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 Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 9:14 am
"Of course, I'd be happy to show you around whenever you have time. I should get back to gather my herbs as well. It wouldn't do for a shaman to run out of salves, potions or incence. Infact it would almost be as bad as a soggy shaman." Giving Tashika a wink he motioned to Ayita and Takota to let them know he was leaving and they could follow if they wished. Looking back over his shoulder he smiled at his new friend. "I can often be found gathering herbs in the forest nerest to the village. If you can't find me that's probably where I will be. I hope you come to like it here."
With anothe inclination of his head he turned back towards the forested and headed deeper into the wood.
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Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 9:27 am
"Goodbye Foalen!" She called after him, smiling.
She turned to the Soquili and the fox, smiling. "I'll come see you both soon."
With a glance at the sky and a farewell wave, she turned and set off, winding through a few trees and dissappearing from sight.
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Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 9:55 am
Aytia waved a hoof calling out to Tashika in fairwell as Takota gathered the remander of his berries and wandered off to hide them for later. The painted mare watched her friends go off on their various paths and decided she would like to go back to the rise above the village where she had such a good view of the valley below. As she moved back down the trial she wondered if the wind would bring her any more new friends that day.
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Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 11:05 am
A Tender Moment Much later when the sky was growing dark and the chill night air smelled of campfires and cooking meat, Foalen made his way down the path leading away from the village toward the little forest clearing where his teepee stood. A warm wicker of greeting welcomed him as Ayita lifted her head from her grazing and with a wicker of welcome amd a merry "osiyo" the soquili word for hello she gracefully glided over the distence between them dispite the burden she still carried upon her back.
She burried her head into the shaman's chest enjoying the spicy scent of the man. He smelled like the herbs he had been gathering and it was a soothing smell. One that Ayita remember from her foal hood when she would spend hours watching the shaman grind and dry the herbs he had so carefully collected.
"o-si-yo" He replyed slowly carefully pronouncing the word not entirerly sure he had it right. "Hello to you too. It's good to see you wind sister." Foalen's voice was soft as his arms instictively wrapped themselves about the mare's neck. It was a wonderful feeling standing there with this incrediable creature in his arms. Finally he broke the embrace to give his painted lady a well deserved scraching behind her ears.
"I'm happy." she replied as she leaned into the scratch. It was her favorite spot and she half closed her eyes in enjoyment. So she didn't notice the mist in his eyes when he heard her say galieliga, wich meant happy in her own toung. She watched the shaman as he slowly moved his hands down her neck towards the sacks she had been carrying for most of the day. The mare sighed happly as he removed the hide bags and she shook herself feeling lighter and stronger without the load.
Foalen helped to straighten her rumpled coat as he pulled a brush and comb from his ever present pouch and brushed her out with a stiff bristled brush. It felt wonderful to feel clean again and she nearly melted under the attention.
She had missed these times with her human friend and she was very glad her children were old enough now that she could come back to be with Foalen more often now.
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Posted: Fri May 12, 2006 5:45 pm
Asking Directions The path from his forest home to the village was quiet as Foalen walked quietly along side the soquili that had so long ago been placed in his care. His spirit felt light as he walked happy to have her nearby. When the were nearly to the fork in the path the shaman had a sudden thought. Soon he would be able to ride Ayita, something they both desiered greatly. But it would be good if they could comunicated more readily before that happened. Perhaps he should turn the learning into a game. He always had done better and learning things as a child when they were hidden in the gise of play. Why should this be any diffrent. Pausing he looked up into Ayita's warm eye catching her attention. With slow and careful pronouciation he tried to say turn left in the soquili language. "Agatahvsdi duyugodv." The mare's ears swung forward her stance at attention as she looked her human friend in the eyes for a moment and then obediantly turned toward the right most path.Blinking after her he wanted to smile but couldn't help but be confused. She had done as he asked, but she had gone in the wrong direction. Coming over to her he shook his head and then motioned to the left. "Duyugodv." Ayita looked blankly in the direction he was pointing and wondered why he would point in the oppiset direction he mentioned. And then it hit her that perhaps he didn't realize he had right and left mixed up. Ayita wuffled blowing out her breath in a show of good humor. Shaking her head like the shaman had done before her she slowly pointed left and said,"agasgani." "agasgani?" Foalen asked following the mares glance and then he smiled as he realized he was being corrected. "Agasgani," he repeated pointing left. Then he pointed right and asked in a questioning voice, "Duyugodv?" Nodding very much like a two footer would she replied in the affirmitive. "asehi." And then to show him how pleased she was at his progress she lipped his doeskin shirt. Wickkering in pleasure.Laughing Foalen gave the mare a scratch glad to have such a paient friend. ((ok this turned out to be sort of a solo post, but I'm going to go ahead and post it anyway. smile ))
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Posted: Sat May 13, 2006 5:40 pm
Word Studies Crickets churped outside in the night as Aytia sat warm by the fire in her shaman friend's teepee. Foalen with the small brown fox Takota curled up in his lap was practicing his soquli words looking up to the mare for conformation whenever he came upon one he was uncertian about.
Ayita gave her friend a nod and listened as he started on the next word. She was delighted that he wanted to talk to her so badly that he was putting so much effort into learning her toung. She leaned forward her ears alert to the faintest sound. Occasionaly she would need to correct the pronounciation but she was having to do that less and less now. Though Foalen really couldn't speak in phrases yet he was starting to get indevidual words down well enough for simple comunication. Tomorrow they planned to go for a walk together to work on furthering their understanding of eachother.
The painted mare missed her family greatly but this was something she really wanted to do and she was glad her family was so understanding and supportive of her. She was very proud of all of them. The fillys had all grown so strong and well in the last few months. She hardly recognized them any more.
Ayita smiled softly thinking to herself of the interaction she had heard Vivena having with a certian young stallion. Perhaps she would be a grand mother sooner than she had expected. 'I wonder what Taima will think of that.' She thought to herself with some amusment since fatherhood had been something of a surprise to the handsome silver stallion.
'He'll be a good grandfather. He was a wonderful father. I knew he would be even though he wasn't sure he was ready.' She thought and then shook her head to clear her mind. She needed to keep focused if she was to help the shaman with his language study, but it was a happy thought.
After correcting another sound Ayita found herself wondering what it would be like to finally be together with her twolegged friend the way Taima was with his. The time was so close now she could almost taste it and she had to work hard to keep her excitement in check. There would be pleantly of time for that once the work was done. Ayita Wuffled encoraging in respose to a well spoken word greatful for having a friend who cared so deeply about her that he would go through such work no matter that he was a twolegger.
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Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 8:03 am
Fellowship The next morning Foalen rose before the sun had emerged from where it slumbered each night and carefully lifted the sleeping fox from off his lap setting the furry form gently on the bedding. Quietly he then began to carefully pack his pouch with the things they would need on the walk he hoped to take that day. Dried meat for him and Takota, a skin of water and some fruit for Ayita. Along with all the normal salves and potions he would carry just in case of an emergancy. When he was certian everything was in order he left his two friends slumbering in the teepee and ventured out into the morning air to give the spirits his morning greeting. The sky was painted in hues of pink gradually shading into yellow near the horizon where the sun was getting ready to leap up into the sky. The forest was silent save for the soft sounds of inscets and birds greeting the dawn. Kneeling down on the loamy forest floor Foalen closed his eyes and taking a deep breath let himself go still so he could more easily feel the spirits all around him. Softly he chanted a greeting to the trees and gave a special welcome to the sun thanking the Great spirit and the Earth mother for their abunant belessings. When he had finished he sat still simply watching as the spirit of life moved all around him. Finally the soft sound of padded feet moving through the grass and underbrush in the forest alerted the Shaman to the fact that he wasn't alone. Not that he had ever really been alone. Opening his eyes he noticed Takota and Ayita waiting paitently near the edge of the clearing. Giving the fox a scratch he stood up and lead the way down the path to see what adventure might lay before them this day. Aytia fell in beside him walking up next to the shaman so he could reach up and lay an arm on her shoulder and he did so without really thinking about it. Takota followed along behind them
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Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 8:37 am
Wild Rose and Ayita gather mother's day presents. Wild rose watched as one of the other yearlings in the herd gave a gift of flowers to his dam. Wondering why she scooted close enough to over hear him talking about Mother's day and thanking his mother for all she had done for him. Right then and their she decided she would do the same for her own mother. Out she went into the forest to find something her mother would like. She looked a long time. For she couldn't think of what her mother might like. And the things she knew her mother would like she couldn't bring to her mother. Like the river with it's cool swift water. Or the shining sun. Finally she came upon a lovely little bush with berries growing on it in abundance. Breaking off a few branches she carried them proudly back to present to her mother.  The berries delighted her mother giving the painted Mare the idea to get a gift for her own mother. So giving Rose a nuzzle she went off in search of her own gift. Spying some beautiful apple blossoms she decided to take a branch down as her gift. Once she had gotten her present she set off in search for her mother.
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Posted: Sun May 14, 2006 5:47 pm
~ Wambli Drops Off a Gift ~
It was a beautiful day and the dark mare was enjoying the sun as she grazed in the large meadow. Her tail lazily swishd away the few flies that dared disturb her as she searched out the bits of clover and sweetgrass that were her favorites.
Her peaceful morning was soon shattered by the youthful cries of "happy mother's day!" coming from several of the foals as they brought gifts to their moms. She raised her head and watched as the delighted mares were surprised with such little presents as the young ones could come up with.
I never knew my dam, she thought to herself as she walked back to the teepee she shared with Anpo. My Talker has been parent to me "ever since I came from my basket. But I do know someone who IS a mom!
Her ears flicked forward as she thought of her good friend Ayita. The paint mare's three fillies had brought a lot of laughter to her life, and Wambli decided in that moment that she wanted to give her friend a thanks gift. But what could she give?
She nudged open the flap to the teepee and stepped inside. It was rare that she went inside her foalhood home anymore, preferring to spend her time outside. Today though she wanted to see Anpo and she wanted to find a gift for Ayita. The Sioux warrior wasn't in the teepee though and neither was her bow and carrysack, so Wambli knew she must be out hunting.
A gift, a gift, a gift! she thought as she looked around. A dust motes dancing in a stray bit of sunlight filtering down from the smokehole caught her attention and she watched them for a moment, her gaze following them downward to where the sunlight fell on Anpo's work area.
"My rainbow pieces!" Wambli said in surprise. On one of her recent flights she had found a wonderous sight - a mountain pass with bit of crystal scattered around. She had brought several back in a carrysack and Anpo had been wrapping them in leather to use as decorations. "I'll give Ayita one of those!"
She nosed through the pile until she found one that was perfect, then just as carefully stepped back outside. With a light heart and the crystal carefully held in her mouth, she took to the air and began to look for her friend, intent on giving her a gift in return for the gift of young that Ayita had brought to the village.
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Posted: Mon May 15, 2006 7:56 am
((Just a Random Gift, because I want to Rp and such! <3))
While out wading in the river, Tashika had come across several glistening stones.
She considered each one, twisting it this way and that in the light. The first, an orange-yellow that reminded her of Foalen and Ayita's eyes kept taking her attention. She picked it up and brushed the smooth edges with her fingertips, smiling as she thought of the Shaman, his mare, and Takota. Within her basket was a smaller one with a lid, and it was already filled with berries.
Laughing, Tashika stood and collected the basket, filling it with the crystals and a dreamcatcher she had recently finished making, and headed toward Foalen's Teepee.
When she arrived none of her friends were around, so she settled the basket of berries, the dreamcatcher, the crystal, and a single violet flower just before the entrance, hoping Foalen would remember the flowers.  
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Posted: Tue May 16, 2006 8:12 am
Surprise and Delight Returning from their walk the trio were delighted and suprised to find an array of gifts left before their door. Foalen quickly tended to the flower as Takota inspected the small basket from wich a delicious smell was coming. Yipping happly upon discover of the berries within the basket, the little fox selected several plump morsles and set them at his feet so he could savor each one as a truely fine treat deserved. "Tashika must have been here, I can't think who else would know your fondness for berries Takota." Foalen grinned reaching down to give the brown fox a petting. Setting the basket of berries inside where they would be in the shade he then knelt down to look at the lovely stone that had captured the mare's attention for Ayita hadn't stopped looking at it since they had arrived at the teepee. "u-wo-du-hi" Ayita murmured under her breath as she nosed the lovely gifts. Foalen smiled and nodded in agrement with the mare for the stone and dreamcatcher were beautiful. "u-wo-du-hi" He repeated picking up the dream catcher so that he could put it somewhere where it would be safe. He felt the desire to do something nice in return for all of Tashika's kind gifts and as he picked just the right spot for the dream catcher he went over in his mind what the gift should be. Ayita gently picked the stone up carrying it over to the special place the shaman had made for her to keep the few tresures she had aquired over time. Wambli's precious stone was also nestled safely there as well and she was careful not to bump the clear crystal as she set the amber stone next to it. When Foalen was satsified that he had hung the dream catcher properly and Ayita had settled the stone, the mare and fox joined the shaman by the fire in the teepee in one accord as he sat and stired the fire back into life still pondering what his gift could be. Rolling out the herbs he had collected on his walk with Ayita and Takota, Foalen smiled. He knew something Tashika likely wouldn't have but could definatly use. Healing salve. And he had just the ingrediants he needed to make it too. So setting the herbs out to dry he began to work under the begning watch his fox and soquili friends.
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Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 8:04 am
A gift in return The preperations had taken a fair amount of time, giving Ayita and Takota ample oppertunity to rest while Foalen worked the herbs he had found on his walk into something specia. Kindness deserved to be rewarded, even though he knew the young woman wasn't expecting anything in return. The Shaman wanted his new friend to know that he apprechiated the time, effort, and thought she had put into the choosing of her gifts. There were many things he could have given her in return, but he had chosen something few others would have been able to give her. The healing salve would help to keep wounds clean and aid in healing. It wasn't fancy but it worked well and anyone who walked the forest alone could deffinatly find a use for it. Having packed it up into a small clay jar he placed it in his pouch and went in search of Tashika's teepee with Ayita and Takota walking along beside him. He scratched on the door flap when he arrived but their friend wasn't home. So Foalen left the jar in a prominent place near the door so she would find in when she returned. Then they set off back through the forest as the birds regailed them with songs of spring. 
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Posted: Wed May 17, 2006 8:38 am
Tashika arrived at home, puzzling over things she had seen in the woods on her walk. Oddly colored birds had been gathered about, and she wondered what they were speaking of.
"Probably just the friends of Soquili." She sighed, resettling her gathering basket as she rounded the corner and looked upon her home. "Gathering to talk of some great event or another."
Just outside of the door sat a little jar, and she smiled, wondering at it.
"What on earth?" She murmured, kneeling and picking it up carefully. " Who?"
She laughed. "Foalen...."
This meant he had gotten the gifts. She smiled and opened the jar, sniffing the concoction within. It smelled slightly minty, and she recognized it as a healing salve. With a soft smile she closed the jar and stepped into her Teepee, setting it down next to a wooden bowl and a twist of sage. It was kind of him to give her that, and it would come into great use.
"Thank you, my friend." She murmured, picking up her latest project, a freshly started basket.
The sun was warm on her face, even with the cool breeze, and Tashika stepped into the air willingly, perching on a rock beside the river and beginning to weave the basket.
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Posted: Sat May 20, 2006 3:35 pm
A Display of Trust The painted mare walked in the comfortable silence that fell within the canopy of green shading the forest path. The shaman Foalen walked beside her matching her pace as they threaded their way through the brush and vegitation.
Ayita felt completely relaxed and at her ease with the shaman's arm resting along her withers in the way he had reciently adopted. So she didn't even notice when he had shifted his weight so that most of his weight rested on her strong shoulder.
She had come a fair distance holding his weight with no hint of fatigue when the ground gradually grew harder as the forest gave way to the rolling foothills that lay beneath the towering shadow of the mountain. It was then as the rocks shifted beneath their feet and the shaman's weight shifted compleatly onto her side that Ayita realized what he had been doing.
The mare came to a sudden decision as Foalen instinctively reached for her with both hands. She knew her shaman friend was moving slowly in their attempt at riding so he wouldn't make her over extend herself. But if she could carry most of his weight half way through the forest why not the rest of it? Lowering her shoulder she turned a large brown eye on the shaman in clear inviation.
The man gave her a look of surprise that transformed slowly to excitment when he realized that she had decided to do this here and now. Ayita stayed very still as Foalen revrently pulled himself up onto her shoulder and then shifted himself gently onto her back with due consideration for the honor wich had been bestoed upon him..
She stood carefully evening out her stance and had to turn her head to try and look at the shaman as he emittied a hissing sound his face blanching terribly.
Neighing in consern she watched him carefully for further signs of distress. It was a tense moment as the silence streatched out and then dissipated as his expression cleared and his lips turned up into a smile. His mellow laughter eccoed reasuringly through the valley soothing her worries. "There are some dissadvantages to being male when it comes to riding." The shaman murmered in wry amusment as he settled into a more comfortable riding position. Haveing never had ridden before it was an interesting experience and he knew it would take a while to get used to how his soquili friend moved. Unsure of what it was that had caused her friend's momentairy discomfort Ayita kept her gait slow and was careful to watch her footing turning to head back onto the more level forest path. It would take them a while to get anywhere at this rate. But they were making progress, they were together and there wasn't anywhere else she would rather be right at this moment.
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Posted: Tue May 23, 2006 7:34 am
Reflections and Meditations Very happy but rather sore Foalen sat down near the fire that evening preparing to meditate as he did every evening to draw closer to the realm of the spirit. Crooking a bemused eyebrow at the brown fox laying at his side Foalen smiled. "If I ever have an apprentice I believe I am going to see if I can't get them to atempt riding providing a soquili is willing. I think it would be very good training in consentration. At least I am finding that it's forcing me to focus more than I would normaly have to." Takota looked up with a amused expression on his vulpine face giving the shaman a soft yip in agreement before curling up in his traditional napping spot. Laughing at his own expence Foalen calmed himself and then opened up to the wider world around him letting the ebb and flow of life within the forest and village wash over him. The spirit world rippled around him as he felt himself expand outward. The ebb and flow of the life force in the near by forest washed over him and he let it feeling the temper of the spirits all around him and knowing that at least for the moment all was as it should be with beasts of the forest and plants of the earth. His thoughts wandered to the amazing ride he had experienced earlier that day. He knew there were some soquili who looked down upon the humans and the squili who allowed themselves to be ridden. And he hoped he hadn't made trouble for Ayita by taking her up on her offer. Then again she was an adult and fully aware of the choices she was making. Though he vowed silently to himself and the spirits all around him that he would wait for her ask him to ride if at all possible. And if there ever were a dire need for him to do so that he would not do so without asking her first. She was a sacred spirit after all and he inteded to treat her with the respect due such a being. The flow around him murmered softly as if in approval of his thoughts as the shaman slipped father into his meditations.
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