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 Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:19 pm
"Yes, I'm fine," she assured him, standing closer to him as Tucker pranced over, and nudged the blood bay's neck again gently. She couldn't help but smile at the energetic colt, relieved that such an experience hadn't affected him negatively. She didn't know what she'd do if it had. Her emerald eyes flicked over the golden-horned foal's body, making sure he hadn't randomly attained anymore injuries and, satisfied that he was fine, she was content to stand and watch him.
"You did?" He asked, wide-eyed. "Trie was a colt before?!" He couldn't believe it.
The snowy mare chuckled as she trotted over and stood near Cressida, nudging the gilded mare's shoulder gently. "Are you both alright?" She wasn't able to tell from where she stood with Tucker, and although they probably were, but all the same she was still concerned about their well-being.
"Of course he was," Cressida chuckled as she snaked her neck out to n** the colt's tail and gave it a gentle tug, eliciting a squeal from Tucker before he whirled around, giggling and grinning at his dam. "And you'll be a stallion like trie some day." She returned the nudge then, looking at Rhea with a smile. "Yes, ute, we're fine." She didn't need to ask the same of her dam, as she hadn't been anywhere near the action.
The snowy mare turned to Vierna then, offering a polite bob of her head and a smile. "Pleasure to meet you, Vierna," she offered, catching the name from when Zak had yelled it several times, even calling her aunt. What a strange turn of events. "My name is Rhea. Now, how did you know Zak was here?" She'd heard of their relation after the green dolt spouted it so loud, but how had Vierna found him? She'd come just in time, too. If she had gotten there even a few seconds later, either Cressida or Aitumn would have torn Zak to shreds, in all probability. More than likely both of them would have.
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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2008 12:41 pm
The large mare giggled slightly at the little colt, what a sweety he was, and quite cute. Though her attention was turned to Rhea, the approaching white Reya she had seen with Tucker earlier. Again she returned the bob of the head for the sake of politeness, as was the mare's nature. "You as well Rhea. I had heard rumor back in D'ob of an Aeri that matched his describtion, and followed word of mouth to Quirne. I had just been combing the beach in hopes of finding him, and well, I guess I got lucky." If you could call the situation lucky.
Though her gaze traveled back in the direction Zak had gone, she may have been a bit unnerved by him, but it was still her responsiblity to make sure he followed the herd's laws, even if the herd was gone in its entirety. They were the only ideals she knew. "If you'd excuse me, I must be on my way. Take care all", she spoke with a smile once more, not wanting to bring the tension back into the encounter. A little smile to Aitumn, and dip of her muzzle, and the large Aeri was on her way in the direction the green brute had taken, 'thudering' as she bounced up and down with every slow trotting step she took. Sadly, this was as fast as she'd ever go.
There was no objection on Aitumn's part as Vierna decided to make her departure, for as it was the stallion was fairly tired, and a bit stiff. He would be likely to sleep deeply tonight, or perhaps even take a nap eventually during the duration of the day. It was his turn to look over Tucker and make sure he was alright, the colt certainly seemed fine, and for that Aitumn was thankful. A flick of his lengthy tail and the stallion craned his neck around to give Cress a soft bump to her cheek with his nose.
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 3:53 am
"Bye Vierna!" Tucker called, prancing around his parents in a circle. The snowy mare chuckled a bit before trotting past him, snaking a tail out to prod his flank, making the gangly colt squeal in surprise and amusement.
"Come on, Tucker, I want to show you something," she offered, trotting off down the beach a ways. She did want to show him something, of course, but she figured that Aitumn and Cressida would want to rest a while after that encounter.
"Ooh, okay grandma!" He called excitedly, and pranced around in front of both parents again. With a broad grin he nuzzled both their shoulders affectionately. "Love you riruy, love you ute, grandma's gonna show me something so bye!" He shouted the last sentence quickly, as he'd shot himself halfway down the beach directly after the first two.
The gilded mare smiled and watched the golden-horned colt run to catch up with her own mother, then turned and nudged Aitumn's cheek gently, her muzzle lingering there a moment or two before dropping down as she spoke. "C'mon you," she said with an amused grin, leaning over to n** at his shoulder before prancing around him to his other side, "you're stiff as a rock and almost as hard-headed for the stunts you've pulled. I think we've both earned ourselves a nice nap." She was tired as well, and from Rhea's actions, she figured the snowy mare was bringing Tucker elsewhere for that reason. "Come on," she said again, more gently this time, leaning over to bump his neck with her nose gently.
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Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2008 8:38 am
He did enjoy watching Tucker prance around in circles, knowing that the whole encounter could have had a completely different ending than the one that had produced for them. That, and it was good he had been friendly with Vierna, he wouldn't want Tucker being wary of any certain breed just because of a big dolf seemed to want to kill him. Then again, there was always that damned katilenuck, at which he hadn't taken into accord just yet. Damn Zak had been on his mind since Tucker was still a fruit. And though he had met a certain 'Ka' awhile back, the red and white painted stallion, he had learned from then due to word of mouth what that herd actually symbolized. Eventually, he would need to have a talk with Tucker, probably not till the colt was a stallion and could understand such things, but till then it was best to stay as far away from the red mountains as possible.
... And his mind got away from him. He barely caught Tucker's affectionate nuzzles and the white colt was off in a flash, calling from behind his shoulder. "Love you too mimila," Aitumn was able to call back, his attention quickly caught by Cressida as he felt the warmth of her muzzle against his cheek. It did relax him, as he still did have that lingering stiffness that came from such an encounter, the remains of fury after hearing what he heard; the stallion's shoulders gave a heave as he allowed the tension to leave him. "Just almost", he smiled a bit, blowing a bit of hot air on her nose as he gave a small chuckling snort. Indeed Aitumn was tired, and he didn't need to be told twice. Lifting his head out to softly press his cheek against her neck, ducking down but still keeping contact as he passed under her head to get to her other side and be turned the other way to begin walking in a direction where he spied a soft dune. However he halted briefly as if to hesitate.
There had been something else on his mind with their time together other than Zaknafein, something much more pleasant yet just as imporant, he believed. They had been through this much, and some how the words didn't seem as daunting as they had previously been. The blood bay backed up a few step, however such an action that was normal easy for him was difficult with his stiff limbs, and he backed until he was face to face with her once more. He had said it easily to Tucker, freely and without any obligation to do so. There was nothing that said he had to, and yet he wanted to. How to speak it to Cressida though, was something very different, but he could do it. After all this he could. "I love you too, Cress. Just as much as I love our son." That's what he had on his mind nowadays, about as much as the issue of Zaknafein.
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 2:23 pm
The gilded mare chuckled lightly at the colt, and at Aitumn's slightly distracted behavior. She opened her mouth to comment when his cheek was suddenly brushing against her neck, and the next thing she knew she had to lift her head up as he casually walked right beneath it. She snorted in amusement and turned her head to look at him, again opening her mouth to comment, when she noticed he'd stopped. She closed her mouth as he backed up, and her brows were furrowed by the time he had placed himself in front of her. Clearly something was on his mind, and as the Zak problem was no longer that much of a problem, she hadn't the slightest idea what it could be that plagued his mind. That is, until he spoke.
Her brows raised as once more her mouth opened to speak, but the words this time would not come. She closed it and opened it again, managing to stutter out a few inarticulate sounds. "I..." Now that she had the time and mind to look back on all they'd gone through, she began to realize something.
The whole time, her main focus had been Zak and the massive threat he posed. She had to protect Tucker from him, and she had to protect Aitumn from him, too. Granted, Aitumn was perfectly capable of handling himself, but she still felt better knowing she would always be there to help him, and with Zak, she knew that he'd need it. Hell, she needed his help too, so in reality they protected each other from him, and aided each other in the arduous journey that was life. Fate had thrown them for a loop when Tucker's tree sprouted, and it threw them an awful rough spot named Zak, but they pulled through everything despite the odds, and they were still together. She had grown very, very attached to Aitumn since they found the intertwined saplings, and now that she thought about it, she couldn't see herself parting his company. Not for anything.
"I.."
Tucker also gave her a good reason not to. The little colt loved both parents, and she knew that they both loved him more than anything. Until now. Now, Aitumn had admitted something that had only entered her mind fleetingly once in a while, and indefinitely pushed aside to the background while they dealt with Zak, while they lived in suspense and sometimes fear. Now that that threat was effectively gone, their relationship could be brought forth and given the attention it truly deserved.
"I love you too, Aitumn," she murmured before she paused a few moments to gather her thoughts. "I love you too, and I love Tucker just as much. Now that Zak isn't that much of a problem any longer, I.. I never had time to think about it before," she admitted. Granted, he probably didn't either. She cast her bright emerald eyes towards her snowy dam and her nearly equally snowy son, and studied him closely. Green eyes flitted back to the blood bay before her, and she reached out to gently nudge his cheek with her muzzle. "I can't.. I can't even begin to imagine parting from you, even after Tucker is grown. I... Will you stay with me? With us?" It was as close to asking him to be hers as she could ever bring herself to say, and indeed, anything further could not be voiced, as her thoughts had all but frozen in anticipation.
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:40 pm
Sure the words had left his lips easily, but that didn't stop the constriction of his throat afterwards. Nothing choking or terrible, but Aitumn could still feel the effects of such a weighted, unguarded thing even after the words had died off. His body still stood fairly relaxed, at least as much so as possible. His legs were fairly stiff and were held at odd positions to support his weight without inacting any further aggitation to the joints, his neck was still held up, although its normal arch was a bit obscured, and his lengthy mane and tail hung in a mess of unruliness. Surely he could have picked a better time than this to bring up the matters of his heart, but he could have never allowed it to linger without dwelling on it endlessly. Should he have waited, surely he would agonized over when would have been the best time or situation.
Much like now as he was left hanging with every broken 'I...' that struck his alert ears. Yes, he understood she needed to gather her thoughts, but that still did little to ease his antcipation. Could she, no, would she even share his emotions? And if so, would she admit to them or had he sprung them on her too soon? Aitumn wasn't exactly a practiced stallion with these things, he didn't throw the words around lightly and thusly he had nothing to look back on to help him in the situation. Still, the battered Jala stood patiently, awaiting whatever judgement she might happen to toss his way, which ever way that might be. He'd take it all in stride, he reasoned, no need to cause needless emotional wounds with angered words of sorrow. That is, if that happened to be answer of which would cause them.
It came quickly. He hadn't expected the words until another angonizing moment of silence, and it caused the stallion to recall and double-take them as they came a second times. He felt a bit guilty for thinking what he had earlier, that she might not feel the same way, but that didn't overshadow the softened expression that reached the features on his sleek face. Still, words could not come despite how his throat loosed its grip. What could he say?
Then she continued, and his brows rose slightly at the question. Had that not been implied? With how he had followed her and Tucker even though she had Rhea to help out? The blood bay shifted his muzzle to lightly bump her nose to his own, as if to comminicate how silly it was to even ask. "Neither can I, Cress. Of course I'll stay with you and Tucker", his hollow eyes raised to briefly regard the sky before flitting back to her emerald orbs. "Why, what would the clouds say if I let my sly imp and prancing prince slip away? Its sheer blaspheme", he murmured with the slight hint of a smirk, playing on their little joke.
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 6:05 pm
It probably was rather silly for her to ask him to stay, he had implied he would when he expressed his love for her, but... but she felt the need to ask, to really make sure that he would stay with her. With them. Rhea wouldn't be around forever, she knew; she now had a home in Quirne, and people to visit and places to see, and doubtless they would visit each other frequently. Tucker would grow and eventually leave to start his own life, as well. He wouldn't stay forever, she knew, but it was still a daunting, painful thought. It was both saddening and wonderful how she had watched how much he'd grown, since finding the saplings months ago, to the strong colt playing with his grandmother now. Through it all, Aitumn was there, and she wanted him to stay with her forever, and his response lifted a heavy weight from her mind, heavier even than the threat Zak had posed.
"Blasphemy indeed," she agreed with a lighthearted grin, trotting around to n** at his flank. "I think they'd call you feather-brained; you know you can't turn your back on the gilded imp," Cressida teased as she jumped back and trotted a few paces off, her muscular tails twisting about themselves. She had felt so weighted down by Zak and, even more than that, the question of love had weighed more heavily in her mind, even if it wasn't her primary concern until just now. She couldn't remember feeling this happy and care-free in a long, long time. Zak was gone, ute was here, Tucker was a happy, healthy colt, and their future had brightened considerably.
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 6:38 pm
"Well I wouldn't want to be feather-brained, now would I?" He teased back, raising his wings upwards and bringing them close to his head as if to emphasize the point before allowing them to fall to his sides once more as he danced in an awkward side step at the n** to his flank. Finally his mind was allowed to break away from all the stress it had carried throughout the ordeal. No more questioning if he had actually been a murderer, no more agonizing over if Zak would rear his ugly head any time soon, and no more pondering if Cress had felt the same way he did. He knew now. He could relax.
However with such releif came exhaustion, not only physically from the fight with Zak but mentally as well. Aitumn was very tired, but would he allow that to hinder his playful mood towards Cressida? Of course not, the stallion was reckless in more ways than one as he pushed his stiff limbs into a slow trot after her, his muzzle snaking out to nudge at her shoulder affectionatly. Slipping off to her side in a semi-circle as he continued his slow trot, the blood bay tossed his head and went into an awkward prance before turning back around and flicking his lengthy midnight tail, as if somehow winning some sort of victory in their games.
Still, his pace had to slow as his limbs grew tired and he stood before her once more, grinning slightly in the pleasant atmosphere. "Perhaps I'll take you up on that offer of a nap", he chuckled light-heartedly.
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Posted: Tue Aug 05, 2008 7:49 pm
The gilded mare couldn't help but laugh at his feather-brained look, and she danced sideways away from the nudge as she reached in to imitate his act, bumping her nose against his shoulder. "I don't think the clouds would have given it such a physical interpretation," she teased, nipping at his neck before trotting sideways again, snapping her muscular tails as he flicked his normal one.
"A nap, yes," she said with a smile, flicking an ear and pawing at the shifting sands with a golden hoof. "A nap sounds wonderful. Glad I thought of it," the gilded imp said in a jokingly smug tone, then turned and trotted off a few paces towards the cliff. She settled down near the steep rocks, preferring the shade the cliffs gave over the sun beating down and reflecting off the pale sands. She could hardly believe how wonderfully happy she felt now, how light her heart seemed. Zak was out of the picture, she had a mate now -- something she didn't think she'd have for quite a while yet, and not in her wildest dreams did she think it would ever be a jala -- her mother was here, she had a gorgeous, wonderful son, and she couldn't even think of how things could get any better than this.
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Posted: Sun Aug 10, 2008 9:51 am
"Oh you never know with the clouds", he teased, rolling his hollow eyes in a playful manner as he snorted at the very thought. Feather-brained, yeesh, thankfully the Gods and Goddesses hadn't saw fit to strike him down for his blasphemy just yet. Although they had likely tried in times past, but here he stood, humbled and proud all at once at the life that had turned out to be his. Cress, Tucker, even Rhea were his family now. And Vierna? Apparently he had the instinct to protect her. It was dizzing to think back to his life before Cress. He had been a wanderer, going where he wanted, when he wanted, and never staying in one place for very long. Would he miss that life?
A look to the golden imp as she trotted off towards the cliffs, his own legs having him prancing slightly in place at what had been their playful game, and he didn't think so. To choose a life as empty as his had been, over the joys of being a father and now a mate, couldn't possibly withstand the love of these new feelings. It would be foolhearted to let them go for something so mechanical and trivial as wandering. As it was, he saw fit he hadn't felt the pull of his soul, the jagged need from his body to pull him away from his little family since Tucker's tree had been discovered.
With an appraising sigh that helped asure him of the realness to his new life, Aitumn followed after her with a brisk walk that could have easily turned into a jog had he the energy for it. "Yes certainly, wonderful idea you had there Miss Imp", he smirked, bumping her neck with his nose as he reached her. However, he didn't pause to fold his legs under him, grunting as he did so and relaxing at the soft feel of the sand as it gave way under his weight. He didn't think he'd laid down for sleep the entire time they'd been here, but he wasn't certain. Still, one of his feathered wings stretched out to pat the sand next to him, inviting her to join him. Zak was out of the picture, and he doubted the brute was going to show his face again.
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Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 1:42 pm
She offered an amused snort as she moved over and flopped down next to her now-mate, and bumped his cheek with her nose. "Yes, I do tend to have wonderful ideas, didn't the clouds tell you that?" The golden imp teased, aiming a playful n** at his ear. "Honestly, what have the clouds been telling you lately?"
Emerald eyes flitted to their slender foal still playing with her snowy dam, and a smile spread across her muzzle. Tucker could grow up in peace, without having to worry about the idiot Zak, and neither of them would have to worry about Aitumn leaving. Or her... For a brief moment, the thought occurred to her that, had Aitumn decided to leave, which parent Tucker would have gone with? She wouldn't ever want him to make such a decision, and she was glad he'd never have to. Especially now, with Zak gone and her ute here. She hadn't been this happy in ages, it felt like, and she couldn't remember the last time she felt so.. so...
Tired.
A rather large yawn escaped her then, and she leaned contentedly against the blood bay. Tucker was such a sweet colt, she didn't want to see him age just yet. She felt like part of his foalhood had slipped past her already, as she couldn't concentrate on neither Aitumn nor Tucker, they'd all had to pay more attention to Zak than anything else. Perhaps... "D'you think it'd be nice to have more foals sometime?" She asked, her eyes still on the golden-horned colt. Hopefully Aitumn would feel the same as she did about the thought.
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Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 2:59 pm
Settling himself into a comfortable position after she plopped down next to him, Aitumn just barely had time to duck his head in order to avoid her playful n**; a soft smirk making its way to his lips. "They've been telling me of the wonder my life has and will see, but of course its the sun that gossips about the future I can now have with my golden imp. Don'tcha know?" He chuckled slightly, allowing his muzzle to drift slowly down to the shifting sands that held the weight of his sleek head as if it was nothing at all. He might be able to get use to this actually, even if he couldn't dig into the ground to run full out anymore.
However, it was her last question that had his hollow, dark gaze shifting to meet her sights once more. Although his look was thoughtful, almost kind as if to muse over the idea. "I think it'd be wonderful, Cress. As many foals as you desire, course I do believe that's up to fate", he smiled. Though it would be cool to pick the number of foals a couple could have, he wasn't going to complain either way. "They'd all be glorious", he affirmed with a definite nod, lifting the feathered wing nearest Cress and allowing it drape over her back in the nequus equivelant of close affection. At least for Aitumn.
"What do you think?" he inquired almost quietly as his voice seemed to trail a little deeper at the end, stiffling a yawn for as long as he could get the words out.
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Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 7:22 pm
"No, I didn't know, the sun doesn't speak to me," she teased before another tired yawn escaped her muzzle. Her bright green eyes flicked to their only son, and a smile alighted her features as she pondered his question. "I think it would be nice," she murmured, flicking an ear and settling her head down on the soft sand. All of a sudden, she felt a hundred times more tired than she had just a few moments ago. It was a strange feeling she hadn't felt in a while.
"I love Tucker so much, of course, but... but it would be nice to have more, when we can actually focus on them instead of focus on running and fighting back threats." She didn't have to speak his name for Aitumn to know who she meant. As if that wasn't obvious. "I would like some more. I think Tucker would like having younger siblings, too." Another yawn escaped her, and she blinked slowly, her eyelids heavy with magical sand from the fabled Sand Nequus. Metaphorically speaking, of course. "Of course they'd be glorious. Did the sun tell you that as well?" She asked, her voice quiet as her eyes slowly closed, although she managed to refrain from falling asleep quite yet.
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Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:48 pm
It was such a nice- well, at least this part of today was nice. Relaxing with his mind at ease, his feelings expressed and returned, and sharing the same ideas as his new found mate. Would he get use to saying that word to himself or would it forever be foreign to the blood bay stallion who had only known the life of a wanderer for so long? There was a strange comfort behind it, and yet the ectasy of realization and revelation. Yes. It was a good word, he decided.
"I'm sure they'd like having Tucker as an older brother as well", he mused aloud, allowing his gaze to travel to his shockingly white son once more. He was so full of life, how could the colt not be liked by his younger siblings? Heh, he was already thinking about them as if they were already living and out and about. It might not have been smart to count on that just yet, but the stallion couldn't help his fantciful mind. "Sure she did. Apparently the sun has a liking to my golden imp as well", he snorted in a quiet laughter that difted off at the end, managing to allow himself closer to sleep.
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Posted: Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:55 pm
She couldn't help a soft chuckle, eyes still closed. "I didn't know the sun was a she," the gilded imp mused, curling her muscular tails around her hindlegs and pulling her wings a bit closer to her sides, and leaned against the blood bay with a contented sigh. "I'm sure they will," the gold-hooved mare managed to murmur before slowly drifting off to sleep. Today had been very tiring, and she didn't know how Tucker still had so much energy.
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