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 Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 8:45 pm
It was time. The winter snows had melted, even from the feet of the mountains closeby. A stirring awoke in her, a nudging, an urging... for action. For change. It was time, she knew now.
She gathered her things. They really didn't amount to much. She had very little clothing, and only a few trinkets from her old life that she still held dear. The rest she cleaned and set in order within the teepee. She swept it out and made everything within tidy. She tucked all signs of life away. Until she belonged fully, this no longer would be her home. She had to find herself first.
She had been dwelling on it for some time, but Eloran's coming somehow clinched it. She needed to finally leave the rest of her life behind and move forward into this new life she had chosen int he Kawani village. But something needed doing before that could be fully accomplished. She wasn't sure what, yet. But it meant a journey. She didn't know where yet either.
So it was, after packing together a set of bags of food to drape across her grey mare's shoulders, she called the horses to her. The hawk came as well, of course. They gathered around. The red mare was clearly uneasy, wondering what she was doing there. The grey was curious, ears pricked attentively. And the beautiful bay stallion stood by stolidly, listening but relaxed. She paused for a flicker of amusement. He seemed to feel content no matter what they were doing... so long as they were toghether.
A flutter of wings made her look up as the hawk changed trees to get closer to the gathering without seeming to really care one way or the other what happened. Hiding a smile at his vanities, she again turned to the three horses.
"It is time for me to travel an unknown path, my dear friends." She smiled gently at each of them. "You do not have to come with me, but I would welcome your company. It would smooth my path and cheer my spirit to have you travel at my side." She somehow had always known that these wonderful creatures understood more than animals were often given credit for. So she left it at that and waited for their responses.
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Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 8:47 pm
Delphia's heart nearly broke, hearing the hidden loneliness in her friend's voice. She moved forward to nuzzle the quiet woman. She had been spending much time away with Sora, and was beginning to regret that. She tossed her head, making her braid beads click, and neighed to Jaden. "Would you please go tell Sora that I must go with Talencia for a time, but that I'll be back when I can? And then Jaden... will you come with us?" She gazed hopefully at her winged friend.
The hawk ruffled his feathers in irriration at being noticed being so close to the small group, but he knew he couldn't fool Delphia anyway. He huffed and fluffed his feathers a moment more before letting them smooth. He resettled his wings and bobbed his head at her. "Aye, I'll tell the male, since you asked so pretty." He flared his wings to go, dropping off the branch to swoop in and land on Delphia's back. He nibbled on her mane, loosing one braid with his impudent affection. "And of course I'm coming! Who else could get you lot out of trouble?" He cawed a laugh and launched off her back, laboring higher into the sky to go search for the pale stallion.
Eloran let the grey mare show the woman her answer first, then glanced at the red mare. She was hanging back a bit, clearly uncertain and mildly nervous. He snorted a sort of reassurance to her and stepped forward. He pivoted so that he was standing next to Talencia, then he leaned his warm, muscled shoulder into her. When she laughed and leaned back against him, he turned his head and curled his neck around her, hooking his large chin behind her waist. She scratched his neck along in all the right spots, and he grunted with pleasure.
"I will go where you go, my friend, my dearest of companions," he rumbled deep in his chest to her. He pulled back and huffed into her face before nibbling on her hair with his lips and snorting wetly. The humans always loved that, despite their protests otherwise. He would not leave her side, no matter the trial, no matter what madness may come. She loved him for him, and he would not let that ever leave his mind.
Ceylona meanwhile watched all this with trepidation. She didn't mind the idea of travel, but why did she want them to come? One eye rolled warily at the pile of packs that sat ready. She certainly was NOT going to carry anything! She stomped one hoof, making the bangles on her foreleg tinkle faintly. She had allowed these o be put on as a gesture of being special to Talencia... not belonging to her, though. Never. These thin circlets of metal could never hold her to anything, they would snap too easily. That was why she hadn't minded. Plus, she found them rather striking against her red hide. She stomped again, just to hear them jangle softly.
She raised her eyes to Talencia, and took in again the other's responses. Well.... it wouldn't hurt to travel with them, would it? Perhaps... just maybe... Talencia only wanted the company. She took a step forward.... and then sidestepped, away from the pile of packs. She pranced sideways and positioned herself next to Eloran and then peered around his broad chest at the human. Yes, she would come, if only out of curiousity. Would they be playing a role in this, or just tag along? Her curiousity wanted to know, and she let it help her choose this path of Talencia's. Time would be the only solution.
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Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 8:48 pm
Days later, they had established a routine. Delphia willingly bore the packs. Eloran consented to carry her with his typical grace and warmth. Ceylona however frisked about like a filly, acting very unusual, at least in Tal's eyes. SHe had never seen this mare play or been anything but cautious and serious. It made her smile to see the mare to happy. Still, the very trip itself weighed heavy on her heart. She still didn't belong, and she felt instinctively this was her last chance to find her place among the tribe.
Ceylona was feeling good. They were back out in the open. There were no humans in sight but the one she had chosen to travel with. They had even yet to see another soquili, though she knew they must be about. She pranced, stepping high, and tossed her long mane about in the playful wind. Yes, it felt good to be roaming again! Tail flagged, she darting ahead of the group and galloped headlong down the faint trail they were following.
Eloran, however, kept his ears pricked and his nostrils flared. He was watching and listening and scenting for something. More precisely, for someONE. He may have been young, but he recalled running wild with his father through the hills and plains. His father might still be out here, running free. Would he recognize his son? He gave a noisy snort at another thought that crossed his mind. What would his father think of seeing his son with a human on his back?
He flickered his ears backwards, towards the woman sitting lightly on his back, humming softly to herself and rocking gently with his movement. He had always willingly but almost automatically obeyed humans... until he had met this one. Now he willingly and whole-heartedly obeyed her, to the exclusion of all others, in fact. With a twinge of guilt, he realized the riding master in the village must be sorely missing him. But as he walked on, he knew he was doing the right thing. This human needed him more. She was lonely, somehow. And seeking something on this trek they had begun. Concience resolved, he turned his mind again to his father. He would just have to accept that loving this human creature was part of who he was. Eloran was not ashamed, and felt no stirrings that he should be.
Delphia followed behind Eloran, trying very hard not to appear to long after what she had left behind. She was kind-hearted, and wanted to be there for Talencia... but she couldn't help missing her family. Her boys were grown and doing things, and she was missing it. And oh, how she sorely missed Sora's comforting presence. Delphia may have worked hard over the winter, but she was not used to all this traveling. Her legs were sore and her back hurt from being in constant motion.
She did not speak of it to the other two, however. She also was amused by Ceylona's foal-like energy and exuberance, and did not wish to mar it. And Eloran... well, if she was honest with herself, she was a bit jealous of the immediate and close bond he shared with the woman. She and Tal had tried very hard to bond like that, but it had never quite happened. There was always an element of seperation and distance between then, though it ached to admit it. So she suffered silently, determined not to abandon Talencia when she so clearly needed them all there, supporting her. She would see this through, she vowed to herself.
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Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 8:50 pm
Thus they wound their way through the woods. When night fell, the horses would stand in a circle about the sleeping woman. They traveled for days, up and down hill sthat began rolling, and into thicker and deeper woods. Talencia guided them only by the tug she felt in her heart, indicating the direction she should go on this mysterious quest.
What she did not know was that they were being drawn to a very ancient being, who was nestled high up in the mountains. A great and wise tree, with the spirit of knowledge and wisdom tempered by time and trials. It was this gentle being that drew the troubled woman to her. She knew that the pale-skinned woman felt out of place among her darker skinned tribe. Only time would tell, but this wise spirit hoped this quest would help her to realize she arleady belonged, and that she need only accept this and allow herself to be welcomed into the village.
But unbeknownst to either of them, another also was drawn. Another waited unknowingly for Talencia and her soquili to come. For the future held more changes ahead than any knew.Wolfie Duke A cool breeze blew through the sandy stones ledges high up in the mountains. What little vegetation that clung to the rocks waivered in the breeze, bringing along a smooth, sweet scent. Tucked inside those ledges was also a small, muscular woman with blue-silver hair blowing around her shoulders.
This woman was Wolfie Duke, "the lady of the ledges," as the animals knew her as. She sat with her knees pulled up to her chin, staring out over the lands. She watched the villiage below, smoke drifting up from fires well-tended, an occasional whinny echoing up the cliffs. The birds chirped overhead and she turned her attention momentarily upward. The sun cascaded over her smooth face and she closed her eyes to let the rays warm her.
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Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 8:51 pm
Jaden was ranging ahead, stretching his huge black wings. Delphia's company was perfect in his opinion, but having so many others there constantly got to him a bit. So he resolved the issue by scounting the surrounding land. He didn't seriously expect to find any danger. Rather, he was a curious bird, and liked to explore and discover things he'd never seen before.
Today, he saw just such a thing. As he soared he caught a rising warm thermal and began to circle up on it. It swept up off of warm rock-face, and he relished in the feeling of warm wind under him and warm sun above him. Before he'd gotten very high, though, he peered downwards and saw an unexpected sight.
A sun-browned woman with startling blue hair had her face tipped up towards him, eyes closed, as if she too were drinking in the sun's touch and the wind's caress. She sat at the mouth of a cave which he surmised was her home. Why would she be out here, all by herself? In the back of his mind, he realized it reminded him of Talencia, living out on her own, away from all the others. He never had quite understood it Although he himself was not a social animal, he knew humans and horses both usually were.
He slid out of the rising thermal and swooped down for a closer look. With a flurry of feathers, he landed on a rock nearby her. He flipped his wings into place behind his back and cocked his head at her. Both eyes considered her brightly, while the sun gleamed on his blue-black plumage and brought out the green of his necklace against the dark background of his chest. "What are you doing here?" he cawed boldly, knowing even so that she couldn't understand him.Wolfie Duke Wolfie heard the birds shift about her and opened her eyes into the direct sunlight and blinked. She was startled at how bright white it was this afternoon. With a slight sigh she wished that the rains would come and replenish the mountains.
Although she enjoyed the warming sun, she was thankful for the small storms which deposited rain in cups within the rocks. When morning came this water would be cool and wonderful to drink. It was much simpler than climbing across the mountain to find a trickling stream. Wolfie wouldnt not have to leave her tiny alcove vulnerable to the mountain rams in which she could not reclaim once they had decided it was theirs.
She swallowed hard, remembering the skin pouch she had left in the remaining shade of a wirey sapling. Returning her eyes to the rocks she blinked away the blindness only to see in its wake a black bird, squawking quietly at her.
"Hello little one," She called to it quietly. "Do you wish for a drink too?" she reached out a tanned hand to the bird and cocked her head to the side watching it move, carefully holding her breath.
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Posted: Thu Oct 19, 2006 8:53 pm
Jaden cawed a laugh at her. He wasn't a dog to sniff her hand! He nipped at her hand playfully, not touching her except for with the rounded front of his beak. "Silly human! I wonder if Delphia's silly human will want to see you?" He eyed her thoughtfully. The best thing to take the human Talencia would be some of that blue hair this human had. But he knew that would be impolite to pull it out. The horses tended not to mind, but the humans were finicky about such things.
With no other ideas, he leaned down on the rock where he was perched and tweaked off some of the fragrant plants that grew here in this sunwarmed area. This would have to do to bring the message to Talencia that there was a human here. Let the horses figure out how to get her to see how the plants meant a human.
With a shrug of his gleaming black shoulders, he bobbed his head to the blue-haired woman and then launched himself into the air. Swiftly he flew back to the little traveling group, which really wasn't all that far away. Swooping low over Eloran, he scree'd and dropped his gift to the human on his bcak before landing gracefully on top of the packs on Delphia's back.Tal looked up at Jaden in time to get smacked in the face by something leafy. Startled, she automatically caught it before it fell to the ground. Sitting back firmly, she signaled Eloran to stop while she examined what the black hawk had brougth her. It was still warm to the touch, so clearly it wasn't under the trees of the forest they still rode in. And it smelled so good! She had the sudden thought that if this plant was plentiful, it would make a wonderful bed to sleep in back at Sarrow Moon.
"Jaden, could you show me where you found this?" she called to the bird, not feeling foolish at all for speaking to a bird. She didn't expect him to talk back, or even give her a discernable answer. Predictably, in fact, he practically ignored her, flipping out one wing and grooming it meticulously with his beak, muttering the whole time as if to himself."Jaden, what was that all about?" Delphia asked, her ears flickering back at the hawk while Talencia looked at the plant. She listened while the hawk related what he'd seen, knowing Tal would just have to wait before she got any answers. After the bird was done with his tale, she glanced at the other two. "What do you think? Do we go there and meet this flower-haired human?"Tal was still mulling over what to do when Eloran smoothly moved on beneath her without her nudging. Looking up, she saw the two mares had also set off, all in the same direction. Baffled, she tangled the fingers of one hand in Eloran's mane and sat quietly, waiting to see where her hooved friends were taking her.Wolfie Duke Wolfie recoiled her hand slightly stunned that the bird would mock her so. But then again, it wasnt a harmful mock, more of a game it would seem. She smiled as the black hawk picked bits and pieces of flowers and other folliage off of the rocks. They were colorful hues of blue and violet. The perfect colors to make dye from. Many of her own hideskins were laden with painted markings from the very same plants. The hawk was so cute as he set about his task. Wolfie stiffled a giggle. "Silly little one." She cooed as he fluttered up into the drafts above.
She crawled to her feet on the rocky ledge and gripped the one above her. There, a small cave was comprised of a large overhang of fallen boulders. Perhaps from the iceage or a rockslide in eons past. The overhang was not much of a retreat, spotty with open wedges and niches, but it served well-enough for the daytime hours. However, if one were to scurry up the boulders, watching for snakes and poisionous spiders and the like, than there was a secondary alcove above. This place was sheltered by spindly trees with roots growing like rampant spiderwebs through the silted landscape. It was hidden from most of the valley below, both the boulders and the trees serving a plentiful purpose.
Wolfie hefted herself into a corner and began to slide up a tight wedge in three very large, very steady mica laden slabs of rock. She had done this many times over the years, though her shape and that of the hole had changed with each passing season. The landscape was always changing. People were always changing.
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Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:21 pm
Talencia sat back and enjoyed the gently rocking ride on Eloran's warm back. She ran her hands over his neck and shoulders lovingly. She smiled as she felt him arch his neck proudly at her touches. He was such a sweetheart, and she couldn't believe he'd simply appeared into her life as he had. And now, no matter where they were going, she reveled in sharing his company. Contentedly she wove her fingers into his mane and cast her eyes about where they were going.Ceylona's ears were busy, flicking forward, to the side, and back. She was listening, not for predators as you might think a wild mare would, but for the human they were seeking. She was not at all sure she wanted to go and meet another human. In fact, when the bird told them they were arriving, she planned on dropping back and staying as far away as was polite to her human friend. Her ears pinned briefly at that thought. Calling a human her friend? Who would have imagined she, born wild and chosen wild, would claim such a dominant creature as her friend? Ah, but this one didn't ever attempt to dominate her. Not once!
She heaved a huge, groaning sigh that earned her a concerned glance from the human. She may not think of binding Ceylona to her, but she did care. In response to the glance, the mare nickered quietly to Talencia. Yes, the woman had proven herself a very good friend indeed. Thus it was Ceylona didn't mind going with them to meet this other human. She simply wasn't willing to risk the danger that this other human was the dominating sort.Jaden swooped and curved above the earth-bound group. They were almost there, nearing the edge of the forest where they would soon be bale to see the rock face which was even more brightly lit now with the westering sun. The animals of the forest were making noises as they prepared for night. The sun should still be above the horizon when they reached the rock face, but not long after that it would sink behind the horizon. He peered downward at the woman riding the red bay. What would she do if this blue-haired female was unwelcoming?Wolfie Duke Wolfie sqeezed through the opening and to the top of the ledge. Here she could get a better view as the sun began growing orange with night and settle onto the treetops. The evening birds chittered lously in the trees nearby.
Something clunked on the trail below her. She became aware of every little sound, wondering what could be walking up the mountainside at this hour. The forest creatures were much too small to make such a loud sound. She hunched low and peeked over the edge of the stone, a cool breeze shuffling her blue-silver hair into her eyes.
The sun then began to dim, sliding it's slow way below the horizon. Tal blinked a few times to clear her eyes to the darkening landscape. What had at first seemed to be a stark cliff face she could now see was pocked with crack lines, rock edges, natural caves, and tumbled boulders. Jaden had landed on a ledge about halfway up. She watched as he hopped along and then mouthed a clump of plants. She saw that these same plants clung to the rocks in the most astonishing places, and that these were the same as what the hawk had brougth her.
"AHA!" she crowed triumphantly and swung down from the tall red bay's back.Wolfie Duke Wolfie hit her stomach as something strange made a loud sound. In the back of her mind it sounded like a rather large crow, squacking away at something or other. But then again.... her mind drifted. She inched closer to the edge and peered down and over.
The trees bent slightly in the wind as a cool dusk breeze began to blow through. The evening critters were beginning to emerge as a tiny lizard crawled across her hand, momentarily startling her. She shook it gently off and placed it in the tall grasses that grew along the cliff face. Here, she could peer down and not easily be seen back. What a wonderful place this was to stage an attack if ever so needbe.
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Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:22 pm
The sun sank below the horizon as Talencia went about gathering the herbs that clung to myriad cracks and nooks in the rocks. Meanwhile, all three horses turned their noses upwards and gazed in the direction the hawk was flying. For Jaden had risen on the still rising warm thermals and popped up right in front of the creeping woman above.
"Hello again, Flowerhair!" he chittered amiably, maneuvering his wings delicately so as to hover directly in front of her hiding spot. "Why are you sneaking around like a fox?" He peered back down at his companions, then looked back at her. "Don't tell me you are afraid of that lot? Not a one of them would hurt a fly!" Hearing a squeal from the wild mare, he winced, ducking his head. "Well, maybe that one would, but the others won't let her hurt you, I promise!"Ceylona had crept forward against her own better judgement. The human was... hiding? Her muscles tensed, her instincts telling her that the only reason to hide was to prey upon them. But startlingly her inner voice told her differently. How could her heart know this human was not a danger to them? Irritated with herself and her conflicting thoughts, she gave another, louder squeal of frustration and reared, twisting faintly in an echo of a maneuver to loose a cougar from her back. What was wrong with her? First she decides to trust one human, and now without even having SEEN this flower-haired human, she decides she can be trusted as well? She snorted hard, as if to clear her nostrils of grit. This just simply did not make sense. Out of ire, she began to paw viciously at the earth with one forehoof.Wolfie Duke There it was. A horse! A horse had been making all the noise. With a sigh of relief she relaxed a bit for her perch in the grasses. Unsure of whether this horse was on the run from a coyote or mountain ram, she waited a little bit before slowly rising from the spot to look further over the edge.
Standing to her full height, she brached her feet apart on the grassy incline and peered over. The setting sun outlined her in the evening sky as reds and oranges had begun to sweep across the land. That silly bird she had seen earlier was swooping overhead and she tried not to look up and watch him catch the solar winds in fear she might loose her balance and fall victim to vertigo like many non-mountain creatures tended to do.
She watched the woman peering down at them. It was entirely possible she couldn't see them, since they were now in the deep shadows of the forest as night fell. Deciding not to hide her presence from this other, she called out, "Greetings!" She didn't notice all three of her soquili glancing at each other in a satisfied manner.Wolfie Duke Something squawked from below. It was another. A land-walker like herself. She squinted hard to see. "O'siyo" She called out unsure. She was able to make out the outlines of others below. Barely. They were much taller than this native and she guessed it to be stallions of the plains.
"o'siyo" She repeated. She inched foreward a tad bit more and skittered on the sandy stones that lay beneath the grasses.
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Posted: Thu Oct 26, 2006 2:26 pm
Talencia continued to peer upwards as the other person called down to her. Before she could draw breath to call back, though, Eloran took a deep breath behind her and heighed loudly. She supposed his thought was to reassure the other person that they WERE there... not just an optical illusion. Still, she wniced. "Easy boy, I'm sure whoever it is isn't deaf... or wasn't until now." The look he gave her made her feel guilty, and she went to him to pull his head close to her and stroke his jaw. "I'm sorry love. Just be more careful about my ears next time, eh?"
It was only then that she looked up again. The sun had gone completely now, and dusk had fallen. All she could see were shadows and outlines of the rocks above. "Hello? I'm sorry, I can't see you....," she trailed off and spoke quieter. "And I am not going to try to climb those rocks in the dark. We'd best bed down here, I guess." She cupped Eloran's chin and tugged lightly, urging him after her. She then whistled for the other two mares and set about trying to find a flat spot of ground near to the cliff. She figured it would provide the best shelter and protection they could find in the dark.Wolfie Duke As she leaned forward on the rocks, the sound of horses talking echoed up to her. It was loud in comparison to the evening birds. With a startle, she jumped, but perhaps too much so. The little pebbles beneath her feet began to slide and she found herself airborn before she knew what was happenening. The grasses atop the rock were not match for gravity and they came sloshing with her. In the dark, there was nothing to sheild her from anything. Only the unknown.
She cried out quietly as she free fell a few feet before landing with a whoosh into a nearby tree. The impact alone knocked the wind out of her and she threw her arms protectively over her head as best she could. Wolfie tumbled down the branches, the bark scraping at her face and arms and legs as she went.
Finally the momentum stopped and she remained dangling at precurious angles. Her leggings were clutched by the branches above and she hoovered upside down, swinging lightly. Wolfie was thankful to have escaped more serious injury. But then again, this was not her first fall from those very same rocks. It was murphys law that seemed to control most of her life and she had finally given in to its ways.
With a huff, she blew the whispy hairs out of her face only to realize she had a pair of eyes directly in front of her, glowing slightly in the dark.
Instinctively, Wolfie threw her arms in front of her head, lightly smacking whatever it was staring at her in the process. A wet thwap echoed in her ears and her hand became slimy and sickeningly wet. She rushed to smear whatever it was off on her leggings as fast as she could. The being snorted and huffed, warm air gushing at her face.
Wolfie paused a moment and remembered to release the breath she had been holding since her landing in her percarious spot. The eyes moved closer to her again. It snorted. She exhaled. It snorted again. She thought that somehow this was a contest of sorts. She heard the rustling of shrubbery and then hooves on rock. A Horse!
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