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 Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2020 5:19 am
"Hellooo! Wake up!"
Aldwyn's ear flicked. His nose crinkled, and he gave a quiet, derisive snort to send the disturbance away. But to no avail. Even that much acknowledgement was a sign that victory was at hand.
Bryone pounced his hooves down close to the older noulicorn's nose, earning a small start. "Papa, get up!" He yipped, giving another prance around the downed buck. "You said we'd go somewhere new today. Well, it's today now, so wake up!" His tail slashed excitedly through the air, and he leaned in to give a nibble to one of Aldwyn's plush and lowered ears. When it didn't yield an immediate result, he tugged. "I'll go wifou' 'ou," Bryone warned around a mouthful of fur.
His papa cracked open one grey-green eye and squinted at the foal before his attention darted to the dim lighting creeping through the foliage of their den. "It's not even dawn, yet," he complained softly.
"But it is today," Bryone repeated as he trotted back toward the entrance. "And I'm gonna go whether you do or not," he retorted with a flippant glance over his shoulder. "So if you're gonna do somethin' about it, you better get up!" And then he was gone, disappeared through the entrance to the den out out into the world beyond.
Aldwyn groaned as he rose, stretching out his legs carefully as he did. The days of quiet mornings were long past. There was no peace in Homewood, anymore. Only the incessant urgings of a young foal ready to take on the world, whether he was capable of not. Aldwyn emerged from the den to see an alert youngster, ears held high and tail swaying eagerly. Today Aldwyn had promised to allow him to see the Barrens once more. They would walk to the edge of Homewood, and Aldwyn would allow Bryone to see the edge of the desolate land in which he'd been found.
Bryone started off at a pace as quick as his small, slender legs would allow.
So there was no time for breakfast, then.
Aldwyn kept pace behind him. Bryone grew quicker everyday, and the older noul had learned that if he wanted to at least keep up enough that he could still see the furry end of his foal's tail, he needed to do so at a trot. Bryone kept ahead of him, diving through foliage and frond without a care in the world, and Aldwyn wondered as he trailed behind if that was how it should be?
Bryone was still so young, so he should enjoy this time to the fullest without worrying too heavily over the deplorable state of the lands outside of Homewood. He would see the Barrens and he would know how dreadful everything else was... He would begin to understand why the noulicorns were here.
"Are you coming?" Bryone demanded from somewhere ahead of him, tearing Aldwyn from his thoughts.
"Yes," Aldwyn answered in a soft call back, ears flicking up. "I am only just behind you. You can keep going." The answer was a rustle of leaves as the foal continued ahead, and Aldwyn kept his eyes and ears and nose on alert as he trotted after him.
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Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2020 11:24 pm
Sleeping out alone in the barrens hadn't even been considered a viable possibility for Dousan, so he had walked through the night. A comforted smile tugged at the corners of his mouth as the oh-so familiar, much loved sight of Homewood's greenery, though at present it stood in silhouette against the predawn sky, grew closer. His entire body ached and there was a weight from the lack of sleep that put him in a more thoughtful frame of mind. When he actually got to his den, after a stop by a river or brook for a drink, sleep was most definitely a priority, though he didn't want to sleep the whole day. A few hours would probably do him, at latest, he'd be up before midday. That'd be fine and it likely wouldn't change his internal rhythm too much from what was normal for him.
More musing carried him onward, but a realization caused him to pause. It would be dawn soon. The whole world would be painted in a shifting array of colors of night changing to day. Homewood was so close, but even the desolate barrens could produce some gorgeous sunrises. Only the scarcest traces of Homewood's grass made it out this far. Here would be a fine place to watch the dawning of day. Then sleep. Dousan listened to his immediate surroundings, his back to Homewood, facing the desert of the barrens. He was very vaguely aware of rustling, but that could simply be the first souls rousing into waking in the forest. Didn't sound threatening, so he didn't worry himself.
Oddly, a little poem from his mother popped into his mind as he waited for the growing light to come. She was always one for coming up with little songs and nonsenses for children, not just her own but other nouls' as well. He chuckled to himself at the memory and thought, why not? Why not recite aloud a sweet little something from his past?
"I sing a song for my waking,
I sing a song for the morn'.
Off go the nightly dreams that helped to keep me warm.
Another day is dawning,
The sun is rising from its bed.
Off goes the moon to go and rest its weary head.
I sing a song for Vykeli,
I sing a song for you.
It's time to awaken and see what we can do."
Was he missing pieces? Maybe. The ditty was something she'd sing or recite to him on the rare mornings that he slept later than both of his parents. It seemed appropriate for the time of day, in spite of the lack of an audience and that he was, in fact, just about ready to head to the comfort of his den, his bed.[WC: 461]
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2020 10:41 am
Oh, he was so excited! Bryone bounced as he pranced through the quickly fading foliage. They'd made it far enough away from the den that not much looked familiar, and he could tell that they must be drawing near to the outskirts of Homewood. Bryone knew from being told that he shouldn't expect anything magnificent of the Barrens. It was essentially a wasteland that they'd been brought here to heal, but it was where his papa had found him.
How could he not be excited? Listening to Aldwyn tell the story of how he'd visited Grandfather Tree and found a foal nestled among its roots was Bryone's favorite tale. And not just because Aldwyn wasn't very creative and didn't have very many other good stories.
But that was fine, that was fine. Aldwyn didn't need to hunt for adventure on his own. Not while Bryone was here! They could uncover good stories together, and it seemed like there was no better place than where Bryone's story had begun. He crashed through he last scraggly trees keeping him from surveying the great expanse of wasteland beyond, and-
Stilled.
Bryone tipped his head, blinking in confusion at the silhouette of another buck standing with his back to Homewood, hooves barely on the grass that would lead them back to the safety of the forest. Bryone gave an inquisitive sniff, ears flicking forward at the soft, melodious roll of a song from the stranger. He didn't dare move until he felt his papa approach from the trees.
"Oh," Aldwyn's voice was soft too as he looked ahead. "There's someone else here."
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2020 1:11 pm
Now, he definitely did hear the approaching rustling and crunching of undergrowth behind him. He wasn't worried. Homewood was the safest place around. Occasionally the odd predator edged into the outskirting foliage for the chance to nab the unwary, but, for one thing, there were noulicorns that patrolled Homewood for exactly that reason, and, also, Dousan hadn't seen, heard, or smelled anything threatening as he had drawn closer to home. He had no real reason to worry. Not enough to shake him from his musing of his parents, and his mother's penchant for music.
At least until someone spoke softly behind him. Dousan half turned, blinked in surprise at the unexpected pair there. "Oh," He echoed before quickly composing himself with a soft chuckle at being caught singing to the empty landscape. He offered the heavily spotted buck and very stripey foal a warm smile, bowing his head in greeting. "Good...Hm," Another pause as he glanced skyward, debating the time, before refocusing on the new arrivals. "Good morning to you both." No names leapt to mind at looking at them. The foal seemed quite young, so it stood to reason that they'd not be gallivanting too far from the core of Homewood, or wherever they made their home within the lush sanctuary of Homewood.
"Since, I don't believe we've met, please allow me to introduce myself. I'm Dousan. If I may ask, what brings you both out here this time of pre-day? Not an emergency I hope." Granted, they seemed just as surprised to see him out here as he was to see them, nor did they seem in duress. Maybe a field trip?
[WC: 274]
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Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2020 1:36 pm
It was not at at strange, Aldwyn thought, that they should see another noulicorn along the outskirts of Homewood, heading out to the Barrens. It made sense that those who had been bestowed gifts from Grandfather tree would use them to cultivate the area nearest to home, first. Any life they resurrected or greenery they brought forth would be safer the closer it was to Homewood. This was where effort expended would be the most efficient.
If they went deeper into the Barrens, it would be easy for magic to be wasted on plants that didn't stand a chance in the unforgiving terrain or for a gift of water to quickly be dried under the scorching sun.
But here, the natural protection offered by proximity to Homewood meant that efforts could progress smoothly. Aldwyn appreciated the idea of doing the most good for the least amount of effort. He expected that was what most did. Though of course, that wasn't what had led him and Bryone out today. His ears flicked, and his tail gave a guarded swish. His foal glanced back at him, ears alert and attention focused as if seeking some sort of permission.
"I am Aldwyn," he greeted in return. "This is-"
"Bryone!" The youngster piped up, apparently taking Aldwyn's introduction as whatever permission to engage he'd been seeking. "My papa said he'd let me see the Barrens today. I used to live here, so I just wanted to take a little peek."
Aldwyn tried not to wince at the thought of anything, particularly a foal, living out here, and that definitely wasn't how he would have described it, but the words were already in the air, and there was no reason not to let them be. "I thought my son may be old enough now to begin to understand the purpose for which our gifts are bestowed... There's no better way to learn than by seeing." Aldwyn's head tipped, the tip of his tail flicking. "And you? Is this journey a morning ritual for you?"
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2020 8:08 pm
Dousan nodded to Aldwyn upon learning his name. The explosive greeting from the youngster caused the travel wearied buck to blink, but still smiled warmly to the young foal and dipped his head in greeting to him as well. He used to live here? Were his parents wanderers? Some who took up the mantle chose to remain in the barrens or the world at large even if they were expecting children, instead of returning to Homewood to bring their babies into the world. Or...there was always a chance the striped youngster was originally an orphan, found and taken in by the buck with him now. He did refer to him as Papa. They were here, they were together, and that was what mattered.
"I'm very pleased to meet you both, Aldwyn, Bryone. A little peek into the barrens won't hurt."
He refocused his gaze to Aldwyn when the buck continued. "Understandable. I feel it's better to have some idea of what one is getting into than going into things totally blind." He nodded then paused at the inquiry posed of him. Dousan chuckled and shook himself. "While I'm normally an early riser, always have been, I'm actually only just getting back home. I've been travelling all through the night to make sure I make it home safely. I've found crossing the wastes is less of a hardship when you do most of your running in the night." He paused, giving a soft reflective hum, his tail curling and uncurling lazily side to side behind him. "I will admit, however, that I do enjoy catching the dawn when I can. As harsh as they can be, Vykeli paints some truly beautiful desert sunrises. If my being here is going to be intruding on your teaching, I can continue on my way. Or, if you don't mind me lingering for a time, I'd be happy to help a little bit with whatever lessons you'd like to give if you'd like me to. Or I can mind my own business and leave you two to it. There will always be another dawn, or I can simply scoot myself elsewhere." He blinked as an epiphany seemingly struck him. "Oh, ah...Apologies if I'm rambling. I'm a mite tired from my trekking."
[WC: 376]
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2020 11:15 am
Aldwyn's answering smile was strained. A 'peek' wouldn't hurt? He disagreed strongly. It felt treacherous to even consider the thought of bringing a foal out to these desolate lands, and yet, he had. He had, and he knew of many parents who had, as well. To see the Barrens juxtaposed to Homewood behind them was to witness what good their gifts were capable of filling the world with. To bring a foal here was to prepare a young mind for the future. Aldwyn only brought Bryone here for a 'peek,' for understanding.
But there were some who brought there foals here to strengthen their bodies, to mold their wills. Bryone was too young, too sweet, too eager to be here for more than a simple expedition.
And Aldwyn was too wary of anything else in the Barrens to allow it.
But a 'peek,' he could stomach. Even unwillingly. If Bryone noticed his papa's tension, he didn't acknowledge it. "You've been traveling through the Barrens?" He prompted of the older noulicorn, incredulous. "All night? But why? Where did you go?" His tail lashed eagerly as his body hunkered low, edging nearer to Dousan as if engaging in some secret. "Is there something good out there?" Bryone asked in a whisper.
Aldwyn found himself easing slightly at the other buck's 'ramblings.' He wasn't typically one who needed the company of others, but with Bryone running amok... "I wouldn't keep you, if you're trying to return home," Aldwyn replied with a dip of his head. "But I can only see an extra pair of eyes and ears as being a benefit while we're away from the safety of the trees. Never mind the knowledge of one who has just returned from a long trip... Please, if you have the time and energy to spare, we would enjoy your company."
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2020 11:59 pm
Bryone's enthusiastic questioning made Dousan chuckle. "All night. I sure did. Mhm! I was asked to bring something to someone on their way to see Grandfather Tree. They accidentally had left it behind in their rush to leave bright and early yesterday and their sibling wanted to make sure they had it with them when they went to go receive their gift. A little bit of family luck and well wishes in their quest to go become a fully fledged adult. It was really important to them and I was asked to help. Brought a little water for the venturing sibling as well." Was there something good out there? "Yes and no," He answered honestly. "One has to cross some degree of the barrens to get to the Grandfather Tree, which is truly a sight to behold. Occasionally an oasis will develop, beautiful, brief patches of green on the sunbaked earth. The desert makes some beautiful sunrises and sunsets. Unless there's a bunch of heat haze, you can see for miles. While there's good, there's also bad. The sun is ferocious out in the Barrens during the day. There are predators and sometimes the terrain can be dangerous. One must be careful when venturing out there. It's best to keep your wits about you out there...And plenty of water if you can help it." Dousan nodded sagely.
Shifting his attention to Aldwyn, the buck shook his head. "Hm? Oh, I'm not quite on my last legs just yet. I'd be delighted to stay a little while. It's not that much farther to home and the comfort of my den. It won't be any more hardship to linger here with you and your bright, inquisitive boy, here. Always happy to help when I am able to do so. So, Aldwyn, do you have a plan this morning or are you both here to enjoy the relative peace and quiet of the early morn?" He lowered his voice just for Aldwyn's ears. "On my way in, I haven't seen, smelled, or heard any predators in this area. It should be safe for whatever you're wanting to do this morning."
He straightened some, his tone once more conversational. "Grandfather Tree granted me the solar gift, and I am able to Endure. It really helped me proceed on throughout the night."
[WC: 388]
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