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 Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 8:40 pm
Momma and Radiance were already dozing from what Avia could tell. She watched Chastity's ribs moving steadily up and down for a long time, her heart thrumming deep into her chest, before she dared to stir from underneath her mother's tail. It had been mid-day and Chastity had wanted to lay the foals down for a nap, but had fallen asleep herself. Not feeling bad in the slightest (though surely anxiety of being caught), Avia tip-toed farther and farther from their small nesting area where she and her small family had been staying.
She was becoming a pro at sneaking off. She only returned when it was near dark, or she was hungry. Chastity was sometimes furious with her, but there was nothing to do to stop her.
As safe distant from the sleeping pair, Avia turned and abruptly sprinted off into the thinning trees, grinning with accomplishment.
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 8:49 pm
A Kalona-blooded mare spiraled down from the sky on the wings of a wind, her mane fluttering and flowing around her in sliding strands of indigo and silver. Her markings, eyes and wings glowed with a soft light against her black coat, setting her apart from the soft shadow of the the trees she landed beneath. With a last flare of her wings, she folded them to her back and began a stately walk, humming softly to herself.
"Where to find some excitement?" She wondered, not in the mood for a hunt or kill.
She wanted something entertaining, a puzzle perhaps? A pet? Her sire had advised her on it before, though cautioned her on them as well. Some things had a tendency to be a little too entertaining. So far, she'd had no such fortunes, whether it be considered good or otherwise.
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:09 pm
In her enthusiasm, Avia spread her small wings. She hadn't yet mastered the ability to fly, and her mother had cautioned her that she might not be able too until she was fully grown. Determined however, Avia flapped the white feathers, trying to beat the wind so that it would carry her at least so that her feet weren't on the ground. Straining and unconcerned, she shut her eyes for concentration. There was no success, sadly. She continued, with out opening her eyes, and in her distraction, had not picked up on the beating of real wings that were coming closer and closer.
By the time she barely glanced at her path, there was a large purple horse she'd never seen before in the short distance ahead. Boy did she look intimidating. Halting her run with a skid, Avia realized it hadn't spotted her yet. What was she? Her mother had told her of others that didn't have horns, or wings either one, or even the tail that her, her sister, and her mother all shared. Some had nothing really to show off. Then others were much more exotic. Scales, or pelts that covered their faces. Mother said the pelts were the most dangerous there were. But she'd mentioned the ones with wings... just not like her own. But..this mare had similar ones to Avia's. Though instead of one horn on the middle of her head, she had two on either side. And... what weird tail. It looked so cool.
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:18 pm
Keshani Avenara hesitated, bowing her head to rub her muzzle against her foreleg, silver horns glinting in the dappled sunlight. She sighed softly to herself and straightened, halting at the sudden appearance of a strange foal. A filly, she realized, her spaded tail lashing back and forth as she tilted her head slightly in consideration. A curiously pale thing, with eyes that were a soft blue but somewhat similar to Keshani's own gaze.
How, interesting. She thought as she fluffed her wings.
Silver hooves in motion once again, the black mare moved closer. The filly was probably the child of one of the local Soquili, most likely not far from her parent's protective shadow. Most Soquili had a tendency to keep their offspring close, what with Kalona and Skinwalkers waiting everywhere for tender treats.
Still, the question slipped out. "Lost, LittleOne?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:28 pm
She was dumb struck. She didn't sound as dangerous as she looked, but Avia had enough sense not to be so easily trusting of strangers-- especially ones with deadly weapons for body parts. Her voice croaked, her nervousness nearly tangible in her own mouth. "I.. I.. no, I'm not.. lost." She was very quiet, and hadn't moved a muscle other than her muzzle since the mare turned her gaze on toward her.
Many thoughts sprinted through her young mind, several of which consisted of running back to her mother. The only thing to stop her from that was her pride. (well that... and she couldn't seem to get her muscles to budge.) She would hate more than anything to run away, as scary as they may be.
...That thought sounded a lot better in her mind than it felt in her chest, what with her heart thrumming harder than it ever had when sneaking away from mother. But she squeaked further, her eyes unblinking. "Are.. are you?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:37 pm
Keshani considered the filly, ears pitching forward as she tilted her head again, tossing a few straying strands of her forelock out of her eyes. No, hmm?
"Aren't you now?" She murmured softly, hooves drifting a few strides closer to the statue-struck filly. Either she wasn't scared at all, or she'd simply frozen. The mare wasn't sure which to believe, perhaps a mix of both?
The question made her laugh softly. Oh, now this was an interesting, rather charming child, was it not? "No, I'm not lost."
The question continued to amuse her. Flicking her tail again, she shook her head. "I'm simply wandering, exploring, if you will. And you, is that what you're doing?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 06, 2011 9:55 pm
The mare didn't believe she wasn't lost? That sent a tendril of anger into her muscles that unclenched only to snap back when she moved closer. She moved like a snake, flowing and so smooth that she obviously had predator blood in her. The mare was simply striking in every way. Of course, as distracting as watching the mare move was, Avia's nerves were strung so tight that she didn't miss a breath the mare made.
"I'm an explorer too." She whispered barely audible even to herself, though probably the mare caught it. She suspected the mares senses were far surpassing her own. "I..I've looked at these trees tons of times." A slight exaggeration. No biggie. Hopefully.
Taking a steadying breath, though ragged, Avia attempted to move her muscles as they were becoming progressively sore the tighter she held them in place. Slowly, she shifted the weight in her back legs from her left to right, and moved a front hoof forward some, but didn't step in the direction towards or from the mare. Something in her instincts told her never to flee something that would and could chase you down effortlessly.
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Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 5:20 pm
Keshani Avenara paused, considering the filly for a moment before she craned her head to smooth a feather back into place. Her tail flicked once, a lazy cat-like gesture, and then stilled. Feather returned to its place, the mare resumed her consideration of the almost completely-white filly. How interesting was this little one?
"Ahh, that explains much then." She murmured, the whisper drifting to her ears. "I suppose that means we have something in common then, wandering this area? Though you know it well, and this is the first time I've landed in this place."
She glanced skyward, glowing-silver eyes flickering as she snorted softly. "This place looks much different from the air, but then, that is a good thing. That is the reason I landed, to see things I haven't seen."
Turning back to the filly, Keshani drifted closer. "You've been here dozens of times? Then why not search for somewhere new? New places are much more exciting."
Then again, old places could be interesting too, with the right company.
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Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 2:14 pm
How long had they been standing, chatting? It couldn't have been more than a few minutes, but mentally, she felt like it had been hours. Was this apart of the mares species? Was she able to mentally confound her? The thought sent panic stricken bolts through her stomach area and she looked away instinctively. Her anxiety shot once more as she thought about if that had been a good idea. She didn't want to look back just yet, so she found interest staring into the sun, her eyes aching almost immediately. Squinting, she fought it. She answered only after a moments hesitation. "Y-yes I do believe we have that in common."
She saw out of her peripheral vision the mare look away as well and she chose that moment to look back over to her, ruffling her feathers, wishing she too could fly. She only wondered what the forest and surrounding area looked like from up there.
Her next question stunted her. She had traveled the forest numerous times, even though she'd previously exaggerated some and she did wonder what else was out there. She just never even considered leaving possible, at least while she was still so young. Now that it was mentioned, why couldn't she go out on her own? She knew her mother would come to find her. And if she outwardly asked, mother would surely keep a tight hold. "Because..." she murmured quietly, furrowing her eyebrows and looking downward. "Well... I can't." She wasn't happy about this answer, but it was true.
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Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 7:47 pm
Keshani ignored the scent of the filly's fear, uninterested in startling her into fleeing so she could pursue. After all, Soquili-Flesh rarely interested her, and it was hard to hunt large game with her daintier fangs. She could do it, she just had to work at it. No, it was better this one stayed alive and remained an entertainment rather than died and became a meal.
"Can't?" She murmured inquiringly. The idea was foreign to her, she'd always done what she wished. Realization dawned a moment later, making the Kalona-cross mare nod slightly. "Ahh yes, you no doubt have a family that is waiting on you... I am sure they would be quite worried if you were to disappear, even if it was only for an adventure..."
She sighed softly, shifting on her hooves. "That is such a shame for you, Little One. There are so many things to see...."
She spoke softly, an sly thought taking root in her mind. Her sire had once had a foster, before she was born. Granted the filly he found had no family to speak of, she was a cast off from her family.. Found by a stranger and reared for awhile, before they were separated by a great fire... Not like stealing a filly out from under her dam's nose.
But Keshani had a flare for such things, when she wished it. The idea was, appealing.
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 4:36 pm
Avia was to oblivious to realize that the mare may have been enticing her on purpose. But what was she to care? She was young and had a long life ahead. And she certainly didn't want to spend it here with them (meaning her boring mother and sister). She shook her head, refering back to the females suspicion, not so much in disagreement, but in the way that showed her irritation. "Hmph. They're ridiculous. Adventure nearly scares them, I think."
Avia noticed later on, looking back on this conversation she was having, the more anger and passion that flooded her, the more her fear washed away... hmm. Interesting facts.
She shook out her short mane and flicked her longer tail again. "They would worry alright, but who cares? She lives now, 'worrying' about when I leave. She wouldn't have to worry if she would teach me what I need to know, would she?" It was a rhetorical question that Avia nearly spat out as she glared scornfully at a weed next to her hoof. "I would love to leave and explore... you're so lucky." She sighed, flicking her tail hotly again.
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 4:54 pm
Turning ideas over in her mind with a swiftness belied by her laid-back, confidant attitude, Keshani Avenara continued to appraise the little filly. Unicorn blooded, but with the wings of a wind. Not so different from her own wings, which perhaps made her covert the little filly.
If only a little... She had no offspring of her own, no promising flesh to shape in her own image... No young mind to mold into the cruel intelligence of a predator. While this filly wasn't going to have an easy of a time as she did with killing, Keshani could still teach her to hunt.There was something... compelling about teaching what would have been a peaceful soul the ways of hunting and death.
The idea was quite intriguing to her, quite intriguing indeed. Is this what led Papa to foster, I wonder?
"Scares them?" Keshani snorted, an arrogantly amused sort of sound. "How simple of them to be afraid of a little adventure. Hardly impressive."
Watching the filly shake some of the annoyance off, Keshani smiled faintly as the scorn filtered into the young one's words. Oh, she was quite promising indeed.
"They're holding you back, that's such a shame." Keshani murmured, sympathy coloring her words. "Too bad she won't teach you... I would offer to help, but I'm certain that would never work with your mother so near... And it would take time, and I must be returning to my home lands soon enough... Such a pity."
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:11 pm
Only her eyes drifted upward, forcibly, to look the mare directly into her face. "You.. would teach me?" She whispered so silently, so barely audible, Avia surely thought the mare couldn't of heard her. "Really? Like... teach me how to fight?" She breathed, her tail slacking for maybe the first time during the entire afternoon, her jaw soon following. "How to live all by myself?" The mare may have been frightening, but she was oh so tempting. Funny how things like that worked.
She felt the pull all the way in her hooves. How she wanted to leave! To learn things her mother wouldn't dream of teaching her! This mare wasn't afraid. She wasn't afraid of anything. Avia could see it in her eyes. Those cold, and intelligent eyes.
Wha...? Avia's eyes drifted behind the mares head and saw the horizon pinking as the sun slide downward. Dark was approaching, which meant the female would probably leave her soon... and Avia vehemently didn't want that. No, not at all. She wanted to go with her. She didn't want to stay a moment longer.
Fear instantly seethed in her abdomen and explaining to her mother that she was leaving. No... she didn't have to know. But would the mare allow it? Was she even serious?
"Will you take me away?" She said in a serious voice, fear of being rejected crawling up her throat and laying under her tone. "Tonight? Right now?" She took a step forward. That could of been her worst mistake in her short life yet.
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:40 pm
Keshani maintained her quiet sympathy as the filly worked through her offer, fighting the urge to seem too smug when Avia suddenly looked her straight in the eye.
"Yes." She replied in her softly-melodic voice. "I would teach you, child..."
Glancing at the woods to Avia's back -which she could only guess housed the mare in some distance- she made a regretful sound. "But your mother would surely not allow it, I am a Kalona after all."
A stranger... A hunter. Dangerous.
As the questions continued, she did smile. "Yes. To move through the forest unheard and unseen, to hunt and stalk, to fight. To keep yourself safe and rely on your own skills."
Keshani nodded. She knew all these things, and more. They were things you had to learn, when your mother was a Skinwalker and hell-bent on slaying you and your siblings. Learning how to evade, to hide in plain sight, to move silently and leave no trace or trail.
She'd been doing all those things since she was Avia's age.
"It would be easier to take you away than anything else." She offered honestly. Her wings fanned, the misty-glow seeming brighter as twilight began to fall around them. Inhaling deeply, Keshani smiled. "Night is falling, and so I will be returning to my lands. If you wish to go, Little One, it must be now."
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Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 5:53 pm
So a kalona was what he kind was called. Kal.. lona.. Interesting word, frightening. She would definitely ask more about her kind but the pressure was on.
"Right... now..?" She was hesitant, glancing behind her, forward, as if their surroundings had suddenly changed and would be able to tell her the answers. They, unsurprisingly, didn't and she gulped, looking back up to the mare. She knew her answer before the mare had even asked. It was taking that step that was holding her legs locked in place. "I... will. Let's.. let's go." She nodded, shaking and took a tentative step forward, as an offering of her allegiance and trust.
"But.. first.. uhm.. what's your name?"
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