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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


    communist daughter standing on the seaweed water
    #1
    greetings from hyaline,


    The journey eastward is not a short one, or an easy one. It requires a lot from a traveler, with its winding pathways and sometimes treacherous water crossings, unpleasant elevation changes. Kota has memorized the careful web of roads from east to west, north to south; she’s been moving about on them her entire life, most of it aimless and so she’s been free to lock away so many detailed mental maps in her memories. She’s hopeful that her companion is able to keep up with her.

    When the orders are given Kota just nods and turns on her heel to jog immediately eastward. Her pace is steady and her strides long ad sweeping, head low, aquamarine eyes keen and twisting ears alert. She listens for the footfall behind her to align with her own; the synchronicity in a hiking-mate is always a soothing comfort to her. If the stallion makes small talk along the way Kota will accommodate well enough, tell him her name, that she is new to Hyaline, but nothing more really. As they cover long miles, resting once and while but mostly moving steadily across the morphing landscapes. 

    It’s been a day or so and the dawn of a newborn sun splinters its raw light across the dew ridden hills. They crest a big hump in the land, it raises conveniently above the rest so they may stare down at the kingdom sprawled out across. They can see the crystalline rivers, bright magma flows and the hissing steam towers. The Field lying quiet behind them, birds stirring, creatures slithering about. She looks over to Baltas and begins to fluidly descend down into the Kingdom to crossover into its heart. 

    They’re a pale pair, matching almost in height, build and color if only it were not for her few inches more and inky black smears. This particular morning is dewy and the fog thick, rolling away from the Hyalinians as they walk tepidly into the volcano kingdoms middle-grounds.
    Kota
    those great whites,
    they have big teeth



    Kota and @[Baltas] here for a little meety greety, they're representing Hyaline <3
    so let Bal go first for ultimate smoothness xD 

    tagging @[Kromium] because he runs shit now right? i think, but any tephrans welcome, obv


    #2
    Baltas remembers little to nothing of how to walk across the continent, and has no knowledge of where Tephra is other than far eastern Beqanna, so it's a good thing Kota is here. As the day goes on his hooves grow tired from the difficult terrain and lengthy journey, but they are not so sore that he cannot continue. As long as they make rest stops reasonably often, he is able to keep up with her.

    However, he does get bored as the journey stretches on. He makes an attempt at conversation, asks her her name and gives her his name, but finds that he really can't think of anything to talk about. So instead he goes over Kagerus' instructions in his head, again and again until it's dawn and they finally reach Tephra.

    The volcano might seem like a dismal place, all fog and steam and fiery lava flows, but Baltas can see thanks to their traveling over higher ground that there are other landscapes that are far less lifeless. That much is visible even through the fog. He continues to follow Kota, either to stop at a meeting-place or keep going until they run into someone.

    --
    Sorry it took so long!
    #3
    magnus

    howling ghosts, they reappear
    in mountains that are stacked with fear

    Tephra may seem dismal at first, but Magnus knows the beauty of the land. He has seen the wildness of it, the richness of it stirring something in his heart. He knows the way that it melds and flows, the way it goes from salty beaches to vibrant foliage to volcanic soil and magma. Each case of it is heartbreakingly perfect, and he revels in it. He was raised amongst the humid jungle and he welcomes the thick air, his thin coat acclimated to the damp air, his lungs welcoming the weight of it, soaking it in.

    His gold coat has darkened wth sweat by the time they arrive, spring’s air threatening to give way to summer, and his patrols have begun long ago. He watches as they come in and he immediately alters his path, angling through the isle, traveling across the thin streams and the vegetation that sometimes reaches high enough to brush against the tender underside of his belly.

    It takes a while before he finally reaches them, but his eyes are bright and his smile is charmingly crooked by the time he does get to them. “Hello there,” he greets, his whiskey voice warm. He has never been one to treat strangers on the border suspiciously, although his life has given him every reason to. Instead, he appreciates their open border policy, welcoming everyone as friend and family until they give him reason to believe otherwise. “Welcome to Tephra, my name is Magnus.” He looks at each of them in the eye, nodding his heavy-jawed head in greeting before settling into a relaxed position. “How can I help you?”

    but you're a king and I'm a lionheart



    @[kota] and @[Baltas]
    [Image: gqYjsHr.png]
    #4

    While they wait idly in the swaying grasses the mare is happy to let peaceful silence fill the spaces in between. Her ears flick once and awhile when something rustles in the distance, bringing her head up from picking at the newborn tips of the wheaty vegetation. Seedpods that have not head formed calloused seeds in their pods are quite delectable, and here in such an environment as Tephra, they’re extra juicy and even sweeter.

    The chemistry between Hyalines travelling diplomats isn’t cold, but to an observant being it’s probably obvious they are not very familiar with each other. Kota feels herself naturally taking the lead, stepping forward when she spots the sweat-slick buckskin coming their way. She looks back over her shoulder to see if Baltas has become alert as well, then turning back to the approaching stallion with a cordial smile. She doesn’t completely straighten, but adjusts her relaxed posture into a slightly more rigid one, propping both ears politely forward.

    Hello,” She nods and tips an ear back to Baltas wherever he may be standing (behind or beside, but she doesn’t look to him). “I’m Kota, this is Baltas,” She speaks sweetly through a smile that is just enough to be non-threatening but not quite jolly. “We’ve travelled from Hyaline.” She breathes calmly between statements, her pale eyes alternating which one of his eyes she looks into; reading. “Just a check in, a friendly visit – how have things been here in Tephra as of late?” She takes a quiet deep breath, “We’re aware of some…shifting going on…and we’re hoping it doesn’t mean your weapons may be aimed our way.” She stops there, she’s not exactly sure who she is really addressing rank wise so she leaves the divulging for a later moment.


    Kota
    those great whites,
    they have big teeth


    @[Baltas] @[magnus]

    sorry i made you wait -_-


    #5
    After such a long journey, snacks are welcomed. At first Baltas doesn't know if it is allowed, if there is a rule against foreigners eating another kingdom's food, but when Kota starts eating he assumes that it's okay and starts grazing himself. 

    The sound and scent of an approaching horse reaches his senses and Baltas lifts his head, turning to face the Tephran. He mimics Kota for his posture, more straight and rigid but not too much, and both ears face the buckskin. He stands a little behind Kota, staying quiet and letting her do the talking for now.

    @magnus @kota
    #6

    I wanna give you wild love, the kind that never slows down
    I wanna take you high up let our hearts be the only sound

    HIt’s an ancient dance, one he’s done hundreds of times before. He can trace the same patterns blind, knowing the nooks in the door, finding the lock and working his way through it. He was born a warrior but raised amongst several kingdoms and thus he knows how to handle himself within a diplomatic visit. For a second, his gold-flecked eyes slide away, looking for the iron colt who claimed the throne but doesn’t see him and thus turns his attention back to the pair before him. He has been patient with Kromium but he will not wait forever, and he will certainly not wait to handle something like this.

    Dismissing the thought, he settles in, prepared to handle the diplomats on his own. “Kota. Baltas.” He says each of their names in turn, nodding a greeting before taking a step back. “Why don’t you come in a little further? I’d be happy to walk you around the kingdom so that you can have a tour while we discuss what you’ve come to discuss.” The name Hyaline causes a soft twist of his heart, the crushed gold stallion instantly thinking of Kagerus and their complicated (but important—oh so important to him) friendship.

    “Hyaline residents are always welcome here,” he says with a lopsided grin, making sure to spread his attention between them both. It was clear, at least to him, that the mare was the more experienced of the two, but he has been wrong before, and he doesn’t dare assume—nor does he care to dismiss the younger stallion just because of inexperience. Such visits are the stepping blocks to earning that very experience.

    At her questions, his heart grows slightly heavy, although such things do not weigh on his expressions. They have no such weapons. Although there are several who call the volcanic isle home, they are few and far between. They do not teem with life as they have in the past, although thanks to a recent influx of new activity, they are not quiet as barren as previously. “We have had a shifting of power,” he says simply, working hard to keep the bitterness and distrust out of his tone. It wouldn’t do to discuss such internal matters before traveling diplomats. “Kromium has stepped into the leadership role recently. Despite this shift through, we remain a haven though, a neutral land. We are primarily a quiet home for families now, although we are working to build our members—as I’m sure all kingdoms are.”

    A pause, considering them before as they continue to walk into the land.

    “Kromium is flanked by several others. Amorette, Warrick’s right-hand, serves as Tephra’s Ambassador,” his chest swells with pride for his adopted daughter, “and I am serving as General.”

    For a second, he falls quiet, leading them across thin, crossing streams, the air growing warmer.

    “Is there anything else you would like to know?”

    I wanna go where the lights burn low and you're only mine



    @[kota] and @[Baltas]
    [Image: gqYjsHr.png]




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