slope, even though it wastes precious energy stores to do so. As he looks up the slope, Kyer was actually thinking the same thing, but his sense of pride compels him to argue the point. "Peh, it's not that bad. Come on, Kael, be tough like dad." He starts up, his hooves scrambling for purchase on the smooth rock. "And we will find something," he says in a convinced tone, carefully inspecting a nearby prickly bush. "Heroes always do, usually right when they think they're not going to find anything." He's so busy talking that he almost misses it; fortunately, he slips at that point, his knees jarring painfully against rock and dirt. He manages to catch himself on his shoulder, hard enough to bruise later. As he gathers himself up again, he spots the dense copse of trees part of the way up, not that far away. "C'mon, let's head that way!" Cihiru "Neither have you," he defended far more indifferently, blind to his sibling's insistant venom. Kyer made his ideals plain enough they were difficult to miss, and the colt was plenty aware of them... He just couldn't be bothered to care much. They felt intangible; a little silly, to him. Heroes were born of legend, and though he could swallow the concept of being exceptional - a legend he was not (and neither was Kyer, he was almost positive). Their everyday seemed much too ordinary for that.
His sibling's retort struck a chord though, and it was Kael's turn to be indignant. "I am," he said assuredly. "He'd say it is, too." The colt wasn't certain on that note, but he was sure of one thing. Their father wouldn't be happy, and all the adventure in the world couldn't have comforted his concience when it came to disappointing his parents. He'd just have to hope they got back first.
We're not heroes, his thoughts protested, but he figured he'd argued it enough by then. Besides, maybe... Maybe they were. Kyer was right; he didn't know anything for certain. He'd never met a hero. Kael had enough doubt to make room for that, and had enough curiosity to propel himself into pursuit of his brother.
The colt was so distracted with securing his footing and carefully inspecting whatever oddity crossed him before each step, it genuinely took him by surprise when he the crumble of sliding rock met his ears. His head shot up quickly, but by the time he spotted Kyer, he was righting himself and had already set his attention on something further off. "Alright," he conceded, and carefully set himself in that direction.
The cluster hadn't looked to be anything exceptional, but he didn't have any better ideas. Surprisingly (to him, at least), first impressions weren't always solid impressions. "What's that?" he questioned warily, peering at something nestled between the treetrunks. dustfeather "Humfph," Kyer sniffs, ears flattening, but he seems unable to find an appropriate retort to the comment. He'd like to think that he has more expertise in these matters (even when he doesn't), and to lose a point to his brother is a bit of a setback. But he'll make it up later, somehow...he'll do something terribly heroic. Maybe slay a monster, save a pretty filly from some horrific fate, that sort of thing. Of the two siblings, he was the dreamer. And, unlike Kael, he didn't seem to care about worrying their parents...he didn't mean to make them worry, but he never bothered to think much about what they thought. He was vaguely aware that what he was doing was against their wishes, but that only added to the element of anticipation and adventure. When he picks himself up, he's dusty and dirty, and it'll be hard to hide that he wandered off...but he's not thinking about that right now. Eagerly, ignoring the throb of his shoulder and the tiny trickle of blood that runs down his leg, he moves forward, a little more carefully this time. At his brother's sudden query, his head goes up, and he pauses, for the first time unsure. His eyes narrow, and a rather fiendish little boy's grin slips onto his muzzle. "Let's go check it out," he says, making his way forward and peering into the darkness. Cihiru The disgruntled noise for a response was met with slight satisfaction, though he didn't particularly enjoy nor want to stifle his brother's ambitions. He just grew tired of defending himself sometimes, always trying to protect his sense of pride. It was nice to best Kyer every now and then, and he was confidant it would hardly phase the claybank anway. Not much of anything could, it would have seemed.
With negative recollections of nightmares and monsters fading to excited anticipation at the opportunity, Kael bobbed his head in agreement this time. "What are you going to do if it tries to eat you?" he remarked as he crept onward, ears twitching nervously all the while.
The sight that greeted him was not quite what he might have expected originally though. That 'thing' he'd spotted was more a lack thereof than anything - A hole, cut jaggedly into the side of the mountain crags, and tucked away behind a few treetrunks. It was smaller than what he'd come to recognize as caves in the plains and forests below, but still large enough he was sure something amazing could live inside. He had always been advised to stay near the mouths, traveling no further than the light when it crept inside the opening, but... He knew Kyer didn't care, and he was too intrigued to protest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Aug 27, 2006 10:40 pm
Pleased to Make Your Acquaintance: Loki & HidayaVashtya Hidaya made her way through the tallish grasses that blanketed the meadow floor, pale eyes taking in a pair of squirrels playing what appeared to be a rather raucous game of tag around the trunk of a large oak tree, their shrill cries piercing the otherwise quiet afternoon. Cihiru Things never really did change, did they? Here he was, at least four seasons behind him and with a family of his own... And yet, this day felt like it could have been etched into the past, nestled comfortably in weeks that passed years ago.
He was torn between comfortable familiarity and just plain boredom. That wasn't to say he didn't adore his family - He did. Isilme made him whole, and he cared for his sons more than anything. But without them, there were times he felt at a bit of a loss, unsure what to do with himself.
This was one of those times. He was wandering aimlessly again, dragging his pale hooves through the thick plain grasses and soaking up what few sights and sounds were to be had. He had met many a good friend here, and he would have been lying to himself if he tried to convince he wasn't hoping for it to happen again. Vashtya Hidaya raised her head sharply, ears pricked forward as she could have sworn she'd heard the distinct rasp of unshod hoof upon rock. One wavy strand of silver mane floated idly on the faint breeze, as though it had a mind of its own.
Cocking her head to teh side, she wondered if perhaps she was simply hearing things, and stomped one of her forehooves sharply, listening intently to hear if there was, indeed, someone else about.
The squirrels, after she stomped her hoof, darted farther up the tree and proceeded to chitter at her with due irritation at interrupting their private game. Cihiru Loki was, by nature, a light footed creature. Raising onesself in the untamed wilderness tended to have that effect; he was certainly a product of his habitat. He was distracted though, and now and then, the nearly inaudible rustle of his weight sifting through the underbrush was accompanied by a scuff of his hoof against stone, or the snap of dry grasses. Each interruption would cause one of his ears to give a lazy flick, but for the most part, he ignored them.
That was, until one was followed by what sounded like a deliberate stomp - And it wasn't his doing. The mustang pulled himself to a half-hearted stop and swung his head around, taking in the gently rolling landscape. When nothing extraordinary met his scrutinizing gaze, he tilted his muzzle to the wind and tested it. "Hello," he called amiably, almost certain there was someone there. Vashtya Hidaya's gaze flew in the direction of the voice, although she could not yet see its owner. "Greetings." she replied, after allowing the silence to stretch for a few heartbeats. She was naturally wary, although not to the degree that she treated new acquaintances with outright suspicion.
Taking a step in the direction of the unfamiliar voice, she kept hear ears directed where it had seemed to come from. Cihiru For a moment, he had nearly held his breath, taking air in short bursts for fear it had all been part of his imagination. His greeting was soon returned though, and, relieved, he inhaled deeply. At least he wasn't going crazy after all. Not yet, anyway.
Or maybe he was. The return seemed to come out of nowhere, as its owner was still out of sight, and with only one possible place she might be hiding. The stallioned eyed the place the land dipped off, panning into the horizon, then stepped toward it.
"There you are," he started cheerfully, peering down at the figure on the land below. He gave her a welcoming bow of his head, then invited himself down the small hill, and gave his tail a lazy flick once he'd reached the bottom. "Hope I haven't interrupted anything. I'm Loki." Vashtya Hidaya laughed, her voice low and melodious. "Not at all, unless you consider my observation of those squirrels playing tag around the tree trunk to be utterly captivating." she replied, bowing her own head slightly. "I'm Hidaya. It's a pleasure to meet you." she continued, bobbing her head once, enjoying the way it made her curly mane dance in the breeze.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 8:12 pm
Not-So-Aimless Wandering: Kael & Manovia
TormentedAngie Manovia was slowly getting used to the land that was to be her new home. The ship had long sailed off into the sunset, leaving James and herself here to fend for themselves. Thankfully, the duo had a pair of friends in Wambli and Anpo, and had been able to adjust better to the shock of the situation through them.
Right now, the grulla mare was plodding along the edge of the river, close to where it fed into the nearby lake. Her amber eyes soaked in the sights, having never been quite this far before, alone at least. The ground here was squashy in places, covering her hooves in a thin layer of ground. Her tail swished along behind her, brushing through the bushes and undergrowth. It wasn't often that she went off on her own, but she'd wanted to get away and see some things on her own for a change. There'd been so many strange sights here, she almost couldn't believe what she'd encountered lately. A winged horse who was now a good friend of hers topped the cake. What more would she see here in this new land? Cihiru Kael was, perhaps, not the most exotic scenery the wonderous Kawani lands had to offer. In fact, he was rather dull in compairison, with his horned and fairy-winged kin calling this place their home. He was content though, and not without his fair share of character. His brother might have had size and and a lofty, day-dreamer personality, but he was honorable, and likable enough to be memorable in his own right.
That wasn't on his mind as he trekked through the wilderness though. His pale blue gaze was waving rather intently over the landscape, while his ears twitched with attentiveness one would expect from a wild mustang. The object of his attention was difficult to discern at first... But maybe it was because he didn't particularly have one at all.
If he didn't, he made a pretty decent job of looking purposeful. His stride was an aimful one, and as he made his way along a lonely stream, he stopped only once something demanded his attention. At one point, it was an angry squirrel that gave him pause, and he had eyed it questioningly as it scittered across the trodden path, giving him an upset shake of its balled little fist. For the most part though, it was uneventful.
So much so, he abandoned the slow regularity of his going-nowhere walk and pushed himself into an easy canter, taking the muddy terrain in great strides. It carried him easily along the rest of the bank's length, until it met with a lake and pooled into its rippling waters. TormentedAngie Manovia, tired of wading through the muck, and determining that the river didn't have a strong current at all, (mostly due to watching a fox skip through from one side of the bank to the other without missing a step), decided to wander through the water. Her previously shod hooves felt perfectly at ease in the cool liquid, sloshing through it and allowing the spray to dampen her legs, darkening her body where it hit.
The grulla mare was by no means quiet in her trek, but she wasn't aware of all the of the dangers around, yet. If she happened upon something like a blood thirsty kalona, who knows what'd happen. Her head bobbed slightly with her stride, her mind drifted off into nothingness. So caught up in the sound of her hooves sloshing through the river, she didn't hear that someone else was nearby. Cihiru The mustang slowed to a lazy amble here, where the river opened into a lake, and the patches of trees faded into fields. On clear afternoons such as this one, there was nothing blocking the horizon, and he could see what felt like ages in a clear area such as this one. Green grasses mixed inconspiciously with gold, blanketing the earth all the way to the place where it met the sky. He let his gaze trace the line for a moment, squinting as it passed over the sun. A fair distance off, he could make out the river continuing on again, spilling from the lake's pool like it never slowed.
Just as he was about to conclude his curious sightseeing, something out of the ordinary caught the corner of his eye. Kael's head swiveled toward it, and after a moment, he turned fully to face it.
This would be a rare occasion; it wasn't every day he happened across random someones. This one was different though... He could tell that much even from his distant vantage point, now that he'd had opportunity to observe. She carried herself in a different fashion - a way that suggested maybe she wasn't all that wary.
The stallion arched a brow at the thought, but he pressed forward anyway. He did enjoy making new acquaintances, and who knew; maybe she'd prove to be the most enjoyable company yet. "Afternoon," he offered politely - almost quitely, as not to startle her. "Lovely day, isn't it?" It might have sounded hollow from someone else, but Kael had a way of making himself sound genuine and conversational. TormentedAngie Manovia's tail was held high as she trotted along, streaming behind her like a banner. This day, she wasn't wearing her trademark saddle and bridle, but if one looked close, lines from where the bridle rested at her head could still be seen. Her gait was a little on the flashy side, but that was normal for her. She was a showy horse, after all, but not one who had her nose stuck so far up in the air that she felt herself better than all others.
The grulla mare shied though, at the male voice, looking about her in confusion. He'd been careful to be quiet to avoid just that, but she'd not expected to come upon anyone out here. So lost in the beauty around her that she hadn't stopped to think for a moment that she'd stumble on someone else.
Once she got over her initial shock, however, she shyly stepped forward to greet him. "It is indeed. I don't think I've seen anything this beautiful before." Turning her head she glanced into the same direction he had moments before, her eyes wide in awe, as if she'd never seen the view from that spot before, and indeed she hadn't. Cihiru That unsuspecting reaction confirmed his suspicions; she hadn't really been paying any attention at all. Either she was sorely distracted, or she was new to the area, and unaware of the perils lurking in every nook. And if he were to judge by appearences, he might have placed his wager on the latter... She didn't look like a fish out of water, persay, but this did not seem her element either.
The mare saved him the risk of assumptions though, and as she approached, he cracked a wider smile. "It's definately one of the better places to be, I'd say." By then, he was almost certain she was largely unfamiliar with her surroundings, but he opted not to tackle that obstacle just yet.
The pinto did allow her a moment to take in the sight he could tell she was rather enjoying, but eventually he spoke up again. "My name's Kael, by the way. May I ask what I might call this lovely lady?" His gaze had drifted to the horizon at some point, but he dragged it back then, and looked curiously to her. TormentedAngie "Forgive my manners, I seem to have lost them somewhere back there," she gestured behind her, "my name is Manovia." She took no heed of the 'lovely lady' comment, it wasn't that she felt it her due, or expected such a comment, more so than she had simply passed over it in haste to give him her name. Manners were more important to her than most things, a first impression was always a lasting one, in her eyes.
"Very nice to meet you, Kael." Bowing her head in greeting, the grulla mare glanced back to the horizon for a moment before giving him her full attention again. "Would it be rude of me to ask where you are from, Kael?"
She swished her tail along her sides, taking another moment to glance over the horizon again. Too pretty for her to forget, she'd have to remember this spot, to show Wambli later. Then too, Wambli probably already knew about it, but no harm in taking her friend on a walk with her, right? Cihiru As far as he was concerned, there was nothing to forgive. "I'm just relieved to know I'm not the only one that still stops to enjoy the scenery." He was exaggerating a bit, of course, but sometimes it did feel that way. "Pleasure's mine, Manovia." The stallion bowed his head politely as he tested the name on his tongue.
"Not in the least," he assured, giving her a nod. "My family and I traveled some, but I'm more or less from here." Kael let his gaze wander out across the landscape, and he couldn't help but smile again at its splendor. "The place I call home is further upstream though."
Turning back toward her, he started again as she continued to take in the scenery. "And where do you hail from, if you don't mind my asking?" That was the question he had been itching to persue since he first saw her, and he awaited an explanation with rapt attention. TormentedAngie Shifting slightly, the mare thought on her answer. Indeed she wasn't from around there, but how could she explain to him where she DID come from? Would he believe her? He wasn't one she'd seen around the village at any point in time, so it was likely her tale would be stranger than fiction to him. But, all happiness lies in truth, for the truth shall set you free. Or so they said.
"I'm not from around here, to be quite honest. Another land, far away, across a body of water larger than this lake, is where I used to call home. We rode a... ship across the water to get here, and now this is where I reside." Turning her head away, she waited to see whether he would believe her, or laugh at her for such a story. He didn't seem the type, but there were horses back home who'd laughed at her for the slightest of things. That was part of the reason why she was glad to be starting off fresh, with horses she didn't know.
A flush crept across her face, and if she had realized it, she would've been glad for the dark fur that covered her nose, for it kept the flush from being seen. Cihiru It was a shame the mare knew nothing of his mother. Isilme would have given her a whole new insight to his perspective, and perhaps might have opened a door to understanding of his acceptance. He had to be, because Isilme had a tale for every occasion, and she was more than convinced every one of them was true. It was only natural he did too (though not to the same passionate extent as Kyer), and he had little difficulty wrapping his world around new impossibilities.
"You must have a hundred stories." It was clear from his tone he rather admired her already; he could only try to fathom the things she must have seen and done. The land here was beautiful; that was plain enough already. To experience something completely different though... Entirely free from the binds of this reality was really something to behold.
But one word snagged the limits of his imagination, and briefly, his brow furrowed with a hint of confusion. "Pardon my ignorance, but would you mind telling me a bit about this ship?" he queried with genuine curiosity. How grand would sometihng so powerful have to be? And how did it travel across water? Was it some foreign variety of fish, or a creature he'd met only in lore? TormentedAngie Blushing, Manovia sidestepped slightly. "Maybe not a hundred stories, but I do have some interesting tales of things that've happened in my lifetime." Nodding, the grulla mare chuckled softly, thinking on a particularly amusing time with James.
"A ship... well, a ship..." How could she describe it in a way that he could understand? Most soquilis couldn't believe it when they SAW it, hell even she didn't understand what it was, fully. But an idea formed in her head, and she motioned him over to a clear patch of sand and silt at the edge of the water, perfect for 'drawing' in. "I'm not good at explaining, nor am I good at showing what I mean, but I'll try to do both, okay?"
With the front edge of her left hoof (a left handed soquili?), Manovia drew a kind of halfmoon shape in the sand. at the top of it, she drew a flat line to form the boat itself, then a line going up from it. From there, she let her hoof drift off from the line going up, working on what would be the sails of the ship.
"This," she pointed to the halfmoon shape" is the ship. We rode on it, and it kept us floating on top of the water." Pointing to the sails, she continued. "These were like...animal skins the tribal two-leggers use. They caught the wind, much like the wings of a soquili would when they take flight..." It never occured to her that this one might not've met a wind soquili. "The wind pushes the ship across the water. It's how we got here..." She hoped that that was a good explaination. She really didn't know how else to explain it, which embarrassed her slightly. Cihiru The stallion watched her shift with an inwardly amused smile and held where he was, allowing her uncomfortably embarrassed space. "I'd love to hear a few some time, if you're willing," he commented, his tone suggesting gentle, almost child-like curiosity and reverence.
If there was one thing he enjoyed hearing above all else, it was a good story. Even Kyer's ambitiously fabricated expectations were entertaining from time to time, and Kael was certain her tales would be no exception. Not even her explanation would be a disappointment. How could it be, with such an... an unbelievable foundation?
Unbelievable was always a good thing. Except when the description was so far removed from what he was familiar with, he had difficult wrapping his imagination around it. And this was bordering on far-fetched - Kael blinked a few subconcious times as he tried to take in the crudely-drawn picture.
"It's not alive?" was the first thing he thought of, and he hadn't the mind not to pose it. It didn't occur to him until after it probably sounded foolish, and probably could have been left unsaid... but that was probably to be expected, all things considered. And then he realized something less jovial: "You live in the village, then?" TormentedAngie Manovia perked her ears up as Kael spoke of wanting to hear some of her stories sometime. If she was willing, no less. "I'd love to tell you of my life back there." The young mare pranced a bit in place, whipping her tail softly against her sides. "They're not much, but to me the stories mean a lot because I've experienced each and every one of them." She smiled earnestly and looked back to her somewhat poor drawing of the ship. "No, it's not alive. I don't think there could be anything that large, alive in the world." Chuckling softly, 'Via didn't know how wrong she was. It was quite possible that some of the largest sea creatures she and her shipmates had sailed across, dwarfed the ship by many fold. What she didn't say though, was how she herself had thought the ship was alive, with it's billowing sails before they left the European port at the start of their journey.
The grulla mare nodded in answer to the question of whether she lived in the village. "Yes I do. They're all so pleasant there, everyone's been so kind to us since we arrived. Do you live in the village as well?" Obviously, she was oblivious to whatever his mindset on the village was, but her association with the village was apparent if one looked closely. At her nose, a worn spot where her bridle rubbed against the fur there, barely apparent, but there for one who truly looked. Likewise, a patch of fur was rubbed shorter than the rest at her belly and chest, where the girth and breast collar of her saddle rested. Had she not thrown her shoes soon after the race with Wambli, her feet would've told the story a thousand more words than she could ever say.
Kindly, the mare smiled at Kael, changing the subject as swiftly as if she'd meant to, despite the fact that she really hadn't. "Surely living around here, you've got quite the story to tell, right Kael?" Dual toned eyes settled upon her conversation-mate, eagerly stamping the ground as if to emphasize her inquisitive nature. She wanted to learn more about her new home, and with each new friend she encountered, she was able to gain a bit more understanding for it all. Cihiru Her demeanor was unusual in his limited encounters; the enthusiasm and earnestness was a refreshing contrast to some of his more controlled, even distant acquaintances. And it made Kael grin brightly, appreciative of the acceptance. "In that case, I'm honored you'd be willing to share them with me." One didn't just extend their most heart-felt treasures to anyone. To him, that was meaningful.
"I don't know if I'm ready to let go of that just yet-" briefly, his thoughts shifted from the immediate conversation to the unreality he'd been considering earlier. The world where the mosnters and giants of his childhood were still a distant possibility, even if he was never to lay eyes on them. "- but I'll take your word for it." The pinto's expression had faded some, but his lighthearted tone renewed it. "That really is amazing though. How does it stay on top of the water?..." It was a hypothetical question though; he didn't expect Manovia to have an answer any more than he needed one.
"No, I don't." Kael took a sidelong glance at his untamed coat. It wasn't ragged by any means, but it certainly wasn't sleek or glossy. And then he turned fully back to her, grinning still. "My aunt lives there, with a human. I haven't really visited, to be honest, but I figure it must have plenty going for it, or she wouldn't stay around." Part of him was plenty curious about the establishment, but with Isilme and Loki traveling anywhere but, his youth hadn't led to any exploration. Now that he was older, it seemed to have slipped his mind, only just rekindled.
The mustang took a moment to think on that, and looked on in brief silence as he flicked his tail over his hocks. "Yes, and no. It's a wonder my parents managed to tolerate raising my bother and I, I can tell you that much." He flashed a mischevious grin, but it vanished as quickly as it had come - perhaps because Kyer had always been the instigator in the duo, with Kael trailing uncertainly after. TormentedAngie Quite opposite to Kael's thinking, Manovia was more the type to share her memories and stories with anyone whom would listen, than to keep them to herself till she found someone worthy to tell them to.
She pondered upon his question, having to think for a moment on how the ship would stay afloat. "I... I'm not sure. It floated, and didn't take on water, so maybe despite how big it was, it was like a leaf? The shape of a leaf, if placed correctly in the water, will float, despite having weight within it." As if to explain her thinking, Manovia looked around for a suitable leaf to demonstrate. Her treasure was found right above her head, and she stretched out her neck to latch teeth delicately upon the veined object. Plucking it from the tree, she tossed her head slightly as a small 'follow me' gesture. Slightly dirty hooves trotted to the edge of the riverbank she'd been following, and she lowered her graceful head to set the leaf gently upon the water. Shielding the leaf with her feet, so the current couldn't take it, the grulla mare found some small pebbles and gently, carefully placed them within the scoop shape of the leaf, then proudly raised her head, ears pricked happily, to see if her companion was viewing her triumph. The leaf, laden with pebbles, remained afloat despite the weight.
Her ears lowered slightly, hearing that he didn't live in the village, but perked up immediately afterward. She'd hoped to be able to drop in on him from time to time in the village, but if his aunt lived there, that meant he'd be visiting at some point, right? She caught sight of his mischevious grin and flicked her tail in amusement. He certainly was a character, someone who would be sure to make a quiet walk a more enjoyable and exciting one, for sure. Cihiru A ship like a leaf? Kael blinked deliberately, one brow furrowed as he considered the possibility. "Maybe," he admitted at last, trailing along behind her as she made her way to the stream. "I'd still like to see a ship though, some day." How big was it, exactly? "It's bound to be more interesting than a leaf," the stallion added jokingly, following it with a soft smile.
It was a good point though; easier to wrap his mind around than an obscure concept and a possibility that seemed unlikely. "What makes you so sure you're no good at explaning?" Giant leafs may not have been much better, but they were better. "How many other pebbles were with you? - Do they live in the village too?" Lighthearted teasing aside, Kael paused then, lest he overrun her with questions.
"Is something the matter?" he asked offhandedly a few moments later, as he noted the flicker of disappointment in her expression. He did try not to seem pressing; Kael made it sound a casual inquiry, almost like it could go unnoticed under the tails of his former questions... But he was almost surely worrying far too much. TormentedAngie "It was huge. Wider than this river, by at least 3 or 4 times. The trees that the skins hung from were nearly taller than the trees here, but that was to the top of the ship. The ship itself was larger down below." She was bad at explaining things, and probably sounded really confusing and weird by now.
Blushing, though hardly noticable behind her ashen grey fur, Manovia chuckled at his good-natured teasing. "There were several others like me. I think of them, four others chose to settle here instead of going home with the ship. I'm not sure how many two-leggers stayed behind with us though. Mine did." She smiled brightly, thinking of her companion back at the village.
As he noticed her little ear laid back moment, she shuffled slightly. "No, nothing's wrong, just thought of something for a moment there." Deftly changing the subject, the mare stepped out of the river, her feet streaming with cool water as she allowed the pebble filled 'boat' to float away down the river, where, unnoticed to her, it capsized rather quickly. Not a comforting thought, if one paused to think of it. "What's it like, to live here on your own, without a two-legger to care for you?" It was then, perhaps that she might've overstepped her boundaries. She should've known that, being as he'd never lived in the village, he wouldn't understand what it meant to have a two-legger take care of him. It wasn't that she wasn't able to do so herself, just that James had always been there to take care of her and she always assumed that was the way it should be. She was naive, to say the least, on such matters.
Without hesitation though, Manovia went on. "What are the winter's like here? And do you guys really get snow?" Emphasis was put on the single word, as if she'd never seen true snow before in her life. She honestly was no better than him, letting questions overrun him in turn. Cihiru Three or four times? The stallion tried to form a mental image, lining up river copies side-by-side in his mind's eye. It worked out better than she might have realized... Taller than the trees was simple enough, and he could almost imagine massive hides towering over the treetops.
"Four, really?" Kael could not have pinpointed why, but that surprised him. It sounded almost like an unusually large number when he stopped and thought about the modest herds of Soquilis he'd spotted around the village. "Is it a relief to have someone to relate with?" he queried unabashedly, only coming to realize how inappropriate it might have been a moment later. "If you still associate, that is. I can't imagine what it must be like to make a home in a strange new place." That was sufficient explanation, he hoped. And then he added "You seem fond of him." That expression was almost impossible to mistake.
Her question caused him to pause thoughtfully though, and tilt his head in a faint, but foal-like gesture. "Well... Imagine the things your two-legger does for you, and think of doing them on your own." The explanation was broken as he bent to scratch at an itch on his muzzle with his knee. "And if you aren't able to do them by yourself, they probably don't get done at all." There was probably something to be said for the freedom too - the lack of accountability and restrictions - but born and raised wild, the mustang had no concept of that. He knew nothing else.
"Cold," he answered simply, missing not even a beat. "And yes, it snows... The green turns brown and food turns scarce, and white blankets the ground and trees alike." Kael tipped his nose to the sky as he tried to invision the cool grey that dominated the skies in the winter. TormentedAngie Perking ears up, the tamed mare lifted her head in the direction of down-river. Her eyes grew large and wide, and she quickly skipped towards Kael, pawing at the ground beside him. "What was that? Was it a... WILD animal?" Without hesitating, she took off towards the sound, waving her tail slightly behind her as an invitation to follow her. If he wanted to keep her out of trouble, with her not quite knowing all the dangers around, chances were he'd probably want to follow her.
The mare crashed through the brush, unshod feet both more, and slightly less stable than they would've been had she had those on, slipping in various situations. At this rate, she'd break a leg, or a nose, if she slid into a tree.
Reddish golden eyes watched the mare from a branch high above. Greyish blue feathers fluttered in the slight breeze, and the hawk flapped his wings for a moment before settling once more. She was worth watching, that she was.... Cihiru "Err..." Kael trailed a little absently as he dragged his gaze from the sky just in time to see her turn and take off down the river. "Well... probably," he responded half heartedly, and pulled himself in pursuit (only coming to the realization he wasn't certain what 'wild' was until later). Tamed was a foreign concept; all soquilis were wild! - And there was obviously still much he had to learn.
That'd have to wait for another day though, as right then, there was much Manovia had to learn. And she seemed intent on experiencing it first hand; he only hoped nothing poor came of it.
"What are we following, exactly?" He entertained asking why for a moment too, but thought better of it when he considered not all actions needed motives more sound than 'I wanted to' or 'because'. So long as there was no danger involved (and there didn't seem to be at that point, seeing as they were chasing rather than fleeing, and nothing had jumped them yet), the stallion figured it was safe enough for now.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
