Near a Shepherd’s rook, a handful of animals escaping, anywhere from cows, goats, pigs, and some horses. They were near the outer section, closest to the Vault’s Haven.
The farmer had posted in town and at the borders, signs of wanting help because they had been having issues with keeping the animals in their pens. It was as if it were a last choice for the farmer to seek help from anyone other than themself.
For an unknown reason, some entity lured them out of their pens, especially at night, not long after the farmer would tend to them. Giving them their evening meals, along with some treats, or well-deserved grooming.
Two Subtalleons had been passing each other, noticing a ‘WANTED’ sign. It stated a farmer had been having issues keeping their flock within their lands. The farmer hoped someone near Vault’s Haven would see the signs and assist them.
The WANTED sign showed text stating which animals escaped: cows and pigs. Some doodles of them were done in what appeared to be scribble, stating Please help! At the bottom left corner was a signature; it was sloppy but assumingly, it was the farmer’s.
Even though these particular Subtalleons had not met previously, all while they both happened to gaze upon the sign, curiously.
Akanori was graceful yet cautious Subtalleon; for his beauty was of glitter shown throughout his entire body. The beast was golden coated with elongated wings, wil’o wisp ears, silken cheeks, an uneven mane, and a unique set of markings. The filigree markings consisted of three colors, yellow, dark blue, and soft green. Their hooves emanated a soft glow.
Cressida glanced at the sign then to the other Subtalleon with her dark blue orbs, blinking slowly. They was pretty simple, in comparison to the one in front of her. Cressida held only eye spots that were the most significant for marks on her body. Whereas, They was of golden coated, with much smaller wings than that of Akanori. They held ridges and her tail was of a whale. They also did not have an uneven mane like the male before her had. They was, quite literally, a simple subtalleon in appearance.
Both of them glanced back and forth; at each other and at the sign, a few times, before the female would have the courage to speak.
“Oh, um… hi?”, Cressida spoke nervously. They wasn’t really the type to speak with others. Cressida typically was seen near the waters, getting lost in thoughts and trying to figure out things on a daily. Problem-solving, so to speak. A soft chuckle bellowed from her chest as They waited nervously for the other to react or respond.
“Hi there. You want to venture to see what’s going on with the farmer?,” the Subtalleon, known as Akanori spoke gracefully. The beast appeared to have glowing soft blue eyes. His wings caught Cressida’s attention from their fairy-like appearance.
Cressida smiled, slowly but cautiously, nonetheless. They couldn’t help but curl her whale tail fins closer to her upper torso. Gazing around the area in which they were, They did not reply. At least… not yet.
Akanori blinked abruptly in confusion and tilted his cranium slightly to the side. Their pronged tail fin seemed to be quite relaxed compared to the other subtalleon. “Ah.. oh, I apologize. I am Anakori, and you are?”, they posed to the beast before them, curiously raising a brow – not in a literal sense, however.
“I don’t typically speak to strangers… “ Cressida softly answered the other subtalleon, deemed the name Akanori. They knew better than to be rude, though. Without any other glimpses at the other, They spoke again in response, respectfulness twinkling in her tone of voice, “I am Cressida. N-n-nice to meet you.”
“Pleasure is mine,” Akanori nodded with a large grin appearing across his maw. He then snorted a little as his soft orbs gazed to the sign again, speaking curiously out loud but leaving it as an open invitation to Cressida, “Should we take a gander and see what all the fuss is about..?”
Shocked filled through the Subtalleon as they felt warmth throughout themselves, embarrassed, although it would dissipate within seconds after they decided to come up with a reply. Someone was talking to her. Cressida blinked slowly as they spoke. Only a few words would part from her muzzle as they responded in a minimal stutter, “S-sounds like it could be fun.”
Cressida was confused but perhaps they would be open to the idea of going on an adventure to seek out the farmer with another tally. A shiver was felt between her shoulders and wings, as they awaited Akanori’s reply.
“Alright, let’s go,” Akanori stated confidently as he turned toward the left, in the direction in which the farmer was located.
“Mmm…”, was all the muttered from Cressida’s muzzle as they followed them, slightly back and at his right side.
The sun was beaming above as clouds danced throughout the daylight sky. It wasn’t too long before the Subtalleons would reach their destination. Their bodies floating through the wind, Akanori’s uneven mane would flip around against his neck with his wings lightly fluttering behind them. On the other hand, Cressida did not have a mane and only her wings that would flap calmly at her back.
“Moo.”
“Oink. Oink. OINKKKK!!!”
“Mooo!!!”
The farmer’s animals were within hearing distance. The calls seemed to be a warning. Were they in danger or just being dramatic?
After trekking forward some few yards ahead, there was a pair of cows and a few pigs scattered around the area of an empty field. To the left was a forest, thick and green. To the right, well… emptiness but only a trail which assumed to have been the route in where the farmer lived.
“Well, looks like we found them. Where should we take them? Back to the farmer or somewhere else?”, Akanori posed a question, curiously glancing his soft blue orbs to Cressida. Her dark blue orbs would blinked in a surprise, at first, before They would look around at the few cows and pigs. They looked like they were having fun and enjoying the endless field of grass of grazing.
“Let’s play with them for awhile, then decide what to do next. If the farmer comes though, do you know what to do or where to go?,” Cressida asked, curiously after having answered the other’s question.
As the two Subtalleons were discussing on what to do and plan, the cows continued to graze upon the green grasses. The pigs, on the other hand, were starting to play their own version of what humans would have called ‘tagged’. One of the smaller pigs bonked another’s rear, giggling while calling out in an exclamation of oinks.