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 Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 9:12 am
Tayo had spent the last three days visiting with her Kawani friend at her teepee, and was now setting off to wander for a while on her own, hoping to meet some other Soquili and maybe find someone to travel with a little. She was always grateful for her meetings, as they usually went fairly well, and she was always so happy to make new friends and discover new places. She had heard rumours there was a small herd that was passing through nearby about a week ago, and she was interested to see them, maybe meet them, and learn about their ways. She hadn't known before that there was such a herd close to Sarei's teepee, and so she was curious, for herself and also for the safety of Sarei.
It was a cloudy day, but it was warm at least, and she wasn't feeling down at all, despite the fact there was not much for sunshine today. The mare's feathers gently blew in the breeze as she walked on, a smile spread across her muzzle and she began to sing quietly to herself, bobbing her head to her little tune as she walked and looked about. She was coming up on a small stream that she would have to cross, and it looked like there was a decent sized grove on the other side. Tayo paused for a moment, observing the stream and the trees on the opposite side of it, pondering if she should try to go around the trees, or just go through them. It's not like you could really get lost when you weren't necessarily going somewhere specific anyways...
So the sandy-colored mare stood, pondering, now humming rather than singing. Amidst her consideration she had had a momentary lapse in paying attention to her surroundings. She was used to being on her own though, so she didn't worry too much.
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 10:25 am
 The stony mare carefully picked her way through the trees. She was in no rush, her heavy stony footfalls crunching loudly in the underbrush. This was much farther out than she had wandered before from the dark forest that she had made her home in. Despite the fact she had been in these lands for more than a year now, she had hardly ventured very far once she had found the spot in Taraxippus's herd to hide in. The concealing shadows and clawing vines kept most soquili out, and was the perfect place for a monster like her to hide. Those that did live there, well... they were every bit the monsters that she resembled.
And yet, finding a home had done little to sooth the aching wounds that the damaged mare bore - both physical and mental. Usually, the herd left her alone, which was all she thought she had wanted. When they did speak to her, it was simple requests, or sometimes seeing if they could rouse her interest in doing something vile.
She almost always declined - politely. While they never forced her, they seemed to expect it from her, and were disappointed when she balked. But... Nocturne couldn't pretend she never accepted. THere were times when her fractured mind seemed particularly broken and she felt angry, shaking and wanting to break the world as much as it had broken her.
Fortunately, those moments were rare now. Though not as rare as she would like to pretend.
Today was a day of clarity for the gargoyle of a mare. She had been feeling so stifled in the darkness and needed to BREATHE. So she had taken to wing - an even rarer thing for her. She always felt awkward flying. Despite her two sets of wings, she had never been very practiced with it. Her body was heavy and awkward, and it was generally more complicated coordinating the leathery appendages than the added benefit of having more should have given her.
She hadn't flown long- just enough to break free of the clinging vines and find herself another spot to explore - somewhere still wooded - not completely exposed - but ... sunnier.
Even in her home country, it was rarely this bright and happy. CLouds often obscured the skies, and a drizzling, depressing rain fell almost daily. She stopped, breathing in the fresh scent of grass and flowers as she closed her eyes and just felt the warmth on her dark hide.
But then, her ear twitched. the sound of some other footfalls in the underbrush. Another. And was that... humming?
Both eyes snapped open and she walked in a small, uneasy circle. The woods were too dense right here to take to wing again. Awkwardly, Nocturne froze, an old habit that was much more useful at blending in in the stony city than the middle of the woods.
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:17 pm
Tayo came out of her distraction as she had been still wandering slowly toward the water, and as she had gotten closer to it, she had noticed the faint sound of crunching about across the stream in the trees. She shook her head a little and stopped humming, squinting to peer into the trees to see if she could spot what was in there making noise. She sure hoped it wasn't a wolf or a bear, she had been lucky so far that she had only had passing encounters with such predators, and she would like to keep it that way.
She noticed the sounds had stopped, and also stood frozen for a moment, unsure. She was curious, of course, and part of her said proceed and find out what it was. Then there was the small fear creeping through her that said turn around and go the other way. For some reason, intuition was telling her the curiosity was okay, and to go find out what or who might be over there. Perhaps it was someone she would be able to help...
Tayo again began to move forward, she eyed the stream carefully to gauge the best place for her to cross, and then went for it. The stream was shallow, luckily, and she was across it with ease in a few moments. The sandy-colored mare moved toward the trees slowly, her ears lain back slightly and her nostrils flaring, trying to catch a scent.
"H-hello?" She called out, hoping for a response. She felt it might be worth the risk of compromising her position. Her feathers ruffled slightly in the breeze once more as she warily gazed into the grove, waiting for something.
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Posted: Thu Feb 06, 2014 5:19 pm
Stone still... stone still... Nocturne didn't move a muscle, but she heard the humming stop, and then hooffalls through the shallow stream. Whoever it was was coming in her direction. It was pointless to do anthing to stop it now.
But what came next wasn't a brash cry of anger or fear, but a melodic greeting.
They probably haven't seen me yet, Nocturne thought cynically to herself.
Might as well get it over with.
A shadow moved under the trees, and at first Tayo just caught glimpses of red dimly glowing from under the shade of the trees. But as the figure moved, it resolved itself into a strange, stony mare that looked truly wicked.
She had her head down, the long mane nearly covering her face as her ears angled backwards. At first, she didn't say anything, just waited as she took in the tawny and green mare, expecting her to just turn tail and run. Why waste words?
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Posted: Sun Feb 16, 2014 2:42 pm
Tayo was a little surprised as she heard heavy movement again, and began to see little red glows, shrouded by the shadows of the grove. When the other creature emerged, she wasn't sure what she had been expecting, but this certainly wasn't it. Although, she was not scared. The sandy-colored mare took in details of the other, and quickly determined it was another soquili, probably a mare. She looked very different from others Tayo had seen and met, but rather than frightened, Atayohkan was intrigued. Though this other mare looked to be slightly dishevelled and hardened, Tayo thought she was rather beautiful in her own way.
"Well, hello." She started, flicking her tail and smiling kindly, "Sorry if I startled you at all, I don't often come this way..." She trailed off, looking slightly embarrassed that she may have incidentally stumbled upon someone and interrupted what they were doing. "Anyways, I didn't mean to intrude, if you were busy." The pale mare continued, though she didn't want to blather on, so she paused again and looked hopefully to the other for a response.Sabin Duvert Sorry it took me five million years to respond! rofl
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Posted: Wed Feb 19, 2014 2:29 pm
There was the pregnant pause, the subtle widening of the mare's eyes. She heaved a preparatory sigh, expecting the same that always happened. But then, Nocturne nearly swallowed her tongue when the mare ... didn't leave, or turn aggressive. No, a smile found her face - maybe a forced one, but it was a smile.
It took Nocturne a few moments to find her own words, her tongue feeling leaden in her mouth. But slowly, she raised her head, shaking it softly to clear the mane from her eyes. Shining red eyes as bright as the cracks in her hide shone back at the new mare, but there was no malice in her expression. Her brows knit, and her ears stayed canted backwards, but it was more anxiety than aggression.
"No..." She said hesitantly, "No... I am not busy. I was just.." She looked from side to side, "...exploring." She mentally chastized herself as she fumbled with the words. There was an accent to her voice, something old-world.
"I had thought that I had frightened you. I... often frighten others."
Sarei Stargazer No worries, and no hurry, either ^^. My muse can be fickle sometimes, too.
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Posted: Thu Mar 06, 2014 3:56 pm
"Oh no, don't worry then, please!" Tayo let out a little laugh at the confusion. She wondered why others would be afraid, but then supposed it would be because this other mare looked very different. Though that had been something that had never seemed to bother Tayo, she was very open-minded and kind to everyone and everything, unless there was a VERY good reason for her not to be.
"That's great that you were exploring, so was I, actually!" She was excited to discover someone at the same activity as herself, perhaps this other mare might know where the herd she had heard about was located. Atayohkan was so very interested in the potential of discovering them and learning about how they lived in this area, or wherever it was they were from or going to. Especially because it wasn't really that far from a place she considered part of her own home.
"Do you mind if I ask if you were looking for anything specific?" Tayo lifted a brow with a grin and flicked her tail excitedly.
Her feathers ruffled a little in the breeze and she looked down at her hooves for a second. "I mean...maybe if you want....well, I like to have an adventuring partner!" She said, looking back up with excited anticipation. "I was looking for a herd of Soquili that someone told me had been in this area recently, I love learning about other herds and their cultures and stuff..." She trailed off, not really thinking that this other might not care what her intentions were, but she felt no reason to hide what she was doing, it was harmless, and she always liked company; that was no lie.
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Posted: Fri Mar 07, 2014 8:48 am
Nocturne began to finally relax, her wings stretching before returning to her side and standing a little taller. This mare was no threat. There was no malice in her heart. Not unless she was particularly adept at concealing her intentions.
"I do not seek a particular object or soquili," She said in a gravelly voice, "Merely what lays further into these lands than my home here." She looked to and fro. It was much greener in these lands than her original homeland. It was beautiful, but she felt clumsy and... not meant for such verdant, lush forests.
But at the mare's offer, Nocturne felt touched, but nervous all the same. She had never traveled very much. Her periodic excursiosn recently - which took her no more than a day's travel from home - was the most she had ever done. To leave home, travel for days... exposed... in the open... encountering so many others... anxiety gripped the mare's heart and she reflexively shook her head, "I do not think I am built for such travels." She responded.
Her brows knit, "But who is it you are seeking? Perhaps I may be of assistance... although I doubt that it is my herd you seek. Very few seek my herd."
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:27 pm
Tayo noticed the other mare was relaxing a little, and so she allowed herself a deep breath, to think about how to explain herself. She smiled and began, "Well, to be honest, I wasn't really given too much information about them. A wolf that I'm friends with mentioned she'd seen some interesting looking Soquili nearby the Kawani homes, and since I stay there with a girl sometimes at her teepee, I sort of wanted to see if I could find out more about them..." She trailed off for a moment, wondering if any of what she had said even made any sense to the other. She took another deep breath and flicked her tail, giving a bit of a laugh before continuing on, "Well I'm cautious sometimes, and I wanted to know if my Kawani friend will be safe, but mostly I'm intrigued to find out who they are and if they've always been here, you know?" She gave another soft laugh and shifted her weight.
She looked slightly apologetically to the other mare, hoping she would understand, and also hoping that she would take Tayo seriously. Tayo meant no harm by her curiosity, although the fact that this other mare had said very few seek her herd, well...made the sandy-colored mare wonder just a little.
It occured to Tayo that she should probably introduce herself by name if this interaction were to continue on; she didn't want to be rude. She paused a moment longer and contemplated the curious mare before her.
"I'm Atayohkan, by the way. Tayo for short." She grinned, again her tail swished happily behind her.
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Posted: Mon Apr 21, 2014 4:42 pm
"Small steps..." She said quietly, half to herself, gauging the trees around her and backtracking in her mind how she would return home once more. But for once, she wasn't precisely in a hurry. She knew what was going on at home. She refused to participate in Taraxippus's war. But on the other hand, being aroud when they were preparing, it made her feel judged, like an outsider all over again. Hopefully, her disobedience would be forgotten when she did return. There were other ways she could contribute, she was certain of it.
"I ... am sorry. I do not believe I am familiar with the soquili you speak of. Only one human ventures close to where we live... I have not traveled much since I arrived here. I found a place that is.... well, safe to me at least. I am left alone by outsiders, and few venture into the tangled woods - fewer still who knows the creatures that live in them. That is why I doubt it was my herd you sought."
A small smile found her face at the introduction, "It is.. honestly nice to meet you, Atayohkan," She responded, using her full name. "My name is Nocturne. I... don't really have a nickname." She added with the first chuckle, albeit a slightly cynical one.
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2014 1:59 pm
"Oh well," Tayo started, blinking curiously at the other mare for a second. "I'm sure your herd is just as interesting, anyways! There will be more times to look for them anyways." The sandy-colored mare smiled up at Nocturne as the breeze ruffled her bright green feathers.
"Nocturne is such a cool name!" She exclaimed happily, "And you know, it's okay if you don't have a nickname..." The mare trailed off for a moment, flicking her tail in thought, "Mine is mostly just because some have a hard time with my full name, so I always offer both options." Tayo giggled a little and shifted her weight a bit.
The smaller, lighter furred mare gazed off for a moment, a simple surroundings check. Although, she did feel rather safe around this other, it was purely out of habit. Tayo was very curious about Nocturne's herd now, having been given a small amount of information. Though, she didn't want to seem nosy (even though she could be pretty nosy at times), she sensed she should be a little more sensitive with Nocturne, she seemed a little shy.
"Well, it's nice to meet you, too!" She added, wondering for a moment if she should ask questions that may satisfy some of the curiosity or not. Tayo mulled it over a moment, a slightly blank look across her features as she pondered.
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Posted: Wed May 21, 2014 3:17 pm
Nocturne chuckled, obviously relaxing a bit in this mare's easygoing presence. It had been a long time since she had felt this at-ease around another. Even her herdmates, as welcoming as they were to her and protective, were not... easy. "I doubt you would wish to find my herd. They do not respond well to most strangers."
"And.... thank you. The man who raised me gave it to me. I suppose I have been called other things, but they have never been very kind. Your name has many syllables, but does that not also boast of respect? Such a grandoise name. Does it have a meaning?"
"So... please, feel no obligation to answer me... but why are you looking for this other herd?"
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Posted: Sun Jun 01, 2014 1:40 pm
Tayo was very happy, for she hadn't been expecting to meet what was seeming to be going in the direction of a new friend today. She could tell that the other mare was starting to loosen up a bit in her company, Tayo prided herself on being able to be comfortable around others.
"Well you seem nice, I don't see why others would be unkind to you. Perhaps they are just closed-minded." She nodded with a cheeky little wink to Nocturne. "I was raised mostly by a human, too." She grinned a little wider. "And on that note, she's the reason I was seeking this other herd. I just want to make sure she is safe..." The sandy-furred mare trailed off for a moment.
"She took care of me, I don't always stay with her, but I came here from far away and I injured a leg on my travels. She found me and nursed me to health, and it turns out she had always wished for a Soquili companion." Again, Tayo paused for a moment, shifting her weight and taking a deep breath. "Well, she named me Atayohkan, which is like a spirit or a friend, to my understanding. She thinks her wish brought me here." The feathered mare smiled kindly to Nocturne.
"It's not like a herd, I guess, which is why I'm so curious about herds in general, but she is like family, so we look out for each other." She nodded, still smiling wide. Her feathers rustled a bit with the slight breeze.
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Posted: Wed Jun 04, 2014 3:06 pm
Nocturne nodded slowly. "You are... different from most I have met - be it two-legs or other soquili. They see me, see my stony hide or red eyes and batlike wings and they are scared... and that sometimes turns to hostility..." Nocturne looked a little uncomfortable. There had been times that perhaps that fear and aggression were even justified. Since she had been chased from her first home, since she had been hurt sometimes panic seized her chest and she lashed out without thinking. The fear of that pain again... she shook her head again, trying to collect her thoughts and keep them focused. Speaking with this gentle mare was helping more than she had expected. It would help more if she did not let her thoughts dwell on unhappy times.
"Your human is missing? I am sorry to hear that. Mine was old even by the time I was a young filly. But he was kind. He passed away, and I am afraid that those who took his place did not care for me as much as he did."
Nocturne smiled once more, "It seems as if you were aptly named. You do seem to be so... open minded and friendly. And perhaps her wish did bring you. The spirits move in strange ways, they tell me."
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Posted: Fri Jun 20, 2014 9:07 pm
"Well it may not seem like it, but I've encountered all kinds. I find kindness and understanding can get a girl a long way." Tayo admitted, she saw no harm in honesty, either. "But where I come from I am very different, and well...I don't think there's anything wrong with being different." The sandy-colored mare paused for a moment and shifted her weight, her head tilting slightly as she thought more about her home. She had been a shame where she had come from, and so was her mother. That didn't matter though, Tayo had friends now and loved ones, so that didn't worry her too much. She certainly understood being different though, that was for sure.
"Well, she has been gone for a little while, yes." She stopped again. Her feathers ruffled a little and she wrinkled her nose. "I'm sure she will turn up, sometimes the humans go away for a while...but with what I had heard, I just wanted to investigate a little. I think I would know if she was in trouble, and so would they." Atayohkan continued.
Tayo nodded happily at Nocturne's comment. "That's nice, I appreciate you saying that." She had a huge grin spreading across her features again, "I believe very strongly in the spirits, as well. Have you seen any of the humans' celebrations for them?" She asked curiously, flicking her tail to and fro in excitement.
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