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 Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 12:19 pm
When you had an agenda, time could pass painfully slowly as you waited for an objective to come to pass. On the other hand, it could also whiz by, so rapidly that you might not even realize an hour, day, or week had passed until you stopped to reflect on it.
Such was the case now. After parting ways with Wadi and his herd, Safi had meandered down the lakeside to his own teepee complex. As it was the first time he'd been back in ages, he'd had to get caught up on the news via his herdmate Elizabeth, who told him all of what she knew of their herd, particularly the recent tragedy that had struck Zaphiro in the loss of both of his newborn children. Naturally, Safi had hastened off to offer his condolences, and then on the way back had encountered his daughter, and with one thing leading to another, a few weeks had passed without him realizing it.
But now, once again, he was alone, back to his own musings and his own thoughts. And among those thoughts...
"To go back, or to not go back, that is the question."
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 12:28 pm
He'd spent time with the family getting caught up on what was going on. It was nice to get news even if his favorite Uncle wasn't around. Everyone said Sedi was still out wandering but that wasn't odd so he wasn't worried.
The news that he'd made a friend delighted some of his family and amazed others. His parents seemed overjoyed that he'd finally managed to talk to someone for more than five minuets that wasn't family. He was rather proud of himself and had kept that up until Dodger had managed to startle him almost into a heart attack.
Things had eventually calmed down and he'd decided that he wanted to find Safi again. He wasn't sure how he was going to find the other stallion but if he just kept a look out he was bound to run into him eventually.
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:03 pm
Trotting along at Safi's side, Cerdi had looked up at Safi's comment, expecting, as was his wont, that it was geared towards him. "Go back where, Boss? The teepee? The caverns? Maybe that nifty mountain path we found that one time..."
Safi, on the other hand, had merely been musing aloud; in fact, it probably wouldn't be an exagerattion to say that he'd completely forgotten his fox was even present. Hearing him speak, consequently, caused the stallion to look up with a bit of bemusement. "Hrm?"
Eyeing the stallion with mild skepticism (for Cerdi thought Safi was playing with him), Cerdi moved to clarify. "You said you were debating on whether or not to go back, so I just want to know WHERE."
...Oh yes. Where. "Nowhere in particular as far as YOU are concerned, Cerdi; just random chatter of my own, thanks kindly." Which was also a common thing.
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:10 pm
Scurrying away from whatever it was that had darted out of the underbrush near him he stopped and panted for a moment. This hunting for someone was taking a toll on his nerves.
"I hope i find him soon ...."
If not he was going to risk having a heat attack or something before night fall. Maybe he should look into getting a familiar like Safi said he had. He wouldn't be lonely then and there'd be someone around to tell him he was being silly.
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:15 pm
Well, that was no fun; still, the Boss knew best, therefore if the Boss said he was musing out loud, then he was musing out loud for a reason and he, Cerdi, would do his best to not intrude. Therefore he gave Safi a proud bow, then turned and darted off into the underbrush for a bit. Might as well see if there was anything tasty out there while the Boss thought...
Cerdi didn't even realize that he was heading straight for Wadi, so intent was he on the twin desires of privacy for the Boss and finding food...
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:21 pm
He almost caught his breath and relaxed again when something blue and, at least in his eyes, big darted toward him. Practically shrieking he scrambled out of the way and toward the cover of the trees.
The thing had been coming at him so fast! What if it wanted to eat his hooves off? No way he could run faster than that and the whatever it was would have to turn around before it could come after him.
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:34 pm
Cerdi hadn't been expecting that, not even remotely. One moment he's scuffling through the underbrush, the next he was nearly being trampled alive by a crazed Soquili hellbent on destruction that was running...at the Boss?! Oh no, he wasn't!
Digging in his claws, Cerdi whirled as fast as he could and charged back the way he'd come. No one was going to trample HIS boss!!!
Though he'd acknowledged Cerdi's bow with a nod, Safi hadn't really been paying attention as the fox took off, still pondering things like directions and details. However, the shriek and crashing of trees that came out of nowhere were enough to grab his attention. What on earth had Cerdi gotten into that he was-
And what followed was a comedy of errors, at least as Safi saw it. Before his startled eyes, Wadi burst out of the trees, looking as though the legions of hell were behind him. And close behind him, yelping threats, was Cerdi. "What the hell???"
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:39 pm
His eyes widened when he heard the whatever it was start yapping at him and chasing. No no no he just wanted to get away! Which seemed to be what he wasn't allowed to do since the fox, that's what it was, seemed hell bent on catching him and probably eating his hooves off.
When he heard something else his head shot up and he nickered sightly when he saw who it was. "Safi! It's gonna eat me!!" Shifting his movements he darted behind the winged stallion hoping that being there would provide him some protection from the monster.
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 1:56 pm
Rather than being placated by his adversary's familiarity with the Boss, Cerdi was only incensed at his gall. Approaching the Boss without permission, and treating him like a glorified barricade? That deserved punishment of the highest order! "Who're you calling an 'it', you evil, grasping, unmannerly THING!?" Snarling, Cerdi made to leap up on Safi's back (as he often did), figuring that the best way to his foe was over, rather than around.
Safi had other ideas, though, and, raising his far wing, prevented Cerdi from finishing the leap. Furthermore, once Cerdi had been prevented from going further, Safi proceded to fold up BOTH wings, effectively binding Cerdi to his back. "Now now, there'll be no eating or insulting of ANYONE today, at least not if I have any say in it. Got it, Cerdi?"
After a moment of being stunned, Cerdi realized what was going on and had ceased to struggle, though his beady eyes continued to look balefully at Wadi for DARING to accost the Boss in his prescence. But he wouldn't argue with the Boss, no, not him. "Gotcha, Boss."
Satisfied with that answer but still keeping the fox pinned, Safi then turned to give Wadi a grin. This was certainly a novel way to meet! "Are you ok, Wadi? I promise he'll behave himself from now on, bye the way."
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 2:02 pm
He'd flailed slightly and ducked sideways when the fox had tried to come at him over Safi but the wing and the capture of the thing, Cerdi, calmed him down slightly. "H-he...he tried to eat me..." He was staring at the fox and wondered if this thing was his friends familiar.
".... my chest hurts..." He tried to take slow deep breaths but it was hard with his heart pounding how it was. He didn't need to be scared like that, it wasn't healthy!
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 2:12 pm
"Eat you? Him? He'd need a whole hoarde of fellows to even attempt it, Wadi, but I'm pretty sure he was up to something." Tsking, Safi glanced back over his shoulder, meeting the grumpy fox's gaze head on. "Cerdi, MUST you always cause trouble for me?"
Fluffing up a bit in indignation, Cerdi gave his boss an appalled look. "Me? I swear, Boss, that as you live that stallion started it. I was just hunting and suddenly he came charging at me, nigh on trampled me to death, and then took off straight for you. Considering I was nearly squashed, I assumed he was going to try and squish you too, or trample you or something, so all I was trying to do was defend you!"
Somehow, Safi wasn't surprised. Unfolding his wings, he allowed Cerdi to drop down to the ground, trusting that his own warnign would keep the fox behaving. In fact, he was strongly tempted to laugh at the whole thing; as though Wadi could do him an injury! But he didn't doubt that being pursued by an irate fox was a bit distressing for Wadi...
Wadi. Turning away from the fox, Safi gave Wadi a concerned look, noting how much the other stallion was straining for breath. Stepping closer, he placed a wing over Wadi's chest and began to rub it firmly, hoping that it would help ease his wildly abused lungs. "Just calm down and try to take smaller breaths, Wadi. After running a race like that through the underbrush, I don't doubt you're tired!"
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 2:27 pm
"He...he coulda chewed one o my legs off..." He looked down at the fox warily and shifted slightly close to Safi. The little blue monster seemed to listen to him so as long as he stayed there he was safe. Safi wouldn't het him get eaten.
He tried to calm down but it took a few minuets before he could actually breath without it hurting to do so. "Ah... ah think i'm okay.." He needed to get his tongue back under control before he started talking like Grandah again and Safi stopped being able to understand him.
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 2:33 pm
"Probably, but luckily for you you were much faster than that." Though he was trying to be god, the absurdity of the whole situation was making it hard for Safi to keep his desire to laugh under wraps. Somehow, though, he doubted that either Cerdi or Wadi would see things the same way he did.
However, he knew he wouldn't be able to remain calm forever, not if things remained as they are. After hearing from Wadi that he was doing fine, Safi removed his wing and, turning to the fox, made a shooing motion. "Alrighty, Cerdi; you did your valiant protector thing, but I think I can manage from here on out. You were going hunting?"
Cerdi wasn't dumb; he could read a dismissal when he saw one. That didn't mean he had to like it, though, especially not when there was a potentially violent Soquili still in the Boss' company. "Well, I can manage until later-"
"But to ask that of you would be cruel and inhumane, and therefore I insist you go eat. I'll be fine; I assure you that I will do my best to keep Wadi from maiming me. Have a LITTLE confidence, Cerdi." And he punctuated that comment with a sad face, resulting in Cerdi snorting and stalking off into the underbrush. And with THAT done...
"Are you sure you're alright?"
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 3:06 pm
He watched the little fox stalk off in what appeared to be a huff before he turned his attention back to Safi. He nodded and shook his head to try to clear the thoughts of getting eaten from his mind.
"Fine .... yea ..." He grinned at the other a little sheepishly. "I was looking for you. Didn't mean to find you that way"
He'd wanted to look at least a little dignified when he ran into the other stallion. He hadn't wanted to come dashing out of the trees like he'd seen a ghost. It was a little too late for that though.
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Posted: Wed Aug 08, 2007 3:15 pm
'I was looking for you.' Amazing how that one innocent little comment could sound so powerful, so profound. Almost as soon as he'd heard it Safi's was grinning, the knowledge that Wadi had also been looking for him making him fill with warmth. Granted, he wasn't going to delude himself that there was anything beyond that comment but friendship, but still...it sounded nice.
"Well, I wasn't exactly hoping to be reunited with you by having my little fox minion chase you out of the underbrush, either. Honestly, I AM sorry, Wadi; Cerdi is just a bit...zealous when it comes to doing his duty, or rather what he perceives to be his duty. Don't ask me, since I've never put him up to it. He just does his own thing, and I do my best to keep him in check. He's really more bark than bite, though..."
Realizing that he was rambling off on a tangent, Safi shook his head ruefully; sure, meet up with Wadi and talk of foxes. Great. "But method aside, I AM glad to see you again, Wadi. I missed you, strange as that must sound."
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