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 Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 5:17 pm
 It hadn't been too long since Zak's attack at the tree, and the blood bay could still feel a slight throb to the side of his head and the soreness of his muscles, however it was bearable and he would not complain about something he would do all over again given the chance. There was however, a slight tick to his gait as he paced slightly at the edge of the land, still fairly close to Shiral and furthest away from the humans. At the moment he hardly trusted anything, sounds, smells, even the occasional shadow had him inspecting the direction for moment before he would turn his gaze somewhere else. That hollow, dark gaze that seemed to be drawn somewhere else at all times. Now however, now it was. Further and further he found himself delving into his thoughts, his worries, his woes, and of course his little family.
He needed Cress here, alone, and he needed to speak to her with an issue that was more important to him than his life at the moment. It had to do with Tucker, his wonderful brillant little bundle of joy and hope, and yet the dark shadow that threatened to snuff it out if left alone and unchecked for the least amount of time. With a rather gruff snort to the chilled winds of the winter season, for he had never liked the weather, the stallion stopped himself from his anxious movements, and awaited in silence. His issue, of course, was the ever present ever looming Zaknafein. An issue that threatened to continue unless something was done to stop it.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 6:09 pm
She hadn't much of a clue what was on Aitumn's mind; all she knew was he'd requested her to meet him by the borders. Alone. And she was about to do so; she'd left little Tucker with her own mother, who was more than happy to care for him for the time being. "I know how important talking with your love alone is, go right ahead," Rhea had told her. She was still blushing at the thought. Love? She was still not entirely sure what Aitumn was to her, though she wasn't that surprised anymore if her feelings did, in turn, turn out to be love. She hadn't really given much thought to them as of yet; she'd been too busy caring for their fruit and then the little white bundle of energy that was their son, and now Zaknafein.
Ugh, the disgusting green brute. Just the thought of him brought a bad taste to her mouth. She shook her head to get rid of the thoughts, then cast her emerald eyes around before spotting Aitumn beyond a copse of trees. "Aitumn," she called as she perked her ears forward. Part of her didn't know why she'd bother calling out his name, but she'd noticed as of late he'd taken on a more nervous disposition, but who wouldn't? She didn't know a single nequus who wouldn't become nervous if they knew a giant brute of an aeri was after them and their child. Was that what he wanted to talk about? Only time would tell, she thought, as she trotted the last few yards away and halting a bit before him. She wondered what she could say, what there was to tell him, but decided that, since he asked her here, it would be better off to wait for him to begin.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 6:30 pm
He wasn't sure how long it had been since he asked her to meet him, and though he didn't mind waiting it didn't help his nerves at all. It was just as good though, if she took the time to make sure Tucker would be alright then there was no problem at all. Nope. Not for the blood bay. He told himself this several times, his own mind racing to keep itself at a nice pace and to keep from leaping ahead to any conclusions he might have. Such as: Zak showing up again for another show down while he wasn't there. Damnable git! He would-
And then he heard his name be called, his head jerking upwards as if being struck from a dream. Certainly, he had seemed nervous, if not a bit eccentric, but anyone who could just shrug their shoulders after an attack like that was terribly terribly mistaken about the gravity of it all. The gravity Aitumn knew all too personally. However, he smiled to the golden mare, allowed his head to ease back down to a comfortable arch, and moved closer to meet her. "Thanks for coming, Cress." Honestly though, would she not have?
He had thought about this since his nap with Tucker, and had been unable to jar his mind free from the subject. And so, he had no problem starting right off the bat. "We need to talk about Zak. You know as well as I that this wouldn't be his last attempt, right?" He was keeping his tone and demeanor calm now, if not a bit serious. He couldn't remember a time when he was very serious around Cressida and the tree, or the last time he had been at all, but the situation called for it; and the stallion would give it his full attention. If not gentally for the one he was talking to.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 6:48 pm
She bobbed her head and offered a light smile, settling into a more comfortable upright position as she shifted her wings a bit. Damn cold... Made it a hell of a lot harder to fly.. Oh well, not like she couldn't walk or run or anything.
She bobbed her head again, a bit slower this time, before canting it to the side. "Yes, I know. I had a feeling he would be what you wanted to speak to me about." It certainly was a bit odd to hear him so serious, usually he was in better spirits. But, after their run-in not too long ago, who could blame either of them for not being in the best of moods? "What do you think we should do about him? I don't think it's safe to stay at the tree anymore, now that he's found it twice." Rhea had also suggested that they leave, as well, but neither of them had any idea where Zak normally went, so pinpointing a perfect area to go was a touch difficult.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:02 pm
So far so good, they seemed to be on the right page, and as such the stallion allowed himself to relax slightly despite knowing his point was going to be a rather difficult one to take... for both of them. Standing quietly, despite his absolute hatred to the winter season, he listened to what she had to say with perked and focused ears. When she was done though, his tongue faltered just slightly, and his voice trailed off before it even left his throat. Another try then. "Well, I have an idea. A proclamation I guess." He didn't like continuing on from there, didn't think he had captured what he needed to say, but the stallion took the time to step forward and get to eye level.
"I didn't mean to drag you and Tucker into this. Had I known he was out for me I probably wouldn't have taken the chance to put others in harms way when we first met, but I did", A sob story? Hell no, not from Aitumn. His voice was steady, his gaze was... well hollow as ever but still there were no signs of worry nor proclamations of self-pity. Not with Cress, and not when he knew the past couldn't be changed. "But I did. I love Tucker more than anything, and you must excuse me but I'm fond of our time together as well, yet with Zak as a looming threat I see both your lives and mine in a fair amount of danger." Again he stopped, careful to take note before continuing on.
"I'm going after Zak alone. I've heard from several Nequus I met up with before that he spends some time in D'ob, and that's where I will begin my search." He wasn't sure how she might take that, and couldn't possibly expect a happy reaction, but the blood bay was patient. And he would stay patient.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:23 pm
She listened to every word he said, her whole posture speaking of relaxation, but she was always alert, ready to strike at a moment's notice. Gods knew she didn't need to be so ready most of the time, but it always made her feel better. She merely blinked once or twice, watching him evenly. Patient, calm, and collected was the gilded mare as she thought for several moments on the best way to answer.
"No," she said after several more moments and blinked again. She had tried coming up with something better, but nothing presented itself to her in a certain amount of time so she decided to push forward with her words and hope she didn't have any need for pre-planned words and speeches. She shook her head before canting it to the side, though she remained as calm and collected as she had been when she arrived. She had a feeling he'd make such a suggestion, and she found no need to become anxious or emotional over such a thing.
She clicked her tongue against the top of her mouth, offering him a light smile. "You couldn't have dragged anyone into this back then even if you wanted to. You hadn't any idea before that Zak'd be after your hide, so hush with all that nonsense." Honestly. It wasn't like he could travel back in time and change things, anyway. Not like she'd want him to at all, anyway. "And you'll excuse me as well, but our time together isn't the only thing I'm fond of. And I love Tucker as much as you, and that's why I'm saying no. You know as well as I do that he loves you, and he needs you, Aitumn. I'm not too sure about yours, but I know what it's like to be separated from family for years. I don't want him to go through that," she said, shaking her head. She'd hardly been able to bare it herself; the only thing that kept her going was the knowledge that her mother loved her and was alive, and the determination to find her again one day. She could still hardly believe she'd found her again after so long.
"Hmm..." She paused, furrowing her brows slightly as she thought through the situation. "It seems to me that you want to go find him one way or another anyway, to figure out what in hell's name he's got set against you, I can understand that much. But, you'd be daft to go after such a giant when you know as well as I do you're still recovering from the last encounter."
"So here's my idea. A proclamation, I guess," she said after another pause, giving him with a wry smile. "You stick with us and we can travel around until we've recovered. It'd be a bad idea to just stick around the tree now that he knows where it is. And, before you get ahead of yourself, you have to understand one thing. Zak was solely your problem until the minute he targeted Tucker. So if you're going to go after him at all, you're taking me, too. You're not the only one with a grudge against the brute." Truth be told, Zak was her problem, too, the minute he targeted Aitumn, but she felt she didn't need to voice that at the moment.
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 7:47 pm
'No.' Simple as that and he would have loved to turn tail and join her side of point-of-view, but unfortunatly he had hard-wired himself to keep collected. To keep steady in his decision and to ultimately stay put with all four hooves planted firmly on the ground. However, it was like his knees were quaking with that logic, that damned wonderful logic of the gilded Reya. As it was though, Aitumn stayed as he had been before, quiet, patient, and ultimately with attentiveness to what she had to say next. Good points, all of them, ones he would have loved to embrace as his own; but it wouldn't be so. He had to smile at her wry twist to his own words as they played upon her tongue, and so he gave a bob of his head when she was finished.
"I wouldn't want Tucker to go through that either, and I wouldn't want to miss taking him to see the world and see what it offered." That smile still stayed upon his lips, her ears pricked forward in an open manner as she had done for him just before. "I do agree that you share as much of a grudge against him as I do, and you're right to put it there without question nor doubt of doing so. Tucker is both our son." Damn him if he didn't say he loved her attitude, or even the way she questioned on this subject; but it was a double-edged thing. He may have the best woman in front of him, but it was just that which kept him from continuing on. Still, he never lost that steady hush of a calm.
"However it is a subject that's sticks a rotten a sore in my side. I'm certain I've mentioned my loss of memory to you before, and if not then I certainly must be a daft fool, but its there. And its another reason I have to hate Zaknafein. When we fought, I remembered something, and then it was gone. He stole that memory away from me, which was a precious thing for me to have after all this time." He explained, before stealing his gaze away for a moment to stare in the direction of Shiral, back towards their tree.
Shortly after, he continued. "I will travel with you- you wonderful imp, and Tucker- our little prince to see the world and to get the hell away from the tree. I swear I will, but I only ask I leave on my own at night and while he's sleeping, with you to watch over him while I'm gone, to go find Zak. I will return before morning, ever night, and if I don't feel free to kick my a** for it later on. The reason I say this is, I want you there with Tucker at all times, the gods know you'll be able to protect him better than I can alone, and it would be fool-hearted to bring him along to search for Zak." he paused again, returning his gaze to Cress, shuffling his feathered wings to bring warmth to his chilled body.
"I don't want you coming with me, because if something happens and we both don't make it, then Tucker will really be alone in the world. I understand Rhea would be there, but he needs one of us."
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 8:51 pm
She bobbed her head again, listening to his logic. She couldn't help but offer him a wry grin and a light chuckle, though. "Oh, so I'm an imp now, am I?" She teased, wrinkling her nose and chuckling again before lowering her head to rid herself of an itch on her foreleg. She lifted her head again and turned his words over in her mind a bit, trying to wrap her head around the whole situation.
She clicked her tongue again, perking her ears and offering a light smile. "Alright then, it's settled. We travel somewhere, maybe the ocean, and get away from Tucker's tree. I'm not sure, but Zak doesn't look like the type to wander around everywhere, so I think we should be fine. So, when you can convince me that you've fully recovered 110%, then maybe I'll let you go off looking for your little pain in the a**. But you've gotta promise me that you don't go off for more than a few days at a time, you can't do that to Tucker. And, I don't need any fathomable reason to join you on one of your excursions if need be. I lost my father to an obsessive a*****e, Tucker doesn't need to lose his the same way. And don't you go denying that I'd be a helpful imp to have around in case Zak thinks he can trample you," she said with a wry smile, clicking her tongue. "Sheer weight and size are the only thing that oaf has going for him."
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:04 pm
It was hard to explain, but despite himself and the delicate situation he found himself nearly at peace with Cress; and this certainly wasn't the first time that had happened. She had a sort air around her, he had noticed, positive, strong, and calming. He couldn't help but smirk as her nose wrinkled up. "Yes, an imp and a little she-devil", he quirked right back, without a second regard to the statement.
The blood bay continued to smirk as she spoke her terms on the subject, somehow allowed to stand his ground and yet bending to her woes. Such a wonderful little she-devil/imp. However, there was no maybe about it, but he'd keep that to himself until he was fully healed. Then there would be no arguing about his physical condition. "Agreed. The trip to the ocean was one I've been meaning to take for awhile now, and I highly doubt Zak will leave the comfort of the valley during the dead of winter. As for the helpful imp joining, I'll only allow it if Rhea is there to watch over Tucker. It would not be wise to have our son unprotected; which I'm sure you've already thought about", he spoke, a fairly serious note but not one without its steadiness of calm.
Reaching out with his muzzle, the Jala tapped her lightly on the shoulder. "The only thing, and likely to have a bad tendency in that shoulder of his by now."
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Posted: Sat Jan 19, 2008 9:53 pm
"Oh, is that what I am, now?" She asked in mock-anger, sticking her tongue out to hide her amused grin and turning, beginning to walk back to Shrilal with her nose in the air. She attempted to think of some sort of comeback, but her mind drew a blank on that one. "Nyah," she said instead, not wanting to say nothing. To say nothing would be to admit defeat, and she didn't want to admit defeat in a battle of harmless name-calling.
"Oh," she said, lowering her muzzle and looking at Aitumn. "My mother mentioned the ocean. I think she lives there now, near a friend of mine, that's how she found us here. I think she'll join us to Quirne, but I think if we go anywhere else she'll probably stay there. And she loves little Tucker nearly as much as we do, I don't think we'd have any trouble asking her to watch him for us," she said with a wry smile. No, she knew Rhea would protect Tucker as if he was her own son. They needn't worry about anything happening to him while in her care.
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 6:58 pm
"Only cuz I dubbed ya so", the stallion remarked, watching her mock-anger with great amusement now that the issue of Zak had been settled for the time being and he could once again enjoy what life had to offer without being snuffed out by any shadow that he happened to come across. Still though, there was need for precaution, and so he wouldn't do well to forget that the green brute would likely show up without a warning to his presence. That, or perhaps he'd be lucky a little hint of grin would pop out before hoof, but those chances were slim to none, if any.
With quickened strides, if not stiff one that his joints popping in place, the blood bay followed after the little golden imp, intensely wishing the winter season would done and over with. Ugh, how he hated the cold, and how he would truely rejoice when he found it had just up and ceased one day with no warning at all. That would be his dream come true, certainly it would be. With pricked ears the stallion listened to what was said, before attempting to wonder if perhaps going away from the ocean eventually would give him what he desired. Surely then, Cress would need to watch Tucker and thus allow him to settle the problem. As it was though, that thought was deep within the confines of his mind, and hardly paid attention too at all. "Wonderful then, I'm sure Tucker would enjoy being with her then." If he was awake at the time, for Aitumn would prefer the colt to be asleep while his parents 'disappeared' to some unknown place.
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:24 pm
"And just who gave you permission to call me such things?" She questioned, attempting to sound angry as if it had really offended her, which of course it hadn't. She scoffed, snapping her tails and sticking her nose in the air once more, proceeding to head towards Shrilal. However, she was mostly thinking about the conversation they'd just had, and on possible outcomes of the meeting(s) between Aitumn and Zak.
Pushing the 'what ifs' out of her mind for the time being, she relaxed to her normal state and lowered her muzzle again, slowing down to walk beside Aitumn instead of in front of him. "Do you think Tucker will like the ocean?" She couldn't help but ask the question. She hoped he did, she really did hope so; the ocean would always hold a special place in her heart due to the memories there, and she hoped Tucker would have similar feelings for it. A sudden thought popped out at her that she couldn't help but ask. "I don't know if you've told me before or not, but have you ever been to the ocean, Aitumn?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 9:53 am
"Why, the great rolling clouds above o' course", the stallion chuckled his answer, unable to contain himself at the tone of her mock anger. It was great fun to tease the golden mare, but it was even greater fun when she teased back. Ha, he couldn't imagine a time when he'd a greater pleasure than this.
However, the blood bay flicked his muzzle in her direction when they were side by side and he could match her pace quite well; always trying to ignore the bitter cold of the winter season. The annoying, bitter cold, that crawled up his hide like no one's business. Thoughtfully he spoke, "I think so, you can do many things at the ocean, just as long as we keep an eye on him while doing so." It had been a long time since he had made the journey down south to the border of sand and salt-water, but not long enough to the point he didn't remember the way. "Once, the sand likes to suck at you hooves and it takes awhile to get use to. It was an interesting place, I must admit."
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 10:36 am
She couldn't help but laugh at his reply. My, my; it had been so long since she'd been so comfortable with someone to joke and poke fun with before she'd met Aitumn. How lucky she was to have found him. "Really, now? I could've sworn you were going to say the stars that dot the sky," she teased, her muscular tails playing over one another in amusement.
"I hope he likes it there," she mused with a smile, twitching an ear. "I loved it when I was younger, my mother always took me there." And such wonderful memories she had there, too. Though, she couldn't help but chuckle at his description. "Yes, the sand does tend to do that, especially when wet. Though, it'd good to try and run across; helps balance and a few other beneficial things I've heard of but can't remember," she explained thoughtfully, before her mind wandered to other things and she gave the stallion a devious grin. "Care for a race back to the tree?"
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 6:07 pm
The stallion gave a small rumbling snort, as if he were trying to muffle or swallow a chuckle that was just about ready to produce itself. "Oh, but der are no stars in the sky right now, and thusly, I must listen to the whims of the clouds. As they roll upon the golden sheens of days-broken light, merely to compete with that coat of yours", he told her in a rather matter-of-fact tone as if it were a fact and not a bout of fiction from his imagintive mind. "If you ask me, they're jealous." he grinned, shaking a thick, lengthy mane at his own silliness. There were times when a teller of stories simply couldn't keep they're fathoms to themselves, and so it escaped them in the form of voice and poetic little whims.
"I'm sure Tucker will enjoy himself, I may have found the sand interesting if not a bit annoying at first, he's sure to find amusement in watching me try to walk." Oh boy, had that been a challenge. However, at the mention of a race the stallion's ears perked eagerly, as his dull dark eyes swung themselves into her view once more. "Why certainly, if the golden imp wills it, then it shall be done." He smirked to her, his stready- although still a bit jerky walk from the injuries of Zak- then transformed themselves into extended strides of nigh impossible length.
One forehoof struck outward in a purposeful manner, the other lifting tenderly and striking forward once fully raised and taking the place of the other; his hind end dancing in short little prancing steps. Coyly the blood bay gracefully arched his neck and craned it to the side, a smirk returning to his muzzle as he swung his shoulder and face towards her and his hind end outward till he stepped- no struted- partially sideways to the golden Reya mare. "Mind starting?" It wasn't often he was this prideful, spunky, or even mindful of his own talents; but he was in such a playful mood from their teasings he simply couldn't resist himself.(( Extended Walk / Side Stepping - though Aitumn's with more enthusiasum. ))
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