Fables RP - Sokanon Herd - Friendship

[Ravvana]

((OCC: This is for the contest to win square B3. Sokanon already owns B2, so this would be a great square to win. So let's make some friends! <3))

Shara rested beside the river, silently watching the other members of the herd enjoying the cool water. She had belonged to the herd for a while now, but she was still barely acquainted with the other Fables. That suited her fine, really; she was just as happy on her own.

She stood, shaking the water out of her fur. May as well go over to the others and try some conversation. She plodded over to where several members of the herd had gathered beside the river.

[Ryuukokoro]

White Walker stood on the river's edge, allowing the burbling water to cascade over her front hooves, a welcome relief to the heat of the day. Her mind was somewhere far away at the moment, remembering her past life, her previous herd. Sokanon was newly formed; she wondered if the others also found themselves caught up in their past from time to time.

She shook her head, allowing her pale mane to fall across her arched neck. Bad memories belonged in the past. And here came one of the herd leaders, the dusky mare, Shara. Another quiet member of the herd, White Walker didn't know much about her. But she was a welcome distraction from memories.

"Good sun up, Shara," she murmured, meeting her herdmate's eye with her own dark garnet orb. "How do you find the day?"

[Ravvana]

Shara nodded in greeting to White Walker. "Good sun up," she replied. "The day is nice, especially by the water." She had noticed White Walker's faraway expression as she approached, making her faintly curious. Shara was also one to -- not daydream, exactly -- but to become absorbed in silent contemplation and reflection. She did not let the past obstruct her future, but she felt it would be a betrayal to dismiss it entirely.

Shara felt a certain familiarity to White Walker, another quiet mare in the eclectic herd. Rather than retreat into comfortable silence, she opened up the conversation, inquiring, "What has been on your mind today, White Walker?"

[Ryuukokoro]

White Walker nickered a little in surprise at the question; was she that obvious? She wasn't quite used to others in her herd being so observant of her. In the past she was more commonly unheard, and thus unseen.

"Oh, hardly anything," she said, suddenly very interested in a pebble between her cloven hooves. "Only thinking how lucky we are to have come together. A new herd is such a blessing." There, that was the truth, wasn't it? Or nearly so.

"Don't you agree?" she asked, wondering if the other mare found the new herd an improvement over her old, as White Walker did.

[Kahlira]

Upon seeing two of the herd members talking quietly, she stopped her play. They seemed to be having such a serious questioning going on. Should she join them or no? Shaking the water off her a bit, she walked quietly towards them hoping that they weren't talking about her. Her ears were pricked forward, hoping to catch the barest glint of their conversation before they would notice her and maybe change the topic before she got there. Or if it was a private conversation she could quickly make a dash for it.

the conversation seemed innocent enough. Just an asking of the day.. So she decided why not join them, she took a dainty little sip of the water, and walked shyly towards them. Her momma always told her to respect her elders and never interrupt others while they were talking, so she stood close so she could join in if a moment arose. She heard White Walker's response to Shara loud and clear, figuring it wouldn't be interrupting, she said quietly, "I  definitely agree. I love it here as well, so much nicer then sharing a space with my annoying know it all brother." She dropped her muzzle to the water again, to take a sip. Or talk to the fish, she wasn't sure which. Or if she had just over stepped a boundary. They could always tell her to flee, and that this was adult conversation. Then she could go back to talking to the fish.

[Ravvana]

Shara thought of her last herd. She made been fond of the other members, one in particular, but not of the herd itself. Poorly structured and poorly organized, its collapse has been inevitable. If nothing else, that past had taught her the essential nature of forward planning and strong leadership, giving the reserved mare the incentive to hold a leadership position in this new herd. She could trust herself. She felt awkward sharing these intimacies with White Walker, though, and instead simply replied, "This is a strong herd. We were fortunate to come together." Shifting slightly, she continued more intimately, "Have you formed any bonds yet? It is always hard, in a new herd." Spoken from experience.

Hearing a splash, Shara chastised herself for letting her guard down; she immediately shifted her attention toward the noise. Seeing Julianna, she snorted, embarrassed at her overreaction. As the herd had developed, Shara was surprised to find herself becoming fond of the younger mare despite the differences in their character, seeing her almost as a younger sister. Shara would have been an excellent older sister, but instead she had been stuck the youngest of three, cast under a shadow she had never been able to shake off in her old herd.

"Good sun up," she greeted the new arrival. Seeing Julianna's hesitation, she gently continued, "Would you care to join us? We have been discussing the past, but if there is anything else you'd like to speak of...?" As second in command, she strived to include all members of the herd.

[Ryuukokoro]

Juliana's arrival was welcome; White Walker was too embarrassed to admit that she had yet to make any lasting impressions in their new herd. Especially to one of the leaders. She didn't want Shara to think she wasn't happy here.

"Juliana!" she said, her lips quirking up to a smile. "You're welcome to join us, of course. How do you find the water today?"

[Kahlira]

She was welcome to join the two elder mares, inwardly she was thrilled, but better not let that show on the outside. She raised her muzzle from the water. "Good sun up to both of you! I do have some theories on the past, but well, seriously, why worry of the past, when the present and future are so much more fun to think of? The past will always be there for remembrance sake, but..." she trailed off. Not really sure where she was heading with this particular conversation. "The water, it's a wonderful thing! So clear and it tastes so good. It's also fun to roll in." She gave a tiny little nod of her head.

Inwardly she just didn't know. did they like her? She tried so much to live up to her mother's expectations, tried to live by her mother's rules. Though this was a new herd, and a new sense of duty was needed in the newly formed herd. But her mother had also said everyone would love her bubbly attitude, so maybe they would too?

[Ravvana]

Shara nodded at Julianna. She had put it differently, certainly, but they seemed to share a view on the past: never to be forgotten, but not to overshadow the present or future. "The water is nice," she replied, eying it skeptically. She had too much dignity to roll, but splashing around a bit couldn't hurt, could it? It was hot. She dipped her muzzle into the water and waved it back and forth, creating waves of ripples. Then she jerked her head abruptly up, lightly splashing Julianna's legs. She had seen enough Fables playing in streams to know this game, but she had never played it before. She was both intrigued and ashamed at being so immature.

She turned her head inquisitively toward White Walker, inviting her to join the "fun" if she pleased. Having another dignified mare join them would make Shara feel better about letting herself go.

[BabyKittenCandy]

(ooc: Hope its ok to jump in with Summer)

Summer watched from the shade of the tree's as the other mares of the herd started to gather. Being young she was rather in awe of the older mares. Julianna was more her age and not as scary, but she so wanted to fit in with this new herd. Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves she put on a brave face and wandered over towards White Walker, Shara and Julianna.
'h..Hi' She stuttered to the group.

[Kahlira]

ohh! Shara wanted to play splash, did she? Julianna was delighted! She reared up to her fullest before coming crashing down, granted, with just her feet, the splashes weren't nearly as impressive as Shara's but why not? It was about fun, not who got the most wet. She looked over at one of the newest members to their herd, knowing how hard it is to fit in, she grinned at Summer, well with her mouth, no telling what it looked like, hopefully not frightening.

"Hello, Summer!" she called, a bit more enthusiastic then she had planned on. "Welcome, and well come thou art!" Wow, formal mode! "We were just starting a game of splash, want to join?" giving the other young mare the opening she needed, maybe to bring her out of the shell. oh she hoped so.

[Pinkshadow]

Zack makes a graceful entrence and greet everyone "Hey everybody, I would be a new member"

[Wildfilly94]

Estella carefully makes her way to where the herd is. She is a bit shy at first, and stands there contemplating whether she should go say hello or stay where she is.
After some time of thought, she walks up to the crowd and says "Hello, my name is Estella and I'm new here. I-I won't be much trouble, I promise. Just looking for some new friends." She then takes a step back and watches everyone carefully, hoping she will be accepted, unlike her last home.

[Kahlira]

Eying the new Fables carefully, Juli went instantly on the defense. Her herd instinct started to kick in, until they both spoke, her internal alarms silenced. They just wanted a new herd, a new life, well wasn't that what everyone wanted after all? "Welcome," she called to the new members. "We're all rather friendy, though sometimes can be a bit grouchy. I know I can be before I see my tree in the morning!" She giggled a bit, and hoped the new ones would rest at ease, she could remember her own arrival all too well.

~~~~~~~~

A tiny thunder of hoofs shook the silence which met Julianna's words. Like a whirlwind a very small Story had come running into the fray, kicking her tiny little hooves up into the air, like she didn't have a care in the world! "Can't catch me!" her little voice rang out.

Close on her heels, a very peculiar colored stallion followed. "Come on, Abby! Stop for unky!" he called after the little imp.

Her head long rush brought her smack dab into the center of the mares. Her tiny pink eyes seemed to grow too large for her face. She slid to a stop inches from Shara's hooves. She was scared. "UNKY!!!!!!!!!!!!!" she shrieked.

He had slowed as they approached the herd. He had been raising his niece for a while now, the girls mother, his sister, had a brood of four, which was way too many for any one mare to take care of, so he volunteered. What a mistake. Hanging his head a bit, "I'm sorry this imp intruded upon your quiet time. She is very good at doing that. Come on, impy." he said to the little one.

She was frozen to the spot.

[Wildfilly94]

Estella relaxed herself a bit and her muscles ceased tension. she was begining to respond to Juli, when a flash of white came flying and almost smacked into one of the other mares. She jerked her head up in suprise and looked at the filly with confusion. She then saw a stallion running after her and after he'd explained himself she laughed, "She's adorable. I'm sorry you have to be the mother to her, its a very hard job to do, but its a proud and fun thing as well. Im Estella." She smiled to the filly and to the stallion politely.

[Kahlira]

Upon being addressed, and welcomed in a  way, HB looked from the imp to the mare who had spoken to me. "True, she is a handful, but I love every minute of it. I am known as Heart Breaker, though everyone calls me HB, and the little imp," with a nod to the white filly, who was still frozen, "is known as Abby. My sister had a large brood. And I volunteered to help her out by adopting her." giving his story seemed a bit simple even to him.

Juli bent her head to mouth at the little filly's hair. "It's allright, furball. I'm sure you didn't mean to run from you.. erm.. unky." she looked from the imp to the stallion. "She's fine. I love foals!"

[Wildfilly94]

Stella smiled again and thought to herself, Wow, I may actually get to feel accepted here. Already have met three people and they seem nice. "She is very cute." She agreed. So, HB and Julianna, and Abby. Simple enough to remember. "So what is it like here? My other herd was quite different from this. Not nearly as accepting and ... comfortable as it is here."

[Ravvana]

Shara was startled by the flying filly, but she quickly regained her composure. "Greetings Stella, Zack, HB, and Abby," she welcomed the newcomers, leaving the water, falling quickly back into her leadership role. "You are welcome to join our herd as long as you are willing to take a job and help the herd grow strong." She bobbed her head gracefully, her eyes drawn toward young Abby. She had always longed to raise a Story of her own, but now she was not so sure she was up to the task.

~~~

As Shara greeted the new arrivals, a pale blue mare had silently approached the gathering. "Good day," she said, cheerfully. "The sky is nice." She strolled around, examining the land. "The grass is nice, too. It enjoys the sun." She turned her head quizzically at Shara, continuing, "I'm River. I would like to help." Her eyes scanned the growing crowd. This was certainly a change, so many Fables, all together, all cooperating... It was nice. She would like it here, she knew.

She had heard Stella's last few words as she approached. "Sometimes others do not accept us because they have envy," she explained, repeating the words her mother had often repeated to her when she was a young Story. She had always been a touch different, hadn't she? Better, she thought without trace of narcissism; she possessed a childlike innocence despite her intelligence. "I accept you," she told Stella, " if you accept me." River accepted everyone, really, as long as they gave her reason. She could identify malice or falsehood a mile away; she was not easily fooled, whatever others might suspect.

[Ryuukokoro]

White Walker wasn't quite prepared for the sudden arrival of so many new Fables. Coming from a small, poor herd herself, seeing so many new faces at once was startling. At first she thought something had happened. Was another herd invading their territory? Did they have to defend it? Should she do something, or run? But a quick glance to Shara reassured her. Their lead mare was not treating the others as hostiles, but welcoming them. These are new members of Sokanon, then. Not outsiders at all.

Still, the pale mare couldn't quite bring herself to speak to them. Sokanon or not, strangers still made her uneasy. She stepped back away from the water's edge, until she was behind the gathering group of Fables. Then, quietly, she turned and slipped away from the river, feeling her pulse slow and calm the further she got, relieved when her hoofprints in the grass was the only sound to hear.

[Wildfilly94]

Stella was overwhelmed with kindness. This was nothing like her old herd, everyone so kind and welcoming. She pondered for a moment and told Shara "I've decided to be a midwife, along with Julianna. It seems like the best place for me, sense I'm clumsy and cant build or protect other people too well. Taht and I adore children. I'm due for my own soon enough."

[Spixy]

Hydroxide was once again watching from a distance. Her personality traits didn't allow her to jump directly into the conversation, thus she settled with watching over the herd as they conversed and played. It wasn't lonely, no, she rather enjoyed being able to contribute to the safety of the herd by just watching. She would know if someone was approaching and she wouldn't mind dealing with the problem either. Scanning the distant horizon once again, she let out a low sigh.

[Kahlira]

Juli watched,  a bit in sadness as White walker started to walk away. But to each her own, so her mother had always told her. Besides there were a bunch of new ones to meet and greet! So many so she could hardly keep their names straight. Maybe White Walker had the right idea, a quiet place, under her favorite tree perhaps? Nodding to the rest, she flicked her tail. "I believe I shall go bed down for an afternoon nap." With that, she took off at a slow jog in the direction of that tree.

HB watched Abby as the others from the herd started coming and going. Should he leave as well? what if the leader thought he wanted tot ake over? No, he didn't want that. The thoughts going through his mind showed clearly on his face. He just wanted a place where his niece and himself could live in peace and harmony. And if the herd was a bit larger then his home herd, then that would be ok with him as well. He nuzzled Abby's hair. "Well, I think I would take a job. I believe I will be a builder, so I can keep track of Abby here, and help with the herd at the same time."

[Wildfilly94]

Estella had gone away from the herd for a while, but when she returned, she brought along a story with a green coat and white socks and a gorgeous blue mane and tail, and eyes. Liam was his name. She didn't join the crowd though, instead she stayed off to herself for a while with her new story. He became her world and life. She loved him with all her heart, so glad she'd  had him with Lichen. <3