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 Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:34 pm
 It had been a while now, since Izefiah had learned he'd lost Neela during the time ht had taken him to find himself. He'd come to terms with that, but he was still angry at his father and as such was still avoiding him. He just didn't want to see him right now. Auster would be apathetic about it; he hadn't approved of Neela even being Iz's friend. Not that he cared that now. He'd do whatever he wanted now, Auster be damned.
Still it was getting a bit lonely. He'd met a few people in his travels, even a few people like him to his surprise. He'd even made a few friends. There was still something missing though. He'd never really been alone in his life. He'd had his sister and Neela when he was a foal, and even into his adulthood he'd had his father. What he needed now was a companion, someone to travel with who wasn't afraid of him and his horrid appearance.
Too bad he had no idea how to go about finding one.
So he kept travelling alone. Today his travels had brought him to a nice little clearing with a nice and tasty patch of grass. He was rather enjoying his breakfast, and only looked up when he heard the sound of ruffling leaves as someone else entered the clearing.
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:44 pm
 It seemed a milder sort of day, one that gave you hope that eventually winter would end again and spring would arrive. Nalani was out early, hoping to catch sight of some tentative sprouting of new plants; it was possibly a bit early but she missed wearing flowers, and although she had taken to wearing a sprig of evergreen leaves in her tail, carrying the piney scent everywhere with her, it wasn't the same and she longed for the season's turn and all the new growth it would bring.
She was also enjoying being out without one of her chaperones, there'd been some convincing done, especially on Kodah's part, but even he had grudgingly admitted that she could go out without him or anyone else, and that she was capable of being guarded with her emotions.
That said, the sight of the stallion drew her up, and she paused, her ears flickering as she regarded him quietly. He was most unusual to her eyes, being used to feathered wings as she was.
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 1:57 pm
 Glancing around him carefully for any newcomers, Iz spotted the mare as she broke into the clearing. It would be hard not to spot her, as her deep magenta coat was such a contrast against the white and green of winter. She paused at the edge of the treeline, and he was struck by her beauty.
Then he caught her gaze, and he knew what she was looking at. His wings, his damn wings. Folding them back against his back as well as he could which to be honest wasn't much, he looked away from her again, his head low in shame. He was going to scare her away.
"I'm sorry," he murmured softly. "I'll leave if you wish."
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 2:08 pm
'Sorry?' Nalani echoed, making a few gentle-hoofsteps forwards. His manner struck her immediately, he seemed ashamed, of what she didn't understand, though she did notice the movement of his wings.
'You were here first sir, I have no wish to disturb you at your breakfast. I am the intruder in this instance.' she said, giving a little bow afterwards. She straightened, shaking her mane from her face, and gave her name.
'My name is Nalani. Please, pardon my intrusion, if you wish your solitude this morn you need only say and I will take my leave with no ill will.' she gave him a little smile, to reinforce her words.
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Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2013 6:55 pm
When she continued to speak to him, Izefiah lifted his head again, a bit surprised to be honest. He hadn't exactly had many horses see him and run away, but he just always felt like they should. His father had always seemed disgusted enough by his appearance when he was a child.
"Ah--no, I don't wish for solitude," he said quickly, taking a step aside so she would have better access to the grassy patch. He kept his wings pinned to his sides. "I thought I'd frightened you. Please if you want to stay, do." He gave her a nervous smile and bowed his head to her as she had to him.
"My name is Izefiah, but you can call me Iz if you lke."
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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 4:12 am
Nalani was pleased that he had looked up and that he didn't seem to want her to leave, though for a moment she really did wonder what about her had made him think she wanted him to leave. His next words illuminated the situation and she gave a little shake of her head.
'Frightened? No sir,only cautious, I always am. I am a mare taking a walk on my own, and my only means of protection would be to run. I am no fighter, and unlike my dear mother, I cannot take to the air to escape. So, just cautious.' she replied, her eyes taking in the grass that he sidestepped from. She was hungry, but he was a relative stranger and she would not eat in front of him.
'I shall call you Izefiah.' she said when he gave his name. She never used shortenings or nicknames if she could help it, ever polite she would always use someone's full name unless they absolutely insisted otherwise.
'If I may say, your wings are most interesting, I am afraid you caught me staring at them when we first met.' she stepped fowards a few paces again, wanting to see them better, but not yet sure of him to go right over.
'They are so delicate, I have yet to see something similar.'
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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 8:17 am
Izefiah smiled a bit warmer and less nervously when she stepped forward toward him. Now that she'd said she was staying, he was actually a bit excited. It would be nice to talk to someone and to be graced with the presence of a mare as lovely as she was an honour indeed.
He nodded when she spoke of being cautious. It was always good to be cautious. There were dangers lurking in the forest. Dangers that came swift and silent. One could never be too careful. "Of course. You needn't worry about me though, I promise I'm a gentleman." It was true. That was one good thing his father had taught him at least. Auster could often be cold and rude, but he had taught his children manners.
She decided to call him by his full name and he decided he liked it coming from her. He smiled wider and nodded his head to the grass, inviting her to eat again. It was nice grass for the winter months, sweet and juicy.
His smile faded though, when she mentioned his wings. He felt that familiar feeling bubbling up in him, the one that ate at his insides and shamed him for having been born like this, a freak. When she said they were delicate though, he looked up at her. Her voice didn't have a tone of malice in it, not at all. She seemed genuinely interested. His brows knitted together as he considered her, still a bit wary, but he spread them slowly so she could get a better look.
"I don't think there are many horses with anything similar," he murmured. "My angeni father and my flutter mother both have regular, suitable, and normal wings. Even my sisters were blessed with perfect wings. Only I was cursed this way." Not to say his sisters weren't cursed as well--they were. But at least they had regular wings. Daddy could overlook tentacles and kitty tails as long as they could fly.
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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 11:55 am
Nalani lowered her gaze, not wanting to seem too forward by always looking at the stallion, her eyes flickering upwards when he spoke so that she showed that she was paying his words due attention.
'I think I am a fair way towards realising that you have gentlemanly ways.' she replied, referring to his offer of taking his leave. More time would tell if all his manners were as agreeable, and that his assertion and indeed his word were trustworthy.
As yet though, she still would not eat in front of him and she gave a polite shake of her head. Their conversation must be attended to first, and if afterwards she was at her ease, or they had gone seperate ways, she would then break her fast.
'Thank you.' she said, appreciating that he was indulging her curiosity and allowing her a proper look at the fascinating appendages. His latter words took her by surprise and her natural goodness would not let them pass without a challenge.
'Oh sir. Let me assure you, as much weight as my words might carry, given that we have just met, let me only assure you that what you have is not a curse. One natural beauty I have always marvelled at is the handiwork of the industrious and skilled spider, and your wings are no less marvellous than those woven gossamer strands.'
She did not often speak so boldly, and she blushed a little at what might be seen as overstepping the boundaries of propriety.
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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:18 pm
Izefiah felt at ease with this mare, a feeling he didn't have often with horses he had just met. He didn't mind showing her his wings. She didn't want to see them out of morbid curiosity; he wasn't sure how he knew that, but he knew. Perhaps it was because she appeared like she couldn't possibly have a dark bone in her body. No, she was goodness abound.
He thought it was a bit strange that she wouldn't eat, but he dared not question or push her. She would when she was ready. He even stopped his own breakfast to talk with her, it would be rude to eat while they were conversing after all. She started to gush about his wings, and Izefiah could feel a blush rising up on his cheeks as well, making his face hot.
"You... really think so?" he asked, letting his wings flutter a bit in the breeze. The morning sun caught their webbing and glinted back at her eyes, making them appear sparkling. "Thank you," he said, taking a step closer to her, smiling more than he had in a very long time. "I've often felt like my wings were ugly, not a thing of beauty. I'm quite flattered to hear that someone as breathtaking as you finds them worth looking at."
"You like spiders then?" he asked eagerly, hoping she did. He had a little pet, a spider that often tagged along on his branch wings. Often mares were afraid of him, but Izefiah loved him dearly. He'd had him for as long as he could remember.
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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 12:49 pm
She felt then that she was in fair danger of liking this stallion straight away; he was friendly, and well mannered, but there seemed to be no trace of conceit, indeed if anything he though less of himself than she though someone looking as he did should.
'I..umm..' her words were lost then, he had stepped closer and he seemed to be in the best humour she had seen him since they met. Obviously her words had worked as she had hoped, though she had not expected them to alter him so much. Her praise for his wings could not be taken back, and she wouldn't even if it were possible, it had given him great joy to hear his wings spoken of thus, and everyone should be happy with their looks. Though she wished now she had spoken less decidedly as she hadn't meant for compliments to flow towards herself.
She blushed furiously, her nose taking on a far darker hue than it usually did, and she found herself unable to express her thanks for his word, or say anything of sense for a moment, but his question needed an answer and she had to recover and reply.
'Indeed, they are as I mentioned skilled at weaving their webs, a natural talent to be envied and admired.'
Nalani wasn't particularly squeamish about anything insect-like, she had a great enjoyment in nature and the outdoors and one tended to go with the other.
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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 7:55 pm
Her nose darkened and Izefiah couldn't help but smile at it. She just looked so cute like that, and he liked thinking that he was the cause of it. If he were bolder, he would've continued to compliment her to keep the pretty blush on her cheeks. Alas, he was not, so he just contented himself with the blush he had already created.
He practically beamed when she said she liked spiders. Bringing his wing forward, he showed her the little spider that tagged along. "His name is Itzy," he said with an almost roguish grin. "It's a silly name, but I named him when I was a foal. He's been my constant companion." The little spider wiggled around on his web in front of Nalani, bouncing up and down.
(( SORRY THIS IS SHORT. My brain is not coming up with anything else. ;; ))
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Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 8:29 am
Nalani watched as he moved his wing, proudly showing her the little pet that had made its home on his wing.
'He's lovely, very sweet.' she said politely, not sure what to say beyond that. She marvelled at their handiwork, but it was tricky to be too involved beyond that as they were such small creatures.
'It's hard to imagine a fine stallion such as yourself as a little colt, but we all were small at some point.' she added with one of her sweet smiles, examining his wings again. She wondered how he would take her next question, as he was sensitive about them.
'How does your little friend cope when you fly? Is he able to hang on?'
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Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 1:37 pm
She had such a lovely smile. It was infectious and Izefiah couldn't help but smile back at her when she did. He carefully tucked his wings back again, always cautious as not to send poor Itzy flying. He cocked his head to watch the little spider climb up onto the branch of his wing, marveling in how he moved. His attention was stolen back by the mare though when she asked about flying.
"Ah, well..." Izefiah trailed off, looking down at the ground and avoiding her gaze. "I'm afraid I don't do much flying. My wings are not very strong and when I was a colt they were nothing save branches. My father didn't even think I had wings until I was older." His voice was barely above a whisper. This had been a point of contention in his life. His father was a large and very powerful Angeni. He prized flight over all else, and had been quite disappointed to think this his son would never touch the skies.
"By the time I had proper wings, I was almost too big to learn. I hadn't gained the muscles I needed to keep me aloft."
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Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 1:49 pm
Nalani had been afraid that his reaction wouldn't the best and she regretted the question, though she had meant nothing beyond her natural curiosity. She had to remember that not everyone was a naturally gifted flyer like her mother (though that was a biased thought as Niviriti had practised hard to be able to perform aerial acrobatics, Nalani just thought the best of both her parents), and she wished she could take the question back.
But as she could not, she would have to do as she did before and lighten his mood again.
'Flight is not everything, if your head is in the clouds, you could miss everything the land has to offer. And your little companion would have a hard time of hanging on if you did fly everywhere.' she said, her tone light, and her face showing that she was aware that she'd spoken of something that caused him pain and she wanted to make amends.
'Even if you never can use them in that way, I still think they are the most remarkable thing I've ever seen.'
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Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 5:15 pm
Izefiah looked up when Nalani spoke to him, as it would be rude of him not to. She spoke tenderly and her expression was so genuine that he couldn't for a second think she was simply lying to make him feel better. Her words were earnest and he found himself believing her, with little room for doubt.
She thought his wings were remarkable.
The most remarkable thing she had ever seen.
He stared at her with wide eyes, forgetting himself for a moment. If he'd been braver, he might have even kissed her. He was just so amazed to have met someone that thought his wings were something special. "Thank you," he said, his voice soft. "Thank you so much." She had no idea how much her words meant to him.
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