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 Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 12:19 pm
He bobbed his head to show he was listening, and knew that something like that must have gotten a bit old if that was the reaction he got every time. It was odd, Aitumn felt more like a young colt getting taught then he did like the aged stallion who had seen younger years he was. He shook the feeling away, and guessed that's what most nequus felt after being told a story, and mused at the fact he was usually the one telling such tales. Glancing down towards the ground, "Yeah, I tried earlier. Apparently hoof to ice isn't enough unless you want crushed grass", he spoke. Or at least Aitumn's hoof wasn't enough, for if he started to get to it the dry stalks would just get crushed under the pressure and were no good for nipping lips. Though at the mention of rolling around Aitumn cocked his head slightly. What would rolling around have to do with getting to the grass? Facing forward once again he thought about it, remembered how the flakes of snow didn't last long near the bones, and snorted. "Rolling around huh? At least that would work." The blood bay had eaten as much of the crushed grass as he could get too earlier, and wasn't necissarily hungry at the moment, so the thought of grass didn't get to him to much.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 12:31 pm
The Aeri looked down at the pure white ground under his hooves and nodded. "It does work, rather tiring after a while and something of a last resort. Who knows, maybe We'll run across a sheltered patch that has some less inaccessible food at some point, save me diving on the ground every time I want a nibble."
The trouble with winter was, not only was the food harder to get but it held so little goodness that one had to eat far more of it than in other seasons. Even in the hottest of summers one could find a shaded patch of grass that was green and good. Winter on the other hand seemed to suck the life out of everything.
"Maybe I'll head to D'ob," Lucius commented, "always seems a bit warmer around there, plus there's just so much grass even if it is wintry and tasteless." But then there would be wide-eyed Nequus skittering away at all turns. Well, at least that means less immediate competition for food and access to the patches they've cleared for themselves. The black-coated Aeri smiled to himself - there were advantages to being an object of fear.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 12:53 pm
Hallow eyes searched the flurries that happened to get kicked up from his steady hooves, not exactly looking for anything but still the movement was enough to grab his attention. "Possibly, but as of yet I haven't found such a patch", he commented, finally having enough of the of the cold critters that cluttered in a blanket along his neck and flank. Stepping a bit to the side so as not to disturb Lucius with the sudden decision, Aitumn opened feathered wings and gave them a mighty beat towards the ground, the motion making a crack sound that would have split the air, but instead was dulled by the puffy blanket below. It served it's purpose though, the layer of snow that had gathered was sent up into the air and away from him, allowing the Jala to shake his head and swing his hind quarters to the side while folding a long wing enough to swipe at the powder that clung to his rump. It was an easy movement for Aitumn, and one he didn't give much thought to, but when he was done the blood bay flared crimson nostrils at the light flakes, again making his breath visable in the air. "It was bugging me", was the only explanation he gave Lucius as again he took up stride next to the Aeri, folding feathered wings at his sides once again.
Once he was settled Aitumn took up the conversation as if it hadn't just been interupted. "I don't recall ever being near or in D'ob, but from how it sounds I might need to spend some of the winter there", he spoke, flicking his ears to avoid the flutteres of snow as they came down lightly once again. "Well, more like traveling around till I find some place warmer and presuming its D'ob, that is. I was never to good at knowing where I was, just wandering", Aitumn mused.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 1:07 pm
Lucis watched the Jala's snow removal technique, silently impressed. It probably wasn't as hard as it looked but that didn't say very much as it looked nigh on impossible. Agility had never been one of his strongest traits and the tall stallion doubted he could ever execute such a move. The orange-eyed Nequus smiled slightly and nodded to the other being's explanation as they fell back into step; he imagined that having snow sitting upon one for any length of time couldn't be too much fun.
"Possible that there isn't anything quite so convenient here about at all," Lucius said, regarding the earth thoughtfully. "D'ob is a good place to be in winter, a lot of other Nequus around to keep the snow trodden down and patches of grass cleared. …For myself I must say I like to know where I am and to find out things about that area. Knowing about things is... well, it's just something I like to have, knowledge in general I mean. All those useless little titbits of information that bore most people to tears fascinate me; names of places, types of rock or grass or earth. Anything I can find out about the world around me really, I'm a bit indiscriminate when it comes to picking up information."
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 1:34 pm
Indeed the snow was Aitumn's mortal, well maybe not mortal, but certainly an enemy to be dealt with. Not only was it annoying to no end, but it made flying difficult for several reasons he had desicovered long ago. The pure white blanket below could become very distracting, and on a clear day even blinding to a tired flyer. Snow made the air dense and wings stiff, ack, he just didn't know what was good about this kind of weather. Bringing his head out of such thoughts the Jala stallion flicked his ears towards Lucius. "That seems like useful knowledge to have, though I don't have many means of gathering it unless I happen upon a nequus willing to start up a conversation and the subject is brought up." 'Which has very little to zero chance of happening,' he thought with a discontented sigh towards himself. Flicking a bit of stray forelock out of his eyes that had slid over in his attempt to rid himself from the snow, Aitumn found that he was no longer as stiff as he was before, and that movement had woken him up quite a bit. "As for me it's not so much knowledge I desire, but rather a thirst for the sights and creating stories of fantasy about such things. It's a habit I've persued for some time", he commented before pondering further on a winter 'home' he could spend some time in. Because of his wandering nature, it probably wouldn't be more then a few days up to a week, and only in the coldest part of the winter. "You wouldn't happen to know in which direction D'ob would be in from here would you?" he asked, taking a glance towards the horizons.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 1:47 pm
Lucius nodded his agreement; information was hard to come by in most cases and therefore was all the more valuable to him. Knowing a bit more than the next Nequus could be an advantage at times, indirectly through respect or directly through knowing that something was possible or there again was a really bad idea.
"I've always liked stories too, don't seem to have the knack for people to tell them though to be honest and D'ob?" The orange-eyed Aeri frowned and raised his face to look at the sky. A watery sun broke through the snow and the clouds a little way behind him and to the right. "Humm... well, given the position, time of day and year it's..." Lucius paused and turned a little way to his left, pointing a fore hoof ahead of him. "That way," he said with a slight smile, letting his hoof drop back to the earth.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 2:10 pm
Watching the black Aeri as he made his calculations, so it seemed to Aitumn at the time, the blood bay perked his ears in a bit of interest. How the other stallion could tell where stuff was by looking at such things was unfathomable for Aitumn and the little knowledge he had about such things. Following the motion of the hoof he embedded the direction into his mind, stared at the horizon and tried to burn it in to the point he could call upon it when he needed it. It took quite a bit of glancing around at his surroundings but got comfortable enough with it and gave a bit of a grin. "A'ight, so as long as I keep that in mind and a sense of direction for the most part, I should be fine. Though I don't think I'll head there till it gets a bit harder to find food", he spoke aloud, ordering his thoughts as he went.
D'ob seened liked a last resort for this Jala, for staying in one place for to long was definatly enough to drive him over the edge and stir crazy. And he doubted that kind of attitude would be fun for anyone around him. "From what I've seen so far, I think it's going to be a tougher winter then it was the year before, but that just might have to do with the area I was traveling around in last time winter came", he spoke. His feathered wings were again shifting restlessly against his sides in an attempt to warm himself, and with how the snow was now Aitumn had an urge to be on the move once again. Soon, he would be on his way once again, but not now.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 2:32 pm
Lucius nodded slowly, casting around at his surroundings as he did so. Snow and ice everywhere, frozen streams, freezing rain that makes more ice on the ground, hail, sleet, snow, winds... not good at all.
"It's not just the place, I think," he said to Aitumn with a slight shake of his head. "It's been bad everywhere I've travelled too and it's unlikely to be a fluke of the location with both of us, assuming we've been to different places. Things are going to get worse if it warms up a bit; for now the ice is keeping the grass... well, not alive but it's keeping some of the goodness there. If that melts we'll have dead grass and if it freezes again after that more won't grow until the next thawing. A hungry time all round I think."
Lucius however, was fairly comfortable with the imminent death of the grass. To the north, in the land of the humans, he had a hidden stock of the vegetables the grew in a dark dry cave, several small ones in different locations in fact as opposed to one large one. There was far less chance of losing all of it that way, one pile might spoil or be found by other hungry creatures but it was highly unlikely that every one of his stockpiles had gone. Even if they had, he knew that the humans themselves kept stores and it wouldn't be too hard to raid one of those for what he needed if it came down to it though he would rather not take and give nothing in return. Perhaps he would do some pulling for them in exchange for their vegetables if he had to.
Yes, perhaps going north was a good idea; he could do with a decent meal or two to build some strength back up.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 2:58 pm
"Hmm... that's unsettling to think about", he said with a bob of his head. If the ground froze over and everything died, he knew the nequus he encountered in his travels probably wouldn't be in a very friendly mood, and Aitumn perfered to stay away from full-out confrontations over silly things. It was lucky for Aitumn that he rarely encountered anyone at all, and that such a thing was highly unlikely. He supposed it was a good thing he had been taking care of himself throughout the year, his body, though ridden with winter threats, was still in fairly good condition. With his flights and travels year round he was constantly keeping himself in check and steadily gaining in stability for this particular reason. Winter. The harsh cold and the lack of food. Aitumn doubted even he could survive without a little starvation in the mix if it turned as bad as Lucius had just explained.
He himself had no such stores of food, simply for the reason he never stayed in one place long enough to do so. But he was resourceful, and sooner or later he'd find away to get food, and so Aitumn didn't allow himself to worry about it. The blood bay Jala flicked his ears off towards the distance, he was warmed up now, and rested from his earlier travels. Though Lucius was good company to be around, Aitumn flexed his strides wider to loosen the muscles that hadn't been used just yet. "I think it'd be a good idea for me to start heading off while the snow is light and I have the energy", he spoke, glancing towards the Aeri with his hallow dark eyes to see what he thought about that.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 3:14 pm
The tall stallion glanced about at the lessening snow and nodded. "Yes, a good time for both of us to be heading out I think; those clouds look as though they have a deal more snow to drop on us yet so any break in the weather is to be exploited as much as possible."
The red-maned Nequus bowed his head briefly to his companion. "I am glad to have met you, Aitumn, if though it was only for a brief time. I hope the weather treats you kindly and the rest of the world as well; much fortune in your travels."
Travels. Where was he himself to head next? To D'ob or on northwards in search of his food supplies? D'ob I think, while the grass still lives it would be better to leave my food stocks alone. Decision made, the black stallion let his eyes wander to the direction he had indicated earlier.
"I am heading on to D'ob for a time," he told Aitumn, "perhaps we shall see each other there, perhaps not. As two wanders it is entirely possible that we shall never meet again. If that be the case, then as I say; I wish you well."
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 3:28 pm
The blood bay as well dipped his muzzle slightly, sending a wave of movement through his nearly frozen mane. "And you as well, Lucius. Perhaps we will see each other in D'ob, maybe not, but another thing with wanders is there's always a chance of meeting up some time down the line. Till then, fair well and stay true", Aitumn responded. The bone-clad Aeri was indeed good company, if not the closest thing to date that Aitumn had as a friend right now. Taking a sweeping glance over the horizons the Jala slowly stepped away, flexing stiff wings and joints. "I'll head to D'ob later in the season, there's still a few wandering passions that linger", he spoke, giving a slight nod of respect towards the other stallion before setting off on his journey into the unknown.
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Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2006 3:34 pm
Lucius nodded to the other stallion’s words and stood in silence for a few moments, watching the dark-coated Jala move away into the chill air. He had been pleasant conversation, well physically trained and unafraid; all traits that the black-aeri respected and liked. Meeting with this one again would be pleasant, he decided. Smiling faintly to himself, the tall Nequus set his eyes on the horizon and took off at an easy canter for the fertile grassland of D'ob.
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