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 Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2009 1:21 pm
 Spring! Carefree and whimsical, the season brought flowers, rain, and all sorts of new life to the land. It was definitely one of the foal’s favorite times of year, and she was just getting to know it. Inhaling deeply, Nakanadi relished the sweet scent of flowers and clover. She had the energy of a thousand Soquili, and could run all day if she felt the need. Which, of course, she did.
Lifting her tiny hooves, the Autumn-colored filly pranced about, tossing her head to let the wind blow back her hair. For once, she was able to forget about her mother, and, as usual, took nature to be her only companion. She didn’t mind that she looked like a child, prancing and kicking her legs; she wasn’t in any hurry to grow up, despite the fact that her mother had thus far succeeded in robbing her of an essential part to her childhood.
Her joyous display came to an abrupt halt as she began to think of her family again. Face twisting into a tiny frown, she shook her head sternly. She wouldn’t be bothered by that; she could get by on her own, and that was that. With a ‘humph,’ the little foal began to walk, dipping her head down every now and then to bite at a flower half-heartedly.
Now, visibly down, she resolved to walk it off, as she always did. It was too awkward to talk to her father, and her sisters were generally off doing their own thing… leaving Nakanadi to her own devices.
Pawing at a flower, she muttered, “… your mother wouldn’t ignore you, would she? Of course not. Flowers don’t even have mothers, do they?” After waiting for a moment, as if for a reply, she bent down and bit the flower in half, swallowing it.
Today was going to be another long day.
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Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:12 pm
It left the grove surprisingly empty. For all the love that she had with Azumoth, and for all the conversations she took with Moppet and the local wildlife, the cream mare missed her babies.
Today was one of those days. There were still scents and signs of Raphe and Azuell, as the two hadn't adventured off so far. But her winged son, Penance had been gone so long now that she feared she might forget his face. Oh, it would never happen, but the mother wished for all of them to come home. Instead she'd found herself restless with memories; with Azumoth sleeping tight that morning, Bella had decided she'd go for a long but familiar walk.
It took all morning for the mare to find her way out, but never would she forget her old home on the plains. It was here that the mare attempted to clear her mind of worry and concern for her missing children; they were adults, they had to leave the nest sometime and it wasn't as if she wouldn't see Raphe or Azuell soon. They were frequent visitors and yet . . . she missed the little things. Having a little foal cuddled up against her side, telling them a story and watching the delight cross their features; she missed the unguarded snuggles and cuddles and the feeling of one needing her well and truly!
Oh, she adored Azumoth and loved that they could spend some quality time together unhindered and uninterrupted. But the need she felt for him (and the need she hoped he had for her) wasn't the same as a child needing its mother. And with an empty grove and all the sons 'independent', Bella knew it would be quite some time before she ever was able to feel that joy again.
So lost in thoughts, the mare almost over looked a small figure off in the distance. Still, it wasn't often that a small form pawed at the local plant life so diligently. In fact, it was with a double take that (much to Bella's delight) she saw the most petite and pretty foal before her! Maternal instinct was quick to kick in and she looked around the plains for any sign of a nearby herd, playmates or guardians. Much to her surprise the fields looked mostly barren outside of the foal and herself. . ..
Hmm. Best to investigate! Trotting over to where the little flower-chomper resided, Bella gave a friendly nicker in greeting so as not to surprise the filly. She didn't want the little one to think she was trying to be sneaky, and some were quite wary of strangers. . .and rightfully so! Pausing a comfortable distance away (assuming, of course, the little filly wasn't about to bolt) Bella smiled warmly at the brown eyed foal. "How're the flowers this day?" She questioned, tilting her head curiously. "Do you have any suggestions on which colours are the tastiest?" There was no better way to get involved with a foal than to get fully involved in whatever it was they were doing.
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Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 9:21 pm
Head popping up from the grass, a daisy poked out from her mouth at an awkward angle, making the filly look a little ridiculous. With wide eyes she tried to take in the beauty before her, who had appeared (seemingly) out of nowhere. She paused, gave the flower a slow chew, and paused again, eyes sweeping up and down the mare. She was so... so beautiful! Much more pretty than herself, and of any other Soquili she had seen. Swallowing the daisy, the filly brought herself up and gave her body a quick shake.
"You're pretty!" she blurted, eyes still wide. Normally, she would have been wary of a stranger, but this one was so... soft, and pretty, and seemed to emanate kindness. She could see it in her eyes; the mare meant her no harm. Mouth lifting into a smile, Nakanadi remembered that she'd asked her a question.
"Oh," she began, looking down and pawing at the grass. "They're pretty good today. When they soak in the sun all day, they taste better, I think..."
Realizing she wasn't really pawing at anything, she lifted her hoof and looked shyly up to the mare, still unable to believe she was looking at something so beautiful. It was like an angel had come down and taken the form of a horse; it was her being naive, of course, for she'd only met a couple other horses in her lifetime outside of her family, and was used to the autumn shades of her herd. She blinked once, then smiled.
"I like the white ones." She blinked, then looked delighted. "You're white, too."
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Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 7:29 am
Bella chuckled as she watched the little filly, delighted by the brown girls antics. How long ago it seemed she had been blessed with not one, but three sons; Raphe, of course, she had cared for on her own but shortly thereafter she had two other sons to rear with Azumoth within the grove. The innocence of the foal before her reminded her of all the gentle and tender moments lost to age and maturity. . . . Though she knew her sons would always love her, they had their own lives to lead. It wasn't an easy pill to swallow, to know that her boys didn't need her quite as strongly as they had when small, but a mothers love never ended.
And in Nakanadi's case, she harbored a motherly touch to any foal she spotted. Just because the little filly wasn't her own didn't mean that Bella couldn't spend a few moments with the girl. At least until she ran off to find her family or friends, or a watchful guardian stepped out and shooed the cheerful girl away.
"Why thank you, little one," she grinned, giving her tail a happy swish. "But I must say, if we're speaking about pretty coats, that you aren't just pretty but beautiful. I've never seen such a charming pattern before nor such stripes in ones hair." Her words were sincere as she smiled down upon the little filly, golden eyes bright with light.
"Sun soaked flowers are indeed the best. . . You don't mind if I have a little snack with you, do you? These flowers look too sweet to resist." She laughed once again, before adding, "And I am indeed white. . . or at least a pale cream. Either way, I do hope that's a good sign so we might be friends." And what little foal didn't want friends? Wasn't that what she had wanted as a filly? Wasn't that what her sons had found in Numielle and Alue? Perhaps Nakanadi wouldn't object to such an idea. . . .
At the very least it would give her an excuse to keep an eye on the wandering soul.
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Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 11:30 pm
Already, she was taken in by this beautiful stranger. Something about an older mare, a kind, attentive, older mare, just made so much... sense. Her brow furrowed at the thought; why was it that someone she didn't even know paid more attention to her than her own family? Snorting out a breath, Nakanadi gave her head a quick shake to force the thoughts out. Great. Now she looked lonely and crazy.
"Oh!" Her face lit up with a sheepish smile. "I'm not as beautiful as my sisters," she said shyly, tucking in her chin a bit. She couldn't recall the last time she'd been complimented before, and it was a bit embarrassing, to be honest, although it pleased her greatly. Already, she loved this mare. "And certainly not as beautiful as you," she added quickly, nipping at a passing leaf.
"We can be friends," she agreed, nodding enthusiastically. "My other friends all left. I don't know where they went." With the same care she'd displayed earlier, Nakanadi dug through the grass, gently prying strand apart to reveal a group of tightly-packed, pink flowers. Each bore a thick bud that had yet to bloom, and all emanated a sweet scent. She looked up into Bella's eyes hopefully.
"Um... you can have these," she said quietly, backing a few steps away. "Because you like them too, so..." Her smile quickly turned shy. It was strange, considering her outgoing nature, that she would be reduced to something so different around Bella. As she watched the older mare intently, she wondered if this was what it would be like if her own mother acted in such a way. Although she tried to fight it, her face dropped.
"Oh, and I'm..." She pawed at the grass aimlessly. "I'm Nakanadi, by the way."
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Posted: Fri Mar 27, 2009 3:05 pm
The mare had forgotten how fun it was to be around the young. Not only was Raphe long since grown, but her two son's Penance and Azuell had also left the figurative nest. Exactly where they had gotten off to, the blond mare knew not, but she hoped every day that she might receive a visit from her sons. They were full grown and living their own lives now, but that didn't mean her love and adoration for them waned. It was one of the unspoken rules she had discovered as a mother - no matter where her children roamed, no matter how 'grown up' they acted, no matter what - she would always and forever miss them. Never would she have imagined love to be both a wonderful and terrible thing. . . . Her family caused her more worry than she cared to admit!
If Bella noticed the little mare's snort and head shake, she gave no inclination and only continued to smile down upon the little filly. The grove she lived in was rather chalk full of testosterone, outside of Moppet and herself. What might it be like had the spirits blessed her with a daughter? Might she have been as gentle and sweet as the little Nakanadi before her? Or perhaps as boisterous and outgoing as Penance or more quiet and reserved like Azumoth? Bella loved her sons, but also hoped that perhaps someday she might be blessed with a daughter; one she could properly dote upon, no less. For now though, she would enjoy the companionship of this little one as the spirits had been kind enough to allow them to cross paths.
Clucking her tongue ever so gently at the girl, Bella reached over and offered her a tender nuzzle. "I don't believe that you're not as beautiful as your sisters. It is quite obvious to me that beauty runs through you just as it must through your family. Never forget how precious you are, m'dear, even if you fear you pale in comparison." Her words were gentle but very sincere; she wasn't just offering the filly lip service, oh no, she could pointedly tell that Nakanadi was indeed lovely. A shame the little one didn't think so.
Amber eyes peeked from the little filly down in to the ground where the sweet treat had been exposed. Her smile broadened and she couldn't help but chuckle, dipping her head in a bow. "Well you truly are a sweetheart, thank you." She grinned, dipping down to take a nibble at flowers. Making sure she didn't eat the whole bundle, Bella pulled a few up from their roots and deposited them gently in front of the girl. "We can share, so you too might get a taste of their sweetness. Forgive my rudeness, m'dear Nakanadi, I'm Bella and it truly is a pleasure to meet you."
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