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Post by Delicious on Jan 17, 2009 10:56:02 GMT -5
Kyn's mind emptied of any cohesive though as he stared up at Xanthe - his mouth opened and closed several times, but any words he tried to force out simply stuck in his throat. He simply stared, eyes wide and unblinking, for several very long moments before he finally began to register the many eyes that were staring right back at HIM. At the realization, he flushed hotly with embarassment, ducking his head to break eye-contact. He tried to stand, and managed to get his front feet to work a'rights, but as he leveraged himself up his back legs wouldn't quite come untangled. Kyn gave them a tug, once, twice - three times, the final yank containing so much force that, while his legs did indeed become untangled, they flew apart with such momentum that he found himself toppling again - and did. Landing in a splayed heap, again, at Xanthe's feet. ... he kept his eyes closed, hoping beyond hope that perhaps if he just sat still for a FEW moments longer, that his heroine would either forget he was there (or think him dead - as he very much wished to be at this moment), or perhaps a magical sinkhole would appear and swallow him into the ground whole. He wished VERY HARD. Pasiphae made it over to the small knot of individuals just in time to see Kyn fall over for the second time. A laugh threatened to work it's way up her throat, but she managed to channel it into a rather wheezy cough ... ... she hoped he didn't notice the similarity. "Having a bit of trouble there again, little one?" 'Phae quipped, a smile tugging at the edges of her voice. "I don't suppose you snuck a few of Epione's apples, did you? You're a bit young for that sort of thing, I think ... " she said, leaning down to nibble, fondly, at the scrubby mane between his ears.
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Post by geob on Jan 17, 2009 18:01:33 GMT -5
Deep in the forest Tiponi stretched out her long legs and settled herself beside her small campfire. She had been roaming this strange forest for days. Long enough that she had lost track of time, but then again time had never meant much to her. For all the similarities in the world around her there were many differences too.
If only she could remember how she came to be here. She remembered standing on a mountainside looking out over a valley contemplating venturing into the town below for a meal she had not caught/gathered herself and cooked. And maybe a bed, but truth be told she wasn't really comfortable with four walls around her. She liked being able to hear the approach of others without walls to muffle their approach. She had started down the hill when she tripped over something which in itself was strange. Survival often depended upon being sure-footed especially in the wilds where she tended to stay. Anyway, when she stood she looked across the valley only it wasn't the same valley. The town was gone, the hillside less steep, the clearing below nearer and smaller with a small pond at one end, and some bear-like creature was rooting around in the meadow. Now as she leaned against a handy log and stared up at the stars that looked the same as the ones she had always had above her, she wondered over it all.
~*~*~
Back at the celebration with the fire burning down, Foehn Miri settled in standing hip-shot next to Acheflow where the young kore had collapsed in youthful exhaustion. Contentment settled around her as she began to doze.
Luminista again found herself gazing off into the distance. She was catching herself doing so more and more in the past days. She shifted restlessly then caught herself. Glancing around self-consciously hoping no one had noticed either her near nervousness or her wondering gaze. So far it seemed she had been successful for Foehn Miri hadn't noticed. At least she hadn't said anything if she had. Luminista worried and wondered over what was the matter with her. Why was her gaze always drawn these days to the distance? Why did that distance pull at her more and more?
In irritation with herself she stamped her foot as though to dislodge a pesky fly. Only when she heard the sound did she register what the action gave away. Again she cast a guilty look around and tried to settle herself for some sleep.
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Post by angelofmusic on Jan 17, 2009 19:11:41 GMT -5
Trinity had caught Liam's gesture and nodded softly, a smile crossing her lips as she would continue to song she had started. Aurellie continued to hum softly with the tune as well, though watched the others around.
Now over in Kilarney, many years ago Me mother sang this song to me in tones so sweet and low. T'was just a simple ditty, in her good ol' Irish ways an' I'd give the world if I could hear her sing this song again...
As the sound of the laughter caught her ears, Trinity would look around and catch the sight of Liam on the ground, she had not seen what had caused the laughter, though soon saw what it was and she couldn't help but giggle herself. She would stand a moment and walk over towards Liam, holding out an, albeit, small towel, one that had been in her satchel that she had packed away on her first trip.
"Kin I offer ye a towel? Ye look a li'l wet," she said and kneeled beside him.
Aurellie would look a moment and saw where Trinity had gone and shifted, watching incase she may be needed.
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Post by varuna on Jan 18, 2009 12:23:23 GMT -5
Bryn stood quiet with the sticky bun extended toward Xanthe’s arrival. Although, with a twist of her lips and a knit of her brow she noticed just how distracted the Kore was. Still she held herself stalwart and friendly, what is until she noticed the bounding Koro herself. She’d only manage to get out a strangled shout of “Watch out!” and an almost flailing gesture with the hand that held the honey bun.
Grimacing at the end result of the Koro on the floor. A small flutter of alarm streaked through her, uneasy with it; she shifted from one furry booted foot to another in a small shuffle. Finally, when she’d been about to launch off in their direction… she felt a gentle nudge at her side.
Platinum brows lifted as she turned, but found that Thora stood there watching her expectantly. Pale lips pulled into a light smile as she offered the sticky treat back to the gray mare.
While the wintry-haired Bryn moved with swift purpose and a flourish of cloak, to aide the Koro in what way she could, her star-mottled Thora caught the nod that Alcyone had made in their direction. She perked, nodding a small greeting with slightly widened blue eyes that glanced back to where Bryn had gone. Hopeful that Alcyone would catch her meaning, she nodded again. Thora wanted badly for Bryn to meet new people, no matter her reluctance, and another companion would be ideal.
Even if the evening was coming to a close, Thora felt that if Alcyone had understood, then the idea had been planted and things would work themselves out. Try as she might, she didn’t want to worry over what the guardians had been called away for, either… but the thought was a nagging one.
Bryn had managed to make it to the side of the kore, with koro on the floor before her, in time to see him attempt his recovery, only to flounder a bit before falling again. She wondered, for a moment, how one such as her could aide a baby unicorn in standing and getting their feet right. Of course, there was always lifting them up outright, and while it was a feat that would possibly be fun to watch and she did not want to believe it one she couldn’t manage. But she did feel with the way he was laying there, without a second attempt, that he was either hurt or humiliated. She hadn’t seen him hit his head on anything, so she was betting it was the ladder.
She opened her mouth to say something comforting, but second guessed herself, and remained silent… leaving her lips parted just a tad and a look of concern mixed with a little frustration for herself. She turned pages through her mind, trying to find something a warrior could comfort with and found something. Well, not perfect, perhaps, but decent enough. It was something her father had told her, when she was younger.
“The greatest glory a hero has is not with never falling; but rising every time they fall.” As she said them, her voice was confident, even if it didn’t fit… hopefully it would give him the inspiration it had given her.
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Post by Lady Whimsy on Jan 18, 2009 21:12:24 GMT -5
Xanthe stared at the Koros blankly another moment, before a sound gurgled in her throat. It started way at the back and worked its way forward, and by the time it reached her lips she was laughing in in earnest. But not cruel laughter at Kyn's unfortunate antics - rather, the sweet, joyful kind that came so easily to her, finding delight in the small things and relishing in the moment. For the first time that evening she felt truly gleeful and it was a bit again before she could speak, burying her face against Phae as she leaned over the nuzzled the fallen koros. Bryn's words added to mood with strength and propose, and at last she managed to catch her breath. "Mark that, little Koros, and up with you," she nudged him too. "There's too much night left to spend it brooding on the ground!" She lifted her head for another swallow of fresh night air and saw to the east Kylindreal rose to join her sister in the sky. The clearing illuminated silver with double moons, aloft in the heavens and surround by a harmony of stars, each dancing with laughter. The night, she thought with happy sigh, was glorious....
~ * ~ * ~ * ~
A week’s time passed, and still there had been no word. From his perch atop the citadel, the night above was huge and heartless, taunting with a thousand sharp and star-lit eyes. “Nary a whisper,” he said. In the shadows the two forms stood motionless, piously yielding, heads bowed in solidarity while he spoke. His gaze moved from one to the other, not that he expected them to answer, not that either of them would. Disgust brimmed but he swallowed it down, for they weren’t the cause. That had happened a week ago, and since that time he had been scrying, seeking, prying deep into the sprawling night, yet each query he’d flung to the wind had come back unrequited, each yearning probe had vested unknown. Across a thousand sharp and callous stars his mind and flown, but each had answered in same. Silence.And he knew that was impossible. It had lasted only a moment, but in that breath the universe changed. A heartbeat long and it had taken everything known about the world and stripped it bare, lost and mewling like a blind whelp, and dawn was cold. That it had happened now, like this…. he closed his eyes. The moment bloomed again and again across his memory and he relived it each time with growing exigency. It was magic – old magic, magic both eloquent and omnipotent, of the same quality that spilled forth when the universe first hatched; yet, it was magic sprung from some unnamed source. The ripple had echoed through the astral tides and for anyone intuned it shone a brilliant beacon through grey fabric of the world. Then it had faded, gone as quickly as it had come and leaving no a trace. That in itself seemed impossible, but again his scouts had returned empty-handed. As he stood before them now, he grew restless, his gold eyes glinted like two waning moons. “Go,” he told them, his voice sinuous and fierce. “Enough time has wasted, enough energies scattered and efforts lost; ye of magic’s blood born yet wallow in ignorance… I shall not be disappointed again. Seek it, find it, and bring it home…” At his words the figures stooped and bowed, melting into the night as silent and shadows. When they were gone he turned, casting his gaze upwards and brunt upon the twinning moons. There was power in a night like this, and it was written all across sky, yet every star in turn jeered down and mocked him, their eternal laughter ringing through his ears. Soon enough, he baited them, soon enough. He had been waiting for what seemed eons but would not rush to haste and have it lost for folly now. Nay, he bid his time, and it would come. And he had all the time in the universe...
((AND THIS CHAPTER IS CLOSED))
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Post by Lady Whimsy on Jan 18, 2009 21:26:56 GMT -5
((It is the next morning, and can be assumed that everyone at the ball who had not gone home is still there, awaking to Kalidore's brisk autumn dawn))
Chapter 2 ~ Morning worked its way across the floor in long streams of light, but Rhaine didn’t wake until they fell across the bed. Then she was awake instantly, sitting straight up with a moment’s disorientation before judging the light across the wall with abject dismay. “ Muse!” she cried, stumbling out of bed. “Why didn’t you wake me! The morning’s half risen and still have things to gather before we go – not to mention packing them, and grabbing luncheon—” “ Lana’s been cooking since dawn,” Muse peered her head through the sheer curtain that separated Rhaine’s room from the following chamber. “At this rate you’ll have enough food to feed the bunch of you for weeks. Besides, you were sleeping so soundly when I looked in earlier, I didn’t want to wake you. Who knows when you’ll next have the chance to sleep in your own bed?” Rhaine made a grumbling sound as she threw open her clothing chest and rummaged for something that seemed to have worked its way to the bottom. “I still have to bathe, pack the bedroll – which is still hanging on the line, isn’t it? soaked with dew now probably, but it was so dusty from the last time… which ages ago, wasn’t it? And then there’s my remedy pouch, and I wonder if Lilaini will remember the bug repellent? not to mention the scrolls—” “Here,” Muse flopped her bathing robe on top of the pile that was emerging from the trunk. “Go bathe. Your scrolls are packed, remedies are in with the scrolls, Lilaini will most certainly remember after that last time, and grab the rolls on you way in. Now,” she regarded the growing pile a moment longer, “what was this talk about packing light?” * * * Xanthe woke to the sun just breaking the crest of the hillside, washing the glade in opalescent light, cool, bright, and sharp. Snuggled as she was against Phae’s warm side she tried to squeeze her eyes shut again, but the light was intrusive. She yawned, rubbing her nose along her foreleg to brush away the dew. She rose gingerly, applying each limb in turn as if they lacked confidence; in truth, she was unused to the cold and rather spoiled. Since foalhood she’d spent the volume of her nights sprawled comfortably on the thick rugs of Rhaine’s bedroom floor, instead of out-of-doors and under stars like a proper unicorn should. Then again, her mother was not much different; a certain standard of creature comforts had developed for the unicorns of the Temple, noticeable mostly at times like these. Xanthe stretched and yawned again, feeling the chill leave her limbs with the motion. That was that. She was awake, and wasn’t going to be sleeping again soon. She looked around the clearing, quiet now in the autumn dawn, the grass dotted with clusters of unicorns still sleeping and sprawled easily on the grass. Her eyes found the a few companions too, nestled alongside their partners with whatever coverings they had pulled tight against the morning’s cold. The great fire of the night before was only a smoldering patch of ash, still being tended by the appointed fire keeper, but asides from this there was no other movement. On the other side of Phae Kyn was also asleep and apparently dreaming, his hind leg kicking out in abstract and nostrils twitching. Occasionally a murmur escaped his lips but no discernible words. Xanthe shook her head at the koros as she passed, starting across the clearing and to the forest. Now that the light was back it nolonger seemed haunting, Dragon’s Ghost or otherwise. Plus, she knew that right about now Lana would be getting up and making breakfast, and with very little insistence this could mean oatmeal. Plus, she intended to give everyone an earful about her having been so erroneously forgot, as well find out just what news could have been so distracting in the first place…
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Post by Admin on Jan 18, 2009 21:28:34 GMT -5
The early morning rays had been slowly making their way across the floor of Lilaini’s home in what appeared to be an eager attempt to wake her. They continued across the floor and began creeping onto the bed before the Guardian fluttered her eyes open. She groaned slightly and squinted her eyes shut once more. Her head was pounding and her hand instinctively went up to rub her temple. It took a few moments to gain her bearings and images flashed through her mind from the night before, which only made her groan again. Forcing her eyes open, she looked around cottage and became vaguely aware that she should have been awake several hours ago. She lay there for several seconds more, trying to get up the courage to make an attempt at sitting up.
An angry twittering noise caught her attention and she twisted her head to look behind her just as a flash of red dived at the bed. The creature landed near her feet and angrily clamoured up the blanket towards her face. Pulling the blanket over her head she hid underneath from the creature’s angry glare. It paused its assault and seemed confused by her sudden disappearance. Peeking her eyes over the blanket she saw the pocket griffon turning around in circles attempting to locate where she had went to. Lilaini reached her hand under the blankets towards the creature, and slowly moved it around underneath enticingly. The griffon froze when it saw the movement, and crouched down low. It’s tail began to raise higher in the air and it’s pupil dilated as it watched the movement intently. It’s head bobbed back and forth with the movement under the blanket and it’s hind end began wobble in anticipation. At that moment, the small creature couldn’t stand it anymore and pounced directly at the Guardian’s hand and she laughed in delight and pulled her hands out of the way just in time to avoid the creature’s beak.
Unfortunatly, her laughter hurt her head and she again reached for her temple. “Oh Adar, I am so very fond of you,” she said reaching out to stroke the creature who was becoming aware of the trickery that had been played on him. He squawked in mock annoyance and flew off to sit on the table and glare about the room. He had been locked in the cabin all night which had put him in a rather foul mood, due to Lilaini’s state of mind she forgot to open a window for him when she had arrived home.
Finally sitting up, she looked around the room and was glad to see that she had decided to pack before she went to bed. Getting up, she strode unsteadily over to the herb cupboard and began pulling out a variety of containers and concoction. Normally these herbs were put into tea but she did not have time to be starting a fire to heat water for tea, so she did the more unpleasant task of crushing them and swallowing them quickly with a cold cup of water. Making a face, she shuddered violently and had to stop herself from retching, but after only a few moments her head began to clear. Satisfied this was the best she was going to be able to accomplish she moved towards the bags laying across her table and began to check through them to see if in her state of mind last night she remembered to pack everything that would be needed. The Guardian was almost satisfied with the contents when she noticed the bug repellent was still sitting on the shelf to her left and she wandered over to retrieve it. Rhaine would surely kill her if she forgot this again. Packing it away near her bedroll she next went off in search of something to wear.
She had had the foresight to pack her bags last night but apparently not enough foresight to not sleep in the clothes she had worn to the festival. Her travelling clothes were comfortable enough to sleep in but the corset she had worn to the ball was digging at her in all sorts of uncomfortable ways. Reaching around in an attempt to disengage herself from the contraption, she had her back to the door as it was slowly pushed open. She didn’t turn around because she knew it was Gypsy, and Adar squawked angrily and flew out the door the moment the mare had pushed her way in.
“It’s good to see that you are up and moving, I was beginning to wonder if the others were going to arrive and you would still be in bed.” The bronze mare’s green eyes were full of mirth and teasing. “Well then perhaps you should have come and woken.” The Guardian replied, “And would you be so kind as to please come and pull on these strings or I shall be stuck in this contraption forever.” Her companion walked across the cabin, tucking her head so as to not catch her horn on any one of the many vines and plants that was creeping across the ceiling. Grabbing the strings with her mouth, she gave them a sound tug and the tension was released. Lilaini began to squirm and finally was free of the binding clothing.
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Post by varuna on Jan 19, 2009 0:39:45 GMT -5
After clearing had quieted and everyone had set on their way to bunk down for the night, Bryn had set about making a lean-to of sorts with limbs and the like from fallen trees in the forest around the clearing. It was a slow process at first, and she had only thought to make it large enough for her. That is until she was joined in her efforts by a certain Irishman.
So this morning, with the sun beginning to crest over the horizon, she found herself waking automatically with the first light. She was, as a rule, a morning person and always prepared to take on the day ahead. This morning was not different, unless you count the small throb between her eyes… and the soft groan she’d uttered as she sat up and took a look around from her corner of the thrown together covering.
Slipping from under the safety of the lean-to, she felt the cold of morning and had to smile on it. She was at home in the winter weather, truthfully, and the feeling of it seemed to wipe away the after affects of too much wine all together. Rolling her blue-linen covered shoulders, she took a look at her fellow builder; still sleeping.
No matter, she manned herself with a grin and kicked at his boot with her own. “Time to rise, Liam. We’ve got hunting to do.” And unceremoniously dropped her sheathed axe onto his belly, before turning half her attention to raking her fingers through her hair and pulling it back into a much neater braid than when she woke.
Thora woke, too, with Bryn’s words and movement, but it was only to register what was happening before she faded back out. Apparently Thora had been pushed past her usual bedtime and sought to sleep in, Bryn decided.
“I get the iced water next.” Bryn warned Liam, as a little extra incentive.
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Post by Delicious on Jan 19, 2009 2:08:00 GMT -5
So far, Liam awoke every morning in Kalidore to something strange and wonderful - and while the morning after the harvest festival proved to be no different, there was definitely a large dose of the familar. His burgeoning consciousness, grudgingly awakened with the kick from his blonde bunk-mate of the night before, was greeted with a skull-splitting hangover. A groan clawed it's way out of his throat as the sharp throbbing finally registered. Liam lay very still, his eyes still closed, hoping that perhaps if he were very lucky he might be able to evade the horrible headache if he could just fall back asleep ... only to have Bryn's sheathed axe landed on his stomach with a hard thwack. The unexpected strike made him flinch and open his eyes - the jerky movement and sudden light a painful double blow to his already aching head. He grimaced in pain, and held up a hand to block the light from small lean-to's opening. "Och lass - are you trying te kill me then?" He groused at Bryn, clearly at odds with her perky morning attitude. He rolled onto his side, massaging the bridge of his nose in a vain hope to dispell the evils that drinking a bottle and a half of wine had reaped upon his poor head. At the mention of ice water however, Liam decided that braving the protesting aches of his brain were worth it in lieu of escaping an impromptu bath. "Augh! I'm up, I'm up!" he rumbled, and managed to lumber his way (looking rather rumpled) out of the shelter and out into the open air - boots and mail in hand.* Liam scrubbed a hand through his short blonde hair, and grimaced at his blonde companion. "Now ... what was it you had in mind lass? Was it something about food? Hunting, ye said?" he queried, bending over to tug on his leather boots. *Liam felt at least comfortable enough in the area to not feel the need to wear his armor at ALL times. And besides - sleeping in chain mail is UNCOMFORTABLE. Not to mention the smell.
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Post by varuna on Jan 19, 2009 2:56:58 GMT -5
Bryn would have had to agree on that front, she had removed her armor as well, though that was more to appear… acceptable, rather than ready for battle with the people of this world. Not exactly the most friendly looking attire, her armor. And for this hunting trip she chose to wear only what she had on the previous night, though her cloak was drawn up into her hands and shook out. The rest of her protective layers was left for the sleeping Thora to guard.
Twin blonde brows rose together at his response. Kill him? “That would certainly make it easier than hunting.” What hand only been a grin before, now turned larger and flashed more teeth. “Luckily for you, I’ve never been one to take the easy route. Besides, I don’t think you‘d taste as good.” She quipped; amused.
Nimble fingers finished in fashioning the metal brooches on her cloak to hold it in place. Bryn gave him a short nod in agreement. “I’m glad you were awake enough to hear that the, I was feeling bad for waking you.” Of course, with the smile on her face, she was saying otherwise; she hadn’t actually felt bad at all. “Yes, hunting… you do know how, yes? I do not have to teach you?” She eyed the armor that he held, tilting her head only moment. She’d have to examine that later, the technique was different; better.
Both blue and brown eyes perused him quickly, judging his readiness, while pale pink lips pushed into a pursed pose. “We should start that way.” She gestured toward the woods with her hand and turned the attention of her gaze there too, Bryn’s expression turned thoughtful a moment. What would the animals here look like? We’ll find out soon enough. She mentally shrugged before giving Liam one more glance and setting her soft-thudding footfalls into the appointed direction, with a sway of platinum braid.
Hopefully, he’d hurry along. Because it seemed like Bryn wasn’t going to wait for him to rub the sleep out of his eyes or settle in with his hang over.
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Post by Lady Whimsy on Jan 19, 2009 20:55:37 GMT -5
The sun was nearing second-notch when Odin stepped from the wooded vale to grace the shore, fracturing the lake’s mirrored surface as he sunk his nose in to drink. Tyden was silent, taking in the quiet beauty as he shifted his weight back, balancing against the saddle packs that had been slung across the stallion’s broad sides. When he was finished, Odin gave his head a brisk shake which sent water droplets scattering and his rider a playful jolt. “Hey-hey!” Tyden admonished cheerfully. “You’re the one who will be stuck carrying a very soggy load who will complain sullenly for the rest of the day if you dump me in the lake.” The great stallion seemed to chuckle, his black and silver mane shivering with the movement. “T’would be a change from another 27 verses of ’Vog-in-the-Hole,” he shrugged passively, and clipped up the rocky embankment toward the temple. Kalidore’s sole permanent building rose gently from the rock formation as if had grown their naturally. It was a beautiful structure; peaked arches sprang from the rock to form windows and doors, the stone surface woven and carved into delicate organic forms as if it two were something alive and growing. Where there rock ended, plants had been encouraged to grow – trees encircled the garden walkways with their branches, stone trellis were covered in climbing vines, blooming deep crimson in autumn’s reign. The single crowning spire was the only thing that looks specifically manufactured, but so fitting with the scope and line of the rest that the building it stood a triumphant execution of elven architecture at its finest. Across the wild-grown but elegant grounds they went, coming around the eroding outer walls and into the gardens proper. And there, in contrast to glorious examples of elven masonry and exquisite pastoral forms was Rhaine, somewhat bedraggled, wearing her bathrobe with hair piled untidily and tugging at heavy a canvas that had been thrown over a make-shift clothesline. This she seemed to be having difficulty with, a point accentuated by the participation of the large and rather presumptuous emu who darted back and forth under the line to nip at the fluttering cloth counterproductively. Now and then a loose reproach flew in the direction of the bird, and the girl nearly tipping herself off the apple crate she was balanced upon while she continued to pull stubbornly. Perhaps pastoral wasn’t too far off mark, Tyden considered in retrospect, a smile working the corners of his mouth. With an unspoken nudge Odin resumed his momentum and drew alongside. “Truly, it takes a certain kind of adventurer who takes on the wilds dressed in nothing but an old bathrobe,” Tyden addressed as seriously as he could. Rhaine sighed heavily into the bulging tarp, shooing away the emu again half-heartedly. “My morning has been disapproving enough without a critique of my attire,” she bemoaned. “Oh no, you have me mistaken – I’m a fan. Hugely! In fact,” Tyden grabbed hold of the canvas as Odin leaned against the line with his horn, “I think it’s attire that should be worn at length…. Just, perhaps not for the quest at hand. Here, I’ll pack this and you go get dressed; as much as I’d like to see you carry on as you are, I’m not sure it’s something we want to be sharing with all of Kalidore…” “I will share it with whomever I right-well feel like,” she rejoined crossly, allowing him to draw the ends together and fold them smooth. The tent, she knew, Tyden would consider a luxury; she considered it necessity on account of the weather, which was unpredictable at this time of year. The dew had made it clammy and it was moving with as much delight as wet cat; at least Lana had the foresight to bring in the bedroll. In such a short time she’d been at the temple Rhaine and could not imagine what she’d ever done without her; nothing really pointed out what a scatterbrain you were like being around someone who wasn’t. She turned, using the emu for leverage as she climbed off the box. The emu gazed at her expectantly, batting it’s long lashes beguilingly. “Fine, Edwina!” she sighed at last. “I’ll get you breakfast. And you,” she glanced back at Tyden, most of her annoyance begun to dissipate, “if you like I think you can find something for yourself in the kitchen; Lana’s been cooking all morning. I’ll be there as soon as I’ve changed.”
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Post by Delicious on Jan 20, 2009 17:59:21 GMT -5
"Hrmf. Easier, indeed. As for the other, I've never actually had any complaints." Liam muttered as he finished lacing on his boots. He straightened slowly, taking a deep breath to try and clear his head (while it didn't exactly work, he did feel the better for it.) before refocusing on Bryn. "Awake enough, anyways." He replied, and then grumbled loudly at her intimation that he might need her assistance to know the pointy end of a cross-bow. "I'll have you know ... " he began, ready to boast of his handful of manly hunting encounters of the past, when he looked over and noticed that his blonde compatriot was already marching off into the surrounding wilds. He frowned, not enjoying the sensation of being so summarily discounted. Detouring slightly to snag an apple from a nearby table, he rushed to catch up with Bryn, and was mildly impressed at the pace he was forced to take to keep up with her. "You know," he remarked thoughtfully, "...as much as I enjoy a good roast, how exactly d'we know what isn't well ... off limits? I've enough problems to bear without eating a friend of one of our four-footed hosts." (adding Lana etc.)
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Post by Lady Whimsy on Jan 20, 2009 19:10:28 GMT -5
“You forgot me,” Xanthe deadpanned. “Sweetling, I certainly did not,” Muse sighed, trying not to sound impatient. “I figured you were having a good time and wouldn’t want to come home yet. And if you called to me, I would have come and gotten you at once. Did you have a good time?” she looked up from Rhaine’s satchel, which she had been rifling through to make sure that everything had ended up where it was supposed to. “Yes,” she sulked. The palomino mare tried no to smile at her daughter’s impetuousness, and leaned over to plant a quick lick on the ear. Xanthe resisted grumpily, but with her stomach full of warm oatmeal it was impossible to stay truly wound up and found her interest drifting to the scrolls her mother had packed. “Why so many?” “To be safe,” Muse replied. “As I shall accompany the Daiga home, I won’t be there if Rhaine needs to know something. So these are maps, journals, historic notes, and spells – everything I have on that vast region of the Skyfields. I hope it will be enough,” she pondered. “So if you’re not going… does that mean I can’t go either?” Xanthe began slowly. Though she had not exactly been grounded – at least, not in so many words – after her last foray into the unknown her mother had been rather firm about her staying close at hand. And while Xanthe had sworn up and down to comply – without complaint, even – it seemed some cruel jest of fate that everything interesting seemed to happen in the regions just beyond. “I’ll mind Rhaine,” she pressed on longingly. “I’ll help her, even. I… I can carry the packs! I’ll be useful. And I will behave myself and not wander, not even a little. I will pay close attention to what I see, and make notes, for my studies – for new scrolls…. and, even, practice my spells…” * Her mother had an unfamiliar look on her face as she observed her, her sea-blue eyes full of thought. Xanthe’s eyes, though also blue, were more like her father’s, crisp and clear with an element of sky. Her own gaze was unwavering, and at last, her mother sighed. “What good would I be as an advocate of dreams if I did not allow my daughter to follow her own?” Muse nuzzled the ear again softly. “So yes, you may go, and I hope enjoy your quest. And I will do my best not to worry so terribly about you while you’re gone.” “ Tyden will take care of me,” she assured soundly, feeling a bit awkward at the prospect of making her mother worry again. “He did last time. And soon, I will be old enough to take care of myself. Then you won’t have to worry at all.” “I doubt it… that I would ever stop worrying, that is; for by Kal’s eyes you are growing so quickly…” Muse shook her head softly, but then she straightened, determined to be sensible and began packing again. “Well now, if you want to help, let’s see what we can get you doing.” Eager, Xanthe followed her mother's lead, delighted to be taken seriously and eager to be of service in anyway she could. After all, she was not some weanling kore (maybe the stories of her exaggerated adventure had lodged into a particular corner of her brain, and Kyn's re-telling of them at length the night before certainly didn't hurt!) she was practically a full-fledged adventure already. And they weren't even leaving Kalidore, she thought with a shake of her head. Really, what could possibly happen? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- * The last part was good deal of bargaining give on her part; in truth, Xanthe was a poor scholar when it came to spell scrolls. It was not that she wasn’t smart, or talented, simply, that she never seemed able to sit still long enough to make through any of her mother’s lessons. It was something that frustrated her mother to no end, and remained constant a sticking point between the two. If only they were to make useful spells, she huffed wearily, instead of silly charms to make plants grow or lull the emus off to sleep. Then maybe learning spells would be interesting…
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zephyr
New Member
In Memoriam
Posts: 23
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Post by zephyr on Jan 20, 2009 20:05:04 GMT -5
Brona didn't sleep that night; she had little need to. Even had she needed to, she doubted she could have; her mind was whirling, pressing with questions she felt she needed to answer. How can I make a difference? I want -
After hours of thought, when the dark horizon had begun to shade into dark azure, she found a semblance of an answer. I don't want to be a doll, a body with no purpose, a wandering spirit. I want something to believe in, to fight for. To not be afraid. To feel - something. Dream or not - I want to believe in Kalidore.
However, to make a difference, she had to learn to accomplish things, like walking. Mostly she could move on instinct - but while her body gave her the ability to touch things and be touched, it didn't replace the sense of touch; the feet she stood on, the hands she curled into fists or patted her face with - had no feeling. It was odd - after years of dreaming, to be bound by gravity. She couldn't float over dips and hollows in the ground, and the first time a stiff breeze shoved at her lightly, she lost her balance and fell.
Balance was a little tricky - she couldn't rely on feeling her feet, and had to rely on visual cues to tell if she was leaning or not.
Entering the temple was easier - the ground was level, and there were walls she could place against them to steady herself. Stepping with exaggerated care, she suppressed a thrill of glee - her footsteps echoed! She was surprised to hear the clatter in the kitchen of food preparation, and headed for it. She couldn't eat (and oh, how she missed being able to taste and smell! The foods at the Ball the night before had looked absolutely scrumptious!), but maybe she could help - what an exciting thought!
And besides, she wanted to see who was up, and maybe talk. And see how the inhabitants of Kalidore would respond to Brona's new 'body'. Hopefully better than they responded to the 'ghost' me, she thought ruefully, stepping into the kitchen, correcting herself a little awkwardly when her shoulder clipped the doorframe.
**OOC 1: Note: Brona's new 'body' looks like Brona's body Earthside, but as she sees herself in her mind - healthy, not the wasted thin body in the hospital. Since it's her will (focused by the lodestone) holding her form together, I thought this would make sense. Instead of skin tones, etc though, her body is made of dust and sand/dirt, and gains its texture and coloring from that.
She wears a dark black-and-gold lodestone on a cord around her neck, which is a talisman the Daiga gave her.
OOC2: Del and i are working on a tandem post to follow up XD
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Post by geob on Jan 20, 2009 20:05:50 GMT -5
Luminista stood gazing off toward the forest intent upon something only she could see while near by Foehn Miri quietly grazed on the dew covered grass. The mist of early morning still covered the plains and those just beginning to stir from the previous night's revelries. Foehn Miri bent around to scratch her ear with a rear hoof when she noticed Luminista's distraction. "I would accuse you of daydreaming if you were not looking so intent," she commented to the red chestnut. With a humph Luminista shook off her distraction and set to grazing, hoping Foehn Miri would let the subject drop. She didn't want to explain something she didn't understand herself. Why was she feeling this pull into the forest? It had never drawn her before. She wasn't sure when she first noticed the discontent or discomfort or whatever it was. It hadn't been long though, a couple of days maybe. "Did you enjoy the festivities last night?" Foehn Miri continued. " Acheflow is sure a joy." Grabbing another mouthful of grass, Foehn Miri studied her friend as she chewed. "A maned bear is coming our was. I think think he wants us for dinner?" "Mmmm," Luminista replied. "Sounds good." With a shake of her head and mumbled comments about distracted companions Foehn Miri went back to grazing.
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Post by Delicious on Jan 20, 2009 20:39:08 GMT -5
Lana bustled about the temple kitchen with a happy efficiency.* Her bare feet padded quietly on the warm stone of the kitchen floor as she moved between stove and counter-top; stirring the simmering porridge as she added a handful of cinnamon, cracking a few more eggs into a large bowl in preparation for a morning breakfast rush that she knew would be happening shortly. Out of the corner of her eye Lana caught a form lurking in one of the kitchen doorways, and she turned with smile to find Brona watching her. Lana ducked her head in greeting, taking in the slightly exotic appearance of the golem-girl in stride**, and was about to gesture to the girl to come in and sit down when the oven-fire suddenly guttered. Lana eeped, flitting to the wood basket to grab another pair of logs to throw on the fire, and wrinkled her nose at the realization that the basket was nearly empty. She threw the rest of the wood on the fire, and placed the empty basket on a nearby table. The fire taken care of for time being, she turned back to Brona with a wide smile. "H'lo! Hungry?" she queried the golem-girl brightly, and gestured towards one of the many chairs that circled the kitchen tables in the room. * So far, her visit into Kalidore had been nothing short of awe inspiring and wonderous, and while she was greatly appreciative of all of the marvels that had awaited her - she also enjoyed the chance to slip back into the more commonplace activities that she had grown up with. Bit by bit, she found herself organizing corners of the temple - which soon grew into assistance with shelving and storing - and lately (having found herself to be one of the earliest risers of the group) temple "chef" of sorts, and took great pride in providing all temple visitors with a warm and savory meal.
**Honestly, after telepathic unicorns, travelling gates and a new magical land - a visiting golem wasn't a big hurdle for her brain to process in comparison with the wonders it had been faced with so far.
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Post by angelofmusic on Jan 21, 2009 3:33:08 GMT -5
The night had passed and Aurellie had watched as Trinity had started to doze, though she had ushered the girl on to herb ack and taken her to a glade where the mare called her own. It was simple enough for her since she had always bunked alone. The glade made of trees, enough to shelter where she lay and such, keeping it dry. It had a bit of a stream running through it, so she always had water to drink. She knew she would have to find something better though for Trinity, now that she had the girl.
As the light from the sun peeked through the curtains of willow boughs and washed over Aurellie's face, the mare would wake and looked, then looked to see Trinity still asleep. She knew the girl hadn't had much to drink, but still she was tired, thus she let her sleep for now. She shifted slowly, allowing the girl to lay on the soft cushioning of bedding she had, then moved towards the stream for a drink. Once she had her drink, she walked back over towards the girl and nudged her softly.
"Come on Trinity. Time to wake and greet the day," she said and nuzzled her cheek.
"Mmrpghmmf...five more minutes ma..." she muttered and rolled back over, pulling her cloak over her head and curled up like a cat, though acted like a little child that didn't want to get up, which she didn't.
Head tilted slightly and she would then shake it, mane flipping a little. Mare would walk back to the stream and take a mouth full of water, then walked back over to the girl and dropped it on her face, causing her to sputter and cough.
"Och! Aurellie!" Trinity squeaked as she sat up and wiped her face. "Did ye 'ave te do tha'? Least yer mouth is clean."
"Well I wasn't about to let you sleep the day away, it's already mid-morning," the mare said with a slight smirk as best she could make.
Trinity stretched and looked, then stood and walked over to the stream to wash her face clear of the spit and water. Once she was done she parted the willow boughs a little so the sun could fully hit her.
"We need to find a better shelter for you," Aurellie said as she came to stand beside Trinity.
"Whut? Wha' about 'ere with ye?" she asked.
"Here is fine, I know, but you need more than leaves to help. I'm sure we can find something large enough for the two of us." the mare grinned.
"Ye'd leave this fer me?" Trinity asked.
"I'd live in a cave if I had to, so long as you had a better shelter or a proper roof over your head. Now come on, we'll see if we can find someone to help in that area." Aurellie moved from the glade, Trinity soon following, satchel at hand.
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Post by varuna on Jan 21, 2009 10:45:45 GMT -5
She didn’t leave him behind completely; she slowed down just on the other side of the forest’s line, perhaps not by choice. Mismatched gaze gaining a better feel of these unknown woods with the dim glow of the first light’s rays. Even here in this new world; it worked the same. Things often looked vastly different with light shed on them and it was a small comfort to her. So true, too, was the grumbling of Liam; it made her grin. Apparently her morning and forward ahead nature didn’t make things easier one him… the teasing probably didn’t help either, but she didn’t seem to be thinking about stopping.
A brow cocked upward when he presented his thought to her aloud, though her stomach rumbled softly in response to the word it found as key. Brynja found herself nodding in agreement as she stepped over a fallen log they had missed in the dark. Too bad; it would have been perfect. She frowned slightly at it, before turning her di-colored attention to him and replying. “Mmm. In truth, I hadn’t thought that far ahead.” She shrugged, tiling her head thoughtfully and allowed her gaze to go back to panning the scene of the woods. Actually, she hadn‘t thought of it at all. She had been more interested in feeding herself. But not that he mentioned it; what kind of creatures could these woods possibly host? It was actually enough to cause a subtle raising of hair on her neck. “But, perhaps, we could give up meat this morn and find something else?”
She paused for a beat, mid-stride, and looked hard in the right direction while her arm flung out to seize his arm and bring him to a halt. Her fingers nor grip were as soft as a normal woman, but the like of a warriors; calloused and strong. “Did you hear that?” She whispered to him on a puff of breath; still staring out into the woods. Just as sudden as her stop, she grinned to him and charged off further into the woods at a run. She had heard a bird’s squawking in the distance. Where there are birds there are two things; either there source of food (hopefully something they could eat also) or their nest. Either of which were fine by Bryn.
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Post by Lady Whimsy on Jan 22, 2009 10:56:16 GMT -5
((wee! tandeming with Del this time, heh)) The temple kitchen was a central room, and the warm smell of Lana’s cooking filled the whole building with a cheerful hominess. Tyden followed the smell to its source, ducking around the main entranceway to greet the spread of buns and biscuits that had been set on the counter to cool. Lana was beside the stove, tending something in one of the cast iron pans, and he drew close to investigate further. “That smells wonderful,” he touched her gently on the back, partly in warmth of greeting but also so that she would turn to him as he spoke. “You spoil us all terribly, you know that. Whatever are we going to do out there in the wildness without your cooking? Though,” he glanced at the assortment of goodies already to be wrapped and pack, “you seem to have thought of that already. When we return, I will take it upon myself to see that some such feast is prepared for you,” he nodded decisively. “Aah, s'no need for a feast,” she shook her head plainly. Her words were still a little oddly formed, but with Spirit’s daily lessons and her determination sometimes it was easy to forget she couldn’t hear. “I ... I like doing it. S' even better when I see people enjoying what I’ve made.” “Then I will continue to enjoy them wholeheartedly,” he nabbed a small biscuit from the row and savored the warm mouthful appropriately. There was movement at the main doors again as Spirit’s graceful wheaten-and-ebony form slipped through the cast sunlight causing the dust motes dance. Her ears were pricked forward and eyes bright with pride as she found Lana. * Aren't you becoming quite the little chatterbox!* Spirit sent Lana with a smile, her mental voice thick with love and approval. "Isn't she doing well? By the end of the season, she'll be talking your ear off, like as not!" the mare remarked aloud to Tyden as she squeezed herself past him to nick a scone from one of the wooden cooling racks. Lana snorted and rapped her nose lightly with one of her spoons. * You already ate six of those! No more, or they'll be nothing left for anyone ELSE for breakfast!* she rebuked the wheaten mare. Spirit, seemingly unphased by the rebuff, batted her long lashes at her Companion and dribbled crumbs on the floor as she chewed. * And could you please ask our other guest what she's in the mood for? The muffins will be done soon, but if she wants griddle cakes or eggs... those aren't quite ready?* Lana sent, nodding her head at the golem-girl in the doorway. At Lana's direction, Spirit turned her head attention towards the figure in the far doorway, her sudden change of focus drawing Tyden's attention. As his gaze tracked along the counter to the end, he and noticed for the first time the other figure who had been hovering in the doorway. He assessed her curiously for a moment, not recognizing her, taking in the odd, unnaturally monochromatic cast of her pallet at face. “Oh, hello there. I don’t believe we’ve met; I’m Tyden. Come to partake of Lana’s delectables, I’m sure?” He returned his attention to Lana before he began again, grown used to her reading lips (and while not nearly as prone to drift his focus away in the mid-sentence as at first, he still did it on occasion to the point that Lana had likened his attention span to that of Adar’s, something he would probably have been sore about had not Lana been so honestly sincere). “Is there anything that can be done to help? You should at least let us be useful, after everything you’ve done here already.” She glanced at the spread of ingredients on the table, and then the stores beside the fireplace, marking off in her head what she needed for her next task – omelettes – and finally concurred. “Firewood,” Lana indicated the basket she’d set on the table, “And ... hrm ... " she looked towards Spirit, obviously at a loss as to the correct pronunciation and phrasing of the other half of her request. Spirit quickly stepped in on Lana's behalf. "She was thinking that fresh basil for the eggs would be nice – might as well use the greens until the frost gets at them.” she finished for the girl, and Lana nodded happily, giving them both a wide smile (and Tyden another biscuit) returning to the stove-top. Temporarily resolved of her translator-duties, the wheaten mare ears pricked as she eyed Brona with renewed interest. "It's Brona, is it not?" she asked the young golem-girl curiously. " Muse mentioned you to me this morning, that you were staying with us in the temple ... weren't you ..." she paused for a moment and cocked her head, considering Brona from another angle. "Weren't you at the festival last night? I'm fairly certain I heard your name ... but I don't think we've met." she ducked her head slightly before continuing. "You can call me Spirit, and behind me here (as you've doubtlessly figured out) is Lana. And this oaf, who's already introduced himself, is indeed Tyden." Spirit remarked, unsuccessfully trying to keep the laughter from her voice at her final introduction. Behind her, Lana clucked her tongue reprovingly, and swatted the mare in mild disapproval of her verbal sparring. Spirit coughed, and schooled her long face into a more serious expression. "Ah, yes. Sorry - anyways, 'tis a great pleasure to make your acquaintance. But if you don't mind... do you think you could give me a hand in the garden? I can always send the oaf here ... err ... Master Tyden," she grinned, "to do the heavy lifting when it comes to firewood - but while I can FIND the basil - Lana is most disapproving of using herbs that have been partially covered in unicorn drool. Picking things with ones teeth does seem to have it's drawbacks." she chuckled dryly. “Aren't you lucky to have yourself a resident oaf,” Tyden sighed, mock with rue, “here to wait on you and provide all the niceties of life… firewood… functioning hands… your companion…” He ducked as the point of her horn lowered playfully in his direction, scooting out the small side door in the same motion. But he did hold it open long enough for the others to follow, heading out into the garden beyond. Then off he went to the woodshed, mind set on having a good helping of those eggs and griddlecakes when he returned.
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Post by geob on Jan 23, 2009 18:14:55 GMT -5
Tiponi awoke early from an uneventful night. Before rising she watched through the leaves as the sky brightened, all the while listening to the sounds of the forest. Hearing nothing to cause alarm, she stretched, got up and gathered her few belongings. She slid the long dagger she carried down her back into its soft, pliable scabbard then strapped on the ones she carried on each thigh. Her living blanket was quickly rolled and slung across her back and over one shoulder. Checking the fire to make sure no coals or even heat remained, she scattered the ashes. A few loose leaves scattered about and soon there was no trace of her presence except a few small bones scattered under near by shrubs.
Turning mostly west she headed out. Late a couple of evenings before she had spied a lake with a building nearby and some activity around it, but she had shied away from there having no wish to encounter anyone. Looking about she had decided west seemed as good a direction as any.
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Post by silentmoon on Jan 23, 2009 19:28:03 GMT -5
Mornings always made the frisky kore... even more friskier than any other time of day. Thus Acheflow was seen bounding around the clearing, sticking her petite nose into whatever was deemed interestingly noticable to her. Ofcourse, she didn't make a mess of everything (if there was anything to make a mess of), although she couldn't restrain overly curious thoughts from darting around every so often.
When she woke up, sleep was without a trace. Although it wasn't long before all the spotted filly started to become hungry. Turning to the first unicorn, or atleast form of 'authority' and certainly NOT Fiera or Amaterasu or even that strange human girl, she cried out, "Umista! Umista!" Whom she spotted outside alongside Foehn Miri doing something that Acheflow didn't really care for.
Romping over to face the two older mares, Ache looked a little discomfortable... or was it hunger? "I'm hungwee!" She cried, expecting anyone of them to solve her problems or atleast give her some human food. She liked that sometimes. Especially the sweets. But Ache didn't wait for answer, instead she bounded off to check if anything was edible around in the clearing.
Allison had woken up slightly groggy. She scanned the area, to see what she'd missed or even how late she woke up. Surprisingly, it was still pretty early and by the look of the sun, wasn't quite noon yet. "Good." She muttered. Looking about, she discovered that Fiera and Amaterasu were off somewhere, but she didn't know exactly where.
"Hey... where are you? Or you two?" Ali thought, trying to see if her thoughts would carry between their unknown distance apart.
"I'll be back soon dear. Just thought that we would move around in the early morning." Replied, Fiera who seemed to be smiling through their connection.
Ali hadn't eaten much last night so a bit of breakfast wouldn't quite hurt her either. Nearing closer, she saw that everyone else WAS awake and that little Acheflow was crying out in hunger. She waited a little bit before the kore made off, coming closer to Luminusta and Foehn Miri with a perplexed look.
"So how do we go about actually trying to feed her? If she keeps bounding around like that?"
((Edited cause Silent's brain is still pudding! D:))
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Post by jadecorrine on Jan 24, 2009 1:07:39 GMT -5
Cheri woke when the warmth of her Companion left her with a rough jostle. "Hey," she mumbled groggily. "Tryin' to snooze here." Kip had always told her she wasn't exactly a bright and shining gem in the mornings. Of course, it was getting harder to be nocturnal in a place where she didn't sleep in a darkened room with a snuggly bed. Not that her new friend wasn't snuggly, but the sun shining in her eyes didn't help the whole sleepy thing.
She rose with a grumble and a stretch and shook the dew off her hoodie, which she'd been using as a blanket. She slipped it on and rummaged for the food she'd tucked away last night while helping clean up the table the drunken Unicorn had tumbled last night. Cheri was still highly amused by the prospect of dancing, drunken Unicorns. They sure knew how to have fun in Kalidore, that was for sure. As she nibbled she looked up at Alcyone. "So, what now?"
Alcyone gazed at the irritating little human before her. She'd had to cajole her into sleeping last night - er, early this morning - after handling a barrage of questions. She hadn't sent so much in one night in... well, ever. And she'd been trying to rouse her for the last hour. Now, however, Cheri looked up at her with her big, blue-green eyes like she was her guiding star, crumbs from her nicked cakes hanging onto her lips, and Alcyone's heart melted. Outwardly, she merely snorted and looked around.
*Something's happening,* Alcyone told her, remembering the departure of the Guardians last night. *Curious. We wait.*
Cheri stood and patted dust off her jeans. "Well, i guess in the meantime we can..." she trailed off when she noticed the singer from last night and her Companion emerging from a nearby glade. Alcyone had heard Cheri humming along last night, too shy to get up and actually sing, and wondered if she might have a kindred spirit there. Besides, she needed to make friends. With a mental shrug she shoved Cheri in the pair's direction. It took several insistent nudges for Cheri to make a stammering introduction. Behind her Alcyone sent the other Unicorn an impression of good will.
"Um, hi. I'm Cheri. I, uh... i really enjoyed your songs last night. You have a lovely voice."
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Post by Delicious on Jan 24, 2009 4:47:56 GMT -5
Liam barely repressed another groan as Bryn bounded off into the woods. While he admired her refreshed exuberence in theory, his hangover was making it hard to appreciate it in practice. However, unwilling to be left behind, Liam gritted his teeth and jogged gamely in her wake - unfortunately too fixated on the pain behind his eyes to properly appreciate the view such tailing afforded him. Fortuitiously enough, it was a short journey later that Bryn's sharp ears (and fleeter feet) led them to a neat little glade a within the forest - rife with bird call and thick green bushes. The birds themselves seemed unafraid of the human visitors, and trilled merrily as they flitted and flirted amongst the upper boughs of the trees and surrounding brush. Liam eyed a few of them thoughtfully, plump little feathered things that they were, wondering vaguely exactly how MUCH trouble eating a single brace of them would cause - when his eyes settled on a bush nestled close to the base of one of the grander old trees of the area. The bush itself was rather unremarkable - rather short and squat, covered in a dense foliage of round waxy leaves - but instead of being covered in only leaves and prickles like the majority of the other bushes of the glade, it was also covered in fat, succulent clusters of berries of a deep purpleish hue. The birds seemed to think them a great treat, and were clustered on the bush and the ground almost thicker than the berries themselves. Liam's stomach rumbled. "Well, what d'yeh say about those berries there? The winged things hereabouts seem to think them good enough ..." he asked his blonde companion. Scarce waiting for a reply however, he walked over to the berry (the many birds scattering raucously to the trees above at his approach), and picked a single berry from one of the clusters. He peered at it for a few moments - a strange specimen, round and fat and as large as the first joint of his thumb - before popping it into his mouth and biting down. A burst of tart sweetness washed over his tongue as the berry popped between his teeth. There was a slight crunch of small seeds at the center - barely noticable amidst the otherwise powerful flavor and slightly chewy flesh of the fruit. Liam reached out to pick another couple as the initial taste began to fade, and the incredibly bitter aftertaste* set in - so powerfully base that he gagged a bit, unprepared as he was at the sudden shift in taste. "Och!" he cried, grimacing and glaring at the bush. "What an awful, hideous plant! Can't say I think much of these bird brains' taste if THAT's what they consider fine dining." *Actually, as it was the crushing of the berry's seeds that produced the bitterness, had Liam simply been more careful his first encounter with the <as of yet unnamed Kalidore berrybush> would have actually been rather pleasant.((I didn't push them into Liliani's house quite yet - figured it would be a bit far at this point. If you have to pick us up on the way back to the clearing, ees fine with me. But we might be able to make it there in a quick post or two if it takes a bit longer ))
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zephyr
New Member
In Memoriam
Posts: 23
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Post by zephyr on Jan 24, 2009 13:30:30 GMT -5
For a moment Brona thought her noisy entrance would alert Lana to her presence, momentarily forgetting the girl's deafness. So mutely she watched Lana bustling around fixing breakfast, looking longingly at the food. As at the banquet, it smelled absolutely delicious. If she had had salivary glands, her mouth would have been watering. Still, food wasn't an option.
She blinked at how rapidly Lana took her new form in stride, though it was a bit relieving - apparently magic was common-place enough here on Kalidore that strange things were accepted as a matter of fact! That meant, hopefully, she wouldn't be something to stare at.
So she watched, bemused, as Lana dashed to throw wood in the fire. "Ah, I'm not hungry," she said, raising her hands in a negation, remembering to frame her words carefully, so Lana could read her lips. "I don't need to eat, any - OH!"
She spun - a little wobbly, she'd forgotten about that strange thing called inertia - as Tyden strode past her without noticing her to greet Lana. She listened to their exchange in the cosy kitchen, watching enviously as Tyden munched a biscuit.Then she glanced at all the food Lana had packaged. Great fewmets - she packed enough to feed all Kalidore til a blue moon! How will we all carry that? Her eyes bugged at the mountain of parcels** before Spirit's arrival derailed that train of thought.
"Heh, I'm Brona - I tried to tell Lana earlier that I can't eat anyway, so...." her words trailed off, she felt uncomfortable being the centre of attention. I wish Neely was here, she thought, unbidden, and quashed the thought back down. I have to stand on my own two feet - at least I can actually stand now.
She jerked back to attention as Spirit and Lana relayed their requests. "I can help carry wood, but...." Sweet Kala, how can I admit I don't know what fresh basil looks like? I've only used the dried stuff that looks like grass! "Maybe Tyden could get the basil, and I could get the wood? I might crush the basil - I haven't gotten the hang of fine movements yet," she suggested quietly, hoping they wouldn't deduce her real reasoning, but was mostly unheard in the preparations***.
She turned to Spirit, as she listened to the 'introductions'. "I'm Brona, yes. The Daiga gave me a body, so I could help," she said, smiling despite herself, hand moving towards the lodestone hanging around her neck. "I wanted to make a difference here in any way I can, besides haunting kores." She nodded to Spirit and Tyden. "It's nice to meet you, Spirit, and Tyden. I don't have any friends yet here, but you're welcome to call me if you need anything."
Then a rueful, sheepish grin slid over her face when Spirit mentioned finding the basil. I'll only have to pick it! "Oh, I'm glad to hear that!" She said, "I was afraid to admit I don't know what fresh basil looks like. We always bought dried basil! Though if I pick it, it might be a bit crushed. I'm still a bit clumsy with these - " she held up her new hands, "Will that matter?" She asked, following Spirit out the door and sidestepping (almost neatly, she thought) out of the way of the small door swinging shut behind her.
* Sorry for taking so long in getting this post up. It's been a strange week, and I haven't been online as much.
**It seems like a mountain of food to Brona, at least, who really doesn't realise anymore how much people and unicorns DO eat, when they're active.
***An assumption that can be ignored or taken at face value. I couldn't imagine her not responding, but for the sake of moving along, it'd be better for her to not be heard just then XD
**** This post seemed much longer and better written in Word before the coffee kicked in. Gomen! >_<
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Post by Delicious on Jan 24, 2009 15:35:21 GMT -5
Spirit nimbly squeezed through the side door behind Brona, and into the temple garden beyond. The garden was a riot of greens and golds, thick leafy bushes and fruit laden trees arranged in dense clusters around little pools of close-cropped lawn.* Smooth hewn stone ran in small rivers between them, creating pretty little walkways that flowed naturally from one arrangement to the next. Here and there, invisible amidst the foliage, a bird trilled merrily - obviously delighting in the crisp morning air and the streaming sunshine. "Crushed or no would be fine - as it's all to be chopped and simmered anyways." Spirit replied to Brona's query with a chuckle. "Just as long as we keep it out of my mouth, I don't think Lana will have any issues..." She winked at Brona, and grinned, before eyeing the stone paths that eddied around them. "Now if I recall ... most of the cooking herbs are over on that hillock there and ... oh!" Surprised, Spirit's verbal ramble cut off sharply as a small equine face pushed itself out of nearby bush. However, upon identifying the owner of the dark chocolate colored muzzle, she gave low laugh and leaned forward to nuzzle the kore fondly. "Ha! You silly thing - I didn't know you were still here! Thought your mother was due to pick you up a few days ago. Guess she's still out and about on her ramble then, hrm? Have you had breakfast yet?" Spirit asked, gazing down at the knock-kneed little unikore with amusement as she extricated herself from the bush. The kore nodded up at Spirit and waggled her little tail happily before moving past the mare to investigate the more interesting person now in the garden. She snuffled the golem-girl slowly and solemnly, before staring up into Brona's face with her wide green eyes. Spirit laughed again. "Well then, it seems like you've made a friend there, Brona - she's not generally so forthcoming with strangers. Now ... about that basil ..." ((Wheee! Happy belated Secret-Santa Zephyrae Come up with a name for this little cutie, and we'll have her certed up appropriately in your box.)) *The lawn's length was well maintained by the resident & visiting unicorns.
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