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 Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 4:49 pm
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 4:51 pm
'I wonder when I became so old that grandfoals are the light of my life... And when my son became so old that his son's wandering heart became the bane of his...' The Faythren mare wondered to herself with soft amusement as she watched the sunset-painted colt leaping this way and that from across the meadow.
Whistle lazily cropped a mouthful of summer-sweet grass and straightened, her bright eyes fixing on the bright streak of her sunset-coated grandson. Wading through the hock-high field like it was her own miniature sea, the indigo mare smiled as she watched the capering colt, her mane and tail tossed about her in a lazy whirlwind by the breeze. It was a great joy to her to have grandfoals at last, so when her son had asked her to watch his difficult child, she had all but leapt at the chance. The foal was a kindred spirit, displaying many of the characteristics that ran in their family.
Selflessness. Wanderlust. Bravery. Restlessness. A willingness to befriend even the most lost of souls. Stubbornness.
'Definitely one of mine.' She laughed softly to herself as Arioso leapt joyously after a butterfly. 'Don't worry Dearest Heart, even if your father has forgotten what it is like... I understand you.'
Aloud she gave a laugh as she watched the colt give a particularly joyous leap. "Be careful, dearling.."
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Posted: Sat Dec 27, 2014 5:10 pm
As the blue-winged insect fluttered far beyond his reach, Arioso Canto left off of his butterfly chasing and straightened for a moment, tossing his soft white forelock out of his eyes so he could give his grandmother a grin. It came off a bit wild and roguish, mischief apparent in the expression, but the wing marked mare didn't seem to mind. His grin widened when she smiled at him, and he frisked in place with a happy flick of his tail.
"Thanks for the outing, Nana Whistle." He murmured sweetly. "I know dad wasn't really up for another jaunt through the woods."
He glanced around, momentarily wishing they agreed to let him go alone. They hadn't, his grandmother's presence proved that, but she was much more amenable to these exploits. His father seemed to have forgotten the joy of wanderings just to explore, too used to traveling for the sake of hunting down lost relatives. Arioso was intrigued by the thought of Aunts and Uncles he'd never met, but not enough to go tearing after them alone. He was content to simply explore for the sake of it, to revel in each hidden path and sun-dappled glade, to ford each stream and dance in the lakes.
From what his grandmother had told him throughout the day, he was like her in that respect. And something puffed up proudly in his chest at that, the thought of the pride and joy and understanding in her eyes.
*
'Nana, why did you agree to take me exploring?'
Whistle smiled gently and nuzzled him, before pointing to the correct fork in the trail and continuing on. ' Because, sweet Arioso, it is perfectly understandable that you would want to travel. It is one of the most defining characteristics of our line, that Fayths Wander. But Fayths also stick together... And if you ever get lost, my Darling, I will find you...'
"Always?" He wondered out loud, frowning thoughtfully.
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Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 1:09 pm
'The joy of youth...' Whistle thoughtfully chewed at a mouthful of grass, considering her grandson with loving silence. The flight of the butterfly brought the colt's capering to a stuttered halt, Arioso's leaps and bounds trailing into a few delighted skips as he watched the insect flutter beyond his reach. She smiled when he looked her way, shaking her head faintly.
"If you're good, another may come along." She advised softly. "They tend to prefer that their perches be still, rather than chasing them about. You may not have much luck with them until you learn to settle out a bit, my sweetling."
The mare gave a gentle shrug. "No matter, I am pleased to escort you through the woods on butterfly hunts every day... One day you'll learn to be still enough that they flock to you. Perhaps your father will be about with us to see it, if he feels up for the exercise."
She wasn't all that worried about it, if she and Kel continued to trade off in their entertaining of the high-energy colt, perhaps they would all be the better for it. Arioso would get to indulge his wandering heart, and Kel would have a chance to spend time with his lady love. Whistle would benefit from regular visits with the grandson she took such delight in, regular visits to her son and his family, and downtime spent with her beloved. Everyone would win, in the end.
*
Arioso's question made her tilt her head, giving him a questioning frown. "Always what, my sweet?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2014 2:10 pm
 Arioso frowned to himself as his prancing strides mellowed to a high-stepping trot. A moment later he came to a complete stop, pawing idly at the grass and then giving a faint stomp.
'Almost had it...' He thought to himself with an inaudible grumble. 'So close...'
Maybe next time would be better. The sulky attitude evaporated a moment later, and he grinned at the dark mare who had so cheerfully taken him exploring. The walk through the woods was a bit more interesting with company, her presence meant that he got hidden birds and squirrels pointed out to him when he would have otherwise missed them. She also taught him about herbs and flowers, pointed out scorch marks from the last forest fire, and taught him how to determine which direction he was traveling in even in the deepest forest.
They were things his grand-sire had taught his father, once... But since Ballad was caught up with something (perhaps chasing Arioso's hooligan sister?) his grand-dam had no trouble stepping in. And Arioso was glad of her, of her calm affection and quiet knowledge... Of the joy she took in his glee to be out in the wild, seeing and learning new things.
"Always what, my sweet?"
"Will you..." He stumbled a bit on the words, abruptly worried about the answer. It was silly, and he knew that... Knew that she loved him as much as his own parents, and that because they were family he could always count on her... But the fear wouldn't go away, and the questions wouldn't stop cantering around in his head until he asked them aloud... So he drew a deep breath and asked.
"Will you always find me, really?"
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Posted: Sun Jan 18, 2015 12:24 pm
 Whistle watched the capering mellow to a slightly less-frisky trot, her ears swiveling forward curiously when her grand-colt suddenly came to a halt. She could almost see the wheels turning inside his mind, thoughts flickering behind his brightly glittering sea foam colored eyes. He was a clever little thing, tenacious and cheerful, and he hated to be bored. Instead he soaked up knowledge like a plant drinking in sunlight, and she hoped he would keep that attitude all of his life.
"There will be other chances, Arioso." She commented with a nod. "Leave it be for now, perhaps you would rather resume your lessons?"
His soft murmured question made her drift closer, ears pitched to catch the muted, murmuring words. He seemed more to be thinking to himself, as if he was unsure he wanted to ask the question. That in itself was odd, she was beginning to think no foal had ever met a question they didn't like.
"Will you always find me, really?"
The question struck something in her heart, made her give him an assessing look. It saddened something in her, but she understood the need to ask too. With a faint smile the mare drifted close, folding her neck down over the colt's back and using it to pull him to her chest. Nuzzling his neck and cheek, she smiled as he seemed to disappear under the tumble of black-silver strands that were her mane.
"Yes, dearest one. I will always find you." She promised softly. "For that is what Fayths do. We stick together, and if one of us is lost we move heavens and earth to find each other again."
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Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 1:36 pm
Arioso gave his grand-dam a grin as he noticed her glittering eyes tracking his movements. While she was happy to share her knowledge with him, she also seemed equally happy to watch him chase butterflies or bask in the sun. There was no feeling that he was being foolish, simply that she expected him to be a foal and happy to spend time with him.
**
Listening to the older mare's words and the gentle tone in which they were spoken, the sunset colt gave a faint nod. He leaned into the warmth of her chest, happily tucked beneath the flowing black and silver river of her mane. "Thank you, Nana."
When Whistle -or any of the Clan, really- spoke, he believed the words they told him. They wouldn't lie to him, that much he was sure of. It was a matter of pride, and family honor. And they had taught him of honor as well, he knew better than to lie or dishonor himself or the Clan. He would be truthful and do his best at whatever he did, and listen when those around him spoke.
They were keepers of wisdom, of secrets and stories... And most of the time they didn't give him that 'when you're older, maybe' nonsense as an answer to his questions. Some of the other foals he had met said their parents told them that, when they asked questions. For him, that wasn't the case. At least, most of the time. Every once in awhile it was dropped into conversation, so he had a short list of things he stubbornly refused to forget. And when he was older, he would ask them. (He wasn't sure how much older he'd have to be, but that was something to sort out at another time.)
At the offer to continue lessons, the colt perked up and spun around to face his grand-dam. With a grin he trotted toward her, happily flicking his white tail. "Yes please, Nana Whistle... That sounds like fun."
He shook off the earlier melancholy, attitude brightening at the thought of what he would learn today. More about the herbs? How to tell time and direction by the sun? Some more about healing with herbs and herb-craft? Nana Whistle also knew stories of their homeland and would occasionally share them to help him memorize whatever lesson she had in plan.
"Will there be a story with this one too, Nana Whistle?" He grinned up at her. "Maybe about when Da was young? Or one of the ones about my aunts and uncles that are still wandering far and away? I like learning about when you and Grandda Ballad were young and wandering... And tales about the fields of homeland, and the floating mountains, and the forest with paths of lights through the trees..."
He gave an excited shimmy and spun about in a circle, beaming up at her. "Whenever you're ready, I wanna learn!"
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Posted: Mon Mar 30, 2015 2:15 pm
The wide, foalish grin made something in her heart twist, filled to bursting with love of her family. Wherever the lost members were wandering, she hoped one day they would find their way back to her. It was hard to keep her faith when some years had passed since she had seen them, but she wouldn't let go of it... Not until she knew they were safe, not until they had returned.
But until then she would invest herself in her new family, in the daughter she had adopted and the grandson she was helping to raise... Because by the stars someone had to teach this boy about how complex their family was and how they worked to serve the world around them!
"You are welcome, Dearest One." She murmured, hugging him close to her heart and tickling his cheek with her muzzle before she turned him loose. She could see the thoughts whirling and turning behind his bright eyes, and new it would be only a moment before he regained his footing and sprinted off on another wild tear for knowledge.
Arioso soaked up wisdom and lessons like he drank in the sunlight and reveled in the freedom to explore (even when he shouldn't). She was interested to see what this child would become as he matured. "Doesn't it sound like fun? Alright, as you insist. Time for another lesson then, and perhaps if you learn well I will tell you a story after."
She walked with him a little further down the trail, then gave him a sly look. "Perhaps I will tell you another story about your wandering family heritage, perhaps about our homeland... That is for later. But first, what was our last lesson about?"
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 8:56 pm
"Nana! Stoooop it!" Arioso giggled softly at the tickle of Whistle's lip behind his ear, wriggling and throwing himself free within moments. Chills raced down his spine and he shook himself from nose to tail, shivering as her mane streamed over him like a waterfall in his bid for freedom. "That tickles, no fair!"
Once he stood alone he spun back to face her, half-crouched to invite her to chase after him. He could tell by the expression on her face that he had managed to amuse her, and that alone was enough. "Yes it sounds fun, when do we start? Now? Can we start now?"
He gave another little shimmy of glee and twisted in a quick circle, spinning around and frisking a pleased circle around her. He didn't know what tale she would spin for him next, but whatever it was he was sure it would be one he wanted to hear. Nana Whistle was wonderful for all sorts of tales, and had knowledge of many subjects which she seemed all too happy to share. And Arioso was happy to listen. "Yay! Alright, first a lesson then a story."
When she headed down the trail he clambered after her, working to catch up so they could move down the path side by side. Her strides were long and smooth, and he had to trot or scramble a bit to keep pace, two strides worth her one. Still, he managed to keep up more or less, even if he was somewhat awkward about it.
"The last lesson?" He echoed, his tone suitably contemplative. "In our last lesson you taught me how to determine my direction by the moss on the trees, and the time by the sun, and we talked a bit about navigation by stars... But we haven't had a sleepover yet so I don't really know how to do that, but I want to learn."
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Posted: Thu Apr 09, 2015 10:09 pm
"Only when you stop being so sweet, my Dearling." She teased, lipping at the fringe of his mane before he danced out of reach. "If you were not so, I would not need to gobble you up. As for fair, well you are my sweet, and I shall do as I like."
The indigo mare gave her grandson a playfully superior look winking at him the next moment to encourage another soft laugh. She watched him caper around her with a soft sound of amusement, once again wondering why Kel was so surprised at his son's wandering ways. He was exactly like she remembered her son, long ago. Perhaps she'd remind Kelakohr of that, the next time he was disparaging his son's disappearance into the woods. But there was time for that later, at the moment she had promised the lad a story and she intended to deliver... As soon as they'd covered a lesson.
"True enough, the lesson for star-charting will have to wait. Very well, we'll do a bit more herb-craft and plant lore, then." She smiled as he appeared at her side, then paused and nodded at a cluster of wild violets. "We shall start with these, alright? They are common enough that you should know a safe snack when you see it. These are violets, delicate little blossoms that appear wherever they choose. Sturdy and perhaps a little weed-like, the young leaves are tasty enough for us to eat... The blossoms are a particular delicacy. I have even known some that coat them in sugar and use them to adorn food or as a special treat."
She gave him a sly look. "And they smell nice, which often appear to mares... Not that you're interested in such things yet."
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 11:53 pm
"Only when you stop being so sweet, my Dearling."
"Stop? Never!" He argued with a grin, dashing out of reach and spinning to give her a playful look.
"If you were not so, I would not need to gobble you up. As for fair, well you are my sweet, and I shall do as I like."
"Awww Naaanaaa." He drawled, making a face at her. It was a somewhat standard 'boy' reaction to anything that could be considered mushy, but the next moment he was pressed to her side again and grinning up at her. "You're supposed to play fair, remember? Lesson time now, right?"
He was disappointed that they were still having to wait for the star charting and navigating lessons, those sounded the best. Besides, his father mentioned stories about the stars and mythology, and he wanted to learn all of those too. Maybe he could talk Papa into it once he had returned home? His father did like telling him bed-time stories... And if they were waiting for the stars to wake, telling stories about them would be a good use of time.
But that was all for later. Trotting along beside her he carefully inspected the violets, lipping at one of the flowers thoughtfully. They were sweet enough, he would certainly remember they were ok to eat. Those and alfalfa were probably amongst his favorites, now that he thought about it.
As soon as his grandmother mentioned girls he flattened his ears, wrinkling his nose as he looked up at her. "Nana! I'm really not. But if it's important to know, I'll remember it. So, do the violets have any myths I should know?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2015 1:31 pm
"In this land there is a tale about the violets, and how they came to be. Because we live here, I think I shall tell you that tale first." And with a smile she stepped off the path to face him over the small cluster of violets. "The stories go that long before any of us set hoof here, there was a young warrior who was the pride of his tribe. He accomplished many dangerous tasks for the good of his people, including slaying the Great Heron that had destoryed their children, and brought back romt he Mountains of the Witches some healing roots which cured the plague. But these are both stories for another time, suffice to say he was very brave."
She smiled down at her grandson, making sure he was paying attention before she continued. "Once, he led a band of warriors against another tribe, and in the lodge of one of his enemies he spied a maiden so gentle and lovely that he fell instantly in love with her. However, because their people were at war there was no way for them to be together. Even after he returned to his people, victorious from battle, he thought longingly of her... And vowed that unless he could bring her into his home and light it with the beauty of her eyes, he could no longer lead his men into battle. At last he went on alone to the village of his enemy, and hid in the woods to wait patiently for a glimpse of the maiden."
"He sang her praises so often that the many little birds took up his song and carried it across the land as they flew, over valley and meadow. The Bear, the Fox and the Beaver heard him murmur her name in his sleep and thought that a bright new flower had been born in the woodland. With the calls of the song-birds he eventually wooed her from her lodge, and carried her away to the hunting-trounds of his people."
"But a suitor of the maiden saw her carried away, and though he dared not follow he went back to the village and cried an alarm. All of the braves looked upon him disapprovingly as a coward, and left him behind when they chased after the maiden and her love. They followed the pair over mountains and plains and all through the dark night. And as the morning dawned, they found them in the forest. But when they braves saw the maiden, they were overcome with anger, for she had plaited her hair to show that she was a willing captive and had given the warrior her heart."
Whistle shifted softly on her hooves and flicked her tail, her voice softening with sorrow. "Her people, so enraged at their enemy for his daring and the maiden for they felt she had betrayed her tribe, then killed them both and left the bodies where they had fallen. And from this spot in the forest sprang up the first Blue Violets, and the winds and the birds carried the seeds of the flowers and scattered them all over the Earth. So they did, and now in the Springtime youths and maidens pluck the flowers that breathes of constant love."
She smiled down at the small blooms. "And that is the native story of how the violets came to be." ((Legend of the Violet- Reference Page}))
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Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2015 2:27 pm
"Ok, violets. I promise I'll remember they smell nice, and that the younger leaves taste good but the whole plant is edible... And that the flowers can be a sort of desert and even the two-leggers eat them, sometimes. So, what else?"
The colt gave her a hopeful look, and was glad to see her nod agreeably. He was quite glad his grandmother was happy enough to leave the topic of girls behind, in favor of a mythology lesson. He didn't want to think about girls right now, so he let the topic slide away happily. The healing lessons, or stories, or survival skills his family taught him were much more interesting, anyway.
"Are there many stories about the violets, then? From many different lands? Maybe we could ask some of the others here, if they are from different lands like we are they may know different stories too." Arioso murmured, shifting on his hooves before drifting closer to the patch of flowers.
He listened to the story with interest, glancing down at the blooms thoughtfully. The story of the warrior sounded somewhat familiar, though he couldn't quite place it for a moment. Still, he pushed the thought aside and did his best to memorize the story about the warrior and the maiden he fell in love with, and how all the animals heard the story of her beauty and carried the tale across the land.
"It has a sad ending." He murmured, giving her a sorrowful look. "I don't think the warriors should have been able to catch them... I think they should have been able to live happily. But it's still a beautiful story. I wish they hadn't died, but I hope they're happy together now. And the flowers are beautiful."
He shifted lightly on his hooves. "Do you know other stories about the violets? Maybe something happy?"
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Posted: Tue Apr 14, 2015 2:47 pm
Whistle smiled fondly at him when he grumbled about girls, and she could tell from the way he shuffled that she made him uncomfortable. Still, it was more than anything that he was so adorably bashful, and she couldn't help but laugh. "See that you do remember then, Dear one."
"And yes, it is a sad story, but many of the myths about flowers tend to be sad. It is most common for the flowers with beautiful colors to have sad stories about how they first bloomed where the beloved of a god was slain." She nosed him gently.
"As for myths, there are a few about violets. None of them are very happy, I am afraid... But I suppose they are good to remember." Whistle murmured, then sighed. "Very well, so the first of these is that the Queen of the Gods, the Great Mother, once loved a mortal. And while he was out hunting, he was killed. The stories say that wherever his blood fell on the ground, violets grew there."
She considered the blooms in thoughtful silence. "This is why they are associated with death and mourning. However, they also stand for virtues such as humility and modesty. It is said they grow to adorn the graves of those who are good and pure... Even if they have a sad story, they stand for something good."
He had already learned about herbs such as rosemary and mint, parsley, anise, dill and fennel and bay leaf... And flowers such as dandelion and jasmine, lavender, daisy and heather. His lessons were coming along well, and she nuzzled him proudly when he grinned up at her. "Alright, that's one plant lesson for the day... I guess you want a story now?" ((Legend of the Violet- Reference Page}))
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Posted: Sat May 02, 2015 3:46 pm
"I promise I will remember, Nana. But really, I don't want to think about girls or what they like. Now can we talk about something else?" The sunset colored colt shook off the talk of girls and looked up at the matriarch of his Clan hopefully. He didn't really want to think about the sad stories connected with the delicate purple flowers either. "I don't understand why something so pretty has to have a sad story. Can't there be something happy that leaves flowers behind in the world?"
He brightened considerably at the prospect of a story, flicking his tail eagerly. The lesson was out of the way, and now he hoped for something to brighten the mood. "Can we do a story now? One of the stories you keep telling me I have to wait to hear, maybe? What about the time you met the Angel? Or one of the many about your friends back in the other land?"
Whistle had mentioned the different, strong-willed females she had called friends back in her homeland. But every time she mentioned them, she told her eager-eyed grandson that he would have to wait until he was older to hear stories of their harrowing adventures. Arioso wasn't sure how old she wanted him to be, but he hoped to hear the tales soon. If they make his grandfather look stressed when they were mentioned, they had to be good!
"Any stories about Da getting into trouble when he was my age?" He added to the list of things he wanted to hear. "Or Granda doing dangerous things? Going on adventures? What about one of the adventures you had when you first came to this land, and you wandered without any memory? Did you do anything dangerous? Have you been into the mountains? Did you ever have to run from a Skinwalker? Do you know of the Unicorns born here? Have you met any Angeni in this land? What about the Ceryenei, I heard they're some of the shyest Soquili, like the Flutters. Do you know any of them? Any stories about visiting the ocean, and meeting the horses of the sea?"
Memories of scraps of conversations rose up as he tried to decide which story he wanted to hear the most.. Which story he wanted to hear first. But there were too many options and he just bounced in frustration and waited to see what she would agree to. "Any of those would be good. But something I haven't heard, something I didn't know!"
He jigged about on his feet, eager and impatient and torn all at once. He wanted to know about their ancestral land and the adventures his family had before he was born, he wanted to know about the natives of this place and any others Whistle had met on her travels. He wanted to hear tales of danger and daring and curious treasures... He just didn't know what he wanted to hear first.
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