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 Posted: Wed Sep 01, 2010 10:23 pm
Yet, it didn't seem to matter. For as harshly as her mind argued with her heart, her hooves seemed steady in their trek. Doan Vien was a very strong mare in reality, it shouldn't have been at all surprising to see her continue on. She had come to the conclusion that her daughter needed more than the mere prayers of well-being she could offer from here. As she pushed on, she could only hope that her parting words long ago had spurred the other female into action, the same as she was taking now.
Upon reaching the mouth of the cave she was seeking, she glanced around. A fellow horse she had met, a rather wise sounding mare, had told her that there was a stallion somewhere around this cave that could possibly help her. How, she wasn't sure, but she was willing to try most anything at this point in time. Despite her long-lived life in the Kawani lands, they were still not the most familiar thing to her. If her daughter had indeed found her way here or anywhere nearby, she would likely need guidance to find her.
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Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 7:30 pm
Illidan stood at the mouth of his cave, a strange feeling having awoken him. Something was on the horizon. He could sense it in the air. Looking down toward the valley stretched out below, he gave a soft snort and wandered back into his cave.
Moments later, the light sound of hoof steps around the outside of his cave brought him wandering to the mouth of his home once again. Looking about, he caught sight of a mare. Tilting his head at her presence, he stepped out more from the cavern.
"Who are you?" he asked softly, walking toward the mare. Not many wandered into his territory and he had to admit, his curiosity was piqued.
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Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 8:16 pm
It wasn't as if she could simply walk in. If the one she was seeking did indeed live in this cave, it would be awfully rude to walk in unannounced. Besides, she was not foolish. The wise mare she met had said this stallion could help her, but she knew nothing beyond that. Who was to say he would even care to help her? Or allow her to wander right into his home without invitation, for that matter. Lowering her head, she glanced into the darkness as far as she could see.
It was then something caught her attention. Someone was coming out of the cave. Was this the stallion she had been told about? The closer he came, the more she had to raise her vision to him.
"I am Doan Vien," she spoke out, thinking it best not to hesitate in answering his questions. "I was looking for a stallion I was told of. Someone who might be able to help me." She glanced back for a moment, as if recalling. "Another mare I met said I might be able to find him here."
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Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 8:31 pm
The stallion shifted a bit to step back. This mare had come to him for help? "My name's Illidan. I'm not sure how I can help you, though." In all honesty, what help could he truly offer? He lifted his head, gazing at the mare from behind his blindfold. "I can try, but I'm not sure it'll do much good."
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Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 8:51 pm
It was in her nature to keep her gaze trained on him as he spoke. And, for a moment, this only made her think of her daughter again. What sort of manners had she been taught at her new home? Had she been well-raised and learned? She smiled, in part to her memories and in part to this stallion. He knew not a thing about her, either, and yet he hadn't turned her away. That much she was grateful for. When he finished, she nodded.
"I know it is probably strange to have me ask you out of the blue, but I would be grateful for any help you could offer me." Glancing to the side, she looked to be debating. "You see... When my daughter was just a young filly, she was taken from me and sold." It was obvious from her voice that she bared no ill will because of this. At the time, the family would have starved without the currency. "I want to find her now, but I am afraid I cannot make the trip alone." She looked back to him. The journey could be long, she was asking for so much. "I'm sorry that I don't have much of value to offer in return for a guide... Only this jade, if you'll have it." She shifted her form and the charm around her neck tapped against her chest.
For now she would leave out the possibility that it might be impossible to find her daughter in these lands at all, as sick as the deception made her feel.
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Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 10:20 pm
"I have no use for baubles," Illidan told her, "but I will help you. I've grown weary of this place and have needed a reason to feel the earth under my hooves again. Family is important, so I'll help you find yours."
He stepped out into the sunlight more, ducking his head down at the brightness bathing him. "I'm not sure I'll be much of a guide, but I'll be your companion on your journey." He looked up at her, not sure he wanted to say yet why he was really agreeing to go with her.
It's true, family was important to him when he'd had a family. He didn't see a reason for anyone else to lose theirs. Plus, it seemed like an opportunity to see more of this strange land he'd come to call home.
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Posted: Thu Sep 02, 2010 11:23 pm
For a moment, she regarded him, then nodded. Though she wouldn't say, she was actually relieved that he had refused her offering. This pendant was the last thing she had of her homeland and parting with it would have been more difficult than she wanted to admit. Still, she would have, if it meant gaining aid on her quest.
"Thank you," she said, her gratitude genuine. "I could not ask for more than your companionship." She was sure that the wise mare she met had a good reason for pointing her in Illidan's direction. If not a guide, then perhaps something else. In time, she thought she would understand. And besides, he was a much larger horse than she. If ever a time came that she needed a strong hoof, it would be a blessing to have him there. She took note not to be too reliant, however. It was in her nature to care more than to be cared for.
"If there is something you need to do beforehand..." she paused, wondering if it sounded like she was rushing him. "I mean, if I may, I could stay and wait for you. I know my request was sudden, so I don't want it to seem like we must leave now." Perhaps it would be a good time to stop and gather herself, as well. The trip here had been quite long from where she had started.
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Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 11:37 am
"I have no ties to this land or this cave," Illidan said, noting that the mare looked slightly tired, perhaps having walked a good distance seeking him out. "However, there is a grove nearby with apple trees and a small pond we could breakfast at before beginning our journey. I haven't eaten yet and a full belly to start the day is preferable."
He did not want to mention that he was a meat-eater just yet. After all, he did not prefer killing to sustain himself if he didn't have to. He knew most had an aversion to the kalona needs for meat and did not want to scare her away when she'd traveled so far to find him and needed his help.
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Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 12:28 pm
It had been at least a day since the last time she ate and at the mention of food, her belly grumbled expectantly. As the beginning of their journey, she figured they should start it off on the right hoof. She was glad to hear he knew of such a place.
"That sounds perfect," she said with another slight nod. The more she thought about it, the more her stomach complained. "It's been a while since I ate, so I don't think I would make it very far otherwise." A soft laugh left her and she looked around. Doan couldn't quite remember such a grove on her way here. In reality, she probably would have fallen victim to the tasty distraction and stopped for a rest before making it if that were the case. She glanced back to him thoughtfully.
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Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 8:34 pm
"It's this way," Illidan told her, motioning the direction with his head before heading toward the grove. He snagged an apple from a low branch, munching on it as he walked to the pool of water. After getting a drink, he looked up at the mare. "Why was your daughter sold?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 9:39 pm
As he led, she followed quietly, rather enjoying the sight of the neat little grove with its considerably tasty looking apples. Her wings buzzed at her back as she gave a little hop. They really didn't help anything, but it felt as if they did. Snagging an apple, she stood and munched it for a moment, watching Illidan as he moved towards the water. Shortly after, she followed, reaching the edge and finishing her first bit of breakfast just as he began to speak.
Canting her head, she smiled softly, sadly. It was true that she did not hate her humans for doing so, but it was still hard to have lost her daughter at such a young age. Oh, how she had wanted to see her grow.
"Well..." she began gently. "For a while my humans survived alright, but after a while, they could no longer support themselves properly. So, after my daughter was born, they decided it would be best to sell her to survive. They wouldn't have been able to care for her as well as me..."
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Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 10:05 pm
The stallion frowned. "You lived with humans? And you let them sell your daughter?" If he hadn't had enough proof already in his life at how evil and selfish humans could be, this news certainly would have convinced him. "Well, now I'm definitely in for helping you find her."
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Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 10:21 pm
Despite herself, she smiled. "I wish I could have done something, but I was weak back then. I regret allowing it to happen." In a way, she had only wanted her humans to be happy. They had been good to her in the time she lived with them. However, the guilt she felt had led her to leave in the night and never look back. She only hoped her daughter had remembered this place, as she had told her on the day she was taken away. If she had any luck, Hong Yen Ha would have made it to this land, as well.
"I escaped my humans in hope that I would eventually find my daughter." She paused and looked at him for a long while. "I am still very grateful for your help."
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Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 11:18 pm
"I am sorry that you went through that," Illidan said, wings lowering a bit. "I was betrayed by a human I trusted, too. It cost me my family as well." He shook his head a bit, not really feeling like swapping stories of the past over breakfast.
After another few apples, he looked at the mare. "So, any clues on where to begin looking for . . . um, what is your daughter's name?"
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Posted: Fri Sep 03, 2010 11:48 pm
Before she could think to reply, she noted the shake of her head. The conversation had turned to something rather heavy now and she understood that he probably didn't want to continue. Doan would respect that. However, she still held a curiosity over what had happened to him. It hurt her a little to hear he had suffered, as well, but she also felt something of a kinship.
Turning away, she grabbed another apple and munched it thoughtfully. For a moment, she was lost in thought, mulling over what he had just told her. Luckily, he was able to pull her from her mind as he spoke again.
"Oh, Hong Yen Ha is what I had called her before we parted. I am not sure if her new humans gave her a different name or not." She grew quiet for a moment, not wishing to think that her daughter would not recognize the name she had given her. "I think by the water would be a good place to start." That was just a guess, but it made sense if it just so happened that her daughter had only recently made it here.
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