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 Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 9:11 pm
 Tebald was draped over his favorite tree branch and staring off into space like usual. Sometimes his got down to explore for a bit or get some food or a drink but he spent more of his time here. Thinking, dreaming, cursing his father...that sort of thing. His young life had not been a happy one. Almost directly out of the basket he had learned to fend for himself. His father completely ignored him and all he knew was that his mother had hurt him and taken his one sibling away. What reason she would have for that he couldn't fathom...but he hated her...hated dad too. For leaving him alone and lonely. She'd broken his family and taken the one potential friend he could have had. His undefined brother or sister.
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Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 9:43 pm
 Adelle walked slowly through the meadowlands near the Kawani lands, having drifted south briefly in her sojourn. The first foal she'd met, the strange Ojichaag, had grown up and they'd parted ways. She didn't blame him, but he seemed...better...than when she'd met him. Sure, he'd still had a strange fixation on "souls," but someone had reached out to him, normalizing his childhood a bit. As long as Neva didn't know and foals didn't stay with her forever, Adelle should be fine, and so should any foals she met.
Her silver bells chimed, a touch mournfully now, as if in response to her mood. The sun flashing on her silvery coat, mane, tail and wings and her pure silver bells gave her a faint glow, despite the full daylight. Adelle didn't notice, and certainly didn't care. Not given the depths of her self-doubts and depression.
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Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 10:10 pm
When she came into view Tebald tipped his head sideways in wonders. A silver winged mare was quite a sight considering his current state. He usually didn't see anyone here, this was his private spot, and when anyone else did enter...he often disappeared. Preferring, if not solitude, not to be discovered. But for once, for a reason he couldn't quite fathom, he lifted his head and opened his mouth to address her. "Why are you here? This is my spot." True it was rather rude but he knew no other way. Only how to push everyone away and protect himself
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Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 10:21 pm
Adelle looked down toward the colt's voice, having not noticed his presence in her unhappy state. The little tyke had quite a temper and attitude for one so young. She peered around with her icy blue eyes without shifting her head a hair. No adults in sight. He was alone. Drat. Motherly instincts kicked in at this juncture, despite her wishes to not get involved with anyone.
"I am passing through, little one. I did not know this was your special and secret place." She delicately lowered her rosy muzzle toward him. "I hope you'll forgive me for trespassing. I truly did not mean it, and if I'd known, I would have taken a different trail, so I wouldn't disturb your secret place."
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Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 10:42 pm
She talked funny...or maybe she talked normal...he didn't really know anyone to compare. He watched as she spoke. Not really listening to the words, just the tone.
Then when she got closer and tipped her muzzle down he froze. "Don't touch me." The statement was little more than a whisper but deadly serious. "Don't touch me." he repeated. He was okay with talking but affection was completely foreign.
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Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 10:54 pm
Adelle froze. No. She couldn't touch him. Touching him meant having motherly feelings, and motherly feelings led to heartache all around when she was involved. It would be better if she left now, before getting involved and ruining someone else's life.
Yes. She had to touch him, in some way or another. He clearly did not know what it meant to be loved or to share with those he loved. As a loving mother, it was Adelle's inborn duty to show him the deep-seated and natural affection all parents have for their offspring, as well as orphans who tugged on their heartstrings...as this colt's loneliness did. What she did do was this.
"I'm sorry. I did not mean to touch you. I meant to lower my head so I can speak more properly to you, as a sign of respect, of a sort, little one. I will not willingly hurt you, and I will not willingly do things that will trouble you, little one."
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Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 11:35 pm
He raised one skeptical brow at her "Hmm..." It was a noncommittal answer and implied he didn't believe her. "I'm not a baby. You don't have to talk to me like one. I have a name. Don't call me little one." He got off from the branch and shook his legs out one by one to get some of the blood back. "I am Tebald."
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Posted: Sat Jul 23, 2011 11:41 pm
Adelle nodded, a soft smile crossing her rosy lips. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Tebald. And you're quite right, you're not such a little one. You appear to be a weanling. Am I right, Tebald?" she asked gently. It was sad when foals had to grow up so fast that they sacrificed their childhood. Who had let such a child alone to have to grow up in self defense?
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Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 12:10 am
He tipped his head sideways at the new word. "What is a weanling? I'm afraid I don't know that word." Why was she being so nice to him? Weren't all adults mean and hurtful? Except humans of course. Humans were nice. A smile crept across his face as he thought about the humans and pets they'd give him.
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Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 12:17 am
Adelle mentally kicked herself. Of course a lone foal like him wouldn't realize. "A weanling is a foal who's ready to learn about being a grown-up and start learning to care for him or herself, while not being yet ready to live on their own. Weanlings are usually around six months old or older, which is how old you look, judging how big you are," she said kindly, carefully using the word "big." Her boys had liked that idea, so the ploy might work here.
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Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 1:27 am
"Oh." The answer was given off hand as if he really didn't care. "I'm six months old. But I already know how to take care of myself." He blinked at her a few times before addressing a pressing issue. "You can leave and go where ever you want. I don't need you here. I'm little but it's safe here. I know these woods really well."
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Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 7:36 am
Adelle felt torn. His words freed her to run, to not get involved in his little life, so he could not be ruined by her. On the other hand, her motherly instinct demanded she stay and show this colt what it meant to have a mother or some kind of a parent. A proper, loving one a that, given that his own parents had seemingly abandoned him. A resolve developed in her gut and slowly, she spoke.
"I choose to be here. You do know how to take care of yourself, you do know these woods really well, and you are not fully grown yet. However, even the safest woods and strongest colt can't always shelter you from bigger problems." She tilted her head, the silver bell on her head jingling softly. "Will you let me stay here and teach you what you do not know? There are things one must live with other Soquili to know, that you can't know from living alone or living with only two-leggers."
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Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 2:24 pm
Choose to be here? "I don't need a mother." He said resolutely. "You can stay here but I don't live her. I live in the village near by. They children are nice to me, they pet me and talk to me. The adult humans feed me. I love apples. This place is my spot when everyone is working during the day. I get in the way. I go home at night. I know campfires are safer than woods at night. I don't want to get eaten. What could you teach me that i don't already know?"
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Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 2:36 pm
Adelle looked into his eyes, the color of the newest of spring shoots, with her eyes the soft blue of the earliest moments of the dawn. "You don't have anyone to really talk to or play with. I won't be your mother if you don't want me to be, but you do need others. Even if you don't think you need anyone, you do need someone, Tebald, and I offer myself as someone to talk to, so you can make friends with others when the time comes." Even Adelle was surprised by her own audacity at the offer, but she was right; if Tebald grew up without the company of other soquili, he would be unable to interact with others as equals, be they friend, foe, family, or lover.
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Posted: Sun Jul 24, 2011 3:16 pm
Why was she looking at him like that? "If I never needed mom or dad why would I need you? And I can make friends just fine!" he pouted. She was confusing him and he didn't know how to handle it. Wasn't quite sure why he hadn't run yet. He thought it probably had something to do with her paying attention to him and being nice to him instead of ignoring him. But he'd never let of wanted anyone's attention before.
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