Bored

[Sawyar]

Nikkie stared dumbfounded at Jacob for a moment. She looked between Lughna, Shade and Jacob. She pointed at Lughna and looked at Jacob, her mouth opening and closing but no sound coming out. Finally, she laughed, a gut busting laugh. Her eyes were watering and she kept on laughing. After several minutes she stopped, gasping for breath and wiping her eyes. "Ahhh," she sighed. "Sorry, but tell Shade she's on her own. The only thing that Lughna knows well is eating, sleeping, walking, flying and getting me to fawn over him. Oh and showing off to others. Sorry, but Lughna is to dense to understand. I mean I love that pegasus and all, but he isn't exactly bright. I would compare him to Gourry if I could but he is not that smart. And that is saying a lot, if you understand where I'm coming from. But why would Shade like him? When he isn't asleep or falling asleep he is impossible to get him to stop bouncing around. Odd choice."

[Jacob Adams]

Jacob shrugged and looked back at the two distant pegasi. ''I couldn't understand it either, apart from them being the same species, they have nothing in common. He's lazy, she's active, he likes sleeping, she likes roaming. I din't believe it when I first saw it, but..that look in her eyes. It showed the impossible. I don't know how it happened, why it happened, or what made her start liking him. All I know is that she....likes him. What can I say, opposites attract." Jacob exclaimed as he looked between the two pegasi.

[Sawyar]

"True enough," Nikkie said, "but she's not going to get Lughna To notice. No matter if she kicked him in the face and told him. I mean look at him!" she turned in the direction of the pegasi and pointed. Lughna laid stretched out on his side, looking dead except the steady rise and fall of his ribs. "You see that?" she asked looking at Jacob and letting her hand fall. "What person or animal would fall in love with him? Me excluded of course. Then again he is my baby. Best pet who is not really a pet ever."

[Jacob Adams]

Jacob looked over at the lazy as usual pegasi as he lay stretched out on the beach. He listened to what Nikkie said, and sighed. ''I guess Shade has her own motives for falling in love with him. Motives that I currently can't, and probably never will see. Nevertheless, I'm going to help her the best a guy can to a female pegasi. Starting with a quick chat to get her to confess why she likes him. Can I get you to at least try to get him to notice her?"

[Sawyar]

"Were you listening to my rant?" Nikkie exclaimed. She sighed and turned back to the pegasi. "Yeah I can try." she trotted over to her pegasus and dropped in the sand beside him. "Hey Lughna," she patted his side to let him know she was there His response was raising his head to look at her and then letting it fall into the sand again. He at least stayed awake, well, she hoped he was awake and not sleeping with his eyes open. "Oh, come on. Not to long ago you had more energy then me. Where it all go?" If Nikkie could have heard him she would have heard, This place has a wonderful bed, I am content with staying here. "Upsie daisy," Nikkie grunted as she tried to push him up. After watching her struggle for a bit, Lughna finally conceded into rolling more upright. "Come on, all the way." Nikkie came around to his head and tugged on his nose. He shook his head, forcing her to release her grip and he stood. He shook himself out and studied the ground to his right. "Oh no you don't. Just get your blood flowing, you'll feel better after that." When he refused to do anything, Nikkie sighed. Wait a minute, she thought. "Hey Lughna? I hate to say this, but I think that Shade's dive was better than yours." Lughna recoiled, then snorted in disagreement. He bunched his shoulders and jumped into the sky. She watched him soar up then fall down, pulling tricks he would never attempt with her on his back. After clipping the waves with his hooves, he flew back to Nikkie and stopped right in front of her. He drew himself to his full height and arched his neck proudly. "Alright, that was impressive," she admitted. Lughna dropped his act and pranced in place. "Now speaking of Shade, I think she might like you." Lughna stopped his dancing to look at Nikkie, then at Shade, and then back to Nikkie, with this 'Huh?' look on his face. "Oh for gods sake!" Nikkie threw her hands up in despair. "I told you!" she called to Jacob.

[Jacob Adams]

Jacob smiled as he watched her trot over to her red colored pegasi. He watched as she tried to get him to pay attention to her, eventually succeeding. As Nikkie worked on Lughna, Jacob went over to work on his distraught, confused pegasi, Shade. As he sat down beside her, she turned her head to look at who it was, before turning back to watch the lake. ''Shade...I've seen your problem, and I'm here to help you sort it out" Jacob explained as Shade looked at him with a You're a guy, I'm a female pegasi. How can you possibly help?'' Jacob sighed and looked out toward the lake before coming up with an idea, just as Nikkie shouted that she had told him so. Jacob thought of his plan and decided to carry it out. ''Alright, since you and Shade are both girls, and vice versa for Lughna and I, let's try a switch'',Jacob called back.

[Sawyar]

"Good luck," Nikkie muttered. To me too. How did I get into this? Nikkie went over to Shade and sat in her line of sight. "Hiya Shade. Obviously I'm Lughna's riding partner. So Jacob said that you have a crush. First of all, why Lughna? Of all the pegasi, you had to like the dimmest one of them all. I love him and all, but he isn't always entirely there. Ya know?" Jeez, Nikkie sighed internally, who would have thought I'd be a matchmaker for pegasi. Nikkie heaved a sigh and sat back on her hands and watched the dark pegasus. "Ah, who am I kidding? This is not what I'm really good at. Shade, listen. Lughna, totally a dunce. A big, lovable, could really lose a little weight, dunce. If you want him to notice, be kind, have patience, and understanding. Other than that I don't know what else to say."

[Jacob Adams]

Jacob smiled when they switched places but then his smile was replaced by a frown when he realized the challenge he would be having with Lughna. He sighed and sat down beside the red colored roan and tired to make conversation. ''Uhh..Hi Lughna. As you probably have known from before, I'm Shade's partner. Nikkie probably already explained this to you, but I decided to see if I can help you. Yes it's true, Shade has developed a crush on you. I know you're not going to be able to believe it, but the impossible has happened. I realize that I can't force you to like her, but if you too can get to know each other better, then things could work out. That's exactly how Nikkie and I worked out...well it was close enough. Nevertheless, I'm not forcing you, I'm just asking you to pay at least a little attention to her''. Jacob explained.

Shade focused her vision on Nikkie as she tried to get her to explain why she had liked off all the pegasi, Lughna. She continued looking at Nikkie as she gave up and explained that if she really wanted his attention, then she would have to be kind, have patience, and have understanding. Shade looked back out toward the lake, before considering the things Nikkie had said. She thought for a few seconds, before heaving herself up, thanking Nikkie with a slight neigh and starting toward the boys.

[Sawyar]

Lughna was still staring at Jacob with this look on his face that gave a whole new meaning to confused. He looked over Jacob's shoulder to Nikkie who was currently sitting with Shade. He wondered why she had left and went to talk to her. Lughna focused his attention back on Jacob. "...her, but if you too can get to know each other better, then things could work out. That's exactly how Nikkie and I worked out...well it was close enough. Nevertheless, I'm not forcing you, I'm just asking you to pay at least a little attention to her.'' Lughna looked at the human for a few moments, then over at Nikkie's back. He understood Jacob well enough, it just didn't register.

Over on Nikkie's side it went well though. Shade stood, and went over to Jacob and Lughna. Nikkie stood and followed. "Jacob let me try one more time." She went up to Lughna and pulled his head down so they could look each other in the eye. "Lughna, list carefully. Shade likes you. All I ask is that you show her some attention, okay?" she scratched him right under his forelock. "At least a portion of the attention you give me. Can you do that?" she asked. She watched him carefully, finally his shoulders rolled as much as they possibly could, which wasn't much. "Good boy,"

[Jacob Adams]

Jacob smiled when things finally looked like they were going to work out with Shade looking the way he did. However, Jacob's smile was replaced by a frown when Shade, although seemingly understanding, still looked like the fact didn't register with him. He looked at the girls, and noticed Shade approaching them, meaning Nikkie had gotten through to her. He got up and watched as Nikkie grabbed Lughna and simply asked him to pay attention to Shade. Once again, Jacob's smile came back as Lughna finally got convinced. He strode over to Nikkie and kissed her on the cheek,''Thanks you really have a way with words''.

Shade was overjoyed when Lughna looked like he was convinced. She bounded over to him and, too distracted by her joy, brushed her mane under his neck.

[Sawyar]

Nikkie blushed and moved away when Jacob kissed her cheek. "No, I don't have a way with words. I just know how to get him to focus on one subject. If you want to see someone great with words, go back to World War Two, and ask for Hitler. That wacko somehow got several country leaders to relinquish the entire country over to his control. It's too bad he was insane and power hungry and wanted to destroy everyone who wasn't German. Oh well," Nikkie shrugged. Se turned away and started walking down the beach, hands clasped behind her back. "So, I helped you're horse with her crush, so now what?"

[Jacob Adams]

Jacob chuckled and followed her down the beach, hoping the pegasi wouldn't be too distracted by each other that they would get themselves lost again. He continued walking beside Nikkie as they walked further away from the pegasi, when she questioned what they could now, he got to thinking.Let's see, any romantic stuff is out of the way, we already went swimming, the pegasi are too involved with each other so no flying. ''How about we just explore the beach or forest or something?" Jacob suggested.

When Shade realized what she had done, she pulled away suddenly and looked the other way, unsure how he would make of the situation.

[Sawyar]

"Well. I don't know. I hate making decisions. Of course, that may be contradictory since I have been saying what we should do. But yeah, sure. Exploring sounds like it would be fun," she smiled at him. Maybe I can look for more practice spots. "I'll let you choose where we go this time."

Lughna hadn't moved since Nikkie and Jacob left not even when Shade reacted the way she did. He just sighed, turned and began walking down the beach. After going several yards, he turned his head to look back at Shade, wondering if she was coming.

[Jacob Adams]

Jacob smiled back and thought about places. Let's see, it wouldn't make any sense exploring the intreior of the camp since we've already seen everything there , we've been all over the beach, which leaves us to our only option, the forest. Jacob focused his attention back on Nikkie as he said, ''The only place we haven't fully covered is the forest, so let's go there''.

Shade slightly turned back to see that Lughna had started walking down the beach, and was waiting for her to follow. She sighed with her head down as she caught up and joined him.

[Sawyar]

"Okay!" Nikkie turned on her toe towards the forest and kept walking. She picked her way through the debris that lined the border of the beach and the forest before stopping next to a tree to wait for Jacob. "Where to next?"

[Jacob Adams]

Jacob followed Nikkie as the two pegasi started on a walk of their own back down the beach. He pushed aside debris as he caught up with her at a tree. When she questioned where they would go to next, he thought for a few seconds before answering. ''Since there's no where significant we could go in the forest, I guess we could find a clearing or something to hang out in'' he suggested.

[Sawyar]

"'Kay!" Nikkie turned and walked off. We've covered all topics that we can think of. Which is a pathetically small area. Her shoulders slumped a little at that thought. Oh well, I'm sure something will come up. Right? "So any ideas? I feel like I'm grasping at straws. How 'bout you?"

[Jacob Adams]

Jacob followed her as they continued into the forest. As they were walking, she questioned if he had any ideas as to what they could do. Jacob looked around the forest before answering, ''Well, we've pretty much talked about everything. I guess we could just...hang out then?"

[Sawyar]

It's easier when we have something to talk about. Perhaps I should just ramble. Will that work? "So, anything exciting happen in camp yet? Probably not, but you never know. Have you tried the rock wall yet? What about peeking in at the forges? It's cool how those kids make weapons and tools and other magical and non-magical items so easily and quick. Well, it looks easy, but I guess it really isn't. Or have you been actually training with your bow? What about finding another weapon so you can fight face to face?"

[Jacob Adams]

Jacob chuckled when Nikkie resumed rambling again. After he thought he got all her questions, he answered them. ''I'm pretty complete with my bow and arrows, because I like to attack from a long range, I agree that it is cool how the Hephaestus kids can make weapons and other items in such a short while. I haven't tried the rock wall yet, but I plan to do so eventually, and the most exciting things that have happened to me since I got here are flying the pegasi, and meeting you''. The last comment started to cause him to blush.

[Sawyar]

"You should still get a short range weapon," Nikkie stated matter-of-factly. "You'll run out of arrows and then you won't have anything to defend yourself with. And there is no guarantee that your skin will be protected by someone else in the midst of a battle. In fact very little chance." She stopped, both in talking and in walking. "I sound like one of the Ares kids with all this talk of battle." Nikkie continued walking along the path.

[Jacob Adams]

Jacob looked down at the ground as he continued walking. He had listened to all the things she had said and she did have a point. Running out of arrows in the middle of a battle, wouldn't help. Guess I'm heading to the arena after this walk Jacob thought to himself as they continued walking. Trying to break the awkwardness, he asked a question. ''Nikkie, do you think it was wise of us to leave those two alone? I mean, sure Shade likes him, but what if Lughna can't accept the fact that someone likes him, and he possibly tries to run from her?"

Meanwhile, on the beach, Shade was still keeping pace with Lughna. Normally, she would have liked spending time with someone that she liked, but Lughna was showing no sign of interest in her. She sighed and continued to hold her head down as they walked.

[Sawyar]

"They'll be fine. Lughna may be stupid but he isn't going to run away. Yes, he doesn't have a clue on what is going on. Yes, if he figures it out he won't know what to do but he isn't going to run. I mean, when you face something that is possible to overcome but can't see a way to do so, do you run away from it? No. Lughna will probably try to get her to ignore him. Or just get her to go back to the 'eh, who cares what he does?' attitude she had before. 'Sides, I think this is just puppy love... in a sense." Nikkie had kept up her brisk pace throughout this but turned to Jacob at her final statement. "Don't you think?"

Lughna had kept plodding alongside Shade, unsure of what was happening. Shade was upset for some reason. After pondering what to do he snorted and shook his head trotting ahead. He paused whirled around and came back to Shade, before repeating.

[Jacob Adams]

Jacob listened as Nikkie explained why, despite the reasons, Lughna would never run away. Wrapped up with fact that the feelings Shade was experiencing, were probably just...puppy love for pegasi. Jacob looked at her when she asked him if he thought so. He shrugged his shoulders with a sigh before answering. ''I guess you have a point''.

Shade looked up with a confused face as she wondered why Lughna was speeding up and returning, repeating the actions over and over. She let out a neigh as if to ask why he was doing all this.

[Sawyar]

Nikkie nodded and looked forward again. "I'm going to have to get going soon," she sighed looking through the trees trying to see the sun. "I wanna finished the project that I started the other day." She stopped, then turned to look in the direction of the beach. "But first I need to grab my things. And we should also take the pegasi back to the stables. Lunch for them should be soon. Wanna help?" She smiled at Jacob.

Lughna stopped and trotted back, a little stumped. He didn't know what was bugging Shade.

[Jacob Adams]

Jacob caught a glimpse of the sun in the sky. When Nikkie explained that she had to get going soon, he decided that it was probably best for him to leave too. However, she also explained that she needed to grab her things, and that they should probably get the horses back to their stables. He smiled back at her when she asked him if he wanted to help. ''Sure'' he responded.

Shade could see that Lughna was unsure of what was making her so ticked. She sighed and decided to let her actions speak for her words. She strode up to him and nuzzled her muzzle against his, hoping he would understand how she felt about him.

[Sawyar]

"Okay," Nikkie turned and started back in the direction of the beach. Once again picking her way through the bits of driftwood, branches, odd pieces of metal and rocks she stepped out onto the beach. Clearing her throat she cupped her hands around her mouth and shouted "Lughna, come back now! And don't leave Shade behind this time!" she spun on her heel and ran off in the direction of her things. Lughna mean while had this ridiculous look on his face when he heard Nikkie's shout. His ears perked forward and his head rose several inches to look over Shade. He pushed against her shoulder to get her to turn around. He motioned with his head in the direction of Nikkie and galloped down the beach before taking off. He circled around to get Shade's attention, and to make sure she was coming. He then turned and flew off in Nikkie's direction. She was far down the beach picking up something. He dove down and landed in a cloud of dust. Nikkie coughed fanning the air in front of her. "Nice to see you too, Lughna." She shouldered her bow and pulled herself onto his back. "Alright Jacob, see ya around," she gave a partial salute and Lughna took off flying to the stables.

[Jacob Adams]

ooc: Wait, does that mean that Lughna was actually nuzzling her back?

Jacob followed Nikkie as they picked their way through the bits of debris that scattered the boundary between the beach and the forest. He was silent as Nikkie called Lughna and added a shout out for Shade too. As the Pegasi came flying back, Jacob noticed that Shade was not as sad as she used to be. Was it possible that Lughna actually.....liked her back!? Jacob shook his head as he waved to Nikkie and Lughna as they took off toward the stables. Turning back toward Shade, he decided that they should get get going too, so he jumped on her back and they took off. As they were flying, Jacob started talking. ''Well Shade, you seem happier. If only you could speak English, then I could ask you what's going on between you too''. Shade hid a slight smile as they flew toward the stables.