[imgright]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... uncert.png[/imgright]

It was his withers that Follow found in his quest to ascertain that they would not be separated. The sudden touch of that cheek against him had pulled a slightly startled exhale from him. He'd been so focused on everyone else coming about that he hadn't noticed Follow easing closer this way. He did breathe a soft chuckle to follow up that exhale and his body relaxed into the scent that was flowery and yet to unique. There was something about the slender Acha that was intoxicating.

Song shifted a little, moving so that he was side by side with the pale one, their shoulders nearly touching as he started walking. He took his steps slow at first, mostly to make sure that Follow was stepping with him and once they had managed a steady rhythm, he took them around the biggest of the gathered crowd, his eyes only barely taking them in; he was more focused on where they were stepping, offering low comments about a rock that would be on their left, a root that poked up from the ground. Little things.

Little by little, the din quieted, though he knew that wasn't what it had been but it had been overwhelming for him and he could only imagine how it must have felt for the other. Finally, he found them a spot that was quiet but also in a slight nook, they were away from potential wind and while it was possible that some snow could get to them, he couldn't imagine that it would be very much a problem. "Here we are, much quieter and no one to bump into us here." That he could see.

@Lirilei

[imgleft]https://matope.pixel-blueberry.com/imag ... uncert.png[/imgleft] He heard the startled note, of course he had, and there was a soft "Sorry..." from him though he didn't pull away, because that was pointless in the whole keeping close to the other and so as not get separated thing.  So he made his quiet apology, but stayed put. It made the most sense, and well if Song pulled away then he did.

Except he didn't, and he let out a softly released breath he'd not realized he'd been holding. But it was finding the other against his shoulder, and walking, that he realized he wasn't moved away from, and was instead being led away from where they were. He followed the sound of the others voice easily, hooves picked up to avoid the dangers on the ground.

He was aware of the loudness of their surroundings growing softer, more muted and there was another low sigh of relief. He could focus entirely on Song then, and not the things around them. It was wonderful being in the quieter area, really. He took the others words in and smiled. "I'm glad to hear that....and to hear how quiet it is here." oh it was so nice and blissfully quiet here. He could feel the break in the wind, and he was glad for that too, even being away from the fire, it felt warm enough with the wind being mostly blocked.

@Izaeah

He shook his head just slightly at that apology but he didn't think much of it, preferring to make sure they made it to a spot that was much quieter, so that perhaps their conversation could be had without too much fussing. Song didn't like being overly loud and he figured that he didn't have to be. Even for discussion in groups, it wasn't so much the loudest one who was heard best but the one with the most mesmerizing voice, right? That was how he wanted to tell his stories, he wanted to mesmerize those who would listen to him with his words.

"I only took us so far, I admit I'm not very used to the area here and I wouldn't want to get us lost." Which wouldn't have been such a good thing, not really. Getting lost while in the warmth of the summer was one thing, but getting lost in the dead of winter wasn't something he was interested in. Not quite yet. Soon, perhaps but not yet. He wanted to be better prepared, pelts, provisions, things to hold him through the lost night, these things. Maybe even company.

He did tip his head to the sky, trying to see if there was anything for him to see because, at that point, he felt at a bit of a loss as far as words were concerned. What could he talk about? Now that he'd drawn them away from the others. He exhaled a soft sigh and shook his head a little. "To be honest, I don't feel very comfortable in big crowds."

"I don't know the area either. I followed some others I came across while traveling around, they were talking about it and we parted ways as soon as we arrived." he'd have figured out a way to leave when the time came, really. Or just wandered aimlessly.

He was feeling around with his hooves and the ground seemed to be mostly soft so he gingerly lowered himself till he was off his hooves and tucked his legs up under him. Settling in comfortably seemed better than standing around after all!

"Here is good though. It's quieter, I can hear you easier and not have to block out so many other noises and kin. It's nice." though he gave a soft laugh. "Really? You don't? You don't act like it. You sound so sure of yourself Song!" that had to be something, really. "I mean after all, you found me at the bonfire around a lot of others, and got me away from the crowd all to yourself. Both there, and now here." 

He shifted a little more comfortably, turned towards where he'd last heard the other. "This is nicer though, really. We can just talk, and get to know one another better."  which felt very, very important to him just then really.

@Izaeah

"It can't be easy." His words were soft and thoughtful as he shifted his weight. His gaze briefly moved back to the area they had come from before settling back to this one. He nodded to himself at Follow settling and just oh so carefully, he did the same, keeping close but not too close, enough for words and light touch as could be necessary but not much more. He knew how some were about their personal space, after all; he didn't want to chance it just yet. "Not really being able to tell where you're going, it almost seems as though companionship would be a good thing, so long as it is someone you could trust."

Another slight, bare little shift from him as he settled a little more and even tucked his tail just so. He was glad his mask didn't itch at this point; when he'd first put it on, it hadn't been quite fully dry and it had itched uncomfortably.

Song offered a low, faint laugh and shook his head a moment, "I suppose it might be little more than acting. Comes from spending hours practicing to be on a stage I will never be able to set hoof on. I've made my peace with that." But it very likely did explain why he likely sounded so sure of himself. He could act the part as necessary, even though it didn't always feel comfortable. "As I want to roam and discover our world, though, I know I need to grow more comfortable with crowds so I'm working on it."

Acting comfortable and being comfortable were two completely different things, in the end. "Thank you for coming with me."

@Lirilei

"I don't know any other way, so I couldn't tell you. I think it would be harder for me if I had been able to see from the beginning and lost my vision suddenly. Even over time would have been bad, though I 'd like to think I could have adjusted depending on how quickly the slow loss was. But this way, I've always relied on other things. Smell, and sound and touch." though he gave a soft, amused laugh. "You're probably right about that but I've yet to meet a kin who wants to travel with a blind kin. Or be followed around by one. So, I make due." it was all he could do in the end.

"A stage? What's that?" simply curious, really. "And why can't you set hoof on it?" simple curiosity there, really. "Should come meet the Mothers Club if you haven't before... lots of kin. A lot of young." and here he made a small face, laughing. "I had problems with a rowdy group recently. Some didn't listen well. Other kin, passers by helped with keeping the foals a little more behaved. Not always, but a lot." thankfully! "Could be a way to get used to being around crowds. At least very curious, young ones."

The thanks though earned a surprised note. "Why thank me? I should be the one thanking you, wanting to spend any sort of time with me. You're an unusual buck in that regards." he paused a moment, and breathed a soft note. "I like it. Thank you for wanting to talk to me more, and somewhere quieter, really."


@Izaeah

"I suppose you might have a point. I've never come across anyone who didn't have all of their senses, to be quite honest. Well, no. I've come across an older doe who had gone slightly hard of hearing but I think that age will do that to a few." As he spoke, his words still were soft and thoughtful, there was no mocking coming from him, no pity, merely quiet thoughtfulness as it was clear that he was trying to wrap his mind around this one and he felt like a mystery, at this point. A mystery wrapped in a pretty package... short of those flowers, those still clashed terribly but they smelled so nice.

Flicking his tail again, a soft thump of a sound more than anything else, he huffs a low laugh and rolls his eyes. "I think it would be an adventure to have someone so different at my side. It would help me learn to focus on things other than what I usually do. It would be..." he thought briefly, "beneficial, I think. Maybe, if you wanted, we could roam our world together." D'aw.

"Oh." He paused, frowning in thought and breathing a soft, quiet sigh. "A stage... it's like a platform, a flat area that's usually a bit raised, though not always, and people there will perform for others. They will act, they will dance and sing." And so much more but this seemed to fit a basic explanation as to what a stage was and what people did on it. "Because my father only allows pretty Achas like you on the stage... and I'm not an Acha so I can't go on the stage." Which, yes, he'd mostly made his peace with.

He'd heard of the Mothers Club, but he hadn't had time to really check it out. He supposed it could have been a good exercise for him, being around so many others, especially if they were as young as he imagined them to be. "I could try. I'm glad you've had some help when you needed it, though. We need to help one another, not just stand by and not do a thing about the happenings..." though he knew that, if he wanted to be a storyteller, he would have to do a whole lot of watching at some point.

"If I'm unusual, then, I'm glad to be, because I got to meet you and I like talking to you. It's peaceful out here and I do mean what I said about offering you to roam our world with me." It would have actually been something of an honor, he felt it.

@Lirilei

"I think it does too, it seems familiar. Though, I couldn't tell you if the kin that couldn't hear me were older or not. Or if they really couldn't hear me, or were just pretending they couldn't." the idea of being ignored didn't actually bother him though. He couldn't see if he was being ignored after all, so it was far from a problem to him.

His ears flicked slightly toward the sound of the others tail thumping against the ground, a curious flicker really though he didn't question the source of the sound, especially since no alarm came from the other. Whatever it was, it wasn't dangerous anyhow. Though he gave a soft laugh then. "An adventure." he said the words thoughtfully, thinking it over. "So long as you don't mind my potentially crashing into you at times, or over things...because the last thing I want is to make you regret this idea of yours." it was a nice idea though and he felt warm inside. Someone wanted him around, to wander with him...and thought he'd be beneficial?

"Sort of like when I told that story." a thoughtful note, a nod of his head. He'd not been on a platform that he could tell but he'd known he was in front of others speaking anyhow, and in such a way they could see him easily. A natural stage, perhaps. Though oh if his head didn't duck suddenly at being called pretty, it was such an unexpected thing! "I'm not sure what pretty means, but you make it sound like a good thing." he did! Though his head raised, and there was curiosity clear on his face again. "So I'm an Acha, and you're....?" and there he was shifting a little, letting his nose and face gently brush along the others.

His nose brushed slowly down the others muzzle, aware it was a different shape and length than his own, that the others hide was different than his own. He sniffed a little, aware the others scent was different than his own. Of course everyone's was different but he'd smelled other achas, who smelled similar to him in a way. Maybe it was just a race scent, he didn't know.

"The help was appreciated. Foals can be mean some times. Pulling tails, being loud, etc. Visitors distract them, and turn their antics on the newcomer." he grinned a little. "It'd be an interesting test for you I'm sure. Entertaining a bunch of foals, filly's and colts." he chuckled softly against the others ear as he continued his gently exploration a moment longer. He'd have to do more later, he was settled comfortably an didn't want to clamber to his hooves, and then wander around the other while trying not to fall on him.

"I'm glad you're unusual too." he smiled as he said that, tone indeed content. "Alright, I'll roam for you. On the condition that if you change your mind you'll let me know rather than hold it in and grow to hate me...and make sure I'm somewhere safe when we part ways. Please." simple requests, he hoped.

@Izaeah

"I think that age might change us, one way or another." Softly thoughtful, quiet and pondering, almost. "Age... it changes the body. I don't think it's a bad thing, it just shows that you've lived and lived well." For most, at least, it meant that they had lived well. He knew that didn't apply to everyone but it applied to a lot of kins, or so he believed.

He blinked at the flicking ears and he gave a sheepish grin, though he knew it wouldn't be seen. "I'm sorry, that was just me thumping my tail, at times, I think it has a mind of its own but I guess it mostly reacts to how I'm feeling." So it wasn't unheard of that he'd end up sort of wagging his tail a little back and forth—usually pretty slowly—when something troubled him or he was trying to think something through. They were little things about him that he knew but didn't focus on very much. He'd never met someone that had been bothered by the action, in the end. One thing that could be said of him, however, was that he was observant. The flick of those ears had been minimal, really, and yet, he'd noticed it.

"I think that if we spend enough time together, we'll develop a sort of... I don't know the word for it. But we'd probably be able to read one another if you would. We'd manage to wander without a whole lot of crashing into one another because I'm bound to be clumsy at times too and I can see where we'll be going." Softly amused, but honest, those very words. He meant it all. He felt as though they would develop a sort of bond if they were to indeed roam together for long periods of time.

He nodded and then rolled his eyes with another soft huff; he'd learn, he would. "A bit like when you told that story, yes and—" Oh but dear, the other suddenly closer, the presence of that nose and face brushing against his. It was strange and new and oh but he felt so warm. "I'm a Kiokote. And pretty... well pretty is a thing that is hard to define without sight, since it's based on sight, but it's a good thing. It's something that's easy on the eyes, something you think is very nice. A bit like you and the scent of flowers, I think. They're not quite the same but it's one way to look at it, I think."

"I think anyone can be mean, but most foals don't really know any better. Anyone to help others when in the presence of foals is always welcome, I think. So I might give the Mother's Club a try, yes." It certainly couldn't hurt. "We'll have plenty of time to discover more of one another and I promise that if I change my mind, I'll let you know but I get the feeling that I won't be changing my mind any time soon. We'll roam everywhere, just you wait and see!"

@Lirilei

"Very probably. I've heard others say that the older ones move slower, and I know from experience they don't see well." and here he laughed softly. "Been bumped into a time or two and told to watch where I'm going since they can't see clearly." he never bothered to correct them, there was no point to it, honestly. It could have started arguments he didn't want to get into.

"Oh!" he was pleased by the explanation. "And what made you thump it? Was it a good thump? A bad one?" he would have to listen to those thumps, and figure out what the various sounds meant. He'd learn to read the other through his tail, really. "I figured it wasn't anything bad around us since you didn't react to it. Just made me wonder what the sound was since I heard it after all." not bothered in the slightest just curious.

"You might be right there. I hope you're right anyhow." otherwise traveling together could end up problematic for the two of them. But he wanted to think it wouldn't be the case, really. "So you'll be the eyes, and I can be the ears and nose?" he grinned a little as he said that. He knew those senses would be stronger for him though maybe not by much.

"Kiokote." a nod of his head in understanding then. Though he chuckled softly. "I can understand pretty when you mention the scent of flowers." well it was how he picked the flowers in his tail after all. He went for the best (or prettiest) smelling ones, even if they didn't look the greatest to those who could see them. The scent was the important part to him.

"No they don't. And of course trying to keep them entertained when I can't see what they're up to just gives them the daring to misbehave a little more than they tend to around those who can keep their eye on them better. I know it's fun to push boundaries, and at that age it's how they learn. At least it was all mostly harmless. Some bumps and bruises, but no one got terribly injured." there was a relieved note from him at the promise, and he found himself wanting to believe Song, and he nodded his head with a content whuff of air before he was moving his face away from the others finally.

"Okay then, we'll travel together, you and I."


@Izaeah

"Oh." He laughed softly and shook his head. He couldn't imagine being bumped into and told to watch where he was going. Even with his sight, it would have been something to witness but he wasn't looking forward to being that old. Song was more than aware that he had his whole life ahead of him and it was only just beginning but there were days when he did give some thoughts to what it would be like to eventually grow old. It wasn't always pleasant imaginings. "I guess that's one way to know the general age of someone without asking them."

He gave his tail a soft, slight little shift, a tiny thump so the sound could be familiarized with. "Your tail and mine, they're very different from one another and I don't think they'll ever make the same sound. I think that it was mostly from my thinking and wishing that people would treat you the way they would like to be treated. I don't think it's quite right that people treat you differently, even though you are different. It's a good sort of different as far as I'm concerned and I'm glad we're talking."

Song snickered softly and closed his eyes a moment. He hummed a soft sound, a content little note from him as he found himself relaxing. He could almost sleep here, he knew. He was in good company, they weren't cold as they weren't all that far from the fire and the wind had no reach over them. "I think I'm perfectly fine with being the eyes and you can be the ears and nose. We'll make a good pair, just you wait." At least he hadn't said 'just you wait and see'! That had to be something.

"I thought that would make sense for you. I'm going to have to pay attention even more to our surroundings so I can explain things to you that you might not be able to understand otherwise. It's going to be a fun exercise." See, that he was thinking of it that way made it seem simple. It made it seem right that they would both be getting along just fine and that their travelling would go well.

Soon, they would have to figure out what they were going to do with the rest of their evening and night--he was fine with the idea of sleeping right where they were--and after that, they could decide on where else they would go. Be it that they'd drop in on the Mother's Club briefly and then back perhaps to his own home to gather some items for their travelling. It made sense to him but he knew they could discuss that sooner or later.

@Lirilei

He gave a soft, tired laugh. Now that they were settled somewhere cozy and quiet he could feel how tired he actually was. It was difficult at times being in the midst of such strangeness and not knowing where he was going, after all. He could just feel everyone's energy and excitement and now, well now was calmer and peaceful. Nice and quiet. He liked this.

He heard the soft thump sound and smiled as his own was raised and dropped to the ground, a much softer noise indeed. "They sound different. I'll have to have you describe them to me some day." Someday had to be good. Meant he wasn't in a rush for answers, because he expected they'd be around one another long enough to get that answer.

"I'd really like that Song, you describing things to me as you see them. I can try to do the same with how things smell to me. Or even sound. Like right now...you sound content, and relaxed. Maybe enough to nap, or sleep. It feels like time for sleep anyhow." well it felt late to his body, late enough for a long sleep, not a short one.

He shifted just barely closer to the other buck, settling a little more comfortably, and lowered his head down a little head brushing against Song's forelegs and he yawned again softly, slightly. He was relaxed, and cozy here. They could talk a little more, but if either of them dozed off, then so be it. It'd been a long few days, a long day in general and a quiet evening like this was new and unusual...and oh so welcome to him.

@Izaeah

It wasn't hard for Song to notice that they were both winding down. It had been quite the exhausting day and he was glad he'd found them this little spot. As he watched Follow seeming to settle, he told himself that he'd keep watch for a while, make sure they would be fine and safe. It was the smartest of ideas, after all.

He grinned slightly at the soft thump of that tail, so different from his own, much softer. He nodded to himself and studied it briefly in the waning light from the fire. He could study it later and describe it then, he knew, still, he wanted to give it a good look just then, too. He wanted to take in the whole of the buck and put it to memory; he couldn't explain it.

"Sleep." The single word was murmured softly, a gentle note more than anything else. It was clear by his tone that he was just as worn out from their day and this one being settled just close enough for comfort made him warm in ways he couldn't really understand. Maybe his father would know what to make of this.

Closing his eyes, though he didn't sleep yet, Song actually began to hum a soft, gentle sort of lullaby under his breath. It wasn't much longer until his will to remain awake and keep partial watch evaporated and, with a drowsy sigh, he settled his head down as well and nestled just slightly, content to sleep away.
@Lirilei