"But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura
Though Aten spotted the pain within Jinju's bright red eyes, he also spotted something behind it, a tiny flame sparking in the hopes of growing stronger.
Perhaps the new emotion was... hope? The hope of a new friendship blossoming between the filly and the stallion? Aten felt his own heart flutter at such thoughts, for he wished to develop a new friendship with Jinju. During his time alone, since a majority of the mares he came upon were members of a kingdom or already part of a herd, the stallions had chased him away in an effort to protect their harems. Aten wouldn't deny, should he have a herd one day, he'd do the same, to protect those mares whether they one day had foals of their own that belonged to him or another stallion. But, for now, he would treasure the friendships he fostered, starting with the one between him and Jinju.
He turned to look at the filly, once more briefly distracted by her. Aten was not shallow, like some other stallions he had met (he had a distinct feeling Nerius may have inherited a small bit of that from their sire, since his older brother seemed quite proud growing up). He valued a mare's personality more than her beauty, but he had to admit, Jinju was quite a sight. Her sleek black coat polished her form, her tapered features showing off a proud bloodline. Her bright red eyes were like fire, her emotions dancing within and constantly enticing others to see how far they could push her buttons.
Aten briefly stole glances at Jinju as they continued walking deeper into the forest, but made sure to keep it discreet if he found himself looking. He didn't want her to think he was an oddball; he just liked looking at her. At least he was smiling, so hopefully that toned it down a bit and made Jinju think Aten was just happy to be around a new friend.
After some more time of walking, the filly and the stallion reached a clearing, large enough to host a good number of horses. If Aten had to guess, this must be where the leaders of the kingdom conducted meetings for all the members, for however many Taiga had, he suspected this place was more than adequate.
Aten asked Jinju about meeting the leaders, but the filly just walked ahead until she was already in the clearing. Aten himself was still by the tree line, unsure of what she was doing. She turned to look at him, asking him a question before following it with a statement that sounded quite like a fact.
When she said that, Aten got an odd feeling. Figuring it would be a safe bet so he could see everything around him, the stallion moved to the middle of the clearing and stood next to Jinju, his nostrils slightly flared as he waited to see what would happen.
The way Jinju had said that, how her sire was already here, Aten just didn't feel normal now. Something about the forest had changed with her words, an unsettling feeling weighing down on the young stallion's heart. It wasn't heavy, like sadness or anger, but more of a light tingle, like his instincts telling him to be cautious.
And it Aten knew one thing by now, he always had to trust his gut. He seemed to pick up on some things easier than others did, especially danger or something stirring, so he kept his eyes on the woods, occasionally glancing back at Jinju to judge her reaction.
04-02-2017, 12:33 PM (This post was last modified: 04-02-2017, 12:36 PM by Ruan.)
Ruan
He was there, and for a short while he only trailed to the side of them, deep in the shadows on silent feet. Watching. Observing. The young man at his daughter's side was watchful too, glancing around but always landing back on her, always returning to her.
Jinju guided the stranger to the clearing, the break in the trees that hosted the rare gatherings of these wild people. She knew he would be nearby this place, ready in case one of their Family needed to see him. Jinju turned, and with a bright smile she claimed her father already there. He smiled from the darkness with a quiet chuckle, amused that she had learned so much from him on the way of wolves, could sense him so easily. She had always been a quick study, and he knew even her thicker, muscled figure could pass silently if she wished it.
He watched the gold one edge to her side to scan their surroundings, then he slipped from the darkness in the direction they had just come from with bright, blue eyes trained on them.
Jinju, he greeted her, his gaze sliding to the man. A friend? But no, he could see this was not quite a friend. Not yet, maybe. There was a polite distance between them, not a comfortable ease of space between friends. His head tilted slightly as he studied him a moment, took in his posture, the way his attention was everywhere at first and then locked onto Ruan as soon as he stepped into view. The gold was cautious and wary, perhaps, but also open, probably honest. Strong, could take care of himself in this forest that was not always perfectly safe. These were things Ruan was reading from his body language thus far, anyway.
Welcome to the Taiga. I'm Ruan.The leader, he didn't add. He didn't like titles.
His eyes drifted back to Jinju again, and he shifted his weight and changed the hard line of his spine. In silent invitation, he opened to her as if he could lift a wing he no longer had and hope she would come embrace him beneath. Now only jagged scars would welcome her, but he opened himself anyway, quietly requesting her at his side if she would join him.
ooc: so sorry for the wait! thank you for being so patient <3 <3
Jinju wasn’t familiar with a herd life. She could guess how it worked in theory, but she had never experienced it. Before the change she had lived in the Jungle, the fierce Amazonian kingdom. And after it had been the Taiga. Not a kingdom, but definitely not a herd either. She loved her home, and would fight to protect it, but she loved her freedom too. Nor did she need a babysitter. She wanted to roam wherever and whenever. So Jinju was perfectly happy to live in the Taiga. Even though a part of their family had fallen apart.
She stood comfortable in the clearing, her ear twisting in the direction her father stood hidden. She had learned from the master himself. Not his equal, yet, but aware of his presence. If he wanted he could surprise her, but not right now. Her ruby gaze was fixed on Aten though, the corners of her mouth curling up as she saw his muscles tense. Jinju chuckles softly, simply not able not to, and she lightly reaches out to brush her muzzle across his shoulder. ”Don’t worry, he won’t bite, unless you give him a reason to of course” she teases him with a grin, just moments before Ruan showed himself.
”Hi dad” she greats him, standing comfortable in the clearing with one of her legs resting. Her tail flicks through the air, her gaze slowly moving from the spotted purple stallion to the golden one next to her. ”Meet Aten, he’s looking for a home” she introduces her new companion, not yet friend but she surely wouldn’t mind to get to know him better. Her smile grows as her father welcomes Aten, and even more when their gaze meets again after.
Even though she had reached adulthood, she would also be his little girl. Jinju spends no time waiting, moving her feathered legs towards him. First she extends her neck, the velvet of her nose touching his, before she turns and tucks herself at his side. Just like she had done as a child, hiding under his wings. Though now all grown and without the wings, also rivalling his height. ”How are you dad?” she asks him, her head tilting to look at him for a moment before turning her gaze back to Aten again, smiling. ”Aten, this is my father, the Taiga’s protector.” What Ruan wouldn’t say, she would. After all, Aten had the right to know with who he was talking.
Aten immediately felt a sense of power surrounding the stallion the moment he spotted him. Whether it was because he might have possessed special gifts like others of Beqanna did, or because he looked like a strong horse, Aten didn't know. He watched the stallion reveal himself from the tree line, exposing his sleek leopard appaloosa coat to the bright sun sitting in the sky. His muscles flexed beneath the skin, expressing the strength he had. His blue eyes, not unlike ones Aten had seen on his dam's friend Nitika, expressed intelligence and curiosity, but he could also tell a multitude of other emotions lay hidden beneath.
The stallion greeted Jinju by name before questioning if Aten was a friend of hers. Aten would've answered, but considering the way he was standing near Jinju, respecting her space like a friend would but also moreso, adding a couple of inches, it was clear to any smart horse that they were only acquaintances.
Aten felt Jinju's eyes on him and turned to look at the filly when she brushed his strong shoulder with her delicate muzzle. She joked that the other stallion wouldn't bite, something that didn't exactly make Aten feel more relaxed about the whole situation.
After the stallion showed himself, Jinju told him Aten's name as well as his purpose for coming here. The stallion also welcomed Aten to the Taiga before introducing himself as Ruan. Jinju moved to the appaloosa's side, brushing her muzzle against him. The two displayed signs of affection towards one another, much like how Aten had seen his older brother Nerius doing with their dam before the Reckoning. He found the sight rather sweet.
Growing up, before the Reckoning, Aten had always been an independent colt. Though he appreciated his dam's sense of protection, feeling safe when nuzzled under her belly due to an oncoming storm or predator lurking nearby, he didn't appreciate the simple signs of affection she showed to him and his siblings on a daily basis. He often complained of how mushy they were, trying to rush away from Anahi's side before she could nuzzle him goodbye or clean his forelock because he'd fallen in a pit of mud and gotten some stuck there. He was just trying to be his own stallion, not wanting to be held down by the affection of his dam like he suspected Eiria was since she was the one of the four siblings who had stayed behind to support Anahi.
Now, Aten was beginning to regret the mistakes he'd made during his foal hood. He then and there made the promise to visit his dam as soon as possible to, not only say how sorry he was, but also to check on her, make sure she was doing okay, and promising to be there for her and Eiria more in case they needed each other. Nerius and Sirana, should they find their way back to Anahi, would hopefully make the same promise, but for now, two our of four would do.
Jinju asked her sire how he was doing before introducing him with a fuller title than Ruan himself had given. Now, upon knowing he was the Taiga protector as well as more than likely a king (if protector and king did not mean the same here) and Jinju's sire, gave Aten all the more reason to watch his tongue. Although he slightly outranked the appaloosa in height and probably outweighed him by a good hundred pounds or so, due to Aten's bulkier structure he inherited from Archam's breeding and the quarter horse genetics of his dam, that gave him absolutely no reason to disrespect Ruan.
Aten lowered his head, bowing in respect to the protector. He could feel a light breeze against his pasterns, causing the fur on the backside of his legs to tickle his chin a little before he lifted his head back up.
"It is an honor to meet you Ruan. Thank you for your welcome to the Taiga; it is a wonderful kingdom. Jinju is correct; I am searching for a new place to call home. I was perhaps wondering if you would permit me worthy enough to join your kingdom?"
He released a silent breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding as Jinju accepted his wordless invitation to join him at his side. Things between them had been tense for a while, for far too long. It was entirely his fault, and he would do whatever he could to make it right again. He needed his girl. Somehow, he would resolve things between them. But later. In private.
She introduced the stranger, Aten, and commented on his desire for a home, then tucked herself at his side. He couldn’t help but reach for her, just briefly, touching her neck then her jaw, her cheek, breathing in her scent. ”How are you dad,” she asked, tilting her head to look at him. He stared back, his eyes blank but soft for her, and gently shook his head, just barely. He was okay, sort of. Mostly. But they’d talk about it later when they were alone. There were things he needed to talk to her about, questions to ask and also maybe questions of hers to answer.
So, he directed his attention back to Aten, watched him with a steady and mildly curious gaze as he leaned almost imperceptibly into Jinju’s warmth, comforted by the solid contact after so long of keeping himself so isolated. The man bowed down to him, deep enough that the hair at his feathered limbs brushed his chin, then straightened again.
Ruan tensed just a little, unaccustomed to such traditional formalities, although the action was appreciated and answered with a silent nod of acknowledgment. Perhaps in another land, in another life, he would have been treated that way where his title would have been something more proper, more formal. Something like King. But he was a humble man, and here in the Taiga they were wild hearts and free spirits.
Some referred to him as Alpha of a pack, a handful of their numbers shape-shifters. Maybe others didn’t think much of him at all, even. To him, he was just Ruan. Caretaker of the forest and its peoples, responsible for their wellness and safety. Their futures. Their happiness. Their protection. Every one of them was family to him, and it was rare that they allowed just anyone to become a part of that family. A solid unit, each one of them a fierce guardian of the forest and each other.
Aten referred to it as a kingdom, and Ruan gave a small shake of his head. Not a king, not a kingdom. We are a freedom. A family, a unit, a pack. Everyone has each other’s backs and can trust one another with their lives and their family’s lives. His shoulder rolled in a casual shrug. Whether you fit in is yet to be seen. The Taiga requires loyalty, integrity, strength. Choose for yourself if you are worthy enough. His words may have been short, brief, but they were given with a kind smile and a hope for the future. Aten looked to be strong, and could have potential to be a trusted ally, a member of this pack, this family. If he felt he could hold to their values.
He sighed quietly, shifted his weight and gave Jinju an apologetic sweep of his lips to her cheek. If you’ll excuse me, there’s somewhere I must be. Blue stare turned back to Aten again with a short nod. It was nice meeting you. Find me if you’d ever like to speak more about anything at all. He didn’t tell him to look after Jinju, she was immensely powerful and could take care of herself. And he didn’t ask her to keep an eye on Aten either; Ruan felt he could be trusted. So with a dip of his head and quiet steps, he dismissed himself and retracted from their meeting, hoping Jinju would find a friend in him if he was worthy of such a treasure.
She meets his blue gaze with a slight dip of the head, and a smile. She would let him get away with it for now, but only because Aten was here and they had something else to talk about. So she stays quietly at his side, enjoying their closeness just as much as Ruan did. Jinju had missed her father and their bond. As he tenses up, she brushes her muzzle across his cheek and then down his neck. They were with friends, there was no need for tension.
From her place next to her father she lets her gaze travel back to Aten again, to smile at him encouraging. She could already guess what Ruan’s reply would be, and once he speaks up, she knows had guessed right. Though she doesn’t have anything to ad. She was still watching the champagne stallion curiously, only to have her attention get called back to her father as he lightly touches her cheek. There is some slight disappointment in her eyes, but she nods. ”Will you be back soon?” she asks, a small smile on her lips as she reaches out to brush the velvet of her nose against the side of his head.
Jinju watches her father leave. And then, when he’s gone, her gaze sways back to Aten. Her lips are curled up into a smile and her eyes twinkle almost mischievously. ”See, that wasn’t too bad right?” she asks him, slowly making her way over towards where Aten was standing. She does not enter his personal space, they weren’t on that base yet. ”So, do you think you’ve got what it takes?”
The entire time Ruan was describing how the kingdom was more of a family unit, where others here watched one another's backs without running it as a diplomatic or democracy system. Aten doubted that the horses here were allowed to run amok, that there was some sort of final line drawn here by one that watched over all the others. Perhaps by Ruan, even if he didn't identify as a king? He gave off this sense that he was used to being in charge, that he was willing to watch over others he cared for.
And no doubt that extended to Jinju, who Aten was already willing to protect with his life. He couldn't describe it; he just felt the need to protect her, be there for her as a friend and make sure she got to live her life without others hanging over her head like dark clouds, pushing her to do stuff she didn't want. She seemed very independent to him, but also the kind that would willingly do as certain horses asked because she either respected or cared for them.
Aten knew he wanted to become closer to her as a friend, no doubt. Now how to do that without acting like a bumbling fool?
Ruan went on to inform Aten of what it was exactly that the Taiga required to become a valued member. Certain traits, values, skills, in order to be accepted by the land and those who lived here. Aten did not try to oversum his own skills; he was raised to be humble, something his dam said was important. He could be proud of himself and his achievements, but he should not go around bragging about them or how much better he was.
With the skills Ruan said was required by Taiga, Aten was certain he did need those. He may be physically strong, and at times emotionally weak since he still missed his family, but he knew he could be there for others to help them in times of need. He would push his own needs aside if it meant seeing others around him happy, especially Ruan and Jinju since they had both been so kind to him.
Ruan announced his departure before Aten had a chance to respond, offer an answer. Instead, he kept quiet until he bid goodbye to Ruan as the stallion left after his own farewell, bidding goodbye to Jinju and offering Aten the chance to talk to him if he needed anything.
Jinju joked with Aten, asking if it wasn't that bad. Though Aten was standing strong, he decided to joke around a bit, smiling at her, "I... don't know. I think I might still be a bit nervous. He's got quite a... commanding presence.
"I'm not one to oversum myself either, but I do think I have what it takes to join the Taiga. If the land fully accepts me, as Ruan seems to have, and hopefully you as well, I would very much like to call this place home. And, if you are okay with it after some time, to call you my friend," he added with another smile, looking into Jinju's fiery red eyes.
He did not need to answer right away. Even if he was ready to pledge himself to the Taiga, and if he would say he was Jinju wouldn’t doubt his words, he was given the time. Not to doubt or to prove himself, but simply accepting that it wasn’t something to rush. And they wouldn’t rush him.
His reply has her chuckling softly, an amused glitter shimmering in her ruby eyes. ”Then, perhaps, I should warn you for the big bad wolf.” She’s joking with him, not making fun of him. Though there is some truth in her words, though as long as he wouldn’t cross with what the Taiga stood for, he wouldn’t have to worry about it. ”But my dad is one of the most gentle souls you can find out there.” To those in his heart at least. Once melted down the ice barriers around him, he was a good companion. Or a father, in her case.
She quietly listens to what he has to say, though the smile that lies upon her lips grows. ”If they won’t, what holds you back from proving them wrong?” He wouldn’t need to convince anybody, the Taiga didn’t work like that. But, if one would have objections, he shouldn’t let that lead him. Her head tilts a bit to the side, silently taking him in as she pauses. ”Stay and discover that for yourself” she teases him, though she is serious. Thus far she couldn’t say she disliked him, but friendship was something that had to grow.
