10-28-2019, 09:04 PM
Aten did little to hide the loneliness in his heart when Lethia stated her intentions to go have some time outside Taiga, though she did not specify the exact reason for it. The golden stallion had his suspicions, sure, but he didn't want to say the wrong words and end up offending his mate. So instead, on the day of her departure, he wished her well, safety, offering to let Turul accompany her if she wished to get a message to any horse in a hurry.
Lethia had not stated openly that Turul could follow, but she knew the falcon sometimes acted on his own. So it was not a surprise when Aten reached out to his friend one day and learned he'd also left the redwoods for the destination the mare had gone to. He did not spy on her every move, but he told Aten he was within reach to hear the mare's calls if she suspected the Gyrfalcon was nearby.
Aten, meanwhile, was content to remain in Taiga and watch over his 'herd'. Consisting of solely Lethia and the foals she'd adopted, in addition to their own colt, Aten was happy, the stallion's blood in his veins having calmed since the passing of the breeding season. Of course, when he did come across the scent of a mare in her time, he had to fight the urge, but it was easy enough, to remember what he had in Taiga. The family he cared for, the foals he was helping to raise.
Perhaps in his younger years, he would've been different. He wouldn't say no to sheltering a mare or a stallion in his 'herd' if they so needed it, but the golden stallion found it easier than most times to fight the blood boiling when others encouraged him to fight.
Even though Popinjay and Owin were quite adventurous, Aten was never very far from their side. At times, he may have lost them for a moment, his eyes losing their forms among the redwoods or over some of the small dunes that broke up Taiga's flatland, but they were easy enough to find through scent. He also had the assistance of Kalil's little friend, now that the colt was understanding how to talk to him.
Kalil mostly stuck by his sire's side for the first few days Lethia was gone, the weanling colt only now just old enough to really start coming off his dam's milk. Some mares might keep their foals on later, but Kalil was a good age that not having Lethia's milk was not a huge bother. He also had the company of his siblings and sire, so he was not starved for attention. He was happy to run and play with his older brother and sister, and grateful for the nights where, when tired, he could curl up next to his sire's strong legs and nap, knowing he had some horse to watch over him.
He also had the company of his little feline friend, their bond growing stronger by the day, even more since they'd learned how to communicate. Even though Aten had a companion animal of his own, he had little experience in the area of teaching such a skill to others. The fact that Kalil was little didn't help at times, and yet, Aten though the colt was making rapid progress.
What made Kalil special in this matter was that, with his young state of mind, his adventurous spirit, it made it much easier for him to be opened minded and embrace the different sides of the land their world offered, magic included. It had take some time in the beginning, but eventually, Aten began to form sort of a 'language' that would help Kalil in learning to talk to the marbled cat.
Wait... no, it wasn't a marbled cat anymore... Amica. That was the name Kalil said belonged to is companion. The feline, already at full size herself, was a pleasant company for the adventurous colt, often riding on his back as he galloped along with his siblings, or over Taiga's flatland meadows whenever he felt like having a run. Aten watched with interest and amusement at the sight, for even though Turul had ridden upon his back, the raptor much preferred flying alongside the stallion.
She would also play with him by being up higher in the trees, encouraging him to reach up and try to get her even though the tiny colt often found such efforts frustrating. Aten wondered what was going through the feline's mind when they played such a game, but in a strange way, it almost seemed like the feline had her own method of teaching Kalil despite species difference.
And Aten found that both intriguing and adorable to watch.
On the day of Lethia's return, Aten was grazing while Popinjay and Owin ran around nearby. Kalil would alternate between grazing and chasing after his older siblings, but he seemed to prefer the company of his sire some of the time since Popinjay and Owin liked to outrun their smaller brother. Aten knew his son would get frustrated by that, but he could only encourage him. He didn't want to tell Poppy and Owin to show Kalil sympathy because it would only teach him that he didn't have the fight for some things he wanted. That was not the harsh way of reality outside the colt's wandering mind.
A called ripped through Taiga's peaceful silence, and before Aten could say anything, Popinjay and Owin took off like cheetahs across the redwood's land. The golden stallion smiled and shook his head fondly before he turned and instructed Kalil to follow and keep up, the little colt nodding before calling to his feline friend and having her hop on his back for the ride.
Sire and son galloped after the colt and filly a distance ahead of them, Kalil letting out a whinny of excitement and a small buck at the idea of seeing his dam again. Aten smiled at his son as they ran, even slowing to let Kalil outpace him and give the colt some encouragement.
Yes, the stallion's teaching methods could be contradictory, but he liked seeing the happy smile on Kalil's face.
Lethia's call had come from one of the few open meadows that dotted Taiga's landscape, not a stone's throw away from the redwood border. Owin and Popinjay broke the line of trees and headed for the mare before Aten and Kalil could catch them, the latter two slowing down as they neared the grassy area.
Aten's eyes softened at seeing Lethia greet her daughter and son, the colt prancing around his dam a moment before he seemed to engage in conversation with her. Not yet spotting the tiny being that trailed behind his mate, Aten assumed Owin was telling his dam how happy he was that she was hear with new adventures to tell them off.
When they were within a few yard's distance of the mare, Kalil sprinted out from behind Aten and galloped to his dam. He skidded to a stop a few strides away to avoid running into his siblings, but nonetheless shimmied up to his dam's side and nuzzled into her warm fur. Aten smiled at the sight as he neared his family, already also looking forward to being beside the mare again.
Before he could reach them though, he saw Kalil step away and look behind Lethia. Amica shifted her weight so that her front paws were balanced on Kalil's shoulder, her neck outstretched as if she were investigating too. Kalil remained where he was, but the feline hopped off the colt and trotted over to the golden stallion as he continued nearing the family. Though they couldn't speak to each other, there was some sort of mutual understanding between the two. The look in Amica's eyes informed Aten that this matter was something of importance, much more than just Lethia's return after a few days away.
Aten whickered to the mare as he approached, speaking in a soft voice, "Lethia... it is good to have you home with us again..." Before stretching out his neck and running his muzzle along her crest. To have the feel of her skin beneath the stallion's lips made him pleased, and he would've indulged in it more had he not remembered Amica's 'message'.
The perceptive stallion's gaze drifted back to where Owin was, and he did not fail to notice the small silver brightly-marked filly standing close to the buckskin mare. Aten's eyes were kind, and he gave the filly some space so as not to intimidate her. He had a feeling his deep voice might seem a big imposing, so he addressed the mare first as Amica returned to Kalil, who was also sniffing at the filly to see who the new arrival was.
"Who is this you've brought back with you?" he questioned.
@[Popinjay] @[Orion] @[Izora Lethia]
Lethia had not stated openly that Turul could follow, but she knew the falcon sometimes acted on his own. So it was not a surprise when Aten reached out to his friend one day and learned he'd also left the redwoods for the destination the mare had gone to. He did not spy on her every move, but he told Aten he was within reach to hear the mare's calls if she suspected the Gyrfalcon was nearby.
Aten, meanwhile, was content to remain in Taiga and watch over his 'herd'. Consisting of solely Lethia and the foals she'd adopted, in addition to their own colt, Aten was happy, the stallion's blood in his veins having calmed since the passing of the breeding season. Of course, when he did come across the scent of a mare in her time, he had to fight the urge, but it was easy enough, to remember what he had in Taiga. The family he cared for, the foals he was helping to raise.
Perhaps in his younger years, he would've been different. He wouldn't say no to sheltering a mare or a stallion in his 'herd' if they so needed it, but the golden stallion found it easier than most times to fight the blood boiling when others encouraged him to fight.
Even though Popinjay and Owin were quite adventurous, Aten was never very far from their side. At times, he may have lost them for a moment, his eyes losing their forms among the redwoods or over some of the small dunes that broke up Taiga's flatland, but they were easy enough to find through scent. He also had the assistance of Kalil's little friend, now that the colt was understanding how to talk to him.
Kalil mostly stuck by his sire's side for the first few days Lethia was gone, the weanling colt only now just old enough to really start coming off his dam's milk. Some mares might keep their foals on later, but Kalil was a good age that not having Lethia's milk was not a huge bother. He also had the company of his siblings and sire, so he was not starved for attention. He was happy to run and play with his older brother and sister, and grateful for the nights where, when tired, he could curl up next to his sire's strong legs and nap, knowing he had some horse to watch over him.
He also had the company of his little feline friend, their bond growing stronger by the day, even more since they'd learned how to communicate. Even though Aten had a companion animal of his own, he had little experience in the area of teaching such a skill to others. The fact that Kalil was little didn't help at times, and yet, Aten though the colt was making rapid progress.
What made Kalil special in this matter was that, with his young state of mind, his adventurous spirit, it made it much easier for him to be opened minded and embrace the different sides of the land their world offered, magic included. It had take some time in the beginning, but eventually, Aten began to form sort of a 'language' that would help Kalil in learning to talk to the marbled cat.
Wait... no, it wasn't a marbled cat anymore... Amica. That was the name Kalil said belonged to is companion. The feline, already at full size herself, was a pleasant company for the adventurous colt, often riding on his back as he galloped along with his siblings, or over Taiga's flatland meadows whenever he felt like having a run. Aten watched with interest and amusement at the sight, for even though Turul had ridden upon his back, the raptor much preferred flying alongside the stallion.
She would also play with him by being up higher in the trees, encouraging him to reach up and try to get her even though the tiny colt often found such efforts frustrating. Aten wondered what was going through the feline's mind when they played such a game, but in a strange way, it almost seemed like the feline had her own method of teaching Kalil despite species difference.
And Aten found that both intriguing and adorable to watch.
On the day of Lethia's return, Aten was grazing while Popinjay and Owin ran around nearby. Kalil would alternate between grazing and chasing after his older siblings, but he seemed to prefer the company of his sire some of the time since Popinjay and Owin liked to outrun their smaller brother. Aten knew his son would get frustrated by that, but he could only encourage him. He didn't want to tell Poppy and Owin to show Kalil sympathy because it would only teach him that he didn't have the fight for some things he wanted. That was not the harsh way of reality outside the colt's wandering mind.
A called ripped through Taiga's peaceful silence, and before Aten could say anything, Popinjay and Owin took off like cheetahs across the redwood's land. The golden stallion smiled and shook his head fondly before he turned and instructed Kalil to follow and keep up, the little colt nodding before calling to his feline friend and having her hop on his back for the ride.
Sire and son galloped after the colt and filly a distance ahead of them, Kalil letting out a whinny of excitement and a small buck at the idea of seeing his dam again. Aten smiled at his son as they ran, even slowing to let Kalil outpace him and give the colt some encouragement.
Yes, the stallion's teaching methods could be contradictory, but he liked seeing the happy smile on Kalil's face.
Lethia's call had come from one of the few open meadows that dotted Taiga's landscape, not a stone's throw away from the redwood border. Owin and Popinjay broke the line of trees and headed for the mare before Aten and Kalil could catch them, the latter two slowing down as they neared the grassy area.
Aten's eyes softened at seeing Lethia greet her daughter and son, the colt prancing around his dam a moment before he seemed to engage in conversation with her. Not yet spotting the tiny being that trailed behind his mate, Aten assumed Owin was telling his dam how happy he was that she was hear with new adventures to tell them off.
When they were within a few yard's distance of the mare, Kalil sprinted out from behind Aten and galloped to his dam. He skidded to a stop a few strides away to avoid running into his siblings, but nonetheless shimmied up to his dam's side and nuzzled into her warm fur. Aten smiled at the sight as he neared his family, already also looking forward to being beside the mare again.
Before he could reach them though, he saw Kalil step away and look behind Lethia. Amica shifted her weight so that her front paws were balanced on Kalil's shoulder, her neck outstretched as if she were investigating too. Kalil remained where he was, but the feline hopped off the colt and trotted over to the golden stallion as he continued nearing the family. Though they couldn't speak to each other, there was some sort of mutual understanding between the two. The look in Amica's eyes informed Aten that this matter was something of importance, much more than just Lethia's return after a few days away.
Aten whickered to the mare as he approached, speaking in a soft voice, "Lethia... it is good to have you home with us again..." Before stretching out his neck and running his muzzle along her crest. To have the feel of her skin beneath the stallion's lips made him pleased, and he would've indulged in it more had he not remembered Amica's 'message'.
The perceptive stallion's gaze drifted back to where Owin was, and he did not fail to notice the small silver brightly-marked filly standing close to the buckskin mare. Aten's eyes were kind, and he gave the filly some space so as not to intimidate her. He had a feeling his deep voice might seem a big imposing, so he addressed the mare first as Amica returned to Kalil, who was also sniffing at the filly to see who the new arrival was.
"Who is this you've brought back with you?" he questioned.
@[Popinjay] @[Orion] @[Izora Lethia]