[IC] =Foalen's Teepee=

[Foalen]

Discovering Parenthood

Foalen

Ayita stood slowly rising awkwardly up from the shady spot under the great old oak she had grown fond of as the sound of hoofbeats came pounding along the trial near the edge of the clearing. Lifting her head to look down the path her ears swivling to catch the sound the painted mare nickered a welcome upon seeing the famliar face of her mate.

She was delighted to see him, this would be the first time he had seen her since her body had started to change and Ayita wondered what he would think of the change or if he knew what those changes would mean.

"Taima, it's good to see you. Have you been out running?"

Syrran

Taima nickered softly as he came to a sudden stop upon finding his mate resting by the large oak tree. He smiled to her and nodded " Yes, I have been running, but I'm a bit tired now and it seems a g ood time to rest."

He nuzzled her muzzle gently and sniffed her in greeting, a twinkle in his pale blue eyes as he looked her over, starting with her own eyes, which were such a lovely shade of amber.

Slowly looking her over he noticed a couple things we off. She seemed to be very happy today. Not just happy, but serene, and sort of...what was the word for it. Glowing? Yes, glowing. Then he noticed the width of her barrell had grown quite a bit. At this he tilted his head in uncertainty.

" Ayita..." He streached his long neck and gently touched her side with his nose, questioning it's reality. " What..." Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew what was going on, but he was still in so much shock that he couldn't really bring it into full clarity.

Foalen

Giving her mate a nuzzle in return Ayita wuffled softly a little bit uncertian now that Taima had discovered her secret. Not that it had really ever been a secret. It was just that she knew the stallion wasn't too comfortable with the idea of fatherhood and she didn't really know how a way to soften the news. Feeling her face warm the mare ducked her head a little though her happy expression stayed in place.

Clearing her throat she decided to plunge bravely forward. It would be more than obvious shorly anyway when the little one arrived and was settled into his or her basket. "It seems we are going to be parents a little sooner that you had first hoped. I hope you don't mind?" She added in a soft voice as she looked up into his eyes.

Syrran

"Parents....us?" He swallowed hard rememember their walk on the trail. " Oh..." His face flushed of color and his eyes buldged slightly from their sockets, body very stiff. He wasn't sure how to take this information. Was he ready? Were they ready? What was it going to be like? What was he supposed to do?

He hadn't quite expected it so soon...but after a few moments his mind stopped racing and he was able to calm himself down enough to look back to his mate. Her smile made everything else melt away. "Mind? of course not Ayita."

He nuzzled her neck gently, hugging it with his own, resting his head on her wither. " Of course not," He repeated, " It will be fine, better then fine. Wonderful." At this he broke away from the embrace and turned around, rearing on his haunches, his forelegs flailing as he let out a mightly call as if announcing his love for Ayita to the world...then silence as he came back down to earth.

Turning back to Ayita he grinned. " We're going to have foals of our very own."

Foalen

Feeling reassured by Taima's reply Ayita danced a little herself as the stallion called out though she was careful in her new rather ungainly state. She was pround of her mate and proud that they would be having a family even if it was sooner than he had expected.

"I'm glad, I was a little worried that you would be unhappy, because of the extra work and responsiblity. But there are a lot of other mares who are expecting foals soon, or who have just reicently had little ones so we'll have a lot of help from the others. I'm sure someone will be able to give us some advice if we have a question about our new state. On top of that our little one will have lots of friends to play with."

Stepping up close to her mate Ayita gave him a playful nuzzle. "I don't know what the future will bring, that is more Foalen's area than mine. But I can say for certian that it's not going to be boring."

 

[Foalen]

Signs Of Change

It had been a few weeks since Foalen had last seen the painted mare who had become so much a part of his life. He didn't worry really or think it was odd. For all young things grew up at some point. So when she left him to go be with her mate and their new herd he simply gave her a long carress and his blessing.

He was delighted when he saw her return a few weeks later and even more so when he discovered the changes that had come about in her while she was gone. Ayita glowed with an inner light. Her whole being suffused so much life it could not be contained by her skin and seemed almost suspended in the air all around her.

Her barrel was lower as if she had eaten too much reicently, though Foalen knew better. He had seen other mares from the village in a similar state. Though he wouldn't have recognized a pregnant mare before he came to the Kiewani. His stay here had taught him a great deal.

Murmuring sweet nonsense to the lovely mare he took the time to give her a good grooming. Brushing out her coat to get rid of the mud and muck that had matted the hair down in spots.

Ayita stood paitently for the treatment obviously enjoying the attention. And Foalen smiled as he thought of the rambuntious young filly she used to be. She certianly had matured in the last few moons.

When the dullness of dirt and grime fell away and the white and brown coat shone with health and vigor Foalen moved on to work on the mare's mane and tail. Carefully teasing out tangles and burrs that knotted the patricolored tresses.

As the shaman worked Takota came out from the teepee to sit nearby watching curiously. He didn't understand why Foalen was taking so much care with Ayita's apperence when she was likely to go right back out into the muddy clearing with her herd. But she seemed to be enjoying herself so perhaps that was the point.

Curling his tail around his feet to conserve warmth he wondered if he might not be able to get the shaman to give him a grooming too when he was done with the mare.

Ayita wuffled happily please to be able to spend so much time just being with her two legged friend. She loved Taima and the new family of their herd. But Foalen had been close to her heart for far longer. This time together was made even more special because of the attention the shaman was showering upon her. It was wonderful to be pampered so.  

[Harperking]

RP between Foalen and Wambli involving a gift for a special friend!

Wambli carefully walked down the soft forest path that led from the bay to the village. The sleek black and gold mare had spent the morning along the shoreline, playing in the water with some of the other soquili. As she walked she thought back on the gift of the beautiful rose that Jewel had given her. She had never seen a bloom as lovely as that one and the scent had lasted for days. Anpo had taken the bloom and hung it in the teepee to dry like the winter herbs so she still had it to remember the gift and its giver.
"I want to do something for him!" she said to herself, startling a nearby robin into flight at the sound of her whicker. "There has to be a gift I can give him, but what?" Jewel was so different from the other soquili, it would have to be something very special indeed. Not just to match his beauty, but to show him just how much she cared for him.
As she came over the small rise in the path that marked the edge of th forest Wambli paused. Looking down she saw many of the village inhabitants out and around busy in various tasks. With spring on the way life was returning to the village, the winter sleepiness being replaced with new energy and excitement. Seeing one familiar form, Wambli had a sudden idea. With a glad whinny, she trotted down the hill and into the village.
Her nimble hooves made a merry beat on the ground as she made her way all the way through the village to a decorated tent on the far edge. Sitting outside was the shaman, Foalen, intently working on beading and stringing feathers together. She slowed as she approached him, and stood respectfully watching while he finished the one he was working on. Only the whisking of her tail against her legs broke her silence while she waited.


The bright day along with the cheerful productive mood that surrounded and suffused the area spirits and thus villagers themselves filled Foalen with contentment as he sat working on some talismen he had promised he would hand out to some of the warriors who were currently planning a big hunt. It would be a dangerous venture and it couldn't hurt to have the spirits go with the warriors young and old alike.

In the quiet between one breath and the next he sensed a presence. Glancing up he smiled giving the darkly beautiful mare a the sign for greetings he had seen Anpo use so Wambli would know that she was welcome.

"Welcome little bird," Foalen said for form's sake if nothing else. Though as the words passed his lips he realized that the lovely bird like soquili before him could hardly be called little any more. She had grown amazingling in the past few months and now she even had chosen a mate for herself. My how fast little ones grew.

Having strung the last bead on the feather he was working on he tugged on the leather cord to be sure it was snug and then lay it down on the blanket beside him. Sensing that the wind child seemed to be waiting for him he sat back on his legs giving her his full attention.

"Is there something I can help you with?" He said adding the signs along with his words. He didn't know if she would understand them, but it was likely she that she picked up a great deal from her warrior woman friend. And she was far more likely to understand the sign than she would his words.


Wambli's soft ears flicked forward as she listened to the words the shaman spoke. She understood most of what he was saying, and whickered a low laugh to see him trying to use the hand signs that Anpo had taught her. She didn't know he knew those!

Stepping closer she gently nuzzled the feathered talismans he had been working on , then lifted her head so that it was on a level on his own. She turned her head so she could look out at him with one liquid eye. After a long moment, she concentrated then in a soft whinny said, "I would like one of these for Jewel, please."

She had no way of knowing if he would understand her, but hopefully the Spirits would help him. Ayita had said that sometimes it almost seemed like he knew what she was saying.

A quick step back gave her room to manouver. Spreading out one brightly patterned wing, she reached around and tugged at one underfeather until it released. Carrying it proudly, she walked back over to the shaman and lay it softly in his lap.

As he waited the shaman found his eyes atracted to warm red brown of Wambli's luminous eye. Her gaze was direct and he could sense that she was deffinatly trying to comunicate to him. He had an idea of what she might want after she nuzzled the feather talismen but he had to keep from rubbing his ears in disbelief when she actually spoke to him. Perhaps it was the lessons he was reciving in the soquili launguage from the tribal elders, or maybe it was simply that her spirit so strongly wanted to get the message across.

However it happened didn't really matter. The fact that she was requesting help from him did and greatly. It was one thing to be called upon by the ones he served to render aid and comfort and still another to be called upon the by the scared creatures of the great spirit. Greatly honored he gave her a sign saying as much revrently collecting the freather from where it had landed. "It won't take long to make, if you wish to wait here. Ayita has told me there is a good shade tree just over to the left." Foalen explained in motions and signs. "Otherwise your welcome to watch."


Delighted that she was understood, Wambli shook her head to let the shaman know that she would wait. Her innate curiosity would allow for nothing less! She watched his every movement, wanting to know just how such a thing was made. Though she had seen Anpo doing beadwork many times, this was so different that the young mare was entranced by each step of the making.

Selecting a thin but strong cord of leather the shaman deftly wrapped it around the shaft calling upon the spirits to both the giver and reciver of this talisman that neaither of the two should come to harm. When the shaft of the feather was covered Foalen turned out his selection of beads carefuly going over them to find just the right ones.

His hands paused over the gold one that matched Wambli's coloring, that would be perfect. Setting it asside Foalen continued to spread the beads out looking for another two. When the light caught on the soquili's bracelets and the shaman's eyes were drawn to the red stone nestled there he smiled. The red beads would match the redish tone in her eyes as well.

Gently tucking the rest of the beads away Foalen picked up the feather once more this time securing the beads in place until he was certian they would stay put. Then he tied the end off and then he chanted over the feather one last time for good mesure.

When he was done he held out the feather to the waiting Wind soquili to see what she would think.


When the shaman held up the completed talisman Wambli was so excited she danced a little in place, spreading her wings in joy. She quickly realized that taking flight in such close proximity to the human wouldn't be a good idea, and furled her wings and neighed her happiness instead.
Ducking her dark head, she grasped the leather thong in her mouth and accepted the decorated feather from Foalen. This would be the perfect gift for Jewel - and with it being her feather he would know it was from her. Hopefully he would like it as much as she did her rose!
A sudden thought came to her as she turned to walk away, and Wambli stopped. She placed her precious gift on the ground then turned back to the shaman. She stepped in front of him and carefully knelt on her front legs, then placed her cheek along side his and blew very gently into his hair at the base of the neck. It was a special honor that was reserved for occasions of great importance to her. Then, with a soft whicker, she stood and spread her wings again. She choose one long secondary and carefully pulled it loose, then placed it at his feet. With a quick wink she turned and picked up her talisman and trotted off, intent now on delivering it.

Gratifed by the mares acceptance of the talismen he had made for her Foalen found himself ducking as her wings snapped open showing her feelings as surely as the wag of a dogs tail told his. Amused Foalen was happy when the winged soquili decided to voice her pleasure rather than dance it out in front of him. The idea of watching her sky dance was very attractive though it would do a great deal of damage to the talismen, beads and feathers he had set carefully around himself.

The shaman held very still as Wambli's breath tickled the dark strands of hair not bound by the braid he customairly wore. Foalen was amazed and touched at such close contact with a soquili that was not his own charge. He was further surprised when she offered another feather to him and accepted it with do revrence.

Still holding the feather the shaman lifted a hand in farewell his dark eyes perhaps a little mositer than they had been before the mare had appeared. Though he was not at all unhappy for he chanted quietly in a rythmic manner as he went back to his work.


As soon as she was clear of the shaman's work area, Wambli took to the sky, her strong wings lifting her easily to tree height and the above the trees. She circled the village, getting her bearings before heading inland to the glade where she knew Jewel often stayed. It took but a moment for her to reach that place, and furling her wings tightly she came to a quick landing, the talisman still clenched tightly in her teeth.

"Oh! He isn't here today!" she said to herself, as she circled the glade, trying to figure out where he might have gone. There were too many tracks for her to tell which direction he may have gone though, and she finally gave up in frustration.

"There has to be a way," she thought, "I can't carry this around for long." Looking aroung the glade, she saw a low hanging branch and had a sudden idea. Walking over , she reached up and hung the talisman from the branch. The feather swung lightly in the breeze but did not come loose. She smoothed the ground beneath the talisman with her hoof, the made a single, clear hoofprint in the middle of the cleared space.

"Now Jewel will find it and know for sure it is from me!" Wambli neighed happily. And with that thought in her mind and love in her heart, she once more took to the skies and headed back home.

 

[Draculas Babe]

Lily was wondering around boredly, Cyrus was out with Alona most likely and she didn't want to bother the two. She rolled her eyes in frustration. She wondered what she could do when all of a sudden there was a teepee in front of her, "Thats weird." she said. She looked around for she didn't want to drop by to someone she didn't know unexpectidly. She didn't know whether to see if anyone was home or leave.

(Hope you don't mind me posting.)  

[Foalen]

A Guest Drops By

Hearing a sound Takota poked his long brown muzzle out of the teepee so he could take a look at the area around his new home. Upon seeing Lilly he yipped to alert the shaman still inside to the presence of his visitor before cautiously stepping outside to see what the two legger was doing.

Staring deeply into the fire the shaman was difting between the world of matter and that of spirit when he heard the yipping of the still healing fox who had come to live with him. Letting his breath out he took another coming back to himself. Quicking he went to the door of the teepee to check on whatever had drawn Takota's attention. "Hau, I hope my little friend hasn't disturbed you."  

[Draculas Babe]

Lilly looked at the teepee when she heard the call of the fox. She was familiar with it for their was a den not to far from her own teepee. She watched as "the" shaman came out. She hadn't known it was his teepee. She only had seen him once and then they hadn't gotten the proper acquaintance. "Oh not at all, I was afraid would be disturbing you." she smiled weakly and let out a small laugh of uncertainty.

 

[Foalen]

Taking up a post by his human friend's legs Takota sat with his tail curled around his paws to keep them warm and listened to Lilly and Foalen's conversation his birght eye moving from one to the other and back again.

Waving off the statement with one hand Foalen smiled reasuringly. "You don't have to worry about disturbing me. You would have had to do a lot more than just pass by the teepee to disturb me. Besides I was finished with what I was doing anyway so you came along at a good time."

The shaman motioned to the teepee, "If you wish you are welcome to come in and sit before the fire. It's still somewhat cool outside. Though I doesn't matter to me weather we continue inside or out, I thought you might be more comfortable inside. It's really up to you."  

[Draculas Babe]

Lilly peered to Foalen at his statement, it was then that she noticed she had goose bumps on her skin. "That would be nice." she smiled. She started to walk closer to him and the teepee, "Are you sure I'm not intruding?" she asked concerningly. She hadn't been over to another's housing quarters for who knows long. She usually liked the comfert of her own. She thought it would be nice to talk to another once in awhile.  

[Foalen]

"You won't be intruding." Foalen assured Lilly with a firm nod and a smile as he let her move infront of him. "A shaman's teepee should be open to all who are in need. Even if that need is only for a little conversation."

Following her toward the teepee Foalen leaned down to give the fox who was a step behind him a scratch on the chin. "Actually, it's an important part of what I do. To keep the spirits in balance and harmony it is very helpful to know what is happening in the dayly lives of the villigers so that you can antisipate a need should one arise. So you should never be afraid of disturbing me. I need to keep in touch with those around me."

Takota brushed his muzzle against the shaman's long fingers nipping lightly at Foalen's fingertips before wanding into the teepee.  

[Draculas Babe]

"I suppose," she smiled. "I don't live that far from you,actually." She hadn't really discussed anyone to where she lived. Soquili was the only one that she thought knew where she lived. She was watching the little fox curiously. "He's rather cute," she smiled. "I don't beleive we've met properly, but I'm Lilly." she had heard his name before when she had talked to Soquili but she had forgotten. The only two people she had really ever talked to was Mitexi and Soquili so her life wasn't that interesting, she guessed.

 

[Foalen]

"Really? If you live that close, then I've probably been past your teepee while gathering my herbs. I've been calling the fox Takota, he seems to like the name and it fits him for he's been very friendly now that his leg is on the mend.

It's a pleasure to meet you, my name is Foalen. Since you live near by we'll probably see more of eachother from now on. I'm glad you dropped by. I've been by myself more often now that my soquili friend Ayita has started regularly visiting her mate. "  

[Draculas Babe]

"She is the brown and white soquili no? I've seen her, with Cyrus and the grey soquili that his her mate. Every once in awhile I check up on Cyrus with his new herd and all. Gets kind of lonesome in the teepee now that I'm pretty much by myself. Plus I just like to know he's doing good. I know he would I just like to...make sure." she smiled half heartidly. "It is a pleasure to meet you though."  

[Foalen]

Foalen nodded in agreement to Lilly's questing about weather the brown and white soquili was Ayia. "It probably was her if the one your mentioning was around Cyrus because I know that she and her mate both joined his herd reciently. Though there are other brown and white paints around. Quite a few of them actually. I saw another one I didn't recoginze just the other day."

Reaching out to open the flap of the teepee the shaman motioned for Lily to precede him. "It seems the soquili herds are growing every day. The spirits must be pleased with us to allow so many of the wind children to be in our care."

"You shouldn't feel bad for worrying about Cyrus. I know I think about Ayita all the time dispite the fact that she has proven herself most capable. Once you've taken the responsibility of someone elses care upon yourself they will never be far from your thoughts or your heart even when they are grown and more than capable of caring for themselves. Perhaps you could come and get me the next time you go to check up on them. I would love to meet some of the other soquili in the new herd."  

[Draculas Babe]

She followed his direction without hesitation, she was trying to not screw up and please him at the same time. She hated making bad impressions. "I don't stray to far out to see other soquilis at anytime, just Cyrus and his friends. One has his skeletals showing through his coat, he's really friendly. Cyrus acts as if he were his brother." she laughed.
"So what happened to this little guy?"she asked noticing the injured fox. She put her hand near Takota's nose so he could see that she wasn't trying to hurt him and only to pet him. He was hurt however so that might have an effect on the little foc.