12-03-2019, 01:56 PM
<center><img src="https://i.postimg.cc/kGYXMGn5/lalahtml2.png"><table bgcolor=fcc0bd style="border-color: black; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: -115px" cellspacing=30 cellpadding=30 width=600><tr><td><p align=justify><font face=times new roman color=bd8180><font style=font-size:9pt;line-height:12pt;letter-spacing:1px><font style=letter-spacing:3px><center><Font color=bd8180><i>beulah.</i></font></font> </center><p align=justify>
Beulah doesn’t even register the mist. Such a thing was normal in Beqanna, so she continued on the path towards home without hesitation. Perhaps it should have registered that summer was the wrong season for such a thick fog to develop...but it didn’t. It is only when the density of the fog grew far beyond what could ever be regarded at natural did the angel-girl slow and finally stop. She beat her now-grown wings twice, trying to see if she could clear the air but the fog was viscous and persistent.
The world shifts beneath her feet - literally. Lala could feel the change immediately as the firm-packed earth transformed into something entirely less stable. Her gold hooves sink immediately into the gold sand, doing something to her ever-compromised equilibrium. She stumbles as the mist begins to clear, squeezing her eyes shut against the burning sun - a stark contrast from the shaded forest where she had just been.
She slowly opens her eyes - allowing herself a moment to adjust to the light. The landscape here is desolate - all shifting sands and unrelenting sun. But there was beauty in it too. It looked untouched - a sea of gold and light. Of course, Lala had absolutely no experience with a real desert and hadn’t yet truly judged the danger in her current situation. But there was <i>something</i> in the distance - nestled between dunes - something that stood out amongst the sands. Water. It had to be. She thought, just maybe, she could detect a hint of the smell on the wind.
Simple curiosity is the only motivation Beulah has ever needed. The wind began whipping at her back, the sand forcing her to squeeze her eyes shut. But with the wind came an <i>idea</i>. The wind seemed to be blowing in the general direction of the oasis. What better place to test her wings than in a land entirely free of obstacles and sharp objects?! Beulah was by no means an adept aviator, but her questionable past attempts had not dampened her spirits in the very least.
So the girl spread her pink wings and with a running start, allowed the desert wind to help her into the air. She scrambled to stay level but, overall, was thrilled with her attempt. She was up! She was flying! And it was incredible! For a few blissful moments, all is right in Lala’s world. The sands below fly past in a blur and the Oasis looms in the distance. A particularly strong gust of wind has Lala bobbling dangerously in the air. As soon as she rights herself, another gust follows the first. <B>”HEY!”</b> she exclaims aloud, obviously to no one in particular, before casting a glance over her shoulder. What she sees nearly stops her heart in a chance.
A storm - but not a storm like any she’d ever seen before. It looked like a wall of sand was advancing behind her. A haboob. Some combination of a scream and a gasp escaped her as she furiously beat her wings - pressing her limits to see just how fast she could fly. However, her efforts were hampered by her inability to fly in a vaguely straight line. She could feel the stinging of the sand against her flanks and her heels and she knew, deep down, that she couldn’t stay aloft in such a dense cloud - especially one filled with blowing, stinging sand. So Lala angled towards a particularly large dune and dove. She pulled her wings tightly to her sides until the dune was only feet below her, frantically trying to slow herself as her legs found sand. She slid down the backside of the dune as the sun slipped behind the wall of sand. As she came to rest at the bottom she could do nothing but attempt to shield her head with her wings.
She wasn’t sure how long the storm had lasted. It had been hours, but could have easily been days. She was so covered in sand in debris when the wind finally abated, she was almost completely invisible despite her near-constant glow. She pulled herself to her feet and managed to shake off some of the sand and debris. The sand had definitely managed to burrow its way into her coat and her wings. It was an uncomfortable, itchy feeling but certainly preferable to being thrown from the skies.
She knows she should probably try to find a way home, but she can still see the Oasis ahead - undoubtedly closer now than it had been. So she sets off again, on foot this time, having been put off from flying for at least the time being. She walks until her muscles ache and thirst burns fiercely in her belly. But the oasis was close now, she could smell it. And then there it was - looking as peaceful and enticing as ever. Lala broke into a canter, which was really inadvisable given the footing, as she was eager to finally arrive at this mysterious place. She had only made it a few strides before she stumbled, only just catching herself before performing a somersault. However when she tried to move, she found that her legs were stuck in a thick, viscous sand-like mud. <b>“Oh come on!”</b> she said, with a huff, as she struggled to free herself. But she found that the more she struggled, the deeper she sank. When she had sunk nearly to her belly, she finally gave up. Flailing wasn’t going to work, apparently. She could see the edge of the quicksand pit was nearer to her left, and knew that was her best means of escape. Thankfully, she had not yet sunk to the point where here wings were contaminated. She spread her wings wide and began attempting to pull her front legs up and out of the muck. The progress was slow and exhausting but eventually her front legs came free with a disconcerting sucking sound. She was able to twist just enough for her forelegs to find purchase on solid ground. Again, with the assistance of her wings and body weight, she was able to throw herself forward and free her hind legs from the pit. She stood there, exhausted, panting from both the effort and the effect the heat was finally having on her.
She moved slowly towards the Oasis now, only perking up when it became clear that the quicksand pit had been her last obstacle today. She let out a relieved sigh at the sight of the water. The little pink girl wanted nothing more than to plunge into the water - to rid herself of the glue-like sand that covered her legs. But she couldn’t help but think that such a thing would be terribly rude, especially since she didn’t know who lived here. Could you imagine someone just barging into your home and taking a bath in your drinking water?! The very thought sent a shiver through Lala. Instead, she craned her haloed head around, trying to make out any familiar shapes amongst the shifting sand.
<b> “Hello?”</b> she called, wondering just where it was she’d ended up <i>this</i> time. It seemed she’d developed quite a knack for getting herself into these situations. Sylva first. Then Atlantis. Now this.
<b> “Hmm. Maybe this was the Desert that Ana was talking about,”</b> she breathed, aloud but under her breath, musing at the possibility before staring longingly at the water before her.
<center><font style=letter-spacing:3px><Font color=bd8180><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 is loyal to Sylva. She had to deal with a haboob and a quicksand pit.
Beulah doesn’t even register the mist. Such a thing was normal in Beqanna, so she continued on the path towards home without hesitation. Perhaps it should have registered that summer was the wrong season for such a thick fog to develop...but it didn’t. It is only when the density of the fog grew far beyond what could ever be regarded at natural did the angel-girl slow and finally stop. She beat her now-grown wings twice, trying to see if she could clear the air but the fog was viscous and persistent.
The world shifts beneath her feet - literally. Lala could feel the change immediately as the firm-packed earth transformed into something entirely less stable. Her gold hooves sink immediately into the gold sand, doing something to her ever-compromised equilibrium. She stumbles as the mist begins to clear, squeezing her eyes shut against the burning sun - a stark contrast from the shaded forest where she had just been.
She slowly opens her eyes - allowing herself a moment to adjust to the light. The landscape here is desolate - all shifting sands and unrelenting sun. But there was beauty in it too. It looked untouched - a sea of gold and light. Of course, Lala had absolutely no experience with a real desert and hadn’t yet truly judged the danger in her current situation. But there was <i>something</i> in the distance - nestled between dunes - something that stood out amongst the sands. Water. It had to be. She thought, just maybe, she could detect a hint of the smell on the wind.
Simple curiosity is the only motivation Beulah has ever needed. The wind began whipping at her back, the sand forcing her to squeeze her eyes shut. But with the wind came an <i>idea</i>. The wind seemed to be blowing in the general direction of the oasis. What better place to test her wings than in a land entirely free of obstacles and sharp objects?! Beulah was by no means an adept aviator, but her questionable past attempts had not dampened her spirits in the very least.
So the girl spread her pink wings and with a running start, allowed the desert wind to help her into the air. She scrambled to stay level but, overall, was thrilled with her attempt. She was up! She was flying! And it was incredible! For a few blissful moments, all is right in Lala’s world. The sands below fly past in a blur and the Oasis looms in the distance. A particularly strong gust of wind has Lala bobbling dangerously in the air. As soon as she rights herself, another gust follows the first. <B>”HEY!”</b> she exclaims aloud, obviously to no one in particular, before casting a glance over her shoulder. What she sees nearly stops her heart in a chance.
A storm - but not a storm like any she’d ever seen before. It looked like a wall of sand was advancing behind her. A haboob. Some combination of a scream and a gasp escaped her as she furiously beat her wings - pressing her limits to see just how fast she could fly. However, her efforts were hampered by her inability to fly in a vaguely straight line. She could feel the stinging of the sand against her flanks and her heels and she knew, deep down, that she couldn’t stay aloft in such a dense cloud - especially one filled with blowing, stinging sand. So Lala angled towards a particularly large dune and dove. She pulled her wings tightly to her sides until the dune was only feet below her, frantically trying to slow herself as her legs found sand. She slid down the backside of the dune as the sun slipped behind the wall of sand. As she came to rest at the bottom she could do nothing but attempt to shield her head with her wings.
She wasn’t sure how long the storm had lasted. It had been hours, but could have easily been days. She was so covered in sand in debris when the wind finally abated, she was almost completely invisible despite her near-constant glow. She pulled herself to her feet and managed to shake off some of the sand and debris. The sand had definitely managed to burrow its way into her coat and her wings. It was an uncomfortable, itchy feeling but certainly preferable to being thrown from the skies.
She knows she should probably try to find a way home, but she can still see the Oasis ahead - undoubtedly closer now than it had been. So she sets off again, on foot this time, having been put off from flying for at least the time being. She walks until her muscles ache and thirst burns fiercely in her belly. But the oasis was close now, she could smell it. And then there it was - looking as peaceful and enticing as ever. Lala broke into a canter, which was really inadvisable given the footing, as she was eager to finally arrive at this mysterious place. She had only made it a few strides before she stumbled, only just catching herself before performing a somersault. However when she tried to move, she found that her legs were stuck in a thick, viscous sand-like mud. <b>“Oh come on!”</b> she said, with a huff, as she struggled to free herself. But she found that the more she struggled, the deeper she sank. When she had sunk nearly to her belly, she finally gave up. Flailing wasn’t going to work, apparently. She could see the edge of the quicksand pit was nearer to her left, and knew that was her best means of escape. Thankfully, she had not yet sunk to the point where here wings were contaminated. She spread her wings wide and began attempting to pull her front legs up and out of the muck. The progress was slow and exhausting but eventually her front legs came free with a disconcerting sucking sound. She was able to twist just enough for her forelegs to find purchase on solid ground. Again, with the assistance of her wings and body weight, she was able to throw herself forward and free her hind legs from the pit. She stood there, exhausted, panting from both the effort and the effect the heat was finally having on her.
She moved slowly towards the Oasis now, only perking up when it became clear that the quicksand pit had been her last obstacle today. She let out a relieved sigh at the sight of the water. The little pink girl wanted nothing more than to plunge into the water - to rid herself of the glue-like sand that covered her legs. But she couldn’t help but think that such a thing would be terribly rude, especially since she didn’t know who lived here. Could you imagine someone just barging into your home and taking a bath in your drinking water?! The very thought sent a shiver through Lala. Instead, she craned her haloed head around, trying to make out any familiar shapes amongst the shifting sand.
<b> “Hello?”</b> she called, wondering just where it was she’d ended up <i>this</i> time. It seemed she’d developed quite a knack for getting herself into these situations. Sylva first. Then Atlantis. Now this.
<b> “Hmm. Maybe this was the Desert that Ana was talking about,”</b> she breathed, aloud but under her breath, musing at the possibility before staring longingly at the water before her.
<center><font style=letter-spacing:3px><Font color=bd8180><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 is loyal to Sylva. She had to deal with a haboob and a quicksand pit.