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 Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 1:25 am
Life had been reasonably quiet in Islagiatt territory and as winter had drawn in the familiar quiet and tranquility descended upon the immense slopes. What was generally a land of much activity and excitement found peace as the temperatures plummeted and the more excitable creatures found their slumber. Some of the more vulnerable members of the herd descended to slightly lower regions on the slopes where the footing was more favourable and the others - well, the other members now so accustomed to this unforgiving side of nature had long since developed thick coats and sought out appropriate locations to shelter in if the weather became too unbearable. For all intents and purposes, life was going rather well for the immediate family that existed within the Islagiatt territories and until one raised concern or had grounds for complaint; it would remain this way for the foreseeable future.
...Well, that was the optimistic view at least!
As it were, Yei Umeko had much to celebrate. As the matriarch of the herd she had been blessed with many positive events as of late. One of her son's was betrothed, bringing that to a grand total of three (a success she would willingly gloat over) and another seemed to be rather close to that state as well. Admittedly, the last of her current sons to court was in a situation she found rather baffling, but it was terribly romantic and she could do nothing more than cheer him on. It made her feel warm inside, each time her children or their children managed to be successful in their endeavours she always felt an overwhelming sense of pride. Such levels of pride could make a mare ill! Or rather, it may very well threaten to cause problems at a later date - according to her sources, when parents discussed their children all the time with an individual who had none it wasn't really appreciated (or interesting) - alas today was not a day to worry about such trivial things!
The number of visitors to the Islagiatt territories had climbed recently. These visitors were primarily due to her new lead borderguard. Sylph Forcas had been busy in recent weeks since his return and had recruited stallions of a rather good quality. Unfortunately for the meddling matchmaker, she had been absolutely forbidden to so much as attempt to draw them into her tangled web of romance - she had her sons for that and the unsuspecting males within the herd who had no desire to lead the life of a Knight. Initially it had depressed her, then in some begrudging manner she had accepted it - a few days later she had sneakily made a mental note that she didn't have to meddle directly, so much as fail to mention the order was celibate. If a mare was ambitious enough the firey female had faith they would find a way to overcome this obstacle. However when it came to their ambitious plans she would expect them to act in a way that wasn't underhanded and dishonourable - no, all she would want was for the mares to show the stallions there could be romance even for a soldier!
It was a rather ambitious plan in itself.
And terribly romantic.
Somewhere, her mate would be brushing a wing to his face as her brain waves connected with his and he instinctively knew she was up to no good.
Nevertheless for the time being she was on her own as Grencia continued with his meetings and arrangements with the new Knighthood. It was all very boring in her eyes, much more work than she deemed necessary but then again... she was always a tad disorganised and much more spontaneous than her mate. It was for such reasons that she found herself alone and pottering about on the slopes in much the same fashion she had done for a number of years. She'd made a few rounds to visit some of the children that lived rather close and had even dropped by on fellow herd mates but now she was in transit. Her hooves clopped confidently across the unsteady ground and she gave little care to the gravel under foot - as it were, she was too well practiced to fall to it without good cause. Today was going to be another one of those days, she suspected - a day when the world would pass her by and she would do nothing more than marvel at it's changing beauty. It was a pleasant experience and she did enjoy it, but she did miss the opportunities to discuss various points of interest with her mate. She would reclaim him eventually, she knew that much at least, it just wouldn't be today!
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Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 1:52 am
Kalila honestly hadn't a clue where she resided. The white hills and slopes of the nearby mountains were obvious enough, and the unfamiliar and foreign scents of other soquili reminded the mare that she was on unfamiliar territory. . . . In fact, she was trying to desperately make her way down from the slopes but was having a bit of a time about it.
It was most unfortunate, really. . . And all Kalila could hope was that whoever resided on these lands would at least give her time to explain! "Oh winter," she sighed, wanting to twitch her tail but being unable to. "You'd think you'd have sympathy on one yearly sporting your colours!" She giggled lightly, a small smile forming on her maw even as she continued to try to scooch through the thick snow and precarious angle.
It really wasn't easy, especially for a somewhat clumsy mare as herself. Kalila had been blessed with great beauty, certainly, but such beauty came at a price; with both a ridiculously long and thick mane, as well as an even longer tail and fluffy fetlocks galore . . . it wasn't always easy moving with pristine grace. Especially on a slope. . . . and even more difficult when covered in snow, ice and water!
It was sad to say, but Kalila moved at a snails pace. In fact, if one wanted to be perfect honest she mare currently was at a sand still and might even be labeled 'stuck'. Her trail down teh slope showed occassional moments where she'd tripped or fallen in to the thick snows; where she rested now was from one fall in particular. Her coat was rather drenched from her frequent spills, her wings water-logged and half-froze with ice due to the cold. Her tail and ends of her mane were also bedraggeled and covered in water, snow and ice. . . .
Really, she looked quite a mess.
Thankfully though, while her patience was tested, her humor remained in tack. From what she remembered this had happened the year prior and while she had decided to avoid any and all snowy areas come winter, winter had come a little earlier than expected.
Rather, a snowstorm had while the mare was flying over the hills. A little overconfident in her abilities, Kalila had thought she might make it to the plains before the worst of the storm hit; it was unfortunate that was not the case, and with the harsh winds and ice upon her wings, she had made a hasty and forced landing to wait out the worst of the storm.
Unfortunately, she'd been stuck for a few days for it to pass and by the time it cleared she was logged down and forced to walk the rest of the journey. Kalila felt a bit guilty at trespassing, but could only hope she'd find the borders soon without causing a fuss or upset. . . .
The faster she found the borders the better. . . . Now if only she could stop falling every two feet! Shuffling her wings lightly, the mare pulled out one leg and set it down. . in she sunk only to pull out her hind leg and place it in another precarious spot.
Slow going indeed. . . . It would be spring by the time she made it off the slopes!
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Posted: Wed Dec 09, 2009 2:59 am
Crunch, crunch, crunch - muffled thump.
Crunch, crunch, crunch - pause - crunch, crunch!
Yei's head and ears both swivelled in unison to the sound and her pale eyes sought out the reason behind such a sound. She was aware that it was the sound of walking, either hoof or paw was trudging through the snow but by the sounds of the occasional stumble and thump they were struggling. Her brow furrowed at this and the Alpha, who was acutely aware of the risks involved in trekking across the slopes during this weather was concerned. If whoever or whatever was walking slipped at the wrong moment they could find themselves in a ravine or worse yet - a hidden gorge! She couldn't on good conscience leave the visitor be and with a small pop of her lips she bounced from her perch and expertly plodded her way through the snow. Knees high, she made quick work of the fluff and found her hooves clapping on the firmer snow beneath - ah yes, she knew her way well.
She hadn't anticipated what she encountered though - initially she hadn't been sure what it was but upon closer inspection she realised it was a soquili. In all her time in Islagiatt she'd only ever seen one Soquili who could rival that mare in terms of how much hair she had and he was an Angeni! Oooh but she was sure she would have chuckled if she knew of the parallels between the pair. Unfortunately she didn't but she did have a healthy level of sympathy for the mare now struggling against the elements with her blessed features. Yei understood better than anyone that the weight of a wet tail was very difficult to carry when a light foot was required at this time of eyar.
It should have been of no surprise that Yei had no concern that she was a stranger.
Sylph would have kittens.
Real ones, they'd purr and everything (she was sure of it).
"You seem to be a bit stuck," she offered after a few moments and offered a small smile. She was trying her best not to see humour in the situation as she had seen many foals in this position, but deep down it was always a tad funny. With a grace afforded only to those who frequented this region she bounded forward and closed the gap between herself and the unidentified female. She left behind her a rather deep trail as her legs parted the snow and made her tracks evident... it was just as well they were so well guarded up here!
"Would you like a hand?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2009 7:00 am
The mare wasn't paying much attention to her surroundings, foolish as it might be. She was too concerned with trying her hardest to lift her water-logged leg up and place it somewhere stable in the thick snow. She wasn't a weak mare, persay, but all her hair and fluff coated in snow and ice added weight her limbs weren't meant to carry.
Truly, she mused on more than one occasion, her design had been flawed. Beauty in lieu of practicality. . . It had been at a very young age the fluffy mare had learned just how precarious the weight of her hair was; after being half-drowned by swimming too deep, Kalila had made sure she kept away from too deep of waters. Unfortunately, snow was occasionally a hazard as well. . . .at least snows this deep and on such a steep cliff side.
Sides heaving lightly from effort, the mare continued on with her struggle and completely missed the sound of crunching snow due to Yei's approach. If her ears had twitched at all, it hadn't yet registered with her brain to turn and look; as far as Kalila had assumed, she was well and completely alone. Whover owned the land she trespassed upon had yet to make themselves known, if they realized she was around at all! Furthermore, if they had watched (or perhaps were snickering at her plight?) they obviously weren't aggressive and were keeping to themselves.
So Yei's voice did indeed startle the pale mare, whom gave a slight jump at the sound. Craning her neck around (as she really was in no place to do much movement at all) green eyes focused on the quite obvious source. . . Truly, red with red swirls was something extremely difficult to miss against all the white and grey. What as sight for sore eyes, at least to Kalila. The poor thing had thought she might be stranded alone on the hillside forever. . . . and might never be discovered until springs heat melted the snow!
An exaggeration, perhaps, but the good humored mare's relief was apparent in the broad smile that crossed her face. Dipping her head a bit coyly, allowing some of her hair to fall over her face, she gave a little chuckle. "A bit stuck is a bit of an understatement. . . . I hardly think I've gotten more than a hundred feet since this morning!"
Looking up at the mare as she approached, Kalila couldn't help but feel a bit envious at Yei's grace. She was obviously a mountain sort, as her movements were sure and the snow seemed hardly a detriment at all. Though she too harbored a thick mane and tail, somehow it seemed different while on Yei. . . . Or at least much more manageable than her own. "I'd be most grateful for some assistance," she nodded, giving her wings a slight flare in excitement. . . . and in hopes of knocking away some snow and ice that had accumulated upon the delicate grey, black and white feathers.
"I fear I wasn't designed for snow or mountains. . . ." If that much wasn't obvious. In a strange way she had been built to withstand the cold, such a thick coat made for great protection. It just seemed as if the gods had given her a bit too much and far too little practice in cold climates.
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Posted: Mon Dec 21, 2009 5:52 am
It was thinner on Yei, the red mare was positive that many a mare would gladly give any form of grace for such lucious and thick locks. Admittedly, Yei was secure enough in her own appearance and knew her looks drove her mate wild so she had no great desire for the added 'oomph' but every now and again it was nice to muse over it. Oh, she was sure Grencia would have had quite a bit of fun with such locks if she possessed them but they probably would have gotten in her way a damn sight more than was really appreciated. No, for all Kalila's beauty she could keep the thick locks to herself and leave Yei Umeko with the grace - especially in winter and especially when she cared for so many children, such long hair would probably be in tangles within mere seconds!
"Well that's no good at all," Yei stated flatly as she peered at the mare and her current appearance. For all intents and purposes, Kalila looked like she had been ravaged by wild dogs, dragged through a hedge and then thrown into a pond for good measure. Most mares appreciated the windblown look but the poor mare looked more than a little worse for wear, she was beautiful underneath (clearly) but this was not a good look for her. The mare and her extravagant hair dearly needed some TLC and being subjected to the extremities of the mountain regions for such extended periods of time would do nothing for her looks or her health. Whether Kalila had meant it in jest or as a serious statement, Yei was not keen to have the mare struggle for any longer.
She needed a warm bath!
Shelter.
...And some really nice food.
"That's easily sorted though, I'll cut the path and you follow through it!" The bigger mare took on a business like manner as she fell into line in front of the fluffy mare. Giving her rump a small shake in preparation for her excursion she then thrust her hooves determinedly through the snow and slowly but surely began to wade through in a manner that would leave a 'crevace' for Kalila to follow suit. Introductions could wait, right now the red mares only thought was to find some decent shelter that the strange visitor could relax in. "We'll have you at the hotsprings in no time at all, you'll have a nice warm bath and feel so much better," she cooed merrily over her shoulder. She paused at this as thought dwelling on the necessary aid she might need from other members of the herd (small critters included) when tending to the visitor. Suffice to say, it became quickly apparent that she would need to acquire the assistance of a raccoon to help with the hair as all the mice were asleep.
"Probably not wise to be trying to navigate the slopes at this time of year anyway, we'll get you a guide to show you the way you need to go too..."
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Posted: Thu Dec 24, 2009 7:27 pm
Kalila couldn't believe her good fortune upon meeting this mare on the mountain. Any and all concerns about the herd's approval (or disapproval) of her border-breaking were completely forgotten as Yei quickly took hold of the situation. Introductions could indeed come later, as the green eyed mare forgot her manners and could only focus on getting out of the thick snow and cold.
Despite her heavy fur and coat, it was cold, especially with being stuck and having minimal movement or range! At least now, with Yei in the lead, she could keep up and get her heart pumping once again. Blood flow was a good thing, after all. . . . Giving her wings one last little shake, she tucked them close to her body and was swift to follow Yei through the paths.
It wasn't a complete breeze, but it was significantly easier to maneuver through the trail of another. "Oh thank you," she breathed, relief literally pouring through her every being. "I'd never thought snow would be so . . . well. . . doomful," she giggled lightly as she pushed her way after the red mare. "I'll just make sure to avoid the mountains at all costs come next winter!" Which is what she had thought last season so with any luck perhaps next year her oath would actually stick. Doubtful, but perhaps. . . The young wind didn't need to get stuck on any more frozen hillsides, thankyouverymuch!
Two white ears pricked as the word 'hot spring' was mentioned, and she almost tripped over her mane in surprise. She honestly couldn't imagine a place this cold having such a luxury, but then again, she'd never actually been to one before, much less knew of their whereabouts. What more convenient a place than in the frozen hills to enjoy the warmth. . . ? "Your hospitality is far too great. . . . Really, if it's too much trouble to tote me to these springs, you can just point me to the direction south and uh. . . I can probably fly once I dry my wings. I don't want to be more of a burden than I'm sure I've been or hold you up!" Another little giggle as she dipped her head in an almost coy nature. Really, it wasn't like her to be found in such a state or need. . . . she often prided herself on her independence, though her naivety and curiosity often got her in trouble.
Unfortunately for the wandering wind, in this case it had been her pride. She had been so certain she could out-maneuver the storm, the spirits had proven her wrong and then some!
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Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 8:38 am
"Now I may not have wings but my mate does," Yei glanced over her shoulder ever so slightly after Kalila had spoken and smiled wrily. "I know from experience that wings are vulnerable things and those feathers of yours won't be drying out any time soon, not before you catch a chill at least!" She tutted softly and pressed on through the powdered snow, digging her hooves deeper in to cut a firmer path than she would generally do. Admittedly, Kalila could have been like her mate and been blessed with an internal furnace but given she was drenched and cold the red mare doubted this. No, for the sake of her health and comfort she needed to go some place warm and well sheltered from the wind. There would be no arguing with the motherly mare on this occasion, she wasn't about to budge on this regardless of how modest the younger mare was.
"Although with such thick hair like yours it's probably best you avoid flying during the winter - the snow is fine on its own once you get used to traversing it but the skies can be a little..." she dwelled on which word would be the best to use. She knew there were certain members of Islagiatt who had to fly at all times during the year but she did know that others remained grounded. What adjective had been used by one of them? "Unforgiving," she said finally, recalling the words of a certain Angeni when he had been called to tend to one of the wounded borderguards - admittedly with four large wings he didn't look like he would have a problem but even this particular male preferred to stay grounded while on the slopes.
...For one who lacked wings, it was a difficult concept to grasp but she tried her best.
"Now don't you go worrying about our hospitality up here, we pride ourselves on taking care of our guests -" she glanced round again and smiled. "And you are a guest," she pointed out gently. This in mind she continued forward and eventually they began to climb the slopes once more, the incline not as steep as though the mare was navigating it in a manner that made it a little less taxing. It was a skill that all mountain creatures learnt over time, she wouldn't take credit for that!
Nevertheless, in no time at all they would find themselves not quite at the peaks but at a rather staggering altitude. The air was thinner up here but the mare was familiar with her location and she made quick work of leading the other mare into the more sheltered regions against the cliff faces. On they would continue until at last an opening could be seen, a small cave by the looks of things but this would be largely deceptive - for within the young mare would find that it was actually a rather extensive cave with not one but three steaming pools. Every now and then the surface would bubble with warmth, the water somehow kept at a constant temperature - however what was most noticable was the warmth they emanated and the lack of warmth to disturb the comfortable conditions.
The perfect place to warm chilled bones!
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Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 6:56 am
The winged mare followed Yei with as much grace she could allow; it was unfortunate though, even with a path to push through, it still wasn't easy for the wind. If she wasn't stepping on her mane or tail locks getting tangled beneath her hooves, the cliff side itself was quite steep. . . .
It was no surprise she hadn't walked off some frozen edge or taken some turn for the worst! Doused in white, everything looked the same and it was difficult to differentiate where the earth they walked upon ended. Ever grateful that Yei was both pleasant and hospitable, Kalila did her best to keep up.
"Guest or not, I hope you can send my apologies to those in your herd I may have disrupted. . . It wasn't my intention to crash on territory so abruptly. Mum taught me better than that," she giggled, giving her wings a soft flap to dislodge some settled snow. Indeed Yei was right when she spoke of keeping to the ground; not only would it take hours for her thick winter plumage to dry but she also wasn't entirely sure what the weather would be like. Unforgiving was quite an accurate word if the chance storm she'd tried to out fly was anything typical. . .
The young mare didn't want to make that mistake twice! It was as they made their way higher and higher up did the pale mare realize she hadn't a clue who she was speaking to; worse, she hadn't introduced herself proper! Green eyes widening, she scurried closer to Yei. "I'm sorry. . I forgot to introduce myself and hope you don't think me horribly rude." Really, if her mother had been there she might have received quite the lecture about manners and proper behavior. . . keeping ones name to oneself was less than becoming for any mare as no one should be shroud in secrecy on foreign territory.
"I'm Kalila. . ." Curiosity was driving the wind crazy. She was curious to know more about her incredibly colourful host, as well as how far the territory they ambled upon stretched. Was Yei one of a few in a small mountain herd or were there many members stretched over the hills? Was there snow in the hilltops all year round or was the weather more amicable during spring and summer. . .? Question after question ran through Kalila's mind. . .
The only thing that stopped her from hounding Yei was the fact she didn't know her well and she was getting quite out of breath. It was one thing to fly high in the sky and be accustomed to thinner atmosphere; but climbing was so much more work for the usually airborne mare. Walking up the side of a cliff wasn't something she typically did. . . .
It was only after they reached their destination that the white mare perked up. Her eyes went round with fascination and delight at the cave and it's deceptive appearance. Had she not had Yei with her, she might very well have walked on past the cave and missed the hot springs within. "This is amazing," she grinned, her mood already improving at just the sight of the hot springs. A long soak in the warmth would be just the thing to rid her of the winter chill that haunted her. "But are you sure it's all right. . ? I mean, I'd hate to intrude or disrupt anyone's plans for a long soak. . . ." Not that there weren't multiple pools but she was still a stranger, even if Yei dubbed her a guest. And who knew if her presence might deter someone from entering. . .?
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Posted: Sat Jan 16, 2010 2:40 am
Kalila's supposed lack of poor manners was lost on Yei - as a mother herself, she had generally tried to instill some form of manners into her children but there were just times when other things were more important than introducing yourself. Yei was renowned for her selective use of manners, she was always exceptionally pleasant of course, but she was a bit of a whirlwind and her spontaneity often left to frequent unannounced visits and day trips. This afternoon was no exception and when she had stumbled upon the mare her first thought hadn't been to find out her identity, it had been to get the poor thing out of the cold. If she had been a security risk then the borderguards would have come, if she had been in need of immediate medical attention then that would have been done as well! As an elder mare, Yei Umeko certainly had her head screwed on but her ways weren't often followed very easily by those who lived outside of Islagiatt territory.
Nevertheless a kindly smile crept on to her lips as the chilled mare attempted to save face and she shook her head slowly. As the warmth began to seep into her own bones she visibly relaxed and regarded the now named Kalila with interest. She often didn't understand it herself, but it seemed that younger generations were acutely aware of what others thought of them. Perhaps it was the ways of Islagiatt but generally speaking, areas such as this were considered communal and chit chat, social gatherings and casual meetings weren't a foreign concept. She may have been taking up shelter in the caves but that didn't mean someone couldn't saunter in and use another spring - she wasn't that big!
"To be perfectly honest I make a point of arriving abruptly," there was a great deal of confidence in the mare's voice and her smile became more devillish. Indeed, Yei Umeko was a mare who picked the best times to appear or in the view of some of her children, the worst times. "Makes for a more interesting day if you ask me," she added. Pausing, she readjusted her weight and gave a small shiver of appreciation for the warm steam curling around her legs. Ah, she may have a thick coat but even she revelled in the opportunity to curl up somewhere warm and sleep. "I'm Yei Umeko, but the vast majority of soquili call me Yei," she introduced herself and grinned just a little more. She had to admit that having a younger mare take the leader in displaying some manners was rather amusing, she'd become rather out of practice at this socialising thing ever since she'd opted to stay on the slopes.
"As for being able to stay here, I'm very sure," she reassured her and gave a loose shrug. "You won't cause a disruption just by being here, there's plenty of room and the stallion who usually frequents these springs hasn't been seen in a while - he's been busy doing something or other... always was terribly vague," she drifted off into silence and then gave a soft chuckle.
"Make yourself at home!"
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Posted: Thu Jan 21, 2010 4:18 am
The warmth that the hot spring offered was delicious. So frozen on the slopes, it was only with the warmth of the steam and the bubbling water that Kalila realized just how numb most of her body had been! Her mane and tail began to quickly defrost, dripping melted snow and beginning to curl due to the heat. Her wings relaxed as they too began to warm up, the ice dropping off of her in to a small pool around her.
Ah, but though she was warming up and though her green eyes did drift longingly over to the closest spring, she wasn't about to be rude. Not yet. Though she was relaxing and was glad to have Yei's company she still wasn't so relaxed as to just dive right in. Tearing her gaze away, she looked back at Yei and smiled warmly up at her. There was something maternal in the antics of the bright red soquili. . . . something that Kalila couldn't help but feel secure around.
"Well it's a great pleasure and great fortune to meet you Miss Yei," she spoke, words genuine. "But I am curious - whereabouts am I exactly? The mountains, sure, but . . . . might I inquire of the herd you reside in?" Not that it would do her any good knowing the name of the herd she interrupted. Honestly, Kalila was still very unfamiliar with the land surrounding her. She knew of various Kawani tribes, due to her strange fascination of two-legged creatures, but when it came to herds or other soquili Kalila often shied away.
For some reason, she just did better around two-legged creatures than other soquili, something that had caused her mother headache upon headache when younger. Her head was screwed on backwards, or so that's what her Mum had claimed. Perhaps there were two-legged tribes in the mountains. . . .
Now that would be something to see! Maybe she'd ask Yei about it later, provided the Alpha of the herd didn't want to run her out as soon as word made it back to the creature. Though she trusted Yei when she had said the territory was welcoming, Yei couldn't speak for the Alpha of the herd and Kalila didn't want to risk disturbing anyone or overstaying her welcome. . . .
Green eyes did drift back to the hot pools while she slowly stretched out her wings. The muscles felt tense and cramped due to keeping them wrapped so tight about herself. The warm water would do all of her some good.
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Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 5:59 am
"Miss," Yei giggled at this and released a soft sigh, she hadn't been a 'miss' for many years. She had assumed she would be one for an eternity, destined to remain a spinster all her life until an unexpected blast from the past had disturbed her rather mundane existance. She hadn't looked back since then and the it brought great amusement to her when others referred to her as if she was some sort of young debutante. "Oh I haven't been a Miss for many years, just Yei will do me nicely," she corrected gently and canted her. For a while she was silent as the mare bathed, permitting her the opportunity to relax and unwind - she knew what it was like to have aching bones, the cold was rather unforgiving in that respect.
"You're in Islagiatt territory," she responded to Kalila's question with a casual edge that the vast majority of her herd tended to adopt. With the exception of the borderguards, the community within this territory was rather laid back. They had their fun, they could be serious at other points but for all intents and purposes, they were comfortable here. Or at least this was what the Alpha could hope for, it was what she had aspired towards as a young mare when she had first founded the herd with her adoptive brother. "It covers a significant portion of this mountain range but I don't think we've expanded far enough to claim it all," she smiled loosely at this, acutely aware of how extensive some of the families were both in her own line and in the herds of her allies.
"At the moment I would say that you're about -"
She hadn't had the opportunity to finish as the muffled and heavy hoof falls could be heard echoing in the entrance of the caves. They were surprisingly soft despite the solid surface beneath them but it was evident that whatever it was, was particularly big. A smile lit up her features and she glanced round expectantly, she hadn't anticipated a visitor but that wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Whether Kalila liked it or not, she was rather obvious in her discomfort and desire not to be a hinderance, if she was able to witness another soquili content to share the same area then perhaps she would lighten up.
"Ooooh, a visitor!" Yei cooed enthusiastically.
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 7:40 am
The young mare had indeed taken to the warmth that surrounded her. The water was almost too hot, especially against her chilled legs, but it didn't take too long for her body to adjust and soon relax. The muscles in her body began to slowly relax and she allowed her wings to spread, slightly afloat on the surface. Of course, her mane and tail drifted around her, white tendrils that reached out and delicately drifted with the motion of Kalila's body and the gentle currents of the pool.
The green eyed mare had never been in a hot spring before, but it certainly was something she hoped to discover again. Settling within the waters, she couldn't help herself as her eyes began to drift close. She wasn't going to sleep, of course, but she wanted to cherish the moment and her body desperately wanted to relax. Her muscles, past the frozen chill, were worn out due to tension and pure physical wear-down fighting the hills and thick snow.
Hopefully Yei wouldn't think her rude. Her ears stayed pricked and turned on Yei, focusing on her words. Islagiatt huh? She'd never heard of the territory, but then, the poor mare had spent much of her time doting over human territories and tribe lands. Maybe if she'd spent more time listening to the lessons of her herd she might have known more, but leave it to the girl to get lost in daydreams during her youth. . .
Of course, the green eyed mares eyes fluttered open the moment the visitor made itself known! She had been dimly aware of the sound outside, but it was only Yei's reaction to it that caused the wind to fully focus on first her, than the entrance to the hot springs. Uh oh. She didn't mind visitors, but she also didn't want to be a bother.
And here she was, looking all sorts of disheveled and now soaked and standing shoulder deep in a hot spring! Part of her shifted, almost daring herself to get out, but the moment she lifted herself out of the water she quickly dipped back in.
Too cold. . . . For now. Besides, her muscles objected. They wanted more time to relax, thankyouverymuch! So as it was, the green eyed mare averted her gaze ever so coyly, not wanting to stare at whomever approached and looking as meek as possible. It was just in her nature.
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:11 am
"Cyn!" Yei chirped immediately as the visitor's identity became apparent. At first it had seemed nothing but a shadow, but the amount of fluff that the stallion had was rather renowned in the herd. He was big, but he was also very puffy - on occasions (particularly in winter) he seemed almost portly. He definitely wasn't fat but he wasn't a lithe creature and years of hiking and continuous travel had ensured that the muscles were now etched into his form like granite. That being said to an untrained eye he would certainly look rather fat, regardless of how others perceived him though he had long since dismissed such things as trivial. After all, he was a soquili could couldn't see and as a consequence what did the appearance of another have to do with anything.
"Yei, a pleasure to be in your presence as always," he replied politely, inclining his head just a touch in her direction. He paused at the entrance though, acutely aware that she wasn't alone as the foreign scent caught his nostrils. The steam could hide a certain amount of it but when one lost a sense the others became a little more honed. Whether Kalila liked it or not, Cyn was aware of her presence and while he couldn't see her that didn't mean he hadn't taken her existence into account. If his forelock had not fallen so heavily over his face and hidden his eyes from view, his brows would have lifted considerably - should he really have been surprised that Yei was conversing with a mare that was either mute or shy? It wouldn't have been like the alpha to dismiss someone like that, she'd probably go out of her way to help...
"Mmmm, where have you been hiding? Lot has happened since you left," she sounded rather like she was chastising the old male, though she was appreciative of the fact that his large form acted as yet another windbreaker at the entrance of the cave.
"One might say I have been working," he responded in level tones. He paused briefly and opted not to divulge any details. Head canting to one side he turned his head in the direction that Kalila was situated and then shifted his weight so that he was capable of turning to 'regard' Yei with more comfort. "I am intruding," he mused, more a statement than a question. At this he seemed to consider his alternatives, he hadn't intended to bathe so much as to enjoy the steam as it cleansed his headache and sinuses - in recent weeks he had developed a cold and there was nothing mroe pleasurable than being able to breathe again, he may not have understood the technicalities but he knew it worked!
"Of course you aren't, don't speak utter nonsense!" Chided the mare and then she smiled in as sunny a manner possible. Taking a deep breath she mused over who to introduce first and thought it best if Cyn were the one to say hello, after all the mare was concerned with intruding and if she recognised that she was welcomed by another then it would certainly help. "Cyn I'd like you to meet Kalila, she got a little turned around and ended up here," she continued to smile in her typical manner even though she was aware that Cyn Generis couldn't see her. "Kalila this is Cyn Generis, he's an Angeni and is one of our greatest gentlemen!"
"You flatter me," Cyn murmured though his tone was light as he recognised the mare's usual antics. "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Kalila," he added within mere moments indicating that he hadn't forgotten the mare's existence despite the banter and light hearted exchange between himself and the red mare.
"You sound awful by the way, did you eat some bark or something to that effect?" Yei enquired with a slight furrowing of her brow.
"Rest assured I am not quite so foolish, I have the cold."
"You should work on that."
"One would say I am attempting to do so now..." He pointed out levelly, though Yei had already returned her attention to Kalila.
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 9:01 am
Sitting quietly within the pool, Kalila peered out beneath her curling locks of hair to study the figure that approached. The first thing she noticed was indeed his massive girth - she couldn't tell what he was past all that thick fur and mane. Thankfully though, after he fully entered the hot springs, he was easier to discern. . . beneath all the fuzz was indeed a soquili and a big one at that! Portly or not, he was the largest soquili she'd ever met. . . . even without all that fur, she was certain he'd still be huge!
Green eyes lingered lightly over his dual sets of wings; she'd never met an angeni before, only heard of rumors and tales of their existance. Strange to meet one here and now, as she'd always thought they were more myth than anything. But the two wings adorned on his back and shoulders, as well as the small wings peaking out of his mane and even down by his ankles, truly he was an impressive figure.
And here she was looking like a half-drowned rat!
Of course, there was something intriguing about the stallion. Though she quickly averted her gaze lest be caught staring (which was NOT very nice, thank you) she couldn't help but keep looking back at the male. There was just something . . . . familiar about him. Which was completely and utterly ridiculous. A sense of deja vu, perhaps, as if . . . as if she were in a waking dream. Bah. Curse her overactive imagination~! She was acting silly. . . .
Just because he was an important figure (or she could only guess he was due to his holy title) didn't mean she had to hide behind her hair. No, he certainly seemed friendly enough by the easy way he spoke with Yei. . . .But, wait, what was this? Introductions! Oh goodness, she was so lost in a moments confusion she was probably acting ridiculous and rude!
Quickly smiling a warm smile, the mare turned her gaze up at the stallion. "It's very nice to meet you too, Sir!" She spoke, dipping her head in a small bow (she couldn't dip too low else get a face full of water). It hadn't occurred to her yet though that he couldn't see amidst his thick bangs. . . . the poor girl could only assume he peeked out of it somewhere and would probably think as much until someday corrected.
The girl fell quiet again, listening politely to the exchange. She didn't mind the pair talking to each other, it honestly did relax what nerves she might have felt. So much hospitality. . . . She could only hope she wasn't in the way for Sir Cyn to fully relax and take in the comfort of the hot springs.
A cold . . . "If you've a cough, thyme could help as well. And witch hazel wouldn't be a bad idea either if you're achey at all," she quipped before she realized what she was saying.
Oh bother.
Her age was showing itself. Ears pinned for a second before she added softly, "Though I'm sure such remedies are quite well known," she chuckled, deciding it was best if she just stayed quiet. Kalila wasn't a great healer, but she knew a few tricks passed on by her mother, especially now that she was well and on her own. And unlike some in her travels that she'd aided, it was doubtful any herd soquili (especially an angeni of all things) would need her fussing.
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Posted: Tue Jan 26, 2010 9:27 am
Yei knew there had been a bit of spark in the mare and a smile threatened to betray her casual expression as Kalila spoke up of her own accord. She had worked so hard to hold back her rather obvious expressions and now seemed to have developed something along the lines of 'wistful'. Admittedly there was a hint of a smile on her lips anyway but the desire to laugh was certainly an overpowering one. She cleared her throat as if to shoo away the giggles and flicked her pale gaze between hulking Angeni and the bathing mare - oh la la but this could have been such a fascinating situation if she hadn't been present. What if it had been Cyn who had provided assistance, he would have cut such a splendid path in the snow as well. Already her matchmaking senses were tingling and this could have been ironic if she had been privvy to the truth behind the rather unlikely reunion.
Unfortunately, Cyn wasn't privvy to that either!
Nevertheless when Kalila did begin to fuss in the fashion of a mother hen it was Cyn who bizarrely, couldn't contain himself. He gave a bark of laughter as the unknown mare (now known as Kalila) spoke up. How appropriate it was to encounter an individual who knew of herbal remedies. Admittedly he wasn't familiar with them all himself but he had been aware of a few odds and ends, alas he had always been a firm believer in dealing with illness without assistance - a lesson he had learnt the hard way and never intended to forget. "Rest assured, Miss Kalila," he spoke softly as he recovered from his chuckles, regretting them only briefly as his nostrils began to feel stuffy once more. "I am aware of the remedies but I thank you for your concern all the same..." Despite his good humoured response he was still a polite creature and would express his gratitude.
She sounded young though, despite her knowledge of herbs there was a small lilt in her voice that held the truth. He may not have seen her, but this was enough to assure him that she would be a clucking mother hen when she aged - it was rather comedic, it seemed Islagiatt had a knack for atrtacting that sort. Granted, Kalila may not stay in this region but it would have been peculiar if she hadn't at least stopped by for a chat!
"I appreciate the sentiments," he added and stepped inside. He really should have asked of course but he was cold, his nose was stuffy and he needed to get into the midst of the steam before he sounded like he'd started sucking on helium. This in mind he at first appeared to close the distance between the two but just then he made a slight turn and edged round another pool to situate himself in a corner out of the way... a considerable feat for one so large. It was then that he sucked in an all mighty breath and with no concern for those around him, heaved a sigh of released as his nose began to clear - he'd needed that.
"Meh," Yei's expression belied disappointment as she regarded Cyn for a few moments and shook her head. "Would have been more funy if you'd fallen in," she pointed out loftily at which point Cyn's head lifted somewhat.
"You wish to cause me injury? Such a responsible Alpha, nyah?" he mused quietly and shook his head.
"I wouldn't wish injury on anyone but it would have been a good icebreaker..." She sighed.
"Pardon?"
"She hasn't laughed yet," she crooned, obviously referring to Kalila.
"So you wish for me to break an ankle for the sake of good humour?"
"Any gentleman would at least consider it!" Yei protested and then heaved a world weary sigh before looking towards Kalila. "Wouldn't you agree?"
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