[FIN] Long Way From Home (Rainart + Buu)

[Darkmoon Dancer]

This is a PRP for Rainart and Buu, both owned by Darkmoon Dancer. [ Link to Teepee ]

 

[Darkmoon Dancer]

Buu had yet to find herself a suitable place to make her home. That is, she knew she was going to stay in the Kawani Lands, but she needed a smaller area, a territory of her own to call home now that she had moved here. Her former master was from a far-away land, but when he passed away she had no more attachment to that place, nor to those people so she began to travel, looking for a new home. Here, she was greeted with warmth and respect from the natives, and there were other soquili here, more than she had ever seen before. Not that that was a hard feat to beat, because she had only ever met a handful of soquili during her life in the far away mountains with the mongolian man she had only ever heard called, Buu. He was where her name came from, and she bore it proudly.

The territory she scouted now was not quite a forest anymore.... somewhat marshy, she would call it. But this wasn't quite right, she was just travelling through this area for now, but she had a feeling that she was getting close now. She was definitely near finding her place to settle down.
 

[Darkmoon Dancer]

Rainart had been out hunting a loner wildcat for the past several days. It had taken him away from the forest he was used to and into the plains where the cat seemed more at home and where Rainart stood out like a sore thumb. He could not be any more opposite to the color of the grasses out here, and it was really hindering his ability to sneak up on this cat. Eventually he had to admit to himself that this cat was not worth the effort, not to mention, he didn't want to be out in the plains any longer. If Ariadne was here with him... that would probably be a different story, but he was quite angry with this stupid cat by now and wanting to go home to bury his face in her soft feathery wings. He would be home soon, he would tell himself as he turned back towards the forest and away from these blasted plains.
 

[Darkmoon Dancer]

Even throughout her short time in the lands here, Buu had no trouble finding herself some little friends. At the moment she had a mouse tagging along, it had managed to wrigglie it's way under her mane and all the way up her neck to nestle in among her bangs. And as she walked along a pair of sparrows weaved in and out of her path in an aerial dance of companionship.

Chuckling at the silly birds Buu spoke out to them, "Leetle ones, you dance so byootifully for me. Truly wonderful." She spoke softly, but with the trees in the area so sparse, her voice could travel a good distance.
 

[Darkmoon Dancer]

Breaking the treeline Rainart sighed loudly, yes, this was much better. Here he could breathe cooler air and he could hear the trees speaking to him in their groans and creaks. Obviously, they said no words, but they told him about the area. They wailed at strong winds and stood stock still in the darkness and presence of danger. What did one have in the plains to help one hunt? The oppressive heat. That was it. And even then it was just a race to see who would give in to it first, and he had no advantages there. He would rather endure the cold than extreme heat any day.

Without warning, or perhaps he had missed the warnings while he was caught up in his thoughts, there was not only movement but talking behind him as well. Stopping in his tracks he turned slowly, ears first and head following to see who was behind him. Shaking his head to adjust his mask and toss his mane out of his eyes, he could identify a figure. Small but sturdy, and yet a ways away. He made no move to approach her, but even if he merely stood here, she would soon spot him and eventually come across his path. He would leave that choice upto her.
 

[Darkmoon Dancer]

Until the mouse squeaked in warning, Buu had been completely oblivious to the draft up ahead. Now that she had noticed him, her head raised a little as did one brow, but she kept walking, after all, why stop? He wasn't going to stop her from her trek. Perhaps a few awkward strides of silence later she pulled up in front of the male and stopped to allow the opportunity for conversation.

Keeping her head high, she did not bow to many, she blinked at him innocently before opening her mouth to say, "Grheeting, wanderer." Some of her 'R's' rolled, while others didn't, but that was just part of her accent. As for her name, she saw no need to share it, so didn't.
 

[Darkmoon Dancer]

He stood patiently though he yearned to get going home, as he was vaguely interested in this mare though he could not yet place why. From a distance he could see the sparrows weaving around her as if they were there with her, but there was something even more slight that was different about her...

When she came to a stop in front of him he finally placed it. Her scent. She smelled like something far away, somewhere cold and wild. It was strange, but a somehow invigorating scent that caused him to smile. Conversation, though? Not something he was big on, or good at for that matter.

Nodding at her, he bent a knee the slightest and returned her greeting. "'Lo. Where d'you come from?" Abrupt, no doubt, but subtlety was not his strong suit either. He curiously continued to breathe in her scent, learning it and becoming accustomed to it.
 

[Darkmoon Dancer]

Accepting his greeting, she smiled in return, though hers seemed to spread warmth to the area somehow. The mouse poked his nose out from under her hair as she considered his question. How much did she want others to know about her?

Sizing the male up she took in the details: He wore decorations, mainly skulls of others which did not disturb her but she could definitely not see herself ever wearing. She wondered vaguely why he did so, but before she could ask him her own question her gaze fell upon the feathers tied into his mane. Those would look lovely in her collection...

With a toss of her head she flicked her bangs out of her eye and finally came to a response for the dark stallion, "Far away lands, Hunter, where cold holds close and the rain turns to snow before eet heets the earth."
 

[Darkmoon Dancer]

Not surprised that she answered, but also not having really expected her to answer at all, Rainart took her answer... but didn't really like how vague it was. He could name a few places within weeks' travel that sounded similar to the mare's description, but even if he wracked his brain he rightfully couldn't name one that exactly suited. Shrugging it off mentally, he figured the place must not have a name if the mare did not share a much simpler answer as a name instead of her illustrious description.

He did not focus on what the mare looked like, because surely he would have noticed that she bore no tail, a rather strange trait amongst soquili, but instead he finished analyzing her scent, finally deciding that it did not correlate with anything he knew very well.

One nod, as his eyes trailed the path of the mouse across the mare's mane and down onto her back where it perched comfortably on what seemed to be both a seat and a rack of sorts. Why would a mare want to wear such a thing? Shaking his head, he did not ask, as he too wore things upon his back and even his face. "Smell different. Like nothing around here." A small pause before he realized that he could at least try to be polite. "Welcome." Greeting someone to a new place was polite, wasn't it?
 

[Darkmoon Dancer]

Nodding her thanks, Buu considered something a moment before responding to the grey stallion. Beckoning him to follow, she nodded in return and said, "Walk with me?" He wasn't one for many words, quite obviously, so she decided she could take charge of the conversation, should he wish to stay for it.

Turning a bit, she began once more on her trek further into the swamp. She was determined to find a place to settle down soon, and who better to ask than one of the residents of these lands? Flicking he mane out of her face, she turned her head to look at the draft while she kept walking at a leisurely pace.

"You know these lands, Hunter? I wish to make my home not far from here, but have yet to decide exactly where. Show me where strhong boy like you would?" Why not throw a compliment or two in there? She had always found it easier to persuade someone with honey than bite, so that's the path she took. Figuring even if the hunter did not know this area well, he would at the very least have a better understanding for the predators and how and where to protect from them. Had she had a tail, she would have flicked it at him playfully, but as it was, she was content to throw him a wink instead. What male could say no to a face like hers?
 

[Darkmoon Dancer]

This time he was surprised. No arguing that. Ears perked and his head lifted a little, Rainart could visibly be seen to react with a touch of shock. She wanted him to follow? To show her a good place to settle down? Here? Glancing around the area, he reasserted that he was indeed in the swamp, before shrugging and beginning to follow the mare. Personally, he wouldn't live in the swamp because he disliked the constant dampness, but that was just personal preference. Other than the wet-weather, there was always plenty of food, if one was willing to put one's neck on the line to go get it. Then again... not everyone ate meat like he did, so if she was a herbivore perhaps she would have an easier time of making meals. He didn't know much about plants, so she'd be on her own there.

Falling into step with the mare, Rainart nodded and replied in his low growl, "Swamp is wet, but provides. You eat plants, yes?" Without waiting for a reply, he continued, "Don't know much 'bout 'em, but green's everywhere." Pondering a moment, he considered what else he would look for past food. Home for him had his loved ones since he'd found Ariadne, but other than that and food, he had warmth and a place to sleep. But those could also come up to preference, so he ventured deeper into the conversation for some information so he could give her the best advice he could.

"Fire for warmth... probably hard to keep out here... But you need place to sleep, too." Glancing her over once more, this time he took in her details: she was a uni-kirin, but furrier than most he'd met, so looked rather sturdy as far as cold goes, but it didn't tell him what he needed to know. So he posed inquisitively, "Nest? Cave? Teepee?"
 

[Darkmoon Dancer]

Buu walked along quietly, allowing the male to take her in and get comfortable in the conversation. The mouse had settled in so comfortably that it had fallen right asleep, curled into a tiny ball on her back, nuzzling a feather close for warmth and stability. Had it not been holding on, it could potentially send itself flying should Buu need to jump over something, but she always made an effort to warn her companions in time for them to prepare, so the little rodent was content in it's nap.

Nodding, she agreed, the swamp was indeed very green, though it was also darker than most other green places, too. As far as food was concerned... well, she really wasn't concerned. She had lasted through the frostiest of colds, where it was a happy surprise to find a few blades of grass poking through the ice. This lush, damp environment was definitely a nice change for the other-worldly mare. She yearned for the differences so that she could keep her mind off of the portions of her past that she hoped to forget. Her owner wasn't going anywhere in her memories, but there were definitely other details that she wanted to finally let go and never think about again.

"I will see about fire, don't worrhy, Hunter." She looked at him when he paused and followed his eyes as he looked her over. No doubt he was trying to size her up and pick up any details he had missed so far. Whether he noticed she had no tail or not, he made no mention of it. "Ah! Sleepink. Yes..." tilting her head the slightest, she then added, "Not cave... Nest..." a small wince and then a shake of the head, "Something like teepee, I theenk?" She had an image in her mind of the so-called teepees that the natives here built to live in, and had something similar forming in her thoughts. For now she was looking for solid ground.
 

[Darkmoon Dancer]

Her lack of tail? Still something that Rainart had overlooked. Really for a hunter, he should be more adept at picking up details like that, but he did not see her as a threat or as prey, so the thought of analyzing her in any more detail flew right over his head. Surely he would notice eventually.

"Solid ground." It was as if he had read her mind and replied with what she had been about to say. With a firm nod he took the lead and began to pick his way through the swamp as if he had a location in mind. Off to one side there was the faint sound of splashing if one was to focus on it, but he only stayed within earshot of it instead of treading closer. As he lead the way his ears flicked back and forth, keeping tabs on all the little things that stirred and crept alongside them. Most of the critters here were no threat, and even those that could pose one were a mere challenge for the beast of a stallion that walked now with a purpose in mind. If this mare was sure she wanted to settle down here in the murkiness of the swamp, he would help her find the best place to settle in he could.

"Not far... Good solid ground near here." And that was all that he said for quite some time. Yes, there was a bit of a trek to be had to get to where he was going, but this was to be her permanent home, and if she didn't want to follow him to get there, then she wasn't meant to live here anyway. Sure, it was a little gruff but this was just the way the he was. He meant well, though he quite often got his signals mixed up, or simply didn't see that he was being more brash than necessary. It was something that his lifemate Ariadne was helping him work on. That... and the intricacies of balance and fluidity.
 

[Darkmoon Dancer]

The mare smiled and followed along behind the big draft quite happily. She didn't mind the trek at all, in fact she liked the opportunity to get a better feel for the area. The more time she spent around the grand, moss-covered trees, wading mangroves and giant aromatic flowers the more she became convinced this was to be her home. She was grateful for coming across this soquili that was willing to help her place her home territory. He seemed knowledgeable and wise, in his own quirky way. If she were to guess, she would say that he probably did not grow up with a family, or if he had, it was a quite one that had little to no use for speech. He was short in his responses, but that did not bother her. He actually reminded her of many warrior horses she'd met throughout her life. Dedicated when concentrating, and straight to the point. Why waste time on details? At least, that's what she picked up from his feel.

"Thank you, Hunter. Much appreciation in your help," A small thank you, to be sure, but she had a feeling that he would know how much something this important would mean to her.
 

[Darkmoon Dancer]

As he walked along he was concentrating on all the details around him: significant trees, pools of water, nests, dens, and animal tracks all over the wet ground. All were important factors towards where he would choose to place a den or cave of his own. One would not want to live next to a bear's den, there would be too many conflicts there unless the bear was taken out before the mare moved in. On the other hand scratches indicating small rodents about could be annoying to someone who would rather snack them up but this mare also liked the company, so that might be something that she would see as preferable as opposed to a nuisance.

In the end he eventually came to a stop in an area that had a backdrop of closely knit mangroves and a few small nooks therein that were shrouded with drapes of hanging moss. In front of those trees was a large clearing with several large dead trees near the outer edges forming something resembling a fence, or at least with the potential to easily become one. Water was within earshot and with a bit of work she could definitely make a bit of a water diversion to form a creek or pond of her own closer, if she so wished.

Making his way into the center of the mostly-clearing he turned around to look at the mare and smiled with a small stamp of his hoof.