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 Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 4:59 pm
It had taken considerable effort on his part and much persuasion on the fiery red mare's part for him to accept that if he wished to be sociable and to extend the name of his so-called 'great' family to the land of the Kawani, then he was going to have to descend from the mountainous slopes.
This was for a good reason though as, many Soquili chose to remain on in the lower regions and as a result the Clearings and Forests were often considered the best of places to meet new acquaintances, potential spouses and even enemies if you so desired them - being a natural antagonist to most males, Paramekia would be rather surprised if he didn't displease at least one stallion.
Nevertheless, releasing a huff of warm air from his nostrils he continued to navigate his way down the mountainous slopes, his black garb providing much needed warmth against the cool air which began to heat up considerably as he approached the forests - strange, upon the mountains the forests were cold and less than inclined to embrace a stranger.
"How interesting." He mused softly, black and colourless eyes fixed solely upon the way ahead of him as his painted hooves brushed rather unceremoniously against the ground cover that often appeared in the forests of the lower regions...he sincerely hoped that no moss or burrs would try to attach themselves to his garb or he would be less than impressed.
Even so, choosing to ignroe the moss for now, his keen eyes slowly assessed and examined the location in which he stood. Taking into account each feature and it's proximity to him and his way back to his new found abode.
Now where were these Soquili the female had spoken of?
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:30 pm
 Selene sighed, scowling at the tree canopy above. A side-effect of wanting to escape the annoying pest that was her new teepee-mate, Duo, was that she... couldn't fly away from him. She scowled as her mane tangled itself on a tree, wrapping around the branch and pulling her head back. She uttered a low cry, of pain, turning around and smashing the branch with her hooves to free her mane. Her wings fluttered, trying to warm the air. So chilly here, under the canopy of trees. She missed the sun already, and flying as close as she could. She hasn't touched it yet, but someday she would.
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 5:37 pm
Crack!
Somewhere ahead of him a creature had rather brutally assaulted a tree and by the sounds of it they were reasonably big. Raising a brow subtly, the royal steed continued forward, ensuring that each hoof-step was as silent as possible to the extend that his robes only gave a soft 'whisper' of sound against the dusty ground cover and dry soil...evidently the canopy shielded the floor from receiving much rain at certain periods.
Eventually though, without rushing himself, he was at last given the answer to his question. It didn't come without surprise though as he was unaware that creatures of such an exotic and unique quality existed in these lands but alas, he refrained from allowing that to shift his expression from the bemused one that he held - that would be unbecoming of him.
"For one so petite you certainly know who to exact your revenge upon the unsuspecting." He mused as he glanced the mare up and down, briefly admiring the way in which her mane had been decorated, he was certainly impressed by that.
"Might I be so bold as to ask, what in the world might have possessed the nymphs to anger you?" He enquired curiously, choosing the more subtle approach towards this one as opposed to the sarcastic or degrading...he wanted to see how she would react and then he would decide on his course of action.
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:00 pm
Selene's head tilted towards the voice. Oh, my. She inclined her head to the approaching stallion. "Hello." she greeted softly. "I got the wood stuck in my hair." she explained, embarassed. "I'm unused to the forest and couldn't find another way to get free without damaging my mane." Her golden eyes were briefly admiring, but it passed quickly. She was learning to mask her emotions , for they caused pain if the wrong person knew of them.
"I am Selene." she said finally, reaching down to pull a last stick from her mane and toss it to the side. "It is a pleasure to meet you, stranger. I was unaware someone so unique wandered these lands. I have never seen such decorations in a Soquili's mane such as those in yours. Do you come from a distant land?"
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:09 pm
So, she had battered a tree because a branch was stuck in her mane. For a few moments he considered this before drawing closer to inspect her mane as though intent on discerning whether or not any flecks of wood remained but he was already aware that there weren't. He supposed her reaction was reasonable but he would have been considerably calmer and less brutal, what if she had torn her mane, then she would be marred...
"Distant? In a way..." At last he replied to her question, taking a brief note of her split second glance towards his garb which he took to mean that she approved. Good, she had taste and that was something that was of utmost importance to him - only those with taste would be granted the priveledge of his company for more than a few minutes.
"I come from beyond the slopes," He began to circle her, admiring the contours of her body with a keen eye although oddly, no lust shone in them, "Through the mists where the nymphs, sprites and spirits of the dead are said to roam..." He purred, drawing near her ear as he released a chuckle and flicked his gaze towards her face once more.
"But I must say, it is a pleasure to met one so exotic as you, Lady Selene." He finished softly as an odd flicker appeared in his eyes before vanishing briefly. Was it malice, lust, considerate...? It was too brief to tell.
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:35 pm
Now, in Selene's defense it wasn't a tree, it was deadwood fallen to the grownd. She knew he had noticed her second glance and smiled faintly. Sharp mind in this one. Rare among some of the Soquili she had met, the wild ones that roamed.
Selene smiled, serene on the outside, but mind already ticking. He seemed to come from an absolutely magical place, really. It sounded wonderful. However, the odd way he looked at her made her feel oddly incaded. She forced her mucles to remain relaxed and allowed the stallion to look her over. "I'm honored you find me exotic, when you speak so sweetly of such magical lands you come from." she murmured, sidestepping to draw her head away from the stallion. "You do me too much honor. And what would your name be, my lord?"
Lady had been such an odd term, so she returned it. Either way, be it an oddity of his speech or a title of meaning, you couldn't go wrong with courtesy before familiarity.
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 6:47 pm
"In order to become aware of my name, one must first give a reason for desiring to know it..." Flashing an almost coy smile the stallion did not pursue her as she distanced herself and instead, he took the chivalrous approach in which he accepted her choice and simply observed her from a distance although she already seemed to be somewhat uneasy...after all she had moved away from his immeidate vicinity.
"One must first tell me why one's name is so important and should I agree to these reasons then one shall have the knowledge bestowed upon them." He continued, his eyes twinkling almost mischeviously as he shifted his weight, his silver mane glimmering almost like liquid metal as the light from the sun's rays above managed to penetrate the canopy briefly.
"After all -" He allowed a low chuckle to escape from his throat in an almost sultry fashion, "To know one's name is to allow for potential for a connection and it is not always in one's best interest to have a connection...particularly if they are found to be wanting or -" He paused briefly to admire her physique again, the glint in his eyes returning for an instance.
"Undeserving." He finished at last, curious as to how she might react to his words. As far as he remembered, the fiery mare at his new abode had reacted somewhat badly to it but it was designed to be almost provocative...
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:07 pm
"Names are important in that they provide more connection. They are a... a tag, if you will. They separate you from others quickly, easily. Would you like others to refer to you as, for example, 'that strange soquili with the long red hair, and the silly little rose on her leg'. No, you would want a title that would identify you quickly, securely." she smiled faintly.
Selene raised an eyebrow. "But, if one will so easily dismiss the chance of a connection, perhaps it is out of fear." her eyes challenged lightly. "Be careful not to let that fear cut off all chances that could be... beneficial to you in the future." She glanced him over evenly, returning his appraising gaze.
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Posted: Mon Sep 04, 2006 8:19 pm
"If it was the individuals preference or their place in society then yes, I have no qualms with addressing them by the colour of their pelt." He replied smoothly, raising a brow as she attempted to use his own response against him - he admired her for taking the risk but unfortunately, on this occasion he appeared to have the upper hand.
And why was that?
...Well he knew the way out of the forest didn't he?
"However, I do not prevent connection through fear so much as through logical thought." He flashed a smile as he tilted his head to the right with the intention of shifting his forelock back into place and away from his eye. It was only a brief pause but it was enough for him to regather his train of thought and decide upon his next move.
"It is only through logic that e recognise what is of benefit to us." Releasing another of his sultry chuckles he flicked his gaze towards her once more before teasingly moving it in a direction further away as though he was preparing to leave her alone, lost in the middle of a forest where 'nymphs' may plague her again.
"For example, one who is flighty or easily frightened is no use in a tight situation - " He paused to turn round, his back towards her as he began to walk deeper into the forest, stopping only briefly to glance over his shoulder almost questioningly although by now the sun had lost its battle with the canopy and shadows shrouded him from view.
"Are they?" He finished softly before moving on once more.
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Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 2:35 pm
Selene snorted at Paramekia moved away. Silly stallion. However, a high pitched cry of her name from somewhere in the forest had her snorting in alarm. "No, he can't find me!" she hissed, and hit the forest floor, staring around wildly. Stupid Duo! "He never shuts up." she explained, before her image could be completely ruined, though she was 999% sure it was now decimated. She slunk deeper into the woods, trying to hide in the thicker plants. "He hounds me, he wakes me in the night to talk about hair, and his favorite flowers, and how handsome that stallion he saw today was." She bared her teeth, viciously. "He is quite possibly the most frightening Soquili known to me."
As the noise of feet faded, she stood, eyes still glancing around cautiously. "If you go, don't let him find you." she advised, shuddering. "Coyotes would be a kinder fate."
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Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 2:44 pm
"Or perhaps you would prefer to accompany me to more secluded and unknown quarters." Paramekia once again paused and turned his head to gaze at the mare as she degraded herself quite a lot within a short period of time for the sake of a stallion who was apparently an irritant to her - why did she not simply develop cloth ears?
"If he cannot see you from the ground or from above then you are less likely to be found." He paused briefly, his voice still soft and sultry as though it was simply the manner in which he spoke by default as opposed to a voice he 'faked', "Regardless of whether or not you are so easily recognisable, M'lady Selene." He added before giving a very slight nod and an almost expectant gaze, as though he was inviting her along for the trip.
Even so, he didn't stand in the same spot for long and instead, turned his gaze ahead of him once more and very quietly, proceeded through the forest, although he had shifted his course somewhat as though he truly was heading towards a different location.
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Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 3:02 pm
Selene tilted her head. She really, really didn't like his voice. It was almost as irritating in its own way as Duo's, though one was harsh and grating and the other velvety soft and somehow thin, emotionless to her. She shook out her mane with an indefinable look on her face. "Very well then, m'lord, lead on." she murmured, wrinkling up her nose at his almost reluctant- or commanding, she was undecided- invitation, once his back was turned, of course.
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Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 3:15 pm
It wasn't that he lacked emotion, so much as he refused to show it. Logic had always been his friend and throughout his years on the other side o the mountains he had become aware that to hide one's emotions was to give one the upper hand in almost every situation. Afterall, there were few who could corner you or draw out a trump card if they had nothing to go by, now could they?
"Had you spoken that with a hint more rspect I would have been shown at least a hint of gratitude." Again the low voice rumbled from his throat and his amber eyes seemed to flick towards her before returning to what was ahead, "However, perhaps it would be more appropriate if you did not address me with such a title if you insist on belittling it." Choosing to stop at this point, he simply released a chuckle as if to show he was a little bemused by the 'sass' she possessed.
Nevertheless, although he moved on in silence it seemed that he didn't do it out of a desire to be aloof but rather out of necessity as he sought out the various, minute sounds he required to pinpoint the location in which he had intended to go, to the point that he eventually led her into so much undergrowth that it resembled a jungle.
Ah Well.
...At least there weren't any burrs here.
"Duck." He ordered simply as he lowered his head, the two hair ornaments serving as supports as he then pushed upwards and moved a rather large and thick branch out of the way so that she could move through - what she was greeted with was not a normal clearing in a forest, but rather something quite magical.
For what lay beyond the branch was in fact a lucious and very exotic circular clearing, filled with many different types of flowers and a single and virtually undisturbed pool of water. The water seemed to be fed by both an unseen source and a very tiny waterfall with water that cascaded down upon the moss covered rocks and trailed along the long ivy stems.
Above them, a thick canopy that swayed with the wind above shrouded them from view and yet, every now and then a flicker of sunlight managed to penetrate it to project a single beam of light upon the small pool.
To say the least, it was a location that he found pleasant and the warmth that soon entered his eyes made it rather clear.
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Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 3:34 pm
"Perhaps you could tell me your name, if you don't want me to adress you with that title." she shot back sweetly, carefully watching her step so she didn't tangle up her mane anymore. At the short command, she ducked instinctively, ducking under the branch and pulling up once she was free.
Oh... oh my.
Selene's eyes lit up, gleaming. Waterfalls were dear to her, she herself had one she liked to go to when she needed to relax. She moved carefully through the grass, being care to disturb it all as little as she could, moving over to the mossy rocks and settling herself down on them, curling up. "Lovely." she commented, and smiled. She closed her eyes briefly, listening to the soft trickle, delicate ears twitching.
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Posted: Tue Sep 05, 2006 3:43 pm
"Hm, and virtually impossible to find unless you stumble upon it by accident." The stallion replied once more, expertly navigating his own way through while still maintaining his hold upon the branch. It was only when he was completely inside that he dropped it and it once again swung into position to shroud them completely from view - it was as he had said it would be, they would be rather hard to find in here.
"We are also rather deep within the forest, should you even shout I suspect that your companion would struggle to locate you." He pointed out smoothly, clearing his throat as he approached one of the ivy stems and unceremoniously snapped it from its roots. Why would remain unknown for the time being but he did drop it within one of the many flower patches before approaching the mare once more...although this time he seemed to keep his distance.
"As I said though, Lady Selene -" He fixed his gaze solely on her, his ears swivelling round in conjunction with them, "You need to give me a reason for desiring to know what my birthrite is."
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