"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
Eiria could not have been more joyous than by the time she'd reached her second year of life. Her dam had promised her moons ago, when she was a filly, that when she reached the age of two, she would be allowed to venture far beyond the boundaries of the Falls territory to explore the other kingdoms, find out which one she might like to call a future home if she chose to leave the safety of her herd. The champagne filly had eagerly requested her dam's permission to go to the Valley, to check things out, see what she thought of the place.
Given that Anahi had been preoccupied with raising Aten, her newest foal, it was understandable that the mare had the urge to go back on her offer, try to resist letting Eiria go out on her own because she wanted to be there to protect her. After Sirana had left to go join (or rather, being forced to join) Phaedrus' herd, Anahi was highly wary about what her children got themselves into. Despite the fact that Eiria had a good head on her shoulders, it didn't stop the mare from making Eiria promise that she'd be careful, and return to the Falls before making a definite decision.
Eiria had hastily accepted the offer, if only so she could hurry off to the Valley to see what the kingdom was like. On her way, she observed the changing environment around her, and was awestruck by what lay ahead when she reached the borders of the kingdom.
Despite the rocky terrain, from what she could see, a sea of grass expanded out before her. The mountains framing the only way into the territory limited her vision, but she didn't need to see it all. Not yet anyways. Tall trees jotted up from the ground with trunks so thick that a beaver would work for days to chew through them. Some of the vegetation formed thick pockets so it appeared more dense in certain areas, but that only made it seem more unique to the optimistic filly. From her point of view, it seemed that there was a large patch of grass that formed a large meadow of sorts; probably some sort of meeting place, much like the one the Falls had when Kreios summoned the residents.
All in all, from what she could see, the place was beautiful. However, she did not expect what she smelled next. The wind shifted direction, and the filly's nostrils flared, picking up on a scent of a creature she'd only heard about in bedtime stories from her dam. Even if she didn't know what this creature she smelled actually looked like, the instincts within her told her so... it was a wolf.
Knowing she had to be careful, Eiria calmly walked closer to the border, keeping a wary eye out for any of the wolves. Not seeing any of them, and figuring that the wind had just carried the scents a long way, the filly got as close to the border as she dared.
Would she cross it? Would she do so and risk the consequences? Well, if she did get caught, she'd just explain the truth of why she was there, and if they tried to punish her, well... she was fast, so she'd hopefully outrun them. Lifting a hoof tenderly, the champagne filly edged into the kingdom, her eyes wide and bright with wonder as she looked around the wonderful place before her while staying near the border in case she needed to run.
His head whipped up as soon as he heard the wolves' alarm. This close to the border, his eyes immediately landed on a stranger not far from him. They were all strangers to him here really, the place of his birth. He didn't recognize any of them, but nor had he ever encountered this young creature among them. Most often, he would be with the wolf pack trailing the borders of the valley, his adopted family of sorts, but today he had been lost in thought. He worried where Morigan was..
He was of an average build, not large and impressive nor sleek and swift. Most of his body was a leopard appaloosa, the spots a deep purple and his points and face a sooty black. His sharp eyes took in the sight of the intruder cautiously, silently. She didn't look dangerous but then looks could be deceiving, especially in a place as magical as Beqanna.
The wolf siren grew louder, and after studying the girl carefully a moment, his eyes shifted to the path within the trees where the wolves would come. As soon as they were visible, he swept their path with a thick, quickly-made snow flurry, brushing the lead aside with only enough force as was necessary. Their confusion was brief, they knew him intimately and were aware of his magic. The pack settled, most trusting this trespass to him as they ran off to other parts of the border, while others straggled behind as silent witnesses.
Ruan's attention was on the young mare once again. Before she could think on this rescue too long, he condensed the water within the air, forming a barrier of ice behind and to the sides of her but leaving enough room within so as not to chill her.
"State your business," he said without emotion.
The stern expression felt odd on his normally friendly exterior. Ruan wasn't sure if the Guardian was busy elsewhere, but felt it his duty as a stallion of the valley to assist him in whatever way he could. It seemed his sister had succeeded in imparting a sense of wariness, as she had worked so hard to do. A difficult task for one as kind-hearted and trusting as he had been as a young colt.
Golden eyes... like her fur... she was being watched...
Eiria stopped walking along the border line, her eyes focusing on the trees and seeing the eyes of the predators watching her. The filly reared up a bit, not wanting them to come any closer to her, but before they could charge out at her, something incredible happened. A flurry of snow kicked up, distracting them for a moment. Their attention seemed focused on something else, their eyes in another direction.
Eiria glanced over, not noticing how some of the wolves left while others remained to keep watch. A stallion stood before her, his average height complimented by his leopard appaloosa coating. Strangely enough, his spots were purple, instead of a normal color. The points on his body were a rich onyx black, like her brother Nerius' mane. Despite his average looks, Eiria did think the stallion looked fairly handsome.
The stallion's attention was on her within seconds of the wolves heading away from them. Eiria felt a strange sensation in the air, a sign that something was happening. Before she could blink, large ice walls formed on both of her sides, sending the mare into a panic. She tried to back up out of them, given the stallion blocked the other way, but her hindquarters came into contact with another ice wall behind her. The frigid feeling spread across her, the mare squealing, not knowing what to do right now.
Ignoring the small chill in the air, since it wasn't doing much to make her cold, the filly turned to face the stallion, her eyes wide, stance rigid. He spoke to her, demanding that she state her business, no emotion filling his voice.
Clearing her voice best she could, Eiria gave the stallion her answer, "I came here to see what this place was like. I'm old enough to leave my home, to live somewhere else, so I came here to see if this is a place I would like to live in."
08-24-2016, 11:44 AM (This post was last modified: 08-24-2016, 11:48 AM by Ruan.)
Ruan
It was not beyond some other kingdoms to send a child to gather intelligence. But was this golden creature truly a child? He supposed not. She looked old enough to breed, maybe. That would determine womanhood, wouldn't it? Was he barbaric to think that way..
Perhaps, also, she was not here with malicious intent. But he had to be certain, of course. He had to be wary.
Her startled scream pierced his heart, and her innocent panic was nearly his undoing. She tried to back out of her prison but only found more ice blocking her escape. He felt guilty for causing her distress. It was for the good of the kingdom, he assured himself. Surely she would understand. So he ignored the urge to drop the barrier confining her. Her only way out was straight into him as he stood not far from the opening.
He listened close as she spoke, claiming her interest in seeing a new place, maybe even finding somewhere to live. She held herself stiff but steady, not one for quivering in fear. Gold light seemed to flare and shimmer across her each time she moved, and he couldn't help but to watch it dance along her skin. She was a brilliant sun in his world of white, reflecting warm color onto his ice walls. So innocent.
Wasn't she?
Ruan swept the walls from her side open to rest inline with the one behind her, allowing her freedom to move save for escaping across the border. He felt out of place here with her, like he didn't belong. His brow furrowed uncertainly at the thought. He shrugged it off though, and slowly stepped aside, holding her gaze.
He preferred being on the outskirts of the valley, along the border, hoping one day Morigan would come in search of him. She had raised him when his mother grew ill-suited for it, and it had been so very long since he'd seen her. It was the only reason he'd returned to the valley; a familiar place where she may seek him. The constant worry for her shadowed his face, and dimmed his emotions. He would rather stay here on the border..
But he couldn't just allow a stranger free reign in the kingdom, no matter those honest eyes of hers.
"I must escort you if you wish to go further," he stated quietly.
He continued to hold strong the wall behind her, until he had a better idea of who she was and what she wanted. He was cautious to believe her words so quickly. But would he really keep her from leaving? He didn't think so. Who knows, perhaps she would enjoy the valley despite his defensive actions. The others were probably far kinder than he had been. He used to be so friendly..
his was Kilter’s home. The cragged walls of the mountains, the looming umbrella of the forest, the baying of the wolves - this was all he knew of the world. He knew, to some extent, that mother and father were important. They were the king and queen after all, and he a prince - but in the grand scheme of things, did it really matter? Did a crown on your head signify that you meant more than others? Did ruling a land of the dead mean that you wielded something that no other had? Kilter was not sure.
He was not sure of much these days. Just that he was lonely. It was the cliche ver batim of being surrounded by all, but still somehow managing to feel oh so singular. It was true, he had two other siblings - identical to him in nature, so near that even their mother had trouble naming them out when they were younger. Now, Kilter, Keel, and Knoxlyn had come a bit more into their own - their features (and personalities) were beginning to ebb and flow, eroding the sands of mimicry of their genes. But did a matching coat and features mean that you always had someone there for you? Did the bond of Topsail’s heavy stretched womb mean that the trio would always accompany one another?
No - it did not seem so. Instead, Kilter had edged away from the two. They had something he did not - they had this string that tied them together, knotted tightly much more so than with Kilter. They had this power inside of them. They had this ability to speak with one another silently - no silence to cut open the expanse between them. They could speak without speaking - and is that a surprise, considering mother had the same gift? But Kilter did not - and the stark realization that he would never be able to whisper secrets with his brother and sister left him feeling slightly hollow - slightly empty - slightly bitter.
K
ilter had been running with the wolves (as best he could on his growing, gangly legs) - something he preferred to do often. If he could not feel at one with his own siblings, he knew that the newborn wolf pups would romp and tumble with him. There was no need for language there - there was no other sound save for the thrum of hoof and paw on soil and the veritude of wolf bark and bray and Kilter’s equine noises.
Suddenly - the wolf ahead was shut off to the side, a flurry of ice cold wind and flakes of snow sending his body off kilter. The pack slowed, howling their alert to the Valley, before dispersing into the trees. Kilter too weaned into a slow trot, and then a walk - following the few wolves that were left into a small clearing.
There, a stallion and a mare stood, at the edge of the Valley - and a wall of ice lay behind her. Kilter’s eyes widened, watching the wall form from thin air, and a small shiver ran through his spine. Did everyone have something magic inside them but him? He stepped closer, a wolf shadowing close by his side. He had met few others save for the wolves he ran with and his gifted siblings. This - well this was his first chance to separate from the trio, to become his own person - not just another grullo prince.
He looked to the wolf, who was complacent and steady in his actions - clearly there was no threat here. “This is my home.”, he said once he had cleared the tree line and crept closer to the duo. “I like it here. We have wolves. And a forest that you can run in for ages.” Kilter gave a glance to the stallion who seemed to wield the power of winter. The wolf did not seem to mind him either - so this must be okay.
Eiria watched, interested, as the stallion controlled the walls of ice surrounding her, moving them so as to give her some more space. However, the walls were now all behind her, as if preventing her from leaving the Valley. Her nervous gaze met the stallion's, but her eyes shifted, a facade taking place of her true emotions. She couldn't let this stallion know that she was scared; it would make her weak, a vulnerable prey that the stallion could take advantage of.
So the champagne filly kept her eyes on him, her stance rigid and ready to react in case he tried to attack her. Her ears turned to him as he explained that if she wished to go further into the territory, he'd have to go with her, as an escort. This made sense to Eiria; she'd often seen Raxa and Jedi taking other horses through the kingdom, acting as an escort to show them around, and to make sure that the new horse didn't try to cause any trouble.
Though, Eiria suspected that the new horse didn't cause trouble given that two of the fiercest warriors in the kingdom were the escorts.
Knowing the wall behind her wouldn't disappear anytime soon, Eiria nodded at the leopard appaloosa, her eyes brightening a little, "Okay, that sounds fair," she told him, agreeing to the terms if she wanted to explore.
However, before either horse could go anywhere, another came upon them. This one was a stallion as well, a handsome grill, with long legs and a proud face. He said a few things about the Valley, how it was his home, how there were wolves (like Eiria would miss those creatures hanging around in the first place), and a large forest where there was plenty of room to run.
Excited by that thought, Eiria looked at the grullo, "How cool. Do you think I can take a look around your home? See if it is a nice place to live?"
His attention shifted to the prince, whom he recognized instantly. He had been accidentally present at his birth, roaming into the valley just as the event took place. But the sight of the children had brought a light back in his eyes at the time. He always enjoyed playing with foals, amassing snowflakes for them to lick and chase.
But he also recognized the prince from his time with the wolves. Ruan had seen him enjoying the sense of belonging with them as he too often did, keeping his distance so as not to disturb him. The pack was his family until Morigan would come. It seemed they had adopted the isolated triplet as well, which pleased the stallion for reasons he couldn't quite piece together.
He nodded his respect to Kilter, and stepped further back, gladly yielding the conversation to him. The mare seemed to brighten with interest at the prince's words. Ruan tried to fade into the background a little, remaining near if he was needed but otherwise allowing Kilter to lead as he wished. The stallion hadn't a clue how succession worked in these lands, but knew the practice would be good for him if he did indeed wish to rule any kingdom or herd one day.
