"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
It was dusk, and the sun was behind her as she flew above the land. It felt good to be carried by her wings once again. Lost among the clouds her mind had quieted and she felt as peace with the world. She’d set off with no direction, leaving Kiwi to the care of Nerine. She trusted them to look after her while she enjoyed a much-needed moment of solitude. The only mark of the time she’d spent traveling was the drifting of the sun across the sky.
Sudden fatigue washed over her, and she exhaled heavily into the space around her. She knew it was probably time that she turned around and headed back, but a quick rest and bite to eat would do her good.
Deftly she lowered herself back towards the ground, her feet catching her weight in one effortless motion. The ground was soft here, with the snow bordering the path and collecting at the base of trees. She knew these woods by their tell-tale autumn colored leaves. Sylva.
It wasn’t too long ago that a stranger had suggested that she’d pay a visit to this corner of Beqanna and she wondered if she hadn’t inadvertently brought herself to this place on purpose. Glancing around her all seemed quiet. She hoped that it would stay that way long enough for her to be on her way.
Sprigs of grass littered the path, clinging for life amongst the frost. Quietly she ambled closer, tucking her wings up to create a blanket of warmth upon her back. Nerine was notably warmer, the coastal breeze kept the colder winds at bay.
It’d been too long since she’d left the safety of Nerine and it felt odd to be parted from the familiar crashing of the waves. The salty scent and coarse touch of seagrass had grown to be a comfort to her. Sand and rocks and caves had become such a normal part of her day to day life that the earth beneath her hooves felt foreign to her. As she walked the solid ground beneath her was strange. She’d grown accustomed to the give of sand with every step.
The birds sang their song, filling her ears with their pleasantly pitched crooning. It was nice to take a break from the barking of the seabirds. There was no melody to their conversations and it did become admittedly irksome at times.
However comforting the familiarity of Nerine had become, Nymf could not distract herself from the aching loneliness that grew inside of her. For the first time in her life she found herself alone. Except for Kiwi, she had no family to call her own. Her whole life she had been surrounded by family and, until the moment it’d been stolen from her, she’d never quite realized how important her dynamic had been. Their love had defined her and molded her into the person she’d become. Now she found herself beginning to change once more and she wasn’t entirely convinced that it was a change that she was enjoying.
Eros. That was the name of the stallion who had beckoned for her to travel this way. She remembered him from his last visit. Her reaction to his simple inquiry had left her filled with shame and Kiwi had barely stopped speaking of him since he’d left not too long ago. The little filly loved new people and Nymf could hardly blame her. She was one of the only foals in Nerine and she was undoubtedly lonely. But, that was not something that she was able to remedy quite so easily. She’d adopted Kiwi and was barely able to keep up with her energetic antics. She couldn’t imagine the exhaustion another foal might bring upon her.
Lowering her head, she nibbled on the stale grass. She yearned for spring and wished for it with every passing day. Spring would bring new life and, with it, new hope.
It seemed that even though the days were becoming slightly warmer, there was a chill he could not shake. Most nights in came in the form of a hollow heart. Being no longer filled with the daily joys of his children and his mate, it had grown empty. His golden eyes looked about blankly, they saw nothing but memories. He had tried to fill his loneliness with duties but when night came the emptiness returned for him. It caused sleep to evade him and all he could do was stare into the nights sky wishfully. That maybe as a falling star passed by he could cast his worries upon it and be granted relief. No matter how many he saw and how many times he wished, his trials remained.
This night was no different and as the sun began to fade from sight, he wandered beneath the autumn canopy aimlessly. The chill of the evening tried it's best to reach him but it's strength lacked these days. It was no match for his thick coat and heavy feathered limbs. Each stride rippled the muscles under his golden coat as he moved along a well worn path. The light snow that frosted the ground kept the spring grasses at bay but he knew soon there would be new life. Creatures of all sorts began stirring and their young birthed. Spring had been his favorite season, though where he came from it was short lived. Foals were born and grew fast or the elements were quick to consume them. Timing was essential there and too often he had witnessed foals parish. This land seemed to be more forgiving, though he was unsure he'd ever bore another child of his own.
The song birds were nearly ending their evening choruses when he came across a light form in the dim lighting. Stopping his movement, his eyes focused on the figure. "Hello... Sabra? Is that you?" His voice called out. The coloring and wings were the only identifying features he could make out, so it was possible it was the kingdoms leader...
Night fell quickly, wrapping the land within a comforting blanket of darkness bringing with it a sudden drop in the temperature. She’d lingered longer than she’d anticipated. Relishing in the first signs of spring, the sweet flavor of the land’s grass was a welcome change to the coarse salty fare she dined on in Nerine. Every bite took her farther away from the sandy shores of her home, reminding her of a life spent in a similar land. It’d been a good life and one she struggled to recall without overwhelming sadness. Suddenly, the grass had grown stale and she strained to swallow her mouthful. She should have been on her way long before nightfall. Exhaling into the whispering breeze a sudden prickle traveled up the length of her spine. She was being watched.
On alert she peered into the surrounding trees. There, nestled between two oaks, a dark figure stood bathed in shadow. Fixed on him, her whole body grew rigid. He moved tentatively, almost as though he, himself, was unsure of her identity. She held her copper tipped wings slightly outstretched, ready to jump into flight should he decide to present himself as a foe. It was only as his deep voice cut through the silence of dusk did she feel her body involuntarily begin to relax. She squinted her eyes, focusing her vision upon his masculine stature. There was an undeniable familiarity about him…
”No,” she replied to his inquiry as her feet carried her a step closer to him. The ambitious tendrils of moonlight that managed to snake their way through the thick canopy overhead washed over her, revealing her face to him more clearly than before. ”I apologize to have misled you,” she offered sincerely as she continued to try and make out his features. ”I am simply passing through on my way home.”
When the others stance had grown tense at his voice, he knew it had not been Sabra. Even when he had been a stranger to the land, Sabra had not been alerted by his presence. His motion had stilled as he watched the ghostly form come towards him. Seemingly easier but still on edge. Amber eyes studied their form for familiarity but it was her voice that sparked knowing in him. "Nymf?!" His words less questioning this time.
Soon the moonlight luminated her features and he was certain it was her. A smile curls his lips at the pleasant surprise, "Well I'll not assume you chose Sylva for any other reason than it's beauty." He muses happily. With a slight bow of his heavy head he welcomes her, "Sylva is happy to have you. You should rest here for the evening... It is much too dangerous for you to travel alone at night." Quick to be the voice of reason but not letting on he had his own agenda. Often he found himself longing the company of another for no other reason than not being alone.
Sylva had grown dark as the weak moonlight failed to push its way through the protective canopy ahead. Straining her eyes against the darkness she studied the figure that had materialized before her. It was almost as if the trees had heard her thoughts and carried him to her. Drawing closer to him, her footsteps faltered and disbelief marred her features as his voice washed over her.
”Eros?!” Her exclamation matched his and they both stood there considering each other. She watched as a smile spread upon the usual seriousness of his face. Unlike their first meeting, she felt no apprehension at standing in his presence. Alone in the woods she was almost glad to have him there. ”I never thought…” Her voice trailed off as her disbelief overtook her. Thinking back to their first meeting, she felt her shame all over again. She’d never thought of herself as unfriendly or unwelcoming but the events of her past had changed her and she had reacted unforgivably to his kind hearted greeting. ”I am so sorry for how I treated you in Nerine,” the words spilled out of her before she could stifle the flow. ”I am so ashamed.” There were no words to fully describe to him where her thoughts had been that day. The fear that constantly threatened to claim her, had woven itself so tightly within her that, every day, she fought against it. Leaving the fold of Nerine had been a huge leap for her. To go out on her own was something that, even a few weeks ago, she would not have even considered. With every passing day she could feel herself growing more and more secure. And, even though she knew she could never return to the person she’d once been, she could feel pieces of herself returning. She was at peace for the first time in a long time and seeing Eros again gave her an opportunity to set something right.
