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 Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:48 am
It was an absolutely fantastic idea on his part. In his opinion he couldn't have come up with a better plan. The tiny foal had only really experienced small 'bursts' of lowland activity. Always in the company of his parents he hadn't be able to stray far from them and as such, had never gone beyond the immediate boundaries of the forests at the base of the slopes. Given how young he was he shouldn't have been out alone without a chaperone at all - but as with every Islagiatt child he had his ways. Slippery as wet soap, he had managed to dodge the watchful gaze of both parentals and siblings to find 'freedom'.
What the tiny foal had yet to grasp though was the concept of time and the sheer amount of worry he would cause. His parents would have initially assumed he had found himself at the Elderwillow camp to the south, but when he failed to return home the situation would become more grim. Oblivious to the passing time he hadn't even realised it had been three days since he had returned home. His mother would be in a state of hysteria and it was highly likely his father and eldest brother had been sent out to relocate him.
Ahahaha! Ignorance was truly bliss.
The small and innocent smile lined his features as he continued to bounce through the long grasses. He was now a suitable distance from the slopes, approaching the lakes which were said to be home to at least one of his relatives. He'd never visited before, but he'd always been fascinated by how the water glowed from that far away. Thus he had embarked on his little adventure to locate this fabled lake - his aim to investigate why it glowed silver.
How little he knew...
Wagging his tail appreciatively, the vibrantly coloured foal continued to make his way towards the lake. His smile deepened considerably as the grasses began to thin and slowly but surely he became aware of the approaching clearing. He'd never seen anything quite like it before - the teepees and humans in the distance and there were so many Soquili wandering back and forth too.
"So busy!" he cooed excitedly, prancing from hoof to hoof before he broke into an enthusiastic trot towards the lake. Little legs lifting as high as they could, he attempted to mimic his eldest brother as best he could. He had always idolised the 'big brother' of the family but hadn't quite grasped the rest of Ambroise's behaviour just yet. Manners were certainly not something he had mastered at this moment in time - neither did he have a great deal of consideration for others at this age.
Ah yes, he would be in such trouble when his family at last caught sight of that easily recognisable coat!
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 10:23 am
They say that familiarity bred contempt. While that was certainly not always the case, it was certainly an undeniable fact that too much sameness had the habit of inspiring boredom, listlessness, and disinterest; while it most certainly applied to foals desperate to see the world beyond the parental home, it also applied to adults that had managed to lock themselves into a routine. Especially if it was a routine of their own making, and ESPECIALLY if they thought of themselves as having established said routine for a reason.
Such was the situation that Elizabeth Swann found herself in these days, a situation that never failed to bring a half amused, half-resigned smile to the mare's delicate face. So much had changed in her life, and at the same time, nothing positive had come of it.
She couldn't count how long it had been since she'd first come to these lands, sporting the covering of the humans she'd lived with prior to the Kawani. How big an adjustment she'd had to make in order to accept and not be offended by the often crass and uncultured behavior of the local Soquilis. How she'd had to adapt to the ways of the Kawani, so different from the behaviors of the Europeans.
Yet she had managed to overcome, and eventually to become comfortable in her new life. She had formed a genuine bond with the two-legger Cajji, and had made a few fast friends among the other Soquili that had lived in Cajji's camp. She hadn't even noticed her dress, that cocoon of safety that once was, tattering and tearing away to nothing and now walked proudly and unashamedly in nothing but a bead necklace. She had found strength, friendships, and even responsibility.
All things must change, though. Time had seen the departure of her friends from the compound, departures for lifemates or for the greater world. Some of them still came back from time to time, but for the most part it was Liz, alone at the compound with Cajji.
There had been happy times, though; she had had the care and supervision of her friend Safi's two children when both were just baskets, providing stability and a safe home for them when they were too small and vulnerable to live the nomadic life of their father. How fond she'd been of them...how fond she still was of them, even if they didn't know it and she never saw them. They hadn't been hers to keep, after all, merely on loan, but that had been enough.
She felt the same way about the children of Zaphiro, her closest friend. He and his mate had three children that Liz had assisted in the birthing of, and their youthful antics were the topic of many a conversation between the two when they actually were able to talk. Those times were few and far between, though, as Zaphiro and Hienna had settled in a location that was a many day's walk from the teepee for Hienna or Liz, both of whom lacked the wings to make the trip any shorter.
Still, it was worth it to make the trip once in a while, and she was in fact newly come back from one such journey. For the first couple days she'd been back, the golden mare had stuck to the teepee area proper, catching up on much-needed rest and relaxation after days and days of walking. But today saw her out and about once again, making her way up along the lakeshore in search of...well, in search of nothing, to be honest. She just liked to get out and see what was going on, if there were any new Soquili arrivals, or any old friends coming back for a visit; there was usually something of interest, somewhere. If she was being optimistic.
Today was one such optimisitic day, and the mare was smiling as she walked along. It was a good day; the breeze was blowing, the lake was shining, the sky was clear and sunny. There was even a foal out playing, something that never failed to cheer her up. A nice little red foal, undoubtably out with his parents or chaperone, and enjoying some sun before the winter weather set in. How she missed those days...
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 11:21 am
For the most part, the days of family activities and outings were long since dead. There had been so many stories surfacing that spoke of abandonned children. In a manner speaking, such strong family bonds made Islagiatt even more special. The upbringing that few foals had nowadays, permanently surrounded by loving and supportive family members and herd mates. Really it made his little adventure all the worse given that not one of his herdmates was aware of where he was.
Nevertheless, he wouldn't have been a foal of a few months in age if he wasn't so naive and innocent. His actions had been entirely harmless, he had no malicious motive and was merely driven by curiosity. It was unavoidable, all foals developed a sense of adventure. Usually the Islagiatt territory was more than enough land for them to explore. With such a large expanse under their control, most foals enjoyed exploring the caves, labyrinths and plateaus that existed. However, Fenghuang was one of the few tiny foals who had been introduced to the lowlands at such an early age.
...It couldn't be helped that he wanted to see more!
His big brother had come here after all, having fallen from the skies he had wandered the lowlands as he slowly regained his memories. Althalus, his second oldest brother had even found his mate here! There were so many stories and sights that the little baby desired to see - especially when they involved his brothers! Ah, they had all said he would be able to see them when he was older but he wanted to see them now.
Gleeful as ever at the freedom he now found in the lowlands, the foal remained otherwise unaware of the onlooking mare and continued to draw near the lake. Pausing briefly, he stared at the silver-lined surface and was immediately met with his own reflection. A squeal and he bounced away from it, wagging his tail briefly before going back to inspect - it was then that he spent further minutes pulling a variety of 'funny' faces at himself.
He wasn't the most observant of creatures though and didn't even hear the familiar 'sweep' of beating wings as the irridescent stallion landed softly nearby. A stoic expression on his otherwise youthful features, the stallion furled his wings snugly against his sides and sauntered towards the foal. Lowering his head so that his face appeared beside his younger brother's he then side glanced towards the foal in a rather unamused way.
"You have much to answer for, Fenghuang." Ambroise murmured coolly, causing the foal to release another shriek. An attempt to escape from the unimpressed look of his older brother was successful, but not in the most graceful of manners. The foal was quick to stumble over his own legs and fly backwards into the water, showering the plant life around him and his brother with water.
Ambroise made no attempts to aid him, even as he floundered in the apparent 'depths'...
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:05 pm
Without realizing she was doing it, Elizabeth had stopped walking to watch the foal, smiling at his goofy antics and childish delight at his reflection. How whimsical children were; nothing was black and white, nothing was old...everything was something amazing and beautiful and new. Really, she wished that she could be so delighted at something so simple...
At least, that was what she was thinking prior to the arrival of the stallion; with a coat that bright, there was no missing him. She wasn't close enough to hear what he'd said to the foal, but the close proximity as well as similar coloration led her to think that this stallion was, quite likely, the father of the little foal.
Which was why the foal's behavior was somewhat of a surprise to the mare. Watching with mild surprise, she watched as the foal tangled up in himself as he tried to run away and proceded to fall into the lake. Even more surprising, the father didn't seem the least bit inclined to help him up out of the water, or even see if he was hurt!
Elizabeth had always held firm beliefs in allowing parents the right to raise their own children in the ways they saw fit, but in this situation, she felt that she had to intervene at least a bit. After all, the foal could very well have hurt himself while falling, given the awkward positons of his legs; she, as a unicorn, had a duty to help her fellow Soquili in times of pain!
That in mind, she straightened her shoulders, then moved briskly towards the two. "Excuse me, but are you alright?" This was more directed to the foal than to the stallion, but both were included in the slight nod of greeting that accompanied the call. "Forgive me for intruding, but it looked like the little one might have hurt something, falling like that. Is there anything I can assist with?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:18 pm
"Anuie!" Feng spluttered in surprise, plonking his backside down in the water with his legs splayed to the sides. He looked completely and utterly ridiculous, his expression one of shock as he was met by the unchanging face of his brother. He hadn't even seen his brother appear and yet here he was and...he looked rather unhappy. Feng at least had the intelligence to realise that something wasn't quite right with the situation but alas! He had little time to 'address' the issue at hand as the unicorn bustled over to them - from that moment on his 'Anuie' was all but ignored.
She had a horn!
His jaw dropped in awe and he very quickly untangled his limbs. Pulling himself to his hooves he clattered out of the water with a number of loud splashes and stared at the mare. Polite as she may have been, he most certainly wasn't and before he had responded he quickly gave himself a violent shake. Ambroise had the foresight to raise a wing to shield himself from the sprays of water but the mare wouldn't be so lucky. That being said, his ability to move with such ease was an indication of his well being. He was perfectly all right with no scratches and only minorly dishevelled hair.
"Anuie!" He glanced over his shoulder towards his brother who had unceremoniously thrust his wing out to shake the water from the coloured pinions. "She's got a horn!" he announced, circling the mare briefly before nudging lightly at her leg. The foal had seen that type of expression before and those kind features - innocent as he might have been his instincts rarely led him astray. To him, she came off as a very nice mare indeed... very pretty too, but this wasn't really of relevance to him.
"Well spotted," Ambroise offered dismissively, folding his wings against his side and ruffling them in an almost disgruntled fashion. Apparently his actions had not been approved of, as was customary in these parts. His decision to leave his brother to flounder had been a calculated one - he knew he wasn't injured or he would have tugged him out! "He is fine, you are free to inspect him yourself if you see fit," he added after a few moments, at last offering recognition of the mare's existance.
"Can you use that?" the foal had been chattering more so to himself than anyone as he continued to inspect the mare. "Yer hair is as curly as Uncle Biscuit's and everything!" He continued before glancing over his shoulder again, seeking yet further approval from his older brother as though his little 'mishap' was all but forgotten. "Right Anuie, right?"
"Mmmm."
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 12:50 pm
Well, if nothing else the foal didn't seem to be hurt. That was one little positive thought that occured to Liz as the foal's unexpected awe resulted in her being suddenly and unceremoniously showered with water. If she had known that being a unicorn would be such a surprise, she might have been a bit less direct in her approach. But really, was there any harm in water? On a day this warm and balmy, she could only see positives in being doused, and the smile that she gave the foal was warm in spite of the water dripping from her curls.
He really was a charming little thing, wasn't he? Not the least bit intimidated, if a bit more direct than she was used to, and so very cheerful! Smiling, she gave him a nod, lowering her horn as she did so so that he could take a closer look, if he was so inclined. "I can indeed; it is a very useful tool for healing injuries both minor and severe, and I have to say that I am pleased I don't need to use it. I was afraid that you might have hurt yourself in your fall just now, but I can see that you are a very tough colt indeed!"
Straightening up, she glanced from the foal to the stallion, her expression sombering up slightly at the curtness of his behavior and the shortness of his words. He didn't seem to have taken that kindly to her concern, and didn't seem that pleased with the foal, either; well, she supposed that if she were a parent, she wouldn't like to have a stranger interfere with HER, either.
So it was in the spirit of apologies that she addressed herself to the stallion, lowering her eyes slightly in proper deference (as was befitting one making an apology) as she said, "My apologies for intruding, Sir; I merely saw the foal fall and thought that, if he WAS hurt, I might be able to assist. It was a bit forward, I concede, but I assure you that I didn't mean to overstep your authority with your charge."
She had been tempted to say 'son' at first, rather than 'charge;' beyond the similar coloration, the stallion seemed very much to have some sort of claim to the foal's obidience. However, the way that the foal had called him 'Anuie', which seemed like some sort of nickname rather than a proper parental moniker, cast some doubts; besides, if he WASN'T the foal's father, then she might very well insult him by referring to him as such! No thank you.
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:11 pm
Fenghuang would have squealed in delight if he hadn't suddenly taken note of the rather irritated aura rippling from his brother. Something about that aura indicated that squealing now would probably be a very bad idea. Thus, the tiny foal skipped the 'squealing' entirely and very gently lifted his nose to prod at the horn curiously. It was hard, but so very smooth...the bumps on it reminded him of his Auntie Farsiris but the colour was different. That being said, interest in her horn was soon forgotten as she made reference to her toughness, something that the little foal did take pride in.
"Oooh, I'm super tough!" Feng agreed with an emphatic nod, giving his tail a delighted wag. He soon struck a pose, adopting a stance very similar to Ambroise's before he began to stalk back and forth. There was no doubt that he was mimicking an adult at this point, though his gangly legs rather ruined the affect. "I wanna be as strong as Anuie, I'll even beat up the bad Soquili and show them who's boss!" He didn't have any wings to flourish, but he did lower his forelegs and soon looked like a creature preparing to pounce...
"Cause that's the Islagiatt way, I'll make Daddy and Anuie real proud that way," he took a breath and drew himself to his hooves again. Regaining his balance, he swayed from side to side a little before gathering his composure and flashing an impish smile. "That's why I gotta be tough, even as a baby, cause you never know when you gotta prove your worth!" He added. He soon lost any semblance of a serious expression though and blinked in confusion as Elizabeth directed her attention to Ambroise. A tiny sigh soon erupted from his lips though and his ears drooped as he recognised the 'signs'.
"Don't be scared of Anuie," he reassured the mare with a gentle nuzzle, "He may look really grumpy but he's real good brother!" he explained proudly, puffing out his chest as he turned his attention back to his brother, who oddly enough seemed to be eyeing the mare with mild interest.
Given Ambroise's previous encounters with lowland Soquili hadn't been fantastic, the manners demonstrated by the mare came as a mild shock. He had never had another in these lands lower their gaze, nor had he had them apologise to him for potential misunderstanding. He was aware of his abrasive behaviour and the potential for cross communication but he had recognised the nature of the mare and her desire to check on the colt...it was only natural. Thus, for a time he merely raised a brow at her apology and permitted the foal to speak on his behalf for the time being - that being said...Fenghuang didn't ever really shut up anyway.
He'd talk, even when no one was listening.
"Your actions were excusable, it is only natural for one of such a nature to aid a creature with so many vulnerabilities," it was a roundabout way of accepting her apology and he offered a nod of his own. "It is not unusual for those of the Lowlands to question my methods though please understand -"
"He said please...!" the foal gasped, speaking to no one in particular. Unsurprisingly Ambroise didn't appear to be particularly grateful for the input.
"Please understand that my anger is not towards you."
"Ahhh Anuie is so nice," Fenghuang cooed quietly as he gave a little wag of his tail. He was still, completely oblivious to the impact his little anecdotes might have upon Ambroise and how he would be perceived by others...
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Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 1:52 pm
Brother. There was it, there was the connection, and there is made sense. No wonder the stallion was behaving so shortly towards the foal they were BROTHERS. That introduced a whole new aspect to the interaction between the two stallions, and that insight allowed Liz to accept the shortness much more than if they WERE father and son. Perhaps it was cliched of her, but she had always maintained a very affectionate view towards the parent/child dynamic. Then again, her only firsthand experience with parental relationships had been with just that sort of dynamic. Siblings, on the other hand, were expected to have some degree of tension towards one another, especially when there were different age-groups of children involved. That certainly seemed to be the case here, as the stallion was a great deal older-looking than the foal.
There seemed to be at least a little bit of hero-worship involved in the relationship, if the foal was any indication. It was rather endearing, and inclined Liz to believe that the foal was speaking the truth. Adults prevaricated, foals were honest, and THIS foal was radiating pride in his brother that could be seen from space.
Besides that, it was very sweet of the foal to be concerned about her feelings, and very gentlemanly of the stallion to accept her apology in the way he had. She couldn't say that there was anything to fault in the manners here!
Looking first at the foal, she gave him a kind smile of gratitude. "My thanks for your concern, Little One; while I have to confess that I don't recognize what you mean by the Islagiatt way, I have to say that your instincts are very considerate and gentlemanly and I wish you speed and dedication to your chosen path. Believe me, I am not upset with you, OR with your brother; indeed, I am finding both of you to be perfect gentlemen."
At that, she turned back to address the stallion, raising her head now that the apologies were past and giving him a smile too. He seemed a sensible, mannerly enough sort, so she felt he would understand why she was addressing the foal first. Having theoretically addressed the foal's concerns, though, she was now free to speak to the stallion as a lady to a gentleman. "There is no reason to apologize, I assure you. I would be defensive myself if I thought that someone were casting unfounded judgements on me, so if you WERE upset with me, I would be able to understand it. But regardless,"
Here she smiled, determined to keep things light and mannerly. "My name is Elizabeth, and it a pleasure both to meet you and to welcome you to region." The stallion's use of "lowlanders' had indicated to Elizabeth that they weren't from around the lake, were in fact from the mountains or foothill regions; consequently, it was her duty as a good hostess to be welcoming.
Even if they weren't her guests!
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 4:33 am
Unfortunately Elizabeth's immediate assumptions were not entirely accurate. All the siblings were incredibly close to one another, to such an extent as certain individuals demonstrated a certain degree of tenderness that few witnessed. However, Ambroise's curt responses were more out of necessity than anything. It took a significant amount of restraint not to explode in front of his youngest brother given the circumstances of their existance such a long way from home. The Eldest son was not one to spread about business that did not concern others and as such his worry, anger and relief all had to be surpressed for the time being. The result was an even more abrasive and abrupt stallion than usual. To say rage didn't radiate off him to a certain degree though would have been inaccurate.
Nevertheless, he was disciplined enough to slowly but surely surpress his emotions to the point that he was in complete control. His jaw might have tightened but he was presentable to the public at the very least. He'd never been one for social encounters but Fenghuang was a magnet for them and as such, he had to take measures to accomodate this. Firm in his belief that his family's name wouldn't be scorned for bad behaviour, he had to set an example...even if he hated it. Ah how the winged stallion desired to return home immediately...his brother was going to have such a sore ear by the time he got back.
That being said, he was mildly surprised by the behaviour of the mare who was slowly but surely crushing his foul view of the Lowlands. She certainly didn't fit in to the stereotype and as of yet she hadn't sworn at him for no reason. He had his faults and he was well aware of them, but so far she hadn't been so bold as to point them out too - score one for the Unicorn, he was impressed. His opinion steadily increased as she spoke to his younger sibling, humouring him with her addressal and gratitude. It came as no surprise to him that Fenghuang looked positively delighted by the reaction to his explanation.
"Anuie! Did you hear what she said?" he gasped in delight, bounding towards his brother to give his wing a tug. Ever the lively creature he was more than happy to tug and tug until the male unfurled his wings and sent the poor foal flying. Apparently Fenghuang really was built of stronger stuff given how often he found himself on his backside. "Can we keep her?" he insisted, unrelenting in his assault as he bounded back towards his brother fully recovered. "Please!"
"She is not a pet, Fenghuang." Ambroise pointed out coolly, causing the little foals ears to flop. "That being said I am not sure you even deserve a pet right now," he added as an after thought, narrowing his eyes and lowering his head to nudge lightly at the foals neck.
"Why not?" Fenghuang enquired in surprise causing his brother to arch a brow.
"Who went for the three day walk without informing his parents?" Ambroise responded, a weight lifting off his shoulders as he at last said what was irking him. Alas it still infuriated him and he did need to punish his brother but he wasn't about to do that in public. Besides, upon such a declaration something inside the tiny foal seemed to connect the dots and a tiny 'oh' had appeared in his features. Lulled into silence, Fenghuang at least had the decency to look ashamed for a split second... No doubt in a few minutes he would be chattering again though.
"My name is Ambroise and this would be my youngest brother, Fenghuang -" Ambroise placed the introductions aside and gave a nod of his head as thanks to her welcome to the lands. Admittedly he would have preferred to meet someone like her a long time ago...instead of finding a stalker and a feminist who declared he was the scourge of the earth. "Though I am already familiar with this reason my -"
"Anuie fell from the sky here, he's real familiar with this place!" Fenghuang blurted out, once again interrupting his brother's chatter with his own. Given that Ambroise rarely spoke to strangers most would have assumed that it was a good idea to remain silent, alas the tiny foal didn't agree. He knew his brother didn't enjoy talking and as such he didn't want him straining himself or getting more grumpy than he already was. "But this is my first time coming to the lake, it looks so pretty from the mountains."
"I've only ever been to the forest edge and even then that was real high up," he continued and tilted his head to the side, eyeing the mare curiously. "My Uncle told me that there were Soquili in the lake but I didn't see any from so far away," he mused in disappointment. "So I figured I'd come look for myself, you know?"
Behind him, Ambroise released a snort and arched a brow as he slowly gained an understanding of his brother's antics. It looked like a certain Uncle was now in the dog house with the Eldest brother as well!
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Posted: Sat Sep 20, 2008 10:05 pm
Elizabeth's first instinct at Feng's comment was to laugh, the sound merry and light. The very idea of her being something that could be 'kept' was laughable, but the sentiments were certainly sweet; indeed, she felt an honest regret that they were merely passing through rather than new residents, Feng was such a nice little colt. She wouldn't mind being able to spend more time with him...or with either of them. It wasn't that often that she got to have a nice, polite conversation these days, what with the thinning of the herd and the strange new types moving into the village proper. Not that she was one to talk, being that she had been one of those strange new types herself at one point (after all, she had been a Soquili wearing a DRESS!).
However, her desire to laugh was quickly stifled by Ambroise's admonition of Feng. Good gracious, he had been off on his own for three entire days? By himself? With no supervision at all, or his parents even being aware of his location or trajectory? They must be terrified out of their wits!
Aside of her rounded, slightly shocked eyes, though, she gave no indication that she'd heard that little detail. It wasn't her place to either reprimand the foal, offer advice, or even comment, not when he had a responsible familiy member here to explain proper behavior and escort him home. But still, three days on his own at such an age...why, just thinking of what could have happened to him was enough to make her shudder.
She managed to repress that desire quite nicely though, instead giving both brothers a smile. "Well, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintances, Ambroise, Fenguang. I hope you find the lake to your liking; while I can't attest to whether or not it harbors Soquili, I CAN endorse it as both a source of drinking water and a delightful place to swim. And I am glad you are liking the lake, Fenguang; it is only a pity that your Uncle wasn't able to personally accompany you on your journey here, then perhaps your brother would have less reason to be..."
Here she paused, searching for a suitably diplomatic way of saying 'surly' or 'grouchy', which is what Ambroise's behavior first brought to mind. Then again, if he'd been searching for the foal for three days, she could imagine that he must be feeling many emotions right now. Hopefully including relief.
So after a brief, almost unnoticable pause, she continued, "concerned." That seemed safe enough. "But regardless. I am sure that you two have business that you must deal with," business such as locating the parents in question and assuring them that their child hadn't been devoured by raging kalona, for example, "But have either of you eaten recently? There is an excellant patch of sweetgrass just a short walk away that I would be more than happy to show you."
After all, long journeys begun on an empty stomach were doomed to early difficulties, and she could imagine that a foal as spirited as Fenguang could be quite hard to contain in the best of circumstances. It was really a pity that Ambroise was alone; watching Fenguang seemed like a multi-Soquili task! Add to that the fact that Feng couldn't fly, and it seemed rather like the two stallions were at the beginning of what could be a rather long and arduous journey (nevermind that if the foal had done it himself in three days, it really couldn't have been THAT long or arduous, except in the mind of an over-analyzing mare).
Yes, the least she could do was offer them whatever hospitality or assistance she could, considering all that lay before them! "Otherwise, if you are more partial to sweet things, there are new-harvested apples within easy access as well."
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 3:40 pm
She was certainly diplomatic and subtle in her approaches, while Fenghuang remained oblivious to such things it was clear to Ambroise. There were many Soquili in the lowlands who would have been perfectly content to insult his demeanour. Surly, grouchy, arrogant - you name it and it was highly likely he had been referred to in such a manner. He was well aware of his rather aloof and abrasive behaviour but there were very few Soquili in the world that knew why. If he was entirely honest his stay in the Lowlands had been enough to deterr him from it completely and utterly - he loathed the place.
Thus when she chose to adopt a more delicate explanation for his behaviour he could do nothing more than raise a brow for the time being. Oddly enough he was not angered or deterred from admitting that she was different from the norm. She possessed manners and hospitality that the Lowlands seemed to lack in droves. If he had hands he would have applauded softly at such a revelation and marvelled at how one such as herself had endured the behaviour this long. Perhaps she was stronger than he was in a manner of speaking...
Nevertheless as the mare made reference to food a small part of him did have to wonder. He had been conditioned over time to survive on a low amount of food, but Fenghuang had been spoiled rotten since his birth and as a result...was definitely not capable of making the return trip home without supplement. Ambroise wasn't about to inform the foal that he was going to be frog marched home but a little food might be a good idea - especially if Feng had been foolish enough to survive purely on adrenaline and excitement up until this point.
Shaking his head, the stallion removed the irridescent locks of hair from his eyes and turned his head back towards the mare. Pale eyes fixed on her form and continued to assess her expression. He remained silent (as was custom for him) for quite some time before bowing his head in acceptance of such an offer. Admitedly he was rather hungry himself and though he was aware of the panic among his herd a little break would let him regather his composure and would feed the foal up. In a manner of speaking this would be his brother's respite, the calm before the storm in which his ears became so sore he would feign deafness and complete obedience for a month thereafter!
"Food would be most appreciated," Ambroise responded quietly, swivelling an ear in his brother's direction as he heard the soft rumble inside the foal's stomach. "If it would not trouble your offer of guidance would not be something I would deny," he added, clearing his throat in the process. No sooner had he accepted this offer though, than the mare was offering up other alternatives and he quickly shook his head before his youngest brother could intervene - too many choices made the foal indecisive and even more talkative.
"The sweetgrasses will be more than enough for us, I would sooner not take the apples given they are such a delicacy in the lowlands."
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:27 pm
Ignorant of the many thoughts occupying Ambroise's mind, Elizabeth responded to Ambroise's acceptance with a slight bow of her own and a smile. Really, he wasn't that unpleasant or intimidating of a stallion, for all of Fenguang's comments about grumpiness and using the word 'please'. Sure, compared to Fenguang he was more reserved than Fenguang, but he carried himself well and spoke with the utmost of respect and politeness, completely different from the immeadiate familiarity that she was used to encountering the in the Soquilis she usually met. Undoubtably Feng's assesment was just one of those things, the exhuberance of youth versus the dignity of maturity that had resulted in his painting his brother with a slightly more sinister brush than he actually deserved.
Still, she was quick to correct one misassesment on the part of the stallion, stating, "Well, your consideration is very kind, but I can assure you that apples are no delicacy this time of year. Indeed, the Kawani always seem to have more than they know what to deal with! But you're right, of course; that would be a bit excessive of a walk." Besides that, it would bring them close to the village, and she'd only just now realized that such a thing might not be desirable for the two brothers, time-crunched as they were.
So she strode forward to stand between and slightly ahead of the brothers, offering, "If you'd just follow me, we'll be there shortly. This happens to be one of my favorite grass patches, and has the additional advantage of being just out-of-the-way enough to afford some privacy while eating. The majority of the Soquili in this particular region are either completely village-bound or else inclined towards ranging; that leaves a nice middle ground of territory for the small number of us that like to get our walking in but prefer to return to our own home to sleep."
Having said that, Elizabeth found herself feeling a bit curious about the place these two came from. After all, it wasn't that often that she had the chance to speak to a mountain-dweller, much less two! Zaphiro had told her that they tended to be windy and cold, but as he himself only went north to take advantage of the runoff pools, she could hardly count him as an objective source!
Slowing slightly so as to drop beside Ambroise, she queried, "Assuming that this isn't too personal of a question, what sort of place is it that you two come from? Are there a great many Soquilis in the northern ranges, or any of the Kawani?" She really wanted to ask if it was true if things were as rocky and uncomfortable as she'd heard, but THAT struck her as a bit too unmannerly a question for such a short acquaintance, especially since it sounded like she was casting aspersions on a place that might very well be lush and green. And that was to say nothing of it being their home! "That is to say, is it very much like this place, in your own experience?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 5:48 am
Feng needed no other invitation and qith a delighted squeal he disappeared from 'sight' in an instant. That being said, Ambroise's pale eyes could still catch the glimpses and flickers of his younger brother's red coat between the grasses. In essence Fenghuang was a loose cannon, but even the foal understood that now was not the time to go on another adventure. He could run back and forth but under no circumstances could he 'disappear' again - that would do a lot more than just anger his eldest brother. Ambroise may have been presentable up until this point but he could have a rather dark and unconventional approach to handle disobedience.
Nevertheless the stallion was more than happy to follow after the mare, accepting her guidance. It was a rare moment in which he would let someone guide him, given his complete distaste for Lowland Soquili. Really, it was just as well he hadn't opted to take the apples instead if he was destined to move ever closer to more of these creatures. Unfortunately he simply didn't have a great deal of tolerance for stupidity or a lack of manners...both were 'qualities' that Lowland Soquili had in droves. Thus to even offer to introduce him to more would be the straw that broke the camels back - he would leave, immediately.
She would be the only one, thank you very much.
However such thoughts or musings were not permitted as the mare dropped back and fell in line with Ambroise's otherwise relaxed gait. His ears pivoted towards her voice and his gaze shifted ever so slightly. Ensuring he kept his eye on her as much as etiquette stated, he considered her questions carefully and released a sigh. It wasn't too personal a question but it did require him to speak more than he was accustomed to...
"There are only a very small number of humans within our herd lands," he spoke up after a period of silence. "Three reside in Elderwillow which lies on the lowest portion of the slopes, while the fourth resides on the peaks with my mother." He hoped that was what she meant by 'Kawani', he rarely saw humans unless he was in fligth and even then, the majority avoided the slopes due to their dangers. "However there are agreat many Soquili within our herd, though some have adopted a more nomadic and adventurous life style there are still a vast majority who remain within the protective embrace of the mountains..."
He had long since lost count of how many existed within Islagiatt, he could recognise one of his own with ease but he didn't count them. Provided he could keep track of them and take note of their location he had no complaints.
"However to assume that the slopes are like the Lowlands is inaccurate, it is decidedly cooler and the grasses are not as 'lush' as one might be accustomed to," he explained patiently. For a Lowland Soquili to move into the slopes would take a great deal of courage and the culture shock would be immense. "Most of the food that those of the highlands choose to eat are Seasonal - we have grasses and blossoms in the summer and spring, but as Winter approached are choices slim down to a few selective plants and the ocassional shoots."
Ah, but the Winged stallion still loved it though. The tranquility of the slopes, the treasures that it hid from the world. Labyrinths, hotsprings and spectacular waterfalls that only those who lived there ever had the opportunity to experience. He was greatful for his home and wouldn't change it for the world, given he'd been raised in such conditions he could even handle the tumbling temperatures... It was no wonder he became so uncomfortable in the lowlands during the summer, given his coat was so thick.
"That is not to say it is not beautiful and beloved regardless, it has it's dangers and is most certainly not a place to be explored without assistance if you are foreign," he admitted softly, tossing the long locks of hair away from his eyes in the process. "But it is a place that one can fall in love with if they can endure the immediate trials that come with living there initially."
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Posted: Tue Sep 23, 2008 9:26 pm
As Feng dashed off into the grass, Elizabeth couldn't help but glance to Ambroise to see what his reaction was. Undoubtably her sentiments were silly, but in the span of their short meeting she'd grown very fond of the impulsive Feng and adopted a somewhat proprietary interest in the dear little foal. She didn't doubt that he had the best of intentions to be obidient and listen to his brother, but at the same time she could easily see him being the type that wandered off without realizing it or meaning to.
Ambroise didn't seem to share that concern, if his composed behavior were any indication, so Liz too allowed herself to relax. If one who was familiar with the foal's ways, then there was obviously no reason for her to be anxious, or to split her attention from Ambroise's answer.
"Really, it sounds like a rather...I don't know, juxtapositional place, to me. In some ways, it seems to be like this place, only more extreme in its...well, in its extremes!" At that, Elizabeth smiled, amused at her own foolish way of explaning herself. "That is, it's beautiful, but rugged; it has Kawanis, but scattered few and far between. It provides food, but on a more restricted and rotational basis than those of us that live down here are used to."
One by one, Elizabeth ticked off her examples, hoping that they adequately explained what she meant. Yet she wasn't totally satisfied with her own explanation, wishing that she had a better way to describe how it sounded so very much like home, except not. Words had never been her strong suit, unfortunately; while she felt herself decently up to the task of carrying on a polite and somewhat animated conversation, verbal sparring and banter had never been her forte. Not that it was a trait she usually missed; it would simply make this sort of conversation easier!
Not that she really enough of these conversation to justify that sort of whim anyway! Shaking her head in dismissal of her own dismal explanatory skills, she gave Ambroise a somewhat apologetic smile. "That is to say, it sounds like a lovely place; from what I'd previously heard, I thought it to be rocky and barren, but I can't say that my sources were that well-informed. From your tone, I gather that it suits you quite admirably as a home, and I have to say that that's wonderful. This might be a silly personal quirk of mine, but it always depresses me to see those that are depressed with their lot and never seem to be content except for when they have something to complain about."
Such as a mare, raised by a loving set of foster parents, who couldn't appreciate the wonderful home she'd had and the importance of even making an effort at regular communication as she went about 'seeing the world.'
Even thinking about that made Liz's jaw set slightly, albeit in an almost imperceptable manner. Ladies did NOT make faces, after all, and she quickly recovered herself to ask, "Is your herd exceptionally close-knit, then, with so many living in such close proximity? I know that some use the term 'herd' rather loosely, but it sounds to me like yours is an ACTUAL herd." Not to be confused with her version of a herd, which theoretically had roughly 20 members but seems to consist solely of her the majority of the time.
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Posted: Wed Sep 24, 2008 3:28 am
Ambroise was accustomed to individuals stumbling over their words in an attempt to explain themselves, he was fairly certain he did it as well. Part of the reason he chose to keep his mouth shut was to avoid further confusion. However as she tried to provide an explanation of what she had heard from others regarding his territory he listened closely. His ears swivelled a little in her direction and every now and again he either accepted or rejected an 'observation' within his mind. There were certain things that were accurate to a degree, but others were not. That being said it was only as the mare fell in to a lull of silence again that the stallion opted to speak.
"The slopes are unforgiving and very treacherous, that much is accurate..." he took a breath and ruffled his wings against his sides. Strides lengthening into a gait he was more familiar with. "Depending on the time of year and the seasons it can also be very barren - however it is the communal spirit that resides within the slopes that make it truly beautiful." Ah yes, the stallion could think fondly of those Soquili within his herd and towards the founding members of it. If there was one thing that Islagiatt possessed it was a firm relationship between the individuals that co-existed on the slopes. They may not always get a long, they may want to knock each other off cliffs on occasions but they were family and as such, they meant the world.
Ambroise wouldn't deny that as a child he had explored the vast reaches of his territory. When he hadn't been subject to a rigorous training schedule he had dismissed himself and more often than not, sought out the hidden treasures the mountain had to offer. Whether they be rare flowers, beautiful caves or even extravagant waterfalls - they were all there and each and everyone was to be appreciated. Well, that was his opinion in regards to the subject matter at least! In the eyes of the Wind Stallion there was no place like home and the Lowlands had nothing to offer him. However as she enquired about his herd again he allowed a soft sigh to escape from his lips.
"Islagiatt was founded by my mother and her adoptive brother. Slowly but surely it grew, through the process of adoptions and strong friendship. Matings, children...everything that came of it caused the herd to expand at a rapid rate and it is true that there are a number who left the sanctuary of the slopes," he mused gently, glancing over at his brother for a brief moment to ensure he wasn't in trouble. "However despite their absence they know they can come home and I have no doubt that every creature within Islagiatt would be more than happy to fight on behalf of the other...." he lulled in to silence for the time being and raised a brow, only recently his brothers had come back home and that had been a headache for him, especially when it came to rather colourful love triangles.
There was a reason he was single.
"We may have our moments where we want to kill one another but we are a family, those who live within Islagiatt generally stay because of such close bonds...I hope that answers your question." He seemed to have completed his explanation at last and tossed his head to shoo the lock forelock from his eyes. There were moments in his life when he wished he had opted to braid his hair like his father, but the majority of the time he was more than happy to keep it free...even if it was to satisfy his cooing mother - she really was a headcase.
"And if it helps, you do not have to be eloquent around one such as myself... be blunt, it is less taxing on the brain and equates to less headaches," this wasn't meant as a direct insult, but he had noticed that on more than on occasion she had 'struggled' to find an appropriate word. He had no need for his feelings to be spared and frankly, Fenghuang was so oblivious to everything that he wouldn't understand the full weight of words anyway.
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