"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
The trip back to Tephra always seems to stir something in him, something innate and naturalistic. It was something deep, like the spirit of the volcano was calling to him, yearning for his presence again beneath the heated rocks and freely flowing magma. Without hesitancy, his soul calls back, for he knew he would begin to feel out of place if he strays too long from the humid, sulfuric air of his home. Despite the fact that home was where all of his current problems seem to stem from, he was more than ready to be back in the quiet confines of the tropical scenery.
Occasionally, the bay stallion would turn his head slightly and crane his neck, his bright blue eyes searching out the champagne mare that was following him. The actual trip from the Field to Tephra was rather easy, which is why Warrick would find himself there (or in the forest, meadow or river) any time his wandering spirit willed him to move. They only needed to travel a few miles to the northeast, where the terrain was gentle, with soft slopes and generous grasses, especially in the warm waves of summer. Sirana follows him with ease and he is not surprised, for though the mare was still just an acquaintance, he could tell that she was hardy and strong – suitable qualities that match those who already reside within Tephra’s thick, jungle-like foliage. He wonders how Sirana will react to the change in climate as they come closer to their destination.
The air, though already warm from the season, was beginning to wrap around their bodies, becoming thick and tepid as the humidity now climbs. He was starting to feel the familiar dampness on his skin as he begins to sweat, the heat becoming more and more intense with nearly every step. The foliage begins to thicken; broad, fat leaves of tropical plants brush against their shoulders, dampening their coats as they push through.
Once the border was crossed, Warrick chuckles quietly. “We’ve arrived,” he tells her, stopping momentarily to let the champagne mare draw up beside him to where they stood shoulder to shoulder. Where they stood, the jungle was thick and dense, but through the tops of the trees in the distance, the shadow of the volcano towers boldly. “I believe it’s time for another swim,” Warrick admits, noticing that the dark tendrils of his mane and forelock where now plastered to the curves and lines of his face and neck with a mix sweat and moisture in the air.
He begins to move again at a graceful trot, his indigo legs pulling him easily through the thick vegetation. Quickly, it begins to thin and become sparse, opening up to two rather small creeks that were side by side. One runs cool and clear with a slow, fluid current while the other is even slower, marching along at a snail’s pace. It is glowing and pulsing with light, its orange and yellow color bright against the brilliant green of the grasses at its shoreline. The rivers of lava were rather normal to see as you bring yourself closer to the volcano, and Warrick thinks nothing of it. Without a thought, he splashes into the river with exuberance, delighted as the cool water coats his legs. He lowers his head to drink, his eyes flickering to Sirana, a grin on his closed lips.
Though Beqanna was a vast expanse of land, only able to be fully covered via a few days of travel, Sirana and Warrick didn't have as long of a journey as the champagne mare originally thought. Still, the several-mile journey did take a while, given that the two horses had settled into a comfortable walking pace and were in no hurry to hustle to the Tephra.
However, it did seem that Warrick was getting rather anxious, like he wanted to hurry, or at least be close to the Tephra's borders. It seemed as if something was calling him there, to his home. Sirana had felt that desire before, shortly after she'd been given away to Phaedrus' herd. While his home was nice, and the mares in his herd decent enough to get along with, a longing in Sirana's heart had tried to drag her back to the Falls kingdom, where she felt she belonged. With her mother, sister, and soon-to-be brothers, since Aten hadn't been born yet.
But now, even though she heard where her mother and sister lived, the champagne mare didn't feel the calling anymore; perhaps it was because her original home, the Falls, were gone, and now she didn't feel right anymore? Sylva wouldn't have felt like a home, even with her loved ones there? Sirana didn't know, and perhaps maybe one day, she would try to find out. But, for now, she wished to officially see the Tephra kingdom, and the wonders it held within.
Every so often, Sirana saw Warrick glancing back to make sure she was keeping up with him. The mare would offer a gentle smile each time, showing that she was doing just fine and could keep going until they reached the stallion's home. The handsome bay would then turn back and continue to lead the way, the majority of their trip conducted in complete silence.
A couple miles outside of Tephra's border, Sirana felt the temperature begin to increase in an... unnatural way, so to speak. It wasn't the dry heat of the summer sun she was feeling; it was more like hot rain, was the best way she could describe it. She'd never before experienced an environment like this, and struggled to remember the word her dam had given many ages ago when they came across something similar but different enough to the point that Sirana wouldn't have compared them.
She believed the word was... humid? Sounded about right. Though it wasn't extreme at first, as the two horses walked closer to Tephra's border, the mare could feel her skin starting to dampen as if someone had opened the sky and let out a drizzle of rain. The foliage they were also walking through was becoming quite thick as well, though this Sirana was more accustomed too. While she had lived in the Falls most of her life, near where Archam's herd had lived was a forest. It was small, but there was a great number of trees, thick and plentiful so Sirana had some experience navigating in this type of environment.
The heat, she supposed she could deal with. Unbelievably to her, it felt slightly more bearable than the dry summer sun she was so used to.
Warrick had stopped ahead of the mare, prompting Sirana to walk up and stand beside him to listen to anything he might have had to say. He simply informed her that they'd arrived, a quiet chuckle from the stallion as Sirana looked out in the distance.
A lot of the jungle foliage blocked most of her view, but part of the Tephra's landscape was tall enough that it could be seen through the tree tops. Sirana's eyes narrowed as she tried to figure out what the huge mountain was, for it didn't seem normal. Warrick spoke again, drawing her back to the present, saying something about a swim before he broke into a trot to get through the foliage.
While it was a bit difficult for Sirana to follow at the same pace, she managed easily enough that she didn't get tangled and tripped. By the time she made it out of the thicker foliage spots and to where the forest opened back up, Warrick was playing in one of two rivers that ran downhill beside one another.
Sirana stood stock-still for a moment, her body frozen in shock. Warrick was playing in a normal-looking river, but the one next to it was anything but. The color said it was something else entirely; the unnatural orange and yellow coloring reminded Sirana of the red-hot sun shining above the land of Beqanna with a blazing fury this time of the year. It stuck out clearly against the lush green grass, as opposed to the natural blue one that seemed perfectly at home here.
Warrick's eyes came up to meet the mare's golden brown ones, and Sirana found herself smiling despite. The mare meandered down to the crystal blue river where the young stallion was, taking note of where the heat was most intense on her body. Sirana dipped her muzzle into the water, until it was covering the bridge of her nose. Then, she lifted it back out and tucked her head in, proceeding to use her dampened muzzle to rub the water over her breast area. One side of her neck was much hotter than the other, but that was because her thick mane was covering it and trapping the heat. She dipped her muzzle again and used it to flick water onto her back this time before stepping into the cool water until it was up to her knees.
She lowered her head once more, only this time to take a nice, long, cool drink to soothe the dryness of her parched throat. When she glanced up without moving her head, she noticed a grin plastered on Warrick's face.
Suddenly feeling playful, the mare lifted one leg and brought it back down in the water with force, crafting a splash that went all over the bay-colored stallion. She let out a small laugh, trying to hide her grin, "That help you cool off some?" she asked innocently.
Sometimes he forgets that the trail to Tephra came naturally to him, and that others might not be able to follow him as easily as he presumes. As he reflects on that thought in the thin river, he hopes that Sirana does not take offense. Warrick often will find himself caught up in the moment; proven the second he took off through the jungle that he knew so well. However, without much trouble (well, as much trouble as one would have in a foreign place), she had been able to follow him successfully into the river. He smiles warmly, the sun sending golden ripples across the river that he stirs with his body.
Warrick sees her gaze shift slightly, a look of shock finding the pale gold of her features, the delicate lines of her face reacting gently to what she saw. His brilliant blue eyes follow it; tracing to where it was that had made her become so perplexed and then chuckles softly. He flicks his tail against his haunch, though the end of it does not quite reach his skin from floating in the waters. “It’s a strange sight, isn’t it?” But what isn’t strange in this wide world of Beqanna? His voice is light and understanding as he tilts his head inquisitively, watching the slow moving mass of orange-gold that streams right beside them so naturally and almost…ordinarily. His eyes become unfocused slightly as he stares at the glowing stream, remembering his first days in Tephra and how he had bided his time by following the orange rivulets, mapping them in his mind and memorizing their paths. For instance, he knew that this particular flow of lava, if followed north, will lead you to the volcano and the dazzling sea, and if followed south would bring you to a rare and open field perfect for grazing.
With a snort, the stallion turns his head back towards Sirana, stepping towards her eagerly as she enters the water. He is not disappointed when she lifts her foreleg and splashes him playfully. Warrick throws his head upwards, closing his eyes as the water sprays him. It is soft and cool as it kisses the auburn warmth of his skin and a laugh leaves his navy lips. He snakes his head towards her mischievously, narrowing his eyes in faux anger. “I don’t know,” he begins with a grin, “how about you?” As the words leaves his lips, the muscles in his hind legs grow taut to hold him in a small half-rear, lifting himself slightly out of the water. When he places his hooves back into the soft sand beneath the water, a wave surges towards her. Without waiting to see the damage, he hurries away to attempt to get out of her way of retaliation as well as the other side of the river.
To be fair, Sirana expected the stallion to get back at her for splashing him. She just didn't expect it to be worse than what she did.
Trying to hold back her laughs after soaking Warrick with the water she'd kicked up, Sirana failed to notice his retaliation. She did not notice the powerful horse rear up only to bring his front legs down and kick up more water than she had, busy as she was containing her laughs. She was startled back into the present when the cool water came down over her golden pelt, effectively soaking her through to the bone. It did wonders to relieve the humidity she'd been experiencing, and, while this play stuff was a bit juvenile, she couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle.
Despite being the one to start it, Sirana would have her revenge. Giving her head a shake to brush her forelock back out of her eyes, the mare hustled through the water to the bank in order to catch up to Warrick. Once she got to shallower waters, she let out a playful whinny, clearly intent on getting her revenge. She pranced toward the stallion, trying to get him to lower his guard, not wanting him to know what she had planned by getting close enough.
It was so normal for him to be caught in a certain moment, fully involved and focused on things that were happening at hand. He fully submerges himself into his time with Sirana, pushing away the idle thoughts that were normally so present at the forefront of his mind. She was a welcome distraction for him, a new journey filled with possibility and prospect, something that could bring him to the place he longs to be – happy, content, and free from burden. In some moments, like this one, he does feel this way. He’s feeling carefree and joyous, which he knows is because Sirana is bringing him that bliss – where his thoughts do not weigh heavy on his mind but are light, floating like a feather in the breeze. He continues to chase this feeling, seeking out wherever it might be; he cannot be alone for too long.
He pulls himself onto the bank, excess water flooding down the muscled shoulders and haunches of his body, running in tiny rivulets down his indigo legs and pooling at his hooves that begin to sink into the soft shoreline. He looks over his shoulder, turning his neck curiously to see if Sirana was intent on retaliation. She’s in the shallows, her spirited eyes inviting him to come closer. He tilts his head curiously, eyes narrowing in accusation. “We’re even now,” he says slowly, letting his body follow where his head had turned and steps back into the water. “No need to do anything rash, right?” He cannot help but smile, laughter laced within the deep of his voice.
Sirana whinnies to him and he takes a few steps towards her, his soaking body glistening in the sun’s intense rays. He was ready to talk more, discuss things, maybe even offer to guide her to the beach, or to meet Offspring. Completely distracted, he did not know that Sirana fully intended on an attack.
Ignorance is bliss, as they saw. Sirana could barely hold in a sly chuckle as Warrick steadily came closer until he was again back in the water, standing less than a few feet from the golden colored mare.
"No need to do anything rash, right?"
She almost blew her cover, but held in her laugh and instead nodded at the bay colored stallion. As Sirana walked closer, she couldn't help but notice how his coat glittered with health in the light of the sun, much like her own was doing now. Despite being soaked through and darkened a shade, Sirana's golden coat glistened, her mane and tail now a darker shade of red, almost blood-like, since they were still soaked through with water. The small white star on her forehead was once again fully visible, having been partially covered by dust and dirt before Warrick soaked her.
When she was within range, the mare gave a sly smile, drawing Warrick's attention to her warm brown eyes. In a sweet voice, she replied, "No, of course not."
But boy was that ever a lie. Before Warrick could say anything, Sirana began shaking her whole body, effectively flinging some of the water from her mane, tail, and coat back onto the stallion that had soaked her. Ignoring the haphazard look she currently had since her wet mane still clung to her neck, the mare stepped out of the river and gave another shake to get rid of the water clinging to her belly and lower legs.
"But you didn't say I couldn't have a last bit of fun," she said with a small laugh, lowering her head and using her leg to brush her forelock back.
Once that was done, Sirana looked out into the distance, in the direction of the volcano. For a moment, she just stood there, mesmerized by its power, before a thought occurred to her. Even if Warrick had the authority to bring new recruits into the Tephra's land, there was no doubt Sirana still had to meet its current ruler.
She glanced back at Warrick, "So, what else is there that you can show me? Or is it required that I meet the kingdom's leader first before I can do some exploring?"
The innocence that surrounds them as they frolic beneath the merciless heat of midday brings him the sense of peace he has been looking for. His lonely nights spent in the dark cave along the border of Tephra’s dazzling sea, hidden behind burning, volcanic rock, seem so distant and so long ago in his mind – blurry and out of focus, like waking up from a nightmare, frightened at first and then comforted in realizing it was only a dream. The last few months have challenged him, that is for sure, but the bay stallion refuses to let his issues with crippling doubt (among other things) influence new relationships with others.
Warrick lets out a short whinny of surprise as she begins to shake, the droplets of water darkening his already drying coat. He laughs, looking down at his water-strewn body incredulously.
“You do have a point,” he replies with a deep chuckle that rumbles happily in the deep of his chest. When the bay stallion looks back up at her, the dark auburn of her forelock pushed carefully to the side to reveal her bright and curious eyes, he notices that she is peering off in the distance thoughtfully. For a moment he decides that he will get her back by dropping his muzzle and flicking the water at her, but quickly he then decides to wait – perhaps his chance will come later. The thought brings a lopsided smirk to the dark blue of his lips. He then follows her gaze that was looking out behind him, turning his head over his shoulder to follow its path. She was looking at the volcano (still unnamed, which brings the slight curve of a frown to his lips – the idea of a nameless volcano disappoints him), ash and smoke billowing from its top, a monument set ablaze by freely flowing turrets of lava and fire. He’s never really noticed it, for he had grown accustomed to it, but the smell of sulfur and smoke hang lazily in the air as the winds change, carrying a sea breeze off of the ocean against their faces.
Sirana’s voice brings him back to the moment. He turns his head quickly, his still-wet mane and forelock dripping with the stream’s water. Warrick uses his head to gesture in the direction of the volcano as another smile begins to curl at his indigo lips. “No requirements here,” he replies kindly, a hint of a laugh on his rumbling voice, turning around and walking through the shallow water towards the muddy shoreline. “Offspring is around, he always is. I wouldn’t be surprised if he found us soon, especially if we keep moving.”
Now Warrick was on the bank of the stream, the wet and compacted dirt solid beneath his dark hooves. Water still runs off him and he is thankful for the coolness their swim brought him – they would need it as they travel again towards the volcano and the distant sea. He shakes quickly, the excess water dripping from the blackness of his mane and tail scattering around him like diamonds as their surface catches the sun’s brilliant rays. The stallion takes a step forward, diving in nose first to grab some of the bright green grass before them that sways lazily in the sultry and tepid breeze. The grass was moist and delicious, satisfying his rumbling belly that he did not realize was rumbling, as he waits for Sirana to join them before they move deeper into Tephra’s tropical landscape.
like the sun,
swallowed up by the earth
warrick
@[Sirana]
@[Offspring] if you want to find us and meet Sirana, that'd be cool. if not, that's okay too. just wanted to give you the opportunity <3 -kissy face-
Sirana gave Warrick a playful smile as the stallion chuckled after she'd shaken the water off of her mane to get back at him for pranking her. Since she was focused on the volcano for a time as well, she also didn't know that Warwick's gaze followed hers to stare at the volcano. Both of them were struck by it until Sirana had been the one to speak, catching Warwick's attention.
She had to admit, it was surprising there weren't really any requirements to join. Even if the leader found them, didn't he impose anything? Say that a new member had to maybe serve in a caste, a rank, or perhaps prove themselves worthy of joining? Well, it wasn't her choice to make. Whether she met the new leader today or tomorrow, Sirana made a point to note that she had to make a good first impression.
Warrick went to the stream's bank for a moment to shake the water from his mane and tail. He then lowered his head and grabbed a mouthful of grass, something Sirana did as well. The mare hummed in delight at tasting the delicious blades, not realizing she had been getting a bit hungry on her journey here. But, after taking a few mouthfuls, she had a desire to do something else.
Only a few feet from Warrick but enough so that she wouldn't accidentally hit him, Sirana sniffed at the ground a moment before folding her delicate but powerful legs under her golden body. The mare, once she was on the ground, placed her head down and threw her weight up so that she would roll onto her back. Once she was up, the mare shifted her weight as much as she could to scratch her back on the fresh grass before her momentum caused her to fall over so that she was now laying on her right side.
Sirana repeated this a few times, enjoying the feeling of the grass on her back and the relief it brought to the itching she'd had for a few minutes now, since she was still wet from her escapade in the river. The mare almost lost track of how many times she'd been doing this until she started getting slightly dizzy from how many times she'd been rolling.
Once she was done, Sirana shifted herself back onto her belly. She sighed in content, happy to have the chance to finally do that. The Field grass was comfortable, but nothing like this. The mare laid there for a few minutes, relaxing, until she realized that, if she wanted to find Offspring and ask to join the kingdom, she needed to keep on the move.
She stretched out her front legs and hoisted her body off the ground, giving it a good shake to get rid of the dirt and dust. She let out a loud sigh of content, then lowered her head again to snag a few mouthfuls of grass before the two would be on the move again.
you can have my isolation, you can have the hate that it brings.
He is watchful – a stark shadow against the golden grain swaying to and fro with a tepid breeze, stirring the haze of humidity from the ground. There is not much that he does not see (perhaps it is the fire that has given him the gift of remarkable sight; in truth, he does not know).
He has a keen sharpness beneath the cover of night; acuity at a distance – even the flush outline of any heat source, regardless of the position of the sun. As such, it is not difficult to see the outline of movement in the distance – one, a familiar face of rust and indigo, and the other a warm rose gold – nearly the same golden tone of Ellyse, but missing a pair of feathered, silvery appendages along her sides.
Stirred from his motionless stance, his thick, powerful legs churn forward – carrying him through the dense vegetation, which touch and tangle around the darkness of his limbs. His skin is hot, and his coiled muscles are tense as the fire within him flickers with light – and as the tendrils of grain brush against him, they burn, becoming a blackened, charred remnant of what had been there before. Though the plain does not set ablaze, there is distinct mark of where he had traveled, and where he had not.
He is quiet in his approach, his pace slow and deliberate as his weight causes him to sink ever so slightly into the dampened, but rich volcanic soil bordering the shallow stream – a tangled mess of obsidian draped over his dark eyes, though there is a glimmer of amusement hidden within the crimson irises as he watches the feminine, albeit unfamiliar figure toss and cover herself in dust, before shaking it off her skin.
”Someone new, Warrick?” he muses thoughtfully, glancing between the two. ”I see you are becoming familiar with our amenities. Welcome; I’m Offspring.”
you can have my absence of faith, you can have my everything.
OFFSPRING
@[Warrick] @[Sirana] - in case it isn't clear, he saw them from super far using his ~dragon vision~ :|
Sirana usually prided herself on her keen senses, but this stallion had to be another being all-together, considering he'd snuck up on her and Warrick without the mare being able to tell. Of course, it could be a valuable skill, until you ended up scaring another horse by accident.
When his deep voice cut into Sirana's peaceful thoughts, the mare turned her head up, wanting to know who had approached. Her eyes went a little wide at seeing the powerful stallion standing in front of her, his rich obsidian coat glistening with health in the sunlight. His forelock, mane, and tail were all thick and wavy, giving him a powerful but graceful appearance. The way he walked and carried himself, Sirana knew this horse had experience being a leader.
And maybe, with her luck, this was the horse she needed to find to see if she'd be accepted into the Tephra kingdom.
Sirana immediately lifted her head and quickly swallowed the mouthful of grass so as to try and regain some of her manners in front of the leader. The stallion welcomed Sirana before introducing himself as Offspring, a name that Sirana felt as if she should recognize.
The golden mare had heard tales from her mother's friends a while back, one of whom in particular had been to the Tundra prior to the Reckoning. And, if she remembered correctly, her dam's friend had mentioned she'd met a horse called Offspring. Were these two one in the same?
Sirana's instincts told her yes, and they also told her to show this powerful leader the proper respect The golden mare lowered her head, giving the stallion a small bow as a sign of greeting.
"Well met Offspring. I thank you for welcoming me. It is an honor to meet you; I go by the name of Sirana."
