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 Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 6:55 am
With a disgruntled snort the mutant furled his leathery wings tight against his side and pushed forward, nudging various branches and foliage away from his path in the process. Glowing amber orbs regarded the trees ahead of him with distaste as the sun's light quickly faded. Sight would soon be difficult for most but with the encroaching darkness the orb in his chest gave a rebellious flash and began to light up the path ahead of him. Thus he found himself unhindered by obstacles that others might have stalled at and simply moved around or over them.
Occasionally, the silver plates of his armour would click together but for the most part he moved quietly. The ruffling of tattered scarlet cloth upon his form scarcely audible above the fidgeting and scuttling of other wild life within the area. His gazed shifted from left to right, aware that the disturbance had not gone unnoticed, yet there were no whispers or hints of discussion in the air. It was as though his father had landed and simply vanished - something that was completely impossible for someone his size and stature.
"Where are you...?" he murmured darkly, grinding his teeth ever so slightly as his jaw clenched. His shadowed form continued to drift through the trees, melding with the shadows yet still even he was noticed. How was it possible therefore, for his father to do this? He had to be somewhere, anywhere... He had to be close. It should have come at no surprise that the body language of the stallion was rather tense, irritation clear in his narrowed eyes. He had already spent ample time fighting this god forsaken creature, yet it seemed that he needed to take even more of his time!
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Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2008 10:26 am
 Raphe trotted through the woods, completely unaware of the danger he might have stumbled into. He was too intent on his goal, getting home to his mother and telling her about all the wonderful things he had seen on his latest venture away from the quiet willows where he had grown up. The deepening shadows never frightened him in the slightest, because the moonlight made his soft coat shine with an ethereal beauty the sun could never reveal, and his mind was swimming through images of the reflective pools and colourful flowers, and all the other delightful sights his mother had taught him to appreciate.
Although he was starting to take on the appearance of a young stallion, Raphe was only still on his way to complete independence. His delicate frame had filled out with lean muscle which gave him a more masculine appearance, as well as the strength to run farther in a day and see more of the world. But there was only so much he could see before having to return. It was inevitable that his independence grew to include the occasional nights away from his home, if only gradually. He hadn't gone back to Bella the night before, and the part of him that was still just a colt was bursting with happiness for his imminent return.
The unicorn picked up his pace, winding his way through the trees with a well-practiced grace that had thus far survived his growth. He would be difficult to hear, but all too easy to spot as he walked, ghostlike and carefree, towards his childhood home.
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Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2008 3:26 am
In a manner of speaking Bella's worst nightmare had come true. However the fates had been watching her and had blessed her to a degree. While Raphe might have been on his way home he had set a direct course to collide with Azumoth's pathway as well. Admittedly the mutant would remain unaware of Raphe's true identity but there was a hope that the unicorn may very well recognise who and what his supposed 'father' was. Frankly the mutant would find the term some getting used to given that he had never really been the best father in the world to his other adoptive children.
...How long had it been since he saw Ignacia? Too long, would be the appropriate answer but there was a part of him that knew that the distance had grown between them. Even if he had chosen to visit now there was a chance that she would cast him aside, unprepared to recognise him as much of a father figure. All compliments, congratulations and admiration deserved to be cast upon her adoptive mother instead, the mare that had been there throughout her life.
Ah yes, he was an awful father.
Nevertheless over the course of the last few years Azumoth had undergone quite a number of changes. The most significant of these changes was that he had at last permitted Bella to enter his life. She hadn't believed him at first, had burst into tears and made him feel awful but then she had realised he was being honest. Ah, he was destined to lead a life of complications but this was beside the point. Bella's immediate concern when Azumoth had ordered her to move was of her son...Raphe.
"What if he comes home?"
It had been a valid point and up until this time Azumoth had hoped that childish curiosity would keep him away. Unfortunately children were never predictable and as such, the spirits had simply constructed a situation that ensured that said wayward son and unofficial father bumped in to each other. This was convenient in a manner of speaking, from both angles - from the pursued (Kiyoshi's) point of view this would delay his son. But from Azumoth's point of view it would introduce him to another of his children, would ensure said child was safe...and it would give him the opportunity to inform him that his mother wasn't in her Grove.
...That was a lot of news to carry.
This remained a the back of his mind though and with a disgruntled snort the stallion smashed through the various undergrowth in an attempt to shake at least one creature out of hiding. Anything that could have been a witness! Alas they were either frightened of him or asleep, the only purpose this served was to alert any individual in the area to the fact that he was here. It was just as well that he had no interest in stealth or one might have said that he needed further training.
At one point amber eyes had caught sight of an almost ethereal glow, but given that his father emanated a more teal light like his own, he had disregarded it for the most part...
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Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2008 9:42 am
If Azumoth's intent was to startle things out of hiding, it certainly brought out Raphe's immediate awareness of his surroundings. It was hard for him to dwell in thoughts of his journey with his ears pricked in curiosity and only slight concern over the steady crashing noises, not headed directly towards him but certain to cross his path.
Raphe came to a halt in the shadows and watched as a dark figure moved through the woods ahead of him, making that awful racket as it went. The unicorn was ill prepared for such a large, moving shadow, his inexperience left him curious, and willing to watch and possibly move closer to whatever it was that had crossed his path. It could have been a bear, or some kind of huge wolf or mountain lion, but Raphe felt no sense of fear to drive him away.
Instead he tilted his pretty head curiously, shifted his weight, and then stepped forward once to get a better look. The distracted step that left him framed quite magnificently in a shaft of light leaking through the leaves overhead also resulted in a soft snap as one hoof landed on a dry twig. Not much of a noise, unless someone was listening for it.
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Posted: Sat Oct 18, 2008 6:58 am
Snap!
The sound was almost inaudible and yet had caught his attention. Destined for his ears, had he been in a more relaxed state he may not have even noticed it. He came to a halt almost instantly, glancing briefly to his right for further signs of life. Unsurprisingly he found nothing and initially suspected that a very tiny creature had made the sound. However, as he turned his head to the left that silver glow caught his eye again. It was different than last time though, it was more significant and larger than he had anticipated previously.
At this revelation the stallion slowly turned round, his steps decidedly more gentle in comparison to his previous thrashing. Blinking twice, it was only after he had come to a standstill again that his vision cleared and he saw the unicorn before him. Really, this was the archetypal encounter between 'good' and 'evil' if he had ever seen one. The demonic figure shrouded in shadow, and the holy knight radiating with light. Ironic really, though at the sight of the youth's features it was clear that he was far from a seasoned warrior and his approach hadn't been intended to interrupt.
...Curiosity perhaps?
Raising a brow, the stallion surveyed his visitor more closely, musing over the otherwise decent figure he possessed. Muscles indicated strength and fitness, bubt he was small. Admittedly everything was small in comparison to the mutant but this stallion appeared to have more growing to do.
"This evening is not a wise time to be exploring," he pointed out softly, his voice gruff and his address direct as always.
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Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2008 8:53 am
Raphe didn't show any signs of alarm as the shadow suddenly came to a stop, and then turned to face him. It was what he wanted, right? A better look at what was in the shadows? From his moonlit vantage point it was difficult to make out the details, but the dark figure had taken on that of a larger stallion. Large and foreboding, the soft steps were almost more frightening than the crashing pace that had brought them to cross paths. Wrath and destruction could belong to any creature, but it would be the most sinister who could approach silently, intelligence and cunning in their eyes.
That instinctual fear had only just begun to worm it's way into the young unicorn's belly when he heard the shadow speak up, and he had to catch himself before he squinted rather ungracefully into the darkness. He thought he could make out wings, odd leathery wings like he had never seen before, and horns quite unlike his own. His mind raced. What had his mother told him about horns and leathery wings?
Of course he had been warned about Kalona as a foal, and all the other dangers a protective mother could think to warn him about, but danger wasn't the first thing that popped into his mind as he faced the dark, horned, winged stranger.
The sudden, beautiful smile of his must have seemed completely out of context. "I was on my way home," he said in response to the stallion's warning. "Have you come to visit my mother?"
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Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 7:41 am
Out of context? Well that was certainly one way to put it as the radiant being's features lit up and indicated just how young her was. It should have come at no surprise that Azumoth chose to arch a brow in response to such an expression. Wholey inappropriate, it rather offset the tension and forced the mutant into a realm that was entirely wrong for the given circumstances. Truly the stallion stood before a naive child if he had ever seen one - one who could have smiled into the face of death by the looks of things. Perhaps that was a bit of an exageration but for all intents and purposes, now probably wasn't the best time for him to smile!
Nevertheless when the colt chose to mention his mother, Azumoth's brow rose ever higher (if at all possible) and he tilted his head to the side. Technically speaking, if he had been a decent father in the passed few years he would have ensured that all children had returned (or visited) before nightfall so that they could get home safely. Aha, why was it only now that he chose to recognise his mistakes and faults? Perhaps this was a direct consequence of what happened when one took it upon themselves to find who they really were.
He had a lot to make up for.
Unfortunately it was at this moment that the stallion cottoned on to who that 'mother' might be. He wasn't one to leap to conclusions but they were reasonably close to the grove of willow trees that Bella had come to love so much. No doubt there were other soquili lurking within this area (for the lowlands were busy) but still, he had to bear such possibilities in mind given that while his mate might be a little bit of a worrier - she did have a point on this occasions.
"Your mother...?" He enquired slowly, his tone albeit questionning though he remained in the shadows and made no attempt to expose himself further.
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Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 9:11 am
Raphe's beautiful smile was undeterred by the shadow-stallion's lack of response. What he could make out in the darkness held such a strong resemblance to his mother's descriptions, he was quite sure this was the 'father' he must have always had but never met. His slight fear of the unknown darkness had been replaced by a much stronger fear, that of making a poor first impression, or not being pretty enough to warrant his 'father's' love.
Not that his fear showed outwardly, the young unicorn stood as an image of beautiful confidence without a hint of conceit. He had been raised well, and heart was in the right place despite his unusual obsession with being pretty.
"Bella," he said in response to the other's simple question, shifting his weight from one picturesque stance to another without seeming to realize how smooth the action was. "She's told me about you often."
The unicorn held no assumptions that the stallion would recognize him. His mother had always spoken of Azumoth with that hint of wistful tenderness in her voice, even when he was very young he could sense in that tone that she had not seen him. He would thus be a surprise, and had to make his best first impression.
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Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 9:50 am
Pretty enough...
It wasn't Raphe's fault that he had such fears in mind despite how ridiculous they might have been. The unicorn had no knowledge of the pain his 'father' had endured for not being pretty. Thus, the elder stallion had long since learnt that judging by appearance brought nothing more than confusion and pain. Had either been mind readers it was a given that the unicorn's fears would have disappated given that the mutant had no interest in beauty (unless it was in regards to Bella of course).
Alas, the mention of his mate gave him such a shock that it took nearly every ounce of his strength to control himself. He would have reeled in surprise at the sudden revelation but instead, his brow simply lowered and he took a small breath. The sigh that came from his lips following this revelation though, was signifcantly deeper than one might have thought possible. Fate always worked in mysterious ways, but it had its reasons and Azumoth was quickly reminded of why he was here - to find his father.
Unfortunately there was nothing worse than said father discovering this particular individual, especially when Azumoth had promised that he would be safe. Apparently, Kiyoshi would escape tonight - injured and bruised...but he would escape. Azumoth positively loathed the prospect but he would sooner look for his father later than have the unsuspecting run into him.
"Raphe?" he enquired softly, somewhat taken aback by the revelation. "You will find that your mother is not here, this evening."
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Posted: Sun Nov 02, 2008 11:27 am
It was the young unicorn's turn to be startled, and his smile transformed into the prettiest little bewildered expression. Azumoth knew his name, which means the stallion had already run across his mother. But while he felt happiness to know his mother had met up with the stallion she spoke so fondly of, the stallion's words bothered him.
"She isn't?" He asked quietly, confusion shifting to worry and finally fear, each expression just as soulful and beautiful as the last. Raphe's natural grace took his distress and remolded it into something picturesque and pure, but no amount of praise would keep his childhood fears from springing up with full force. Had Bella left him? Had he stayed away too long, or not been pretty enough? Had he been abandoned again?
He was certainly growing up, but he had not grown enough to be completely independent of a mother's love after the emotional trauma of being left behind once before so early in his life, and this news threatened to knock his entire world out from underneath him. The young unicorn didn't even think to look to Azumoth for fatherly guidance, without any confirmation that this stallion would take him as family the best Raphe could do was duck his head slightly and look heart-breakingly lost.
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Posted: Mon Nov 03, 2008 7:28 pm
Picturesque as the stallion's reactions might have been, they did nothing to phase or bend Azumoth's emotions. He had seen things such as this before, witnessed mares exercise such 'power' over others (including him). He was aware that Raphe was not deliberate in his responses, was perhaps conceited by nature but this didn't necessarily mean that Azumoth was prepared to accept and pander to such potentially endearing questions. Now was not the time or the place to be flailing over the facial expressions or surface beauty of another.
He had always been direct and this evening would be no different. Tired as the mutant was it was astonishing to suspect that he could even have patience in the given circumstances. The stallion had no other choice than to close his eyes for a short while and only opened them having released a number of very soft sighs. Three was sufficient and he opened his eyes without so much as a flinch to assess the colt's immediate reaction, that look of loss was surprisingly familiar.
"She was moved to ensure her safety," he chose not to delay the explanation any longer. He had deliberately gone out of his way to find his mate and to hide her for the sake of her own security, that had been nearly a year ago. However, he had trusted her and believed in her enough to know that even if she moved again then she would find another save spot. Granted, he would have preferred if she had stayed by the coast but in a the case that she had left he had sincerely hoped that she had gone to the grove - HIS grove. "She was in danger, I had no other choice but to move her to safer ground," he continued after a few moments.
Ruffling his wings against his sides, he bridged the gap between himself and the unicorn before moving passed him to another patch of undergrowth. Ever vigilant, he was not prepared to allow a brief encounter to lower his guard and place his own safety in jeopardy. "If she is not by the coast where I left her then I should hope she went to the Hidden Groves."
"You have need of her?"
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Posted: Sun Nov 09, 2008 4:02 pm
It was too much for the little unicorn to take in all at once. He was at an age where everything inside him wanted to cry 'I want my mother' in response to Azumoth's question, but kept it inside because that's what growing up meant. Regardless of whom this stallion might be to his mother, and whom he might be to Raphe as an extension of his mother's relations, the young unicorn was still in the presence of a stranger and thus had to stay strong. It just wouldn't do to completely fall apart on a first meeting, despite the troubling news and horrible heartache it brought on.
His thoughts about missing his mother quickly shifted to worry for the mare, if only because keeping the welfare of others in mind had become an automatic thing for him. If she was in danger, would she need him there to keep her safe? Would he even be able to keep her safe? What did she need to be kept safe from? Raphe shifted his weight from one side to the other, the delicate furrowing of his brows revealing how thoroughly distressed he was.
"I was going to tell her about the world I've seen," he said quietly. The flowers and waterfalls seemed so trivial and far away with the knowledge that his mother wasn't around to share it with. He was silent for a second, composing his thoughts until all the potential stammering and stuttering was ironed out. "Will she be safe, if I see her?"
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Posted: Tue Nov 18, 2008 12:46 pm
Would they be safe? It was a question that the mutant hadn't really considered but it was a good one. For years he had remained silent and relied solely on his own skills to protect himself. It had only been in recent months that he had shifted and now considered the welfare of a select few above all else. Raphe had simply highlighted the existing threats and Azumoth's failings - he hadn't found his father yet. Yes Kiyoshi would be in considerable pain and was highly unlikely to be immediately concerned with locating Bella but there was still that risk. More to the point, an injured mutant was a dangerous mutant and Kiyoshi was relentless...for all Raphe's growing strength, he still lacked the maturity to stand up for long even in the current conditions.
It all led to one thing though, Raphe was his son...his family. To permit him the information to find his mother was one thing, however to be over heard was another and was of deep concern to the black stallion. He could vaguely recall those days of deep distress and loss as a foal - to keep a child away from it's mother for too long caused damage that couldn't be repaired. That being said if Raphe were followed then he would place himself and his mother in considerable danger.
"Yes," Azumoth decided it was best not to lie or paint pretty words. Nevertheless he was not about to completely deny the unicorn his rights to see his mother. Instead, the mutant had formulated a plan as quickly as his mind could permit in the circumstances. "This does not mean that you cannot see her though, it simply means you must wait and move to a safer area beforehand..."
"Your endurance will be tested in reaching the location, but there is a forest at the peaks of the mountains, just facing the desert. It looks dead but I assure you that is mere illusion," It was perhaps the most words he had uttered in quite some time, but even he knew that it was necessary to calm a panicking soul. He was not like his father, he would show mercy and compassion when it was required. "Deep within it you will find security, none will follow you there...I will bring your mother to you."
...Little did Azumoth know, that Bella was already there!
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Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2009 7:47 pm
Raphe fretted inwardly, his hooves shifting delicately under him. For the first time since growing accustomed to the sound of running water, the only relic left from his early abandonment, the young unicorn was truly afraid. He didn't want to bring any harm upon his mother. She was still the most important part of his ever-widening world, that calm, gentle presence that had always rescued him from uncertainty and doubt. Did he need to be rescued again badly enough to risk her safety?
The unicorn almost reconsidered, but Azumoth said it would be safe if he traveled to the mountains. And what if his mother needed him just as much, or more? What if she was worried about him? The mare had always doted on him, and as much as Raphe was enjoying his explorative ventures he always tried to keep himself safe and pretty so she wouldn't have to worry so much... He had to go see her.
Raphe's little frown deepened and he had to pause before speaking lest any unseemly stammering occurred. He needed to collect his determination, and summon up all the little pieces of his adult-self growing inside himself so he could face the challenging trip ahead of him without being afraid. "I'll go," the young unicorn finally said, holding his head up and regaining the ethereal composure he had first appeared with. It could almost be a wonder that the colt was once again poised perfectly under a beam of moonlight. Without anything else to say, the young unicorn bowed his head respectfully to his adoptive father and took off with a graceful gait towards the mountains.
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Posted: Sun Jan 25, 2009 5:16 am
So that was the child that Bella had taken in as a basket? He certainly was a vain creature but sensible enough to understand when he couldn't acquire the things he wanted most. It was always a painful lesson for a creature to learn and priorities were always a difficult thing to set in the first place. However he had done it and with Azumoth's direction had taken up the task of ascending the slopes to reach the peaks and the Grove that lay in their midst. Azumoth could guarantee Raphe's safety from there and the colt would be shielded from the world by not only the trees, but his family members as well. Admittedly Cyn Generis (Raphe's grandfather technically) could be terribly imposing upon occasions but his heart was in the right place and his calm demeanour could eventually be spotted even by those who were easily intimidated.
It was just one more weight off his mind and while the stallion couldn't understand the pain of seperation from a parent himself he knew that the uncertainty in the colt's eyes had been to do with that. Flying the nest wasn't easy for those who were dependant on doting mothers. Nevertheless, with the pair seperated it was less likely for anyone to take note of their existence and both would remain secure. His father would not locate Raphe for the sake of blackmail and nor would he be able to locate Bella.
I also worked to his benefit in the sense that the forest was now clear of those that Azumoth was required to be concerned with and with a disgruntled snort the soquili pressed onwards. His father's scent had thinned in the air the moment the white colt had appeared, now it was imperative that the mutant stallion relocate his initial target and stick to it. He couldn't just let something of Kiyoshi calibre continue to wander undisturbed, it was too great a risk to bear.
...Though it was a pain in the a** to have to play hero.
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