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 Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:38 pm
 For several days after his return Somnium had been too exhausted to do much besides eat, sleep and try to hide from everyone else. This was aided by being able to fake sleep, and actually resting his injured wing therefore, and ignore the questions, concerns and sadism displayed by all the Soquili living with Sanika.
The human was the only one the young stallion responded promptly to, and he even did his best to not bite or otherwise injure his healer. Unfortunately, he met with mixed success in resisting his instincts. On the one hand, Somnium was pleased because it meant that he could still defend himself somewhat, even as an invalid. On the other hand, Sanika didn't seem to understand he was doing his best and was brisk with him, often to the point of causing unnecessary pain. Still, he gritted his teeth and bore it. He would fly again.
The only really good thing about his injury, Somnium mused, was that he got to lie in the shade cast by the teepee all day, instead of having to scrounge around for it. Unfortunately, it made him very easy to find.
He still didn't care for daylight, but the young Kalona was calmer with the sun still in the sky, though now sinking towards the western horizon. At night, it was far too easy to imagine a fearsome, black-furred shape with piercing yellow eyes approaching from the shadows.
Somnium shuddered at the thought and turned his attention back to the rabbit in front of him, trying to forget once more.
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:46 pm
 The day was ending, and with it, so were the thermals that lifted from the heated sand. Tlocatl was able to fly, a little, and it was only due to those lifting pockets of air that he was able to do what he was doing now - flap, flap, glide, soar, flap, flap. This system, while not effecient and only able during the day, was helping him to strengthen his recently crippled wing.
That was not to say he was able to fly yet, but it did allow him some exercise without harming and too much pain. It did hurt, oh how it hurt - even with his testing and strengthening the wing was stiff. And with the sun sinking, well, so were his thermals. It was time to return.
Tlocatl made a less than grateful landing near Somnium's tree. In fact, it was a little hard and he flared and then dropped the last few feet. One leg crumbled, but the stallion was able to shift his balance to prevent a rather embarassing face-first-into-sand.
He was covered in sweat, and muchly winded. Tlocatl simply watched his son while he caught his breath.
Finally, he could talk without gasping desperately for air. "Somnium. Son. We need to talk...." Tlocatl had left Somnium alone long enough. It was time to learn what had really happened.
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:55 pm
The younger Kalona sighed inwardly and made a point of taking his time with the rest of his rabbit. It was hard on him in more ways than one. Firstly, it was hard watching his dad, a proud Kalona, nearly land facefirst in the sand because he was barely able to fly. Secondly, it was even harder to realize that Somnium himself would be forced to recover in the same manner he'd watched his dad recovering his whole short life. Lastly...was the reason Tlocatl wanted to talk to him.
All too soon the rodent was in his crop and Somnium couldn't dawdle any longer. The young stallion sighed and looked off into the distance, trying to put off responding as long as he possibly could.
"Talk about what?" he asked in a resigned tone, still not looking at his father. Yes, he knew perfectly well what...but he really didn't want to talk about it. At all.
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:04 pm
Tlocatl scowled, for once cursing the 'boy's' inherited stubbornness and pride. As a kalona, his cold heart fluttered in response - surely Somnium was the son he always wished to have; but as a father, Tlocatl cursed those same qualities. He knew when he was being played ignorant to. Taking a deep breath, the stallion stepped forward and blocked his son's limited view, to force the younger stallion to look at him.
"What happened? How were you... brought to this level?" Tlocatl was having a difficult time to say it even. His blood boiled. How dare anyone do this to his son. Maybe a son between his mother and that pathetic flutter of her's.... but never his son! "Tell me who, Somnium... I will hunt him down and make him cry." The stallion's eyes flared and his flames shimmered. Oh yes, when he was better, Tlocatl would hunt down the perpetrator any means possible.
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:08 pm
Somnium stared at the sandy ground, thinking hard. As a Kalona, he hated to admit that anyone could injure him so badly. But as a young Soquili, he wanted to be able to turn to his father and ask the older stallion to hide him from the world. Well, maybe not hide. But at least keep the rest of the Soquili living here from bothering him.
And...she had given him a message for Tlocatl.
Still, he put it off again. "You're not going to like it," Somnium warned his father, still not looking up at him.
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:13 pm
Tlocatl rolled his eyes. "Somnium, you are a kalona! Do not skirt from your past. Whatever happened, whoever it was, you should not fear the predicament. Tell me who did this, and when you are better we can both hunt them down and make them pay. Teach them what happens when you mess with kalonas!"
The stallion stomped a hoof down to make his point. He will not raise a wuss, a weakling! Somnium was his pride, and would not be reduced to a blithering fool!
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:20 pm
Somnium ground his teeth as his father berated him. He hadn't realized until now how much he valued Tlocatl's regard. This derision hurt more than he'd thought it would.
"Okay, fine!" the young stallion snarled, whipping his head around to face the older. "It was Mother, okay? I went to find her and she did this to me!" He lay there, breathing heavily after shouting at his father. He looked out on the desert before remembering something else.
Turning back to Tlocatl, Somnium sneered, saying "And she told me, to tell you to remember well whatever the hell she told you last time, because she sure hasn't forgotten." Having delivered the message, the younger Kalona felt completely justified in staring out at the expanse of sand - anywhere but at his father.
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:38 pm
Tlocatl let his son's voice bounce off his own thick hide - good, let him yell, it meant he was not only alive but still strong. A lip curled over a sharpened set of teeth.
Until he heard who it was that had done this.... Wyrsa. The kalona frowned and his eyes blazed. "How. Could. You. Somnium."
Tlocatl spun on his heels and ran. His wing's spread, the stallion pumped the air, ignoring the straining and pulling on his back wing. He would deal witht he consequences later. For now, he wanted to yell his rage and even bit of fear to the chilled desert sky.
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Posted: Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:45 pm
Somnium winced away from the rage and savagery barely contained in his father's voice. As much as the older stallion's earlier derision had stung, this was like a bite out of his dark heart. The younger Soquili tucked his head under his good wing and ground his teeth, hot tears that he refused to shed gathering in his eyes. Tlocatl's disappointment in him hurt so badly...but there was a slightly brighter spot on the dark horizon. At least his father knew what to expect now?
No, that was a weak, foolish thought. He knew firsthand that nothing any of them did could possibly stop the Skinwalker. He never should've gone looking for her, never should have turned her attention this way.
And yet...if he hadn't...could he really have gone on knowing next to nothing about his own mother?
Struggling with those uneasy thoughts, Somnium finally fell asleep as the sun dipped below the horizon.
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