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 Posted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 3:29 pm
The wind caught at Avalokiteshvara's long mane and waved it in a long banner behind her, as red and gold as the sunset. Her hooves now walked these paths with the ease of familiarity. Her time spent here with Scythe had given her plenty of time to roam about and get used to her surroundings. It had given her plenty of time to think too. Times like now...
She was starting to reach the end of the time that she had mentally allowed herself to stay with Scythe. No more than a few weeks she had promised herself. She had places to go and people to help. Scythe, though sweet, was hardly in need. There might be soquili out there even now crying for help. Even now without a hope and in pain and...
She shut her eyes against those thoughts. She couldn't help but share in the sufferings of others, even the suffering that she only imagined. There was no purpose in upsetting herself over what was not there before her. Scythe was the one before her now. Just Scythe and herself.
Scythe and herself. He had taught her how to fly and she still didn't know if she had landed. She still felt as if she was suspended in that moment, infinitely free, at peace, and happy. The old shadows of her past and loneliness were easily banished in his company. That wasn't all, either. She felt something much warmer than the wild joy of flight, something that made her smile and sigh.
She cared about him. No, it was something more than that. Vara never liked deceiving anyone, even herself. She had to look at this emotion rationally and identify it for what it was. It was something beyond caring. It was...
She smiled to herself. All the plans in the world she could have made would have all been thrown off by this simple change in emotion. She couldn't walk away from something like this, not for long anyways and it wasn't worth the bother of trying. She had no choice but to face it, a thought that sent her heart racing in joyful sprints. She had to find Scythe. She turned back around on the path and headed back to where she hoped he hadn't strayed far from. If it wasn't time for a confession it was at least a time for a discussion.
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Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 11:12 am
Scythe had stayed in the forest, searching for berries and other edible plants that scattered the forest floors. Vara had decided to go for a walk, Scythe knew that she wasn't one to stay long. He just hoped that she wouldn't go for a walk one day and never return.
He had stood and watched her as she made her way down the path, her vibrant mane and tail gracefully flowing behind her. He smiled a bit, thinking of Vara's beauty. She was beautiful, inside and out. He'd never found a mare quite like her. Compasionate, yet strong. He imagined she had touched many lives in her journey.
Once she was out of sight, Scythe turned his attention back to his hunt. He knew he had caught the scent of red berries somewhere in the area. He wanted to gather several clusters for himself and Vara to share at dinner. He wandered a little off the path, but not far. Following the scent, his nose darting from bush to bush until he finally found them. A bush with abundance, he decided to snack on a few now. He took a mouthful and chewed slowly, savouring the taste.
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Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 6:33 pm
It wasn't terribly hard to find Scythe. He hadn't gone far from when she last saw him, it seemed. It also seemed that he was quite engrossed with snacking on a berry plant. Vara could only smile fondly at the sight. He did tend to get involved with things. He had always been an attentive one.
She hated to interrupt such attention but she still needed to talk with him. "Scythe," she said softly, stepping to his side to give him a smile. "I have something I wanted to talk about. It can wait if you want to finish your berries, though." They did smell nice, she had to admit. She would have to indulge herself upon them too after their talk, if the mood permitted.
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Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 7:42 am
Scythe had been so enthralled by the berries that he hadn't heard Vara come up behind him. Startled by her voice, his head shot up to face her. Berries hanging from his mouth, juices rolling down his lips. He quickly tried to clear his mouth and smile...berry seeds between his teeth.
"Oh, no. We can talk now. I was gathering berries for us tonight." He nickered a little and nodded down to the pile of berries he had picked to take back with him. "I just... Had to make sure they were sweet and ready to be eatten." He ears flickered back and florth slightly.
"What's going on?" "This is it...she's about ready to leave. This will be my last night with her...." He tried to sound hopeful as he talked, but he dreaded hearing her words saying it was time to go.
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:44 pm
Vara thought that she caught the edge of something beyond Scythe's voice. Was something bothering him? Her brow creased slightly with worry. If there was something troubling him then what she had to say could wait. She stepped up to him and gave his neck a comforting nuzzle.
"Nothing so important is going on that it needs to be addressed immediately." She smiled when she looked at the berry pile. "That was very thoughtful of you. Thank you." She looked back to him, worry clouding her eyes. "Are you all right?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 3:01 pm
Scythe smiled and welcomed her gentle nuzzle, he looked to her as she asked her question, he could see the look in her eyes.
"Now or never, old man..."
He took a deep breath, looked to the ground..."No, look at her.", he thought to himself. He lifted his head and looked to Vara, beautiful breath-taking Vara.
"I dread the coming days, Vara." he started slowly, his heart pounding. He'd never tried to tell someone how deeply he felt. "Your journeys, they take you across the mountains, over rivers, and through valleys...."
He looked around at the surrounding forest, knowing there was only the valley and fields beyond the trees. "Your days here have been many, and I know your heart pulls you to leave...."
His eyes joined in gaze with her deep blue orbs of life..his merriment. How he had loved watching them dance with laughter...."Vara, I don't wish that you leave me...But,"
He took a deep breath, taking a few steps to close the distance between them, whispering softly to her, "..If your heart pulls you to leave to continue your journey, I pray you allow me to travel at your side."
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Posted: Sun Feb 10, 2008 7:30 pm
Her heart seemed to skip a beat. What was that he had said? She took a deep breath to steady herself and took a moment more to convince herself she had heard him properly. He would travel with her. "That's..."
She took another breath, her voice heavy with emotion. "And if your heart longs to stay here in your home I ask that you let me stay here with you." She looked back into Scythe's eyes, eyes aglow with something much different than the usual bemusement. "I wouldn't pull you away from something that you care about. I would never do that to anyone, let alone..."
She smiled, some of her usual poise back. "Let alone you, Scythe. I would plant my hooves in one spot if I knew that you'd be there beside me."
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Posted: Tue Feb 12, 2008 2:32 pm
Scythe stood there speechless for a moment. Had she just said that she'd stay here? Scythe shook his head, his mane flipping from one side to the other.
"You'd really stay here with me?" He sounded shocked. He hadnt' expected this, he had been expecting for her to say it was time she made her way.
"Vara," He moved in closer, nuzzling her neck gently as he spoke, "I could never dream of asking you to plant your hooves firmly somewhere for me." he took a step back, looking into her beautiful blue eyes, "You're not made to stay in one place long."
He stopped and pondered for a moment, "We could compromise. 6 months of the year we travel, 6 months we stay at home..." He thought it was a good idea, they could travel South out of the snow in winter...or anywhere she'd like for that matter.
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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 11:00 am
Vara gave a nod and a smile. "Yes, that does sound nice. Time to see the world and time to enjoy something a little quieter." She quieted for a moment, blue eyes softly contemplative. There was one more factor that needed consideration, a factor that Scythe definitely ought to know about and would find out about shortly whether she told him or not.
The first time this had happened she had no one to tell, no one to share the news with and no one to tell her what to expect. She was more experienced with the process now and wasn't worried. Besides that, this time would be different. This time she had Scythe.
She looked at him again as a few stray strands of golden mane wisped in front of her eyes. "I think that we should probably take the first six months here. I'm going to need a lot of rest soon." She leaned a little closer. "It's because... You're going to be a father."
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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 2:22 pm
Scythe began talking before her words really set in, "Yes, I thought you might li..."
He stopped midsentance as her last few words struck his brain. "Father?" He questioned, silent for a moment.
"You mean?" He jumped a bit, then lowered his head looking at her belly. Now that he looked closer it did seem a little more 'full'. "Foals? A family?!" He nickered and reared slightly in excitement. He tried to calm himself, which of course failed miserably, "When? I mean, How long have you known?"
Scythe had long hoped to have a family, and he hadn't had the nerve yet to have told Vara that he'd hoped his family would be with her. What great news. "I'm going to be a dad. I'M GOING TO BE A DAD!" he yelled out into the forest.
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Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 12:08 pm
Seeing the excitement and pride in Scythe woke something inside Vara. Her usual composure wavered and one shuddering breath escaped before she could regain it again. He was happy. He was staying. She tried to think of something to say to him but her mind seemed to lose it's words. She had been given a second chance at having a family, a family that didn't consist of a missing father, a lost sibling, and just herself and the one last foal alone in the world.
She smiled with happiness that radiated off her like light from the sun. "I can't imagine who would make a better father than you, dear. These foals are incredibly lucky, as am I..."
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 2:51 pm
"I can't believe it, this has got to be the greatest day in my life!" Scythe moved closer nuzzling Vara's neck then gently nosing her belly. "How long do we have?" He wasnt' sure how far along she was, nor how much longer he'd have to wait for the foals arrival. He nickered suddenly, smiley a broad toothy smile, "I'm going to be a father." He beamed with joy. "Thank you....Thank you." He whispered in Vara's ear.
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Posted: Sun Feb 24, 2008 9:34 am
"It'll still be a while until we see any foals," she murmured happily into Scythe's neck. "Can't rush these things." It would be such a joy to have foals around again. She remembered how cute Haya was as a colt and smiled at the memory.
"It'll be very busy when the foals arrive." She gave Scythe's mane a soft and affectionate n**. "It's going to be the last time we have alone together for a while. And..." She moved her mouth to Scythe's ear in a mirror of his movements. "You're welcome."
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