[open] A Rose In The Rain [Ygritte/ diplomat]

[Nymphetamine]

Nymphetamine

Winter had never been his thing, the cold biting air, the constant dampness from snow that melted due to his body heat, shortened daylight hours; they all lead to the displeasure of the season. He would go hide away at in the Jungle if he could, but that wasn’t an option for many reasons. So the blood bay trudged through the snow and gritted his teeth against the cold and continued on with his duties. Chamber had changed quite a bit since he first joined her ranks. She no longer was home to everything that went bump in the night. She was still fierce, still capable and a force to be reckoned with if she felt the need to show it, but she was no longer showboating her strength about. No no, since the days of Killdare she had become a more silent power, an internal strength that was hidden beneath the surface. The bay preferred it this way, and worked, tried to at least, to help keep her power boiling unseen.

As one of the only lasting diplomats Chamber has had in many years Nymphetamine found his ability to keep Chamber strong was in his visits to elsewhere, to the other kingdoms of friends, foes, and the unknown. Since the warning, the state of all kingdoms were more aware and many of their nerves were “on end”, alert level orange. Nymphetamine for a long while didn’t leave the side of the once ever-burning tree. He felt he had to keep constant vigil, but eventually that subsided and he realized he had to be more proactive than that; continue his job of visits and talks. It had been many moons since he last stepped foot in the Falls. Vessel had been missing and Kimber and he had taken to the falls in search of her. Ygritte, and Kreios and joined their search and in the end they all found her with Chemdog. His sweet daughter had assured them there was no foul play and they had all left, though he was sure none of them believed that the whole truth. The visit had been of a personal nature but the care Ygritte and Kreios had shown for the young mare had earned them the respect of Chamber’s necromancer.

He hoped to call on the respect he hoped was mutual. He had heard many a rumor since the end of the raid, since the warning. The Falls’ rulers had cut ties with many, had withdrawn within their borders. Their gates were closed and Nymphetamine was curious to know why. There were many things that could cause a change in heart between allies and maybe it was a simple thing, but a total withdrawal was something he felt he must check in on...even if he had to cross Beqanna in the nipping cold.  The journey was not too long, as he had been recruiting in the field, and the slow change of the landscape was always intriguing to him. The slope slowly increasing to the grade went from flat to the most minuscule hills, until the land rose and fell in lovely mounds.  But then the trees thickened again and the land leveled out once more, the blood bay slowed, as he had reached the non- ally's border. 

Nymphetamine stopped and let out a call, stance alert, and ready, but surely he showed no aggression. He knew Kreios was always keenly aware of his border lands, so he wondered if Kreios would meet him first, but as this was a diplomatic venture, he hoped to converse with Ygritte or her diplomatic leader. Either way, Nymphetamine was curious what the visit would unfold. Would there be hard feelings after Kreios and Killdare battled in the raid? Or would they not have a discussion due to their withdrawn nature? Maybe they have had a great change in status and will seek an alliance? He knew not what Falls and its leaders were up to so he would just have to wait with an open mind. HIs answers would come soon enough.  

Like a thorn to the Holy Ones

[Kreios]

Kreios does not know the most recent gossip: that the Falls has become less open to visitors and more wary even of their allies.

If he had known, he would be pleased.

Such news is only gossip because of the kingdom’s long tradition of open arms; no one would look askance if the Chamber behaved in the same way (and in fact, they always have).

If suspicion and hesitance are what it takes to keep the kingdom safe from outside threats, then that is what Kreios will encourage. They are no longer the haven they once were – they cannot offer the magic of their benevolent kingdom to others. They do not even have enough for themselves.

The red king is walking the border with his son, teaching the yearling the edges of their kingdom. Though Zai lacks his father’s massive build, the still-leggy colt will clearly rival the king in height. He is the one that spots the unfamiliar stallion first, and nudges his father’s shoulder to alert him.

Kreios’ expression is immediately a frown, which is offset by the curiosity and good nature of the colt beside him.

“Nymphetamine.” Says the king flatly when they reach the bay stallion. He remembers all too well the last time he had laid sight on the other stallion (and his blue lover and molten lava king). They had been fighting against the Desert, their grasping hooves greedy for a land that was not theirs and now was no ones. They had drowned the Desert and decimated his family. Kreios thinks that Nymphetamine should be rather glad that he didn’t kill him on sight.

Zai has less murder on his mind, and interrupts whatever it was that his father was about to say with a friendly: “Hello! You’re from the Chamber, right? Our family used to live there, didn’t they Da?” He looks back to his father, the boyishness curiosity on his face and the gentle press of his shoulder to his father’s side a rather stunning political ploy by a child his age. Perhaps his mother has been rubbing off on him.

“Yes,” Kreios replies, somewhat grudgingly. A fin thing indeed, to be school in kingdom matters by a colt only just off his mother’s side. He might not trust the bay foreigner, but the thoughts that had been swirling through his mind would only put the kingdom in more danger than they already were. “What brings you to the Falls?”

[Nitika]

Nitika certainly had not been expecting this. It was a nice thing, to see the stallion she still became happy around when she visited, and yet strange too, considering what kind of changes the kingdom had been going through. He really had the nerve to come here, even though it could be dangerous? Nitika was loyal to her kingdom, but she also feared for the safety of the blood bay stallion, even if they hadn't seen each other since her last visit with Siba.

Nitika had to admit, she still bore a great deal of attraction to him. He was kind, caring, protective, and loyal. A perfect kingdom resident and made for the warrior caste. But still, why was he here after everything that had happened?

The mare had been peacefully grazing with her fellow warrior, Raxa. Secretly, the painted mare suspected that the brindled warrior had some kind of encounter in the autumn season, since her belly appeared to be bigger than she'd seen before. Maybe her friend had put on weight? Nitika decided to not say that out loud, knowing it might offend the brindled mare.

So, instead, to get her mind off that, when the mare heard the familiar call, she excused herself, ignoring the comments Raxa threw her way. The mare headed off into the distance, her gait at a steady trot as she approached the group of horses. She spotted Kreios and his yearling son, the most recent foal he had with Ygritte if she remembered correctly. Then again, she'd been gone here and there throughout the recent months when she visited her daughter in the Chamber.

The blood bay form of Nymphetamine was easy to identify. She smiled at the thought of encountering the stallion again, but since the king was nearby, she had to show respect.

Dipping her head at Kreios, briefly putting Nymphetamine aside, she only looked at the blood bay stallion once she acknowledged the king, "Nymphetamine? What are you doing here?" the painted mare asked, not having caught the conversation of the stallions or the foal before she got there.