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 Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 4:06 pm
By the time he and Safi had made it to the lake, having been forced to stop a few times thanks to the brown stallions nervousness, ht was completely dark and everyone who was still taking refuge near the two leggers was well and truly asleep.
The Natives had left a fire going outside though it had been dampened considerably. Most likely as a night light for him since they were not used to his absence after dark. The few of his family that he could see were happily tucked away under the trees or in their favorite sandy beds. He usually slept near his sister but she was already curled up fast asleep under a tree.
"... they left the fire going again." He nodded his head at the small campfire as he spoke quietly to Safi. He hoped his new friend didn't mind two leggers. They would at least be curious come morning if there was another soquili around. Most defiantly one with wings as his friend had.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 4:46 pm
It had been a long walk, but for all that it hadn't been unpleasant. Had Wadi wanted to run a race things might have worked out differently, but as Wadi had only seemed inclined to run when a twig snapped, a bird hooted, or some other need for alarm arose. It all worked out in the end.
Pausing near Wadi, Safi looked out over the dark water of the lake, trying to figure out how far it was to his own teepee. It was a huge lake, but it had been a bit since he'd been home...he should see about a visit before he took off again.
Wadi's voice broke into his thoughts, though, and he looked away from the dark water to the small flicker of the banked fire; a cozy sight, especially on a cold night. Granted, it WASN'T a cold night, but it was still a nice sight.
Taking his cue from Wadi, he kept his voice quiet so as to not disturb the sleepers. "That was nice of them; I guess they thought it'd be a nice sight for you, once you got back!"
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 4:58 pm
"They ... probably left it going so i wouldn't get scared." He looked down sheepishly down at his hooves. He liked having the fire going at night since it did get cooler by the lake and it meant that he always had a small circle of light to step into if he got scared. He knew it was completely untrue that monsters couldn't get you in the light but it made him feel safer anyway.
"I used to like sleeping closer to it..." Since summer was well established the nights weren't as cold but he'd been born when the nighs were terribly chilly. Fires were good things in his book.
"You're sure you didn't have anywhere that you needed to be?" Wadi was still worrying that Safi had something else he should be doing or could be doing and that he was keeping him from it.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:27 pm
Well, having a nightlight wasn't that shocking. It alerted others to your prescence so that you wouldn't trip, provided warmth, and served as a beacon to you when you were out wandering...like they were right now. It all panned out.
Which is at least partly why he was merely able to shrug his shoulders in response to Wadi's slightly embarrassed comment. "Well, that was awfully considerate of them, wasn't it? Sure made finding this place in the dark a lot easier."
As he spoke, he looked over the small teepee compound, noting the various sleeping Soquilis. Large herd, this...
Though he had to set one thing straight. "Nope, nowhere. Otherwise I'd have dropped an 'oh, by the way' and taken off much earlier. These days I'm basically a free agent, my friend."
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:34 pm
He frowned slightly. "These days?" Usually those older than him, and Safi had to be older, had things to do that didn't involve hanging around with kids no matter what they said. He was starting to get the feeling that Safi had a family somewhere that he was keeping the other stallion from.
He would feel horrible if that was the case so he hoped that it really wasn't anything and that Safi could stay for a while. Some of his family wasn't back yet, if they were going to return for the night, and it would be nice if he could at least introduce one of them so that someone believed he had a friend.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 5:50 pm
"Yup, these days. Up until a few months ago, I was firmly bound by the constraints of responsibility and morality, but it was all for the greater good and the benefit of two otherwise quite badly off youngsters, so I can't complain. Hell, I almost don't know what to do with myself anymore." Chuckling, Safi glanced skywards for a moment, idly wondering what his kids were up to. In Saiena's case, she was likely chatting up a random stranger; in Kileyo's...well, hopefully he just wasn't gettin killed. Poor kid never got over his clumsiness...
He wasn't exactly sure it was wise to talk about his kids to Wadi; he had no idea how old the other stallion was, but even if he was a few days younger than Safi himself, Safi having kids was in many ways a problem for a relationship. It had happened before, after all.
But then again, did you WANT to spring kids on someone after a lot of time had passed? Kids are complicated, alright.
Still, they were both grown and off on their own; he'd see them again, but doubted either was around tonight; even if they were....he knew they'd understand. At least, he thought so.
So he was able to turn and smile at Wadi in a totally truthful and sincere fashion as he replied, "I have nowhere else to be, nothing else to do. Honest, I WANT to be here, Wadi." To emphasize that point, he placed the edges of his wings on Wadi's shoulders as he faced the other stallion, as though the touch would convey his very thoughts. "Don't worry about it."
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 6:00 pm
So Safi did have a family! He'd been right. Though something sounded different in the way he talked about them from the way Rogue talked about his Uncles and Aunts and the way Mama talked about him and 'Zuka.
He was sure that Safi's children would want his attention but the other stallion did seem intent on staying with him since he'd said he would. Maybe it was alright. After all hadn't his parents been telling him that he needed to get out on his own more? Safi's kids, even if they were his age, would have been grown up and out on their own or he'd still be with him. The other stallion didn't seem like the type to go wandering off alone and leave foals by themselves.
"Do .. did you like having kids?" He'd never even though of it himself but everyone seemed to like the idea. "How old are they?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 6:19 pm
Well, it would seem that he was going to be talking about his kids after all. Hardly a tough thing, but at the moment...
Oh well. Wadi had asked, he'd answer.
Smiling, he folded up his wings behind his head, glancing out over the lake. "Well, raising them was a fun and crazy experience, I'll give you that, Wadi; not least of which was becoming a first time father by almost literally tripping over a basket in the woods. They talk about parenthood being sprung on you, but in my case, it was almost literal."
Chuckling, he looked over at Wadi, a slight gleam of pride visible in his eyes as he spoke of his kids. "I have two, a daughter Saiena and a son Kileyo. Both are grown adults now, and both are off living their own lives...as am I, I suppose. I love my kids, but we all like our space a bit." Especially now that they were at the 'dating' age.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 6:35 pm
So Safi's kids were either his age or older. That was okay right? Well if he'd tripped over one basket that meant that at least one of those kids wasn't his own. Shaking his head slightly he wondered why he was even worried about his friend having kids. Grandah had friends and they didn't care that he had kids right?
"It sounds ... complicated. I don't think i'd make a very good father." If he had kids he'd probably end up being more amusement for them than caretaker.
He didn't expect anyone to be awake near home by the time he'd wandered back toward the lake. So he was surprised to hear someone talking. It didn't sound like his brother and he didn't think it was Nuka either. Who else would be awake? Unless someone unexpected had actually wandered toward the two leggers fire.
Ducking under a tree branch he headed into the clearing and was surprised to see his nephew standing there with someone else. Usually Wadi was fast asleep pretending that he wasn't scared of the dark by now.
His head swivled around quickly as he heard someone else coming into the clearing but settled down slightly when he realized who it was.
"Safi ... that's my Uncle, or one of them." He nudged his friend slightly. He wasn't sure if he should warn his friend about Dodger's tongue or hope that no one said anything wrong.
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 6:58 pm
Complicated; that was a good word for it. "Tell me about it, Wadi. A few weeks after I found Saiena's basket, a friend of mine showed up with a basket SHE found in the woods, and suddenly I found myself raising two kids. It's a sad state of affairs when Soquili have kids and just leave them off in the woods, but at least there are those of the population willing to step up and shoulder the burden of responsibility. And honestly, having kids is fun!" This with a wide grin at the other stallion, the joy in Safi's eyes backing up his words. "It's something that grows on you though, honestly. I wouldn't worry about your own skills to that effect at this point, honestly..."
As Wadi's head jerked around, Safi followed his movement with one of his own, looking in surprise in the direction of the alledged uncle. Thinking about it, it made sense that they'd woken someone else up...or that someone else was already awake. Either way.
"Uncle, huh? You know, I don't see much of a resemblence." Neither the color of the strange stallion's coat nor the texture of his hair seemed similar to wadi's, although there WAS a bit of a similarity of build...sorta. He supposed he could see similarities, now that Wadi mentioned it... "So, does your uncle have a name?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:06 pm
"The blue in my hair's from his Dah." He nodded slightly. He knew that thanks to the difference in mothers half of the Uncles didn't look anything like the others. Most people didn't get it until you saw the whole family together.
"Careful though ... he's got a sharp tongue" He didn't want Dodger to scare off his new friend or have his Uncle say something hurtful on accident to him and make Safi mad.
Shaking curls out of his eyes he raised a brow as he realized it was a winged stallion with his nephew. "Dodger..." Walking across the clearing he stopped in front of the two. At least he wasn't the only one in the family to know winged ones anymore.
"Walking the kiddo home?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:13 pm
So, blue ran in the family, eh? Considering Safi hadn't met any of them, he'd just have to take Wadi's word for it, though he honestly didn't see any reason not to believe.
Though he was more interested and amused at the second comment. "Sharp tongue, eh? Well, those with sharp tongues are bound to slice themselves eventually, Wadi." As he himself ought to know, he thought with a chuckle. Hadn't he had his words backfire before?
Not often, though, thankfully.
"Dodger, implying Wadi trying to avoid confrontation; dodger, implying one or both of us eluding confrontation, or Dodger, that's your name?" Giving the other stallion an amused look, safi met his gaze square on, not the least bit concerned or intimidated by the prospect of a new acquaintance. Wadi's behavior was a bit perplexing, though...
"And something like that. It gets late, it gets dark, things start to take on lives beyond those possessed in daylight hours, it's all very complex. I thought that Wadi could use some company on the walk home, and he was kind enough to accept my offer." This with a kind smile at Wadi before looking back at Dodger. "So, you're the sharp one, eh?"
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 7:26 pm
He almost winced. Dodger was bound to say something about him being a scardey cat now. Maybe he could just hide behind Safi and it would all be alright.
"I think i do more than avoid confrontation." He laughed slightly as he thought about that. He was better at just avoiding everything all together. "Dodger's good at cutting others. Don't think he gets himself too much."
"Dodger would be my name." He looked between the two and thought it a little odd but no worse than he and Tony. Though neither of them jumped at the sound of a fish.
"Thanks. It'd be bad if we had to go out looking for him." He turned his blue eyes toward his nephew. "If you're gonna take up walking around alone try not ta stay out late without Mr. Fluffy here kay? Last thing we need is Atsila freaking cause you're lost."
He turned back to the new comer and bowed slightly. "Sharp as a nail, though probably far less dangerous."
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:24 pm
"Confrontation, everything...the two are close enough." Grinning at Wadi, Safi turned and looked at the other stallion, giving Dodger a look both curious and scrutinizing. It was difficult to say WHAT Wadi was trying to say, or rather, what he was trying to convey. Was he nervous on Safi's behalf, on his own, or both?
Either way, there was no reason to be. If 'Mr Fluffy' was the worst he'd face, then this was nothing.
Keeping a straight face, Safi gave Dodger wry look. "Should we see Mr Fluffy, I'm sure we can ask him if he's be willing to watch Wadi. Hell, he might even be willing to give back your volumizer, assuming he's feeling that accomodating."
Returning the bow with one of his own, Safi gave Wadi a wink; he'd be fine. "And I'm Safi, by the way."
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Posted: Mon Jul 23, 2007 8:39 pm
"Part of eachother, not really close." At least he didn't think so. Then again if everyone thought like him the world would be a much more unpleasant place what with everyone running from each other.
He had to snicker as Safi made a comment about Dodger's hair. Everyone did that and it never got old.
He raised a brow and grinned. "Please do. He borrowed it weeks ago and my spare product isn't doing nearly the job i want it to."
He wasn't about to let anyone's comments about his hair get to him after all the completely wrong conversations he and Tony had gotten into. "Pleasure to meet you Safi."
"Safi's my friend!" He puffed up for a moment. "Even though you guys said i'd never get one!"
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