"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
11-29-2018, 04:35 PM (This post was last modified: 11-29-2018, 04:35 PM by Wolfbane.)
My dreams have all come true
Successful.
The news reaches his ears quickly, even this far south of their world. Vulgaris had decided to make his move against Dovev after all, and when the word of it trickles across the border and down into his own ears, Wolfbane can’t help but smile the softest of grins. After such a long spell of careful truce with Hyaline under threat of allied war, it felt like justice that he could give his Champion the freedom to exercise a power well within the Vipers rights. He’d told Heartfire and Breckin point blank what their intentions were that day, when the two of them had shown up at Nerine’s border, so it shouldn’t come as any surprise that Dovev had been stolen. Wolfbane could hardly wait to meet him.
Don’t get ahead of yourself if you’re starting to think it’s for vain reasons, because the truth of the pegasus’ excitement revolved around a character the bony, black horse knew very well - one that Wolfbane hardly had a grasp on himself, but was proving to be more interesting every time he met with her. Heartfire, his grandmother and the captives very ‘special’ friend, stirred the Pirate Lord to turn away from the edge of Brilliant Pampas and dart off into the sky.
Everything in their corner of the map seemed pleasant as he flew, peacefully growing without any idea that outside of here a horrible sickness was spreading. When you thought on it, Dovev should consider himself lucky to be forced into a safety net. Heartfire’s “guardian status” was still being honored … he was protected and arguably coming to the most picturesque eden anyone had ever seen!
With a laugh to himself and a couple broad wing strokes, Bane shakes out his short, bristly mane and tucks his forelegs close to his golden belly. He’d decided to coast and wait, just bank every now and then along the northeast borderline until one or the other (preferably both) decided to show up.
He was not comfortable bringing his children along, but they had been with him when the call rang out for their delicious prize to step on up. So here he was, trailing his babies along with him. It wasn't like any of these bastards were a threat anyway. He could kill every single fucking one of them and wouldn't hesitate to do it regardless of the young witnesses surrounding him.
Briella hadn't gotten to do any healing in Ischia, and he was pretty pissed about that. He'd promised her he'd take her, just the two of them, and then ended up with the twins while Heartfire went off wherever. Fine. So the four of them would go and she'd still get to heal some plagued bastards, help relieve symptoms and make the world a little bit better, huh?
But no.
The second they stepped foot in Ischia, Leli's husband was there to escort him. He sighed. He wished he could tell Briella to take the babies home and watch them until their momma came back, but his baby wasn't about to leave him, now was she? He reached out and hugged her in to his side as they walked, brushed his face plate against her cheek then kissed it. She was such a good girl. And damn beautiful too.
Dagen stayed at Brazen's side, looking as stern and displeased as his momma likely would. That thought would normally put a smirk to Dov's mouth, knowing they were in for some serious hell from her soon. But he just wasn't feeling it. He had been trained so brutally, so physically. Send a damn army at him, he could take them all. But this would be the hardest thing for him to endure.
It would kill him to have to see Leliana with her family.
With her husband. With her newest kids and making more of them.
"Brazen. C'mere, baby," he called gently, needing her touch so badly right now. Dagen still hadn't grown much warmer with him, standing sentry at his sister's side with that disapproving look at anyone they passed. But he was gorgeous, that boy. Fiery red with those little wings fluffed over his ribs. Damn. He bet they were fucking starved, the poor babies.
cold in the violence after the war hope is a fire to keep us warm
She had been so excited to go with Daddy to see his home. It seemed much more interesting than hanging out on the island, especially when Dagen is so grumpy that Mommy had gone. She didn't see why. What she'd gone to do sounded so boring. Daddy is way more fun anyway.
Except that the minute they got there they'd been interrupted (very rudely, she might add) by a gray man who had seemed to make Dad very grumpy. She hadn't liked that one bit. But since Dad hadn't really fussed much, she supposed she could cooperate too. Of course, cooperating doesn't mean she had to be happy about it. Or even pretend to be happy. Which means every time the dumb gray man even looks at her, she flattens her ears against her neck.
She only wishes she were a little bigger and scarier. She'd tell him exactly where he could shove his stupid self.
She sticks close to Dad as they walk, Dagen at her side. She reaches out occasionally to touch him with her nose, comforted by his closeness. He is her Dagen, even if he does get a little grumpy sometimes. She couldn't imagine being apart from him, not when he'd been by her side as far back as she can remember.
When Daddy says her name, her head immediately pops up, eyes brightening. Shoving in between him and Briella (she's not even a little jealous, really... But she's pretty sure it's her turn to snuggle with dad), she presses forward until she can rub her face against his neck, biting the armor over his shoulder for good measure. “I love you Daddy,” she says happily, almost absently, as she beams up at him.
Suddenly remembering the dumb stranger, she turns her bright blue gaze to scowl at him, pinning her ears as she does so. Just to remind him she's watching. Lest he forget he'd earned her wrath. She glowers at him, keeping her gaze fixed even as she begins to turn away, until she's fully facing Dovev once more.
“Do you think mommy will be here soon?” she asks with a little frown. Her tummy is getting a little grumbly. And Mom had promised she wouldn't be gone too long.
Don't look at me, I'm only breathing. Don't look at me, I'm indiscreet.
I don’t why but it’s like I’m wearing a second skin. Like even if I move my leg, and it moves- I’m not the one truly moving it. I can feel the muscle stiffen and the bones aching from exhaustion; but I’m not sure it is really my exhaustion. I haven’t moved much after all- Mother and my Fathers, oh… they don’t seem to like it when I wander.
But I’m not wandering?
Someone else is!
I can feel them, I’ve always felt them. They’re a voice and a pulse: a ghost in my own flesh. I wonder if their legs are moving… is that why I’m so tired? Why I feel excited and scared… why I feel like something is wrong?
Are they moving.
“No!” I bark, my voice struggling in the haze and cloud- emotions swirling in the way colors do in oil. “Please.” I beg the ghost. “Wait… is it you? Brazen.”
I know them, I know their heartbeat: their pulse, I know their every thought and I know every emotion that brews in their very mind and colors the fibre of their being.
In the same way that I know all this, like I said- they know mine.
The fear, the anguish: all the pain and frailty I have- I’m pent up and frustrated… I want to explore, to see the world. I want to know what the outside looks like; but this ghost?
Someone has taken my ghost… my second skin, they’ve brought somewhere and I am anxious about it. I’m frustrated I can’t do anything and I want to know they’re real; but fuck… I don’t know.
They’re moving their legs: there are others. I can’t feel them; but they can… Brazen can.
Warmth, love- tenderness; but a visceral and jealous need and want to fight: to protect. I wonder what they look like, I wonder if they’re even real.
“Are you real?” I ask, I remember, after all, my first touches of this person. A mutable thing, emotions rapid and vivid. “Of course you are… sorry.” I whisper it, weaker, I’m tired after all.
“You don’t like him- whoever it is… Brazen? Where are we? I see a cave… some rocks, the ocean: I think there’s some frost still on the ground but it’s warmer now. You feel different, you’re not home…” I’m trying to be mindful of my invasiveness, but, I can feel them.
I try, try so hard to think of methods to comfort them; but I’m just imagining the rocky beaches of the Cove: the stretches of mountain in the distance and all the grey of the ocean. I shive, I’m cold; but I’ve left the cave and I try again.
Scared as I am, I feel tranquility and serenity: peace in the sound of the tide and in the feeling of my own body touched by seawater. I want us to relax: Brazen and I… they need a rock, that’s it.
I will be the rock.
@[Brazen] Your headfriend is here. OOC Note, he's actually only a telepathic/empathetic presence in Brazen and is not physically here.
PVP: On
Severe Injury, Permanent Mutilation, and Death Permitted.
your eyes are lined in pain, black tears don't hide in rain
When the Chamber had fallen: she watched it, and when the Valley had fallen… Briella went further into the darkness of the world: in the vast and inescapable black of the void. It was a mirror of Beqanna itself, but, one that exist in such a way that it was never apparent how to cross over or how to get back.
Centuries had been lost: years go, and Briella watched as all the world burned.
Dovev had found her when the brush gave way and the void spat her out: he had brushed her off, claimed her in the same way Expelliarmus had; but rather than abandon her… he had stayed. In such a way she loved, but, in all Briella loved endlessly: even her enemies she could not hate.
After all, she was too scared to lose anyone.
Such it was that she had been brought to Ischia: her feet on the shore and life bright and wonderous: so vast and new that for a moment her heart swelled and she could find no words for the beauty of it. Yet? Time saw itself manifested in other ways. A call, an echo: a demand from someone who, to her, was a shadow without a name.
Dovev had greedily grabbed her up, pressed her closed and tried to calm her; but in the end: Briella outraged and furious: angered by the notion of being unable to help. She’d nearly died twice after all on quests, martyrdom and self-sacrifice for all the souls of Beqanna: and here, she was denied the ability to help.
Her sister is newly born to the world, young and tempestuous: a jealous girl who much like Briella, loved her father. But where she has knobby knees and spidery legs… Briella is different.
Time had changed: she had changed.
Rather than a child she stands beside Dovev- tall and lean, her dark sooty coat more so chocolate in color and the length mane and tail with all its waves and curls was a brilliant blonde. Her pale blue eyes had not changed and there is glistening in her mane and tail, dewy frost spattered and graying parts of her body.
Colder to the touch she walks, allowing Brazen to push between, not minding the girl nor Dovev. Solemn and quiet she looks up at Wolfbane, at the Pirate Lord and all his golden splendor. He is haughty, arrogant, and callous: a creature that stinks of sea and of rotting ship-wood. The sound of her sister’s rumbling belly leads her to pressing her nose down and brushing Brazen’s forelock: peering up and around with some concern for the bladed seagrasses and the the spring flowers.
The Pampas are, in their own way, beautiful; but Briella finds them tedious and ill-fitting. Her heart aches for the frozen island, for the company of her family… and she remains quiet for now: no words or things say.
take me, take me back to your bed. i love you so much that it hurts my head.
say, i don't mind you under my skin. oh, let the bad parts in, the bad parts in.
He watches over Sabbath as she snaps her little teeth at a field mouse, chasing it all the way to its burrow. It’ll be some time before she’s coordinated enough to actually catch anything but she does her best for now. Vulgaris had to hide his smile when she looks back at him, eyes wide and eager for some sort of wisdom as to what she could have done better. He moves closer and kisses her temple warmly before moving on toward the border of Pampas. The girl snorts in agitation and scurries forward to keep up with her father’s long strides. The summer sun glistens off their scales and her bright eyes try to pick out whatever it is he’s watching.
“We’ll try to hunt more later, Sabie. Now it’s time to practice our words,” he explains as he glances down at her. She nods excitedly and grins as she spots the strangers heading their way. There, just as Vulgaris had described, is the skeleton man with a couple of his own children and a taller girl. His eyes examine each of the children briefly before focusing on their father with something of a satisfied grin.
“Welcome to the Brilliant Pampas. This is Sabbath,” he says, gesturing to the small red girl hiding behind his shoulder. Her sage green eyes roam from each face to the next, occasionally glancing up at the circling Wolfbane in anticipation of his landing. So many new faces made her feel so small and outnumbered. Vulgaris remains calm, however, and he nudges her lightly until she steps forward to offer a little nervous nod of her head. “Sabbath, this is Dovev. He’s our guest so be on your best behavior, okay?”
He watches her, searching her expression as she tries to put a brave face on despite her fears. The elder serpent steps closer to her so his shoulder meets her neck, which always seems to give her a bit of confidence where there might otherwise be none. Then he turns back to look at the other three that he doesn’t recognize.
“She’ll warm up to you within the day. Who’ve you brought with you?” he asks, gesturing toward the trio trailing along with him. Two resemble the new prisoner but he tries not to assume too much. Instead, he realizes how easily diplomacy comes to him with one of his own daughters watching his every move. Prior to Adna and Sabbath being born, he always struggled with being calm or holding his tongue toward others. They bring out the best in him, he thinks with a faint smirk.
12-05-2018, 07:25 PM (This post was last modified: 12-05-2018, 07:26 PM by Dagen.)
dagen
those bright crooked stars, man they're howlin’ out thought you read them all right, had them all figured out
His wings looked more like delicate blades like the child of a predatorial bird as they rested against his sides, folded in so precisely. The dark blue gaze that settled briefly on each face around him was nearly black like his father's, but his mother's colors still held dominance and he was glad of that. He didn't have any say in what was going on, and he wasn't allowed to go find Mom. Too young. So he held close to his twin's side, his juvenile temper eased by her nearness.
He carried himself with a liquid grace not possessed by many children so young, a stoic calm he didn't realize was so similar to his father when he'd been this new to the world. The fluid movement, too.
But it was his mother's wicked sharp intelligence reflected in his eyes.
He was aware of his eldest sister near, Briella. She held herself even more regally than he did, quiet and with a brave heart that would withstand anything, he was pretty sure. She'd been places he would never go and held a wisdom others her age couldn't comprehend. Or so he'd been told. He was inclined to believe it.
A pair awaited them as they drew nearer and he surveyed them cooly. The red of his skin flared like fire beneath the beating sun of this land, reflecting off the pale white of his painted marks. Dark cobalt eyes slid from the smaller to the larger, studying the strange coat of scales.
For a moment, the red over the bones in his wings shimmered with faint scales, making his skin crawl. He grimaced minutely, jerking his small head in a tick, and rolling it out smoothly from his neck and shoulders, his stiff child feathers returning.
He dismissed the gray male, and settled back on the child at his side, his gaze steady and face impassive.
"He is our father," he took the lead long enough to answer evenly.
learned every constellation, just to find where you're at
Trickling in over the border, Dovev and his covey of younglings garner a sharp stare from Wolfbane as he circles high above. What dumb reason could possibly be convincing enough to bring babes and a stranger with you in captivity? That you should suffer in your loneliness and internment was expected … but forcing innocents into the situation struck him as something incredibly odd, considering the reputation that seemed to follow Dovev wherever he lingered. Whatever the underlying cause might be, Bane lowers and comes to a hopping sort of landing far off from where the six others have gathered, collecting his thoughts and wild expression with every step that brings him nearer afterwards.
There is the prisoner in question at the forefront, unmistakable by Vulgaris’ description given to him some time ago. In his limited assessment of the other stallion, the Pirate Lord thinks he’s imposing in his own unique way; it doesn’t surprise him that such an animal would garner Heartfire’s attention. Surrounding him are two foals, their obvious youth and similar appearance adding a bit of flesh to the puzzle Bane was working on internally. They must be siblings or even twins, and for a moment his gaze flickers between the elder male and the younger colt, both olive eyes twinkling in a brief exposure of humor. Perhaps those two children are the reason for his grandmere’s hostility … she’d reacted the same way when Wolfbane had berated her over Longclaw, their shared relative and the sight-seer’s eldest son.
He was beginning to think her true affection for others was reflected as venom.
But what do I know? The striped pegasus muses to himself, watching Vulgaris break the ice before turning his final attention to the mare so stoically positioned alongside the other three. She’s a dusky rose, framed in two-toned blonde hair and with an air much too contemplative for his liking on first appearances. This one, he thinks as he comes to rest beside the Viper’s empty shoulder, this one has to go.
So he begins with that.
“As Vulgaris said, welcome. My name is Wolfbane and anyone under Heartfire’s strict protection is like family here, make yourself comfortable.” The short, thick-bodied Drake intones. Yes, he says with his stare, turning it on the bone-armored captive, you and I have a lot to catch up on. His words, however, belie that such an invitation doesn’t extend to the entire party. With the tilt of his chin and a soft, bemused look, he considers Briella. “For safety’s sake though, I won’t accept your presence. I’m sure you understand, given the circumstances?” He smiles, neither crude nor arrogant. Simply factual.
“Unless, of course, you can convince me that you need to be here.” He challenges her, allowing the statement and his eyes to pass over the foals and Dovev. They were welcome to vouch for the odd-mare-out if they wished, but his opinion (once cemented) was a nigh impossible thing to sway.
It warmed his heart to see Briella take to being such a wonderful eldest sister as she touched her sister's hair in concern, catching the sound of a hungry child's belly rumbling. He reached over Brazen to touch Briella in turn, brushing his nose across her neck and pressing a soft kiss beside her ear. He'd picked a good one. She was perfect.
His son answered the snake's question, as cool and unimpressed as his mother would have. She certainly wouldn't be that calm when she arrived this time, though. She'd likely be livid, removing the very earth beneath their feet and turning their pretty home into dust if she didn't turn them into dust first.
She'd probably spare the innocent children. Depending on her volatile mood.
Some other guy landed from the sky with his pretty wings, all arrogant and holier-than-thou with his head high and walking around like he owned the place. He was probably some kind of king or something as equally regal and demanding. But it had been Vulgaris that stole him from his home, and so it was Vulgaris that he was here for.
There was something the man had said that made no sense in any way at all. For safety's sake? As if Briella could hurt him. This guy was nuts. Why on earth would it be safe for his smallest children but not for his frost daughter unless the man was afraid of her? Trauma as a child maybe that had nothing to do with Briella. What an idiot.
He dismissed the gold stallion without a word and settled black eyes on his captor.
"My children will be staying with me," he told Vulgaris firmly in answer to the stranger's attempt at separating them. He touched Briella's cheek, kissed her softly. Don't speak, he would handle this. She was his. "If they are so threatening and frightening to anyone," he continued as he straightened again, "then they may remove themselves from my children's presence and cover their eyes as much as they'd like until the nightmare is over."
He didn't spare the man a glance, but he'd heard.
"If anyone tries to send them away or take them away from me in any manner, you will find yourself without a captive prize. If any of them go, then all of us go."
He didn't mince words for the sake of all the children present as Vulgaris had.
cold in the violence after the war hope is a fire to keep us warm
He’s there in her head still, just like he has been since the very beginning. It’s comforting to know he would be there with her at least. Even if she’s not entirely certain he’s real. Maybe he is. He asks if she’s real, which is silly if he’s not. “Of course I am!”
No need to worry Daddy with it though. He couldn’t hear him, and she didn’t want to remind him about her head friend. It bothers him, she thinks.
Briella nuzzles her forelock a little then, making her forget for a moment about her grumbly belly. She bumps her poll affectionately against her chin. Even if she did maybe (maybe) get a little jealous sometimes, she’s still her sister and Brazen would still love her, she supposes.
Pressing closer to Dad once more, she ducks her head and peers around them. She can see the cave and the rocks and the water even though that’s definitely not what she sees here. Now that she’s actually paying attention, she can grudgingly admit it’s kinda nice. Vibrant greens and brilliantly colored flowers surround them, rolling hills all carpeted in bright, lovely foliage. She tries to share that with Lio. Maybe it would make him happy to see something beyond the gloom and gray of the seaside cave. “I dunno. Daddy said we had to go with this dumb gray man. I don’t like it.”
She’s distracted when the aforementioned stallion speaks, introducing them to a little filly that can’t be much older than her. Brazen pins her ears briefly at the stallion again, before turning her attention to the girl next to him. Her ears creep forward once more as she eyes her with wary curiosity despite her determination to be upset with everyone here.
When a new stranger arrives, Brazen straightens beside Dad, blue eyes jumping to the winged stallion. Dagen announces that Dovev is their father as Brazen narrows her eyes at the newcomer. But when it becomes clear he’s with Vulgaris, her ears flatten against her crest as she pushes under Daddy’s neck to better glare at him. Pressing against his chest, she scowls at Wolfbane as his attention shifts to Briella.
When he threatens to send her away however, she does not like it one little bit. Snorting, she levels her neck and charges forward a few steps as though her rather small stature might be anywhere close to intimidating. “That’s my sister!” she shouts protectively. “She’s under Momma’s protection too!” She snorts again, one hind hoof stamping in agitation as she scowls at him, the gears in her mind turning as she chews over what he’d said. “I’ll tell Momma you didn’t treat us like family if you send her away,” she threatens impetuously with a huff. “I bet if Momma were there when he took us she’d yell at you really bad.”
Honestly, she’s not sure her childish threat would bother him much. But he had said anyone under Momma’s protection was supposed to be treated like family, and Briella is family no matter what anyone says. And really, her mother getting mad and yelling is about the worst thing she can think of at her tender age.
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