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 Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 3:11 pm
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Posted: Tue Dec 10, 2019 4:37 pm
 As the song goes, the weather had a funny way of changing for the sudden along the lands. More-so within the mountain range. For many, that meant to move back down into the plains, to be able to survive, but for those who've adapted to the winter's harshness it meant otherwise!
Now Fell was in fact no difference. His family line made him hardier to the upcoming seasonal change. The days were drawing shorter, and the nights were beginning to even get colder as they trudged on. Fell felt no desire to trudge down from the mountainside, knowing that it would be better for him to stay regardless. The ones who migrated during the winter meant there would be less conflict for him to get into. He was still definitely getting his bearings, as a clunky young male in such a large body, which made it even better for him to not be surrounded by others. At the very least, he found himself knowing where his own territory was, trying to avoid his larger stoic father to not try to cause conflict, but also knowing a slight familiarity of himself and his family before they all mostly seemed to split off. Part of him wished he had followed at least one of them, but it was much too late for that... As long as he avoided fights...
However, he knew that he would not be able to avoid everyone during even the harshest of days, but today in particular felt different. A brand new blanket of snow settled down on his usual path, it happened to be much colder of a previous night than he expected, and this was coming from the male who was becoming used to the already chilly nights. It was calm this morning, as he was just about the only thing moving about this morning, but... Maybe as he crossed to his usual watering hole, each step he made making a soft crunch in the snow and his thick tail swishing out his steps-- well... maybe he would be surprised with a visitor of sorts in this chilly morning.
[wc: 357]
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Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2020 5:50 pm
It was a cold. It was always cold, but today Thorn could feel it down to his bones. He'd felt worse, of course, but it was nothing he couldn't survive, and nothing he hadn't survived before. That's just the way life was in the mountains, and it suited Thorn just fine. Thick, heavy paws made it easier to traverse the snow, and although he was slimmer than he would have liked, there was still just enough of a bulk on him for some padding against the cold weather. Winter was settling in at full force, and Thorn knew his excursions outside the safety (and warmth) of his den would quickly become less frequent than they had been. He'd have to be sure to come back with supplies each day to make it worth it.
Water today, before the lakes started to freeze over. He shook his body out to rid himself of the snow and frost that had settled over his fur, and began the trek to the nearest lake. With any luck, no one else would be there and he wouldn't have to deal with a conversation -- or confrontation. He enjoyed his solitary life, and the cynical side of him wasn't sure which would be worse... or more painful. There weren't any footprints in the snow on his usual trail, but seeing as how it was still fresh, he couldn't be sure that indicated anything about what he would find out there today. Maybe he could find something fresh and warm to eat for lunch, after the empty water skins strapped to his back were all filled. Rabbit would be nice, he thought in one moment, and in the next his foot had sunk through the layer of snow to a patch of hidden ice beneath. He slid unsteadily forward a few feet, past snow-covered bushes and halfway into the clearing where the lake was.
Unfortunately, the dark of his fur didn't lend well to blending in with white snow, and he was fairly sure that there was nothing quiet about his arrival. Whatever he'd expected to run into today, it wasn't the giant standing by the lake now. Their paws looked roughly the same size of his head, and although Thorn was fairly confident in his abilities, he wasn't sure he could defend himself against someone that appeared literally twice his size. They didn't appear to have a pelt, so at least they weren't a shifter -- but they did have sharp claws and sharp teeth, and a horn that looked like it could be painful if used the right way.
He could only hope they were friendly. Or slow.
He ought to say hello, or back off, or do something but stand there as if he were frozen solid from the chill in the air, but he found all words died in his mouth as he considered his options.
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2020 7:25 pm
Mostly distracted by the sight of the lake, he was taken off-guard by the sudden appearance of the smaller male. He jumped a bit, wings flapping as he took a few steps back out of fear before tensing up himself. He knew... not to understimate anyone, as one of his pa's spoke to him. He too almost wished to run away, but he's trying his best to not let his fear get the best of him. Trying to relax his posture a bit, one of his bat-like ears seems to pivot slightly as he tries to read the mysterious male in front of him.
Small, but that horn... and those paws. He could easily maim him...
But... he was a bit cute....
But he was also a stranger! A very mysterious stranger!! Despite the smaller stature of the male before him, he was more or less terrified. Size does not matter when it comes to a potential enemy. He hoped nothing more than this meeting to be alright-- but he doesn't know this unfamiliar soquili in front of him, which brought him a bit of anxiety.
However, he knows that showing friendliness... should help it might help. With a small whimper in his deep voice, his ears flicked up as he tried to greet him, his large tail swishing idly. "H-hullo! Y'didn' mean to do that, yea? I-I won't tell any'ne!"
[wc: (tba)]
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Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2023 8:55 pm
Right. Not immediately aggressive, then. That, at least, was a relief. But Thorn felt his cheeks go hot when the stranger pointed out his mistake, and his mouth twisted into a scowl to hide his embarrassment. "... I'm just here go get water," Thorn grunted. He tested out the ground in front of him and, more sure of his footing now, approached the lake. He stared intently at the stranger as he got closer to the water, keeping a close eye on their body language, just in case he might be territorial -- but when the aggression didn't come, Thorn felt it was safe enough to get to work. He turned his head to tug the water skins off his back, dropping them into the snow beside him at his paws. He had to admit, it was strange to see such a huge soquili seem so... anxious and shy.
Thorn plucked the cork from one of the skins with his claws, then dunked it into the water. "Is this lake part of your territory?" He didn't think it was; he'd been coming her regularly for a long time, and he would have remembered seeing someone like this stranger before. Still better to ask to be safe; at least if Thorn was respectful, the giant might still allow him to use the water.
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Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2023 9:12 pm
While he still kept himself a bit guarded, he could tell the other seemed to be on the same page when it came down to aggression or the lack-there-of. Truthfully to him, it felt an air of similarity to one of his dad's. He liked it.
As he settles just a hair watching the other begin to fill his water skin, his ears flickered as the question comes to. "Uhm--" oh there is the hesitation. "Not nec'sarly, maybe? I come 'n go but 'm not one t'really claim a territ'ry, 'n none've tried t'chase me from here..." He admits, wings tucking back to attempt to make himself look a bit less imposing. Perhaps he'll shuffle just a bit closer. Not too much of course, and he'll disguise it as more-so settling himself than just simply stepping closer.
"Judgin' from how many'a those y'also tend t'travel a fair bit, aye?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2023 9:26 pm
"I've no claim to this land; I won't try to chase you off, either." A mutual agreement was good. There was plenty of water to go around; he didn't want to deny anyone access as much as he didn't want to be denied, either. When the water skin was full, Thorn pulled it out and replaced it with another. He cringed a little at the attempt to continue the conversation; all he wanted to do was get his water and go. "No. I live nearby. I'm gathering what I need to get through the winter." He lapsed into silence, but something the other stallion said caught his attention and curiosity.
Thorn frowned and looked at him, eyeing him up and down in mild disbelief, noting the way he was making an effort to appear less threatening. Strange. "You said no one has tried to chase you away from here... do you get chased away from other places?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2023 9:53 pm
"Ah... That's good y'know," Fell responds with a descending volume in his voice. It wasn't as if he was appreciative of their mutual agreement, in fact he was very much so! Watching him replace one skin for another, he completely misses the cue of his disdain of the continued conversation. "Aye? 'Ave not seen ya 'round here-- but .. I've erm-- also not really been 'round this particular area too often."
Claws digging lightly into the snow below, he flicks his tail once more. Ah. He did catch what he said earlier and decided to pursue that thought. Fell had hoped he would've breezed over it. With a small noise in his throat, his ears slightly lower. "Y-yes, b-but ah--" he pauses, swallowing. Maybe he can make himself sound less 'weak', as his pa would say. "Th-they were much bigger 'n me, an' a lot more-so them, o-otherwise 'm left alone." ... Fell could feel his own cheeks heating up a bit. Hoping that the half lie was good enough.
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Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2023 10:23 pm
Well... that made sense. Thorn found it hard to believe there could be that many soquili larger than this stallion -- he was significantly bigger than what Thorn would consider above average. He also seemed nervous just around Thorn himself, though, and he was much smaller than him. "These larger soquili... do they live nearby? Are they a herd?" That... wasn't good. If Thorn could at least learn where their territory was, he could avoid it and continue living in piece. More and more, without realizing it, Thorn was letting his guard down around the giant. The tension in his body eased and relaxed; despite the large size of the soquili, he hadn't once actually sensed danger in his presence.
Thorn would scold himself for it later. It could have easily been a trick -- thankfully for him, it wasn't. This time.
At some point, he'd pulled out the water skin and forgotten to start on filling up another. He returned the filled water skins to his back, and got back to work to fill the few remaining. Thorn took his time; he wanted to get as much information as he could before he went back home.
"My name is Thorn. By the way."
Ugh. He almost sounded friendly.
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Posted: Sun Oct 01, 2023 3:55 pm
Oh bother. He has to continue this lie... partially. There's no way there aren't giants like him and his family, but... Oh well, he's dug this grave, he may as well lay in it. "They seem t'be nomadic an' roamin'. I've seen a share a' soquili about, but 've only seen 'em once." He seems to be relaxing more and more himself, especially noticing as the other begins to ease out of the more tense posture.
So the stranger does have a name. Nodding to hearing it he responds in turn with his own. "'m Fell. It's nice t'meet'ya." Friendly introduction, meet another friendly introduction.
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Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2023 1:22 am
Nomadic. That wasn't really what Thorn wanted to hear; they could wander in to his own small territory at any time. Maybe, though, they'd just leave the mountain altogether. That would be much more ideal -- for both of them, it seemed. For a few seconds, Thorn almost considered telling Fell where his cave was. That if the other giants came into the area again, he and Fell could work together to chase them off... but he discarded the idea almost as soon as the thought crossed his mind. He didn't want anyone leading the giants towards his home, and although Fell seemed friendly enough, he was still all but a stranger. Thorn hardly knew anything about him.
By the time he finished with the last water skin, crystals of ice had formed on the fur of his paws. He stuck the stopper in and hefted it onto his back, eager to get home and get warmed up by a nice fire. He could hunt for a meal afterwords, when he had more feeling back in his toes again. He supposed that's what happened when you spent too much time talking to strangers instead of what he actually came here to do.
Task finished, Thorn stood awkwardly for a moment in silence. He was never very good at socialization. He cleared his throat after a moment to collect himself. "Well. Thank you for the information," he said, with a nod of his head. "Stay safe." He hesitated again, then turned away from Fell to trudge through the snow back home.
This time, he was much more careful to avoid stepping on any ice. Thorn didn't want to embarrass himself twice.
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Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2023 1:39 am
He was quiet, really quiet. Thorn reminded him in all of his mannerisms how his father would act around him. Quiet, gruff -- and yet he still could confide a sense of communion with the other soquili.Like a small version of him... cute, almost. Even with something so simple as a small conversation and watching him do a mundane task.
An idle swish of his tail against the snow, his eyes watch as he finishes his task. This went well! At least he hoped it did, it seemed to have gone well. Reminding himself to move his paws in place to avoid the very same fate as the other, he stops mid-raise as he hears that clearing of his throat. He was leaving? It was understandable, Thorn did say after all that he was coming and going, much as he would be himself. The mountains were dangerous, especially with the snowfall coming and going and it's best to bunk down after being out for so long.
"Ah-- you's well! Hopin' we'll cross paths again--" Fell pauses at that, trying to decide if he should show more friendliness towards him or not, fumbling with his words before he weakly smiles. "An' hopefully y'won' go flyin' on the ice next time."
He couldn't help but to ever so gently tease him-- perhaps just for a moment to show how he could act around another without feeling more guarded himself. It's not as if he's never been able to do so, Fell did have at least an amicable relationship with a good portion of his family, despite how little he sees of a lot of them. Friends, however... This might just be the first...
Maybe.
He's at least not an enemy, and that's good enough for Fell.
And as if on cue-- there's the chill in the air, finally getting through to his wing membrane and his nose. He waits a moment or two before he begins to turn himself back to his own home. The idea of a fire feeling mighty keen right now.
He pauses a few steps forth, only to look back at the other, before continuing to trudge back through the snow.
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