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 Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 10:47 am
Ballad fought off the last threads of sleep's tender embrace. Blinking his eyes blearily, it took him a few moments to focus on where he was. A moment longer to remember why...
Rest...
His mate's voice in his head. A firm order, a loving tone... Just like she had been with their children.
His heart tightened in his chest until it was hard for him to breathe, and he fought back tears as he slowly made it to his feet. Legs splayed like an unsteady colt, he hunt his head, drawing deep gulps of air.
Whistle... He said in a silently pained murmur. My sweet Whistle...
He had to find her. Somehow.
Head snapping up, he gave himself a brief shake to clear the dead leaves from his short tail. He wouldn't give up.
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Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 11:23 am
 It had been months now. Months of restless sleep and nightmares. Months of freezing days searching without a single lead. Months of returning home with only bad news for his mate and his remaining children. Where had she gone?
He was searching a new area today but so far his efforts had been fruitless. Where could she possibly be? Where had they taken her and why had she gone? He opened his mouth to whisper her name but what reached his ears wasn't her name nor was it his voice. Whistle? Confused he paused in his step and scanned the area.
Not a moment later a flash of moment drew his attention and made him tense sucking in his breath. He thought for a moment that this was an attack and braced himself but it did not take him long to realize this was not the case. Rather it looked as though they were either waking up or else trying desperately not to doze off.
No longer fearing an immediate fight he made his presence known. "Whistle?" He asked taking a few steps towards the other. For the life of him he didn't know why he was being asked to whistle. He did not even know if he were capable of such a thing.
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Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 11:55 am
Ballad caught the scent of another stallion and spun, pinning his ears to his head. He was fully awake, and worried.
Wait, what? The body language of the other did not seem to indicate aggression... Not wanting to fight, he immediately relaxed, one ear pitching forward to catch the other's words.
Whistle.
"You've hard of her?" He asked eagerly, hope flaring in his eyes. "Where? When?"
His heart and soul twisted inside him. A silent plea: Tell me! Tell me!
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Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 12:06 pm
At the whirlwind of questions Xantir took a quick step backward. He wasn't scared, just startled. At the same time his heart twisted in his chest. Whistle was the name of someone. Someone that was being looked for it seemed.
It pained him to do it but he slowly shook his head. "I haven't heard of her...I simply...overheard the name...from you I'm afraid..." Saying it hurt Xantir as well. His electric green eyes drifted to the side not wanting to watch the other's reaction.
He had his sympathies or perhaps it was his empathy. He was in a similar situation as the other, after all, or at least that was the way it seemed. He pawed a bit at the ground and shifted uneasily contemplating leaving but a thought struck him. When one searched they often went many places perhaps he had seen the one he sought.
"I'm sorry I can be of no help to you...but...maybe you can help me...Ijn...I'm looking for her...do you know her?" He felt bad asking after giving him what was likely to be upsetting but he needed to know.
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Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 12:15 pm
Ballad was sorry he had startled, the other, taking half a step back in silent apology. The shaking of the other's head... The denial.
No... No he hadn't seen her..
"Oh." He murmured. "That's.. Oh..."
He couldn't help but hang his head, letting his forelock spill over his face as he fought back tears. It was alright.. It would be alright. He would find her. He would.
"It is no fault of yours." He replied kindly when his control had returned. He lifted his head and considered the other. "Ijn?"
He shook his head. "I've not met any others but you.. I am newly arrived in this land, seeking my mate... You're the first I have seen..."
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Posted: Mon May 11, 2009 3:15 pm
Xantir turned his head back to the other and attempted to cast an apologetic smile his way. It was strained. There didn't seem to be much to smile about at the moment even in apology. It wasn't his fault. There was truth in that statement but it did not ease the twisting in his stomach. He knew how it felt to be on both sides and it wasn't easy.
At the stallion's response to his own inquiry Xantir felt the exact feeling he was sure the other felt. It wasn't surprising that he didn't know. Ijn had gone somewhere where she couldn't be found. The ones that had led her away had made sure of that he was certain. Though it was rather shocking to find out that the other had just arrived.
"You...just arrived?" Something didn't seem to be clicking for the cream colored stallion. He had just arrived which certainly explained why he had no idea about Ijn's whereabouts but... "How...do you know?" He asked voicing his confusion. It simply didn't make sense. The world was large he was sure how could he know that she was in this land?
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Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 8:37 pm
If he weren't so heartsick about his beloved mate wandering alone with little -or no- recollection of her home and family, Ballad would have laughed. Bitterly, albeit, but laughter it would have been. What a pair they made, standing here in the middle of -where ever here was- having this strange conversation.
"Yes.. I just left the mountains, and before that, the lands on the other side..." He replied with a puzzled expression. "It has been a long journey.. But if I find her, it is all worth it."
The question had him frowning in puzzlement. "How do I know what? That I just arrived? Or that she's here?"
He shrugged, a little uneasy. "As far as knowing she's here.. I don't.. Not really.. Sometimes when we're close, I can sense her... But I don't at the moment, so I'm fairly sure she isn't nearby.. However, knowing when someone isn't near isn't nearly as helpful as knowing when they are near.. If you follow me..."
He shrugged and flicked his short tail, thinking. "But I hope she's here.. Because she hasn't been anywhere else I've looked.. Though I've a feeling, if I can't find her.. There is someone here who can.. I just have to hunt him down."
He frowned as he thought of the Kalona, snorting in displeasure. "But that is a topic for another time.. Tell me of your Ijn, perhaps I will see her in my travels?"
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Posted: Sun May 17, 2009 8:44 am
Xantir couldn't quite follow what was being said. Parts of it made sense but other didn't. He didn't know if the one he was looking for was anywhere in the lands yet he still searched. That made perfect sense. The cream colored stallion found himself in a similar predicament after all. Being able to sense her when she was near, that threw him for a bit of a loop. He hadn't ever experienced such a thing himself and wasn't quite sure that he believed it. It was something he certainly couldn't question though as there was likely no explanation that could prove the claim or else make it seem sensible in his eyes. The last thing that he couldn't make sense of was why he didn't ask for assistance from the one who could definitely find her. It was confusing.
He didn't ask simply because the other didn't seem to want to answer. A story awaited that question he imagined. A long and unpleasant one he was guessing. That was fine. He didn't need answers about the other's life. Both were busy with searches, long stories would be pointless wastes.
"You would help me?" He asked unable to keep the slight shock from his voice. He still wasn't used to others being helpful, even after so many years. "The last time I saw her she was just a child...I am not sure how she has changed...but she was pale with paw print markings on her cheeks and hind quarters. She has pink stockings and her mother's eyes..." Speaking of her brought her image into her mind.
Seeing Ijn's smile, even an imaginary one was breaking his heart so he quickly banished the image. "And your Whistle...what does she look like?" He asked trying to keep himself from thinking of the child he had lost.
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2009 11:10 am
Ballad was fairly sure the other didn't exactly understand all he was saying, but the fact that Xantir was trying -and was sympathetic to his plight- made all the difference in the world. This land was so different from that of his home, he welcomed any ally he could gain.
"Of course, if I could offer any assistance at all, it is mine to give." Ballad, flicked his tail and gave a smile. "And give I shall.."
He canted his head to one side, considering the other's words. "A young mare, at least then. But markings like yours? That should be helpful, I doubt there are many with such brands upon them."
He nodded as he committed the image to memory. "She is as indigo as the mountains at twilight, with a mane spun of the midnight sky and striped with starlight... Her markings are like mine, though they glow cyan. She is soft-spoken, but fiercely loyal and wishes to help all she meets."
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Posted: Fri Oct 16, 2009 9:38 am
He nodded his head to signal agreement with the other stallion. He didn't really second the statement however. He would not trouble the blue one with the knowledge that across the sands there was an entire herd living with humans that bore markings strikingly similar to his own. That information did not matter at all at this time. In fact, at this moment he was just grateful to have another even offer assistance to him.
As he spoke of his own lost one Xantir listened closely. It was a bit difficult to decipher her exact looks from what he said it was said so poetically after all. He could understand that particular sentiment however. Clearly this mare meant the world to the poor stallion so it was no wonder he spoke so beautifully about her.
Despite a little difficulty putting the image together what he had stuck out in his mind. With glowing markings like his he didn't imagine recognizing her would be too terribly difficult. In all of his time in the kawani lands he had never seen markings quite like the blue stallions and the glowing would just draw the eye immediately. It saddened him to know that he hadn't seen once with such symbols before, that meant he could not offer assistance at this moment.
"If I see her...I will do all I can to bring you back to her side." He said feeling as though a great weight were pulling at his heart. Moments like these were simply too sad.
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Posted: Sat Oct 31, 2009 9:34 am
Ballad drew a deep breath, calming himself as he nodded slightly. It calmed him some, to know that he had the aid of another in his search for Whistle... After all, up until this point it was only he, and perhaps Aveshar looking for the indigo-coated mare.
"I would give you this warning, Xantir. I thank you with all my heart for any assistance you may give, but there is a Kalona stallion with markings similar to ours in this land. And should you cross paths with him, I beg you not to stay there."
He snorted softly. "Aveshar is heartless and cruel, an I do not wish his games on any one, particularly one so good-hearted as you..."
He had not been in this land long, but alreay Ballad wondered if he had taken too long.. If it would not be better just to hunt down his thrice-damned son, and make sure his love was safely out of the Kalona's reach...
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Posted: Fri Nov 06, 2009 8:22 am
Xantir honestly could not say that he would stick around if a kalona was present. He was no fool. Unless it had his daughters or mate by the throat he would run. He was a pacifist to some extent. He disliked fighting and coming across such a beast would almost certainly lead to battle. "You have my word that I will not stick around. Many thanks for the warning."
He bowed his head gratefully but as he straightened up a thought crossed his mind. One that hadn't hit him earlier with all his thoughts wrapped up in common sense. If this stallion bore markings such as this males did that mean that they were related in some way. With a raised eyebrow he looked the stallion over once again. He had given him fair warning but Xantir got the distinct feeling that the blue one was keeping some sort of secret. If he was mixed up with kalonas...well...Xantir just didn't like the sound of that. It was beginning to put him on edge and he wasn't sure he wanted to stick around to learn any more.
"I will...keep my eyes out for your Whistle...for now...I must return to my search." As he spoke he took tense steps backwards keeping his eyes trained on the other. He would keep his word and look for the mare along with his daughter but he didn't want anything to do with kalonas. He didn't really even want to risk the chance of running into one.
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Posted: Fri Nov 27, 2009 12:27 pm
"I thank you again for your help, Xantir." Ballad nodded as he too turned to continue his own search. "And I wll keep my eye out for your daughter... I hope that she is well and that you will find her again soon."
He nodded faintly and moved away, turning his thoughts to perhaps tracking down Aveshar on his own and getting it over with. The stubborn Kalona stallion no doubt had found Whistle already... He had that way about him.
"Until next time, I wish you and yours all the best."
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