Some boys don't know how to love. [Snowface. :|]

[skibbereenfarms]

KENAI & CATH.
the native & nature girl.

He had lucked out today; it wasn't absolutely freezing as it had been these past few mornings. Sure, the air was still cool, but at least it wasn't frigid, and he could actually feel warmth whenever the sun broke through the leaves and hit his coat. He wasn't necessarily headed in a specific direction, and because of this he simply ended up traveling in circles. Whenever he neared the river, he simply turned and moved parallel to it, eventually turning away from it and going around again. He was actually supposed to be looking for someone - a relative of his - but he just couldn't seem to pull himself away from the loop he was caught in. He half expected the mare to simply pop up out of nowhere, as she had a habit of doing that, but so far he wasn't getting too many responses. Occasionally he found himself calling out her name, but he was well aware that it was quite worthless to do so. Even if she had been nearby, she wouldn't announce her presence. She'd end up spooking him a bit if anything. The way she can sneak up behind you without a moment's notice always got to Kenai.

The funny thing is, that was exactly what the mare was doing. Cath had simply ventured here to drink from the river and explore the forest a bit more, but she had heard the stallion moving about, and naturally she grew curious. The moment the mare spotted the stallion's markings that she immediately recognized who he was. He wandered off too quickly before she could follow, but soon enough he came back around and vanished once again. About the third time she had seen him, she decided to follow. Her steps made no noise as she moved through the forests that she was still getting used to. The layout of the forest in her mind was improving by the day, and she found it easier and easier to get lost and then escape within the place she wished to call her home. Though she preferred to be protected under a stallion who claimed these lands, she was satisfied with surviving on her own, at least for now. So with that, she kept herself at a decent distance from her cousin, grinning as the memories of their few adventures together resurfaced in her mind. It must have been years since she had last seen him, but she knew that this was the right stallion. The markings were hard to ignore.

He had no idea that someone was following him, as she was one of the quietest mares probably in existence. Kenai still didn't know what to expect out of his random circles. Perhaps he wouldn't encounter anything of interest and simply leave for another area. It was likely, since it didn't appear that anything or anyone else was around here. Sighing, he took another lap and headed for the river, still unable to make up his mind. The light mare followed after the stallion, still keeping her mouth shut and her steps light.

ooc: I wanted my Kenai/Xeri & Theodoric/Cath threads, and dangit I'm gonna get them one way or another! xDD

[Snowfrost]

XERI.

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The forest was something that she'd grown accustomed to over time, but it wasn't exactly like it was something she wasn't used to in the first place. The vast trees, the changes in the scenery and everything -- it wasn't entirely anything new to the mare. She quite enjoyed the change, in fact. However, she missed the rain. It was something she loved, and being in this area distanced herself from their downpour. Exhaling lightly as she woke, Xeri brought herself to her hooves and dusted her coat before huffing a hazy sigh and squinting at the sun as it filtered through the leaves. Another day in this forest, alone, without a whiff of another horse nearby. Did this land have no King? Were there no horses? Or perhaps, was it that she was just unable to catch their scents and realize that they'd been here all along? Was she ever truly alone?

Ridding herself of the thoughts, the perlino stretched her legs lazily before she began her hunt for breakfast. Sure, she'd woken up later than yesterday -- much later -- but a girl still had'ta eat, right? A soft smile played at her lips as she searched for the blades she liked best. Brunch, you might call it? Whatever the case, at least she was up. She had no herd, she had no deadline. Xeri lived by her own clock now. Without her brother around, too, she was all the more free. It felt nice to be free -- refreshing, to be without anothers rules to chain her up. Still, though, she did miss the company. It was something she craved almost as much as the rain itself. Almost.

Her orange tail whisked around her haunches as she uprooted shoots, her ears swiveling lazily and without purpose, her eyes on nothing but still looking toward the horizon. A late, but wonderful, start to the day. This forest was different than any of the Lands. For starter, it was larger -- but it held something else as well, something she couldn't entirely explain. For some reason, the pale mare enjoyed this difference. Something unique, something strange. She was rather fond of it, one might say. A couple of hours passed before she decided to meander about. Without a herd to have purpose in, what did she really have to do? Well, really, whatever she wanted. But then again, Xeri wasn't feeling very imaginative today. Bored, yes, but imaginative? It was lacking.

She ambled around with her head lower to the ground, her eyes trailing and her tail not held in any particular fashion. She walked around, in a forest of secrecy and mystery. So much could be going on, and here she was oblivious to it! As the mare came 'round a sloping bend, beside a rather large oak, she lifted her head and peered out into the clearing. Nothing particularly interesting there, at least not at the time. A few moments passed and the sun blanketed the grass, and they appeared. Sheepishly at first, but soon their confidence built and the spirits of the forest made themselves known. Smiling more now, the pale mare watched as two does began grazing near the edge of the clearing. One, she noted, was heavily pregnant. That, in and of itself, was a spectacle to see. Her spirits seemed to lift more, but she kept her distance. It wasn't her place. Simply, it wasn't her place.

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[skibbereenfarms]

KENAI & CATH.
the native & nature girl.

Suddenly, he stopped. It was odd hearing his steps crushing twigs and leaves on the ground one minute and then silence the next. It shocked Cath a bit, and she nearly gave away her position. From behind a bundle of trees she watched as Kenai simply stood there. His neck was high, his head was forward, and his ears were moving about. What was he up to? She heard his voice call to the strangers around him, and for a moment she though that that he caught her. But even Cath could hear someone else when she concentrated hard enough. The strange noise left her mind when Kenai did something interesting. His left ear fell back in one swift motion. As the mighty stallion stood still in the noisy forest, he listened for the stranger who had been following him for quite some time now. "I don't know who you are," his voice boomed, frightening a few of the birds and creatures nearby. "But I have noticed that you seem to be interested in me, and I would like to know why, exactly."

The mare behind him looked on with a grin on her face. It was typical of Kenai to be suspicious, even back when the two were young. This was like one of their hide-and-seek games, where Cath could hide in plain sight as long as she remained silent. He never liked the fact that she had such an advantage. "You should know who I am," she said, so quietly that he barely heard her. The stallion spun himself around quickly, unsure of what he just heard. A ghost, perhaps? He tried listening closer, hoping that the voice would return. "I'm just surprised that you haven't figured out who I am yet."

The stallion glanced around, getting an eerie feeling from the uncertainty. He knew who she was...? Immediately, of course, he began searching through his memories and trying to fit a face to the voice. The first that came to his mind was Vitr, the mare he had bonded with a few seasons ago. He was unaware of what happened to the mare after that day, and he had no idea that his first son was in fact walking the earth. Perhaps she had tracked him down to tell him something important or scold him for just abandoning her. Yes, he felt awful for leaving. He just didn't know how to find her again. The stranger also could have been another mare he had encountered before. She had been quiet yet rude, and her attitude simply bothered Kenai. He never learned the mare's name, but he knew that if he ever encountered her again, he'd surely figure out what/i] his problem was. No, the voice didn't seem to fit anyone he could think of. He'd have to dig much deeper into his memory to see if there was anything in there. an image of a playful white-and-palomino filly suddenly popped into his head. She was a relative of his, and they often played with each other. Lifting his gaze from the ground to the trees before him, he allowed one simple little name to leave his lips. "Cath?"

The mare moved from her hiding place into the stallion's sight. The confusion on his face faded, and a simple smile remained. He moved closer to favorite (and really, only) cousin, feeling as though warmth was bubbling up within him. "Look how you've grown," the mare said, returning that somewhat goofy smile. "Last time we spoke we were traveling, correct?" The stallion practically finished the story of their separation. "That wolf pack split the herd in half. We fled east, and you west." Their conversations grew longer and gradually louder. One would bring something up to make the other laugh, and soon enough, the two felt like foals again. They almost completely shut out the outside world and simply focused on each other.

ooc: Yay, awkward ending! xD

[Snowfrost]

XERI.

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She continued watching from a distance, marveling at the Majesty in the simple image of serenity. Her smile remained soft, observing quietly. It was all seemingly magical. Strange. But they flicked their ears, slapped their tails to the air, shot their heads to the skies, and after a few brief moments of utter silence they shot off into the trees. It was as though time had stopped before being thrust back into motion. It was strange, but soon she heard the same.

It was coming from the direction of the deer -- no wonder they'd heard it first. At first she was tense and wary, but curiosity clung to the filly side that still stirred inside of her, and soon the pale mare was lightly trailing toward them. Conversation of some sort, she could tell it was between a male and female. As she neared, Xeri pulled back and thought a bit to herself. Did she wish to interrupt whatever lied ahead? Would that be anymore her place than it was to observe the deer in the clearing? It was a tricky question to answer, but again the curiosity was like a hunger that bore its claws into the walls of her inner flesh. It needed to be satisfied.

She continued onward, winding through the trunks of trees with her head alert and her senses pulsing. Didn't take her long to find them, nor to see that they were horses who were seemingly close. For a short moment she reassessed once more, but curiosity seemed to outweigh everything today. Peering from a particularly thick trunk, the blue-eyed mare watched in silence. They were chatting -- merely chatting. Why should she be listening in?! That was rude! Rather rude, indeed. She had no right to be here, not among two who were in relation to one another. One way or another, they shared relation. She knew that much. Two horses who spoke as they did to each other knew the other in some manner.

Sighing ever so lightly, the pale mare backed up hesitantly. She'd try her best to slip away and be on her own way. It wasn't her place. She should have known as much. Catching her breath as she felt the sharp prick of a jutting and broken stick, Xeri tensed and froze for a few seconds before situating herself in such a way that she could find another way to leave. It wasn't easy, and she sworn they knew she was there -- perhaps she was just being a bit paranoid? Happens to everyone, you know. Even the sane.

Holding her breath as she tip-toed away, the perlino tensely inched onward, her head ducked and her breathing shallow at best. Don't see me, don't see me, don't see--

Tick--

Oh, of course. Why not. This always happens. She'd not seen it, as per usual, and she'd crunched her hoof down upon a rather crackly leaf (of course) that laid upon the floor of the forest. What luck. Rolling her eyes and tensing quickly, the mare pondered for a mere second her options. Even if she hadn't thought it through, quickly the perlino shot into a fully-extended gallop and tried dodging everything that wasn't clear land so she could get out of there. Don't see me, don't see me! She dove, bobbed, weaved, darted through the area as she tried to get away, but lo and behold --

C-craaaaaash!

It happened in an instant, followed by a sickening feeling that made the mare swear up and down that her luck couldn't get any worse today. The pains sered through her body, straining onto her muscles and squeezing on her jointed. Through squinting eyes, the pale mare groaned softly as she tried to pick herself up. Except nothing listened.

After a few moments of desperately trying to move herself, immense fear set in. She started shaking, looking around, twitching -- doing whatever she could to move. A tree root caught and tangled her leg within it, in such a way that she was immobilized from the chest down, and in such a position that even straining her head and neck was an issue that required excessive work and complete pain. She felt like she would die here, and it occurred to her. It raced through her mind -- the first thing that came to it.

Snorting harshly, the perlino mare rigorously shook and rattled herself without much success in an effort to move. Could today get any worse?

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[skibbereenfarms]

KENAI & CATH.
the native & nature girl.

The sound shocked the both of them right out of their conversation. For a brief moment, Kenai was protective over his cousin; the stallion moved closer to her and raised his head high. Keeping Cath safe was among his first priorities now, if in fact the one or thing who made the noise happened to be dangerous. Curiously, the mare beside him glanced around, even going as far as peeking around him and trying to see if she could spot anything.

Curiosity, of course, quickly got the best of the stallion. Kenai glanced back at the gentle mare, who watched with a smile. Kenai turned his head back around, ears beginning to flick about. "I'm going to see what that was," he said to her softly, making sure that his voice was quiet enough just for Cath to hear. "I want you to stay here. Only come find me if something tries to get to you."

Cath practically chuckled at Kenai's comment. It was just as if they were children again. Kenai was always protective, even though Cath was older and a bit more experienced. She wasn't surprised that he had said that, and she never intended to take it seriously. "Really, Kenai, what's going to hurt me?" she asked with her smile. Just the way he looked back at her told her to be just a bit more serious. It wasn't a stare of frustration; more like fear. He was afraid of losing her again, she could easily see that. The mare planted all four hooves into the ground and lifted her head proudly, silently proclaiming that she would remain where she stood.

Once the stallion moved off, Cath rolled her eyes. There were no creatures lurking in the dark!

Kenai was still worried about his cousin, but he had to toughen up now. The stallion trotted between the trees and sniffed the air for any strange scents; when he picked up on one that was surely another horse, he decided to follow it. "Hello?" he called out, not exactly expecting a reply of any sort. He figured he'd stumble upon whatever made that noise before he heard them. Kenai prepared himself for whatever was up ahead.

ooc: I don't know where this poop post came from, but I really wanted to get this thread going again. Enjoy, I guess~ xDD You should totes bring Theodoric in now, btw.

[Snowfrost]

THEODORIC and XERI.

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Quite frankly, everything about this was getting very annoying.

He could only take so much, and he thought that in leaving them alone they'd leave his forest. But of course, one had to get stuck in the trees, while the other two caused a rucus not far from her. It was all so annoying. He didn't want to intervene. He didn't care. But surely, it seemed like the intruders of his home were simply begging him to come forth. It finally came to the point where he was tired of hearing them all.

Theodoric remained close to the shadows as he slunk through the trees, his head lower to the ground and his neck arched, eyes glinting in mild irritation. He remained silent. King of the Forest, King of Nebuul. And these intruders were disrupting his forest's peace, which, again, he'd usually be able to ignore. He didn't much care for who came in or out of his home, so long as they didn't pester him. So as the dark stallion approached the general area of the three, he pondered briefly on who to see first. I shouldn't even have to bother with such trifle things, His face remained stoic, his eyes the only thing displaying any emotion. With a flick of his ear, the King set off toward the one who remained alone. Surely they'd all return to the same place, anyway. If the one lived, that was. Again, didn't matter to him. It'd be one less mouth to hear through the trees.

With a soft grunt being the only sound signaling his location, Theodoric made his way toward the clearing in a brisk trot, weaving through the trees and remaining in the shadows. Didn't take him long at all to reach his destination, and he didn't exactly try to make good time in doing it. It seemed more like a chore than anything, something to drag himself into doing. But, they were pestering him. They needed to explain themselves. Theodoric "enjoyed" his peace. The dark stallion brushed up against the trunk of a particularly smooth tree, watching silently as his eyes fell upon the stranger. He knew beforehand that she was a mare, but it was a bit strange finding one so light in his home. Usually horses around here were earthen in tone, or much like himself. It, however, kept his attention for a few moments at most. He continued observing silently, deciding how to approach things. For now, he'd wait it out. Perhaps the other one (or two, if the mare came with -- he'd be happy if she just left; happy if they all just left. But that wasn't going to happen, obviously, any time soon.) would return here soon, so he wouldn't have to waste his breath and sink into redundancy.


It hurt. She didn't like to think about it, but there was really nothing else she could do. She was in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and now she was tangled in a tree and she was hurting. Her luck, anymore, was on the sour end of the scale. Everything seemed to go wrong, and this was further proof. Straining to lift her head up so she could see what had happened, Xeri sighed roughly as she thought about what would happen if she managed to free herself. Perhaps, if she waited long enough, the tree would just.. let her go. And, if she didn't get out.. well, the perlino didn't want to think about that.

Would she be unable to walk again? Would she forever have a limp? Well, anything sounded better than being dead, but those options weren't something she fancied. None of this was what she fancied. She dwelled in self-pity and morbid thoughts, so much so that the sound that broke the silence that surrounded her made her jolt in shock. The action pushed at the entanglement, and Xeri winced in the pain. Snorting softly, her heart racing, the mare rested her head back on the ground and listened. When she recognized the voice as being that of the stallion from earlier, she froze. Of course, you'd be the one to come around here. I must be jinxing myself in thinking things couldn't get worse! She stopped herself from groaning, instead becoming rigid and nervous. Though it was stupid, Xeri wished that he wouldn't be the one to find her.

ooc; Finally got a reply out. xD;; And eh. It's decent, I guess. Enjoy ♥

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