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 Posted: Sun Feb 02, 2014 8:08 pm
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Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 9:43 am
The snows were still falling heavily, even over a month past the solstice, though the days were begining to grow longer. Ethan shivered and tugged at the woolen blanket to draw it over more of his back as he walked onwards. It was different, looking out for a whole heard of soquili rather than just himself and a friend. Not only were there more mouths that he had to make sure stayed fed, but they were established in one location. And as the winter drew on, he had to travel further and further from the central herdground to find supplies.
He wasn't the only one looking, granted. Many of his herdmates and family had great wings and could search further out. But there was something to be said of his slighter frame and being able to pick through the woods. Even in the dead of winter, the snow gathered in the lofty branches of the trees made it hard for airborne soquili to spy food under the wintry canopy.
But Ethan wouldn't trade this for the world. Belonging, finally. Family. He could deal with some lean months happily.
He snuffled at the bases of trees, pawing at drifts of snow with his strange, three-toed left hoof. It was useful sometimes, especially in picking open knotted roots or scraping clinging vines off of bark.
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Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 9:55 am
Vidoun wasn't exactly sure where he was... or where he was going, for that matter. His eyes, mostly hidden by the long black bangs, peered around with a sense of uncertainty and weariness. Chain, the small bear, stayed at his side, sniffing the area around them and making sure everything was okay as they moved. Food was scarce, and neither had eaten much this winter. Dipping his head down, he sniffed at the snow covered earth with a bit of a grumble.
As they moved forward, Vidoun lifted his head in a curious manner. He peered around, orange muscles twitching in an attempt to hold himself from running. Chain glanced up at him, confusion in her eyes, before she nudged him lightly. "What is it?" Vidoun grunted through the stitches, pawing a few times at the snow before he let out a rough bellow of a noise. Someone was close and he did not like it.
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Posted: Mon Feb 03, 2014 10:03 am
Ethan had just discovered a cluster of wood ear mushrooms as he pawed through the snow. He smiled, ears canting forward as he carefully plucked them from where they had been growing on the bark of the tree and tucked them into a satchel he had brought along.
But as he heard a shuffling through the snow, his head jerked up and his ears pricked as he looked around and listened. It was harder to pick up scents in the dead of winter, and Ethan was never exactly the best at it regardless. So, warily, he picked his way towards the sound. They were on the edge of his herdgrounds after all, and if there was something dangerous about he needed to know about it.
First, he spied the bear - it was small, though - but still, unusual for this season. He relaxed. Bears were rarely a threat to full grown soquili, especially one as small as that one. But then, he caught a flash of orange, and a soquili soon emerged following after the bear.
He was a strange looking fellow - with traits of a unicorn, but with an almost eerie, twisted bent to it. Dark branch patterns seemd to crawl through his orange pelt, and even twisted, dead branches were along his back and Ethan couldn't quite tell if they were growing from him or part of his tack. But what caught Ethan's eye the most was stitches running through his mouth. Ethan didn't balk, though. If anything, his brows knitted in concern.
"Ah... ello there?" The stallion called out, "Are ye all right?" His voice lilted with an unusual accent.
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Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 2:27 pm
Vidoun didn't much care for the feel of snow. He had never liked winter. It was too cold, and the branches reminded him of his mother. He flicked an ear, lifting his eyes toward said dead trees, before letting out a huff, the motion causing the air to freeze for a moment, before disapearing. Chain looked up at him with a curious stare, before smiling and reached, patting his leg lightly, before trotting forward in search of food. She never strayed too far, always keeping rather close and trying to ensure everything was okay.
The stallion was oblivious to the other for several moments. His ears swiveled, his body moving carefully. He was a large boy, about twenty hands tall with muscular bulk. Any other creature would surely be intimidated by him; which was the cause to most his problems. He frowned, shaking his head with a grunt. He opened his mouth just enough to take in air once more, before blowing it out through his nose. Thank the stars for the stitches, warding off anyone who dared try to get past his shell.
That was when he heard the noises. And hten the voice. Vidoun's head snapped up, swiveling until he locked his gaze on the stallion not to far from himself. He was light in color, but the markings on his leg made Vidoun cring. A burn? He couldn't tell. His horns were long, and his hair seemed a mess, though Vidoun had always been about keeping his mane tamed. Or rather, Chain was. Chain. When teh bear heard the noise, she instantly ran back to Vidoun's side, glaring toward the stallion protectivly. "You leave him alone you brute!" She called back, bouncing on her small paws. First line of defense: A small bear.
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Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 2:38 pm
Ethan was taken aback. It had been a long time since someone had flown off the handle at him, since he had struck a nerve in another based on his appearance, and it served as a sharp reminder and callback. Just because he'd found a herd, found family, didn't mean the world had changed.
But the bear seemed protective of the soquili - and she could speak, she was one of the special ones, maybe even his familiar. And that, Ethan realized, was actually a good sign. The stallion looked like he had been hurt, or abused, and if he could help, then a protective familiar shouldn't stop him.
"Ah'm sorry ah frightened ye." Ethan said, his movements slow, and with a defensive lowering of his head, "Ye... ye looked like yer friend there might need some help." A two-pronged ear flicked back as he looked towards the stallion's mouth. He wasn't entirely sure he could speak around those cords.
"Ah'm pretty far from a unicorn... but know a bit o first aid and some herbs..."
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Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 3:28 pm
Vidoun shifted uneasily, his ears pinning back as he tried to figure thigns out. His tail flicked lightly behind him,a dn he let out a bellow of a noise, as if trying to frighten off the other stallion. His muscles quivered lightly, his ears pinning back some as he dug his hoof into the ground. His otherl ifted, pawing several times as if he was about to charge.
Chain frowned some, backing up until she was between Vidoun's legs. She growled lowly, ears pinning back some. "You just stay away from him! He doesn't need any help or nothin!" She shouted, baring her tiny fangs at the stallion. Vidoun watched him with a narrowed, defensive gaze, his muscles tight.
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Posted: Tue Feb 11, 2014 3:36 pm
Ethan's ears drooped and he whet his lips with a forked tongue, carefully acessing the situation. He wasn't trying to challenge the stallion - they were a little past the border of his herdgrounds anyway. But Ethan was pretty sure that this wasn't his territory. He would have heard if there were a massive, orange, injured stallion in the viscinity.
Ethan didn't make any motion to advance, but he didn't back away, either. If this stallion was aggressive, a threat to his family, then he wasn't going to run away. There were important things worth protecting not too far away. Things certianly worth getting banged up... even if this stallion WAS larger than he was...
But Ethan also knew not to leap to conclusions.
"I don't mean either o' ye any harm." Ethan said, some of the chipper having washed away, but still leaving a genuine tone of concern. "Those... ties... through yer mouth there... that can't feel good..." He said evenly, remembering a parable his mother told him once about a lion with a thorn in his paw.
"I could try to help ye with that... if'n ye need." He continued evenly, not taking his eyes off of them.
"Or if'n yer hungry... it's not long past Yule. I have a few oranges I traded for... A bit o' sunshine in this wintry season is good for any weary traveller."
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Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 3:05 pm
Vidoun stared at the other stallion with a dark look in his eyes. He was shocked that he hadn't wandered off or tried to charge him yet. Glancing down toward Chain, he stared for a moment, before lowering his head to nudge the bear gently. He let out small noises, grunts and murmurs, before lifting his eyes back toward the stallion. Chain seemed to understand each noise, her ears pinning back some, before she bared her small fangs toward Ethan, eyes narrowed dangerously. She wasn't going to let him get close to Vidoun without some serious thought!
"He likes them!" She protested. And it was truth. Vidoun would never consider giving up the ties that held his mouth mostly closed. It was a sort of... safe haven, for him. He didn't know how to talk anyways, so what was the point? Plus, he feared what would happen if they were taken off. So he had learned to appreciate them for what they were. Flicking his ears back lightly, he stared toward the other stallion with curious eyes, before grunting and pawing at the earth once more.
Chain blinked at the mention of oranges. Her stomach gave a tiny growl, and she hushed it under her breath. ".... You aren't going to try and poison him? Or kill him? Or... Or... OR SOMETHING ELSE BAD?" She asked, her voice raising toward the end as her fur seemed to fluff up, She had a slight mother bear complex.
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Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 3:14 pm
Slowly, cautuiousy, Ethan relaxed his defensive posture. His worry melted into a sort of sympathy as his brows drew together. How could anyone want something piercing their skin... let alone tying his mouth mostly shut. It sounded dreadful... like some kind of torture. But low be it for Ethan to judge the customs of another... and as he watched more carefully, the large stallion seemed... skittish... the bear - it must be the stallion's familiar - seemed to be connected enough to him to speak for him. Could he even speak on his own? Perhaps another layer of defense.
Ethan shifted his hooves, but didn't approach. "I ain't here ta hurt you." Ethan repeated, with a more reassuring tone. "Mah horns... my..." He hesitated for a moment, almost hating to say it, "Kalona features make a lotta soquili uncomfortable... But I don't mean ya any harm... here..."
He turned his head, lifting the flap of his bag and rustling in it for an orange. He paused another moment, and after seeing the bear's distrust, he took a small bite out of the fruit. A quick flash of sharpened teeth revealed as he did so.
Then he nosed it over towards the pair.
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Posted: Thu Apr 24, 2014 3:19 pm
Vidoun blinked at the stallion, his head cocking to the side. He let out a sort of mumble, before shaking his head with a snort. His hoof pounded lightly at the ground, his back stiffening some. Chain glanced up at him, shifting some to scoot closer to the large stallion, before locking her gaze back on Ethan. She tilted her head in mild confusion, her eyebrow lifting some as though she was inquiring what he meant. Vidoun lowered his head so that he could mumble toward the bear, talking in his own way. Chain seemed to listen for several moments, before nodding her head some. She tilted her eyes back toward Ethan, watching him for a moment, before frowning lightly.
"We don't judge based on breed. Even the smallest of Kirin could be a meanie butt!" Chain argued. She watched him with the orange, frowning at it, before looking at Vidoun. The stallion frowned back, before shaking his head some, and took a half step back. His tail flicked lightly, before he glanced back toward Chain again. She seemed hesitant, but stood up. She walked carefully forward, and poked at the orange, before nudging it back toward Ethan. "He can't eat that." She stated matter-of-factly.
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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 3:55 pm
Ethan's tail flicked back and forth a few times as his ears canted forward curiously as the large stallion mumbled to the bear. It didn't do any good, though - not until the bear translated for him. She must have been very used to the soquili's speech to understand it, even if she were so close to him.
But when the she-bear did speak for him, Ethan's posture relaxed even more and a soft smile crossed his muzzle, "Ah guess that is true. Ah've heard stories about even young fillies who can take ta battle and do their herd proud, if the need arises. Or villains that can come in unexpected forms. An' o' course those who might look intimidatin' that really have good, pure souls. " He paused for a moment, "Unfortunately, there don't seem ta be a lot 'o soquili that have heard stories like that."
Ethan's smile faded a bit as they rejected the gift. "Well, ye can have it, if'n ye like. Bears... your kind can eat all kinds a things, right?" Ethan had never personally spoken with a bear - not a bear familiar, though he'd seen some of her lesser cousins before. And his mum told him of Bear as one of the totems.
He hoped he wasn't prying, but, he didn't want to seem uncharitable, "Is there somethin' he does eat that I might be able ta help ya find? Or, is there anything ye need that I might be able ta help you with? I... I understand that the world can be unkind to soquili who look differ'nt. An' from th' sounds o it, you don't get a lot o offers o help."
techabyte I'm SO sorry - I never realized you tagged in this! 030
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Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 3:57 pm
For several seconds the bear just pawed at the ground. She tapped it af ew times, before batting at the orange. Her eyes flickered along the peel, scraping it with her claws, before she bat it between her legs. She almost giggled, before remembering her places. Her head tilted back, staring toward Vidoun for a second, before she looked back forward at the stallion before them. Her ears flicked up, and then pinned back, before she actually shifted enough to settle herself down. Her eyes flickered toward the stallion once more, before she pursed her lips, making an odd looking expression, and shrugged. "People aren't very nice to him. It's sad. Vidoun is a really nice guy when he wants to be!" She said in protest.
Vidoun blinked at the bear, his ear flicking, before he dipped his head and made a small noise toward her. He nudged her with his muzzle, the soft velvet grazing her shoulder, before shifting carefully to lift his head. He stared at the other stallion for several moments, before tilting his head to the side, and seemed to eye him up and down. He was analyzing the stallion, taking in everything that he was, and could be. He could be a threat... but he seemed so.. calm. Calm and helpful. He snorted a bit, before nodding his head and flicked his tail some. The movement caused attention to go to Chain, and she looked at him curiously.
After a few more moments, Chain slit open the orange, cutting into it easily. She bent down and nibbled some, before cutting out a small bit and offered it to Vidoun. He frowned some, before snorting and shaking his head, eyes flickering back toward Ethan. Chain shrugged, looked at the stallion, and blinked her big eyes. "He eats grass, mostly. So there is a big abundance of it. It's one of the only things he can fit through the strings." She commented firmly.
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Posted: Wed Jun 18, 2014 8:00 pm
Ethan watched with a kindly smile as the bear pawed at the orange before finally eating it. It was interesting talking to a bear. He'd heard a lot of stories of Bears in the stories his mum told him, and even seen a few at a distance - but he didn't think those were intelligent bears like this one.
He nodded slowly, "Ah've met more soquili than ah care t'admit who weren't verra nice t'me. Thought I was like other kalona." He frowned. "Jus... jus know, Vidoun - " He had to force himself to talk to the other soquili directly rather than his interpreter. Remind himself that the stallion had no problem understanding him, even if he couldn't speak well. "Know that not ere'one is like that. That there are some 'o us out there that don't judge a soquili on his looks. Some 'o us that have been in those hooves b'fore."
He paused for just a moment before smiling again, "It's been a hard season. Cold winter, and dry. If... if' ye decide ye don't like bein on yer lonesome - the two 'o ye - I've gota little herd, a little family and we - none o' us - would judge ye. If ye need a safe place."
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