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 Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 1:58 pm
Liam was lost. Now, there were times that Liam got lost, but it wasn't the scary kind of lost. It was the almost-fun kind of lost where he always ended up finding his mama and his brother. Today, though, Liam was the scary kind of lost. Elsa had never been the most attentive mother. Liam found it easy to stray from his mothers side because she almost always had her head in the clouds. Today it had been especially easy because Elsa had been asleep when Liam rose with the sun and took off for what he thought might be grand adventures. He wandered for hours. His stomach grumbled mercilessly and so he turned to try and backtrack his way to Elsa. No, this only resulted in him getting even more lost. Desperation kicked in and Liam found himself wandering in broad circles calling out for his mama. "Mama! It's not funny, stop hiding! Mama?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 2:05 pm
Dark eyes opened sleepily, the silent whisper of feathers shifting as a petite mare drifted awake at the near by ruckus. She yawned, shifting slowly to climb to a more comfortable position, peering curiously from her little get away of relaxation.
It took a few moments for Kamunyak to register the fact it was a foal, lost and possibly abandoned on the edges of their territory, calling out. She crept quietly down the tree before getting closer to investigate. It wasn't until she was fairly close that instinct and a smidge of jealousy of those of the flock who had offspring of their own stirring within the small Harpy mare made her clear her throat, voice soft and sweet, and curious, wondering and hoping perhaps... Something. She wasn't sure what was stirring, yet.
"Left behind, child?"
While it didn't cross her mind until this point, the Mare mused that it was a good thing she had left behind her Bone mask and leather armor behind in her nest, having only come away from the Nests to savor the day away from the ruckus of communication and simply enjoy the woods and lounge away the warm day in peace and quiet. As it was, she cut a less threatening appearance and was less likely to frighten the young colt.
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 2:11 pm
Liam halted dead in his tracks and spun in a half-circle before eying the female with a wary gaze. A good mother Elsa was not, for she'd never warned the boy what to do should he ever come into contact with a stranger. No, she'd never told him about the 'never talk to strangers' bit, and so to Liam the mare was a welcome sight, not one to be feared. She was an adult and to him adults meant safety and food, and so Liam was more than happy to see the mare.
After a dramatic sniffle and a meaningful shuffling of hooves, Liam sighed loudly.
"My mama is lost and I can't find her." Blaming it on Elsa seemed easier to do. He wasn't the lost one, his mama was. "And I'm hungry and tired. Do you know where my mama is?" A hopeful glance was sent in the mares direction. No heed was given to the deadly sharp claws that replaced the mares hooves, nor did he notice she'd been resting in a tree.
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 2:26 pm
To the harpy, that sounded like a purposeful abandonment -- the mother didn't have the resources to care for foals, or possibly just couldn't take care of the whole set, and left him behind. Back closer to their homeland, it wasn't unheard of for mares of other herds to leave children behind. In the times where the Flock was stronger, often times males from these abandonment were chased from their territory to fend for themselves, unless a mare that found had lost her own children, and the trauma drove them to take on the outsider in as their maternal instincts continued to rile up.
Kamunyak, while never having had a child of her own, still found herself driven to move closer to the boy, the loss of her family and the separation she had suffered from the flock stirring the same centers of her brain, "Your mother has left you. She is not within our territory that I am aware of, boy-child. And these woods can be dangerous." She moved closer, and gave him a whiff, scenting that he was healthy, before nuzzling and lipping at his hair, one claw lifting up to pull him gently closer, "But hush... If you'd like, I could give you a new home, with other foals to play with, and mares to dote the attention you have lost onto you, and raise you to be a proper man, safe from the dangers of the world outside."
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 2:33 pm
Liam frowned. Why would his mama leave him? He'd been a good boy, hadn't he? She'd never gotten angry at him. His mama had loved him, kept him warm at night, kept him fed and safe. She'd smiled when he brought her flowers and berries. Elsa had always been a gentle mare and a tender mother.
Until now, at least. Why hadn't she noticed he was gone? Could she be so forgetful?
As most foals would be, Liam was drawn to Kamunyak and her gentle gestures and soft words. He buried his face against her chest, seeking comfort in this small moment of grief. "What about my brother," he whispered worriedly, "and what if mama comes looking for me?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 3:25 pm
"From what you've told me, boy-child, your mother wasn't able to care for you and your brother... Not at the same time" she stated simply, picking a bramble from the stallions mane, "And took an opportunity to leave you prematurely, in order to insure her own and at least one of her offsprings survival. She left you behind, perhaps because she thought you either the weakest... Or the one most capable of surviving being left behind. Perhaps she even knew of the flock and realized we would take you in."
The white mare tsked, her feathery crest shifting so it flattened slightly. The flock had lacked such bounty until recently, and many mares still had no foals. It was a waste to simply leave what appeared to be a healthy, if hungry, colt with such valuable traits, in the woods. While they were able to keep most skinwalkers out of their territory, on the edges there was always a chance outsider males, arrogantly out of their proper place, believing they were superior to females, and abandoned foals could be picked off. Not counting the other predators that might take advantage of an easy meal, "It's not safe here for someone of your age and clawlessness. You are unable to defend yourself, and weak with hunger."
She touched her nose to his cheek, voice softening, her maternal instincts now running fully rampant, her heart going out to the young colt as she nuzzled against him, giving him little licks and nibbles of motherly affection, "Since you've been abandoned by your mother, I could take you home with me. We have plenty of food -- If you were being nursed as well as solid food, we have some mares that have recently birthed and are still producing milk, and plenty of tender greens and treats.." A chuckle escaped her lips as she continued to pick brambles from his hair, chewing on the twigs and spiny burrs, "Meat if you eat a hunters diet. And you can spend your time with me, the nannies, and the other foals, playing and being kept close, learning the ways of our Flock. Safe, protected... And if you're a good boy, which it seems you are, never to be abandoned. Never to be left truly alone again."
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 3:40 pm
Although the words hurt to hear, Liam knew the mare spoke the truth. His mama, though loving in her own strange ways, had always been a little detached. It wasn't that she didn't love her boys because she did, she just lacked the maternal drive that most other mares had.
His stomach grumbled softly and Liam frowned at the ground. She was offering him something he would be silly to deny. Food, treats, play and most importantly protection. He was young, yes, but he was not a stupid boy. The hope he tempered in his heart, the hope of finding his mother and brother again, it was dwindling fast.
"I'm Liam," he offered softly, dipping his head. Maybe this would be easier if he knew more about her. "There are more foals there? Where you live, I mean." Liam did love to play, and that promise was more convincing than anything else she spoke of. "I'll be a good boy, I promise. Can I call you mama?"
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 4:00 pm
"...I'm Kamunyak. And if the spirits accept you into the flock, Liam, then I shall be you're Mama.. The flock would be your home, and you could have many mothers. If the spirits you will, some day, grow strong, kind, loyal, and beautiful.. Like a proper Stallion." She smiled slightly, lifting the rounded curve of her claw touching his chin, gently lifting his gaze to meet her eyes, though it wasnt much of a height difference., her own dark eyes with their vibrant, almost glowing blue irises gave him a kind, happy look over, wanting the best for him, "Be brave, but be respectful and cautious of the world outside the flock -- It holds nothing but heartache and danger for stallions. The world outside if cruel, solitary abandonment and pain.."
Her eyes tightened slightly with pain and sorrow, remembering her life of out being an outcast since her forced separation from the flock during the Earthmother's cries in their homeland killed what family she could find, and the lack of acceptance and the unnecessary fear she provoked even from other females. The isolation was tiresome and heart wrenching, and the joy of finding the flock again sealed her loyalty ever further. But it also caused her to shift one set of claws gently around the 'orphaned' boy, pulling him closer, both possessive and protective of what was now, in her minds eye, her child, "...The flock is home.. You will be safe, Liam, and I will be your mother.."
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 5:45 pm
Liam didn't like the sound of the world outside of this 'flock' that Mama Kamunkyak spoke of. No, if anything it terrified him more than being lost. Surely his own, real mama wouldn't miss him too terribly -- after all, she did have his brother to look after and well, he could only hope that nothing terrible happened to either of them.
To Liam, the lure of being kept safe, of growing up as strong, kind, loyal and yes, even beautiful... well, these things appealed to him greatly. Besides, Kamunkyak spoke so kindly and gently of this flock, and Liam wanted a home and a real mother, one who looked after him and didn't forget about him almost-constantly.
"I hope the spirits accept me into the flock," he whispered softly.
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 5:54 pm
Smiling softly, she rested her nose against his neck, just behind the curve of his ear, and murmured a soft reassurance before shifting to move back deeper into the flock, pausing to make sure he was following, attentive of him and focused on keeping him close, "I'm sure they will."
______________________
After a bit of a trek,with Kamun pausing by a berry bush to tempt the foal into eating some solid food in the patch that apparently got some sun compared to the rest of the dense woods, the trees more tightly packed in together than those of the big oak grove they lived in. But even here, the talon markings of the Flock territory were spotted, the occasional massive oak towering over, with low slung branches as thick as a pregnant draft mares belly, low slung, and some relatively flat at the top. However, it would be a slippery surface for anyone without talons, and claw marks and gouges seemed to litter the surface of the bark.
The mare smiled softly, chirruping sweetly to her sisters, letting them know she had found a foal in their coded tongue, and came to bring him as their own. She then turned her head to Liam, "Boychild of mine... Liam... When the queen Looks you over, do not speak unless it is requested of you. We will trim your wing feathers so you cannot fly. I will gain a lock of your hair, or one of your feathers... And you will receive one of mine to show that you are my capture. And that I have the rights to raising you as I desire."
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 6:01 pm
Liam picked daintily at the bush when Mama Kamun urged him to eat in that silent way of hers. He didn't eat much, though, nerves wracking his belly and tightening his abdomen. Though she'd assured him that the spirits would accept him, there was still that lingering doubt that he couldn't shake.
When the mare spoke Liam listened with an intense look on his face. He did not want to let anyone down, most especially Kamun. His ears were perked at full attention as she spoke and he dipped his head in acceptance.
"It's okay... about my wings, I mean. I wasn't never real good at flying," he said in the softest voice. He trusted her completely -- if he listened and did as she said, he would be safe and well looked-after. What more could he desire?
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:09 pm
Smiling kindly again, Kamunyak once again lifted his head up gently with the back of a claw, "Now head up, Liam. You are going to be a Harpy Stallion -- which is better than flight, even without claws." She tipped her head in a playful manor, nipping off some berries from the bush herself, thinking perhaps it'd let him eat in greater comfort, curling up beside him, one arm going around him to hold him close enough that, if he wanted he could curl up and sleep, or eat fully under her protection.
They could, after all, take their time, now safely deep within the true territory of the flock than the contested territories surrounding. Satisfied with their safety, she began grooming him again, soothingly removing knots and burrs from his mane, coat, and feathers.
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2012 7:32 pm
Liam moved closer to Kamunyak when she rested, curling up against her side. His legs were sore and his chest still ached with worry, but he couldn't help but feel safe here with this harpy mare - his mother, as it were. Sadly enough he'd never felt this comfort when with Elsa. It was an odd feeling he felt now. Relieved. Save.
Home.
He dozed as the harpy mare groomed him, lipping berries as he thought to eat them now and again. Elsa had never taken the time to give such care to his mane and feathers - this was heavenly for the colt, and he was going to enjoy every moment of Kamunyak's soothing attentions.
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