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 Posted: Sun Mar 30, 2014 3:34 pm
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Roman Foi Damir felt the frigid sting of the snow that was just a little too wet to be snow. Shivering, his hooves ached, and his nostrils burned with every breath he took. He hadn't seen this storm coming, and cursed himself for not seeking shelter when Eliron warned him to. The small bird was tucked in his hair, trying to keep itself from freezing to death out in the open.
ArashiX Phantoms always seemed to shift in and out of sight within storms such as these. Csitri was heading back home--there was no sense in staying out when it took the insane or the extremely lost and unfortunate to stay out in such conditions. Even for such a young mare, she knew her way well, and she surged through the snow with her will pit upon getting home. The cold would get to her, soon, she knew. For now, she was fine, but she didn't want to tarry.
As used to the paths as she was...as used to seeing spirits dance and play their tricks in blizzards, it came as a sure surprise that the form swirling in the snow solidified before her.
"Huh..." Her breath misted and was swept away with the wind. Her ears pinned back, as much in caution as to prevent the wind from howling into them. She moved forward, lifting her legs high in the snow. She wasn't tall, though she was a bit taller than her mother. She took a breath, deciding to try to be friendly, first. Fighting, if it came to it, would come second.
"Ho, traveller!"
Roman Foi Damir's ears perked at the voice that was clear through the sound of the cutting wind. He slowed, seeing swirls of yellow, pink, and some black off in the not so far distance. He wasn't alone! Damir reached around and nudged Eliron, hoping he could ask her where there was shelter. It was getting more dangerous, and he wasn't too sure if they would survive without the help of someone else.
Eliron groaned, not wanting to be disturbed, but then realized he had heard a voice too. Fluffing of his feathers, he came to perched on the shoulder of Damir, tweeting and fussing about the wind and snow. "Hello!" His sing song voice called, quiet compared to hers. "Please, could you direct us, fellow traveler!"
ArashiX He was, she thought, pure white. It was no small wonder she hadn't thought he was real until hshe was nearly on top of him! Emerald eyes - the colour of Spring that had no place in this snowstorm - took him in...and the bright red bird that was fluffing its feathers. It spoke instead of his companion.
She had to get closer to hear him, but caught the tail end of his chirped words.
"I can... Do you speak for your companion, always, little bird?" Her eyes flashed, not in anger, but an intense curiosity. Chances were likely the bird would give her the information she needed to know about his companion. She needed to find out something before she either helped them to one place or took them farther.
Roman Foi Eliron immediately felt the need to be on edge with this mare. He sensed she was cunning and inertly sneaky, but tweeted, more subdued than his normally chipper and excited self. "Yes, yes, misses, he is mute." Eliron huddled against Damir's warm fleshing, hoping to go back into his hair as soon as possible. "Please, misses, can we seek shelter? We are peaceful and will be out of the area as soon as the storm passes."
Damir on the other hand only smiled a friendly smile, trying to ignore the bitter cold. The mare was interesting and wild looking. Her bells were lovely, he noted, And her scarves and feathers. He'd never seen anything like it.
ArashiX Excellent; she did not want to ask whether this stark-white soquili with his unicorn tail and hornless head was male or female, nor had she wanted to look to find out. It would only make it seem suspicious. At the bird's words she lifted her head to feel a fresh gust of wind, ears pinned back a bit.
"You are lucky we happened to meet, then. There are not many places unless you know them, here. Not for miles." She angled her head away from the wind and biting cold and stinging snow that was whipping around them before nodding, the bells on her head muted in sound. The ones adorning her hind legs were muffled with snow and didn't sound at all...though the bells at the end of her mane gangled in the cold wind, still.
"Come along with me, now. You missed such a place, back this way."
So, lifting her dark hooves high, she plunged forward, undaunted by the drifts despite her smaller stature in comparison to his. She was, actually, ungainly large for a mare of regular build. It was about ten minutes of walking...or plunging, in her case, before she angled sharply in a switchback obscured by both rock and snow. Easy to miss for outsiders, even without the snow. But once along this path the wind wasn't nearly so bad...though that couldn't be said for the snow that had drifted in and piled up in places along the way.
"It's still a ways away, but," She said, breathing out harshly after bursting through another mound, "Easier with the lack of wind. This is really no place to stop--you both look like you could use some rest...and the weather is nasty this time of year. Especially here."
Roman Foi Damir nodded at her instructions, his expression keeping friendly and open despite the freezing wind and snow. Relief flooded him when she agreed to escort them, and began to lead the way for shelter. He was a little amused her manner of walking, but realized it must not be easy to make headway through the drifts. He was tall for his breed, towering over his parents both. This mare was about a head shorter than him, at the least. Her size didn't help with this visibility either, and he followed her closely, afraid of losing her in the blizzard.
She had no way of knowing he was paying attention to anything she was saying, but he nodded anyway, brushing against her hip every once in a while. Usually he was very distant from others, having his own bubble, but the fear of being lost in this storm allowed his space to be shared quite easily.
When the wind finally stopped, it was heavenly. He shook his hair, forgetting Eliron had been using it has a nest. The angry bird came out tweeting, and pecking at Damir. "Careful, careful!" He shook and made a burr noise, going to sit along Damir's back. "Thank you, thank you misses!" he said in a sing song tune. "We would have been goners for sure!" |
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Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2014 5:46 pm
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ArashiX Damir wasn't the only one with a like for their own personal bubble. An ear was kept cocked back after the first brush against her hip; some part of her dimly surprised - and pleased, as he would likely be amicable, at least, for everything else she would later do - at his nearness while the other was trembling in nerves. Her mother and sister were smaller. Dainty. Definitely more feminine than her much larger self.
She felt gangly, more fit for the patrol and defence of their home in the mountain springs. But she was shorter than this one. And for that, at least, she was grateful. Maybe...even if she wasn't feminine...
She shook her head and pushed her way through another snowed-in portion of the pass, glancing back with those glittering green eyes of hers.
"You're welcome." She huffed out a chilled breath. But it was plenty warm, for it still misted in the air. She shook her head a little bit and faced forwards once again. "We still have a ways to go before we can dry up and rest. I'd bet you'll be staying with us for a while."
Roman Foi Damir cocked his head an reevaluated the mare. She wasn't short at all. The blizzard must have been concealing her large form. She was about his height, he now realized, shocked. And muscular, too, but in an attractive way. His face heated up again, for having thoughts he wasn't sure he had before. Well for many others, besides one... he shook his thoughts out, playing it off as his hair again.
Eli glared at Damir's hair with vengeance, before perking back up brightly towards the mare. He didn't trust her nearly yet, but he was grateful all the same. "A while, you think?" he tweeted in thought, looking the way they had come, and realized the snow was piling up awfully high...
Damir turned his eyes on the same direction as Eli and came to the same conclusion. Pinning his ears back in worry, Damir glanced at the mare, hoping he wasn't going to become a nuisance, or worse, be kicked out because it was hard enough surviving by their self, let alone with another mouth.
Eliron, like a mind reader piped up. "Misses, are you sure we are not intruding? We would be just content to wait it out here, this is quite shelter enough" he bounced about on Damir's back, always a ball of energy, never ending.
Damir stared up with probing eyes, unsure of what this stranger would do. Sentence them to the cold, or maybe enjoy their company for a day or so?
ArashiX The mare's swept-back ear caught the bird's tweeting. She didn't find him annoying... Or at least, not yet. It might be difficult to separate him from Damir--and she thought maybe she might be tempted to just snap at him if he got his feathers in a fluff over keeping a lone Damir company.
She continued on, apparently seeming to even enjoy plunging through the drifts that swirled and piled higher. It was just passed one of these points that the bird trilled his concerns and she stopped to crane her head back so she could look at them.
For a moment she stared before she let out a sound of amusement.
"If you two would like to become a snowdrift, you're welcome to stay in this passage. You're not intruding. If you were, I wouldn't have offered you to come back here."
It was as simple as that. They traded for what they needed that they couldn't gather or grow. Her eyes glinted and her lips curved.
"Come along. I don't think either of you would do well as a snow creature."
Onward she plunged!
Roman Foi Damir hated not being able to speak the right words. He felt a pang of awkwardness, not knowing how to ensure his gratitude is known, but not offend her hospitality. When the mare turned away, he nipped at Eli, irritated. He glowered at the bird when he tweeted angrily, pecking and nipping at the white stallion's ears and hair.
Ignoring his persistence, Damir followed the mare, keeping a safe one foot distance from her.
Eli tweeted angrily still at the stubborn mule of stallion he traveled with, but watched the mare, if she peeked around to see what the commotion was about, he'd stop immediately. It wouldn't do well to show weakness between the two of them. Especially with a stranger in her own territory.
Damir pretended Eliron wasn't there, though he wished the bird would strike up conversation. He wanted to know more about their guide.
Like he was able to read his mind, Eliron piped up. "So misses... do you live here alone, or are you a part of a herd ?" |
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Posted: Sat Aug 16, 2014 11:09 am
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ArashiX The commotion was mostly ignored behind her. Petty squabbles she wanted no part of, though she kept her ears swept back for two purposes. One being she didn't wish to have snow driven into them, and the other to ensure that their little tiff didn't grow to something more serious. Neither one of them truly looked like the violent sort, but Csitri was still young and knew she wasn't always fit to judge on matters such as this. Still, she would rather be injured than lead danger back to her mother and sister. She'd gotten farther than she thought she would before the question came drifting forward. The mare arched her neck, aware she was becoming a bit sweaty despite the cold. It wasn't a good combination, but she would survive until she got back to the caves and caverns and hot springs. "I live with my mother and sister, for the moment. We are a small gathering at present but more will join us." Her eyes, green as spring and summer, seemed amused before she turned back to her task. It wouldn't be too long. Just another bend and switchback and they would be home. How was she to chase off the bird? And what and how would she..? She could feel a nervous coil begin in her body. Her bells jangled as she rounded the bend. It seemed the snows lessened, not yet able to get through to this point. Her job just got easier, and their journey, quickened. And the imposing, intense mare found she didn't know what she would do any more than she had a few moments ago.
Roman Foi "Oh what an adorable mini-herd you have!" Eliron floated about Damir's head, taking the moment to flint his eyes around for others... he was hard pressed to believe that a trio of mares didn't have a single stallion guarding them in this winter-hell. "Do they mind, er, tenants for the night?" Eli rested on the nape of Damir's neck, burrowing into his hair to stave off the cold winds that rushed by them. This poor little bird had had enough. Damir didn't take his pale eyes off the mare for even a second. He picked up his pace, closing the gap between them to be about a foot in distance now, his hair billowing out beside them. He wish he could offer her a cloak of some kind, to protect her from the chill. Instead he used his body, trying to angle himself to block the onslaught that seemed to only pick up. He was thankful it was easy not to lose her in the snow because of her bright gold hair and the tinkling of her bells. Odd how he hadn't heard or saw her sooner than they had. He also wondered what his family was like? Would they really mind he staying in their home? A stranger stallion that couldn't speak? The idea made him uneasy, and a weight bloom in his chest. He unknowlingly held his breath for her response to Eli.
ArashiX Home~ Csitri shook the snow from her mane after the last leap that brought her to the hotspring caves she was raised in, her eyes bright with intense forms of triumph, trepidation, and contentment. She glanced at Eli for the bird's questions and then to her mother and sister. And then to Damir to gauge the pristine stallion's body language. Finally, she looked to the mound of white hair that hid the little red bird. "We do not mind. We prepare for short stints for guests, as it is." That was all she said on the matter, and would be all she said to Eli on it for a good amount of time. Her eyes found her mother's again and she swept her ears back a little. The matriarch wouldn't chastise her daughter in front of their guests, but, she could tell she needed to talk with her. For now, she took a deep breath and flicked her tail, her nerves leaping upon her again. The mare glanced back, then started for the caves. "Follow me." There was a length of a pause long enough for them to tell she had forgotten to be gracious. "If you please. The springs will warm us, and we can eat after."
Roman Foi Damir sighed relief, feeling the wind's halt and instead the embrace of warmth slowly but surely creep on them. He was at first so relieved, and taking in the cave, that he did not notice the two mares that stood by silently, as if waiting. He was also lucky he was not able to produce sound, either, because god knows what he would have said once he noticed their taloned feet. Instead, he sucked a breath of air in quickly, a small gasp at their formidable appearance. His eyes immediately shifted to Csitri, the rest of his body rigid. She might had warned them not stare at the her family's feet! He noted Eliron was abnormally silent as well, but shaking in his mane even more now than when they were fairing the cold. He watched her more... stiff tone and body language she used around her family, who only watched them in silence. He could only nod, and follow behind Csitri, nodding in greeting as they passed. |
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Posted: Mon Sep 22, 2014 6:57 pm
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ArashiX Csitri moved back into the caves, only looking back at the sharp inhale. A quick glance told her the feet he was seeing...he wasn't used to seeing. For Csitri, she was the odd one out in her family. Even her brother - who was now long-gone - had a set of taloned feet on the front. It was just another way Csitri thought herself an oddity. Her mother reassured her she would put others at ease for having the hooves she did. She blinked and stole a glance at Damir's legs and...hooves. Split hooves, but hooves nevertheless. She should have said something, but the claws were such a norm for her... Her ears twitched back and forth a moment as she lead him on. "They will not think you rude if you stare at their talons..." She picked up her pace, the end of her braided tail brushing against the floor and leaving a wet trail that was slowly getting more and more faint. She didn't apologise for her slip-up, however. Rounding a corner, she took them a few more paces before slowing to come to rest near the steaming water's edge. Containing a sigh of annoyance, she moved to the side to nose over a decently deep, ornate bowl before moving back to get a scoop so she could transfer some of the water so the bird had a comfortable bath of his own. After this and after eating, she would 'ditch' the bird. They had some...companionable sorts here for those that travelled with stallions.
Roman Foi Damir blushed under his pelt, embarrassed he had been caught staring. He wished to see a happier Csitri in the shelter of her home, and ensured himself he would monitor his expressions and actions much more closely, as to not become a further hindrance. It was in fact, out of the goodness of her heart, that she took he and his small friend into their territory, shelter them, feed them. It was all more than Damir could have ever dared hoped for. Curious what she was doing with a bowl, he felt Eli stirring once out of sight of the two strange, lethal looking mares. "Misses, you have an absolutely stunning h-home." Eli twittered, climbing towards the top of Damir's head.
ArashiX The mare's ears perked at the stuttered titter, and she seemed to...settle a little. No longer quite so anxious - but internally somewhat ashamed of her actions because she had been taught better; it was externalized by a slight backwards sweep of her ears - she looked over at Damir and his small feathered friend. "Thank you. It is lovely, isn't it?" She dipped her head to the bowl, fixing her gaze upon the little red bird. "I thought you might appreciate a bath of your own without fear of drowning." Hence the bowl. She would wait to see what the little fellow did before turning back to his larger companion. "This way. There is a ridged ramp into the pools, so no need to worry about slipping in or out, and hurting yourself." Indeed, when she turned to walk a few more lengthy strides away, there was indeed a sloped ramp at the end of it, which - if he looked when she mentioned it, he would find - she started to tread down, letting the hot waters melt what was left of the snow on her legs and back. It would warm her muscles soon enough, and deeper into the caves there were warm places they would undoubtedly dry out.
Roman Foi For now, Eliron stayed stationed on Damir's head, looking hesitant. "Oh thank you misses. Very thoughtful of you. I'll stick with Damir a little longer, though." Damir said nothing but smiled his thank you at the mare as he followed her in. His cold hooves burned almost painfully at the heat, but the rest of his body wanted to melt into the water and never emerge. A sigh escaped him, as he sunk further with Csitri, while Eliron scooted his neck to get closer to the steam letting off from the pool. The red bird puffed up like a featherball, to the point his neck and head almost disappeared into one fat, fluffy circle. "Oh misses..." he tweeted so happily that he flew over to his little bowl and sunk into the warm waters, happy as a clam. |
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Posted: Sat Oct 25, 2014 6:02 pm
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ArashiX Normally the pale mare would have grunted in pleasure at the warmth, had she been alone...but with the guests here, she managed to wrangle the sound back to a pleasured sigh. With partly closed eyes, she looked back to see how Damir was faring...and chuckled under her breath at the fluffy, feathered, red ball that was Eliron. Her green gaze continued to be amused as she watched him flit over to the bowl she had set aside to sink into it. That was about the shortest 'just a little longer' she had ever witnessed, but she couldn't blame him. Much to how he annoyed her, it wasn't as though she would tempt harm to him. The end of her braid bobbed in the water, drawing her gaze... The mare blinked. Oh. She had forgotten about the feathers. The water wouldn't be good for them. She breathed out a sigh; she would just have to take being chastised over forgetting. Again.
Roman Foi Damir ducked his head beneath the surface, where only his horn remained above the water line. He wished so badly he could breathe under water so that he would never have to lift his head again. Several heart beats later, when he could no longer deny his need to for air, Damir rose back; his hair saturated and hanging over his vision so that he was blind. Smiling wide, he flipped his mane back, and grinned at Csitri who had floated some distance from him. He followed, letting his hooves grope the bottom of the pool, surprised at how the smooth the bottom was. Distracted quickly by Csitri's... well, by her, Damir wished she would volunteer more information about herself. he wanted to know more. Were her family angry with her for bringing him? How was it, living up here in the desolate cold? Would she know his father's family, even? He knew enough about Pavitra to know he was abandoned as a foal to the cold winter. He managed to survive and now avoids it at all costs; which half way is what led Damir to come exploring this area in the first place. Irritated by Eliron's silence, he waited for someone to break the stillness.
ArashiX Eyes the green of spring twitched up at the sudden emergence and gasp of her companion...before he tossed his head back to send water cascading through the air. She seemed amused at that, too, but really, was doing a remarkable job at not laughing at him for all his silken - soaked - hair. Her hooves pressed against the slick bottom to propel herself a little further in, completely comfortable in the waters that she had grown up in and around. She used to hate baths, even though her coat got dirty so easily. But when she experienced her first winter, that had all changed. And whenever she came to bath, she was reminded of it. But Damir's questioning gaze and the silence from his little companion suggested that he was waiting on her with the little red bird so entranced with his own little warm bowl-bath. "So, you were just wandering around these mountains in Winter, then..?"
Roman Foi Damir hadn't hoped for her to question him. That was, really, all the more difficult. When Eliron, stupid little bird, failed to pipe up, Damir shrugged in response to the mare and glanced away, feeling embarrassed by his forced silence. When the silence stretched a few more heartbeats, Eliron seemed to finally notice. "Misses, Damir is here looking for his family!" The bird was barely to be seen over the rim of the bowl, appearing to have absorbed all the water of the basin into his feathers. His mohawk and eyes are all that showed, though, his thin and high voice ringing out in the echoing space. |
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