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This is a private roleplay PM log between Bedwyr (Mahogany Sunset) & Hakumei (Amira Keller). Please do not post without permission.

[Amira`s Teepee] | [Maho`s Teepee]

Bedwyr was trying his best not to fall asleep as he walked. The quiet was broken only by the soft, rhythmic thumping of his feet and the whisper his tail brushing the ground, and those noises were putting him, slowly but surely, to sleep. He was still in some forest, wandering aimlessly - though he'd done his share of soul-searching, Bedwyr had been left feeling empty and purposeless. The improvement was that he'd stopped blaming himself for the break-up, and his emotional block had gone away. Despite that, he still traveled, as though he was looking for a place to settle down, and that made him a little bitter. His children had grown up and moved along, so why couldn't he?

Lost in thought, Bedwyr didn't notice the pond until he had set foot in it. Snorting and stepping back, he was shaking off his foot when he heard a voice floating on the air - suddenly awake, he looked around for it. It seemed to echo across the water's surface, soft but still resonant. It was dark enough that he couldn't make out much across the pond's breadth, excepting a few tiny, glowing... fireflies? Unsure, he called, "Hello?"

Bedwyr almost jumped at the feminine voice and soft hoofbeats that grew closer as the tiny lights approached. The mare gradually came into view, and Bedwyr almost bolted - she looked extraordinarily like his Lavender. Pausing, he mentally chastised himself. Lavender was no longer his, as they had agreed for a second time. This mare, however, was distinctly different - she was a unicorn. Bedwyr couldn't help but stare.

He hadn't seen a pure unicorn since he'd left the family herd, and this girl was certainly a sight for sore eyes, no matter what he was feeling at the moment. She had the distinctive tail, cloven hooves, and a delicate, spiralling horn that was darker even than the night surrounding them. Her mane, though, had been what Bedwyr had noticed first - it was what had driven a stake of panic into his heart. Now he saw the difference - the shade of purple, the almost perfectly-arranged ringlets. Lavender's had been much more springy, jumping in every direction; it had probably added to his perception of her as an on-the-go type. He perceived that this mare was much more tranquil... But he didn't even know her.

Mentally shaking his head, Bedwyr told himself to just stop thinking for a second and speak. "Good evening, miss," he said, taking a step toward her, but remaining at a respectful distance.

It took Bedwyr a moment to realize that she was speaking to him, asking him a question. Looking abashedly down at his feet, one of which was soaked with freezing lake water, Bedwyr said quickly, "Yes, I will be all right. It's just a bit cold." Glancing up at her again, he was almost tempted to continue marveling at the mare, but instead said, "I apologize for my staring. It's been a while since I've seen another of our kind - since I was a foal, in fact." He hoped it would be enough of an apology, for it was sincere; staring was thought of as rude, no matter the reason for it. As for not having seen another unicorn, well, that was only partly true. Two of his children carried the pure unicorn phenotype, but they were his children, and he thought of them only as such. It didn't matter whether they were pure or not, for they were his little ones.

"I am Bedwyr," he continued, introducing himself with a polite bow of his head. "It is a pleasure to meet you, Miss...?" He trailed off, waiting for the mare to introduce herself. Giving her name, of course, was entirely up to her, but Bedwyr would have liked to know it. Thinking of her as just a mare, so far, didn't seem to do her justice. In his haste to introduce himself, Bedwyr had entirely forgotten his bitter mood in favor of socializing - something he hadn't done in so long, his etiquette felt rusty.

Bedwyr looked quickly down at his wet, slightly darker foot, and grinned sheepishly. It had taken him only a moment to realize that that was, in fact, what he'd been doing before he'd first laid eyes on... Hakumei. A pretty name, not one he'd ever heard before. Stomping a little at the ground to shake the water off of his foot, Bedwyr sighed. "It's alright - I doubt anything harmful will come from it." Thinking a little on the subject of the unicorns, Bedwyr wondered how he should explain himself. "Well, I once lived among a herd of unicorns with my family, but they moved on and I stayed behind," he replied. "After that, I never really sought the company of others, aside from the few companions with whom I stayed." Bedwyr felt like he was stretching the truth. This time, however, he wasn't: he'd chosen to stay with Lavender and settle down, even though she never actually settled down. He'd tried to find his family since their break up, but to no avail - the thought tasted slightly bitter in his mouth.

Nodding a bit as Hakumei talked, Bedwyr smiled a little at her question. "If I may answer honestly," he began, pausing for a moment. How should he put it? It was a bit of a complicated matter. "My feet were taking me away from a place that is no longer home." That's ostensibly sad, he thought, fighting a grimace. "What of you, though?" he asked, curious. "Do you come here often?" Giving the little lights a quick, studying glance before they returned to Hakumei, Bedwyr wondered what they were - completely unaware of the fact that he'd just used a question universally thought of as a pick-up line. Eyeing the glowing lights, he wondered if it was possible that they were insects.

Thankful that she was not offending him, Hakumei thought on friends who fell into each other's laps. Mayhap this male would soon be a friend. Such hopeful thoughts should be held back so that one did not jump ahead of themselves. Careful of overstepping bounderies, she let the topic of friend's move to the background to be discussed later, as other conversations bloomed.

Hakumei's azure gaze fell amongest the reeds, the ponds, and the aged trees. Each piece of this place had a lifetime of stories from those that have passed and the tales that flew in on the winds. Her story was in some of these, she would not be surprised if it was. "I'm not sure why I've come here more often as of late. I think it's because of the peaceful nature." The little lights moved as if in response to her query. "It also could be because I'm not sure where I'm headed from here." She smiled brightly though not all of the smile shined in her eyes. A few of the glow sprites lay in the bright curled locks of her mane. The sparkle returned to her eyes when he asked about them. "They have been with me since I have been small. A mare that helped care for me told me they were guides to help those who have too much imagination and will." Hakumei touched a little lighted orb with her muzzle. "I disagree though. Even little I don't think that I was that willful. I think they are connected to the roses I bear. The roses have never wilted and neither have the lights. They do make my journeys more delightful. Though they don't seem to be individuals, traveling is not as lonely with them around." What they are specifically she never looked into and probably should.

Her attention went back to the large stallion in front of her. Bedwyr was possibly the largest of stallions she had ever met. If her mind and eyes did not keep running she would be in stark awe. "I hope I am not boring you with my indecision and tales." Hakumei wondered what she could do for the stallion. He seemed so distant and guarded. There would be a good reason for it but a small spark started in her to try and help him in whatever way she could. Though he may not wish for it or doesn't need it. "If you'd like, we can move away from the water's edge. There is a grove not far from here that the mist covers and the water cuts off from the rest of the forest. There is cover there and some food, if you are hungry."

"Just wait till you are able to see the grove. A more content and serene place has not been found on my travels." There really hasn't been one. There have been a few places that caught her eye but nothing that ever really held that feeling.

Fascinating? That was a different reaction than what the mare expected. The following smile had her grinning. Bedwyr was kind hearted. The awkwardness of his smile had Hakumei wondering how often he was able to do so. Wandering on your own made it hard to keep practice of such things. Hakumei lifted a hoof and glanced at the sparkling blue roses. So brilliant in hue. "I did wonder if that was what fed the flowers. I've not honed my healing properties as well as I should." Crystal eyes looked up to the large stallion. "Do you have the gift of our kind?"

Hakumei quickly looked away, a flush to her dark cheeks. That was not a question that should have come out. Just a passing thought. What if she offended the lone wanderer. Guiltily the uni mare looked around to find the path to the grove. "You don't have to answer that. The grove is this way. It won't take long to get there." With that she stepped forth and started down the crooked path to a place of quiet and usually solitude. Hakumei walked on, looking to see if Bedwyr followed. Would he come with now after she asked such a personal question? She shook her head in disappointment with herself. Gradient curls swung back and forth, creating waves of of swirls. The glow sprites bouncing behind, some circling around Bedwyr urging him forward.

Hakumei let out a breath she held awaiting for his response. Unicorns were well known for their healing abilities and many were trained in the healing arts. It should have been something that should be expected or just something you don't outwardly speak of. Bedwyr was polite not to catch her on her possible faux pa. Turning to face the large stallion Hakumei studied his features, before moving back along the path. "I would...." Her words were lost as the grove opened up before them.

The line of trees cleared to show a small clearing that was just enough space to be comfortable for three maybe four of their kind. In the corner a small bed of rocks cut off the the water from eroding away at the tiny clearing. The peaceful sound of silence and the wild life of the woods were all that greeted them. The slide and plop of water hitting the rocks created an almost rhythmic beat to the grove. Hakumei's heart beat in tune with it as she trotted to the center, circling around and breathing it all in. It seems that it has been untouched since her last journey here. The childlike exuberance stilled for a moment and she focused back on the gentlemanly male behind her. "This place is difficult to find if you don't know where to take the turns. That's probably why its so peaceful and untouched." She went to the waters edge and looked at her reflection, small ripples distorting the image.

"It has been a long time since I've practiced any healing magic." Could she work on her skills now? Would it be effective? Hopefully she wasn't to old to start practicing now. "I would be grateful for your assistance in honing my skills. I do not want to burden you though."