Aten wasn't the last one to arrive; the trio of adults were soon joined not only by Liliana, Aten's friend, but also his foster filly through Lethia's adoption. The stallion's eyes were locked on Popinjay despite her greeting Turul and not Aten himself, watching as she greeted the raven instead of the mare while sauntering closer than Aten would've upon meeting some horse new for the first time.
Turul brushed his wing against Aten's withers to try and calm his friend, knowing the stallion was growing nervous upon seeing Popinjay and how brazen she was being. The stallion held himself in check, knowing he couldn't do anything that might show the mare he meant harm. Besides, it seemed that she was civil for now; she didn't appear with an intent to hurt the filly.
The gray-tinted mare offered a small portion of her history, leading Aten to believe the new mare had asked the former a question before his arrival. She then turned to the stallion and informed him that he was wrong in his deduction, for she was a Beqanna native and certainly not new to this strange land.
The stallion's mind drew on all the stories of old he'd collected during his time as a bachelor, hoping something would spring to mind. He also processed what the gray mare had said; far to the west, an island kingdom? He had a suspicion he knew her land of origin, but wondered what danger the king sensed that compelled him to give such a decree to his herd. What sort of trouble was falling upon the land like the shadows of the night when the sun set and rid the land of it's warmth?
Turul dipped his head to greet Liliana since Aten seemed occupied. The new mare answered Liliana's question, stating she was from a time in Beqanna when magic was far plentiful and kingdoms that once existed thrived under leaders Aten hadn't yet met. She then said a name that caused Aten's heart to race.
The Chamber... Liliana had mentioned that, suns ago, when she had searched Aten out in Taiga and asked his opinion on if any remnant of the extinct kingdom could still exist. He hadn't given her an exact answer, but his honest thoughts, saying the only traces that may be left were horses who had once called the Chamber their home.
And here was one, right in front of them. Aten could only wonder what Liliana would think about that.
The mare acknowledges the gray, asking her more about her headland and if they had the capacity to defend themselves. Aten didn't want to give away too many details, in fear of who may be listening among the grasslands and trees, but he at least knew a little something about this matter. Hopefully.
He spoke up, "Correct me if I wrong you," he began, looking to the gray, "But if my mind serves me right, you hail from Ischia?
"But whether or not, there is trouble stirring in the West," he continued, now looking at the new mare, "Lepis and Wolfbane of Taiga have been stirring trouble ever since the death of their colt. Lepis has plans to move Taiga under Loess' protection, by proxy it's leader, Castille. He himself wants to claim the West as his own land, upsetting the even balance of territory that each main piece has. Heartfire had come to me in Taiga and informed me she suspected as well. And now there is a new feeling shifting in the wind... I suspect it also may have something to do with why you have returned.
"The Chamber no longer exists, save for those, like yourself, who once called it your home. The Reckoning shifted the balance of Beqanna, and war is brewing on the horizon."
He would allow the other mares to speak if they had anything to say, for perhaps they knew more on this matter than he did. Aten had been gathering what information he could, but he could not journey from Taiga for too long under suspicion that Wolfbane and Lepis might deduce he was up to something. He'd upheld his end of the bargain though, he was now free to make his own choices.
And Turul had informed him of the arrival of a gray stallion not long ago, who had sought out Wolfbane and spoken of wanting to be his champion. Aten strongly suspected it meant his days as a protector of Taiga were numbered.
@[Aquaria] @[Straia] @[Popinjay] @[lilliana]
Turul brushed his wing against Aten's withers to try and calm his friend, knowing the stallion was growing nervous upon seeing Popinjay and how brazen she was being. The stallion held himself in check, knowing he couldn't do anything that might show the mare he meant harm. Besides, it seemed that she was civil for now; she didn't appear with an intent to hurt the filly.
The gray-tinted mare offered a small portion of her history, leading Aten to believe the new mare had asked the former a question before his arrival. She then turned to the stallion and informed him that he was wrong in his deduction, for she was a Beqanna native and certainly not new to this strange land.
The stallion's mind drew on all the stories of old he'd collected during his time as a bachelor, hoping something would spring to mind. He also processed what the gray mare had said; far to the west, an island kingdom? He had a suspicion he knew her land of origin, but wondered what danger the king sensed that compelled him to give such a decree to his herd. What sort of trouble was falling upon the land like the shadows of the night when the sun set and rid the land of it's warmth?
Turul dipped his head to greet Liliana since Aten seemed occupied. The new mare answered Liliana's question, stating she was from a time in Beqanna when magic was far plentiful and kingdoms that once existed thrived under leaders Aten hadn't yet met. She then said a name that caused Aten's heart to race.
The Chamber... Liliana had mentioned that, suns ago, when she had searched Aten out in Taiga and asked his opinion on if any remnant of the extinct kingdom could still exist. He hadn't given her an exact answer, but his honest thoughts, saying the only traces that may be left were horses who had once called the Chamber their home.
And here was one, right in front of them. Aten could only wonder what Liliana would think about that.
The mare acknowledges the gray, asking her more about her headland and if they had the capacity to defend themselves. Aten didn't want to give away too many details, in fear of who may be listening among the grasslands and trees, but he at least knew a little something about this matter. Hopefully.
He spoke up, "Correct me if I wrong you," he began, looking to the gray, "But if my mind serves me right, you hail from Ischia?
"But whether or not, there is trouble stirring in the West," he continued, now looking at the new mare, "Lepis and Wolfbane of Taiga have been stirring trouble ever since the death of their colt. Lepis has plans to move Taiga under Loess' protection, by proxy it's leader, Castille. He himself wants to claim the West as his own land, upsetting the even balance of territory that each main piece has. Heartfire had come to me in Taiga and informed me she suspected as well. And now there is a new feeling shifting in the wind... I suspect it also may have something to do with why you have returned.
"The Chamber no longer exists, save for those, like yourself, who once called it your home. The Reckoning shifted the balance of Beqanna, and war is brewing on the horizon."
He would allow the other mares to speak if they had anything to say, for perhaps they knew more on this matter than he did. Aten had been gathering what information he could, but he could not journey from Taiga for too long under suspicion that Wolfbane and Lepis might deduce he was up to something. He'd upheld his end of the bargain though, he was now free to make his own choices.
And Turul had informed him of the arrival of a gray stallion not long ago, who had sought out Wolfbane and spoken of wanting to be his champion. Aten strongly suspected it meant his days as a protector of Taiga were numbered.
@[Aquaria] @[Straia] @[Popinjay] @[lilliana]