Setting: A forest clearing, where Helki and Rajah first met, and Helki's island home, off the mainland shore.
Timeline: a few weeks prior to the rut.
Rajah
The copper striped stallion is asleep in his favorite spot, lazing about after a good meal. Helki has been distracted for most of the afternoon. The wind shifts, drawing her scent towards the male.
Rajah: *nose twitches, and ears twitch, finally he opens one eye, blinking curiously. He lifts head and opens mouth, tasting the air, then turns to look at Helki, somewhat surprised*
Helki: -back is slightly arched-
Rajah: Why are you baiting me, mare? If you expect me to fight for you, don't hold your breath. My mate will have to choose me, as much as I choose her.
Helki: Why would anyone fight over me...>.>
: Rajah: You are new, aren't you? It's the way of the Kirindae. Males fight for the right to breed mares.
Helki: I'm a Aririn...
Rajah: Aririn? You look like a Kirin to me.
Helki: -holds out her wings- I'm a flyer
Rajah: *small smile* all the more reason you'll have the forest clanging.
Helki: clanging?
Rajah: *nods* You'll see. Or rather, you'll hear.
Helki: hmm
Rajah: Judging by you, I'd say... a few weeks, maybe a month. The forest will echo with horn blows and bellows. I'll be long gone by then. *grim look crosses his face*
Helki: Your leaving?
Rajah: Yes.
Helki: -suddenly looks hurt-
Rajah: *frowns* What's wrong?
Helki: -looks away- it's nothing...
Rajah: *rumbles* I cannot stay. If another male finds me here, you scenting as you do, we will have to fight. I do... not wish to fight.
Helki:...but....who will I talk to?
Rajah: Seek others of our kind, if you are so inclined.
Rajah: *rolls over on his back, scratching against a tree* Mmm... little higher... higher... *purrs* yessss... that's the spot. *closes eyes, oblivious to everything*
Helki: -backs away and stands somewhere else-
Helki: *vanishes*
Rajah: *bristles and rolls over* Hrmph. *blinks* where'd she go? *looks around for Helki, growling softly. The stallion rises to his hooves, pacing back and forth as he scents the air.* Something's wrong... I don't like this. *stalks off to find Helki*
Helki: -curls up in a small dug out under roots of a tree on her island-
Rajah: *tracks lingering Helki-mare scent across the forest, ending at the beach, and contemplates the water. He eyes island and jumps in the water, treading towards the distant shore*
Helki: -shifts in her 'hole' and watches the world outside-
Rajah: *doggedly paddles across the shallow crossing to the islands*
Helki: -slowly closes her eyes-
Rajah: *finally reaches the shore, hauling soggy furry self back to land*
Helki: -yawns, eyes now close-
Rajah: *shakes out fur, then scents the air again, setting off along the beach and into the trees, tracking. He lopes along, deliberately being noisy*
Helki: -ears twitch and eyes open slightly, wonders who's making all that racket suddenly-
Rajah: *approaches the source of the scent, where it had pooled around a tree* Why'd you leave?
Helki: -feels a little foggy from the quick slip into and out of sleep- mama?
Rajah: Erm.... no. Sorry.
Helki: -sighs- mama...i waited....-still not fully there yet-
Rajah: *flicks ears forward and walks around the tree* Helki...?
Helki: -hears the movement around the tree and rouses some more- Yes?
Rajah: *stops a good distance away* Why ... did you leave?
Helki: -feels confused and opens eyes more- but mama....-blinks and looks at the hooves not that far off- Those aren't mama's -she murmurs-
Rajah: *softly* No... I'm not your mother, Helki. I'm Rajah.
Helki: -shrinks further into the hole- what do you want?
Rajah: I would like *he stresses the word* to know why you left.
Helki: because....I didn't have a reason to stay.
Rajah: Did you have a reason to leave?
Helki: I have many reasons to leave the main land.
Rajah: *sits down and wraps his tail around his forelegs* That's not what I asked, but we'll follow your line of reasoning. Why leave the mainland?
Helki: -sounds slightly muffled- Why did I even bother going to the main land that fateful day.....I should have just stayed here. I'm too much of a freak to leave. And what if I miss my mama...what if she comes back and I miss her...
Rajah: *stunned silence* f-freak? Is that how you think of yourself? *shakes head* Helki... I am sorry, if you took my comments to mean you should leave... I ... *rumbly sigh* did not mean them that way. I am surprised you don't have every bachelor within miles lined up to fight for your favor. *his voice turns bitter*
Helki: I'm not surprised. -she said quietly avoiding the first part of what he said-
Rajah: Well I am. There is nothing wrong with your appearance, and regardless... the outside is a poor indication of what is on the inside.
Helki: if you say so.
Rajah: *tail flicks in exasperation* I do prefer at least seeing who I am addressing. Why are you hiding?
Helki: Why would I need to hide here? I'm simply in my nest resting...flying over here isn't always easy.
Rajah: Mhrr... alright. Would you do me the kindness of having your company then? I feel a bit silly talking to a tree.
Helki: I'd say why don't you come in here instead but I doubt you'll fit. I'm surprised mother did. -she still seemed reluctant to come out-
Rajah: ... I doubt you'd want me in there right now. I'm wet, and I smell like soggy fur and salt. *sheepishly flattens ears*
Helki: I can help with that...salt is good after exerting much energy. Tasty too. -by now her nose peeked out from around a root and sniffed the air lightly-
Rajah: *blinks, somewhat surprised, but cautiously approaches Helki's nest* Well, I doubt fitting will be a problem. Most of my size is fur... I'm not as big as I look when I'm dry.
Helki: -she soon found herself looking up at him- I dunno...most other kirin are bigger than me for I am oddly small...getting in and out is the hardest part.....-her large pink eyes watched him-
Rajah: *he ducks his head down, examining the opening* Clever... a well hidden nest. If it wasn't for your pretty nose sticking out, it'd be very easy to miss. *he steps back and gives himself one more shake, shedding seawater, leaving his fur sticking out at odd angles*
Helki: -she once again vanished inside and was heard shifting about- You should have room now -her voice was heard from the other side of the nest. It was decently large even though she was the only occupant- I didn't make it -she suddenly said- I doubt I could make a nest...
Rajah: I wouldn't know how either. Mostly I sleep in trees, or where ever I happen to be when the sun goes down. *he touches the edges of the opening with his muzzle, fine whiskers judging the size* I'll fit... just. *Rajah contorts around the gnarled roots, twisting his body to make it inside, blinking in the comparative gloom*
Helki: -her eyes practically glowed in the gloom along with her antlers as if they caste an inner light- Mother never taught me....she's the one who made this one...I was born here. -she was perfectly curled up about a foot away from him give or take- Sorry if I smell -she suddenly said-
Rajah: *he'd been tracking her scent so long, he'd nearly forgotten what it meant, and the effect it'd have on him* It's alright. *closes eyes momentarily, golden amber glinting in reflection* Afraid I don't smell like flowers either, right now. I like swimming, but the clean up afterwards isn't so fun, especially in the ocean. *a glance around the nest (anything to avoid looking at her directly right now, until he had himself firmly under control) revealed the perfect shape of it, far too perfect to be natural* I've never seen one quite like this. The drying salt was beginning to itch, and he absently licks at his fur, unsure of how to proceed.*
Helki: -she didn't pay it much mind. it was the only nest she had ever seen and so she wasn't able to compare, she watched as he licked at his fur and then tentatively stretched her neck out nipped at his fur. the salty tang of the ocean laced his fur pretty good and she nipped him again-
Rajah: "Hehe, that tickles..." it was easy to move closer, her scent nearly demanded it, called to a part of him he had hoped was long buried. He folds his legs under, dropping to the floor beside Helki, gently touching one of her wings with his nose. "I envy you.. I can only imagine what it's like to fly. You think yourself odd? I think you're marvelous." He tucks his head down, looking somewhat abashed.
Helki: -she leaned away from him and eyed him- Well...I am odd...I'm a mutated seraph airion. But being able to just fly off is a handy trait. -a faint pink tinge appeared on her cheeks- I don't think I'm all that marvelous.
