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 Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 4:36 pm
The weather is turning but mother nature has one last hurrah in store - it seems she has mustered up a blizzard that's blown down from the mountains and over the majority of the Kawani lands. This is highly unusual for this time of year, it seems winter was not ready to let go! How does your soquili fair in this blizzard? Do they see the signs early and manage to avoid it completely? Do they seek shelter in time and wait it out? Do they find themselves stranded and in danger? Do they fend for themselves or do they help others around them?
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 4:51 pm
 The wind howled through the Kawani land, a shrill, biting, Banshee of a wail that sent ice and snow, vortexing through the air. The swirling ice like thousands of tiny daggers that cut through the whirl of white. Snow fell in a thick blanket of white, robbing all the remaining warmth from the land. In the midst of the frozen, fierce fury, walked a single Soquili. His burnt orange coat, glossy from the ice that formed on his pelt. The black mane and tail, crusted with snow. Around his fetlocks, ice clung to him, as he walked through the snow with a crunching plod of his hooves. His name was Kiyomi. Kiyomi's breath misted from his nostrils, as he tried to breath through the chill that bit down to his very bones. Hooves slipped on the ground, causing his breath to be ragged. Gaining back his momentum, he kept going, with determination. His destination clear. The one thing that drove him, powered his momentum, was to find his mate. Wherever she was, he absolutely had to make sure she was safe.
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 6:53 pm
Kiyomi kept Savitri in his mind. Her laughter is warm and contagious, like sunlight breaking through on a gloomy day. She always insisted she was no princess, with no crown or a kingdom to rule. For Kiyomi, Savitri is the Queen over the domain of his heart and soul. Thoughts of her kept him from laying down in the snow to sleep away the storm. He wanted to be near her, and make sure she was safe. Instinct told him which way to go, since he couldn't see anything ahead of him. By following the string that connected their hearts, his to hers, and gets to his.
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 7:30 pm
Borealis had noticed that even though the signs of spring were starting to show, though he also noticed the evidence of what looked like a winter storm approaching. He had made sure that both his charge he protected and his love were warned, so they could get to safety. He knew his love would probably be helping as she could, he figured he would make sure no one was caught unawares in the coming storm. So making sure to bundle up himself, even if the cold really wasn't a concern to him, since he thrived in it, he headed out. He made sure to have some extra supplies packed away, in case someone had not been prepared for the storm. Then he headed from the herd and began his walk to make sure no one in the area between the areas of the herd were caught unawares. (WC: 147)
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 7:37 pm
Kiyomi crossed an open plain. Where once fluffy snow laid across the field like a thin guaze. Now it lay in thick, menacing mounds, threatening to snuff out the life of anyone who dared to nap here. The blizzard had no feelings or morals, and would claim any in its path that it could. The stallion did not stop. Even though the unrelenting cold had sapped away all his warmth, like a ruthless thief. Normally his hide would protect him from the chills of winter. Today it did nothing for him.
He pushed on as his heart beat like a drum. The only thing he could hear over the wind
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 7:45 pm
Borealis made it out of the woods that the main part of their herd called home, having flown a bit, but only as much as he could as the blizzard made things treacherous for many people traveling. As he crossed a plains, he thought he saw a flash of orange, which made it easier to spot in the blinding white. He knew all those who were of the herd should be hunkered down, other than those who chose to help those who might need it. So logic dictated that this must be someone else, so using his paws to dig in, he made his way over to the form.
As he finally got closer, he could see it was another stallion, but did not look like he was equipped for this kind of weather. So he hurried his pace, as best as he could with the wind beating down on him. He was glad he was built for this kind of weather. He managed to make it over to the stallion, making sure the other would take notice of him.
"Hello there,"he called out. He made sure to speak as loud as he could, so that he could be heard over the sound of the driving wind. He knew he tended to blend in with the snow, so he could only hope that the other saw him and heard him. (WC:231, 378 total)
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 7:51 pm
Kiyomi didn't see the other approaching. Then he thought the wind and snow were playing tricks on him, like seeing shapes in the clouds above. Then all at once, he saw what was moving. A large stallion that blended in to his surroundings, like living ice that mirrored the sky with soft colors of blue. Kiyomi startled, jolting to a halt. Adrenaline coursed through him, and for but a second, he forgot about the cold that raged around them. Normally he wasn't so jumpy, but his senses were dulled from his numb body.
"Oh my gosh, hello sir! What are you doing out here?! You'll freeze!" he said as he practically jumped up and down, vibrating to will blood flow to stay in his legs.
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 8:00 pm
Borealis had kept moving closer, hoping the shape would be visible enough for the other stallion to see as he got close enough. When he saw the other stallion seem to startle, that answered his question, but he did mentally wince seeing the reaction. He had not wanted to catch the other stallion by surprise, it had not been his intention at all. However, he should have suspected it when it looked like he had come out of the snow himself. After all, he was quite winter colored, so it made sense that he would get thrown off by him just appearing like that. The pawed stallion reminded himself that he should probably apologize as soon as he could for taking him by surprise like he had. Then he heard the other greet him, speaking about how he'd freeze. Not quite sure the other should speak on such, looking like he was going to become an orange icicle any minute now.
"Don't worry, I had seen signs that we were going to have a storm. I came prepared, as you can see. You, however, look like you are going to be frozen to the spot, if you are not careful. I also apologize for startling you, it was not my intention,"he apologized. (WC: 213, 591)
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 8:07 pm
Kiyomi's lips thinned into a straight line, his eyebrows knitted. He stood there for a pause, considering the strangers words. They had been prepared. Kiyomi felt a tinge of humiliation, that he hadn't noticed said signs, or been prepared. The remark about him freezing in place, could be taken with offense. Kiyomi is humble though, and honest. He was going to freeze in place!
"Keen observation. I'm absolutely freezing." He said with as much seriousness as he could muster through chattering teeth. "I must look like a fool. Alas, I thought it smart to go searching for my mate, while not thinking of the consequences to myself!" He'd blush red if his cheeks weren't already chapped from the wind. "If I wasn't deep in a blizzard, I wouldn't have startled so easy! The fault is my own."
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 8:16 pm
Borealis could tell the other was thinking, he did hope that he had not offended the other fellow. He would hate to think he had, it had not been his intentions with the words he had spoken. The pawed stallion waited with the other as he took in his words, not wanting to add anymore at the moment that might be seen as harsh. When the other spoke again, he was glad to know he had seen right that the other was freezing. As the teeth of the other chattered, he felt absolutely bad for him, knowing how it could be for his charge when she did not take the proper precautions. He softly shook his head, to indicate that he did not think he was a fool.
"I imagine you are not the only one who was caught unawares by this storm, so please do not be too harsh on yourself. We had a blizzard that one of our members got caught in, before she found our herd. She is actually the sister to one of our alphas, having thought her family perished. Thankfully, it seemed her parents and another had survived too. She actually met her mate in that storm, if you would believe it. Maybe we can help you find your mate, but first, I have some spare things that I brought with me. I figured there would be some who are not as familiar with the signs of a storm approaching,"he explained. He reached into his bag, showing the other the scarf tucked away inside. (WC: 260, total of 851)
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 8:25 pm
Kiyomi felt the radiating kindness from this gentle stallion. Not the fake kind used to placate others, but genuine kindness. Even though he didn't know this soq, he could tell they had goodness about them. Especially giving a story about shared experiences before picking a scarf out of their bag. The scarf a chestnut brown, lined in fleece.
"Oh wow, you really did prepare for the storm! May I?" He asked, gesturing to the scarf. "I will have to repay your kindness, good sir."
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 8:34 pm
Borealis had hoped the story would explain that he did not think any less of the stallion. He knew these storms could sneak up on anyone, even those prepared sometimes. While the mare in question was blind, it had indeed helped her find love in a storm much like this one. He certainly hoped it would not last as long, but he knew winter sometimes liked to go out with a bang, not ready to give in to spring right away. When the other stallion noted that he had come prepared, he nodded his head in reply. He didn't like the thought of others being in trouble, not if there was some way for him to help.
"Of course, feel free to take the scarf and use it to keep warm. I am sure it will be a big help and make sure that you get the warmth you need. As for repayment, you really do not have to do so. Think of it as just being in the right place and the right time,"he assured. Of course, it could also be the start of a friendship too. He honestly would not mind a new friend, even if it was someone he imagined lived in another herd. After all, he had mentioned looking for his mate, hadn't he? (WC: 219, total of 1,070)
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Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2025 8:47 pm
Kiyomi smiled through the knocking of his teeth and took the scarf. Awkwardly, he wrapped it around his neck. "That is so very nice." Where the scarf touched, it had a warmth that felt like magic.
"This means alot to me. I am humbled by the way you searched for someone in need amidst the chaos of this storm, and found me. I am going to never forget this, and do my best to pay it forward.
I'm Kiyomi. I don't live far from here. I am going to hurry on, much warmer thanks to you. I sincerely hope we meet again!"
Kiyomi parted ways, looking over his shoulder, and giving a nod before the snow swallowed up sight of the Winter Knight.
Through the blinding white, he moved, he thought, he focused. Towards his lady, on a renewed path to find her. Very much alive. It inspired him knowing that if he had been close to not being alive, he would have been saved for sure, by the stallion he just met. Even though he didn't know what the signs were for a storm like this, he had a deeper understanding that there were ways to be prepared. He would learn. He would be better. Then maybe he could be the one to help someone next time.
"In am coming for you my lady! Please be safe, dry, and warm." He called out, his voice not carrying far. It did give him motivation though, as his legs moved even faster.
Like the story he had been told of someone finding love on a storm like this, he would find his one true love who waited for him at the end of this storm.
~Fin
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