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 Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 8:40 pm
The frantic clattering of hooves caused him to swivel his head around in time to see a stray fawn darting away. It seemed the poor creature had approached him from behind, nearly mistaking his pelt for one of it's own before catching his scent and realizing what he truly was. He decided not to give chase, opting to watch it flee into the forest instead. 'Might as well let it grow, so it can have a better chance for when it's hunted another day.'
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Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 9:29 pm
Giselle could feel the gloomy weather, even if she couldn't see it. It was clear that the wind was up more than it should have been, and it felt chilly, like the sun wasn't shining as brightly as it normally did. She couldn't feel it against her fur, and since she knew she was outside she imagined it was because there just wasn't any sun to be seen. She sighed softly, smiling to herself as she continued along a familiar path down a river. For her, memory was in motion, not sight, and she knew her way even with everything in the dark. She had spent enough time there to feel every rock and bush- to know where everything was. Almost picture it. Almost. Her ears perks, something running by her. Because it had been startled by something ahead of her? Perhaps. Slowly, she say herself down, sniffing the air. There was definitely the scent of another Temeo in the air. Oka or Koru, she didn't know. Not that it mattered to her. She would have reacted the same. She smiled. "Is there someone there?" She asked lightly.
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Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 10:10 pm
Foster noticed the stranger approaching before she spoke. There didn't seem to be any aggression in her pace, so perhaps she assumed he was one of the pack. If he played this cool, then maybe he could slip away without raising any alarms.
He stood up out of instinct at the stranger's inquiry, despite it being one of curiosity rather than suspicion. Still... he had been sitting in a clearing. Why bother asking when she could see him clear as d--
'Oh.'
She didn't seem bothered by his presence... yet. So there was no reason to be anything but polite. Foster dipped his head out of habit, even if the gesture meant little to her. "Yes. Just me. Though I can certainly leave, if you wish."
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Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 10:53 pm
Giselle continued to smile, quite happy to hear someone's voice. So many times she had ended up talking to the wind. But it seemed like this time she had spoken to a living creature, and not a rock, a tree, or the rest of the scenery. That brightened her smile just a bit more. "Oh, of course not," she said lightly, looking just sllightly to the left of the male, "you were here first. It would be terribly rude of me to make you leave now! ANyway, I would like the company, if you don't mind." She let her tails wrap around her, feeling content now that she had met someone new. Not that there weren't plenty of temeo to speak to at her home, but meeting new people was always exciting. "My name is Giselle- what's yours?'
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Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 12:03 am
Tension lifted off of Foster's shoulders in response to her genuinely bright demeanor. Her pleasantness was unexpected, yet refreshing. Honestly, he felt rather embarrassed for initially being so wary of her. The earth-toned male knew not to judge a book by it's cover, but he couldn't recall another wild temeo who appeared so serene as this girl. She was so unlike his own appearance; rugged and worn by the open elements. He couldn't help but wonder if this green-and-white female had been one of the several wild tems who were raised in a home.
"Rarely have I been asked to keep another's company. I would happily oblige." The soft smile on his features seemed to reach his voice as he spoke. He complied with her request and seated himself once more.
"I'm Foster. Not as pretty of a name as Giselle, unfortunately, but I think the simplicity suits me."
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Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 10:38 am
She was happy to hear him relax- she could tell that he wasn't feeling too apprehensive, or like she was someone who needed to be watched. Which was good, because she really wasn't that kind of temeo. She just liked to meet others and talk with them. Some were meaner than others, but she had yet to meet anyone who had tried anything to hurt her. Some of her friends probably didn't like her going out on her own, she was sure of it, but danger couldn't keep her from adventure. "I like your name," she told him brightly, "I think it's very unique. Do you live here, Foster? I don't mean to be intruding on your home." Tertory was a big thing to wilds, even in her home they tended to get rather picky about who could and couldn't come into their rooms.
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Posted: Wed Jul 03, 2013 11:41 am
Foster couldn't help but chuckle as he glanced along the river bank. "Well, I don't live on this beach, per-say, but I am... in the area." He pondered how long Giselle had been with the pack for her to assume that a temeo could live freely on the border without suspicion arising from either side. Perhaps she already figured that he was on his own. Perhaps it didn't matter to her.
"Rather... I take comfort in the dense forest, under the shelter of the canopy. Wherever there is unclaimed land, that's where I live. The free earth is my home."
And he wondered why the domestics called him a hippie.
Foster couldn't be sure what the "living quarters" were like for the forest-dwelling members of the Oka pack, as he never made it too far into the heart of the territory before. Did they have a place to gather, or did they roam about freely as individuals? From what he heard, most of the members (properly initiated or otherwise) had taken comfort in often returning to the home that raised them.
"Am I correct in assuming you come from a house?"
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Posted: Thu Jul 04, 2013 12:35 pm
"yes, that's right," Giselle hummed, "I was found by Art and Avast, two wilds who lived in the house first. They took me in and took care of me, and when they found out I was blind, they did everything they could to try and protect me. I think I might have been very unlucky if I had lived in these lands on my own." She smiled and nodded at her own thought. Though she didn't know how she would have adapted as a blind wild temeo in the pack grounds, she suspected she might never have even been allowed the chance to figure it out. Being in the wild was dangerous. She had Avast to tell her all about it- he had lived in the wild for a long time before coming to the house. "Is it exciting?" She asked, eagerness creeping into her tone, "being in these lands? I don't know anything about being here, besides coming for quiet visits every now and again. What's it like to live out here?" She let her smile shrink for a moment, a sheepish expression taking over. "Um, if you don't mind me asking, of course."
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Posted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 12:49 am
Foster listened to the short tale of her upbringing with genuine curiosity. He couldn't imagine living such a domestic lifestyle within a human household... but he couldn't envision surviving the wilderness without sight either. Perhaps one could hone and heighten their other senses in lieu of the lack of vision, but it was always safer to have a keen eye for danger. In such a case, it must have been comforting for Giselle to be born with a roof over her head and loved ones around to watch over her.
Her condition reminded him of a temeo he met in passing- an old fellow from the Foxx residence. 'Ketsu, was it?' Foster would have said that the bloodied fellow seemed to have done fine on his own, despite his blindness. But then again... he was dead. Or undead, to be exact. Yet somehow the living corpse had a home and a family to call his own.
'Which is more than I can say for myself.'
"Please, there's no need to be afraid to ask anything on my behalf," he assured, a hint of laughter in his tone. "I appreciate the courtesy, but you have every right to be curious."
But where to start?
"Well, living out here certainly keeps you on your toes, for one thing. I'm not sure how to explain... It just comes so naturally." He shifted his weight and ran a paw over a few of the pebbles scattered along the bank. "Being born into it, I've found nature to be as beautiful and free as it is hostile and unforgiving. Yet I would never trade it for the confined safety of a house. This forest has shaped me and fed the instinct that runs through my blood. I'm sort of rooted to it as much as it's rooted into me. If that makes any sense?"
A thoughtful expression lingered as he considered the differences between the feral ranks who catered to the land as opposed to the generation raised by humans. "Although, I do often wonder... who has it better... those strengthened by the wilderness, or those secured with the love of a hearth and home?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 15, 2013 1:34 pm
Giselle was happy to hear that he was willing to tell her about his home- he really did intrigue her. So did all the wild temeo who actually lived in the wild, along with the mountain temeo she had recently met and even the wild Koru temeo they weren't supposed to be friends with. She didn't want to talk to them, in case they tried to attack her, but she did find them fascinating. Ever she met one of them without territories getting in the way, she would probably love to poke them with all kinds of questions, too.
She was happy to hear about whatever he wanted to tell her, eagerly listening to him when he started.
"I think it makes sense," Giselle replied, "though I don't know if I agree about a house being confined, I do think there must be things you learn naturally just by living in the wild. I think, though, that even if you live in a house, you feel it. Lately, all the wild temeo in the house have been feeling more restless. I think we may move into the forest nearby our property. It might make things more interesting for us. You know, reunite us with our roots." She smiled lightly, more or less thinking out loud. She didn't want to be rude, she just couldn't help herself. It was all so much to think about.
"I don't think there is a better," she replied thoughtfully, "same as those who live in the mountains or in the sands- they grow with what makes them happy. It doesn't make one good or one bad. I'm happy whenever I hear that someone has a good home, no matter where it may be."
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Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2013 11:32 am
"I do believe we've found ourselves in a nature vs nurture debate. Not that I'm complaining." he hummed in amusement.
His interest in her philosophy was earnest. The male wasn't often granted the pleasure of polite conversation, seeing as he rarely had the chance to talk with anyone, much less members of his own kind. But he truly found Giselle's openness towards diversity to be fascinating. Although he doubted he'd ever be persuaded to live indoors, she did have some valid points.
In his younger years, he'd initially believed that a pack full of home-grown temeo was incredulous, at best. How could the entirety of the Oka be placed in the care of human hands? He realized the reasoning behind it was to save the pack's dwindling numbers, yes; yet where was the logic of sheltering feral creatures against the nature of the world? However, with age and humility, Foster had grown not to be so judgmental toward the livelihood of his former kin.
Besides, if there were other ferals like Giselle, then they couldn't be all bad. Perhaps a peaceful group was what this forest needed. Although he couldn't be sure what that meant for the Oka should they ever be thrown against the rivaling clan...
"If you're truly interested in going back to nature, you're always welcome to join me in a hunt or--" he quickly cut himself off and began to backtrack. Dammit, Foster. Remember your place! Giselle may not be well versed in wild politics, but that doesn't mean you should drag her into them by getting her in trouble with the ranks!
"Ah, but that would probably be silly."
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