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 Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 10:55 am
 Hardened strides that propelled the light body forward, and sent warming sensations against the course of networked little streams throughout a chilled body, soon let up into a more manageable pace. It had been a long couple of days since the blood bay Jala had stopped to take a rest, but with the cold season soon drawing its final breathes and coming to a much awaited close, Aitumn found it difficult to contain his overbearing whim of the wind heart and soul. While he was slowed to a brisk walk along the thawing ground, hallow dark eyes swept past the horizon, viewing what seemed like a place he hadn't visited in quite some time; if at all. It was difficult to remember exactly every which place he had wandered into over the past couple of... years? Had it been years? Shaking a fierce head at the thought of trying to remember a life past his mind's grasp, the stallion sent a flicker of movement shimmering along his midnight mane. He should have known better then to try and to remember, but the stallion often times found it to a tempting a deal when he met a place such as this. Beautiful? He believed the land had its own face, its own personality, and that in itself made it undeinably hard to settle down in one single place. "Figures", he muttered softly to himself, flicking an ear at the sound of his own voice. The noise seemed to startle him somewhat, for it had been quite a deal of time since he's had any contact at all with others. That, and Aitumn was a hardly a social Nequus at all, so speach was usually avoided on his end.
As he continued to walk aimlessly, whispers of fantasy brushed past his drawn-out mind, taking him on adventures he knew most would never experiance. Mostly, he kept himself at bay by seperating body and soul, in a spirtual sense if anything. His desire sense to move kept his legs at an easy pace, and dark hallow eyes scanning the horizons with little to no interest; but it was his mind that painted scenes of whimsical truth for him to understand and evaluate. You see, it kept the stallion from many questions he had about himself and his past; a thing that always slipped away from him when he might need to call upon it. He knew that with his age, for he was fairly older then most, that there was a tale to tell in his own dull eyes. A tale he couldn't recall for whatever reason. It bothered him, but the lean Jala allowed such things to slip away from his concious, content with the life he had created for himself without background.
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Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:32 am
 Quiet steps announced the arrival of a Bae, his head bowed with the weight of his burden. The basket was a human contraption, but he carried it with an ease born of years of practice - the weight of the fruit within was making his neck ache, though, and he would soon have to set it down and rest. Perhaps soon he would come upon some young family in need of his aid.
Jacques' blue eyes scanned the area, alighting finally upon the dark Jala passing by. Perhaps this wanderer would benefit from a little nourishment before he continued on his way. His eyes twinkling, Jacques let the basket drop the few inches from his mouth to the ground and raised his head.
"Hail, Jala," he called, his soft voice just carrying the distance. "Would you care for an apple?
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Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 11:51 am
Steps that had failed to catch the attention of swiveling ears before, suddenly announced themselves with the presence of a voice. As it was, Aitumn was barely jarred out of his sub-concious, but his body reacted without a willing thought of startlement. A forehoof came down quickly from its mid-stride step, and his head jerked up and aloft to peer at the stranger who undoubtedly called over. A long moment went by and the Jala blinked hallow dark eyes that held, if any, a dull light that barely whispered of life. It was a sorrowful unfortunity, but it just scrapped at the life Aitumn held within him, a lie about how he truely was; but nothing could be done about such a thing. None that the stallion knew anyway. When he was able to fully take in that someone had indeed called out to him, he flicked his ears sideways in a slight embarrisment. Had he really not heard the other approach? Lowering his head to its low arch the stallion nodded towards the other, regarding his presence before speaking out. "Aye, and hello Bae", he spoke back, pricking his ears at the mention of the tasteful fruit. Now he wasn't much of a conversationalist, but the blood bay was hardly able to deny a ripping stomache that prompted for the sweet juices. Tentive to a respect space between, Aitumn took to the direction towards the other before stopping to peer at what was in the basket.
Though he was in no means rude, and would not stick his muzzle into the basket that he knew to belong to this friendly Bae, so he would wait for words of permission or some other sign. "Name's Aitumn", he decided to try, for with his whim of the wind soul just barely able to contain itself with the passing of winter, he found it easier and himself more willing to speak out with others in a friendly bout of words. Then again, that's not to say he didn't keep a respectable eye on the other, for he knew some Nequus to be sinful tricksters of trust, and he wasn't one to completely let his guard down with strangers. It just wasn't part of his personality, for despite the earlier incident, he liked to be aware of most things around him.
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Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:42 pm
"Jacques," the snow-marked Bae offered. He had a strange, whispering voice that seemed rough with lack of use. "Please, do take one - they're all fresh. I'm heading through Shrilal with them, hoping to find someone who'll have better use of them than I."
It was always wonderful for him to see a face light up at the sight of fresh food, though he very seldom announced his presence. More often than not he would leave the basket where it might easily be discovered and slip away, letting the unfortunate upon whom he bestowed his gift be free of any sense of obligation toward him. One apple, though, could hardly make this handsome Jala feel beholden to him.
"...Do you come here often?" The question sounded even more terrible once he had given voice to it. He knew he was no use at conversation, and he wasn's quite sure why he felt the need to try it now.
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Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:11 pm
Glancing up slightly at the mention of a name, Aitumn nodded his head to make sure the other knew he heard him. Words usually didn't stick to the tip of his tongue like that of some other fortunate Nequus, but he wasn't about to let that make him seem like some rude p***k. Though he was quite curious about what Jacques meant about 'finding someone who'll have better use', but that would come later, for his velvet like lips were already leading the rest of the way to the basket. Indeed they smelled fresh and sweet like a spring breeze, so the stallion bent his neck and with practiced lips sought a single round figure from the mass. Of course, to pick it up, he did have to sink his teeth into its thin flesh, and upon doing so promptly dropped it on the ground near his hooves. He didn't always have the chance to taste fruit, or anything other then grass really, for his travels always had him on the move and with very little time to stop and search for such things. When he was finished though, and found the taste to be very delightful, the Jala again raised his head level with that of Jacques'. "Haven't had one of those in awhile", he explained before moving on the subject that had been brought up before.
"Naw, though I might have come here once before. Can't tell really..." he left that hang for a bit, slipping the thought of memory loss away from his concious and his being. This was neither the time nor place to ponder about such things. Shifting his hallow gaze back to the basket of fruit, the movement catching his long forelock in a drift so it moved away from his eye and laid it upon the other, he again wondered about what had been meant earlier. He figured it was best to find such things out, for otherwise it would eat at him when he needed to think of the wonderful fantasy he knew as his own. "Who might have better use of them?" Aitumn was quite a curious creature when prompted to be, and he hoped it would shed some light on what this light fellow had in mind.
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Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2007 2:55 pm
"I'm glad you approve," Jacques said quietly, his eyes sincere and smiling. "I haven't tried one of this batch myself. And families, mostly. Families, lone foals, the injured, even just the lonely. Nequus who need a little sweetness brought into their lives. I...don't think enough folk think about others that way. It's a shame, really - we live in a bountiful world with plenty for everyone, and yet we can become so greedy."
Realising he was rambling, the snow-bae cut himself off with an apologetic look. He didn't want to hog the conversation, such as it was: surely Aitumn must have more and better things to say than he.
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Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:18 am
Pricking his ears at the information that was offered, the blood bay Jala took leisure in his roll of the conversation. Certainly, he would much rather be the listener then the speaker, for before the sound of his own voice had startled him. Thinking back on that, he knew his prefered status while interacting with another, despite any earlier wanderings that had brought him into his subconcious. So thick his mind was with the tales of fantasy, and yet so many details about his own life escaped him. Bowing his head slightly when the winter Bae finished his sort of rant like talk, he understood what was being said. "Not everyone has high morals I guess", he offered as his own explanation to the problem presented, but he was a bit more at ease, for he figured the Bae before him was sincere in his words. Flicking his hollow gaze away from the basket, for they had traveled down there while Jacques spoke of them, the blood bay collected his own thoughts. He didn't usually have a need to speak with others at length, but with the passing of winter he certainly wasn't as solemn as he had been. Aitumn figured it best not to waste good company and that he had made good progress in his travels during the week. Heck, he'd probably be willing to help find one of these 'needy-nequus' if the chance was brought upon him.
Shifting feathered wings along his sides for a bit of warmth, the Jala stallion allowed his gaze to flick to the horizon once again, to the land that held as much beauty as any Nequus mare. If felt the need to express this, and so his voice escaped him without further prompting. "I don't think many people appreciate the natural curves of the land, even the harsh mountains have their own feel, and touch; though I have yet to witness the mountains myself. I suppose that's why I wander around so much", he spoke, hoping to give a bit more of an explanation as to 'if he came here often' that he hadn't said earlier.
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Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 3:43 pm
Later, Jacques would be ashamed to admit that he hadn't been listening too closely. He had been rather busy watching too closely. Not usually of the sort to stare when he was being observed, he had let his guard down just enough to take a proper look at his new acquaintance - and then he had liked what he had seen, and most everything else had been forgotten. Thus, there he stood, utterly transfixed, observing every swish of the dark tail, every twitch of the powerful muscles, every little turn of the kitten-soft ears.
Aitumn was handsome indeed. And when he finally shook himself from his trance, Jacques hoped against hope that the bay had not seen him noticing.
"...I see," he said haltingly, finding it difficult to form words. "...My apologies, I should probably be on my way soon. Time is always of the essence when folk are in need: even but an hour can make all the difference. I fear I must take my leave. Unless - "
No. He couldn't. It wouldn't be fair - Aitumn couldn't know what he was thinking, and it would almost sully him to carry on thinking it.
"...no. No, never mind."
But somehow he couldn't bring himself to turn and leave either.
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Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2007 4:10 pm
To a point, Aitumn was aware of the starring, but he hadn't a clue why nor did he think much of it. Surely, other Nequus liked to be aware of their company as well, and that involved keeping a good eye on the counterpart. His hallow gaze though, while content to marvel at the beauty of the horizon and the softening terrain after its harsh winter, flickered back to Jacques. It had been quite some time since the blood bay had company worth conversing with, but he found this Bae to be friendly and sincere with words and morals. Good company indeed. At the sound of a voice though, his ears perked and he assumed that listening position once more. He was sorry to hear that the Bae would be leaving, as if the meeting itself had been a bit too short-lived. Wait, what? Unless. Unless.... unless what? Curiousity was a thing that got him almost every time, as had been the case with Lucius the bone-clad Aeri. He waited to see if anything more would be said on the subject, but was taken aback, mentally, when the information was withdrawn. Pondering over whether or not he should poke at it further, the Jala gazed intently at this one.
Finally, he came to his conclusion. "Unless... what?" he pushed slightly, cautious with his tone and his voice, for he certainly didn't feel like stepping on anyone's toes. The thought came to him that maybe it was time to move on and travel to another part of the Nequus world, but it was shoved aside. He had time. He always had time, but choose to keep at a steady pace. Perhaps it was time that he swallowed back such urgings, and enjoyed another's company. Of course, now, that he was stuck in a cycle of curiousity he couldn't quite turn away either. "I have nothing better to do, the life of a wander is one without much purpose", he explained, hoping that Jacques didn't think he had somewhere he needed to be. Oh lucky Aitumn, for a Nequus who didn't want to sound like an old fool lecturing on morals half the time, he was surely acting like a youngling with all this curiousity.
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Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 2:10 pm
"I...was going to ask you to accompany me," Jacques admitted, looking away. "I fear it would be unfair to do so, though - I...do not think of people in the same way you do, I suspect. It would be cruel to go on leading you into my world only to frighten you later on."
And it was true, wasn't it? A mare and a stallion were not such simple things in his eyes. Nequus were Nequus for as long as they were only the creatures he aided. Once he began to know them, something in his mind did not do what it should - what life had told him it should.
"...I am not natural, Aitumn. Heavens forbid I should burden you with that any longer, or disgust you with the thoughts that come so easily to me."
This time he really did turn to leave, picking up his basket of apples as he went. Surely even Aitumn, who seemed kind, would turn sour when exposed to the truth.
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Posted: Sat Mar 24, 2007 4:02 pm
Cruel? Disgusting? What, he swore on all the newly refreshed greens of Urin, was this guy talking about? A hallow gaze shifted with the form of Jacques as he began to move off, and yet for all the gumshure in him, Aitumn couldn't quite come up with a response for what was said. He thought it odd of course, that such a friendly Bae would have such a dark secret of his beind, that he would implore it to the level of disturbing he spoke of. Questionably the Jala stallion flicked his ears from side to side, certainly there wasn't a thing he could say that would frighten him more then his greatest agony. And there was something Jacques wasn't being fair about. He worried about judgement of his 'unnatural' self, and yet he imposed upon Aitumn the thought of being disgusted by it. The blood bay saw no sense in that, and indeed wished to help find some of the needy. Craning his slender neck around he watched the horizon as it danced upon the land with the ruffles of a promising year. A year yet to come that is, and not yet so promising. That left one thing still on his heavy mind though, would he dare trudge and burry someone's wishes of department, by sheer impulse alone?
Why not? Hadn't the stallion traveled relentlessy across the faces of Urin on his sheer whim of wind heart and soul? Certainly. His life was structured upon impulse, but his ethnics and morals were boxed in with kindness, respect, and pleasantness. To invade another's wishes was not something he would normally do, but the Bae had been kind enough to him, and he wished to pay back the deed. Returning his gaze to the vanishing figure, the blood bay flicked his lengthy midnight tail, and flared crimson nostrils with his decision. He wasn't angry, but a bit a reckless as his body tilted to the side and his legs flashed out into a brisk trot after the snowy Bae. He wasn't quite sure what was meant by the statements before, but he wasn't one to judge poorly either.
He did slow his pace to a walk when he was caught up enough, but kept a distance incase his presence was truely unwanted. "It is a good cause that I'd accompany in finding these needy Nequus", he explained, dark hallow eyes transfixed on the horizon once more. "I'm not quick to skirt away from such a situation." By that, he meant that the potential of being frightened was slim to none. For if his hallow eyes did not tell the tale, his decisive gait sure did; the stallion hardly cared for, nor was repulsed, by whatever revelation was thrust upon him, as evidence of his encounter with the bone-clad Aeri. But of course, the blood bay realized he wasn't exactly giving Jacques much of a choice, and bit back further words to say a few different ones; slowly his pace greatly once again. "That is, unless you truely would not like me to follow, I shalln't." he offered. Some nequus, he realized, needed had their reasons they'd rather keep themselves.
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Posted: Sun Mar 25, 2007 11:08 am
Well, he supposed he could try. Once couldn't hurt. Jacques set his basket down with a sigh, stopping once more to turn and look at Aitumn. "If you truly wish to accompany me," he said wearily, "then I shall not prevent you. Only be aware that I am not as other Nequus, and do not be afraid to walk away if I ever begin to disturb you. I shall not be offended. In truth...I'd be glad of the help."
It was a weak smile, but a smile nonetheless.
"Perhaps when I return to see the humans again they can give you a basket too. - If you care to do this kind of work, that is."
Perhaps he ought to start reaching out to others more often. Surely the more Nequus he could recruit to his cause the better - there was never any shortage of folk in need. And who knew? He might even find one who thought the same way he did. He might even find a companion at last.
"...I'm sorry I dismissed you like that. I should not put words in your mouth."
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Posted: Mon Mar 26, 2007 5:38 pm
Shifting seemingly lifeless eyes back towards the snowy Bae, Aitumn allowed his head to bob. "Noted", was all he would say about the warning of leaving, not wanting to further drag out details if the Bae had no intention on telling him. Returning the smile to Jacques, the blood bay stayed in the shadow of the other, awaiting movement once more. If only he hadn't lost the spark to those dark orbs long ago, for surely they lied heavily about the reckless sonofagun who was more then willing to throw current matters aside upon the whim of still kicking youth. True, Aitumn was fairly older then a young stallion, but not exactly an old timer just yet. He could be seen as a sort of middle-man, well aged, matured, but still as willful as a colt in his own right. Hidden by the mask of dull hallow eyes, it was only his gait, his form, and his alert ears that told of how he really was on the inside. Why else would he be so against settling down in one place, and why else would the Jala have such impulses as following strangers?
"Perhaps. I see many places and Nequus with my travels, so its not to far-fetched to say I'd be able to do such work", he answered, more then a little interested. But of course, he wasn't the most social nequus around, so just walking up to someone and offering help might be a bit difficult, if not unwanted. He sighed, maybe it was better if he just stuck with this little experiment for now, just to see how it goes. Flicking a midnight forelock from his eyes, the Jala once again bobed his head in understanding. "Its fine." Taking a moment to flex out his stiffening feathered wings, the blood bay unraveled them from their folded positions against his side, and with a deep exhalation of air snapped them at the wind. He had done this many times during the winter season, and found that such an act brought life to the tireless things, and relief to stiffened muscles. Once they were fully stretched out and fully extended forward, the Jala folded them in once more to rest peacefully at his sides. "If you need me to do anything, let me know", he spoke up, a bit off-key, for he had no idea how they were to find nequus in need.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 8:33 am
The last few words had filtered away. Jacques was listening to something else, frozen in his tracks in an attitude of dread.
Somewhere to the west, not far away, a mare was screaming.
"...Aitumn?" he said softly. "I may well need you to do something now. Get behind me and keep your eyes open for danger!"
Without another word, he snatched up the basket of apples in his teeth and broke into a run. The sound guided him onward, and he went as fast as he could without crashing into the trees. Low branch to the left. He ducked around it. Ditch ahead. He leaped over it. All the while he kept his precious cargo held tightly in his mouth.
Not long after, he skidded to a halt just before a clearing. There, in the centre, a new tree rose toward the heavens. Four dark fruits hung from its branches, their occupants doubtless still small and helpless.
Looking closer, his stomach turning at the drip-drip-drip of juice on to the mess of flesh below, Jacques amended his count to three.
The screams had become sobs now. A lone mare stood, trembling, before the broken fruit - and, if the tiny, shattered body she stared at helplessly could be called a Nequus, it bore some considerable resemblance to her. This young, slender creature was the mother, surely. Someone - something - must have found the tree before her. Jacques had known some beasts to enjoy destruction for its own sake, and since none of the fruit-flesh was missing this was unlikely to have been an act of desperate hunger. Cruelty was to blame.
Tearing his eyes away from the horrible scene, the snowbae could not see a stallion as he scanned the forest around. No father. A lone mother, young, bereaved even before her children were born, stood little chance of surviving three fruits without help. Doubtless she would leave the fruit-flesh to rot, poor sentimental thing, though it would do her dead foal not an ounce of good now.
Setting the basket down at his feet, he struggled with tears of his own.
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Posted: Tue Mar 27, 2007 4:42 pm
Quickly and without question the blood bay Jala had took off after Jacques, setting his pace in the shadow of the snowy Bae. He hadn't quite heard the intial scream, but with only the fleet pounding of hooves reaching his ears at the moment, the voice was easily carried to him. As it continued though, his legs ached to stretch and devour the land in giant strides, and his body urged him to stretch out and reach full speed. He couldn't though. Jacques asked him to stay behind him and keep a look out, and like hell would he leave another in possible danger whilest one was seemingly already in tremendous pain. To releive his frustration in the distance, the Jala took to tossing his head and flicking his ears in very drastic angles, alert and would have taken in the very whispers of the trees if such a thing existed. Over a tree they sailed, firm muscles along the blood bay's legs and neck thrust him forward and hurtling into a pounding stride upon contact, if it weren't for his momentum he was sure that would have caused damage to his bone structure some how. Doesn't matter. he reminded himself, jarring his gaze away from the surroundings as suddenly the snowy bae infront and beside him came to a sudden halt. In order to not surpass his 'guide' to the screaming voice, the Jala slammed on the brakes. With a heavy jerk forward, Aitumn's head flung upwards as he nearly sat back on his haunches. Lucky for Aitumn, he was in very good shape with all the traveling, otherwise he probably would have gotten hurt doing most of the those running tactics.
What was that? Dark hallow eyes scanned the area directly in front of him, and only when the screams turned to sobs did he happen to spot what was going on before him. One glance told him more then words ever could, and the lean stallion turned his head away, afraid his stare would bore a hole into the poor thing. He wasn't as perceptive of the situation, and only knew that something had ripped at that single life till there was no more. No matter the reason, it irked him to the point of horrible tension. This hadn't been what he had in mind, and he wondered how apples would help the situation. Kindness like that, in a time such as this, would be helpful? He wasn't critizing the snowy Bae's tactics, but he was rather unprepared on how to handle such a thing. Despite this, his gaze fell upon the mare once more, and her sobs reached his perked ears. Through out the run here, and till now, the slender Jala had stayed quiet, and beyond words; but his mind was awhirl.
Who could do such a thing? Better yet, what needed its furry behind kicked? Usually a peaceful fellow of few words, and even fewer shared emotions, the blood bay knew that if his mane had been shorter, it would be standing on end right now. How dare they take a life. A life unlived at that! It was the way of the world, but a cruelty that should not go underlooked as such. He was angry, yes, and frustrated with such an act and display. The bearing of fruit was a time of happiness, one he was sure he wouldn't get the chance to enjoy for himself, but for it to be blacked out and stolen by death... it unnerved the calm Jala quite a bit. Silently his hallow eyes took their turn to check the area around them, just in case. If that thing or whoever it was still happened to be about, it might be dangerous to hang around here. Especially for the grieving mother. Now Aitumn couldn't do much to help sooth, but he damned well try to ensure her safety, and their own. Craning his neck towards the snowy Bae, Aitumn spoke in a very quiet whisper, not wanting to startle the mare ahead of them. "... I'm going to check around the area, and make sure there isn't anything lurking around." As he said it he had begun to turn to the right, and angled his shoulder in that direction. He would make a full sweep of the circle around the area, and keep his eyes open. He waited though, to hear any objections the Bae may have. "It might be best if we, at all, approach one by one. It wouldn't be wise to startle her by having two stallions show up at once", he added quietly.
If one was to look at Aitumn, and notice his stance, it would sorely stick out that the stallion was in fact in a fury. It was true that he had not sired any fruits of his own, much less these, but he might have well has been with such anger over the loss of life. Perhaps he was soft. And perhaps it would be wise not to get involved. None of that seemed to stick to his thoughts though. A neck arched, feathered wings ruffled and raised mere inches from his sides, he was determined to help in some way, shape or form. It just wasn't fair.
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