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 Posted: Fri Nov 03, 2006 2:28 pm
((Get it? Crushing? Meh, lol.... so it was weak!))
T'Cora picked her way daintily down the cliff-face. An extremely narrow path twisted and turned down towards a small beach with rocks that jutted far out into the ocean, perfect for nearly immersing herself in the atmosphere of the ocean without actually getting wet. She wasn't in a mood for wet today, with a strong, chilled wind blowing. But she couldn't resist the call of the waves.
Her eyes remained focused ahead of her. The path was mostly rock, strewn with dirt from above and sand from below. It was treacherous to solid hooves, though she had found her cloven hooves helped minimize the amount of slipping she experienced on rock surfaces. Her dainty movements helped her keep her footing as well. After a time, her hooves hit the genuine sand of the beach.
She heaved a sigh and chose to kneel down in the sun-warmed sand. Here in this sheltered place, nesteled between the rockfaces as it was, the wind did not reach her. A faint breeze did swirl, stirring the vines that climbed up the rock nearby and the bits of sturdy saltgrass that grew nearby. It rippled her curling mane gently, and she sighed once more, eyes sliding closed. She missed Mystre. He had stayed back at the teepee for some well-deserved rest time. From this far away, she couldn't hear him in her mind, and it made her feel vaguely melancholy.
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Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 7:25 pm
Rainbow Reef spent his days increasing in the company of the ocean alone. It was that he didn't like it here in his new home...heavens no! He was nothing but grateful to have been allowed to relocate to this fine area after fleeing his homeland once the Kalona problem became too powerful to deal with...
His soaked puple mane broke the surface of the frothy, dark water. He took a long, greedy breath as his lungs ceased their burning need for oxygen. For as friendly as the majority of the herd here had been, Reefie just hadn't felt that connection to any soquili here yet. The lonliness and heartache of his missing (and fallen) mates from home drove him every more into seclusion.
Because the sea was the same. Every changing and wild, but very much the same. And if he'd had a firmer grasp on psychology he would have admitted readily that he needed, craved the stability of the ocean.
He shook out his hair and opened his eyes, twitching his nose at the drop of water beaded at the end of his whiskers. He looked up at the heavy gray sky and felt absolutely enveloped by the sea and sky. He grinned and let his gaze meander back to the rocky shore.
The drab tan and grey of the sand and rocks was almost violently interrupted by a creature of some striking hue of teal. He blinked again to discern that it was a soquili....a mare. He was too far out into the water to make out the detailing in her coat, or even to confirm his suspicions that she had a long, slender horn protruding from the center of her forehead.
All he knew was that there was a possibility she was like him, drawn to the ocean. And that hope alone was enough to keep him treading water, mouth slightly agape, staring towards her on the beach.
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Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:26 pm
After a rest in the warm sands, she rose and paced towards the hissing waves as they surged up onto the sand. She stepped lightly out onto the soaked sand and stopped where the flow of cold water would wash over her fetocks, soothing after her long descent. Enjoying the feel of the water rushing against her legs, then pulling away again, she closed her eyes and listened.
The roar of the waves as they cascaded over rocks far out, smashing together in what she knew were foamy explosions, came to her ears. She pricked them forward, soaking in more of the sound of the sea. The hiss of foam being drawn over the sand granules followed by the sudden gurgle of water sweeping back up again drew her attention next. It coincided with the rush of cool and less cool around her hooves, lulling and soothing her. And last, she focused on the trickling, tinking of the water as it trickled down off the higher rocks, dribbling in pleasant tones back into the rush of water as it ebbed and flowed.
She stood this way, ears canted forward and eyes closed, for quite some time, willingly mezmerized by the cadence of the ocean. She swayed slightly with the rhythm, while the wind whipped her curling mane back away from her face, streaming it behind her. Her tail-tip flicked behind her in time to the rhythm as well. In the end, the effect was that she danced without moving her hooves. It was an inward melding with the sea, where her heart dwelt always. She reveled in timeless moments like this.
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Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:39 pm
She'd moved closer, only to pause again only steps from submersion. He couldn't understand how any creature could willingly kepp themselves from the ocean's loving grasp. He got a little closer...near enough to see her eyes shut in rapturous repose. He idly confirmed that she was a unicorn, and grinned slightly to see the detailing of her coat: swirling shades of but that was unmistakably oceanic. He was thrilled.
With all the excitement and anticipation of a child about to recieve a present, Reefie dipped below the water and swan towards the shore, emerging relatively noiselessly some yards down the shore from her. She could be that friend he was missing so desperately...the one that could understand his passions and share them. How could she not? There she was, standing like a veritable sea goddess in commune with her domain.
He trotted up the wet sand towards her, eyes bright and grinning in awed expectation. His wet braids and mane stuck oddly to his neck and face, but he made no attempts to right himself as he cleared his throat softly and swished his tail.
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Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 8:47 pm
It was actually the sound of hoof striking wet sand that interrupted the hypnotizing affect of the sounds and feel of the sea. She didn't open her eyes just yet, unwilling to let it snap away from her like that. Instead she let it go lingeringly, extracting herself from her communing slowly. Thus it was that when she heard the distinct sound of someone clearing their throat, she was not caught off guard, but was ready to open her eyes and regard her companion.
At first she blinked, trying to clear her vision, for purple flashes seemed to drift across the soquili standing before her. After the realizatio nthat this was his natural coloring, it dawned on her that he was dripping wet, as if he had come out of the ocean itself. She cast a glance out at the surging water, then back at him, her curiousity rising. A soquili willing to swim in the restless sea? How... intriguing!
"Greetings, friend," she began, as her uncle Eloran would. She liked how he connected with others, and had adopted his friendly attitude. "Are you out to enjoy the ocean on this lovely day as I am?" She didn't even flick a glance at the clouded grey sky. It was as it should be. The ocean was almost always perfect, no matter the weather. Even when it raged, it seemed righteous in it's fury, rather than beastly and cruel. Or at least, she had always felt so. Thus, it being heavily cloudy did not mean the day was any less right for enjoyment.
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Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 9:03 pm
It was her instantaneous usage of the word 'friend' that had floored him. How long had it been since he'd been called that? Before they had died (no, had been killed), certainly. But morose thoughts were for another time and place. Best to always put a good hoof forward, so to speak.
Perhaps his grin widened at her greeting. He wasn't even sure if his cheeks were capable of streatching farther, nor was he aware of his charmed expression. He nodded in joyful greeting and tried his best not to stare at any part of her for too long, lest he scare away his new friend (he had a FRIEND now, didn't he?)
"I," he blinked a little vacantly, trying to recall just what she had said to him before his mind became an incoherent flurry of half-formed thoughts. "always enjoy it. The ocean, that it. It's like a second home to me...maybe a first one."
He probably wasn't making a whole lot of sense, but then again, it was taking all his mental fortitude to keep himself from barraging the mare with questions.
"It is a lovely day, isn't it?" He looked up at the sky and blinked at the radiated brightness of the sun through the overcast layer, blanketing the world with an even, mellow light. "There's nowhere I'd rather be right now."
He looked back at the arresting mare and nodded again. That was the truth. "My name is Rainbow Reef. I don't think I've seen you around here before, have I? I think I would remember if I did."
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Posted: Sat Nov 04, 2006 9:15 pm
His infectious smile made her own smile to grow. He definitely seemed enthused to meet her, which was, oddly enough, a first. There seemed much distruste and jadedness in the world. But here was someone as open and friendly as her uncle. It was invigorating and highly refreshing. Thus it was as he nearly stuttered all over himself, expressing his pleasure in the day and the ocean, that she tossed back her head and gave a light laugh, tossing her head merrily.
"Oh, I know just what you mean. I like to believe I was born from the ocean." She turned her eyes out to the sea. "I was found in my basket, resting beside the rocks within the surf. So you could say it is my first home as well." She turned her bright smile to the jovial stallion, when he introduced himself. "A pleasure to meet a fellow lover of the sea! I am T'Cora." It felt strange to not have her wolf companion to introduce as well, but she held her tongue from doing so anyway. Strangely enough, it seemed well-timed that her four-pawed brother was not with her when meeting this vibrant stallion.
Shifting her thoughts from this distracting direction, she turned towards him again, eyes glowing with good-nature as she again took in his dripping braids. "Did you by chance swim in your first home to get here? I'm pretty sure you didn't climb down as I did." She cast a glance at the steep path behind them. It was only then that it occured to her that they both were gravitating to the ocean, at least partially facing it with their backs generally turned towards the land. How... intriguing!
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Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2006 11:49 am
How Wonderful! Reefie took in every word, stunned to find her own story was so similar to his own. "I was found in the shallows of a lagoon back home, playing with a group of seals. My patterning...it's just like theirs too. All the elders of my herd wondered if I was some sort of selkie-soquili."
He stared out into space momentarily, lost in his thoughts. "But I'm not!" he finished, enthusiastically.
He blew at a dangling purple braid with the corner of his mouth, resisting the urge to shake himself dry next to T'Cora. T'Cora...what a lovely name...
He blinked, realizing he had once again zoned out. It was a very bad habit that had only worsened with his increased isolation. "Beg pardon, what did you say? Something about a swim?"
He blinked pleasantly, his eyes opened alertly to maintain his attention. "I did swim here, if that was what you were asking. I've pretty much made camp over around that jetty there. There's a little harbor that happens to stay very hidden and shielded from...things by the jagged cliffs. I prefer swimming to go to and fro, rather than climbing."
He bit his lip and tilted his head incrementally to the right. "I could...show it to you sometime. I mean, I know we just met and all...and I don't mean anything inappropriate...but the way the dark rocks are littered across the pale sands...it really is pretty, if not a little drab."
He tossed his mane uncomfortably, his own nervousness being amplified by the torturous dripping of his mane and fur.
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Posted: Thu Nov 09, 2006 6:06 pm
T'Cora was growing steadily more amused. His drifting thoughts and continuous gaze made her smile rather than flustering her. He seemed a dear thing, reminding her of a butterfly. He certainly was colorful and flittering, but lovable and adorable. She had finally decided what his patterning reminded her of. It was the same color and appearance as the corals she'd see far beneath the surface, when she chose to go diving. It had been a long time.
Her ears pricked forward as he invited her to his own secret spot of the magical area where land met sea. Her hide shivered excitedly and her hooves danced on the sand, leaving odd cloven marks. "Oh, that would be delightful! When may we go?" Her nostrils flared and she tossed her head spiritedly at the thought of swimming. She hadn't done so for too long, being involved with things inland. Like terrifying two-leggers. She supressed a shudder and turned bright aqua eyes towards the stallion.
On the peripherary of her attention, the sea surged more violently and heaved over the rocks and over itself. The tide was turning, so if they were to do this today, they needed to hurry or wait a time before entering the water. Even creatures drawn to the sea such as they could be swept dangerously askew in tidal flows.
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Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 6:48 pm
Reef began hurriedly into a apologetic rant. "Oh well, I totalyl understadn why you wouldn't...and it's totally okay too, I just hope we can hang out some oth- huh?"
He cocked his head with disbelief. "Yeah? You really do? That's terrific!"
The sudden roar of a particularly fiesty wave across the rocks took his attention. It was now or never. Even he would think twice about swimming around the cliffs if things continued to worsen at that rate.
The last time he'd let his male ego get the best of him, Reef'd managed to bang himself up pretty good on the trip. It'd drawn enough blood to attract more than one hungry oceanic predator...and those stupid sharks had managed to give his poor tail a suprise trim...
"YOU WON'T GET MY BEAUTIFUL PURPLE TAIL THIS TIME!" He shouted vociferously at the ocean, realizing too late that 90% of that last conversation had taken place entirely within his own mind.
"Anyway," he covered, blushing furiously, "we ought to get going. Are you comfortable swimming the distance?"
If the question was insulting, it certainly hadn't been his intent. His past had taught him far too well to treasure and protect his friends as best he could, even if it occasionally came across improperly.
He twitched his whiskers a bit, ready to dive into the deep blue once more.
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Posted: Tue Nov 14, 2006 7:21 pm
Almost everything about this funny male made T'Cora smile. His hurried acceptance of her declining that she hadn't done amused her. She patiently waited for her words to sink in and smiled warmly at him when it dawned on him that she'd accepted instead. The poor guy, how often has he tried to invite a friend and been refused? she wondered to herself. Seeing how happy it made him warmed her, and she stepped forward eagerly.
The sea had crashed again, and it had earned a glare from Rainbow Reef. Next thing she knew, he was berating the ocean at the top of his lungs. She stifled an amused laugh, peering at his tail curiously. What could the ocean do to his tail, she wondered with twinkling eyes. When asked about the swim, she paused to consider seriously. "I think I'll be alright. It doesn't look too far around those rocks there." She pointed with her nose, then grinned sideways at him. "And I think your tail will be safe too. Ready?" And with that, she shot down the sandy beach, bounded lightly out onto the rocks, and then leapt into the water as it pulled out towards an incoming wave.
Taking a deep breath, she ducked under and let the wave roll over her before breaking the surface and looking about for her new friend. She'd have to follow his lead to find her way safely to their destination.
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Posted: Sun Nov 19, 2006 8:33 pm
"Ah, yeah. I'm re--" He watched her, mouth agape, as she bounded without hesitation into the frothy sea.
"You most definitely are the coolest mare I've ever met," he muttered to himself before following suit.
How had he managed to happen upon such a mare...she was stunningly pretty, kind, and loved the ocean as much as he did! She really was so kind to him...so many of the others in this land laughed at his dizziness. But when she laughed it never seemed so condescending.
Surfacing, he shook his head to get his mane out of his vision. Spotting the bright mare rather quickly against the murky sky and dark waters, he grinned and began slowly doggy-paddling towards her. "Brrr...it's a lot colder when you go in and out in a short period of time."
He nodded sagely and turned to face the jagged rocks shielding his home. "Off we go then...I can start a fire to dry us when we get to shore...doesn't that sound lovely?"
He closed his eyes and imaged the warmth of the fire, and how much nicer it would be to share it with another. Oddly enough, Reefie despised being cold and wet when on land, and had developed a clever technique for starting bonfires when he was just a colt.
He checked over his shoulder to make sure she was still there. Meeting her seemed too good to be true. His attraction to her, while strong, was not terribly romantic. He was simply so thrilled to meet a kindred spirit the thoughts hadn't crossed his mind.
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Posted: Mon Nov 20, 2006 12:48 pm
T'Cora followed gamely. The water felt chilly, but it never seemed actually cold to her. Getting out... well, that could be a different matter entirely, dependant on the weather. The thought of the fire did urge her on, though somewhere in the back of her mind she wondered how a soquili had mastered the art of fire, normally the magic of humans. She snorted and tossed her wet forelock out of her eyes. As if she was one to question magci!.
She swam along behind him, her white horn rising starkly from the water, even when a wave drew her into a trough. Her legs churned the water powerfully, but she eyed the nearing cliffs with growing alarm. But still Reef approached them, and she continued to follow him. What was a friendship without trust? Already this perky stallion had gained the right to her trust, so she put aside her qualms and focused on folloing his floating purple tail.
These really weren't the circumstances she had imagined meeting her heart's love in. That always involved a moonlit night and a gentle ocean with the smell of sweet spring grass in the air. The one time she'd come close to that had been a bit disappointing. Consequently, she didn't think of this as romance, but the gaining of a friend. It didn't occur to her that true love almost always had more qualities of a wonderful friendship than it did of fairytale romance.
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Posted: Fri Dec 08, 2006 11:38 am
The rocks were navigated with very little consequence. For that, Reefie was thankful. As he padded into the calm lagoon, he smiled inwardly, his teal eyes glinting with hopeful joy. A quick check over his shoulder once again reminded him that this wasn't yet another of his elaborate daydreams. He really was with T'Cora!
He slowed and moved to her side, no longer needing to lead the way. He absentmindedly noticed how attractive her coat was. If it was possible, the ocean only served to increase her beauty. Normally, wet soquili were about as aesthetically pleasling as a downed rat. But not T'Cora...no, not his friend T'Cora. But perhaps he was biased.
"So let me give you the grand tour," he chuckled as they neared the shore. "This is the lagoon, that's the shore, that's the pile of moss I sleep on, and that's my firepit."
He gestured as best he could with his head to the various places on the beach, but it was rather unnecessary as Reefie was impeccable about keeping his home neat and debris-free. No a single stray rock or strand or seaweed could be found. He did have a lot of time to himself...
"Welcome to my home." He grinned, chancing to lock his eyes with T'Cora and beaming like the proudest parent.
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Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2007 1:24 pm
T'Cora smiled in delight as she entered the cover and he indicated the features of his home. Soon her hooves touched sand, and she trod through the shallower water, coat dripping and curls clinging to her neck and hindquarters. She quite honestly was completely unaware of the stallion's admiring glances, her eyes wandering across his domain.
But soon she paused, her ears swiveling in convusion. "Did you say something about starting a fire?" She moved slowly to the firepit and sniffed at it like a wild thing near a new object. Then she raised her head to gaze at him in bafflement. "But the humans are the only ones who can do that." There was also a certain amount of wariness in her voice, as if she was afraid he'd suddenly reveal himself as a human and toss a net over her. She didn't actally fear such a silly thing, but it felt odd, having a fellow soquili mention doing such a very human thing.
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