"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
A mixture of colours move swiftly against the current of the river, colourful fish accompanying the submerged Kelpie, their scales blushing luminously in response to the sun's glaze, heating the water and creating a wonderful pattern of light that weaves its way through the river, illuminating the rocks that decorate the stream bed.
Tasi peaks out of the rushing water, her faint blue eyes observing the treeline just a few steps away from the water, her ears perked at the sound of birds as they abandon the forest canopy.
The mare's head disappears as she lowers herself beneath the water, balancing herself on the rocky floor as she emerges onto the shore, water trickling down her golden pattern and down onto the ground below her as she walks toward the forest.
The ground is laden with a thick mist that travels into the forest, covering the masses of different plants and flowers speckled throughout the dense foliage, only larger bushes and tall flowers stand out against the fog, trying to reach the sunlight that is blocked out by the canopy above.
Tasi had spent many months hidden away in the water, away from her parents and any other horses, she had learned to live in the water and to call it to home, almost a safe haven for her, away from all the plight on the mainland.
Her gait is apprehensive as she walks toward the forest, though she enjoys all the sounds that greet her, the chirping of birds and the shuffling of branches as squirrels abandon their posts and birds flee the treetops.
Even though she already misses the pleasant hum of her water-filled home, the forest brings its own wonders to light, she drops her head and runs her nose along the moss-covered rocks, enjoying the smooth bristles that pass over her nostrils, a stuffy earthen scent passing into her lungs as she breathes deeply. The mare closes her eyes to appreciate the sound-covered utopia, the aroma of flowers and oak passing her swiftly as her mane begins to dry in the soft wind, the flowers dotting her mane unchanged by the water.
As she opens her eyes, the features that define her as a Kelpie wither away, uncovering or more so disguising herself as a normal horse, her features enhanced by the Kelpie magic, making her stand out, her skin also becomes clear, removing the scales that cover her shoulders and backside, revealing her teal coat with golden patches.
Now the mare desires to meet another horse, walking through the forest, her voice creating an appealing hum as she calls for others.
Its not too often she passes this far into the depths of the forest, foliage growing thicker with each careful step. Hooves pressing softly into springy moss footing, the mist creeping up from the river begins to grasp at her ankles. The sun peeks through the vast canopy overhead in visible rays, dappling her gold and white coat. Valera often takes to the skies, but just this time she wanted to walk with nature, to hear it sing its song. Birds chirping and cooing, the sound of the river babbling in the near distance. It calmed the sun kissed mare.
It had been so long since she had spoken to anyone other than those of her family. She loved her family dearly, her king brother, Castile, all of her younger siblings, her eldest sister, her beloved parents. She loved them all so much. But at some point, you long for friendship, and Valera had hit that point. It was only just recently that she made her decision to come home and live in Loess with her family, before then she spent most of her years after foalhood traveling the land. Friendship was never anything she got to experience. She was a shy filly growing up, so she stuck close to her parents. It was only when she set out to see the world that her personality blossomed into the bright light it is today.
As she weaves through the underbrush, careful not to step on any delicate mushrooms or small fauna she caught by surprise, her ears swivel. A soft humming melody carries to her ears, almost as if its being whispered amongst the wind tousled leaves surrounding her. She picks up her pace, following the lovely melody. Eventually her clementine eyes catch sight of a lovely creature. A striking figure among the very green landscape, a lovely painted coat of gold and teal. She smiles gently and offers a sweet harmony as not to startle her. She walks closer, her wings brushing against tree trunks in the process, ruffling her feathers slightly, snagging a stick between a few feathers. Her voice is sweet and soft.
"It's a beautiful day isn't it? I loved your melody, I hope you don't mind my joining you? My name is Valera, by the way. It is lovely to meet you!"
She offers her muzzle in a kind manner, the corners of her lips tugged into a genuine smile. She is excited, its been so long since she has had a conversation with someone other than her siblings. It was such a nice change of pace.
The overhanging cloud cover swiftly blocks out the rays of sunshine that beat their way through the thick canopy, the trickles of light falling almost like a waterfall of light, disappearing momentarily and casting the forest into a deep and dull shade of dark green.
An owl swoops down from a low hanging branch close to Tasi, weaving its way through the trees without making a sound, its talons drawn as it aims for a woodland mouse, captivating Tasi's focus. The young mare only really knew about creatures in the ocean, with barely any knowledge about those that dwelled on the mainland. Tasi watches the owl's hunt unfold, though her concentration diverts to another voice, another gentle harmony sounding a distance away from her, separated from the chatter of birds and the stagnant swaying of trees.
Tasi faces the winged mare, her stomach twisting slightly as she becomes anxious, a shy and careful smile expressed on her face as the mare speaks "Thank you, it really has been a lovely day, a lot more vibrant than the depths of the ocean" she replies, moving closer to the mare and admiring her creamy colour "I am Tasi, it is nice to meet you. You have a lovely voice" she says gently, focused on her wings as she halts close to the mare.
"I would not mind the company, especially on such a nice day. Shall we go for a walk?" she asks with a smile, this time a little more comfortable, her body relaxing as the rays of sunlight return, illuminating her golden markings. and wet hair.
It had been many months since she had seen another horse and so far she had been lucky that this encounter was a friendly one, Tasi had been quite unlucky with her encounters, frequently encountering dangerous and bizarre creatures in the depths of Beqanna's ocean, fending for herself and trying to stay away from all the other horses on the mainland, though now she felt the time was right to make a friend, even though all her instincts told her to run, to hide away again and return when she felt a bloodlust calling her to kill on the mainland, though she had yet to do this, unwilling to murder the very thing she had not seen for months.
