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 Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2009 11:08 am
 Tian Yi was lonely.
Loneliness was a strange and awful affliction, and Tian Yi was beginning to wonder why it hadn't been listed in the physicians' annals back home. Surely long, barren hours were bad for the health of any young mare! She couldn't understand the people who took care of this Kawani place. Their gardeners left the plants to run wild and untamed, and they were never around to provide a smile or good company.
In the Celestial Court, she'd been free to be as coy and timid as she liked, because she'd always known a doting servant was waiting just around the corner. But here she was really, truly by herself. It made Tian Yi's footfalls feel heavy, as though her hooves had been shod for draft work.
Would she ever again feel lighter than water?
Perhaps she'd made the wrong choice, and she should have-
No. No, if she'd been at court, she would have felt lonely all the same.
The Kirin closed her eyes and tried to meditate. If she worked hard enough, she was certain she could block out unfamiliar sounds and foreign smells, and return to a place where silence hadn't been cruel. She could. She would. She-
Heard a commotion in the forest?
Tian Yi's eyes snapped open, and her ears flicked towards the sound of the disturbance. Every instinct she had told her that she ought to run far away from frightening, uncivilized noises. She- um. She didn't want to meet anyone scary. The Kawani lands were far too intimidating as it was.
But loneliness was worse than the threat of being harmed; and so, against her better judgment, Tian Yi crept forward to investigate what was going on, carefully hiding herself within a thick copse of poplar trees.
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Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:33 am
While there were many in the world that would agree with Tian Yi, there were a number of individuals that would beg to differ. When it came to avid socialites, the concept of being left to their own devices was indeed a daunting prospect but for a hermit it wasn't quite as intimidating. For those who chose a life of solitude the reverse was significantly more terrifying. One 'Angeni' in particular would have spoken out passionately against the company he received had it not been for the language barrier - he positively loathed it. Not only that but he generally kept to himself for the safety of others and didn't exactly appreciate it when his consideration was so easily thrown aside; did they want to get torn to shreds when he lost his temper?
He sincerely doubted it.
These thoughts were one of many reasons why the stallion had adopted a nomadic approach to his time in the Kawani. While he drifted to and fro to bond with his family (a feat in itself) or to receive treatment from Azzinoth, when he was not required to be in these specified places he ensured that he was nearly impossible to find. After all, it was difficult to converse with a soquili you couldn't find, correct? Alas the fates had always been known to throw his family a curve ball and if he hadn't been through enough already they threw them at him often. The stallion that craved solitude and kept to himself in regards to virtually all things would be thrown into the flames every now and then by pure 'coincidence'. However, long ago he had come to the conclusion that his Great-Great Grandfather was correct... There was no such thing as coincidence and everything was finely orchestrated by the unseen. Had he been raised by a less considerate rolemodel perhaps it would have been more awkward for the spirits to present him with reasons to publically display himself but unfortunately...
This afternoon was of no exception and as he trudged through the undergrowth that lay sprawled across the canopy floor he found himself presented with another of those 'moments'. It was a typical one, easily predictable and of course required the role of a hero. Now; if this little event had been a little off to his left then he would have been able to walk passed it, but instead it had been planted right in his path. If there was one thing Esper didn't do, it was to walk around things. Consequently he came to a halt on his path and with a non-plussed expression assessed the scene as though dwelling on whether or not it was worth the intervention. His approach had been so soft that for the most part he had gone unnoticed - a bonus in his books, no pleading to be heard when they seemed oblivious to your presence. Suffice to say that it only took a few seconds before the stallion concluded that if he were to remain standing he would be delayed by hours; if the victim died then the corpse would attract more predators and it was easier to leave a corpse that size lying there as opposed to dragging it off.
He only had one option.
Without so much as a snort the stallion strode towards the petite doe with his usually silent gait. What little sunlight that had broken through the canopy was slowly drowned out until all that presented itself was a looming shadow over both prey and predator. He came to a halt a few inches from the quivering deer and glanced between it and the wolf before creasing his brow. When it came to wolves they really weren't that much of a challenge, they were minute in comparison to his overall size and he had little doubt that this would be a very anticlimatic encounter. Alas, the sooner it was over the better! Leaning down a little, the stallion tilted his head and unfurled his wings, both sets flaring out to make him seem even bigger than he was before...frankly it was a wonder how he fit that type of span under a canopy in the first place.
"Um..." He murmured softly to the wolf to snap it's attention from the doe's leg. He knew how that was, the bloodlust so overpowering that the outside world seemed irrelevant, he could relate to a degree. Unfortunately what he couldn't relate to was getting in his way and thus the wolf would need to be disturbed, that was just how he worked. No sooner had he uttered those words than the wolf had looked round and the stallion gave a slight snort.
What was the word they all used?
Ah yes...
"Boo!" He echoed the words of the pranksters though his voice was no longer soft. Like a drill sergeant the true strength of his voice dwelled deep within his chest and when it was summoned it came as a bit of a surprise to all involved. It was enough though and the wolf (having considered it's own options) had opted to desert it's pray in favour of not disturbing creature that was nearly three times it's height. Anticlimatic as he expected the stallion released another of his soft sighs and folded his wings neatly, the ebony and top most wings protectively coaxing and curling the blood spattered white set beneath them - the world just didn't need to see and know of such things.
Job done, he flicked his gaze towards the doe before lifting his head and stepping over her. He could be merciful on occasions, she clearly needed time to recover from her ordeal and with those wounds she would take forever to move out of his way. At the very least she was small enough for him to get passed if he lifted his legs quite high and gave a little hop. Although this was about as far as his generosity extended and he had no intention of finding her aid, he couldn't heal her anyway and as far as he was concerned he had done enough. If she died from the shock or the wounds now then that was meant to happen (in his opinion at least).
Once he was clear of the small doe he continued down his path, shuffling through the undergrowth with the same unconcerned saunter as before...
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2009 8:34 am
Shock robbed Tian Yi of all her usual grace, and she stood frozen to the spot, eyes wide and jaw gaping. That stallion had four wings! Four! And there wasn't a single scale on his body! And- and- what on earth had he been doing, risking himself for a simple doe? He was like some noble oddity straight out of a two-legger play.
Not that the plays she'd seen had ever starred Soquili. The Kirin were a symbol of the benevolence and good fortune of the Imperial house. They weren't permitted to be paraded around like common actors or beasts of burden. Their masters kept them safe behind thick, gilded walls.
Tian Yi might have stood around and fretted for quite some time, had one of the forest pests not landed a stinging bite on her flank. She swatted it away with her tail, and stumbled forward through the underbrush. The mare didn't want to think about where that strange, shaggy, wild-looking puppy had got to. His owners were as lax an inattentive as the Kawani gardeners, and he might be waiting around for her.
That stallion was scary, but, but, but so was everything else, really, and he was bleeding, so maybe someone ought to help him? Except Tian Yi wasn't brave enough to do that.
She decided to trail him at a distance, instead. It, um, it had to be safer than the shaggy puppy. And being near another Soquili was enough to make her feel less alone.
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Posted: Sat Apr 04, 2009 10:02 am
To be considered a hero would have been a laughable and completely baffling to the stallion. He was neither heroic or considerate of others and would frequently roll his eyes at the daydreams and ideals that were presented to him by the odd stranger. Even in his native lands the creatures had such fairy tales to share and he could do nothing more than heave a sigh and cast them to one side. Fairy tales were mere story and while he was sure there were those who aspired to be heroic in the world, who dreamt of the day when they would seduce their fair damsel he was most definitely not one of them. If Esper was being completely honest with the world he considered it all to be a waste of time - why would any individual spend their lives helping another and being battered to a pulp simply for a titled?
It was stupid and perhaps a little vain.
Actually it wasn't a 'little' anything, it was pure and unadultered vanity and a desire for fame that spurred them on to perform acts of idiocy that would ultimately claim most of their lives. He had better things to do with his time and they generally didn't cause him too much bother, the only time he appeared to get riled up was when something just wouldn;t co-operate! Alas, he continued on down his battered path, brushing away the undergrowth here and there with his thoughts running amuck in his head. With the predator gone and little else in his path he was once again free to go about his daily business as he saw fit.
...Or was he?
He had grown up with the knowledge that the forests all had their own unique sounds. The shuffles here and there were completely normal and held no thread. However, every now and then outside of his own muffled hoof falls came the hint of something nearby that was moving both in the same direction as him and more importantly, it appeared to be proceeding down the same path. His brow furrowed mildly and he continued to walk though his pace had slowed considerably, step by step monitoring the shifting sounds for any further signs. His patience paid off as well, as those tiny hooffalls were detected and he came to a halt.
He kept his gaze pointed directly ahead of him but he did utter a few words, "I know you are there," he murmured darkly. Admittedly he knew it was unlikely that they would understand a word that had come out of his mouth but his body language should have given a hint, right?
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:55 am
Tian Yi let out a little squeak of surprise, completely giving away her position behind a large lilac bush. She had been so much better at lurking when she lived in the gardens at home! Of course, there, the two-leggers had been instructed not to bother her if she wanted to watch what they were doing, but... umm... but still! It was very surprising!
Whoever was in charge of tidying this area was not doing very good job. Tian Yi didn't want to be uncharitable, since maybe they were sick or or getting married soon or tending to a small child, but even so, no one should have allowed so many crunchy twigs to be strewn around the ground. It was no wonder she'd been found out.
She shivered with nervousness, not daring to poke her head out from behind the greenery and let the scary stallion see her. That was- mmm, the language of Nihon, wasn't it? Her accent wasn't the best, but once an ambassador from Kyoto had stayed in the court, and she'd gotten to know the language by conversing with his Wind Soquili.
"I'm sorry, Stallion-san, but that puppy ran right past me when you chased it away from the doe, and I don't want to travel in the same direction as him! I think he might be a stray! It's very alarming! Also, um... I don't want to be rude, but I must say, it looks like you are bleeding. You should find someone to look at that right away."
Tian Yi swallowed, her throat feeling suddenly dry. So much for her courtly manners.
"In any case, I apologize if my being on this path bothers you! I'll be, uh, going now."
Once she figured out where on earth she was headed, that is. Was there another path out of here? None of these trees had been pruned, and they were placed awfully close together.
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Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 11:17 am
"Wait!" The words croaked from the stallions mouth before he had had the opportunity to dwell on them or to consider the consequences of his actions. For a stallion who craved solitude and the life of a hermit this was somewhat ironic, but there always had to be a reason for a sudden shift in behaviour. It was simple really - she could speak to him. Even as she had uttered the very first words in his tongue his eyes had widened and he had quite literally spun round to behold her. The shock of encountering another who possessed such knowledge was enough to both baffle and floor him - a combination that he sincerely doubted any other stallion or mare could achieve upon encountering him. Suffice to say, it was the first time in his life that anyone had actually been able to converse with him in this manner outside of his Great-Uncle.
...Okay, so her accent and pronunctiation were a bit off but he could figure it out and that for some reason, made a tiny part of him ridiculously happy. On the outside there was no indication other than surprise at her coherent manner but on the inside, that tiny child was yipping and squealing at the novelty of it all. Frankly he found it all rather ridiculous but there was little that he could do to silence it at this moment in time.
His lips remained parted even as he lapsed in to silence and considered the explanation she had provided him with. He quickly came to the conclusion that it was another one of those 'spirit' things that his family spoke of. A moment in which the spirits through him into an encounter that required him to be something that he really didn't consider himself to be. In this case, it seemed they were attempting to make him more sociable or maybe generous?
Probably best not to dwell on it.
Whether he liked it or not he at last conceded that he had been followed for a perfectly logical reason, he was a creature that possessed the ability to fend off a predator... any smart creature would at least remain in his vicinity... Right? He could hardly be angry at that form of logic though sneaking after him like a predator wasn't appreciated. Oi oi oi!
"I..." he shook his head again to regather his thoughts and his jaw quickly tightened as she made reference to his wings. He self conciously pressed the ebony wings more firmly against the white and cleared his throat. "I am unharmed," he reassured her after a few moments, opting not to discuss a quirk that he would sooner didn't exist.
However, whether it be the novelty or finding a kindred spirit or the manners instilled in him by his family he regarded the mare steadily for a few moments and finally assessed her. It immediately became clear that she was delicate, sheltered and would probably be like one of those damsels his younger sister kept cooing about. Why she was dwelling in the Kawani with that prissy hairstyle and silk evaded him but it was hardly his business anyway.
"...Do you even know your way out?" he enquired gruffily.
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2009 10:10 pm
Eeep! That stallion had, um, certainly caught up to her very quickly! Imperial Kirin were taught to keep their steps light and graceful, but obviously these foreign Soquili had other concerns, and put a higher priority on traveling at great speeds. It must have to do with their rough and unkempt environment.
Tian Yi hated to think poorly of anyone, but... she was beginning to wonder about the priorities of these Kawani humans. Maybe they were sick! Or they were run ragged because there were so many Soquili to care for here! Oh, goodness, those poor two-leggers.
"No," Tian Yi said, in a small voice. Warrior-san had a piercing, authoritative gaze. She felt as though he was looking right through her skin, into the muscles and tendons below. It made her want to hide behind a bush.
She bit her lip, thought for a second, then brightened.
"But that's fine, Warrior-san! Since I don't have a destination, it doesn't matter if I am lost, ne? As the Old Master says - '“whoever can see through all fear will always be safe.' "
The Kirin politely inclined her neck.
"My name is Tian Yi, of the Cel- er, well, now it is only Tian Yi." She flushed at the correction. "Pardon my discourteous manner. I am pleased and honored to make your acquaintance."
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Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2009 5:07 am
Had the stallion known that his gaze made the poor mare feel 'naked' he may have had the decency to look remotely apologetic or sheepish. However it was not within his list of skills to mind read and though he would quite like the ability to telepathy it wasn't really something that ran in his family. Consequently he could do nothing more than observe the mare further, his eyes narrowing with each sentence she uttered. He was not by nature a suspicious creature, merely a cynical one and the manner in which she spoke and acted were not lost on him. While she might try to hide her identity it was obvious to this particular angeni that the mare was a pampered one.
...An exceptionally pampered one.
He released a soft sigh and ruffled his wings, pressing his top most set more firmly against his sides. He was accustomed to the uncertainty of others around him, that suspicious and paranoia that enveloped his more questionable features. Like all others she had most likely seen the bloodied wings and permitted her imagination to run wild. In a manner of speaking he couldn't blame her for such things (all living creatures did it) but this didn't make it any less irritating. Alas, such thoughts were trivial and only sought to place him in a bad mood; and so they were nudged to one side to make way for the more important issue - the fact that Princess Tippy Toes happened to be lost.
"But you do not see through all fear," he pointed out flatly. Never one for tact, he was quick to dismiss her Master's musings and shook his head. Had he not been followed out of fear? The concept that the bigger beast would scare away the lessers? He didn't require a mind reader to understand the logic behind what she had done. That being said he wasn't one to beat about a dead horse and having dismissed her words he didn't pursue them further. It wasn't his place to belittle her, in comparison to her 'rank' within society he didn't extent much beyond that of a wandering monk. He knew his place.
"They call me, Esper." He returned her introduction with less enthusiasm than she had provided him with and once again took the opportunity to cast aside her slip up. She had her secrets and so did he; it wasn't his duty to press upon her until they tumbled out... That and he had pretty much figured out where she came from given her trappings anyway! Admittedly he couldn't place exactly where she was from, but the quality of the fabric around her neck made it perfectly clear that she was no common soquili... He gave a toss of his head and shook the dishevelled forelock from his eyes. Rolling his shoulders he shifted his gaze to assess the surrounding area before sliding the red orbs back to her form. Suffice to say, she really did look completely out of place and if she didn't get that scarf stuck on a low lying branch more than once then he'd be damned.
"...And I am not a warrior," he added as an after thought, his voice no more than a drawl. Again there was an uncomfortable pause, the male never having excelled at social encounters. Nevertheless after a period of time something kicked in and he relocated his train of thought. "However I am more capable of dealing with these surroundings than you are. Open fields and company are more suited to delicate creatures such as yourself than the darkened and twisted forests are," he continued coolly. Now if that had been said in lighter tones, by a more 'musical' voice then it really could have been quite gentlemanly and charming; alas it was not to be.
"That in mind I will take you to safer climates, if you are so inclined."
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Posted: Mon Apr 27, 2009 1:14 pm
Tian Yi was pampered; there was no doubt about it. But what she lacked in strength and know-how, she made up for in her knowledge of social cues. Long years at Court had seen her entertain many a diplomat's steed, while their two-leggers paced the gardens and plotted the fate of the world.
She could tell from the stallion's brusque manner of speech that he was annoyed about her. Esper was large, and when stared her down, sighing with irritation, he made her feel small and dismissed.
Tian Yi looked to the side, not meeting Esper's eyes.
"I don't understand anyone here," she said softly. Sadly, too. "This place... it is too strange. You were angry at me for following you, so I left. Now you have chased after me, so that you may look down on my presence. I know what I am. That I- that I'm not like the other Soquili here. Why do you follow me and offer to help me if you are so irritated?"
Frankly, this Esper was covered in blood, and his manners did little to put her at ease. Tian Yi wasn't sure if she should trust him to lead her anywhere.
Oh, dear. Oh no. She'd been so hopeful.
She edged backwards, towards the brush, more than ready to break into a run if she had to. Tian Yi had no illusions about being stronger or more capable than Esper, but in the right frame of mind, she could run without breaking a twig or trampling a blade of grass. She could lose herself in the trees and vanish into the wilderness.
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Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 7:25 am
Discomfort prevailed over all and Esper's expression became even more strained. Even in the presence of one who could just about speak his language, he still managed to screw things up. He supposed it was to be expected; his rather abrupt manner and overall appearance did nothing to settle a creatures nerves - perhaps if he had been more delicate then thigns would have been different. Perhaps if his mane had been long and flowing, his coat gleaming and his body a little less large then he would have been more presentable but 'small' wasn't exactly something that ran in his family line unless you were female. He didn't know what it was about the males in his family but they all ultimately chased after small mares, really small mares.
Nevertheless as she explained her uncertainty to him and the alien nature of the land she found herself in there was at least something he could relate to. His expression eased (though not by much) and he permitted her to continue. She was right, this place was strange when one stepped into it for the first time but it became hell when one became aware of the behaviour of the soquili around. The pampered princess had entered a land of no morals and very little respect, for that even he could feel a twinge of pity. Had he been capable he would have taken her home again, back to the riches and trappings of whatever part of the Orient she had previously settled in.
"And you think I do?" he enquired softly. He released a heavy sigh and shook his head. If there was one thing Esper couldn't do, it was understand soquili in the Kawani. Their customs, manners (or lack thereof) and language were things he couldn't get. They chattered incessantly upon encountering him and at best their words came out as gibberish. Combine this with the constant stares towards his bloodied wings and it made for a very disgruntled stallion. It should have been no wonder that he craved for his homeland though he had promised to remain in the Kawani for a least a little while to be with his family.
"Customs, language and lifestyle in these lands is not something I understand - it's gibberish." He stated plainly in the hope that she would realise that he couldn't speak the Kawani tongue for the life of him. Frankly he never wanted to, he refused to learn a language that seemed to be the representative of whores, murderers and cads. Mayhaps that was a little hostile but given the amount of loose mares in these lands, fatherless foals and player-esque stallions and it made for very bad PR on any visitor.
"I grow irritated when anything follows me; when it does it starts chattering and I don't understand it. It gives me a headache -" he paused and shook his head at the mare, his expression twisting into one of genuine discomfort. "But you spoke to me in a tongue I can comprehend," he didn't really know how to explain the impact this had upon him. The instant she had opened her mouth and spoken in a somewhat broken tongue he had been reminded of home and like a moth to a flame he had responded...
"I offered to help for that reason. You are most certainly not of these lands, you are lost and through the qualities you possess you are a rare jewel," he explained slowly, stealing much of his Great-Uncle's flowery language in the process. Well, Azzinoth had always had a way of calming the nerves of the upset and it usually relied on words along these lines! "A kindred spirit to a degree; I will not permit one of my own kind to be harmed by the uneducated beasts within these lands if I have the ability to prevent it," he finished.
Admittedly he would never have done this for another and it wasn't her beauty that appealed to him. She had provided him with a connection that he normally received only through his Great-Uncle and Great-Grandfather. She had bridged a gap that no other soquili had and as a consequence he wouldn't let her get chomped by the next wolf that walked her way. Granted it wasn't in his nature to adopt the role of bodyguard and he would make no measures to do so but he would at least try to put some of Azzinoth's teachings into practice.
Step One... Generally involved clarifying topics and apologising for miscommunication, didn't it?
...Something like that.
Hell if Esper really knew the answer to that one, he spent most of his time ticked off in these lands that it was difficult to remember what it felt like to be serene and at peace!
"I apologise for the discomfort I may have caused you. These lands have a detrimental affect on my nature." He added after a few moments of consideration. It was then that he had to stop though, as the rising hoarseness plagued his throat and without water to sip it was best for him to cease talking at length. Really he had no idea how these chatter boxes did it!
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