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 Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2024 7:59 am
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Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2024 8:27 am
Quote: With the wind in the trees swaying shadows over the forest paths, the warmth of the golden afternoon was kept at bay. Reduced to a mysteriously shaded coolness, the paths of the woods lead far beyond explored territories and claimed herd lands. Which was good, when one was in pursuit of adventure, the last thing one wanted was to stay at home. (Where, so often, adventure was the least likely to be found.)
That was of course, unless one was rather unwillingly in pursuit of adventure.
“It’s not that I am trying to act like I know more than you,” Ahlidel Cat of The Underland argues gently as he suppresses a shudder and ducks under grasping branches festooned with trailing moss.
He just has to not think about all the pests that might be finding their way into his lovely curls, and he’ll be fine. Everything about this whole silly adventure business will be just fine.
Unless of course, they find adventure… Or, even more likely, adventure sees fit to up and find them.
“I would never do that.” He continues once upright again. “Though I must admit, by virtue of the fact that Blu and I are older than the both of you, there is a very high likelihood that we in fact do. But I am just trying to say that caution is no bad thing… And perhaps marching straight to where there are sightings of monsters is not the cleverest thing in the world for one to be doing, Your Royal Majesties.” Quote: Pacing along behind Ahlidel Cat, his paw steps virtually silent compared to the muffled thump of Ahli’s hooves, the elder Cheshire Prince known as BluRazberry Jinx ParTea ducks under the branch himself -mindful of his glorious hat- and straightens up with a disagreeing sound rumbling in his chest. It’s not a growl but it is a negation, with humor audible around the edges.
“Oh do not go bringing me into this, Ahlidel,” Blu argues with a flash of his hallmark Cheshire grin, white teeth gleaming in the dapple light. “No thank you! Even if I am older, or wiser as you accuse, I prefer to think that just makes me old enough to know better. In this case, I am old enough to know better than to argue with a pair of madly curious little kitlings who want to go in search of a grand adventure… Add to the fact that they’re Cheshires to boot? My good friend, such a thing was a lost cause before you even began. Surely your advanced wisdom can grant you insight to know that?”
The oldest blue Cheshire makes another sound, this one more derisive, and shakes his head in feigned disappointment. “I am surprised at you, Ahli. Would you rather send the young royals out on their own in search of this monster? That seems quite irresponsible.”
He snaps his teeth like he’s going to deliver a punishing n** to Ahli’s tail, laughing brightly when the vanilla and raspberry colored stallion whistles in alarm and dodges sideways to avoid him. “Ha, got you, Ahli.”
Quote: Surrounded by bickering boys that are nonetheless catering to her whims, Esfir Lahal "Hunt the Thimble" is quite pleased with her adventure party. Her brother Shah is always a given, he would never deny her a good adventure, and Blu more likely than not to indulge them. If not him, Zinger can usually be relied upon, but wasn't needed today with Blu's accompaniment (besides, his grand antlers do present a problem on narrower trails). Cheshire kind but not blooded kin, Ahlidel had doomed himself by his disinterest in the whole enterprise, as it was far more fun to take at least one scaredy cat along if they could be procured. And others were free to join as they had wished.
As with so many games, the outcome is not nearly so entertaining as the occurrence itself. True enough Esfir has high hopes, or her curiosity does, for the reports of a monster lurking at the far lake... But even if they turn out to be nothing, the day will have been well-spent. Ahli is providing plenty of entertainment.
"Everyone knows the rules of an adventure," Esfir laughs in her woodwind voice. "The loudest one has to go first. In this case, Cousin, you were the one to argue most about actually going to find the monster... and you walk the heaviest."
The endearment is a familiarity and a term of affection, rather than truth... Though Esfir personally thinks she is not misunderstanding some looks she has seen exchanged between Ahli and Meru. The Cheshire Princess is deceptively quiet on her paws, even with two of them being bone and prone to creaks and cracks if she isn't careful, so she has the luxury of walking toward the back of the group and snickering every time Ahli complains about spiderwebs or vines. Quote: More or less content with pacing silently along at Esfir's side when the trail was wide enough to allow it and just behind her when it was not, so he could keep an eye on her, Shahrivar Stoneskipper rumbled a wordless sound of agreement to his sister's assessment of the situation. If everyone is going to strike up a conversation, he sees no reason not to join in too.
"You did somewhat bring this upon yourself, Ahli," Shah chimed in, albeit in a gentler and more sympathetic tone than the one Esfir had used. "If you didn't run quite so fast, or perhaps if you ran faster? Either way, it might have worked out better for you. But running attracts attention, and not running fast enough means you get caught. And once you fail to escape Catch or you lose at Tag, you forfeit the right to choose the next game. While Esfir should have declared what Game was being played at the time, to give you a chance, one could also argue that by running you were the one that started the game... Then you lost. What are your thoughts on this, Game Maker? Is it not so?"
Stepping wide as the trail finally allowed him to do, Shah turned his head to consider the tail end of the party with an inquiring look from beneath the brim of his own tophat. He had to shake his head enough to get his forelock out of his eyes to do so, but there was no mistaking the bright gaze he fixed toward the trail.
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Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2024 11:40 am
Meru moved to duck her fully stocked leafy green antlers down under the trees, humming in kind with the trees and not minding the feeling of contact with the foliage above her. It enticed the ribbons at her large ears to move from their perches in her branched antlers into the foliage above as a means to pet at the trees and vines in fond greeting. She thought her kitty cat was so adorable talking about how he had been older than the littermates that walked in front of her. Her chest bow and ribbons laying flat against her chest and down around her forelimbs as to not get caught on the ground or its own flora. An acorn that had come from the trees above had given a chime against her back scales.
She had let her younger cousins and love interest to partake in their little hunting game in front of her a few steps. Amused by her kitty cat's antics to call the littermates out on the age difference between them and Ahli and Blu. As the eldest in the group she shook her head and purred gently at the family. Catching the mischief that Blu shows by nipping at her kitty cat. Listening to the terms that they were talking about the eldest being the leader she considered payback quietly to herself before Shah spoke about the game that Ahli had lost. Asking her a question, she hummed gently in contemplation. "Although it is a little unfair for the beginning to not be announced, we are of Underland. We should always just be considerate of the games we may have been playing unbeknownst as well. I think Ahli did lose, as you said. It is so." She spoke in a fond tone to Shah, always enjoying her soft natured cousin. Moving to trot her paws up the line from the back of the trail. Making a swift motion to help Shah with his forelock that had blocked his vision. Allowing her chest ribbon closest to Esfir unravel from her leg and pet at Snicker and Snack as she passed them. She casually breezed past Blue as she got him back by lashing her thin long tail out and knocking his hat clear off his head in passing. A look that suggested payback spread on her face. She softly pushed into Ahli. "If it is the eldest that must lead then, I shall take the position if you are so scared, Kitty Cat." Her voice painted with affection as she let the same ribbon that gave the beloved venus fly traps a pet, run up Ahli's side and pet at his chest.
Meru Wordcounter: 447
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Posted: Mon Aug 26, 2024 2:00 pm
At (Monster) Lake: Quote: Even on a day cooler than most, the warm season is not ideal or even kind to all. In particular, the one known as Dusk in the Hollow finds summer to be an utter trial, at best, in nearly all instances. To begin with, the relentless beating of the blazing sun oozes over his dark coat like a lava flow, clinging and burning even once he has skittered on to the next pool of shadow hoping to be absorbed into the cool darkness. Add to that that the wind that blows beneath the summer sun is so frequently hot and dry it further dries him out, pushing him further into the dark of the woods in search of a good meal and an adequate source of water.
He’s glad to have found the lake that he received only the vaguest of directions to, a seemingly idyllic spot surrounded by relatively dense woods that seem to be casting as much shadow and hold as much cool air as they can. In the open glades he feels like he’s in one of the fires at the Faire, cooking, but here it seems at least somewhat survivable.
“They said the lake is spring fed. So though there’s not a river feeding it, it often stays deep and cool,” he rumbled happily, in his dry fluting voice. Facts delivered, the next moment sees Dusk casting aside any hesitation and plowing into the mirror-like water until it frothed over his steaming withers and back.
Then, as he is wont to do when he wants a drink, the indigo-coated stallion lays his ears flat and plunges his whole bared skull into the water, exhaling a plume of relieved bubbles as the dry ache in his head abruptly fades.
Quote: The many-winged Angeni warrior mare known as Tarshna Ameretat follows along some distance behind Dusk’s easily tracked hoofbeats, sighing faintly to herself as she unfurls a wing and uses it to shade her face moving through a particularly sun-dappled patch of the path. As soon as she is safely shadowed again she folds the dark red and black feathers away, tucking them to her back to keep them from getting snagged by branches.
“I am quite certain I have said this before, so forgive my repeating it,” Tarshna murmurs as she folds her wings closer to her back and ducks another low branch. “But I do feel justified. The foolishness implied in tearing off to an unnamed lake with mismatched directions, no map, and no scouting from the air does seem quite insurmountable. Are you really sure you can trust the vendor that told you about this place?”
The sudden departure of Dusk from the path ahead brings her up short for a moment, but the sound of hooves and then an entire body plunging into water answers her unspoken question. With a faint noise of amusement she shakes her head and moved forward again, rounding the next great tree and craning her head into the open shade of a glade with a dark lake at its heart. Sometimes one just has to watch and blink -with various sets of eyes- at the antics of one’s friends.
“Well, I retract that entire latter statement, assuming you were listening to begin with.” She calls out just as Dusk dunks his head into the water, shaking her own as she steps forward to tease him. “Fates give me strength. Dusk, are you always like this? Your poor mate, trying to explain things.”
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Posted: Tue Aug 27, 2024 9:50 pm
Quote: Labyrinth had been in the same boat as her spouse, she wasn't built for the summer, not as much as she was for the autumn or the beginnings of spring. She would prefer a winter to be fair, over summer but she knew it could be hard for Dusk to drink during those times considering how her skull-faced love drank. Her small stature was swallowed up by her travel partners, she was still so small in comparison to even Tarshna. So in the group it just looked like three as she trailed behind Dusk until he had launched himself into the water to drink. Tarshna was chatting with Dusk, inquiring about the lake as Rin had been holding Scroll. She had trusted Scroll and the vendor just at most times others did not hear what she heard with her lantern. As they stopped at the water and Dusk described it she admired him more, looking so proud to have found the water, and described the lake as the vendors had. "It sounds lovely, Hunny. Just as how it looks." She gushed at him delighted.
Humming gently as she admired her mate going into the water, fondly watching the water gush out of his skull crevices as he snaps at it much like she pictured a crocodile, or alligator she supposes, would. Placing Scroll down far enough from the shore. Placing her hooves into the water to cool off her legs. Flexing the toes of her cloven hooves. "He was probably listening to you but selective hearing you due to being too parched." Labyrinth tilted her head in her sing-songy and airy fashion. Each time she has seen this scene before her she reminisces the time they met and she smiles to herself thinking about how awkward and endearing it was. Glowing eyes looking up at Tarshna as she stands closer to Dusk now. Shrugging."I love explaining things, he usually listens to me. Uhm.. Sorry Tarshna." Quote: Constantine wasn't as thirsty, maybe a little bit, but Watchdog had made his series of grumbles from their chest and stomach cavity. Or was that more like a crater? Both. Both worked. Dusk had said something about water and it really resonated with the fiend that had been buried into Constantine. He had been following beside Tarshna, much like others on the paths, he had dipped behind her each time the path narrowed and come back up to at least walk beside her rump. Nipping once in awhile at her wings with a ginger expression. He practically felt Watchdog eyeroll, if he had eyes anyways. "I would assume that if the vendors know of it, then it should be safe." Constantine made effort to respond to his spouse, "They had said that they used it to drink from or swim around in from time to time. Giving amused sounds as Tarshna teases Dusk's habits. Shaking his head as he hums, "I hope it's alright though, Watchdog could use a drink and I'm.. feeling the fatigue myself." A small portion of him, on the ridge of his tail fur, loved the warmth of the summer but the hefty coat everywhere else on Con really did not. He felt the same sentiment as Rin and Dusk, though he would much prefer to flomp into a deep snowbank and flail around. Often coating himself in so much snow that he practically turns himself the colour of Mithra. The idea of food does sound good to his stomach, but it always sounded good to his stomach since Watchdog could eat Underland out of home and house. He stopped though away from the water beside Tarshna to watch Dusk not even heed her words and dive right in. Waiting the full minute and seeing Dusk come out of the water still alive entices Watchdog to pull his tongue so forward that Constantine had to stumble for the water a few steps. "Alright, alright already. Would you just stop." He growled gently at Watchdog who ignored him. Con beginning to walk in and murmur at the cool water. "Oh.. It's quite nice, Tar, come in. I think you would agree that it's favourable." Con almost had to talk loud enough for anyone in the clearing to hear him, well, clearly. As Watchdog bite at the water with vigor, making a whirrrrrring noise at how tasty the water was and how thirsty he had become. His tongue was how he sweated, and Con had too much fur (as stated prior).
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Posted: Mon Sep 09, 2024 5:39 pm
Quote: Ahlidel is having less fun than the Royal Cheshires on this so called "adventure". It is largely due to the fact that he seems to be the only one with concerns as to the nature of their expedition, and a reluctance to encounter the 'monsters' that everyone else seems so excited about. Though he's trying to keep an eye out for the path markers that they were advised to look for so they don't get lost on top of everything, Ahli is also nervously watching out for dangers and threats. Add that to the way that Blu is teasing him, and he makes a sulky noise as he tries to recover from his alarmed whistling and scrambling to evade a bite that was never truly a threat.
"Not nice, Majesty, not nice at all," he grumbled, shooting the blue stallion an annoyed look as he attempted to shake himself back into some semblance of composure. "I think instead we could be safely back at the herd with tea and cakes and games that didn't involve tromping through territories not our own in the search of monsters. That sounds like much more fun to me, and my tail won't be in danger there."
Ahli makes a fond humming sound in response to Esfir's flute-like laugh, he wants to sulky about the somewhat lackadaisical approach to rules with regards to declaring when a game is under way, but Meru at least attempts to come to his rescue as she moves up the line.
"My hooves aren't that loud," he mumbles in a sulky way instead. "That's not fair, and I really must protest. Lady Esfir, I thought you at least would be a little more fair-minded about such things. This feels like entrapment. But thank you for trying to help, Shah, I'll keep that in mind for next time."
Meru suddenly appearing at him is even better than her subtle revenge against Blu as she catches up to him. Ahli glances back just in time to see her bat the Prince's hat off his head and he can't help the wide grin he offers her in thanks, leaning happily against her. The affectionate brush of the ribbons against him prompts an affectionate nuzzle.
"Well now, I'm no gentleman if I ask that a lady accomplish a task I am would rather not do myself. But since you are here, I would be happy for us to walk together." Quote: As he was having a good time teasing his herd mate turned 'cousin', Blu watches Ahli's somewhat-timid pacing and ginger exploration of the path they're on with silent amusement. He can't help enjoying the chance to needle at the raspberries and cream colored stallion now and again, Ahli is prone to dramatic reactions that make him just too fun to ignore. And he is, as the others have said, rather easy to rile with threats of peril or the suggestion of the unexpected. All in all it is just some harmless humor at his expense, nothing damaging.
That being said, Blu doesn't want to be on Meru's bad side. A Cheshire's wrath is nothing to make light of, and that is even more true of the Ladies... A lesson she reminds him of when she sweeps past and knocks his hat to the ground with a careless flick and a warning look. It's a loud expression, one Blu can read clearly even as he ducks his head at the chastisement.
"Apologies, Ahli," he offers in concession to the look, catching his hat by the brim and giving it a toss into the air so he can catch it back on his head where it belongs. "And to you, cousin. There was no offense or ill will meant, I promise."
He gives Meru a 'forgive me?' kind of grin, soft and hopeful. "I didn't break your toy or throw him to the beasts, if anything it rather seems like it would be Esfir's fault, hmm? But so far no one has been harmed or endangered, right? It's actually more dangerous at home, when you think about it. Kingston and Vorpal are not to be trifled with unless one has an exit strategy, after all." Quote: 'It wouldn't be a family affair if there wasn't some bickering,' Esfir mused to herself, smiling faintly as Snicker made soft laughing noises in her ears. She can sense Snack snapping jaws and them churring delightedly when they catch a bug, and she supposes it is nice that at least someone is happy with the snacks along the way.
When Meru moves up through the line, Esfir purrs a greeting and does her best to lean into the affectionate brushes the ribbons give her. She can tell from the way both Snicker and Snack make happy grumbling sounds and soft trills that the wine and sky Chehsire Kirin has given both of them attention. They're too smug and fond to have been ignored, but that's Meru all over. Watching her cousin slip past and further up the line, Esfir delightedly watches Meru's leonine, feathered tail snap out and knock Blu's hat into the brush. He makes a show of stopping and recollecting it, grumbling all the while, and Esfir laughs again as she watches him toss the hat and step under it so it's once again perched jauntily on his head.
Of course, the next moment he's throwing her in the path of Meru's mercy, seemingly without a second thought.
"The true words of a gentleman, and a Prince of Underland," Esfir Lahal muses dryly to herself. "Throwing his little sister in the path of an irate lady, when her kotenok is in danger. This is true family, I suppose. The bonds I treasure so much. I feel so fortunate. Right into the path of a stampeding bull? To the edge of a crumbling cliff? A pit of quicksand? Too boring. My cousin's fierce love for a certain kitten? More exciting than a bonfire." Quote:
"Sorry, Ahlidel," Shah offered with a soft smile and a shrug. "Just trying to help. If we're being honest, you know how it is when you're surrounded by other Cheshires.. There's not really a way to avoid them once they've got you in their sights. All you can do is hope for the best. It is even worse where Little Sister is concerned, is it not?"
When the path widens enough to allow passing, Shah feels more than sees Meru make her move, and drifts to the side accordingly. He smiles and winks as she moves past him, Dusty and Miller making chattering noises and sounding disappointed when she doesn't linger to banter with them. They all watch as Meru gives Esfir an affectionate pat and then beelines to get her revenge on Blu, and there's a soft trio of different laughs in response to the way she sends Blu's prized hat flying. Well, that might teach him... Blu loved his hat, even if it was not so fine as their mother's, nor Shah's, if he might venture his opinion. If a Cheshire was fortunate his hat was his pride, and Shahrivar was fortunate. More so than his elder brother, as far as he was concerned.
(And Blu would surely disagree, as was his right.)
"I think he's just trying to save his rainbow skin, Esfir," Shah observed as Esfir began to lament the way Blu sought to push blame on her when Ahli's defense system threatened. "You have him on the ropes, hmm? Give him a little push, maybe one will snap and away he'll go? Or you could entreat a certain muse for mercy... That might work."
With Meru safely at the front of the line, beside Ahlidel, Shah stepped up next to his sister again and gave her a companionable nudge. "I say might because you did insist that he lead the way on an adventure that he's rather unenthusiastic about. That said, Blu has a point. Vorpal and others in the herd are quite scary and dangerous, perhaps more so than whatever monsters we might find at the lake."
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Posted: Fri Sep 27, 2024 12:36 pm
At (Monster) Lake: Quote: Even with rather imposing friends to ensure that his Lady remained safe, Dusk was sure to give at least a cursory glance to their surroundings once he broke through the treeline. Though the lake was the goal, one had to make sure that there weren't truly dangerous inhabitants lurking in the shadows before leaving their nearest and dearest without protection.
However, once he had confirmed that things were safe or at least quiet, he was happy to disregard the rest of the details of the area. Once he was adequately cooled he would likely have more interest in details, such as how pretty the glade was with wildflowers and ancient trees... but for the moment, the cool dark depths of the lake were far more interesting.
The audible steaming of his coat as he plowed into the water was abruptly drowned out when he fully submerged his head, ignoring the feeling of bubbles in his ears as he accidentally got a face full of lake grass. Exhaling heavily in a plume of bubbles that subsequently whooshed over his skull and the tumbling sections of his mane, Dusk drew in several deep droughts before he raised his head above the surface once more. Water sluiced off his skull and streamed down his neck, dripping from his mane as he turned in place and slowly began moving back toward the shore.
"It's very nice," he grins toothily at Labyrinth, giving himself a faint shake and giving a misty exhale. "Bracing, my Lady Bright, but very nice. I think you'll like it."
Hearing his beloved Labyrinth gently make excuses to Tarshna, Dusk flipped his ears forward and attempted to give the warrior mare and appeasing look. "Admittedly, I was listening but concentration seems to have been somewhat lacking... Might you repeat that, Tarshna?" Quote: Though he might be difficult to read to outsiders, Tarshna is well enough acquainted with the somewhat reclusive stallion to know there's no ill-nature behind his selective hearing. She recalled in the past that Dusk admitted when he was too hot or dry, the ensuing headache made it rather hard for him to concentrate on conversational matters. Likewise the excessive dryness meant he would be unlikely to adequately converse or respond, his voice increasingly raspy and soft, if not fully lost due to the absence of moisture.
Knowing all this, Tarshna watches the indigo coated stallion nearly submerging himself in the lake with amusement. She won't go as far into the waters but she hardly blames him for the impulse, watching how his coat steams when he's finally happily sunk in the cool water.
'Poor Dusk, I think you might have gotten overly warm on this little jaunt,' she thinks to herself, giving Labyrinth a gentle look. "Don't apologize, I think we might have over-exerted your mate a little with a midday adventure... He appears to be steaming? Perhaps starting out earlier or later would have been better, for many of our sakes. At least we made it, hmm?"
Rin's airy speaking voice was soothing and pleasing to the ear, so Tarshna tipped both of hers in the direction of the unicorn even as her shoulder eye nearest to the indigo unicorn slitted open to focus on her for a moment.
With Constantine stepping up past her so that he and Watchdog can enjoy the cool lake as well, Tarshna gives a faint shrug and moves forward to join all of her companions, striding until the water is knee-deep before she pauses to flex her paws against the sandy and pebble-strewn lake bottom. "Oh, this is quite pleasing I must agree."
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