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 Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 7:58 am
 The Games? The doe cocked her head slightly to turn toward the sound of the voice that had mentioned it. It seemed to be a race and the doe kicked her front right hoof into the ground at the thought of it. She'd never really thought of running much before, but flying? Perhaps if she ran she'd be able to feel the wind below her as she rushed by. It seemed like an interesting thought, perhaps the sky would guide her through her journey if she did? It had taken a moment, her head looking between the kimeti, kiokote and acha around her, thoughts lingering most on the sky above before she turned it back to Albatross.
She nodded her head to her, she'd decided. "I will run, feel the wind below me!"
Oh, she hoped she wouldn't get lost somewhere here.
"Will you race with me?" Running with a buddy was always best, at least for this doe.
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:07 am
She felt the corners of her mouth tugging upwards at impossible speeds until a laugh sneaked out. Oops. She shook her head in disbelief (at what, she didn't know) and paid no heed to her disheveled crown crashing around. She hoped there wasn't a foxbun hiding in like last time. Falling into line with the other doe, she tapped the bird with her tail once more. "Activities are always the best with someone else" Again, that just slipped out. She really needed to try hard to reign it in lest she scare off the bird, but ******** it. Adrenaline won out, ******** propriety. It started with her tail, the frenetic energy coursed through her body until she was all but skipping in place. "Yes. Come on, let's flock to the gathering. Shall we race as a warm-up?" Yep, joyous was she.
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:21 am
Forgotten Feathers looked at Albatross curiously. She wanted to run now? Oh no! She doe was stuck between being happy that she would have someone to run with and worried that she'd have to run twice as much. Her legs weren't the strongest, always weak in the knees and wobbling like some sort of boneless creature. Oh, she hoped she didn't trip and fall! That would be so embarrassing, although possibly accurate.
"I-if you want!" She let slip as she made heed to try and follow the other doe, her legs buckling as her steps sped up. She could do it, she could do it, oh no a rock. The doe tripped over it and fell just like a wingless bird trying to fly. Her face buried itself into the dirt below her, wishing to hide it in it just like some sort of long-necked bird might. So embarrassing, how could she show her face now?
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:27 am
 The buck seemed to open his mouth to correct the doe's statement but was rather struck bewildered by the question of racing. Was he? He hadn't given it much thought. He supposed he could, not that he would win -- winning wasn't important because as he very well knew he was never the fastest at reaching a destination.  "All right," he lazily agreed. He imagined it might be fun for the brief bit of time he managed to pay attention. He lifted his head at the kiokote's roaring announcement. Then turned back to the doe, "Shall we head that way then?" he asked all the while trying to remember huge grandfather cypress -- it was a very good thing he'd be able to follow others as by the time he looked down to his cat, he'd somehow turned it quite around to Grand Feather Sigh Press and he didn't know anyone by that name. "Shall we race with them, cat?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:37 am
Joy turned to disappointment pretty damn quickly for her. Damn. Like an egg spiraling to its sprawled out demise, she watched. Damn. Hopefully the doe wasn't too hurt. It would be inconvenient to find another partner that looked like a bird, which effectively was killing two birds with one stone. Pun not intended. This put her plans behind a step. She wanted to birdwatch afterall. Damn and double damn! Ah, better check for injuries. She jogged to the fallen doe, careful to slow down before rushing into her. No need to add to the list of potential injuries.
"Are you okay?" She crouched down to inspect the ankles. Good. Nothing jutting out. She moved to the white doe's face, huffing out to blow the dust away. Ok, just as quickly as she had fallen, time was of the essence to build her right back up. She felt predatory and protective at the same time. Was that pink she saw on the fair cheeks? Better than tears. Alright. Revving up her enthusiasm she cheered on the other doe. "There, there. You're alright. No one saw. Everyone's too busy gathering for the races. Let's get something to drink, yes? You're a petite, pretty doe aren't you?" Bees had nothing on her.
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 8:50 am
The doe thought her world was ending and that her new friend would be long gone, but she felt something brush against her face. Her blue eyes went to the top of her eye sockets, peering up at what she had felt against her face. It seemed like the wind, but it was Albatross. The bushy-haired doe hadn't left her! It was a small hope for the embarrassed doe as she lightly lifted her head away from the dirty.
"Y-you're still here," she whispered very lightly to herself.
The cheering and thoughtful words slowly brought the white doe's confidence back and she gathered her legs as well as her wits and stood back up, nodding to Albatross slowly. Did she mean it when she said no one seen her fall? The doe looked around carefully, no one seemed to be staring at her, or pointing their noses at her with laughter. It seemed like her flightless world was still intact, and there was still hope.
"I would like that," she said happily.
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:15 am
With one last harrumph at Nightmare, Searching bumped up against Glow's side again, letting his attention be pulled toward the acha instead. "...What are those?" he breathed, head lifting a bit so he could get a clearer view. And then he heard Ochre's call and grinned, nosing at Glow before heading in Ochre's direction. He wanted to see what it was like to get painted! * * * "I know that the ones without horns are called kiokote," What Tomorrow Brings told Silent cheerfully. "I have no idea what the other ones are called, I've never seen them before. We should go check them out." With a jaunty little tail fillip, Tomo trotted out, glancing back at Silent and Lightfall with a sparkle in her eyes. Lightfall hung back a bit, keeping close to Slow and Steady as the turtle trundled at her side. "You go on ahead," she called. "I'll hang out here and watch you all." * * * Ohhh, the games were starting -- and best of all, they were starting with a race, which Plainsfire knew she was just destined to win. "Chin up," she urged Scattered, nosing at her sister gently. "We're all here, and you're going to be fine." And then Flare was off, eager to join the others gathering for the start of the race. * * * Tossing her head, Haze glared at Riddle. "Ever think that maybe you're one of the strangest things he's ever seen?" she countered, unaware that maybe her 'help' wasn't very helpful at all.
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:21 am
 Snow-Blind started laughing despite himself. Him, joining in games. It was a funny thought. Realizing his rudeness, he quickly stopped and cleared his throat. "Um... No. No, the only games I'm good at are hunting down toads." Snow-Blind immediately realized he'd just admitted to his love of hallucinogenics, and quickly tried to backtrack. "I mean, not that I lick a lot of toads, because I don't. I just... That was a joke." After another small pause, he said "Are you joining any games?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:53 am
 When Waters Recede made her way to join the growing group at the large cypress tree. She kept a slow steady pace even as adrenaline spiked through her blood, wanting to keep her speed for the race. It seemed it had been forever she'd last run, raced, in fun, in game. The flood waters had not been a race she could enjoy.  The doe meandered, hearing snatches of conversation but feeling no wish to barge into them. She frowned at how dull it all was and she determined if nothing caught her attention soon, she would leave. She'd led her son here and that was all she'd meant to do anyway. "We'll leave shortly, if nothing happens," she told the hound at her side. The hound yipped in reply.
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 9:59 am
 Meets couldn't help but smile at the uncharacteristic waste of water and the surprised embarrassment in Slide's face as he looked up at her. "I didn't know you had interest in such social gatherings, Slide," she remarked, still smiling, her head tilted to the side a little as she observed him. The water droplets sparkled off his dusty coat in a surprisingly attractive fashion, and the little doe found herself wondering what Slide would look like clean. "I admit that I'm not usually up to such gatherings myself," she continued, "but it is always comforting to see a familiar face."The chittering of the mongoose on Slide's back brought a gentle laugh from Meets' chest. "Yes, you too, Pillar!" she said, bringing her nose in to touch the mongoose's. "This must be a very exciting adventure for you, and your master!" At the sound of the Kiokote's voice came across the field to her ears, Meets nodded in understanding. "Ah, a race! Interesting." There was a strange glint of light in her eyes at the prospect, unsual for the timid little doe. She was not the fastest, to be sure, but she loved to run. And, she thought, looking down at the water that covered her hooves, Most of these Kimeti and Kiokote are probably not used to running in these conditions. I'm used to racing through the breaking surf of the ocean...it might prove an advantage. A strange competitive streak seemed to thrill in her chest, the desire to show off in front of Walks Without Rhythm not a small part of that thrill. "Will you be competing, Slide?" Meets asked, a sparkle in her eye.
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 10:09 am
 Smudge's eyes widened a little as the little pink doe revealed what she was. "Acha! There are legends of your people, how you sing, and dance, and...frolic..." the buck ended, his awe slowly fading as he noticed it. Smudge cleared his throat gruffly, trying to hide his amazement at the little creature back underneath his grumpy exterior. "Um. Yes, I am a Kimeti buck. My name is--""Smudge! Hey, Smudge! Over here!" The buck's face fell and his shoulders slumped into his neck at the sound of his sister's voice, as if he was trying to hide. "Smudge. My name is Smudge. And this," he jerked his head at the blue and brown doe who had pranced over, covered in her strange charms and talismans, "is my sister, Lucky Charm."
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 10:15 am
Pieces' 'people smile' stayed frozen throughout the other buck's laughter, and turned slightly grimace-y by the end of his...interesting speech. " Ha, ha," he appended, considering whether to back away a bit more (if he were high right now, it would explain a lot. He started to wonder). " No, I'm...I'm not. I'm just here to look around, see some Meti -" he glanced about furtively, and added, " some non-Meti, it seems, just watching and...having fun. I suppose you're doing the same? Or looking for toads?" He tried, weakly, and the helpless smile returned.
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 10:18 am
"They are the Kiokote, creatures of the great plains," Whistles Twice answered the question of the black-and-red little filly, coming up and sitting beside her at the edge of the clearing. "The ones without the horns, at least...they came to the swamp during the Great Flood, when I was just a colt as small as you," he continued, smiling kindly down at the child. "As for the other, smaller ones -- I am unsure what they are...but there are stories of creatures from the deserts who dance and sing and seem to make merry like they do...perhaps we should go ask one." Whistle perked his ears up, hearing one of the strange little creatures call out something about painting. "That sounds interesting," he remarked, nodding his head in the direction of the little orangeish doe. "Have you ever painted before? My name is Whistles Twice," he continued, standing. "Would you like to go meet one of these strange new creatures with me, little one?"
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Posted: Thu Aug 11, 2011 10:23 am
It humbled her how low she had fallen. She actually thought of one more (or several) scheme to get all his samples, but that would make her fat and weight her down. Their success depended on their sleek, fit forms. Another part of her came alive when she witnessed his short lived spout of indignation. There was some impressive anger lurking back there, but as quickly as it came it was gone. Her smile deepened. She looked down at the samples. Ahhh, mentally salivating was she. Tearing her eyes away, she slowly approached him, limbs stiff and purposeful, completing a circle. Maybe she could follow him back home. Or have Look-See pretend she was lost. Ruse was practically her middle name. She showed incredible restraint after all (ok, maybe not as much as the doe with the flowers). A third piece wouldn’t hurt her. It wasn’t likely she would eat these again after the games. But eating can wait. Games would begin soon, the window of opportunity was limited. Raising her voice slightly she asked, “So, how do I know these won’t make me sick or poison me? Are you sure it’s safe to eat? I heard of kimeti suffusing food with herbs for desired effects--drugs, even! I’m on to you, whippersnapper. ” Nevermind they looked about the same age. No cronies would brave the long trek to compete, spectator or not. This should hopefully add some excitement to the pre-game waiting. Doom leered closer.
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