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Post by Apronia Silvanus on Mar 5, 2006 4:21:56 GMT
Cain was nodding sleepily on his feet when they finally reached the ramshackle paddock near the lake. It was sturdy, built by Hagrid to withstand the kicks and thumps of various large, dangerous magical creatures. Apronia took a moment to shovel out (cleaning charms had never come easy to her) the worst of the dirt and dust, and pitched some clean hay into a stall from the loft. She wedged the stall door open and led Cain inside, sitting invitingly on the clean sweet hay. "I'm sorry, I'll find you a better room soon. But I must make sure all are in accord with your presence."
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Post by Prof. Eithne l'Keitha on Mar 5, 2006 4:29:19 GMT
"Prof. Silvanus?"
The startled centaur looked up and the professor turned.
"You sent me this message? It came in through the window..." Prof. l'Keitha held out a crumpled piece of parchment. "Is that the cenatur that needs watching?"
Cain drew back, eyes still intent on the stranger.
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Cain
Centaur Foal
Posts: 49
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Post by Cain on Mar 5, 2006 4:32:53 GMT
Cain sniffed around the paddock, kicking bits of hay up into the air with his hooves. "I guess it's okay..." he said doubtfully, but the truth was that he was quite tired. He yawned hugely, mouth snapping shut at the sound of a stranger's voice. He scrambled to hide behind Apronia, peering at the Professor around her.
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Post by Apronia Silvanus on Mar 5, 2006 4:36:09 GMT
"Thank you for coming, Professor. I'm Dr. Silvanus, as you know, the new Gameskeeper." she pulled the other Professor closer and whispered the story of Cain's orphan status to her. "Would you mind looking after him for me while I go speak with the centaurs? It wouldn't do to have them believe I've kidnapped young centaurs." there was a hard glint in her eye, a line at the corner of her mouth that betrayed past evils.
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Post by Prof. Eithne l'Keitha on Mar 5, 2006 4:39:35 GMT
Prof. l'Keitha slowly drew her wand underhand, making sure all of her movements were seen to Cain. With a gentle tap, she transfigured a large rock into an equally large apple. "Don't worry, little one. I don't bite," she said, placing the apple near Cain, and turn to Prof./ Dr.(  ) Silvanus . "Are you going to see the Centaurs now?" |
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Post by Apronia Silvanus on Mar 5, 2006 4:41:27 GMT
"Yes, thank you." She gave Cain an encouraging pat on his broad back and left.
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Cain
Centaur Foal
Posts: 49
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Post by Cain on Mar 5, 2006 4:42:57 GMT
Cain leapt toward the apple, grabbing it and bringing it halfway to his mouth before he remembered his manners. "Thank you, miss!" he squeeked excitedly. "I'm sorry for my rudeness... I haven't eaten anything in a coupla days and I've never seen an apple this big!" Hoping that was enough for an apology, he galloped back to the other side of the paddock, snuggling down into the hay, and took a huge bite of the apple. He was distracted enough by it's sweet juices that he did not protest at Apronia's departure, merely sending a sticky smile after her around a mouthful.
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Post by Prof. Eithne l'Keitha on Mar 5, 2006 4:46:39 GMT
Prof. l'keitha waited for cain to finish his apple. With a final nibble on the dry core, the young centaur settled on the floor with a contented smile, his face matted with apple juices.
"How long have you been alone, sweetling?" she asked.
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Cain
Centaur Foal
Posts: 49
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Post by Cain on Mar 5, 2006 4:50:16 GMT
Cain's eyes saddened, and he signed deeply. Rubbing a handful of straw on his hands to clean them, he trailed his fingers in the dirt, making random patterns. "Not too long... it's only been a few weeks since they made me leave...it seemed like -forever- though, being alone in the forest..." He shivered, looking toward it distrustfully. "I dont ever wanna go in there again!"
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Post by Prof. Eithne l'Keitha on Mar 5, 2006 4:54:44 GMT
"And you won't have to," Prof l'keitha said softly, shifting closer to cain. "We're going to take care of you, okay? And if we can't, we'll find others who will." She looked up at the sky, searching for less depression topics.
"So... can you sense what lies in store for you? From the stars?"
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Cain
Centaur Foal
Posts: 49
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Post by Cain on Mar 5, 2006 5:00:04 GMT
Cain giggled for a moment, before realized that she was serious. "Oh.. no, of course not! The stars are huge and old and and BIG! They don't tell stories about little people like me! They tell stories about big people, big things that happen." He nodded rapidly.
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Post by Prof. Eithne l'Keitha on Mar 5, 2006 5:14:46 GMT
Prof. l'keitha laughed, relieved that she hadn't triggered some ominious premonition. "Well I guess you'll have to wait and see what will happen just like the rest of us. But for now, you should have some rest. You've had quite an evening..." She gently stroked Cain's hair and hummed an old gaelic song of her childhood, trying to lull him to sleep.
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Cain
Centaur Foal
Posts: 49
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Post by Cain on Mar 5, 2006 5:20:35 GMT
Cain yawned deeply again. "Yeah... you're right. He curled his tail around himself, his legs folded under him, and leaned his upper body against a soft bale of hay, sighing happily. This was -so- much better than being alone in the forest. He listened to Eithne's sweet voice, reminding him distantly of his mother's, as he drifted off to sleep.
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Post by Apronia Silvanus on Mar 5, 2006 9:44:49 GMT
Relaxed and warmed by whiskey, Apronia set down the sack of apples and settled into the straw near Cain's warm shape, angling her head back to look at the sky. It was drizzling, with the slightest hint of dawn on the horizon. She drifted gently in a cushioned space of darkness and scratchy straw, mind quiet. Everything smelled of apples.
[The blossoms drifted down, shaken from the tree by the playful pats of rain. It was a warm rain, spring taking its first deep breaths, and Haku beside her laughed. They'd diligently finished raking the rocks into perfect formation, and now reclined upon a mossy knoll crowned by a young apple tree in bloom. Lovely Haku, with his brown eyes and crooked teeth, who was looking at her as if this tiny, masculine, tempermental Italian woman made some fundamental concept of the world so very clear to him. "You have shown me the way." He whispers in her ear like a secret, the fluid syllables of his language dropping from his lips like jewels. "I wish I could share this with you." And before she can ask what he means, the moment is lost in a kiss as light as the droplets that fall.]
She breathed deep of the frangrance, deep of the memory.
elle s'est tombee dans les pommes.
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Cain
Centaur Foal
Posts: 49
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Post by Cain on Mar 5, 2006 19:33:44 GMT
Cain awoke to the hooting of the owls passing overhead. He watched them soar silently into the castle, great parcels as well as letters clutched in their talons. He stood up, stretching languidly, his tail swishing behind him happily. He hadn't slept that well in ages. His stomech growled loudly. He glanced at Apronia guiltily. Well...The sun was already well up into the sky, and she probably hadn't gone to sleep -much- later than he... Cain trotted up to her, poking her shoulder insistantly. "Hey! Apronia!" He called loudly. "Wakeeeee upppppp!"
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