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Ayita laying warm within the teepee lifted her head scenting something she couldn't quite make out through the smoke from the fire popped her multicolored head out of the teepee blowing out a breath to catch the scent that was eluding her. She smelled a dog, one she hadn't ever met before. But with it a more familiar scent. Whinning Ayita stepped out of the teepee to go investigate.

She trotted lightly over to Kaliska neighing a welcome as Foalen peered out of the teepee to see where his soquili friend had gone. He blinked in the light for a moment as his eyes adjusted to the bright sky. When his vision cleared he smiled recognizing the young woman who had travled with the party seeking to put the dark spirit that inhabited the forest to rest.

"Hau Kaliska, what brings you to my door?"

Smiling down at the black fox the apprentice shaman nodded. "Good day little brother," He said noding to Kali's little friend. Reaching out absently to finger groom Ayita's short mane he looked back up at Kali.

"Yes, it probably was Ayita that drew him here. That or the rabbit I just skinned. Rabbit's aren't known for being very large, but if you care to join me you'd be welcome. I haven't cleaned up yet so Strider would be welcome to those parts we aren't likely to eat. If you think he'd be interested."

Ayita wuffled at the fox curious as she had only seen a fox once before on the trip to the sacred burrial ground.

((Actually Foalen has black hair, it's just that the picture I had Neo do was a sketch and so she just colored the hair in lightly. Actually Foalen is quite young. Id say in his mid to late teens.))

Ayita smiled and lowered her head so she could speak more on the fox's level. "I am Ayita and I'm a Soquili. I've seen one of your kind before, but we didn't really have a chance to speak. There was a lot going on at the time. But I wonder, it seems you don't mind the too foots either though many wild creatures shun them. Why did you decide to stay with your friend over there?" She asked curiously.

Foalen stepped back holding the door to the teepee open so Kali and her friend could enter should they wish to. "I'm glad, It will be nice to have some company."

((It's ok, I just thought I should let you know.)) biggrin

Ayita listened to Strider nodding as the fox spoke. "After one of my kind is born he or she spends time in a woven basket protected by harm by a chosen two legger. I was given to this two legger when I was born and have been with him ever since. Now that I am older and stronger I watch over him."

Foalen rubbed his chin with long dexterous fingers as he tried to figure up the number of moons he had been living here with Ayita. It haden't been more than a few moons, and the shortness of his stay near the village suprised him. It seemed to him he had been here much longer than that. He certianly was getting used to life here with the Keiwani. (sp) "I think it's been only a few moons or so now. Perhaps a little longer than that. It seems strange that I've been here for such a short while."

Letting the door flap close Foalen went back over to the fire where he had been skinning the rabbit. Portioning out the gibblits for the fox he looked up at his guest with a smile motioning her to sit on one of the rugs laid out over the dirt floor. "So when did you come to stay in this area. I remember you went with us on the journey to the burial ground. So it's been a little while at least."

"There is no wrong in having a wandering spirit. Wandering brings with it wisdom. For as you wander you have ample oppertunity to see and learn many things." the young shaman replied with quiet confidence in his warm voice. Looking down at the rabbit that he hadn't gotten very far on skinning he grinned. "I seem to be doing more listening than working actually. But If you'd like to help with the rabbit that would be fine with me. It'll give me a chance to get some of the herbs together for the stew."

Setting down his knife he handed the rabbit to Kali and then set to getting the herbs prepared.

"I'm not sure that my size really matters all that much. Though It probably does help" Ayita said thoughtfully as she wrinkled her nose at the scent of blood. She knew that Foalen and the other two footers ate and even enjoyed meat and while she much prefered the lovely long grasses that grew in the medow she understood that not everyone shared the same tastes. Still the aroma was not one she was comfortable around. Mincing her feet slightly she moved a short distance away where she couldn't smell the rabbit noticing the fox's glance towards the teepee.

"If you wish to join your friend for supper, I won't mind." The painted mare bobbed her head toward the teepee as she spoke indicating the slightly open door flap.

Title: Daydreams

The sun was low in the sky, the pale light filtering through the leafless branches to cast odd shadows on the forest floor as Ayita she slowly wound her way through the trees. The melting snow made the earthen path a sloggy mess wich added more brown to the painted mare's multicolored coat.

While the mud was a little chilly she didn't really mind it if it meant she could visit with her friends. It had been a wonderful day, spent mostly in the company of Taima who had been showing her some of the techniques his two legger had tought him. Pausing in her walk Ayita sighed at the memory of the handsome stallion working through his paces, the powerful muscles underneath his coat rippling, the proud arch of his neck, the way the wind caught at his high held tail making a banner of it. She could see why Lequoia was so pleased with his progress.

Ayita was quite proud of him too, though the warm flame that seemed to fan within her chest every time she watch him had less to do with the techniques he was learning as much as the phyisical results of those lessons. He had always been handsome even as a colt. As a stallion he was very well grown indeed. The training served to hone the atributes the spirits had already given Tai in abundance.

Shaking her mane out Ayita scanned the forest around her, it wouldn't do to get caught daydreaming as she wandered through the forest. There might not be any leaves on the trees as of yet, but there were still preditors during every season.

as if summoned by the thought the sound of rustling twigs came to the mare through the evening air. Standing rock still she flicked her ears twards the sound straining to define the sound when all at once Foalen appeared at her side.

Suprised by the sudden movement she sidled away from him turning to give the shaman a dark look as he reached out to place a soothing hand on her shoulder.

"I didn't mean to give you a start." The young man said with an appologetic smile. "But I saw your coming and decided you might want to make a stop at the river before we go back to the teepee."

Ayita didn't understand what her friend was saying, but she wuffled at him . Nudging Foalen in the chest and breathing grass scented breath upon him.

"It looks like you've managed to get half the forest's worth of mud on you. Come along with me and we'll get you cleaned up." Giving Ayita's forhead a scratch he lead her off through the trees towards the river.

Title: Step by Step - Chapter 1

Since the snow had begun to recide the forest plants had started to make tenitive gestures towards new groth. Here and there in the yellow brown leafless wood tiny patches of green where peaking up out of the muddy landsacpe.

Ayita lifted her face to the sun letting it bathe her in its warmth as she waited for her human friend to finish preparing for their journy. From watching the shaman pack his the lovely ever present pouch that Anpo had given him, she could tell that they would be going on a herb collecting walk this morning.

Her ears flickered as she took in the ambient sounds of the forest. Birds greeting the moring with song as treebranches swayed magesticly in the wake of the Great Mother's breath. She was content to wait as long as her two footed freind needed her to, though a walk in the woods would be plesant.

She didn't have long to wait, however for the sound of the teepee flap opening caught her attention and she looked up at her shaman friend.
He smiled in return safely tieing his pouch to his leather belt. He wore a lightly fringed deerhide shirt and tews that blended with the browns of the forest. Checking to be sure that his long hair was tied back securely Foalen reached out a hand to Ayita. It was then that she noticed he was carrying something.

Stepping closer she sniffed at the large heavy bunder the shaman had rolled under one arm.

"This is a blanket." Foalen explained knowing the works meant little to Ayita, but unrolling the blaket as he spoke. "I'm going to put this on your back to help you start to get used to carrying weight. It will be easier for you to carry me if your already used to having something on your back."

While he talked the shaman walked along side of the painted mare, on hand on her side. When he was certian she wasn't frightened or going to bolt he gently laid the blanket onto her back.

Ayita turned her head to look at the thick blanket. It was a little odd having something on her back like that, but she trusted Foalen and if he wanted her to wear this this she would. After taking a nibble to see what the blaket would taste like she turned and nuzzled the shaman.

Laughing he gave her a good long scratching behind the ears before they set off together through the woods.