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 Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 8:31 am
As she stepped out of the forest and onto the open vast plain, she stared out at the bright world with slight awe. Maybe it would be better for her to get out more often. She proceeded very caustiously into the field feeling small butterflies in her stomach even though her expression didn't exactly show how happy she was to be out and about.
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Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:01 am
 Bhikkuni had ventured out of the Padmapani's territories with only the idea of discovering herself to drive her. It seemed that if she were to find out who she really was she would be able to let go of all the little, meaningless things in the world. So far all she had discovered was that she had a knack for hiking about in the mountains and that thunderstorms were extremely dangerous the higher you went. After one close call with a bolt of lightning several days ago she had decided to take her self-searching down to the low lands.
Bhikkuni came out of the mountains in a forest. Finding that the atmosphere would be calmer she had decided to continue her roaming within the trees. Today, as she wandered through the distantly spaced border trees, something caught Bhikkuni's eye. She stopped and ruffled her wings. There was a foal wandering around on it's own. She frowned and looked around for any sign of it's parents. She could see none. Her mother's training kicked in.
"Hello!" She called to the little foal as she stepped out into the open. "Are you all alone? Do you need help?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:26 am
Hearing a voice, the filly turned her head seeing the taller adult mare standing there. This made her feeling a little uneasy at first because she hadn't met someone outside of her family yet and someone as big as the other posed as a threat. Naturally she tensed, stepping back away from her only a few inches before she got a hold of herself again halting her movements. She just stared at her unsure of what to do for a few moments before finally opening her mouth. No words came out and it was pure silence. She wasn't mute. She had a voice all right, but maybe it was because she had a type of social anxiety. She didn't know what it was herself nor did it bother her any.
She slowly approached the female and nudged her leg very lightly then threw her head to the side as if signaling her a direction before walking that way. She used signals more then she used words. It was rather difficult for anyone to be around her, but if they worked at it she was very easy to understand with time. "I'm fine." She said very quick and without hesitation as she continued on the path across the open plain. Would this mare stick with her for company or would she wander off? It wasn't something she could guess, but she did assume the ladder.
"I'm Astraea. You are?" She looked back at the mare for only a brief second before signaling her over to a tree that she was slowly walking towards anyway. If this mare actually got her to talk longer then she was use to it would be a miracle.
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Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 9:54 am
For a moment Bhikkuni was worried that she'd startled the foal badly but in the end the child still approached her. She silently thanked her deities that she hadn't inadvertently made everything worse before focusing on the foal. She was able to determine that the foal was a filly and of the deer like cerynei breed at least in part. What she wasn't able to determine was what the girl was doing. She came over, nudged Bhikkuni's leg and then jerked her head to the side. There was purpose in the motion but the young mare was unable to determine what that purpose was.
She was going to have to think it over later because the foal was on the move again. "That's good." She said following after the child unwilling to leave her alone completely unguarded. She was no warrior but she had strong moral obligations to the inhabitants of this world. "I'm Bhikkuni of the Padmapani herd." She caught the motion of the filly's indicating the tree. It seemed similar to the way she had signaled off to the side earlier. Bhikkuni took a second to glance back in that direction. "Is there something over there?" She asked.
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Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 10:28 am
Astraea was happy the mare was understanding what she was trying to say or do. This was a plus because she honestly couldn't muster her voice to speak long sentences at the moment. She heard the others name and turned around giving her a small nod of recognition as they approached the lonely tree. She looked up at it before stomping her hoof repeatedly against the ground. This wasn't meant for the mare to understand, but more of her trying mark spots that she had been to. Later she knew she would have to make an engraving of some sort in the tree if she could remember where this was.
"Nice to meet you." She said to the other before shaking her head in a solid no. There was nothing she was really looking for. It was more of her getting out and seeing the world around her. She had been confined to small sections of the forest ever since she popped out of her basket so it was only natural for her to be curious about he most simplest things. There was one thing that really peaked her curiosity, she just hadn't mentioned it yet.
"Can you fly and what is that? Your tail?" She gestured with her hoof to the mare's spiked tail finding it rather fascinating as well as her wings.
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Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 10:49 am
Astraea was a bit unusual but she was quite well mannered. Someone had taught her that. Bhikkuni decided that she was going to stick around until whoever that was showed up however long that may take. "It's nice to meet you as well." She said softly with a small nod of her head before looking at the marks of the ground. Was there any purpose in them? She looked back to the filly as she spoke again. If there was any point to it clearly it wasn't something Bhikkuni needed to be worried about.
"Yes, I can fly." She said reassured that her child's curiosity seemed well in tact. "And yes," she brought her tail out from behind her to hold it steady by her foreleg. "This is my tail. Be careful with it, the edges are...quite sharp." It had been inherited from her father and most of her siblings had it too. Her mother was quite fond of how useful the appendages were in battle but Bhikkuni had often thought of finding ways to dull the edges or remove the tip entirely. It was a weapon and not something she wanted or needed. She had wings, if there was danger she could flee easily. There was no need to fight.
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Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 11:33 am
Astraea smiled to the other mare before it faded into a blank stare. Yes, she was strange, but there was nothing she could do about that. It was who she was and she was told that everything strange is just special in it's own way. In the long run, she wasn't going to hate herself for being who she was. She wasn't going to feel like an outcast with other Soq. "Neat." She simply said as she began to slowly walk about from the tree.
How could she let the other mare know she wasn't a very vocal creature? There had to be a way other then just blatantly telling her, but she opted for the easier way. "I don't talk much." She told the older mare wiggling her little stub of a tail as she walked back onto the open field once again. Though she was feeling a little more comfortable around the mare she didn't see her as much of a threat as she once did. This hopefully would end up helping her further down the road.
"Are you looking for something or trying to find someone? I can help you if you are." She asked curiously with her head turning so that she could look at the mare once more. She was trying and that was an important thing. This was her duty after all. To help wandering souls find their way home whether they are living or dead.
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Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2012 11:48 am
Neat. Bhikkuni looked at the spaded tip of her tail before pulling it back behind her again. It had always been such a significant thing to Bhikkuni that it was a little surprising to hear it dismissed so casually. Surprising, but also interesting. What was important to her was not important to everyone. She took that thought and she stored it for further reflection at a later point. Right now she needed to pay attention to the young one.
She watched as Astraea wandered back into the open again and after a moment she followed. "There is beauty to be found in silence." Bhikkuni said wondering if the filly was looking for condolence. No. That wasn't it at all. Bhikkuni tilted her head to one side as the child asked a couple of questions that would otherwise seem simple. She wasn't looking to be comforted for being odd. Really it seemed to the mare that Astraea was trying to comfort Bhikkuni instead by answering some unspoken question.
How strange for a foal.
"The easiest answer to that question is no I am not looking for any person." She said with a smile thinking that it would be too confusing to tell a foal that she was looking for herself. It was a strange concept even for many adults. "Are you?"
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Posted: Wed Aug 29, 2012 6:55 am
Beauty in silence? That was something she never heard before let along even think about. How could silence be beauty? Wouldn't most just find it annoying that she wasn't talking? She didn't understand it, but maybe one day she would finally come to a realization about this. The older mare's features did fascinate her, just they didn't fascinate her in the same ways it probably would with others. She was born in a family where strange and odd was the norm, so she didn't really know what anything normal or spectacular was.
"No I'm not looking for anything. I am seeing the world." She nodded to the mare as they both continued on their way. Her bluish-gray eyes examining every little thing that they walked on by. She didn't really find much things to be amazing so it was very hard for her to get excited about anything.
"If you aren't looking for another being then what are you looking for?" She asked looking back to the mare and going back to her silent mode. She was trying to understand the mare a little bit more then she already did, but it was a little hard when she couldn't just be talkative with her. Though she wondered if the other female wanted to get to know her just as much. She didn't have a clue, but if they ever met up again maybe she would find out. She then halted abruptly and sat down in the open field looking around hearing all the different sounds and colors. It was beautiful and she was going to have to come out of the forest more often. "I don't get out much." She simply said as she eyed a butterfly that landed on a flower in front of her. It caused her to give a small smile as she remained there staring at it.
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Posted: Thu Aug 30, 2012 11:35 am
"That is a truly noble ambition, particularly for one so young as you." She commented watching as the child took in the scenery greedily. There had been a time when she had looked at the world with a similar hunger in her eyes. As she aged curiosity had turned to knowing, though, right now, she found herself missing the wonderment the world had held.
"I suppose you could say that I am doing the same really. I'm just seeing the world to understand it and myself a little bit better." She hoped that the filly wouldn't bring it up again because Bhikkuni wasn't sure how much of the full answer the child would understand. Even more than that, she had no idea how much Astraea's parents would want Bhikkuni saying, assuming they cared at all.
When the foal stopped Bhikkuni carefully navigated around her to stand close enough for comfortable conversation. "You don't get out much?" Bhikkuni's head tilted ever so slightly to the side. That was a rather peculiar thing for a foal to say. Unless. . . "Do you live with the humans? Or in the caves perhaps?" She questioned. Those were the only places she could think of where it might considered not living outside.
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Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2012 5:05 am
Looking to Bhikkuni, she tilted her head to the side and gave her a small smile. A noble ambition it was and even though seeing the world was something probably a lot of Soq want to do, but for her it meant a lot. She wondered though if she would have company on such a task, not that she really needed any. Though the words mare's about exploration of oneself really made her wonder if that is what life was all about? Figuring out your wants and who you are through all the challenges you will face. Maybe it was something like that, but she didn't understand or know yet. Maybe in time and maturity it would come to her. "Have you explored your soul? You will figure it out with time." She said softly to the other as she looked back to the flower seeing the butterfly fly off.
"Yes. I stay in the forest with my family...so you are the first stranger I have met." She told the older mare tilting her head to the side once more and nudging the flower with her nose. "Caves sound fun to explore not live in and humans...I..don't think I have been around one yet." She said not sure what a human even was. "Do you have family?" She asked going back to her silence as she began to walk once more feeling a little faint from all the traveling today.
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Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2012 10:18 am
"I'm actually doing that right now." She said eying the foal curiously as she looked upon her flower. There was something unsettling about hearing a filly suggest to do something that was usually considered 'deep' by others. Bhikkuni hadn't thought that most children her age would have even known what a soul was. Perhaps her family had a more spiritual nature, somewhat like Bhikkuni's own. It seemed she had an awful lot of assumptions about the people outside of her own herd. It was definitely a good thing that she was taking this trip. Eliminating assumptions and prejudices seemed like one important step along the path to enlightenment and self-discovery.
Somehow Bhikkuni managed to listen to herself as well as Astraea as she spoke of her home and experiences. In the forest. It seemed like many creatures lived in the forest and yet she had met no one unknown to her. "I do have a family. Quite a large one. We are the Padmapani and there are many of us. I live with cousins, nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles." Bhikkuni replied as she followed after the filly. Really she lived with just about everyone except for her grand parents. They had passed on in a terrible event that occurred before the birth of herself and her siblings. "We live in the mountains and in the trees on the peninsula. It is a beautiful place."
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Posted: Sun Sep 02, 2012 8:47 pm
The gray filly gave the older mare a long stare thinking on her words some more. She admired her a little bit that she was trying to figure everything out including herself. It was something that probably almost everyone did at one time or another. It was a part of life and it was necessary. She only hoped she would have her life figured out by the time she was an adult. It would make things easier and probably make her life less of a hassle or confusing. "I wish you luck in figuring yourself out." She told her with a light tone of voice as she began to slowly wander through the field of high grass.
"A herd? It sounds like you are from something like that." She said to her wondering what it was like to be in a huge herd like the one she was describing. She lived in something similar to a herd, but she wouldn't call it that. It was more like a huge group of family members. They never really made themselves known as a herd though they probably should have. As she thought more about it the better the idea sounded and she would have to mention it to her father. She looked up at the sky seeing it getting a little darker out making her frown. "My father is probably worried about me." She muttered out as she turned around facing the mare.
"It was nice meeting you and learning about you, but I have to get going. Maybe we will meet again?" She said tilting her head as she began to walk away slowly. She didn't know if they would meet again, but it would honestly be something she would want to do at least when she was an adult. By then she would understand more and be able to associate with the older mare some.
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Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 8:39 am
Bhikkuni nodded her head in confirmation. "Yes, it is a herd. It's just, we are mostly all related in one way or another." There was a small silence before Astraea spoke again. She smiled a little to hear the filly mention her father but quickly banished the look to better suit the way the child seemed to be feeling. Bhikkuni did not want to accidentally give Astraea the impression that she was glad to see her go. The winged mare was simply relieved to hear that the filly's parent's would care where she was.
"I would be happy if our paths crossed again, Astraea." She said watching as Astraea began to walk away. She hesitated to follow after even though she did not like the idea of leaving Astraea on her own even for a short while. She was a smart child but she was still a child after all. "Will you be okay to return on your own or would you prefer that I accompany you?" Bhikkuni got the feeling that even if Astraea refused her offer that she would still watch from afar until the filly was out of sight. It was just a precaution.
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Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:34 pm
Would she be all right going home alone? She didn't see the trouble in it and honestly there wasn't anything out there that would harm her. She had walked around enough alone to know that the things around here wouldn't hurt her. Maybe one day she would meet something deadly and she would get a lesson in defending herself, but not today. "I will be fine." She told her in a light tone as she continued to walk away from her. Their paths could cross again at a later date or when she was an adult, but honestly she didn't know when. She didn't know when and that was the interesting part.
"Maybe one day when I'm older we can meet and possibly be friends. I don't forget Soq with good souls so I will remember you." She said back to her as she still walked. She had a good memory and could tell when someone had a bad quality to them. Bhikkuni didn't show any signs of that, which only made her more interested in one day becoming friends with her. It might take awhile, but it was possible.
"Goodbye and let the spirits guide you home." It was her final words before she disappeared into the darkening forest. He way home was a long one, but she did this every day.
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