|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 9:55 pm
 and  Arthur scouted just ahead of the two mares. Although it was still early he was looking for somewhere to settle down for the evening. Despite inclination, Aalun wasn't able to travel as far as she wanted. A condition that caused Arthur both a flash of panic and masculine pride. It had seemed that before ever starting up into the mountains, he and Aalun had started that family they'd been talking about all those months ago.
They'd been wandering since then, but it was really starting to be about time to find somewhere to settle...at least until after the foals were born. Not to mention time to get out of this forest. They'd decided to stay inside after discovering Aalun's condition, but all the trees pressing in was starting to become oppressive. The sound of water made his ears twitch and he weaved between two trees and came upon a stream. He smiled and then looked around, the area looked nice and safe enough. He turned and nickered to Aalun and Telaar giving the all clear.Aalun fidgeted from hoof to hoof as she waited for Arthur to give the all clear. While she was thrilled at the developments of her own condition, her mate was frustrating her to no end. Over protective was a bit of an understatement. At least he was taking it seriously.
She sighed and looked over at the other mare, Telaar, the strange, yet, at least in Aalun's opinion, loveable, female from the mountains. Aalun did feel bad for her though, down here under the trees it was much warmer than it had been up in the mountains and you could tell she was less than comfortable. She'd been shedding since they'd left the cooler temperatures.
Aalun grunted as her belly itched and she rubbed her side against a tree. She'd be more than happy with this whole ordeal was over. She gave a sigh of relief when she finally heard Arthur signal for them. "Finally." she said, looking over at Telaar. "Let's go see what he's found." she said picking her way over roots towards the sound of her mate.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 11, 2013 10:38 pm
  Telaar trailed slowly behind the couple. Even slower than the now expecting Aalun seemed to be moving most days. She had only ever been down the mountain far enough to start encountering the warmth a scant few times before, but never this far down. It was miserable, she noted to herself every day, the heat was just too much to take. The mare was at least thankful that her thick coat had begun to shed some. In due time she'd at least be more comfortable with day to day life down in the valley.
Hearing Arthur's call back to them with a relief and perked Telaar right back up. She quickly trotted up alongside Aalun to usher her along. "Come on, he's just ahead and we can lay down and eat the sweet grass again and maybe have a drink!" She said, bouncing slightly and trotting on ahead of her through the trees.Staying by the river was top priority for the time being. It meant water, shelter among the nearing forest and rest. One's short little legs could only carry them so far after all, especially carrying a semi-lazy raccoon upon their back. "Soon, Ashyo, we can relax." The little mare murmured, thinking about tearing up branches again to make a little den. She couldn't climb the trees like her companion, so at least some form of shelter with only one opening made her more comfortable overall. Pushing through the thick overgrowth a short time later, the stout mare scanned her surroundings. It was nice and would work the rest of the day and through the night. They would start up once more in the morning to return home. She watched as Ashyo hopped off and began to pluck the berries off a nearby bush, before she wandered over to the river bank to satisfy her own growing thirst.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Mar 12, 2013 7:54 pm
The sound of rustling bushes and someone approaching the water caught Arthur's attention. He turned quickly and scanned up and down the river bank. He didn't smell a predator, and the banks were fairly open so they couldn't be hiding in the foliage. He nearly dismissed it as hearing things, when he finally saw little mare drinking just up stream from him. She was some sort of usida, but he'd never seen one with scales and a horn like a kirin before.
He cleared his throat politely not to startle her and moved up river until he was across from her. "Are you alone?" he asked lowering his head a bit so they were relatively on the same level. Although he could have answer the question himself as he could easily look around her and the only thing close was a raccoon of some sort picking berries.
Aalun emerged along the banks of the river. "Arthur?" she asked the empty air not seeing her mate immediately. She frowned at Telaar and shrugged. "I don't see him, but whatever. I'm dying of thirst here." she said with a laugh and then moved over to the water to drink. She needed it more than she needed to find Arthur. Although the sound of his voice just a little ways off caught her attention as she lifted her head from the water and saw him talking to someone.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 12:34 am
The stout little mare raised her head to look for the owner of the voice. So they weren't completely alone in the forest, but nothing seemed off about this stallion for her to feel threatened. She had to snort at his need to lower himself to her level though. She did find it slightly insulting.
"Alone, no. I have Ashyo, I'm never alone." She told him, one ear turning to listen to her little companion pluck at the berry bushes. "We never travel without each other." She finished, giving him a good look over.
"You don't seem like much of a threat yourself, so what do you have to fear from Ashyo and myself? Do you question everyone you see if they are nearby to your home?" She asked, looking around the forest.
Telaar shook her head back at the other mare, not really sure what Arthur was up to herself. "Who knows? He's probably just looking around the area or something." She laughed along with Aalun's comment and followed her to the river's edge. "Mmm...been a long day without a good drink."
As she raised her head from the water, her ears pricked towards Arthur's voice nearby. "Someone else? I wonder who? I wonder if they're friendly!" Telaar smiled brightly and started to bound toward Arthur to see who he had found.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 4:08 pm
"This isn't our home, I was just curious to see who was around as when I came upon the banks there wasn't anyone else here. Besides if you were local you might know if there are any threats nearby that we should be worried about." he said pulling his head up slightly and trying not to be annoyed. It had been a long day and while it wasn't the mare's fault her tone rubbed him the wrong way. It didn't help either he didn't have much experience with the little pony races but he'd always been taught as a foal to look someone in the eye when you were speaking to them...unfortunately with someone so much shorter than he was, he was likely to get a crick in the neck before the conversation ended. "I didn't mean to upset or challenge you if this is your home." he finished.
He turned as he heard Telaar approach and nodded to her. Behind her he saw Aalun following as well only more slowly. He really was worried about her, but she kept insisting she was fine, so he had to grit his teeth and accept it whether he liked it or not.
Aalun smiled at Telaar and then watched her bounce off towards Arthur. She was slightly jealous not being that light on her feet at the moment, but she had high hopes that in the end the lack of grace she was feeling now would pass and she'd soon be her old self again...well maybe not, she'd be a much busier self what with foals to mind.
"Who's your new friend, Arthur?" she asked brightly once she got close enough. Although from the expression on the odd little female's face and the look on Arthur's face that she knew to be him trying not to be annoyed, friend maybe wasn't the right term.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 6:59 pm
"This is not my home either, I live far from here and was returning." She told him, keeping a level gaze. Her ears twitched forward as the bushes rustled and two mares emerged from them.
Friend? She was no friend to this stallion. Though the look the purple mare was now giving her seemed to suggest that she understood there was no common ground at the moment.
Telaar smiled and stood at the river's edge to watch the other little mare. She was so cute and unusual. Though Telaar herself really shouldn't be talking, as she was quite a strange sight herself.
"Hello~ I've never seen one like you before. You remind me a Kirin. I've seen lots of those, but never one short like you." She beamed happily, flicking her tail back in forth to match her enthusiasm.
The stout mare huffed slightly, taking in the three before her and trying not to be too insulted by their words. As her eyes fell on Aalun she gasped slightly. "You! You there!" She called out, practically jumping into the river and braving it to get across to the purple mare. "You're going to be having foals? Is this sad soul your mate?" She asked, giving Arthur a slightly unimpressed look.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 13, 2013 7:24 pm
"Telaar!" Aalun gasped, but also tried to hide a smile at the other mare's rather bold declaration, but to be fair the little mare did in fact look like a kirin. She wondered absently if this branch of ponies had a special name for themselves or if they called themselves mini-kirin, although she was too polite to ask.
Her eyes widened as the mare seemed to fling herself into the water to get across. "Arthur do something!" she called out hardly knowing what to do and hardly wanting the mare to drown herself, and apparently because of her for some reason.
Arthur sputtered and looked between his mate and the little mare. He was as confused as Aalun to her sudden behavior, and wasn't sure what to do. He didn't want to grab her by the neck piece she was wearing, he didn't think choking her would improve her opinion of him, and outside of that he didn't have a lot of options. Looking around he grabbed a loose branch and offered it to the mare, but sighed quietly to himself as she scrambled onto the shore by herself, no worse off than just being soaked.
Aalun watched the little mare circle around her investigating her belly. She snorted softly at the mare's assessment of Arthur and gave him a wry smile. "Nice impression you've made here, Arthur." she chuckled and nodded. "For better or for worse, he's mine and I'm his. Despite his flaws, he has a good heart." she said with a smile. "My name is Aalun, this is Telaar," she said indicating the other mare, "and you've met Arthur."
Arthur snorted and rolled his eyes upwards, but then schooled his expression before they decided to pick apart his character any further.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 7:32 am
"I am called Zhang Yue, and Ashyo is my companion over there." The little mare said, looking up at Aalun and flicking her now wet tail towards the raccoon across the river. As quickly as she introduced herself, Yue re-focused her attention to the expecting mare before her.
"You're going to need help with these foals, yes yes. I can help. Stick with you. Raise them well." She said with a nod, seeming quite proud of herself.
Telaar blinked as she watched her dive into the river and cross. She was...something else. Brave, crazy...very interested in foals. "Do you have babies of your own~?" She asked, lowering her head back down, slowly approaching.
"None of my own. Helped raise many back home, very...challenging. Yes. Not easy." Yue replied, only briefly glancing at the mountain mare. She wasn't impressed with her response to lower her head either. If this group allowed her to stay with the foals, some things would need to change as far as talking to her face to face.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 6:48 pm
"It's very nice to meet you, Zhang Yue." Aalun said with a nod, she was a bit taken back though when the other mare suddenly decided that she was now a permanent fixture. "Ah...Well...I'm sure I will...we're first time parents and all." she said completely at a loss for what to say.
Aalun was a little confused when Yue seemed put off by Telaar. While obviously living alone in the mountains had stunted the mare's social skills a bit there was nothing overly rude in her tone or manner. Then it dawned on her. Maybe it had something to do with lowering one's head to talk to Yue...although how you were supposed to have a face to face conversation with the little mare, she had no idea, but she'd have to find a tactful way to figure out how to go about it.
Letting the mares do mare things, Arthur had taken a moment to grab a drink. He sputtered though as the little one decided that she was sticking to Aalun. "Now just a second...you can't just--"
"Arthur." Aalun said giving him a meaningful look.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 6:53 pm
Zhang Yue quickly turned on the stallion, giving him a look. "What can't I do? I'm smaller than you, but that does not mean I fear you. Your mate will need help and based on the impression you've made on me so far, I'd rather she have help from someone experienced." She stated, stamping one hoof on the ground firmly.
Telaar backed down slightly, feeling things get a bit heated between them. "I uhm....I'll be...over here." She mumbled, trotting off across the river to join the little raccoon in plucking berries off all the bushes.
Yue briefly turned her attention to the mountain mare, making sure she wasn't going to harm her companion before refocusing on Arthur. "I shall stay and help, yes yes." She gave him a determined look and continued to stand at Aalun's side. "Do you have a home? Or are you intending to just stop when she needs to? You cannot travel easily with such tiny foals."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 7:35 pm
"I didn't say that." Arthur said. "Don't put words in my mouth, or twist them up." he said, feeling annoyed even more by the mare. While he could agree that he'd want someone experienced by Aalun's side when her time came, he didn't have to like that it was this particular mare.
He watched Telaar slip across the river and then snorted at Yue and Aalun. "Your choice." he muttered and then followed Telaar across as well mostly to crop irritatedly at the grass on the far side.
Aalun sighed and fidgeted as much from her own personal discomfort as the tension among her mate, friend, and this new addition. "I apologize for well at least Arthur, I don't speak for Telaar. He really does mean well, he's just worried, and Telaar is a nice girl if you give her a chance. Very loveable."
She shook her head at the second set of questions. "No, we don't have a home as of yet. We're looking for the right spot to settle down and put our plans into motion." she said. "I guess we were just going to stop when I needed too and move at a pace they can handle once they're steady on their feet." she shuffled, knowing she was letting her naivete show when it came to little ones.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 14, 2013 7:45 pm
Telaar looked up as Arthur joined her, then looked back across the river. "I kind of like her...she's got personality, even if it's...like that." She told him, trying to give a reassuring smile. "I'm sure she'd be a great companion and if she's got so much practice caring for little ones, why not let her stay?"
Yue shook her head at Aalun, moving away enough to at least let her relax and eat or drink if she wished. "No no, little ones take a long time before they're steady and safe enough for any distance of travel. There's also a lot of dangerous things that will target foals, no matter how close they remain to mother or caregiver." She said, glancing around the forest.
"Here is safe. For now. I sense nothing coming out to get us this night, but I cannot guarantee safety multiple nights here. I find being circled in safety with one opening is best, safest. We should find a home like that. Enclosed except for one opening. Best for raising young foals and not letting anything through."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 3:36 pm
Arthur huffed and munched on a mouthful of grass. "I don't think I'm going to get much of a choice in the matter. I think she'd follow us even if I told her no." he glanced over to the little mare and his mate and sighed. "Although if she gets too overwhelming I'm sure Aalun will let her have it." he said with a smirk. "She's not one to be coddled, and eventually Yue will drive her crazy I'm sure."
He took another bite and shifted his weight on his hooves. "Crazy little thing though...sort of scary as well..." he muttered mostly to himself.
"I see..." Aalun said considering all that. She'd never paid much attention to the foals of her herd way back when. There had been more important things to do, like learning to fight. Although she did remember her mother trying to impart some maternal instincts in to her, not that they'd taken. She was far to much like her father, than her gentle mother. Not that she wasn't excited to have children of her own...she was just starting to realize how woefully unprepared she was.
Aalun nodded. "I agree, best offense is a good defense, but unfortunately we don't know the area, so where to start looking is beyond us." she sighed and stretched out a back leg. "Maybe might be a good idea to base camp here for awhile and range outward looking." she said more to herself than Yue. "Have to ask Arthur..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 17, 2013 5:47 pm
Telaar blinked and looked back at Arthur again. "Scary? What do you mean scary? She's cute and harmless looking! I'm probably scarier than she could ever be. I mean...look at these horns!" She said, tilting her head back and forth to show off her horns once more.
Yue snorted and gave the purple mare a long, hard look. "This area is not safe. I told you this, yes yes. We stay for the night, you speak to your bullheaded mate and we move to safer place in the morning. You can still travel for a while before foals are born." She said, nodding firmly and going about grazing on the grass around her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 22, 2013 7:46 pm
"It's the cute and harmless ones you have to watch out for in my experience." Arthur said somewhat teasingly. "You should have seen Aalun when she was younger, sweet and innocent...until you were facing off against her in the training arena. She wasn't so sweet or harmless then." he said shaking his head at what were almost fond memories. The scar on his shoulder still hurt from time to time to keep it from being a fond memory of his mate.
He did give the other mare credit though, she was dangerous looking. "I'll give you that if it was you or the little one facing down something dangerous, they'd probably run from you first before her, but she's got force of personality...and that's almost as dangerous."
"Alright." Aalun said giving in. It was obvious that Yue knew what she was talking about, even if it wasn't put the most delicate way. Zhang Yue definitely had force of personality if nothing else. No wonder Arthur wasn't warming up to her very quickly. He'd always had a hard time with domineering mares. Herself being no exception, although he'd eventually warmed up to her. Eventually being the key word.
Aalun nibbled at the grass at her feet. She'd wait for Telaar and Arthur to come back from the other side of the river before laying out the plan for at least the next few days. It had been a long day and everyone needed to eat and rest for a bit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
