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 Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 12:49 pm
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Tazrin rolled in his sleep, the morning light peaked in through the spherical crevice in the wall of his modest hidey-hole, sliding across the lids of his eyes and in response, all Taz could do was to move in the opposite direction in protest. He did not feel like waking up yet, having fallen asleep late the previous night, one could suggest 'late' meant earlier this day in fact and in consequence had left him reeling at the idea of having to function before noon. Only when he turned the other way, light from the opposite window mirrored the one he just turned away from. Taz's eyes, very unamused at the present situation, sprung open with bloodshot whites and brows furrowed as they glared down the now regretful modification to his current accommodation.
All he could do was lay there for a time, while eying the light until he found the energy and urge to rise in order to face the day ahead. With a defeated sigh Tazrin pushed up against the bedding and got up on to his hooves, moving over to the 'stove' where he would then brew a tea concocted of local herbs. Stirring the questionably coloured liquid in the bowl, he then picked it up and headed out of the entrance of his home, looking out on to the vast plane before him. There was a cool breeze sweeping through the lands, brushing all the blades of grass like waves in the sea. Finally he broke a smile, shaking off the poor mood he had woken up in from the lack of sleep while he enjoyed and admired the beautiful view nature in these isles had to offer.
He had no idea what was in store for him yet but having witnessed such a spectacular moment in spite of the rocky morning start must mean that something exciting was out there and waiting to be discovered and with that thought he quickly finished his morning tea, hastily disposed of the tea bowl and whipped out of the door to trot across the plain in to the direction of the forest parallel to his home. If anything, he could restock the herbs for his tea. |
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Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2022 2:59 pm
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It was a bright and sunny day--one that many would say would be beautiful. Unfortunately, Ravenna wasn't one of many. The dark haired centaur found the afternoon light too strong and even garrish. While it helped bring light to the land, and was, of curse, a powerful magic in its own right... it could also burn, blind, and even kill. The Sun spirits were powerful and not something Ravenna praised anymore... and she couldn't help but feel uncomfortably exposed in the harsh light of day.
Night was her time. When the sun was chased out of the sky by the moon, and the comfort of shadows gripped the land. That was when Ravenna felt most alive, most awake and was when the Moon Spirits called to her. Night was her time -- and was where she could properly honor the Moon Gods and Goddesses. They had called to her, just as they had called her brother, Aiolos. They had called to her in a way that the Sun spirits had not... and while she had been unsure about her path in her old herd, now that she was with Aiolos and free to truly be herself, she knew that all the hardship and strife had been worth it. She owed her life to the Moon Spirits, and as their priestess, would walk the path of moonlight wherever it might lead.
Unfortunately, Ravenna was not truly nocturnal. To complicate matters, some of the herbs she needed for her rituals required plans and flowers in bloom--and that meant harvesting them during the day. Unfortunately, it couldn't be helped. Just because she was a Moon Priestess didn't mean she couldn't walk in the light of the sun. Even if she had mixed feelings about it.
With a flick of her tail, the dark haired centaur paused now and then to reach down and pluck a few wild flowers, and tuck them into a small, warn satchel she had brought along with her. She still hadn't found the elusive Blood Lion flower, nor the Violets and Wild Ginger. She knew she'd need to find that in the forest, which, thankfully, was not too far ahead. But the plains would hold the Primrose ... if she could find it. So far though, it was proving elusive.
Heaving a sight, Ravenna pawed at the ground in irritation, before something caught her attention. Something very pale, and rather brightly colored. She almost took a step back, half-priming herself to bolt the way she had come--but he didn't look familiar, which meant he (probably) wasn't part of her old herd. That meant he wasn't looking for her, or her brother..or at least, that was what she could only hope.
Aiolos was usually the one keeping an eye on her, and while she often joked she didn't need it--now that he wasn't near she was beginning to wonder if that was truly the case. Hopefully, the stranger didn't prove to be a threat.
So it was, she simply watched--perhaps he would pass by without a word.
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Posted: Sun Jan 09, 2022 3:44 pm
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As the brightly coloured centaur reached the border of the forest he slowed in his stride having made the mistake of wading his way through the dense wood too swiftly in his previous visit. He grimaced as he remembered tripping over a tangle of roots and falling face first in to the soil beneath. He chopped his lips together subconsciously at the memory, still able to taste the earth in mouth. He doubted it was something he could willingly forget for some time and was simply relieved that no one had been around at the time to witness the embarrassment or else he may never have out lived the mockery on the tongues of his neighbors.
Carefully lifting a hoof and placing it over the knot of roots, he grinned proudly as he gestured a nod to no one in particular other than himself; for once he had actually taken caution, paid close attention to what he was doing and had learned from a past failing. Planting all fours firmly on the ground he walked forward, twisting his gaze from left to right to observe the foliage scattered among the trunks of tree's and rock clusters. Every now and then a rustle would sound and he would divert his attention to see what was there but when there was nothing in the immediate vicinity he would just shrug it off and carry on looking for the herbs he had set out to gather.
"Aha, there you're." He muttered to himself, crouching down by a flurry of leaves. He nipped at them individually, placing one in his mouth to chew gently in order to check that it was in fact what he thought it was. Not the best practice honestly, considering what would happen if it was to say... Poisonous but he wasn't an expert and he hadn't exactly had much guidance on these matters so he was winging it and hoping that whatever it was, it was perfectly safe to be ingested. That was when a stray sun speckle from the canopy above caught the skin of the other and had it not been for the fact her skin was a pale purple hue he doubted he would have even noticed she was there.
He stopped mid way through plucking a tea leaf, eyes slipping slowly over to the right to take the vision of the other in. He paused, slack jawed and startled by the sudden appearance of another centaur though despite his coat being bright and sunny, she reflected the blend of a night time sky and the shadows it cast. "Erm..." He stammered while raising a hesitant hand in greeting. "Hello, I didn't see you there."
A warm, welcoming smile soon crept across his lips, replacing the expression of surprise and he continued to say "What brings you out here?"
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Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2022 8:21 pm
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As she watched the other, it became clear to Ravenna that maybe, just maybe, she hadn't been spotted. Part of her wondered if she had best slip away, for while he did not appear to be an imminent threat, he was still a stranger... and not everyone, centaur or otherwise, had kind intentions. His colors, in particular, did remind her of those in her previous herd--and while she did not want to assume he might be prejudiced against her kind, it was rather difficult to put the past behind her. She was certainly not weak--but unlike her brother, battle was not something she had much experience in.
Still, the black haired centaur couldn't help but be a little amused when the stranger finally noticed. He had been focused on the ground--foraging, it seemed, how auspicious--but while she was looking for certain flowers, he seemed to be going for the greener leaves. "Salutations, stranger," she finally spoke, even as her tail gave a small swish behind her. She mimicked his gesture, lifting a hand to give a small wave, before setting it down to inadvertently clutch at the satchel she had brought.
"Foraging," she admitted, not seeing the harm in being honest. "Hoping to find a few flowers, maybe some mushrooms, depending on how generous the wood spirits feel. And what of you?" She asked, inquisitively tilting her head. "Find what you needed?" Hopefully it wasn't too bold of her -- but she had watched him pick at the nearby leaves.
"I haven't inadvertantly stumbled on your home or herd, have I?" It occurred to Ravenna that maybe she was trespassing. These lands were rather unknown to her, and while she and Aiolos had been safe enough in the small patch of land they had sought temporary refuge in, she had wandered farther than usual. Just because she wasn't on her ex-Herd's past herdlands, didn't mean she hadn't stumbled on anothers. While she hadn't thought she'd crossed any barriers or markers, Ravenna wasn't always great at spotting them, either.
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Posted: Sat Apr 23, 2022 9:16 am
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Taz's eyes followed the movements of her hand as she lowered it to clasp at the worn satchel by her side. She had come prepared for foraging and was clearly thinking ahead, unlike him, who only had as much space as he could fill the pockets on his jacket with. He turned his eyes back to the leaves in his hand and then back at her, giving her an awkward smile filled with uncertainty. "I think so?" He laughed gently. "They look like tea leaves, taste like them but I guess I won't know for sure until I brew them."
He then stuffed what was left of the leaves in his hands in to his pockets before pointing to her satchel. "You've come prepared. Do you forage often?" He asked, raising back to full height. She looked like she was certainly more knowledgeable about these things than he was and providing his forwardness didn't scare her off, maybe she could give him a few pointers on what was what so that he might not accidentally ingest something he shouldn't.
"I don't know a whole lot about foraging so I can't say I would be much use to you..." He looked around the surrounding area before looking back at her with a small smile. "But since were both out here, would you like some company?"
Taz hadn't set out with any plans other than to restock his tea collection and while he was hoping that the day had something exciting in store, he would never have known that he would stumble upon that something so soon or rather they would stumble upon him. "I don't live here..." He shook his head "But... Now that you mention it." Whether it was someone's home or not hadn't crossed his mind prior to her bringing it up and now he was curious to whether or not they were actually trespassing on someone else's territory. If there were signs, he hadn't noticed them either. "Might be worth taking a look around just to be on the safe side."
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Posted: Sat Jun 11, 2022 10:23 pm
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So far so good. The pink haired stranger didn't seem a threat, and if he had been part of her previous herd, she likely would have known! Surely, she was just being paranoid. Honestly, the likelihood of bumping into someone who knew her or Aiolos was very slim. They had been gone for weeks, and traveled far--though caution was needed, part of her felt silly for being so on edge.
Was this really who she was?
For just a moment, the mare yearned for the easiness of her old life. Before she had been called out by the Moon, before she had turned her back on the Sun and her Herd's traditions; before she'd been dubbed a priestess; before she'd been singled out and ultimately betrayed her post. How naïve she had once been, and yet, how free. Now, everything was different--and though she'd grown in many ways, nothing was quite as simple as it had been in her youth. Where once she would have greeted a stranger with openness, she now found herself unsure.
Thankfully, the bright fellow seemed harmless.
Her eyes did go a bit wide at his admission that he wasn't really sure what he had foraged. "That seems risky," she mused, though his laugh was a bit infectious. It was incredulous to her that he wasn't concerned but the world was full of different sorts, she supposed. "Might I see? Make sure you're not brewing a cup of something unsavory?" She didn't want to insult or offend him but she was a little concerned for his future well-being.
At his question, she gave a small nod and smile. "I do, especially as of late," she explained. She didn't need to go into more detail that foraging was their only real way to survive now that they were living off the land. "My brother and I have been traveling a fair bit -- he does the hunting, I do the foraging." Besides which, she knew what she needed, and what might best please the spirits of the Moon for her rituals. Aiolos was a lot of things, but there was a reason he was no High Priest.
At his query for company, Ravenna decided it was time to take a risk. If the stranger was going to drink some brewed leaves that he wasn't certain of, then the least she could do was offer him some company. "The company would be a nice change," she confessed, "At minimum, a second set of eyes would be nice, even if you're not sure what you're looking for!" And who knew? Maybe she could help teach him a thing or two about what he was looking for. "Were you looking for anything in particular or hoping for some result?" Brewing leaves for tea was of course the first thought to come to mind; but perhaps he was ailing and in search of a remedy; or perhaps the brew was meant to be applied to a wound or added to another concoction to make some potion?
His admission that he didn't leave around the area was a good sign. "Well then, I suppose we can potentially trespass together. I didn't see any signs, but we can keep an eye out for boundary lines or markers as we traverse." Though she wasn't often open, it did her spirit good to meet someone new. Though it could be some trick from the Sun spirits, she hoped it was simply an auspicious blessing from the dozing Moon gods instead.
Candle Wick Ghost -dusts off Ravenna- Sorry for the delay!
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2022 9:28 am
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Whereas he may not have been too concerned for his own well-being it came as a surprise that the beautiful lady before him, despite not knowing him very long, was considerate enough to offer her expertise so that he may not accidentally poison himself or anyone else for that matter. Though, he supposed it wasn't just his own life he was endangering, what if he'd have had visitors and had offered them a pot of the virulent liquid?
Taz paled at the thought, though he was being optimistic in the fact if that was the case, he would have even lived long enough to receive a guest in the future. He laughed at her musings and nodded at her offer. "Please do." He reached out his hand and took hers, gently turning it palm side up and collected a couple of the leaves in question from his jacket pocket with the other hand and then placed them in to her palm. Letting go, Taz wasn't usually one to feel nervous but he found himself eying her uneasily in anticipation of her verdict on the matter.
"Oh you're traveling with your brother?" He questioned, taking a slow but brief look around the immediate vicinity. Since she explained that she was foraging and her brother was the one hunting, he wondered if her brother was also in the area or if he was around and like her, he hadn't noticed him stood within range.
Now he was certain he wasn't being eyeballed by another taur and a potentially protective one that may not have appreciated some random dude talking to his sister... He looked back at her with the same happy-go-lucky smile. "Are you heading to anywhere in particular?" He queried as he turned to walk towards an overgrown tree so that he could move the low hanging branch aside for the two of them to pass once she had openly conveyed that she wasn't opposed to having company. Which Taz was clearly thrilled by, his expression lacking any kind of denial in its features.
"No, nothing in particular." He shook his head and then tilted it in thought as he hummed. "It might be nice to have a few different flavors to add to the collection or maybe even some new tasty sides to eat." And even though she probably wouldn't trust anything he made or brewed for that matter he wanted to offer anyway as a show of appreciation for her company and her help. "If we live through our daring escapade as partners in crime together..." He winked, grinning. "Then maybe I could treat you both to a brew and a meal, as a thank you for all your help?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2022 5:29 pm
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Ravenna was glad that the colorful centaur didn't seem offended by her desire to help. She was pleased when he reached over and handed her the leaves he'd picked, and she carefully studied the bounty in her hands. Thankfully, for all that he had admitted to not knowing exactly what he was picking, luck was on his side. "You may not know what you've picked, but you're in luck -- nothing amiss here," she gave a small, relieved smile. "The leaves with the tint of blue are Nightberry leaves, and are nice and soothing. And this Fireroot is great for inflammation when taken in large doses--but also gives any tea or drink infused with a bit of spice. Overall, I decree your future brew will be both tasty and beneficial to whoever is lucky enough to sip it."
Clearly, Taz had enough knowledge--or luck--to avoid any of the more toxic plants that grew on the islands, like Germwort or Shadow Weed.
At the stranger's question, Ravenna's tail gave a small flick and she shook her head. "I am. We're actually rather new to the area, and are looking to find a place to settle." Though that was a very sunny version of her story, she didn't expect the stranger to want to know any further details. She also didn't want to cause Taz alarm knowing that those of the Sun Herd might be looking for her. Not that he didn't deserve to know, but she doubted she'd be in the area long enough for it to matter.
She was rather private, after all, and he was still a stranger. She smiled a bit more warmly as the stranger lifted the low-hanging branch, and quickened her step to hurriedly pass through. How kind of him. "I'm looking for a few plants in particular, but am mainly traversing the land, learning what's out there, and what might be useful in future." Even if she didn't find exactly what she needed, she could make note of future shrubs, trees, flowers, and bushes that could be useful later.
Deciding to turn the conversation away from herself, she asked, "And what of you? Do you live nearby?"
Having a spot of companionship while they both scared up some plants and herbs sounded like a nice change. Though she was out in the harsh light of day, it was a nice change from her usual routine. While she loved her brother, having someone new to talk to that wasn't Aiolos was appealing. And a fellow, albeit unconventional, forager to boot! When Taz offered a post-foraging treat, Ravenna gave a small laugh, and dipped her head in a moment's shyness. "You're too kind, truly," she mused, "I'm not sure I'll be all that helpful, but I will admit a spot of your tea might not be amiss." When was the last time she'd shared a meal or drink with a fellow?
Ravenna might have been avoiding the Sun Herd, but that didn't mean she wasn't social. Private though she might be, she did enjoy the company of others, which is why she longed to create a safe-haven and herd for Aiolos and herself. A place to live in the light of moon freely, openly, and as a sanctuary for those who were lost.
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2022 9:32 am
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Ravenna was surprised when the stranger insisted she stay with him, and she gave a little smile. "You truly are generous," she spoke gently. "But I could never take advantage of such hospitality. I assure you, my brother and I are making it work -- we're searching for a place to settle, land enough to build a herd," she confessed.
No wanting to upset her new companion, she did hasten to assure, "But perhaps you might be able to show me around the area? There seems a mix of woods and plains, which would suit me just well." She needed land enough to be able to keep a future herd safe among the woods, but with access open space so they might carry out various rituals and celebrations beneath the moon.
"I look forward to seeing it," she smiled, giving her black tail a happy swish. A little place to call one's own sounded lovely... but then, so did stability. One day.
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Posted: Thu Dec 22, 2022 6:30 pm
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In hindsight, Taz could have phrased that better. It seemed that in the presence of a beautiful lady he could easily lose himself in the moment and the quality of his speech. "That could have been phrased better..." He admitted, albeit under his breath. He smiled at her politeness in response to his abrupt invitation of allowing complete strangers in to his home but he still meant well by it.
"I still meant what I said, though it could have been more tactful." Taz rubbed the back of his head. "You can stay while you search. No pressure of course but it means you have food and shelter while exploring the area at your leisure and if it truly isn't for you, then you can move on at your own discretion." He reasoned, a little less clumsily than his last statement bit of course he would help guide her around the immediate area, the best he could... even if it might also be new territory for him too.
He hadn't exactly been the most explorative type to date, unless it involved the word of mouth concerning a festival or market or two, but he could certainly make the effort, if not just for the sake of her and her herd.
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Posted: Sat Dec 31, 2022 5:23 pm
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Ravenna gave a small laugh, her cheeks flushing softly at the others insistence. Though she and her brother were on the move, searching for a place to start their lives anew, she was not unhappy or uncomfortable. Tazrin was being more than generous by offering them a place to stay -- though she feared speaking for her brother. She was a mare driven by moonlight, who lived beneath the stars, and hid from the sun when she could. Would that disrupt his own lifestyle? Or would she feel trapped?
It had been some time since she and Aiolos had lived with others, much less under a roof. Ravenna had grown quite accustomed to the stars and the song they wove. "Well, you are far too kind, far too generous," she mused. "Let's start with tea, then, and see how it goes, shall we?" She asked, eyes bright, smile warm. "A drink with a new friend sounds delightful," she encouraged.
She did have a question though, a minor concern. "If I were to take you up on such an offer, would not my nocturnal lifestyle infringe upon yours?" She highly doubted the pink haired stranger was accustomed to staying up all night.
However, Ravenna was also aware that Aiolos and she had not yet found the perfect lands on which to settle. The night spirits hinted she was close, but she had to find the perfect space -- with protection within the woods, near lake and river, but also with open spaces so she might get to worship the moon in all its phases. Tazrin offered stability--but she truly did fear putting the other out.
Perhaps a spot of tea would change her mind? "The woods are usually my home, and the nightly wilds. I hope to set up a herd and live in harmony with the land and nature's spirits. Perhaps I need better investigate the nearby meadows and woods." Perhaps Tazrin would have suggestions on where to search next?
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