11-01-2019, 01:14 PM
<center><img src="https://i.postimg.cc/WzwTjqg2/thiamaniphtml2.png"><table bgcolor=571537 style="border-color: black; border-width: 0px; border-style: solid; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: -95px" cellspacing=30 cellpadding=30 width=650><tr><td><p align=justify><font face=times new roman color=873142><font style=font-size:9pt;line-height:12pt;letter-spacing:1px><font style=letter-spacing:3px><center><Font color=c77e63><i>did the full moon force my hand?</i></font></font> </center><p align=justify>
She can hear the voice clearly, and she knows who it belongs to.
And what it means.
<b>“Gates of Death,”</b> she breathes, repeating aloud what the voice had said. She looks, unconsciously, around the temple for any sort of direction. But it is her mother who speaks. <i>I will take you to the Gates. The path is treacherous, but I know the way.”</i> the Oracle says, her voice calm but wary. <i> “Come, daughter,”</i> she says, beckoning her only child forward.
Thia can’t help but think how strange it is, stepping out of the temple with her mother. When they had been together, the had been bound to the temple - unable to step outside its marble foundations. But she hesitates when her mother does not stop as she approaches the steep cliff face. However, her mother simply turns and offers a reassuring smile before gesturing to a narrow staircase leading down the cliff face. It was a path clearly not designed for equines, but her mother did not hesitate as she began her descent. Thia balked, for a moment, pulling the wing she must press against the rocks as tightly against her side as possible while extending the other for balance. Again, she found herself grateful to have been given wings, for at least a misstep wouldn’t mean certain death.
Rationally, she knows she could have simply met her mother at the bottom or simply asked for directions. Selfishly, she wanted to spend each and every moment she was allowed with her mother. So she followed, saying little, and trying to remember to breathe as she watched the stones dislodged by her hooves fall into the crashing seas below.
The seas grow louder with every footfall. It’s disconcerting, seeing the stones that had taken her mother from her up this close. But her mother doesn’t seem at all perturbed buy this fact. So Thia keeps her thoughts to herself and simply focuses on taking each step one at a time. Eventually, the path begins to flatten - widen. They’re close enough to the sea now that the sea spray soaks them both.
Thia shivers as the mixture of sea breeze and sea spray chill Thia to the bone, but her mother seems impervious to the cold. Thia’s gaze drifts out to sea - to the horizon that had once been so familiar. But not her mother’s. No, the Oracle turned and walked into a narrow opening in the sheer cliffs - one not visible from the clifftop.
The cave opened dramatically once they stepped through the narrow opening. It was nearly double double their height and wide enough for the pair to walk side by side. Thia slips into step beside the oracle as they walk deeper into the cave. It strikes Thia as odd that, while dark, light seems to emanate from deep within the cave, though the source is indistinguishable. The pair walked quietly for what felt like near an hour before the light began to grow brighter. Eventually - a discernible shape appears.
A gate, clearly metal, as the light glints eerily off the metallic surface. The gates look ancient, but for as old as they must be they are strange in that they appear pristine. She can see the points of polished silver, untouched by tarnish or age. The light comes from somewhere deep behind the gates, but the source remains indistinguishable.
But before the gate - blocking the path of those that may come to escape the afterlife - lies a guardian. The creature is made of stone and has settled at the center of the gate. The creature’s horns nearly brush the roof of the cave. It’s bat-like wings were spread wide, so as if to shield the gates from prying eyes. It appeared similar to a dragon in structure, but it was sitting on its haunches. The creature had feline and humanoid features as well. This was not a dragon at all, but a gargoyle, regarded as many as a creature of evil. But they were not evil.
They were protectors.
Guardians.
And this creature had been charged with guarding the gate between the world of the dead and the land of the living. However, unlike the untouched gates, the age of the stone is undeniable. Moss grows upon the creature’s legs and arms. It is evident where time has taken its toll upon the creature.
Thia steps cautiously towards the creature, her gaze lingering on a large, polished silver bowl that sits nestled between the creature’s clawed feet. The basin is empty, but equally as pristine as the gates behind the gargoyle.
It is only than that her mother speaks. <i>“The dead cannot pass these gates. There is a price the guardian requires, one that the dead can no longer pay.”</i> Thia turns to her mother, the confusion evident on her face. <i>“Blood, my darling. The guardian requires blood. And the dead no longer bleed,”</i> the Oracle says, with some reservation, knowing that it is her daughter that must pay this price. For in the guardian’s right hand is a sword - made of the same silver. The blade has remained sharp and unblemished.
Thia follows her mother’s gaze, and dips her head in understanding. She moves to stand alongside the sword, and sucks in a deep breath as she moves her right shoulder against the sharp blade. The skin and flesh gives way immediately. A small sound escapes her lips as she moves to position the leg above the basin, letting the river of crimson flow down her leg and drip into the basin below. The wound is not so large as to disable her, but the blood flows freely.
Each drip of crimson into the silver basin seems to breathe more life into the stone structure. A deep rumble comes from the chest of the creature, and dust begins to rise around it’s joints. The creature retracts its great wings and turns its stone gaze upon Thia. He says nothing, but dips a large, stone finger into the basin smearing the warm, crimson blood as he draws the finger up to his lips. He slips his finger between his stone lips. The rumble from his chest grows in volume.
<b><i> “You may pass.”</i></b> It says in a voice unlike any Thia has ever seen. As the monster clumsily gets to his feet and steps aside. As he moves, the gates begin to slowly move of their own accord - beckoning Thia towards the light.
Thia turns towards her mother - her dark eyes glinting eerily in the strange light. <b>“She said that you may be able to come with me --”</b> Thia begins, but her mother is already shaking her head.
<i> “Darling, it was my time. I belong here. You do not. Go. Live.”</I> The Oracle breathes against her daughter’s neck.
<b> “But I - I don’t know what I’m doing, mother. I don’t know how - “</b> Thia says, her voice small.
<i> “And that tells me that you’re on the right path. Try things. Find what you like and what you don’t. Make mistakes. Celebrate your successes. Live, daughter.”</i> the Oracle says, as an encouraging, maternal smile appears on her lips. She had foreseen her death, but not this reunion with her daughter. And she was grateful even for these few, precious moments.
<b>“I don’t want to leave you, Mother,”</b> Thia says, watching as the gates continue to swing open to the fullest extent in the narrow cave. Thia cannot see what is on the other side, but she can feel it calling to her from the very depth of her bones. The light, quite literally, is blinding.
<i> “I’ve never left you, darling girl. I am always with you and always will be. And I’ll be here waiting for you when it’s time.</i> With that, the woman presses a kiss to her daughter’s crescent mark brow and steps away.
<b> “I love you,”</b> Thia says, the tears brimming in her dark eyes, trying to memorize every detail of her mother’s face before turning and facing the light. Thia steps through the gates as the light blinds her. For a moment she feels everything and then feels nothing at all.
And then she is back.
Her hooves sink deeply into the soft sand of the beach.
She turns to look behind her and sees...nothing. A small gasp escapes Thia’s lips as she sinks to her knees, the grief crashing over her like the waves crashing upon the sand.
<center><font style=letter-spacing:3px><Font color=c77e63><i> thia.</i></font></font></table>
<a href="https://www.deviantart.com/littlewillow-art/">manip by littlewillow-art</a></center></center>
She can hear the voice clearly, and she knows who it belongs to.
And what it means.
<b>“Gates of Death,”</b> she breathes, repeating aloud what the voice had said. She looks, unconsciously, around the temple for any sort of direction. But it is her mother who speaks. <i>I will take you to the Gates. The path is treacherous, but I know the way.”</i> the Oracle says, her voice calm but wary. <i> “Come, daughter,”</i> she says, beckoning her only child forward.
Thia can’t help but think how strange it is, stepping out of the temple with her mother. When they had been together, the had been bound to the temple - unable to step outside its marble foundations. But she hesitates when her mother does not stop as she approaches the steep cliff face. However, her mother simply turns and offers a reassuring smile before gesturing to a narrow staircase leading down the cliff face. It was a path clearly not designed for equines, but her mother did not hesitate as she began her descent. Thia balked, for a moment, pulling the wing she must press against the rocks as tightly against her side as possible while extending the other for balance. Again, she found herself grateful to have been given wings, for at least a misstep wouldn’t mean certain death.
Rationally, she knows she could have simply met her mother at the bottom or simply asked for directions. Selfishly, she wanted to spend each and every moment she was allowed with her mother. So she followed, saying little, and trying to remember to breathe as she watched the stones dislodged by her hooves fall into the crashing seas below.
The seas grow louder with every footfall. It’s disconcerting, seeing the stones that had taken her mother from her up this close. But her mother doesn’t seem at all perturbed buy this fact. So Thia keeps her thoughts to herself and simply focuses on taking each step one at a time. Eventually, the path begins to flatten - widen. They’re close enough to the sea now that the sea spray soaks them both.
Thia shivers as the mixture of sea breeze and sea spray chill Thia to the bone, but her mother seems impervious to the cold. Thia’s gaze drifts out to sea - to the horizon that had once been so familiar. But not her mother’s. No, the Oracle turned and walked into a narrow opening in the sheer cliffs - one not visible from the clifftop.
The cave opened dramatically once they stepped through the narrow opening. It was nearly double double their height and wide enough for the pair to walk side by side. Thia slips into step beside the oracle as they walk deeper into the cave. It strikes Thia as odd that, while dark, light seems to emanate from deep within the cave, though the source is indistinguishable. The pair walked quietly for what felt like near an hour before the light began to grow brighter. Eventually - a discernible shape appears.
A gate, clearly metal, as the light glints eerily off the metallic surface. The gates look ancient, but for as old as they must be they are strange in that they appear pristine. She can see the points of polished silver, untouched by tarnish or age. The light comes from somewhere deep behind the gates, but the source remains indistinguishable.
But before the gate - blocking the path of those that may come to escape the afterlife - lies a guardian. The creature is made of stone and has settled at the center of the gate. The creature’s horns nearly brush the roof of the cave. It’s bat-like wings were spread wide, so as if to shield the gates from prying eyes. It appeared similar to a dragon in structure, but it was sitting on its haunches. The creature had feline and humanoid features as well. This was not a dragon at all, but a gargoyle, regarded as many as a creature of evil. But they were not evil.
They were protectors.
Guardians.
And this creature had been charged with guarding the gate between the world of the dead and the land of the living. However, unlike the untouched gates, the age of the stone is undeniable. Moss grows upon the creature’s legs and arms. It is evident where time has taken its toll upon the creature.
Thia steps cautiously towards the creature, her gaze lingering on a large, polished silver bowl that sits nestled between the creature’s clawed feet. The basin is empty, but equally as pristine as the gates behind the gargoyle.
It is only than that her mother speaks. <i>“The dead cannot pass these gates. There is a price the guardian requires, one that the dead can no longer pay.”</i> Thia turns to her mother, the confusion evident on her face. <i>“Blood, my darling. The guardian requires blood. And the dead no longer bleed,”</i> the Oracle says, with some reservation, knowing that it is her daughter that must pay this price. For in the guardian’s right hand is a sword - made of the same silver. The blade has remained sharp and unblemished.
Thia follows her mother’s gaze, and dips her head in understanding. She moves to stand alongside the sword, and sucks in a deep breath as she moves her right shoulder against the sharp blade. The skin and flesh gives way immediately. A small sound escapes her lips as she moves to position the leg above the basin, letting the river of crimson flow down her leg and drip into the basin below. The wound is not so large as to disable her, but the blood flows freely.
Each drip of crimson into the silver basin seems to breathe more life into the stone structure. A deep rumble comes from the chest of the creature, and dust begins to rise around it’s joints. The creature retracts its great wings and turns its stone gaze upon Thia. He says nothing, but dips a large, stone finger into the basin smearing the warm, crimson blood as he draws the finger up to his lips. He slips his finger between his stone lips. The rumble from his chest grows in volume.
<b><i> “You may pass.”</i></b> It says in a voice unlike any Thia has ever seen. As the monster clumsily gets to his feet and steps aside. As he moves, the gates begin to slowly move of their own accord - beckoning Thia towards the light.
Thia turns towards her mother - her dark eyes glinting eerily in the strange light. <b>“She said that you may be able to come with me --”</b> Thia begins, but her mother is already shaking her head.
<i> “Darling, it was my time. I belong here. You do not. Go. Live.”</I> The Oracle breathes against her daughter’s neck.
<b> “But I - I don’t know what I’m doing, mother. I don’t know how - “</b> Thia says, her voice small.
<i> “And that tells me that you’re on the right path. Try things. Find what you like and what you don’t. Make mistakes. Celebrate your successes. Live, daughter.”</i> the Oracle says, as an encouraging, maternal smile appears on her lips. She had foreseen her death, but not this reunion with her daughter. And she was grateful even for these few, precious moments.
<b>“I don’t want to leave you, Mother,”</b> Thia says, watching as the gates continue to swing open to the fullest extent in the narrow cave. Thia cannot see what is on the other side, but she can feel it calling to her from the very depth of her bones. The light, quite literally, is blinding.
<i> “I’ve never left you, darling girl. I am always with you and always will be. And I’ll be here waiting for you when it’s time.</i> With that, the woman presses a kiss to her daughter’s crescent mark brow and steps away.
<b> “I love you,”</b> Thia says, the tears brimming in her dark eyes, trying to memorize every detail of her mother’s face before turning and facing the light. Thia steps through the gates as the light blinds her. For a moment she feels everything and then feels nothing at all.
And then she is back.
Her hooves sink deeply into the soft sand of the beach.
She turns to look behind her and sees...nothing. A small gasp escapes Thia’s lips as she sinks to her knees, the grief crashing over her like the waves crashing upon the sand.
<center><font style=letter-spacing:3px><Font color=c77e63><i> thia.</i></font></font></table>
<a href="https://www.deviantart.com/littlewillow-art/">manip by littlewillow-art</a></center></center>