Welcome to Gaia! ::

Haki groaned a little and opened his eyes. Ouch, his side still ached and throbbed but at least his mind was clearer now. He looked around, realising that he was looking for the one constant he had had since coming here... Heze... and with that came another realisation, his heart was beating in anticipation at seeing her.

Heze was laying asleep not far away, givign enough room so she didn't risk bumping into him. She had not slept much while watching over him, but it had finally caught up with her and she had been sleeping for several hours at this point.

It didn't take Haki long to discover where it was Heze was... she was just off to his side, sleeping. For that reason he did his best not to make a noice, instead simply allowed himself to indulge in looking at her.

Heze sleep for a while longer, but maybe half an hour late there was a faint noise that had her lifting her head and yawning. Looking over to where Haki had been.... His absence waking her up fully as she looked around in a small panic, looking for signs of Kimi carrying him off.

Haki realised the moment Heze had woken up, she seemed to look up in panic, as if something was missing. He wasn't sure what it was she was looking for but hoped that he could at least help, it would be the least he could do to start to repay her. "Shhhh Heze," He said from behind her. He tried to move, to stand enough so that he could aid her, he made it half way up before collapsing again. With a groan and a curse in his own language at his incompetitance he looked down at the ground. "You look... what for?" He asked, huffing a little and desperate for something he could help her with....

Turning she looked at him, then over to where she had thought he was and then she blushed deepy realising she had moved in her sleep. Moving closer now she was on her hooves. "How are you feeling?" He had been out of it for a while so she knew it was a bit of a loaded question, but Carlisle had gradually become less worry, and she had to admit te healer had done a good job, no infection had set in which had meant that there was nothign to slow Haki's healing down... Unless he tried to get too active too soon.

Haki smiled softly and nodded at Heze's question. "Good. I be good." Though his face fell into one of concern, who or what had Heze been looking for? After all, it was hard for Haki to believe it was him she had been looking for... yet, maybe, just maybe, a small part of him hoped it was. "Heze ok?" He asked softly, settling back down to the ground and risking to look at his wound. It seemed to be knitting back together slowly but surely, it looked far less angry and red as it had once done.

Heze settled back down near him now her panic was over. "Good... I'm glad... I was worried you had been taken away or wandered off." Blushing as she settles her head on her hooves for a moment, embarassed. "I must have moved in my sleep, I thought you were over there..." Nodding behind the way she was now facing. "Are you Hungry? Thirsty? Carlisle will have some more salve for your wound in the morning."

Haki saw the blush upon her features and felt a little tug at his heart. As he listened everything became clear, she had been worried he had left... or been taken? He smiled, a soft movement that most would probably have overlooked, but it was there all the same. "Ah." Was all he commented, even as his eyes looked back over to where Heze had been moments earlier. Slowly his gaze returned to her, Haki shook his head at her questions, even as he found himself wincing a little at the mention of the salve. He knew it was 'good' for him, but it still stung. "If you need," He started, "You get." He didn't want her struggling or pushing herself too hard because of him.

Tilting her head looking apologetic. "Now your doing better you can put the salve on yourself... I'm sorry we touched you... We couldn't let you die like that." Resting her head down on her hooves again, looking a little sad that she had done something that he wouldn't be happy about.

Haki appreciated what she was trying to do for her, and nodded softly to show his thanks. He didn't comment though, part of him didn't want to keep drawing attention to his touch issue... especially since he had observed more and more what touch was like within her herd and family. It was strange to watch. Stranger still to contemplate doing it also.

Sitting she just watched him quietly, not sure what else to say, thinking for a moment. "Is there anythign you want to know?" Having no idea if there was but he might have some questions if here remembered anything much of his time there.

Haki lowered his head to his clawed feet, flexing them for a moment before relaxing. As Heze spoke he contemplated her question... he remembered her telling him about the moon being special, about touch being shared freely.... he had witnessed both of these; still something occured to him. "You... not all Angeni?" He tried to say the word of her race, but wasn't sure he pronounced it correctly. Back home everyone had been the same species, simply differently coloured with different hair styles or feather types... yet here, he had seen lots of different features. Single wings, four wings, horns, wings on rumps... lots of different traits and features that confused him a little.

Shaking her head she smiles. "No, not all angeni, and not all one family. There are many different stories as to how we all became one herd." Looking at him, having glanced around. "Who you are inside matters more here than What you are."

He looked at his claws at that, no one else here had them.... he felt... odd, and out of place. Lifting his head he flexed one of his claws and looked over at Heze, "Even..." he frowned, not knowing the word he wanted to use in her language. "with makucha?" (Claws)

"Makucha?" Looking at him, not really understanding, but she noticed he had been flexing his feet... feet?.... Hooves... no most of them had hooves... Claws??? "Even those with claws?" Nodding... "We have one simple rule for who can come and who cannot... Come in peace... or leave in peices." Not sure if he would understand all of that but he was smart when it came to language.

He screwed up his claw for a moment and resisted slamming it into the ground. He didn't want to scare Heze, nor did he want to injure himself again. "Claws?" He repeated. Was that the word? He would remember that. He looked up again as she nodded, the softness and kindness of her and her kin astonded him... yet as he heard her talk of their one rule he frowned. Piece? Pieces? It took him a moment to realise what kind of 'peace' she meant. "Friend welcome. Foe killed." He said, trying to see if he understood what she meant. It was a policy he could understand, one he was glad was in place to protect the delicate mare before her... and she wasn't the only delicate mare he had seen either. No, there had been lots around them. Some with four wings, some chatty, some quiet.... some of purple, green, black and even white! The herd certainly was full of variety and it made him want to get to know more of their stories and tales. To simply get to know more about the mare that sat opposite him.

Clearing his throat he wondered if he should try and change the subject, after all one of pain was not 'suitable' for a mare... right? So he said the one thing he had been wanting to say for a while, "Your family.... very kind. I wish to thank. You and them. For keeping my life." He meant 'saving' but hadn't had to use that word before.

Grinning she nodded again, not about to go into why not everyone was killed when they broke the rules, it was far to complex a thing with limited vocabulary. "Saving your life..." Blushing again as she corrects him, always feeling weird about doing so. But she also wanted to help him and who knew, maybe one day it would save his life if he got his speach right and was clearly understood. "You are welcome, we were glad to help, I am just happy my father found you before....." Not being able to finish that, kimi would have killed and posibly eaten him had her father not arrived.

"Your father?" He quirked a brow at that, not having realised who exactly the purple stallion had been.. sure enough he had seen the resemblance, had even briefly wondered if that had been the case... but now, to have it told directly he couldn't help but wonder how weak he must have looked in front of the guy. And why did that make him wonderif it would severely ruin any chance he would ever get at impressing the guy. He blushed at his thoughts, and for a moment he couldn't look directly at Heze.

"I hope so." Smiling at him, wanting to ask him questions but she had tried that once and he had not wanted to answer them. It just seemed that whatever had put his family in the earth had hurt him deeply.

Shaking his head as if to shake away thoughts of the past he found himself drawn once more to Heze. Light and future... that was what he saw when looked at her. No lingering darkness or self hatred, no pain.... just goodness. He closed his eyes for a moment, what was he thinking? He didn't really know all that much about her, and even the stuff he did know he couldn't be completely sure he had understood everything correctly.... so why, why did he feel this connection between them? This lingering string that tied them together? Was he simply wishing for something that wasn't really there? "Heze...." He went to stay more but the words caught in his mouth, refused to escape, refused to be spoken.

Looking at Haki still, smiling as he said her name. "What is it Haki? Do you need something?" Having tended him herself as much as she could, so badly wishing they understood eachother better. Mostly she wanted him healthy and whole again, she didn't understand why he seemed to be far away from her, was he ashamed of his injuries?

He sighed and shook his head, "I am fine." He smiled softly and looked at her, "No fear." He was still learning her language, still learning her ways... though their was one thing he had heard a few times from his bedbound spot. He tried to repeat those words, hoping that he had at least understood their meaning though he wasn't sure of all the words. He did however remember her telling him something about the Moon being important to them. "May the Moon blessed you." Ok, so he only messed up a little, added the 'ed' at the end of bless.

Smiling brightly but anding up resting her nose on the ground and making herself keep it there. She so badly wanting to nuzzle him when he said things like that, but between his traditions and his injuries she didn't dare touch him. "Thank you Haki, though I honestly think you need the blessings at the moment for a full and speedy recovery." Always looking so very sad when she looked at his injuries.

Haki found himself shifting a little as Heze looked at his injury, almost as if he was attempting to use his wing to cover up the unsightly thing. He looked down at the ground, not able to comment or look at her in fear of having offended her.... but deep down, a part of Haki roared that he shouldn't be seen as weak in front of her, should be able to protect her and be seen as stronger than any other male around... all hard things to do when you had a wound so deep and severe that you nearly died, that you had to allow touch and the kind healing of others only to have a chance of survival. To say he felt worthless and small... was likely an understatement right now.

He remained silent for a moment, attempting to shift possitions on a slight wince before finally saying. "Sorry." His accent so thick that the word almost sounded more of his language than hers.

"What are you sorry for?" Her expression kind ,bt more and more feeling that he didn't want her there. Not sure why but the last thing she wanted was to hinder his recovery in any way.

Had Haki been able to hear her thoughts he would have protested, he did want her there... he just wished that he didn't look quiet so pathetic. In an effort not to draw more attention to himself and his weakness he found himself asking instead; "Cr-oowon" He attempted to say the name of the young stallion he had seen around her a lot, "You be close to him? You aliahidi?" (Promised?) He didn't know the word in her language.

Lifting her head up and tilting it smiling. "Crown? He's around somewhere... Probably off with his fluffy friend or training, or bugging his sister.... I don't understand aliahidi?" Trying to remember what little of his language she had learnt, pretty sure it was a new word.

Haki frowned, not completely sure what some of her words meant. Why would Crown be using bugs against his sister? What was a 'fluffy friend'? Gah! He still had so much to learn. So much he didn't know or understand. "Aliahidi?" How was he meant to explain it? He started by trying to explain in his own language, "Nyoyo mbili kuwa mmoja. Milele uhusiano kati ya wawili wenu kwamba hawezi kuwa mmejitenga kwa wale walio nje. Uhusiano wa mapenzi." (Two hearts becoming one. Eternal connection between the two of you that cannot be severed by those outside. A relationship of love.) He shook his head, she wouldn't understand that either, he knew that. He shook his head, this was a useless question, he wasn't sure how to explain without showing her.... and there was no way he could simply kiss her, especially if she was already promised to another. Why did the very idea of that irritate him?

"Forget. Please." He smiled softly, suddenly determined to enjoy the time he had with her, this fragile truce between male and female... after all Haki didn't know how long it would last. "Talk of me." He had meant 'with' me, but misspoke. "I like to hear you words."

Frowning a little confused, not sure how to explain anything as she didn't understand a word he had just said, but she felt he was asking about her and Crown, but she knew he hadn't asked if they were family, she knew that word, friends maybe? Well she had no clue, but Crown was kind of her Cousin... kind of... Though she wasn't totalyl sure of the connection she knew it was there, she just didn't know her family tree that well. "Crown is.... is... familia.... uhhhh cousin.... bin... binamu?" Wracking her brains trying to remember the things they had talked about before, it made her head ache a little, gettign an idea on how Haki felt trying to understand and use her words.

"Binamu?" He chuckled softly, not because he was laughing at her, but if she had got the right word then he had been worried for no reason at all. How silly of him. He had seen them talk together, seen the looks of worry from the guy and jumped to the worst conclusion.... that was unfair of him. He nodded softly, "I see."

Smiling brightly her head wings fluttered a little as she rested her head down again looking pleased. "I'm glad you like it." Smiling up at him from where she relaxed near by, having chilled right out now that he didn't seem so angry and upset.

"What be it?" He asked softly, realising she hadn't actually told him what it was, had simply asked him to try it. He lowered his head to the floor also, an action that very much made him seem like the male mirror image of Heze in that moment. Once again he found his eyes wandering over her form. The changing tones of her pelt, the soft subtle colours that danced and marked her pelt. They colour of her eyes and they way they sparkled. The way her wings sat upon her back. He was still amazed by the fact that a lot of the beings here had four. Four wings... angels.

Blinking faintly surorised at his question, she had been sure that she told him, then again it wouldn't surprise her to have just thought she told him, after all she was so careful around him, the last thing she wanted to do was get careless and hug him or something. "Its watermelon, we can only find it in the summer." Spreading her four wings out, letting the wind drift over them as they laze in the sun.

Haki nodded at that, repeating the word as he committed it to memory. "Watermelon." He nodded, sure that if he ever needed to find one for her knowing the name and its appearance would at least helped, of course, he was only guessing on its appearance since it was clear the thing had been broken up somehow. He flexed his claws absentmindedly, sure that they would make easy work of breaking such things up. If only he could be more useful than that. His thoughts wandered, and before he had even realised he had spoke he found himself saying, "How do... in your familia... select your...pear? Pair? Chukua nusu nyingine?" (Take up your other half).

"Pair?..." Not sure what he meant at first but murmering to herself as she tries to work it out. "Select a pair.... pair... two... couple?.... Select a couple... Oh! You mean how do we choose a mate?" Looking at him, not sure if he understood as he hadn't reacted the last time she used that word, then again she might have thought it.

Haki frowned a little trying to think of other words he could use to ask his question, even as he cringed a little at realising he had actually asked her... still, he was curious for an answer, and since he had started to ask he knew it would only look strange not to continue now. "Mate?" He had indeed heard that word before, though for some reason he believed it to mean friend... was he wrong? "Is that not just.... marafiki? Frien--d?"

Heze looked a little torn about how to explain the word mate... "It can mean friend, after all its best to mate with someone who is a friend.... But usually, here we use mate to refer to our life partner, the stallion or mare that we will be with and have foals with."

Haki nodded, he mostly understood what she meant, at least he believed he did. "Nafsi mpenzi" (Soul Partner) He nodded softly, "I see." He smiled, not sure if he should ask his question again or just let it drop. So Haki fell silent again with his indecision.

Nodding, assuming that he had understood to a degree, so she got on with answering the question. "How we choose a mate is different for each couple.... My parents spent a lot of time together as foals, fell in love, when they were older they became mates with my grandfathers blessing.... My aunt... I've never met her mate or her foals, I'm not sure if anyone has. Some meet someone and fall in love quickly.... It depends on the ones involved really." Blushing thinking she had rambled to much in that answer.

Haki nodded, trying to figure out her words. Foals who fell for each other, he understood that concept to a point.... though a blessing he really needed to figure out that word. They asked to be 'blessed' by the Moon, they recieved 'blessings' from her grandfather... so a blessing was a baraka? Now that he thought about it, it made sence. And since he had grown to learn that her grandfather was not just a powerful Angeni with physical power over the Ocean, he was also an elder... a great honour for any breed. He nodded softly... at least until she started talking of her 'aunt'. THat was when he got lots a little. To have a mate that no one has seen? Was that not strange? Haki suspected that the one he paired with he would never let them out of his sight, would never be without them for long... for find his heart and sight drawn to them. Once again his eyes moved to Heze which caused him to jump. Did his heart and body know something that his mind didn't?

He coughed a little to clear his throat, though she had answered he still didn't really understand how they took their 'mates'. Perhaps it was simply different for everyone, no set format or ritual. In his culture there was ritual, an acceptance of touch from each other, an acceptance of the other into their life.... an image flashed of him doing the ceremony with Heze. He looked away, not wanting to betray his own mind.

Heze worried her lip, she didn't know if she had explained it right, did he understand? Had she made things too complicated, maybe if she knew what his people did then she could understand better and explain. "Haki.... How do your people take a mate?"

Haki looked up at the question and smiled softly, he took a moment to think about the words he needed before saying "For most they are kuchaguliwa (selected) by familia....." It was considered an honour to be 'sold' to a family of worth, his family had been considered one such family... but what with the deaths and Haki's role in the rebellion, that was no longer the case. Haki had thrown his status away, thrown his old life away, there was nothing behind him that he still longed for. Realising that Haki didn't know the word 'kuchaguliwa' he tried to find others to explain it. "Familia... pick." He nodded, yes, that sounded right. He took a deep breath, "For others.... " He frowned, not really sure how to explain. "Go to kuzaliana vyama." (Breeding parties). "Eh.... gatherings....?" He wasn't sure that was an accurate comparison but he would settle for it. "We hold.... dance?" His frowned deepened, he was trying to describe the ritual ceremony. "To accept touch.... each must... accept other." He sighed, that was the best he could manage.

She looked surprised at all this, running what she understood through her head. Some had their mate picked by family, others picked at gatherings, like dances... Mates had to accept the touch of the other? "What if you hate who your family pick? Or....! Shaking her head as it was a dumb question, if they rejected the touch of someone at a gathering thne no one is forcing them to pair off. Not able to imagine having her mate chosen for her, his was truely from a different society.

He found himself chuckling a little, "Honour.... it is an honour to be...." He frowned again, not sure of the word he wanted to use. Looking around he tried to find inspiration based on their conversation today, from the words they had shared. "Picked as anothers..... mate." He was thankful he had never met the mare that had been originally selected for him, even more so that she had been promised to another after his fall of shame. He looked at Heze, despite their differences... would his shame become her shame... Her families shame... if he remained here? He didn't like the idea of doing that to her at all. She deserved nothing but happiness, joy, peace, love... all the things he suddenly realised he wanted to give her. It was time to change the subject, before he revealed more. But he couldn't. There was one more thing he needed to know. "Do Heze... have.... someone she like?"

"I've never thought about it..." Tilting her head as she does think about it, thinking over those she had met, the ones she had spent time with and had grown to care a little more about than others. She had gotten close to Crown and Drashi, though neither were proprctive mates, aside from being family they probably only saw her as an annoying little sister type... And Haki... Blushing.... "Your the only stallion I've come to like that is not family." Ok now she felt totally awkward and not sure why, he was her friend so naturally she would like him, though now she had answered did he mean like in the same way?

Haki practically jumped out of his skin at her reply, he hadn't expected her to say that.... Him? Him?! Was it not too much to hope for? As if to demonstrate his complete surprise he repeated his thoughts aloud. "Me....? Heze likes.... me?" The idea made him feel far happier than it probably should, the thought didn't even occur to him that he had misunderstood, or that she didn't mean it in the same way he had said it. A little hesitantly he said softly, "I.... like Heze.... too."

Looking at him, wincing for him when he jumped in surprise, leaning over to try and soothe him and any pain he might have only to freeze milemeters from touching him and drawing back blushing deeply. "Sorry... hard habit to break...." Sounding breathless, her heart having picked up speed, he liked her? The thought made her dizzy, the way she felt giddy and breathless and like she wanted to giggle... Maybe that meant she liked him more than just a friend like.... Nodding at his surprised question and lowering her now pink nose to the ground, whispering. "Yes you..."

As Heze went to touch him he found himself almost wincing in anticipation.... suddenly torn between wanting her touch and his own habit of not accepting such things. They really did make an odd pair, did they not? One so forward with her feelings and touch, the other closed off and distant. When she apologised he felt like his heart was breaking, skaing his head softly he wanted to tell her it was ok, that she didn't need to apologise.... but no words came out.

Haki yawned slightly, he was unable to control the action. Lowering his head back to the ground he allowed his eyes to close for a moment, only a moment before opening them again and looking at Heze once more... was her nose... pinker? He wasn't completely sure, though part of him thought it was true. Still, Haki didn't point it out, even as he heard her softly whispered words. Yes you... His heart skipped a beat and a goofy grin spread across his face.

Not really looking at him now, missing his grin, feeling embarassed and unsure, then again Eden had only met Orion a few times before they mated, then again Eden was not quite normal in some ways. Besides Haki probably had a mate chosen for him, then again his family were dead weren't they? Had one of his family been his mate?... So many questions she couldn't ask. Closing her eyes with a soft sigh not sure what to ask him, she knew the important things about him, brave, kind gentle, tolerant, but details, she lacked those.

Opening her eyes and looking up at him finally, wondering back to one of the thigns he had said when they first met.... Females didn't fight where he came from, in his world her dream would probably have caused all kinds of trouble.

Haki watched Heze open her eyes and the smile faded from his face... "What wrong?" He asked, unsure what to make of the expression upon her face..... it looked like a cross between pained and troubled, and he feared he was the cause. His clawed feet flexed on reflex.

Hurrying back, the rain having woken her and knowing Haki could probably not move without help she had gone to borrow something Eden had found, it helped keep water off of things. She had shooed Eden away to shelter with her mate, knowing her mother would bite her ears off if she let Eden out in this weather when she was expecting foals.

As it was she stopped by Haki and shifted, dropping the bundle on her back to the ground with a squelch. Murmering to herself as she worked on setting it up. Unfolding the cloth square, though it was not like any cloth she had seen before. Covering Haki with it carefully, murmering an apology. Glad of the wet mud as she stabs some sticks into the corners on one end, rolling rocks on it to keep it down.

Finding the other end more fiddly, she had to have this side raised, jamming the sticks in first before fiddling with them, after several tries she manages to get the corners over the upper ends of the sticks. Soaked by the time she had the shelter made, but at least he was covered now so he wouldn't get totally soaked. Sitting back near by, fluffing her wings up agaisnt the rain rather than crouding under the shelter with him.

Haki tried to see what Heze was doing, he could hear her labooured breath, feel the weight of something thick and heavy... still, he had no idea what she was doing until she finished. The rain no longer pounded on his flesh, he was thankful for that... but as he looked at Heze he felt an echo of his earlier thoughts... his light? He blinked and shook his head, now was not the time for such thoughts, he should be thinking about Heze and the fact she was still in the rain. "Cover... find..... out of rain, Heze." He said softly, not sure the contraption she had constructed around him was enough for two of not. Still, he didn't want her out in the rain. "I be ok." He said softly, not wanting her to fear for him.

Heze gave him a bright smile, not seeming to care that she was in the rain and soaking. "Rain never hurt anyone, besides those of us that were hurt... I'll be fine." Tilting her head back and looking up at the storm, finding it interesting, she hadn't seen a storm like this before. Gasping as a flash lit the sky up for a moment, leaving her blinking.

"Cold... don't catch." He found himself saying, hoping he used the right words. He hadn't stumbled across many 'sick' while travelling so his vocabulary on the topic was limited. Still, she had a point, rain didn't usually do much harm to their kind.... even injuried he imagined it would do little harm. He watched her gasp at the thunder and lightning, had she never seen it before? That was the impression he got at least, he often saw such storms, the heat from just beyond the dessert enough to cause roaring tropical storms to rage for days at a time.... Haki predicted this particular storm would be far less impressive, a few hours at most. Still he looked up as a fork of lightning littered the sky, it was pretty. "Ngurumo na umeme." He said, nosing up towards the sky as if to demonstrate he meant the name of the storm. "Beautiful.... is it not?" He smiled at her before looking back up. "They say.... that stores," He had meant storms, "like this.... are the...." He couldn't remember the word in her tongue to begin with but quickly recovered. "...Gods angry." He smiled softly again, his attention falling back to Heze. "Pia alisema kuwa wakati watu wawili ambao huduma kwa karibu kila mmoja kukaa chini ya ngurumo ya dhoruba na kutoka unharmed kwamba wamekuwa heri." (It is also said that when two people who care for each other sit close under the roar of a storm and come out unharmed that they have been blessed.)

Nodding and smiling at him. "I can't catch a cold if I don't chase it, and I'm not going to budge." Her mane no longer cury under the weight of the water, finding herself edging closer to him when the thunder rumbled, nodding. "Beautiful, though I wonder what made the gods angry..." Stopping when she realiesd she was edging closer, only noticing when she was close enough that the shelter deflected some of the rain away from her.

Haki didn't mind that she was inching closer, even if there was a slight threat from her touching him. The shelter seemed like it was big enough to at least offer her some protection and so he found himself try to shift a little to make more room for her, some of the feathers on his rump, falling outside of the cover. "Stay.... covered." He said softly, looking back towards the sky as if there was no secondary meaning behind his words... yet in a way there was. Although it had been Heze who built the shelter in the first place Haki felt almost as if he could provide something for her by allowing her to share.... and he longed to be of use here. Well, not just here... but specifically to her. "Who know. The Gods.... are fickle." He sighed and looked at her, "Tell me.... of your Moon.... God...?"

Heze edged a little closer, but stopped short of touching him, had they snuggled close they could both have fit easily under the shelter, but as it was her hooves and tail hung out in the growing mud. Side by side , watching the storm, trying to think how to explain. "Do you remember when we talked of spirits?" Looking at him, not havign really been this close since she learnt of the rules aobut touching.

Haki found himself completely aware of Heze, aware of everything inche of her flesh and body... and not just because he was trying to keep her at a distance so that they didn't touch. He flushed a little, thankful for the storm and lack of light. He nodded, not trusting himself to speak right now, he vaguely remembered them talking about spirits.... ghosts... or the such when they first met.

Heze looked at the storm but was close enough she could see his nod in her peripheral vision. "When we die, our spirit leaves for the next world. But those aren;t the spirits I mean... The Earth, the trees, the sky, the moon..... many many things have spirits, spirits that as far as we know were never creatures of flesh." Wanting this to be understood before she tried to explain their connection to the moon.

Haki tried to understand what she was saying, and mostly understood it... at least he thought he did. She was talking about 'souls' of things, right? That even things such as the Moon and Stars could possess. "I see..." He said a little hesitantly.

Nodding as he seemed to be following. "I was taught that the moon is sent as a guardian of the night, and that while it keeps us from total darkness while the sun rests it is not strong enough alone, which is why some nights it is gone. The moon and the sea share a bond, when the moon calls the sea rises to meet it. Through this connection they are linked to my grandfather, which is how the connection joins to my family and herd.... When grandfather became an elder he met and spoke with Alignak, God of the Moon, and Disasters... Since then he has worn the mark of the moon and believes that the god has granted us his blessing...." Jumping again when a fork of lightning seemd to strike the lake with a loud clap of thunder.

Sea... the Ocean? He thought they were one and the same, so many different words for one object, it was no wonder he got confused at times. He nodded, understanding a little now about what they believed. Still... Alignak? He knew not that name, but for an elder to speak with a God... were they truly so blessed? It was true that he had seen the moon mark upon the black and white stallions rump but had thought nothing of it. Was that... the touch of a God? It was... mindblowing to behold. Never before had Haki seen an elder, let alone heard of their experience. "I see. So it is... your grandfather... and Alicknax..." He tried to say Alignak but said it wrong, "...that started the flow?" It didn't seem that the tradition was that old then, three generations, but still, it was as rooted and as solid as any other belief that Haki had witnessed. At least theirs was a pure and noble cause... unlike the darkness of the Kalona rituals he had witnessed by accident when he first arrived here.

The lightning flashed again, the thunder roared and all Haki could see was Heze jumping, he found himself suddenly wanting to comfort her. He didn't reach out with touch as he knew those in her herd would have done, instead he reached out with words. "Do no fear... the store... no harm." He smiled softly and tried to distract her again, "I believe.... you are blessed too." He chuckled a little, more at the memory of himself than her, "Unlike me." In Haki's mind he had been abandoned by not only any surviving blood relatives but by his kind.... shaking his head he forced himself not to linger, this was about Heze not him. "After store..." He wanted her to have something to look forward to after the storm, "...the world see more beautiful than before."

"The world is always beautiful, It might not all be good but I suppose there needs to be a balance, Skinwalkers are evil, the worst there is... and we... angeni are the balance for that.... just because we don't like it or because something is evil, its part of the world and beautiful in its own way...." Setting her head down on her front hooves, wishing he would comfort her, but then she wasn't scred really, it was just not something she had seen before, not like this, Storms with thunder and lightning were rare here and the few that had happened since she had been born had left her with her family in shelter away from it all, well all but the odd distant rumble. Her grandfather and the others would take turn telling stories then to keep everyone happy... This was the first time she had been out to see the storm rage.