|
|
Post by mizu on Feb 7, 2008 17:36:24 GMT -5
[Private Thread- Nighty&&Strix only! ^^]
The Appaloosa filly shifted from hoof to hoof uncomfortably.
The lovely blue sky had darkened, and she could sense that a storm was soon to come. Nightingale glanced hopefully at the slaves in the arena with her, but there was no familiar face, no friend in sight. Her heart fluttered in her chest when she saw a kicking strawberry roan at the far end of the arena, but it wasn't Chestnut, the mare she'd traveled with to get here. Another jolt came when Nightingale saw a flash of black, and thought it was her new friend Elu, back to take her with him. But of course, it wasn't.
Stop it, she told herself. Stop it. It's no use. What good will it do?
Nightingale shook herself. She was being silly. Now, she would attempt to talk to someone. Talking always made her feel better. She approached a mare who was standing a few feet away. No sooner had Nightingale greeted her that the mare snarled angrily in her face. The appaloosa backed away quickly. Ooops. The mare reminded her of her Master. She returned rather dejectedly to her spot.
The wind was picking up. What a terrible day it was turning out to be. Nightingale began to hum an old song her mother had taught her when she was a foal. She'd learned it off by heart and sung it to Falcon later.
And when the sun goes down
I'll come back for you
I'm always with you really
It's just that you can't see me
Close your eyes and sleep, my love
Your mother sings a lullaby.
|
|
|
|
Post by ms on Feb 7, 2008 17:40:21 GMT -5
[glow=white,10,300] S T R I X [/glow] Strix stepped into the ring, glaring at the few slaves that would clearly not live out the night that came up to him and begged him to take them. No, he wouldn’t take them, their lives were over, and they can finally rest because of it. No, he wanted something pretty to fill his herd. His last slave had died, now he needed to start over. Stupid females. Gazing, a spotted coat caught his eye, and he pushed his way over to it. “You, mare. Name, age. Now.” |
|
|
|
Post by mizu on Feb 7, 2008 17:53:34 GMT -5
It took a moment for Nightingale to realize she was being spoken to. She looked up, knowing exactly what she was going to see. A Master, a Master looking for a slave. Not a friend. She had to be like Elu now: give quick, brief answers and then be silent and still. Nightingale straightened up, armed with good intentions...but, the Master had called her a mare. The Appaloosa twicthed. She wasn't a mare. She was a filly. It was....-Gwatha would have called it a "blooming insult". Yes, this Master had insulted her, sort of.
"My name is Nightingale," the Appaloosa replied, smiling in a friendly manner. "But I'm no mare, sir. I'm a filly. You see, I'm only just two years old- some might call me a yearling- so I really don't think I classify as a mare. Mares are over three years old. I expect this cloudy weather affects your eyesight a little and makes you see me a bit older than I actually am. It happens to everyone. I remember I stepped on a butterfly once when I was a foal. The sun had vanished behind these massive black clouds and I just couldn't see properly...it was so dark."
Nightingale nodded understandingly. Something about the Master's expression made her shut up quick after that.
|
|
|
|
Post by ms on Feb 7, 2008 18:00:40 GMT -5
[glow=white,10,300] S T R I X [/glow] Strix looked at her as she kept talking, eyes narrowed as she rambled on and on and on. After a moment, she stopped and he pinned his ears back. Barring his teeth, he lowered his head until he was nose to nose with her, bumping velvet to velvet. “Let’s try that again. Name, age, now. And if you ramble on again, you will regret it.” He brought his head back up, stamping his foot. (Sorry, small.) |
|
|
|
Post by mizu on Feb 7, 2008 18:13:29 GMT -5
Nightingale sensed she'd made a mistake. The usual mistake. Oh, it was the eight thousandth time! She was about to apologise profusely when she suddenly found the master's face less than an inch from her own. Nightingale froze. For once she was unable to speak. Rather fearfully she waited for the stallion to shout at her, but his voice was surprisingly low. Nightingale was unable to detect how threatening it sounded.
"I..." She watched the master stamp his hoof and decided this really wasn't the moment to engage in conversation. For the third time that day her heart began thumping loudly, this time because of fear rather than shock.
"Nightingale. Two years old," she said faintly, ears laid back against her skull. The master maybe didn't like storms. It would explain his bad temper. Or he was fond of butterflies, and hadn't enjoyed learning Nightingale had stepped on one. Hang on, who was she trying to convince? Elu had told her his masters weren't very nice. This was obviously one of those mean old brutes he'd been talking about. Nightingale wanted to stick her tongue out defiantly, but she lacked the courage...and anyway good slaves didn't stick their tongues out at masters.
|
|
|
|
Post by ms on Feb 7, 2008 18:34:17 GMT -5
[glow=white,10,300] S T R I X [/glow] “Good, that means you can learn. That will mean you last as a slave.” He slowly made his way around her, gazing at her from all sides trying to figure out if she was what she was looking for. She was strong looking, and that coat was very interesting. He didn’t see any reason not to put his name to her. Coming to a stop in front of her, he looked her strait down. “I am Master Strix. That is the title you will call me, and no other. You are now my slave. Follow.” He turned his tale on her, leading the way out. |
|
|
|
Post by mizu on Feb 7, 2008 18:47:48 GMT -5
She could learn? But of course she could. Nightingale wasn't sure whether to be pleased or outraged. What she really wanted to do was ask the master...Strix...a lot of questions, but she didn't know if he would react like before or not. The Appaloosa fretted, tossing her head uncertainly, and eventually she decided she would just act naturally. Be herself. Yes, that was the right thing to do. The Master had chosen her because he liked her, had he not? That probably meant he wanted to listen to her incessant chatter.
Feeling slightly braver Nightingale broke into a trot and followed her new master, but before that she turned and neighed to the mare who'd snapped at her earlier. It was Nightingale's way of saying good-bye. To her surprise the mare did not snap again. It raised its head forlornly and watched Nightingale until the filly was out of her sight.
|
|
