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 Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 1:10 am
Kalypso whimpered, and looked down at her anklet again. She'd never had any idea where her parents had gotten it from, but they'd given it to her along with the necklace the night they'd died... And what if she happened along this kelpi and he thought they were his? She'd go the same way her parents had... Hyperventilating, she backed into the tree again, having forgotten it was there. Whipping around, she came face-to-face with the tree's bark. Sighing with a kind of relief, she turned back to Vis, and saw sharp teeth protruding from his mouth. She screamed, and blinked - and they were gone. Taking deep breaths, she said, "Please, help me..."
And slumped into a faint.
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Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 1:23 am
Vis watched the mare panic, and stepped forward, feeling the first stirrings of concern somewhere deep down from the pit of somewhere. When she screamed though, that had startled him a bit, making his ears flick back from the noise, and bringing about some very unpleasant memories. he would have turned to leave her, not wishing to be called a 'monster' or something in those lines again, when she turned to him, tan eyes meeting his own, and asking for help, before she collapsed.
He made his way quickly to her side, and noticed she was still breathing. At least she hadn't died from fright. That was always a bonus. However, now what to do with her. She was lucky that their father had taken his daughter with him to go deeper into the depths. Or the mare would have been food by now. Or a chew tody. He wasn't sure what to do with her now, but he went to collect some tender grass from the edges of the canal and the land, and laid them before her. When she toke up she might be hungry, and if there was anything that could help her get on her feet and get away from this place quickly, he was going to give it to her. Innocents like her, had no place here, staining their pretty feet withe the scum and the mud.
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Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 1:40 am
Kalypso woke up a few minutes later, her mind blank except for the frightening vision she'd turned Vis into. She felt horribly guilty - he'd only been answering her question and she'd gone and fainted on him. Sitting up, she saw him coming back with some grass, and immediately began spitting out apologies. "I'm so sorry... I've never... It's just, I've had bad experiences with the ocean. And mean kelpis..." She trailed off, not sure what to say. She was trembling all over. That monster that had come out of the deep... She'd never forgive herself for turning Vis into him for even just that short second. Vis knew how bad kelpis could be - he had his father, and he'd probably heard of others that his father had dealt with. Taking a steadying breath, Kalypso said, "It was just a product of all the hyperventilating I was doing - my faint," she said, laughing a bit breathlessly. "I just hallucinated a little bit... Scared myself half to death, needless to say." She smiled weakly up at him. He was so nice - he'd brought her food, anticipating that she might be hungry... Even though she wasn't, she took a bite out of the grass anyway, and pushed the rest toward him.
"Um... Vis, forgive me, but I don't really think it's a good idea for me to stay here," she said, looking down at her pearl anklet. It might anchor her to the sea, but this shoreline was too dangerous to stay around. "I'm not really good around the sea, especially at night. Is there any way for me to get out of your father's territory without his notice?" Her head now back on her shoulders and thinking semi-clearly, she was focused on an escape route.
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Posted: Wed Jun 08, 2011 8:07 am
His ears flicked forward a bit as she woke and started to speak, though at the mention of mean kelpies, they flicked back again. He wasn't angry at her, oh no. But he could understand. And her trembling spoke volumes. Once again, he snorted with a mirthless laugh as he looked around, making sure he wasn't looking at her. Mean kelpies? They're all mean. I have never heard even a hint of a nice keplie. He bent his head down to finish the rest of the grass, then turned to start walking, looking back over his shoulder to her.
Yeah, I don't think you should stay here any longer either Kaly. There are too many monsters here. For a moment, his eyes held and unreadable expression as he looked at her, then turned away to start walking. I can get you out of here without notice. I walk these paths all the time. I know them better then probably the rest of the family. He walked in a bit of a brooding silence for several steps, before turning back to her. I'm sorry you had such a bad time with the ocean. It can be rather fun, playing in the waves. Used to do it when i was little. He closed his mouth after that and walked. She would probably be all to glad to be out of here, and away from all of them. Including him. He was the son of a Kelpie after all.
As he continued to walk in silence, he stepped on a log that slipped out from under his hoof. Vis staggered for a moment, trying to regain his balance, trying to not look like a fool as he hit another one, and started slipping a bit more. Finally, he was able to clear the logs, and stood there for a moment, splay-legged again, glaring at the logs. With that though, he drew himself up, with his head held high and his chest puffed a bit in a semblance of his earlier self. Watch out there Kalypso. It's slick. And with a flick of his fuzzy tail, he continued on with a proud stroll.
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2011 7:41 pm
Kalypso shuddered a little more. "But... You're nice, and you're part kelpi... Doesn't that say something about them?" she asked, getting to her feet to follow him.
When he said 'Kaly', the old, forgotten nickname made her look around. I haven't heard that for a long time, she thought to herself. The last time someone had called her by that name was the night her parents had been pulled under by one monster of a Kelpi. She supposed it was about time to let that sensitivity go, so she said nothing. "Thank you for doing this, Visuelle," she said when he said he could get her away. She filled her voice with sincerity, but she was a little sad to be leaving him here. He seemed to be kind of depressed, himself.
Heeding his warning, she focused on the ground, walking lightly across the slippery surface. "Is there a reason you stopped playing in the water?" Kalypso asked for the sake of conversation and getting to know him better. If she'd had it her way, she wouldn't have stopped playing in the ocean - but whenever she was around it, her knees stopped working. She wondered if he might have a similar story.
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2011 8:18 pm
Visuelle snorted at her comment. I would say I'm probably the nicest one around out of my family, though we all have our days. My sister would love to steal everything off of you, and maybe take a bit out of you. My father would take a bite out of you, or proclaim you as one of his 'treasures', and then you could never leave here. And my mother.... yeah, she should have been a kelpi instead of a ceryni. Any piece of nice I have, I probably inherited from my grandfather, whoever he is. He continued walking, letting that vanity mask of his slide for just a bit. It was nice to talk to someone that wasn't family, and wasn't afraid that he was going to eat them. And at her thanks, he simply nodded towards her.
When asked about the water though, he gritted his mixed teeth, his short fangs nearly showing. Water was a joy and a bane for him. As long as he was around his family, it would be a bane. But she seemed open enough to listen. Maybe it wouldn't frighten her away. It's not a pleasant story about the water. As you know, my father is a kelpi, any my sister resembles my father pretty well. When we were little, we would always go swimming and fishing. It's part of who we are after all. Water just calls too us. However, my sister would always race me, and I found I could not hold my breath nearly as long as her. She would taunt me, and I never had the advantage on her with my little tail and lack of breath. So, I stopped entering the water when she did. I'm pretty sure my father things me deformed or a coward. I'm not really sure, and I don't ask. I know he's always taking my sister under the water though, and he hardly talks to me anymore. He shrugged at the thought of it all. So he took after his mother. Who knows what she did. She probably stood in the water somewhere. So I decided to see what domain I could make of the land. I still like fish. But not when they're around.
He continued to walk the familiar paths he knew that led to the edge of the territory, sometimes expanding then folding his head fins as he thought, though it was an entirely unconscious habit. He knew he didn't belong to his family, but he had no where else to go. And no one would trust him because of the fins sticking out of him in odd places. That was his curse. The one he was born with. The one that came from a desperate filly.
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2011 8:41 pm
Kalypso listened to him, trotting a little to stay by his side as he talked. She nodded - she thought she might know how he felt, with the like and dislike of the water. And almost unconsciously, she began to share her own story, watching his fins expand behind his ears. It was kind of a sweet habit. "I grew up around the water, too - my family lived in the rocks next to a beach, and my brother and I grew up playing in the waves. We never really swam - the current was too strong for us. We just walked and ran up to our shoulders in the water... My parents joined us sometimes, making fun of us..." A shadow crossed her face, and she took a deep breath. It was time to get it out; time to share the pain and lessen the burden on her shoulders. And for some reason, she trusted Vis enough to talk to him. She didn't know if it was because of his kindness despite his kelpi heritage, or if it was his attitude after her fainting spell... But she needed to tell someone, and he was a friend.
"One night, we were all out for a night swim. My father gave my mother and me jewelry, and we were all too excited about the gifts to notice the sharp fins lurking out in the deeper water... And when we turned around to show my brother, he was gone." Kalypso shivered, remembering. "We heard his scream, but we never found him. I got out of the water, but my parents dived in, looking for him." Kalypso stopped walking, looking at her anklet. "I watched my mother get dragged away into the water, and then my father. I always hoped they might still be alive, but I know better..." Taking another shuddering breath, she looked up at Vis. "I looked into their eyes as they were pulled under, and I was helpless. Do you know what that feels like?" She knew he probably didn't, but this was heavy stuff, and she needed to get it out. Looking up at the sky, Kalypso sighed, and then started walking again, silent.
She was suddenly unsure of herself. She wasn't sure how Vis might take it, and that frightened her. If he brushed it off, she thought she might never trust him again. But she didn't want to make him sad, either...
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2011 9:14 pm
Vis walked quietly for the moment, thinking about what she said. She had been hurt by those of his kind. Or of his fathers kind. No wonder she had been afraid of him. Her family had died. He thought for a moment, and shook his head. I don't know what that feels like. I can't say that I am very close to my family. I would be maybe a bit sad, but it wouldn't feel too bad about them going away. I don't know if that makes me a bad sort or not. I've felt helpless, but never in that way. He wasn't really sure what to say. He really didn't understand.
He continued on his path, and noticed the large oak that marked the edge of his fathers territory. There we are, he said, motioning to the oak with a tilt of his head. He was rather happy to have something else to say. That is the end of it. On the other side of that tree is the end of his territory. You are free.
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2011 9:28 pm
Kalypso watched Vis, hoping he'd take in all that information in an alright manner. She nodded when he replied to her rather pointless, unnecessary question. "That doesn't make you a bad sort," she told him, trying to brighten him up. She walked on awkwardly, not sure what to say anymore.
When he pointed to the tree, her heart almost stopped. She would continue on with her life, forgetting this good friend she'd found in a part-Kelpi? She didn't think so. "You're... Not going to go any further with me? I don't really want to leave," she said, feeling safer now that she was in the forest, out of earshot even of the crashing waves. But what could she do?
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2011 9:42 pm
Vis stopped in the shade of the tree, and looked out into the forest. He had never gone past the boundary. He had never felt a need to. He stood in silence for several long moments, regarding the forest beyond his reach. Finally, he spoke. I have never felt the need to go past this point. As you saw me originally, the rest of the world also sees me as. Many would see me as a monster for the bloodlines I have. My fathers lands provide protection, but no comfort or future. The outside lands are full of those that would not accept me because of what I am. He shrugged almost listlessly. I have no place to call home. And no real family to call my own. You can't stay here, for I do not want to contemplate what my father would do to you. I would not wish that fate on anyone.
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2011 9:53 pm
Kalypso tilted her head at him. "You haven't met most of the world, though, have you?" She couldn't help but point it out. "My view of the world is slightly off-kilter, and so is my view of your father's kind." She hated how trapped he seemed. Shifting her weight and shuffling her feet uncomfortably, Kalypso sighed.
"Why don't you come with me?" she offered, surprising even herself with her boldness.
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2011 10:02 pm
Visuelle growled a bit at the thought. Him against the world. He didn't like the numbers. But he was his fathers son in that regard. But it sounded like he wasn't going to have to face it alone, and that, was a rather strange feeling for him. He tilted his head as he looked at her, his head fins expanding and folding again. Then he turned to look at the forest behind him. The lands that he had traveled for all of his life. The ones he knew from foal-hood. Every rock and stump he knew, and had probably tripped over. Then he turned to face forward. Those were lands that had not been explored yet. And, it sounded like he tentatively at least, had a new friend. He tilted his head again at her, then nodded. It would be nice to see something new.
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2011 10:11 pm
Trying to keep her relief in check, Kalypso laughed with glee. Gesturing toward the oak tree with her head, she said, "Shall we?" Then she stopped. "Actually, do you want to tell your mom or anyone that you're leaving?" she asked, wondering if maybe he'd like anyone to know that he hadn't just up and disappeared. Her mind successfully off the loss of her family, she looked at Vis with hope. She would now have someone to face the world with, no longer on her own. She hadn't had a friend since her family had drowned, and she was excited to be traveling with this one.
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Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2011 10:34 pm
Visuelle shook his head. It's not like it's really going to matter. Yes, I'll be gone, but it's not like they'll find my body somewhere, so they will know that I'm probably alive somewhere. Who knows. In their own twisted way, they may even miss me, though I doubt it. He shifted on his feet a bit nervously, unsure about the land before him. But, there was no future for him here. So, it was out into the world. And hopefully, no one else would call him a monster. So, he took his first step over the oak tree, and caught a back hoof in the roots, staggering forward to lose his balance and land in a heap on the other side. He groaned. What an auspicious beginning.
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