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 Posted: Thu May 11, 2017 5:29 pm
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Posted: Thu May 11, 2017 5:34 pm
At just after dawn, the woods were still wreathed in shadows and shrouded in mist. The trunks were dark and twisted, the night clinging to their bark and roots arching out of the rich soil. Even still, with the dim light of the stars overhead, the grass was bright and emerald, drooping under a weight of dew and ruffled by the gentle passage of a lone Soquili mare.
In the thick mist-clouds of the early morning, the white Angeni mare moved with graceful steps. The mist beaded like crystal droplets over her coat and wings, her black and teal feathers shivering and resettling to her back. There was no herd around for leagues, no strangers to come across her in her silent wandering. Not even familiars to disrupt the pattern of her thoughts.
For the moment they were chaotic, wheeling and surging like a lost bird on the wing or a leaf caught in a fitful breeze. There were fragments of memory that fought to make themselves known, glimpses of faces and places that were almost-familiar, almost-known. A collage of what was her life, confusingly jumbled and decidedly difficult to untangle.
‘Well… I suppose it will make sense when it is supposed to.’ Wordcount: 203
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Posted: Thu May 11, 2017 6:09 pm
The family legacy of wandering hooves and an explorer’s heart was one Sunisra bore with a high humor and good grace. She, like her parents and siblings, had long reveled in the possibility of new friends and strange sights. Sunrises looked different from the depths of a valley and the height of a mountain, different over snow or fields or viewed through a forest. Suni enjoyed the chance to see everyone.
As she traveled, her shards of memories resolved themselves into whole images. Eventually they even organized themselves, so she remembered growing up. Remembered her parents, how they loved her and each other. Remembered her siblings, how they fought and feuded and traded stories and songs. She remembered the family and what it felt like to be part of a herd, a group that wandered together and retained a sense of home and safety.
That was long lost, though she wondered if perhaps she could find it again.
“Time to head home… Wherever home is.”
*** Wordcount: 165
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Posted: Thu May 11, 2017 7:03 pm
*** Sunisra was distantly aware of approaching hooves and the soft chime of bells, but she ignored the soft sounds, snuggling further into the warmth at her side and hiding her face firmly in her dark wings.
“What’s this, still asleep?” The stallion known as Ballad rumbled, grinning down at the white filly before prodding her with his silver nose. “Dawn’s broken, Princess. Shouldn’t you be wide-eyed by now?”
“Daddy?” The filly stirs, sleepy and disoriented.
A low rumble of laughter and the sound of bells chiming. “None other. Come on now, up and at ‘em, Princess.”
Dimly Sunisra remembers discussion with her sire, the talk of how Peace wore bells to war. A warning and a reminder, he had said, solemn below the softly merry chiming. “But… It’s early.”
“Princess, the only time to ever do anything is early. Now, do you want your lessons or not? Wake up now.”
“Alright, alright.” Sunisra unfolded herself, gamely climbing to her feet. “What’s first?”
“How about we talk about diplomacy, and how important it is for the herd that you cultivate skills in support of that.”
Blinking sleepily, she mumbled around a yawn. “Okay… But will there be a story, too?”
Ballad laughed. “Yes, yes Suni… There will be a story, too.” *** Sunisra Wordcount: 103
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 5:01 pm
***
As a filly, Sunisra delighted most in the memory of her mother telling her stories until she fell asleep. The tales of their family spun around her until she drifted off, the musical tone of Whistle’s voice soothing the filly off to dreamland. When her older brothers weren’t around, the tales included them as well. Usually their foolish antics and how they drove her mother crazy, but also their wandering and bickering and some of their less hair-raising adventures.
Sunisra’s favorite tales were the stories of her mother and father’s early courtship, their first meeting, early life. She loved the bits and pieces of family history, the details about the early herds, the interaction of the various bands and their emissaries. Sometimes there was a hint or two about Whistle’s life in her family herd, as a filly or young mare. She spoke of it only rarely, but it was there, woven in with the various other stories.
‘Maybe one day I will meet mother’s family.’ She thinks to herself as she meanders along. ‘I wasn’t able to find them in this journey, but maybe the next. Surely they must be out there somewhere… Them and father’s family. Maybe they’re looking for us too. All it will take is a little luck.’
Wordcount: 212
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Posted: Fri Jun 23, 2017 5:12 pm
Sunisra had long ago lost track of our far she had run, how long she had walked, how many days she’d flown until her wings threatened to give out. She’d crossed over rivers and bitter water and lakes, she’d trod through burning sands and waving fields and traversed dark paths through forest and mountain. She’d dealt with burning hot summers and frigid, biting wind filled winters, admired several autumns where the crisp crunch of leaves was the old sound accompanying her.
Her coat had been warmed by the sun and washed by the rain and whipped cloud-soft by wind. She was a product of her family and her journey and her experiences, grown in many ways. Far away from her family, from her Clan and their music. Maybe it was time to return to them, to ensure that they were well, to share some stories of her own.
“I imagine they’ll be surprised when I do return.” She murmured to herself, amusement making her eyes bright. “Very well then, let us set out toward home… And hope that perhaps we find a lost sibling or two along the way. Stranger things have happened.”
Anything was possible, she was a Faythren after all. Wordcount:202
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Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2017 1:16 pm
Finding herself on a narrow path winding along a cliff-face, Sunisra folded her wings tightly to her back and concentrated on placing one hoof after another. The slip and slide of gravel giving way beneath her made tension creep up her spine, her eyes glinting brighter in determination as she dug in and scrambled the last remaining paces. The incline gave away to a flattop plateau, wildflowers and grass growing in sparse clumps in the shadow if higher peaks.
Turning her back on the increasing heights, the white mare instead strode to the edge and gazed down on the patchwork landscape below. Here and there were different shades of green, deep shadows indicating copses of trees or forest, gray for stone and dark slate for distant cliffs, the glint of crystal blue or bright silver as light danced on water. In the distance there were patches of brown or drab yellow scrub and grassland, which she knew would eventually give way to the golden sands of the desert.
‘Not that way, then.’ Sunisra noted with amusement. ‘Kel and Mama don’t much care for desert, even if Papa wouldn’t mind it much. Still, a last resort, if anything… There’s no music there, after all.’
Still, the world was beautiful. Beautiful and strange. Not their homeland, but possibly their new home. Likely their new home, even, considering the fate of the old and the fact that many of them had come to rest here. Even if she didn’t know where they were, she could sense them waiting, wandering just like she was.
“Wherever you are, I will find you.” She murmured, shifting lightly on her hooves as a breeze kicked up and tugged at her mane. “I am here, and I am searching, and I will find you… Then maybe we can be a family again, maybe even better than before.” Wordcount: 309
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Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2017 1:29 pm
***
Spiraling down out of the clouds and into yet another meadow, Sunisra folded her dark wings to her back and glanced around curiously. The grass beneath her hooves seemed normal, whispering in the wind, surrounded by trees. The forest was filled with the usual sounds, birds and small mammals rustling among the leaves and the grass. A flash of movement here and there might be a deer seeking water, or possibly a bear or wolf looking for food.
A pretty forest, normal, and devoid of her kin at the moment.
“I was so certain they were here.” She murmured, frowning as she moved toward a winding path that cut through the trees. Once a deer track, it appeared to have been broadened and deepened by the passage of larger creatures. Likely Soquili. “Perhaps they have been, and I missed them.”
‘Does that mean I should wait until they come back? Or just continue searching for them?’ She wondered, frowning to herself as she strode along. “Who knew that a family reunion would be so troublesome to arrange? Certainly not I.”
Oh well, nothing to do but keep on trying. Wordcount: 190
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 1:21 pm
Logging from the [ August RP Raffle] Quote: Sunisra fluttered and folded her wings to her back, glancing around at her new surroundings with interest. The adventure to this new land had been long and winding, fraught with much excitement and danger. It was a sort of sorrow to see it end, but she would be glad to greet her family. She had missed them, in her solitary travels.. And even after, when she wandered with only one companion to accompany her.
"One adventure ends and another begins. Don't you agree, Brother?" She murmured, glancing up at the sky that sprawled above them. "The stars are different here, but welcoming. I think we can be happy. Come then, let us find our family." Quote: Aleatoric looked at his sister, folding his wings down as well, following her example. He would not be sorry for this journey to end, as long as as his sister was safe, as long as they were with the right side of their family. He tossed his head, long curls tumbling down over his shoulder. Alea didn't have much care for the stars, since they were so far away and had little effect on their lives, save one that seemed to call to him, to maybe call him home? But he just nodded his to his sister and let her take the lead, now. Honestly, he didn't know how to find his family now. The star had only lead this far, now they had to actually look.
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Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2018 12:51 pm
The woods were still and nearly silent, aside from the faint chirp of night birds and buzz of crickets. The glade they’d bedded down in was wide and carpeted with a dense blanket of ferns, comfortable and near a softly whispering stream. Unclear as to what had woken her, the white mare lifted her head, swiveling her ears to try and catch any sound of disturbance. Across the glade her brother slept deeply, the dappled Kalona stallion curled in a crescent shape, his neck curled and cheek nearly touching his flank. His wing was draped protectively over his head, obscuring most of him from her view.
Whatever had caused her to stir, it wasn’t her brother, at any rate. With a sigh Sunisra carefully found her feet, gently striding from the grove and along the narrow forest trail toward the woods edge. With a last glance back toward the glade, Sunisra stepped out into bright moonlight, leaving her sibling behind as he slept.
In the free air the mare gave a soft sigh, flaring her three sets of wings and shaking them out to help the feathers settle. She cast an appraising eye at the glowing half-disk, idly pondering just how many moon rises and sets she’d been without her family. The resulting count was far too high for comfort, and made a chill dart over her until she couldn’t help but shiver from nose to tail. She abandoned that trail of thought a moment later shuffling and refolding her wings to her back and sides to make herself feel warm again.
Through months and months of travel, the formerly-strange stars and constellations above had become somewhat familiar. Beyond the kind and seemingly friendly lights above, the shapes they sprawled across the sky had eventually become familiar. Reassuring, in a way. They were still above, each night when they settled into rest, the stars were still present. Sunisra had no local names for them yet, as neither she nor her brother had spoken to any of the few locals they had passed, but the lights above had grown reassuring all the same. Of course, he had little care or patience for such things, for constellations or making friends, truth be told. But Sunisra knew he frequently humored her and her idle interest in charting the heavens as a means to calculating where they had been and where they were going.
“Wherever you are…” She murmured to the stars, shifting idly on her hooves. “Wherever you are, I hope you know that we’re out here… And we’re trying to come home, honest… We’ve just gotten a bit delayed on the way. But at least I’ve found Alea, that’s something isn’t it? Maybe we took twice as long as we needed to, maybe we’ll get to you twice as fast because we’ve been working together.” Sunisra Wordcount: 474
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Posted: Sat Apr 07, 2018 3:22 pm
Another day of traveling. Another, endless day of flights that only ended for rest and water and seemingly endless amounts of walking, then more rest and another flight. It was the only type of day she’d had for weeks now. Sunisra felt that she and her brother made good time through this new land, though there was no way to estimate how long it would take them to find the rest of their family. She was certain they were progressing in the right direction, and that each day’s journey brought them closer. But ‘this way’ and ‘closer’ were somewhat nebulous, vague and immeasurable.
Still, he never wavered. Whether that was because his own heart told him they were going the right way, or he saw no reason to speak otherwise, she couldn’t say. Maybe he just humored her, reluctant to leave her alone to fend for herself. Maybe he could sense home like she could, a compass pointed north, situated in his chest like hers. The arrow never wavered, and so she carried on. Silent and unassuming, her brother followed, his endless calm soothing her when she began to worry at the length of time they’d spent away.
Not as much as she worried about the flickers that danced at the edge of her perception, flashes of light like fireflies. They felt like family, but they weren’t clustered near her idea of home. She didn’t know what to make of them. Didn’t know if her brother could sense them, or if he did but paid them no mind. For the most part he kept his own council. That much remained true as it had been the first day they’d begun the journey. Which was fine, he was free to do as he liked.
He could do as he wished, keep his thoughts to himself and his council to his own. That was well and good, and Sunisra would seek council from the stars and follow her own heart. If at any point it led to them separating, perhaps they’d reevaluate then. Until then, her heart was good enough. It was all that she could trust anyhow. So as with every night, Sunisra shook out her wings and went to speak to the stars.
“It seems like whenever the stars come out, I’m closer to you.” Sunisra admitted, flaring and resettling her wings as she glanced up at the sky.
For the most part it was free of clouds, just a few wisps drifting at the edges of her view. The expanse was an otherwise endless midnight blue, scattered with diamond chips of light. Their soft, distant glow made her think of the lights of her family, once clustered close and now scattered like the stars themselves.
But Sunisra would find the relatives that had been cast far, would reassemble them into a new constellation… would return them home and forge a new herd, a stronger herd. “I hope that is true progress and not just the sentiment talking. I miss you, Mama, and Papa too… All my siblings, especially the ones that may have arrived in my absence that I’ve not had the chance to meet. I promise we’re coming home though.” Sunisra Wordcount: 534
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Posted: Mon Sep 17, 2018 6:48 pm
***
Exhausted from another long day of travel, Sunisra goes to sleep at the edge of a glade, curled up like a fawn with her head tucked into her wings. The woods are quiet as she dozes off, the nearby sound of her brother's hooves on the grass and rich earth the sound of her only companion. When she awakens it is deep night and her brother is nowhere in sight, though she does not feel any surge of worry. The glade is shrouded in mist dappled by moon and starlight. The woods are quietly calm all around her, alive with the night sounds of birds and frogs and insects. Not terror-silent like a predator is in their midst, not filled with the sounds of panic that hint to natural disaster.
So then, she is alone but not abandoned. Wherever her brother has gone, it was not far and likely under his own power. The softly quiet night around her was comforting, possibly encouraged one to go wandering. None of it explained why she was awake, but it did mean she was not concerned. There was no need for it. Alea had not abandoned her, it was probably that he just wanted to walk for a bit since he too was awake.
Sunisra could understand the impulse, there was a part of her that wanted to go wandering as well, now that she was awake. It was a hazard of their bloodline, one might say.
Craning her head around to consider her surroundings, Suni freezes as she notices the ghostly figure of a stallion in the distance. It is not her brother, his coat as familiar to her as her own. Alea is lighter hues, not as bright as she, but certainly different from this stallion. No, this is a stranger. Darkly coated and white-winged, dappled with soft patterns like starlight and gleaming faintly. Like her family his eyes glow, but he does not wear markings that would indicate he is related to her. So then, kith but not kin.
Sunisra finds her feet and steps forward, softly bold, wings folding to her back as she approached. For his part the stallion seemed to watch her without emotion or reaction, with no inclination to speak first. Likely, this place is not his home, or he would interrogate her for her trespassing. Watching her approach as he did, it was possible that he was mute, but it was more likely he was just as much an interloper as she was.
Sunisra flicked an ear, considering him as she drew closer with graceful strides. He remained, stoic and silent and watching her approach with a neutral regard. Likely it would be up to her to start the conversation, if there was to be one.
"Good evening, Stranger." She offered softly. "What brings you here, and why does it seem you are waiting?"
*
Etienne Donato leaves behind the First Herd, his home and responsibility, shortly before the Sundering. Later rumor brings him tales of the herd's implosion, torn apart by the feuding of the family and ultimately an insurmountable difference of opinions. If the loss of the First Son did not lead to the destruction, he will be supremely surprised. Still, he keeps his council on that subject, as there are none of his former herdmates around him to whom he would share such thoughts. With the destruction of the herd and the doubtless scattering of the four factions, he is sure that some of his fellow warriors will find him eventually.
He looks forward to meeting up with them again. They were not only his herd-mates and warriors, but his brothers-in-arms. He celebrated their successes and felt their losses. Their presence would bring an element of home with them, and he would at least know then that they had survived the fallout of the herd, the sundering of their homeland, any other difficulties that befell them along the road. All else would be inconsequential, if they were at least well.
Wandering while lost in his thoughts is not an uncommon behavior for Etienne. As he meanders along the evening around him drifts away, deepening into true night and moonrise. Field and fen and forest pass by, the ground shifting beneath his hooves from earth to grass to gravel, and so on. When he draws to a halt, suddenly arriving where his instincts have been leading all night, it is to see a dappled stallion drifting into the darkness. Etienne frowns faintly, noticing a folded figure at the edge of a glade that resolves itself to the coiled form of a sleeping mare. Her head is buried in darkly feathered wings, but as he watches she seems to awaken and find her hooves.
He is not sure if she sensed him or not, but her graceful strides echo softly as she picks her way through the woods toward him. He remains stock-still, frozen as he watches her approach. Her movement is graceful and relaxed, her approach not combative but more curious. So then, she is not threatened or annoyed by his presence, but inquisitive. He too finds that he is curious, for her appearance is not familiar to him and yet she seems... Well, he feels as though he should know her, but he doesn't.
It is, confusing, to be quite honest. He cannot blame her when she questions him, though he does not exactly have a satisfactory answer for her either. He can only hope that honesty is enough, for it is all he has to offer at this time. Not rational, but true.
"Good evening, Lady Fair." He murmurs with a graceful bow of his head. "I confess I too am a wanderer, and I did not intend to stumble upon you or disturb your rest. I was lost in thought, and when I walked I afraid that my hooves were just as unruly. I did not come here with intention, but I am pleased to find you here. You seem, familiar." Sunisra Wordcount: 479
Etienne Wordcount: 521
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Posted: Thu Oct 25, 2018 2:10 pm
Quote: Debating on whether or not to raise her voice to summon her brother from slumber, Sunisra shifted on her hooves and stared at the stranger who watched her from the tree line. His coat was a patchwork of light and shadow, scattered with markings like stars. There is an air of mystery and strength to him, but nothing familiar.
'You seem familiar', he had said. His eyes glowing in the pre-dawn mist. Unsettling but not surprising, their Clan was larger than some, scattered.
"I am afraid I cannot say the same for you." She countered gently. "But I hold no claim over this land, I would not require that you leave it. My brother and I are passing through." Quote: Having woken the moment he had heard soft steps on the ground, the stallion feigned sleep. He was prepared to leap to his sister's defense at a moment's notice, but her nature would defuse a normal situation faster than his would. And he didn't really sense any malice from this strange. Still, he couldn't help but to open one eye to get a glimpse of the Angeni who had spoken. He felt one of his wings twitch, knowing better to trust based on appearance alone, but it was not Aveshar, and did not look to be one that would follow him, so he could let Suni handle the discussion. Perhaps. Quote: Etienne folded his wings more firmly to his back, bobbing his head in a slight nod as he attempted to make himself seem a smaller shape and less of a target. Sleeping or not, the stallion nearby would certainly fly to the mare's defense if he made the wrong move, which was certainly the opposite of his goal. He had merely wandered this direction thinking he would find an old ally, and instead.
A light went on in his head. "You're of Fayths, children or grandchildren. That makes sense. Not that you would be wandering, but that I would find you instead of your sire."
He frowned. "It is not safe for you to be out and alone." Quote: Suni couldn't help but react, shying lightly on her hooves as surprise snapped through her. The words were not aggressive but made her wary, a hint and a warning and disapproval all at once. Maybe he wasn't menacing, but it didn't exactly sound friendly.
"Whether we are or not, as you are not known to me I do not think you have the right to say what I should or should not do." She returned coolly, flicking her tail in annoyance. "And as I am not alone, I feel quite safe." Quote: When the strange stallion spoke of the Fayth's, the young Fayth stallion found himself on his feet, worry pounding through his veins. It was not an odd thing that someone should recognize them. Their markings glow, so even at night there would be a change. Glowing white eyes focused on the stranger, and he mantled his wings, part feathered and part leather. He came up next to his sister and fixed the stallion with a stare. "You had best state your business, strange. Or move on." Quote: In hindsight, it was quite clear he'd made an error. Embarrassing, but socialization wasn't exactly a strongsuit at this point. The stallion's arrival in a fury of movement made Etienne drift back and to the side, removing himself from range of the mare to ensure he presented less of a threat. They were still within a fairly polite speaking range, but hopefully he would earn back some goodwill for the gesture.
"I meant no harm." He offered soothingly. "Certainly no danger to you or yours. I have known some Fayths in my time, and it was they that I sought but found you instead."
Etienne sighed, giving a faint shake of his head. "I apologize, it was a mistake." Quote: "Harm or not, it could be better said." Suni pointed out softly, leaning close enough to brush shoulders against Alea before drifting a half-step back. It left him slightly ahead and her clear if he needed to move, but kept the chance of conversation open.
The fact that he was seeking some of their relatives made her tilt her head, eying Alea. "If we are not the ones you sought, perhaps you'll explain whom you were hoping to encounter?" Quote: He watched as the Angeni moved slightly out of reach. It made him feel slightly better, but it wasn't much. Anyone could say anything, and yet still mean something else. At least the attempt was made, and that eased something in him. Alea let his posture shift to something more relaxed, letting purple hair cover one of his eyes. It didn't really interfere with his vision, so maybe the stranger would take it as trusting or something. Relaxing a bit further as Suni put herself just enough behind that he would be clear to attack if he needed too, Alea was content to let her handle the conversation from there. Until the strange brought up the fact he was looking for Fayths. It made fur along his spine stand up straight, tail whipping back and forth in distress. He would have do what he had to in order to keep them safe and away from some members of their family, but his heart still held hope that they would find the other parts first. Their parents perhaps. "Names would be most welcome." Quote: There was a slight loosening in the overall posture of the male, but not enough that Etienne felt he was 'out of the woods' with regards to his misstep. These two were alone, adrift from their herd, perhaps with limited experience being so. They weren't ones he recognized, though their colors brought one of the mares he had known to mind. Would Lyric have found a mate in the years they'd spent apart? Would Melody have let her have a moment's peace to do so? He just didn't know. Still, the traits themselves didn't seem to bring any specific sibling to mind, but their markings were undoubtedly part of the familial line.
If the situation were a more relaxed one, Etienne might have made a joke. Perhaps teasing the stallion about which names he sought. Those that Etienne knew, those he looked for, those he had mistaken this pair for? But then, the situation wasn't one that welcomed such antics, so he felt it was better to forgo such attempts.
"If those I knew, there are almost too many to begin a conversation with." He murmured neutrally. "Particularly if they are not known to you. In terms of those I sought, I was hoping to encounter the First Son, Ballad. Lyric would have also been welcome also, or any of those loyal to either of them." Quote: She could almost see the stallion find humor in Alea's words, but also a conscious decision not to further bait her brother into reaction. Which was wise of him, Alea had more than enough muscle and practice to make a threat of himself, if he chose. Thankfully, things seemed to remain civil, she hoped it would continue.
"Several of them are known to us." She replied neutrally, not wanting to bring up the fact that the family was fractured in varying directions and loyalty could still be problematic.
The fact that this stranger was looking for their father was a sign, though there was no telling if it were good or bad. He very well could mean harm.
"Ballad is known to us." She offered neutrally. "But as you see, he is not part of this traveling party."
Etienne Donato Wordcount: 461
Aleatoric/Sotto Wordcount: 378
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Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2019 3:55 pm
Aleatoric appreciated that the tone of the conversation was easy. Easy enough that he could let his attention wander a bit, to make sure they were safe. As safe as they could be in the company of a stranger. He twitched his wings a bit, trying to settle into the conversation at least. This was really the first lead they'd had in a while, though he didn't really have hope that it would lead anywhere. They would keep wandering, they would follow every lead, but hope wore thin.
Alea flicked an ear at the mention of Ballad, their father. He flicked glowing white eyes at his sister, then back to the stranger, following Suni's lead. There was no telling what the stranger wanted with their father. There wouldn't be a real answer to that question unless they managed something the siblings haven't been able to for years, find and speak with their father. He wondered if Ballad had found Whistle, or vice versa. If any of his other herdmates had found each other. It was too much to hope for, really. If, perhaps, they searched for the pair of them. If they were thought lost. Shaking his head a little, scattering his thoughts. They weren't helpful and he needed to be wary. Needed to let his sister lead through this particular mine field, figure out how much to reveal to this stranger, if anything at all.
Of course, their markings revealed much more than Alea wanted in the first place. The stranger wouldn't have approached if not for the markings that their family shared. So, he nodded his head to go along with his sister's statement, and stayed silent.
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Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2021 9:08 am
Quote: "I would have been rather surprised to find Ballad among your number," Etienne admitted, finding himself fond of the spitfire nature of the mare. Even as elegantly as she spoke, he could see it beneath the surface, a brilliant fire behind a cool exterior. "Or perhaps expect to find him much changed. But I was hoping to find someone who had been part of his company. He was known to me in the past, and while it is clear he is not among your number at present, I do not think it is wrong to presume you are a relation?" Wordcounter: 100 Quote: Sunisra considered the stallion for a moment, her eyes sweeping over him, weighing what she had learned of the world and what she recalled of bedtime stories her father had told. This stranger could easily be one of the promising young knights from her bedtime tales, but just as simply he could be a fine-featured enemy, hiding behind a pleasant facade. He didn't seem like the sort, but it was certainly possible. And about such things, Alea was rarely of help. So it fell to Suni to chart a course, and stick to it.
"Such a thing would not be something most would readily reveal to a stranger, without knowing the quality of his character or the intentions of his heart." Sunisra pointed out with a coy expression. "I might admit to such a thing, since it is difficult to deny considering such things as family characteristics. However, you will -I hope- forgive me if I do not confirm the degree of relation, at this time." Wordcount: 166 Quote: Etienne accepted the mare's evaluation with good spirits and a quiet grace, flicking his ear to dispell a buzzing instinct but otherwise not moving a hair. If he had to guess, these two were either directly descended from Ballad or his sweeter-natured sister, Lyric. They didn't quite carry the edge he would expect from the other pair of siblings, though it was very possible there were others that came after him and produced children that wound up far-flung.
He was startled out of his musings by the mare's speech, and the caution and intelligence behind the words.
"That is perfectly sensible," the Angeni Knight remarked, refusing to be offended by her care. If anything, it was reassuring to hear. "My intentions are nothing but honorable. I am on the search for my old friend, and any scattered family I may find to reunite with him. I would rather not run afoul of his good nature, but there are some relations I feel it is wiser to avoid, at least for the time being." Wordcount: 173 Quote: Sunisra laughed at his response to her careful words, tilting her head thoughtfully. The fact that he continued, speaking more of her family, made her think that perhaps he had met relatives of hers that she had not yet encountered. In the same breath, the words he offered could likely apply to anyone's family.
"On the one hand, I think you may have met them, on the other I am fairly certain such a general statement could apply to anyone. It was delivered with such grace and subtlety, you could just be trying to be polite by speaking in generalities..." She cannot help but think of Aveshar, and wince. "Surely everyone has relatives they would rather avoid?" Wordcount: 117 Quote: Etienne Wordcount Total: 273
Sunisra Wordcount Total: 283
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