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Ariston&heartless





Ill have more tags up soonish.

Ariston and his baskets did not go unnoticed as he stood watch over them, his long hair creating something of a curtain for them. The cover was not complete, but it assured the watcher of exactly whose children they were. With a hint of dark amusement, a mare with a body and hair just as black as Heartless' neared the expecting father. "Charming, Ariston. I see that you have found yourself in a similar position to my own." Maeryn moved out of the darkness, a small foal following in her wake. "And who is the mother to these young ones?" Now that was a good question. Who had caught the eye of Pride itself? And caught it long enough to produce another generation of little Prides?

She observed him, letting a hint of her amusement show for a moment, before it disappeared. With her wings furled, she seemed almost completely black, save for her horns and the broken heart on her chest. She could have easily watched him from the shadows with a fair chance of going undetected. However, that would not suit her purposes, not to mention that little Bane might not have had the control to remain hidden himself. As she thought those things, the foal pranced up until he was at her elbow, peering at Ariston and family from behind her foreleg. She shook her head, and snorted, pushing him forward with her nose. He needed to learn to be bold, and unafraid, young though he was.

Maeryn, more than anything, believed in the strength of the Kalona race. That Ariston had chosen to breed with a mare of his own kind was a point in his favor. A point, which in fact, went a long way towards absolving him of some of the supposed 'weakness' that he possessed. In truth, she knew that she did not know him well enough to judge him appropriately. Calamity, she had known for a long enough time to take his measure, but such was not the case for this proud stallion. She raised her head until her gaze was almost on a level with his. "I have no ill intentions towards your children. Why would I harm the get of my kin?" There were little Kalona in those baskets, all of whom had the chance to become great. She would not put that at risk.

Curiously, her little colt approached the stallion, and looked up and up, until he could see his face. "'Lo," he said, as polite a greeting as he knew how to make. He fidgeted, and she snorted, amused by his innocent energy. He would grow to become a strong stallion himself, that she knew. Already, he was learning a great many things about the world around him, and drinking in the knowledge. Of course, it was not often that she could tear him away from his father. The young foal idolized Rot, something which she thought might well occur with Ariston's children as well. She wondered how he would handle being a father when they began to develop their own personalities, and opinions.

She had met Heartless, long ago, however briefly. It seemed to her that the mare was a relatively normal example of the breed. That was certainly favorable. "Tell me, Ariston... how do you feel about being a parent, hmm?" He, who seemed such a free spirit. Did he chafe at the bonds of his new role, or did he accept it gracefully? She inclined her head, observing the baskets. They were indeed quite beautiful, much like their parents. In a way, that reminded her of her own baskets, all of which who had been quite remarkable in their own way. It seemed that an extra effort was put into making the baskets of the Kalona eyecatching, as though the two-leggers feared what might happen if they did not do so. That thought amused her greatly.

How entertaining. The youngling seemed most surprised by Ariston's manner, and she watched as he blew out a bit of air, and shifted his footing. Did the big stallion make Bane nervous? Silly child. He had nothing to fear, with his mother nearby. She flicked her tail, and nosed at the colt, reminding him of her presence. He seemed to calm slightly after that. "He is quite strong. He takes after his father, in that way." The thought pleased her. While the foal resembled her to a great extent, he also took after his sire as well. A nice mixture of the two.

"I have no doubt that they will," she assured, noting the male's great pride and joy in his young ones. Surely, with such a parent, they would grow to be strong, protected against the many dangers presented young Kalona. To her amusement, Bane raised his head proudly, and stood his ground. "Yeah." There was such surety in the foal's voice that she almost laughed. He "knew" that his parents would be proud of him, though he had not proved himself as yet. Not like Ruin, Domnu, or Nemesis had. Truly, he had much to learn. There was time in which to teach him. She was not concerned by that.

So she was an expert, was she? Well, if the shoe fit... "My thoughts on what exactly? Raising foals?" Better to ask now, and know precisely what Ariston wanted to have answered, than to give a false answer. She knew that she herself had a relationship which many would consider a loving one. If that was so, she would not mention it to anyone but the one with whom she shared it, and she was not likely to even do that much. There was no need to acknowledge what they had in any formal way. They knew what they knew, and that was enough. Any type of ceremony, or pronouncement would be a mockery of what they word, and that she would not allow.

"Ruin very much resembles his father. I think you've met him." Yes, she was almost certain that he had. She did not expect that Ariston would run across Rötschreck, but it was possible. "You and I have slightly different ideals, so I imagine that my methods may not work well for you. But, then again, they might. I have raised my children to be proud of their inheritance, telling them of many stories associated with Kalona, and of some of the more exemplary stallions and mares of the breed." And, through observing their parents, the young ones had learned more than she could ever teach them. "However, a great deal of what they learn, they learn from watching me. Teach by example. However it is that you wish them to behave, behave that way." If he wished them to be strong, he would be strong. If he wished them to be prideful, he would act with pride.

"When Ruin was a foal, he took it upon himself to destroy every flower he could find, out of the belief that flowers weakened stallions. I know that he got that belief from watching you with Wrath. So, foals will form their opinions based on how adults behave, and what they say. Never think that your babes are not listening, for they are. Tell them stories in their baskets, tell them what you wish them to learn. They will take what they may from it, and it will help to shape them." She knew this because each of her children displayed some knowledge of what she had told them while still in their baskets. Ruin, especially, and Domnu had learned much from their time so encased. "They are sharp, they will remember, and process things in their young minds. Young Kalona are very bright, by nature." Though not all of them exhibited such qualities. Only a great deal of them.

She smiled wryly, having a certain degree of empathy for the stallion's position. "No one is prepared to be a parent. You must learn how to be one as you go along, for no one can teach you what you must do for your children. That is for you to discover." Maeryn observed as her foal examined the baskets from where he stood, noting how he seemed fascinated by their colors. "They are very impressionable, you know. If you say something, they are liable to repeat it." And take it to heart. So, he should be careful what he said around them. "Bane is still learning, just as your foals will learn. I am taking him with me for now so that he can see more of the world, and still remain protected." Many Kalona foals did not experience things that way. Often, they were left to their own devices, and forced to protect themselves against much larger Soquili. It was then that the breed lost their young ones, for they were not capable of defending themselves against all attackers.

"Wrath is a Kalona true to form, and no doubt he will have his own ideas about your children. However, it is every parents right and responsibility to care for their young as they see fit. If he feel the need to bring harm to your foals, you will of course be prompted to respond in kind. That is the Kalona way, and the way of all Soquili in similar situations." Although she still did not hold that others were as noble, intelligent, or powerful as Kalona. "Some parents let their small ones fend for themselves, and by that manner they become strong. But they are also more open to attack. I do not advocate such a method, although that is a personal decision on the part of the parent."

Hmm. Maeryn at least approved of the fact that Ariston did not pretend to be something he was not. At least he acknowledged what his weaknesses were. All the better to strengthen them. "It would be good to teach your children such things, Ariston. There is nothing wrong with doing so, even if you yourself do not fully understand them. There are others who do, and your young will benefit from learning of their kind." Yes, they would. It was good to see a new generation, and from a wider stock than just Maeryn's own. She knew she had a rather large family, but she drew strength from the knowledge that she was not alone in forming one.

Long ago, she had feared males. Now, she found herself speaking with great confidence to one. She did not fear him at all. Strange, how times changed things so. "Do you have certain hopes for that basket?" she inquired, indicating the dark one which he seemed to be watching with a particular care. "I would be pleased to meet your children." She took pride in seeing new life in the Kalona, in watching that first spark of understanding in a foal's eyes. She knew that they were special, all of them. And each had so much potential.

"When Nemesis was a foal, he was the most innocent and gentle of my children, and his coloring quite belies that. He was, and is the darkest in coloration. He has grown to be a fine Kalona, but has also proved to me that coloring does not in any way effect the personality of a child." All of her young ones had become quite the individuals, distinct from each other, and their parents. Little Bane seemed to worship his father, and Rötschreck had not discouraged him from following him about. It was good to know that she could depend upon him to be careful with their foals. It seemed that Ariston was one such stallion, one who would become a good father for his younglings, despite his own personal failings. He possessed his own strengths as well, and she wasn't worried about his capacity to teach his children the right of things.

Maeryn snorted. "I can imagine that one such as yourself would not hold for harm done to one's body. And I do not doubt that you will protect your own." What kind of father would Wrath be, for example, if he ever became one? Someone, she did not think he would be as his 'brother'. "You seem determined to raise your children with Kalona ideals. If that is so, then there are many you can turn to for assistance there. Anevay, while probably not the safest option, certainly knows a great deal about her kind." Also, she thought that Ruin would be willing to lend his own experiences. He was young enough still that he could remember what it had been like to be raised by his parents. Perhaps that sort of perspective would help.

"It is rather interesting. My foal, Hex, has turned out a different color than either Rötschreck or I. It is amazing what the blend of two Kalona can create. Although, from what I know of Heartless, that foal has inherited his or her mother's coloration." Now that was amusing. Rather like Bane, wasn't it? She raised an eyebrow, and watched as the child quietly watched the baskets, particularly the one that Ariston paid so much attention to. She was proud of her colt's behavior, proud that he waited while she spoke to another adult, and did not make a fuss. He was as quiet as Ruin had been opinionated, and had his own sort of strength. Also, he seemed possessed of a similar innocence to the kind Nemesis had had, and that amused her. No other Soquili breed would have expected that of him.

"I'm sure you will discover the truth of your foal before too long." When the foal left his or her basket, he or she would prove him or herself to be one way or the other. Or perhaps, different from anything that he imagined. "I must be going now. I need to find Bane some food, and Hex as well. It has been a pleasure to converse with you, Ariston. I hope that you will do everything you have said for your children." He would be doing them a disservice, otherwise. They had as much right to their heritage as Kalona as her own foals did. Inclining her head once more, she nudged Bane away from the baskets, and guided him back in the direction of the lands that she shared with Rot. She wished the young stallion well, and hoped that he, too, would fulfill his potential as a Kalona. If not, as least he had the best wishes for his young. With a final glance back, over her shoulder, Maeryn disappeared into the underbrush, with the little colt in tow.