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 Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 3:00 pm
Yawning, Foliegh walked out into the bright morning sun, blinking as he went. It was a crisp autumn day, and the blue sky and sunshine promised a pleasant day in general.
Not that there was a whole lot to be done with pleasant day, at least as far as travel or exploration of any sort went. Stretching a bit, Foliegh turned and looked back over his shoulder at the large tree that currently served as home. For a temporary living quarter, it wasn't that bad; a huge old tree, half-hollow and more than large enough to comfortably fit a bunch of Usdias, or two Usdias, or two adult Usdias and three baskets.
Three baskets indeed. In the half-gloom of the hollow in the tree, Foliegh could just make out the outlines of the three baskets, nicely cuddled together. They looked so cute like that, and, as always, filled him with an amazing sense of pride and amazement. Just think, he was directly responsible for the existance of those three small lives!
Well, not wholly responsible, of course, but he was willing to share that with Nigalya. As though he could do anything else, when she was the one that had to get heavy and give birth and all that unfun stuff. Poor mares, having to do all the work when stallions got to have their fun and move on.
Not that he'd moved on, of course. Wasn't he helping out, watching the kids and doing all he could for Nig and the kids? And wasn't he letting her sleep right now?
Yeah, he was a nice guy.
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 4:35 pm
Nigalya was resting, half-asleep in the shade, her small body curled as far as it would go around the three baskets that housed her babies. It was a miracle, really, as she'd never thought herself the maternal type. And to have three all at once! But knowing they were there, hers and Foliegh's, seemed to make sense in a strange sort of way.
The babies didn't seem to do much, just eat and sleep and make occasional little noises in their baskets. All the same, Nigalya watched them carefully, waiting for the day they'd be strong enough to emerge. Then the fun would really begin...
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 7:51 pm
Turning his attention away from the tree, Foliegh glanced around the surrounding area one last time. Not much to see out here, just withering grasses and blowing leaves, but it was still something different. Just what they'd set out to see.
Mulling that idea over, Foliegh found himself smiling; that was how this whole thing had started, after all, with he and Nigalya wanting something different. They'd decided to start off together on a journey to the 'lands beyond' where they'd heard vast herds of Soquilis and Usidas lived together, where there was food and water and shelter for all. It had been a long journey, especially with their short legs, but at least they'd had each other for company.
Company of all sorts, as Nig's pregnancy and the birth of their children had proved. Foliegh couldn't say he wasn't happy with how things were, but it DID raise questions for him about how things actually sat between himself and Nig these days. They hadn't done...that thing more than the one time, and they'd never really talked about it; even with the kids, they hadn't talked about it. So he wasn't exactly sure how things stood, other than the fact that they were friends who happened to have kids together. But whatever worked, right? Being friends meant they got along, and that was important.
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Posted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 4:42 pm
It was true that Nigalya had wanted a change. Perhaps this wasn't quite what she'd meant, but so far she had taken everything in stride. It was frustrating that she and Foliegh hadn't really talked about it; the normally outspoken pony was unusually reticent. But she and Fo had been friends for ages- surely this oddness would go away eventually.
The little mare stood to stretch her legs, whuffling gently under her breath. She sniffed each basket carefully and walked a circle around the trio. "Hello in there," Nigalya called softly. "You can come out any time now..."
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Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 1:41 pm
Upon hearing noise from inside the tree, Foliegh turned and poked his head back into the darkness, smiling when he saw it was Nig. As though it would really be anything else, anyway...
"Morning." Walking back into the space in the tree, Foliegh gave Nigalya a grin, the product of witnessing her greeting to the baskets. For their part, they didn't seem very attentive, but at least it was an attempt, right? And the kids were in there, inattentive as they were, so... "Any signs of activity this morning, or are they still giving us peace?"
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Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 7:34 pm
Foliegh's emergence startled Nigalya, so focused had she been on the baskets. "Oh!" she said sharply, her features settling into a smile as she came to her senses.
"There's been some rustling noises," the little mare reported. "And every once in a while something seems to kick the side of this basket here." Nigalya pointed with her nose. She wondered if perhaps it was time to take the lids off the baskets, or if the babies were supposed to come out on their own.
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Posted: Sat Nov 17, 2007 3:35 pm
"Huh? Well, that's kinda neat. It must be something you're doing, because they never seem very responsive to me." Smiling ruefully, Foliegh leaned close and nosed at one of the baskets, the darker basket that housed the youngest born. They'd all seemed so still to him...or maybe he just lacked a mother's powers of observation? Mothers had a leg up on fathers, he'd heard, so if Nig said something, that was probably right.
"Do you think that means they might be thinking of coming out, then?" Might as well ask the obvious question and get it over with!
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Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 4:48 pm
Nigalya bobbed her shoulders in a sort of shrug. She was probably as lost as Foliegh, but she was never one to admit defeat. And looking after them the way she was seemed right, somehow.
"I do hope they come out soon," she replied. "I want to meet them, and see what they look like now that they've fluffed up a bit." The three little ones certainly hadn't looked like much in the short time between birth and being placed so carefully into the baskets.
The little rustling noises seemed to grow a little louder, more distinct, almost as if the foals knew they were being talked about. Nigalya eyed the baskets with a faint grin on her face. "You're listening, aren't you," she teased.
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Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:03 pm
"Yeah...and maybe they'll even be able to talk, what with them listening to us all this time and all." Nodding his head thoughtfully, Foliegh looked from Nigalya to the baskets, his own interest piqued by the rustlings. Though he'd often been aware of soft noises coming from them, it wasn't often that he actually FOCUSED on them...and they were kind of interesting.
Nosing gently at the nearest basket, Foliegh smiled at both the silliness of the situation and his own enthusiasm at the idea that the kids were listening, even now. Just think how much they might know!
Goodness, he hoped they'd only been speaking of worthwhile things, all this time that the kids had been listening.
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Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 9:37 pm
Just as the focus was on the nearest basket, the lid popped off, and a little face shot itself out into the open. The face held a wide grin with a glarey eyes, and he was triumphant and exhausted from his kick! Finally, freedom, and it was well deserved! "AAARRGG" The word that came out of his mouth made no coherent sense, but it was loud and obnoxious, showing the main personality factor of the foal.
Now all he had to do was wiggle himself out of the damned basket.. and he'd be TOTALLY free.
Up and down, the little colt's head bounced back and forth until finally the basket had rolled onto its side, and a tiny colt tumbled out from inside the wicker doom. "STUUPIDSS!!" Dumb basket, take that! It was so getting old and gross. It was time for the colt to do things HIS way, and DAMN it felt good.
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Posted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 3:07 pm
"Oh goodness!" Nigalya exclaimed, as the lid popped off one of the baskets. She grinned, watching the little foal flail around until he was free. "Hello there!" she said, and leaned forward to nuzzle her first-born.
Not one to be upstaged, the foal ensconced in the second basket made his own escape. Instead of tipping the basket over, he simply tripped over the edge and fell out. "Oomph!" The foal struggled to his feet and peered around at his parents and brother. "HIIII!"
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Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 1:20 pm
...So much for only using good words in front of the baskets.
As the first foal camebursting out of his basket with all the force of a mini tornado, Foliegh reflexively took a step back, eyeing the small ball of fur with unbridled shock. He had so much energy, where had it come from?
But before Foliegh had time even attempt to figure it out, another of the baskets was bursting open, releasing their SECOND son into darkness of the tree cave. Blinking a bit, Foliegh looked from the first to the second, then glanced quickly at the third to see if the filly was planning any acrobatics of her own.
The third basket, however, remained still. Deciding that there was at least a few moment's respite there, Foliegh quickly gathered himself together, then smiled at both boys. "Nice to see you two finally decided to join us!"
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Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 3:04 pm
Arun looked up, and then he quickly lowered his eyes from side to side. From his observation, he noticed two older looking and bigger figures, as well as another one of his size. Hm. What the heck did THAT mean? Who WERE these people?!
Apparently the red older figure had addressed him and the other colt, and he tilted his head before staring off completely. Join them? Join who? What?!
With a snort of confusion, the male wobbled a bit as he started to strut forward, before decideding to ram his head into the other colt's side. Yes, that looked like it would be fun! With a swoop, he lowered his head before quickly navigating away from the little colt's body. He wasn't trying to hurt him, and rather, he was only hoping to startle out of fun. Hopefully he would be freaked out! "HAHAHA!" he then said, while shaking his head in a amused laughter.
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Posted: Sat Dec 01, 2007 3:33 pm
Nigalya watched the final basket expectantly, already beginning to wonder just what in the world she and Foliegh were in for.
Altan blinked wide-eyed at his parents... and was completely bowled over by his brother. His legs scrabbled at the ground as he tried to get them back into their proper place. He squawked loudly and prepared to retaliate.
But before there could be another foal-splosion Nigalya placed her blunt muzzle between the two boys. "Hey now," she admonished gently. "Be nice to your brother. Both of you."
The second colt grumbled from behind his mother's forelegs. "No fair!"
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 2:06 pm
Blinking a bit, Foliegh watched the two boys' antics with undisguised surprise; the energy and rambunctiousness of the first foal was especially unexpected. How could they go from immobile and silent to loud and rowdy the next? It didn't make sense!
But at least they weren't all like that. Almost as though feeling Nigalya's gaze on it, the lid of the third basket lifted, just enough for the small filly inside to poke her nose out and peek around. Obviously she was less than impressed with her brothers, if the slight frown that crossed her face was any indication... "Dum-dums!"
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