|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 1:58 pm
This is a private roleplay and AIM log between Zenstar (ladyfirefox89) and Lynnea (Mahogany Sunset). Please do not post without permission.  
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 31, 2014 2:02 pm
Zen blinked as the sun falling on her washed her dreamland from her mind. She looked around with half dazed eyes at the familiar surroundings. Nature had done such wonderful things to the area she called hers. Every time she awoke it was as if she was waking up in some place new. And yet, ever familiar in its little way. She felt the warmth in her lungs as she took a deep breath of pre-noon air. This place, her place, was certainly her favorite. She breathed out, fully awake now. "I do believe it is time for a drink from the river." She talked to herself as much as she did to the life that was around her. Even if it could not respond, she knew in her heart it was still life.
The forest was awake and alive this morning. Lynnea felt the warmth of the sun soaking into her skin as she walked, cooling slightly every time she walked beneath the shadow of a tree. She was making her rounds of her meadows, checking in on the flowers and saplings within. Spring had finally arrived, bringing with it daffodils and the tiny pink starflowers she so loved. She had already checked the field with the small tree, where Cheveyo had found her; the diseased sapling was healing nicely. A stream lay in her path, however, and she was just crossing it when she heard a voice nearby. Her ears swiveled forward at the sound of that voice, and she stopped in the middle of the trickling water. It ran cool over her hooves and soaked her long fetlocks, but it dulled the sound of her footsteps and hid her trail. She could not, however, pick out the sound of the voice - it had been feminine, hadn't it? - over the sound of the brook. Frowning, she stepped lightly onto the other bank, waiting for whomever was nearby. From the sound of it, the voice had come from roughly the direction she was headed.
Zen made her way to the stream. It was close by, so she didn't have far to go. Though it took a little longer with her taking her time to observe all that was around her. a smile gently spread as she saw the flowers on a nearby tree had bloomed. She walked over to sniff at it and smiled wider. Her voice soothing like a lullaby. "You are growing so fast. Soon you will be bearing fruit. But do not rush things. If you bear fruit too soon, you won't be able to gain the nutrients you need." She gave a little nod to the tree and turned to the stream, intending to wade in a little to feel the energy of the water. But she paused, seeing the mare step out of the water and look around. It was then they made eye contact. Zen stood still, waiting to see if this mare was nice, or if she should brace herself from a charge. In the seconds that seemed to go on and on, a young butterfly landed on her ear to rest. She had long since gained control over her ears enough so that it would not flick instinctively. She enjoyed the company of the butterflies and knew the movement often scared them. It crawled down to her hair where it rested, turning as if it too was looking at the solitary mare.
The dirt felt solid beneath her hooves, reassuring as she listened to that voice again. It was sweet, encouraging, and... speaking as if to plants. That's my job, Lynnea thought, wondering who was wandering about the meadow ahead of her. She did not have to wait long to find out, however, as the mare soon strolled into sight, and Lynnea felt a rush of deja vu.
It was as though she was looking at Calixte, but a far more imposing version of the mare she had come to know to be just as playful as her foals if caught at the right moment. Where Cali was sprightly green, however, this mare was the rich grey of light just before dawn, her leaves a gorgeous, healthy green rather than the eternal autumnal gold that Lynnea was accustomed to. Lynnea met the mare's eyes, wondering what she would see there, but they regarded her coolly, hiding behind the filmy glow they emitted. When the butterfly landed on the mare's ear and she did not so much as flinch, Lynnea decided that she would be the one to make the first move. She did not, however, take a step toward the other mare; even the smallest aggressive gesture had been known to set a Cerynei to fleeing. Instead, she dipped her head slightly, holding it down and closing her eyes in respect for a moment before raising her chin again. "Well met, Miss. I am Lynnea of the Vanaras and the North." It was a spare introduction, but it would do. "Are you new in this area?" she asked. "I have not chanced to see you before."
Zen watched the mare dip her head, confused for a moment. Was the other mare so relaxed and convinced that Zen was not a threat that she would eat right in front of her? Before even making any other contact besides the language they had exchanged between their eyes? But the mare soon lifted her head and gave an extended welcome. Zen blew out a breath she had not realized she was holding and gave a little chuckle. "Hello, Lynnea of the Vanaras and the North." She gave a little bow in return, sending the butterfly that had been resting on her into the air. Zen gave a little frown, but knew it or its kin would return to her soon. Instead, she decided to take nimble steps to the other mare, slow so neither of them would spook. "I am not sure where I herald from, but I am named Zenstar." She gave a warm smile, her eyes twinkling just a bit more then usual. "Zen to those who know me and call me friend."
Zen looked around her, at the scene that laid out around them. "I am...." giving a little pause to look in the opposite direction. "And I am not....." She looked back at Lyn. "I used to come here when I was young. But I am afraid till a week ago, it had been a long while since I had been here. Too long..." She looked to the ground as if lost in thought, but soon looked back to Lyn and smiled. "Is there something you needed assistance with?"
Lynnea nodded in recognition. Zenstar, a pretty name, certainly uncommon... Though she had to admit, she had never met two soquili with the same name. Watching Zen walk toward her, Lynnea smiled in return. "Most call me Lynnea; no one has nicknamed me as of yet." The mare's cryptic answer to her question confused Lynnea for a moment, but then Zen answered the questions that had just been beginning to form in her mind. "Ah," Lynnea said. Then she shook her head. "I need no assistance, but thank you for asking," she replied. "I make rounds in this area, going through meadows that I come across and checking them for disease, pruning breaks and helping things grow as needed," she added, in explanation for being in the area herself. "It has been a while since I was here, myself. I work as a Gatherer for a local herd, and visit when I can. You may know the leader... You look quite alike. Her name is Calixte." Lynnea stopped, then - she was being quite a little jabberbox, wasn't she? She was supposed to be quiet in this land, make as little impression as possible, not draw attention to herself.
Zen was glad for the shortened name. It would be near impossible to say that frequently if she were to keep in contact with this mare. Zen tilted her head slightly. "You do not have anyone to give you a nickname?" She didn't have to pause this time, for a nickname for the name Lynnea came to her mind immediately. “Do others not just call you Lyn? It seems if they were to give you a nickname…. With no other information given, that would be best.” Zen thought it would be obvious for a name with only two syllables.
Zen continued to listen. As she did so, she looked around and smiled at all the healthy growth around her. She couldn't help but sniff at a nearby flower waving by her hoof. “You have done a good job. The growth here is very good. It looks well loved.” “If you wouldn't mind, maybe we could swap tips on how to help and heal the forest? I would love to hear some ideas from others points of view and upbringing.”
When Lyn mentioned gathering, Zen’s attention was caught and she looked back to the mare. “Gathering? What types of things do you gather?” A flash of recognition sparked in Zen’s mind before it flickered. Fading before Zen could even get a hint of where it had come from. “Calixte?” She said slowly, trying to pronounce the name the same way she had just heard the mare say. “I….I do not believe so.” Zenstar thought for a moment then shook her head. “Nothing is coming to mind at the moment at least. Maybe if I met her? Though…. I do not wish to impose.”
Lynnea tilted her head at the nickname. No one had ever called her Lyn before, and it sounded strange on her ears, but it was not unpleasant. "Perhaps Nea would be more fitting?" she asked, liking the roll of it off of her tongue. Now that she thought about it, with a name such as hers, there were probably even more options than that for nicknames... But those were the only two obvious choices. Lyn seemed short to her, and she was not sure she liked it overmuch.
"Thank you," she replied. "I would love to exchange ideas! My niece is trying to start a garden so we don't have to pluck any more wild flowers, you see," she gushed, grinning. Healing the forest and keeping it healthy was one of her duties as a Gatherer, as was knowing places to find things, so learning more about ways to keep it fruitful was always a welcome experience. "I gather fruits and nuts for food and treats, flowers for ceremonies, herbs for medicinal uses... Sometimes minerals, if we somehow chance upon them."
She nodded again as Zenstar suggested meeting Cali. "I would love to introduce you, if you would wish to meet her? I have no doubt that she would welcome you with an open heart. She is ever searching for more of her kind... She has only met one other in this land, a mare named Nevena, though the herd also has a Grove Keeper named Celegras. She is the matriarch of the Vanaras, Alpha and Mistress of Ceremonies." Lynnea could sing nothing but praise of Cali - the mare had taken her in, along with Cheveyo, when she had met them after Lynnea's long journey south. The culture that had sprung up among the Vanaras had helped heal her own aversion to herds, as well; they welcomed everyone, Cerynei or not. "The Herdlands are back the way I came," Lynnea added, gesturing with a turn of the head. "We will find her there, if you are ready to go?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Feb 05, 2014 12:53 am
Zen pretty much knew nothing of this new mare besides that she was a cerynei just like herself. So when Nea mentioned Lyn sounded odd to her, she believed her. Personally, Zen had thought it quite lovely. If anything, maybe a little old fashioned sounding. But Nea had spunk and pizzazz, so maybe it would be fitting for her. Zen would just have to learn on the journey to meet this mare who supposedly looked like her.
Now that Zen thought about it, she really didn't know anything about this 'kind' mare. She paused to think about it. She had heard stories of walkers brainwashing others to lead them into their traps. Zen looked into the eyes of the mare and saw nothing but clear alertness. Nothing to suggest a walker had spent years grooming them as bait. Zen guessed she could always test the mare. But how? She supposedly knew things about nature. And Zen's ears perked about the mention of flowers used for specific ceremonies. After her little test, Zen would most definitely like to learn more about those.
She looked around the area, calmly, as if taking in one last look before their journey. "I am ready for the travel. But, is there anything here that needs to be done before we leave for the trip?" Her mind flashed to the tree that seemed to be flowering too much too soon. If they were to pick some of the flowers, the tree wouldn't age too early by sending all its energy turning the mass of flowers into fruits.
Lynnea's head tilted at Zenstar's question. "I do not believe anything needs be done before setting off, but I should probably check that clearing I believe you were just in. It had buds last time I was there. It must be flowering, or at least beginning to," she replied, walking around Zenstar and past her. "Would you like to join me?" she asked. "I imagine it will take just a moment... Though that may also depend on how well it is doing." The last time she had been there, there had been hundreds of buds on the tree - and those had only been the first she found. Since she had been there, many more had probably joined them and begun to weigh the branches down. If if bore so much fruit... The branches would snap, and she could not allow that. She had been caring for the tree since she and Cheveyo had saved it from the disease that had almost ended its life.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Feb 10, 2014 2:03 am
Zen nodded, smiling to herself that Nea was following along with the little test. Hopefully the mare would be up to the little praise she had given herself. Not only would it prove to Zen that she could be trusted, but also that she truley could learn tis that she might not already know. "I will follow you. But give me a moment, I have not taken a drink yet this morning. If you start, I can catch up in a moment." Seeing Nea understood, Zen took the few steps to the stream and began drinking from the fresh stream. The smooth cool water was perfect in the growing warmth of the sun, and she took it in gladly.
Lynnea smiled as she watched Zen drink, deciding to wait for the other mare. Would it be discourteous to start ahead without her? Lynnea was not sure, but determined it would be best not to act in her uncertainly. When she saw that Zen was done drinking, however, Lynnea turned and began walking in the other direction, toward the meadow, slow at first to allow Zen to catch up. It took mere moments for her to see the bright blossoms of the tree through the branches and sunlight on the outskirts of the clearing - it was burdened with them, laden to the point that none of its branches were visible through the thick bushels of flowers. The sight of them near stopped her in her tracks; it was beautiful, magnificent, a far cry from the withering sapling she had seen not long ago. But then she realized what it meant, and sped up. "Oh no," she said, when she got to the edge of the clearing. It was, indeed, seemingly covered from root to twig with blossoms. "This is going to take forever," she murmured, and approached the tree, a little wonder still left in her eyes.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
