I Ate the Mythology ... & Dreamt

Once inside the enclosure one of the wardens appears to greet you. She's a rather simple lady, somewhere in her late twenties by any guess you could make. Clothing is a pair of simplistic denim jeans, though her shirt is oddly a more medieval-style with full sleeves. Her skin is a tad on the pale side maybe, though considering that any observation done in this habitat happens beneath the trees, it's no real wonder. Bright eyes of deep chocolate brown greet your own, a smile gracing her lips as she steps out, offering you a hand. "Welcome to the azel habitat!" she starts off heartily enough, her tightly-bound ponytail of simple brown hair bouncing as she nods a hello. "My name's Kate, and I'll be something of a guide to you while you're here." A hand raises, she gesturing towards a dirt path that weaves into the tres and towards that clearing full of movement. "Let's go! Now try not to be too loud. They're used to being observed, but they'll get skittish quick enough if you aren't easy around them."

As you begin to walk with the girl, she begins to speak.Now though she's got that sort of 'educational' tone. "Now I've been given the privelege of assigning names to all of our pretties. Most of them are along the lines of what we consider 'natural' colorations. Then again, if they weren't natural, they wouldn't have them would they? Either way... oh! There's the first of the lot. Look over there, just on our side of the brush. No no... to the left there, see? That one's Clay. And she's got the lovliest green eyes, assuming you manage to get near enough. Oop! There she goes to warn the others. They'll know we're coming, sure enough."

Sure enough, several other shadowed bodies can be seen slipping through the trees, all heading oddly enough for the clearing. "Ah, there's Dune there..." Kate pipes up alongside you, pointing out a bright palamino-like azel. What you can see of the legs have bands of a slightly lighter color, maybe a spraying of white hairs? "Dune's a possessive little thing. She's always the one keeping an eye out or peering at us when we come for visits. Looks half tempted to charge at people sometimes..." Sure enough the bold creature scrapes at the turf with her fore hoof, lowering her head in mock threat as you make your way forward only to scamper quickly enough as you draw near. "Terribly brave little thing, eh?"

Now you'll note that as the smaller female skirts away a larger male steps up. He aims a scolding bit after the smaller beast, almost inquiring in manner as he paces closer, well into arm's reach, and begins to whuffle at your clothing. He's a big fellow.... his hide a dark color that hints with slight greying at blue. There's definate intelligance in those big brown eyes, dark as a swamp at night. "Iron here's the real gruff one, if he doesn't take a liking to you." mentions your guide, rather boldly reaching out a hand to pat the well-muscled cervine's shoulder. Iron however does not so much as bat an eyelash, and after extensively sniffing at your hair turns about, losing any possible interest he might have had in you it would seem. "Ah, there's a relief." she piped up yet again. "We've had Iron there chase visitors out in the past. Nice to see you two get along"

Several more azel take interest, a pair of browns taking their time in pacing over to eyeball and whuffle at both you and the warden. One, male if his greater horns are anything to go by, seems to be rather well aged. His coat is almost green tinted, though when you overhear something about 'Silt and Copper' there's no doubt that it's this elderly one that's named copper. His horns, hooves, and yes- even his silken tuft of tail shine in the direct sunlight. You've long since broken the treeline into the clearing, you belatedly realize. Yes... then again that one... Iron... is certainly enough of a distraction to merit an excuse. The second, which has circled about to the other side of you, is more doe-like. No other way to describe it really. She'l a lighter brown, with what could be an undercoat of grey. Both keep politely just out of reach, though Kate with a practiced ease manageds to lift each hand, placing one upon the brow of either beast. Whilst copper rubs the crown of his head against the affectionately scratching fingers, Silt simply drowses shut her eyes, sothed and contented. Soon enough though the pair of them are drive away, more of the azel taking interest in the strangers in their enclosure.

As it turns out, one sidles up on it's own, though the previous two move off regardless. Must have something to do with rank. This one male though not as large as Iron is certainly as imposing. He doesn't openly greet as the other did, merely circling first Kate and then yourself. Well-toned muscles roll attractively beneath his hide, your compatriot leaning over to explain at a whisper, "Bronze here fancies himself highest ranked besides Ivory. Likes to puff about..." before pausing, an apologetic smile offered the compact azel as he offers in return a suspicious glare. With a snort and a quick little kick up of back hooves though he's off, making a point of ignoring the both of you.

Several long minutes pass, the smallish herd re-settling and going about the habitual grazing. Only at this point does the most colerful azel you've seen thus far approach. An appaloosa really, for lack of a better description. He's smaller than iron, thougha tad larger than the last stag to prance off. A bodt of lovely cream, with mottling of reddish brown over his flanks and hind legs. His muzzle shares the same mottling, though most entertainingly both fore and hind legs have socks of opposite color. An odd combination really.
"That there is Ivory." the warden explains, exchaging a nod of all things with the surprisingly intelligent beast. "Usually he's not to be seen without Stoney though.... " she begins to look about curiously, glancing back and at the somewhat blank expression upon your face explains. "Itten, the highest rank in an azel herd, take only one mate and remain with that mate. There's only one male and one female itten in a herd as well."

Whilst she begins to look here and there, bustling about the clearing, you simply keep an eye on Ivory. He returns the favor for a short while, though eventually looses his interest and paces into some of the near brush. An exchange of whickering sounds is heard, at which point you gesture the warden back.

With a quick explanation she'll follow after the brute, and point out for you the admirably camouflaged doe that rests just out of sight. "Stoney's here after all, and has the littles with her. Come on over and take a look!"

How can you refuse such an offer? As you get closer the outlines become more defined. It turn out that the aptly-named Stoney is a dapple grey. At her side are three tiny fawns, the first a clear mesh of the two parent in coloration. They second and third though... "Coast is a foster." Kate interrupts, as though following your thoughts. "He was delivered here to bring some new bloodlines in.

Stoney's got one, so she took up the other as her own. Heck- azel can have a good four fawns at delivery-time. Stoney's other three though were shipped out for the same reason Coast was shipped in. Now there next to Coast is Silver. He's an import too. Got him from a sales tent where they had a load of captured fawns."
And after a generous amount of time to walk amongst the peaceful setting, Kate's bright eyes give a mischeivous sparkle to them, and she'll begin shooing you towards the gates. "You've had plenty of time to look now. And there's other creatures to visit. Get to it, or you'll miss something. This is a big place." And back you go.