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 Posted: Fri Aug 12, 2011 12:08 pm
Another treat was the presence of their mother. Proud and strong and still so very loving to her children. Even Rai despite his lack of talons. To the young colt she was everything. She and the rest of his small family. The commander had taken to the trees as the foals continued on path, chirruping out softly every now and again as she watched them from above. A watchful, protective presence without being overbearing. She would settle within the branches ahead and keep watch, not only of her sons, but the area around them. Ever on duty.
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Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 8:17 am
Laughing behind his ungulate brother, Taarab trotted merrily with his claws digging into the earth, having been born Digigrade like his mother, "Rai, you know I'm not as fast as you are out in the open."
He smiled, glancing over his shoulder at his father in the distance, running around and playing 'capture the stallion' with their sister. It a popular game in the nursery, where boys run around and girls try to tag them with the rounded side of their claws or the sides of their muzzles... Or in the rougher versions pin them down, something that always resulted in laughter and bruises for Taarab whenever he played the role of The Outsider. Umoja seemed the best at pinning colts, even those nearing the end of their first year, with minimal bruising though -- perhaps it was because of the extra practice she got with their father.
Nearing the river, Taarab paused, investigating the rounded rocks picking up a couple with his claws and setting them away from the water, where he could take them home with him -- they'd make good tools and would be fun to play with. Especially the one that was almost perfectly spherical.
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Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 9:05 am
The hooved colt reared, circling back to gallop around his brother as he bemoaned his lack of speed over open ground. It really was no contest between them where swiftness was concerned, and although proud of his speed, the grounded babe couldn't shake a niggling jealousy for the talons of his siblings. They could share the trees with their mother, touch the sky. He could not. It didn't make him bitter though, and he loved his family deeply. The Great Mother moved in mysterious ways, and even as young as he was Rai understood that.
They reached the river's edge and Rai slowed to a trot as Taraab's attention fell to the rocks along the bank. "What'd you find?" Of the three of them it was always Rab who seemed to chance upon the best of finds, and Rai was always eager to look over his shoulder as he toyed and tinkered with the odds and ends he collected. "Are you going to make something with them?" More toys perhaps that he might be willing to share with his favorite brother?
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Posted: Tue Aug 16, 2011 7:02 pm
"This one here might be good for shaping the bones into claws for Nakita's new hunting gauntlets -- she's out growing the last set I made her and won't be able to continue hunting without them." Taarab stated, shifting one rock, "this one however has a good shape for rolling -- I might be able to put some scraps over it and let them dry... If I stitch it right and stuff it with grasses, I could use it to make us a toy to play with, like the 'balls' dad told us about."
Taarab's upper body lowered, his butt wiggling in the air as he looked at the large round stone, then danced around it, his two bells jingling merrily, having earned his second one when he made Nakita her functional bone claws, much like Rai got his when he made the long beaded drapes over his younger brother, which was now how the honey clawed stallion wore his earned bells with pride, "Can you imagine having a ball that wasn't aged and all slobbered on to play with, one that was just ours and not any one elses? Just you, Me, Umoja, Mommy and Daddy. Our ball."
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Posted: Sat Aug 20, 2011 9:15 am
There was the smallest flares of jealousy at the mention of Nakita and her hunting gauntlets, but Rai did his best to ignore it. Hunting wasn't his place, nor would it ever be, so there was no reason for him to have the lovely taloned gauntlets his brother was so skilled at making. That did not mean he didn't want a pair. It was an unattainable desire.
Toys on the other hand were not, and at the mention of a ball the rose faced colt perked up, ears snapping forward as he shuffled his hooves about. "Really? You can make a ball like the ones dad mentioned?" Oh he was excited now, and couldn't help but bounce about around his clawed brother, nipping at the other male's mane. "Do you really think Momma will play with us?" Of all the babes it was Rai that seemed the most adoring of their wonderful mother. In his rosy eyes she could do no wrong. "That would be amazing, Taarab!"
He turned so he could trot around the rocky bank beside them before jumping into the low flowing river. It was chilly, but the crisp sharpness of temperature felt good.
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Posted: Sat Dec 10, 2011 10:02 pm
"She might!" a few of the short quills in his hair perked as he wiggled, rolling the large ball of stone a bit as his brother headed into the water, mind still wondering about the possibilities in the rounded river rock, "For girls balls are good for hunting practice, just as for boy's their good for exercising and fun."
Taarab had no envy of the girls -- They had to learn to hunt and fight, and had requirements expected of them. Boys just had to be polite and protected and stay in their areas unless escorted. That made being a boy special in his own opinion, and one could focus all their attention on what they enjoyed most, or simply have fun, "I'll be with you in a minute, Rai -- I wanna get these rocks to the roots of moms tree so she knows I wanna take them home with us. Oo! And this one.. I like this one too.. I'mma go get the pelt momma got us."
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