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 Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 6:45 pm
A Private RP between my (~Latonia de la Courtel~) Whistle (Max) and Daliu.
This Way to Latonias Teepee
((This is a backstory that covers Whistle's initial arrival in the land and her early time in this place without memory, family or her mate. It does also feature my Native Persona, Tashika, and some of my herd who shall be pictured as they go.
Sibalto & Imrikalto are already maxxed for stats, as is Whistle. ))
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 6:46 pm
Waking with little memory of one's own self, home, or history is a curious sensation. Whistle frowned as she made her way to her feet, knowing a great deal was missing from her surroundings. She didn't recognize this place, not the scent of the wind or the music of the breeze through the trees. Alien, everything about this was alien. Nothing familiar came to her sight as she peered around. This place was not her homeland, but she did not know more than that of either place. She did not even know how she knew this place was not her home, but that at least was clear in her heart... Even if her memory of everything else was wrapped in fog.
One thing was certain, as things stood she could not begin to find her way home, nor could she say how she had come to be here.
'Curious indeed.' She mused to herself, testing the movement of each leg and stretching her neck. She felt different, in this place... As though the shape she wore was not always familiar to her.
Still, there was no lasting harm to her that she could discern, which she took as good news. Snorting softly to herself she stretched again, trying to shake off the feeling of something hunted. There was no one about on this fine morning, which meant whichever danger dodged her steps was not immediate. So then, perhaps if she took the time to remember who she was, or discover where she was, the rest of her memories would fall into place.
Still, she couldn't quite shake the feeling she was missing something.... Something more important than the scent of her homeland or the music of the wind in native trees.
'Why is it that I have lost everything, but only one thing seems important?'
***
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 6:47 pm
There was strength aplenty in her limbs and her resolve, though her familiarity of the area was lacking. Still, Whistle moved through meadow and woods eagerly, seeking that which she had lost. She admired the appearance of birds and flowers, and sought endlessly for something which might jog her memory. Still, everything about this place was a mystery to her, foreign and without comforting familiarity.
'Wherever you are now, it is far from all you have known.' Whistle mused to herself as she stopped to drink at a merrily-chiming creek.
The water was sweet and refreshing, cool from mountain run-off. Not like home, but good enough. Still, the day was passing quickly and she had no idea how to continue her journey. Looking for what was lost was difficult, when everything was lost. She had no specific direction in mind, no one to ask about how to get where she was going...
She just had hope she would continue on her journey, and somehow she would end up where she needed to be.. Somehow, she would find what she was missing.
***
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 6:48 pm
'It is a good thing I understand it is difficult to seek what is lost when you have no idea how to find it...' Whistle laughed softly to herself at the thought, moving onward through the land.
She had passed through a narrow mountain trail and wound her way down through the tangle of peaks as she followed it. The snow jarred something in her memory, made her think of a part of her homeland filled with ice and biting wind. She had liked visiting that place, when there was someone who moved at her side... A warmth in her heart that blocked out the snow's chill.
Here it was just an echo of a memory, an understanding she had trekked through snow and ice once... A time that the journey had been easier, had been enjoyable, due to the company she kept through it. Here it was just another truth, something that proved she still lacked what she had lost.
And perhaps she was no closer to finding it, but she would not stop trying.
***
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 6:57 pm
Memories were slow to return, and hazy at best. She remembered presence, a feeling of individual spirits... Beings she loved with all of her heart. Her mate was one, the feeling of warmth she remembered before. There were childeren also, hers and his, and she was most joyous when the memory of their laughter surrounded her in her dreams.
There were glimpses of her home, of rainbows and mist winding through the forest. Paths of light spiraling into the trees and ethereal music on the wind. Of a frozen distance that could be difficult to traverse, but worth its dangers. Of sun-swept beaches and islands in the distance.
No names yet, but feelings and half-remembered surroundings... And the will to continue on until she had recaptured what was hers.
'I know you're out there... And I will find you.'
******
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Posted: Wed Sep 10, 2014 7:04 pm
The appearance of the white teepee with its dancing silver steed-like shapes painted on it attracted the indigo mare's attention. With a curious flick of her ears Whistle drew to a halt, tilting her head as she tried to get a better view of the interesting little structure. The teepee was tucked into a smaller glade just in the shadow of the woods, near the river's edge. It was a clever location, with fresh water and shadow, wood for a fire and space in the glade for company.
'Clever indeed.' She thought to herself, admiring the tidy series of baskets lined up beside the teepee. There was a low wooden table and a bench as well, with the remnants of herbs and tools scattered across the table's surface. Clearly the owner was not far away, and in the midst of whatever chore required such things.
As she considered the structure, the owner appeared in view, a young-ish looking two-legger dressed in white doeskin. The woman had a flat-bottomed basket over one arm, with gathered bundles of herbs and a handful of leather ties.
Following at her heels was a silver stallion, wearing a peculiar harness and dragging a strange sort of stretcher filled with gathered wood. Another dark-coated stallion, younger and dappled like the first, followed after with his own burden. The three seemed to be in relatively good spirits, and though the woman spoke to them and did not understand their responses, they made the peculiar communication work.
Intrigued, Whistle stepped forward with a bob of her head and a low murmur of greeting. "Good day."
***
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 6:40 pm
 Tashika gave the two stallions a final, fond smile and clapped them affectionately at the shoulder. She accepted a nuzzle from Imrikalto and then moved on, ducking through the flap and into the teepee to retrieve more of her gear.
As the silver-haired woman disappeared into the structure, she gave a final wave gesture and left the stallions to cross the glade on their own.
Hearing a strange mare's greeting call, Imrikalto the younger and darker of the two, jerked as though he had been struck. His movement was vaugely spooked, and as he danced sideways he was suddenly jostling his burden of earthenware jugs and whatever they contained. He wore a dream catcher around his neck, worked in red that matched some of the peculiar markings on his coat. The leather strand it rode on slid over his coat smoothly, the catcher swaying with the movement and feathers fluttering.
Regaining his composure, he considered her wordlessly and then drifted toward the table and its contents, clearly ceding the discussion to the other, elder stallion. For the moment it was no great concern in him, regarding the arrival of the stranger. After all, living in the glade of a shaman and herb woman meant that strangers came and went often enough. In need of weaving or herb lore or healing craft, whatever it was, they came to find Tashika. Sooner or later they crossed paths with one of the SilverShadow stallions as well, but as there were some who were wary of strangers Imri tried to disappear into the background until he was wanted.
Still his ears stayed pitched in their direction and his dark eyes were keen. There was tension, awareness, in each line of his form; he waited for signs of trouble and would intervene if she proved a hazard. It was comforting, in a way, familiar in a way that the dark indigo mare could not yet recall.
The elder stallion turned to face her with a keen twist of his ears, surprise lighting his gaze as he considered her for a moment. He seemed to determine she was no threat, as some tension eased from his bearing and he bobbed his head. "Good day and well met, stranger."
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 6:57 pm
"I am sorry to disturb you." She offered with a gentle smile. "Truly, and please forgive me if I troubled you. I am a stranger to this land and have wandered somewhat aimlessly since I passed through the mountains... While the village seemed quite lovely, I find that that many people and others... Well, it is unsettling to me."
Whistle gave a soft laugh and shook her head. "I confess I am not comfortable in such places yet. I know so little of myself or my history, the questions that would surely come would be most unsettling. But when I found your home, well, it seemed so inviting..."
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 6:59 pm
"We thank you for coming forward." The silver stallion moved forward. "And welcome you to our home. I am Sibalto, and that is my son Imrikalto. We are two of those who are companion to Tashika, the shaman woman you saw."
He glanced back toward the teepee, and then turned warm eyes back to the mare before him. "Truly, please be at ease amongst us... There is another Clan, led by a good friend of mine, that also calls these woods home... But they ride the wind and have danced off on a breeze at the moment."
He was rather sure Aureate would be along, sooner or later. "Regardless, we do wish you to feel comfortable here, and are happy to offer whatever assistance we might."
Sibalto loved his mate and family dearly, and the thought of waking up in a strange land with only the faintest impressions of them... Not knowing their names or where they had gone (or where he was) but only the ache at their lack.... It was horrifying and saddening, and he would do whatever he might to alleviate of that sorrow on this kind soul.
Imrikalto bobbed his head in a gentle greeting and gave the mare a fleeting smile, withdrawing to the far side of the clearing and waiting to be relieved of his burden. Somewhat busy with the task at hand, he left his father to the greetings and talk, since there were few that could do it better anyway.
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 7:01 pm
"A pleasure to meet you both." The dark-purple mare smiled. "I am called Whistle, and I am sorry I do not have more information to share about myself at the moment... I am seeking that which I have lost, which seems to be everything."
She gave a rueful duck of her head and glanced about. "My homeland, my family, my memory... Very little is known to me at the moment, barring my name and the feeling that much is missing... I am sorry, proper company I doubtfully make."
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 7:04 pm
Attention abruptly recaptured by the mare's words, Imrikalto swung his head about to consider the stranger for a moment. He shook his head and drifted back toward them, giving the mare a welcoming smile.
"We do not judge company based on what it has lost, and do not hold your memories or missing time against you... Besides, Tashika might be able to help." Imrikalto murmured, stepping closer to his father with a faint nod to Whistle. "She is a healer and a shaman... And if not, we do have others that we might ask for their aid."
"My son makes a fine point." Sibalto agreed, glancing to the dark mare. "If you will excuse my saying so, it does seem like it would be best if you would stay... So that we may offer what assistance is available to us."
The one called Tashika stepped out of her teepee in the next moment, her eyes widening in surprise as she took in the scene. Giving the stranger a faint smile, she swept her hands in a few gestures and murmured to Sibalto, doing her best to make her intentions known.
"You're stuck with us, now." Imrikalto offered teasingly. "Our two-legger just invited you to stay."
***
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Posted: Sun Dec 21, 2014 7:26 pm
 Escaping early from one's basket probably wasn't the cleverest thing for a filly to do, or a colt for that mtter. (It certainly didn’t seem fair to say it was one thing for a boy to do it and another for a girl to do so. Daliu was of the opinion that if no foal should escape early from a basket; that was that… No different rules for colts than fillies. She was just as good as a boy, at this age!) But the woods had been quiet, ever so quiet, and the lack of familial presence outside was a little scary. Shouldn’t someone be out there? Talking to her and singing to her and telling her of the stars and the sun and the moon? About the best place to cross the river and run as fast as she could across the plains? Where the sunset was prettiest and the water tasted the sweetest and the wind carried the tang of salt from the sea? She couldn’t possibly know these things without someone telling her, wasn’t that what parents did?
So instead of waiting for someone to return, to find her and tell her it was safe, Daliu decided to see for herself. Maybe she would be lucky and could find her parents, show them how clever and strong she was... She had escaped her basket on her own, and found them!
***
But stepping outside of the basket resulted in a world of dark shadows and bright lights and lots and lots of smells. Of wind and rain and bright sunlight, of shadow and flowers, and a hint of distant danger. But everywhere her light blue eyes searched, there was no comforting sign of an adult... No glimpse of one she would call mother or father. A quiet dark basket sat in the shadows to the right, but she didn't bother going to investigate it. Likely it only held her sleeping sibling, and she wanted something new, something exciting.
'Alright then.' The filly decided to herself as she turned her nose toward the path that stretched into the woods. 'An adventure it is. And if I find Mama or Papa, then I can tell them all about it...'
**
The woods were big, bigger than anything she’d dreamed of before. For as far as she could see or smell, towering trees stretched in either direction. They cast the world in emerald green shadows, drowning out the lighter green of the grass or the rich black of earth beneath her dainty hooves. There was a faint glimpse of crystal blue, or cloud-wisp white through the blanket of leaves that sprawled above… And sometimes there were glimpses of flowers in peculiar shades she had no name for yet… But mostly the world was green. It even smelled green, all living bright and a little damp like dew.
“Huh…” She mused aloud. “Who knew colors had smells?”
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Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2015 6:06 pm
Whistle smiled at the younger of the two stallions, both amused and touched by his remark. He was a sweet-hearted lad, that she could see right away. Perhaps a little wary of a stranger arriving in his home without so much as a 'by your leave', but still friendly and compassionate toward that stranger. How curious, that he would remind her of someone she had no memory of.
Sure enough she did not know him or his sire... And yet... Somehow, they reminded her...
... of sun and bright breezes and the laugh of a dark-coated colt... of wings and darkness brewing, of a glimmering horn and shining scales and all of the things that she had lost...
Whistle shook her head, banishing the shards of memory that drifted in and out of her mind like mist in a meadow. Focusing back on the present, she gave both stallions a gracious nod and a gentle smile. "I thank you for your welcome and your offer of aid, if it is not too inconvenient for her."
She turned her head at the sound of the human's soft words, watching the slow, graceful sweeps of her hands. The woman did seem to gesture to Whistle, then the glade, then Sibalto and his son and the glade once more.
"She speaks to us, then?"
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Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2015 6:18 pm
Imrikalto titled his head at the indigo-coated mare, giving a faint smile as she seemed to examine him. He didn't much mind, just did his best to remain welcoming and honest. Either she would decide to trust them, and remain, or she would move on.
But he hoped she would stay... He hoped they could help.
Sibalto considered the two-legger in amusement, his dark eyes fixed on her sweeping hands. Though there was little they could do to clearly communicate, most days he and Tashika could make their opinions known to each other. It wasn't perfect, but it was at the very least sound. At the moment, the woman was very focused on convincing him to convince Whistle to stay... Considering how wound up she was a bout it, he thought it best to let her carry on for a bit. At least the wandering mare would understand what she was agreeing to, if she did choose to stay.
At some point, Tashika decided the silver stallion was just humoring her. Giving him a frown and throwing her hands up in the air, she stomped her foot in annoyance when he reared and whinnied like he was laughing at her.
"Oh, forget it!" She grumbled, mostly laughingly. Turning away she went to Imrikalto and the table covered with goods. Beginning to sort through them with graceful hands, she pretended to pay no further mind to the trio of Soquili, hoping the stallions could convince the mare to stay.
"She's pretending she's had enough of him for now... And he's just going to stand there and laugh at her for a bit." Imri gave a faint shrug and a smile. "For what it is worth, I hope you will choose to stay."
***
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Posted: Thu Jan 15, 2015 7:09 pm
'Whether leaving the basket early was clever or no... There's no going back now. Right? Right! So, why don't you try and learn a thing or two now that you're here?'
"Things like what?" The filly mused to herself, wandering along. 'I dunno... Something. Something beyond that colors have smells. Or at least green does? But green sort of smells damp, and how can something that feels have a smell? Aren't there rules for this sort of thing? Though I guess it doesn't matter, since whether or not green or damp should have a smell, that's what the world smells like right now. So clearly, if it does smell like that, there can't be a rule against it. I suppose if there was rules though, that would seem awfully important. Maybe adults don't know that colors have smells? Or they forget? I don't want to forget.'
Encountering a high-arching root made her stumble, and before she knew it she had tumbled to her knees in torn grass and damp, black earth. For several moments she lay there, shocked, and then flailed her limbs to right herself. She at least straightened, tucking her legs under her belly for a moment as she gave the root a sulky look. 'Where did that dumb thing come from?'
"Ooof!" She huffed and grumbled where she lay for a moment, and then slowly climbed back to her feet. At least while she stood up she could trace the curve of roots back to a nearby tree. The shade of its branches hung overhead, block out the blue and white painted sky. "That could have gone better..."
Daliu gave a faint frown as she studied where her hooves disappeared into the grass. They were pretty enough hooves, as hooves go. Dark night shadows dusted with glimmering silver. The color was a stark contrast to the soft emerald of the grass, but even against the dark rich earth they were noticeable.
"So, stealth would be a thing to practice." She decided with a stubborn nod and a soft stomp of one hoof. "Grace? Get good at it, whatever it is, since I can't blend in."
With a sulky sound she shrugged it off for a moment, sliding it to the back of her mind. It wasn't exactly important, so she would let it be. That was all things for the future, and down the road. For now she should fight to figure out what she had in front of her, at least soak it all in so she could explain it to an adult later. Then they could make sense of it, and she would learn more overall that way.
"And learning is good, so, find something else." She murmured, craning her head to snuffle at nearby blossoms and lipping at the tall strands of sweet grass.
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