|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 2:14 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Aug 07, 2013 2:26 pm
She hadn't been present at the summit, there were some archaic rules in place that prevented females from ascending to the lofty rank of guard or scout. She had assumed, through observation, that it had something to do with how dainty and 'fragile' the vast majority of the females on the slopes looked. All the tall and broad shouldered stallions clearly had a type in that respect and as a result their partners didn't look like they could have defended themselves well in battle. However, while she had not been privy to the summit directly, it was clear that some things were said that impacted those in her home on a global scale... To such an extent as to call on her.
A girl.
All right so she wasn't exactly the most dainty or fragile, in fact Suppression was by definition monstrous in many respects. She had a unique 'beauty'. her mother and father had been very insistent on that, but she definitely wasn't the daintiest of mares and they were in agreement with that. Shy as she might have been, Suppi was still built like a Kalona and as a consequence, exuded the strength of one... Granted, she never demonstrated it and was arguably the least deadly of soquili in existence (and that included foals), but she still had the capability to defend herself that others lacked.
Or at least that was what her father had said, and what his gamble lay upon. He had reassured her that she would have support, that she wouldn't be alone and that if anything happened she would be protected. However he hadn't minced his words, he had indicated that it was dangerous and that she would have to rely on instincts...in fact he was relying on her instincts to ensure she survived. Admittedly there was a small part that took pleasure in the attention, as her father was complimenting the abilities she did possess, she just wasn't so confident about what he wanted her to use them for.
Alas, Suppi was not one to refuse the request of help from her family and despite her hesitation, the painfully shy mare had gathered her wits about her and wandered into the valley. She had initially been in the company of her brother who had given her the low-down of the plan he had come up with, in additional he had reassured her that they were going to be fine and for the most part she had believed him. It was only when they had split up to find their own individual vantage points that fear set in and doubt began to plague her.
For the first time in her life the mare truly felt that she was going to die.
Or she could, if she made a mistake.
Thus it wasn't long before she had retreated into the shadows where she was able to hide herself so well, and had curled up into a bush to shroud herself even further. It was here that she lay in wait, aware that eventually the kalona herd would pass her and she would find the information she needed. As with any time in which the mare 'hid' the only tell tale sign of her existence was the faint glow of her eyes from between the leaves, and even that would prove difficult to see in the sunlight.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Nov 09, 2013 8:08 am
Rumor had it darkness had crept upon the land. Rumor had it, there were some rather vicious looking beasts setting up camp in the northern foothills of the Kawani, and like any good hippie, Kahiau had decided this was a good area in which he might pick some flowers. Spreading peace and love and hope. . . . Such was the guise and facade he so often wore, and was truly something the incredibly laid back stallion believed in. He was a lover, not a fighter. . .
But.
That did not mean he could not take care of himself, or help others. That did not mean he did not have a few gifts that, while not as strong as his mother, sounded as if it might come in handy and good use if there was a herd chalk full of trouble. The more inconspicuous he seemed, the better! Let others laugh at him, or think him weak and easy prey -- they would be far, far mistaken.
His father a mutant angeni, his mother most pure, and always in the face of danger. No. He had been raised well to know how to handle himself should the situation demand it. He was a tree-hugger, a lover of nature, a lover of love and happy endings, but he was not a fool or stupid. He would fight for the kawani's safety, and he would help tend and heal those that might fall. From what he'd seen, and what he'd come to notice, well, this had the possibility of being something truly tragic. So it was, the stallion picked his way this way and that, not quite stumbling upon the herd, but ever moving. Any passing herds or strangers he met, he did well to warn them to turn back, or give them guides to get around this ugly mess. Thankfully, those he met were few and far between. He hadn't taken himself close enough to the herd to be a threat, or draw their attention. . . But for now, he circled, like a golden ghost. Simply watching, waiting, observing.
So it was, the crowned stallion continued his rounds. He would pause now and then to admire a few flowers, still beautiful despite the threat of rot which was now taking up space; give a growing sapling an encouraging hello, or thank a tree for its fruit and shade. He probably looked ridiculously senile and disturbed -- donned in a petite crown, a mess of hair, a ridge of it going down his entire back, and baubles and shinies tied in his tail and around his neck -- speaking quietly to plants, or rocks, or rivers, or stones.
Let the world think what they wished, whatever assumption they made about Kahiau was more than likely wrong.
So it was, the male roamed, oblivious that he would be taken directly past the bush in which Suppi had chosen to hide.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Nov 27, 2013 5:19 pm
Clop, clop, clop.
The mare held her breath as she detected the sound of hooves, the muffled thump against the undergrowth and soil that indicated that a larger creature was approaching. Nerves, and something else, made her hair stand on end and instinct told her that whatever it might have been, was dangerous. Alas, Suppi was unaware that the danger she felt was in part due to the Angeni blood that rippled through Kahiau's veins, and as a consequence placed her own more demonic blood on edge...
Unsurprisingly the mare remained very still, assuming the role of shadow to perfection. She waited expectantly, assuming that there would be more than one set of thudding hooves on soil, and yet there wasn't. It forced the mare to look between the leaves, her lips pursing as she watched for signs of the kalona that should have wandered passed. Much to her surprise, what wandered passed was going in the wrong direction and more importantly, it struck her with an unusual sense of deja-vu.
She wasn't sure what it was, but there seemed something oddly familiar about the bulky set of limbs that wandered passed her field of vision. Granted this sense of familiarity was not enough for the mare to break her cover and she remained within the bush, but her milky gaze did continue to watch as the 'thing' drifted by. The ebony mare was no fool, she knew all too well that he was a soquili, but when her instincts dictated that she stay still she tended to follow them. Her mind shrieked with warning and protest, it declared that whatever it was brought 'danger', and who was she to disagree?
Nevertheless she did have to ponder as to why such a being would wander right into the hornets left and she puzzled over this. As she had not yet seen his pair of wings, she had failed to realise that he was not a kalona and just as she was about to conclude that he was most likely a scout, his distance brought him into better view. No longer was she blessed with a view of just his legs, she was soon given a view of one set of wings, then a second.
...And he still seemed familiar but from where?
In all honest, now really isn't the time to ponder. She chastised herself silently, noting that being lost in thought would do nothing for her own safety, but she couldn't help but feel that she was missing something. Think later, not now...
Oh, but he might be dead by then... He was wandering into the hornets nest after all.
Fortunately, as he drew a greater distance away she was finally struck with the thunderbolt of recognition that she had been waiting for. A racked brain wasn't necessary when you knew very few people, particularly those who had been kind to you. Ooooh wait, oh no - no no no, don't go that way! Her mind pleaded before she unwound her long, thin limbs and scrambled from her hiding place.
"Noooooo!" she called out, a half hiss due to her unusual bite. "That's the wrong way, safety is that way!" she announced as she lifted her tail and pointed it behind her.
So the stallion might not recognise her, she certainly didn't expect him to, but she could ensure he didn't get himself killed at the very least; right?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 9:39 am
Kahiau was completely unaware that he was being regarded, that he was being watched. He knew that trouble was in these lands, that he was not far from it, but his upbringing had made him relatively unconcerned. He knew that there was and would always be evil, he knew that these kalona, for better or for worse, were likely to cause trouble. . . but if anyone was to hang near their borders, if anyone was going to try to keep an ear and eye out on those who were caught unawares, it would be him.
His mother sought out the darkest and most vile of creatures to redeem or destroy. Kahiau himself had no domain, no purpose as his mother did, but he was not so unaware of the darkness that lay in the hearst of meant. Kalona themselves were particularly hit or miss, with some being quite good, and others as vicious as a skinwalker. So when rumor had it there was a new gathering of them, he knew he at least had to investigate. For as much as he tried to promote peace, love, and understanding, Kahiau was no bum stallion. He might wear a crown and sport himself with flowers, but his mother had always taught him how to take care of himself, and best defend others. She had many an enemy, and did not wish her son to be bested by one! He was large, he was strong, and very capable on his hooves. If someone did need a guiding hoof, Kahiau wouldn't hesitate to jump in the fray.
So, why run and hide, when others might need his aid? He wasn't looking for a fight, but he wasn't afraid, either.
So it was, when a voice suddenly hissed at him, that stallion found himself rather unprepared. It wasn't so much the cry of no that made his jaw drop, it wasn't the shadowed figure that all but materialized out of nowhere suddenly behind him. It was the fact that the soquili had the largest set of fangs he'd ever lain eyes on. . . and those teeth were larger, more adult versions of the little filly he'd met one afternoon as a colt. A little filly that had been made and gifted a yellow flower crown, one he had hoped to see more of that summer.
His eyes went wide, and for just a moment he completely forgot where they were. Her words, her warning, her frantic tail pointing meant nothing. ". . . Su....Suppi?" It took a moment, but he did recall her name. Though Kahiau looked like an amicable angeni, it had not been easy as a foal. His mother had constnatly been on the move, and he often in hiding. While he met other foals his age, he did not often strike up close ties after his mother moved on from an area. So, while Suppi and he had not been able to cement their friendship as Kahiau would have liked, she was, to say the least, the most memorable acquaintence he had ever met. One could not forget her gentility, or those fangs, very easily.
"Is that you?" So it was, the stallion did turn back from the way he was headed, deciding to bridge some distance between himself and the ebony mare. By the spirits, what luck, what good fortune! Leave it to Kahiau not to feel pressed or alarmed by their relative close proximity to the Kalona herd. He had just been shot with a flash from the past. . . "What are you doing here?" He suddenly asked, canting his head to the side.
While she looked like part kalona. . . surely. . . . surely she wasn't caught up in this kalona mess, was she?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2014 3:40 am
Now was not the time to be distracted! Blast from the past or no, Suppi's eyes widened not through surprise that she had been remembered, but more so due to the blatant disregard for the fact that his life was in danger and he didn't seem to care! When it came to any other individual in the world she would have expected them to run in the opposite direction; not only due to the risk of the Kalona nearby, but also due to the fact that they had just run in to her. Harmless as she might have been, individuals often judged first and thought later - she could have displayed a giant billboard and they might only have felt regret after they recalled what was said on it...by which time it was too late.
"I - what?" she shook her head, attempting to compute the logic behind his response and when this failed, she regarded him in confusion. Granted he deserved at least some confirmation that she was who he suspected she was but at the same time, shouldn't he be taking her advice and heading back towards safety? She would be safe, she would hide in the depths of the bushes and observe from a distance... they would never even know she was there, but him? Well he was an Angeni, and even she could 'detect' him to a certain degree. The aura gave him away and the closer he got to that herd...
She shook her head again, this time with much greater emphasis.
"No-no-no-no," she stated at last and pointed again with her tail towards safety. This time she took measures to point at him and then thrust her tail out behind her, emphasizing the need for him to go that way rather than to stand around for idle chit chat. For all the ebony mare knew, these soquili would attack at any moment and she couldn't take them all on, in fact, she didn't even know if she could take one on. Sure, Kahiau was large, but she also doubted that he could take a significant number on either.
Actually, now that she thought about it he was much larger than when he had been a foal. Just as well she hadn't met him as an adult, she'd have been positively petrified and would have found every possible way to avoid him. Something that big, tall and bulky would hurt her, it was better to play it safe and give it a very wide berth. Alas...it was strange how things worked out, a very tentative and friendly introduction had given her the courage to step out - he'd been nice then so surely he'd be okay now, right? (Shock aside of course).
"You go this way," she repeated and pursed her lips. "You need to go this way, always this way," she added and then motioned towards the Kalona herd. "Never that way, it's very bad," she finished. Acutely aware that she had not yet confirmed her identity, and that she had effectively lost all sense of manners, she regarded the stallion for a few moments longer and then pulled a face; one that could only be described as an expression of hesitation. Unsurprisingly the mare wasn't terribly comfortable with people remembering who she was, it often led to trouble.
"I'm keeping everyone safe," she said at last and tilted her head to the side; still no confirmation of course, but at least she'd responded to something! "They can't see me, I don't smell like you do," she pointed out. "Very safe, I stay in the shadows and they never know, but I hear it all..."
"You will be killed if you go closer, you are too obvious."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 5:00 pm
The angeni did not ignore the frantic pointing ofr her tail. Between every protest and objection, with every frantic wave of her tail, the cream-coated stallion knew that she was trying to be good, trying to keep him safe. He knew that there was a large collection of kalona not far from here. . . but he wasn't stupid enough to walk right into the middle of it. He might be roaming the borders, but he was confident that he could at least keep himself alive enough for a hasty retreat, if nothing else.
Still, what worried him more than his own safety was that of the black mares! Curse the bad timing of it all. He'd never once expected to run into his foalhood friend. . . and now, when he did, there was little time to chit-chat, little time to catch up. Worse, she was admitting to wanting to spy on this group, to try to gather information. She said her scent was different than his own -- that much was obvious -- but he worried all the same. It wasn't that he doubted the mare could take care of herself . . . but it was dangerous! Kahiau wouldn't be so flippant about the danger himself if he hadn't grown up around all sorts of nasties -- his mother did her best to protect him, had taught him how to defend himself and others, if need be, and made his safety a priority while he was younger. But as they had both aged, he had refused to leave her side even with her need to continue with her duties. He had witnessed the attacks of those who did not take kindly to angeni, much less those whom believed they could redeem the damned. After so many years, he had decided to leave his mother to her work; he was not as strong as she, nor as brave, but his duty was towards the forest, the woodlands, and to keeping the peace where he could.
Hm.
His ears twisted, focusing on the sounds around them, hoping that his interruption wasn't actually laying out a trap for the mare. He didn't want to risk her being spotted. ". . . I know what lurks there," he stated seriously, taking a step back from the route he was headed. "If you need to return to hiding, then by all means, do not let me risk your safety," he hated to say such a thing. Part of him wanted to object, wanted to whisk the mare out of harms way. For what if she did, indeed, come into harm? Those teeth were fierce, but a herd of kalona that had the intent to kill was a terrible thing; they also had wings where she had none.
She was at a great disadvantage if she were caught. . . and Kahiau knew himself to be a great risk. Perhaps he had already put her at risk, spirits help them both.
"You're doing others a great service," he kept his voice low, "Go back to hiding and we can speak, just as we once did when we were foals." She could be safe, and he could n** at some of the grasses near her chosen spot, play obliviousness, and speak low. Just long enough so he might get some information; just long enough so he might know where to find her after her operation was over. "I will not stay long. How long have you been here, and how long do you plan on staying?" He hoped he could ask as much, even in a whisper.
This kalona herd was causing a great many upsets. While Kahiau had felt alarmed by their presence previously, now knowing his only foalhood companion was wrapped up in their movements, made him feel extra anxious.
Spirits help them all.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat May 16, 2015 11:05 am
"You promise?" he tone was riddled with doubt and suspicion. She had seen soquili say things before simply to reassure another, only to betray the trust of the one they had made their vow to. She had grown to understand that they did it to make it 'easier' for the other soquili, but she still didn't agree with it. Such secrecy, particularly if you did end up dead, would end up in heart ache and a sense of betrayal... well it would for her at least. Perhaps that was simply how her father had raised her, but she valued honesty highly and if Kahiau turned up dead just around the corner, she would be less than happy.
That aside, Suppi did take heed of his remarks and lowered herself back into the bushes. A quick flick of her tail to sweep it around her hooves, and no one would be any the wiser to her presence unless they looked at the bush for a long period of time. Heck, if she closed her eyes it would get even harder to see her, but she did run the risk of falling asleep if she did that. This place was warm and cosy, with the exception of the murderous hoard of soquili - frankly if they hadn't been nearby she probably would have fallen asleep here.
Setting aside her own musings over the legitimacy of his words and whether he truly would stay out of harms way, the mare instead, considered his questions. She tilted her head to the side, attempting to recall exactly when she had entered this particular part of the forest and how long she had been in this exact spot. It didn't feel like she had been here too long, and she did move closer to the herd every few hours. She would continue to move with the same caution until she was within reach of at least hearing the fringe discussions... But she had been strictly forbidden to go any closer.
...As the angeni said, she had no wings, they would destroy her.
"Mmmm, not long," she said finally, unable to recall the specifics surrounding her presence here. As always, her days always seemed to blend in to one and the mare never really gave the time of day much attention. She hadn't counted the rise and fall of the sun, or how many times she had seen the moon, they were always just...there. "But," she paused at the second part of his question and clucked her tongue against her teeth. She hadn't actually been given a duration, she'd really been given more of a 'if you think they have found you, run' instruction. For all intents and purposes, those kind of instructions could almost be interpreted as 'indefinitely'!
"Until I think I have been...compromised?" she nodded slowly, the bush giving a slight rustle as she moved her head. "Then I have to run, not allowed to stay," she explained. "Only here to listen, not fight... Only fight if in trouble, then run away," she clarified. She was not allowed to be a hero and frankly, she didn't want to be a hero, hiding in the bushes was the perfect role for her.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
