|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 6:58 am
There was definitely something in the water - she didn't know what it was but with each passing day she saw more and more younglings spring up. In the words of her new nephew (who was recently born), they seemed to pop up like daisies! A part of her was delighted by the new births, it would give her nephew a chance to socialise with those of his own age and she was certain the families were overjoyed but...
Meh.
Just Meh.
A part of her felt a little jealous, how long had she been in these lands and she was still without a mate? She hadn't even had a bloody fling! A one night stand - she was, in every manner of word...Untouched. Now had she been a mother herself and her daughter was as untouched as she then she would be positively delighted but while in her own hooves and at her age it just wasn't fair.
Releasing a snort, the mare trudged through the forest, making short work of the undergrowth before her. Admittedly, the leaves stuck to her winter coat but she was satisfied in the knowledge that it was moulting - just a few more weeks and she would be free of it. Nevertheless despite her relatively unstable mood she was craving for a little bit of attention.
Even the company of a raccoon would do.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 7:39 am
Ti'ran, on the other hand, knew exactly what his problem was. And he hated it, as it was completely independent of him, and consequently, impossible to solve on his own. That was solely in the hands of his brother, and he despised it, knowing well relieving his tension was so far to the bottom of the other's priorities, it wasn't even on his list of things to do.
Foolish, overbearing, insufferable brother. The unicorn irritably stamped a hoof, causing A'ier (who had been lurking nearby) to turn and peer over his shoulder. There was a moment of silence between them, but the wolf did decide to break the gloom.
"It's been several days, Ran." Several days since the stallion came stalking back from what he would later discover was an encounter with his long not-so-lost sibling.
Silence was his response. Ti'ran barely turned to look at him.
A'ier sighed audibly, his ears drooping a little. Briefly, he was at a loss for words. "You know..." Part of him wanted to say something in jest, but his present company made him think better of it. "We could travel. Go somewhere else for a while..." Cool your head, he thought.
"He'd follow," he replied flatly. A'ier knew what that implied.
"It doesn't matter," he started, pulling himself into a meandering trot - he knew Ti'ran would follow. "Introduce us next time he comes around." An impish grin stretched the wolf's maw. "I could take him." What that meant was anybody's guess. Challenge him for the title of supreme annoyance, probably. Though A'ier was no pushover either... He was a predator after all.
The unicorn only snorted a gentle huff in response, and shook his head faintly. As for where they were headed? Where ever his paws carried him, the wolf supposed. Aimlessness was best sometimes, and this was likely one of them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:00 am
Well, they weren't raccoons but they didn't instil her with a great deal of pleasure either. Even so, the mare didn't pull a face and watched the pair briefly as they traipsed through the forest in a rather erratic fashion. Like her, Ti'ran seemed to be in a particularly irritable mood and much to her surprise...even A'ier seemed a lot more subdued.
How long had it been anyway?
Quite some time, she had been in the mountains for much longer than she could recall. She had missed a lot of drama, a lot of gossip and felt rather out of sorts in relation to a number of individuals - all of whom had their own widespread problems that she was unaware of. Regardless, even if Ti'ran appeared to be of the antisocial type, his companion was entertaining (or so she recalled).
Hmm...
Shaking the leaves from her mane she slapped a small smile onto her equine lips and calmly slipped out from the trees nearby. She wasn't right in front of them, but her red coat was certainly more visible from her new position to say the least.
"Am I to assume, the feather lost your favour?" She enquired delicately. making reference to their previous meeting.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:28 am
Long enough. Ti'ran's realization of just how long wouldn't come full spectrum until later, but even now, it was enough to give him silent pause when she pulled into plain sight. There was a moment they both stood wordlessly - one in embarrassment for his lack of observation, and the other out of plain indecisiveness.
Naturally, A'ier spoke up first. "Afternoon, Yei." He craned to look over his shoulder, as Ti'ran was always trailing behind.
"It never had any." Favor, that was. It should have been no secret the unicorn spared no love for the awkward adornment, and he was in no particular humor to pretend otherwise. He wasn't even feeling particularly tolerant, though the mare was one of the more pleasant individuals they could have encountered, as he recalled.
"Don't mind him. Less so than usual, I mean. The last few days have been long ones, and we're both a little weary." The wolf nodded some and pulled himself closer. "I hope fate has been treating you better?"
Fate. Ti'ran snorted at that, the sound barely audible. "It's been a while," he said at last. It was, perhaps, the closest to a proper greeting he'd offer today. Even that was a little surprising to A'ier's ears, who half expected him to say nothing at all. That was good though! Maybe conversation with someone other than him or his brother would help Ran crawl out of that trench. The mood certainly didn't suit his typically stoic character (and the company didn't suit A'ier's).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 8:42 am
Yei arched her neck graciously as A'ier took the time to greet her, the silence had been rather uncomfortable to say the least. In fact, it seemed that the world had gone quiet in expectation of the exchange and she mentally sighed with relief - she hadn't known the mood was that dire when she had watched from a distance...
"Yes, it has." Yei confirmed smoothly, her tone surprisingly warm considering the frosty temper the stallion seemed to have developed. With a face like thunder and eyes that were clearly of a stormy quality he reminded her of the somewhat troublesome blizzards in the midst of winter - the slopes were dangerous enough, she didn't need an irritable stallion to remind her of them.
"And fate treats me in a gentle manner." She reassured A'ier, offering a small smile as she returned her gaze to the wolf. If anything, he was much easier to talk to and seemed to appreciate company...his companion on the other hand was questionable - they were a highly odd pair.
Nevertheless, as she spoke those words her eyes brightened and with it her mood seemed to lighten. Puffing herself up proudly, she gave a toss of her mane and motioned slightly northward. "The fates have been gentle indeed, I was recently blessed with a nephew and two nieces - my adoptive brother's mate gave birth recently." She announced, clearly proud of her family in that regard and also delighted at the prospect of children (which she loved).
"Regardless..." She shook her head and canted her head to the side, "I would return the question but it seems it has been answered, truly the fates have not been quite so bitter to you recently?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:18 pm
It was indeed that dire - and Ti'ran just happened to excel at icy demeanors. It was anything but a new development; he was just less inclined to act against it for now. Granted, that didn't do Yei any favors, but it was nothing personal. Unless she happened to be Ris'hin. Then, it was personal.
She wasn't though, to both of their reliefs. "That's always good news. Congratulations to both of you," the wolf said with a courteous nod and a hint of a smile. "You have quite a busy spring ahead of you then."
Of course they were different; that was what made them such a complimentary dynamic pair. Ying and yang, if you will... But not. "They have," Ti'ran replied, his frown as deep as ever.
The comment posed a dilemma though: how much was he comfortable telling her? There was not only the matter of his privacy, but his temper too. How much was he willing to retell without further gouging his fraying patience? "It is complicated," he added, hoping that would suffice.
Complicated indeed. Not even A'ier understood the intricacies of his companion's situation, and there were none closer than he was. There were some details Ti'ran kept to himself, and himself alone - and perhaps there were facets of which even he was unaware.
A'ier piped in after a pause. "Family reunion, you could say. Minus the camaraderie and compassion and all that." The tension between the unicorn and his brother was a little thicker than standard sibling rivalry, that much was plain.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 4:13 pm
Yei was well aware when soquili were not prepared to speak of their problems but she was at least a little pleased when they explained ever so slightly. She hadn't asked and yet they had at least given her a little explanation - given the circumstances they appeared to be under...she was fairly certain she understood why they wouldn't wish to speak further.
...Family matters were best kept within the family.
"It is unfortunate that you are suffering in such a manner." She offered at last and shook her head, "Nevertheless, spring is approaching and perhaps things will begin to brighten in all aspects - even if it takes longer than one might anticipate." She continued, clearing her throat as she swung round briefly to scratch an itch with her muzzle.
Having done this, she turned round once more and cocked her head to the side. Her eyes were already twinkling again as she recalled the new additions to her family - perhaps the pair were not ready to talk about their family matters (given the nature of them) but she was most certainly prepared to talk about hers - the entire world should know of the new foals...she was biased, but could she be blamed?
Maybe her mood would even help to soften the pair presented to her as well. Regardless, it was worth a shot.
"The youngest of the trio, the colt is called Biscuit - he's terribly adventurous you know." She began, flicking her tail against her flank as she drew nearer. Closing the distance was a second nature to her, she disliked raising her voice when it wasn't required anyway.
"Highly curious...you are right when you say I have my hooves full A'ier! If anything he exhausts me more than any other I have met...Although sometimes I wish there was a way to keep him quiet. He asks so many questions and he never seems to sleep - I do not suppose you know of any methods?" She mused thoughtfully.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:43 am
But she had asked - albeit indirectly. Ti'ran may have been a little dense with the finer art of social intricacies, but he did try not to be too obnoxious when he could help it.
"It will only grow worse as time goes on." As pessimistic as it may have sounded, he only thought himself realistic. Ris'hin had proven himself in that fashion: he didn't grow bored over time, he found new trouble to dig up and entertain himself... Typically at Ran's expense, if the option was available. And at this point, it was. The unicorn didn't doubt he'd be persistent, either. He had, after all, traveled all the way from the herd lands to track him down. That was no meager task, he could have assured her.
He also could have assured her he was anything but fond of children, so A'ier took over most of the interaction then. "You could introduce him to Ran, he's enough to put off anyone." The stallion frowned at him - and yes, he could tell, even through the already ominous expression.
The suggestion was very ill-advised, especially now. Though Ti'ran would have never harmed a foal, he couldn't promise company to suit one. His frayed patience didn't lend itself well to mass questioning either. "Only if you are not particularly attached to him," Ran remarked with a lazy flick of his tail.
A'ier was peering at him with his head leaned slightly to one side. "You really have to wonder how he can be so staunchly opposed to humoring foals when he was one..."
"A long time ago." He snorted offishly, then continued: "You will have to take my word for it when I say I haven't changed much." He hadn't cared for the company of foals then either.
A'ier only shook his head. "Anyway, besides that - no, I haven't any ideas. My experience with foals isn't particularly extensive, sad to say. I'm sure you'll have plenty of advice for yourself in due time though." Ah, to be cheeky... His tone still lacked its usual humor though.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 6:53 am
"You don't like foals?" Yei's expression became troubled as she recalled a number and foals that she had encountered. Each time she had spoken to one, guided them...they had always made reference to their parents never being about. It was a troubling trend and she simply couldn't understand how the adults could just leave a child to fend for itself.
Actually, it was worse than irresponsible.
"What is the point in siring foals if you have no time to teach and guide them?" She enquired darkly, her tone one that emphasised her lack of appreciation for his stance. "They are meant to be loved, nurtured and cared for...not just left at the backside of a -" She froze mid sentence and simply eyed Ran for a rather long time.
In their previous meeting she had thought he had potential to be a good father, she had thought he would excel and that he was different from other 'exotic' soquili but really...
"You are no better than the rest." She mused at last, her voice grim as she averted her gaze and shook her head sadly. "Perhaps in future you should keep your fiendish desires to yourself." She added, jutting out her chin as she contemplated the situation they had now fallen into - he disliked foals and the one thing she was positively delighted by at this moment in time was a foal.
...Sticking a feather on his horn was not something that would amuse her.
"Or, a your manner is so unchanging...perhaps that is something that will not change either." She observed coolly, indirectly referring to him as something much worse than a cad.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 7:30 am
Ti'ran's posture took on a drastic change as she continued - from reserved and almost-relaxed, tensing into firmly planted limbs, and pinned ears with an expression that hinted of confusion. "Who said anything about siring?" The only thought worse than having a parade of younglings following him around was the thought of romantic interactions with a mare. He hadn't the notion for relationships - he knew he wasn't fit for it. And so did Ris'hin; it was one of his favorite points of ridicule.
He was different... And he might have been a good father, if the circumstance (and an exceptional foal) ever came along. He was sure parenthood was not a part of his future though.
"No better?..." He trailed off, perplexed at her accusations. And he hated to say it, but "I would - if I had any." His expression had fallen into a deep frown and forrowed brows, still riddled with his obvious confusion.
A'ier was perhaps even more confused than Ti'ran. So much so, he was at a loss for words. "Yei?..."
"I would never entertain a relationship, let alone sire foals." No offense to present company intended. "I would tell you to ask my brother if he had any shred of honesty - he's harassed me for it likely longer than you have been alive." Yes, he was that old. He was also confused, and offended, and for the first time since they'd met, he wore it plainly in his tone and posture. That seemed to be happening unfortunately frequently since Ris showed up. It really was a shame he was so on-edge.
"Ran..." Poor A'ier, caught in the middle. His concern was as obvious as his bewilderment. "Could someone calm down long enough to tell me what has everyone so upset in the first place?" The wolf was wearing a look of indignation, and he stood firmly between them. "If I know anything at all about Ran - and I challenge you to find anyone that knows him better than me - he agrees with you. Fathering foals and leaving them is dishonorable and cowardly, and Ran is all about his moralistic ideals."
ooc:While Ti'ran does have foals, he's not aware of them. He and his brother have something of a 'curse' from the spirits between them. That's to say, they walk in the other's shoes occasionally, as the spirits had hoped it would help them better understand eachother. It is rare, and they have no control over when and don't understand why it happens, but Ris'hin delights in abusing it. The last time they traded souls, Ris sired foals, and Ran has not yet learned of them. Hence the confusion!And to cover my a**, yes this idea has been approved by Sirenz.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 8:04 pm
"Then why did he do it?" Yei clearly was not buying the genuine surprise at this moment in time. It wasn't that she was dense, more than she was being led by anger at the apparent act of dishonour. Perhaps, after a while she would replay the reaction in her head and would realise that he was being honest - all the same, that time was not one that would approach soon.
"Why did he sire a young foal?" She continued, her eyes narrowed as she kept them on the unicorn. All in all, she it had taken her quite sometime to put all the pieces of the puzzle together - she hadn't been expecting to bump into that colt but it had happened and he had been so very familiar.
...In looks at least.
Suddenly, her expression soften and with a sigh she looked away. She may have been angry, but the thought of such an adorable colt being left alone because of the lack of responsibility from his father was...Was...Urgh!
"His name is Kalani if you must know," She began softly, lifting her azure gaze to fix it on the stallion once more, "I met him quite sometime ago, looked so very like you, even had the same markings." She continued and shook her head. "Very sociable - I suppose in that regard he is most certainly not like you..."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2007 10:52 pm
"Do what?" Ti'ran's confusion had all but faded, but the expression had given way to something darker, and it creased his muzzle in a still-deep frown.
"I didn't." The statement was as steeled as it was curt, and though his tone was still smooth, it also held a sharp seriousness that hadn't been there before. "If you must know, I haven't so much as courted a mare since I arrived here - though why my personal matters are any business of yours, I'm unsure."
"It's not," A'ier added, naturally inclined to side with his companion, regardless of how much he may have harassed him.
And then she further explained herself... Explained of a foal, and a name he hadn't so much as heard before. His eyes glazed over, as though he was looking past her, and they narrowed dangerously. "How long ago?
And that foal is not mine." The statement was forced through gritted teeth, as though he had been clenching his jaw to still the rage he could feel boiling in his veins. There was a finality in it that should have left no room for doubt as to his honesty.
He had an idea what was happening now... A dark, unsavory idea. One that could prove dangerous to his brother, should it pan out the way he suspected.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 6:03 am
"I cannot recall the precise time in which I met him. It was quite a while ago but I assure you he was most definitely your son." She snapped. She would admit that his personal life was none of her business but the life of a foal was - she knew his mother cared for him well but she did not agree with the father being entirely absent from the life of a child.
"With the exception of his wings he had almost exactly the same markings as you." She continued, pulling herself to her full height as she gave a toss of her mane. She would stand her ground on this, she knew she was right in her assumptions - it had taken her a while, but putting two and two together must certainly made four in this case.
"And I assure you Ti'ran, your markings are quite rare...for another to simply have them on a whim is unlikely." She took a deep breath and regathered her thoughts for a few moments, carefully considering whether or not it was appropriate to make another verbal blow against him but decided against it.
"I would also think that the horn atop his head would agree with me too."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 11:33 am
For a time, he met her insistence with silence and a grave expression that only darkened as time went on. A'ier took note of it, and pulled himself closer to his companion out of instinct.
How long was quite a while? And how long had it been? Long enough for a foal to grow into adulthood, he suspected. Long enough to pass over into the boundaries of 'a long time ago'. And yet, not long enough at all.
Not so unlikely. "I have a twin," he relented at last, but was unwilling to elaborate.
"It would be just like him," A'ier added helpfully, still wary of the encounter at present. "Ran and Ris are nothing alike, you know..."
He still couldn't believe it. What made her think she had a right to tell him he... he had foals of all things? Shouldn't he know better than anyone? And worse - she was making negative assumptions on entirely false grounds.
The thought further soured his disposition. Before, he might have been able to find it in himself to consider Yei a friend, but the unlikely got more unlikely.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 19, 2007 6:47 am
So he was a coward as well? Yei couldn't puff out her chest any more but her expression became all the more thunderous. She clearly was not buying the 'I have a twin' excuse for the simple reason that it sounded so completely and utterly far fetched.
"You have a twin." She repeated flatly. She wasn't quite sure how to respond to this one. She had heard a lot of excuses in her time but she had seriously thought that this stallion had a little more intelligence. Evidently she was wrong.
Still, as she was about to open her mouth to speak once more her eyes swivelled to A'ier. His comment was perhaps one of the most unusual things she had ever heard. Actually, when she took the time to consider it, it made absolutely no sense...
None at all.
Unless they were identical.
"What do you mean it would be 'just like him'?" She enquired at last, her temper was still not of a desirable quality but at least some sort of sense was returning to her. "And who is 'Kali'?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
