[PRP] Spring Blooms in the Graveyard

[xo maho]

Ponies who appear:

 

[xo maho]

Warda approached the graveyard, a branch of cherry blossoms in her mouth. She had pulled the branch down in the still (1) morning, rupturing (2) the silence as it cracked beneath her hooves. The cutting (3) still held its floral scent, though it might not for much longer.

The dark mare had come here with the intention of contributing (4) to honoring the memory of a friend - a friend who had died in a battle they had fought against a draconic (5) enemy not of their own choosing. But it didn't matter; they had been mercenaries, paid to be there. Sometimes, they paid with their lives. Pre-conceived (6) notions about rules of engagement meant nothing on the battlefield.

As she reached the boundary of the burial ground, Warda noticed that it was surprisingly well-cared for. Annual (7) blooming plants grew neatly, their positions obviously strategized to maximize sun's relationship with their budding (8) stems. Happy bees ricocheted (9) around the semi-shaded park. Suddenly, she felt a bit besotted (10) with her friend's resting place. She meandered through the rows of stones, wondering which belonged to the friend who had made it to the other side.

Somewhat day-dreaming (11) as she wandered, Warda didn't realize that she had an audience (12).

WC: 198  

[magnadearel]

Charnette was marshalling her charges of the day against the bane of all gardeners everywhere. The group was cutting down the annual budding of the weeds that cropped up with every spring. The mare paused in her work to look around her and smiled faintly at her family. No they weren't all related by blood, but that didn't matter to her. They were all apart of the same herd that her mate, Veslorurn, had founded and that made them part of her family.

There was the herd's protector, Runa. The feline shifter was loafing in the shade with her odd draconic wings folded around her. Undoubtedly day-dreaming about a strong foe to challenge. Charnette's eye roved over the others. It was surprising just how many of them were minis, if she was being frank. She smiled fondly thinking of the day Runa had brought one home and claimed him as her minion. He'd found a mate and they were multiplying.

Despite most of them having an oddball nature, they still managed to contribute something. "Casper and Delara dears, could you please pick up this pile of weeds and throw them into the basket?" The foals hadn't been too long out of the basket themselves and would be easy enough for them to feel like they were contributing.
WC: 217

"Ok Auntie!" The foal tottered upon wobbly legs that more resembled doggerel than a dignified walk. He was oblivious to the audience of his extended family watching him as he faithfully ricocheted back and forth between pile and basket.
WC: 39

Runa may to others be loafing, but that was down to interpretation for she was in fact on watch. She listened to the familiar voice of the alpha mare as she spoke to the foals that everyone seemed so besotted with them. The shifter feigned disinterest in the tiny foals, wondering how her one minion had gotten to be so many. Sure they were tiny. Sure they might be a little bit cute. But there was no way Runa would ever admit that they were the reason she was here on watch instead of doing her usual patrol.

A strange scent caught her attention. The halcyon was ruptured as she gave an angry screech and became a flurry of wings and paws as she placed herself between the foals and the stranger emerging from wilderness that surrounded the well kept grounds of the graveyard. "State your business!"
WC: 147  

[xo maho]

Warda
Warda's reverie shattered as a tornado of feline (13) fur and a scalding (14) screech sped toward her. The creature looked like one of the things she had fought in her career - demonspawn, the bane (15) of many a soldier. Warda believed they were called shifters, and this one was practically spitting with animosity. Her instincts screamed at her to shift into a battle stance, but instead, Warda used her training to remain remarkably calm at the sudden confrontation.

Carefully lowering her blooming branch to the ground so she could speak, Warda used the opportunity to survey her surroundings. Out of her peripheral vision, she caught sight of two tiny foals, and she smiled internally. That explained the alarm sparked in the creature before her; she was protecting the small ones, though Warda wasn't really an individual they would need protection from. Still, she understood; protecting these foals' halcyon (16) days of peaceful spring before they were over was a worthy priority. "My name is Warda," she said softly. "I am here to pay respects to a friend who I believe is buried here. He perished in a battle."

WC: 185

Delara
Entirely oblivious to the interaction happening nearby, the itty bitty red foal bounced along after Auntie Char, doing her best to assist with the now familiar (17) duty of removing weeds from their plantings. Auntie Char had introduced them to this duty soon after the popped from their baskets (18), so they could feel helpful once they could reliably walk (and do something other than waddle around after their herdmates, singing doggerel (19) like babies were wont to do. Though, Delara would argue, whether or not her songs were doggerel was up to interpretation (20). She thought they were quite cute, like her.)

Carefully scooping up a bunch of weeds with her tiny mouth, Delara delivered them to Auntie Char's basket. The thing she enjoyed least about this was that sometimes, she was just inaccurate enough to end up with a mouthful of dirt... but Mommy said that would make her body strong. So she supposed she didn't really mind, but the feeling of grit between her teeth was absolutely gross!

WC: 167

Samhain
Samhain looked on from nearby as Auntie Char took a turn babysitting her foals. She was incredibly grateful that she was basically raising them with a built-in village - acquiring them in the first place was a complete accident, so she was happy to have the support as she figured out just what the heck she was doing. She loved them. For a long time, Samhain had worried they might cramp her style in various ways, but they had turned out to bring her so much joy that she didn't even care. Somehow, she had the ability to lie in the grass and breathe in the scent of fresh-blooming trees and flowers, still get all her chores done, and listen to the sound of her children giggling. Because of her herd, she was able to find peace doing what she had done before, with the added fun of tiny foals.

(That was, of course, until they got old enough to be mischievous. She had been warned.)

Casting a glance over to her immediate family as Runa activated her own alarm system, Samhain blinked slowly at them. "Who do you think this stranger could turn out to be?" she asked.

WC: 198  

[magnadearel]

Runa would have loved to continue her scalding comments, but the mare showed no signs of aggression. The shifter mantled her wings a moment more as the mare lowered the object she was carrying to the ground. She noted it was a flowering branch. Not an item usually brought if one intended to attack a group. Runa shook her head, she wouldn't let any pre-conceived notions block her from doing her job.

"I am Runa. You've entered the Graveyard Herd's territory. Do no harm to either those who live here or the gravestones and you'll be allowed to pass freely." How she hated saying that last part! Veslorurn insisted though, and since he'd allowed her to remain and watch over her parent's graves, she obeyed. That didn't make it any easier. Not many came here anyhow, but some sometimes came to pay respects.
WC: 143

Casper was startled when the peace and quite became loud screeching. Mostly by one present. He quickly scampered back towards his family and called Delara to come with him. Something was going down and he had no idea what! But it was scary. He leaned up against his mother's side and peered out at the scene that he was too young to understand.
WC: 63

Charnette absolutely adored having foals around. Her own boys had grown up so fast! Plus she'd had four boys somehow. She really hoped she got some girls next time around, just like Samhain. For now, she would absolutely dote on the foals even if they weren't hers. She was startled, not something she experienced often!, as Runa sounded her warning. Really did she have to be so obnoxious sometimes?

As the alpha mare she stepped forward to take control of the situation. Runa could be a little too zealous in her duties, but it did ensure they remained as safe as possible. "Down Kitty," she commanded and waited until the shifter settled into a sphinx pose on the grass before stepping forward. "Apologies. We don't usually get many visitors in this deep without prior warning."

She cast a speculative eye over the mare. She looked unusual and seemed to have flowers growing out of her body. Charnette knew of someone who was interested in flowers, almost to the exclusion of all else. "I'm Charnette and the Alpha mare here. Please be welcomed. You said you were looking for a grave? I'm sorry to hear that you've lost someone close to you. If you don't mind, could you tell me more about it or him? We might be able to help you find it."
WC: 223  

[xo maho]

Delara
Blinking as her brother called her name, Delara finally looked up at the situation, watching Runa go from fluffed up in all her glory to sitting calmly like a scolded but obedient kitten. The site was so foreign to Delara that, watching it unfold as she walked, she ended up walking directly into her brother's flank, bumping him into their mother. "Oops!" she exclaimed, drawing back slightly and shuffling her feet sheepishly. "Sorry," she whispered. "I was watching what's happening over there... Runa seems maybe not happy." It was not good when Runa wasn't happy. Tiptoeing around her mother's side, Delara peeked under her tummy to keep an eye on things and tried to stay out of the way.

WC: 119

Samhain
Tucking her little colt up against her side by scooping him against her with her spade-ended tail, Samhain watched the interaction between Runa, Auntie Char, and the stranger. She was prepared to spirit her foals away at any moment should the need arise, but she didn't feel the inkling of danger yet. This stranger appeared surprisingly calm and collected, for being confronted by one who would normally be perceived as highly dangerous, at the very least. Samhain wondered what could be wrong with her to provoke such a non-reaction.

WC: 89

Warda
Observing the interaction between the blue mare and the shifter, Warda realized that the blue mare must be the alpha - and then she introduced herself and said as much. Bowing her head, Warda acknowledged her in a way she hoped Charnette (and her guard cat) found adequately respectful. "The loss was quite some time ago, but thank you," Warda said softly. "He was a warrior, a mercenary... Like me, before I retired." May as well get that out of the way quickly. "My understanding is that he was severely injured in battle but was not found, so he may have been laid to rest somewhere nearby. Do you have burials for anyone matching that description?"  

[magnadearel]

Casper let out a peep of surprise as his sister bumped softly into his flank. He smiled sheepishly at her, but brushed her shoulder reassuringly with his tail. "It's alright." He tilted his head worried. "Is she ever happy?" To him she always seemed to be scowling, but he could never figure out why. He watched her tail as it twitched back and forth across the grass. Nope he was going to stay out of her way whatever way he could. Casper was happy when his mother put her tail around him.

WC: 92

Runa rumbled softly as she kept an eye on the stranger. Charnette might have told her to heel, but she wasn't going to let her guard down. Her tail danced its way slowly across the grass. She was pleased when the stranger showed the Alpha the proper respect. Runa listened to the mare's tale. Her ears perked when the mare mentioned she was a retired mercenary. Well that explained why her senses told her this mare could be dangerous. Runa felt verified. Perhaps she was just here to find a grave though.

WC: 92

Charnette listened closely. "I'm glad time has eased the pain. Could you please introduce yourself?" From the corner of her eye she kept an eye on the shifter just to be sure she was following orders. The blue mare didn't want any incidences if she could help it. Based upon the mare's description she had a couple of ideas of which graves it might be. She'd have to take the mare around to look them over.

"Hmm well we won't figure anything out just standing around here." Charnette turned to her little group. "The rest of you may continue our chore. I'll return shortly. Runa stay with them." It was easy for her to see conflict on the feline's face, but a little nod reassured Runa that she didn't feel any thread from the visitor. She had a plan and wasn't going to pass it up. "Come along then please."

WC: 150  

[xo maho]

Warda

"My name is Warda." The dark mare waited patiently as Charnette directed her herd to continue with their day. Picking up her branch, Warda followed dutifully behind Charnette, deeper into the graveyard. It was clearly well-kept; along with the perimeter plantings and trimmed trees worked into its surroundings, most of the graves appeared to be individually tended. What a livelihood, she thought to herself, though her mouth was full of tree branch, so there was not much she could contribute to conversation as she walked behind the alpha.  

[magnadearel]

Charnette held a one sided conversation, chattering about the spring weather and the fresh blooms. Meanwhile her mind was busy. She had a plan that she intended to enact right away. The only question was how difficult would it be to engage? She cast a sly glance at the mare behind her. Warda had brought her own tree branch. That was thoughtful. Now where would her first son be? If she guessed right, tending some graves and placing new flowers on them. She headed towards the area of the graveyard that she thought the grave Warda was searching for might be in. As luck would have it, she saw him tending to one of the graves.

"Bakkhos! Bakkhos darling. We have a visitor. She's looking for a grave of a fallen mercenary. I believe these are from the right time frame."

WC: 141

Bakkhos loved spring. He loved the rush of flowers as they bloomed. This was the time he thrived. He spent all year prepping for this season. "Nectar smell these and decide which one suit this grave." His familiar was supremely helpful in his work. Her tiny paws did the little tasks that he could not. Their work was interrupted when he heard his mother's voice calling him.

The stallion looked up and blinked in surprise. The mare with his mother was.... unusual. And beautiful. She had roses seeming to grow from his chest. A chuckle from his familiar made him come back to surroundings. "Ah, yes hello. I hope we can find the grave you're looking for miss."

WC: 118

Nectar delicately did as the stallion asked. She had a nose for these things. After a few quick sniffs, she pointed to a couple of flowers from the bunch. These would be the ones left here. Delicately she arranged the flowers and stepped back just as another pair of ponies appeared. One she knew, one she did not. And oh the one she did not was intriguing! She wasn't the only one who noticed as Bakkhos had an open jawed look as he stared at the mare. Nectar chuckled to bring him back to reality.

She scampered over to the mare and used her tiny wings to raise herself up enough to be able to sniff the roses. "Pardon me, I simply must check your flowers!"  

[xo maho]

Warda followed along behind Charnette, listening to her chatter while her eyes flitted about her surroundings. This place seemed as peaceful as it looked from an outsider's perspective - birds sang in the trees above, butterflies fluttered about, bees buzzed contentedly. There was no alarm or dead silence of an ominous place.

They approached a stallion who looked suspiciously like Charnette, though he was mostly red - briefly, in the back of her mind, Warda wondered who his father was, though she supposed it could be of little consequence. The familiar way Charnette greeted him confirmed to Warda that Bakkhos was Charnette's son. Putting her branch down so she could introduce herself, Warda smiled at Bakkhos. Then, looking next to her where Charnette had been, Warda made to say a thank you - only to find that the mare had disappeared.

Laughing at herself, and her apparently failed instincts, Warda blinked as she was interrupted from introducing herself by the tiniest little creature. A mouse with little butterfly wings had approached her. "Hello," she said. "I am Warda. You seem quite careful, but I should still warn you that most of those are, in fact, attached." Looking up at the stallion again, she said, "I would greatly appreciate your help. Interestingly, this mercenary referred to himself as a rogue with no allegiance, though like most of us, his allegiance was to himself. I'm not sure what his true name was, but he referred to himself as Vagabond."  

[magnadearel]

Bakkhos shifted his weight awkwardly. He wasn't sure what to say or do in this situation when he felt so tongue tied. When he went to ask his mother a question, he found that she had mysteriously vanished! He really needed to learn how she did that. He looked back at the mare and had to swallow hard when she smiled at him.

Before he could realize what was happening, Nectar was all up in the mare's business. Meaning she was investigating the flowers that seemed to grow from her body. "Nectar!" He hissed mortified. "I-I apologize for her behavior. We don't often see, ah, ponies that have flowers growing out of them. W-we grow the flowers here you see." He was stumbling over his words and felt like a foal again! How embarrassing. Silently he promised revenge on his mother for his.

Bakkhos was surprised to learn that her flowers were actually attached to her body. "That's fascinating. Do they grow year round?" What would he do with flowers he could have all year? They wouldn't survive the winter. He cleared his throat suddenly. "Oh yes. You were looking for a grave. Unfortunately many that come to us are not able to tell us their names. We write down what information we can, but often it is not a lot unless someone who knows them brings them. We can check these rows to see if any match." Bakkhos gestured with his tail to the rows he meant.

"Come here Nectar." He would accompany Warda during her search and provide any additional help he could for as long as she chose to grace this graveyard. "I'm Bakkhos by the way."

WC: 280

Nectar peered up at the pony. "Truly? That is simply delightful! That means you must smell like roses all the time! Oh and I'm Nectar of the Rose!" The tiny mouse beamed at her new friend. She fluttered over to Bakkhos to rest on his back. She couldn't fly for long, but it was handy at times.
 

[xo maho]

Warda smiled down at Nectar again. "It's quite alright, it's an unusual thing to encounter! They do grow all year, and they sting a bit when detached. It's lovely to meet you both - I appreciate your guidance."

Walking and conversing with them through a few rows of the neatly manicured graves, Warda looked for the one she thought might belong to her friend. Unfortunately, there was little enough information that they were not able to identify one grave in particular, but Warda was grateful when Bakkhos and Nectar offered to observe a moment of silence among the rows anyway. Content that she had fulfilled her purpose in coming here, Warda left her branch of cherry blossoms on one of the unidentified graves as an offering. She, Bakkhos, and Nectar talked long into the evening, and she offered an extra hoof as needed. Their work seemed unthanked, but even so, to Warda, it seemed like work worth doing.