"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
From overhead, it’s impossible to tell that anyone even lives in Sylva. The canopy is an unbroken blanket of red, orange, and yellow, and Djinni looks down at it as she soars on the early spring updraft. It has been a while since she flew, and the broad black and white wings that carry her through the air had taken some getting used to. She prefers the leathery wings of a dragon, but she’d been watching the magpies flutter about in the trees before taking off, and had chosen to sport a pair of their wings instead. The rest of her coat matches today as well; she’s traded the muted grey of her grullo coat for solid black (though her minimal tobiano whither patch remains, a nice compliment to the white tipped wings).
The wind carries her up the mountain range that separates Sylva and Pangea in the west, but she turns before she crosses over the wasteland. It might be only her imagine, but the air there seems too still, too strange, and she has no urge to explore the desolate place. She banks, and decides to land, having taken her fill of flight for the morning. She lands in the pond near Stillwater’s cave, enjoying the splash of water around her and she drops into the water that is just deep enough for a safe landing. The black and white mare takes her time coming out – she likes the feeling of the water on her exerted body. When she finally does, she climbs onto the bank to shake herself dry. The wings would be a nightmare if she had to wait, so she simply wishes them dry, and they fluff up against her glistening pied coat in an instant.
She lingers at the edge of the water, contemplating a nap. She is not especially tired though, so she simply stands where she is, looking out at the water as the last ripples of her presence die away.
current appearance: natural build - slim black minimal tobiano feathered magpie wings green eyes
As he grew a bit older he ventured farther from his mother's side. Starting to navigate the endless forest was getting a bit easier. Scents were easily followed now. Even trees were becoming recognizable. Though he never traveled alone. His constant companion kept a watchful eye on him when mother was absent. The Raven was a welcome sight to him. He envied his flying abilities. One day he would be able to soar above the canopy as the Raven did...
Today he choose a new path. A familiar scent of the black stallion that had watched him when his mother had business to attend to. Stillwater. Muzzle to the dirt he plodded along. Rock here, tree there... Not much varied in Sylva... Terrain wise. An occasional clearing in the dense foilage was rare so when his gaze fell upon light he stopped. Crown lifted abruptly as he stared at the near alien sighting. He smiled happily, stepping forward lightly as he pranced. Wings flapping with excitement that he may attempt to use them with more purpose this time. He had been practicing. Strengthing them more and more each time. As he neared the clearing he took note of the lake and a cave much similar to his own home. Lobes flickered curiously as hazel eyes scanned for anyone near. Seeing nothing immediately he stepped from the shadows and into the morning light. Caw! The sudden call coming from within the shadows made him jump as his head turned violently in its direction. Crazy bird. He turned his attention back to the pond which strangely had a shadowed figure hovering over it. Head cocked in confusion as it grew... Bigger. Hesitant step was taken forward to the bank of the pond. Muzzle lowered to sniff for a scent of any kind.
Suddenly a strong breeze drafted from above and his gaze rotated upwards. Frozen for a moment, then panicking to find his footing as he scampered back into the shadows. Ducked behind some thick brush he watched. The painted lady landed with much grace onto the pond surface. Liquid conformed around her as she settled into it then moved forward to the bank. She was much like him but bigger. Pied wings held comfortably to her side as she rose from the waters. Almost magically they turned from a wet mess to dry fluff. His didn't do that. He watched as she stood there... Waiting. What was she waiting for? He glanced about as if someone else should be appearing. As moments passed without more activity he ventured out of behind his hiding spot. Silently approaching the edge of the shadows in curiousity. His gaze never shifting from the mare. She didn't seem too scary...
Watching for another moment nothing new came so he bounced out of the darkness. Inky hued coat shined in the morning light. He pranced rather daintily up to her. Flapping his wings as he offered a greeting...
Hi. I'm Klaudius. I love your feathers! He looked upon them with envy. I wish I could fly like that... His words trailed off with a hint of saddness as did his stare.
The mare caught a boy's excited voice in her auds, and, not recognizing the voice, ventured towards it to find out who it was. Were they new? No, more likely a foal of someone, and she simply hadn't met the foal yet. Her hooves moved the grass around her, as she lightly dragged her feet, making her approach sound more like an animal than a horse.
Then again, horses are still animals, though.. Right?
When she could just see two horses - their leader, and this purple winged colt - she took a breath to speak. "Hello," She says, not saying anything beyond that for now.. She didn't trust many at this time in her life, what with her younger sister Mandalocks broken and Jedi riddled with harming emotions before Jedi completely.. Fading into the background of her heart.
She could always just find another lover, yes? Her form was still good, and she could carry a child - no, even twins - well. Always had successful children, twins every time-
With Jedi.
Could that happen for her with another? Could she truly just forget Jedi, the man she had loved for so long?
No, she couldn't - can't. Jedi was still in her thoughts, and still in her mind, and still in her heart, and she had established such a good family with him.. Four children, two just grown and two just born last season.
She shook her head, to clear her thoughts, before walking out of where she had been standing in the dense foliage out into the open. "Hello, Djinni. And who are you, young one?" She speaks, even though she had said her hello a couple of moments ago. Then again, her eyes were clouded, and she was obviously still partially lost in thought.
She'd forgotten most of her manners in her time alone with Praelia, Prain, and Zseth. Praelia so much more like her mother Sunfall in build, with her father's markings and an odd red coat under the splashes of white tossed upon her slim, slab sided frame.
Prain..Was like her father, but had dark, deep lines of black on her knees and hocks, and down to her fetlocks. She didn't know what the markings were from - some unknown magick, or just her darker coat?
Zseth, on the other hand.. Was a bright red, brighter than Praelia, and had faded lines from just above his mid-leg and down to halfway to his fetlocks. He was more like his father, sprung ribbed and with a stockish head. But still fast, just like her older sister.
Sunfall hadn't seen her first son, Kylo, for at least the past few seasons. Had he died in the land's reshaping? Surely.. Surely her first son hadn't.. Sunfall caught tears trying to sneak out of her eyes, and blinked a few times to hide them, waiting for them to speak.
OOC: Okay that post is really disjointed. She's kinda broken, having lost her mom and now her younger sister, and her younger sister's father. So she'd been hiding for about a half BQ Year by the foggy edges of Sylva, away from anyone but Praelia, Prain and Zseth. But she's trying to remember how to have a proper conversation, since she's been so isolated.
The rustling of brush catches her attention, and Djinni looks over to see a colt emerging from the undergrowth. His coat is a lovely shade of purple, rather unlike any of the other residents of Sylva. Still, he must belong to one of them; he’s much too young to be out wandering alone. She gives him a smile as he comes closer, watching the way that he eyes her magpie wings and hearing the sadness as his voice trails off into silence.
“I’m sure you will someday, Klaudius.” She replies, “Have you tried lately?” He’ll be able to now, of course, since he’s asked for it, but she sees no need to tell him of that. Sometimes these things happen – words slip out unexpectedly – but at least this time it was something benign. Watching someone wish they’d never been born – now that is an interesting experience.
She looks up to see Blazing Sunfall coming towards them, and Djinni smiles at the grullo mare. She doesn’t answer for the child; she might know too little about them, but does know that they rarely like having adults speak for them. Instead she simply replies with a “Hello,” and looks back at the purple foal.
current appearance: natural build - slim minimal black tobiano magpie wings green eyes
02-16-2017, 11:46 AM (This post was last modified: 02-16-2017, 03:51 PM by Klaudius.)
As his gaze lowered he thought of the afternoon he spent in the meadow. After his mother had left him in the care of the dark stallion. When he levitated for brief moment after giving it his all. How proud he was of himself. A small smile crept upon his lips. Childish wondered gaze looked back to the mare as she spoke encouraging words. He replied excitedly his accomplishments, "Yes I have! I've been practicing. Wanna see?!"
His question not really needing an answer cause before she could agree or refuse to watch he was already flapping his wings. Out stretched, the dark purple feathers gripped at the air. Determined more than ever to soar above the canopy this time. They seemed to posses more power this time. Had he strengthened them that much over the weeks since his first attempt? He turned to face the pond from which she had emerged from. Collecting himself he lunged forward towards the banks. Just before his hooves met the waters his wings thrusted him upwards. Forelimbs pawed the air under him. This time he had not closed his eyes but narrowed them. Concentrating on his breathing, the rise and fall of his gifts at his side. Quickly rising to miss the soon approaching canopy of red and gold's...
As expected his ebony friend which accompanied him whenever he left mother's side darted from the shadows to his side. His strokes were fastened to keep up with his normally earth bound companion. Once above the tree tops the pair could glide upon the air currents. The Raven held his wings wide so he copied. It was a much needed breather as his muscles recovered from the quick gain of height. He took that moments for hazel eyes to scan the lands from his new vantage point. The pond he had left was nearly the only break in the forest. He saw another approaching the winged mare so he turned in the direction he came. The Raven watched and followed at his side. He hadn't given much thought to landing until now. What goes up must come down, right? He remembered how she had landed upon the waters surface. It seeming to catch her in its liquid embrace. So he would do the same...
Adjusting his wings to slow him. Lowering slightly but not as much as he needed. He tucked them slightly as he has seen the Raven do as he dived from the skies. He lowered faster... Maybe too fast now. The momentum he gained brought the waters to him quickly. Before he knew it his hooves met the surface, skiing upon it as it broke for him. With much less grace than she had, he landed within the pond. Leaving a wake behind him and waves curled away from his body. Luckily he wasn't large so water didn't completely fly in all directions. He tightly held his wings to his body as he was engulfed by the liquid. Limbs kicked to keep his head above it and bring him nearer to the shore. Moments passed as he reached the bank and climbed out. Water sliding down his small frame. He was a distance from the pair so he shook the water free and pranced on over. Happy to hear greetings he called his own to the newcomer. A quick hello then his name was given. "Hello! I'm Klaudius". His attention turned to the pied mare, "That was awesome!!". His landing could use some work but that would come in time. Practice makes perfect...
Zhenga couldn't remember the last time she had nagged her dam that much. Raxa was surprisingly patient the entire time, something Zhenga would've never thought possible for the temperamental uniquely colored mare. But, at first, Raxa had held fast, insisting that Zhenga should cease her exploring for the day and go attend a session with Anahi and Eiria, since Raxa had already had a lesson with Zhenga earlier that morning.
But the filly had persisted, and finally convinced her dam to let her go out and have fun with the rest of her day. So, as soon as Raxa said yes, Zhenga made a break for it, galloping away from the herd's home meadow to go have some fun. She'd made her way through various places in Sylva not too far from the herd's home base before making her way out a bit farther, letting out a happy neigh as she galloped through the trees, a wind blowing through her mane despite the canopy of trees shielding the wind from above.
An unnatural gust of wind distracted the filly for a moment, and she looked up. However, due to the canopy of tree leaves, she couldn't see much. Her blue eyes narrowed, trying to see if she could spot anything that would've explained the wind. Then, she saw it.
It was a fast movement, faint, but she'd seen the smokey gray color for sure. She took off at a gallop to follow the shape's general direction, hoping she was successfully trailing after it considering she now couldn't see what way it was going.
After some time of galloping through the trees, Zhenga slid to a stop, having come across an outcropping of rocks and dirt that formed a small hill not too far above the destination she'd found, and, upon looking down, where the gray shape she'd witnessed had arrived. Zhenga looked down to see if she could spot who it was, and she recognized the smokey gray coat instantly. It was Djinni, Sylva's leader after Kreios had departed.
Another shape showed up a mere minute or so after; it was a young colt, a fit creature with a dark purple mane and tail. Zhenga didn't know him incredibly well, but she recognized the form of Klaudius, one of Sylva's residents and Karaugh's foal. Karaugh served as a diplomat alongside Anahi and Eiria, which was how Zhenga even knew who he was off of sight alone.
Somewhat excited by a gathering, figuring it might lead to something exciting, Zhenga picked her way off the small outcropping she'd found herself atop of and went to greet the other two horses. During the time she was making her way down to the time she arrived, another horse had shown up. This one, Zhenga knew all too well, though unlike Raxa, the filly harbored no ill feelings. Raxa didn't outright hate the mare, but Zhenga could still tell there was some resentment whenever the paint mare and the grill were around each other.
And, if Zhenga was not mistaken, she was pretty sure Sunfall didn't like the filly much either, given that she had been in a relationship with Zhenga's sire shortly after he'd had a fling with the roan filly's dam. Zhenga didn't really understand all this romance stuff yet, for she was far too young, but she did understand resentment and hatred, which is why she normally stayed away from Sunfall, even when the warriors got together to train.
If she remembered right too, Sunfall had recently bore a set of twins sired by Jedi. Zhenga did feel a small growing piece of resentment appeared in her heart, but brushed it aside. She'd had very little contact with her sire after the revelance of her as his daughter became knowledge to the grullo mare, and he made no effort to get in touch with her, so the filly had pretty much pushed him to the side.
Deciding to push any thoughts of the grullo mare away until, if, they spoke today, Zhenga made her way to the group. The roan filly arrived just as the purple colt was demonstrating his ability of flight, performing daring dives and soaring above the two mares and the filly before coming down to join them once more, landing in the pond and spraying up a bit of water. It didn't go flying, since the colt wasn't very big to begin with, but enough that some of it landed on Zhenga's coat.
The colt pulled himself out of the water and dragged his body to the shore, shaking his coat to try and dry it. Zhenga couldn't help it; she let out a small chuckle, stamping one of her front hooves in a jovial manner as she smiled at the colt.
"Nice flying," she complimented. "Seems like your landing could use a little work though..."
