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 Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:06 am
Private RP with Ayita & Dancer!  
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:19 am
The warm breeze blew over the stallion's neck as he walked alongside the painted mare. They travelled in silence after a day spent exploring the woods surrounding the village. Dancer had taken the chance to show his friend some of his favorite places in the forest - from the rainbowed waterfall to the outcropping of rock that gave one a view of the surrounding area.
Now they were headed back to the village. It was his turn to be shown her world - the village and its inhabiants. He was still unsure of this, but thier friendship had grown greatly in the moons since Wambli had introduced them and he trusted the painted mare not to lead him into danger. And if danger found them then he trusted himself to keep them safe.
A final turn of the path and they cleared the forest. The small hill looked down over the large pastureland on the outskirts of the village. Whinnies carried to them on the wind, as well as a familiar set of scents. Looking closer he could see that it was Wambli and her brood of foals in what looked like either a lesson in flight or a lesson in chaos. With three winged young ones it was never certain! Even Lu was in the midst of the mess, despite her lack of wings to take her off the ground.
The sight filled him with laughter even as it caught him off guard with a sense of loss. He remembered his own lost mate trying to teach their foals when all they wanted to do was play.
Looking over at Ayita, Dancer realized with a start he had never really mentioned to her much of his life before Wambli found him in the mountain pass. Perhaps now was the time to let her know just who he was - before he let himself grow to much closer to her.
"They look like a handful, don't they?" ha said with a small laugh as he gestured to the frolicking group.
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:55 am
Ayita arched her white and brown neck a bit taking in a deep breath as she walked along beside appaloosa stallion. She was enjoying his company emensly and the places he had shown her were startlingly beautiful. She had done her level best to return the favor. Dancer was still a little shy when it came to the village and surrounding area, but he hadn't seemed to mind the visit today when she showed him some of her favorite places.
She laughed as they came upon Wambli and her youglings. The little ones were doing what little ones do best. Going off in all directions at once. And when one had four children that could prove to be a challenge indeed. Though Wambli was bravely facing that challenge head on with gentle but firm guidance slowly but surely leading the foals through their training. She counted herself lucky that she had never had to try to teach any her children how to fly. Still it looked like they were having a lot of fun down there.
Looking wistfully down at the little ones she couldn't help but remember her own foals when they were that age. It was around then that one of them had disappeared along with her father.
Thought of Taima made her glance up at Dancer. Strange she hadn't thought of her old mate in a while. She had never really talked about it even with Wambli her closest friend. The winged mare knew what had happened as she had been there at the time and lent what support she could. Though they had never actually mentioned what happened aloud. But for some reason Ayita found herself wanting to talk about it now feeling nostalgic at the sight of the playful foals.
"They don't just look a handful, they are a handful." Ayita responded with a laugh. "Foals are a blessing, but are easier to handle one at a time."
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:16 pm
The wild stallion's ears flicked forward at the statement from the paint mare. He didn't speak for a while, instead watching the antics below them. He winced in sympathy when a dark colored filly landed rather ungracefully - ending up with her wings over her head.
"I... wouldn't know about just one," he said at last. "My Fiana and I had two foals. Two colts as identical to each other as the image of yourself in the lake, with only the markings on their leg to tell them apart." The note of grief was evident in his voice and his posture.
He waited to see what her reaction would be. Other than Cory he had never spoken the name of his lost love to any other creature on this side of the mountian range.
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 12:56 pm
The painted mare closed her eyes in shared pain upon hearing the tremor in Dancers voice. She didn't know what had happened and it wasn't necessary for her to know the details for her to understand the feelings behind them. However it had happened the, fact that he had lost someone perhaps several someones that he loved, was obvious to her.
Words fled Aytia's mind leaving her with only a powerful impulse to comfort, to show that she too understood loss. When she finally looked up at the spotted stallion her clear warm eyes were wet with tears.
Unable to speak she pressed her forehead against the dark neck breathing in his husky scent. Offering what support she could and receiving as much in return.
When she finally managed to collect herself Ayita spoke though she didn't bother moving as the feeling of Dancer next to her was reassuring. "Your twins sound adorable. But I have to admit I have no experience with just one foal either, as I had three. Though there are only two who are still here..." The mare paused trying to sort through the painful memories.
"The third, I don't know what became of her." She said at last. "She could be alive..I have no way of knowing. Her father left me shortly after the children were born you see. I should be grateful he left two of them behind and I am, but I always wonder...So while I don't know what happened and I am not comparing our situations, I think I can understand how you are feeling right now."
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 2:15 pm
Her words stunned him even as her touch invigorated him. Someone had left this beautiful mare? And dared to take one of her offspring with him? A brief surge of anger was tempered by the feeling of her tear as it ran down his neck.
“I cannot believe anyone would leave such as you, “ he said to her softly, leaning into her touch. “I would say that he is a fool, but then I cannot imagine you taking up with a fool. Perhaps madness took him then, that he would not stay and help you raise the new lives you had brought into the world together.”
In truth, Dancer was amazed that anyone would abandon their young like that.
“As for us, it was my own folly that caused our parting and many are the times that I wish I could change the facts of that day that I could be with them still.”
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 4:01 pm
"I too find it hard to imagine you doing anything that could create the depth of pain I sense within you." Aytia responded looking deep into Dancer's eyes. "Sometimes terrible things happen and there is no reason, no one to blame."
Sighing she shifted her weight lifting a hoof as she hooked her neck over Dancer's in a gentle embrace. "I know that to be true, and yet it is a very hard thing to accept."
"For my part, I try not blame Taima, we were both very young and he was very innocent. If the human who cared for him was forced to leave for some reason, I can't picture him doing anything but following. I cannot imagine the circumstances which would cause them to leave without leaving any word, but I am sure there were some.
You too must have had your circumstances and reasons for acting as you did. But not even the wisest of us knows exactly what the future will bring. All we can do is to act to the best of our abilities and if we have done so even if we should fall, there is no shame. For you have done all that you could do. Falling is not the end if we are willing to struggle our way back up.
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 4:09 pm
He allowed the hug for a moment then moved away, shifting uneasily.
"But if I had been there!" he began then stopped realizing that it would make no sense to her. He took a deep breath and let it out in a loud whuff, followed by a second. Finally he decided that she needed to know the whole of the story.
"I need to tell you this and I hope that we can still be friends once you hear my tale," he said in a low tone. His heart felt leaden in his chest but he knew that this mare deserved nothing less than the truth.
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2007 4:31 pm
Ayita shook her head firmly. "It is true that I met you only a few moons ago. Even so, I doubt very much there is anything you could say to make me think you are anything but the brave, loyal, and caring stallion I have come to know. But tell me," She encouraged her ears perked forward to listen. "burdens weigh less when they are shared."
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Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 8:26 am
Dancer shifted his weight from side to side uneasily. Oh, how he wanted to tell her! But at the same time he feared her response to his faults. The sun sank lower as he stood there in silence, throwing golden rays outward to gild the mare at his side. He felt her calm presence and made his choice.
"It was a warm winter day," he started. His voice was flat, emotionless. "We had had a bitter cold, wet winter before that day - with heavy snows that had all but blocked our herd in the valley we called home." Home, what a small word that can mean so much - especially when it is lost! he thought sardonically.
"Several other stallions and I decided to push our way out of the valley. We had heard the howls and cries of the predators on the cliff rim and wanted to find out just how many beasts there were waiting for the chance to destroy our families." Family, another one of those oh so innocent words!
"My brother and I went to the east, up the scree that bordered the pass to the next series of vales. We saw strange hoofprints then - cloven ones - and blood - lots and lots of blood. At first we thought it may have been a wounded unicorn, for there were a few that lived in the high mountains, but then we found the kill - a wolf, a fox, it was hard to tell from what little remained."
He curled his nose at the memory of the sight. Blood everywhere and just a few scraps of fur. One canine paw left intact with white bone showing where it had been ripped from the leg it had belonged to.
"Miler went back to warn the others that something more than the usual danger was around. I," and he laughed - a short helpless sound, "I decided to see if I could find more clues. How stupid of me! Why didn't I go with him?! If I had... If only..." he faded into silence as he watched the shadows grow across the landscape.
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Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 9:32 am
Ayita gazed at Dancer her amber brown eyes dark with emotion. It was as she had surmised. He bore no real fault save in his own mind. But how could she make him understand that? Dancer was a warrior so perhaps the best way to get him to look back at what had happened without self recrimination would be to give him bare facts, bluntly and to the point.
"At that time, not knowing anything about your enemy besides the fact that he, she, or it was violent the best option was to rush back to the herd? What would have happened then? With no real knowledge at hand to help you combat your foe and fear for your family running deep in your heart?" Ayita asked in a quiet voice.
Shaking her multi colored head the mare sighed before continuing. "Don't misunderstand me, Dancer. I don't doubt your prowess as a warrior or that you would have fought valiantly for your family. Even so, you must admit running into a situation blind without any understanding of an opponent's true nature and abilities leaves you at a distinct advantage. Which is why your instincts, a warrior's instincts, led you to try and gather more information. You did nothing wrong. You were simply following your own good sense. It is a terrible, terrible tragedy that the enemy was able to strike before you managed to make it back. But it is in no way your fault.
The painted mare lifted her head to look over at the frisking foals her eyes sad. "It is the warrior's creed that we must be ever vigilant in the defence of those within our protection. But ironically we cannot always be prepared for that which we haven't faced. So we must learn. Sometime the price of that learning is more than we could ever dream possible. It is horrible, that it happened. But it did happen and now you know how to prevent it from happening again. I don't believe you will ever let it happen again. If there is any way you can prevent it. So how can you tell me, it's your fault? You did everything within your power. I am certain your family knows that if they knew you at all."
Glancing back at the dark stallion she gave him a gentle nuzzle."Would Kiana have wanted you to race into danger unknowing? Would she be happy knowing of your despair now? Or would she rather you remember the good times when your thoughts turn to her and your little ones."
Aytia's eyes were moist her voice thick with emotion. "Oh dear, Dancer their bodies may not be here now. But a part of them shall always reside within you, for as long as you remember them. Do them the honor of remembering them fondly, instead of sadness and pain. I think that would make them happy."
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Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 10:23 am
He stood with his head down as she spoke, barely reactng to the sft caress. When she was finished he lifted his head and gazed at her with eyes full of sorrow and remembered horror.
"But stay I did and I faced the enemy. A demon beast like none I had seen before flew down no sooner had my brother left. Eyes that glowed with the evil that it was - the cloven hooves stained red with the blood of the creature it had killed before."
"We fought, that demon and I, with words and with bodies."
"'Well are't you the brave one' it said to me 'Alone here against a kalona like myself!' I had no understanding of what it was, just that there was something inherintly evil in its soul. 'I remember you, pretty spotted fool with the sweet looking colts. They will taste oh so nice when I get my chance!' Taunting me, I can still hear those words. That creature threatening my family!" His voice rose into a near scream with remembered anger.
"I attacked, and paid well for my folly. He was stronger and faster but I kept at it. Our screams echoed back to us from the mountainside, the echoes seeming louder than the original. I don't know how long we fought before the Spirits gave me the break I needed. I managed to shred one wing and that was when the tide turned in MY favor," a note of pride in his voice now, "He couldn't fly at me nor away and when too many of my blows landed he fled. "
Another moment of silence from the dark stallion. A few crickets began to chirp in the twilight. Below them the wind mare began to gather her foals to lead them back to their home grove for the night.
"I stood there, bloody and bruised for the Spirits know how long. I was afraid... AFRAID... to go home. That I would lead that creature back. When I finally did return, slowly, painfully... I wished I had lost the battle with him."
Dancer looked at Ayita with a look of abject despair. "While I fought that creature, our screams must have set off the snows. My valley... my home... my family... all were gone under the snow. There was nothing but broken chunks of mountainside. If I had returned. If we had not fought. " He shook his head and turned away from her. "I wasn't there and if I had been the avalanche would never have happened.
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Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 11:19 am
The painted mare shifted to follow the dark stallion. Not letting him look away. "You could not have known what would happen. You had to fight, for if you had let the Kalona kill you there before that desperate battle it's very likely the Kalona would simply have moved on to your herd next. You did the only thing that made sense at the time." Ayita exhorted leaning close to Dancer so that their shoulders were nearly brushing trying to give as much support as she could without being too intrusive.
"Events conspired against you, but it was not your doing that the snow on the mountainside was loose and ready to fall. Perhaps the spirits were restless. Or perhaps the great spirit had some need for your family in the summerlands. It would take a wiser soquili than I to say why it happened. But you are here. And while you are here so are they." Ayia gave Dancer a penetrating look willing him with all her heart to try and understand. Her wide amber eyes clearily showing the depth of her faith in him.
"It's easy to crawl away and hide from life when we are wounded, and I was tempted many times. But I was lucky. Even though I lost a mate and a daughter I still had two precious daughters who needed me to be strong. It would have been selfish to deprive them of a mother just because I was in pain, they had lost so much already. So no matter how much it hurt I had to move forward. It was hard at first, but I found I was not alone. We should not forget those memories that sadden us. But neither should we allow them to stop us from living. It takes courage and strength to take up our lives and keep going, I am not going to tell you it is easy, but it is so much better living for the memory of someone than dying inside bit by bit. Belive me I know. And you won't have to do it alone, if you don't want to. I'll stay beside you, for as long as you need me to."
Ayita grew silent then feeling a little shy having said such things. She had surprised herself with her offer. After Taima left she hadn't planned on ever getting close to another stallion, if she let her friendship with Dancer grow, she had a pretty good idea where it could take them. But she realized as she thought about what might happen, that she meant what she had said, every word of it. Knowing what had happened and how Dancer felt about himself did not effect how she saw him. In fact, for him to have come as far as he had as heart wounded as he was showed that he was much stronger than even he realized. Now if only she could make him see it too.
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 8:21 am
Again he stood in silence, letting her words flow over him. At the mention of the stallion that had left her he again felt a flash of anger, followed by amazement at her strenght at carrying on after such a betrayal. And at her final statement, surely she hadn't meant that the way it sounded... had she?
Dancer looked at her through his forelock, as if hiding himself away even as he was revealing himself to her. The darkening of the twilight had muted the bright colors of his mane, making them more somber and serious instead of the the bright gaity they usually projected.
"You would trust me like that, knowing that I broke my words to always keep my family safe before?" he said at last, a hesitant note of hopeful wistfulness creeping into his voice. "I am happy with you as a friend, and the Spirit knows that even that is more than I had ever hoped for. But..." his voice trailed off. Some courage you have! his thoughts mocked him Can't even say it, can you![/i]
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