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 Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 6:33 pm
Though stranded from her boyfriend, a time period when she usually threw tantrums or grew depressed, the adolescent mare was unusually cheery. She ran along a creek lined with tall grasses and reeds. Alice loved running along here, because with the wind whistling past her ears and along the very reeds, it was as if they were singing to her. Her hoofbeat added to the instrumentals, and the occasional hawk's screech was enough for a grand performance.
Oh, right, she wasn't supposed to like avian creatures... But Ritalin wasn't here to scold her for taking interest in such repulsive creatures, and she really did enjoy them. Her gallop fell into a light trot as she considered winged creatures. They did make great messes... Yes, she could see how they could be disliked.
Another piercing hawk's cry startled her then and she stumbled in the pebbles lining the riverbank. Sadly, this was one of those times when she didn't catch herself, and she ended up falling right into the muddy water. Thankfully, the creek itself was rather shallow and only reached her knees, but the rocks underneath were slippery with growths and she couldn't keep herself standing straight. Being a rather petite mare to begin with, she easily folded under the surface, making a great mess of herself; mane, tail and coat spoiled. Thankfully she'd left her blanket back at the springs! The spoiling of that would be tragic and near-irreversible.
But, oh! What would her love say about her appearance? Ritalin was one to value appearances, especially Alice's, as she'd come to know. Bothered, she barely noticed another mare in the vicinity. But when she did, she blushed crimson and tried to use her wet hair to hide her appearance... But the hair itself looked bad! 'I'll just have to hold my head high. I meant to do this, yes. Just like that' "Hello, ma'am!"
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 7:32 pm
A few deep breaths to hold back her sobs. Pangs of homesickness crashed over her in waves. In theory, this had seemed to be the right thing to do. To leave her herd and the only home she'd ever known to protect them. To leave her "brother" whom she adored as much as life itself. In theory and in word it didn't seem like it should be so difficult. But in practice? That was another story completely. Each step she took farther and farther away caused her heart to break a little more in her chest. But she refused to cry or feel sorry for herself. This was her choice, and she was doing this for the ones she held most dear. If it was for their sake, she could, no, she would be strong.
It was in all, a lovely day, but caught up in her drama as she was, Liliah barely noticed. She could hear the call of birds and the gentle babble of a brook, but she took no note of the scenery around her. In her melancholy, it was as though she was seperate from the world.
It wasn't until she heard an over loud splash that would indicate either a small tree falling into the water, or else a large animal that she snapped back to herself, finally paying attention to the world that was around her, rather than the one inside her mind. She slowed her pace, and turned to walk more deliberately towards the source of the sound. If it was an animal, rather than some inanimate tree, it was possible that they could use her help, her healing skills minimal though they were.
She stepped carefully and lightly over to the bank of the brook, watching her footing, not wanting to tumble in herself. She noted that the source of the splash was indeed another being. A soq rather like herself, in fact, though she seemed to be perhaps just a little bit younger than herself. And though the fall had mussed up her appearance rather spectacularly, the mare held herself with pride.
"Hello," she greeted softly. "You aren't hurt are you?" She eased her way over, ready to lend a helping hoof if necessary. A wry thought flitted across her mind- well, at least this new land had enough to keep her busy, and to keep her mind off her problems.
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 7:48 pm
The other mare appeared rather gray, so Alice automatically called her by what she considered an 'older' title. Though, now that this same mare approached her, she looked quite young. Why was she going into the river? Honestly, the mare looked like one that appreciated beauty, given her accessory choice, yet she waded in nonchalantly! And what was this? The lady seemed a tad concerned for Alice. Yet her expression was somehow different from the one Ritalin always held when he helped her... This mare's was actually - though Alice hated to admit - reassuring as her mate's never was.
"Hurt? Oh, no." But she was! If she didn't get back to the springs in time and clean herself up before Ritalin came back, he'd be very cross with her! The very thought spooked her a bit. She really did hate it when he held that glimmer of disapproval in his gaze. It was often there, but Alice could understand. She was a clumsy mare.
"You shouldn't have come in here! For, see, now we're both rather mucked up! I'd suppose it would be more respectable to offer proper greetings along the bank!" Without hesitation, Alice began a careful wade back to shore. She really couldn't afford another spot of river mud in her coat. Why, at the rate she was going, the entire springs might reek of pollution by the time she was done cleaning up!
When she reached shore, she politely waited for the other mare to catch up before speaking. If there was one slight of beauty she retained, it was her manners.
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:29 pm
Though she was proud of her appearance, and disliked getting dirty, she had been raised a member of a healing herd. And when one needed to treat injuries, they invariably ended up rumpled and somewhat less than pristine. So it was without a second thought she started to wade into the waters, though she remained careful to keep her bow, her vanity, clear of any and all dangers. She wanted to help the other mare who seemed to be weighted down by the excess of hair that was sopping,but at her request stayed out of the way, carefully removing herself to the water's edge, waiting hoping to be asked for assistance. It went against her nature to simply wait when she could be helping.
There was no way she was just going to take the other mare's word for being unhurt. The water was chill, and it could quite easily have numbed the other's senses hiding injury. And as treacherous as the footing was, well, walking with injury, and risking even more did not sit well with the kind-hearted mare. She walked resolutely to the banks where the other mare was waiting.
She noted a sense of distress and unease eminating from the other mare, but could see no cause for it, with a practiced eye she looked the mare over, trying to see if there were any physical cause. Was she really unhurt? Or was there some other reason?
The way she was standing was such that Liliah couldn't get a good view without seeming to be rude or intrusive, so she had to reserve judgment, but for now it seemed like she had been telling the truth. "My name is Lady Liliah. What's yours?"
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Posted: Tue Feb 16, 2010 8:59 pm
Alice didn't particularly enjoy how the other mare looked at her now that she thought about it. It was prying, almost. Though Alice herself was often prying and curious of other Soquili, it was very different being the subject. But she wasn't about to say anything! Perhaps this mare knew a method of cleaning without her having to go to the springs. Sure, nothing could clean her quite as well, but at least she wouldn't be too nasty.
"Alice." She smiled sweetly. Might as well go through the basic formalities. Manners were beautiful. "Please do meet you, Lady Liliah." Lady, huh? Well, Alice didn't need a fancy title to make her feel pretty. But she would have to ask Ritalin if he'd minded her having no such title. It did sound elegant. More so than simply 'Alice'. 'Why, if I had a title, he should say things such as 'I love you, Miss Alice.'' The thought made her squirm with delight and she wanted to get cleaned up rapidly, all the better to run back to her lover.
"I don't mean to be... Well, rude, I suppose, but do you happen to know a method by which I may clean myself up?" The mare was still eyeing her worriedly. It must've been Alice's own distressed expression - she wasn't so dim-witted as to not know that much. "See, I rather dislike getting dirty... That may be why you see me as so hurt."
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Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 8:32 am
Soft aqua eyes widened at Alice's response. She hadn't realised she sounded so... pompous. But then, after being raised strictly around unis and kirin, perhaps other kinds had different expectations and sets of manners, but as it was, this was all she knew. She ducked her head quickly, allowing her mane to fall forward over her eyes. "Please, I did not mean to offend..."
She considered the mare's question, a method by which to clean oneself up... wasn't the easiest method to just find a clean spring or whatnot and take a dip? She was mildly confused. But at least she could answer to the second part of her statement.
"I truly meant no disrespect, Miss Alice, but I am a healer. Or, at least trained as one. I am merely trying to see that you are truly unhurt. But if you do not appreciate another's concern, I'll not burden you any further." She thought for a moment. "If you could perhaps point me in a direction where my skills might be welcome, I'll get out of your way."
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Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 11:06 am
'She must be one of those!' Alice's eyes widened then narrowed in what seemed to be one swift motion. 'That would certainly make sense. She was probably the one that tripped me in the first place and is now mocking me!' Now, to find a clever way to get back at her... An accusing glare with narrowed eyes certainly wouldn't help!
She curtsied by means of crossing her front legs and bowing elegantly, lowering her eyes as was the standard for utmost respect in the presence of an elite and-or elder. "I truly meant no disrespect as well, ma'am." Might as well go back to that title. After all, Liliah was older. "But if you were a healer should you not possess the horn and features of a Unicorn? For healers are born and raised, not taught, from what I've seen." But she did need the Lady's help! Oh, of course she did! "Oh! But of course I welcome your skills. And if you do not possess magical healing skills, I only wish for your physical skills. Revive my pelt of this scum, please, for that is healing, as well, and if you cannot fulfill that who's to say you can fulfill a duty more grand?"
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Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 11:31 am
On a normal day, words such as Alice was spouting would merely pass right over Liliah, like water rolling off a ducks back. But today was as far from normal as it could be. She had just managed to force herself from her family and the only home she'd ever known, and her heart ached. And in her sorrow, she could not force herself to not care.
It wasn't as though she'd not been mocked and ridiculed before, and often far more foully than the childish mare before her could possibly even dream of. With a snort, she lifted her head high and proudly, as her brother had taught her and answered coolly. " Not all healers need magic or horns. Some great healers need only knowledge and the right herbs nearby. It is only those who are weak and pathetic who would even consider needing a healer's help for something as mundane as a mussed appearance."
A few breaths served to calm her down. " But, seeing as you asked for my help so nicely, I'd be more than happy to oblige you."
Seeing as they were still on the river's bank, there was truly no need to go any further. And with a wicked grin she sidled over to Alice and gave a sudden shove, hoping the mare would at least land in deeper water when she fell.
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Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 11:56 am
Arrogant, huh? 'Hmph.' Alice raised her own head. She knew it! This was one of those mares obsessed with her boyfriend. And, naturally, she had tripped Alice on purpose to make her ugly in hopes of Ritalin choosing her over Alice. And Ritalin certainly wouldn't be into a petty healer with a pelt that already looked dirty, though it was clean as could be for the most part. Probably worked the color into her coat, that mare did, climbing into rivers 'fearlessly' as she had.
"Like you're one to speak! If it were you in my position-" But poor Alice didn't get to finish her sentence before she was most rudely shoved back into the stupid, dirty creek. And this time Alice stumbled and slipped her way to a deeper area, gasping profanities all the way. "If only-" Her speech came and faded every time the weakish current dunked her under, so half her speech was gurgled underwater, 'Ritalin would never-' "love you!" 'In fact-' "He will probably-" 'Come kick you into a stronger river and out of our lives!' Disappointingly, Alice's more dramatic points were missed, so all Liliah would hear would be an incomprehensible 'If only - love you - he will probably -'. So, if Alice knew what Liliah had heard, she'd be most disappointed in herself. She made it seem like Ritalin would probably love her.
As if that was her biggest concern. Another twist in the creek, and it dumped into a large pond, quite deep at that. And Alice, always staying in the shallower parts of Ritalin's springs, preening herself for him, never actually learned how to swim. Having inhaled lungfuls of dirty water already, she was very much in danger of drowning. Her heavy mane and tail were weighting her down, and once again she was grateful she'd left her thick blanket at home. Blankets... She was drowning and the girl was thinking about her blanket and what Ritalin would think. She started struggling, thrashing about in the water and causing a rather great ruckus, short on breath, which did nothing to help her. 'I can't be....' The word 'dying' was far too frightening to even think.
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Posted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 3:04 pm
The satisfaction Liliah felt at watching the arrogant young mare fall into the creek was short-lived as her better nature took hold. She really wasn't vicious or one who enjoyed witnessing the suffering of others. That was the whole reason she'd undertaken lessons to become a healer. It didn't help that she'd a strong sense of duty drilled into her since foalhood. The memories of the one quote of her brother's that she'd adopted flashed through her head and made her feel even guiltier. "If one has the knowledge and ability, it is their duty to do whatever they can, regardless of how distasteful it may be."
While these thoughts flitted through her mind, she was unaware of the struggles Alice was going through, and certainly she was unable to hear even what little the mare managed to say that wasn't interrupted by the rushing water nearly choking her. As it was, she was uncertain what caused her to snap back into the present, but whatever it was she would have to find some way of thanking.
Watching in horrified shock, she watched as the blonde mare started to slip under the water. As Alice started to disappear, Liliah regained control over her body and with a few choice curses- it looked like she was going to ruin her ribbon after all- she plunged into the water, trying not to notice just how cold it really was.
Reaching the mare, Liliah was left with yet another dilemma. How on earth was she supposed to get them both back to shore? With a slight berating mutter to herself, Liliah considered. She wasn't all that strong, so she couldn't pull her out. Besides, she doubted the mare would appreciate that. But her only other option, dragging her by either mane or tail until the mare could get out on her own was an even less appealing option.
She knew she'd be regretting this later, but she tried to maneuver herself so Alice was draped somewhat over her and made her way carefully to shallower waters. She couldn't help the one wry thought that floated across her mind. At least the mare was clean now.
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Posted: Fri Feb 26, 2010 11:07 am
Just when everything started going black...
There was suddenly a new movement, like her poor body was being thrashed about by a great current. The remaining power in Alice's body - and there wasn't a great lot of it - forced her to struggle once more, and she tried to mumble 'no', meaningless word of denial as it was, but all that came from her mouth were tiny bubbles of oxygen she couldn't spare.
Then there was light. It was sudden; a great flash, burning the outsides of her eyelids. Was this death...? 'No... No, no, no...' While internally contemplating, the half-conscious physical Alice was shaking and coughing in the shallow waters of the riverbank. It seemed as if there was an endless amount of water in her, seeing how much she was coughing out, but eventually her coughs grew less frequent and she was realistically mumbling her denial of death. "No, no, n-" One more cough did it - her eyelids fluttered open, though she couldn't exactly see too well, blotchy at best. Slow, hazy blinks steadied her vision, but her head was full of cotton, as were her ears, and she looked around in shocked silence. Naturally, at first she looked only to the sky, and this gave her the impression of heaven... Until she saw a familiar face - "Liliah...?" What? She couldn't possibly be in Alice's heaven! She was the one that pushed her to her death... Which meant that...
"I'm alive..." Wondrously whispering this gave Alice all the encouragement and consciousness she needed, apparently, as the next moment she rolled over and rose, stumbling a little. "I'm alive!" A happy giggle had time to slide out her throat before she remembered once more, "no thanks to you, ma'am." Blue eyes narrowed at the female who'd so roughly shoved her to her death earlier. "Some healer!" But something didn't click... Why would Lady Liliah stick around? 'Guilt, probably.'
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Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 10:41 am
Liliah knew the selfish little self-absorbed mare probably wouldn't thank her for saving her life-even though she caused the little mishap, a fact she was quite quick to overlook. But as a healer, she knew that thanks weren't necessarily a given. Though, in this case she wasn't acting as a healer. She scurried off a little ways to side once she was sure that Alice was in shallow enough water and it was safe enough to leave her. Though it probably would have been just as well if she left, Liliah felt a strong sense of duty and responsibility, feelings she was sure the other mare wouldn't, or rather couldn't due to her nature, understand.
She mentally prepared herself for the insults and such she knew would be flung her way. Prepared to deal with it as a sort of penance, and waited until Alice came to.
She was rather surprised to find the insults so mild, but then, considering the mare was just getting over a near death experience, Liliah truly couldn't expect much. The lack of oxygen to the brain, even for just a short moment cut down on what few wits one had before the incident.
"But you claimed you didn't need me as a healer, so I chose to act according to myself rather than the limitations specified by my profession." Liliah shrugged.
"And in any event, at least you are now clean." She pointed out. "Well, at least you will seem so once you are dry and able to tame that mess you consider your mane and tail."
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Posted: Sat Mar 27, 2010 11:04 pm
"Consider, madam?!" Alice was livid! Ritalin often complimented her glorious, full lengths of mane and tail, and many a mare have sighed in envy at watching her flounce by, ringlets dancing. Envy, that was it. Alice took in a shaking breath, exhaling some anger, "jealousy comes in the color green. If your cheeks shall blush it, you'll look most sickly." With a little 'hmph' and an unsuccessful attempt at tossing the mop that was her mane at the moment, she flicked her head to the side at an angle like the perfect prissy mare she was. "And I am not clean in the least! I am branded with a coat of taupe, no matter how thin, which shall never scrub off in such waters," she gestured disgustedly to the pool, indicating that 'such waters' were meant for the likes of Liliah.
The little mare was surprised to find herself stifling a yawn next, like a little filly. Not that she was much more than a little filly, of course. Such activity tired most children, especially those who were brought up to be 'trophies', sitting around and looking pretty. But stifling was no good, and her jaw extended in an all-out yawn, soft blue eyes teary and innocent once more. She'd nearly forgotten what had just happened. Nearly forgotten until she once more turned to that aged, grayish brown face. Her nose crinkled up in a sneer, but the sudden tiredness of a near-death experience enveloped her and her eyes drooped. "Mm.... Most horrible, what you've done..." Only headstrong Alice would fight off sleep to hurl insults, "don't you... Think I'm done with you, no... I'll give you a piece of my m~mind.."
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Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 10:56 am
Liliah looked Alice over with a slow measured glance and raised a brow in curiousity. "Pray tell, what have you got that I should be jealous of?"
She stood proudly, her coat still pristine as was her mane and tail. She spared a thought for her bow, but realised she never needed to go into deep enough water to cause anymore than the tips to just get wet. Her appearance, though she wasn't vain truly, maintained its immaculate state while Alice looked more than a little worse for the wear.
She watched with some amusement as the mare started to show signs of fatigue from her harrowing experience and smirked slightly. The pampered princess was really little better than a foal after its first adventure. And when she yawned like that, she was quite .... cute. There was really no other word to describe her like that, unless it was innocent, and she just knew Alice wouldn't appreciate being told that just now, and she had to bite the inside of her cheek to keep the words from just coming out.
When the younger mare finally succumbed to slumber Liliah couldn't help the sigh of relief that slipped from her. She turned to leave, but couldn't help but glance back. In her sleep, Alice looked even younger and more vulnerable. Some part of Liliah felt protective over the little snot, and so though she had insulted Liliah, she felt bound to stay nearby-just until she woke- to make sure no harm came to her.
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