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Post by Multi-Facets on May 7, 2009 20:21:38 GMT -6
(OOC: I can't tell you what's OOC for your characters, hon. They're yours.)
As soon as Ki-Nava took off, Far-Runner whooped and hollered and applauded with the rest of the crowd. Ki-Nava was riding beautifully, and making very good time. It was a fantastic sight, and the prideful elf felt glad to be witness to it. Such fun!
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Post by Kris on May 9, 2009 23:25:50 GMT -6
"Ki-Nava might win this one," Sohnji remarked to Tevac, craning her neck to keep the rider in sight. Tevac grunted in response, and the healer raised her eyebrows. "What's with--Ksiva!"
"I WANT DOWN!" Ksiva insisted from her perch on top of Tevac's shoulders. Grimacing, Tevac shook his head and tightened his grip on her wrists. With a toss of wheat-colored hair, Ksiva fixed her mother with an expression Sohnji had seen too often on Astierri's face when they'd been growing up. "MOTHER!"
"I--oh, Ksiva!" Sohnji gritted her teeth as cheers rose up for a shot made by Ki-Nava. "Arrrgh! If you don't be quiet and hold still, I'll tie you to the biggest rock I can find!"
"I'm already ON the biggest rock! Papa!" Ksiva's face reddened with frustration as she tried to wriggle out of his grip. "This isn't fair!"
"When you try mounting an unbroken colt just to join a game for grown-ups, 'fair' is no longer my concern, little one." Tevac couldn't move his head, but his glance upward should have made things clear. Should have, Sohnji thought sourly; yet this was Astierri's youngster they were trying to rein in.
"Nalreen's not a grown-up! How come SHE--"
Sohnji gritted her teeth, and jumped a foot as a hand fell on her shoulder. "Why, Healer," came a warm, soft voice, but the faint, pleasant scent should have warned her who it was. Nazari smiled from her height down on Sohnji, who swallowed hard. "Is the little one here eager to see the race?"
"No," Ksiva said flatly, in a tone that made her mother vow silently to have a long talk with the child about manners. Tevac looked sufficiently aghast to make it certain that the two of them would be able to impress such a thing on Ksiva. Yet Nazari laughed, and easily took Ksiva from Tevac's grasp, settling her on her hip. To her credit, Ksiva didn't fight; she merely frowned up at the High One.
"I want to join the race," she told Nazari.
"Well, why don't we walk together, child? You can tell me about it." Nazari headed off through the crowd, and Sohnji could just hear Ksiva's voice before the High One and her child disappeared.
**Lifemate?** She glanced at Tevac, who scratched his head. **She . . . she wouldn't--**
Tevac looked back at her, then put a finger under her chin and closed her mouth. **The High One isn't Ksiva, beloved. She'll keep an eye on our reckless foal, not let her loose.**
"And I missed the end of the race!" Sohnji erupted, as the cheering around her grew louder. "Oh, I could--I--ARRRRRRRGH!" She spun on her heel and stalked away from Tevac as he chuckled softly at her.
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Post by Kris on May 10, 2009 15:33:55 GMT -6
"Look, I'm ready to race," Caryo remarked, tightening her belt. "We can go if you want."
Nalreen slid her quiver over her shoulder and checked the strap. "I hope you like looking at Dust's hindquarters," she joked, striding towards the corral. Tevac had presented her with a new filly, one of Bolt's siring, and Nalreen had a feeling Dust could easily beat Caryo's Fleetfoot.
Caryo snorted derisively. "In your dreams, girl."
"I'll bet you a new pair of boots I'll beat you."
"Oh?" Caryo grinned. "You're on. A new pair of boots and a belt!"
"Make it a nice belt," Nalreen warned. "And the best pair of boots we can find!"
"You're so vain!" Caryo laughed, as they mounted up and joined the other players.
Astierri rode up to Nalreen, concern clear on his face. "Is that the filly Tevac trained for you?" he asked.
"Yes, Papa. Isn't she a beauty?" Nalreen felt her high spirits dim with Astierri's expression. **Papa, what's wrong?**
Astierri paused. Nalreen followed where his eyes went--to Caryo--and shook her head. **Papa, Caryo's a good rider. She's one of the best among our agemates!**
**Just take care,** Astierri warned, taking her chin in his hand. **Don't get yourself hurt. Your mother would set the Lake on fire if anything happened to you.**
"Especially before I choose a band, right?" Relieved, Nalreen hugged Astierri. "Don't worry. I won't break so much as a fingernail."
As Astierri drew away to confer with his partner, Caryo said, "Is everything all right?"
Nalreen smiled at her soul-sister. "You know Astierri. He can ride the whirlwind if he pleases, but he'll worry himself to pieces if someone else tries!"
Caryo chuckled. "Just wait till your little sister comes of age." She paused. "Speaking of coming of age . . . "
Nalreen shook her head. "I haven't decided yet." She reached out to take Caryo's hand. "What about your offer from . . .?"
"Haven't decided yet either. It's tempting, though." Caryo gave her a wistful smile. "We've all known each other since we came to Ouren. It'd be a perfect three-mating."
"But you don't want perfect."
Caryo slid her hand free and nudged Fleetfoot forward. Her small, striking face was set.
"I want to live, and not know what every morning breeze will bring. I want changes. I don't want to spend my life knowing that every day's going to be the same as yesterday." She shook her head. "I don't want love that's just comradeship. I want more."
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Post by peachbug on May 10, 2009 18:44:52 GMT -6
Ki-Nava leaned back as she aimed her last shot, quietly pleased with her time so far. She steadied her bow with an experienced eye, but gasped as Hornhoof skidded slightly beneath her, almost loosing the arrow in what would likely have been a very unfortunate mess for Sohnji.
With a few breathless reassurances to her startled mare, she quickly re-aimed and pinned an arrow halfway to the center, then sped to the finish at the call of twenty two. The audience cheered despite the finish, laughter sprinkled among it. Ki-Nava smiled as elves from all tribes congratulated her as she stepped away. "You're too old for this game," She patted her mare's nose appreciatively. "Were you and I any younger, we would have been a pair! Should've raced you earlier..."
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Ti-Len had made his way down to the front rows of the game, pleased to see his mother leave with a fine time under her belt and his sister mounting behind her. He cheered as Chetta sped off, making several arrows barely on the target, but riding well on her large mare. She was not a tremendously skilled rider and hardly one for the bow, but she made her way round in barely twenty three.
**Only a few moments faster...** She sent to her brother, along with her excitement. "I could've had just a few less.**
**You did well. Blacksnort has always been best for power, not speed.** He reassured, but turned his attentions to the next rider.
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Post by Kris on May 20, 2009 0:45:26 GMT -6
Nalreen and Caryo drew up to the post and waited for the signal. It came, and Dust flew down the course at the merest pressure of Nalreen's knees. Gasping, Nalreen nocked an arrow to her bow and prepared to shoot the first target. As Dust hurtled forward . . .
. . . and then skidded sideways, screaming, and reared.
Her hands weren't on the reins. Nalreen felt Dust rise up, up, and terror froze her through. And then she was in the air, falling down, and she met the earth with a crack that bled all the light out of the day . . .
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Post by Kris on May 20, 2009 0:51:50 GMT -6
"We thought you'd be in the race," Sohnji exclaimed as Astierri strode up to her and Tevac. "What happened?"
"That happened," and Astierri pointed to the two maidens who rode up to the starting post. Sohnji stared at Nalreen, whose smile was as bright as the sun above as she urged her new horse beside her partner's.
"I never knew she liked this!" She turned to Tevac. "Is that the filly you've been training for her?"
Tevac nodded, looking resigned. "I can't blame her. She's watched Astierri run this race too many Musterings . . ."
"Don't you blame this on me," Astierri warned. "She's going to get her neck broken."
"No one's blaming anyone, and Nalreen won't get her neck broken," Sohnji declared. She shook her head as Astierri muttered under his breath. "You make me die eight-eights times eight times during this stupid--" The healer caught her breath as Dust reared and Plainsrunners around them began to shout--was it a snake? A bird? What happened?--and Nalreen was thrown to the ground headfirst.
Overbalanced, the filly tried to get her feet down on the ground, and fell instead--landing on top of Nalreen.
Sohnji had no idea if she said anything. One minute she was standing beside Astierri; the next, she was beside the distressed filly, pressing her hands on the massive gray shoulder to try to keep Dust from crushing her daughter.
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Post by Multi-Facets on May 20, 2009 1:03:55 GMT -6
(I apparently did a lot of misreading. I'm sorry.)
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Post by peachbug on May 20, 2009 17:23:13 GMT -6
Ti-Len started forward at the horse's scream, even as Nalreen was only starting to slide from Dust, her hands grasping at empty air. It was instinct, some naiive belief he could catch her, or halt Dust mid-rear. It was dreamlike too, as though Nalreen wouldn't land as hard as she did, him hearing the crack, and the dust kicked by the mare clouding around them. Others rushed forward, cries all around.
He dug his arms under the hard muscles of the horse now crumpling on top of Nalreen. Another elf did as well, on the other side, he could feel another's hands, but the dust made his eyes water and Ti-Len simply pulled with all the strength his lean frame could muster. Dust's legs pummelled the air near his shoulder, but the closest hoof missed him by a near hand's width.
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Post by Anna on May 20, 2009 17:29:14 GMT -6
"I told you she's break her neck!" Astierri shouted as he raced beside his lifemates to reach their daughter. Nalreen was all but completely hidden on the thrashing bulk of the mare and the hunter's heart alternately raced and stopped dead as the gathered bands descended en mass around the maiden and her horse. Sohnji somehow managed to get through them all just as Dust regained her feet, but the crowd blocked Astierri and Tevac out.
"Get OUT of my WAY!" Astierri shouted, resorting to shoves and kicks to force a hole through.
Tevac's approach was more simple: he just picked up whoever was blocking his way and tossed them aside. The shouts and protests died half-uttered when the assaulted realized that the two elves abusing them were the fathers.
Tevac spared just enough attention to notice that Sei-Ru was trying to calm Dust. Tevac merged with the young mare's thoughts just long enough to soothe her and make her managable, then focused on his daughter.
"Back up!" Astierri said, now in the middle of the circle and pushing people back.
"They need room and air," Tevac added, leaving the clearing to Astierri, who needed the active outlet. Tevac knelt beside Sohnji, ready to assist her at the least indication she needed help.
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Post by Kris on May 21, 2009 0:54:35 GMT -6
Sohnji fell to her knees beside Nalreen, and shuddered as she laid hands on her oldest child. The pain hit her like a hot summer wind, and Nalreen's sobs of agony cut her to the heart.
"Get a litter," she rasped.
"It's coming," and the voice made Sohnji look up to see who had gotten past her lifemates.
It was Ti-Len. Of course; he'd helped Sei-Ru get Dust on her feet. Sohnji started to nod . . . and then froze as she met his eyes. She'd seen him all his life, and never before had she looked so deeply at him.
Into him.
"Sohnji!" Someone grasped her arm. "Sohnji, Nalreen is bleeding!"
Shaking, Sohnji fought to clear her head so that she could enter the healing trance, but the fearsome urge seized her like a wolf, sinking its teeth into her vitals. "No," she moaned, suffused with her child's pain as well as the undeniable force of Recognition. "Ti-Len--" She met his gaze once again, and saw he was as stunned as she was.
She could feel Nalreen writhe beneath her hands.
**Later,** she told him firmly, as she forced herself to her feet. Several of her bandmates laid the litter next to her daughter. Tevac and Astierri moved Nalreen as gently as they could, but still she screamed as they placed her on the litter. As they carried Nalreen off the track, Sohnji followed on legs that felt almost as crushed as her daughter's body.
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