Fiera's Odyssey (a Ulysess' Odyssey Offshoot)

[Lady Whimsy]

Greetings, all! Please allow Silent-Moon and I a few posts to set up over the next day or two ;D

What is it: An offshoot of the Ulysses RP; Fiera has inadvertently bought herself a side adventure involving nothing less then a rogue gate or two.... Will work well as a companion-seeking adventure if anyone needs to pic up someone still on earth, too

Who can join: Anyone! You are all welcomed along on the journey. You may create a new character for this, or use one pre-existing. Do note that this adventure takes place at the same time as the Ulysses' RP, so characters cannot be in both places at once! We will be again joining back up with the main group at it's conclusion.

Questions? Comments? Feel free to PM me anytime. See you there!

[silentmoon]

Fiera bristled by the trees, her tail flicking back and forth. She followed an invisible path, weaving herself between trees, plants and plenty of grass. She walked with a proud stance, her hooves soundlessly colliding with the ground beneath. On a few instances, she'd shake her head or rub her nose on a nearbye tree.

Just anything, anything to get her mind off of a past friend. Looking doubtly up at the sky, the unicorn wondered if it was wiser to turn back now or keep moving forward. After all, her thoughts were getting no where and the tiny spark of worry for Allison was planted deep inside her thoughts.

Fiera snorted irritably and kept moving forward. At first her legs were moving in no particular pattern, until a slight zing of unawareness of the creatures around her made her step a little more livelier. She shook her mane then vyed for something itch her back on. The bark of the tree near to her shoulder would do just fine, she thought.

Elegantly, Fiera made her way over however stopped dead in her tracks at a certain... noise. Not really a noise, but talking. A slight chatter in the wind, she noticed when her ears pricked forward. "That cannot be right." said Fiera, a flash of irritation, from the disturbance of her peace, flew by before being replaced with genuine curiosity. Alert, the chestnut mare moved forward, rustling by the vegetation soundlessly except for a few branch snaping here and there.

Upon a closer inspection, Fiera blinked at the site before her from a distance. She halted cautiously, surveying her choices. This was a little girl, and some form of plant. Most likely unedible, she thought. And then it or rather he (from the sound of his voice) began to throw words out by the mouthful.

She tiltled her her head and craned her neck around, clearly interested.

[Lady Whimsy]

With a heavy sigh, Lyonee plunked herself down on the rock and let her feet dangle over the edge. Climbing up the steep, rocky hilltop had been such hard work and she’d lost her sunbonnet; now her hair was a mess, plus she had fallen once and got her apron dirty; the governess would scold and scold her when she saw the sorry state of affairs; and that would be on top of the scolding she’d receive for wandering off in the first place. That on its own was enough to have the girl stay put, even if she hadn’t been so tired from the climb. She sighed again, wistfully, eyes drifting across the serene but very empty green and grey rock-cropped landscape.

The worst part was that the climb had been all for naught; what she had heard turned out not to be another person calling to her, but a plant. Yes, a plant! A very odd, and rather chatty, bright green and supporting three little snapping heads (though only the largest of the three ever said anything), but a plant none the less. And though he had amused her thoroughly for the first few hours, now his self-indulgent diatribes on the imperviousness his royal lineage, the Kalidorian aphid conspiracy, and a play-by-play of the weather (which was cloudless and blue) were all beginning to bore poor little Lyonee to pieces. On the other hand, he was the only thing here; and faced with the prospect of being lost and alone verses lost and in the company of egocentric vegetation, she had chosen to remain, mind the pun, planted.

At the same time… her gaze wandered downwards, not looking forward to the climb that met her there, when her eye picked out a glint of flame among the greenery. She peered at the speck, which from a trembling flicker made itself out to be a solid form, picking its way up the embankment. “Something’s coming!” she exclaimed.

Movement in the green beside her, and a pod-like head craned itself down as if to see. This was the talking plant; she had seen in one of her father’s botany books a picture of a Venus fly trap, and had inquired upon their first meeting if he was of a similar type. The plant answer in the negative, emphatically. What he had called himself went on for several stanzas so she had taken to calling him Mio for short. Mio had objected on principal only, but after deliberation had relented on the grounds that having someone to talk to was better then naught, even if they clearly weren’t intelligent enough a creature to master the sounding of one’s own name.

“Is it a yak?” Mio fretted. “I do disfavour yaks intensely; they are forever nipping at this leaf or that and are wholly indiscriminate of the sensitive flora.”

Lyonee peered at the creature. “I don’t believe so. It rather looks like a horse.”

“A horse?” Mio seemed consider this. “I am unfamiliar with the animal. Is it very large? And prone to grazing?”

“Quite,” said Lyonee, and “it is.”

“Fie!” he lamented, wringing his smaller head with dismay. “If it comes, I shall be forced to defend myself. And warn you I am fierce! Fear the capacity of my bite, the sting of my nettles, for I am Kaus Phaeo-Mio, son of Pharon, son of Udun the Fierce, son of Kaiso, who ate Parthor, son of Hon—”

Lyonee was no longer paying attention. Her eyes were fixed on the horse, who continued to climb the steep path towards them. It was a rather unusual sort of thing for a horse to do, especially one without a rider. As it approached, she was beginning to suspect it was a rather unusual horse; it was still hard to tell with any certainty from this distance, but it looked as though in had something stuck on the front of its head. Another hundred paces and the doubt was removed entirely – it had a horn. It wasn’t a horse at all. It was a unicorn.

[silentmoon]

Fiera quirked the corners of her eye, giving on some sort of questioning facial expression. "For a weeh thing you say a mouthful, plant. Not very polite in greetings I see, so shall I attempt to eat you?" Fiera challenged, moving closer to the now apparent duo and not just single child. She really would eat him, but then again, it might not end to well on her behalf, Fiera thought amused. Her eyes quickly darted to the very young girl, wondering how she ended here of all places.

"Child, what are you looking for?" inquired Fiera. To ask if she was lost was to obvious because obviously, the girl was. Thus she tried another approach around. "And may I ask how you came by to find... him." a touch of sarcasm dripped in her voice however she maintained a pleasent if not cautious mindset.

((EH, help me out about now, I dont know what to have her do now xD;; Sorry!))

[Lady Whimsy]

“Eat… me?” the plant recoiled, not so much in horror as indignation. “Do you have any idea who I am? I am a seed of Hoth, the First Plant, and from who’s maw the universe grew like the first spring! I am he who snaps the furious dragonfly from the air and terrors the field with the sound of my voice! – and… and, I shall bring a pox upon your head should but one LEAF of my handsome foliage be marred, oh most vile and wicked creature…”

“He hasn’t any manners,” Lyonee explained simply, her eyes beholding the unicorn with a mix of curiosity and wonderment. She had read about unicorns in books, and the pictures depicted them mostly as gaunt, forlorn creatures the colour of smoke, who came to the aid of stranded maidens then promptly died honourble deaths. She didn’t think that she was quite old enough to be a maiden, and this unicorn certainly didn’t look forlorn; Lyonee rather hoped it wasn’t about to die either, because it was a huge improvement over the plant.

At the creature’s query, her thoughts were drawn back to nanny, who must be beside herself by now. “I was just… looking,” she shrugged, a flush of colour crossing her pale face. She didn’t quite feel like admitting she had been running away from her nanny on purpose, for no other reason then she had been crossed with her. The nanny had insisted that Olivier come with them for their afternoon walk, and Olivier was such a nasty little boy, always shouting and throwing things at whatever they met along the way. Lyonee had really wanted to go bird watching, and with Olivier there, there wasn’t a bird in sight. And so when they’d stopped for lunch, and the governess had spread the cloth and begun unpacking, Lyonee wandered off.

She’d promised herself not to go far, and she thought she hadn’t… and yet she was here, and she had no idea where here was. She looked up at the unicorn again, feeling a little bad for lying. She scratched her head, which felt hot from the sun, and remembered. “My sunbonnet! I lost it. I’m looking for my sunbonnet. Because Nanny will scold if I’ve lost another one… if I can find Nanny again,” she added bemusedly, oddly startled to find she really did miss the cross old governess. She still couldn’t say quite the same about Olivier, however... she looked up abruptly.

“Since you’re a unicorn, that means you’re here to rescue me, aren’t you? I’m ready to go now,” Lyonee said.

[pinkmoonbeam]

Not far away from where the exchange between plant, child, and Unicorn was taking place, in a tiny cave, the Indian maid Sapata was deeply sleeping against the warmth of a unicorns flank. Her dreams were colored with images of her new found companion, and the world she had so recently become a part of.
The small bay unicorn mare Asarte was dozing as well; half her mind aware that others were nearby, the other half wanting to prolong her friends rest as long as possible. Goodness knew the poor girl needed the break...

***

Ever since she had fled the creek's waters at the arrival of far too many strangers at once, Sapata had been having a rather rough go of it. With nothing in her mind at the time but getting away from the scene, she'd left all the provisions she'd had with her. She'd fully intended to go back and get them when the party of intruders had moved on, but as night had fallen she'd become aware that her headlong flight had left her disoriented, and with no light to go by she had been unable to follow her own tracks back.

The fall air was chilly come darkfall, and though making a fire would be preferable, without her spear for protection she'd decided that being cold in the treetops was better than being warm yet vulnerable on the ground.
She'd had a rather sleepless night.
It didn't help that when she finally did nod off she was awakened almost immediately by a chilling rainstorm. It wasn't a particularly violent storm, and it didn't last long, but the rain came down in drenching amounts.

With only her thin leather dress for cover Sapata had sat, wet and shivering, in the tree until dawn.
When she went to climb down from her perch, she'd slipped on the wet bark and fallen the last few feet. Luckily she wasn't badly hurt, just a little bruised- her ego more so than her body.

A fire was out of the question, as there was no dry tinder to be had, and without her spear there wouldn't be anything to cook over it anyway. She'd made her breakfast on some rather unpleasant tasting slug-like creatures... they were dull gray, and though they tasted awful they didn't have the bitter acidic taste most toxic animals and plants had, so she assumed they were safe enough.
Within a mile or so Sapata was heaving violently into the bushes, and regretting each and every slimy bite... they didn't taste any better on the way up than down.

The rest of the day didn't get any easier.
In between trips into the undergrowth so battle with the slugs, Sapata had kept moving onwards. Near dusk, she'd found a patch of bushes that were thick with fat purpleish berries. She was reluctant to try them, but when she observed some of the local birds stuffing on them she'd decided that she'd give them a go. However, no sooner had she scooped up a handful, than a crashing in the foliage to her right had alerted her to the presence of something rather large. She'd made a hasty exit with only that small reward for her troubles. She had no idea what had made the commotion, and liked it that way.

The orange rays of sunset fell on her again, bringing with them the realization that she was about to spend another long cold night alone. It was more than the usually stoic Sapata could stand. Her hungry belly, raw throat, her aching and tired limbs, all the ground she'd covered without getting anywhere... and the longing for her family, and the world she knew combined at that moment so strongly that she plopped down onto the drifts of dead leaves at her feet, and promptly burst into heartrending sobs.

Sapata had been crying for a good long while, when suddenly there was the sound of someone clearing their throat above her.

"Ummhuum. Excuse me, miss, but are you quite all right?"

Sapata'd been so consumed by her grief, that she hadn't heard anyone approaching. She looked up with red and swollen eyes, and saw, back lit by the last dying light of day, one of the horned beasts that seemed to roam everywhere in this land. It was a smallish chubby one that didn't look as if it could pose much threat... except for that single spiral horn that looked wickedly sharp. Her first thought was to flee again, but she was so miserable and tired, and the creature spoke with such kindness... she just didn't have in in her to run. And the way her life was going at present the thing could eat her for all she cared. As it was, the very fact that a talking animal was being nice to her after all that had happened thus far was enough to send her into fresh gales of tears.

"Oh, dear... I can see that you most certainly aren't all right.", the beast said in a fretful voice. "Well, what to do? What to... Aha! I know just the thing. If you'll just leave off crying for just a moment..."
The one-horn knelt before the girl, and nuzzled her ear.
"There, there, it can't be as bad as all that."

The distraught Sapata blubbered out between sobs, "But, it IS. I'm lost in some strange and awful world, and I'm alone, and I feel awful. I always knew how to get along back home, but here everything is different, and... I'm cold, and hungry, and thirsty, and I ate these terrible slug things that made me sick. And now I'm sitting in wet leaves talking to some animal that I don't even know."

"Well," said the creature in a chipper voice, "I think we can take care of some of that. My name is Asarte; I'm a Unicorn. And the world you've come to is Kalidore, which though it is often strange, is usually more wonderful than terrible. I'm guessing you've had a bad go of it, but if you'll just climb up on my back I'll see if I can't do something about the rest. Mind my bags though, please."

Sapata hesitated for a moment, then thinking that going with the Unicorn Asarte was better than sitting here in the forest by herself, slowly rose. She moved over to the unicorn, and sat gingerly down astride her broad back, taking care not to disturb the two large oilcloth packs that hung on either side of Asartes' shoulders.

The mare craned her head around, and with a sparkle in her big blue eyes, chuckled. "If you'll be riding along with me, I don't suppose you'd care to share your name, would you?", she asked.

"Oh!", Sapata blushed at her faux paus. "I'm sorry... I'm Sapata."

"Well, Sapata, hang on tightly, and try not to doze. I'll go easy for you, but I don't think you'd care to fall off. My legs aren't as long as most, but it's still a ways down." With that, the unicorn eased herself up, and sat off at a merry trot.

As they moved though the trees Sapata ventured to ask where they were headed.

"Just a little place I know where we can stay warm, and get some food in your belly. It's a nice place for us to take a nap too... get you back into top shape in no time!", the mare replied happily.

The journey there took most of the night, and gradually the rocking gait and the heat of Asarte beneath her lulled Sapata into a relaxed state of mind.
She actually found herself liking the stocky bay unicorn quite alot, for as they passed the time talking about Sapatas' past few days, the mare made little jokes about the things that had happened and made them seem comical rather than disastrous.
When Sapata told Asarte about running away from the other unicorns and their riders because she thought they might be spirts of some sort, Asarte laughed so hard it was all the girl could do not to lose her seat. In between the comical comments, Asarte told Sapata a bit about Kalidore, and the Gate that had brought Sapata here.

They were having such a good time that Sapata was actually a bit put out when Asarte announced they had reached their destination.

"It's so dark. I can't see a thing.", Sapata grumbled. "Where exactly have we come to?"

"It's a just little cave here in the forest, really not much more than a carved out place in this bluff here, but it's warm and dry. You'll have to walk from here though, the ceilings too low to ride."

"Alright, give me a moment..." Sapata half climbed, half slid off the mare, and moaned.

Asarte spun around in an instant. "Are you okay? What's wrong?"

"Nothing really... I just didn't realize how SORE I was from sitting all this time until I stood!"

The unicorn giggled. "Oh, that! Yes, it does take some time to become used to a long ride, but you'll learn soon enough."

The pair made their way into the cave, and after rumminging in one of her packs, Asarte produced a sort of flat bread, and some apples, which they made short work of. Then, bellies full, the two curled up in the nest of leaves that had blown in through the mouth of their shelter. The cave was quite small, and body heat soon warmed it comfortably. The unicorn curled around the girl so that her head rested on the mares ample belly.

Sapata was just drifting off when she heard a voice.

*You poor thing... so worn out. I do hope you sleep well...*

Sapata yawned, and answered, "Oh I will... thank you, Asarte."

She didn't see the look of surprise that crossed the unicorns face, or hear her mummer, "She heard my thoughts... she's the one?",for Sapata was already asleep.

[pinkmoonbeam]

Sapata awoke mid-morning to the sound of bird song, and the light of the sun slanting softly through the caves entrance. She blinked her bleary eyes, and stretched her limbs.

The melodious voice of her new friend issued from behind her and inquired, "Feeling rested?"

Sapata craned her neck back to look up at the mare.
"I am, thank you... have you been awake long? I hope you didn't stay bedded down just to be my pillow."

Asarte laughed, a peculiar sound half whinny, half nicker, but all merriment.
"Well, I've been sleeping off and on, and I did linger a bit longer than I might have otherwise, but I wouldn't have woke you for all the spring grass in Kalidore. You looked so sweet nestled against my belly!"

With a sheepish grin and a giggle, the girl gave Asartes' girth a little poke.
"I have to say you're quite comfortable... I haven't slept that that in ages. As for me being sweet... I don't think I've ever been that. My mother always said that she should have named me after Coyote instead of Bear. Coyote is the trickster, and Bear the symbol of strength. As a child I was always getting up to no good, and then talking my way out of it..."

Sapatas' memories were interrupted when a unbelievably loud grumble rolled through the unicorns stomach. When the initial shock had passed, the pair both shook with mirth.
In between whooping for her breath, Sapata trilled, "I think Wolf is in your belly, Asarte, and hungry! We'd better find our breakfast before he decides to come out and get it for himself!"

The two rose from their bed, and headed out into the daylight.
Asarte instructed Sapata to gather wood since it was a task far better suited to someone with hands than hooves.

"I still have a bit of trail food left yet, but I think we better save that for when we really need it. I'll be back in just a little bit... don't wander off too far looking for that flame fodder, dear."

The Indian girl flapped her hand in the universal go on, go on gesture while grabbing up limbs in the other and the unicorn cantered into the trees to see what edible items she could rustle up.

[Lady Whimsy]

((if you should want company.... ;D))


It was possibly the last blooming clover of the season and Gwyneira had her nose buried deep within, munching happily on the sweet greens and flowers. She was a dusty hued unicorn, the colour of warmed honey-milk, and just a little on the plump side. This she always claimed to be baby weight, for Gwyneira was nothing if not a doting mother to her ever-growing brood; on the other hand, it might have had more to do with the clover, or possibly the timothy, honeysuckle, and grapevine that had been eaten earlier that morning.

The afternoon found her by herself, a rather unusual state for the social and family-oriented mare to be in, but an errand to the Daiga’s hut could not be avoided, nor had any of her kore wanted to make the trip. So Gwyn had gone alone, meandering up the familiar trail, munched some of the fine wild sorrel that Kaledon’s Keeper grew outside her door while packages were exchanged, and rubbed shoulders with Muse before turning her way home again at a leisurely pace.

Over her shoulder a satchel was slung, an old one of Rhaine’s; the strap was modified to snugly fit the unicorn, and the often-mended sack was taught and bulging. Besides the small wrapped package (this contained scented mineral salts, which were both a delicacy and a thing Gwyn coveted and used liberally) she had picked up a few additions along the way. There was a strikingly spotted feather of a skycat (one of the smaller griffons of the mountains) two large pine cones, a dried sprig of iridescent mountain indigo and a particularity smooth yellow rock. Gwyn was a bit of a collector. She really had no rhyme or reason to it, just objects that caught her eye and intrigued her.

A rustling in the nearby trees brought her head up, more out of curiosity then anything else. A unicorn emerged, browned like earth beneath the sun, and it took Gwyn a few more chews until recognition dawned.

“Good morrow, Astarte!” she called out, bobbing her head gamely as she spoke. The satchel shifted, and swung down and around to thump against her chest. She tugged it back into place with her teeth again before going on, “so… what brings you out to the hills today?” In truth, Gwyn only knew the mare in passing, and had no idea if she frequented these hills or not. Simply, company of any kind was always welcomed, and the round little mare stopped chewing all together as she waited for the reply.

[pinkmoonbeam]

Asarte had no sooner left the clearing outside the cave, and gingerly made her way though the first patches of undergrowth, when she was hailed.
Lifting her head to see who spoke, she saw that the voice belonged to a creamy colored Unicorn mare.
Though they were almost unknown to each other, Asarte recalled that this particular mare was named Gywneria, because she had often admired the pretty Kore the mare produced. Asarte had quite the soft spot for Kore, though she had none herself yet.

Asarte replied to the greetings with her own.
"And good morrow to you, Gywneria! How go you? As for myself...I've had an interesting couple of days.
I'd simply went out for an afternoon walk to study some plants I was rather intrigued with.
Thought they might be of some use as a Urdvoggen repellent... but nevermind that!
Well, when I was looking for a place to bed down for the evening, I heard some terrible noise which I felt compelled to investigate. Turned out to be a human girl; calls herself Sapata. She'd found herself in Kalidore unexpectedly, and had a bad run of luck.
So I picked her up and brought her with me. The two of us are camping in a little cave back there..." Asarte tossed her head in the general direction for whence she'd come, " And now my foundling is well rested, and hungry as a cave bear waking from it's winter's rest. You wouldn't happen to know of anything here about that a human would find edible would you? I'm afraid I'm a little behind on my human nature studies... spend far too much time with my plants I suppose!"

[Lady Whimsy]

((Ha! Gwyn and Astarte should get along royally – both love food, children, and plants! XD))

“Goodness, a human foundling!” Gwyneira’s eyes widened. “You know, I did hear that a good many have been appearing this past week! I haven’t stumbled across one myself, though I sent my children scouring the woods just in case.... the poor darling, lost and in a bad way, you said? How awful!" the kindly mare was visibly upset by the picture; Gwyn made it her business to care for everyone and everything (usually, whether they wanted to be cared for or not!) and felt pains when something had obviously been over looked, even through no fault of her own. "How fortunate for you to have come across her, Astarte dear. We must do all we can to make the visitors feel at home."

She digested the rest of the bay mare's tale while swallowing a last mouthful of greens. Human behavior and habits she and observed from aside, the little patch of woods she made her home being not too far from the Temple's garden (indeed, the temple gardens Gwyneira was quite fond of in general, and this was from an aesthetic viewpoint, not lunch). She felt she quite confident in her knowledge about them, and was quite eager to assist in any way she could. "Humans have very peculiar diets, you should know, and even so the diet varies widely from person to person. Master Tyden, for instance, has an aversion to vegetables; I am very glad I do not have such a kor as him to try and keep - spurn veggies, indeed! Mistress Lilaini is quite skilled in the herbal arts - I often borrow snippets from her garden whenever my stores are getting low. And the Mistress Rhaine is known to keep the most delectable sweets in the temple larder... not that I know where...." the mare looked a bit consumed here, and there was probably a story behind it too. But she steered her focus back to Astarte with a grin.

"Why don't we go looking? I'm sure we could, between the two of us, find something to fill your little foundling."

[pinkmoonbeam]

"Goodness... they really have tastes that differ that much?" Asarte said in a worried tone. "I wasn't aware. Mine ate some flat bread and apples last night, and she said that she ate some slugs, but they didn't agree with her so I think those are out of the question. I don't see how they eat meat like they do... plants are so much cleaner, I think. I myself once swallowed half a caterpillar that happened to be inside a lettuce I was eating. I never want to go through that again I can tell you! I would surely appreciate your help in finding her something... I don't where to start."
The mare grinned and flipped her tail towards her protruding middle. "I have no problem filling my own belly though, so perhaps we can start by considering some of the things I like."

[silentmoon]

Fiera watched the plant near her hooves, a smug look crossing her face. "And who are you to believe that you can bite me. I am more than twice as big... and certainly am not afraid of getting the pox." Conversing with the plant, the unicorn thought. Never in all years had she thought something like this would happen. Fiera wondered if Ali ever had run ins with talking plants like Mio.

The sudden voice of Lyonee snatched her attention, her eyes glancing over back to the much younger girl. She wondered for how long the child stayed here. BY the looks of her, Fiera concluded, possibly not. HOwever she had no real way of telling.

"Yes, I can certainly see that. I should just eat... him, but indigestion is very comfortable." said the mare, giving a playful wink at Mio. He was spunky, with an attitude Fiera found absolutely delightful.

"A moment; a sunbonnet?" Fiera quickly inquired, not exactly have the slightest clue to what that might be. However she guessed it was something humans wore, perferably the females, in their hair to make their appearances... better? Fiera veered up into the sky, suddenly wondering how long she had gone. Probably not all that much time has passed... she thought. It wouldn't hurt to leave for a quick excursion.

"My child, to rescue I do not know. To rescue you from Mio, I am not sure even about that. But I shall help you... wherever you plan to go." said Fiera, nodding her head when a lock of forelock fell infront of her eye. She leaned her horned head down to Lyonee's eye level, a little sparkle in it. A flick of her tail silently gave the notion that she too was ready to go; just being a little rather impatient. "Alright then, up on my back! And do bring Mio along, I do not see why we should leave him here" the side of her mouth twitched, what would have been a grin if she were able to smile.

[Lady Whimsy]

Lyonne gazed up at the fiery orange mare as she spoke; her voice had a lively cadence to it, and her speech was melodic, reassuring, and yet somewhat cryptic. Exactly how she imagined a unicorn would be. She could hardly wait to get back to her governess and tell her that! Lyonne frowned; if her governess could be made to believe her...

She was considering different ways she could do just that, such as convincing the unicorn to return with her; she had read in another book about a noble unicorn guardian and wondered if this unicorn might now be under some sort of oath towards her, and therefore possibly willing to come back to the villa. As fanciful an idea that seemed, it also seemed unlikely, because the girl reasoned that if that were the case she should have seen other unicorns around the villa by now; Lyonne was after all a smart girl, and read a lot, and knew that because there were so may stories and books on the subject she surely couldn’t be the first to happen upon—

So lost in thought she almost forgot she was supposed to be listening to the unicorn that suddenly thought she heard her say to climb aboard. And. bring the plant. The plant?

Startled, Lyonne looked up at the mare again, but the unicorn was silent now, a wry smiled playing at her lips. Unicorns smiled. The child dropped her gaze quickly because suddenly she felt very hot, and nothing to do with the sun. She did not know exactly what the unicorn meant, but she knew better then to ask for clarification. She knew this strange request about the plant was probably A Test. One didn’t ask about A Test, one did them quickly and smartly as possible. Because if you failed…. she didn’t want to think about that. Not that she really wanted to think more about the prickly plant. And climbing on her back? Lyonne had only ridden a handful of times by herself, and that was on Guimauve, Olivier’s nasty little Shetland pony. Mother had never been partial to her riding and said it was unladylike and bad for her health, besides of which she might fall off and break her head. So Lyonne had only rode when they were out-of-sight of the governess, and after the pony had succeeded in bucking Olivier off. Both she and Olivier fell off quite often, and neither had broken the heads; Lyonne figured her mother was probably incorrect about it being unladylike, too.

“T-take me with you?” Kaus Mio was sputtering again. His leaved ruffled in the most menacing fashion – well, as menacing as a 12-inch plant could possibly be.

The girl did not feel encouraged as she turned to him. “Well, would you rather we left you hear?” she replied tartly, casting about for something – anything she might use to carry the plant in. She had nothing – not even a sunbonnet. She glanced down at the clean, white smock of her dress and wondered how badly Nanny would scold on top everything else.

Mio reconsidered. Truth be told, he was a social plant, and living alone on that rocky crop had truly been the result of a lost zygote; and while plants processed emotions very differently from you or I, it had occurred to him he rather enjoyed talking at the girl, rather like a warm sunny day. It hadn’t occurred that she might leave, and he’d be alone again, and while he pondered this undesirability he loath to admit he was agreeing more and more with the mare.

He turned to Lyonee prickly, “well, if you must… I suppose I will submit to it. But I will have you know this goes VERY far against decorum! A descendant of Hoth – being picked! Now mind you don’t actually pick me, for then I shall truly perish! You need to take care of my roots. It’s much too shallow up here anyway; I could never really get a good grip in this rock, and the ground is so stale here…. I think you should find me a nice fertile plot and let me really take root – then I shall show you how fine I shall grow!”

His leaves trembled at the thought and the tickled Lyonee as she gently reached towards the roots. One of the smallest heads nipped at her, hissing horribly, but the girl blinked against the pinch and didn’t say a word. People didn’t cry on A Test anyways, this much she knew. She was very careful to work her fingers down into the loose sandy soil and pry the roots from the rock. She had watched her father transplant tomato plants, and knew she had to keep as much dirt as possible. With a final tiwst, the plan came free. Mio squeeked in surprise and the smallest head bit her again, but Lyonee neatly placed the bundle in her apron smock, and gathered up the bottom to make a sort of pouch. The leaves spilled over the top, Mio all the while shouting directions and advice and for great the Great Seed’s sake would she not jostle him quite so much? But the girl’s face was almost smug as tied the ends securely and admired her handywork. She turned to the unicorn with a grin, looking for any hint of approval…

…oh, right. Climb on.

She seized up the unicorn again. She was easily taller then any horse she had ever ridden, with or without help. The unicorn seemed to sense this and silently moved a little closer to the outcrop, so that Lyonee could use it to step up. Taking great care not squash her prattling pouched plant, Lyonee took a handful of mane and pulled, swinging her leg up in the motion.

There! She was sitting on a Unicorn’s back, and had a talking plant in her lap! She was probably grinning ridiculously too, but didn’t say anything. She was sure she had past The Test, and this meant – well, this must meant she got to go home. The unicorn began walking forward, picking her way down the embankment as smoothly as if it had been over flat ground.

“Gracious!” came a voice from below, “I must be the first Seed of Hoth to ever ride a Unicorn!” when a wash of Fiera’s vibrant flame-coloured mane covered him in sputtering silence.

And Lyonee just grinned, living for once in the moment.



((I moved Fiera a bit – had her help Lyonee on – figured we’d be there forever if I didn’t lol. And I moved them – hopefully! – in the direction we’ll find Gwyn and Astarte. And then get us all together… and then, through the GATE!))
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[pinkmoonbeam]

While Asarte was off procuring some food, Sapata busied herself with wood gathering. As she worked, she took in her surroundings completely. If she was to reside here for a time, she must learn as much as possible about this world. Some of the trees in the forest were familiar to her; others were of types she had never encountered. Several limbs she picked up were covered in moss... but mosses unlike any she'd ever seen.
There were the normal grayish greens, and spring green varieties she knew, but scattered among them were bright reds, vibrant blues, even a long fuzzy purple strain that seemed to favor hardwoods.
Sapata was careful not to come into contact with them for too long, as she was unsure what toxins they might harbor, if any.

Underneath the branches, nestled amongst the loamy soil, were myriad species of insects, from thick shelled beetles to soft pink worms. Sapata had a moment of disgust when she disturbed a nest of leggy centipedes. The nasty creatures writhed and roiled over each other in a tangled ball. She dropped the half rotted log back on top of them and went in search of easier pickings.

When she'd collected a goodly amount of tinder, she decided it was time to make her fire.
She carefully stacked dry grasses, bark chips, and a few fallen leaves into a mound, and then surrounded them with first twigs, then limbs, in a tepee-like stack. She'd lost her flint back at the creek a week ago, so she would have to use the old standby of sticks rubbed together. It was a labor intense way to get a flame, but at the moment her only option... and with the prospect of food to cook she was willing to give forth the effort. A hot meal sounded wonderful.

Sapata carefully wrapped some of the brittle dead grass around itself until she had a loose circle shape. She then crumbled a couple of dry leaves into the center of the orb. This she placed close to her fire stack so that when the ball of tinder caught she could transfer it quickly to the more substantial pile.

Now she had to find her sticks... well really just one stick. The other half of her handmade "matchbox' would be a sort of socket in which the spinning of the stick could make a spark.
Remembering a fallen pine she'd seen Sapata made her way into the fringe of the forest. She hoped to find a good sized pine knot to use as her socket. The tough pine wood paired with it's sticky pitch made some of the best fire stick bases... Ah ha! There was the dead fall, and she could already see the perfect place to find a knotted limb.

It took almost an hour, and several smacks with a rather large rock before the pine yielded it's treasure, but visions of warm soup or perhaps roasted apples kept Sapata going at it. Now the hard part was over. Prize in hand, she went back to her fire pit.

Now Sapata fitted a springy length of wood into her pine boles center, arranged the fluffy ball of grass at it's base, and began to spin it between her hands; slowly at first, then faster and faster. As she spun the woods together fine dust puffed from the knot, and stuck to her brow where droplets of sweat were beginning to emerge. Soon her hands were only a blur of brown against the darker earth.
In only a short time she had a spark, and then, with careful blowing and adding of bits of twigs, a nice little fire was flickering merrily.

But when she gently placed the flame into the stacked wood Sapata got an unexpected surprise. For where the fire licked at those limbs with the unusual mosses, it's orange glow became a flickering tint of whichever color the moss happened to be. The blue moss even gave off tiny showers of white sparks that crackled wildly as they burned. It was quite a display even in the afternoon sunlight, and Sapata made a mental note to collect some more of the lichens so that she could see the show after nightfall.

Sapata lazed by the fire for a bit, enjoying the colorful images it made, and wondering what Asarte would return with.

Whatever the little mare was bringing Sapata hoped she brought it soon... all the work of building the fire had made her hunger even more acute.

[Lady Whimsy]

Gwyn nodded eagerly to Astarte's suggestion, looking across the still-green pastures of early autumn. "I'm sure we can find something that agrees with her... failing that, I think the Guardians are traveling in these parts today, or so I heard from Muse when I dropped in on the Daiga; they, surely, will be able to feed her. And Rhaine usually has sugar cubes...."

She had unwittingly licked her lips at the thought, but quickly refocused herself and began picking away through grass. She kept her eyes peeled for the herbs she knew humans tended to favour, but especially for any clumps of late berries or fruit trees who's fare would be even more appreciated. She remembered seeing some scraggly crab apples, back along the ridge, and was about to suggest they try that way, when something caught her eye. Descending from one of the small rocky slopes was a unicorn and rider. As they came nearer, she recognized the mare.

"Oh, look, Astarte! It's Fiera - and she's got her companion, what luck!" the mare was almost trotting towards them. "She will be able to help with your little foundling, I'm sure. I met Fiera briefly, after her return from the Gates, and she told me all about journeys beyond, and how she found her wee thing. Ellie, I think her name was? Ollie?" the mare frowned as called on her cluttered memory. "Anyways, she's a sweet little girl, and I know she would help us. I say this is a fine turn of luck."

As the mare headed towards them, Gwyn's curious gaze focused all the more. It fixed on the small rider, and her head tilted curiously. "You know, I only met them once, but I don't recall Ellie ever having such curls...." Nonetheless, she nudged Astarte to keep up as they bounded towards them. "Good morrow, Fiera! Just the mare we were hoping to see!"

[pinkmoonbeam]

Gwyn's pace was a little quicker than Asarte was used to... her short legs pumped to keep up with the creamy mare's longer ones. She didn't know the mare Fiera, and was glad that Gwyn would be there to introduce her; Asarte wasn't the best in social situations that required her to meet those she didn't know. Once she got to know someone they wouldn't have a better friend, it was just that she was always a bit afraid she wouldn't be liked at first.

As the two groups came together Asarte stood aside, panting lightly, and let Gwyn do the talking while she observed. The thing she noticed first was that Feira's companion was rather... small. And that she was clutching a most curious plant. Asarte stretched her neck towards the girl just the tiniest fraction, not wanting to alarm the little one, but her interest in all things botanical was just to much to prevent her from trying too get a closer look at the odd bundle of leaves. She'd never seen anything quite like it, and if she didn't know better, she'd thing it was actually looking back at her...

[Lady Whimsy]

((Allrighty! This is a wrap-up, and we're headed back to the main RP with our little raggle-taggle troupe Silent has given me permission to boot us back, so that I will - see you in there!))


The odd trio approached the two mares, but it wasn't until they got close did they the realize there were two riders - a rather small girl, with a rather snappy little plant tucked inside her apron. Fiera smiled wryly at Gwyn's greeting. "Was I now? How fortunate for you!" she chuckled.

"Well yes indeed!" the smokey mare nodded. "Astarte and myself, we were trying to determined what companions eat, for Astarte has found herself a little foundling in the woods! And who better to help then a mare and her companion proper - what luck!"

Fiera said, "I am happy to help, but I must admit - my companion is not currently with me. There seems to be many foundlings a-foot today," she turned to give the girl and warm nudge. "These are my friends, child. I believe we were never properly introduced ourselves. I am the one they call Fiera, and this is Gwyniera, and her friend... Astarte," she indicated the mares in turn. "What do they call you now?"

"Lyonee," said Lyonee very quietly, a bit overwhelmed by not just one sagely unicorn, but three! "I lost my sunbonnet," she continued, by way of an explanation.

"Oh, poor dear!" the pale-coloured mare leaned forward to nose her. As she did, one of Kaas Mio's lesser heads took a well-directed swipe at her nose. "Goodness!" the mare recoiled in surprise, but just as quickly moved in again for a better look, though not without a more cautious approach. "And what have you there?" she eyed the green wriggling bundle with interest. "A most curious bit of rogue vegetation!"

"Rogue?!" sputter Mio indignantly. "I, a rogue? to class me among the common weeds, a Seed of Hoth --"

"Mio," Lyonee said quickly. "He bites."

"He does seem at that type," Gwyneira agreed. "How did he come to be sitting in your apron?"

"That would be my doing," Feira admitted ruefully. "Despite his bark, it didn't seem right to leave him there; so I collected both foundling..." *I am hoping the Guardians will know best what to do with them both* she spoke the last bit silently, just between the mares, so not to worry the child further with her own uncertainty.

"The Guardians are nearby?" Gwyn perked. "Astarte, what luck! Really, this has been a gracious morning."

"They are," the red mare continued. "And it's fine time I return to Ali. And Lyonee needs a sunbonnet. And you said, there's another new companion...?"

"Astarte's, the poor thing. I would be---yeoch!" Gwyn exclaimed, as she had been absently nuzzling the girl, her mothering instincts all-inclusive, when another of Mio's heads reached up and bit her on the nostril.

"He does that. A lot," Lyonee sighed.

"So I see," she blinked composure. "Perhaps we ought to find a better place for him. Might he fair better in my satchel, do you think?"

It was then that Lyonee realized the mare had a small carry-on strapped across her shoulders, an odd accessory, much like the White Rabbit and his watch. It made her smile, faintly. Also she did like the idea of prickly Mio being not quite so close at hand. The mare was rummaging inside the satchel and retrieved a small package wrapped in paper.

"The seasoning salts will have to go; they are not good for plants." A reluctant sigh and the bundle was tossed to the ground; the mare pulled the strap up with her teeth to bring the sack to Lyonee's height - a bit of a feat, for Fiera was quite a bit taller. "I shink, he'll haff a bettah view in he-ah, any-hays," she told the girl, mouth full; Lyonee had to giggle.

"Wha--what are you doing? I say careful, careful--" Mio squeaked as his world shifted yet again. He was feeling the vegetation equivalent to seasickness, what with the jarring and the uprooting and claustrophobia of his crowded constraints. He didn't have much strength left to argue his point forcibly, which was lucky for Lyonee who barely got bit at all; and once he was settled in Gwyn's pack, he had to admit, was nice to have room to breath; though what he wouldn't give for a spot of rain right now...

"Very good!" Fiera remarked as the girl dusted off her apron (luckily the soil there had been quite sandy and most of it brushed away; however it was still quite - well, soiled - and she had a hunch her nanny would scold terribly anyways). "Now Astarte, how about you collect your companion, and we will be off. I sense Ali is worried, and that the group is setting camp up not far away. We should be with them in short time."

Lyonee wasn't sure who Ali was, or what a companion was, or what there might be at this camp - did Unicorns camp together? Or would there be others there? Maybe, even people? but for the time she was content to let this rescue go however it seemed fit. After all, this could still be A Test! And by now she was growing weary, and like Mio, found little urge to protest. Settling quietly she wrapped her fingers again in the bright orange mane, and waited for what was to come.


(AND - Off we go! You can either wrap up a post here, Pink & Silent - or just jump straight back into Ulysses's Adventure - however you see fit! See you there!)

[pinkmoonbeam]

Asarte watched the exchange between the two mares with shy interest. When she was introduced to Fiera she nodded her head, and mumbled, "How do you do?". She found the tall reddish mare a bit intimidating, she seemed very self assured.

She saw that she had, in fact, been correct in her feeling of being watched by the plant, who it seemed not only talked, but had a name, and possibly a title as well. He also apparently had a rather nasty habit of biting first, asking questions later. It seemed a small wonder that he hadn't taken off one of the child Lyonees' tiny fingers.

She came out of her musings at the mention of The Guardians, just in time to see Mio give Gywn a sharp snap to the snout. Asarte winched in sympathy, but the creamy mare recovered rather gracefully.

When Gwyneira mentioned Sapata, Asarte felt a flare of guilt. She'd left the girl alone for far too long already, and it was high time she returned to her, food or no food.
"I'll go gather her up, and meet you back here, Gywn. She's rather... skittish, so I best go alone; it'll give her a bit of time to adjust to the idea we'll have traveling companions. I'll return soon!"
And with that she was off as fast as her legs would go.

A short time later, Asarte paused at the edge of the glen where she'd left Sapata. She wanted to see how the girl had faired in her absence. She was pleased to find the girl was resting near a well stoked fire combing through her masses of long dark hair with a twig she'd split several times to form a crude brush. Asarte felt a moment of intense pride at her charges ingenuity and ability to use the forests gifts. It settled her mind a little to see that Sapata seemed to be adjusting to Kalidore.
In a moment of uncharacteristic spontaneity Asarte decided to put her bond with Sapata to a test. The Unicorn called out to the young woman with her mind, *Sapata! I'm back.*

Sapata heard the words of Asarte so suddenly and clearly that she jumped, and whirled around. Her brown eyes were filled with wonder as she saw the mare standing there. "Did you... I thought... did I just hear your voice in my head?"

The bay nodded her head, mane tossing, eyes filled with mirth.
*You did. When a Unicorn meets their companion a bond is formed, allowing thoughts to be sent to and from the other. You, Sapata, are my companion! And I have to say, I couldn't have picked a better one myself. Last night, as you fell asleep I thought I heard you mindspeak to me. I had to be sure though... and I wanted to prepare you, because soon we'll be in the company of others, and if you feel the need to ask questions of me you'd rather they didn't hear, well... now you know how.

*Others?* Sapata asked, trying out her newfound ability.

Asarte gave a chuckle.
"No need to look so grim about it, dear heart. Climb on up, and I'll tell you all about them on the way. I promise you they are all quite harmless... well, maybe not Mio, but he's rather small, and if he bothers you I can always threaten to eat him."

"EAT him?", Sapata replied as she kicked dirt over her fire rather glumly. That blaze had taken a lot of work to make after all.

"You'll see what I mean. That reminds me... I didn't find any food for you yet, but The Guardians have set up camp near here, and I'm sure they'll have plenty of fodder to go around."

*I certainly hope so... I'm starving.*, Sapata grumbled as she threw herself across Asartes' broad back. She struggled a moment to get her seat as the mare chuckled again.

*Well at least I know you'll get along with Gywneira as well as I do; she's rather fond of food too. I don't think we'll have to wait long to fill our belies!*

And with that the pair set off to rejoin the group of wanderers.