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 Posted: Sat Apr 21, 2007 12:45 pm
The only answer she could give to the question of killing was a sad shake of the head, indicating that she didn't know. Jacques hadn't said much about it, only that it was their way and that she couldn't expect any better of them. She nodded encouragingly to all the foals' requests for affirmation, though, until they got to the part about hiding. Oh, dear. She was going to have to break it to them. Doubtless Aku would have found some way of turning it around and making it fun, but unfortunately she wasn't Aku. She did her best all the same.
"You're doing well," she said, "for starters. Your hiding places are good in a pinch, and you used them well. You know how to lower your voices without making them useless. But I'd be a rotten sort of grown-up if I didn't help you learn how to do it even better, wouldn't I?" She rose from the grass, shaking her mane and snapping her tails like whips. "All right, chaps, life lesson number one: how to win at Hide And Seek!"
She was getting into this now. Oh dear. That was a very bad sign. Next thing she knew she'd be wanting foals of her own...
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Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 8:15 pm
They listened to her closely, ears perked, eyes wide, then grins broke out upon their faces and they jumped up and down, around in circles, then tripped over their own feet and toppled down onto the ground in a heap. They quickly disentangled themselves and jumped up again, staring up at the large mare. "Are you going to teach us how to hide really really good, miss--you didn't tell us your name!" Calliope exclaimed suddenly, eyes widening, and she hopped all around Melantho. "What's your name?"
"Oh yes, you must tell us your name! We can't call you nothing, now, can we?" Said the little black colt, his short tails attempting to snap as Melantho's had, but not managing it well. "Everyone has a name!"
"But, tell us your name, and then will you show us how to win at hide-and-seek, please?" Asked Callie, ears perked and bright eyes on the black mare before them. "You must know lots about hide-and-seek, and we want to be good at it, too! I don't want to go with the crying Jalas!" She exclaimed, and Damon nodded his small head vigorously at her side, looking at Melantho as well.
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Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:48 pm
Oh, of course. She hadn't. What a wretched oversight! That was no example to show to a pair of youngsters! Well, at least they'd put her in her place. She chuckled at the thought, and at their enthusiasm, before answering. "My name is Melantho," she said, pronouncing each syllable very carefully so that the foals would have the best chance of picking it up. "In the ancient language of my father's herd, it means "black one" or "the dark girl". My people don't always like those with a lot of black on their bodies - my brother and I suffered a lot for that. But we survived, as survivors do."
Looking at Damon and Calliope, she was intensely glad that they hadn't been born Hellenes. If they had, they would probably have been driven apart by the prejudice against black creatures - Calliope's dazzling white colouring would be highly prized by her people, but Damon's black hide would have made him an outcast.
"Anyway, back to hide and seek. Here's a little tip for you before we start: if you really have to talk when you're hiding, don't just make it quiet. Replace all the S sounds with TH sounds. Ssss. Thhh. You see? The "th" sound is quieter." Aku had taught her that one, and she was glad to have occasion to use it for something pleasant and peaceful.
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Posted: Sun Mar 16, 2008 2:27 pm
"Melo-- Melani... Mel--melly...! Melantr--"
"Melantho!" Calliope chimed, beaming excitedly up at the dark mare. "You have a pretty name!"
"Mel-ahn-thoooh," Damon forced himself to repeat, trying to get the hang of saying it. "Mel-ahn... Mel..ahn.. Mel.. Mel! I'm going to call you Mel!" Hopefully no one would notice the cover-up there; it was very well done, after all, in his mind.
The pale twin giggled, her tails wriggling with excitement. "That sounds silly! Oh, oh, let me try! Umm..."
"Say what you just said again!" Damon prompted, ears perking as he watched his sister.
"That.. thounds--oh, thoundth.. thilly!" She broke out into a fit of giggles at the sound of it, wondering how in the world such a silly thing could benefit either of them, besides for a laugh.
Damon felt the same, unable to keep himself from laughing at how it sounded. "That sounds funny! Miss Mel, why is it important to sound funny when you whisper at hide and seek?"
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