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  • Beqanna

    COTY

    Assailant -- Year 226

    QOTY

    "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


    So Our Kingdoms Are Close [Any]
    #1
    It was a place she'd heard many tales about, but had a hard time believing. Until she was tempted to see it for herself. She figured it's location was true since she hadn't seen it on the mainland, but looking at it now, in the distance, she almost couldn't believe she was trying this. Well, at least she wouldn't have to wait for the sandbar to appear, thanks to the wings on her back.

    Making the decision to visit this place had not been an easy one, mostly because of what had happened last time she'd paid a visit to an allied kingdom of Nerine. The mare who'd greeted her had been somewhat insulted that Nalia hadn't shown up with a potential recruit to offer them, but in the filly's defense, she had not known anybody there. What kind of recruiter would she be if she showed up with a new horse to a kingdom where she did not officially know any of it's residents?

    Hopefully the members of this kingdom would be a bit more understanding.

    Nalia set off for the island string early in the morning, flying to the coast line down past Hyaline and near the River to take a break so it wouldn't be a straight shot flight. Had she gone from her own home to the island kingdom, it would've taken a lot more time, and way more of her energy. She didn't want to risk passing out as soon as her hooves touched the ground upon her arrival. That wouldn't look very good would it?

    So, once she felt somewhat ready to tackle this, the filly opened her wings and took to the sky, flying over the ocean in the direction of the island kingdom. The distance was much shorter, but still a decent flight, something that allowed Nalia to have some fun on her journey. She would fly low to the water a couple of times, lowering one of her hooves to drag it through the ocean and kick up a spray of water that tickled her wings and flanks. Other times, she would fly high over the ocean, then dive down toward the water, pulling up at the last second to kick up the water in a display while performing a flip or two. It was an easy way for her to amuse herself, performing tricks like this, and it made the time pass quickly by the time her destination finally came into sight.

    In the near distance, the island kingdom glistened like an emerald against the ocean's blue color, it's luscious environment promising to make this quite an experience. The filly's wings unfurled further so she could glide over the ocean, lowering her body so she was within a few feet of touching the water with her hooves as she got closer and closer to the island. She didn't exactly know where the border would've started or ended, since this kingdom was a unique case to Beqanna, so she would just give it her best guess. Now she just hoped she wouldn't mess this up in any way.

    When she got within touching distance of the sand, the filly flapped her wings to slow down, her hooves landing on the ground with a soft thud and some sand kicking up from the impact. Flapping her wings to get rid of the water that accumulated there, giving her head and neck a shake from the long flight, the filly took in a deep breath, noting how, even Nerine being surrounded on most sides by the ocean, the scent here seemed completely different.

    Her eyes drifted up to the trees that stood between her and the kingdom's heart, quickly becoming mesmerized by the beautiful flora that grew here. She figured she hadn't seen the best of it yet, but it didn't matter, she was blown away by it all the same. Walking forward with a calm gait, the filly continued to look around curiously, wondering what the names were for these plants since she had never seen any like them before.

    The trees near where she landed weren't incredibly thick, so it was easy for the filly to get to the other side and see what lay there. When she emerged, her eyes went wide again, her mouth dropping open in a surprised gasp. Stretching out in front of her was a small water pool, not like the ocean she guessed since the life here needed fresh stuff to drink. A multitude of birds were also in the area, talking to each other among the trees in their own unique language. Nalia had seen birds before, but just like the trees, never before had she seen anything like this. In addition to their uniquely different way of speaking, the volume their voices took, their wings were a multitude of beautiful, bright colors, making her wonder how they survived on the mainland if they looked this way before they migrated here.

    Feeling a sudden pressure on her croup, Nalia turned her head, seeing that a small bird with red and blue colored feathers had landed there, preening it's feathers and stretching it's wings out before turning it's curious gaze to look at the filly. Without moving her body, Nalia stretched out her neck to try and catch the bird's scent, flaring her nostrils when the creature let out a squawk and spread it's wings. Laughing at the display, Nalia spread out her own wings a little to try and startle the creature, something that kinda worked when the bird's eyes went wide at seeing she had wings too. With another squawk, the bird flapped it's wings and flew to one of the nearby trees, causing Nalia to laugh before she refocused her thoughts.

    She didn't want to traverse too deep into the kingdom without letting someone know she was here, but at the same time, she didn't want to just wait here. Problem was, what if she called out and someone who was a bit more on the defensive side came to meet her? Would she get the chance to explain why she was here? Wait, why was she worrying so much about this? She didn't even know who lived here yet. She had names and some descriptions, but not really in depth personalities. Should she worry so much about that then?

    Shrugging her shoulders, the filly started walking around the pool, taking it slow so that she wouldn't get toward the kingdom's heart too fast. She wanted to wait and give it a little time before she either called out or proceeded on her own. As she walked, to busy herself, she started looking at the plants and wildlife again, still astounded by all that lived here.

    "Wow..." she muttered aloud, "So this is Ischia..."
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    #2

    Ischia has one very big island, and for Kybeth that is quite enough.

    He couldn’t refuse his father, but he also can’t help but rather be a meerkat than a horse. So he explores only slowly, on his own terms, finding the place to be full of bugs and fruits and roots to eat, and discovering places to dig some holes and tunnels every day. He’s not quite settled yet; but he loves the place above the waterfall best. It gives him a view, a vantage point to spot other horses, instead of hsving to look up to them all the time, he gets to look down upon them.

    That is except when they’re up here with him, or when they fly.

    He spotted her when she came over the ocean, but lost her when she landed behind the trees. Quick as he could though, he made his way down trough a recently-created tunnel, towards the waterfall’s pond, and follows the stream towards the large waterhole that he knows is the one she will find first if he’d calculated her position and probably direction the right way. He briefly considers shifting; but honestly he just doesn’t like his horse body as much. At least, he knows this body better, and happens to be capable of running with it far better than with the long legs which have no toes or fingers. Horse legs are rather strange like that.

    But it is bird territory, if he’s honest. He hadn’t thought about that until one lands before him, squawking at him, and he comes to a stop near the water’s edge. They’re about the same size, the parrots and he, and so he uprights his long meerkat body and waves his tiny arms. ”Shoo!” But the colourful creature isn’t too happy with this, spreading it’s wings and making a pecking move. He dodges, and lets himself be chased away.

    Damn birds. Shifting it is, then. He lands on four feet, and lets them elongate, lowering his head to his chin to grow back into full horse size. The chestnut roan blinks, then steps towards the bird that had been in his way, lifting a hoof too shoo it again. This time, it’s the bird that flies, and he can finally go find the mare. If she isn’t here already, due to this hold-up.

    Kybeth


    @[Nalia]
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    #3
    Nalia's ears went up when the same bright-colored bird from before let out another series of sqwuaks, seemingly attracted to something it had spotted nearby. Flicking her left ear, wondering what in the world could have drawn such a reaction from the creature, deciding to see what was going on over there. She didn't see the bird make a pecking motion, but she did see it flap it's wings, it's attention grabbed now.

    Tilting her head, unaware of what the tiny creature was the bird was after, the filly started walking forward again. She wasn't extremely interested in learning the dietary habbits of a bird of prey, but she didn't know a lot about what they ate. She wondered what tiny creature would fall prey today, for some odd reason wanting to help protect it from the bird since it didn't deserve such a fate. Of course, it it had to be done, she'd leave the bird and creature alone; she understood why certain things happened, even if she didn't like it.

    For a moment, Nalia thought she heard a tiny voice call out for the bird to leave, before the bird took to the sky when, suddenly, a good-size young chestnut roan stallion appeared. Clearly upset by the turn of events, the bird flew back into the trees, intent on finding some other prey elsewhere.

    After the bird left, Nalia turned her gaze back to the stallion, a broad smile appearing on her lips, "Well, that was certainly a dramatic entrance," she joked. "So what ability was that? What's your name?"

    @[Kybeth]
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    #4

    The young stallion shakes his head; his red mane falling over the lighter sandy colour on his neck. Bright orbs regard her easily, then he shakes his crown again in response. ”Territorial beasts. Probably afraid I was gonna eat his precious fruits.” He shrugs, shoulders rolling though honestly he does that just because he is tense in his horse form.

    ”You came a long way. Saw you, from up there.” he lifts a hoof to point to the waterfall, instead of nodding to it like normal horses would. Then, he extends his nose to take in her scent. ”Nerine! Is it pretty? Does it have a lot of sand, like Ischia?”

    Twinkling eyes regard the young mare - his age probably - and the unique white upon her features. His own just boring everyday markings; well at least the roaning in his fur complements that of his meerkat-self. ”I’m Kybeth. One of Brennen’s many, many, many, many descendants. So I live here with some of them, now.” He has no place else to call home. The very earth itself maybe, yes. Where he had escaped time itself as well as all other horses.

    He cocks his head at the mare. ”We’re allies, right? I should probably get you someone more important.” he snorts. ”I only recently arrived so, not the diplomat you’d seek I bet.” Oh but he talks too much. Ha. Heh. Does it matter? No, probably not. Though they both don’t know it yet, a Plague will make all this irrelevant; they will be the same kingdom after the fusion. Or not, if Kybeth is not in time for the move.

    Kybeth


    @[Nalia] I think we may need a new thread for them later, haha. Though I don’t know where he will be going yet. Nerine’s ground may be too hard to dig tunnels in
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