WATCH THE FLAMES CLIMB HIGH INTO THE NIGHT

Once upon a time, Scorch had been a mare who wouldn't have caused Breckin to raise even a single eyelash. Despite having been dramatically swapped at birth, for the first five years of her life, that happened to be the only interesting thing about Scorch (unless you counted her spitfire personality, which, okay, so there's two interesting things about her). She'd been born bay roan, with green eyes, to a Amazonian queen (or so she had been lead to believe). Until her dragon dream - and later on her mirror dream - and later again to her queenship - she had been utterly normal.

So, suffice to say, hope remained still that Breckin would become adjusted to Beqanna's magic in more ways than simple exposure to it. The faeries always found interesting ways to play with the mortal's lives; Scorch suspected that they wouldn't leave this untainted beauty alone for long.

She hadn't intended to run into Breckin on her way back to the field for another attempt at recruiting, but the way the mare's white-and-black fur caught the thin winter light flagged her down as someone worth attending to. Her hooves stood planted on the other side of the scentline still, which Scorch in her old grouchy ways appreciated, and so Scorch took her time approaching, wondering at the way the mare meandered down the coast line sniffing at the sand-stars.

"Breckin," the warrior called in her most amiably voice, though it still sounded hoarse and ugly to anyone not familiar with the woman. She closed the final distance between them, dipping her head in greeting. "I'm glad that you were able to make time to see Nerine." Her lips curled into a friendly smile. "Please, join me! I'll show you around a bit. There's far more of those sand-stars around, I can promise you that."

Not having to wait long for Breckin to come alongside the sturdily built advisor, Scorch began treading from the beach towards a grassier forested area nearer the center of Nerine. Her molten red gaze flashed from their surroundings to the mare often, thoughts percolating behind their glowing depths; she knew that Breckin held great curiosity towards her absolute baldness, and for once, she almost wanted to be questioned - far too long had passed since anyone asked about her ugly nakedness.

Babe. Really? You're being a narcissist. Scorch scowled internally at her husband's rude interruption, but did of course listen to his otherworldly advice, finally turning to Breckin to talk to her about something a little less self-indulged.

"So, did you come from a specific land or were you in the Beyond, as some here call it? A nondescript land, essentially." She looked back to their path, continuing to speak. "We've many who come here from elsewhere though, other lands like Beqanna, but also different." The winter breeze picked up suddenly then, and Scorch shielded herself with a thin cloak of tangible twilight - barely visible. "Either is okay, I'm just curious is all."

Scorch

Once Khaleesi of the Amazon Jungle
Advisor to Nerine's Hestia

WATCH THE FLAMES CLIMB HIGH INTO THE NIGHT

The attention the other mare devoted to Scorch went beyond anything that the latter mare would have expected of anyone, never mind a stranger (though she quickly began to see Breckin as a friend, now). The empathy writ clearly on the leopard's pretty face reminded Scorch of her dear friend, Kagerou, a woman who had died from complications during child birth just like herself. But beyond that, the leopard mare (leopard in a different way than Breckin, with true clouded leopard spots) had been understanding and compassionate - and eager to learn.

As she watched Breckin and thought these thoughts, Scorch hoped wholeheartedly that Breckin would choose Nerine to be her home.

Her words rang friendly and caring in Scorch's mutilated ears, and so she smiled in reply. Breckin knew more about socializing than Scorch for her entire first life, and there was no magic that could teach anyone like herself to become as ept at interactions like these as Breckin was. Still, she hesitated to close the distance between them; but Scorch leaned in and brushed her shoulder to the woman's nose, hoping that with practice like this, the mare would settle easily into the rhythm of Beqanna.

"When the weather is especially dry, some of my scars crack and bleed - any kind of movement then is irritating, but otherwise, it doesn't hurt. I'm careful to shade myself from the sun, and when it is winter, I cloak myself in light to stay warm." She spoke quietly, eyes drifting over the scenery as she allowed her tongue to easily waggle. "Mostly though, it's my skin and I've gotten comfortable in it. Everyone from before knew me this way." She didn't go on to explain "before," figuring that that in itself would be another entire conversation, one that they might touch on later. For now, she'd shared far too much personally, and needed to turn the focus back on Breckin.

Luckily, that mare's next question opens up such options.

"Yes, it does," Came Scorch's answer, her eyes settling with interest on the 'plain' mare. Funny, that she had been that way once, too. "You just need to keep your wits about you - the faeries can be sneaky, but by how perceptive you are, I don't think they'll get by you without notice."

"The Mountain, especially, is where magic such as the kind I have told you about resides. Quests, they are called; but again, most times the adventures are less than happy." She eyed the other mare with an avid curiosity. "Do you think you would brave such quests?... Though sometimes, you haven't a choice in the matter. Sometimes, it's as if someone else decides where we go when we dream. So beware; and keep your wits about you."

Scorch

Once Khaleesi of the Amazon Jungle
Advisor to Nerine's Hestia

WATCH THE FLAMES CLIMB HIGH INTO THE NIGHT

When Scorch had eyed Breckin in the field, it hadn't been with a mother's knack; no, when she found herself craving the form of a small child pressed to her skin, Scorch sought out the adoption den, purposefully taking with her any lost souls she could find therein. In the field, the realm of adults or pretend-adults reigned - and she approached these subjects with more of a business-like air, a formality that she never used while addressing young children.

But, as she stood regarding her new companion, something inside of her whispered that the young woman was more than just a new friend; she was something more akin to a new daughter, if only in emotion and not in title. But Scorch had many such as Breckin in her upholstery of friends: and those individuals she called sister. Women she had raised up from a shaky beginning into Amazons of renowned and legend. Perhaps, if Breckin chose allegiance to Nerine, they, too, would become just that. Sisters.

"Well, you're already more prepared than I was, at your age. I had no idea about quests." Scorch's eyes glimmered reassuringly, hoping that the mare might gain some courage from this information; that her next words might be proudly spoken, instead of mumbled. "So you'll make it through just fine, if you are selected for such an adventure." Better now to frame it in a good light like this, as opposed to that which it will more likely become: a nightmare. Still, those things cannot be prepared for, and so best not to dwell on them.

The mare's ears perked inquisitively at Breckin's next question, impressed at how easily she moved on to new conversation, especially one so imperative to her hypothetical life in Nerine. Scorch's answer came quickly, the words friendly despite her brusque voice. "Indeed you are right, Breckin. Hestia is the name of the Nerinian Khaleesi, or Queen - both titles go. She has a black coat and green eyes, and occasionally, some fiery attributes, too."

Her lips curled in a fond smile at the recollection of a similar conversation she'd had with Hestia about dreams and quests not long ago.

"I'm sure she would love to meet you, should you ever seek her out. But..." And here she paused, glancing at Breckin, hoping she wasn't overstepping her bounds considering that Breckin hadn't chosen a place to live definitively yet, "If you're looking to instate yourself in a caste, you can tell me. I am Hestia's advisor, or second in command. Do you have any ideas about what you might be passionate about?.. War and Peace sounds very black and white, but in my days, there's always a nook somewhere where anyone fits."

Scorch

Once Khaleesi of the Amazon Jungle
Advisor to Nerine's Hestia

WATCH THE FLAMES CLIMB HIGH INTO THE NIGHT

Although Scorch caught the narrowing of Breckin's eyes upon the revelation of Hestia's Queenship, she failed to place the expression as one of confusion - and indeed, this failure was well and good. For had she known that the spotted mare before her had thought her the reigning mare of Nerine, it would have fueled the embers in Scorch's stomach that would always burn with the knowledge that she had lead the Sisters, and that by god, she could again - but for today, those innocent coals remain next to lifeless, the pain and confusion of a misplaced need for power avoided.

"I have, actually." Scorch's eyes traveled to the coast, lost there as her mind's eye roamed back to her beloved Jungle, and to the every moment she spent in it as its leader. "Nerine is the relative continuation of a kingdom that existed long ago, called the Amazon Jungle. I was born there a princess, and eventually became its Queen -- it's a much longer story than that, but indeed I did rule. Some who reside here still remember this kingdom of old as if it were yesterday; but few who served with me during my time as leader are still around today." She thought of Nayl, her faux-niece, the only face she could remember from that time. But the conversation surged ahead, and her eyes returned from the coast, thoughts of before quietly leaving her mind.

"Based on what I know of you, I think the peace is an excellent place to start, if you choose to call Nerine home. There are plenty of duties that may help you find purpose and belonging should you choose the peace - and quite frankly, you are an excellent conversationalist. I have no doubt in my mind that you'd be able to recruit very effectively." She nodded to Breckin's crooked smile, hoping that the mare would believe her - for she spoke truly and with an ingenuity that not everyone received from the hairless mare after such a short time of knowing one another.

But alas, Breckin then went on to acknowledge a need to explore and discover. This fact left a bit of a sour taste in Scorch's mouth, for she rather liked the idea of the spotted mare joining Nerine's upholstery of strong, powerful women; but she ignored the distaste and instead wracked her mind for places Breckin could explore, rather inept at that activity herself. She'd been drawn and stuck to the Amazons since birth, never looking far beyond its borders unless it was for diplomacy's sake - and sometimes, war's.

"It's been my pleasure, Breckin. I hope that I've not bored you with my many long and winding tales." She smiled again, licking her lips thoughtfully.  "As for explorations, I've honestly not done many myself since I came back from the dead -" Here she paused and grimace-smiled, as if to say yes, there are even more stories about me; but now wasn't the time to elaborate, so she soldiered on. "- But there are many in the common lands who are from the other kingdoms, as well as those who call no established place home. You would do well to go there, to the meadow, river, or forest, and meet some more Beqannians."

"Truthfully, I hope that none of them offer a better home, though; it's selfish of me, but I see you fitting in excellently here. Perhaps, once you have finished with your adventuring, I'll see you again on Nerine's coastlines - and when or if I do, I'll be quite the happy woman." She reached out and affectionately pressed her nose a final time to the base of Breckin's soft neck. "Until then, Breckin; safe travels."

Scorch

Once Khaleesi of the Amazon Jungle