[B] New Lands (Thriving on Decay x Atone )

[fluo]

Thriving on Decay was very lost. He was disoriented with the entire mess back there with the Obelisk. He sought to forget and instead found himself in a warm, mutually beneficial embrace. And then reality came crashing down and he found himself lost once more. This time, the pending fatherhood was the impetus for such tumultuous feelings swirling inside of him. It was a daunting thing that loomed ahead of him and the purple doe. And so he went out to offer succor to the mother to be. Strangely impatient for a totoma, he set off with a parcel of peaches in his mouth hoping to bribe anyone that could offer any wisdom or help with the many hooves he will be hearing soon.

[anemosagkelos]

She wasn't a stalker; a swan left her far too exposed to be much use at subterfuge. She did, however, have the benefit of flight and so it was relatively easy to stay near those who were seeking her out. Probably not actually her, to be fair, she was far from a well-known or prolific mare. Still, she was the one answering and so it might as well have been her they sought.

He'd been looking for a bit now but he kept straying further rather than nearer to her. She'd eventually relocate but he seemed bound and determined to go the wrong way. It figured.

Why did she always end up with the difficult ones, she wondered, before she took flight and began to take chase.

"Would you stop going the wrong way?" she squawked, after she landed behind him once more and shifted into a mare.

[fluo]

Did swans talk? Surely that was the creature that was speaking to him? He just saw one fly by out the corner of his eyes, but by the time he got a good look, it was not. It was a mare and an irate one judging by her tone of voice. Tone could convey a lot and sometimes more than what the actual words did. Looking up to her eyes, his jaw slackened until he caught himself and the fruit. He warbled out a faint  'Hello." And then some more gibberish.

[anemosagkelos]

Oh, it was going to be one of those. Less difficult, more foolish. She supposed it was better, in the long run, at least. Not that she would ever admit it, but flying could be tiring and she wasn't sure she could kill him if he was particularly aggravating and she lost her temper. The breath that had lingered in her lungs quietly left her mouth and she pushed the thoughts of difficult kin from her mind. He was only a fool; she could handle this.

"I do not speak imaginary languages," she sighed, trying to be kind but feeling already worn by this buck. "Now, you've been looking for me, or a Legendary at least, far longer than necessary. It would be wise to speak coherently and articulately so that I may be of assistance."

[fluo]

Cool. He almost dropped the peaches with a perfunctory nod, but caught himself at the last minute. Dropping them gently to the ground, he stepped away from them, his intents clear.

"Yes, I'm looking for a legendary. I need a blessing. I come bearing peaches. I hope you come with wisdom and fermented juices." There. He could be direct, too. He needed this for his mate.

[anemosagkelos]

She smirked, "You'll have to find your own drink, but the wisdom will be easy enough." It would be much too dangerous to have fermented juices around her. She wouldn't have been able to know herself what mood might appear if she drank at all. It was far too fluid, mood and energy. She could be nice; she could be murderous. No, it would never do to have that unleashed. She'd keep her head, thank you.

Peaches would be fine, though apples were certainly better, she thought, as she considered him. Unfair, to be true, since she had her own apple tree, but that was neither here nor there.

"What is it you want for your children?"

[fluo]

That was fair. He would have to find drink and on a regular basis here on out especially as they grew.

"I want them to be fair and strong like their dad and elegant like their mom."

[anemosagkelos]

Atone thought it over carefully, it was easy enough and not too much nor too little.

"Health, foremost, for your children for it is foolish to assume survival of anyone or anything," she chided, "but with their health will come strength, of bone and of character, to endeavor that they believe in fairness and kindness without falling prey to those who do not. They'll grow into elegance, no foal's first steps can escape the clumsiness, and always know the right direction to find what they are in search of."

She smiled, that would do. It would have been nice to have had such a blessing when she was born but she'd make sure what she had not known was bestowed upon the innocent.

"Anything else?"

[fluo]

"Is it too much to ask if one can make fermented juice? I kid. Thank you"

Leaving the peaches as an offering, he trotted off, his steps and heart lighter and ever eager to share the good news with his mate.