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 Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 12:08 pm
 The sky was loud today. So loud, in fact, the black unicorn was beginning to feel the stir of resentment, which until that point, had only ever been accompanied by an argument of some sort. Blinking his bright amber eyes, Toujours looked down, staring with great interest at the grass beneath his pale hooves. But still the skylit whisper grew to a great crescendo in his mind, roaring around and around... Rubbish. Here atop a distant hill at the border of the Islagiatt territory, he had no reason to feel so ill at ease. His newfound herdmates would leap to defend him, as he would do in turn for them... His God, though silent in the face of the howling sky, would defend him... He needn't defend himself... at least not from the outside. Staring up at the bright blue sky again, he thought of cursing loud and long right back at it, cursing the fact that his dreams had stilled to a deathly pace.. and he felt alone in a way he hadn't felt since before his One God. he wanted to curse at his inner demons that kept him from the peace he taught to his pupils and his followers. Cursing might have helped for the moment, but when he really dwelled on it, he remembered. And he remembered how cursing and yelling had done little to stay the release of that monster, the manipulative beast that had ravaged his first young pupil's mind and soul so many years ago. Then he remembered that today was the anniversary of her death by self inflicted wounds... her mind surely filled with the poison only her enemy and betrayer could give her. Heaving a great sigh, Toujours stopped feeling so resentful fo the bright blue sky, and remembered young Adeleaine, his daughter of the soul, and he sank to the ground atop the hill.
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Posted: Sun Aug 24, 2008 8:57 pm
 It almost seemed too bright out. Inali was forced to squint her silver eyes against the power of the sun, trying to shield them with equally delicate silver lashes. It wasn't working too well, but what could she do? There was little the red mare /could/ do.
Like Toujours, Inali mourned, though her mourning was for a far more selfish reason. She had not lost a friend, or a daughter, or a student, but inside she felt as though part of herself had been lost. Could she ever find and recover that part of her that was lost to a private torment?
Lost in the past, Inali contemplated her past relationship failures. Yes, those again. They seemed to be all consuming lately. Perhaps it was some sort of biological clock ticking; Inali could not tell. All she knew was that this depression was refusing to lift, despite random encounters that did provide moments of cheer.
Staring up at the sky again, Inali contemplated a brief whisp of cloud, before shaking her head. No answers could be found there, at least by her. Some soquili claimed to see portents in the sky, but Inali was not one of them. Clouds were just clouds, with no redeeming value.
Also like Toujours, Inali had her own private sense of religion. She had been believed to raise in multiple gods who watched over every aspect of her life, and now she questioned that. Her belief seemed to have trickled down to only the nature spirits, whom Inali could never forget. She would always believe in them, quietly and to herself. But the rest... Gods weren't the affair of soquili, as far as she was concerned. What had the gods ever done to her? If they existed, then they must have laughed at her private torment, for it seemed Inali could never get good in her life.
Still forlornly tromping through the grass, Inali paused at the base of a hill. What was the point of climbing it? Nothing would be on the other side, but perhaps she could face her grief from the top. With a heaving sigh, Inali moved one white hoof after the other, the black one standing out starkly. What was the point of it all?
Finally reaching the top of the hill, the mare spotted a figure looking as despondent as herself. A black unicorn, crumpled to the ground. He looked alive and well... Just not there. There was no other way to describe it.
"You look how I feel. Do you wish to speak about it?" No names, no introductions. Inali didn't feel like being polite today. Unloading on a stranger seemed suddenly nice, as if it would provide some relief.
Lying down near the black stallion, but far enough away not to seem intruding, Inali regarded him quietly, silver eyes looking briefly at gold ones. That almost amused her.
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Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 3:23 pm
His eyes fluttered closed, and though he briefly considered completely ignoring the strange mare, her forwardness moved him to comment. Afterall, it wasn't every day he had pretty females... albeit obviously depressed pretty females... visiting.. let alone taking their rest in his general vicinity.
Too bad he wasn't up to his usual spirits. Seresai and Wildfire would have a field day if they saw him royally fudging up such a 'glorious' opportuinty. Really, maybe he should lay into them about their matchmaking... pupil teaching teacher about love just wasn't very becoming.
"I look how you feel eh? That's a sad state of affairs to be in." he rumbled, laying flat so his head was sunk into the long grass. Idly, he watched as his breath gently bent the stalks near his nostrils, causing the grain laden tips to wave lazily.
"I'll apologize in advance then, milady, but I feel a lot worse then I look. Haven't you a doting mate that would be far better company and could lend a more sympathetic ear?" He wasn't intending to chase her off, not completely, but he had set off on his own that morning for a reason.
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Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 3:47 pm
Something in the way Toujours lay stretched out in the grass moved Inali. He just seemed so listless. Perhaps it was some latent maternal instinct that made Inali stay by the dark stallion, ruffling the grass with her own hot grass, wondering what he could find so intriguing about it. But perhaps it was his thoughts, and not the grass, that was so intriguing.
At Toujours words, however, Inali snorted loudly, managing to look properly sorry for herself. "You say that so easily. No, I don't have a mate to go to. I don't have anyone, though that's none of your concern." It was true though. Inali really hadn't made an effort to reconnect with old friends, which was entirely her fault.
"Don't you have a mate? You don't like like the sort to be lonely, if you don't mind me saying." The idea of Toujours wanting solitude hadn't even occurred to Inali, though it did then, and she felt foolish. "Or I suppose you want to be alone. Nagging mate and children getting you down?" Her speculation of Toujours was less intense than it might have usually been- it was cursory, enough to say that the stallion was handsome. Inali couldn't bring herself to care.
Still flopping in the long grass, she also stretched out so that one silver eye regarded the bright sky. It was relaxing and peaceful, though the air seemed tinged with the collective emotions of the two soquili. What a shame that she had to be in such a mood. But Toujours wasn't exactly cheering (not that Inali knew his name).
Hauling herself upward so that she stood unsteadily, Inali regarded Toujours again, this time from a position of superior height. "I haven't introduced myself. That was rather rude of me. I'm Inali." Whether or not the black unicorn would introduce himself remained to be seen.
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Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 4:00 pm
He snorted, loudly, and was unashamed of the following retort.
"None of my concern? Eh I guess that's true. But why ask a stranger to spill his mind when you don't want to do the same?" Simple logic, and he was obsurdly pleased with it as he rolled back into a quasi elevated position.
'Course, she was still the one standing, and if today hadn't been that day, he might have stood up to greet her properly. Or to appease that manly ego Wildfire and Seresai so often prattled on about.
"Whatever the case, I'm sure the One God won't mind my lax of manners... and I hope you don't mind that I continue sitting." he continued, adding as if as an afterthought.
"I'm Toujours, though the council is still out on whether our meeting is a pleasure Miss Inali."
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Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 4:08 pm
The one God? What on earth was he talking about? Inali peered owlishly at Toujours, before folding her legs once again to sit somewhat comfortably, facing this strange new companion.
"That was rather foolish of me. I don't think I was thinking it through correctly." Shrugging her shoulders, Inali shifted slightly, still regarding Toujours with a keen intensity that had made other soquili nervous. He didn't seem the sort though.
"I'll sit if you will." Having already sat, Inali reflected on her manners. They were rather lax today, but Toujours /had/ introduced himself sitting down, so clearly he didn't have much concern about those. Was it because he was so sad, or was he normally like this? The brusque attitude wasn't entirely off-putting, for Inali recognized some of her own in it.
"Why should our meeting not be a pleasure? Neither of us is in a good mood, but I'm sure that we could change that. Tell me about your one God." Toujours had said the words so absent mindedly that Inali knew it must have been serious. No one could say something so off-handed without it having take up a serious part of their mind. "I've never heard of such a thing before."
Besides, it would give them both something to think about besides their sorrows, which still laid heavily in the air.
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Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 4:25 pm
He sighed, long and heavily. Was this his Lord's way of telling him, in a very unsubtle manner, that he shouldn't dwell on the past? Surely the Fates He cast with His hand wouldn't have rolled thus if it wasn't so.
Afterall, he couldn't neglect his duty.
"Ah, but you stumble upon a topic very close to my heart milady." he began, shifting so as to look at her properly. His overly large horn... though admittedly not as magnificent as his herdmate and theological rival Amarinne's... glittered in the sunlight, though it paled in comparison to the glowing of his amber eyes.
"My One God is also your One God milady, he is the sole proprietor of the heavens, and holds sway over all our fates. " He paused, smiling in an otherwordly fashion. "Admittedly, he is a very benign and accepting God. Else he'd have thrown down the false followers of the Great Spirits aeons ago."
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Posted: Mon Aug 25, 2008 7:44 pm
Inali was no theologian, and she was the first to admit it. Despite that, she found Toujour's idea of a single God rather ludicrous. That didn't make any sense! And if this God was so kind, then why did foals still die? No, no, Toujours was spouting nonsense, and Inali would tell him so.
"That's a very nice belief for you to have. I am glad it makes you happy, but I don't think it's for me. I like to believe in the nature spirits. I don't like the concept of a God or gods. No, no. I don't like that one bit." Snorting emphatically to prove her point, Inali eyed Toujours agian.
"So I don't think your One God is my One God. You can be yours." Well, as I stated before, Inali was not knowledgeable about religion, and she seemed intent to prove it to the poor unicorn stallion.
"Do you tell many people about this One God of yours? That must be interesting, traveling around and spreading your story!" Inali really was a child when it came to religion, but she knew that this meant something to Toujours. Else, why would his sadness seem to dissipate so quickly? He had a passion, and something to live for, giving him something Inali did not.
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:01 pm
Toujours would have normally found the mare's condescending choice of words offensive, but as it stood he was mentally exhausted with his past demons.. so he merely stared at her incredulously.
To not believe was one thing, and to say so was something he had dealt with on numerous occasions. Really all it took most of the time was a calm and logical approach.. or as was his favorite, just straight out telling them with all the passion the One God chose to imbue him with at the moment.
But really...
A Story?!?
"Milady, I sincerely hope you do not make a habit of mocking the beliefs of others, as you just have to me."
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:09 pm
Inali raised a silver eyebrow, apparently completely unaware that she had managed to offend Toujours.
"I wasn't aware that I had mocked your beliefs. I'm sorry." Still raising an eyebrow, the red mare inclined her head slightly. He really was quite silly though, and she was tempted to laugh at his ire. She couldn't think of anything she could have put incorrectly, except...
Ah, perhaps he took offense at her calling it a story? But it was, wasn't it? Stories were the root of all religions. "Are you saying there is no story to your God? That there are no tales revolving around him? You don't spread your own personal story wherever you go?" Clearly he had misunderstood her words. He seemed rather easy to take offense, now that she thought about it.
"I believe you misunderstood me." That was that was that. As far as Inali was concerned, that was as much of an apology that Toujours would receive. It had been adequate, she thought. No, one more thing to add, and that was that.
"If that's the case, I'm sorry 'twas so. But I think you are overly fast to take the defensive."
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:30 pm
His amber eyes snapped with their inner fire again, and he drew in a sharp breath.
"Ignorance is a weak excuse milady, and does you no justice." He rumbled, adjusting his weight to stare at her fully. Somewhere in the back of his mind he contemplated standing up and fully releasing the strength of the One God's displeasure at such insolence... but...
Not today.
"There are no tales about the One God, as He is every tale.. He is the wind beneath Wind Horse's wings, and He is the Sun above the Nature Gods when they bow their heads before His brilliance. To attempt to attribute a single story to Him would be an affront as one tale would scarcely suffice to tell of His Glory. Creation as laid out by Mother Nature was guided by His Hand, and in that, he is everything." he continued, seeing the personal references to his overly defensive nature as beneath his notice.
That, and he misunderstood no one. Ever.
At least, not since Enlightenment.
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:47 pm
Inali could no longer help it. At the spew of words that fell from the dark unicorn's mouth, she burst out laughing. He was the most ludicrous, pompous, arrogant creature she had ever met, and somehow that was very, very humorous.
"You really think I'm going to believe that? That's a load of nonsense, and I feel no guilt telling you that. You dare telling me that this unknown entity, a stranger to these lands, has created everything? You're telling that to someone who knows the true gods lie dormant and asleep, whilst spirits do their business." Inali's laugh took on a harder tone now, her silver eyes suddenly steel-grey.
"Have you never thought how ridiculous you sound? How full of yourself, full of these beliefs you try to force onto others? You are a silly, foolish little stallion, and your One God cannot hope to touch the nature spirits that inhabit everything. Even beneath your feet, they sing in the blades of grass." All of Inali's long dormant religion came back then, as her anger mounted and her blood continued to boil.
"And now I"m sure you'll spout your religious nonsense to me more. You'll tell me what wrath I incur. I'll tell you what- I don't care. I simply do not care. I could tell you numerous places I would rather you put your belief in your one God, and none of them are pleasant."
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 4:55 pm
Ahh, the usual response.
It was oddly heartening.
It the face of her ire and her derision, which he faced on a fairly regular basis and saw only as the ignorant spouting of a child... he only watched her.. a slight upward twist at the corner of his mouth... and barely a trace of the previous anger.
Which, if he thought about it, wasn't really anger. He was just so damn tired of hearing the same thing over and over again. Really when WOULD these heathens see the light?
"You'd do well to recall who asked who questions Milady, as I force my beliefs upon no one. I will speak, as the One God has given me the ability to, and it is up to the listener to hear." he paused, leaving the most significant part of his little reply to the last...
"And again with the mocking... Bear in mind I have not once belittled the Nature Gods, as they have their important place in the One God's Pantheon. I hold only a passive derision for those mortals who see them as Great Spirits ... implying their dominance over the spiritual plane."
And once again, he outright ignored the personal insults. Really, when WOULD they learn?
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 5:02 pm
Did he not listen to a single thing she had just said? Was he deaf? He certainly wasn't mute. Inali began to wonder if she would have a better experience teaching a kalona not to kill. It seemed less ingrained in them than this belief was in the stallion.
Deflating slightly, Inali shrugged her shoulders. "Fine. You hold your beliefs, I'll hold mine. You don't force me to believe in your One God, and I won't acknowledge that you're a mule." She really meant that in the best way. Really.
Of course, Inali highly doubted Toujours would listen to this, or agree with it. He would probably just stand there, spout some nonsense about his One God, and wander off. Well, fine. As long as she got him to shut up in some way about it, she would be pleased.
"I think it's a right fair deal, and the best you'll get from me." Inali barely bothered to quiet her voice as she added, "Not that you'll agree to it." Did she have to have such singularly horrendous experiences with every stallion she met? DId they all have to be insane, or was she just blessed? Or cursed... Either way you looked at it, the fight had gone out of the red mare, and she stood deflated and rather sad.
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Posted: Sat Sep 06, 2008 5:09 pm
Ahhh. Pride.
Watching her quietly, Toujours also knew when he had won... and unlike others of his kind.. he knew conversion was a slow and gentle process. There was nothing to be gained from screaming.. at least not when he really wanted to make a point. Maturity and the gentle tutelage of his God and his friend Flame had softened him over the years, and he welcomed the change.
Aye, for this reason... he had been accepted by the likes of the Islagiatt herd, and they were the teachings he passed on to his students.
One was always welcomed to their beliefs... he'd just rather that those he encountered were at the very least made aware of the right ones... and shown the path.
Now, for a change of subject.
"You are quite the opinionated type Miss Inali, yet I sense a sadness. What have you to prove so fiercely to the world?"
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