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 Posted: Sun Dec 01, 2013 2:07 pm
 "Douma!.....Doumaaa!....Psst!" It was early in the morning. The sun was barely peeking up over the horizon. Cerridwen grinned at her brother's sleeping face. He looked so peaceful. "Douma!" she said, getting impatient for her little brother to open his glowing eyes. He was the only exciting one in the family because of his eyes. Sometimes she wondered if he felt odd. But sometimes she felt odd too. She didn't really have much reason to when it came to her own eyes, but she felt strange all the same.
She gave her brother a nudge, keeping as quiet as possible so as not to wake everyone else. She was not usually up around this time, but something had woken her, a sound in the distance...or perhaps a sound in her heart. She shuddered, telling herself not to think that way. Either way, she was awake now and she didn't want to be awake alone. Douma would surely understand...wouldn't he? Maybe he would be upset to be awoken. She didn't care, she could stand a lecture as long as she wasn't alone.
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Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 10:07 am
 One glowing eye opened slowly as he heard his sister whispering at him. Seeing the sun barely up he contemplated pretending he didn't hear her, and getting at least a little more sleep. It was way too early to be up.
But then... if he didn't wake up now, who knew what lengths Cerridwen might go to wake him. He shuddered. No it was better to just get up and go along with her. Not that it was too much of a hardship, usually. He would just remember to file this incident away and remind her of it if he just needed to get away on his own for a time or to get out of trouble, or whatever. She would owe him, and when the time came, he would collect.
So he closed his eye briefly before yawning and stretching, making a big show of waking up, without words stating that he was getting up only under protest. really it was a very uncivilized time to be waking. 'It's too early,' he grumbled under his breath. 'What's up, Cerri? Is something wrong?'
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Posted: Mon Dec 02, 2013 9:01 pm
She smiled as he peeked his eye open and laid back in a careless way, waiting for him to stir. He was always so silent, always so thoughtful in how he did things. She thought it would be best if she let him get started on his own before pestering him more.
She watched him stretch, her olive eyes widening excitedly. Finally she could no longer hold it in. "Douma, I can't sleep," she said, squirming on the spot. She wasn't feeling particularly playful, but she needed something to do, some adventure to go on even if it was small. Perhaps she should have awakened Gareth as well. A tuft of her mane fell in her face as she peered over at Douma and she smiled at him, glad he had awoken. His eyes were like a nightlight and it calmed her to know he was with her. "Were you dreaming?" she asked curiously.
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Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 9:22 am
He sighed. As a very nocturnal being, one who found more beauty in the still and silence of the night, who spent hours just simply being still and allowing the peace and stillness to suffuse him, it was the only time he felt complete, or to use Cerri's word, normal... it made mornings a bit unpleasant on an average day. And he needed much time to slowly transition from sleep to wakefulness, at least if one expected him to be pleasant. And if it were anyone else who dared to wake him this early... well, he would have seriously sharp words for them. But it was Cerri, and she was his favorite sibling.
So while she might not get the full brunt of his displeasure, even she wouldn't escape the irony and displeasure in his tone. 'So, you're wanting me to do... what, exactly? I can't really tell stories to help you fall asleep, I don't know that many, and you ought to know that I won't sing, not for an audience.. you know that we'll have to be up and about soon anyways. It is Morning, after all.' He flicked his tail in agitation.
'It is hard to dream, when you don't really sleep that deeply or well.' It was a hint that he had misbehaved the night before. Slipping away for his favorite pastime. Even though he knew it wasn't the smartest thing, to wander away from the safety of family, and it might not be appreciated... well, if nothing else Cerri ought to understand. 'The night is so peaceful. It's nice to feel connected... normal.'
'I found this place... It is so quiet and still. Peaceful. You can almost feel the steady beat of the earth's heart there. And it's not that far from here.' He felt almost like he had to let her know about where he, went and why. To justify himself, though she might not ever expect it from him. 'Perhaps we might go there for a short time. We could go there and be back before everyone stirs. Would that be enough?'
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Posted: Sun Dec 08, 2013 10:16 pm
Cerri's ears perked and a grin spread across her face as she understood her brother's insinuations. Douma was so light-footed and silent, she was not surprised he had managed to sneak off. But she was slightly offended that he hadn't taken her along. She knew her brother. She knew he liked peace and quiet. Did he not think that she could keep quiet? She could be quiet if she had to. Sure, he was inviting her to go now. But he was only considering it now because he had nothing else to offer. These thoughts were displayed on her face in the form of a frown, but she tried to pass it off as a thoughtful frown instead of an upset one.
She did want to go, and her smile returned at the thought of seeing Douma's quiet place. "Ok Douma! Show me the way!" she peeped, keeping quiet so as not to wake the others. Gareth would surely try to stop them or accompany them, and something told Cerri that bringing big brother on the trip would make for too much company, at least for Douma's taste.
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Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2013 1:28 pm
Douma shook his head. Why exactly was he doing this again? Why was he bringing someone to his quiet secret spot? Revealing this part of himself to someone else? It was Cerri. That was the only answer he could come up with, and really, that was the only answer he needed. It was for his sister. And as much as she tried to be silent and still enough to make him happy, it was difficult for her, and she could only ever reach levels that were barely acceptable. He still loved her though. And that was why, when she asked, he had decided to share with her one of the several places he had found that helped him feel at peace. Perhaps it could do the same for her.
'Shh,' he hissed as he led her carefully around the sleeping bodies of their brother and parents. And while Cerri might have felt a twinge of ...something, that they weren't inviting along their older brother, he was more than a little pleased that she didn't stop and insist that Gareth be invited to come along. It was difficult enough for him to share this place with Cerri, whom he adored. He didn't think he'd be able to bring Gareth along as well.
For as unconcerned as he acted sometimes, he had a very sensitive heart, and worried about what others thought, particularly in relation to him, and places and things he felt connected to. He was starting to have second thoughts about bringing Cerri, but he it was too late to back out now. He could only hope that she didn't make fun, or if she felt the need to, that she at least waited until they returned home, so he didn't have to hear it.
It wasn't far so, almost too soon for his liking, he and Cerri reached the place. He paused for a moment. 'It's just around this boulder here, and down through some low hanging branches.'
He held his breath and led the way. He wanted to be there first, to feel the calm that this little sanctuary brought to him, so he could be sure to point out the features that made the place so special. So he could justify himself if he had to.
His 'secret' spot was near the bank of the nearby river. Here in the early spring, it seemed to be all brown and dead, but there were hints all around of the life that would come later on. There were nests of migrating birds, and many low bushes that, although stripped of foliage, were still full of life, and vibrant to his senses though perhaps it was only to him. He had asked a bird he had come across if she could see it the way he did, but she couldn't. He didn't know if it was just him or if perhaps because she was a bird she couldn't see it the way he did. It could have been his 'power' bequeathed by his unicorn blood, or perhaps it was because he was just different.
Then there was the river itself. Which while somewhat frozen still and sluggish, would flow fast and strong in the summer. The potential and sleeping life here was just... he could almost feel the heartbeat of the earth here. He only hoped that she understood. He waited anxiously for her reaction to this place.
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 10:40 pm
Cerri moved noisily behind her brother as they made their way to his secret spot. It was hard for her to navigate through the branches and various twigs. Even at such a young age it was obvious that her height was too much for the trees. "Ow...ooo...oof," she mumbled as she followed Douma.
This place had to be worth it for him. Or he wouldn't be so interested in crawling straight through pokey trees. But Douma liked to explore, she was sure he would like nothing more than to crawl through these trees and just be dissolved into them. That thought scared her a little. What if her Douma disappeared some day? Just evaporated into his secret places and never surfaced again. She decided she would go to all his secret places so she'd know where to look if this happened. Her family was the most important thing in the world to her. It was all she had, really.
"Are we ther---" she stopped. Her olive eyes widened greatly as she stared at his place. She became immediately aware of how noisy she had been moments before and she felt the need now to be as quiet as possible. Although there were nests surrounding the area, not a single chirp was heard. It was as if the world was relaxing, even the birds were content in their homes. She watched the water flow underneath the sheet of ice that layered the river. Although it would normally be flowing with noisy bubbling, it was still for now, slumbering until warmth returned.
She wanted to tell Douma how beautiful yet odd this place was. She thought the silence here would consume her. But that was the point to him. That was the point in coming here. She hadn't planned for silent reflection this morning. She had expected loud, rambunctious adventures. How silly of her, this was Douma. She smiled at her brother and nodded, knowing he would understand. She didn't want to brake his secret silence. She felt that talking would ruin this place for him, and she only wanted the best for her brother. dawns_aura I am soo sorry for the late response. Dx I've been a bit sick and life has whisked me away. Hehe. I will try to be a bit quicker. ^^
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Posted: Wed Jan 29, 2014 8:39 pm
When she didn't immediately start laughing or chattering unnecessarily, Douma slowly released the breath he had been holding. Perhaps she didn't understand his connection to this place, or places like it, at least she didn't outright mock him. Not that he expected such, it was Cerri after all, and she seemed to be more tolerant of his foibles than most. More likely to indulge him.
'This... this isn't my only special place.' He gave what passed as a smile for him, as he pranced over to her side and nibbled at her mane affectionately. 'Can't you just feel the life and silence here? Isn't it just...'
There were no words to describe the place. None that could sum up just what the place was to him. What it meant. How he didn't have to think, didn't have to act. How he could just be.
'It's safe here. No need to put on a mask. Or to try to live up to others' ideals. I can just be. And so can you. Normal...not normal. It doesn't matter.'
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Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 9:49 pm
A place to be. He was right, the world couldn't judge them here. And this wasn't his only special place, there were more. How often had he snuck away? She knew he did, but she wondered how many places he had found.
She listened to the silence for a while longer, and then couldn't help speaking. "I like this place," she said, smiling. It felt safe here with Douma, hidden among the trees. "Can I come more often?" she asked. Her voice still sounded loud here. It bounced off the trickling water and the tree branches above, but she was beginning to realize that she felt comfortable here.
"What do you do when you're here? Just think?" she asked. Sometimes she wished she could read her brother's mind. Where did he go in that brain of his? To places like this?
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Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 10:27 pm
Peace was something that everybody needed, not matter what they might pretend otherwise. And Cerri was no different. And despite the fact she was often bit more than Douma could handle, personality and chatter-wise, she was enough like him the risk he took bringing her here was negligible. a calculated risk with a reward that was more than worth it. His gamble seemed to be paying off. The next time he needed to get away, she would understand why, and would be an ally and distraction.
And if it meant he might have to reveal a sanctuary he had found here and there... well he had numerous ones scattered all over where they travelled. It didn't mean he had to reveal them all. And perhaps it might serve as another tie between them.
As her voice broke the silence, even if it was soft - for her- he did not resent it. Not like he normally would elsewhere. And that the words were positive and reaffirming his decision, he was content. 'Is safe...sanctuary. I am glad you like it here.'
'If you come alone, not ... too many here would take away from peace, magic of this place. Sanctuary might welcome your presence.' It was an invitation and warning .
'Think, relax, do, not do .... whatever I want. There is no ... you don't need to do anything. The place just is, and allows you to just, I don't know. It is whatever you want to do. To be. It is neutral. It is freedom.' He pawed at the ground as he struggled to find the right words. He was awkward here, grounded in reality, he couldn't explain the way he saw the world. His reality that was so much more than most beings experienced.
There were times he wished he could bring those he cared about to his world, but that was impossible, so he did the best he could with the limitations of vocabulary and ideas.
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