"But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura
04-24-2020, 07:25 PM (This post was last modified: 04-24-2020, 07:26 PM by Rhaegor.)
The weight of the water kept him grounded. On his knees, in between his feathers, sinking into his mouth; he beseeched the river with his presence. Like his mother before him, Rhaegor felt the most connected to reality in this place, as though it represented the halfway house for unhinged souls. The dark cover of the close trees and the sting of the cool water reminded him of his finite nature, of the ways that he could still choose forward. How often he chose that, however, remained slim to none.
Grief kept him stagnant; a permanent fixture in the ever-flowing waters.
Chryseis. The name of the woman he claimed to love, ravaged and dead now according to what little he could find out in the weeks after her disappearance. The thought of her name felt like betrayal, for no matter how far he cast his mind, he could not find hers; what once felt eternal had been cut short. On his own behalf? His head swung, sharp and fast as though to dodge a blow. Grief alone plagued him enough; he refused (as best he could) to entertain the other thoughts, the ones of muddled hearts and unfaithful feelings where an abyss of what ifs grew like unkempt roses. More thorn than petal.
Dawn. Some days, the thoughts crept in no matter how deep he sunk into the river's cool, silencing embrace. Along with the song of her name came the image of her body, simultaneously the young girl who became his best friend and the mothering woman who caused his heart to swell those many years later. A part of him recognized her apparation as a figment of his dreams (the same part that allowed it to continue, that felt a strange eroticism at seeing her here that left him in more pain than he'd been in before). As a myriad of Dawn's words provided the sound track for his daze, an image of Chryseis appeared, too. The blue-and-gold mare came alongside Dawn and the two began to gallivant and hum. They danced in his minds eye like lovers themselves, a gradual waltz that ended with them reaching, touching, begging --
A bright blue light pierced the night's darkness as Rhae emitted a beam from his mouth down on to his chest. His body splashed into the river, the scent of charred flesh sifting through the air until it dissipated completely. Fuck, he thought, not caring to limit the thought to his own mind. With a groan, he rose, the autumn river dripping from his skin in tinkles and glimmers, an innocent sound to the guilt of his conscience. His throat clenched, ashamed of the reactivity he exhibited on behalf of a dream (on behalf of the feelings he refused to engage with). Yet the shame settled like a blanket on his mind; a comfortable simmer, white noise to drown out the cacophony of his thoughts.
Clear-minded, then. For the first time in a long time. Rhaegor smiled; engaged his haunches and leapt up the river bank in a handful of scrambling steps, the places where his hooves met the earth glowing that same bright blue for a few moments before disappearing. With a shuddered breath and steam rising from his trembling body, the once-prince lowered his head to the ground and began to feed, able to satisfy his appetite by way of the silence of his mind. On his chest, the place he'd marked himself bled but a drop, cauterized as it was by the heat of his beam.
The buckskin daughter twitched and kicked in her sleep, dreaming uncomfortable things. Flashes of jagged teeth and creeping shadows that only existed if she didn't look at them directly. The leggy yearling woke up sweating. Her eyes slid uncertainly over the dark form lying next to her, her sister's scales gleaming dully in the faint moonlight.
Any other night, she would have curled closer to her twin when the night mares ran wild, but there was something about those teeth she'd dreamed that stopped her. The dim outlines of their parents standing forms stood nearby, the whistle of her mother's breathing and her father's deeper snores a soothing harmony with the night insects. She could wake one of them, but it didn't seem like something a yearling did.
Her stomach was still knotted though. And the idea of going back to sleep seemed far away. So she did the next best thing, and stood up. On quiet feet the girl stepped away from her family's bedding, stress adjusting to the darkness with every step. With a backward glance, she made up her mind and broke one of the Rules.
She closed her eyes, and flashed without a destination.
She reasoned that she wouldn't be able to go anywhere she'd never been before, and the little pegasus had been so few places outside of Tephra that she figured there wasn't much trouble she could get into. The cold snap of wind flapped around her, and when she opened her eyes, she was someplace else.
The sound of rushing water was her first clue that she'd gone further than she'd meant to. Her second was the flare of brilliant blue light followed by the silent but no less loud expletive. Her eyes widened in surprise. "Hello...?" She called, far too quiet to be heard. Her wings were held out from her body, fluffy and hopeful that they would make her appear bigger than she really was.
Posed as such, she stepped cautiously nearer to where the beam of light had shone through the trees. The sandy colored girl approached with ears twisting uncertainly until the riverbank opened up before her. It was a stallion, she noted with some surprise. A winged one, still dripping dark water into the grass he grazed. With a soft clearing of her throat, she tried to get his attention. "Hello? You okay, mister?" Her thin voice carried on the breeze, knowing as soon as she spoke that Loey would kick her butt if she ever found out her twin had approached a a strange stallion. In the middle of the night. By herself.
In the way that midnight adventures do though, she felt the surreal distance of night. If she was in danger, it felt separate from herself, and if he needed help, surely it would be of the Fey kind, some mission or quest where magic was the key component. Or she'd wake up and it would simply be a dream inside a dream, the way her mama's mama sometimes did. The thought emboldened the girl. She'd had one bad dream tonight already. It was time for a good dream.
Warden always hesitated leaving Tephra. Traveling tended to engage his visions more than staying in one place. Moving about meant coming into contact with others, which seems to always trigger his dreadful dreams, showing him their terrible futures and oftentimes, their demise. But sometimes he is lucky, and the movement from one place to another brings a distraction and his third eye seems to calm itself. Tonight is one of those moments, he believes, and though the familiar heaviness of impending darkness clouds his mind like always, he feels slightly more free tonight than he has in the past few days. The moment will be fleeting, of course, before his mind is plagued with terrors, but he enjoys it while he can.
The great white of his wings are the only sound in the stillness of the forest and its river, heavy in their beating against the cold air. The frigidness against his patched skin is welcome, making his muscles taut and his lips chapped, his deep ocean eyes brimming with water from the air’s bite. He is attempting to think of nothing at all besides watching the winding river below him, determined not to envision much of anything, when a familiar blue light pulls him from his reverie.
His breath catches in his throat, sure that his eyes would cloud and he would be flying blindly, but nothing occurs. Instead, he exhales with a shudder, immediately recognizing such a beam of magical light. Not many in his family had this trait, so he knows that one of them is wandering the darkness below. Warden immediately dips down, turning his feathers just so, diving deep towards the earth. The feeling is thrilling but fleeting as he pulls up to land solidly onto the moonlight strewn bank, snorting heavily with the exertion upon landing.
Though he is Rhaegor’s uncle, Warden feels like anything but to the buckskin stallion. Nearly brotherly in their younger years, Warden immediately recognizes the twisting grief that placates his nephew’s face and the scarred skin on his chest. Though it has been a long while since the two were in each other's company, he does not hesitate. He almost had not even seen the girl who had also been attracted to Rhaegor’s presence, but as he places himself alongside the other stallion with a tender brush of his pale mouth against his golden shoulder, Warden’s oceanic eyes flick upward towards her from beneath a darkened brow. The white of his wings, unkempt from his chilled flight, graze Rhaegor’s side as he surveys the antlered filly, snorting softly as her appearance reminds him so much of Warlight.
That fact causes him to tilt his head inquisitively, narrowing his eyes as he studies her all the more.
They both are quiet, for a long time, as was what they were accustomed to. But judging by the fresh burn in Rhaegor’s skin, Warden takes it upon himself to speak for now.
“She looks familiar,” he says steadily, though it is directed at Rhaegor, his eyes never waver from her, partly questioning and partly attempting to distract her from what had drawn her here in the first place. His brow furrows, curious and contemplating, wondering if he’d seen her in a dream before. He’s terribly glad to say he hasn’t - for if he were to see her in a dream, it would mean death and disaster. He remains on edge, however, like he always does - his visions are random and could easily interrupt them in this moment. It hangs heavily on him, like a cloak, this fear, yet he wears it comfortably. “Should we know her?” His lips purse slightly, leaning towards Rhaegor as he flicks his black tail against his white ankles. Warden feels as if he knows the answer already, or if Rhaegor himself does.
“Do we know you?” This time he directs the question to her, brows rising and ears pressing towards her.
He heard the girl's thoughts of sibling retribution before he processed the words she spoke aloud. A part of his brain registered her tone as one much more familiar than she but her thoughts dissuaded this assumption, followed by the raising of his gaze to take inventory of the filly. Blonde, splashed, antlered, winged. Though she lacked the telltale prints of her leopard-marked grandmother, Solace's blue streaked through her like a beacon. It matched the blue on Rhaegor's own haunches.
He brushed his consciousness against hers to reply but the scent and sound of another's approach distracted him before he could explain away his misfortunes his innocent niece before him.
Warden.
The stallion who so resembled his mother, Kagerus, alights next to the other two pegasi upon alabaster wings. Something about seeing the face of the uncle he grew up with as a cousin caused the hard, cold knot in Rhae's chest to loosen and warm. For a moment he felt like crying. But a heartbeat later he found himself supported, Warden at his side with firm and intimate gestures of trust and long-remembered companionship. Willing to express vulnerability for the first time in a long time, Rhae leaned his weight into his uncle's, grateful for his presence despite the shame he felt at having to be seen in this condition.
With an ease that Rhaegor knew deep down to be a facade, Warden turned to the yearling before them and spoke as though she were not there. Rhae smiles a little at the rhetorical question (it had to be rhetorical) and nods. We should, he murmured into the recesses of his uncle's mind, brown eyes sliding sideways to see Warden's reaction to his telepathy. Though they'd grown up together, taking turns vacationing in Tephra and Hyaline during their childhood years, enough time had passed that Den might not know about the latest of Rhae's abilities.
Somehow, Rhae found the strength to right his figure as Den spoke to the filly herself. The presence of family, both new and old, roused a piece of him that had slept so long he forgot it existed until now. Feeling a smile find its way to the pink of his lips, Rhae stepped towards the girl and offered his nose, blinking in a way that he could only hoped exuded trustworthiness. When he stepped back, he stepped into her mind with as much gentility as he could muster.
You must be Warlight's daughter. I am your uncle, Rhaegor -- and I am okay. He didn't know how to, couldn't, explain his condition to a yearling. He remembered meeting the girl while she slept just days after her birth, when Will had teleported him with her to see the girls one night. Laia, right? He thought, allowing the conversation into Warden's mind, too. It's a pleasure to meet you.
Her eyes glanced from one face to another as she and the bleeding stallion were joined by a third. Her lips pressed tight together, suddenly uncertain. One unknown stallion in the dead of night was one thing. Two seemed like a bigger risk than a filly alone should. be taking, especially when it seemed the two knew each other.
With touches and looks things seemed to pass between the grownups, until the newcomer spoke into the stretching silence. Laia froze, uncertain if she should flash back to her family. That would be the smart thing to do, the safe thing. It was what she wanted to do. She found it so much easier to be brave with her twin by her side, and here in the dark with two dark men, it seemed she should be anything but brave.
What stopped her was the question. Her ears flicked back and forth uncertainly. She knew she'd never seen them, either of them, before. But there was familiarity in their builds, in their colors. In the way the bleeding one arched his neck and the way the bay one set his wings. She about said as much when a finger of thought prodded her mind. The sensation was one she couldn't describe, and wasn't certain she liked, but the voice that followed it distracted her from the discomfort.
It was not the voice of the bay stallion, who had addressed her moments before. Instead she saw the tall painted man look at her more directly, and though his mouth never opened, she knew it was his words she heard and felt. Politely, she returned the gesture, placed her nose to his and inhaled his blood-and-water tinged scent. "Yeah... How'd you know?" She asked aloud, taking a doubtful step back. Had he taken the name from her mind? "Who's he?" She looked at the other stallion.
The dreamy quality of the night intensified with the meeting of these strangers yet family. For her and Loey's first year, they'd been mostly on their own with mom and dad. They had stayed in Tephra, which was fine, but now she wondered how much family they really had, wandering around. Did she have many cousins? Dad had siblings, a twin of his own, even. This was her first uncle in real life though, not just a story told with the equal parts wistful memory and regret.
05-21-2020, 10:04 AM (This post was last modified: 05-21-2020, 10:04 AM by Warden.)
As if no time at all had passed, the two stallions fall into complacency beside one another. Rhaegor’s weight against him is familiar and welcomed, nibbling gently at his mane with his teeth. The sound of Rhaegor’s voice in his mind - a stronger voice than he recalls, let alone that it was inside his head - causes the bay and white stallion to snort sharply in surprise, pressing his chin to his chest with an expression of shock. His brows rise curiously, though clearly impressed, at the new talent his cousin had acquired. Warden bobs his head in approval, the large horns that spiral near to his neck becoming swathed in the black tendrils of his thick mane and forelock.
Warden doesn’t force Rhaegor to speak up or suggest he introduce himself to the young girl. The winged stallion stays in place as his cousin steps forward, watching him carefully; his deep ocean eyes scan each swift change in body language of the buckskin, ensuring that all is well. Rhaegor’s smile brings one to his own face, leaning slightly so that he could view the girl despite lingering behind. There is no tingling sensation on the white of his forehead - a sure sign that a vision was about to unfold - and Warden is visibly able to begin to relax.
The girl - who Rhaegor names Laia - is in fact family, Warlight’s daughter to be exact. He’s surprised though he shouldn’t be - they are all of age now, and for a moment he wonders if Rhaegor might have children as well. His brow furrows at the thought, contemplative in his expression before a question directed at him brings him from his reverie. He lifts his face to her, blinking his deep blue gaze in her direction.
“I’m Warden,” he tells her out loud, offering his name to her. “I’m part of your family too, Laia. An uncle, technically.” He grins, stepping forward to humorously bump his shoulder against Rhaegor as he comes closer to her. “It’s nice to meet you.”
How'd you know? His niece's voice warbled with concern (and how could he blame her? Two men in the forest would intimidate any young horse). Who's he? Though Laia stepped back after allowing a brief exchange of breaths with Rhaegor, the latter now smiled at her, hoping that his expression caught her attention more than the fresh marks upon his chest. Shame wrung its clothe above him, further dampening his already wet frame with its weighted pressure. He shook his head to stave the feeling off. Later, he hissed to himself. Later.
Then, in Laia's mind: Your mother likes to visit me via dream when she can spare the time. When she came to me one night free of the weight you and your sister provided, I asked to see you two as you slept, and she obliged me. I apologize if these facts feel intrusive... I only wanted to meet my nieces. But it is much more of an honour and a privilege to meet you now, face-to-face.
As for Warden, Rhae allowed him to introduce himself. As his low, proud voice rang through the forest, Rhae stepped back beside him, smiling to feel their feathers mingle just-so. When he finishes, the once-prince looks up towards the semi-cloud ridden night sky and feels himself itching for a flight. All this groundedness reminded him too much of how he acted minutes ago in the river.
He speaks into both of his family member's minds as he drops his head and grins, prancing on the spot to convey his eagerness. Maybe we could all three of us go for a flight, he starts, disguising his partial worry for Laia's presence here during the middle of the night with excitement for a long journey. We could fly to Tephra in formation and spend some time there, with the rest of our family. I'm sure that your sister would be happy to see you there come morning, Laia. Plus, it is an exceptionally warm night, and I've never gotten to fly with two other pegasi before. It could be fun.
The moon-white faced girl looked from one winged stallion to another, ears twisting with residual uncertainty. Gradually though, her stance lightened, and a smile softened her lips. Laia could never make herself hold on to suspicion long. Despite the oddness of the hour and circumstance, the two men she'd found seemed to be all they said, and that meant they were family.
The yearling stretched out one wing, comparing it in the dim light to that of her uncle's. Blotched in shades of brown and white, her feathers seemed not far off from either of theirs. Unique, but related. She folded the appendage neatly back against her side, satisfied with her observations. "It's nice to meet you too!" She chirped, then paused. "Er, officially, I guess." That was still strange to think that her uncle had seen her before, even if she didn't have the memory of it.
Without warning, a massive yawn took over the girl's mouth, her pink tongue gleaming faintly in the starlight. It was still the middle of the night, and her sleep had been restless at best so far. Her head bobbed in agreement with Rhaegor's suggestion, though she was now longing to simply flash back to her cozy bedding. That would be rude though. Her wings unfurled slightly, feathers catching the breeze and night air, ready to follow them back home.
"Yeah, we can do that," she said, shifting her weight. "Mom will be happy to see you two, I bet, and," she paused, eyes dropping momentarily to his chest. "Dad might be able to help a little with that." She shrugged uncertainly. Her dad held the title of Healer in Tephra, but she wasn't sure what he'd say to such a ghastly wound. He might just send her uncle directly to the waterfall.
The deep blue of Warden’s gaze watches their interaction fondly, his brilliant white wings ruffling gently at the proposal of a nighttime flight. The stallion snorts softly, pale lips turning into a gentle smile as Rhaegor prances lightly in front of them, reminding him of their younger and more innocent days. Perhaps it is the moonlight or the warmth of the summer night, but the horned overo begins to feel more wild as well and that being on the ground was almost imprisoning.
He notices the sleepiness on the young girl’s face as she yawns and he bobs his head gently, thoughtfully. He rarely slept because of the constant nightmares (though, he has found that it has become easier with a crystalline woman by his side), and though he was accustomed to only a few hours’ sleep at a time, he is sure Laia is not. He smiles gently as her mottled wings spread out from her sides anyway, ready to take to the skies with them.
Warden glances upwards through the opening in the pine trees at the clear, moonlit sky above them that is strewn with glittering stars. A dark foreleg churns up the damp earth beneath him, pawing at it with a renewed energy. Warden takes a sashaying step away from Rhaegor so that he can stretch his wings to their full length, the movement creating a billowing sound of wind and a rush of warm, summer air. He curves his neck as adrenaline rushes through him, his thin twisting horns prominent and robust as they spiral from his shaking head, inky tendrils of forelock falling across his face.
“Shall we?” comes his deep yet gentle voice, his dark eyes flickering between Laia and then Rhaegor. Without waiting for a response, he leaps past them with a shrill whinny, taking only a few lengths and a couple heavy beats from his large wings before he is airborne, shooting nearly vertically into the sky. Once above the trees that border the river and settling in beside both Laia and Rhaegor, the group sets their sights in the direction of Tephra, the sound of rushing wind filling their ears.
![[Image: rhae]](https://66.media.tumblr.com/c013fae479a9e0c775688ff921306b4e/tumblr_pivbqpgHuG1xsr748o1_250.png)
