11-09-2018, 01:09 AM
Nalia had been to Isicle Isle only a few times before, and one thing was clear: she was not a fan when it was the winter. Of course, the new island had only recently appeared after the Plague had struck Beqanna with the force of thunder, but she wasn't a fan of winter anyway. She wasn't a large draft breed like some of the other horses here in Beqanna, so her winter coat wasn't as thick as theirs. Having wings to protect her belly and body helped, yes, but she would feel better if her coat was a bit thicker.
Ardashir, not long ago, had asked her to return to the Isle to remain and, not only offer friendship to those who had migrated seeking sanctuary from the Plague, but also to stay safe herself. Yes, Nalia knew the dangers of returning to the mainland and trying to help others find their way to the Isle, or any other of the three new lands, but she was not one to simply stand on the sidelines. She was driven, she wanted to help however she could, even if it meant putting herself at risk.
So when, one day, the call was sent out to summon those who wished to help with the Plague, Nalia was all for it. The call was requesting whoever wished to help to journey to the Mountain, a place that Nalia had heard of, and seen during her time in the Field before she was given a home, but had never actually gone there. The tall structure that sat within Beqanna's heart was quite imposing, giving Nalia a sense of dread of sort whenever she got close to its border. It stretched high into the sky as if it was trying to touch the clouds, casting a long shadow over the land when the sun moved throughout the day. However, the sight was also quite beautiful, and Nalia could tell it was a site of great power and magnificence.
That could have something to do with the magic that still existed there, but since she hadn't ever gone, she had yet to feel the true wonders of the Mountain.
Upon arriving at the bottom of the large structure, Nalia considered opening her wings to fly, but seeing other horses with gifts making the journey the hard way, she decided to do the same. Plus, there was a difficult wind around the Mountain, and she could tell it would provide some difficulty for flying the higher she got.
Steeling herself for the journey, Nalia started making her way up the Mountain, placing each hoof carefully to avoid slipping and falling back down the trail. It seemed like forever, but she finally reached the top, where a number of horses were gathered to hear what the mighty force that had drawn them here had to say.
Nalia was closer to the back, not wanting to be in the middle of such a crowd, so she couldn't really see who the one that had called them here looked like, but she could hear the raw power radiating from its voice. The explanation behind what they had to do was quick and simple, but the last part troubled her some. What did it mean, without their gifts?
Then, it hit; the powerful creature stomped it's hoof, and the presence on the Mountain seemed to change. Nalia suddenly felt a lack of warmth around her belly, and she turned to look, her eyes going wide at seeing that the wings she had been blessed with since birth were just... gone.
It took every ounce of willpower she had to not outright scream, not wanting to draw attention to herself. Instead, she stepped away to have a moment alone, her body trembling at the lack of her tools of flight. How had that happened? How had that creature suddenly taken away something she had before she came here?
Magic, obviously, but it did little to ease Nalia's panic. A few moments of silence passed before a wave of calm washed over the filly, and suddenly, everything just seemed so clear. Nalia didn't say anything more as she started trailing after the horses who had also accepted the quest to go to the Isicle Isle, knowing the way back to Nerine by heart since she called it her home.
Without her wings, the journey took much longer than normal, but Nalia found a few places along the way where she could pick up the pace to a trot or a canter. It did little to ease the chill in her bones from the frigid winter air, her belly and abdomen now feeling the full effect of the cold, but going at a faster speed seemed to warm her as she felt the strain in her muscles and the sweat accumulate as she tried to outrun winter.
When she got tired, Nalia had to slow down, the sheen of sweat on her body now contributing to the cold again since she had nothing to wash it off and clean the dampness from her neck and legs. A chill ran through her body, causing her to feel 'off' was the best description, but still, she pressed on, knowing she could not be outdone by the others simply because she had pushed herself too hard.
As she journeyed to Nerine's edge, seeing all the horses she passed on the way, her heart felt pain for those who had become a victim of the Plague. Seeing the symptoms they experienced, knowing that they were sick and how lucky she was for the time being, the filly never felt more grateful in her short life.
The familiar terrain of Nerine finally reached her hooves, and the filly let out a happy buck at being home once again. She picked up the pace to begin galloping again, loving the wind rushing through her mane as she traversed across the meadow. The light layer of snow was kicked up by her hooves with each large stride, creating a snowfall effect around her and speckling her back and legs with white powder, making her look more like an Appaloosa than the paint she was.
Her happy mood changed with all the speed of lightning, however, when she got to Nerine's cliffs and down to the beach, having forgotten one crucial fact; she would have to swim. She had no wings, she had no choice other than to swim to get to the Isle, and she absolutely hated this realization. Could she do it? Could she brave the frigid ocean waters to get to the Isle, despite not having gone into them during the first winter she spent in Nerine? If she wasn't brave enough to do it then, why was she brave enough to do it now?
But she had to do it. Her friends, those she considered family, the other residents of the surrounding kingdoms... the longer this Plague existed, the more horses got sick, and even if her part to play in this was for nothing, or small, she had to somehow do what she could to help those who were unable to do so themselves. Plus, she was healthy, for now, so she had to at least try.
The filly stepped closer to the ocean, hesitating for a minute more before inhaling and walking up to her pasterns into the water. Already her body was experiencing a heavy chill from this new temperature, her breaths coming quickly and creating a small cloud of frost around her nose. Every so often she inched further into the ocean, letting her body get accustomed to the temperature, resisting her gut's urge to turn back, get to the mainland, and wait for some other horse to solve the problem.
She would not be on the sidelines... she would not wait for someone else to help when she could... she would not stand idly by while others suffered...
Before the filly knew it, she was up to her chest in the water, her tail and the tips of her main already soaked. This was her last chance to turn back... Lifting her front legs off the sandy bottom of the ocean floor, the filly pushed with her hind legs and began the long, dangerous swim, her muscles straining with every paddle forward.
Nalia could've gone either further north and the swim could've taken less time, but she knew that having to arrive on the north shore of the Isle, where it was absolutely freezing, would be a bad combination considering she was having to swim and getting soaking wet. The south half also had snow, yes, but a whole lot less, something even her minimal winter coat could deal with. The filly felt weighed down by her soaked coat since it was longer than usual, but so far she was lasting, something that surprised her.
She was absolutely freezing, her mane was plastered to her neck, she was tired, hungry, thirsty, and her muscles were now burning from the strain to get her to the Isle. Quite a few times Nalia had slipped further into the water to where only her head was breaching the surface, allowing her to breathe, the only thing pushing her forward the knowledge that she didn't want to die in the middle of the ocean and that she wanted to see her friends again.
The tides at one point turned, kicking up some waves that completely engulfed the filly, resulting in a drenched forelock and face. Her ears, exposed to the cold of the air, felt like ice cubes stuck to her head, and her hair was now in her eyes and making it difficult to see. She did her best to shake it away without having to dunk her head, already quite terrified that she was swimming without being able to see what dangers lurked below. She didn't want to see what could be coming; better to have it happen quick.
It seemed like she had spent an eternity out here, in the middle of the frigid waters, but finally, she spotted land, the edges of Isicle Isle. Adrenaline flowed through her veins and spurred her to swim faster, knowing she would not last much longer out here. As she got near shore, a few times, her legs brushed up against some of the creatures swimming below, terrifying her into thinking it was a predator of sorts, but she hadn't yet lost any limbs and didn't feel any blood dripping out. All she felt was the chill, and she couldn't wait for it to go away.
Feeling the sandbar of the Isle's beach touch her hooves, the filly straightened her legs and lifted her chest out of the water, heaving herself to the shoreline. Exhausted from her journey, the filly folded her legs and collapsed on the beach, her sides heaving to try and let her get a good breath in. Her muscles burned, she was sore, and everything in between, but she'd made it. Somehow, she was on the shore of the Isle, and she'd gotten there under her own power.
Nalia felt quite proud, knowing that she'd gotten here without help. She would have course preferred flying to avoid the water, but this journey was absolutely not meant to be easy. Why would helping cure a Plague be easy? Nalia stretched out her front legs and tried to get up, failing the first few times due to fatigue. She finally managed the simple task, shaking off her body to get rid of the water and sand. Her mane and tail were still soaked and plastered to her body, her belly and legs covered in sand and snow, but she was here. And she was ready for the next task.
Ardashir, not long ago, had asked her to return to the Isle to remain and, not only offer friendship to those who had migrated seeking sanctuary from the Plague, but also to stay safe herself. Yes, Nalia knew the dangers of returning to the mainland and trying to help others find their way to the Isle, or any other of the three new lands, but she was not one to simply stand on the sidelines. She was driven, she wanted to help however she could, even if it meant putting herself at risk.
So when, one day, the call was sent out to summon those who wished to help with the Plague, Nalia was all for it. The call was requesting whoever wished to help to journey to the Mountain, a place that Nalia had heard of, and seen during her time in the Field before she was given a home, but had never actually gone there. The tall structure that sat within Beqanna's heart was quite imposing, giving Nalia a sense of dread of sort whenever she got close to its border. It stretched high into the sky as if it was trying to touch the clouds, casting a long shadow over the land when the sun moved throughout the day. However, the sight was also quite beautiful, and Nalia could tell it was a site of great power and magnificence.
That could have something to do with the magic that still existed there, but since she hadn't ever gone, she had yet to feel the true wonders of the Mountain.
Upon arriving at the bottom of the large structure, Nalia considered opening her wings to fly, but seeing other horses with gifts making the journey the hard way, she decided to do the same. Plus, there was a difficult wind around the Mountain, and she could tell it would provide some difficulty for flying the higher she got.
Steeling herself for the journey, Nalia started making her way up the Mountain, placing each hoof carefully to avoid slipping and falling back down the trail. It seemed like forever, but she finally reached the top, where a number of horses were gathered to hear what the mighty force that had drawn them here had to say.
Nalia was closer to the back, not wanting to be in the middle of such a crowd, so she couldn't really see who the one that had called them here looked like, but she could hear the raw power radiating from its voice. The explanation behind what they had to do was quick and simple, but the last part troubled her some. What did it mean, without their gifts?
Then, it hit; the powerful creature stomped it's hoof, and the presence on the Mountain seemed to change. Nalia suddenly felt a lack of warmth around her belly, and she turned to look, her eyes going wide at seeing that the wings she had been blessed with since birth were just... gone.
It took every ounce of willpower she had to not outright scream, not wanting to draw attention to herself. Instead, she stepped away to have a moment alone, her body trembling at the lack of her tools of flight. How had that happened? How had that creature suddenly taken away something she had before she came here?
Magic, obviously, but it did little to ease Nalia's panic. A few moments of silence passed before a wave of calm washed over the filly, and suddenly, everything just seemed so clear. Nalia didn't say anything more as she started trailing after the horses who had also accepted the quest to go to the Isicle Isle, knowing the way back to Nerine by heart since she called it her home.
Without her wings, the journey took much longer than normal, but Nalia found a few places along the way where she could pick up the pace to a trot or a canter. It did little to ease the chill in her bones from the frigid winter air, her belly and abdomen now feeling the full effect of the cold, but going at a faster speed seemed to warm her as she felt the strain in her muscles and the sweat accumulate as she tried to outrun winter.
When she got tired, Nalia had to slow down, the sheen of sweat on her body now contributing to the cold again since she had nothing to wash it off and clean the dampness from her neck and legs. A chill ran through her body, causing her to feel 'off' was the best description, but still, she pressed on, knowing she could not be outdone by the others simply because she had pushed herself too hard.
As she journeyed to Nerine's edge, seeing all the horses she passed on the way, her heart felt pain for those who had become a victim of the Plague. Seeing the symptoms they experienced, knowing that they were sick and how lucky she was for the time being, the filly never felt more grateful in her short life.
The familiar terrain of Nerine finally reached her hooves, and the filly let out a happy buck at being home once again. She picked up the pace to begin galloping again, loving the wind rushing through her mane as she traversed across the meadow. The light layer of snow was kicked up by her hooves with each large stride, creating a snowfall effect around her and speckling her back and legs with white powder, making her look more like an Appaloosa than the paint she was.
Her happy mood changed with all the speed of lightning, however, when she got to Nerine's cliffs and down to the beach, having forgotten one crucial fact; she would have to swim. She had no wings, she had no choice other than to swim to get to the Isle, and she absolutely hated this realization. Could she do it? Could she brave the frigid ocean waters to get to the Isle, despite not having gone into them during the first winter she spent in Nerine? If she wasn't brave enough to do it then, why was she brave enough to do it now?
But she had to do it. Her friends, those she considered family, the other residents of the surrounding kingdoms... the longer this Plague existed, the more horses got sick, and even if her part to play in this was for nothing, or small, she had to somehow do what she could to help those who were unable to do so themselves. Plus, she was healthy, for now, so she had to at least try.
The filly stepped closer to the ocean, hesitating for a minute more before inhaling and walking up to her pasterns into the water. Already her body was experiencing a heavy chill from this new temperature, her breaths coming quickly and creating a small cloud of frost around her nose. Every so often she inched further into the ocean, letting her body get accustomed to the temperature, resisting her gut's urge to turn back, get to the mainland, and wait for some other horse to solve the problem.
She would not be on the sidelines... she would not wait for someone else to help when she could... she would not stand idly by while others suffered...
Before the filly knew it, she was up to her chest in the water, her tail and the tips of her main already soaked. This was her last chance to turn back... Lifting her front legs off the sandy bottom of the ocean floor, the filly pushed with her hind legs and began the long, dangerous swim, her muscles straining with every paddle forward.
Nalia could've gone either further north and the swim could've taken less time, but she knew that having to arrive on the north shore of the Isle, where it was absolutely freezing, would be a bad combination considering she was having to swim and getting soaking wet. The south half also had snow, yes, but a whole lot less, something even her minimal winter coat could deal with. The filly felt weighed down by her soaked coat since it was longer than usual, but so far she was lasting, something that surprised her.
She was absolutely freezing, her mane was plastered to her neck, she was tired, hungry, thirsty, and her muscles were now burning from the strain to get her to the Isle. Quite a few times Nalia had slipped further into the water to where only her head was breaching the surface, allowing her to breathe, the only thing pushing her forward the knowledge that she didn't want to die in the middle of the ocean and that she wanted to see her friends again.
The tides at one point turned, kicking up some waves that completely engulfed the filly, resulting in a drenched forelock and face. Her ears, exposed to the cold of the air, felt like ice cubes stuck to her head, and her hair was now in her eyes and making it difficult to see. She did her best to shake it away without having to dunk her head, already quite terrified that she was swimming without being able to see what dangers lurked below. She didn't want to see what could be coming; better to have it happen quick.
It seemed like she had spent an eternity out here, in the middle of the frigid waters, but finally, she spotted land, the edges of Isicle Isle. Adrenaline flowed through her veins and spurred her to swim faster, knowing she would not last much longer out here. As she got near shore, a few times, her legs brushed up against some of the creatures swimming below, terrifying her into thinking it was a predator of sorts, but she hadn't yet lost any limbs and didn't feel any blood dripping out. All she felt was the chill, and she couldn't wait for it to go away.
Feeling the sandbar of the Isle's beach touch her hooves, the filly straightened her legs and lifted her chest out of the water, heaving herself to the shoreline. Exhausted from her journey, the filly folded her legs and collapsed on the beach, her sides heaving to try and let her get a good breath in. Her muscles burned, she was sore, and everything in between, but she'd made it. Somehow, she was on the shore of the Isle, and she'd gotten there under her own power.
Nalia felt quite proud, knowing that she'd gotten here without help. She would have course preferred flying to avoid the water, but this journey was absolutely not meant to be easy. Why would helping cure a Plague be easy? Nalia stretched out her front legs and tried to get up, failing the first few times due to fatigue. She finally managed the simple task, shaking off her body to get rid of the water and sand. Her mane and tail were still soaked and plastered to her body, her belly and legs covered in sand and snow, but she was here. And she was ready for the next task.