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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 8:16 am
 Wings nestled tightly against the mare's frame as she stood at the base of a mountain. In her mind the mare visualized the valley where she had been born and knew that it was high time she returned from her journeying. Stormfall also knew that her abrupt departure from the lands had most likely hurt her mother but she had needed time to see the world and just be by herself. Now this moment was all about savoring the reunion to come. Unsure of how to proceed though Stormfall gazed up at the mountain before starting slowly along the path to the valley itself. The path had been well hidden but the mare had eventually located it. Even though she was born into the herd Stormfall had an odd way of thinking that just swooping in from the sky would not impress the residents or be very polite. Hooves pounding in rhythm Stormfall began her ascent.
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Posted: Tue Mar 30, 2010 6:24 pm

Balrog caught an updraft as he glided near the border of the herdlands, eyes scanning the treeline. He took his duty as the protector of the heard very seriously, and jealously guarded the territory. He took pride in the safety of the herdlands, and its secluded location. There were few navigable passes to those not blessed with wings. In the past, Balrog had considered blocking them, but more than once he had been glad not to - namely when Stormwild had been injured and unable to fly. So he had settled for a difficult-to-locate entrance to a narrow pass.
He kept a particular eye on this pass during his rounds. And, for better or worse, it was rare that he spotted any intruders to their territory. But today, he spotted a dark form weaving its way along the pass below.
His ears canted backwards - it was large enough to be another soquili. And if it was taking the pass, it was likely either a ground-soquili or someone who bore an injury.
He began a descent, intending on intercepting this mysterious intruder. However, as he came in for a landing, familiar colors cought his eye. At first, he nearly mistook her for his eldest daughter, Cataclysm. But the smoky quality of her wings, the narrow, leonine tail told another story.
He landed before her, wings settling by his sides.
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:48 am
It was lucky that Stormfall had been paying attention to her surroundings. Had she not the sudden arrival of the wind stallion probably would have startled her enough into possibly injuring herself. Settling herself Stormfall rustled her wings gently before inclining her head in a small but subtle nod. The rustling of her wings dislodged the residents she was carrying piggyback and instantly she wished that they'd not shown themselves.
Two winged eyeballs hovered between her and this stallion in front of her before she stamped her front hoof jingling the chains found there. The sound was enough to call the 'creatures' back to the mare's side. Leveling a stern gaze at them Stormfall suddenly remembered the soquili in front of her. Taking in the stallion's appearance and stature Stormfall swallowed briefly before speaking.
"Greetings to you sir. I beg your pardon in regards to my little friends. Always curious they are."
The markings on the stallion tweaked some far-off memory of the mare's but she was hesitant to ask her mind. Instead she focused on the path beyond.
"Would this be the correct path to the herd of the Thunderbird?"
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Posted: Wed Mar 31, 2010 7:03 pm
Balrog eyed the strange winged... creatures... warily, ears flicking backwards and his nostrils flaring. They were... unusual to say the least. Not unlike the mare before him. And yet, as he scrutinized her, memories came back of the baskets that Cataclysm had brought back, and the stories of a ghostly, angelic sire.
Onibi Storm had proved her stories right, but the other foal had quickly wandered off, far from the confines of the herd. He had barely seen her as a foal.
Balrog watched her for a moment before speaking, looking at how she had grown. Specifically, he eyed the ghostly wings that settled by her sides. Could she even fly? If she could, why was she taking the pass?
When he did speak, his voice was thunder, rumbling deep in his chest and echoing off of the rocky mountain. "It is. Am I correct in presuming that you are the daughter of Cataclysm?"
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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2010 7:29 am
Stormfall was still hazy in her recollection of the stallion that stood before her. The mare knew that they had met before for he knew her mother. The dawning of who this impressive figure might be hit Stormfall. Of course, how could the mare have forgotten the protector of the Thunderbird herd. It wasn't her fault really that she had forgotten though. She had only met Balrog once.
Nodding at the stallion in response to his question she nickered softly. "You assume correctly sir. I am Stormfall - daughter to Cataclysm of the Thunderbird Herd and the rogue Fantome. Are you by chance Balrog?"
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Posted: Sat Apr 03, 2010 6:38 pm
Balrog rumbled an assent. "I am indeed he." He gave his wings a flick for emphasis, the feathers rustling.
"I had heard that you had left our lands. What caused you to leave? Were the fertile meadows not sufficient? Did you lose your way?"
He stopped tiptoing around the subject that was chewing at him. "Why do you take the path? Is there something wrong with your wings? Does their smokiness prevent you from flight?" He specified with a wary note in his voice. If she was unable to fly... perhaps it was for the best that she had left the herd. And he would have a speaking with his daughter.
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Posted: Sun Apr 04, 2010 1:41 am
Stormfall nodded as Balrog confirmed his identity to her. She had not been entirely sure up to this point. The mare let out a small sigh of relief which turned into a slight sound of irritation at Balrog's next line of questioning. Her response though clipped was succinct enough for her.
"The fertile meadows of your home were more than sufficient enough. I needed time away I believe to find answers to questions that my mother could not answer. I did not lose my way at all. It just took a little longer to find what I sought out."
At the question of why she took the path or if she could fly or not Stormfall rolled her eyes.
"I have come to realize that even though I was born here some residents may not remember me. Even you Balrog seemed to have had a little trouble in recognizing me. I thought it would be wise to take the path and not cause alarm by flying straight into the lands that you call home. I thought it would be disrespectful to do so. Common courtesy and all that. As for my wings ... they seem to work just fine."
The action of flicking her wings out to her side dislodged her companions once more but this time the mare had no reason to call them back. Stepping to the edge of the path the mare cast one look at Balrog before calmly leaping into the air.
The initial sensation of falling filled Stormfall's mind as the mare dropped. At the right moment though her wings snapped open slowing the drop rate. Rising and falling in rhythmic fashion the mare soon gained enough altitude to replace what she had lost in the fall. Her gaze narrowed onto Balrog as she swooped a few times before calling out. Her companions flitted after the mare in response to her voice.
"See grandfather. There is nothing the matter with them," Stormfall stressed the word grandfather for a reason. He was of course the one who had found her.
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Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 2:40 pm
Balrog's gruff front and tense posture seemed to ease a bit as he saw her leap into the skies.
He sighed with relief, watching her catch an updraft and return to the proper elevation to meet his eyes. So Cataclysm had done him proud. Her brother had remained behind in the herd, and seemed to prove Cataclysm's story about a stallion with two sets of wings, and this filly, the ghostly appearence.
But what was most important... she could indeed fly. His ears swiveled forward. "Good. I am glad to hear that you have indeed been blessed with the gift of the spirits. You are indeed a child of the Thunderbird herd.
"You left some time ago." Balrog responded evenly. "You were a small filly. I had only presided nearby when you broke from your basket. I saw you, I saw your brother meet this world. But what could have been so important that a young filly such as yourself had to strike out on her own, to leave her family lands?"
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Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2010 6:08 pm
Stormfall spent a few minutes more in the air before banking sharply towards the path that served as an alternate route into the herd lands. She lit upon the ground in front of Balrog before tucking her wings in tightly to her side. The mare gazed across the open air as she relished the brief flight. She had pleased her grand sire with her display she was sure.
"I am glad to hear that I would still be welcome into my land of birth. The trek was long but being away from home was hard."
Stormfall mused quietly on Balrog's explanation as she struggled with the right thing to respond with. Finally she decided it was just right to explain her decision.
"Balrog," here she paused briefly, "I think when my brother and I met this world we were content to stay where we were. I soon, however, began questioning our mother about life beyond the protective borders and somehow the story of meeting our father came out. As I grew a little older the desire to locate father became unbearable and so I left quietly early one morning. I trekked for many months. Of course time has a habit of slipping away from those obsessed with a task. I grew into what I am now. As I realized that perhaps my search was futile those I call my companions appeared and led me into a dark cave that seemed to be abandoned."
Stormfall smiled grimly at the memory. "I was wrong in my assumption. My father still lives ... but he's not one for constant company. I left when I was able and began my trek to return to my home ... and my family. These winged creatures are my father's legacy to me."
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Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 2:33 pm
Balrog listened quietly to her tale, respectfully not interrupting her story. He was inerested to hear where she had been. A young filly setting out on her own. She truly was of his progeny to have been so strong in the big world by herself, Balrog thought egotistically to himself.
"One of our own is always welcome, as long as they uphold the tenants of our herd." Balrog spoke with a nod. "And I am glad that you found the object of your quest. Was he how your mother described? A ghostly angel?" Balrog knew that it was just as likely that the mysterious soquili's daughter would exaggerate his merits as Cataclysm.
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Posted: Tue Apr 06, 2010 6:53 pm
The mare did not show it but she was glad to have been accepted back into the herd by Balrog. Even while she had been out journeying to seek the other side of her family her thoughts and sometimes her heart yearned to be back with those that she had known for only a brief while. Her mother and brother surely had missed her. On the flip side though Stormfall was glad that she had found her mysterious sire. It had been a relief to know that the stories Cataclysm had told her were true.
Blinking suddenly Stormfall caught the last bit of Balrog's question before silently thinking about her father's appearance. "Mother's claims of my father, even though short, are accurate. Onibi inherited the wings from our father," Stormfall's expression grew amused, "and his hair. I'm sure you've noted at various times it seems to fade in and out of existence. Father's does that too. I received the 'ghost-like' wings that father has and of course his unicorn traits - the horn and tail." Stormfall's leonine tail snapped behind her as a reaction to her words before she sighed. "Father is a very interesting Soquili. He is almost a ghost in some aspects. Mother was right."
Letting the words fade Stormfall glanced towards the skies again before watching Balrog carefully. There was one secret that she was withholding and would continue to do so.
"You mentioned the tenants of the herd? Can I inquire as to what they might be?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:16 am
Balrog nodded. Given the appearence of Cataclysm's two children, he was willing to mostly take this description at face value. But still, having never seen him before, he was still presuming that Cataclysm and Stormfall were prone to exaggeration.
"He sounds like a strange stallion indeed." Balrog responded, though there was no malice in his voice.
However, at her inquiry to the tenants of the herd, Balrog took on a more somber tone. "Yes. If you choose to rejoin our herd, Stormfall, you must understand the principals which we follow. We revere the skies. We chose the Thunderbird as our totem and all that he represents. Strength, power, and fearless mastery of the skies. Our children are the future of this herd, and its strength. As long as you consider yourself a member of this herd, you must abide by these principals. Namely, when you choose to bear foals, you must do so with a suitable stallion." He let those words sink in before continuing with a more stern note.
"As my granddaughter... you bear an even stronger responsibility." Balrog did not mention the other descendents that had set off on their own, that he had not herd from since. But based on rumors he had heard, these were no longer his progeny. "Our bloodline are the heirs to the wind itself. Our herdgrounds was specifically chosen for its rare alpine meadows - difficult to access without the use of wings."
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Posted: Thu Apr 08, 2010 6:39 pm
Stormfall's ears twitched as Balrog began his speech. His voice filled the air around her and she listened intently. It was true she had left the herd for her own reasons but now the decision to come back had been made. She would not back down because of stipulations that had been in existence longer than she had been. Her tail swished behind her idly as new information was imparted.
The knowledge of the reason behind the totem choice was all new to Stormfall and she had to admit that the idea of abiding by the principals didn't seem to be as hard as she thought it might have been at first. Gazing up the path past Balrog the mare could envision herself returning to the herd and living in relative comfort. The one interesting fact that stuck with the mare was that she would have to find a suitable stallion to have children with.
'I guess that would mean one with wings of a sort,' she mused quietly to herself. It seemed like a fair trade-off in a sense.
Stormfall nodded to herself as Balrog finished speaking. Her thoughts coalesced quickly before rustling her wings once more. The knowledge that her grandfather had imparted to her would stay locked inside of her heart.
"The conditions that have you have outlined Balrog ... I believe I can abide with. I will accept and live by the tenants of the Thunderbird Herd."
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Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2010 12:19 pm
Balrog's stony face actually creased into a proud smile as he nodded his head. She was truly a granddaughter of his, then. One that would make him proud. His blood must run strongly in her veins as she did not seem to waver in her acceptance of his declaration.
"Very well, Stormfall." He rumbled, wings outstretched. "THen you shall return to your homelands in the proud fashion as one of our herd. On the wings that graced your birth."
He spread his wings, taking to the air once more, pausing only to look back to see if she was following.
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Posted: Wed Apr 21, 2010 6:46 am
Stormfall stood quietly for a moment after Balrog lit from the path. Her courage seemed to deflate just a little after the meeting. The moment passed though and the mare straightened her posture before gamely stepping to the ledge and once again letting the air pass over her outstretched wings. Her little companions took to the air too ... vanishing from Stormfall's immediate vicinity as the mare turned to follow in Balrog's airstream.
Excitement chased away the lingering doubt as Stormfall accelerated to catch the stallion she followed. When she pulled close enough she voiced her one yearning question to her grand-sire.
"Has my mother been alright since I left?"
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