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 Posted: Sun Jun 08, 2008 2:40 pm
~*~
*~ The Phantom-Pheasants Arrive! ~*
~*~
(With Aureate, Dahlia, Sumi-E, Sequoyah, and Xandir)  What a couple of months. Dahlia used to be such a carefree little filly, barely out of foalhood and with a childlike enthusiasm and naivete that was enduring and infectious. After her first flirtatious meeting with Aureate, she returned with him to the caves several weeks later, a meeting that would change her life forever. In the dark, seductive depths of the caves romance blossomed between the twinkle of the crystals.
Dahlia was confused by what had happened. It was strange, lingering, and unfamiliar, but not wholly unpleasant. Thoughts of Aureate filled her mind constantly, but embarrassment (over what she wasn't even sure), kept her from seeing him for a while. The weeks passed, and Dahlia's swelling belly and raging hormones finally led to her fathers, Sequiyah and Xandir, to break the news to her: she would be a mother.
The news was dizzying to the young mare. She still considered herself a child, and now she was supposed to have children of her own? For several weeks she fell into a deep depression, mourning the loss of her childhood and unwilling to face the responsibility of adulthood. But as the weeks passed by, the feeling of life growing inside her, paired with the loving and excited support of her fathers began to drastically change Dahlia's outlook on the situation. She had a family to look to for help, and soon she was filled with so much love and adoration for her unborn foals she could barely contain herself.
Labor was a wake-up call for Dahlia, completely unprepared for the pain and effort she would be forced to endure as her children made their entrance to the world. Xandir stayed by her side, while a nervous and protective Sequoyah chased away anyone or anything that could be construed as any kind of a threat. Finally after several excruciating hours, two exceptionally perfect baskets were nestled proudly in Dahlia's care.
Darius, Dahlia's hawk, had long left to herald the stallion Aureate of the good news: The baskets were born!! 
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Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 5:35 pm
When it became clear that Dahlia was hiding from him, Aureate felt like an absolute heel. Well, worse than that... In fact, there were no words to explain what had happened between himself and the lovely mare. One moment, they were close...
The next, he couldn't find her if his life depended on it...
And the moment after that, a bird the likes of which he'd never seen was swooping out of the sky and shouting all sorts of nonsense at him. Darius, the Messenger was called... Dahlia's winged guardian... Her familiar.
And she was in labor... Was foaling...
He spun away from his Kiwani handler, a Healer by nature and Shaman by training, leaping after him. Darius wasn't worried, so he didn't take the tiny female... In the end her weight would slow him down. With a reassuring whinny he leapt into the skies, released into the blue like a black and gold fletched arrow.
A single bursting note of song rang through the air around him as he followed the hawk back the way he had come.
He landed with none of his usual grace, his strides choppy and loud, but at least they kept him from planting his nose in the dirt. He wasn't sure Dahlia would want to see him, which is why he remained in this little clearing... But he wanted to see her.
"Dahlia?" He called softly, glancing at Darius for reassurance.
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Posted: Mon Jun 09, 2008 6:52 pm
 Aureate was greeted by a frightening stallion who met him at his landing site. Muscular and fierce, the white mutant said no words, but stood sentinel-like at the edge of a thicket, narrowing his four red, pupil-less eyes at Aure. Darius landed on his shouldn't and nipped at his ears, causing the severe stallion to sneer. He shook the hawk off his bank and approached Aureate threateningly."Sumi-e!" A strong voice came from behind him, a mature older stallion that trotted out of the bushes and up beside the guardian. He gave him a reassuring smile and a nod. Immediately the brute's stature changed, backing down a few steps, though he still gazed eerily at Aure with his double glowing eyes.
"Forgive him, he's very protective of our land," the shining silver stallion said, looking over the winged stallion in front of him and already seeming to brim over with a mix of excitement and pride. "You must be him, Aureate, yes?? I am Sequoyah, Dahlia's father."
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 10:11 am
At the approach of the red-and-white stallion Aure had pinned his ears, bared his teeth, and sank most of his weight to his hind legs, prepared to fight if the need arose. Truth be told, he was nothing short of relieved at the strong voice that rang through the air, and the appearance of the silver stallion.
There was nothing to forgive, not really... But he nodded mutely none-the-less, still keeping a watchful eye turned on the one called 'Sumi-e'. He didn't like being in strange territory, surrounded by so many strange males... But he wanted to see Dahlia... Darius had said he NEEDED to see her.
"I... Yes, I am the one called Aureate..." He murmured, bowing his head slightly. "Well met Sequoyah."
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Posted: Thu Jun 12, 2008 7:06 pm
Seqoyah's face beamed as he introduced himself, looking appraisingly at the male. He must have approved, because he tossed him mane and whinnied happily, turning towards the thicket. "Come then, you have someone that needs to see you."
Sequoyah led the way into the wooded cove. He nodded to another stallion, grey and spotted with a pink mane and tail. "Xandir, this is Aureate," he said, nodding to the new male. Xandir fluffed his wings and smiled, nodding his head in greeting. Then he stepped aside. Behind him, nestled among a bed of spring leaves, was Dahlia. She lifted her head and her eyes met to Aureate, almost immediately fillnig with tears. She looked so exhausted, but at the same time almost glowing. Protectively nested between her two front hooves were two dazzling rainbow-colored baskets.
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Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 5:44 pm
Aureate cautiously waited as the other stallion eyed him, ears flicking back and forth as the woods moved around them. Creatures in the distance... Birds.. Bugs... The wind... He nodded gratefully when the silent test was passed and Sequoyah was leading him onward. He shifted his wings in nervousness as they moved through the maze of trees.
The sight of the other stallion brought him up short, making him wish fervrently they weren't planning to kick his tail all over the forest. He nodded to the other stallion, still nervous, until he saw Dahlia. The sight of her nearly crying had him trotting foward, draping a wing around her and the baskets...
Beautiful, beautiful baskets...
"Donna' cry, Dear Lady." He crooned. "Please now, chere..."
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:25 am
Dahlia's eyes sparkled so when the settled on Aureate. "Aure!" she cried out in joy, stretching her neck to nuzzle against his face. "Aren't they beautiful...aren't they just perfect?" she murmered into his ear. Behind her the two stallions puffed up proudly looking at the scene. Xandir nearly had to choke back his own tears, leaning slightly against Seqouyah. The larger stallion, for once, didn't stop him, smiling proudly at the family.
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 11:41 am
The light in her eyes was much better than tears, calming him instantly. He gave her his best smile, nuzzling her mane and stroking her side with the long flight feathers. At her words he turned his full attention to the little baskets, baskets with tiny lives inside...
Two seemingly simple objects... One mostly black and white, with a brilliantly patterned lid and brightly colored feathers... One soft purples and blues, the jewel a light sky color.
"They are beautiful." He agreed, nodding and nuzzling her cheek. His melodic voice tight with emotion and honesty. "They are perfect... They're the most wonderful things I've ever seen..."
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Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2008 9:25 pm
There were still tears lingering in Dahlia's eyes, but none could question that their origin was pure joy. Her tail flicked behind her happily as Aure inspected the baskets, the perfect perfect little baskets, and she reveled in the feel of his wings against her body. If there was a more perfect feeling in the world she couldn't imagine what it would be.
Meanwhile, the two fatherly stallions looked on, exchanging serious glances. The rougher stallion, Sumi, kept his distance, but he, too, looked on the scene with a hint of curiosity and sense of duty.
Sequoyah finally stepped forward towards the couple, clearing his throat with a rumble. "Aureate," he said solemnly, "There is something of great importance I would like to speak with you about."
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Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2008 6:20 pm
Folding his forelegs beneath him so he could kneel, Aureate nuzzled the mare once again, crooning a soft song to both of his baskets. "Sometimes it seemed, if I just dreamed, somehow you would be here..."
He rose slowly, glancing once to Sumi-e, then to Squoyah and Xandir. Turning of his attention back to the mare and the baskets she curled around, he jumped slightly at the solemn tone.
"Oh?" He murmured, turning back to Sequoyah... He nosed Dahlia and smiled. "Alright..."
There was a slight daze to all this knowledge... He was a father... Those two beautiful baskets held his foals... Moving away from them he paced back to the elder stallion's side, bobbing his head. "Lead the way..."
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Posted: Sun Jul 20, 2008 8:00 am
Sequoyah nodded and headed just a few steps back from Dahlia so she could have some room, but all of them were still in listening range. The handsome stallion took a deep breath and paused, letting the weight of the situation fully come to a head.
"Aureate," he started, his voice low and almost ceremonial, "we are but a small herd. Just getting to our hooves, so to speak. But we are tight, strong, and the thing we value above anything else here is family. We are all a family, and when you are a part of this herd loyalty and trust are cornerstone. We are picky about who we let in, because its a commitment."
Sequoyah looked back towards Dahlia for a moment and a dopey, proud grin broke out on his face as he looked at his daughter. "You and Dahlia have created something wonderful," he started again, looking back to Aure and trying to regain his serious composure. "It would be an honor to all of us, if you would stay and be a part of this family forever."
Xandir tossed his mane proudly and Dahlia was up on her feet, eyes wide in surprise and already welling with hopeful tears as she looked to Aure for his answer. The young mother had been wholly unsure just exactly how Sequoyah thought about her youthful indiscretion and right now she felt the happiest and most secure and loved she had in quite some time.
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Posted: Tue Aug 12, 2008 6:18 pm
Aureate glanced around as he moved after Sequoyah at a sedate walk, wings shifting slightly with unease. The dynamics of this herd were not something he'd had time to feel out, so he wasn't sure on whom's hooves he trod when he did something wrong. Not wanting to upset anyone here -particularly Dahlia and the baskets- he moved carefully.
Blue eyes were fixed on the stallion, considering his deep breaths, his thoughtful silence. When he spoke, those same eyes flared wide, jerking a quick glance to Dahlia and Xandir, the baskets and Sumi-e. His family was one thing, and so was Sib's, with whom he often ran.. But this herd... It seemed, different.. Somehow...
And they were inviting him in? They wanted him to stay, forever?
He eyed Dahlia again, smiling at her hopeful expression. Dahlia was fragile in many ways... She was delicate and open with every emotion, it was no surprise these stallions were so fiercely protective...
Once again his eyes slid towards the one who had challenged him, then back to Sequoyah.
"You want me to become part of your family?" He asked softly, taking half a step back and flicking his tail. "Knowing so little of me and mine? Your trust honors me, Sequoyah, Xandir. I am not sure I am worthy of such high esteem..."
He ducked his head slightly, wondering at their invitation.
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