|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 7:38 pm
Galilee was drifting along the winds that swept over the beach. He enjoyed the sun glinting off his wings, when it ruffled his thick hair. He let out a raucous laugh, swooping down to dip his hooves in the waves.
After a few more dips, the stallion made his way toward the beach. He settled on the sand, taking a few steps to get his footing. He shook out his mane, or the best he could with the thick dreads and belts holding it back. It was a nice day. He didn't see how it could be any better.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 7:54 pm
 Alvilda had accepted her stay in these lands as inevitable. That didn't mean she was particularly fond of the fact, but this was home now, and she would have to make the best of it. No ship was coming back for her- a mixed blessing. At least she was far away from her conniving father, and his constant thirst for more.
At the same time, Alvilda still felt dreadfully lonely. She spent long hours staring out to sea. She had not kept up contact with those she had met here, not yet willing to admit her stay might have a degree of permanence. Now she paid the price for her actions, and sulked like a child at her lonely seaside haunt, with only the gulls for company, and a curious sea turtle that sometimes seemed to like to keep her company as she waded into the shallows, the warm water lapping at her belly.
There was something different in her routine today, however. Alvilda had watched the glint in the sky with dejected interest at first, sure that whatever it was would just fly on and leave her alone. Much to her surprise, the glint was a soquili, and, furthermore, he had landed on her stretch of beach. Initially Alvilda bristled- it was a stallion, and her distrust still ran deep. But beggars could not be choosers for adventure now.
Besides, he was... interesting looking, to say the least. Alvilda had never met an angeni, for one. For another, it looked as if large parts of his body were made out of two-legger metal, which did not seem possible. Alvilda would not consent to let any two-legger groom her, which explained the various objects entangled within her brown mane.
Approaching with hesitance, Alvilda hailed him. "Greetings, I am Alvilda. You've reached my beach. Is all that really part of your body?" She gestured towards his metal with her head.
"And how is your mane like that?" Never one to be embarrassed, she had a torrent of questions to ask him, but they could wait.
"You're welcome to stay and rest a while," she said belatedly, still not quite sure of his presence.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 8:24 pm
Galilee started a bit when the mare had approached him with her questions. He tilted his head, then chuckled. "Your beach? You own this beach, then?"
He followed her eyes, lifting a wing to look at it. "It is. Is that your hair? The decorations are unique."
He moved to the side of her, looking at the sand. "It's a nice location, maiden. So...I will accept your offer to rest awhile....and my mane is like this because well...one hasn't been keeping up with one's looks."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2011 8:53 pm
Alvilda cocked her head slightly, still taking in what she thought was Galilee's odd appearance. He looked strange enough to her, anyway, though his laughter did put her slightly more at ease. He was certainly no kalona, set out to eat her flesh. She would let him stay a little longer, even if it was with grudging.
"This is my beach because I've lived here the longest. But you could say I own it, yes." Alvilda looked dead serious, but she soon regretted her words. They were a bit silly. "Well... Mine until someone else comes along and claims it." It wasn't in Alvilda's nature to stay in one place and live a stationary lifestyle. Part of her secretly craved for someone to contest her claim, if only so she could finally move on and discover something new in life.
Alvilda examined his wings once more. "I got them at sea, and from the shore when I was there. I sailed a lot." That was really all the explanation that was needed. That she had sailed with a ship of two-leggers who employed less than legal means really was not very important. Not right now. Alvilda didn't want to scare away her new companion, who was at least interesting. "Where did yours come from? Do you get help from someone else to keep it all shiny?"
When Galilee said he hadn't kept up with his looks, Alvilda nodded once more. She knew that feeling all too well. "Have you been adventuring?" She suddenly craved a tale of adventure, if only to live vicariously through another.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 1:50 pm
Galilee nodded to her last question, "Like a hellion, maiden. I have been on ships as well, with two-leggers. They found me useful to help them carry supplies to their...air ships. They are funny creatures, these two-leggers. They hang baskets from large balloons and travel in them."
He decided to leave out their less than legal reasons for traveling in such an odd manner. He figured that could wait until he knew his new friend more. He looked back at his wings, considering the best explanation. "I got hurt helping deliver supplies, and the two-leggers made me these braces for my wings...so that I could fly again. I return to them when I'm inclined. They repair them and clean them for me."
The stallion leaned a little closer to Alvilda's mane, looking the baubles over. "You must have traveled the world over for such lovelies. I think I have only traveled this land...but not much of it. Just more where there are cities. Far far to the east. I like it here a little more...less crowded."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2011 4:30 pm
Air... Ships? Alvilda's mind fixated on that one strange combination. Those two things did not belong together. There were ships, and they floated in the sea, and there was the air. That was all around them, and only those with wings could fly around in it. But what Galilee said made it sound as if there were ships that flew through the air, and that was simply silly. Alvilda's caution was rapidly fading, giving way entirely to curiosity and a desire to argue with the strange stallion, and prove to him that ships only went in the water.
"Don't you mean sea ships? Ships don't go in the air." There was more than a hint of challenge in Alvilda's voice. Part of her wanted to be proven wrong, but the greater part wanted to win the argument. It had been too long since she debated, too long since she commanded, too long since she had done anything for herself except for sulk and mope. For a soquili who was used to taking herself as the most important thing int he world, and pushing aside all others (even if it hurt them), this kind of lack of consideration for her own well being was strange. The stimulation of a good conversation was waking up her personality once again.
Then he was asking a question about her. No, not asking, but the question was there. Alvilda pulled up, abruptly. Did she want to talk about her past? It wasn't exactly filled with legal activities. Did she care? Not particularly. But there were parts of her past the mare wasn't willing to drudge up yet- not to a complete stranger. Her whole reason for running away had to remain deep inside, where she couldn't touch it, and most importantly, where he couldn't. Giving that much trust to a stallion was impossible.
"I came from far, far away. It was in the north, much colder there than here. But our ship was in a storm, and we floated for days, before another storm dashed us against the rocks. I woke up here, and I don't know how to get home." That much was true, at least. Instead of sounding sorry for herself, as she so often had lately, Alvilda simply looked defiant. Being here was just a temporary setback. "If you come from the crowded lands, why do you come here? There aren't as many two-leggers to clean your wings. I haven't seen one in weeks." Alvilda gestured to Galilee again, hoping that he would reveal some more about his motives.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 5:04 pm
"No, but they do. If they have a big enough bladder of air. It's all very interesting," the stallion swayed his head a little, as if gearing up an explanation. "The air bladders are as long as the boat, plus a half. They're as tall too. They fill with hot air from steam furnaces, then you control them with levers....."
Galilee paused and looked at her, "The north? Like where the ice is?"
The questions about the crowded cities. He wasn't sure how to start with that tale. What the heck, maybe she'd like a tale of adventure. "Well, it's like this, maiden...I'm not exactly here because I like the countryside. I'm in hiding. My two-leggers that I stay with use their air ship and baskets to rob people. Since I'm part of their 'crew'...I'm wanted as well. At least until they forget about us. I can fly to where the two-leggers are....but I chose to venture out a ways on my own. I don't always stay with them, just for food and shelter from time to time."
He thought of something, the lightbulb going on in his head. "What about your two-leggers? Did they survive the wreck and storm?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 5:59 pm
Bladders, filled with air? That was just silly. Alvilda was back to being suspicious of Galilee. It just sounded made up to her. But he seemed to have a good idea of how it worked. But it could still be made up. She shook her head to attempt to clear her mind, the various objects in her mane clattering together as she did so. This was all so confusing. Maybe in the land Galilee came form, they /did/ have airships. Whether or not they existed wasn't important though. There was no way she could ever get up in one of them. Without wings, she was bound to the ground. The fact had never bothered her before this. The sea was where she belonged.
Then they were back to her past again. "Where I come from... There is snow all winter. It begins in the middle of fall, stays until the middle of spring. It grows so cold that you can hardly move, and the wind seems to get through all the cracks of your shelter. Everyone huddles by a fire, if they can, or together in a herd. Then spring comes, and it's brilliantly green and beautiful." Alvilda missed home, and it was evident in her tone. "But I don't think I will go back there. I don't know how to. This land is home now, whether I like it not." Maybe she would get used to it one day, but Alvilda was doubtful.
And then Galilee told his story, and Alvilda instantly warmed up to him. His tale sounded like hers! Sort of, anyway. There was robbery involved. There had been robbery involved with the ships, when they sailed into towns. "My two-leggers did that too! On sea ships, of course. We would fight sea battles. I wasn't much use in those. But in cities and towns and small ports, the two-leggers would pretend to sell me to the locals. I knew how to manipulate locks and doors with my lips, and I could almost always get the two-leggers into the building." Once Alvilda had even held a torch in her mouth, using it to set fire to a warehouse, but perhaps she wouldn't reveal that just yet. Still, she was smiling now, a gleam back in her blue eyes.
Of course, then he had to go and ruin her mood. "I have no clue what became of my two-leggers. I was the only one here, with some bits of the ship. I think that they may have gotten away, in one of their smaller lifeboats. I could never fit in one. I hope they did not die, but their kind dies easily. " Alvilda shrugged, as if she didn't care. She had gotten used to them though, and they had fed her well, giving her pleasing trinkets.
"Tell me more about the flying ships. Did they ever do battle?" Alvilda was so excited, she couldn't help herself. In her curiosity, she was like a foal again. "Oh, I have food and water if you need it." There was a freshwater stream nearby, and fruit trees. Maybe she would even show him her secret apple tree...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 7:24 pm
"More of the airships, maiden? I do not know what you'd want to know...battles?" Galilee tilted his head, thinking. He switched his tail slightly, causing the trinkets on it to jingle a little. "I suppose they had battles. I never saw one, only the repairs of the aftermath. I mostly delivered supplies and messages."
He looked at her, then sighed. "You don't like to discuss your homeland, do you? I won't press then. Even if it does sound, for lack of a better word, magical."
He listened to the mare talk about her two-leggers, then nodded in condolence. "Maybe they did not perish. Perhaps they are on another beach...have you searched for them....?"
"Food, you say?" Galilee was distracted by Alvilda's offer. He grinned, nodding. "I could do with a little nourishment. If it pleases you."
He pauses a moment, then seemed to start. "Oh, I'm an idiot! I never introduced myself. My name is Galilee Atva...at your service."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 7:39 pm
Names initially seemed like too much information, and now seemed unimportant, but some part of Alvilda recalled a more strict upbringing she had tried so hard to leave behind. It was rude not to introduce yourself. But who cared about what was polite or not here? No, no. Galilee had a name now. It was lyrical, and sat well on her tongue. Atva was nice too- a hard sounding word in contrast to the first part of his name. With the letters of his name, Alvilda could almost make her own.
"Alvilda. We had a herd name, but I cast it off when I cast off my herd. One day I will earn a new one." One day far away, with the way Alvilda had proceeded at life. Mayhap it was not completely hopeless though. There were others like her there- others who had partnered with two-leggers for their own game, who had enjoyed activities less than moral.
It was a shame Galilee hadn't seen any of the air battles though. They sounded exciting, now that she thought of them. Ships were hard to turn, but the air must have made it easier. There were no currents, and they weren't so reliant on wind or oars. How did cannons soar through the air? Galilee wouldn't know, sadly, but he had probably seen enough exciting things for days and days of stories.
"Home was a difficult place. My father... We had a difficult relationship." That was perhaps an understatement, and though Alvilda was warming up, she was not about to lay it all bear at the feet of the stallion.
"I searched for my two-leggers a bit, but to tell the truth, I've had no passion for life since coming here. I want to recapture it badly. Don't you miss your prior lifestyle? It is so sedate here. The adventure doesn't seem to exist." Alvilda sighed, then gestured over her shoulder.
"There's some grass, if you'll just follow me, and some fresh water. The rabbits and I are the only one who keep it back, and it grows high this time of year."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 8:32 pm
"Adventures? Sure, I miss them, but you can always find a new one. That's why they're called adventures, dear," Galilee chuckled, giving her a coy look. He turned to look toward the distant mountains. "You could travel there, to a place you hadn't been before. That would be an adventure. Wouldn't it?"
He nodded to her, indicating that he would follow her. "Fresh grass is a treat. Mostly, I had grains to eat, or fruits. All dried though, for storage. Back with the two-leggers, I mean."
"To get back on the thought...perhaps you stopped looking for the two-leggers because you wanted to be free of them. Live your own adventures. Especially with what you said about your life with a herd," the stallion muttered, not wanting to pry into Alvilda's past or problems. "But wouldn't looking for them also be an adventure?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2011 9:17 pm
There was snow on the distant mountains. It had been so long since Alvilda had seen snow. It didn't snow that much down in the flatlands. There was a thin covering, if that. The cold could hardly be counted as such. Alvilda never truly felt it, and she missed it.
"I would like to adventure... But after all this time, I must confess the prospect of lonely wandering does not appeal. If I'm going to live alone, I'd rather live it here, where my two-leggers might come again with another ship." Alvilda looked out once again at the waves, but saw nothing more than a few gulls floating in the distance, looking out for any fish that might be schooling right beneath the surface. She felt very melodramatic and foolish all of a sudden- not a good place for the usually confident mare to be.
But Galilee wanted to eat, and there was no time to sulk now. Almost shyly, Alvilda shouldered aside a large bush, revealing her sacred apple tree, still full and ripe. Even the squirrels couldn't eat everything this tree yielded. It was a special treat. "If you've only had dried fruit, this will taste like the sun on the waves. My two-leggers often only had dried fruit. The first time I had one of these apples, I thought it might be worth it to be here."
"I suppose looking for the two-leggers would be an adventure," Alvilda said with another smile. Her wanderlust was returning. "Have you been on many adventures? Would you like to go on some?" With me was left unsaid just yet. "You have to be able to keep up, of course. Can you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:52 pm
"Adventures? Yes, maiden, I've been on my fair share," the stallion boasted, puffing out his chest slightly. "I have tried to travel this land a little, but I get lonely and settle for a bit. Then I get the wanderlust, and off I go..."
Galilee stopped when Alvilda revealed the tree. He stepped closer to it, looking it over, then hefted himself into the air with his wings. He flew near the top of the tree and gently kicked a few of the nicer looking apples near the top down to the mare's hooves. He smiled down at her slyly. "I think I could keep up with any companion. Don't you?"
He couldn't help but give her a teasing chuckle as he landed. "You know, maybe your two-leggers are waiting for you to find them."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 6:14 pm
Alvilda had a definite sly cast to her face now, looking at Galilee out of the corner of one blue eye. "Those wings look awfully heavy. So does your mane and tail. I can't picture you settling, but I'm not sure you could keep up either." Alvilda was openly smiling now, and the challenge was in her voice. She picked up the apple gracefully though.
"This may be one of the better pieces of treasure I've found in a while." It tasted fantastic- ripe and sun kissed, better than the ones she had within reach. Galilee could be useful to keep around, or travel with, if he accepted the offer.
Watching him land, Alvilda finished off the rest of her apple, almost wishing for another. Everything suddenly tasted better, with her passion for life flowing back in her limbs. Even the sun felt better than usual on her map marked coat.
"My two-leggers should learn to do things on their own, for once," Alvilda said with a snort. But the idea of looking for them appealed more and more. "Say... Are you in a settling mood, or an adventuring one? I'm asking simply out of curiosity, of course." If he didn't accept, she could at least drag more stories out of him.
"And while I'm prying... What is it like to fly? Is it like being on a ship at all?" It sounded like a stupid question the moment it left her mouth.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 9:43 pm
"I'm a strong horse," Galilee replied, lifting his wings to illustrate. He lowered them, then walked over to nose the ground. "Did any other apples drop down?"
He looked up at the mare, "I'm always in an adventurous mood, maiden. Why else would I have found my way to your beach? Do you wish to travel somewhere?"
The stallion grinned, so many questions she had. He looked at his wings, then back to Alvilda. "To fly..hrm. The only ships I haven been on were in the air. It's...nice though. Freedom. That's why flying is like. It's freedom."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
