10-07-2019, 05:29 PM
<center><img src="https://i.postimg.cc/gj8NmXyV/LALAHMTL.png"><table bgcolor=e6dfdf style="border-color: black; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: -115px" cellspacing=30 cellpadding=30 width=500><tr><td><p align=justify><font face=times new roman color=826f6f><font style=font-size:9pt;line-height:12pt;letter-spacing:1px><font style=letter-spacing:3px><center><Font color=826f6f><i>beulah.</i></font></font> </center><p align=justify>
Lala cannot tear her gaze from the dragon. She’d never encountered anything like it before. So she stood there - paralyzed - eyes wide with uncertain and maybe a little bit of fear. She backs up, unconsciously, a single step and when she does the girl catches movement out of the corner of her eye. It was the princess - waving her away from the dragon. Maybe she did need help after all. With a wary final glance at the dragon, the little pink girl quickly made her way over to where the princess beckoned.
Lala offered the princess - who was <i>beautiful</i>, just as mother said she’d be - a little smile and a dip of her head in greeting. The princess is kind and speaks softly. Her golden hair is woven into intricate plaits that make Lala wish her hair was long enough to style so gracefully. The golden haired princess explained that the dragon was her protector - keeping her safe within her castle home.
<B> “I’m glad you have such a dedicated protector!”</b> the little pink girl replied, honestly. <b>”Please tell him that I’m very sorry for running into him. I only wanted to help,” </b> she added, somewhat sheepishly. She didn’t want to have hurt the creature, but doubted it even realized what had happened since it was all thick hide and tough scales.
She follows the princess without question before they come to a cave opening behind the castle. The way forward. Lala dips her head in a ramshackle bow. <b>“Thank you for showing me the way!”</b> the pink girl trills, wondering what awaits her next.
Beulah is somewhat surprised when the cave slopes downward. After only a few moments the light from the cave opening is fading away. Lala couldn’t help but wish the mysterious wispy lights would return. Instead, an eerie blue glow seems to illuminate the way forward. Lala skip-stumbles her way down - less than coordinated in the low light. But the light grows with each and every step she takes, speeding her along.
The cave is...strange. The walls begin to grow translucent until they become entirely transparent. The pink girl had never seen anything like it and the creatures that lived on the other side of the wall. All variety of sea creatures that she’d never even been able to <i>imagine</i>. Her steps slowed as she’d often stop to press her face against the clear walls - watching as various creatures flickered past looking like they were completely weightless as they spun through the water. Lala wasn't sure how far she’s walked before she realized that she was climbing <i>upwards</i>. Intrigued, her pace again picked up as she scrambled her way through the mysterious tunnel. The light continued to grow with every step forward until Lala stumbled out into the sunlight - dazed by the rush of bright light.
She blinked furiously as she tried to comprehend what it was that she was looking it.
A city beneath the sea. It was something out of a fairytale. Literally. She was pretty sure he mother had told her a story of such a place as a child. Mother often did this to get her to fall asleep - lulled by fantasy and softly glowing lights - it worked every time.
But that was not the only thing that drew her attention. A wave of green and fur and feathers and antlers that the girl cannot comprehend. A long line of creatures that she’d never in her life had seen before. Not anywhere outside her dreams, at least. She blinked at the creatures, trying to remember what her mother had called them - the strange flying stags of Atlantis.
Perytons. That was it. Perytons.
They were all taller than she was - stags with avian hindquarters and wings that could undoubtedly take them wherever they wished. Just the thought made the muscles in her chest and back twinge - still sore from her first foray into the skies. She stood paralyzed with wide eyes - trying to drink in every detail of these strange, storybook creatures. Because they <i>were</i> strange - otherworldly in appearance. And they made it very clear that she is not welcome here in this place. Involuntarily, Lala took a step backwards towards the tunnel. <b> “H-hi everybody, I-I’m Lala,”</b> she stammered, her baby blue gaze flickering between all the nearly identical faces.
That’s when she noticed that one didn’t belong. There was one who stood a small distance apart from the others - shoulders hunched and eyes downcast as if he were ashamed or hoping to remain unnoticed. His antlers seemed somewhat smaller - as if he was younger than the other strange guardians. He didn’t stand as tall like his brethren that seemed to create a physical barrier of flesh and bone and feathers. Curious, Lala followed his gaze, cocking her head as she tried to understand what she was seeing.
His shadow was...different. It didn’t match his body. If anything, it looked to be the same general shape as the princess she’d just left behind. A man. Pieces of her mother’s stories flickered through her mind. The shadow was important - she knew that much. But <i>why</i>. Lala gnawed on her bottom lip as she tried to remember and silently cursed herself for always falling asleep before hearing the whole story. In the end, she decided to take a leap of faith - to trust her mother, her gut, and to trust this stranger of a creature she’d only ever seen in her dreams.
<b> “I don’t want to hurt you,”</b> Lala said, quietly, as she edged her way towards the one who was <i>different</i> <b> “And I don’t think you want to hurt me…”</b> she added, unsure of herself but hopeful she had judged the creature correctly and remembered the true meaning of the shadow. That unlike the other guardians - this creature hadn’t yet taken a life.
<B> “I don’t belong here...and I’m not sure that you do either.”</b> she said, honestly, <b> ”I can show you the way out, if you’d like…”</b> The pink girl offers, gesturing towards the tunnel she’d just emerged from with a small, pink wing. Beulah wasn’t sure if this was perhaps the most foolish thing she’d ever done, but she wasn’t going to just leave him there if she knew the way out. She wasn’t sure if the others would even allow him to leave. But she couldn’t just...not offer. That just seemed mean and, well, wrong.
Lala’s gaze flickered to the other perytons. She wasn’t sure if they would even allow <i>her</i> to leave - especially with one of their brethren in tow. But maybe they, too, knew he was different - knew he didn’t belong here.
So Lala turned back towards the tunnel and began walking back the way she came. She looked back over her shoulder gesturing to the winged stag, <b>"It’s this way,”</b> she said simply, in invitation, before turning back towards the tunnel. She couldn’t force him to come, of course, but couldn’t help but think it’d be nice to have some company as she tried to find her way back.
Another thought struck her, too. Maybe if she freed him from this city - Atlantis, if her mother’s story had been correct - maybe he’d be able to help <i>her</i> get home. Because as much as she didn’t want to admit it, the little pink girl was homesick. She missed home and everyone in it, and the idea that she may be trapped down here weighed heavily upon her little pink shoulders.
But she didn’t want to let her insecurity show, so she held he head high and strode confidently for the base of the tunnel - holding on to the hope that everything would be okay in the end.
<center><font style=letter-spacing:3px><Font color=826f6f><i> there's nothing you can do that can't be done,
nothing you can sing that can't be sung. </i></font></font></table> </center></center>
Lala cannot tear her gaze from the dragon. She’d never encountered anything like it before. So she stood there - paralyzed - eyes wide with uncertain and maybe a little bit of fear. She backs up, unconsciously, a single step and when she does the girl catches movement out of the corner of her eye. It was the princess - waving her away from the dragon. Maybe she did need help after all. With a wary final glance at the dragon, the little pink girl quickly made her way over to where the princess beckoned.
Lala offered the princess - who was <i>beautiful</i>, just as mother said she’d be - a little smile and a dip of her head in greeting. The princess is kind and speaks softly. Her golden hair is woven into intricate plaits that make Lala wish her hair was long enough to style so gracefully. The golden haired princess explained that the dragon was her protector - keeping her safe within her castle home.
<B> “I’m glad you have such a dedicated protector!”</b> the little pink girl replied, honestly. <b>”Please tell him that I’m very sorry for running into him. I only wanted to help,” </b> she added, somewhat sheepishly. She didn’t want to have hurt the creature, but doubted it even realized what had happened since it was all thick hide and tough scales.
She follows the princess without question before they come to a cave opening behind the castle. The way forward. Lala dips her head in a ramshackle bow. <b>“Thank you for showing me the way!”</b> the pink girl trills, wondering what awaits her next.
Beulah is somewhat surprised when the cave slopes downward. After only a few moments the light from the cave opening is fading away. Lala couldn’t help but wish the mysterious wispy lights would return. Instead, an eerie blue glow seems to illuminate the way forward. Lala skip-stumbles her way down - less than coordinated in the low light. But the light grows with each and every step she takes, speeding her along.
The cave is...strange. The walls begin to grow translucent until they become entirely transparent. The pink girl had never seen anything like it and the creatures that lived on the other side of the wall. All variety of sea creatures that she’d never even been able to <i>imagine</i>. Her steps slowed as she’d often stop to press her face against the clear walls - watching as various creatures flickered past looking like they were completely weightless as they spun through the water. Lala wasn't sure how far she’s walked before she realized that she was climbing <i>upwards</i>. Intrigued, her pace again picked up as she scrambled her way through the mysterious tunnel. The light continued to grow with every step forward until Lala stumbled out into the sunlight - dazed by the rush of bright light.
She blinked furiously as she tried to comprehend what it was that she was looking it.
A city beneath the sea. It was something out of a fairytale. Literally. She was pretty sure he mother had told her a story of such a place as a child. Mother often did this to get her to fall asleep - lulled by fantasy and softly glowing lights - it worked every time.
But that was not the only thing that drew her attention. A wave of green and fur and feathers and antlers that the girl cannot comprehend. A long line of creatures that she’d never in her life had seen before. Not anywhere outside her dreams, at least. She blinked at the creatures, trying to remember what her mother had called them - the strange flying stags of Atlantis.
Perytons. That was it. Perytons.
They were all taller than she was - stags with avian hindquarters and wings that could undoubtedly take them wherever they wished. Just the thought made the muscles in her chest and back twinge - still sore from her first foray into the skies. She stood paralyzed with wide eyes - trying to drink in every detail of these strange, storybook creatures. Because they <i>were</i> strange - otherworldly in appearance. And they made it very clear that she is not welcome here in this place. Involuntarily, Lala took a step backwards towards the tunnel. <b> “H-hi everybody, I-I’m Lala,”</b> she stammered, her baby blue gaze flickering between all the nearly identical faces.
That’s when she noticed that one didn’t belong. There was one who stood a small distance apart from the others - shoulders hunched and eyes downcast as if he were ashamed or hoping to remain unnoticed. His antlers seemed somewhat smaller - as if he was younger than the other strange guardians. He didn’t stand as tall like his brethren that seemed to create a physical barrier of flesh and bone and feathers. Curious, Lala followed his gaze, cocking her head as she tried to understand what she was seeing.
His shadow was...different. It didn’t match his body. If anything, it looked to be the same general shape as the princess she’d just left behind. A man. Pieces of her mother’s stories flickered through her mind. The shadow was important - she knew that much. But <i>why</i>. Lala gnawed on her bottom lip as she tried to remember and silently cursed herself for always falling asleep before hearing the whole story. In the end, she decided to take a leap of faith - to trust her mother, her gut, and to trust this stranger of a creature she’d only ever seen in her dreams.
<b> “I don’t want to hurt you,”</b> Lala said, quietly, as she edged her way towards the one who was <i>different</i> <b> “And I don’t think you want to hurt me…”</b> she added, unsure of herself but hopeful she had judged the creature correctly and remembered the true meaning of the shadow. That unlike the other guardians - this creature hadn’t yet taken a life.
<B> “I don’t belong here...and I’m not sure that you do either.”</b> she said, honestly, <b> ”I can show you the way out, if you’d like…”</b> The pink girl offers, gesturing towards the tunnel she’d just emerged from with a small, pink wing. Beulah wasn’t sure if this was perhaps the most foolish thing she’d ever done, but she wasn’t going to just leave him there if she knew the way out. She wasn’t sure if the others would even allow him to leave. But she couldn’t just...not offer. That just seemed mean and, well, wrong.
Lala’s gaze flickered to the other perytons. She wasn’t sure if they would even allow <i>her</i> to leave - especially with one of their brethren in tow. But maybe they, too, knew he was different - knew he didn’t belong here.
So Lala turned back towards the tunnel and began walking back the way she came. She looked back over her shoulder gesturing to the winged stag, <b>"It’s this way,”</b> she said simply, in invitation, before turning back towards the tunnel. She couldn’t force him to come, of course, but couldn’t help but think it’d be nice to have some company as she tried to find her way back.
Another thought struck her, too. Maybe if she freed him from this city - Atlantis, if her mother’s story had been correct - maybe he’d be able to help <i>her</i> get home. Because as much as she didn’t want to admit it, the little pink girl was homesick. She missed home and everyone in it, and the idea that she may be trapped down here weighed heavily upon her little pink shoulders.
But she didn’t want to let her insecurity show, so she held he head high and strode confidently for the base of the tunnel - holding on to the hope that everything would be okay in the end.
<center><font style=letter-spacing:3px><Font color=826f6f><i> there's nothing you can do that can't be done,
nothing you can sing that can't be sung. </i></font></font></table> </center></center>