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 Posted: Sat Aug 11, 2012 3:47 pm
 It had been quite some time since Aquitaine had left the safety and comfort of her home. Months in fact. She had been so hesitant to do so over what had happened last time. It still felt so real, the memories still haunted her sleep even to this day. Never in her life had she been more scared than on that fateful day. She had been lucky though, and only just, to get away. A shudder ran down her spine as those thoughts came to her. How quickly a good day had turned disastrous. How quickly everything could have ended. Bu it had been sheer determination and the will to live that had seen her through that terrifying time. And now for the first time in many months she was leaving the one place she knew that she was safe in beyond a doubt and venturing out once more. Aquitaine had considered just never leaving again, but doing so would only let her fear win and she could not let that happen.
Even so, this new outing was plagued with a deep seeded fear. Every sound, big or small made her jump. She had barely made it past the tree line that divided her ocean home from a large meadow when a small bird flew over head. It had caught her by such great surprise that she let out a scream and nearly ran back home abandoning her resolve. No, you must do this, she told herself, or you will never be able to do anything else. Swallowing her fear Aquitaine continued on. She could do this. One step at a time. At first she kept stopped after every step, glancing back at her home, ready to return there at a moments notice. Yet she forced herself to focus, stop looking back and face this head on.
What she needed was not only to overcome her fear of leaving her home now but to find some why that should ever something so terrible happen again, though she prayed it never would, that she could overcome it, not just mentally but physically as well. But how would she accomplish such a thing? Her father had taught her the basics, which had afforded her her escape at that last encounter, but she would need to learn more, much more. Now to figure out how to do just that. Could she not find another, like her father, to teach her beyond the basics?
Yes, that is what she would do. Her father could likely teach her these thing, but she thought it best to seek outside help, father would not understand her sudden desire to train and she wasn't sure she could tell him why either.
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Posted: Tue Aug 14, 2012 6:08 pm
 Hoto had been dozing in the sun, in the grass when the strange looking unicorn mare walked out of the tree line. Or he assumed she was a unicorn. The tail looked like a unicorn tail from his distance. What was truly throwing him off was how it appeared like her hair was nuzzling her. Definitely not something he was used to...despite having some prior dealings with mutants and monsters. He was going to dismiss and ignore her...until he noticed how she seemed to jump at everything. He figured that id she got anywhere close to him without his presence known, she'd blot and run if she so much as head him breath. So he stood up and hoped he was in full view of her.
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Posted: Fri Aug 17, 2012 7:43 pm
Aquitaine might not have noticed the stallion right away, she was half distracted by looking every which way for danger, so when her dragon let out a rumble she knew something was amiss. Instantly she was alert, more alert than she had been only seconds before, eyes wide Aquitaine scanned the horizon until his eyes fell upon a Soquili in the distance. A stranger. She didn't do well with strangers. Look at the last few times she had run into a stranger. She shuddered at the thought. Frozen with fear Aquitaine didn't know what to do.
Should she run?
Should she stay?
Moments ticked by as indecision plagued her thoughts.
She should just run. But now it was too late, for the other had surely seen her and now there was no going back. If she ran, and he was of the unpleasant variety, then she would certainly be running for her life. Best to just hope that he was a good guy. She took a a hesitant step forward and then another. "Hello." She called out to the other.
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Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 1:19 pm
Hoto waited patiently as she finally saw him and then stood paralyzed for more than a few seconds. His original assumption that she was indeed terrified by everything affirmed. With slow steps and his head held high he walked a bit closer. He knew that, because of his size, she might at first assume he was a kalona. But he was wingless and in fact bigger than any kalona so he hoped she would see that and not bolt. He knew she was want to bolt. "Hello lady." He bowed his head in polite greeting and as a sign of submission. If he exposed his neck she might trust him not to hurt her. "Might I ask why you look like just the sight of me makes you want to flee?"
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Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 7:10 pm
Breath. Just breath. He's big. Very big. But he doesn't look like someone who would cause harm. Yes wasn't that the work of deception at it's best? Had she not been tricked in the past when it came to looks and actions of others only to be suddenly turned on? As he moved closer she took in the strange markings on his hide. She had never seen anything like it. They didn't look evil in origin so perhaps this stallion would be kind to her. Her thoughts were answered when he spoke. His voice was kind, and he seemed to be showing concern towards her. Aquitaine stared at him for several moments, trying to judge whether he would suddenly turn on her or not.
This is the part where you say something, she scolded herself.
"Oh..." She began. Not the best start but at least there wasn't silence between them anymore. "Well...it's not you...that I'm afraid of really." She swallowed and tried to gather her courage. "It's...everything." This wasn't so bad, she could talk to him. "I have had some...unpleasant experiences in the past. It's made me a bit nervous." More like completely nervous but she was pretty sure he could see that was the case. Now it was time to shift the attention away from herself. "Those...markings...what are they?" Please don't be anything evil!
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Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 11:24 pm
Hoto waited and blinked at her as she appereared to decide if she wanted to answer. She may have thought he looked funny but she was even stranger. He could not figure out if she was unicorn or mutant...and the hair, the tail and the extra horn were throwing him off. There appeared to be a creature in her hair that was staring at him and protecting her. She looked downright frightening so her demure to the world struck him as funny. Most soqs would run from her, especially if that hair of hers turned on them. He cocked his head sideways. "Your hair is staring at me." Normally he might have had more tact but he was genuinely curious. He was a tad embarrassed that his moth had spoken before his head could stop it but he pressed to answer her question. "They are my birth right. They mark me as what I am. Or used to, when my family was alive. Forgive me if I overstep, but you look well equipped to scare off any of those that might danger you. Whip like tail, dual horns for piercing, frankly disturbing mane, frightening nightmare markings..."
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Posted: Sun Aug 19, 2012 1:46 pm
His first statement caught her off guard. Her hair was staring at him? Oh, now she understood. How could she have possibly forgotten about the dragon hidden within the flow of her hair. Aquitaine took a moment to glance back at her dragon then return her gaze to the stallion before clearing her throat, somewhat embarrassed. "Yes, well he does that a lot." She might have went on to tell the stallion that her dragon lacked all manners but that might only anger the beast and she didn't want him attacking her in front of this stranger. So instead she turned her attention back to his markings. His birthright? How interesting. "They mark you as what you are? What does that make you then?" She asked curiously, then added. "I'm sorry to hear about your family." Though she was still a bit nervous around him, it was clear that with each passing moment Aquitaine was becoming a bit more relaxed.
She looked away for a moment as he spoke of her odd appearance and markings. When she had been a foal she rarely noticed how different she looked, compared to her parents or others about, but now there was an almost constant reminder that she was a freak in so many others eyes. "I can assure you my looks do little to scare away those who wish to harm me, but they seem to have that affect on almost everyone else." Which begged the question, why hadn't be run away yet? If only they worked to scare away danger instead of potential friends, then things might be easier.
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Posted: Sun Sep 16, 2012 12:42 pm
Hoto tipped his head sideways and gave a look of genuine confusion when she adressed her hair as a male. He? He thought to himself but shook it off and proceed to answer the questions she's asked. These where probably safer topics anyway. "I was raised to be a warrior and a warriors companion. I'm not sure what I am now a days. But I do know the lessons have never left me." Me lightly brushed over the issue of his family as it didn't matter. Because mostly it didn't. Mostly. "That was a long time ago. No need to be sorry."
He raised one black brow when she mentioned not being able to scare away the right things. Taking it as a sign she'd seen more than she should have in life he decided suddenly to ask a personal question and make her an offer. An offer he had no extended to anyone since leaving his companion. "Skinwalker of Kalona I presume. Both have the capacity to scare more normal soquili out of their wits. One of them scared you. Both mentally and emotionally. I'll be honest, if you didn't act like a scared rabbit about ready to jump back in it's hole, I'd be more cautious around you. But, as it stands, the only thing that's really freaking me out about you is your hair. And even that we might be able to use to your advantage. Can it hold things?" He paused, realizing he was getting ahead of himself and tried again. "What I mean is, I can teach you things. How to defend yourself. How to use your hooves to kill, your teeth to maim, your horns to cut and pierce and I'm pretty damn sure I can teach you how to throw a knife with your tail and your mouth. And if that thing in your hair can hold things, we might be able to teach it to help you." He knew he was getting excited but tried to keep his voice cool and cajoling. For some indefinable reason he wanted to help her and he wasn't about to question why.
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Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 7:13 am
He was a warrior? Well he certainly looked like one. He was quite large after all, and she had noticed how muscular he was when she had first seen him. Imagine the chance of running into a real live warrior, and one that wasn't trying to defeat her either. Perhaps luck was finally shining down on her. It seemed only fair since there had been so many hardships to endure over these last few months. It was a miracle she even left her home most days. But that had been the push to do so, to overcome these fears, learn what she needed to and try to return to a normal life once more.
When he went on to explore why she was acting scared Aquitaine was surprised and impressed at how well he figured it out. And was perhaps more surprised to find out that he would have been more cautious around her had she not been acting so scared. But really how was that any different than any other time she had ventured out. All too often strangers took in her looks and immediately decided she was some kind of monster and treated her as such, and few would give her the chance to prove them wrong. Before she could say anything he was offering to teach her how to defend herself, learn to attack and even possibly use her dragon to her advantage. That made her smile. This was exactly what she needed. Gaining new knowledge, especially related to self defense, would give Aquitaine the confidence needed to stop fearing the world and everything that moved. "Skinwalker." She finally admitted when he was done. "I hope to never see one again." One skinwalker encounter in a lifetime was enough for Aquitaine. Her gaze turned to her hair dragon for a moment then back to the stallion. "I don't know if he can or will hold anything, but if something or someone gets too close to me he will bite them. And his bite is quite the thing." That she knew on a very personal level. "I would...be honored if you could teach me how to defend myself. I know some basics, that my father taught me, and I believe it's the only reason I survived that skinwalkers attack, but I would certainly feel safer knowing more." She paused for a moment before continuing. "I don't like to hurt others, but I understand that is necessary sometimes to survive."
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Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 12:10 am
He watched quietly to gauge her reaction. He was aware that she might think him presumptuous and rude. And in truth his question and offer probably where...if you wanted to look at it that way. But her reaction was anything but miffed and he let out the breath he didn't know he'd been holding and grinned in genuine delight. It would occur to him later that it was the first time he'd felt that particular emotion in a long while. "Skinwalker." He repeated after her. "You know there's a trick to the Walker. They don't like their pelts pulled or scared and they don't like it when they can't see. A little bit of dust in the eye and then bolt for the nearest stream so it'll loose your scent. Of course hitting it in the head with a hoof bigger than a mans head works too. Which is what I usually do." He lifted a hoof to show her how truly massive his hooves where and they should have been since he was over eighteen hands tall. "But I'm getting off topic here. I can teach you far beyond the basics. But it won't be easy and I'm tough. I understand the want not to hurt but there's also the need to defend. I'd personally prefer to be bloodied and alive than three quarters of the way to a Walkers dinner." He shuffled, suddenly unsure. If she didn't want to do this than what was he going to do next? "I'll teach if you're willing but you have to give me everything. I won't let you slack." And then his manners decided to tap him on the shoulder and say hello, reminding him that she still did not know who he was. Nor the reverse. "My name is Hototo. Bred since birth to be the finest warrior warhorse is all these lands. Nice to meet you."
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Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 6:20 am
Aquitaine could only nod as he spoke about the best ways t defeat a skinwalker. If only she had known those things a few months ago. But such was life, one could not know everything right away and it was often a case of trial and error that made knowledge, or the lack of knowledge in some cases, appear. Glancing down at his giant hoof as he held that up Aquitaine could only imagine the damage that thing could do when used. Her hooves were small and dainty compared to him, but she did had one small advantage to them, hers were cloven, and that meant they could do a decent amount of damage if used properly. It was one of the early lessons from her father, how he had explained a cloven hoof was good for several things, but the two she remembered clearly were extra damage when kicking and they also helped gain extra agility that normal hooves could not afford.
She was glad he understood she didn't want to hurt others just because she could. There was enough evil in this world that she did not want to add any more to it. When he presented the offer in a new light Aquitaine took a moment before answering again. "I was not born to fight, nor do I have the heart of a warrior, but I will give it my all. I know it won't be easy, but what in life is?" And then she paused thinking of something important and that may change his offer a bit. "However I would like to add one more thing to this agreement. While he is not here with me today I would like my goat Gaul to be taught some as well, he's a big reason as to why I survived that skinwalker and I want him to be a part of this." If he declined then she would continue on with him, at least until she found someone who would be willing to accept a goat as a student as well. With a slight smile she dipped her head in greeting. "It's nice to meet you warrior Hototo. I am Aquitaine."
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Posted: Thu Sep 27, 2012 4:41 pm
Hoto smiled and dance in place, now visibly excited and not really caring if she saw it. It was perhaps funny looking for her to watch so a big horse dance on his toes but Hoto had always possessed an almost alarming grace when he chose to. "Aquitaine. I like it, feminine but not wimpy. We'll make it suit you. As for your goat friend, defense is something everyone should know. I'll be happy to teach him." He sombered as he remembered her previous statement. "We are all born to fight Aquitaine. Fight or flee is in our very genes. The difference is how we use it. You do not need to be a warrior to fight for yourself and what you love." No sooner had the words left his mouth then they hit him like a sharp blow to skull. He was a warrior and yet he had be fighting for nothing for far too long. He tried to keep his features from showing the internal revelation he has just had.
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Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2012 8:10 am
Aquitaine couldn't help but smile at his words. "Thank you. I will be sure Gaul comes with me next time, I know he will work hard on the training as I will." Of course that was getting slightly ahead of herself, for they had only just agreed to do this training and were still discussing certain things, but she wanted Hoto to know that not only she would be committed to seeing this training through to the end but that Gaul would as well. After all Gaul was her friend, her support system and the reason she survived that skinwalker attack, he would want to do this just as much as she did. In fact Aquitaine knew he would be proud of her for taking this first step by herself and asking if he could join in afterward.
When he continued to speak about fighting and how everyone could Aquitaine thought about it a moment before nodding. "That makes sense. I guess I never thought of it that way." She appreciated that fact that he pointed out something that seemed so simple yet had such a vast impact on things. "I suppose one never really knows what they are capable of until they are put in a situation where they are truly tested. I have always lived my life avoiding fights thinking it was something only the evil did, but now I see that fighting isn't necessarily evil, it's a way to protect things just as much as it is a way to take control over things we don't have." She would learn to fight properly from Hoto not because she wanted to conquer lands but because she did want to be able to defend herself and those things she loves including her family. But also so that she could be stronger, both mentally and physically. The knowledge of how to truly defend and protect would give her peace of mind, something she did not possess since that attack. "I am ready to begin my training." She told him confidently and prayed that she would not disappoint him or her family.
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Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2012 10:13 pm
Immediately after her acquiescence he flashed a huge charming, heart-stopping, disarming happy grin at her. The same grin that had been known to fell poor unsuspecting mares in his youth, not that he'd ever cared or encouraged them. "Well than! Lets go find this little friend of yours. I'm very happy that you've accepted to try. You are good to first accept that fighting is not evil. That's like saying I'm evil and trust me I'm one of the good guys. I've been known to be bull headed and depressive but never evil." He looked around as his eyes glazed over slightly in thought. "Now, we'll need someplace to train. I think a large meadow with trees and water close and soft grass for padding might be good. Trees to kick and practice on and grass to run, fight, leap and fall on. Yes you will fall. What I make look graceful is really years of practice." To prove it he pirouetted on his back hooves in a full circle. "Imagine doing that with a human and gear on your back, I can." He laughed. "But I had to learn. Even my huge old butt falls." He paced with sudden excess excited energy. "Know anywhere we can pick up some knives? I'm afraid I brought nothing but myself. I believe I can teach you to throw a mean knife with that tail of yours." Oh! He realized he practically itched to show her everything he knew. He also realized he was pacing and babbling and making a fool of himself. Quickly he schooled himself, stopped pacing walked over to her to wait for her answers and decisions. He may have just agreed to be her teacher but her choices were still her own.
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Posted: Sun Oct 14, 2012 10:48 am
Aquitaine was more than pleased to see how excited he was about teaching her. This meant he was passionate about what he did for a living and wanted to pass that on to her, if her teacher was too gruff or unenthusiastic then she would likely fail at the training because it was torturous and she wouldn't enjoy it. Honestly she was convinced that Hoto would be an excellent teacher. Sure he said he would be strict and expected her to fully commit to the training but she would have anyways. She couldn't help but giggle when he said he could be bull headed, though the depressive part worried her just a bit.
"There's a clearing not too far from where I live that might be good for training in. A stream is near the edge of it, plenty of trees and nice thick grass." She suggested but if he had an idea for a better place to train then she would let him pick that one, after all he was the expert here right? Watching him doing such a graceful move shocked her. It must have taken years of practice for him to get so agile. "I can imagine doing it with gear and a human would be quite difficult. But I have to do it with him," she motioned towards her hair dragon, "and he is quite a bit heavier than he looks." It was the reason she had given up on dancing, certain moves were practically impossible to do with him resting upon her back but perhaps learning from Hoto she could learn how to move with him on her back and even return to dancing after her training was done.
"I'm afraid I don't know where to get knives at. But I can carry and hold things with my tail if they aren't too heavy." Usually it was simply smaller plants, sticks and the occasional rock she carried using her tail but that would certainly help her in perfecting carrying and throwing things with it.
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