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 Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 5:12 am
Smiling softly, the sunburnt Reya turned his pallid eyes onto the fuzzy shape of his mate. He couldn’t see the details of her face now, couldn’t even pick out her eyes or the individual tendrils of her wings. He hoped that she was smiling too, and that somewhere off to her side Naveen was too. “Well,” the albino said with a nod, “here we are then.” Until he got a reaction from the elegant-formed mare beside him there didn’t seem to be anything else to say and so the curve-horned creature lapsed into a contented silence and waited to hear what she would say. Children. It had been far too long since he’d had children.
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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 8:42 am
When the stallion stopped she paused at his side before moving closer. "..." she opened her mouth to speak before she closed it again and backed up to stand at Morthan's side once more. She leaned slightly against the stallion. "Morthan....am i seeing what....this isn't some dream, right?" she asked, looking up at the stallion. She wanted to move forward and she wanted to run away. "it....it like a dream...."
Naveen peeked around the two, looking around. "Wow!"
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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 9:10 am
The pale stallion dipped his head a little to nuzzle at his mate’s neck before raising his gaze to about where he thought her’s was. “You are seeing what you think you’re seeing,” he said with a nod, “if what you think you’re seeing is a pair of saplings in any case.”
Was she happy? It was hard to tell through the disbelief in her voice. She had said she wanted foals, right? He was sure she’d said that at some point. He hoped she had; he didn’t want her to be angry or upset or to despair over this. So far as he was concerned it was the best thing that had happened since she’d consented to be his mate. He hoped she felt the same.
At Naveen’s voice, the white-coated Reya had to smile. At least the colt was definitely exited. Unofficial siblings for him; that had to be a nice prospect for a foal with no peers to play with.
“So...” Morthan turned his blue eyes back onto Eira, “what do you think?”
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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 9:42 am
Eira nodded her head. She sighed softly and closed her eyes. "I thought so." she said lightly. She took a small breath. "I...I'm happy....I'm....i'm scared...." She opened her eyes and looked at the stallion. "I'm not sure...." Resting her head against his neck she relaxed lightly. "....Foals...." she whispered lightly. "Ours..."
The mare took a moment before she moved away from the stallion. She walked closer before walking around, moving away, and back again, just stretching her legs, pacing slightly. She felt antsy. She needed to move around. "This is ok..." she said lightly. "This is ok..." she paused and turned back to look at Morthan. "Right?" Oh she was so confused. She had always wanted children. Of course...But their run in with the reya and jala youths had not been long ago. And fear was still in her. She had healed but she knew Morthan was still healing, tho he was much better then he had been. Of course their travel here had not been kind on his skin, she knew. She was still afried for their lives...all of their lives. She moved and curled up near the saplings. "Don't....come over here." she said lightly. "Stay right there a moment Morthan, please...i want to think..." she said lightly.
Naveen moved over beside the stallion. He looked up at him. "Can i help?" he asked. He didn't know what he could do....but he knew he wanted to help out the two as much as he could. They had saved his life and had looked after him and kept him safe so far. He wanted to help them as much as he could. "Please?"
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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 10:09 am
The pale stallion sighed softly to himself as the fading blur that was Eira moved away. Well, that was fair enough he supposed; it was a lot for her to take in and she was probably afraid. He wasn’t sure if he was or not himself; he didn’t think he was, or at least not very. Whatever came he would deal with it because there was no other choice than to deal with it. If idiots arrived and attempted to harm his tree, his mate and his... his Naveen, they would feel the sharpness of his horn and the hardness of his hooves. He was far too old and stubborn to die, or to allow his family to die come to that.
As the green colt spoke, Morthan turned in the direction of his voice, realizing as he did this that his vision was almost gone for the night. Damn. He remembered this bit now. With his last tree, he had teamed up with another stallion whose tree and mate had been right next to his. He had guarded both mares and trees from harm, and the Jala had fetched food for all of them from the humans. This time there was no adjacent tree, or if there was he couldn’t see it with his night-blinded eyes and a tough little foal though Naveen was he wouldn’t be able to carry enough food to feed two adult Nequus, one of which would need more food than ever due to the draining effect of the tree.
Aware that he had been silent for some time, Morthan smiled in Naveen’s general direction and nodded slowly. “I think you can, yes... I hope you can anyway. I won’t be able to fetch food for Eira see, not with how night blinds me and sun burns me and besides, I must stay here and guard the tree from anyone who might try to harm it for being from parents of different breeds. I don’t think you’re large enough to be able to fetch all we need either but... But if you could find somebody to help you...” The blue-eyed stallion sighed deeply and shook his head. “I hate to ask so much of you lad,” he muttered, “but I am simply incapable of doing anything but stay here and guard myself. You, you’re a fit and healthy young thing; I need you to find somebody willing to help you and to go to Ryuten in the north to get baskets of food from the humans and bring them back here until the fruits form and hatch.”
If Naveen couldn’t or wouldn’t... well, they were screwed to put it bluntly. He’s just have to hope that the lad would accept, and that fortune would be kind enough to let him run into somebody willing to assist them despite the mixed blood of the foal himself and the fruits that would begin to bud once the saplings had twined together. “Can you do that for me, for Eira?” the Reya asked softly. “As I say I hate to ask so much of you but... well, I have no choice.”
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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 10:48 am
"Oh yes! Yes yes! I can do that, yes i can!" he smiled excitedly. "And if i don't find anyone i'll bring it myself. I'll do whatever it takes! You can count on me!" He smiled happily. "You can count on me!" He smiled. He paused a moment. "I'll get started right away! Best get food or help before you really need it badly." He smiled. He trotted to Eira. "I'm gonna go help Miss. Eira." he said. "Don't you worry, i'll get everything you need. And Mr. Morthan will keep you safe." He leaned down and nudged her cheek. "Do don't you worry Miss. Eira." he smiled.
Eira looked up at him and smiled lightly. "Be careful Naveen..." She said softly. "If you run into any trouble. Any at all....just come back." she got up. "Risking your life for us isn't worth it, sweetheart. If you can't, we'll figure somthing else out." She was happy to see the foal so ready to help....But...a small part of her was angry with Morthan for suggesting such a thing. He was a little foal, a crossbreed no less. If he left, he could be killed in an instant! However she kept smiling. "Now go on." She smiled lightly. "And be safe." She moved back to Morthan. "I'm sorry." she said. she nuzzled his neck. "Its just, so much....But i'm happy. I really am."
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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 12:45 pm
Morthan sighed half happily half wearily as his mate moved back to his side. “I wish I hadn’t had to ask that,” the white stallion murmured with a shake of his head as a pang of guilt tugged at him. “I just... I don’t see any other way. If I was any other stallion in the world... But I’m not.” The blue-eyed Reya smiled and shook away the worry as best he could. “I’m glad you’re glad,” he said to the just visible dark blob that was probably his mate, “I am too and I know we’ll manage. Whatever comes we’ll deal with it. Together.”
Still smiling, he turned his head to where Naveen had been last he’d know. “Good luck lad,” he called, not sure if the little cross was still there or not, “take care of yourself, and thank you.” He wished he had something better than luck and thanks to offer but he didn’t. Well, so went life he supposed as he turned his head in again to nuzzle at Eira’s neck.
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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 1:12 pm
"I know Morthan...But its not your fault. Besides, even if you were any other stallion...I'd want you here." She said lightly. "...This won't be easy will it?...I've never had children before...i don't know anything to expect...." she sighed. "I'm so excited but...I'm so scared....i don't know anything...." she looked up. "Lets go lay down....We can rest our legs and wait for Naveen to return...And talk...?" She was vary nervous. For alot of things. She had no idea what was in store for them, she was terrified Naveen would not return, she was afried that he would retrun without help or food. And most of all she feared the return of any of the crossbreed hating nequus that roamed the land. If they showed up...especially in a large group...they would surely try and destroy their children before they could barely grow. She wanted Morthan's reassureence on these subjects but was afried to voice them.
Naveen nodded. He took off at a full run, heading towards the west of their position. He would see if he could find somone...and then he would look for food.
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Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 4:41 am
As he heard the pounding of small hooves fade away Morthan smiled at where he thought Eira was and nodded; doubtless there was much she wanted to ask him about what was to come, he remembered how nervous he’d been with his first foals. “Yes, let’s.” He was more tired than he’d expected to be so lying down sounded good too, it was probably due to the ache and sting of his frazzled skin by and large thinking of it. Still, that would improve now; until his and Eira’s tree was big enough to give shade he could shelter under those nearby which belonged to foals hatched and gone off with their parents. Still, for now it was dark and cool, and for now he wanted to be under the tree that would one day belong to his foal or foals.
Blinking now almost utterly blindly, the white stallion settled himself down on the ground, pleased to find it free of sharp objects that might have tried to poke into his person. “Right then,” he said with a smile as he waited for his mate to join him, “what would you like to talk about?”
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Posted: Mon Feb 18, 2008 6:18 pm
Eira moved with him and settled down beside him. She lay her head down, closing her eyes lightly. She felt exauseted. She had been just...so stressed and worried as of late. And she still was now that Naveen had go off. She curled up beside her mate, her stallion, her love. "...children..." she said softly. She hide her head in his neck. "I don't know anything Morthan...what if they get hurt because of me...what if someone comes and tries to hurt them...or us...tell me....you know whats its like...whats it like...?" She kept her head hidden.
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 6:46 am
Morthan blew out a thoughtful breath as he tried to organize his thoughts on the matter. “Of any trouble we might have, I can’t offer much of an opinion, my last tree was with another Reya so that much wasn’t a problem. What I can say is that, in general, Shrilal isn’t a popular roaming ground unless one has a growing tree, and if that is the case the parents are usually too busy with it to bother about anyone else’s lest it be to try to steal a fruit.” Morthan smiled and nudged at the mare beside him. “If that comes about, chances are it’ll be a single stallion and with both you and I here we can take care of any such idiots without trouble.”
Now, on foals?... Where to start? “Well, you know how the process goes,” the pale stallion said with a nod. “The saplings will twine, grow buds on the strongest branch or branches and those buds will become fruits. One to six is the norm, but I’ve never heard of a crossblood tree having more than four. Once the fruits start growing they’ll tap your energy, mine as well seen as I’ll be here but to a lesser extent. In general, a tree will drain a mare more than can be replaced by whatever her stallion brings to her. Again, as I’m here it mightn’t be quite so bad for you but it depends of course on the number of fruits; the more there are the more we’ll both be drained. The feeling... well, the feeling for me; might be quite different for a mare, was... not unpleasant just a bit... a bit odd, and tiring.”
Well, he’d rambled enough about that for now. “Eventually of course the fruits fall to the ground, usually at almost the same time as their treemates, and soon after that they hatch.” A smile overcame the albino’s face as he recalled the birth of his girls. They’d seemed so impossibly small and delicate, and yet so strong as they managed to stand on such skinny legs. “Our sort tend to have an easier time of it than others, the horn being useful for breaking out of the fruit,” Morthan added as he recalled how much longer it had taken the Bae couple’s foals to emerge than it had his own. “Once they’re out of the fruit, how quickly they develop seems to vary from tree to tree. My girls started using a few simple words almost right away, but the foals of the Bae couple next to us didn’t talk for days but were far better at getting their balance and learning to run than mine.” The blue-eyed stallion scratched at an itch on his neck with one wing claw thoughtfully. “Perhaps it’s a trade off or something,” he mused with a shrug.
Aware that he’d been taking for some time, the pale Reya smiled sheephshly and gave his mate another nudge. “Did that answer any of the things you wanted to know, or was I just waffling?” He hoped his words had made her feel at least a bit better either way, poor thing seemed so nervous. Perhaps he would be too if this was his first tree but, as it wasn’t, the only new factor he had to worry about was the problems that might arise from the mixed blood of their children. And Naveen, of course, but he refused to think too hard on that; the feather-winged lad was a capable sort, he’d probably be fine. Deciding not to consider the ‘probably’ bit any further, Morthan nuzzled at Eira’s neck and waited for a response.
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Posted: Tue Feb 19, 2008 7:04 pm
The mare relaxed a bit. She had no idea what was in store, but Morthan seemed to know the basics. It calmed her. Least she could lean on him, rely on him, if she was at a total loss. One good thing about being with an older stallion...he'd already had foals once. He'd delt with the stress and problems. He would be much better suited to care for them then her...She shook her head at the slightly depressing thought. She nodding lightly. "I figured but i'm worried that somone might catch wind of us...you know as well as I there is a large dislike of crossbreeds, even umong the common nequus...I just fear that somone, like a friend of those others, track us down..." she said lightly. "...I hope Naveen finds a helper..." she said lightly "That way we might have a bit more...protection...."
She blinked and looked at the stallion. Shaking her head she smiled softly. "I'm glad i'm with you...even tho it is harder for both of us, and harder for our foals...being that we are diffrent breeds, i am happy i am with you...esspecially since i don't think i could handle six children at once!" she laughed lightly. "Four i more then enough. A perfect number." she smiled. Draining...well she had heard as much from her travels, mares talking to eachother about children and such. She hoped, no matter how draining it was, how tiring, that it wasn't painful. She couldn't take that. Morthan was here tho, and as long as he was with her she could deal with anything...she hoped.
She nodded lightly. "that anwsered a lot. But i'm not done yet." she smiled and nuzzled him. "Did your old mate ever talk about hurting at all? Or have you heard about hurting...." she asked lightly. She couldn't wait till he foals came out of the fruits as she sat and talked about all this. She was sure it would be no easy task, but she could just imagine cute little foals emerging from little fruits.
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Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 7:23 am
Morthan smiled into the near darkness and draped a pale wing over his mate to assure himself of her position in the darkening world. “I’m glad I’m with you, too,” he said with a nod. “Couldn’t imagine being with another mare now.” And he couldn’t, not even his lost mate; not anymore. He had loved her, probably still did in a way, but she was the past. Eira however was the present and the future and he wouldn't have it any other way.
“No, there isn’t any pain involved,” the Reya went on after a moment with a shake of his head. “There’s hunger of course, it’s very hard to get enough energy to sustain yourself and all mothers lose at least some weight through the process no matter how well their mate cares for them but I’ve never heard it described as painful.”
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Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2008 9:51 am
"Well then thats alright, i've been hungry before. Thats not all that bad..." She nodded. She really had delt with long periods without much food. Usually when she had fo fly for long periods...Flying while hungry was not a good idea, she learned in her travels. Being hungry and laying around would be easier, she figured. "And besides, i need to lose a little weight. I've been eating so much while we were in D'ob that i've gotten all squishy!" she said, tho it wasn't true and she knew it. She was, at least attempting, to make somthing that could be a bit serious, into somthing humorus. She knew she didn't need to lose any weight and being hungry, and losing weight, and being weak and tired, and all the other things frightened her so she was groping for somthing to make herself feel better, calm her down. So she tried to joke. "You could use a diet too, Morthan." she poked his side. "Your all squishy too." she smiled and laughed softly.
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Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2008 6:51 am
The pale stallion grinned at the jest and dipped his head down to nuzzle at Eira’s slim flank. “Goodness I hardly noticed what chubby things we’ve both become,” he chuckled, continuing the joke. “I’m sure this will do us both a world of good; couldn’t have us being so fat that we can’t run after the foals no could we? That would be very embarrassing.”
It was a foolish joke and inconsequential talk but the blue-eyed Reya felt the need of it as much as his mate had done. The coming days, though they wouldn’t be painful, would be hard especially for Eira. When the fruits were formed, fallen and hatched he was sure he’d feel a lot more relaxed; even very young foals could scuttle for cover if a disagreeable sort happened along. While they were still fruits however, such Nequus would have to be beaten off fast to keep them from harming the tree.
Still, he was sure he and Eira could manage it and there was a good chance that they wouldn’t even have any trouble out here. “We could get in some exercise, too,” the albino suggested with a chuckle. “Run laps around the tree until we get dizzy and fall over or something.”
Whilst he didn’t actually intend to run around the immediate area, he did plan to walk it every so often, just to check nothing friendly was lurking nearby. Morning and evening sounded like a good time for him to do it; that rare time when he could both see reasonably well and avoid being burned. Yes, morning and evening would be good times to do a little patrolling. Not far out enough for him to be too far off to help if something approached the tree from another side, but far enough out to assure himself that they were safe.
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