private Another Cultural Exchange (1x1 with Skylight Scintillate)

[Skylight Scintillate 2,214]

@Illiad Easle 

On 2025-11-11 at 4:16 PM, Illiad Easle said:

Starlight and Nova were a bit surprised that Speckle seemed less familiar with those activities, Nova responding, "Oh, do they not do that up in Canterlot? I guess fishing makes sense since Canterlot isn't near much water, but archery isn't unique to thestrals. I heard that we actually learned it from the pegasi."

“Well um, I’m pretty sure they do have archery in Canterlot, but I never really looked into it there?  They don’t really have fishing though.” Speckle replied, making a vague gesture with her forehooves. “That’s kind of cool that archery is from the pegasi though.” 

On 2025-11-11 at 4:16 PM, Illiad Easle said:

"Since you enjoyed that course, and did a pretty good job of it, do you want to try one of the harder courses?"

Speckle nodded in excitement at the idea. “Yeah I would love to try that!” She exclaimed. “Though I do wonder something. When it’s harder to see the branches, do you use echolocation to know where they are, or are you able to fly just fine just by seeing them?” Speckle asked. 

On 2025-11-11 at 4:16 PM, Illiad Easle said:

The other stepped in, looking like they had an idea, "Unless you three want to join us for a game of pursuit?"

“Ooh, what’s that? It sounds fun!” Speckle asked, this thestral’s suggestion having peaked her interest. 

Speckle would ask a few questions to clarify any rules as the game was being explained to her. Once she understood, she would express her interest in playing the game as a hunter. 

[Illiad Easle 3,255]

@Skylight Scintillate

On 2025-11-14 at 12:15 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

“Yeah I would love to try that!” She exclaimed. “Though I do wonder something. When it’s harder to see the branches, do you use echolocation to know where they are, or are you able to fly just fine just by seeing them?” Speckle asked. 

Nova looked a bit shocked at the question, but Starlight snorted playfully at the suggestion, "No, we don't have echolocation. While we look like bats that's most of what it is. Bats don't have very good eyesight like we do. Our eyes have these special pupils see? Not round like a pony's, which lets us see really well, especially in the dark, like cats do!"

Nova shook off the surprise quickly, not wanting to make Speckle feel bad for asking, and followed up, "Our fangs are a bit more similar to cats than bats too, as most bats don't eat meat."

Starlight added, "It it weren't for the wings and ears, they might call us cat-ponies instead!" She seemed to like that idea.

 

On 2025-11-14 at 12:15 PM, Skylight Scintillate said:

Once she understood, she would express her interest in playing the game as a hunter. 

The rest agreed, especially since being a hunter first would give her an opportunity to get familiar with the course before having to run through it as a prey. The two older thestrals agreed to both go as prey, giving the three younger ones the chance to all go as hunters, so Speckle would be working with Nova and Starlight to try and capture the scarves.

Once the two older ones started running, Nova was quick to pursue, like he had been on the previous course, leaving Speckle and Starlight behind. Starlight didn't mind though, and was happy to stay at Speckle's pace in the course, offering help as needed, just as before. Once Speckle was confident in the course, and after a few almost catches of the runners, Starlight would ask, "So, how do you want to try and catch them? Nova's doing a good job slowing them down, but he'll get tired quickly. Do you think we should each go for one of them? Or should we try and take down one of them together?"

[Skylight Scintillate 2,214]

19 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

Starlight added, "It it weren't for the wings and ears, they might call us cat-ponies instead!" She seemed to like that idea.

"...Cat-ponies?" Speckle stared at the other two in confusion as she tried to process what they just said. She had never thought about things that way before. However, their reasoning seemed sound. "Huh, that actually kinda makes a lot of sense! That's kinda cool!" She chirped. 

19 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

Once the two older ones started running, Nova was quick to pursue, like he had been on the previous course, leaving Speckle and Starlight behind. Starlight didn't mind though, and was happy to stay at Speckle's pace in the course, offering help as needed, just as before.

Like the previous course, Speckle started slower at first. The course was definitely more challenging than the previous one, especially since a lot of the obstacles blended in a lot more. With that, it was tricky to simultaneously keep track of thestrals with the scarves she was trying to chase down while keeping track of and avoiding the obstacles. However, Speckle liked the challenge. It made it engaging and fun. 

Unless the older thestrals were intentionally going easy on her, she would attempt a few times to close the gap with one of them. However, each time, she would have to sharply and abruptly maneuver away at the last second to avoid crashing into an obstacle. 

"Wow, this is challenging! But fun!" She remarked to Starlight as she caught her breath. "I don't seem to be able to get close without being forced to turn away from an obstacle. Got any tips?"

20 hours ago, Illiad Easle said:

"So, how do you want to try and catch them? Nova's doing a good job slowing them down, but he'll get tired quickly. Do you think we should each go for one of them? Or should we try and take down one of them together?"

"I think we should take one of them down together. Maybe it's just me not being that familiar with this course, but it feels like when I'm the only one chasing one of them, they have too many options to maneuver away in a way I can't follow. I think both of us going after one of them should limit their options more? And maybe that would be enough to touch ther scarf?" Speckle thought out loud. She would then turn to Starlight to hear her ideas.