|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 7:59 pm
 It was a calm and peaceful morning in the forest. The sun slowly emerged from it's hiding place behind the horizon, splashing vibrant shades of orange and pink throughout the sky. The birds sang cheerfully, greeting the dawn.
Toshiro lay on the ground with Xiang, the two of them huddled up against a large tree. The stallion always awoke with the coming of first light, but he would let Xiang sleep as long as she pleased and try not to wake her. He had to admit, she had grown quite beautiful with age. The chocolate male couldn't help but smile to himself as he looked down tenderly at his lovely company. I wonder if you are aware of just how special you really are to me. Far closer than a sister. He laid his head back down with the softest of sighs, content to stay where he was. His ears however stayed constantly on the alert.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 8:16 pm
 Xiang was good at faking sleep, and from Toshiro's gestures, she could tell that he hadn't figured this out. She was still rather confused why he had wanted them to go off alone and spend so much time away from other kirin. Was something wrong? Had he had an argument with the other kirin they'd met when they were little? She liked her "brother," but she wasn't quite sure he was treating her like a sister anymore, and the concept worried her.
She looked away toward the growing light of the rising sun. She loved the early mornings, and had become an early riser, a much earlier riser than Toshiro apparently realized. The way the birds sang, the way the light filtered down among the leaves, the way the flowers that closed at night opened shyly to greet the dawn.... She loved it all, and usually was awake before first light.
This morning, she didn't feel like waiting for Toshiro to realize she was awake, which might take another hour or two, and got to her feet, stretching her creamy legs as she did so, and moved off as quietly as possible to start browsing. No sense disturbing her brother if he was comfortable, and maybe if she got a fast and quiet enough start, she'd run into other kirin and make more new friends, friends that they wouldn't have to leave if Toshiro got uncomfortable. Xiang didn't realize it, but she was still a very naive filly, very different in that respect from her brother, who, though she was still to naive and detached in that respect to realize it, loved her as much more than a sister, possibly as a mate. As innocent and naive as she was, she wasn't ready to understand how she felt about Toshiro, or even what her true feelings, whatever they might be, were.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 8:38 pm
Toshiro slowly lifted his head up from the ground again as he watched Xiang get up and walk away. "You're up earlier than usual," he remarked with a faint smile while she was still within hearing distance. "Did I wake you?" The stallion stood up from the ground and shook out his majestic mane. Unsure of whether Xiang wanted some privacy or not however, he stayed where he was and waited patiently for a response. If she wanted some alone time then that was perfectly alright with him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 8:50 pm
Xiang stopped dead. There went exploring for other kirin for the day. "Ummm...Toshiro...you've never woken me up in your life. I'm always up before first light. I just don't choose to disturb you when I wake up." She quietly turned and walked back to him. "Sorry if I disturbed you this morning." Well, it was better if she was honest with him. "Ummm...Toshiro...it's been a while since we've met any other kirin. I kind of miss seeing other kirin, aside from my brother," she added, smiling, not wanting to hurt her brother's feelings.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 8:57 pm
Toshiro was mildly surprised to hear that she was such an early riser, but at least it was good news. That meant that they both got up around the same time. He wasn't as surprised however that she wanted to go find some others. She was a very sociable mare, and he had been amazed in the first place that she had even decided to go with him. "I understand," he replied with a small nod and smile. "Did you want to search the forest for some others?" At least it would give them something to do for the day.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 9:02 pm
Xiang nodded in relief. "Well, if you're ready, let's get started! It may take a while to find other kirin." Her smile now was more genuine. She pranced a bit in place on her small, delicate, cloven brown hooves, green eyes glowing eagerly at the concept of being able to find other kirin. She had a lot of luck, generally, so maybe her luck would help Xiang and Toshiro find other kirin today....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 9:10 pm
Toshiro's smile broadened as he watched Xiang dance in place. "Yes. Let's." He strolled over next to her and inclined his head to whisper in her ear. "Race?" Hey, it seemed to have worked well enough the first time, hadn't it? Perhaps they would get lucky again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 14, 2009 9:16 pm
Delighted and too excited to stand still a second longer, Xiang wheeled and bolted, calling back, "Of course! Just don't get left behind!" The earth was nice and springy beneath her hooves, but she had to weave to avoid running smack into the trees as her feet raced beneath her. She sucked in deep breaths of the fresh, cool, and damp early morning air, savoring each breath in her flight.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2009 5:51 am
Toshiro laughed and galloped after her, weaving through the trees with ease. Despite his large and bulky form, he was surprisingly agile. He caught up to Xiang's flank fairly quickly, but he decided to stay behind her in their run. Even though it was a 'race', it was more fun just to watch her enjoying herself. He kept his eyes open and on the look-out for any others of their kind as they ran aimlessly through the forest. He knew it would really make Xiang's day if they came across someone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 7:52 am
 Silarial was, as usual, partially submerged. Early morning baths were lovely - the water so chill, so swift. Standing on the river bed, her back was just level with the giant stepping stones. The mare had stuck her head underwater to take a closer look at a few rather fascinating specimens of frogspawn when first one set of hooves clattered across her back... then another.
Annoyed, she decided it was probably Alucard and Khalidia again on a morning run back home. Up popped the stone head from the water.
"Hey!" She yelled at the two tails she saw heading back into the cover of the trees - and then she realised they weren't the expected red and blue, but brown and cream. Strangers? In her territory?
Most intriguing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:06 am
"Xiang, wait!" Toshiro called, skittering to a halt when he heard a voice shout from behind them. He looked back confused for a moment before spotting the partially submerged mare in the water. Right where they had just run through. Oops. "Ah, my apologies, maam," he said with a bowed head as he trudged back over to where she was. "Didn't see you there." In their defense, she did look an awful lot like the rest of the rocks and moss in the water. "You're not hurt, are you?" he would feel quite bad if in the two of them had inadvertently trampled her. Well, Xiang should be pleased. It looks like we've found another.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 8:47 am
Xiang skidded to a halt and turned around. She was surprised, delighted, and slightly guilty to realize they'd found another kirin who looked so much like a mossy stone that they'd galloped across her. Lowering her head apologetically, she trotted back to stand next to her "brother." "I'm really sorry if we hurt or offended you, Ma'am, my brother and I were looking for other kirin." She lifted her emerald eyes to study the stony mare surreptitiously. Her coat was utterly fascinating, it looked like a very supple form of stone, and the green scales and green mane and tail really did look like certain varieties of moss. Even her horn looked natural, like a tree branch reaching out toward the sunlight.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 14, 2009 10:00 pm
"It didn't hurt at all, really..." Silarial said sheepishly. "I only yelled because I thought you two were someone else."
She waded towards the bank they were on and pulled herself out with a huge heave of her shoulders, the green bits of her all soggy. The stone-skinned mare shook out her mane and tail to dry, scattering droplets. The rest of her would gradually dry out as well as the day went on.
"As for other Kirin, the ones I know of are, ah, nocturnal. They may not be in a presentable state right now." Silarial noted with a wry smile. "So, what are your names, and how long have you been searching for others in this forest?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 5:06 am
"My name is Toshiro," the stallion greeted with a kind smile, "and this here is Xiang. We haven't been at this search for very long, though I suppose we were a bit overdue." His 'sister' was a very social mare, so it had probably been just a bit wrong to be separated from society for long, but that was just a bit of selfishness on his part. That would have to change though- she deserved better than that. "What might your name be?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 10:24 am
Xiang smiled. "I'm glad you're okay." She giggled as the water droplets hit her coat and the droplets shone with all the colors of the rainbow so briefly, and then were gone. "Do you often swim?" she asked curiously. Xiang personally loved to swim, and loved the water. It was a lot of fun to plash around and splash anyone else who might be nearby, and water fights were absolute fun...though maybe this stony mare might not be the best person to have a water fight with.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
