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 Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 3:59 pm
(Potentially with other family? Unsure at this time.)
Sibalto shook his head with a faint smile as he drifted away from the small herd that seemed to take up so much of his time, bidding the Kiwani maiden who tended him a fond farewell. The collection of stallions and the occasional mare nodded in return, smiling as he set off on his path. There was no telling when he would visit next... He was due to spend time with his family and -more importantly- his lady.
It had been too long since he'd walked the paths of the forest with his mate, long enough to help raise a grandson and granddaughter and wonder what to do with the first generation ever born to them with wings. Then again, at this point perhaps Firefly had had to do the same, she spent time with his daughter and he with one of their sons, and the other wandered far beyond them both. Still, Sibalto was pleased he had good things to report to Firefly for Imrikalto, Ashrialto and now Delrialto and Sitara... Hopefully she had good news for Dafina, Dafius, Darma, Rafius and any others that had come in his absence.
Hopefully she wouldn't scold him too badly when they crossed paths again, stars above knew he had missed her. Picking up the pace to a floating canter, the dappled stallion sped into the trees and searched for the black and gray beauty that was his mate. "Firefly?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 4:12 pm
She had been napping quietly with the little colt at her side when she was snapped awake by a voice nearby. A familiar voice but one she had not heard in quite some time. Nickering softly at Darma who slept with Dafina nearby, she nudged Esparda over to sleep between them as she stood, giving a flick of her long tail and a small shake of her head. Giving them all a quick look and then a glance around the clearing, she soon slipped into the under brush. Heading towards that familiar voice with a quickness in her step.
Breaking through the trees, she stopped as the dappled stallion came into view. A fiery look in her eyes but a soft smile on her lips as her ears perked forward. "Sibalto...."
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 5:03 pm
When into the proper neck of the woods, Sibalto checked his pace, slowing his speed to minimize the jangling of his tack. Though the stirrups were run up and secured by their leathers so they didn't bang him in the sides, the doubled reins of the bridle still shifted, bit jangling when he shook his head. He snorted, nostrils flaring wide and ears flicking forward to catch the sound of the forest. There was no hint of danger, but no real sign of what he sought either.
"Hmmm..." He hummed to himself, twisting around trees like a great silver shadow.
In the next glade, or perhaps the next, he gathered Firefly would still be spending her time... Perhaps with more of their family beside her. The soft sound of approach made him twist around another looming tree eagerly, smiling when the shadow-coated mare appeared. If possible, she was even more beautiful than he remembered.
"Hello Shadow Lady." He greeted, halting squarely and bowing his head deeply. It was just one-step shy of the full-kneeling bow he could have offered, but he preferred to remain on his hooves so he could slip forward and nose her cheek in greeting. "I have missed you."
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 5:17 pm
Nuzzling his cheek in return, she lipped at his ear affectionately. Giving her tail a long, drawn out flick before nuzzling him beneath his chin. Nipping lightly at the flesh of his neck. "I have missed you as well."
Stepping back, she looked up at him. A slender eyebrow raised as she tilted her head slightly to the side. "Tell me, where has my silver love been all this time? Off cavorting with the other mares of the land perhaps?" A smirk curled one corner of her lips as she teased. "Leaving this poor old mare to wonder what new filly has caught his eye and tend to the future of their family alone."
She gave an almost indignant snort. Knowing full well that Sibalto would never do such things, but it was always fun to tease him and put him on the spot like that from time to time. Especially when it had been so long since she'd last seen him. It never got old.
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 5:41 pm
Sibalto grinned and nuzzled at her graceful neck, rumbling to himself when she cuddled closer. Watching her draw back he returned her arch look with one of his own, though it devolved into another happy grin. He was just too pleased to see her again to hold the standoffish expression, and shrugged it off as unnecessary.
"Been? Running himself ragged after that dark-coated son of his." Sibalto murmured mournfully at her. "I swear the lad inherited none of his mother's loveliness, he's heathen from nose to tail. And his son is even worse! And the great-grandson? Tsk, Lady of Shadows, be glad you've avoided them until they got themselves sorted out. Young stallions are the worst, as I'm sure you know."
He rolled his eyes at the mention of other mares. "Any lady I have seen has had to compete with your memory, which does not even do your glorious self justice. I am sure they have found me unaccountably in love with a shadow figure, and can tell I would have declined to do a thing about it."
"Old?" He rumbled in disagreement. "I see no old mare of which you speak. Where is she? Does she need my aid?"
He glanced around playfully, eyes wide with false concern that faded to something more real when he turned back to her.
"I hope no great ill has befallen us in all of my absence, I'd ne'er forgive myself for it." He replied without a hint of amusement, silver eyes wide and soulful. "In truth... Tell me they are all well?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 5:53 pm
She couldn't help the cheeky smile that parted her lips now. Her ears turning this way and that as she listened to him speak of their son, grandson and great grandson. A small laugh bubbled up as she shook her head. "Well, as the saying always goes. Boys will be boys." She nipped at his nose lightly. "Are they truly such hedonists that they need all of your attention?"
Well, at least she could take solace in Sibalto's loyalty and dedication to her. Even if they were kept apart for lengths of time. That was good. She worried some days when he was gone, but those worries were few and far between. And of course, he was still the same flatterer as always. "She stands before you and does need your aid. She needs your aid of love to warm her cold nights."
Firefly shook her head. "No, nothing ill." She glanced back at the path she had wound through the trees. "Dafina and Darma are safe. As is Jarda and the others. Plus there is a new little one that has taken up residence with us for the time being." Looking back to her mate she grinned. "A colt of Jarda's."
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 6:16 pm
Sibalto noted her grin and rumbled at her in false-annoyance, giving her a sulky look just to make her smile. He loved it when Firefly smiled; loved how he was transported back to the very first day he had seen the native-beauty in the woods. So far from his home, his old life and in some ways his old self. He had been a flatterer and a flirt and danced far and wide for the joy of it and the admiration of others. But nothing had ever mattered so much to him as the warmth he found in deep-garnet eyes.
"That they will." He agreed with a faint smile. It was a lucky thing Imrikalto lacked his mother's eyes, or he would have gotten away with much more mischief. "Now, not nearly so bad as that. I admit, somewhere around the middle there even I had my doubts if we would survive."
He cracked the joke with a smile and a flick of his tail, shaking himself slightly and sending his mane into disarray, he stretched one foreleg out and bowed low to the dark mare, smiling as he straightened. "I stand then ready to serve her as she needs, to offer my love and company and walk beside her until the end of days."
He relaxed when she admitted no great ill had befallen them, some tension seeping out of his form and unknotting muscles as it went. To hear they were safe meant the world to him, his lovely scattered family. While some had gone to ground and others leapt for the stars, all he wished for was their health, safety and happiness.
"A youngling, hmm?" He smiled at the thought of it. "I admit it seems far too long since we've had foals underfoot... I will be glad to meet him."
He cocked his head slight, grinning. "As handsome as his father, no doubt."
Sibalto was nothing if not proud of his family.
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 6:34 pm
Another laugh passed her lips as her ears flicked back then forward again. "I'm sure with any lesser stallion watching over them they probably would not have. They and I are very lucky to have you." She nuzzled his cheek once more, letting her nose linger against his skin for a moment.
"I am glad to hear that." The mare turned lightly, bumping his side with her flank as she made motion for him to follow. Dafina and Darma would still probably be asleep but she figure Esparda perhaps might be awake. The little colt had a lot of energy, Firefly had forgotten how spirited young foals were. "He reminds me a lot of you."
Her tail flicked lightly against his rump. "It has been quite a while since our firsts. Though the young ones always seem to trickle back to me for comfort. Jarda is young and his mare is spirited, he only wishes for Esparda to have the same familial ties as he did being raised by Dafina, Darma and I." She rumbled lightly to herself. "Though I love them all I would not mind a second batch of little ones of my own."
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 6:47 pm
Victory. He swished his tail in silent revelry and nodded slightly. "A lesser stallion? Survive the blood-dappled tornado that is Imri? I rather doubt he would, and I'd pity him if he did."
He rumbled and accepted the compliment with a smile. "Thank you, my lady, it means the utmost coming from you."
Turning just after her nudge, he followed down the trail and toward the glade she had no-doubt left to meet him, taking care with his strides and lowering his voice to avoid waking his sleeping family. "Does he now? Should I apologize, be offended, or proud?" A bird flew overhead and his ears flicked. "Perhaps some mix of all three?"
He chuckled. It probably was some mix of all three. He had the feeling he was even more terrible as a foal and juvenile than he was playfully exaggerating Imrikalto and Ashrialto to be. Not that they and Delrialto hadn't been difficult, but there certainly had been no risk of death. Barring that one incident with the Kalona, but it was a minor thing... Really.
He grinned at the brush of her tail and nosed at her side in playful retaliation. "It had indeed, and of course they would. Is there any place more comfortable than at your side? I have a feeling you could set the whole world to rights one soul at a time if you cared to travel so far. You make us behave in spite of ourselves."
He smiled at the snippets of news. "I look forward to seeing them all again, I dearly miss them... And meeting the young ones would be wonderful."
The mention of young made his ears flick forward. "I would most enjoy having our foals underhoof again." He admitted easily. "Perhaps we will discuss such a possibility later, once some of the visiting is done?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 7:07 pm
Firefly spoke nothing more than the truth. Sibalto was a strong stallion to her, if even sometimes a bit silly. But even still, he cared greatly for their family and she knew that if it came to it he would do everything in his power to keep them all safe. Although, she hoped that such a day would never come.
She was silent for a moment as he spoke. Continuing down the trail at an easy pace. She was not in any serious rush to reach the glade where she had left the others. A grin spread her lips as she nudged him playfully with a shoulder. "I would say proud. Esparda is a very charming little fellow. And silver like you, though with blonde hair. With a bit of your dappling as well. But he is a very spirited little colt. I think it would be good for him to have you around for a while."
Now it was her turn to smile inwardly as his compliments. Though not like he was short on them since he arrived. But even still, Firefly prided herself on being one of the level headed sort among the flock. Outside of her own mother of course, but that was another story. "Yes, well. Someone has to keep you unruly boys in line."
A small nod as they drew closer to the glade. She could hear faint soft whickering that told her that Esparda had awoken after she'd left. "I would enjoy talking of such things later."
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 7:30 pm
The faith his dark lady had in him was an emboldening thing, at times intoxicating as much as it was invigorating. He let himself straighten, ears perked forward and head set just-so as he basked in her praise and faith. He could set all his antics -coltish and otherwise- aside when faced with adversity, had done so before in fact... But the easygoing demeanor was his general state of being, a relaxed and fun side that was once lost beneath the anger and arrogance of his youth. In this land he was at peace with himself, had found love and made a family, and would not let anything endanger that.
He hoped that behind her easy smiles, Firefly knew that, though he had a feeling that she did. She always seemed to know him -to believe in him- better or more than he did himself. It was a faith and a love that could change one's entire being, and perhaps even the world. It certainly had changed his.
"I shall be proud then, and even more eager to meet the little whirlwind." He smiled at the thought of a colt, of a youngling to play hide-and-seek and chase through the glades and talk to about dancing and racing and life. "My dapples and all? What a heartbreaker in the making. I like the sound of him already."
He chuckled at her matter-of-fact reply. "Indeed someone must. And I'm sure the list of those who will is a short one. Fortunate for me you accepted the daunting task. I'd be a mess without you, as we both well know. And our sons? Ahhh, pity the whole of the lands if they were allowed to run un-checked."
He gave a mocking shiver and then chuckled, speeding just enough to match pace with her after nosing her hindquarters affectionately. The low-wicker of a foal made his ears swivel forward, delight at the thought of meeting more of his family suffusing his limbs. "Later it shall be then. For now, show me this little sprite of Jarda's."
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 7:47 pm
She smiled brightly. Happy that her mate was eager to meet the newest addition to their family. Even if it were not one of their own foals, it warmed her heart to know that he was accepting as ever.
"I don't know many mares who would take on such a task. Its been hard work for sure, I think I need a long vacation. Let someone else run things for a while." The mare sighed heavily, closing her eyes as she let her head sag a bit as she walked. Opening one eye that twinkled with playfulness as she looked at up her mate.
Her tail flicked across his nose as the nosing as dark eyes peered past the brush. Picking up her pace just a bit and clearing the trees that surrounded the little home she had made for herself and her blood. Dafina and Darma were still asleep but the little silver colt was pacing eagerly around the clearing. Pawing at the ground and chasing a passing butterfly. She nickered softly to him. "He might be a little shy of you at first."
Esparda's tail lifted high as he heard the familiar sound of his grand mare. Bright purple eyes smiling as he scurried over to her, twining about her legs as he nuzzled at her belly. The sudden approach of this unfamiliar stallion thought caught him off guard, eyes widening as he hid beneath her, his black muzzle peeking out from between her front legs.
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:16 pm
In the silence of his mind and heart Sibalto allowed himself to admit that he regretted the missed time lying between him and his family. He had missed out on so much, for one reason or another. What were Dafius and Rafius up to? How long had it been since he'd told his daughter Dafina how much he loved her? Had he ever seen Jamison, who had won Darma's heart? Perhaps, but at a distance he was sure... And it would be nice to see the handsome young Jarda again, to see how he had grown into himself... To meet the mare who had caught Jarda's heart, the other foals he had with her.
So much time lost... He silently mourned, even as he strode toward this newest generation with an eager heart. Missed chances and skipped moments. Do they know how much I love them? How proud of them I am? Ahh, how I have failed, in so many ways...
But sorrow would not help him now, so he pushed it aside and concentrated on the fact that he would get to see Dafina and Darma for the first time in a long time... And greet this new great-great-grand colt of his. Who would grow up handsome, he had no doubt. His family was a beautiful one, scattered or not.
Hesitating for a moment at the edge of the clearing, Sibalto craned his head through the brush and watched the pacing colt, grinning faintly to himself. All legs at this point, the young one was, but sturdy on them. Then again, Sibalto and Firefly's line certainly seemed of that sort, they all had a bit of a wandering heart and hooves to match. The butterfly-chasing was adorable and made him rumble a low laugh, shaking his head faintly. He truly did miss having the younglings around. The world was so much brighter in the eyes of a foal.
"I'm sure." He murmured in agreement, letting her move into the clearing ahead of him before slowly following in her wake. The colt twining around her legs made him grin, a flash of memory of another grand-colt momentarily overtaking the image. But Ash had wings and was like the late-evening sky as it drifted toward starlit-night... And this lad was soft silver with laughing purple eyes.
"Hello." He murmured kindly as he noticed the colt noticing him. "You don't miss a beat, do you?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:26 pm
Firefly eyeballed the other two sleeping mares before she turned her attention back to Esparda who had so conveniently taken up hiding beneath her. Leaning her head down, she nuzzled the colt comfortingly. Licking at the back of his ears before stepping to the side and nudging him forward so that Sibalto could get a better look. "Esparda, this is my mate Sibalto. Your great great grandsire."
The colt's tail flicked side to side a little irritantly as the older mare nudged him forward. He stumbled for a second before gaining his footing again. Craining his small head back to stare up at the larger stallion in awe. He was big. And what were those strange thingies that he wore? Those really interested him. No one else in his family wore them. What were they for?
"Hello." He was unsure about how to react at first. Esparda puffed out his little chest. He was only a little bit cocky, as most young colts usually were. Always thinking they were big stallions in little bodies. "I gotta be. To make sure Gram and the others are safe from scary things." He eyeballed Sibalto for a second. "You're not a scary thing are you?"
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Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2012 8:34 pm
Sib spared a brief, fond look for the dosing mares, glad they had the chance at sleep. With a foal around, that was probably in short supply, most adults learned to grab it when they could. Still, with Firefly here to take him aside sometimes... Hopefully they all got enough rest.
He grinned as Firefly nudged the colt forward and moved so he was in the open between them, shaking his head enough to jangle the tack because his own foals had always liked it. The high, bell-like chime of the metal never failed to get ears perked, even if the strange look of it all did. Noting the colt's craning look, Sib obediently dropped his head down to foal-level, tilting his head enough to offer a smile.
"Hello Esparda, it's nice to meet you." He murmured with utter honesty. "And I appreciate that you are doing your best to keep the ladies safe. It is something every stallion should strive for."
He blinked at the question, and then laughed, glancing at Firefly. "Your Gram is standing in the clearing and you ask if I'm scary? She's the one to watch out for, out of all of us. I bet you could ask any of your relatives and they'd tell you so. 'Don't cross Gram-Firefly,' they'd say. 'It's scary if you disappoint her.'."
He straightened with another shake of his head. "No my fine lad, I'm not a scary thing."
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