"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
BUT HOW COULD YOU KNOW THE SWEETEST SUFFERING OF MOVING ON
He said he would go, that he would do their bidding, and so he promptly obliges. With the descent of his son and the continued reign of Ea, Tiphon realizes that it’s his duty to help nurture the kingdom. The Dale needs numbers as she needs strength, but she also still needs her friends. Curious, Tiphon is rather eager to roam and explore. It has been decades since the world truly opened up before him. There has only been the Dale; he is her prisoner, her guardian, and so he hasn’t strayed from the borders in quite some time. Even when he physically disappears from their eyes he is still there; he is the sun dancing across their skin and the wind whispering through the tall grass.
Tiphon arrives in silence. He does not fly, not exactly, but instead gradually materializes at the outside border of the kingdom. For a fleeting moment he wonders whether he has been here before, or has it been so long that it has vacated his memory? In the distance he can hear the roar of the waterfall as it drowns out most of the voices talking amongst themselves.
A few moments pass to allow him to drink in the scenery before he finally calls out to the family wedged in the bosom of the kingdom. They are here – he can feel them, sense them – but he knows not of whom. Many things can and have changed in the world since his acute absence. The monarchy is different because his son, the fallen king, has long since been devoured by the beach’s tide. Every kingdom sees the rise and fall of kings and queens, but they always move on – they must lest their home be overrun by darker minds. And so he muses quietly to himself as to the well-being of the Falls and those who currently hold it in their palms.
BETTER BEWARE, I GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT DEVIL-MAY-CARE WITH A LUST FOR LIFE
She heeds the call before the spotted king. The russet and salmon pointed woman moves expertly through her home and along trails well worm and memorized from the countless hours she has submerged herself within the embrace of the Falls.
The coral tinted limbs flash against the trunks of naked trees. The ground is blanketed in the reds and oranges of autumn's presence. The stallion stands out harshly against the scenery, vivid and chilling. When Ygritte finds him alone and waiting, she calls to him. "Hello." The dark eyes are watching with curiousness as well as caution.
Her voice is low but melodic against the onset of crisp air. The mare knew is was only a matter of time before Kreios joined them. "I'm Ygritte-" she continues while holding him with her eyes, "what brings you to my home?" It is a simple inquiry. Ygritte speaks in a structure tone, not rushed nor heightened. A small smile tugs the edges of her lips as she awaits the stallion's response.
BUT HOW COULD YOU KNOW THE SWEETEST SUFFERING OF MOVING ON
She comes alone to greet him, but Tiphon knows that it won’t be long until others join them. Many typically creep from the shadows, drawn out by the faces of outsiders. They will stand as a whole like a wall blocking Tiphon’s passage, but he has no ill intentions. There are no shadows cast across his reasons for being here. A smile crosses his face when he sees her to affirm the lack of ill will he possesses. ”Hello,” his voice is much larger than his body and it carries gently across the meadows behind her, wrapping her in silken ribbons. Despite her looks of hesitation and caution she still addresses him and never wavers from her post.
There is a long moment of quiet between them. Tiphon is looking between her and the kingdom while she is quietly observing him and wondering why he is here. His absence hadn’t really been recognized. The newer generations don’t know him, don’t know what he has done or what he is capable. They, like Ygritte, look at him curiously as though unsure what he will do next as though he was a wild card. ”I’m from the Dale,” he offers as reassurance while straightening himself. The sunlight dances across his porcelain coat, his mane and tail like molten gold. ”Based on recent events we just wanted to make sure how your kingdom is handling everything?” His eyes flicker toward the distant roar of the waterfall. He had heard their healing waters are no longer magical, no more enticing than a simple pond. ”I hope you have someone to help heal your numbers in bad times?” His head inclines curiously, his expression reduced to concern with his brows furrowed. ”If not, I can help when needed.” It isn’t far known what Tiphon can do. It seems to be rare knowledge.
”As friends, the Dale and Falls, we just want to make sure everything is okay.” His voice is stern, unyielding, but there is a kindness clutching onto his breath.
Another one? Seriously? What was with all the visitors lately?!
Raxa had picked up on the call of the stranger immediately, her muscular body turning and galloping toward the source. With breeding season occurring, Raxa felt more inclined than ever to help protect the kingdom. Even if she wouldn't be a dam anytime soon, despite spending some time with Jedi recently, she'd be damned if anything happened to the expecting mothers and their weanling foals under her watch. She was a warrior of the kingdom, and would gladly give her own life to defend it.
Which is why she was in such a hurry to go meet this stranger. As she neared, however, she slowed a bit, another scent entering her keen nostrils. She recognized that one; it was the queen, Ygritte. What was she doing out here alone, without Kreios? In recent meetings, it had normally been the king alone, or he'd come to support Ygritte if the others of the kingdom didn't get there first. But the fact that the queen was alone spurred Raxa on further. If she didn't damn herself for failing to protect Ygritte, the king would have her hide for sure.
After a while of galloping, the brindle caught sight of the pair of horses in the distance; Ygritte, and the stranger. Raxa slid to a halt as she arrived, just managing to catch the last vestiges of conversation between them.
Stomping a front hoof, her ears turning back to go against her skull, the mare's electric blue eyes narrowed at the stallion. For a moment, she hesitated, recognizing the scent of where he was from; the Dale. Still, that didn't mean she trusted him, "Are you sure that's all you're here for?"
Kreios has been overly curious of late, and while he usually finds Raxa’s greeting of visitors to be a bit abrasive, he is rather grateful for it now. He comes beside the brindle mare, pressing her shoulder with his muzzle in a non-verbal reassurance, but neglecting to chastise her manner or obvious suspicions.
The red and white stallion then settles beside Ygritte. Touching her affectionately on the neck before listening to Tiphon, the tall king remains somber-faced. That Tiphon is from the Dale is no longer as reassuring as it had been a few months ago, and Kreios remains on edge. The gold and white stallion asks after recent events, and the draft horses scowls.
Perhaps to most of Beqanna, recent events means the sudden lack of magic in their kingdom’s entities. To Kreios, the recent event is the raid on the Deserts that caused the magic to disappear and killed his family in the process.
“Your offer is generous” his tone suggests otherwise “But given that the last member of the Dale I saw was fighting to take over the Desert, you’ll understand if we’re a bit hesitant to accept your assistance.” Did they think that the Falls was so neutral and so weak as to accept any offer of help? No, not anymore. Not when a gift basket could so easily hold a snake. The Falls does lack healing; the scars on Kreios coat from his battle are proof of that. But there might not have been as many scars had the Dale not sided with the raiders, and Kreios will be damned before he admits they might need Tiphon.
Ooc: basically Kreios saw Weir fighting with the raiders against the Deserts and is sketched out by the Dale :P
BUT HOW COULD YOU KNOW THE SWEETEST SUFFERING OF MOVING ON
It’s as though he has blindly walked into the lion’s den with his arms tethered at his back. The last known relation he had with the kingdom had been of joy and welcoming, a sense of family and respect. What he didn’t anticipate is how they stare at him uncertainly and raise their hackles in defiance. He has done nothing and the Dale has teetered back into a quiet lull as of late. What has triggered the grated welcoming is yet uncertain, but Tiphon somehow keeps his lips pursed shut for a long while. His molten eyes study Ygritte, but she has not yet said anything in return. In her place, however, a mare arrives with venom in her voice and a fire in her eyes. The angel’s brow furrows as his silken forelock tumbles aside like a stream diverting its path, to reveal his bewilderment. ”Is this how the Falls greet allies now?” His voice is stern but not cruel, his question hanging idle in the air between them, but it goes unanswered. Although not fearful, Tiphon suddenly realizes how wary he must be now.
The king arrives now and gruffly touches the paint before softening his gesture toward Ygritte. Observant, Tiphon holds his silence. A king and queen, he presumes, or at least a king and his consort. His heart wrenches as he momentarily reflects back on Talulah and Elysteria and their children. They were his reasons to push forward in this never-ending life; they are his purpose in seeking security for their home, even if their scents have long since faded when he did. A frown creases his lips as their memory drifts in front of his eyes and it doesn’t quite falter when Kreios finally speaks, conclusing Tiphon’s reminiscing.
His eyes reduce to slits, unprepared for the animosity and mistrust. ”And do you know who that member was or what they looked like?” Certainly it wasn’t Ramiel or Ea. The Dale had no place to invade another kingdom or to be greedy. Their kingdom has always kept to itself, content with its comfortable space and familial unity. ”I can assure you that the Dale kept its nose out, so there is a possibility that you may be mistaken.” His voice is unyielding and steely as are his eyes as they flicker among the group of three in front of him.
Ygritte
