"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
Lethy had lead Orion out of the dense forest towards Loess. They had called out for her mom along the way, following every source of chatter to simply land among a group of horses here and there. She had left word with them about who they were searching for and where they were heading if they happened across her mom so that she could find them later. She spent most of the trip reassuring the young silver girl that they would keep looking as long as it took.
They exited the forest into the rolling hills of Loess. The wide open land bright and welcoming, despite its history. She told Orion that this land was called Loess and that their home, Taiga, was in alliance with them and that they were welcomed here. She told the girl how their leaders in Taiga were originally from Loess, as well and how this was the first place she found herself in when she arrived in Beqanna.
They traveled slower than Lethy would have if she was by herself but her reaffirming smile told the girl that she did not mind. She showed the girl the beauty of the salt lakes and attempted to make the girl laugh by trying a small sip of water just to sputter and spit it out crinkling her face in disgust. She rolled in laughter after and showed the girls the clear drinking holes of fresh water along the way.
Eventually they made their way back to the giant red wood forest. Giant, ancient trees sprouted from the ground on the edge of Loess, growing closer together the farther in to Taiga they traveled. She asked the girl about her mother and where she grew up. She asked her about her friends and about what she liked to do for fun.
Lethy lead her to an open field, rare inside Taiga but beautiful in their diversity. Her amethyst eyes searched for a moment before calling out for her children and Aten.
She smiled as she watched Owin come sprinting around a large red wood trunk. The smile on his face confirming that he knew as soon as she passed the border that this is where she would be and that she had brought a new foal with her.
She waited for him to pull up short before them, she did not bother with making sure he knew to treat her as a sister just as he does Popinjay. At least not out loud.
Owin dipped into his mothers mind effortlessly as he read her thoughts about the girl. The blue tipped, buckskin boy's smile broadened as he moved his gaze to the girl. Hello Orion. he said softly and sweetly. His demeanor was much like his mother's, gentle. He offered his muzzle in welcome, allowing her to become accustom to his scent.
Aten did little to hide the loneliness in his heart when Lethia stated her intentions to go have some time outside Taiga, though she did not specify the exact reason for it. The golden stallion had his suspicions, sure, but he didn't want to say the wrong words and end up offending his mate. So instead, on the day of her departure, he wished her well, safety, offering to let Turul accompany her if she wished to get a message to any horse in a hurry.
Lethia had not stated openly that Turul could follow, but she knew the falcon sometimes acted on his own. So it was not a surprise when Aten reached out to his friend one day and learned he'd also left the redwoods for the destination the mare had gone to. He did not spy on her every move, but he told Aten he was within reach to hear the mare's calls if she suspected the Gyrfalcon was nearby.
Aten, meanwhile, was content to remain in Taiga and watch over his 'herd'. Consisting of solely Lethia and the foals she'd adopted, in addition to their own colt, Aten was happy, the stallion's blood in his veins having calmed since the passing of the breeding season. Of course, when he did come across the scent of a mare in her time, he had to fight the urge, but it was easy enough, to remember what he had in Taiga. The family he cared for, the foals he was helping to raise.
Perhaps in his younger years, he would've been different. He wouldn't say no to sheltering a mare or a stallion in his 'herd' if they so needed it, but the golden stallion found it easier than most times to fight the blood boiling when others encouraged him to fight.
Even though Popinjay and Owin were quite adventurous, Aten was never very far from their side. At times, he may have lost them for a moment, his eyes losing their forms among the redwoods or over some of the small dunes that broke up Taiga's flatland, but they were easy enough to find through scent. He also had the assistance of Kalil's little friend, now that the colt was understanding how to talk to him.
Kalil mostly stuck by his sire's side for the first few days Lethia was gone, the weanling colt only now just old enough to really start coming off his dam's milk. Some mares might keep their foals on later, but Kalil was a good age that not having Lethia's milk was not a huge bother. He also had the company of his siblings and sire, so he was not starved for attention. He was happy to run and play with his older brother and sister, and grateful for the nights where, when tired, he could curl up next to his sire's strong legs and nap, knowing he had some horse to watch over him.
He also had the company of his little feline friend, their bond growing stronger by the day, even more since they'd learned how to communicate. Even though Aten had a companion animal of his own, he had little experience in the area of teaching such a skill to others. The fact that Kalil was little didn't help at times, and yet, Aten though the colt was making rapid progress.
What made Kalil special in this matter was that, with his young state of mind, his adventurous spirit, it made it much easier for him to be opened minded and embrace the different sides of the land their world offered, magic included. It had take some time in the beginning, but eventually, Aten began to form sort of a 'language' that would help Kalil in learning to talk to the marbled cat.
Wait... no, it wasn't a marbled cat anymore... Amica. That was the name Kalil said belonged to is companion. The feline, already at full size herself, was a pleasant company for the adventurous colt, often riding on his back as he galloped along with his siblings, or over Taiga's flatland meadows whenever he felt like having a run. Aten watched with interest and amusement at the sight, for even though Turul had ridden upon his back, the raptor much preferred flying alongside the stallion.
She would also play with him by being up higher in the trees, encouraging him to reach up and try to get her even though the tiny colt often found such efforts frustrating. Aten wondered what was going through the feline's mind when they played such a game, but in a strange way, it almost seemed like the feline had her own method of teaching Kalil despite species difference.
And Aten found that both intriguing and adorable to watch.
On the day of Lethia's return, Aten was grazing while Popinjay and Owin ran around nearby. Kalil would alternate between grazing and chasing after his older siblings, but he seemed to prefer the company of his sire some of the time since Popinjay and Owin liked to outrun their smaller brother. Aten knew his son would get frustrated by that, but he could only encourage him. He didn't want to tell Poppy and Owin to show Kalil sympathy because it would only teach him that he didn't have the fight for some things he wanted. That was not the harsh way of reality outside the colt's wandering mind.
A called ripped through Taiga's peaceful silence, and before Aten could say anything, Popinjay and Owin took off like cheetahs across the redwood's land. The golden stallion smiled and shook his head fondly before he turned and instructed Kalil to follow and keep up, the little colt nodding before calling to his feline friend and having her hop on his back for the ride.
Sire and son galloped after the colt and filly a distance ahead of them, Kalil letting out a whinny of excitement and a small buck at the idea of seeing his dam again. Aten smiled at his son as they ran, even slowing to let Kalil outpace him and give the colt some encouragement.
Yes, the stallion's teaching methods could be contradictory, but he liked seeing the happy smile on Kalil's face.
Lethia's call had come from one of the few open meadows that dotted Taiga's landscape, not a stone's throw away from the redwood border. Owin and Popinjay broke the line of trees and headed for the mare before Aten and Kalil could catch them, the latter two slowing down as they neared the grassy area.
Aten's eyes softened at seeing Lethia greet her daughter and son, the colt prancing around his dam a moment before he seemed to engage in conversation with her. Not yet spotting the tiny being that trailed behind his mate, Aten assumed Owin was telling his dam how happy he was that she was hear with new adventures to tell them off.
When they were within a few yard's distance of the mare, Kalil sprinted out from behind Aten and galloped to his dam. He skidded to a stop a few strides away to avoid running into his siblings, but nonetheless shimmied up to his dam's side and nuzzled into her warm fur. Aten smiled at the sight as he neared his family, already also looking forward to being beside the mare again.
Before he could reach them though, he saw Kalil step away and look behind Lethia. Amica shifted her weight so that her front paws were balanced on Kalil's shoulder, her neck outstretched as if she were investigating too. Kalil remained where he was, but the feline hopped off the colt and trotted over to the golden stallion as he continued nearing the family. Though they couldn't speak to each other, there was some sort of mutual understanding between the two. The look in Amica's eyes informed Aten that this matter was something of importance, much more than just Lethia's return after a few days away.
Aten whickered to the mare as he approached, speaking in a soft voice, "Lethia... it is good to have you home with us again..." Before stretching out his neck and running his muzzle along her crest. To have the feel of her skin beneath the stallion's lips made him pleased, and he would've indulged in it more had he not remembered Amica's 'message'.
The perceptive stallion's gaze drifted back to where Owin was, and he did not fail to notice the small silver brightly-marked filly standing close to the buckskin mare. Aten's eyes were kind, and he gave the filly some space so as not to intimidate her. He had a feeling his deep voice might seem a big imposing, so he addressed the mare first as Amica returned to Kalil, who was also sniffing at the filly to see who the new arrival was.
"Who is this you've brought back with you?" he questioned.
11-03-2019, 12:03 PM (This post was last modified: 11-03-2019, 12:04 PM by Popinjay.)
For her, the first herald of Lethy's return is Turul gliding between the trees with his usual ease, but it is Owin who moves to greet her first. It is typically Owin who knows things first, but Popinjay is never slow to react, racing alongside her brother with ease. That Kalil is often left behind is not a purposeful neglect on her part, but she tends to get lost in the moment, committing to whatever new thing has occurred to her, so when Owin's head turns, and a moment later, Turul appears, she does not take the time to remember that their youngest sibling cannot keep up. The dark filly kicks up her heels, galloping to greet her mother and the filly she has brought home.
Owin knows exactly where they are and Poppy lets him take the lead, drawing near a close second. Unlike the colt, she leaves no space between herself and the pair, but closes the space without hesitation to nip at Lethy's mane and then thrust her muzzle down to meet that of the strange foal the purple-eyed mare has brought home with her. She is like uncut boulder opal, a rainbow shining beneath the mouse-dun coat.
Orion, Owin says, and Popinjay nods, moving her muzzle as the colt greets the child, and blows air into the filly's ears with a laugh. If she takes note of the sadness that clings to Orion, she makes no mention of it and takes no additional care, tracing her body with her nose and inhaling her strange scent. No child of the woods, this. As Aten and Kalil draw near, Poppy finishes her examination of the filly with a playful nip, teeth scraping harmlessly across Orion's thigh, then rolls her head and dances away before she can be reprimanded for being too rough.
11-05-2019, 08:56 PM (This post was last modified: 11-05-2019, 08:57 PM by Orion.)
I took the stars from our eyes and then I made a map and I knew that somehow I could find my way back
Orion followed closely behind Lethia as she led them out of the dense forest. She matched the same pace as the buckskin mare, clinging desperately onto every movement she made so she would not lose sight of her. Along the way, Lethia made every effort to search for her mother. Orion desperately felt her heartache for each time they came across someone. None of the horses they met knew her mother though, and neither did any of them look familiar to her. Lethia reassured her that they would keep looking, but Orion felt hopeless as they continued into rolling hills called Loess.
Lethia told her all sorts of different things as they made their way through the hills. She liked listening to everything the buckskin mare told her. It made her forget about her sadness and no luck finding her mother so far. Orion found everything fascinating that Lethia showed her. She liked the rolling hills called Loess, especially when Lethia drank the saltwater. Orion couldn’t stop laughing at the face the buckskin mare made.
Moving from Loess to the giant red wood forest, Orion couldn’t believe what she saw. Her eyes grew wide at the sight of the trees and how tall they were. She had never imagined anything like it before.
Lethia asked about her mother and her friends. She told her that Cathryn was her mother’s name and how beautiful her mother was—a soft golden mare with beautiful wings like hers. Orion then talked about all of her friends in the meadow she met and the adventures they would play while their mothers talked. It started to make her a little sad, and she fell quiet after that until they came to an open field and Lethia let out a call for all to come.
Orion’s dark ears flickered forward. Cautiously looking at who would come. She wondered what sort of family Lethia had. The filly hoped they were nice—she really wanted to be friends with the foals too.
Quickly, a colt and filly come bolting around one of the nearby redwood trees. The colt welcomed Orion warmly. He seemed nice—perhaps sweet and kind like Lethia. However, her head titled curiously, forgetting her worries about meeting the new faces of Taiga. “How did you know my name?” She asks with a soft, quiet voice. Her dark lips curled into a smile as he offered further warm greeting to her.
The filly, to her surprise, burst through the space between her and the others. Orion’s ears flickered back in fear for a moment. Her smile faded quickly as uncertainty took over her dark features. She flickers an ear forward and quickly back as Popinjay blows into her ears. “Hey, that’s not nice!” She says loudly with a hint of mischief in her voice.
Her attention, ears flickering forward once again, then drifts over to another duo coming their way at the sound of a call—no trio. “What the heck is that thing?” She asks looking at the feline called Amica. She cannot take her eyes off of Amica. Another colt comes up to greet her, but she is completely distracted by the cat. Her eyes widen even more when the cat jumps up on Kalil’s back. Immediately, Orion takes a step back.
At the sound of the deep voice, her ears flicker forward. “I’m Orion,” she says softly. Her eyes turn to glance among the three other foals that surround her. She then looks to Lethia then to Aten and then back to the foals. Her small dark tail flickers and a smile brightens her dark complexion. “Can we all be friends?” She asks quietly but her eyes gleam with excitement. The filly hopes they will all say yes. She wanted to play with the new foals that Lethia told her about.
11-05-2019, 10:25 PM (This post was last modified: 11-05-2019, 10:28 PM by Izora Lethia.)
Lethy watched the young girl carefully as her family gathered she knew how overwhelming all the newness could be. As it was Lethy wasn't originally from Beqanna and on their trip she started to piece together that maybe Orion wasn't either. Her world hadn't contained magic and so when she woke up on that cold winter's day, brought here by the sea, the idea of magic had taken her a while to comprehend. The wings upon Orions back however made her think that maybe Orion wasn't all that unfamiliar with magical things.
Lethia smiled softly as Owin stopped in front of Orion, or more so skidded sending up a small splattering of green and dirt. Orion asked him how he knew her name, but before her son could respond Lethy felt a tug on her mane as Poppy arrived butting her way in to meet the newcomer. Through all of Poppinjay's energy she held a soft place in Lethy's heart and so she only scolded her with a stern glance as Orion called her out for her antics.
When Kalil and Aten showed up trailing the pair she bent down and kissed her youngest softly on the head while Orion answered Aten's question.
Yes, this is Orion. Orin this is Poppy, Owin, Kalil, and Aten. This is my family and if you'd like they can be your friends and better yet your family too while you are here with us. she gave the girl a gentle touch on the shoulder before looking around at her family. Most of the horses in Beqanna are gifted with peculiar traits. Owin can change his vision to see heat and he can read minds, though still has trouble minding boundaries. she gave him a stern look and he gave them a shy, lopsided smile in reply. Aten and Kalil both have companions whom they can communicate with, so there is no need to worry about Amica. She's rather sweet.
Lethy hoped that by explaining things Orion wouldn't feel as overwhelmed as she had looked when her family arrived. When Orion asked if they could be friends Owin's smile broadened and he almost shouted, if you could call it that, at her Of course we can be friends! Poppy loves showing off he teased, smirking at his sister, I'm sure she'd love taking us on an adventure.. Just don't follow her onto any fallen trees. he half whispered loud enough for Poppy to hear.
Before Lethia could say anything to the new filly she had brought back, Kalil gave her an incredulous look, as if he didn't understand why she was giving Amica such startled eyes. Why would the filly be surprised? Just looking at her, Kalil could only assume that she had some form of magic herself like the colt's sire did. And Kalil had the ability to talk to Amica. Why was an animal that he could talk to that strange when here, this filly stood before him with a horn and, as it appeared to be, wings on her back?
The feline showed no offense at the filly's innocent question, but Kalil stomped a front hoof and stated proudly, "This is Amica. She's my friend. She calls her species a marbled cat," he explained.
Kalil watched as Orion took a step back, before she turned and answered Aten's question. Kalil stepped away from the filly and returned so that he was between both his parents, glancing to Popinjay and Owin to see what they would say to the filly's question.
Lethy made Orion the offer that Aten, Kalil, Owin, and Popinjay, after introducing them one by one, could be the filly's family, giving her a gentle nudge on the shoulder before explaining what the gifts that those around her had.
She began with Owin, then Aten and Kalil, leaving the golden stallion puzzled as to why the mare hadn't said anything about his newly gained ability. Perhaps to avoid intimidation? It could be a rather frightening fact if a young foal just introduced heard about what Aten could now do.
There was a gift a step above his, and if Aten wouldn't lie to himself, he did one day wish to pursue it, but he was content with this ability now since there were times it still unnerved him. Mostly how it could affect his mind, his instincts, when he allowed the ability to flow through his blood without restraint.
Owin cut in with an answer to Orion's question, saying that the three foals would very much like to be Orion's friends before giving her a warning about where to follow Popinjay when she led them on an adventure. Kalil gave an excited buck, nearly throwing Amica despite the marbled cat hanging on, and Aten smiled at the foal's antics before he took a step to be close to Lethia, and by proxy, closer to Orion without stepping on her hooves.
He lowered his head so he was eye level with the filly and gave her a kind smile, the gesture now second nature since becoming a sire through his own colt and the other foals Lethia had adopted.
"I would very much like to be your friend too, if you will accept me," he began. "And Lethy is right; we would all very much like for you to be a part of our family. Amica and Turul included."
As if hearing Aten verbally say his name, which wouldn't have been surprising with his keen hearing, Turul flew over from his spot in the trees and landed comfortably on the stallion's withers, preening one his feathers before turning it's eyes to the filly. He tilted his head inquisitively, his eyes keen, before he flapped his wings and let out a soft cry.
Aten laughed before speaking to Orion again, "Turul says you'll fit right in."
