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 Posted: Sun Feb 28, 2010 2:13 pm
 Her experiences with the shadowy figure of a stallion that called himself the Lord of Nightmares had left her drained, frazzled, and uncertain of where she stood. He'd shown her the darkness of herself, forced those clinging shadows to come loose, and for a while, she had indulged herself.
No longer.
She'd fled from his company after a time, not because he was a cruel or disturbing creature, but because the sudden loss of her neutrality frightened her in ways she hadn't thought possible. She would truly be the monster her mother had cast away, she would dishonor her father's teachings. That was something that the young mare could not permit.
And so, she wandered. She felt ragged, ugly, and shameful, hid herself away until night stretched out across the sky, and only then allowed herself to stir again. For now, Nyx had no purpose, feeling somehow separated from the world she thought she had connected to, if only for a brief time.
The sun was just beginning to set as she pushed herself from the woods into a nearby clearing, her wings tucked close to her sides. Predators would be stirring soon, and she felt safer out in the open than attempting to rely on her senses to keep her safe within the trees. Dark eyes flickered briefly as though to mark her path before the demure mare began to walk, keeping her whip-like tail passively behind her.
Who knew what this night would bring? More loneliness, she assumed, more empty space. If she was lucky, she would find some unfortunate carcass to scavenge, out of sight of any judgmental eyes.
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Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 3:41 pm
He should have turned around and gone home. His father would be worried about him, and surely Maion or the others would be forced to go out and fetch him. But the little colt just didn't want to return, not right now. Not with the cool spring breezes on the wind, and the night time calling. Besides, wasn't Sengdroma often called Moon. . .? And Maion covered in stars? Obviously that meant the night wasn't something to be afraid of. . . and honestly, Ariashi wasn't.
While his family might be full of day-time soquili, the little gold colt much preferred the quiet of dusk. Like a little shadow, the black maned fellow was lost in contemplation. He loved his family, truly he did, but sometimes he felt he had to get away. There was so much he failed at, while all the others excelled. Maion's daughters were tough and gutsy and super sweet. . . . Even his own brother seemed to be everything an angeni was meant to be. But him? He was tiny, much too small . . . He was quiet and introverted and a little distant from those around him. Furthermore, he wasn't a very good fighter. Already the little colt felt the pressure of his race, his lineage, and all the goodness surrounding him - there were heavy expectations on his shoulders and Ariashi wasn't entirely sure he was cut for the job.
For an angeni, he was a joke. . . . And it broke his heart to realize this. He wasn't like all of them, back in his herd. He wasn't full of sunshine and roses and joy. . . .but to each their own. Sometimes he thought is father tried to understand, but he also didn't open up much even to him. Ariashi tried to be a good son, really he did. . . . but deep down, he secretly wondered if he was nothing more than a failure.
His wings were clung tight about him, and it was only by pure chance he glanced up to spot Nyx. He froze, watching the snow white adult creep out from the nearby woods. Uh-oh. . . a stranger. He'd never met anyone outside of his herd before, and she was awfully big. Furthermore, there was something funny about her. . . She had wings but . . what was wrong with her tail? It was spaded, just like a kalonas and yet. . . she wasn't a kalona, was she?
Oh well.
It didn't really matter what she was . . . and so long as she didn't try to eat him, Ariashi didn't much care. She probably wouldn't even notice him anyway, seeing as she was older and probably had much more important things to do than bother with a tiny tiny foal like him. Looking down at his hooves, he stuck close to the nearby woods and waited for the ghostly-female to pass.
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Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 4:00 pm
If his color hadn't been so very bright, there was a good chance that the mare might have missed over the little colt. Unfortunately, once her gaze almost absently wandered over him, it snapped back immediately, wider now and plainly puzzled. Remembering herself, Nyx smoothed out her features, letting her tail snake around her back leg as though to keep it out of sight, out of mind.
"It's late for you to be out here, on your own." She spoke quietly, considering. Was he lost? He almost looked it, staring down at his hooves and lingering so close to the trees.
She saw his wings, then, and found a resentful ache pulse in her heart that shamed her. An Angeni. She didn't know anything about the creatures, save for her experiences with her mother. What would he do, then, if he saw her Kalona heritage? She didn't know.
Nyx was quiet for a heartbeat or two, before, clearly her throat, she forced herself to speak. She was not her mother. She would not leave this foal to his fate, if he truly was lost out here in the night. "...Are you lost?" She tried to keep her voice gentle, her eyes shifting as though to valiantly search for any sign of an adult in the quickly fading light.
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Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 4:11 pm
Uh-oh, he'd been spotted. Her voice was almost hard to hear, as ghostly as her figure really, but his headwings fluttered lightly as his ears pricked towards her. Glancing up, his melancholy expression as close to a smile as he could come, he digested her words.
Was she going to tell him to go home? Was she going to lecture him? Well. . . at least she didn't seem mad, that was good. Adults so often were black and white personalities - the extreme joy of his herd to anger or frustration if he said the wrong thing or acted in a wrong way. Still, this ghostly lady of the evening seemed more gentle than anything. . . .
At least she wasn't laughing at him. That was good.
Pawing lightly at the ground, Ariashi gave a small sigh and little shake of his head. She was worried about him, or at least as worried as one stranger might be for something smaller and helpless. Not that he . . . oh, ok, he probably wasn't exctly able to take care of himself should he cross a cruel sort. BUT he wasn't a coward either. He was just young and inexperienced.
Not that anyone would want to eat a tiny foal like him.
"Well. . . " Lost. Hah. That seemed funny . . . the poor colt just didn't know where he belonged. Still, that wasn't what she meanted "I know my way home, if that's what you want to know," he stated softly, looking up to study the lady before him. He offered a small flicker of a smile before shrugging, his expression quickly melting back to his neutral woe. "I just don't want to go back not. . . not right now. Please." He figured he'd be polite about it, and hoped his little plea might not make the mare fuss or send him away forcefully.
Sure it was dark out but he'd be all right. Of course, now that she knew he wasn't lost surely she'd move on. Right? That's what adults did. They took care of things and then moved on to take care of more things.
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Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 4:42 pm
His words... weren't making sense. He kept offering some sad, pitiful excuse of a smile at her for reasons she didn't quite understand, and her slender ears tipped forward to better catch what excuses he was offering.
He knew his way home? Then why...? Still, she kept quiet, listening almost patiently as she gathered more information than what he was really saying.
It was a home, but something was missing. She knew that feeling, all too well. Home had been with her father, but there was always that thought that she was only here because she was a monster. And could that really be considered a home, then? But she loved her father, loved him more than anything else in this world, and did not regret a moment at his side.
"It isn't my place to tell you what to do." Nyx offered gently, but she felt uneasy. It didn't feel right still, just leaving him here, and despite herself, she was curious. What could dampen the spirits of something supposedly so pure and loving--unless your blood was tainted, of course.
A pause. "Did something... happen, back home?" It wasn't really her place to inquire about his personal life, either, but she felt obligated. He was still such a tiny thing, and leaving him out here by himself where a predator could pick him off didn't sit well with her at all.
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Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2010 5:01 pm
The relief that he felt, as Nyx told him she wasn't going to tell him what to do, was obvious. His shoulders relaxed some and his wings unfurled ever so slightly from their tight grip around his body. At least she wasn't like Io or Chandra - much as he loved them, in this case he could just hear them telling him to go home, it was late, and he was making Drashi worry!
Still, his eyebrows raised in confusion as she questioned if something had happened at home. His little tail swished lightly as he wondered why she'd asked. . . but then it occurred to him he probably looked like some sort of victim. Or . . . or something. His desire to not go home probably made her wonder what he was running from. . . . strangely enough, he wasn't sure he knew how to explain it. His eyebrows knit for a moment before he shrugged and gave a little sigh.
"No, nothing happened. I just. . . .is it that wrong to want to be away from home? I mean, it's just. . . sometimes I just like to be alone so I don't have to be with them all the time. They're so good and yet. . . I mean. . it's good they're good, really I just. . . " He struggled, too young to really know what it was that drove him away to be distanced from his herd and family.
"They didn't do anything to me though. I just . . . like to go out and think." Yeah, that was it. There. . . he wasn't running away from anything, haha, he was just out thinking. He'd fooled her for sure! Still, his little foal logic had to wonder. Why was it so wrong for a colt to be out alone, and yet here this ghost lady was, roaming all by her lonesome. Where was her family anyway?
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Posted: Tue Mar 02, 2010 12:13 am
Was he used to being ordered around? It seemed like it, the way the tension slid from his body like water. Well, she of all creatures was in no place to tell a high and mighty Angeni what to do... Again, she suppressed her own thoughts, and paid attention. He was just a colt, still; he didn't deserve the injustice that had been pushed on her, when she was his age.
He thought he was being clever, she could tell, but she let him concoct his story and finally present the finished product once he thought he'd fine-tuned it enough. There were a few simple errors she pointed out, and the first one was, "It's late for you to be out here thinking, by yourself." Nyx shifted a little, puzzling. "But no, it's not wrong... I just don't believe this is the safest time to do such a thing. Not to say you can't defend yourself, but there are many things bigger than you out here that... would probably not be very kind."
She was phrasing this as vaguely as she could, not exactly wanting to frighten the boy, but... well, he needed to understand that most things that came out at night weren't exactly nice.
"Your parents must be worried, too. Did you tell them you were going off to think so they knew where to look for you if you were gone for a little too long?" Nyx's tail twitched thoughtfully without her consent.
'They're so good, and yet...' What did that mean? Was he not so good? That didn't seem quite right, but a lead was a lead, and Nyx would keep it in mind.
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Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2010 7:18 am
Ariashi studied the mare before him quietly. So she was worried about his safety, was she? It surprised him slightly though he was quick to realize it was just one of those things adults liked to say to foals. She didn't really care, but the maternal instinct in her was merely showing face because he was just so little.
Though he was young, it didn't mean he was stupid.
Shuffling a set of his wings, the little golden colt gave a little shake of his head. "They know I'll be back, this isn't the first time I've roamed. I think nights a perfectly acceptable time to think," he argued with a weak shrug of his shoulders. "Predators don't lurk out only at night, you know, and I'm just as likely to get eaten during the afternoon as I m at night." If she really wanted to broach the subject than he'd be perfectly willing to tell her about it. "I know I'm small but I'm not afraid." And that was that.
Given, there was a likelihood that he would be afraid of something actually tried to do him harm. Thankfully he had abilities that his family had taught him - little tricks that could help him get away if he absolutely had to. He wasn't sure he'd ever use them but if he did meet some monster it was good to know.
"I'm sorry if I'm bothering you or holding you up though, miss," he stated as an after thought, lowering his head and looking away. It was strange that she'd actually want to talk to a little one like him. She was probably feeling obligated or something of that nature. "You don't have to worry 'bout me though, honest." A small smile up at her, grateful that she took the time to be considerate, but not wanting to keep her from any adult things she was going to do.
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Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 4:10 pm
"Not true." The mare objected, resisting the urge to flatten her ears a little. "Though predators are about at all times, many of them prefer the cover of darkness and the camouflage it brings. Fear has little to do with anything; your size, strength, and wits do."
What would this little colt know about predators? Nothing. He'd been blessed by his blood, or so those of his race would likely say, and so surely would nothing dare attack an Angeni.
She turned her head away for a moment, taking a deep breath before forcing herself to relax. "You're doing nothing of the sort." Nyx finally said, shifting her wings and glancing back to the small colt. "You're an oddity out here, and I came to investigate. That's all."
Had she been concerned? Yes. Did she feel right, just leaving him alone in the dark? No. Though she felt partially inclined to leave him to his thoughts, she also felt that, if he felt bothered, he could be the one to leave. She would not trail after him like a nanny if he ultimately chose to stay where he was, but so long as they were both here...
"It's been a long time since I've seen an Angeni, big or small." Nyx eventually offered as means of conversation, tilting her head slightly to better look at him. "...My name's Nyx."
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Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 7:31 pm
The young colt gave a little flick of his tail as Nyx argued with his logic. He had to admit that it made sense some would rather wait in the darkness but . . . but still! Nothing had tried to eat him (yet) but then again, he also understood that 99% of the time he was with someone older, stronger and much more alert. Ears pinning, the young colt looked down at his hooves as Nyx mentioned size, strength and wits. " . . . well then consider me mince meat." He added with a self-deprecating sigh. He was little, he was rather weak for both a colt and angeni, and while he thought himself rather bright he was still young, inexperienced and generally new to the world. "I'm not good at any of that," he added, his head wings folding tightly.
Still, Ariashi did look up as she assured him that he wasn't a bother. Yet. Part of him knew that, just like his family, his presence could get a little tiring and annoying. He always seemed to be in the way, or seemed the odd-duck out thanks to not being super-happy-go-lucky and outgoing. An oddity. Hmph. That just about summed him up completely. "I guess I'm used to it," he murmured with another shrug, blowing some of his growing mane out of his eyes.
Oddity.
Good name for a colt like him. His family couldn't figure him out and neither could others. Even Ariashi didn't know why he wasn't entirely like them. He lived a quiet life, a shy life, and at this point just tried to stay out of everyone's way.
"You're lucky then. . . My whole herd is made up of 'em, mostly," he added with a sigh. Glancing back down at his hooves, one could see he wasn't bragging or boasting. In fact he looked troubled by this fact. "I just wish I . . . I guess I just wish I was someone else sometimes. Someone from a normal herd, or at least one not made up with angeni everywhere." He really didn't care for his race at this point in time, or the high expectations he felt he needed to live up to due to his race. Maion, in all his glamor and glory was someone he'd never be like. . . The same as Drashi or even his own brother.
Nyx. . . Was this his first friend? She was older than him but . . . did that mean they could be friends or was she just an acquaintance? Well. . . she wasn't an enemy, that was for sure, and she wasn't in his herd or family. So he'd keep her as a friend for now. "I'm . . . I'm Ariashi." He smiled, briefly, a fleeting expression as he decided that she was indeed a friend. At least then his family couldn't say he was talking to strangers. . . right?
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Posted: Thu Apr 29, 2010 1:23 pm
Despite herself, there was a tiny stab of guilt as the colt seemed to deflate under the weight of her words, and Nyx relented slightly to watch him a little more closely. "Not yet, anyway." She would agree after a moment, her wings shifting. "But you'll grow. Then, not even the things that dwell in the darkest parts of these lands will think of bothering you."
So it was a self--esteem issue then, a matter of feeling lost and out of place and about as useful as a worm in the soil. She sympathized with those feelings, too. "...Being an oddity isn't a bad thing." Her slender tail twitched as though to confirm as much. "...You just can't... hold yourself to the same expectations as other people. ...It's your own, personal strengths that are important."
It felt strange to speak of her own experiences while dancing around the subject, and she sighed to herself. "My mother was an Angeni," The quiet mare began, not exactly sure why she was confessing the stain on her life to a troubled little colt. "And... my father was a Kalona. It... It scared my mother, to see that I'd inherited most of his traits. She sent me away with him, didn't want anything more to do with me."
She was lost in thought for a moment, staring silently into the shadows with a vacant expression. "...I always wanted to be someone else, too. But life just isn't long enough to waste on wishes." Nyx blinked and refocused on him, the smile surprising a slight, tentative one of her own. "It's nice to meet you."
And strangely enough, it was.
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Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 10:57 am
Ariashi listened to the white female, somewhat surprised by her admissions. Her mother was an angeni too? Huh. . . . and with a kalona!? That did surprise him, as he was raised to know that kalona were wretched creatures. His family was very black-and-white, good-and-evil, with very little room for shades of grey.
Thankfully though, Ariashi wasn't at all like his family. In fact, that was part of his problem really. He didn't fit in, he didn't belong, and he didn't think like them. They were always so cheerful and happy and nothing seemed to bother them. Love conquered all, they were powerful warriors and very spiritual . . . and yet Ariashi knew that sometimes optimism and love didn't work. Sometimes they were blinded by their ideals and couldn't comprehend the reality of a situation. . . They were also epic on top of it. Insanely epic.
But not Ariashi. He was too small, too weak of body and uncertain of mind. He would never be like his father and stood even less of a chance to be like the might Maion. No . . . He was just the runt. He wasn't courageous like his brother or sickly sweet like Maion's children.
Still, it surprised him that Nyx herself seemed to have suffered rejection. For some reason he couldn't imagine the nice pale mare to be turned away by anyone. Just because she had a spaded tail didn't mean anything, after all. She was talking to him and was even concerned over his well being since he was so small! So why would her mother do something so . . . mean? Oh well.
". . . I guess you're right," he finally conceded, voice quiet as he heaved a sigh. "It's too short to waste on wishes but that doesn't make it any easier. I'm sorry you wanted to be someone else. . . . though I'm glad you're not. Otherwise you might not be here to tell me all this!" He added, offering another very small and somewhat awkward smile.
Honestly, such expressions came so rarely he felt a bit silly when he smiled. The look faded just as quick as it arrived and he gave his tail a little flick. "Still . . . Unfortunately while I might. . you know. . not hold myself to the same expectations everyone else in my herd will. And already I'm falling behind." Nyx couldn't possibly understand what it was like to look exactly like Maion, Drashi and all the other angeni in his herd. And yet. . . not be like them whatsoever. While she looked different, Ariashi looked like a clone of all the others in his herd so defining such differences was difficult. Especially when he couldn't explain clearly what bothered him and why he wasn't full of their . . . hope.
Oh well.
It was refreshing to meet someone else, even if she was big and older, who understood what it was like to not fit in.
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