|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 12:49 pm
 Many things had changed, since she had last stepped foot onto the Earthly ground as one of its own residents. Though her body and age was nothing like the other creatures that roamed the land, she still considered herself to belong among them, since her last brief visit. Many things had changed since she had left this world, and she'd finally been granted the permission to return, and her heart swelled with joy and excitement.
It was time to come home.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 1:10 pm
 He gave the smaller of his two daughters a gentle nudge back towards her sibling's, laughing softly as he watched her scamper off. He had told Kochu'Akai earlier that he was going to do a quick patrol of the forest to make sure that everything was all right. He had felt something in the wind the night before... Nothing more than a slight shift but it had been enough to make him want to check and be certain. Better safe than sorry. Crow flew on ahead, cawing back to him until he was able to trot after his winged companion's flight path. "Coming, coming... Hold onto your feathers." He laughed. Things had indeed changed...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 1:21 pm
Things HAD changed, and Nostalgia preferred to see the changes as having been good ones. Shaking her head, she stepped forward onto the ground, her chains noisily dragging along behind her. It felt good again, this gravity, this air... this EVERYTHING. From a distance she had been able to look in on her close friend and what seemed to be a new family he had been blessed with, but her work in the Spirit World, along with certain other distractions, had prevented her from being able to keep a closer eye. But she knew not to worry... Draven was a competent stallion with a kind and gentle heart. She knew her children were in good care of him, and was delightfully excited and pleased to find he had started his own family. She couldn't wait to meet them, though she had quite the surprise to bring along the way. He stood close by the ghostly fluttercorn, unsure of his surroundings for the first time. Everything seemed different, and different made him nervous. While nervous wasn't exactly a bad thing to be feeling, it made him cautious all the same.
One glance over towards the serene looking mare, however, eased his worry. She seemed so excited, so happy... it put a small smile on his own face to see her so joyous. It was an expression he had come to love, from the moment their work had crossed paths and he first laid his hollow eyes on her delicate frame.
Nostalgia was happy to have returned, and without question he agreed to follow her. He'd follow her to the ends of the Earth, if she decided to travel there. Her family and friends, however, made him far more nervous than the new surroundings. What would they think of this newcomer? She loved them dearly and they returned her love, but would he be accepted?
His own chains clinked as one black hoof stepped forward in front of the other. There was only one way to find out, he knew, and it was due time for him to discover it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 1:36 pm
He closed his eyes, tilting his head towards the gentle breeze. He could feel the chill of the air sinking down to his bones... But there was something else that the breeze carried besides cold... There was a sound.
A soft smile tugged the corners of his mouth upwards, giving the 'paint' on his face that same strange appearance.... A familiar sound and...
His nose wrinkled as he snorted softly, pawing almost uneasily at the ground. An unfamiliar scent... An unfamiliar male scent. He trusted Nostalgia, yes... But what if she hadn't caught scent of whatever was following her? What if it was something to worry about? Things had been so quiet lately... Would they all crash down now?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 2:18 pm
"Oh, you'll love it here, I know you will." she found her soft voice saying reassuringly, as lavender eyes glanced over towards the silent stallion. There would be tense moments ahead of them, she was sure of it, but in the end she knew he'd be loved and accepted by her family and friends. The relationship that had grown between Grim and herself over the time she'd been away, and the bond they shared between one another was something irreplaceable, something she'd never felt before and refused to give up. He was quiet and solemn, but she had gotten to know the dark stallion and grown to love him like nothing she had ever loved before.
Stepping forward, long braids swayed in the chilly breeze. It wouldn't be long before they arrived at Draven and his companion's living domain... perhaps she'd be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of one of his beautiful babies?
He forced out a smile at her words, still uneasy. She'd told him so much about Draven, her children... he didn't know which to be worried about more. Her close friend would no doubt compare him to the former stallion Nostalgia had entangled herself with. And the children; well, the children would probably see him as a replacement figure. Replacing Jean-Claude, replacing Draven, he didn't know. But he hoped either Nostalgia or himself could convince them otherwise.
He nodded his head briefly, and continued following the mare, who seemed to know exactly where she was headed.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 2:34 pm
He waited, listening to the sound of chains dragging for a moment before opening his eyes. The strange scent that he caught was traveling along with Nostalgia's... She knew about it, whatever it was. That alone gave him reason to stand down slightly. He would still be wary... But he would do so in his own ways.
"Your walk is still as slow as it was months ago, Nostalgia." He chuckled as he called out into the forest. "It's good to know that some things never change while the rest of the world moves on..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 4:57 pm
Silver ears perked as the familiar voice rang out clear among the trees of the forest. Draven was indeed around here, and no doubt sensed her approach.
Taking yet another step forward, the clinking of her chains made her soon realize just how easily she had been noticed. It would take some getting used to again, these chains and changes.
Smiling, she beamed, ecstatic to once again hear a voice she'd longed to hear for many a month. "And your observation skills are still as sharp as ever, my friend." she said merrily, unable to suppress her happiness, "I'm sure it comes in handy for taking care of all those little ones!"
There. Now he could wonder how she figured THAT one out so quickly.
For a moment, Grim felt a pang of jealousy run through him as he heard the excitement and playfulness in her voice. The only time he had ever recalled hearing that tone was used only with him, so it was definitely a change to hear it used otherwise. Aside from her attitude towards him, she tended to be melancholy and quiet herself.
Ah, well. These friends and family were here long before he had appeared in her life, so he decided to let it go and accept the fact there were other things in life that brought out such contentment for her. It pleased him to see her smile, no matter what it was caused by.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 5:14 pm
"So the spirits do watch us as they go about their work." He smiled brightly, ears flickering towards the sound of her voice as pale eyes scanned the forest before him for a glimpse of pale or the soft glow of her horn. "Now are you going to come out of hiding and introduce me to whatever trouble it is you've brought along with you this time? Or am I going to have to come track you down?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 5:36 pm
As she passed by the trees, her wings slowly faded away, as to not get caught and torn by the low branches hanging overheard.
Smiling, she turned around one of the large trunks to see a familiar dark looking stallion standing a distance away.
"Yes, we're little snoops, us spirits," she teased lightly, shaking her head at his comment. "And as for hiding... I'm right here, old friend."
Grim shifted uneasily at the new appearance towards this stallion. He didn't give off the aura of being a spirit like himself and Nostalgia, but he seemed different all the same.
His words seemed friendly, but then again this Draven hadn't laid eyes upon him yet. For all he knew, it could be a foal with Nostalgia. Although it did arise suspicions in his mind that the stallion was even able to tell he was there to begin with.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 18, 2007 5:56 pm
"Meddle-some snoops at that." He smirked teasingly as he waited for her to emerge from amongst the trees, that smirk turning into a smile upon first sight of his old friend. "Always sticking their noses about with their good advice and warm hearts..."
His smile faltered only slightly as he looked past Nostalgia, unable to halt the slight quirk of brow before it happened. He gave his head a light toss to clear it before looking back to Nostalgia. "So, old friend... Are you going to introduce me to your company before I start to ramble about the children you've glimpsed from afar?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 10:55 pm
She shook her head, suppressing a laugh from escaping. There were some things about Draven that would never change, and him being cautious and protective were two of those things.
His wavering smile didn't escape her gentle eyes, and she bowed her head in greeting towards the stallion, tilting her grooved horn in his direction.
"Draven, may I have the pleasure of introducing you to a fellow Spirit of mine," she paused, her eyes darting between the two stallions, as if searching for the right way to phrase it, "Grim."
"And Grim," she said, turning towards her companion, "This... is Draven."
She would never be ashamed of the fact she'd found happiness in a stallion, one she could never replace and would cherish until the ends of all time... but things had to be done step by step, in a proper order. It was a big enough surprise for Draven to simply see the stallion standing there, surely, much less announcing to the world and her friend just how much that stallion meant to her. All in due time, she supposed.
It seemed like the appropriate time for one to clear one's throat, but Grim silently stood there as Nostalgia introduced two stallions to one another. To him as well, the stallion's change of expression did not pass unnoticed, but he expected as much, if not more. He himself remained with a neutral expression, more wary than anything. What this stallion may do next, he didn't know, but whatever would be, would be.
Following suit with the mare, the dark unicorn bowed his own head and tilted it forwards in greeting and respect towards the stranger.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 21, 2007 11:56 pm
He looked past Nostalgia to the other stallion, eying him for a moment before his smile became genuine. He bowed his head in return. "Any friend of Nostalgia's is a friend of mine..." That said he looked back to the mare. "Kochu'akai will be happy to see you again. She was saddened that she didn't get a chance to bid you farewell before you left on your... Trip... And now there are three little ones filling the glen with the sounds of small hooves. They're so different than Memory and Trev were when they were younger..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 4:27 pm
She smiled, her mind drawing itself back to the days when she had two little ones underfoot. The shy Memory and the fearless Trev. Oh, what sweethearts they had been. And with Draven raising three of his own, they were not doubt to be just as sweet.
"I can't wait to meet them," she said honestly. Time... she had enough with patience. It was time to live in the here and now era. "Wouldn't you like to see the little ones, Grim?"
He simply nodded in return. His face remained emotionless, but his mind was spinning. Foals? She wanted him to meet... foals? He'd never met a foal before, and most definitely wasn't sure how to react to however it would ACT.
As a Spirit, he was used to remaining calm and collective. Ever since having set foot in this world, he had been anything but. He trusted Nostalgia... but could he trust these surroundings? These stallions and mares she was with? She had been hurt once, she could be hurt again.
His expression softed as the stallion smiled towards him. Grim himself attempted to return the favor, and felt awkward doing so. Smiling wasn't quite one of his best fortes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2007 5:00 pm
He resisted the urge to bristle as Nostalgia invited Grim to meet his family as well, knowing that it was just instinct acting on a stranger than any true worry. He trusted Nostalgia... He trusted her friends.
Instead of showing any sort of wariness he let a slight, teasing smile curving his lips. "Shouldn't you introduce him to your little ones before you introduce him to mine?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 1:32 pm
She blushed, her senses finally catching up to her excitement. How horribly rude of her to impose on her friend in the first place! First meeting a stranger, and then having that stranger strolling into his home? No, it didn't seem proper, not in the least!
"I am sorry, dear friend," she said quickly, stepping forward to give him a platonic nuzzle. It felt so good to be home, and it was a rush of emotions hard to control. "I am getting far too ahead of myself. Perhaps later today, we could come by and I can finally meet the three beautiful offspring you've managed to have while I was away? That is, of course, if it's alright with Kochu and yourself. I wouldn't want any of the little ones to be scared off by the... nature of mine, nor Grim's presence. I think we should find an area of our own to reside in before the night settles. Perhaps one of my own darlings will be met on the way. Tell me, Draven, do they still roam, as you and I do? Or don't tell me that your roaming spirit has finally settled down, with your new family?"
It felt good to tease again, and she smiled, happiness having returned to her own wandering form. She still wandered, and would more than likely wander the rest of her days. But at least now, she had someone who wandered with her, as her close friend had found his happiness.
Still silent, the dark stallion shifted from one leg to the other, his glowing eyes gazing on the two before him. He had managed to tame his emotions back down, and was secretly now relieved that he wouldn't have to face more strangers so soon. He needed time to adjust to this new world, to adjust to the new things around him, as well as the things around him needing time to adjust to him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
