|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 6:43 pm
It was now two days after Gardenia had first started tending to Silvanus. She had insisted on remaining with the older (and stubborn!) stallion to keep an eye on him. She only hoped he wasn't already fed up with her.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 7:50 pm
"Don't you have a herd to get back to?" Silvanus grumped, though he didn't sound too serious about it. He stood a little away from her, using a tree to sharpen what was left of his horn - he hated feeling as vulnerable as he did when it was so short. "I'm sure someone's wondering where you are. You don't have to watch me... I promise I won't go of to die."
He was, frankly, shocked that she'd managed to bear his company for so long. He wasn't an elder, not yet, but he was certainly on his way. She was a young, vibrant, and rather becoming young mare. What on earth could she want from a bitter old stallion from him, he wondered absently.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 8:30 pm
The mare gave a soft sigh,"No I don't. I don't know what happened to my family. I don't really remember them." Her voice was still the gentle warm tone with which she spoke to him when they weren't in the midst of a battle. "I'll leave if my presence isn't wanted. You seem to be doing much better anyway." Her tone went to one tinged with sorrow, "I don't want to be a burden to you."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 8:36 pm
How did she always manage to make him feel like a complete oaf? he wondered as he swung his head around to gaze at her with one eye. "I never said you were a burdon." he told her slowly, as if that would help her to understand. "I just don't want anyone to worry about you. I thought there must be a stallion somewhere missing you, thats all."
Hmf. She must have been abandoned before she hatched then, or shortly after, he reasoned as he went back to his task. That was the only reason he could think of to explain why she didn't know what had happened to her family. It seemed to happen more and more, eggs abandoned for one reason or another. He never allowed that sort of nonsense in his own herd of course... but then, he'd lost his herd, hadn't he? "Didn't say I didn't want you here either." he muttered suddenly, guard down as he thought. "You aren't too bad."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 1:08 pm
There was a musical quality to her laugh and just a touch of bitterness. "There's no stallion that wants me. I'm an orphan as far as I know and for some reason the see me as either a burden when I try to help or untouchable. Had they bothered to take the time to get to know me they would know that at the very least I'm not the latter." If her cheeks hadn't been pink, Gardenia was sure he would be able to see her blush. What mare wouldn't want to hear a stallion as strong and as handsome as Silvanus pay them a compliment. "Thank you Silvanus, you're not so bad either," she replied softly.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 5:14 pm
He blinked at that, then slowly backed up a step from his tree and swung around to face her. "I'm very sorry that you have met such terrible stallions." he told her gravely. "They must have been young. Being an orphan... it is not a mark of shame. You were able to survive on your own. It means you are strong, stronger than most females, perhaps. Maybe that is why they really couldn't handle you."
When her last comment sunk in, he gave a bark of laughter and stepped forward, shaking his head. "Oh, yes I am. You'd best learn that now, missy. I'm a terrible old tyrant. That's what they told me the night I was cast out, anyway."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Apr 07, 2009 5:27 pm
Gardenia's ear flattened for half a moment before she shook her head. "I have yet to see the proof of that statement." She moved a step closer to him. "You've been nothing but kind and gentle with me. A mare would be lucky to have a stallion like you around." Oh yes, Gardenia could be quite stubborn once an idea came to her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 6:04 pm
He blinked, then stamped a hoof, sighing. "You're a stubborn little thing." he told her - it was hard to tell, but there might have been just a hint of fondness in his voice. "If you're determined to stick with me, let's go then, Gardenia. We should look for a nice place to settle in. This isn't it. We're still too close to the young buck and his females."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 7:45 pm
"I'm sure you'll be alright about it," she replied with a smile. She nodded in agreement, "You're right, we should move on. I think only the mare that was concerned about him was his. The other was a drifter like I was." Gardenia moved closer to Silvanus and stood with her flank touching his.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:08 pm
Silvanus actually jumped at the contact, turning his head to look at her with a startled expression in his eyes. "Yes. Um... lets... do that." he told her lamely, then shook his head and started forward. She must be a tactile creature... that was it. She wouldn't be, couldn't be, interested. Still, with the rut coming up soon, and her being as lovely as she was...
He gulped and turned his head slightly so he could look her over, wondering how to approach this. It was different now, with him not being herd leader, with no real rules to follow. How could he feel this situation out? he wondered as he started forward, not realizing that now he seemed to be ignoring her while losing himself deep in thought.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 8:53 pm
Gardenia gave a small frown and took a step away. She said something to Silvanus, but was quite sure he hadn't heard her and was in fact ignoring her. She shook her head and moved further away from him. Why did the fact that he was ignoring her hurt. Not terribly mind you, but still it hurt. Another male refusing close contact. It was almost time for her to come into season and she had found herself with another male who didn't want her despite his earlier words. Tears were coming now, stinging her eyes as they rolled down her bright pink cheeks. This was a mistake, there would never be a stallion who would want her. Silvanus was wrong, even he didn't want to get close to her. With him preoccupied it would be easier to slip away. Which was what she was about to do when he turned toward her, looking at her in a way that both frightened and thrilled her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:13 pm
Was she... oh, she was. Silvanus couldn't bear to see a female cry. He was instantly by her side, concern clear in his expression. "Are you alright? You aren't hurt, are you?" he asked, voice a bit gruff, but clearly caring. He hesitated a moment, then leaned forward, rubbing his cheek along hers. "Please don't cry." he pleaded softly. "You're far too lovely to be so sad. Mares... should never feel so badly that they need to cry. I want... you to be happy."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 9:26 pm
Her heart skipped a beat. Was this what it felt like when a stallion cared for you? She sniffled pitifully and rubbed his cheek in return. "I'm...I'm not exactly sure how to be happy. I've never thought about it before and I definitely never had a reason. I didn't mean to upset you." Her voice cracked slightly. "I won't touch you again if that's what bothered you. Just....stay with me please? For a little while..." Gardenia plead with him, not wanting to lose someone already so dear to her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2009 10:23 pm
Bothered him? he thought, a bit bewildered. She thought it had bothered him? Well... he supposed he was acting a bit twitchy, but it was for a good reason, in his mind. He didn't know how to act, and he was terribly surprised that a pretty, sweet young thing like her seemed interested in a crusty old stallion like him. When she asked him to stay, he let out a soft chuckle, and again rubbed his cheek against her.
"I'll stay with you." he murmured into her ear. "At least until you're happy. Then you'll realize you need a young buck with fire in his veins to look after you, and you can leave me. But I won't leave you." her tears had tugged at his heart, after all. And with her around... he didn't feel so terribly lonely and defeated anymore.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2009 2:44 pm
Gardenia closed her eyes and breathed a sigh of relief and once again rubbed her cheek against his. "What if I don't want to leave once I'm happy?" She asked him, her voice barely above a murmur as if afraid to spoil the moment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
