[IC] =Black Claw's Teepee=

[White Arsenic]

White Arsenic

He had travelled far, and he was beginning to grow weary. For quite some time, the lone Soquili stallion had not come across another of his kind. Ever since he left his herd, the young brute had found his initial goal was not quite... successful. However, he had finally breached the forest, coming out into a small clearing.

However, that seemed to be in the past. The stallion tilted his muzzle -- did he really smell that? Or were his nares playing tricks on him? Nostrils flaring, the young stallion paused. He could swear he scented other Soquilis, though the smell was so faint that it seemed to be long gone.

Crania dipped, the appy gave a cross between a snort and a sigh.

Cihiru

Ever since Isilme expressed her disdain at the forest element in general, Loki had been spending the more dull moments pondering why. To him, it was more or less a natural habitat. After all, he had grown up there. But as he stood back and actually thought about it, he could understand how it might cross one as uncomfortable. The confines were nothing short of clostrophobic in compairison to the vast plains, and the brush could be hazardous and difficult to navagate to those unaccustomed to it. All in all, not the most inviting to an individual from the open fields.

But on the same note, he felt more comfortable here. A race through the forest, weaving in and out of the trunk maze was so much more... exciting than a sprint through swaying grasses! In a way, he felt safer too, though he knew it more accountable to custom than logic. Good sense told him he was more secure out in the open, where he could keep an eye and an ear on would-be predators. And he did understand the reason.

It was just... different here. He loved the babble of the small river not far off, and the jubilant chorus chiming from the birds overhead. Even the way the sun peeked through the canopy and dappled the ground below held appeal to him; something he wasn't going to try and explain. And yes, even the smell of blossoming flowers, crisp foliage, and... Soquilis?

The stallion flicked an ear at the realization, swerving his head around to more attentively take in his surroundings. "Hello," he dared to call out, after he established the identity with more certainty. It was undoubtedly a Soquili. Not unexpected, particularly, but not common either. "I'm Loki." The introduction was offered after he had pulled himself nearer, the form of the other just coming into view. He found himself a comfortable distance off - Not so far he had to yell, but not intruding either.

White Arsenic

Danzleikr gave a start when he heard another Soquili call to him: it wasn't surprising, not entirely... but he hadn't entirely expected it either. Foremost his ears swivelled back and were followed by his head, and lastly, the appaloosa's body followed. His eyes were wide a moment, grey-blue irises swimming in white. Then Danzleikr caught himself, and his posture changed entirely.

Allowing his ears to swivel back, Danzliekr outstretched his head to the other stallion. His eyes glared, and if looks could kill... oh, but the other would be in trouble. One couldn't say this attitude was unlike Danzliekr, though: it was this very willfulness and tendency towards dominance that had caused Danzliekr to leave his herd. That and the fact that he wanted all the females to himself.

Cihiru

While he hadn't intended to take the other by surprise, he knew he would - so the reaction was a rather anticipated one. The initial reaction, anyway. The posture that followed was not. A mostly friendly and agreeable individual himself, he was more or less unaffected, though he was taken aback. It would have been rather like the equivalent of an unwanted shake; he figuratively drew back his hand, nodding curtly instead.

"Suit yourself," he murmered, folding back his tender ears. His better sense told him to turn and simply walk away, but curiosity demanded otherwise. This was the first of this kind he'd encountered; the first to decline his outgoing introduction and outright refuse his presence. Though Loki did not approach further, he did hold his ground, bracing himself against the leaf-covered ground with unoffensive resolution.

The claybank sighed softly, and gave his head a shake that disturbed his gradiant mane. "Has someone badgered you a bit too much today, or are you always this way?" The inquiry was spoken with honest curiosity, neither agressive nor sarcastic. He wore a surprisingly genuine expression, too; one that painted his sculpted features with infalible cordiality.

White Arsenic

Danzleikr snorted at Loki's initial remark. Suit himself? Well he most certainly would! After all, he had come this far to suit himself. Why stop now? However, the stallion was a bit shocked that the other didn't turn tail on him and trot away. And somewhat offended.

Ears still low, Danzleikr raised his head a bit towards the other. Loki's amiable expression made him rather curious, as well. Perhaps he had travelled so far and only came across another lonely stallion who preferred to spend his time trotting through these woods. His eyes were wide once again with Loki's second remark; it was something the appaloosa would have taken offense to normally, but something about the other horse forced Danzleikr's mind to let it slide... just this once.

And also, just this once, Danzleikr didn't have a plausable response. He started to reply, but no words would come into his mouth. Instead he gave another snort. "No."

Cihiru

So, it was like he expected. Prideful might have been a good word to describe the other. And perhaps, stubborn, like himself. And he drew all this from a single snort; a snort he knew meant I will... as it was something he might have done when he was younger. And wasn't that an ironic thought? He wasn't too sure he liked meeting himself, particularly when it was as old and large as he was. In retrospect, it was a good thing he grew out of it. He mustn't have been very good company, back then.

"No?" he questioned, tilting his head ever so slightly to one side. "No which? You haven't been badgered, or no, you're not always this way?" He would probably take offense to this too; it could have been read as mocking if one disregarded his friendly smile and sincere tone. Not that it mattered.

Loki had already answered it for himself, anyway. Any answer other than 'always' would have been disregarded and taken as the latter, as it was the one he thought the truth. Just the other's posture told him this was normal. It was the way he operated; the way he was. And on that note, he certainly didn't want to meet the other when he had been bothered. That must have been a basketful of trouble and then some.

White Arsenic

Danzleikr continued to stare at the other as he regarded him, brows still furrowed even though part of the spiteful glare was gone from his eyes. "Both," he replied in a grunt, giving a snort and hoofing the ground, his head shaking, tossing his mane before letting it fall back against his nape. The last thing 'Leikr had wanted to come across was another stallion. It usually meant bad things -- for instance, this other could have easily been the brute of another herd, and could have taken hefty offense to 'Leikr treading his territory.

However, this other Soquili seemed to be... nice. Danzleikr didn't quite know why he was being so nasty towards the other. After all, Loki had been nothing but nice to him. But then again, the stallion could care less. He wanted his own little world, perhaps with his own little harem, and there was no room for another of his sex. Though it was starting to seem that finding a bruja outside a herd was hideously rare.

"Do you want something?" 'Leikr cocked a brow and twitched an ear, repositioning his posture so that he was standing tall.

Cihiru

Not usually so disagreeable, and nothing had annoyed him? "Well, that's a relief," he observed calmly, nodding for emphasis.

He was still wary, but it was good to hear the edge of venom fade from his tone. "What, I have to want something to say hello?" The stallion regarded him with a quirked brow and a twitch of his sweeping tail. "I had been hoping for some nice company, though I can look for it elsewhere if you'd prefer."

The adjustment reconfirmed his suspicions; he was indeed an arrogant one. Not that he had to force his superiority. Loki would give respect where respect was due. Approaching it in this manner merely lowered his opinion, giving him the impression the other could not command it in any other way.

Maybe that was so. "Do you want something?" he said suddenly, rolling his pinned ears forward.

White Arsenic

Guilt. It was starting to sweep over Danzleikr's mind as the other stallion proceded to speak to him with the same kindly air. Leikr shook his head once again, giving a low snort, though this one was aimed at himself.

"No," he said simply again, and sighed. Tail flicking twice, hoof digging ground, Danzleikr exchanged his posture for a more easy-going one and began to move towards the other Soquili with an easy-going gait.

Cihiru

As the antics continued, Loki puffed a soft sigh. He was never going to make a friend here, with an attitude like that. Most would write him off with a mistrusting glance and little more. But then, maybe that was what he wanted? Maybe he liked being solitary? That hardly made any sense to the pale stallion though; Soquilis were social by nature. He couldn't not appreciate company... at least a little.

"Not much of a conversationalist, are you?" It was alright, he supposed. He could carry a conversation with himself, if it came right down to it. It was just the posture he was unsure of - a discomfort that was soothed away as the other relaxed... and approached? An unexpected turn of events, he decided. Not an unwelcome one though.

Well, while he was feeling generous, it couldn't hurt to pursue further discussion. "Do you have a name?" Of course he did, but it was the most passive wording he could think of. Loki wasn't even sure it was a name he'd be willing to share; he'd been unusually secretive with it already. He wasn't losing anything by trying though.

White Arsenic

Danzleikr continued to step across the clearing towards the other pale horse at the forest's edge. He seemed to sulk a bit at first, but he brought his posture up as he carried along. One ear flicked towards Loki, then both ears were brought up to points over Leikr's head.

"Danzleikr. My name's Danzleikr." He continued his trot til he was about five feet away from Loki, then settled his form a bit on his legs, squaring himself after a nervous flick of his hoof.

Perhaps this other wasn't so bad. Maybe he shouldn't have kept his guard so high up. He just wasn't used to unfamiliar stallions...

Cihiru

Does it really hurt that badly to humble yourself a little? was all he could think of as the approach began. And he chided himself for it, as it was rather negative as far as his standards were concerned. He couldn't help it; the appy looked rather shamed at first, though it was good to see him straighten as he continued.

And he didn't know why he had expected more than a name; more than a reply to his simple question. Maybe it had been wishful thinking that compelled him. After all, conversation was much more enjoyable when it flowed both ways. "A good name," he said simply. It was an adversion from his typical greeting, but 'pleased to meet you' didn't strike him as appropriate.

"A unique one, too. Have you traveled far?" The stallion was obviously new to the area; it didn't take a genius to see that. His guard was foreign to the forests here, as his name was unusual on Loki's domestic tongue. The curiousity caused him to tilt his head thoughtfully and twitch one attentive ear.

White Arsenic

Danzleikr's orbs trailed over the other horse for a long moment; it looked slightly disdainful, although the appy didn't desire it to be so. But for a while Leikr merely stared, which may have caused the other to garner more negative opinions on him. Not that he was entirely aware that the other might be looking at him in poor color.

"Yes, very unique," he replied finally, giving a swish of his tail. "I've been about for a while now. Can't remember how long it has been, but I do know that it has been far too long." He sighed slightly, head bobbing for a moment, seemingly lost in a trail of though til he shook himself out of it a few seconds later.

"Where... where exactly is this place? Are there other Soquili?"

Cihiru

Loki stood resolutely, his posture as confidant and relaxed as his demeanor was kindly. He was a fair looking mustang; rare in color, strikingly marked, and muscled enough to suggest he was capable of holding his own - and he knew it. This other's almost scornful inspection wasn't going to discourage his opinion. He didn't have time to notice Danzleikr was equally (in fact, moreso) imposing though, given his distration with his character.

And what was it that struck him so poorly he had to say 'too long'? Loki loved the area; he enjoyed most every moment here. It was difficult for him to grasp someone thinking otherwise. What was there not to like? "That bad, huh?" he commented idly, his curiosity wilting briefly.

"'This place' goes by no name, as far as I am aware." He'd actually never had need to call it anything, come to think of it. It was an odd epiphany; one that made him wonder if he'd been living here all this time unaware. What if it did have a title, and he just didn't know it? "Of course there are other Soquilis. I couldn't stand living all by myself, all the time. Most are down by the village though." And he motioned toward it with a tilt of his nose.

White Arsenic

The appaloosa flicked an ear, swivelling his head towards the village that the other had indicated with his snout. A village, hmmm? Well that was certainly interesting.

"So this is a place of Soquilis who serve human masters, I would presume?" Danzleikr gave a quick, wicked snort towards the village as he looked back to Loki. "A place where Soquilis let humans on their back like bizarre growths from an old tree?"

Leikr pawed the ground uncomfortably; as much as he had just harassed them, he didn't like being so close to the humans. He failed to trust them at all.

Cihiru

Always the village, he noted with an absent nod an only faintly annoyed snort. That was the only thing they ever took interest in; it had happened several times over now. He could only talk of the humans for so long before he grew bored of it; there was only so much he could say, especially with such limited experience as his.

"Soquilis serve noone," he said nonchalantly, casting his gaze in the direction he knew the settlement to be. "They coexist. The humans care for the Soquilis, and they in turn protect them and keep eachother company."

Loki shrugged at that, and pulled his gaze relunctantly back to the spotted stallion. "And I've never seen a human on a Soquili, though I expect they'd only allow it if they wanted to." Rolling the thought around in his mind, he sighed absently. That was something he really wasn't certain of; he had no proof either way. He couldn't think of anything that would suggest the humans made Soquilis do anything, though.

White Arsenic

Danzleikr snorted and turned his tail on the village, tossing his mane out. "Well, then. I'll remind myself to steer clear of that area." With a casual strut, the appaloosa started away from Loki, tail flicking with slight irritation.

"I guess I'll catch you around, Loki."

 

[White Arsenic]

Danzleikr couldn't believe his luck. Coming across the other Soquili named Loki was hardly what he would call fun, and discovering that there were humans around was even worse. So he had turned away from the direction of the village and began to walk away, intent on finding a better area to claim as his home.

Now, however, it was dark. To make matters worse, the night air was a bit cold. The young stallion was forever belligerent, though, and he carried on instead of finding a safe, dry place where he could rest. Even though his pelt shimmered from the shivers of flesh underneath, he still forced his way through underbrush and around trees.

'My beautiful hair has brambles in it,' he thought to himself with a snort, shaking his head violently to release the stray twigs that had taken home in his mane. He reared himself up on his hind legs and bit at a small tree branch in pure disdain of it. His hooves hit a large branch on his landing and, with a large crack, the gray stallion went down. He was laying prone on his side when he heard the first howl.

'What in the...,' was his initial, unfinished thought. Then fear widened his eyes and he tried to scramble to his hooves, albeit too quickly. When he slipped again on the forest floor he heard the second howl. It was closer.

'No, no, no! I'm not ready to die! This cannot be happening... please don't let this be happening!' Danzleikr was beginning to panic. He couldn't get back on all fours. There was something coming, wolves coming! He didn't want to be eaten! For the first time ever, Danzleikr wished he was back with his old herd.

It was now too late. He caught a glimpse of eyes in the forest, glowing hideously, one pair red and the other, green. He closed his eyes and waited for them to attack, to rip out his throat...

"Hai!" A feminine human voice broke through the crisp night air. Danzleikr opened his eyes again... and found himself staring into not two red eyes, but eight. He whinnied in fear, began to flail out his limbs in a pitiful and ineffective attempt to stand back up.

"Hai!" The voice was more demanding this time, and the huge wolf that apparently had far too many eyes to be natural turned his tail to Danzleikr and slunk off. The stallion noted another wolf going towards the same point as the many-eyed one, a golden one. But who had called them off?

Just then he saw it, a young woman looking out amidst tree branches, with six red eyes over and under where her normal eyes should have been. He wondered where those eyes were. Danzleikr gaped as the woman walked out of her perch, too astonished to do anything. She wore a mixture of feathers and fur over deerskin shirt and pants, as well as something that looked like a cape that brushed the forest floor behind her. And when she got close enough, Danzleikr understood why he couldn't see her eyes. They simply weren't there. Black holes formed where whites and pupils should have been.

The woman moved cautiously and slowly towards Danzleikr, using a walking stick decorated by feather and fur to guide herself along. Once she reached him, she knelt down beside his head.

"Danzleikr," she muttered. How did she know his name? It didn't seem possible, unless there was something special about this apparent castaway? He shuddered a bit as her hand moved towards him, noting that her nails were thick and colored black. She placed that hand over his forelocks as the other moved within her cloak, pulling out a length of carefully-woven rope. For some odd reason, as she tied it about Danzleikr's neck, he felt no obligation to move away.

Finally the woman got to her feet, beckoning the hand that was not holding the rope about Danzleikr's neck towards the wolves. They fell into place beside her, and she bent to gently guide Danzleikr to his feet. She then began to walk through the forest, wolves at her side.

Danzleikr's stubborness finally settled in, and he refused to follow. The woman looked back at him as best as she could, raising an eyebrow, then continued to walk on. The rope grew longer and longer, and now the wolves were beginning to turn their heads back towards him as well. Danzleikr sighed, giving a step towards them before stopping again.

He knew that, had he wanted to, he could easily drag this gaunt loner around the forest. He didn't wish to do that, but the rope was beginning to run out. And he knew there was something special or strange about this human. Snorting and shaking his head, he finally decided to follow after the young woman.

They had walked for what Danzleikr's exhausted, adrenaline-wasted body thought was forever, along a long and twisting path in the woods, before they reached the teepee. It was quite large for having only one person take residence within its walls, and attractive. Danzleikr noted that, standing outside the entrance, was a beautiful, celestial Soquili mare -- a mare that greeted him with a warm hello.

Perhaps it wouldn't be so bad here after all.  

[White Arsenic]

Reserved for Freki story  

[White Arsenic]

Meeki

Glamrock lowered her head to rest it on both baskets so that if on was moved, she would surely awaken. If it was anyone other than Danzleikr though, may the gods have mercy on their soul. Sighing softly, she closed her eyes.. a few minutes rest.. that's all...

Not too far off, Whisper smiled. He always loved to see soquili expressing love for one another or to their babies. He never had a real family other than Echo. He wouldn't change his past for the world though, Echo was family enough. Echo was more than enough. Chuckling softly, he turned to spot the mountain lion rolling around in the grass to scratch her back.

White Arsenic

Danzleikr was out for his daily trot in an attempt to get away from the odd soul of Night Glider and the blind Black Claw's wolves, and also to merely enjoy the nice day. It felt good to be running again, instead of carefully weaving around trees. He was coming across the clearing at a bound, and stopped when a familiar scent hit his nose.

'Glamrock,' he thought to himself. 'I'll go see how she's doing.' Danzleikr picked up a trot and entered the clearing, catching sight of the beautiful horned mare. And... two baskets that the mare seemed to be cherishing. Odd.

Stepping slowly, Danzleikr approached the mare at a strut. "Hello, Glamrock. What have you got there?"

Meeki

Glamrock awoke and looked up in a daze. It took several moments for the question to sink in. Once it did her face contorted into an incredulous yet questioning shape (think o_O hehe). She summoned her strength and pushed herself up into a standing position and walked over to stand beside the handsome male.

"Danzleikr.. take a good look at those gorgeous baskets for they are ours. Today we have become parents of the most beautiful baskets in the land. Today, you have become a father to the most gorgeous future foals that will ever be seen! Now that you're here... you can babysit so that I can get some rest." Glamrock sighed softly and whispered, "They're really something, aren't they?"

White Arsenic

Danzleikr, after listening (yes, actually listening!) to Glamrock's words, took a few moments before it set in. The stallion just kind of... stood there, looking blank for about a minute and a half -- then his eyes practically bugged out of his head.

"Foals? Parents? I'm a father?!" He looked down at the baskets again, then back at Glamrock. "Well I guess that explains that weight you gained; that will go away completely again, right? Oh my thunder, I'm a FATHER?" Danzleikr's head swivelled faster now from basket to basket to Glamrock and back again, and then the male allowed his legs to buckle out from underneath him, landing heavily on the ground.

Meeki

Glamrock giggled. Another female would probably have been insulted at Danzleikr's words she thought it was part of his charm. "Yes, the weight will definately drop. It's already starting to. Once I rest up a bit, I'll run around and make sure I get all the exercise I need. Hard to believe, isn't it? Us being parents. But I suppose that risk was there when we.. did what we did."

Glamrock lowered herself back onto the ground and nuzzled Danzleikr softly. Though they may not be a couple she was still proud to have his foals. The babies would have a wonderful father. "Let it take time to sink it. It's a lot to accept at once. They will be so *yawns* beautiful. Just like us." The final words trailed off as Glamrock fell back asleep. Her body simply did not have the strength to stay awake any longer.

White Arsenic

Danzleikr blinked a couple of times and then gave a small, secretive smile. He was a father. A father. And he had two beautiful foals to take care of.

"Good. I'm glad that you'll lose all that weight. For now, though, I agree that its probably best that you rest." He nuzzled Glamrock back, then looked at the baskets once again. "Look... that one's blue like you, but its lighter... like me." But Glamrock, by now, was asleep.

Danzleikr nosed at the baskets a moment, wondering when he would be able to actually see his foals. For now, though, he would gladly protect the small baskets from anyone who dare come near them and cause them harm.