"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
Ever since the world had shifted and thrown them all into a peculiar predicament of homelessness with a touch of impending doom for extra spice, Romek had not really ventured into any of the other lands. At first he had been too preoccupied with Taiga, but that was not really an issue anymore. No-one seemed panicked anymore, things had settled down quite easily, and there had been no real conflict – probably because everyone was too shit scared of upsetting the great fairies of the mountain.
He awakens that morning feeling restless, and his typical patrols did not take the edge off. He awaited Maribel awakening a little tensely, securely in his tiger form (what a thing to wake up to…). He had suggested venturing somewhere else, and Tephra was the most intriguing option – once-home of his lady’s father, and the home of one of his friends from the Deserts.
So off they set towards the volcanic lands. The smell of sulphur and ash is somewhat unsettling as they draw closer, but the warmth is welcome and all too familiar, and it brings him back at once to the Deserts, the feel of the hot hot sun and the hot hot sand, and… he opens his eyes and he’s brought back to the present, to Maribel, and new Beqanna, and Tephra, not the Deserts.
He affectionately places his nose on her shoulder as they wait at the border.
Here it comes with no warning; capsize, i'm first in the water
Lucrezia has fallen into her new role as Head of Peace for her home easily. At first the feeling had felt foreign but quickly grew into familiarity filled with old habits and memories. However, this time she was more eager to follow her duties and be the person she was meant to always be.
Not this time will I abandon you, she tells herself this bright morning. The smell of sulphur and ash have become familiar and home to her. Days filled with warmth reminded her of the golden sandy hills that went on for miles and miles. However, this was no longer where the Deserts laid. This was the very land she calls home, and likely might have been another kingdom from the old world here before.
She shakes her head, letting old memories fad back into the darkness. Her nutmeg eyes look forward and she inhales the scents of Tephra. However, there is a mingle of old and new scents into the ones she has become familiar with. The old and new world collide together once more.
The mare is quick to decipher what these new smells means—strangers. The question if the two were foe or friend was not clear. However, she was not fearful for anything right now. Beqanna was silent and peaceful. A time to rebuild and remember why they all had come here.
But it would not always be that way.
Peace was not everlasting.
She finds herself at the border within time. The forms become more visible and she isn’t sure if she is seeing the two forms clearly at all (tiger or horse) and one obvious form of a horse. Lucrezia flares her nostrils, taking a moment to see if anything makes her stomach turn at these two strangers. There is nothing there, so without delay she proceeds forwards.
“Welcome to Tephra,” she greets as she comes into speaking distance to the two. Her smile is quickly formed as her usual welcoming conversation begins. “I am Lucrezia.” A name that would stretch far and wide across Beqanna now that she had come to fit into her role of Head of Peace in Tephra. “What brings you to our humble little volcano today?” A volcano she isn’t sure if it might erupt any time or never, but all the while she smiles continuously.
The white mare awakens next to her husband, warm and yawning as she stretches. His tiger form no longer scares her like it once had the first few times, in fact, she has come to love snuggling up close and warm to the thick fur, his purr vibrating and soothing her to sleep.
But on this day they decide to leave the comfort of Taiga to see what lay beyond it's realms. Tephra, land of acrid air and angry earth. Her golden nose gently touches her mate as she walks along side him, the caress more so comforting to her as she ventures along side him.
Once in the land, Rom calls boldly with confidence. He is a gentle man who has ben humbled by decades and Mari smiles softly with bright blue eyes. She wishes to remain her given color now as she can feel her heart beat for him whenever she looks to his rugged features. Googly eyes...she still gives him googly eyes.
The scent and sound of another shakes her from her daydream and she looks to see a pretty mare standing before them, a smile on her youthful features. Mari hesitates a moment after the mare introduces herself, always polite. "Thank you Lucrezia, I'm Maribel and this is my husband, Romek." The pale mare smiles softly. "We come from Taiga but are looking to see what lay beyond it's walls and happen upon Tephra." Much like from foalhood days, she finds herself rambling and promptly looks to the dark stallion, allowing him to speak as well.
And when she laughs you'll always take notice.
'Cause her heart's charm will shine right through it all.
