|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 1:42 pm
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 1:49 pm
Watching the morning sun rise higher in the sky, Whistle revised some of of her estimates regarding distance and location. Perhaps they were further away than she had anticipated, perhaps they were closer... Only time and further interaction would tell. At the moment, it was still too early to guess.
"Aria?" Whistle murmured, glancing up into the trees to find where her songbird was perched. "Is there any news?"
"Nothing since yesterday when I delivered the message you gave me." The female songbird replied softly in her sweet tone. Shifting on the branch and fluffing her wings, she seemed to shrug. "At the moment, I think we must just wait and see how things will play out."
Whistle nodded silently, it was more or less what she expected.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 1:52 pm
Watching his mate from the corner of their glade, Ballad silently wrestled with his fears for a moment before stepping into the light. Before he spoke he knew she was aware of him, well and safe and only feet away, but that didn't stop him from moving closer out of habit.
"For what it is worth..." Ballad rumbled, his eyes narrowed as they skated down from the tree branch and fixed on his mate. "I hate everything about this plan of yours. Every. Single. Thing."
The dusk-blue stallion pawed at the ground for emphasis, striking at soft emerald grass to punctuate each word. His hoof tore right into dark soil, leaving a shallow trench in the wake of the three strikes, scattering dirt and torn grass in the wake of his hoof.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 1:55 pm
Whistle, for her part, seemed unfazed by the low murmur of disapproval or her mate's show of temper. If Ballad's tension upset Aria, the songbird made no show of it.. If it worried his mate at all, it was equally unnoticed. The indigo mare stood relaxed, her cyan eyes serene when she glanced at him, amusement flickering over her face.
"Your disapproval has been noted, my dear." She murmured with a flick of her silken tail. "As always, I am touched by your concern. However, regardless of your feelings on the matter, something must be done. All things considered, I am the best one to ensure that it is, and so I shall. It is just a meeting, to discuss a treatise. Low risk, but very important to us all."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 1:57 pm
For all that this was his mate's project, Ballad too had a vested interest in things being peacefully resolved. It was to that end that he had dispatched Minstrel, hoping the hummingbird would learn something or see something he had not. Any knowledge would be of use in the protection of his mate and family.
"I don't like the idea of you out there, alone." Ballad insisted, drifting close enough to run his muzzle over her cheek. "You know you are the whole of the world to me. I could not stand to lose you again, particularly not to the shadow of our family, or one of his get."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 1:59 pm
"I know you don't, darling." Hearing everything her mate didn't say, Whistle gave a low sigh. "There are many things everywhere that could mean us harm. I am not going to refuse to be a part of the world for fear of what might be. We know that even the most secure place only needs a moment of weakness to be exploited and turned into nothing but a nightmare."
A flicker of memory, of torn baskets and bloodied grass and massive pawprints... The dark-coated mare shook her head and tried to forget it.
"Aveshar has not threatened me in a long, long time." Whistle argued, her tone still gently amused but unwavering in the face of Ballad's disapproval. "I rather doubt he even cares to, anymore. No matter what we are, or where we stand, we are still family. He seems less and less inclined to eradicate those ties. When was the last time he even made an attempt?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 2:02 pm
"Yet here you are, insisting you go to this meeting." He murmured. "Knowing how dangerous it is, how dangerous they are. You still want to go to this meeting alone."
"When was the last time? Ask Arioso, I am fairly certain he was the victim of his uncle's ire." Ballad challenged softly, his expression clouding over with disapproval. "He cannot be trusted, Dearheart, you know this. He is dangerous, and always had been. His children are no better, you know this to be true."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 2:08 pm
"The meeting was not my idea, but the fact that it was requested is a miracle in itself. Though I didn't ask, it would be foolish to refuse it. They are our family, distant or not, different or not. They're still Fayths."
"Besides, Aveshar is not even a factor today. He is not who I am going to see." The indigo mare countered, spinning to face her mate and dropping her words to a whisper. Heavens knew her children were probably awake by now, the last thing she wanted was them intruding on this argument. "He is not the one who asked for this meeting. He is unlikely to be present at all. So then, why are you worried?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 2:10 pm
"Because on her own or not, an adult or not, Keshani Avenara is still her father's daughter." Ballad protested, tone rising with worry. "She is still blood of his blood, was still raised with his teachings. She still dislikes us, has always disliked us, and I imagine she views us a lesser, just as her sire always did. Why would you go treat with one such as that? Why would you even take the chance?"
He stopped, pacing an angry circle and flicking his tail in ire. "Not to mention the fact that her mother is a Skinwalker that haunts her every step. The last thing we need is another of those on our doorstep. You recall as well as I do what happened the last time one was on our trail."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 2:18 pm
Seriav watched quietly, eyes flicking back and forth between her parents. It always upset her when they had some issue or another with Aveshar. The pair of them got along just fine, so why didn't her parents as her to mediate, if that's what was necessary. Ser never thought it was necessary. Ave was always great to her, she didn't really believe that he was as evil as they did.
Still, it was a bit disconcerting to find out that her mother was going to meet with her niece. Aveshar's children were grown, mostly, and off doing their own things. That one of them wanted to meet with Mother... Presumably without Aveshar knowing? It could spell trouble. And she was tired of trouble. Ser would have to make a plans to go see Ave soon, then. Not until after the meeting, of course, but it would be good to see him and let him know that it happened.
Wordcount: 158
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 2:25 pm
Zeibekiko peered around his older, and insane, sister. Don't forget the insane part. Anyone who was friends with Aveshar was insane. Zei had never met him, only heard stories that he wasn't supposed to hear, and it made him determined to protect this side of the family from the other side. Especially his older brother, Kelakohr. Ave seemed to always mess with him the most.
And Ave would regret the day that he met Zei, because Zei had no love for him or his family and would do everything in his power to make sure that whatever Ave wants, he doesn't get. There was also the flight of fancy that had him thinking he could fell his evil brother with just a kick to the face.
But if Mom was going to go meet one of Aveshar's children, then Zei wanted to go too, to protect her. And see if the daughter was as evil as the father.
Zei eased his way around Seriav and snuck up behind his parents, listening intently and trying to figure out a way to get invited along, or better yet, figure out where they were meeting, so he could be the surprise guest.
Wordcount: 199
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 2:44 pm
The morning was cool and quiet and dark beneath the blanket of the trees, but that faded away as the sun climbed higher in the sky. Dusk was Cas's favorite time of day, unless there was a thunderstorm overhead, and then that was the best. But dusk happened every day, which was almost as good, and prime for exploring the forest and meeting whatever creatures were brave enough to greet her.
Still, dusk had come and gone, and now Cas was content to trail after her siblings or listen to their stories or speak to their familiars... Constantly wanting to learn what they might teach her, or know whatever they knew. It was to that end that Cassie followed Zeibekiko who followed Seriav, who was likely the only one of the three of them that was invited to their parent's conversation. Because Seriav was an adult, and this was clearly an adult conversation...
Which meant Cas and Zeib probably shouldn't be listening. Instead they should be with their brothers. Kelakohr was back in the other glade, entertaining Riddle with a story or another.. and stars only knew where Arioso had run off to.
Cas liked Arioso well enough, he had a songbird that followed in his wake and sang to her when he was visiting with her parents... And Arioso was much more fun than Kel, at least in Cas's mind. She of course kept that opinion to herself, because for whatever reason Kel was Zeib's favorite and she really didn't want to upset two brothers at once.
"Z... Zeeeei." She muttered, lingering in the bushes when she watched her brother skitter closer to their parents. "What are we doing? What are you doing? You're gonna get caught." Wordcount: 288
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 2:49 pm
Whistle smiled at the appearance of her older daughter, inclining her head in a nod. "Good day, Seriav. I was wondering if you might do me a favor?"
Ducking her head under her mate's chin and leaning against him in an effort to soothe some of his nerves, the indigo mare did her best to project a more serene attitude in the hopes that it would calm him. "I have a meeting, and a rather important one. I was hoping you wouldn't mind entertaining your younger siblings while I'm gone? I wouldn't want them to pester your father too much, and sooner or later Kel is going to run out of stories or at least want to take a breather. Since I'm not precisely sure where Arioso has run off to, I was hoping you'd spell him for a little bit?"
She glanced up into the trees to where Aria perched, and then back to her daughter. "Aria and I will be leaving as soon as the envoy arrives to advise us of the midway point... There's a nearby valley that probably won't be too far off the mark, but your father thinks it screams of an ambush site so I doubt they will choose it either. Perhaps the old oak on the hill? Anyway, the envoy will likely escort us, and it would make the trip easier if you'd keep an eye on the little ones while we're gone."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 3:25 pm
Seriav smiled at her mother, loving both sides of her family equally. She really didn't know why they didn't get along with each other. If she could do it, it had to be easy, right? Without a glance at her younger brother or sister trying to sneak by unnoticed. She didn't want to get into another conversation with Zei about how Aveshar was evil and how could she like him and blah blah blah. Ser loved her family, all sides of it, and their contention seemed to be more of a problem with the light side.
Shaking off those thoughts, she listened intently and nodded her head, as she couldn't agree verbally. Vire was taking a nap, since she was keeping him up a lot with her traveling back and forth to see Ave, so she didn't mind him 'sleeping on the job'. She never had any problem with silence, though it was rarely really silent, what with the music inside her head.
But she would watch her younger siblings, make sure they weren't alone too much. Still, she didn't think that she'd be able to stop them from following their mother, now that she had said aloud where she thought they were going. Ser would do her best, and rely on Kel to help her with the three little ones.
Wordcount: 221
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2016 3:34 pm
Zei grinned and listened closely to his mothers directions of where this 'meeting' would be. At least, where she thought it would be. Still, it was good information, and Zei wouldn't have to try and sneak after her, and probably get a great deal lost. Which he so did not want because there would be Dark Fayth about. Not they scared him. Just, he knew he had some growing up to do before he could face them on his own.
Skittering back to where Cas was with a smug grin, he nosed her and laughed softly. "Me? Get caught? Not in this lifetime, sister." He giggled, practically dancing in place. It would be so much fun. And he would follow shortly after Mom left, leaving just enough time for Ser and Kel to get complacent in watching them. Just a little bit, and then he would be off. Dad didn't have to worry. Zei was going to protect Mom. Nodding his head, he wandered off to go see what his brother was doing and to be seen somewhere not here.
Wordcount: 180
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
