"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
Nyxa is filled with a light that threatens to expunge itself any second, and though to outsiders she may seem her normal self, she's anything but internally. Whoever knew that one could be so ... happy?
This morning she'd slept late, feeling too wicked to be roused by the cry of gull or the song of the sea. In the shade of well-known Ischian shadows Nyxa had lost herself to dreams and the pure comfort of safety. When every breath was filled with his familiar scent, it was all too easy to forget the sadness of the past or the uncertainty of the future. All that was required of her now was simply to exist, and only for the sake of another's happiness did she do so.
It felt like freedom, true freedom.
So when she woke, the cream-and-evergreen mare was hardly discontent by the absence of her beloved. Hod had grown root and stem into the soil of Ischia - both their blood ran blue with its waters - and they'd always find one another here. She's not afraid anymore of his disappearing, or of losing herself; Their love gave her unmeasured strength, a force all on its own that she never knew could be real.
The feeling washes over her just like the waves do, when she finally rouses from her haziness to clip down the shoreline in a pleasent trot and dive into the waiting ocean. Silver-gray scales appear along her legs at the first touch of liquid, and her body grows sleek, tinting itself with an opalescant sheen. This, too, feels natural; everything in her life makes sense now, has order - she even greets her gilled companions with a rare, bubbling laugh as they dart between her tendrils of suspended, seaweed-like mane.
Why is she so happy? They ask her while she swims; her self-made current carries them along through the choppy, northern water and then into the narrow current of the Riverlands, "I'm in love." Nyxa tells them, happy to share the news (even if it's with creatures who might not understand.) In their simple nature, they don't mind either way. Her odd assortment of fishy friends is elated all the same, and they say as much up until her stony feet make purchase against the pebbled shore of Hyalines border.
She doesn't even think about Maugrim, the soggy old Riverlord, and how once she might've been too afraid to journey up this stretch of water...
Instead, she pushes herself with unnatural grace to the shore, a carpet of clear water gathered before and behind her to plant her feet upon the now-wet earth without her having to lift so much as a hoof. Call it what you will - putting on airs had kept her from looking a clutz, and without her constant practise, the powers given to her by fate would have been put in useless hands. "Is anyone nearby?" She tries at first, letting her scales and her excessive shimmer fade away while she stood, dripping.
-I'm sailing right behind, like a bridge over troubled water-
With each day her ebony daughter finds more places to hide; it starts to frustrate Ilma to a point she does not always go look for her again. But today she does, because she's not occupied with other matters at the moment. Knowing by now that the girl would sometimes stalk into the lands of the River, it is that border that she has headed to today in hopes of catching the girl's scent.
Little does she know that Tähti is currently visiting Nerine for a change; there would be repercussions if she ever found out.
Yet instead of finding her daughter's scent, she finds another mare. Dripping like she has been caught in an autumn storm; but smelling of the sea and perhaps a river, and vaguely carrying the scent of fish also. This is curious to the white winged mare, and she answers the question before coming into view. "I am, so good day. I'm Ilma, of Hyaline. I think you'll find yourself just within our borders. To what do we owe the pleasure of your visit?" she asks politely. Because lately, half or more of those who've shown up on their borders have been refugees.
Any fool knows men and women think differently at times, but the biggest difference is this: men forget, but never forgive; women forgive, but never forget.
Nyxa’s own mother had been too absent to be much of a lookout for her daughter. Oh, to be sure, Circinae had loved Nyxa! She’d loved all three of her children, tried her best despite the absence of their father and the constant support of Aunt Jah-Lilah, but she’d crowded her plate. Circinae had been a key member of three kingdoms and then Queen of her own after; somewhere in between the duty of protecting those under her guidance and solving the crumbling bits of her own relationship, Circinae had let Nyxa slip through the cracks.
In fact, she’d nearly drowned due to her dam’s negligence.
But, Nyxa was far from dead. She was rather healthy and unaware of her current pregnancy, beautiful and put together as a woman of her age should be. She was more powerful than her mother had ever expected (more powerful than she herself had planned to be) and, in some measure of Beqanna life, Nyxa assumed that equalled success.
So she meets Ilma’s initial greeting with a broad smile, though she cannot physically see the other mare yet. “Ilma, the pleasure is mine. I’m known as Nyxa.” The Nereid replies as her white counterpart comes swiftly into view. The mention of borders causes a light chuckle to burst free from the Nymph’s throat; She’d nearly forgotten the invisible importance of Beqanna’s boundary lines. “I come in peace, truly. Hyaline was once my home …” The younger female recounts, somewhat wistfully, with a quick glance to the rim of Mountains encompassing the lake kingdom.
“I come out of pure curiosity. My … gifts, as they are, could be beneficial to the health of Hyaline’s beloved lake. Tell me, Ilma,” She poses, pale ears flicking towards her companion as bright inquisitiveness lights her features, “Are all of the residents of Hyaline happy? Even the fishy ones?”
-I'm sailing right behind, like a bridge over troubled water-
The mare who comes into view is beautiful and looking bright; Ilma smiles at her. ”Oh, how wonderful of you to come visit! I’ve not been here all my life, and perhaps it would be good to know a little more of Hyaline’s history.” She had had a short briefing of what it had been founded for of course, but information first-hand was always better.
Nuxa is perhaps a year younger than Ilma, but she does not feel that this is much of a difference, and hopes to befriend the other female. She seems lovely, and as she speaks her love for Hyaline’s lake is apparent. Although Ilma doesn’t follow with the last question. ”The fish? I don’t know...” she frowns, thinking. ”I’m guessing they have enough space, but other than that they cannot really complain to me or any of us since we speak different languages.” Now, Ilma is really curious, and quite intrigued. ”Can you dpeak fish?” After all she must have asked about them for a reason; especially with her claim to be an asset to the lake the white mare thinks a water- or fish-magic is not too farfetched a magic to have in Beqanna.
@[Nyxa]
Any fool knows men and women think differently at times, but the biggest difference is this: men forget, but never forgive; women forgive, but never forget.
It’s funny that Ilma should mention the word History; Nyxa could easily say hers began here.
Would the pale, winged mare opposite her care to hear that version, though? Can Nyxa really spin the past of this place, the same way her mother, or aunt Jah would? Her smile of reassurance is warm when it settles over her mouth, but inwardly Nyx feels that the justice of this Kingdom's tale was best kept to the facts. “Call it magic, what-have-you, but yes. I can.” The visitor chuckles, faintly.
Perhaps most would keep their abilities hidden, but as she’d said earlier: she came in full neutrality. Besides, how much of a threat could her gift of gab be? (“The mackerel can be rather feisty …” She muses inwardly.) “Would it be too much to ask for a brief swim?” Nyxa asks, tilting her chin slightly, “Feel free to escort me, and I’ll answer any questions you might have to the best of my knowledge.” She tempts.
In the moment preceding the Hyaline inhabitants response, Nyxa is reminded of a brief visit from the once-king Amet’s soon-to-be successor … Solace, was it? She’d literally been a wolf, back then, and that mare was all legs from such a perspective, but still ... So much time had passed and still, she felt compelled to ask anyways: “Do you know of a mare named Solace, perhaps? Pale gold and white?”
-I'm sailing right behind, like a bridge over troubled water-
I hope that you catch me, ‘cause I’m already falling
Ilma
The white winged mare gleams at the answers, and nods. ”Of course! That’s no problem, it’s large enough.” she chuckles to the question posed. She has never felt like the kingdom owns the land so much that they can deny another walking, eating, drinking or in this case, swimming in what was naturally there. They would really only deny entrance to those with malintentions, and Nyxa so far did not seem to be one of those.
The Andalusian mare quickly turns into the direction of the kingdom’s center, ready to escort her new friend. It turns out Nyxa’s question is well-times. ”Of course, she’s our Caretaker. Do you want me to find her for you?” she offers, rearranging her own wings. She remembers when she came here that solace was so delighted to see she wasn’t the only pegasus in Hyaline any longer.
As they walk, Ilma turns to Nyxa with her own question. ”I was wondering about the time between when Brennen had founded the kingdom, and when Solace became queen. Who’s gone before her, what were they like? I know Solace to be very gentle, unless you push her in the wrong direction. I hope perhaps if you were there you could tell me a bit about the kingdom’s development and how Solace was chosen.” she explains. She smiles warmly when she thinks of her queen - she’s a friend of every resident here, and easily slips into anyone’s heart; Ilma is no exception and perhaps Nyxa would take a similar liking to the cerulean-winged mare.
don't let the fear of flying stop you from falling
@[Nyxa]
Any fool knows men and women think differently at times, but the biggest difference is this: men forget, but never forgive; women forgive, but never forget.
“She’s our Caretaker,” Her guide explains, a hint of reverence in her voice, “do you want me to find her …?”
“No, no, that’s not necessary.” Nyxa rushes to say. “We met long ago, when I was very young, and only once at that. I doubt she’ll remember me.” The cream-colored mare explains. Caretaker? She thinks, falling into step alongside Ilma. Years may have passed since she last came to this place, but her hooves still remember the familiar trails of her childhood. “I looked very different, then.” The seamare laughs.
The miles between Hyaline’s border and her lake roll quickly behind the two as they journey. Nyxa finds the walk pleasant, what with Ilma there to keep her company and ask questions, but soon enough they fall onto the subject of Solace again (which surprises the visitor very little.) “Brennen worked in tandem with a stallion named Amet.” Nyxa replies, cheerfully enough. “I suppose it would be more accurate to say that Amet founded the kingdom, under Brennen’s supervision. Either way it was intended to be run by Amet and his siblings as a safe harbor for young horses, and as a sub kingdom to Nerine, during Nayl’s mighty rule.”
She exhales, feeling the weight of those distant history lessons. Jah-Lilah had been an apt mother during her own mother’s frequent diplomatic trips, and she had the lightning mare to thank for what she was currently sharing with Ilma. “From my knowledge, this place grew under Amet’s careful guidance and soon enough, the sibling vanguard and Hyaline’s status as a sub kingdom vanished. Amet had grown powerful enough to take the reins, I suppose. Not long after that my mother came here, to reside as his right-hand.”
Their footfalls lead them on, Nyxa carefully keeping herself out of the way of Ilma’s wings and personal space, and before they know it the Lake appears before them. “Circinae (that’s my mother, of course) helped out here until she took control of Ischia, and after that I left to be with her there. I’m assuming that sometime shortly after our departure, Solace was chosen by Amet to take his place.” The green-haired woman surmises, coming to a halt near the tranquil shore of Hyaline’s lake.
“Both Amet and Solace came to Ischia with that announcement, and that was the last time I saw Amet, Solace, and believe it or not - my own mother.” She sighs, again.
With a half-hearted smile tacked onto her face, Nyxa disguises the bitter ache in her chest. That last memory of them all together, of finding out Jah-Lilah’s pregnancy before their family went to shit … it was an unexpected prick in this otherwise pleasant day. “If you’ll excuse me,” The Nereid says with a calm look towards her pale guide.
The water of Hyaline’s centerpiece rolls unnaturally up the shoreline, quick to douse the pebbles and soft sand before crashing against Nyxa’s hooves like a dog welcoming its master home. Her pelt reacts - silver scales flashing along her legs and underbelly where there’d been nothing before, and a signature, opalescent gleam lightens her coat to enhance the allure she already wore. Unafraid, the Ischian mare walks eagerly forward, undaunted even as the clear waters close over her head and she disappears from view.
-I'm sailing right behind, like a bridge over troubled water-
The white pegasus keeps up a pleasant walking pace, as the amber-champagne mare falls in step next to her. They travel between mountains, following a valley and a pass that no doubt a very long time ago nust have been created by a river, which has taken an alternate course by now. Or perhaps it is Beqanna’s magic, and rivers have nothing to do with it - she’s not quite sure how long ago this Reckoning has taken place that Kagerus sometimes refers to - but her friend is much older that she, gifted inmortality although by now they know; with a small exception that had almost cost her her life last year.
Nyxa explains she already knows Solace, but Ilma does not completely follow when she explains she looked much different then - the water-dwelling mare does not explain about her shifting powers, or other magics she might have had before, and the white mare doesn’t know her better than how she looks now. However, since Nyxa doesn’t explain herself she is not one to ask - she talks about Amet, who was Hyaline’s ruler under Brennen’s supervision for a time, and how he had ruled it together with siblings. Ilma wonders if that is the reason for them not being around any more - she doubts ruling with a sibling is an easy task, if not impossible at all. This is probably why Svedka never rose to rule besides Solace no doubt. While siblings have much in common, they also differ and more easily show their reservations to eachother thatn to a stranger or a lover. ”I can imagine it may have been difficult for Amet to rule when he had to take in the opinions of siblings all the time.” she muses. It must have been a relief for him when Circinae started helping out, but she understands his choice to appoint another ruler in his stead.
Ilma is a bit surprised that Nyxa explains that she hasn’t seen her mother since an official diplomatic visit from Hyaline to Ischia, but she nods. ”I suppose that is what life does to us, in the end. Children start living their own lives, and perhaps you will have siblings somewhere.” she wonders.
But Nyxa doesn’t seem one to think about it for long; she enters the water, and her form changes. Perhaps that is what she meant earlier, Ilma thinks. An iridiscent glow takes over the mare, a scaly woman now as she dives into the water - and then, for a long time, she seems to be gone, leaving Ilma to wonder about the mare - perhaps right now she is indeed talking to the fish.
don't let the fear of flying stop you from falling
@[Nyxa] idk if you want to continue this thread, it seems to have come to some natural closing
Any fool knows men and women think differently at times, but the biggest difference is this: men forget, but never forgive; women forgive, but never forget.
