Talencia
She sat on the kitchen floor, back still pressed firmly against the cabinets, a man's clean t-shirt in her lap and a damp, now cold, washcloth on her feet. Her tousled dirty brown hair was held back only by the blindfold that consisted of a filthy rag. She was currently frowning at the shirt, wondering what in the world had just happened.
She had been fed, given the cleanest water she could remember having, offered something called a bath (which she hadn't had in so long, she couldn't recall what exactly it meant), given a warm wet cloth and a very large piece of clothing. Frankly, she was very lost. She could still hear out the open kitchen door, through which the man had left, his footsteps fading off into the distance as he made good on his announcement that he was going home. But he didn't want to keep her?
She wasn't sure whether to be offended, grateful, or worried. Where exactly was she, that they shoved food at random children, tended wounds, offered strange gifts, and then left her alone in a house that wasn't hers?
She had been fed, given the cleanest water she could remember having, offered something called a bath (which she hadn't had in so long, she couldn't recall what exactly it meant), given a warm wet cloth and a very large piece of clothing. Frankly, she was very lost. She could still hear out the open kitchen door, through which the man had left, his footsteps fading off into the distance as he made good on his announcement that he was going home. But he didn't want to keep her?
She wasn't sure whether to be offended, grateful, or worried. Where exactly was she, that they shoved food at random children, tended wounds, offered strange gifts, and then left her alone in a house that wasn't hers?
Meepfur
Finn-att clomped his way carefully down the stairs - despite the fact that they were wide enough for a being of his make and stature, he still didn't trust them. There was something about being off the ground that was unsettling and disturbing for the centaur. Of course, just about everything that had happened in his life recently had been unsettling and disturbing.
And frustrating. It all made him very grumpy. The herd-chief paused once he had all four hooves planted firmly on the floor and took a moment to look about. The movement caused the bone and bead ornaments that hung from his antlers to clack gently.
And frustrating. It all made him very grumpy. The herd-chief paused once he had all four hooves planted firmly on the floor and took a moment to look about. The movement caused the bone and bead ornaments that hung from his antlers to clack gently.
Talencia
The street urchin froze as thunder seemed to rhythmially descend upon her. She held still until it stopped with what seemed to be more like footsteps than thunder. The entire cavalcade of sounds baffled her. It wasn't thunder, wasn't footsteps. What was it? And the clatter of smaller objects together... that seemed a little more definable, but told her nothing more about what was going on. She remained curled, arms folded against her chest, knees drawn up for a moment, then put out a hand to lean and tip her head, trying to hear better, to better understand.
She had forgotten where she'd placed the bowl and glass, though, and her hand tipped the edge of the bowl, which then spun and rang against the glass. She gave a gasp of dismay at having revealed herself so stupidly, immediately snatching back her hand and staying put where she had been the entire time since waking up. Her mud- and ash-smeeared face turned towards the stairs she didn't know where there, wrapping her arms tighter about herself. This place was just plain creepy, from her point of view.
She had forgotten where she'd placed the bowl and glass, though, and her hand tipped the edge of the bowl, which then spun and rang against the glass. She gave a gasp of dismay at having revealed herself so stupidly, immediately snatching back her hand and staying put where she had been the entire time since waking up. Her mud- and ash-smeeared face turned towards the stairs she didn't know where there, wrapping her arms tighter about herself. This place was just plain creepy, from her point of view.
Meepfur
It was very possible he'd have missed the other's being there entirely, if they hadn't made a sound. His long ears flicked forward and he tipped his head, again with the soft noises of his charms. The sound wasn't an entirely unfamiliar one - it reminded him of a child. But who knew? It seemed like everyone here was small. Immediately suspicious of whomever was trying to hide themselves, he strode towards the kitchen, peering down from his great height.
It was a child! A very dirty one, and not the kind of dirty that came from just playing around. It was the kind of dirty that had...had time to build up. And it was...blindfolded? Finn-att narrowed his eyes, utterly confused.
The size of the thing didn't help any. How did humans manage to survive when they were so tiny and...well, helpless? Unsure of what to do, he simply stood there and frowned.
It was a child! A very dirty one, and not the kind of dirty that came from just playing around. It was the kind of dirty that had...had time to build up. And it was...blindfolded? Finn-att narrowed his eyes, utterly confused.
The size of the thing didn't help any. How did humans manage to survive when they were so tiny and...well, helpless? Unsure of what to do, he simply stood there and frowned.
Talencia
Rairne, being a city child, did not recognize the sound of hooves as they approached her. But her ears did tell her that whatever it was that came near, it was HUGE. Weight rang in every footfall, every strike on the floor telling her more about it's size and weight. Beneath the cloth, her eyes widened. What was WITH this place? Then it danwed on her how very small and weak she must look, curled there on the floor.
And odd sort of prideful fury burned its way through her, and she bolted to her feet, chin raised in defiance. Her hands balled into fists at her sides, her cloth doll dangling from one hand, and she frowned in a sort of glare, though it wasn't directed at any one spot, just generally upwards, for she was sure whatever this was had to be tall, to be so heavy. Gathering her courage, she took a breath and demanded, "Are you in charge? Are you the one who thinks I'll be happy being fed and then used?" Her tone was full of her fury, and it was clear just what kind of 'use' she meant.
Quietly, he chuckled. This little spitfire had been a good choice. She was bound to bear up well under the coming changes.
And odd sort of prideful fury burned its way through her, and she bolted to her feet, chin raised in defiance. Her hands balled into fists at her sides, her cloth doll dangling from one hand, and she frowned in a sort of glare, though it wasn't directed at any one spot, just generally upwards, for she was sure whatever this was had to be tall, to be so heavy. Gathering her courage, she took a breath and demanded, "Are you in charge? Are you the one who thinks I'll be happy being fed and then used?" Her tone was full of her fury, and it was clear just what kind of 'use' she meant.
Quietly, he chuckled. This little spitfire had been a good choice. She was bound to bear up well under the coming changes.
Meepfur
Finn-att's frown deepened as the child rose, looking ready for a fight. Unimpressed and unworried, he continued to stare down at her in puzzlement - even a little amusement - at her bravado. What was she going on about? He crossed his arms, annoyed by his own confusion. He actually didn't catch her meaning of 'used' - his assumption was that she'd been made a host.
"No," he answered in his rough voice. "That would be the Destroyer."
"No," he answered in his rough voice. "That would be the Destroyer."
Talencia
She paused, her posture relaxing slightly, but a frown deepened on her filthy face. "Destroyer? Then who are you, and who was the man who fed me and left?" This really was all so confusing. And why had this one made such noise when he'd come close? "And why did you make such strange sounds when you walked?" She assumed he'd walked, anyway. "Do you have pots on your feet?" It was the closest thing her mind could produce that might, just maybe, make that sound. It wasn't exactly right, she knew, but the puzzle of the noise was driving her to distraction. Perhaps that was why she hadn't quite reacted to the name "Destroyer" as she ought to have. But someone else was now paying attention, though he was restricted by whatever the girl heard.
Meepfur
Finn had never in his life encountered someone who was blind, which was the only reason he could come up with for the girl not just taking off the blindfold and looking to see for herself. "I'm Finn-att Sokk-att," he responded, still uncertain and unhappy about being so. "And how would I know?"
Strange noises? Pots on his feet? His brow furrowed. "No," he said with a touch of annoyance. "I don't even have feet. They're hooves."
Strange noises? Pots on his feet? His brow furrowed. "No," he said with a touch of annoyance. "I don't even have feet. They're hooves."
Talencia
Her little face contorted with thought. Hooves? That meant..., "Are you a horse? A talking horse?" Another thought occured. "Or a cow?" Her tone was for once rather innocent. This was an area where she was properly childishly ignorant. Even the tough little alley rat felt compelled by the notion of a talking horse, and she moved towards him, stretching out her right hand.
Unfortunately, this flexed muscles now bending around the stone in her shoulder, and she winced, immediately cupping her left hand over her right shoulder, where the clean white bandage clashed with the rest of her appearance. It hadn't bled much since it had been bandaged, though the lump of the stone still was obvious.
But by now she could feel his nearness, and hear his movements making some sort of noise from above her. She tipped her head up and up and up, ears listening to gauge just how far up he went. "Big horse," she breathed faintly to herself.
Unfortunately, this flexed muscles now bending around the stone in her shoulder, and she winced, immediately cupping her left hand over her right shoulder, where the clean white bandage clashed with the rest of her appearance. It hadn't bled much since it had been bandaged, though the lump of the stone still was obvious.
But by now she could feel his nearness, and hear his movements making some sort of noise from above her. She tipped her head up and up and up, ears listening to gauge just how far up he went. "Big horse," she breathed faintly to herself.
Meepfur
"I am not a horse, and I am most certainly not a cow!" Finn protested, terribly offended by her suggestion of the latter. "I am a centaur." He crossed his arms with the stomp of a hind hoof. Having to look this far down to talk to someone was terribly annoying. Even if you didn't bother with his antlers, he was nearly seven feet tall.
He didn't move when she came towards him; though it might have been surprising given his gruffness, he didn't mind her touching him if she wanted to. Even if they were much bigger and stronger (and cleaner) than this little thing, he did have children. Two of them girls, actually.
Though he frowned again at her show of pain, he didn't bother to say anything about it.
He didn't move when she came towards him; though it might have been surprising given his gruffness, he didn't mind her touching him if she wanted to. Even if they were much bigger and stronger (and cleaner) than this little thing, he did have children. Two of them girls, actually.
Though he frowned again at her show of pain, he didn't bother to say anything about it.
Talencia
She heard his voice sound mildly outraged at being called a cow. She supposed she couldn't blame him, and so for the first time in a long time, she said, "I'm sorry." Her voice was soft, still tipping her head upwards towards him. "What is a centaur?" Her inquisitiveness couldn't be helped. She wanted to know many things, like what a centaur felt like. She reached, this time with her left hand, to try and touch him. She waved her hand gently side to side and took another hesitant step nearer, her bare foot brushing his hard forehoof. Half a moment later, her hand encountered the accompanying leg.
Her brows drew together with a faint frown of concentration. Her toes wiggled faintly against the hardness of the hoof, and she lightly ran her hand down his leg, noting knee and fetlock joints until her fingers brushed his hoof. Still lightly, she reached with both hands to trace the upper edge of his hoof, nimble fingers noticing many details. She ran her left hand back up his leg to where it met his muscled shoulder. "Your leg is very long. No wonder you are so tall," she commented in childlike bluntness.
Her brows drew together with a faint frown of concentration. Her toes wiggled faintly against the hardness of the hoof, and she lightly ran her hand down his leg, noting knee and fetlock joints until her fingers brushed his hoof. Still lightly, she reached with both hands to trace the upper edge of his hoof, nimble fingers noticing many details. She ran her left hand back up his leg to where it met his muscled shoulder. "Your leg is very long. No wonder you are so tall," she commented in childlike bluntness.
Meepfur
His acceptance of her apology was a mere grunt - hardly the most polite of responses, but it was acceptance nonetheless. She soon had him baffled again, however, when she asked him what a centaur was. No one had ever asked him that before! He thought about it while she ran her hand up and down his foreleg, causing muscles to twitch under red-brown and black hair. The lightness of her touch tickled, especially on the back of his knee. It was very hard not to shift his legs even a little, but from the look of her feet (which he found to be strange, a little like hands but not), he'd break them if he stepped on them.
Finn-att's ears twitched as he realized with something like to dismay that he might be warming to the child. He'd gotten comfortable being bitter and angry. It was enough to make him sigh.
"A centaur is like a horse," he explained with a swish of his tail, "But not all the way up. On top, I am like a man."
Finn-att's ears twitched as he realized with something like to dismay that he might be warming to the child. He'd gotten comfortable being bitter and angry. It was enough to make him sigh.
"A centaur is like a horse," he explained with a swish of his tail, "But not all the way up. On top, I am like a man."
Talencia
LIke a horse? The swish of a tail she could hear, which also proved the point. But like a man, on top? Her face grew even more puzzled. A man and horse? Both? She shook her head in confusion. "I do not understand, Finn-att Sokk-att," she replied, pronouncing his name properly. Her ears were adept at catching correct prnounciation. "Show me." It was a simple request, couched as statement, and with it she raised a hand, outstretched upwards to him. It was her left hand, for her right she hand curled close to her body. Her shoulder still ached, and she longed to pluck at the edges of the bandage.
Meepfur
Finn scratched his head, considering the logistics of such a request. She certainly couldn't reach as high as she would need to to 'get a look' at the rest of him, so either she needed to be up higher, or he needed to be down lower. It wouldn't be a difficult thing to lift her up, swing her onto his back, but with the way she favored her shoulder, that might not be wise.
"Just a moment," he said, stepping back. "Stand still." The last thing he wanted to do was step on her, and he needed a bit of room to lie down. He did so gingerly, taking extra care so as not to lose traction on the hard floor. It took a minute, but eventually he settled himself. "There."
"Just a moment," he said, stepping back. "Stand still." The last thing he wanted to do was step on her, and he needed a bit of room to lie down. He did so gingerly, taking extra care so as not to lose traction on the hard floor. It took a minute, but eventually he settled himself. "There."
Talencia
The small girl stood stock still as she was bidden, tipping her head to the side as she listened to him move. Yes, now that she knew the size and shape of his feet... no, hooves.... the sounds made much more sense. When he seemed to be comfortable again, she stepped forward towards him, both hands raised cautiously. She began low, where she could feel the warm, coarse-haired body of his horse part. He had said that he was man on top, so she raised her her hands, tracing the lines of muscle along what was his horse-chest.
She inhaled sharply when her fingers encountered where fur changed to skin. She let either hand trace the edge out from the point she'd begun, feeling the difference between the two hides. She then raised her arms, up his very human chest towards his shoulders. But then her hands left his skin, raised instead in a gesture that asked him to lower his still too tall head so that she could touch his face.
Inwardly, she was filled with wonder. Finn-att was unlike anything the'd ever imagined. To be part horse! Her tiny, dusty imagination soared at the thought. "Have you always been like this?" she asked in a tone of wonder. "Are there other centaurs like you?"
She inhaled sharply when her fingers encountered where fur changed to skin. She let either hand trace the edge out from the point she'd begun, feeling the difference between the two hides. She then raised her arms, up his very human chest towards his shoulders. But then her hands left his skin, raised instead in a gesture that asked him to lower his still too tall head so that she could touch his face.
Inwardly, she was filled with wonder. Finn-att was unlike anything the'd ever imagined. To be part horse! Her tiny, dusty imagination soared at the thought. "Have you always been like this?" she asked in a tone of wonder. "Are there other centaurs like you?"
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