"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
12-26-2017, 08:06 AM (This post was last modified: 12-26-2017, 08:06 AM by Amorette.)
How could she have not thought of that? Even for those who were familiar with daylight the difference between the dark cave and the bright light was huge. But she only had to blink a couple of times to get used to it again. Amorette mentally blames herself for not thinking about him. She had been so desperate to get out of the cave, that she even forgot the wellbeing of her temporary ward.
”I’m sorry..” she murmurs softly as she turns back to him. Her muzzle drops to gently groom his crest. It was all she could think of doing, and she hoped it would calm him and give him courage. Her heart breaks, how could it not? He sounded so vulnerable and uncertain, nothing that should be on a child’s mind. ”I promise the light won’t burn you, Kryptic.” There was no way she could’ve said it wouldn’t hurt him. After being used to the darkness of the cave, the bright light might be too much for his eyes. But that is nothing he wouldn’t get used to.
She backs away to give the boy some more space, to allow him to make his first step into the light all by himself. Her lips curl up at multiple thoughts about that, how it is the start of his new life. One that isn’t limited to a prison. Amorette’s dark eyes never leave his form and she smiles at him encouraging, neighing softly at him.
Oh, how much she would want to help him. She could block the light with her own body and keep his piebald one pressed against her side, but in the long way that wouldn’t do him any good. It was something Kryptic had to overcome himself. It was just a shame that they had managed to pick a cloudless day, instead of one of Tephra’s foggy humid days.
Amorette
Quand on n'a que l'amour.
@[Neo] <3
His words were just soooooooooo adorable. Sorry I couldn't give you better words in reply.
In his short life all he had ever known was darkness. The only source of light a faint orange glow dancing along the stoney prison that was his home. His mother pacing the far wall. He had seen her reach towards the flickering light source a time or two. Each time she retracted with yowl of pain. The situation before him looks rather similar so he hesitates. The black mare returning to graze an encouraging touch along his crest as she had done in his home. His eyes roll upwards to look as she against retreats into the light. A confirmation leaves her lips that he would not be harmed. His nose wrinkles as his foot had returned to bare his weight. Pressing slightly to confirm to himself that it remained unharmed. His mismatched ears swivel forwards. If she can do it, I can do it too! He thinks with bold determination.
His oversized skinned wings half-mast. Balancing his body as he leans back slightly then rises his tiny forelimbs into the air. Launching himself into the light side of day. His wings flap uselessly at his sides and as he lands forefeet first he topples over onto his side. Lanky legs kicking at the air, trying to regain an upright position. His one leathery wing flaps as the other tangles amongst the grass and dirt underneath him. Scraping along rock as he struggles. This was it. He was burning alive he assumes. A sharp whinny calls for help. Tiny hooves desperately searching for traction on the ground but his wings keep intertwining with them.
Soon exhausting himself out, he stills. Head stretching to lie upon the cold earth. Tiny nares flare as his lungs draw in deep breaths. Limbs and wings alike go motionless. His mismatched eyes looking up in despair at the dark mare coming to his rescue. Though tired his eyes remain alert. Thoughts speeding through his mind at what was to come next...
Adorable. There is no other way to describe the look upon young Kryptic’s features. She is not able to stop her lips from curling, the sight was simply too endearing. ”Yes, that is it” she says to encourage the tobiano colt. One careful step into the light, but doesn’t everything start with one first step?
It is a good thing that she manages to hold back her laugh. Amorette’s lips are curled up into a smile – one she hopes works encouraging – and she silently cooed about his cuteness. Those too large wings and careful, yet brave!, steps into the light. Even the way in which he stumbles is adorable. Less funny is the way he actually falls, and how his legs and wings seem to tangle all together in one bunch of wildly flying limbs.
For a moment the dark woman can only stare at him, his panic rubbing off on her, but the little cry for help pulls her out of it. ”It’s okay, you’re fine. I’m here, I’m here” she tries to calm him, offering the words to him with a hushed voice. Amore dips her head towards him, attempting to avoid the flying limbs, but eventually deciding to just ignore them.
Her lips gently flick his poll, nuzzling him before pulling back a little so she is able to look at his mismatched eyes. ”One step at a time, little one.” There is still a smile playing with the corners of her lips, but never it is to make fun of him. Amorette comes to stand beside his frame, her muzzle examining his entire body as checks if he has hurt himself. ”Are you hurt?” she asks softly, her dark eyes searching his again. She would only gently encourage him to get up if she knew he was okay. Other than the shock of the daylight, that was something he would get used with time.
Each rapid breath sent puffs of air from his lungs. Her dark eyes look into his with a question on her lips, are you ok? He was unsure. He wasn't in extreme pain. The bending of his fragile wings under his weight the extent of it. Ears flick forwards as he answers in a worried tone, "Am I burning?" He asks almost serious. Too young to actually know what burning was or felt like.
Soon his breathing slowed to normalcy and he lifts his head from the hard dirt. Gathering his thin limbs to fold under him. His one wing remained tucked under his side and it pinched uncomfortably. In irritation he snorts as his forelimbs bend and hindquarters rise. The dark of his tail thrashing against his buttocks as he worked to steady himself. Careful to not step on the mess of leather gathered at his sides. Tiny hooves grip the ground as he begins to stand. A slight wobble to his limbs. His muscles weak from little use. There wasn't much space in a cave to exercise...
Now fully erected his mismatched eyes wander about. Traveling from the ground to his immediate surrounding. Finally finding the dark mare that was watching him with concern and amusement. His tummy grumbles as his gaze meets hers. Thoughts traveling to his mother that resides still in the cave. His head twists to view the dark opening. Pondering for a moment on why she had not followed them. "Where's my momma?" Eyes wide, he looks to the dark mare for an answer. Not realizes that she hadn't one to give...
She really tries to hold back, but the dark woman cannot stop her lips from curling up. He is so serious, and chuckling at him wouldn’t do him any good. He’s too young to understand, to know, and she cannot blame him for that. However, that just doesn’t make it any less funny. ”No, sweetheart, you’re not burning” she replies softly, shaking her head as she does. Amorette reaches down to gently nudge him, in an attempt to roll him off his wing. She could imagine that that would hurt, or at least be uncomfortable.
When he tries to get up she gives him some space to find his balance, her being in his way wouldn’t do any good. She doesn’t move far from his side, with the idea to break his fall if he might stumble back down to the ground. ”You can do it” she softly encourages him, still smiling.
Once he stands, Amorette finds it impossible to stay way any longer now. She is careful not to bump him back into the ground as her muzzle lightly trails down his back. ”Well done” she compliments lovingly, gently flicking his poll with her muzzle before pulling back.
She had expected this question, just not so quick. Her smile falters and she glances back at the darkness of the cave which they had only just exited. Karaugh was still there, unable to join them outside for now. And although Amore still hates the idea of captivity and torture, the buckskin’s little trick had harmed the natural faith she had in others. ”Your mother is still in..” in what? Her prison? ”.. the cave.”
Her eyes travel over his piebald form. He did look nothing like his mother, except for the big leathery wings at his sides. She doesn’t frown upon them, they made him look even more adorable, too big for his undeveloped form. He was too old to be a newborn, but the lack of exercise made him more lanky than he should’ve been. But she could only hope he was old enough to nibble on some grass and drink water.
”Let’s get you something to drink, hm?” she tries to steer away from their previous conversation, nodding into the direction of Tephra’s stream. The water would neither be too cold or too hot, and there was this perfect shallow spot where she could let him have his first taste of water safely.
Just when he began to think there was only cruel in the world, her soft voice was there to reassure him there was some good. A gentle caress of her muzzle along his back brings a smile to his maw. Happily, he nods his head in agreement to her search for something to drink. Nearly forgetting his question of his mother whereabouts and the mares vague answer.
He bounds after her. Flapping his leather-bound wings widely. They feel heavy and awkward at his sides but he must learn to control them. Having been cooped up in a dark cave has crippled him. Where muscle should have been forming was nothing but skin and bones.
With an excited squeal, he darts past her. Legs abnormally bowed like that of a day old foal. He kicks high with his rear hooves then lunges into the air with his front when they land again. Tossing his head about with a wild flare. He was happy to be out and about.
She leads even though he is ahead of her. Blue eyes watching for which direction she leans next. Another dash here and there is made before she is standing near a clear brook. Somewhere between the cavern opening and here at the stream he had found his courage. Rushing up to the edge of the water, he stops just an inch from it's variable location. Tucking his nose to his chest, he looks down at the shimmering reflection. Someone was staring at him from the other side! He snorts, they snort too. "Hey! Stop that." He huffs. Upon looking closer he notices this pony has wings too! Wings just like his! He flaps his wings wildly and his reflection mimics him. With brow furrowed in confusion, he lowers his nose to the waters surface. Hovering just about it. This wasn't another pony! It was him. He giggles at himself. Hopping forwards his hooves break the waters surface. Sending droplets of water splattering in all directions.
His body shakes the cool water from his hide before he turns to see Amore watching ever so patiently. "What's this?" He looks down to the water he was wading in. His attention on the subject is cut short as he hears voices coming from near the cave. Blue eyes rising to view where or who was causing the commotion. Quickly he retreats from the water and to Amorettes side. A concerned press of his muzzle was given to her knee...
Kryptic
Dark Side of the Moon
@[Amorette] I figured we could meld this into the drama thread so we can start a new one at current timeline
His smile is contagious and she finds herself smiling back at the piebald colt. He’s simply adorable, from his baby naivety to the way too big wings that sprout from his shoulders. In this moment it is hard to believe he actually is hér son. Where Amorette feels hesitant about Karaugh, Kryptic is slowly conquering her heart.
A last gentle nuzzle against his crest and they are off. She doesn’t hurry, nor urge him to hurry and keep up. It wouldn’t do Kryptic any good, he first had to learn how to use his legs properly. Moving around was the only way to do so. And it looks like he is getting a pretty good hang of it. Amore enjoys watching the colt dart around, alive and carefree, like his youth should be.
This time Amorette doesn’t hold back her laugh. She hadn’t realises how much he had missed, but she finds him discovering something new with every step they make. ”Adorable” she murmurs out loud, shaking her head slightly, but the smile never leaves her lips. She joins him in the water when he darts further into it. ”That’s you, Krytpic. The water reflects and works like a mirror” she explains him, before dipping her muzzle towards her own reflection to lessen her thirst.
Kryptic is not the only one alerted by the noise. It doesn’t take her long to determine where the commotion comes from, and it doesn’t bode any good. The boy comes to her side and instinctively she pulls him closer against her side, hoping that it would offer him comfort. ”Come, let’s go take a look” she tells him softly, pressing her muzzle against his crest before turning into the direction of the cave where Karaugh is held captive.
