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 Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 3:42 pm
 Leaves rattled and twigs snapped in a blind fury. It was the only thing heard in the otherwise peacefully looking woodlands. But the noise itself was chaotic and too rapid to be the pulse of the trees. And in the sea of green, a splash of purple could be seen darting by, followed by shines of gray and white. Then came the familiar sound of hooves, stomping and clicking in the same direction as the colors. This, certainly, was the source of the disturbance.
Slapping through the branches wildly, Setsumi burst through the outer edge of the woods at last, escaping the puzzle of the forest. But even that wasn't enough. Giving another gasp, the mare pumped her legs to keep running. Galloping across the wide open meadow. But she was not a beast of agility. Endurance, yes, but at this pace the wolves would surely catch up. Teal eyes glimpsed back nervously to the two trailing predators, so close. Huffing, she kept running to the best of her ability.
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Posted: Fri Jul 11, 2008 6:31 pm
The sounds of something heavy moving through the forest had travailed to a pair of sensitive blue ears. Pricked forwards they strained for the source of the noise, catching the frantic drum of hoof beats, the snapping of twigs, the heavy breath of strained lungs. Something, no, someone... was in trouble. For they were not the sounds of a soquili racing for the joy of speed.. they were the sounds of someone fleeing for their life.
Blue coat glided smoothly over muscled figure as the stallion started towards the sounds. Hooves padding softly, then slowly picking up speed, breaking into a fast-paced trot before slipping into a canter than almost immediately lengthened into a full gallop. Blue tail flicked against straining haunches, slender ears pricked forwards, flicking sharply as he traced the path of the sounds ahead of him.
There! the low growls and snorts of a predator, no two... the scent drifting back to him was one of musky fur and death. Wolves.
Drawing back his lip he snorted. He respected all life, but wolves sometimes tested his patience with nature. Opportunistic little buggers! But there were only two of three.. not an entire pack. That would be their downfall today. Stretching out his neck he drove forwards, blue flanks heaving, pale hooves a blur of speed as he raced wildly after the wolves and their quarry.
Light shone ahead, piercing the skirt of the shadowed forest. Squinting he saw the pair of wolves break cover and race yet faster across the grass, and there, some way up front, the purple and blue rump of a soquili. Nostrils flared wide, the stallion lengthened his ground-eating stride. Each second brought him closer to the wolves, their scent almost blocking out that of the forest behind them as he too broke from the cover, the sunlight glinting off his sapphire coat.
Closer.. closer... NOW! Lunging forwards, the wolf directly in front noticed him too late as his blunt herbivore teeth sank into the dirty grey fur of the canine's rump. Lifting the squirming, squealing body high he flung it away from him. The yelping wolf cart wheeling crazily through the air before vanishing in the long grass. The second swerved to the side, disorientated by the sudden loss of its pack mate. With a shrill scream the stallion struck out with a foreleg, his sharp hoof glancing off the furry body, sending the wolf tumbling to the side.
Jamming his legs out in front of him he slithered to a halt and spun round, racing back to where the wolf had gone. Grey eyes flickered from side to side, seeking the creature, until he spotted a shape slinking away through the grass back towards the forest, limping.
Snorting he flicked his short tail, blood thundering in his ears, making his coat twitch like it was covered in ants. With a scream he reared high, forelegs raking the air before he suddenly bucked, releasing the excess adrenaline that ran through his veins like electricity.
Trembling he let all four feet settle back on the earth, nostrils wide, showing their red lining as he snorted in the direction the wolves had gone. ..... what the heck had he just done?
"Damn Cloud, you're crazy, you know that?" He muttered to himself before remembering the one that the wolves had been after. Turning round he lifted his head, grey eyes sweeping the grassland for the purple figure.
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 12:24 pm
The mare panted in both fear and charged energy as she continued the relentless running. Just below her feathers a white frothing was forming on her skin, dripping cold in the wind. If only the wolves weren't so fit, she might have outdistanced them. If only she wasn't so slow in her strides, she could outrace them. If only her feathers came with wings.
Nostrils seemed ready to tear, she was running so hard. Well beyond her normal standards. But even that wasn't stopping the ragged and foul breath of wolves on her flanks. Ears pinned down hard to the sound of screaming, and for a split instant, she thought it was herself. But she was to busy gasping on air, and she didn't feel bitten. Thuds were heard on the ground behind her, and she dared a glimpse back. A splash of blue. There was another soquili? And like the second wolf, Setsumi swerved too. Both from disorientation and fatique. The other was ridding the wolves, thank goodness.
The mare curved her direction to get a clear view of the others, her ribs shaking hard to her ragged breathing. The veins in her legs burned from the long chase, though she was still antsy and on alert. Anything could still happen. Teal eyes shot nervously from the retreating wolves to the stallion, his loud battle cry fearful. Was this stranger in a high? Would he even quest for more challenges, and glimpse herself as another target? Setsumi shook her head of these thoughts while staying her ground.
He had just helped, but even so she kept a cautious mind. Jaw locked as the other soquili turned his attention over and spotted her. Long blue tail swept at her onyx hooves, showing her fret. "I thank you.....stranger...for your efforts..." She bent her head, both to give gratitude and display of no aggressions.
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 1:43 pm
Still breathing hard himself, but no where near as exhausted as the other, he shifted into a slow, smooth trot, covering the distance between them but slowing up as he drew close. Careful not to spook her.. for she was definitely a mare.. and one who would not be able to run much further without doing some real damage.
Standing still he smiled warmly, trying to make himself look as harmless as possible, but it was hard when he was a rather bright blue and heavily muscled from his wandering lifestyle. "A pleasure, I was close by and could not ignore another's plight. Are you ok?" He asked softly, deep voice a low, soothing rumble.
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 4:42 pm
Setsumi held no fears to his approach, herself already worn thin with today's little run in that even concern could only be held so long. Oxygen was more important right now. Her legs quivered to the sweat slidding down, her brow twitched to the itching it caused to the base of her feathers. But at least now she had a hide to clean after, thanks to this stranger.
"Then I'm lucky one was so near how could care." It could have just as easily been more wolves. Thankfully it was not to be. She stretched her sight upwards, as if higher air would help her lungs as she calmed. "...I'm well now, just some moments of ease would do some good." She then paced a slow walk on the hill they stood, not wanting to cramp her legs after asking so much of them. Tail flicked behind her as it dragged, the mare turning clear eyes to observe the other from her closer side view. There were no smell or sight of injuries. "Amazing, you had the upper ground that whole encounter."
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 5:19 pm
He moved a little closer when she did not show signs of fleeing. he wanted to make she was ok, and not hurt. He had no idea how far away she was from her friends, or any family she had.. and those wolves didn’t just appear out of the air, they had to have a pack within range of where they stood.
Her words made him turn to watch her as she paced a slow circle. "I suppose, though anyone would have done the same, I am sure." He replied softly. He stood quietly, his short tail flicking at his rump as he cooled from his short run. he was in far better condition than her if any more of the wolf pack turned up, so he would stay for as long as she allowed.. "Only through the element of surprise, and the fact that there was only two of them.. focused on you. Any more and it would not have turned out so favourably, I'd wager." He flicked an ear, neck turning to follow her slow progress. "Predators do not expect their prey to chase after them." He added with a soft laugh.
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Posted: Sun Jul 13, 2008 6:27 pm
Her chest began to slow in her breaths, time proving useful in calming her body. Now her lungs didn't feel so raw as to be sandpaper. Her eyes scanned their surrounding as well, finding herself far from her normal territory of woodland. And even the small forest nearby was no option since the wolves had escaped there. Reminded of the close range of the predators, Setsumi unconsciously backstepped, turning hesitantly to walk away from said trees. A nudge of her head to ask the other to move too for safer grounds. Even if her pace was stiff.
"Hah, oh yes...I do love being the center of attention." She gave a faint attempt at laughter, obviously not serious. Her ears were a constant flick of back and forth for any danger. "I'm sorry, you had to go out of your way for that... Are you far from your herd now?" She whimpered to herself, before pausing to look back at the other with apologetic eyes. "I'm Setsumi by the way. Sorry for the delay to formalities."
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Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:29 pm
He watched her slowly calm herself down, though it was obvious that she was still spooked, and who wouldn't be after that? At the first movement of her head the sapphire stallion cantered over, catching up to her in a few strides and settling to walk at her side.
"Don't be sorry, I only did what I wished to. Nothing more. And I don't actually have a herd, so no I haven't gone out of my way or anything." He stepped closer at the soft sound, head lowered along side hers. He hoped she was going to be ok, she seemed distressed. He smiled as she looked at him, trying to reassure her, his expression gentle. "Don't sweat it, its a pleasure to meet you Setsumi. I’m known as Cloud Runner, just Cloud is fine."
He watched her for a moment, noting her sweat-matted hide and exhausted steps. "I know of a shallow, wide river close by here... " He murmured softly, thinking she might want to bathe or at least drink.
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Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:48 pm
The mare tread up the soft hill, taking advantage of the higher point of view and the secure company of the other soquili. It was an obviously better situation than mere moments ago, that much she could compute. And her knees weren't buckling as bad as before, a good sign in case there was need for more running. Teal eyes widened behind her long mane, and she turned a glance to the other. "You don't have a herd of your own? And here I thought rogues were rare to come across." Everyone else she had met at this point had some small herd of a family, and so this was a new twist to the mare.
Her ears lifted cautiously, and when he drew near in concerned inspection she pulled away. Even with a kind expression, Setsumi was still too wound up to expect any close encounters. But she gave a faint smile in quick return. "Cloud Runner. I'll never forget that name now." Her legs nearly stopped at the mention of a river nearby. "Show me, please?" To get this grime off her skin and feathers, it'd be too pleasant for words.
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Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2008 3:58 pm
He backed off a little as soon as she started to move away. He wasn't trying to upset her more. He bobbed his head at her surprised question, upright mane rippling with the movement. "I don't... I have been a wanderer for some seasons now. I left my parents when I was barely out of colthood."
He smiled softly as she repeated his name. "I hope it will not be a wholly unpleasant memory.." He murmured softly in reply, before nodding at her plea. "Of course, it is not far from here." He altered their direction a little to the west. The river was over the small rise.
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Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:04 pm
Setsumi glimpsed back at the other, a brow lifting slightly. It was amusing to see short hair, for once, and Cloud's looked similiar to zebra's manes. Short but volumous. "Wait, you left them? Why?" But then she shook her head, canting further along as they headed to the river. "No, nevermind. That's none of my business." As far as this being an unpleasant memory, there was no concern to it. She was safe and had no bite marks from the wolves, so all in all the memory was forming safely.
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Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2008 2:11 pm
He stretched out his legs in an easy stride to catch up with her, though was careful to keep enough distance between them so that she wouldn't feel threatened by him.
"Its ok, I don't mind you asking. I simply wanted to explore the world. I had always been a rather wild colt.. it runs in the blood, my father was a traveller from the south before he met my mother and they finally settled in the North. I suppose I am just continuing the tradition, coming down here.. "
He stretched out, drawing slightly ahead of her and slowing down, head swinging to one side. "Its just there.." He nosed down the hill, for the river was just below them.
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Posted: Fri Jul 18, 2008 2:57 pm
"Well, I can relate to the traveling part. I do enjoy glimpsing different lands and tasting their plants." As to being wild though, not really. Unless she truly had to be, but she didn't think she could be that...outgoing. "It must be nice, knowing what traditions there are to pass down."
Velvet ears twitched as he passed by and Setsumi gave a slow pursuit. The smell of water was getting clearer in the air. Then she saw it, a patch of blue among the lush green. Her feathers ruffled, begging to dip in the water and rinse out this grime. Nodding at Cloud, Setsumi made an eager trot to the body of water. Hooves touched in cautiously, and she looked side to side for herds or predators. None. She suddenly tossed herself within the cold liquid, whinnying in delight to the bathing sensation.
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Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 9:42 am
He laughed, a warm, rich and friendly sound. "Not quite, I have no idea what kind of traditions my family might possess.. I only know that Father was a vagabond before he settled with my dam." He turned his head to watch her as she drew along side him, the smile still playing over his muzzle as he watched her face light up at the sight that greeted them both.
He remained on the small hillock as she moved down to the water, watching as she looked cautiously around before throwing herself in. Chuckling softly he ambled slowly down after her, picking a spot close to the river but not too close, and settling down to wait. He wondered what had happened to her to make her so shy of others and so constantly wary of her surroundings. She was a lovely mare, obviously kind and of good nature as she had tolerated him even despite her nervousness.
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Posted: Fri Jul 25, 2008 8:25 pm
Hooves kicked and flicked waterdrops in every direction, Sumi neighing lightly to the action. This was indeed refreshing and much enjoyed after such long running from before. Teal eyes looked curiously to the white foam from her pelt dissolving in the water. Then she looked to Cloud with a quirked brow. "A dam? Is that how you regard her?" Such a distant and impersonal title. She wondered if her own offspring called her that. The idea left a bitter taste in her mouth, and the mare snorted as she walked through the water.
"Aren't you going to rinse off too? Or you have no need of it?" True she may have runned longer, but he had runned harder. And faced off the wolves. One would only think he'd be in the need of water by now.
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