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 Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 9:12 am
 The afternoon sunlight filtered through the leafy canopy above, bringing warmth to the forest floor where the white mare was walking. It was a wonderful day, and she relished the quiet of the forest.
Back in the cave that had been their home since winter, Tregaran was alone with the children - who really weren't such any more. The day was coming when they would be leaving and making lives of their own. Until that day came...she needed a break. There was only so much any mother could take without going insane after all. And Tregaran...he was so sweet and kind, to insist that she go out, by herself, while he kept the peace at home until she returned.
She loved her family, she truly did. But that didn't keep her from thoroughly enjoying herself out here by herself. The way she had been before she met Tregaran...
Esta cut that thought off before it started. She was mated, and a mother. She had a family. This was her life.
Such as it was...
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 9:32 am
Making her way through the wood lands, enjoying the afternoon sunshine that painted the shadowed and green foliage in patches of gold, Kaiya felt older. While she didn't regret her children, the loves of her life, she did feel as if she may have strayed from her path. It was her duty, her choice to live amidst those that walked a darker path, and whiles her children would always be important, she also loved those with broken hearts. She didn't want to let them down, didn't want them to forget that she was waiting with open wings to accept them and help them find a light and goodness.
Some would kill her first and die themselves before being 'good'. . . But sometimes, every now and then, she found one who just needed a little persistence. A little love and kindness to realize that they had a choice in their actions. If she didn't love those that were so lost and wayward, forgotten and broken. . . who would?
It was with this in mind that the Angeni found comfort in her lifestyle. She had no mate, was bound to no one, and preferred it that way. Her lifestyle was no cake walk, and she had to devote her time specifically for the damned. It was good to be back on the road, back with her mission as the focus.
The mare picked her way slowly through the forest canopy, giving her wings a stretch before flipping them to her back. Her silver and gold eyes watched the world, ears listening for any sound of - - -
What was that? There was a very soft sound of movement not far ahead. Kaiya herself wasn't worried - more she was excited. Who might the spirits have sent her way this afternoon? Continuing her walk, she was sure whoever was out there would certainly hear her . . .
If Esta didn't catch that soft jingling on the wind that all angeni produced, than she'd certainly hear the soft clinking of her bracelets against one another.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 9:44 am
The usdia mare was not quite lost in thought, as she was doing her best to avoid certain well-worn paths in her mind. That was the problem with being out on her own - Tregaran had a way of knowing when she was sinking into fear and depression and always did what he could to bring her out of it.
It usually worked. But he wasn't here now.
She tried to distract herself by focusing on her surroundings; the familiar forest that was still not quite home, the clinking of metal somewhere above her...
Metal? Clinking? The usdia stopped moving forward and brought her full attention to bear on the material world, squinting against the sun's brightness above to try and find the source of the out-of-place sounds.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 12:26 pm
The Angeni continue to pick her way carefully through the underbrush. The movement before her did seem to stop, and the tall mare could pick out the form of something small and white. "Is someone there?" She finally called out, voice gentle and curious. She didn't want to frighten away whomever might be there and wanted to make her presence known. If the shuffling of the foliage around her wasn't enough, nor her bangles, there was no way someone could disregard her voice.
Hopefully the tone sounded friendly enough to keep whoever was there around. "I mean no harm," she added, stepping around the bushes and trees to finally catch sight of Esta. At first Kaiya thought it was a foal and yet that wasn't right. Her body was too big to be a foal, her form far too developed.
Was this . . . . an usdia?
She knew of the various species of the lands (mostly) and while she had learned of the miniature race, she had never actually met one. If her guess was correct, this one was quite a lovely species! Pale as snow, and yet there were faint pastel spots that ran up and down her back. It made a very striking combination and Kaiya couldn't help but be delighted by this new discovery.
She only hoped the other wouldn't flee at the sight of her! Kaiya was large in stature, but she had to be! She wouldn't last very long if she couldn't defend herself against those with a desire to maim, hurt and kill. Somehow though, she didn't suspect Esta of harboring such a trait. . . . Still, one could never judge a book by its cover. The spirits had meant for her cross paths with the usdia, exactly why was yet to be discovered. "Well hello there," she greeted, hoping Esta might stay.
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Posted: Sun Jun 06, 2010 12:52 pm
Green eyes narrowed as a voice called out of the forest. The stranger sounded friendly enough...but Esta would wait and reserve judgement. It was a point in the stranger's favor that she called out, rather than snuck up. As the voice sounded out again, the white mare turned to face the direction from which it had come. A fullsize mare emerged from the trees and the usdia's eyes widened in surprise as she noted the double set of wings. She'd only ever heard of angeni!
The realization of the stranger's race banished the bulk of her paranoia - angeni were the favored of the gods, the earthly representatives of Light and Good. They were the antithesis of all that Esta feared to find before her.
"Hello yourself," she replied politely. Even if the stranger was an angeni, she was still also a stranger. And Esta had heard stories of fallen angeni...
True, the stranger didn't strike her as being fallen in any way, but the usdia mare strongly believed in caution, even if she was willing to put aside outright paranoia.
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Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:38 am
Kaiya smiled at her new acquaintance, her features warm and sincere. She often wore a small, placid smile upon her features and never forced her emotions or feelings. She was quite pleased by this turn of events as the spirits must have some reason for Esta to cross her path. A meeting, no matter how brief or slight, always came with some sort of purpose and this moment was no exception.
"I do hope I haven't disturbed you or your tasks at hand," she apologized, dipping her head, "I merely came to investigate, curiosity getting the best of me I'm afraid." Her dual toned eyes danced with good-humor though there was more to her reasoning than inquiry. She often sought out others if only to see if she could be of any aid or assistance, or to learn of stories and rumors of those nearby that walked in darkness. Kalona, skinwalker, broken souls and pitch-black spirits. There was often truth in such tales and Kaiya felt it her duty to seek them out, to allow them to reform. . . .
But Esta didn't really want to know such reasoning. For now she'd allow the Usdia to make assumptions or peg her as a silly mare who allowed curiosity to rule her life. It was the easier explanation, especially if she was indeed disturbing the Usdia at hand. The female could be on her way if she as in a hurry or rush and Kaiya could continue on her path.
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Posted: Thu Oct 21, 2010 2:34 pm
"No, no, I was merely walking through the forest," Esta replied distractedly. What did the Angeni want with her, she wondered? "Curiosity" was a good cover story for many things she had found (especially when a foal used it as an excuse) and she couldn't bring herself to fully trust the stranger mare.
She wanted to, she really did. But she also knew that Angeni were the polar opposites of Skinwalkers. Rumor had it that they could detect the presence of cursed Soquili. She wondered if that meant they could also sense one who was destined to be their prey.
And yet...in the presence of this Angeni she found herself wondering, for the first time, if one's destiny was set in stone.
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Posted: Sat Oct 30, 2010 11:01 pm
Unfortunately for Esta, Kaiya was no minder reader. She was completely oblivious to the fate of the pale usdia, and would never suspect such a darkness loomed before Esta. While she believed that the spirits could often encourage coincidence or chance, she didn't like to believe that the spirits alone directed life. Every soquili was granted free-will and choice, thank you. The idea of having ones life be predetermined, with no escape or no chance to walk a different path, didn't settle well with the angeni. In fact, her entire existence was based on the idea that one shrouded in darkness could change, could be saved, if only they were granted such a choice.
And so it was, Kaiya walked down and sought out the darkest and cruelest of hearts. She fought them mentally, physically, and ultimately loved them and gave them much of her time. Even when she was driven out, even when they turned on her, even when she faced death it was her duty. Just because one was born in to cruelty, born with hate in their heart, that didn't mean that their fate was set in stone. They could choose a different path, they could learn resistance, or be granted knowledge to change old behaviors. Even those who thrived off blood or meat could sometimes find other ways outside of murder.
Duty bound, some might think the angeni a fool for her ideals, but she didn't perceive the world through rose-colored glasses. While she always had endless amounts of hope and concern for the world and those whom resided within it, she knew she fought an uphill battle. The good she was unable to imprint far outweight the few souls whom she was able to turn.
Such was life. All she could continue to do was fight.
Her smile remained warm and welcoming, her dual-toned eyes bright as she studied the pale usdia. "I see," she murmured, giving her wings a little stretch. "Then that makes two of us. I will admit, this area is new to me, and I haven't walked within the woodlands in many months. It is quite a refreshing change from the barren mountains I've just come from." Realizing she was practically rambling, the angeni's head wings folded back a bit and she lowered her head abashedly.
Maybe she missed Galahad's companionship more than she'd thought she had. It was a little odd not having the gallant young knight at her side. But, she had freed him to return home to his family, had allowed him to truly live life how he wished it. Dipping her head in a low and apologetic bow, she added, "Ah, excuse an old mares ramble and poor manners. I'm Kaiya, and by all means, please don't allow me to hold you up." She was quite sure the usdia might have better things to do than chatter with a strange angeni.
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Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2010 7:56 am
The white usdia found her lips stretching in a smile all their own. Her subconscious had decided that the Angeni was to be trusted and so she found herself relaxing. The other mare was an incarnation of light and goodness by definition, so nothing bad was likely to happen while she was around.
"I live in the area with my mate and children, but sometimes I just need to take a walk by myself," she told the bigger mare. "You come from the mountains?"
Esta chuckled as Kaiya apologized for rambling. "It's fine, I have nothing better to do right now, and I'm interested in whatever you have to say." Perhaps there was a bit of calculation on the usdia's part - such as the almost guaranteed fact that there would be no Skinwalker attacks while an Angeni was around. But then there was also the fact that she felt this other mare might be something of a kindred spirit - which made the best kind of friend.
And if she could be friends with an Angeni...maybe she didn't have to die under a Skinwalker's fangs. Neither had seemed likely so long ago when she'd first come to these lands.
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 2:39 pm
The angeni was glad that she didn't appear to be disturbing the usdia. It had been awhile since she'd had company, and she had never met a miniature soquili before. . . thus, she didn't want to drive Ms. Esta away! Giving her bandaged wings a small stretch, she too relaxed within the company of the other.
"I understand needing to take a little personal time," she nodded, her duo toned gaze gentle. "Might I inquire as to how many children look to you? I've three my own, though all are full grown and living their own lives elsewhere in the Kawani." None were related to her either, but such a matter was trivial to the mare. Even Galahad might be considered more a friend than son, but she couldn't help but look upon him as one. He had come to her when he was hardly an adult, and she had helped guide him on his path of a white knight.
"That is where I've most recently visited, yes. I'd heard there were some misguided hearts that way, and thus I spent almost half a year seeking them out." It had felt good to get back to her life's work. While she adored her children there were some moments that she felt as if she had let others down. . . Those that needed love and kindness, those that needed to know there were other options, other ways.
"I've only recently made my way here. What of you? Before settling with your mate, did you travel or has your heart always been here near these woods?" She hoped the pale and pretty female didn't mind her prying, but she was always curious to hear of the escapades of soquili around her. Kaiya's life was quite untraditional, sometimes she wondered what those not hell-bent on saving the world did.
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Posted: Sun Nov 14, 2010 2:59 pm
Under the mare's gentle questions, Esta began to unfold and be a much more sociable creature. "We have three, but there may soon be more," the usdia confided in another mare with a wink. Women knew these things, even long before they began to show.
She nodded politely as Kaiya spoke of the Kawani lands in general and this forest in particular, but one could almost feel the ambient temperature drop as the angeni asked about Esta's past. If only she had stayed on the topic of children and futures.
"I came from far away." White lips clamped shut and nostrils pinched. Esta did not want to talk about it and there was nothing that could persuade her otherwise.
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Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 11:00 am
Kaiya could tell she had spoken of an issue that wasn't well received. While the petite usdia had seemed amicable and friendly, all of the sudden the mood had shifted with the mention of the past. So it was a touchy subject, and something Kaiya made note not to bring up anytime soon, if at all.
While she was curious about what it was about her past that caused the mare to grow cold, Kaiya was not one to push or pressure. There were some things that were meant to remain a secret, and the angeni wasn't going to harass Esta over it. To each their own, after all.
Her expression never wavered, and insted her head wings stood up a bit as her smile grew. "Three with the possibility of more on the way. That's quite the brood, though I hope you'll allow me to extend my congratulations. I wasn't expecting to ever be a mother, but I also didn't expect to find so many abandoned along my journey here, either." While she loved her children, she was surprised at the amount of youth that grew up without a family unit.
It seeemed unnaturally cruel. She understood mistakes could happen, and was aware that sometimes the fates caused misfortune to touch lives. . . but it was still a sad fact. Sirian's family had been slain, and Terentia . . . well. . . it would always remain a mystery to the mare where her mother might have been. "Still, finding them and raising them had been a great blessing and joy, even if it wasn't a path I had thought I might walk. I can only hope the spirits smile down upon you and your own." And that was the truth!
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Posted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 11:07 am
Esta appreciated Kaiya's ability to take a hint and stay away from the subject of the past. The children, however, were a subject she could ramble on about for hours, though she'd never expected it.
"Thank you," the usdia replied with a small smile and head bob. "It must have been interesting for you, to adopt three almost out of the blue." She'd never actually met anyone who had adopted or been adopted by someone totally unrelated and was intrigued by the concept.
Perhaps...perhaps the angeni wouldn't mind being an overlarge surrogate...
The white mare quickly banished the thought before Kaiya saw it on her face.
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Posted: Fri Dec 03, 2010 12:11 am
Kaiya hadn't had the opportunity to speak about children in a good while, much less with another mother. It felt nice to have such a . . . mundane conversation. But, at the same rate, the angeni never had been blessed with a simple life. There had been complications while a filly, promises made, a betrothal broken, and the curse of her brother. Add her line of work and . . . .it made for a rather complicated lifestyle. Often she was negotiating with those whom loathed her or were averse to her company and ideas. . . . And outside of her children, each now grown, she really didn't have many friends.
So this conversation with the usdia was different, but refreshing all the same. Kaiya was glad to have met the other mare.
"It was unexpected, certainly foals were something I never thought I'd be blessed with. But I love them, all three. . . Being a mother truly does change ones heart, in a way I hadn't entirely been prepared for." In fact, it was her duty as a mother that warred most with her line of work. . . But in the end, her role as a savior won. She would never put her children in danger, which is why she stopped her travels and her profession whenever she was caring for an immediate soul . . . but now they all had their own lives, their own relationships.
"My, but I do miss them. Tell me, what are yours like? Are they grown and away or do you still see them daily? If you don't mind the inquiry. I don't see my three often, at least not as often as I would ideally prefer. . . " But perhaps that was how things always went. She was back on the move, she had to be. . . .
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Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2011 9:21 am
"Oh one girl, Francesca, she marches to the beat of her own drum." Esta smiled and shook her head at the thought. "She left to wander the world some time ago, and I wish her joy of it."
"The other two stay closer to home, but aren't usually there anyway. Quia spends hours staring at the strangest things and Quagga is off being a young stallion," the usdia's tone implied that she didn't want to know what her son was really up to but had a good guess.
"It'll be best, I'm sure, if there's not too many around when the next set comes," Esta concluded. It was nice to think of the children, to be able to hope for the best for them. To know, or at least think, that they were happy with their lives.
"But you don't see yours very often? That must be very hard for you, as a mother." It wasn't - quite - a question. But it might well have been.
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