The wind blew across the winter snows of the hills above the Kawani Village, cold and sharp. Wohali Usti shivered, wishing he was back in the village right this moment. His son and his two-legger's daughter should not be left alone for very long, and as father, acting or biological, to the two younglings, he wanted to stay and look after them. At least the quiet two-legger female, Litonya Suletu, was looking after the two youngsters. She'd been terribly helpful on that front, acting as the mother figure he was biologically incapable of being. But, if he wanted to rebuild the herd, he had to do this, and not devote every waking minute to the two youngsters in his care.
Yes, he did. Here it was, nearly a year later, and most Soquili still seemed to be missing. This wasn't enough to start a herd. Heck, for what he was envisioning, he really didn't have enough. Including himself, that was three. Vevina, his son, and himself. The colt was too young to do much, Vevina didn't seem like leadership material, and Wohali didn't want to run this show on his own.
Wohali flicked his black tail and tossed his equally dark mane. Or what could be done with the wealth of black hair. Quite frankly, the last time he'd probably stood still long enough to get a proper grooming had been...the day of the Great Fire. And, well, he hadn't wanted it restyled. Aside from his tattoos, and the two younglings, they were the last things he had to remember his lost loved ones by. And he still had to search, and to care. No time for frivolities. Maybe, once they were ready to officially kick off the herd again, he'd let little Awinita Hiawassee play with his hair. After his two-legger died, it seemed right. That Awinita should have rights to him, and should be allowed to braid the feathers into his mane, and add any future tattoos. He might not be there forever, but, until that time came, they could still be together.
The wind ruffled the eagle feathers adorning him, sending the eagle skull he wore around his neck to clattering against the glass beads between their leather knots. Wohali smiled. And eagle feathers. Definitely more eagle feathers. Childish his fancy might be, but he still loved his eagle feathers. They made him look more dignified, more like the proud buffalo-runner he'd been before the Fire. The buffalo runner he still was, technically speaking. Just...just riderless. And busy getting things moving again. Awinita and Litonya didn't really count as his two-leggers. Litonya seemed shy of him, and Awinita...Awinita had increasingly felt like a daughter to him this last year. She wouldn't always be, but he still was responsible as a surrogate father to the little girl, as well as a biological father to his own colt.
But, first things first. Find more Soquili who would help reform the Kawani Village Herd. Preferably starting with members of the original herd. Failing that, anyone who would be willing. Hopefully, he'd find someone willing very soon.
He sneezed, as snowflakes settle on his tattooed muzzle. Make that very soon.
Hoshi Lockhart
Assuming Aiolos would like to be the other leader to this party? Though we're gonna have to find more ladies soon to join this sausage fest. 8'D
