The Story So Far...
TawnyAngel
The black Aeri stretched his stride a little further, urged his muscles into greater effort. It was exhilarating to race along the beach under the moonlight, to gallop through the shallows of the ocean and to feel the salt-water splash up his legs and onto his belly, keeping him from overheating on his long run.
The orange-eyed Nequus bunched his muscles and launched himself over a clump of seaweed, landing on the other side with a splash and a dull thud of large hooves on wet sand.
It had been some while since he'd visited the coast but he probably wouldn’t have bothered to come back this soon if it hadn't been for the friend he'd made here. The bone-clad Nequus smiled faintly to himself as he wondered how much the colt had grown since their last meeting.
The orange-eyed Nequus bunched his muscles and launched himself over a clump of seaweed, landing on the other side with a splash and a dull thud of large hooves on wet sand.
It had been some while since he'd visited the coast but he probably wouldn’t have bothered to come back this soon if it hadn't been for the friend he'd made here. The bone-clad Nequus smiled faintly to himself as he wondered how much the colt had grown since their last meeting.
DareDelvil
"Lucius!"
The cry came from above. Something dark with leathery wings was soaring through the night sky - well, perhaps "soaring" was too kind a word. Its flight was somewhat wobbly, and punctuated with stray flaps that tried and failed to keep its course level, but it was nonetheless airborne and heading towards a fairly comfortable landing in the shallows. Someone, or so it seemed, had been practising.
Vox's hooves hit the water almost all at once, and he ploughed into the surf like a rather clumsy green waterbird. It reached up to his neck, and it was *cold*, but not so cold that he could not trot out of it almost at once. He broke into a run that brought him alongside the elder Aeri, breathing heavily, hoping that Lucius would slow down soon and allow him to stop for a rest.
"I flew!" he panted. "I flew! And look - all in one - huff - one piece!"
The cry came from above. Something dark with leathery wings was soaring through the night sky - well, perhaps "soaring" was too kind a word. Its flight was somewhat wobbly, and punctuated with stray flaps that tried and failed to keep its course level, but it was nonetheless airborne and heading towards a fairly comfortable landing in the shallows. Someone, or so it seemed, had been practising.
Vox's hooves hit the water almost all at once, and he ploughed into the surf like a rather clumsy green waterbird. It reached up to his neck, and it was *cold*, but not so cold that he could not trot out of it almost at once. He broke into a run that brought him alongside the elder Aeri, breathing heavily, hoping that Lucius would slow down soon and allow him to stop for a rest.
"I flew!" he panted. "I flew! And look - all in one - huff - one piece!"
TawnyAngel
Lucius slowed to an easy canter and from there to a walk as the younger Aeri trotted out of the water. "So I saw," he smiled. "Very impressive, I don't think I could fly by your age... almost certainly not on greater thought."
After a few more paces, the large Nequus came to a complete halt and looked down upon the green-coated colt. "You've grown," he commented with another smile as his orange eyes ran over his young friend's slightly taller and more muscled frame. "You'll be as big as me in no time... It's good to see you again, Vox."
And it was, even though he hadn’t been around the youngster for very long upon their first meeting he’d still missed the little green face somewhat. It is always good to be back among friends.
After a few more paces, the large Nequus came to a complete halt and looked down upon the green-coated colt. "You've grown," he commented with another smile as his orange eyes ran over his young friend's slightly taller and more muscled frame. "You'll be as big as me in no time... It's good to see you again, Vox."
And it was, even though he hadn’t been around the youngster for very long upon their first meeting he’d still missed the little green face somewhat. It is always good to be back among friends.
DareDelvil
Vox nudged Lucius' shoulder with his nose. "I am equally glad to see you," he answered warmly, though his voice was shaking a little with the cold. "I have been practising most nights, training my wings, but I have not noticed myself growing - now you mention it, I am sure I remember you being taller." It was a mild jest, and he hoped Lucius would take it in the spirit in which it was intended.
Something occurred to him. "...Can we keep walking, please? I hate to push you onward after a long run, but I might freeze to the spot if I stand still for too long." His teeth would be chattering before long. How embarrassing. He would not give up the moon's light for anything, but sometimes he felt that day-dwellers had it so much easier.
Something occurred to him. "...Can we keep walking, please? I hate to push you onward after a long run, but I might freeze to the spot if I stand still for too long." His teeth would be chattering before long. How embarrassing. He would not give up the moon's light for anything, but sometimes he felt that day-dwellers had it so much easier.
TawnyAngel
Without a word, Lucius set off at an easy walk again. "I'm sure I haven't shrunk so it must be you that's got bigger," he smiled at the speckled youth. "And you needn't worry about keeping me walking, I ought to do so in any case. If you just stop and rest right away after a long run, or a long fly, you may well find yourself stiff and sore the next evening. Keeping the muscles working gently for a while is a good idea."
"So, how has life been treating you?" the orange-winged aeri quizzed, adjusting his course so that he walked a little closer to the chilled colt. Hopefully some of the heat that radiated from his muscles, and from the perpetually warm bones that he wore, would reach the youngster through the night air.
"So, how has life been treating you?" the orange-winged aeri quizzed, adjusting his course so that he walked a little closer to the chilled colt. Hopefully some of the heat that radiated from his muscles, and from the perpetually warm bones that he wore, would reach the youngster through the night air.
DareDelvil
"Well enough," Vox answered with a smile, heeding Lucius' warning and stretching his wings gently. "Flight practice goes increasingly well, as you no doubt saw, though I have yet to get the hang of the warm air trick. Oh, and I managed to lose myself in the northern part of Shrilal - that was interesting." He laughed. "Trying to navigate in a forest after having lived on the coast all one's life is...bothersome, to say the least."
As he walked beside the taller Aeri, he was sure that Lucius was giving off more heat than he ought. He frowned slightly, considering this. Did it have something to do with...
"...Lucius, may I ask you something?"
As he walked beside the taller Aeri, he was sure that Lucius was giving off more heat than he ought. He frowned slightly, considering this. Did it have something to do with...
"...Lucius, may I ask you something?"
TawnyAngel
Lucius smiled slightly as the youth spoke, it was good to hear that he was doing well and to see that he was none the worse for his adventure in the forests. He envied the green colt a very little, he would have given anything to be able to do such normal things at the younger Aeri’s age. On the whole however, Lucius decided that he was far gladder for his friend’s happiness than he was bitter about his own decidedly dull foalhood.
The tall Nequus nodded to Vox's question, his curly mane caught and toyed with for a moment by a gust of wind. "Go ahead,” he said, tossing his head to settle his rumpled red forelock out of his strange eyes. “I don't promise to answer but I do promise not to be angry. I don't believe that asking questions is ever wrong for how else is one to learn?"
The tall Nequus nodded to Vox's question, his curly mane caught and toyed with for a moment by a gust of wind. "Go ahead,” he said, tossing his head to settle his rumpled red forelock out of his strange eyes. “I don't promise to answer but I do promise not to be angry. I don't believe that asking questions is ever wrong for how else is one to learn?"
DareDelvil
Well, at least Lucius would not be angry. Not getting an answer was not a welcoming prospect, but despite his accumulating worries Vox resolved to ask the question anyway.
"...How did you come by your second skeleton?"
There. The words were out, and let the other do with them what he would. But the wind seemed rather colder now he was less certain of himself, and he had to tuck his wings around himself to avoid shivering. Much as he loved to live life as it came, there were times at which he longed for the gift of foresight: unlike its cousin hindsight, it was probably not constantly dogged by the shadow of helplessness.
"...How did you come by your second skeleton?"
There. The words were out, and let the other do with them what he would. But the wind seemed rather colder now he was less certain of himself, and he had to tuck his wings around himself to avoid shivering. Much as he loved to live life as it came, there were times at which he longed for the gift of foresight: unlike its cousin hindsight, it was probably not constantly dogged by the shadow of helplessness.
TawnyAngel
Lucius laughed lightly and twisted his neck to inspect the rib-caged that encased his own. "That is quite a long story when told in full but I will be happy to give you the summery for now and fill in detail at some later date."
The bulky Aeri walked on in silence for a few moments as he worked out what he would say. "They belonged to a flame elemental, Pyrus he called himself, who lived two or three generations ago. He was an Aeri, like us, and possessed a brilliant mind along with his power. He had plans to improve the lives of those that lived around him but to do so he needed their loyalty and for a time at least their obedience."
The black-coated Nequus shook his head, feeling once again that mixture of rage and sadness at what had been done. "His offer was not refused," the stallion went on after a while. "His trust was earned and then, one night, he was murdered. Those who he called friend broke his legs and left him to die. I heard the story as a colt, older than you yet not a stallion by any means, and I went to the place where they had killed him to bring his bones back with me. I am not sure even now exactly why I did it, beyond a wish to allow him to live on in some small way. Since then I have tried to live up to his legacy as well as I may without magic in my blood."
The bulky Aeri walked on in silence for a few moments as he worked out what he would say. "They belonged to a flame elemental, Pyrus he called himself, who lived two or three generations ago. He was an Aeri, like us, and possessed a brilliant mind along with his power. He had plans to improve the lives of those that lived around him but to do so he needed their loyalty and for a time at least their obedience."
The black-coated Nequus shook his head, feeling once again that mixture of rage and sadness at what had been done. "His offer was not refused," the stallion went on after a while. "His trust was earned and then, one night, he was murdered. Those who he called friend broke his legs and left him to die. I heard the story as a colt, older than you yet not a stallion by any means, and I went to the place where they had killed him to bring his bones back with me. I am not sure even now exactly why I did it, beyond a wish to allow him to live on in some small way. Since then I have tried to live up to his legacy as well as I may without magic in my blood."
DareDelvil
"...A noble cause indeed," Vox answered faintly. He could muster no more words for some time: the cruel injustice of the elemental's fate had wounded him. Turned upon by his friends? Left to starve to death in terrible pain? Were Nequus capable of such atrocities? The thought made him feel physically ill.
At length, he regained command of his voice and spoke. "...Why would anyone do such a thing?" he asked, more of the world than of Lucius. "Fear? Jealousy? Sheer unbridled malice? How could any stallion live with himself after killing one who called him friend? How could any mare look her foals in the eye, knowing that she had murdered one who held her dear?"
His throat was locking up. Augh. Lucius would probably think him ridiculously juvenile now. How humiliating.
At length, he regained command of his voice and spoke. "...Why would anyone do such a thing?" he asked, more of the world than of Lucius. "Fear? Jealousy? Sheer unbridled malice? How could any stallion live with himself after killing one who called him friend? How could any mare look her foals in the eye, knowing that she had murdered one who held her dear?"
His throat was locking up. Augh. Lucius would probably think him ridiculously juvenile now. How humiliating.
TawnyAngel
The tall stallion sighed and gave the colt's shoulder a gentle nudge with his muzzle. Goodness knew he hadn't meant the story to upset him. "Some Nequus... they don't care about that sort of thing I suppose. They feared him and so they sought a way to be rid of him. I doubt his death troubled their consciences; the old Jala who told the story was one of the traitors and he seemed proud of what he had done. Indeed, he and those who carried out the killing were considered heroes."
The black-coated stallion sighed again and swished his tail idly. "Not everyone is as good as you, young Vox," he said quietly, turning his eyes up to the moon.
The black-coated stallion sighed again and swished his tail idly. "Not everyone is as good as you, young Vox," he said quietly, turning his eyes up to the moon.
DareDelvil
Vox swallowed hard, struggling to regain his composure. "Then I...I suppose I shall just have to be the very best that I can be," he managed. "Someone must stand for the good in the Nequus. Someone must be be true and good and honourable - someone must love for those who cannot, or will not, love for themselves. You have taken up the mantle of Pyrus' truth, Lucius, and I feel now as though I ought to bear a burden of my own. My heart feels it, even if my limbs do not."
And he was damned if he was going to let anyone harm Lucius, he thought fervently to himself, no matter how keen the elder Aeri was to follow in the elemental's hoofprints. Even if someone threatened his life, he felt sure he would still stand in their way if they meant to hurt his friend. What if he could not? Why, then he would carry Lucius' mark with him everywhere, just as Lucius had done for Pyrus. It would only be fitting that such a creature as this should be remembered.
Almost subconsciously, he moved closer to his friend. His flank nudged against the elemental's bones, and it suddenly occurred to him that he had been right. The bones themselves were warm, as warm as living flesh.
"It is almost as if a part of him still lives in you," he said softly to Lucius. "His warmth lingers yet in these bones. Perhaps this is his blessing upon you, as he looks down from his resting place beside the moon. Perhaps...perhaps this is his only way of showing you that he is proud of you."
Were he Pyrus, Vox considered, he would certainly have been proud to see his legacy continue in the form of such an Aeri.
And he was damned if he was going to let anyone harm Lucius, he thought fervently to himself, no matter how keen the elder Aeri was to follow in the elemental's hoofprints. Even if someone threatened his life, he felt sure he would still stand in their way if they meant to hurt his friend. What if he could not? Why, then he would carry Lucius' mark with him everywhere, just as Lucius had done for Pyrus. It would only be fitting that such a creature as this should be remembered.
Almost subconsciously, he moved closer to his friend. His flank nudged against the elemental's bones, and it suddenly occurred to him that he had been right. The bones themselves were warm, as warm as living flesh.
"It is almost as if a part of him still lives in you," he said softly to Lucius. "His warmth lingers yet in these bones. Perhaps this is his blessing upon you, as he looks down from his resting place beside the moon. Perhaps...perhaps this is his only way of showing you that he is proud of you."
Were he Pyrus, Vox considered, he would certainly have been proud to see his legacy continue in the form of such an Aeri.
TawnyAngel
Lucius smiled down at the earnest young Aeri and gave him another nudge. "I am glad you feel that way... I admit I have on occasion wondered if he approved of what i did. I think he must, or as you say the bones would probably have gone chill and the spine certainly would not be flexible. By all rights it ought to have fallen apart by now but it seems as sturdy as ever."
As if to demonstrate this, the orange-eyed Nequus tossed his head a few times, extracting a series of clicks from the red spine. Display finished, Lucius turned his orange eyes back down upon his friend and smiled once more.
"Yes," he said after a moment, "you will grow up to be an exceptional Aeri."
As if to demonstrate this, the orange-eyed Nequus tossed his head a few times, extracting a series of clicks from the red spine. Display finished, Lucius turned his orange eyes back down upon his friend and smiled once more.
"Yes," he said after a moment, "you will grow up to be an exceptional Aeri."
DareDelvil
It was impressive, seeing the bones move as though they were a living part of his friend. Vox smiled back. "Thank you, Lucius. It is good to feel that someone has faith...in...me..."
He had stopped walking, trailing off as he stared at the ground. After a moment or two, he spoke.
"...er...Lucius? I think I may have found something."
Strange tracks were pressed into the sand, running off towards the cliffs. They were neither Nequus nor human, but they were undisputably from a living creature.
He had stopped walking, trailing off as he stared at the ground. After a moment or two, he spoke.
"...er...Lucius? I think I may have found something."
Strange tracks were pressed into the sand, running off towards the cliffs. They were neither Nequus nor human, but they were undisputably from a living creature.
TawnyAngel
The black Nequus followed his green-coated friend and frowned down at the tracks in the sand. "Humm..." he said, bending his neck down to inspect them. "Rit tracks," he informed the colt, straightening up again.
"They're smaller than us and they have soft fur where we have our short hair, paws with pads - you see the shape of them from the tracks there - where we have hooves. Tails are differnt too, more like an extra limb than anything else, used for balance."
The black Nequus smiled down at his young friend. "Shall we follow them? Its hard to describe the look of a creature to one who hasn't seen anything of the kind before."
"They're smaller than us and they have soft fur where we have our short hair, paws with pads - you see the shape of them from the tracks there - where we have hooves. Tails are differnt too, more like an extra limb than anything else, used for balance."
The black Nequus smiled down at his young friend. "Shall we follow them? Its hard to describe the look of a creature to one who hasn't seen anything of the kind before."
DareDelvil
His reaction to Lucius' description of the creature and subsequent suggestion was a silent internal amalgamation of excitement, curiosity and apprehension. "...I should like to see such a creature," he admitted eventually, "but...will we disturb it? I should hate to be a bother to the poor thing, particularly given it is smaller than me. I do not want to seem intimidating or bullying, or drive it away from whatever it wishes to do."
But he did want to see the creature, and so he hoped that Lucius would have some means by which they could avoid causing any disruption of the Rit's activities.
But he did want to see the creature, and so he hoped that Lucius would have some means by which they could avoid causing any disruption of the Rit's activities.
TawnyAngel
The big Aeri flicked an ear thoughtfully, holding his silence as he waited for his thoughts to solidify. "We could follow the tracks and see where they lead," he suggested. "We will be close enough for a good look before we disturb whatever he or she may be doing this night."
The black Nequus smiled slightly at his young friend's concern for the smaller animal. Such automatic compassion was not in his own nature but it was somewhat endearing nonetheless.
"I doubt it would fear us unless it were very young, which I doubt from the size of the tracks. They are used to being dwarfed by we Nequus and most do not seem to mind. They often like to find a high-ground from which to converse with us but do not seem particularly perturbed when such a surface is unavailable."
The black Nequus smiled slightly at his young friend's concern for the smaller animal. Such automatic compassion was not in his own nature but it was somewhat endearing nonetheless.
"I doubt it would fear us unless it were very young, which I doubt from the size of the tracks. They are used to being dwarfed by we Nequus and most do not seem to mind. They often like to find a high-ground from which to converse with us but do not seem particularly perturbed when such a surface is unavailable."
DareDelvil
His friend's assurances cheered Vox considerably, and he looked along the line of tracks with an inquisitive eye. "...Then yes, I should very much like to investigate," he admitted, slowly beginning to follow the pawprints across the sand. "Have you encountered many other creatures in these lands, Lucius? You did say you have travelled a fair distance - I know little of what lives here save the Nequus."
TawnyAngel
Lucius set off after his young friend, trusting the green colt to follow the trail in the sand. "Well, let me see now. There are humans, of course, most of them live far north of here but you may have seen one or two wandering around. Then there are the Shrila and the Zrun. Shrila are bird like creatures and the Zurn are a little more like us; hooved but smaller and with two horns that project backwards from their heads. Both of the latter can understand us but the humans cannot."
DareDelvil
Vox nodded slowly. "I...may have seen a Shrila, but not a Zrun or a Rit. And humans, yes, I have seen them. They seem friendly for the most part, though I admit I dared not approach the ones I saw. They were chattering away in a language I did not understand - it was a little intimidating."
The tracks became fainter as the sand became drier. He lowered his head, trying to see where the line of pawprints was leading. "...My tracking skills require some work, I fear," he murmured, slowing right down as he searched for the next clue.
The tracks became fainter as the sand became drier. He lowered his head, trying to see where the line of pawprints was leading. "...My tracking skills require some work, I fear," he murmured, slowing right down as he searched for the next clue.
TawnyAngel
The taller Aeri slowed down to match Vox's pace, careful to stay a little way behind him to as not to disturb any marks of the Rit's passage with his meat plate hooves.
"You might try looking by the little tufts of grass for prints," Lucius suggested. "They may have sheltered the tracks from the wind some little though I admit I myself have little experience in tracking it does seem to make sense."
The worst-case scenario was that he was wrong and no more trace of the little feline's passage would be found. If that happened he would have to try to give his green-winged friend a better explanation of a Rit. The orange-eyed Nequus frowned in concentration as he tried to formulate a suitable description.
"You might try looking by the little tufts of grass for prints," Lucius suggested. "They may have sheltered the tracks from the wind some little though I admit I myself have little experience in tracking it does seem to make sense."
The worst-case scenario was that he was wrong and no more trace of the little feline's passage would be found. If that happened he would have to try to give his green-winged friend a better explanation of a Rit. The orange-eyed Nequus frowned in concentration as he tried to formulate a suitable description.
DareDelvil
It made sense. "...mm, good idea. I wonder if..."
He padded over to the nearest tuft of grass and squinted at the pile of sand there. Sure enough, there was a faint imprint of a paw. "Aha! Found it! But...oh, I can hardly make it out. I have no idea which way the Rit was travelling..."
Perhaps Lucius would be better equipped to make something useful of it. "Just over here, by this clump of grass..."
He padded over to the nearest tuft of grass and squinted at the pile of sand there. Sure enough, there was a faint imprint of a paw. "Aha! Found it! But...oh, I can hardly make it out. I have no idea which way the Rit was travelling..."
Perhaps Lucius would be better equipped to make something useful of it. "Just over here, by this clump of grass..."
TawnyAngel
Oh by all powers he was supposed to know? "I'll take a look," the Aeri said slowly, walking over to stand beside his green-coated friend.
There indeed was the paw-print.
It looked like a paw-print.
"Well... Its pointing that way," Lucius said, tossing his head in the direction that the front of the pads faced. "So... well I suppose we head that way and investigate all the clumps of grass in a sort of semi-circular sweep, larger semi-circles as we move further."
Despite not having the first clue if he was talking nonsense or not, the black Nequus found himself rather enjoying the prospect of the search. Almost like a treasure hunt, he thought with a faint smile.
There indeed was the paw-print.
It looked like a paw-print.
"Well... Its pointing that way," Lucius said, tossing his head in the direction that the front of the pads faced. "So... well I suppose we head that way and investigate all the clumps of grass in a sort of semi-circular sweep, larger semi-circles as we move further."
Despite not having the first clue if he was talking nonsense or not, the black Nequus found himself rather enjoying the prospect of the search. Almost like a treasure hunt, he thought with a faint smile.
DareDelvil
"You speak good sense," Vox agreed, cheering up considerably. "I think I shall try to the left first - oh, I do hope I avoid treading on the prints before I catch sight of them! This is all terribly exciting."
He paced carefully across the sand, searching eagerly for more Rit pawmarks. The first few tufts of grass yielded nothing, but the fourth was different. Not a pawprint in sight, but there, caught among the tough green stems:
"...oh, Lucius, look!"
It was a single smooth, perfect feather. Perhaps it had belonged to a Shrila, or some other bird, or...was it Nequus? Had a Jala flown past here and lost this little treasure? Vox leaned closer to get a better look, his nose brushing against the soft strands.
He paced carefully across the sand, searching eagerly for more Rit pawmarks. The first few tufts of grass yielded nothing, but the fourth was different. Not a pawprint in sight, but there, caught among the tough green stems:
"...oh, Lucius, look!"
It was a single smooth, perfect feather. Perhaps it had belonged to a Shrila, or some other bird, or...was it Nequus? Had a Jala flown past here and lost this little treasure? Vox leaned closer to get a better look, his nose brushing against the soft strands.
TawnyAngel
The tall Nequus talked over to join Vox and peered down at the feather thoughtfully. "I wonder what it came from," he muttered. "Could be one of the smallest feathers from a Jala, a larger feather from a young Jala, a Shrila... maybe something else but I'd make a guess at one of those two creatures."
Humm... no sign of more tracks. Ah well, the pale-eyed colt seemed enchanted enough with the discovery of the feather, perhaps he wouldn't mind if they found no more trace of the feline they had been seeking.
Nevertheless, the orange-eyed Nequus cast around his field of view for another paw-print. There was after all no harm in searching.
Humm... no sign of more tracks. Ah well, the pale-eyed colt seemed enchanted enough with the discovery of the feather, perhaps he wouldn't mind if they found no more trace of the feline they had been seeking.
Nevertheless, the orange-eyed Nequus cast around his field of view for another paw-print. There was after all no harm in searching.
DareDelvil
Interesting though Lucius' insight was, Vox didn't much care where the feather had come from. He had already decided to keep it. Carefully picking it up between his teeth, he craned his neck around and tucked it under his wing. "I shall find somewhere safe to put it when I can return to my tree," he asserted, continuing the search for tracks.
It mattered less if they were unable to find the Rit now, he thought to himself. At least he would have something to show for his trouble - and something so lovely as this feather was not to be sneezed at.
"...If it belongs to a Nequus," he said thoughtfully, "will they want it back?"
It mattered less if they were unable to find the Rit now, he thought to himself. At least he would have something to show for his trouble - and something so lovely as this feather was not to be sneezed at.
"...If it belongs to a Nequus," he said thoughtfully, "will they want it back?"
TawnyAngel
Lucius smiled slightly at the colt's careful storing of the feather and shook his head. "I doubt it," he said in reply to the youth's question. "If they kept every feather that ever fell out they'd be swamped. Dropping a feather here and there is little different to a Jala than losing a hair from the mane or tail is to us from what I gather."
Thinking back to his early years, the black Aeri more or less recalled being as fascinated as Vox at each new discovery. Every new plant, animal and type of rock had warranted careful inspection and assessment. Not having run around playing games with the other little ones had given him much time for this private discovery, a pastime that he loved even to the present day though it was true that fewer and fewer things were truly new to him now.
Still, there is always more to learn and discover if one but looks hard enough.
So long as he lived, the tall Nequus considered, he would probably go on being surprised at least a few times a month. This was in his opinion a very good thing, life would be excessively dull if one ever knew everything.
Thinking back to his early years, the black Aeri more or less recalled being as fascinated as Vox at each new discovery. Every new plant, animal and type of rock had warranted careful inspection and assessment. Not having run around playing games with the other little ones had given him much time for this private discovery, a pastime that he loved even to the present day though it was true that fewer and fewer things were truly new to him now.
Still, there is always more to learn and discover if one but looks hard enough.
So long as he lived, the tall Nequus considered, he would probably go on being surprised at least a few times a month. This was in his opinion a very good thing, life would be excessively dull if one ever knew everything.
DareDelvil
"Right, good," Vox said cheerfully, glad that he would not have to give up his new-found treasure to any more deserving owner. "...Ah, I think I see another pawprint - yes! And another! Here, Lucius, the trail picks up here!"
He began to trot off in the direction the pawprints were leading. The Rit, if Lucius was correct on that score, seemed to have been heading towards the cliffs - that suited him, provided they could find it before they reached the grass at the clifftop and there were no more tracks. He had done a fair bit of flying today, and he was beginning to tire.
Up on the clifftop, something - someone - was hunting the moths in the moonlight.
He began to trot off in the direction the pawprints were leading. The Rit, if Lucius was correct on that score, seemed to have been heading towards the cliffs - that suited him, provided they could find it before they reached the grass at the clifftop and there were no more tracks. He had done a fair bit of flying today, and he was beginning to tire.
Up on the clifftop, something - someone - was hunting the moths in the moonlight.
TawnyAngel
Lucius gave a soft snort of assent and set off after the green colt, his long strides allowing him to remain at a walk - if a swift walk - and not lose ground on his young friend.
"Ah yes," he said as he glanced down at the ground beneath his hooves. "Much clearer now, I suppose the Rit may have paused back there for a while and then moved on. It would explain why these are better preserved, if they are newer."
Perhaps they would meet the feline tonight after all. I hope its a friendly one, the black stallion mused. Some Rit could be horribly abrasive and that wouldn't be any fun for Vox. Humm, strange how solicitous I have become of his happiness. Shrugging internally, the large Aeri increased his pace a little to draw level with Vox, his orange eyes scanning the ground before them for more tracks.
"Ah yes," he said as he glanced down at the ground beneath his hooves. "Much clearer now, I suppose the Rit may have paused back there for a while and then moved on. It would explain why these are better preserved, if they are newer."
Perhaps they would meet the feline tonight after all. I hope its a friendly one, the black stallion mused. Some Rit could be horribly abrasive and that wouldn't be any fun for Vox. Humm, strange how solicitous I have become of his happiness. Shrugging internally, the large Aeri increased his pace a little to draw level with Vox, his orange eyes scanning the ground before them for more tracks.
DareDelvil
The pawprints were leading up the winding cliff path, weaving and hopping from side to side. There were little clumps of grass here and there: perhaps the Rit had been exploring them as it went. Lucius drew level with him, and Vox nudged the stallion affectionately. "Thank you for playing along with all this," he said quietly. "I must seem very childish to you, chasing feathers and following tracks to see where they go."
Flattened against the grass, the little black Rit waited for the opportune moment to pounce - moths were tasty when he managed to lay his paws on them.
Flattened against the grass, the little black Rit waited for the opportune moment to pounce - moths were tasty when he managed to lay his paws on them.
TawnyAngel
Lucius smiled and returned the nudge. "I don't mind a bit; never did these sorts of things as a foal, it's..." the Aeri paused to trawl for the right word. "It's refershing, enjoyable to do them now especially with you."
Especially as this was probably as close as he'd ever get to having a family of his own, intimidating as he was. Lucius sighed internally and swatted at a biting bug with his curly tail. He'd chosen this life and given the chance to choose again he'd still take the bones; the solitude bothered him little most of the time.
He couldn't help but want a mate and foals though.
Especially as this was probably as close as he'd ever get to having a family of his own, intimidating as he was. Lucius sighed internally and swatted at a biting bug with his curly tail. He'd chosen this life and given the chance to choose again he'd still take the bones; the solitude bothered him little most of the time.
He couldn't help but want a mate and foals though.
And Now...
Vox chuckled. "Thank you. I feel I am too self-conscious sometimes, and fear to allow myself to be young while I still am. After all, only so many Nequus are lucky enough to have trustworthy companions - I, of all folk, can afford to be childlike once in a while."
He watched a glittering beetle in the grass as they made their way up the cliff path, and wondered silently how he might get his coat to shine like that.
Aku pounced on the moth and chomped down on it as quickly as he could - a tasty little snack. ...And about all he could catch at the moment, blast his injured paw. A good thing the black daemon was willing to assist with his hunting. Large hooves came in handy when dealing with small rodents, though it was rather emasculating to let a mare do his hunting for him. Well, at least of all mares it was the wicked one. She understood. She always understood.
Chewing on the remains of a wing, he pricked up his ears - hoofbeats. What Nequus wandered the shores at night? This could be interesting. Though he was not particularly fastidious (as Rit went), Aku gave his face a token wash with his paw. No sense in meeting new friends while covered in moth.
