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 Posted: Sat Aug 18, 2012 10:41 pm
 It wasn't often that Zaid woke up and found himself actually contemplating doing something. More often than not, he slept through most of the morning and almost always into the early afternoon, and only woke to the sounds of some animal or another scuffling through the dirt. Predator or not, the stallion usually greeted his 'guests' with a swift kick to the side (assuming it was not an animal that could kill him, or another Soquili that could knock him on his a**) before quickly finding somewhere else to sleep. Zaid was, simply put, not a morning Soquili.
To find himself awake before midday and with an itch to stretch his legs was rare, and it was a urge he wasn't quite sure how to feel about. Truthfully, he wanted to lay his head back down and slip back into sleep until later in the afternoon, but the twitch in his hock wasn't letting up so easily, and after a few minutes of trying very hard, he found that he couldn't lay still any more. It was with a growl of frustration and a soft line of curses that he actually managed to will himself up out of his comfortable position, shaking the dust out of his mane with disdain.
He didn't like this. Actually, he was pretty pissed off, given that it was already midday and the sun was at it's highest point in the sky and baking the earth hard. The fact that he had this bizarre urge to get up and go was what he hated the most, because he knew it wouldn't go away until he did something about it. That in itself was probably the most aggravating, and even as he stood around and hoped to god it would go away, it continued to shove at him like some invisible force. It took another groan and another set of colorful curses for him to actually act upon it, and even then, he couldn't think of anything else to do but run.
So, he ran.
He had no real direction, and no real destination. He simply went whichever way was least crowded; over the empty plains, through Horse Spine Ridge, and past some small streams and brooks. He didn't know why he was going this way, but it seemed like a damned good idea, at the time. Eventually, the stallion found himself under the shade of the trees that lined the base of the mountains, breathing heavily and wishing he'd stopped for a drink at one of those damned creeks, because his throat was killing him and he was hot as hell. At the very least, the trees cut out some of the heat, and with a heavy huff, he shuffled further in, sniffing the air for some source of water.
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 10:16 pm
She should have gone back to the herd, should have reported the separation immediately. How could they have been thrown apart so far? How could they have not found one another? The storm had been strong, but had Jyotsna been so weak? How could she have lost her only friend, as well as her ward? Asakti had been royalty and . . .
The mare dropped her head, closing her eyes a moment as she tried not to let fear and anxiety overwhelm her once more. She had failed her friend, she had failed her herd, and there was no sense in going back. If she showed her face, she would likely be turned away, if not attacked for losing such a precious member of the herd. The only reason they had let her remain in the herd was for her healing abilities, and her wings. To have failed in her position would have resulted in serious consequences. So it was, the mare had hoped the spirits might guide her to finding her companion, of making things right.
But days turned into weeks, which transformed in to months, and now . . . a year.
She was tired of roaming, tired of the unknown. Maybe it was time for her to accept that life was moving on without her, and maybe, just maybe, it was time for her to . . . . accept her life as it was. Maybe it was time to let the hunt for her friend go.
The alicorn gave a small shake of her head, even as she picked her way quietly through the underbrush of the woods. Though it was substantially cooler within the shade of the thick foliage, the air was still warm from the summertime sunshine. There was a cool stream that ran down from the mountains, and it was exactly where she was headed. A cool drink, and the quiet of the afternoon might help her relax, set aside her guilt and remorse. Quietly moving through the shadows of the woods, she wasn't so lost in thought to mistake the sound of movement heading her way.
Her ears pricked, her wings flared slightly, and the mare froze. A small part of her wished to turn round and bolt, but she had roamed this land for a few weeks, and knew there was likely little danger to be had. Strangers, sure, wayward souls and woodland creatures settling in to prepare for fall and winter. . . . There was no reason to flee like some skittish filly, after all. The silver mare held her breath, and waited, still as stone.
She was prepared to flee, if perhaps whatever broke through was something akin to kalona or skinwalker, but for now, she would give it the benefit of the doubt. A very, very small part of her wondered if maybe, just maybe, it could be Asakti herself. . . . Had the spirits heard her prayers and pleas?
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Posted: Tue Oct 16, 2012 9:14 pm
There was, in the back of his mind, a sense that he would not be able to. The idea made him snort, tossing his head and shaking his mane out in an effort to clear his thoughts. He wasn't sure where it had come from, and to be honest, it actually annoyed him. Of course he would be able to find his way home. It wasn't like he was lost. All he had to do was follow the same path he'd taken in the first place. He stopped, craning his neck over his shoulder to look behind him, the smug grin he had been wearing fading slightly when he realized that he had been twisting and turning this whole time, and that he could not see his hoof prints in the leaf litter. Okay. So he would have to do a little bit of remembering landmarks, no big deal. Except that all of the trees looked the same, and none of the bushes were particularly outstanding, either.
"... s**t." He hissed softly to himself, giving a great sigh of resign when he realized that, yes, he was probably lost. He shook his head to himself and began moving again, keeping the same path he'd had. Maybe he could follow a stream to it's end, and that would lead him down to the plains again. That sounded a lot more reasonable than walking in circles for hours. He lifted his nose, scenting the air once more, and was surprised when he something... unexpected. Though he still could not smell water, he could smell another Soquili; a mare, in fact. His brow arched upwards, both ears swiveling forward, then back, and then around. How interesting. For a moment, he stood very still and pondered this. Perhaps, he reasoned, she would know where to find water. Even if she didn't, then he certainly wouldn't mind a bit of... company, per say. The idea made him grin, and he leaped forward, his pace increasing as he moved towards the scent. She had to be near by, right?
He was surprised he didn't see her sooner. Actually, he almost ran right into her. It was hard to see her between all the trees, standing as still as she was, and he probably would have almost knocked her over, if he hadn't put the breaks on last second and skidded to a stop. "Hey!" he exclaimed casually, throwing her a lopsided, half-assed grin. "What's up? Name's Zaid. You live in this place?" If she did, she'd be able to show him where to find water, and probably to the plains, not that he was lost.
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Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2012 11:28 pm
evil pirate duck Sorry for the delay! Jyotsna's still a bit rusty, poor thing. It's been a long time since I've had her interact with anyone. xD
Unfortunately, what burst forth through the foliage was not at all her lost companion. So quickly did Zaid appear, that Jyotsna herself did half jerk back, her wings fully flared and prepared to flee in case the stallion turned hostile. It was through sheer will power alone that the timid female did not up and bolt, though her azure eyes were wide with surprise.
It was not Asakti, but whoever he was, he wore no pelt and had no leather wings of a kalona. In fact, he was a bit peculiar in appearance; his colors were muted browns, greys, and blacks, and he had the most vertical mane she'd ever witnessed on a creature. Though he was of a different appearance, she noticed with relief that he was not of cerynei kind and he was most certainly not of Asakti's old herd. His colors were closer than her own when it came to fitting in to her homelands, but he was lacking the appropriate features. She would, if she was lucky, not be judged too harshly by him. . . .
Except, she was staring.
Oh bother.
Quickly, the mare averted her gaze, dropping it to look down at her hooves. Her ears were still pricked and turned towards the stranger; just because she wasn't looking at him, didn't mean that couldn't still be aware of possible movement. He might be a predator still, after all, and Jyotsna was anything but trusting.
Strangely enough, the stallion spoke. His words were enough to draw her gaze back up at him, her expression almost turning in to a frown as she considered his words. It was so casual, so . . . so foreign. There were rules, and there were ranks, and Jyotsna had grown up all her life treated as second class. She had no rights, had no voice, and had avoided many within the Kawani. Did this other not know to whom he spoke? Well, how could he. . . . perhaps silver coats weren't looked down upon as they were in her original herd.
". . . I do not, sir." She heard herself cautiously speak, her words foreign even to her. How long had it been since she had last spoken to another or been acknowledged? "I know a little of this area, but I'm not here to stay." She explained, trained. One like her had a habit of not speaking unless she was spoken to; thankfully, this stranger had addressed her, so it was safe to reply. Hopefully. She had yet to relax her wings, and still looked about ready to flee at the first surprise.
"Forgive me, I . . . should not have gotten in your way." She forced herself to speak, hoping he wouldn't mind the breach of etiquette. It had been stupid of her to simply pause and stand there, to wait, when she should have bolted immediately. Well, it was too late to change it now. Retreating another step, the mare pointedly moved a few paces aside, so the stranger might have room to continue on his trek, wherever that might be.
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 9:44 pm
She was a rather pretty mare, he thought, even with her wings flared out and her blue eyes wide. Actually, standing the way she was, he imagined he got a better view of her wings than if he'd seen them folded. They were very nice wings, and some far off part of him twinged with jealousy. Not that he ever wanted to fly - god, no! He liked his hooves planted firmly on the ground, thank you very much, even if that ground was currently covered in moss and leaf litter and could not tell him which was was up. Still, those wings would allow him to get the hell out of this place. He was surprised she hadn't used them as an escape route already.
In an attempt to ease the flighty mare, Zaid straightened himself and took a step back, taking a bit more of a relaxed pose in the process. He shifted most of his weight to his right side, and cocked his left hoof, hoping that he didn't look quite so intimidating anymore. He offered another, lazy smile, one that quirked when she realized she was staring and looked away (he hadn't even known she was staring until she made a big deal about it, honestly), and instead waited for her to talk.
Her reaction was slightly... disappointing.
"... 'Sir'?" he scoffed, snorting in an amused sort of way. "The hell is this 'sir' s**t? I told you, my name's Zaid." Her choice of words was entirely too formal, and briefly, he wondered if he was talking to some princess who'd lost her way in the woods and needed a strong, strapping young stallion (who, him?) to guide her home. He tossed his head and quietly told his brain to shut the hell up. Nevertheless, he chuckled at her. "Well that blows. I have no idea where I am. You seen any water?" Maybe he could convince her to join him for a drink and a bit of conversation; he'd never actually spoken to a mare before, aside from the casual flirting that he was usually known for.
Her next move surprised him, and he actually found himself frowning, watching as she... moved aside? The whole 'princess' idea was starting to have a bit more credibility. "Huh?" It took him a moment before he understood, and when he did, he only smirked and tucked his chin to his chest in a sort of mock bow. "You mean that I shouldn't have gotten in your way. Where are you headed, if you're not staying here?" Zaid bit his tongue to keep from asking whether or not he could tag along; he'd only just met her, after all, and if she remained as formal as she was now, he doubted that request would go over well.Uta And you say that you're slow. After the retail season hit, I just about died. I'll hopefully be a bit faster than this, now!
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Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 8:43 am
evil pirate duck Tag! I shall try to be swifter next time. xD The muses are strong this week, which is a change.
He was not like her old herd, the ones she so desperately yearned to find. He was not at all like Asakti, her most cherished friend, the royalty she had been brought up to protect and defend. He was a stranger, and one that was almost crass in his tone of speech, one that didn't seem at all concerned by their general differences.
Thankfully, he didn't know who she was, or the crimes which she had involuntarily committed; he didn't know that she was not to speak unless spoken to, the rules of her herd concerning others. He might not judge her so poorly seeing as she was not a cerynei, and that her coat was the most drab and ugly of colors. No, this stranger was someone different, an outsider, someone whom she would not need fear quite like she did other breeds.
Unfortunately for him, there was still much in this world the silver alicorn feared and worried about. Not the least was the fact that she was, once again, staring at him. His sharp words, the cussing, it startled and almost embarrassed the mare, whom was unaccustomed to hearing such speak. Quicly, her blue eyes dropped again, and she was glad her silver coat might hide the color that flushed her cheeks and ears.
". . . . Apologies, Zaid," she spoke quietly again, hardly above a whisper, ears flattening slightly as she tested his name on her tongue. It felt wrong to call him by such formality, when they were complete strangers! And yet, it would do him an injustice to not abide by his wishes. She was respectful enough, she knew the rules, knew her place, and it was nothing more than a servant. If she had known that he might have guessed her to be some princess, Jyotsna would have been horrified.
One like her could not be. . . could not ever be. . . something so good.
When he questioned whether or not she knew where water was, the mare gave a small nod. She was still on edge, still uncertain, and she looked about as skittish as a doe, but she hadn't yet bolted. The fact that he questioned her, was still speaking to her, was surprising. . . then again, as he was no cerynei, he couldn't possibly know of her lowly estate. That was probably for the best. ". . .there is a small brook not far," she finally admitted, still quite unable to look the stallion in his eye. Not that she could see his eyes -- he wore the most peculiar trinkets and jewels.
Was he perhaps royalty of . . . of his kind?
He didn't act like one, but that didn't mean anything. One could never assume and he certainly had the confidence of a creature with nothing to fear. "If you would like I . . . . I can take you there." She tentatively suggested. She didn't know this stranger, and was still fairly jumpy. Was it too much for her to assume he'd wish for a guide? Had she perhaps insulted his intelligence? Besides, would he want to be led by a creature such as her?
Well, it was too late to go back on it now. When he asked where she was headed, where she was going, the mare didn't answer right away. SHe considered the words, her options, and what she dare tell him. "I'm. . . not staying or headed anywhere particular. I'm . . . looking for someone." She finally admitted lowering her head at the truth of the matter. Jyotsna was far from dishonest, and couldn't have fibbed even if she tried. Still, she wasn't about to let this Zaid know the truth of the matter, though she did fear he might pry.
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Posted: Sat Jul 27, 2013 8:12 pm
It wasn't exactly an odd thing to realize, for Zaid. He liked it when anyone stared at him. It made him feel powerful, knowing that he commanded enough of their attention that they didn't realize they were giving it, knowing that, for one moment, he was the center of their focus - their world. He liked feeling like the center of attention, even if just for a second, even if just because he had said something that could possibly be taken as inappropriate. He was not stupid, by any means, and in many cases, he knew exactly what was needed to get a rise out of someone, especially when it involved them staring at him. What was odd about this time was that he didn't necessarily feel anymore powerful than he had, say, fifteen minutes ago. Partially, he thought it was because he was growing accustomed to being stared at, but he also knew, that was wrong.
So, truth be told, he wasn't sure why he liked it when she stared at him, just that he did. It also made him slightly self-conscious, and he bit his tongue harshly when her eyes dropped away. Right; note to self, watch the mouth around her, that was easy enough. "Nah, nah, don't apologize," he murmured softly, flicking his tongue against the roof of his mouth in thought. It didn't take him much longer to smile again, this time looking coy, and rather like a smug cat. "You could make it up, y'know. You never told me your name." Oh, yes, he was rather pleased with himself on that point. He would have asked, anyway, but now it seemed to be more in his favor, and he thought that might ease her into the conversation a bit more, as well.
It was only when she indicated to know where he could find a damn drink that his mind switched gears completely, and he gave a loud "Hah!" when she offered to take him there. His throat was still dry, and at the mere mention of water, he could feel it getting itchy. "That would be totally rad," he conceded, sporting a very wide grin. Her meekness could be overcome, he thought, with a little coaxing and some chit-chat. He still didn't know her name, but hey, she was taking him to water, and that was a start. Some stupid part of his brain teased that he could technically call this a date, and he only barely managed to bite his tongue before that disaster slipped out. She was skittish enough already, no need to make her less comfortable with him than she was to begin with. "Uh, I mean, that'd be real nice of you."
He didn't notice when she seemed to hesitate with her words after his final question, and so her answer (which was accompanied with... what was it? Sadness? Shame?) did not seem delayed at all. He flicked his ears, and curiously, he tilted his head ever so slightly to the right, gazing at her as he considered what she had given. Looking for someone? A friend, maybe, or family; a child, a mentor, a lover? He wasn't sure he liked the possibilities of that statement, but for now, he decided that it was best not to comment on it - he had some tact, after all. "Oh, okay," he stated easily, thinking for a moment more, before continuing. "Well, I can help keep an eye on sky, if y'need it. I can't fly, like you can, but I'm a pretty good runner. Damn fast, too." Truthfully, the statement was meant to be as least boastful as possible - he was pretty fast. "Dunno how good of a tracker I'd be, though, considering I can't even find my way out of a god damn forest," he chortled. Even if he was no help, he wouldn't mind her company for as long as she was willing to give it. It wasn't every day that he met an interesting mare with a pretty face to boot.Uta Oh my god I'm useless and slow please don't hate me I'll be faster next time I swear ; A;
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Posted: Sat Nov 02, 2013 12:58 pm
evil pirate duck Hahaha. . . Pffft, after the shop explosion, and of course me just being generally slow, have a tag! And you are not horrible, you are wonderful! <3333333333333
Still, it would be good if she could prove some use or aid. She was a healer, after all, and while Asakti was long lost, she might do some good by helping this stranger. Perhaps by bringing him to the brook, she might find redemption and forgiveness for startling upon him, for wasting his time. It was only the right thing to do, after all.
So focused on her silver hooves, blue eyes didn't notice the change of Zaid's expression, from crass to smug . . not until she looked up in surprise at his words. Oh! Oh, oh, oh, she . . . . she forgot to give him a name. Had she meant to tell him? Had it been expected of her to tell him such a name? He. . . he hadn't asked for it, she didn't think. Did he want to know? She knew he was Zaid, but . . . Oh, oh her embarrassment caused her to flush a bit more, and she swallowed hard, trying to find words. ". . oh. Oh! Um. I . . . . Forgive me, I didn't know you wanted to . . . They called me Jyotsna." She finally stammered, a ghost of a smile crossing her features, but her surprise and confusion written plainly on her face.
This was not normal. She was a nobody. The name was not even hers, not truly, it was what the herd had called her. Still, it was her name, and the only one she knew. The fact that this stranger seemed to want to know it all was a bit unusual. Oh well. He was not of cerynei blood, he did not know the rules, and perhaps even, the rules did not apply to him. Still, the sooner she left him alone, the better; there was no use in lingering, no sense in staying underhoof or getting in the way. Asakti was. . . .
Well.
How long had it been since they were separated? Too long. But Jyotsna couldn't let herself give up. Not yet. "Certainly si--Zaid," she caught herself, wings shuffling a bit nervously. Her long tail swished some, and with one last, almost shy glance up at the sunglassed stranger, she bowed. "This way." She murmured, stepping forward so she might best lead the stranger to where the brook was located. A strange silence fell over the mare. At first it had been due to her surprise, her anxiety, her uncertainty over this stranger. But now, it fell after he had suggested helping her.
Did he possibly know what he was suggestion? Help her? "You're far too generous," she finally found words, sincerity laced within her soft-spoken demeanor. "Far too generous. I could not ask such a thing, for I . . .I do not even know where I am, much less where she might be. I am afraid...I have been searching for her for . . . months now." Months? More like over a year, if not longer. Jyotsna had lost track of time, had been wandering aimlessly, without direction, and with no leads. It was a hopeless task, but if she gave up on Asakti, what would that say about her?
"Still, I . . . I thank you for even considering such a thing." And it was true. Aid wasn't something Jyotsna often received, and while Zaid was the most peculiar stallion she had ever met, he was already one of the nicest. The poor mare didn't know any better, didn't know that cordiality and amicableness, even politeness by asking names, was more common in the Kawani than the herd she had been raised in.
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Posted: Sun Aug 30, 2015 12:50 pm
Nonetheless, part of him was somewhat thankful for it, today. Despite his normal habits (or abnormal, compared to most Soquili), something had gotten his lazy a** up and moving. Whether some divine providence, or some cosmic kick in the rear, something had gotten a fire under his hooves and sent him in what, at the time, had seemed like a random direction. He didn't believe in fate - not really. If something happened, he was pretty sure he could provide solid evidence that the results were usually his own god damned fault. As such, he was pretty sure that this whole thing was a pretty good trade off for waking up early and... exercising. Sure, the day hadn't gone the way he thought it was supposed to, but it wasn't every day he found a cute girl in the middle of the woods. It wasn't every day he was in the woods. Maybe he should be visiting the woods more often? So far, there was definitely a higher girl-to-square-miles ratio in here, compared to the desert.
Truth be told, it was kind of unfair that she was so cute? Like, s**t, her stuttering and general embarrassment was making it really hard to not try and hug her. He was a man, god damned it, and he would not be swayed from his manliness by a cute girl doing cute things. He hoped...
"Jyotsna, huh?" He tested the name on his tongue, becoming more convinced that she was literally a princess of the forest at that point. Seriously, who has a name that fancy, and isn't a princess? "S'a fancy name. I like it. It's pretty, but sophisticated." Wait, was that too forward? She didn't really seem like the type of girl who liked the forward thing. She... was pretty shy, actually, and he really, really didn't want to scare her off. Especially considering, y'know, she hadn't shown him to the source of the almighty water yet. That thought sparked another, and he realized that he also didn't want to scare her off because he was enjoying her company. Damn, was he that desperate? They'd only just met. To be fair, though, he was fairly convinced she was a lost princess and that maybe, just maybe, 'rescuing' her might net him the rights to a prized grazing spot. And, maybe the chance to talk some more.
He snapped out of it once she started moving, and indicated for him to follow. It was... really weird, when she bowed to him. He didn't exactly like it. He certainly wasn't higher than her, if that's what she was thinking, and he wasn't really into the whole 'court manners' thing, either. Honestly, it made him really uncomfortable, and he shifted his weight a bit to try and hide that. Hopefully, she didn't do that often, because he really didn't want to have to try and explain why it made him uncomfortable. Still, he fell in step behind her once she took the lead.
The silence that followed, though... He wasn't sure if he'd made a mistake in offering to help. He was pretty hopelessly lost, and offering to help find someone when you're hopelessly lost is a pretty bad indicator of how much help you can be, but she could totally have humored him. Even if it was, like, 'go search in this barren area where my friend almost certainly isn't but since you're so bad at life we'll let you get yourself lost here until we come get you'. He slowed, slightly, and was about to apologize when she responded. His ears flicked, and he picked his pace back up to settle in just beside her, if not back a pace or two. As she continued, he couldn't stop himself from admiring her wings, and how soft they looked. He didn't see many Soquili with them, in the desert, and if he did, they were usually passing over his oasis. He never got to see them up close. He was pretty sure she was that thing they called an alicorn, though, which was a combination of unicorn and... whatever normal winged Soquili were called. Winds? He was pretty sure it was winds. "Damn. That's a long time to be looking for someone." Way to point out the obvious, idiot. "Um. Sorry. I mean, like. What happened, I guess? Where did you last see her?" That was a bit better. Knowing that her friend was a girl was a bit more comforting, too, for some weird reason.
"You're not asking, though, are you?" he quipped, that small, smug smile tugging at his lips again. "If I remember right, I offered." He wasn't trying to be pushy, really. He just wanted her to keep talking. Maybe she'd be a bit more open, talking about this friend of hers. Maybe she'd let him stay, if only for a while, to help her look. He really had gotten desperate. "I don't know. It's not like I have anything better to do. I live in the middle of a desert, in an oasis, which yeah, it's pretty, but when you see it day in and day out, you get... disillusioned to it. Like. I know there's more beauty in the world, I've just never bothered to look. If you n- ...want help looking for a friend, I'm more than willing." He paused, thinking for a moment, and turned his attention forward to peer through the trees, trying to strain his ears for the sound of water. "Besides, I like you well enough. You're nice, you've got a fancy name, and... are you a princess?" Well, s**t, he hadn't meant to ask that way. He shrugged, and shot her the best, most handsome smile he could muster, hoping he hadn't just ******** everything up in the worst possible way. "Secret's safe with me, if you are. You just act like it."Uta *sings daedric hymns whilest depositing an outrageously overdue reply*
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Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2015 4:30 pm
evil pirate duck I feel like Rafiki: "It is time!" . . .for tags, that is!
She hadn't been entirely forthright with him, after all. She had been unable to keep Asakti out of flying that afternoon, and certainly had been unable to keep up with the mare when the storm hit. They had been separated -- the true princess and heir of the cerynei herd -- and it had been her fault! Honestly, she couldn't give up, even if the likelihood of her finding the cerynei was unfathomable. Still . . it was her search, her burden -- Surely this Zaid didn't need to help her.
"You truly are very, very, kind," she repeated, lowering her gaze, her voice dropping low. "The reason I . . I hesitate in taking you up on such an offer is that I . . . I don't know whether or not I'll ever find her. It is a journey that might very well have no conclusion, and it would be . . unkind of me to allow another to subject themselves to such a search. It is not your burden to carry, as . . . losing her was my fault." He might as well know. The mare's wings drooped at the confession, and her neck lowered in distress. It wasn't easy to speak about, even to a stranger.
"I was to keep watch over her. She was always so reckless, and bounded off into flight despite the poor weather! I tried to keep up, I tried to keep an eye on her, but the wind was too strong, and we got separated. The wind all but stripped our wings of their feathers, and I crashed shortly after she did. . . I had hoped we might have landed near one another, but . . . it's clear we missed each other completely." Given her feathers had grown back, and how much time had passed, honestly, Jyotsna was certain she was now running a fools errand.
But she couldn't give up. . . Giving up meant the worst.
Ah, but how Zaid knew nothing about her! Oh. . . . Oh she couldn't let the poor stallion continue to be led astray! If any cerynei were to hear him, she was certain he'd be sneered at and looked at poorly. "Oh . . . oh I . . I assure you I am not at all a princess!" If her cheeks colored with a blush, she couldn't help such a thing. But she didn't deserve such words, such kindness. "I'm afraid you're speaking to . . . .to the lowly servant. I was taken in by a purist herd for my healing abilities, and wings. I was to keep watch on the princess, Asakti, but . . . well . . . she's the one I'm trying to find. She's the real princess. I'm just . . . I'm just the help." She tried to force a smile, but it came out strained, if a bit nervous. Mostly, she was still crestfallen. ". . and not very good help, really."
Thankfully, the stream she was leading the stallion to wasn't far. The earth was becoming more damp and humid, and the sound of the stream could be heard tripping and trickling over rocks and sandy banks. Sure to her word, the mare pushed aside some foliage and a small stream wound its way before them, full of fresh water, and lined with foliage ripe for the tasting.
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Posted: Sun Dec 20, 2015 2:19 pm
Her voice... suited her, he decided. It was minuscule, and while she, herself, was not all that small, her demeanor certainly made her seem so. She was gentle, soft-spoken, and every bit of her tugged at his heartstrings in a way that made him want to protect her. He wasn't even sure it could be constituted as attraction, because while, yes, he thought she was cute, he was more concerned with how he could help and keep her safe. It was a confusing sort of feeling. It meant effort, and Zaid was the last one to offer effort into anything.
"That's... Forgive the language here, Jyotsna, but that's bullshit." His brow furrowed in thought, and he snorted. "You said yourself, she made the decision to fly in bad weather. Running in bad winds is a fool's idea, let alone flying." This time, he did cringe, and he peered at her feathers curiously. They didn't look stripped or barren, but he doubted that she was lying, and figured that they had grown back. He hoped they had, anyway? He wasn't actually sure how long it took feathers to regrow. "I bet you she panicked. She hit the ground, couldn't fly, couldn't find her friend... Are you sure she hasn't found her way back to your... family?" She hadn't called them family. She'd said she'd been taken in, which he assumed meant that she didn't have a family. There went his heartstrings again...
Wait... a servant? She was a servant? She called the herd 'purist', which he'd honestly never heard of before, but the way she described it, he was certain he didn't want to know. "... You're messin' with me, right? Like, ha ha, we're friends and that's a term of endearment she uses because she's a princess and I'm not?" The look on her face told him no. "Are you ********' kidding me? I mean, okay, royalty and different classes and all that, sure, I guess that's how things are done, but... That's bullshit," he reiterated, his ears twisting back and a look of annoyance ghosting his features. It never even occurred to him that she was an alicorn - a mix of two bloods. She was nice, and she was pretty, and he definitely liked the way she talked, so he couldn't imagine anywhere that she would be treated like anything lower than an equal. Actually, the idea really pissed him off.
But she'd lead him to water, and for a brief moment, the anger slipped away, because his face lit up in a smile and he kicked his hooves up at the sight of the river. Finally, a drink! He'd nearly forgotten about the burning, itching sensation in his throat, and it had gotten worse on the trip here, with all the walking and talking he'd been doing. He cantered to the bank and stuck his whole muzzle into the cool, crisp water, drinking his fill and swishing his tail happily behind him. When he was done, he tossed his head back and sneezed, the water that had crept up his nose tickling the hairs. "Look, I don't know how they judge 'help' in your herd, but you sure as hell did a good job helping me find water. I'd say you're great help," he chuckled, stepping into the stream and wading in until the water approached his knees. "Take a break, Jyotsna. Searching tirelessly won't find your friend any faster. Have a drink, and cool off - it's hot as hell today!"Uta "Kovu... and Kiara... together????"
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