"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
Tephra. The land of the volcano. A land with a beach and caves, a large sweet water spring, green fields for as far the eye can see and tropical greenery the year round. The winter was supposed to set in soon, but nothing here would make you think that. A bright contrast to the green is the yellow-orange-red of the lava, but the steam makes it impossible to see far.
The same steam makes it hard for Marigold to get used to living in Tephra. The humid air is heavy on her lungs, constantly giving her the feeling that it’s hard to breath, that her airway is squeezed together by something or someone. It doesn’t ease her nerves, still hasn’t after a while with Longclaw. She was home, but would Tephra ever feel as a home to her?
In Longclaw’s absence she has left the dense jungle. As soon as she had been alone, the feeling of being watched had returned. A feeling she isn’t particularly fond of. It makes her nervous, scared, and each little sound is enough to spook her. At least here, in the open fields, there are no shades for lurking creatures to hide in.
It doesn’t ease her nerves at all. That what is left of her tail – a short blonde bob – is pressed tightly against her hind, like a feline setting up its tail and pressing it down when afraid. Her golden ears are lowered. Facial muscles are tense, lips pressed together and a flattened chin. Golden and white nostrils are dilated from the midline out and the tense stare in her hazel eyes lands on all the things she sees out of the corner of her eyes.
Movement of grass is enough to spin her around, even making her snort as her head dips towards the ground. A sound on the left startles her enough to make her sidestep before turning around and dashing away galloping, only to slow down and turn around and look in the direction of the sound in high alert. Snorting loudly.
Marigold was not yet ready to not be at Longclaw’s side.
The milk and honey mare slips quietly from the thicket they shared. Rou has taken to the border like he so often does. Long before the sun reaches the horizon to give light to the day. She often walks along the path he takes just to linger in his scent a little while longer. Soon enough though she is headed to find grazing. The growing bulge of her midsection requires twice as much feed. So today she heads east to one of few open fields...
The iridescent gown shimmers in the morning rays. Radiating colors of green, gold and blue. The feathers wisp along the drying grasses creating a slight rustling. Cream lips lower to pluck the nutrients from the earth but are halted by a startled flash of gold. Her dished crown rises again sharply as navy eyes search for the source of movement. Carmel ears twist upon her crown as a quivered snort is emitted by another. Unkowning that it was herself that caused the other to bolt nervously.
Still and quiet, her golden flecked eyes watch the nervous stance the mare exhibits. Her own muscles relax as she sees no immediate threat. Giving a quick shake to her cream tresses. Limbs move her forward from a stand. Slowly nearing the other mare in the field. She smiles at seeing another member of the kingdom, or so she assumes. Kind words quickly follow, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. My name is Aurora. I am fairly new here." Happily she halts a respectable distance from the mare. Ears perked forwards as her wings lay loosely across her back.
Tephra was beautiful in the first daylight. Everything is enlightened in such way that makes the dewdrops sparkle brightly. This morning wasn’t as foggy as Tephra could be, but the air was still thick with humidity. If made it possible for one to see further, but Marigold is blind to the beautiful morning. Haunted by creatures made up by her own mind.
Turns out to be that it had been a mare who had triggered her last nervous reaction. The unknown equine must have made a movement or sound, more than that wasn’t needed to spook Marigold right now. She looks as if she’s perfectly at home in Tephra during this beautiful morning, the unusual feathers of her wings sparkling just as brightly as the land.
Her nostrils are still flaring wide as she visually inspects the stranger, ears flicking around in reaction to each sound made around them. It takes her a couple of seconds, but then her head drops a little. Not fully relaxed yet, but she’s no longer alone. And this mare didn’t look like a thread or something dangerous, though Marigold knows very well that looks could deceive.
Her voice startles Marigold all over again and with a sharp jerk she lifts her head. Ears flop sideways as her eyes never seem to stop focussing on whatever around them, only to always find their way back to Aurora. She doesn’t bother parting her lips like she’s about to reply, simply because she’s unable to speak anyway.
It is a sudden sound coming from the forest behind her – all creatures living there slowly coming alive too this morning – that pushes her forward with large steps. Snorting she trots away a few steps, only to turn around sharply in the end. Marigold is now standing a couple of meters to Aurora’s right, and a few steps further behind. Her whole body tense, as she stares at the jungle like forest, and another snort ready to be released.
When there’s nothing coming out of the forest, her head slowly starts dropping again, but the nervousness never fully leaves her. Slowly her hazel eyes find their way to Aurora again, her ears flopping to the side as her cooped tail – or what is left of it – is pressed firmly against her buttocks. Her eyes are pleading the other mare to not leave her, to understand.
Longclaw had never had trouble reading her eyes, perhaps Aurora wouldn’t either.
Of all the things Aurora has been through she had remained true to herself. Where others had fallen into the depths of their own despair, she had risen above it. It was not easy, but every moment in the light was worth the extra effort....
When the golden mare relaxes for a brief moment she smiles. A slight twitch of her cream tassels is all the more movement she makes. Again the mare jerks her head as she bolts a few strides from the jungle that lined the meadow. Slowly her crown turns to view the area. Seeing nothing of concern she returns her gaze to the mare. Having yet to catch her name but she wasn't one to pry. Kind words fill the space between them, "It's ok. I'll stay here with you if you'd like. Would you like that?" She questions but a feeling inside her tells her the answer. Obviously the mare was frightened easily. Perhaps all she needed was a friend. Aurora had all the patience in the world to be just that.
Settling into her space she lowers her muzzle once again to the emerald turf. Munching lazily on the blades, her eyes nearly shuttered. The sun was warm on her flesh, soothing away any morning chill remaining. Her gown of feathers wrapped protectively around her barrel. Concealing any hint of her condition. Carmel ears rested easy atop her crown. Twisting ever so slightly whenever the golden mare reacted to sights or sounds around them.
There is a sudden movement in her belly that causes her crown to rise sharply. Staring forward for a moment as she finishes a mouthful of grass. Ears flick back then forwards quickly. Twisting her crown to look back at her side. Right hind limb cocks in content as the moving had stopped. Any concern she had drifted away. Navy eyes looking to the mare, hoping she hadn't startled the other by her reaction.
AuroraElis
