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 Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 12:11 pm
 The soft chime of bells echoed through the hazy morning air. A heavy gray fog hung over the forests and plains lately. It was enough to make the spirit heavy. Shaking out his fiery mane, Kratos paused and pawed at the ground, anxiety gripping him again. It might have been the cloying dampness or the scent of decay that fell over the ground, or it might have been the exhaustion that hampered him at the end of each journey. What had happened to these blessed lands?
He hadn't come into contact with another of his kind in weeks, easily. Usually, these plains would be crawling with bloated mares and their young. Perhaps that much on its own was sheer luck. It also meant he'd yet to run into an overprotective, aggitated father. With really sharp, pointy horns.
Moving forward slowly, his ears flicked at each sound. Predators had come further in, fleeing the furthermost reaches of the mangrove. The storm might have flooded the marshes. There was little way to know without investigating, and that was something left to braver Kirin.
All he could do now, all he had want for, was locating high ground to rest.
He'd take to the skies, and safety, soon enough.
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Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 12:56 pm
 It was so damp, so bleak, so grey... and Nalani was completely and utterly alone.
This was not how she had wanted to venture out on her own. That storm had lasted for a very long time, with cruel strong winds driving everyone away and sheets of rain so thick and heavy that one could not see the trees in front of them. Trees that had been violently uprooted and even broken from the restless attack of the storm. She had been fortunate to find shelter in a cave, but... she had been separated from the rest of her family in the meantime.
That was so long ago now, yet she still had yet to be able to locate any of them. The storm had confused and washed away all scent trails that might have lead to them, and the damage at the time to the surrounding landscape had made it impossible to locate their usual resting place. By this point she had basically come to terms with the fact that she may never see them again, and could only hope fervently that they were all safe and well. The bleak fog as of late however had not done much to help raise her spirits.
The mare's ears perked at the soft chime of bells. I've heard that sound before, she thought to herself in a slight daze, turning her head in the direction of the sound. But where have I... ah! In the soft breeze she caught the scent of a lone stallion and rejoiced inwardly at the fact that she recognized it. It was the winged stranger from the river that day! "Kratos?" she called out gently, trotting carefully his way. It would be nice to see someone familiar again after being isolated for so long.
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Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 1:04 pm
Eyes narrowing, Kratos' head jerked to one side as he scented the air. Something was coming. Along with another, softer scent. Confusion pricked at him for only a moment. He turned to move away when a familiar sound touched his ears.
With a little snort, he wheeled around and charged toward the mare. It was only her. Where was her family? She didn't even carry their scent on her. What was going on? Kicking up clods of dirt, he lowered his head, fangs beared. Skirting her side, he shielded her, a feral sound leaving him.
A low growl eminated from the bushes, branches rustling as something moved forward.
Digging his hooves into the ground, Kratos moved against Nalani, forcing her away as he kept her body covered.
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Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 1:22 pm
"Kratos?" she repeated again, startled when he came charging toward her. The mare had been about to jump out of the way when the Airin stopped, standing in a defensive and aggressive display beside her while shielding her against some unseen danger. "What-- Oh," she said softly, hearing the return growl from the bushes. There was a predator! And he was protecting her. The mare was touched by his response, but for now they had a more pressing issue at hand to concentrate on. Nalani lowered her own singular horn, pawing at the ground restlessly as she kept an eye about them. The creature would be a fool to attack them now considering that they were on guard, but if it was hungry enough it still might attack out of desperation.
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Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 1:28 pm
Charing from its hiding place, a ball of black rushed toward the pair. As Kratos lowered his antlers to meet it, a second came toward Nalani, teeth glistening in the sun.
"Watch out, Nala-!" Grunting as the panther careened into him, Kratos forced it backwards. Twisting his neck, he threw it into a tree. Its body hit with a sickening crack. Pushing itself up, it crept forward again, favoring a hind leg. The stallion left her side, charging again and pinning the creature to the ground. Stamping a forepaw, he released it, praying it would run. To kill another creature, even one that had attacked first, would weigh on him. He watched as it ducked low to the ground and crawled backwards, whimpering in pain.
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Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 1:49 pm
Nalani was ready for it. She had learned long ago that not many predators were stupid enough to attack multiple Kirin on their own. The mare charge straight for the oncoming feline, her horn managing to get it in the eye. The cat let out a horrid screech of pain (even she had to wince at where her horn had inadvertently hit) and immediately withdrew from the attack, leaving a very bloody trail as it retreated. That thing might actually bleed to death, she thought to herself with chagrin, hearing its piercing wails as it ran off. Looking back over at Kratos and his attack, the stallion seemed to have done an adequate job of subduing it as well. "You would think they would learn not to attack when we are watching," she said with a soft snort, grimacing a bit when she noticed that the blood running down her horn. "Ick. I need to work on improving my aim."
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Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 1:55 pm
The stallion watched the impeeded retreat, then glanced back at her and smiled gently, trying pointedly to ignore the blood dribbling down her antler. "No. They're getting desperate. Lack of food. Maybe disease." Kratos turned. He would spare her the knowledge that it was getting worse, and it wasn't limited to this place. "We should probably find a place to rinse that off. That's all-... his, right?" Blue eyes moved over her flank, trying to suss out any hint of injury. She looked to be fine. And again, he noticed the absence of scent on her. No family. She'd been alone. And for how long? Nuzzling her throat gently, he turned. There had been a river, if he remembered correctly. The exhaustion crushed down on him again. His shoulders throbbed, but it wasn't time to rest. Not yet. They were free of danger, but he had to know what had happened.
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Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 2:10 pm
"Yup, all his," she replied with a faint smile. A warm tingle went down her throat as he nuzzled her, the simple physical contact doing wonders to lift her spirits. The stallions weariness did not escape her notice however. "What has happened to you? You appear exhausted, and I doubt it's just from that fight." She frowned, nuzzling him back. "Have you been over-exerting yourself?" Nalani worried for her companion whom she knew to always travel alone. She had found out the hard way just how rough it was to defend one's self without the aide of a herd.
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Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 2:15 pm
Laughing softly, Kratos shook his head. "No, nothing like that. I like getting back before I rest. It's not always safe to let your guard down out there. No place to roost, as they say." Here either, it seemed. "I hate to ask it, but where is your family?" He nudged her forward, plodding toward the water. It must have been hard, leaving a herd to walk alone. Or losing a herd, one way or another. He couldn't keep the concern from his eyes. His muscles flexed beneath his skin, thoroughly worn from the days of use.
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Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 2:36 pm
"I don't know," Nalani admitted glumly, eyes downcast as they started toward the water. "We were separated in a storm and I have been unable to find them since. I am glad to have found you though." She brightened up at the last part, smiling at her Airin companion. "It's been so long since we last saw one another. Have you been visiting those mountains that you spoke of before?"
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Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 2:45 pm
Biting back a yawn, Kratos smiled sleepily. "I've only been wandering. I was going, but the weather. I retreated out to the islands while it passed. The winds can get dangerous." To say the least. And sunning on white beaches for a few weeks was rather nice. It didn't hurt that there were less predators there. Less predators interested in something as large as a Kirindae, at least. It wasn't that he was a coward. If a fight could be avoided, he would do his best to do just that. To hurt another creature never sat well with him. Even when he was a colt. That was one of the few things that had stuck with him.
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Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 2:53 pm
"Islands?" she replied, unfamiliar with such land masses. "Well, I am sure that you chose a nice place to rest."
The two continued chatting and soon enough reached the river. Relieved to be able to clean her horn, Nalani all but stuck her face in the water, letting the current do much of the washing for her. Fortunately the blood hadn't caked up too badly yet. Once her horn was sufficiently cleaned, the mare looked back over at her tired companion with a smile. The stallion was clearly fighting to stay awake. Oh, silly Kratos... "Why don't you sleep for a bit," she suggested, pushing him gently toward a nice soft spot in the grass. "I can keep watch while you rest, so there is no need to worry."
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Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 2:59 pm
Kratos paused some distance from the stream, keeping watch as she cleaned herself. Was it him, or was the sky clearing a little? He stared up in wonder, wings pressed to his sides. A low breeze cooled the banks. He turned his attention to the mare, studying her thoughtfully. She looked so small. And she had held her own for that long on her own? A new respect for her welled in him.
Surprise lit his face as she nudged him. "Wh-" A little laugh escaped. "But what about you? Aren't you tired too?" He allowed her to move him. There was little other choice, and he was too tired to argue.
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Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 3:09 pm
"Clearly you have not borne witness to just how much energy I possess," she said with a laugh, continuing to nudge him onward. "If my sister was here she could grip to you aaaall about it. For now though you'll just have to take my word for it. Now get some sleep, silly!" she commanded playfully, giving him a light lick on the cheek before assuming guard duty. It had been a while since she had stood watch for anyone other than herself, and frankly it was a nice change. Besides, it was the least she could offer to the friend who had just basically saved her life. She might not have been able to take on two felines by herself.
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Posted: Fri Jun 25, 2010 3:14 pm
Kratos sank to the ground and looked up to her, offering a small wink. "Alright, but only for a few hours. If it starts to get dark, kick me in the head or something." Tucking his head against his foreleg, he didn't even hear her reply. A hard sleep fell over him. It had been a long time since he'd been able to really rest, and flying took a lot out of him. His breathing evened out, body relaxing.
In just a few hours, he huffed a sigh and stretched his long wings, brushing against her. A blue eye opened to a slit and rolled around. Where was he? And what was this big body beside him? Yawning, he closed his eyes tightly against the waking world.
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