"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
12-18-2016, 07:47 PM (This post was last modified: 12-19-2016, 11:39 AM by Rome.)
he laid low the warriors of old
There was something strange and enticing about the new world when the Reckoning had come. Rome delighted in the novelty of it all. He did not worry about the new changes that came and took away his ocelot abilities. Instead, he had been quite pleased with his new set of wings and strange hooves. These new hooves had made it seem easier to travel across the new distant land that still was known as Beqanna.
Rome had found his time was spent travelling and learning about these new lands. The days became endless, not exhausting but exciting and inspiring, and blurred all into one. In fact, he never realized how much time had passed since he took onto his new adventure. An adventure that surely felt in his mind was just beginning. Rome learned so much about these new lands and felt that there was something more to be learned. He had always sought out the new ideas of this world. Rome would always be a curious one of the world, wanting to know the ins and outs of everything that exist and all it entails.
However, he finds himself in the field on an early autumn morning. The air is crisper than ever, he can feel the arrival of winter just around the corner. Rome has always enjoyed the four seasons that came to Beqanna, but he particularly enjoyed spring and winter. He lets his nutmeg eyes wander across the vast grassland, stretching out to all corners that his eyes can see. There in the distance he spots the small cascade of water that rains down into the large lake beneath the cliff. Groups of other horses graze quietly together, finding what little food there is before winter comes.
Rome takes a step forward, letting his hooves carry him forward. He has found that he has better balance on his hooves now. Some days he has missed the paws, but some days he admires these normal assets of hooves other horses have in common. Rome, for now, isn’t very concerned with what he had before. He looks forward towards the new beginning, thought not certain why he finds himself in the field today of all days.
The shyness and unconfidence our Jinger had once upon a time had melted. Ebbed away by the warmpth and sharpness of time, she had warmed up to a blind stud named Juliensen. Having a foal warmed her more, making her more outgoing and fearless. Jinger loved Jewlia with all her heart, because she was her world. Her light.
Now with her love dissapeared, she needed to find the safety of another, one to hold her and her foal in his pinions. Jewlia needed a father-figure in her life, one far better than Jinger's own.
She wandered to the Field, hoping somebody would find her, with her foal in tow. Jinger raised her head to guage the time. "Mid-day." she thought. Suddenly a shadow mooved over head, and to her some-what suprise a horse flew over head. Jewlia stepped next to her mother. "Mama, I'm scared. I want Daddy." Jewlia whispered, snuggeling into her mother's comforting barrel.
Jinger suppressed a chuckle. "Darling, there's nothing to be afraid of. We'll find him someday." she sighed, turning her head to gaze in the distance. "I just hope we find him soon"
There was a heaviness about him now. He'd changed, and he wasn't sure it was for the better. He was harder, colder. And each time he held his daughter close, spoke gently, it surprised him. The grotesque scars at his shoulders marked his catalyst; where a demon had violently torn his wings from his flesh and bone. That night something had happened deep inside him, changed him. Altered his easy affection to a hovering sense of chilled caution. Some battles were meant to be lost.
The openness of the Meadow itched at him, crawled along his skin. The number of scents assaulted him, engulfed his nose in confusion. So many. His Taiga was not so packed and stifling and he already wanted to return to it. Even in the Valley before the Reckoning he'd stayed at the borders, deep in the forest running with the wolves. He'd always be a bit wild.
Faces and faces. So many strangers. How was a leader supposed to choose who to speak to, who to offer a home to? Especially when home wasn't always as welcoming as one might expect. The Taiga had it's dangers, creatures and prowlers that stalked the forest, and not everyone was fit to survive it. He and Reagan protected them, always would, but a level of self-efficiency was required in the event neither were around to assist.
So he searched the faces, the bodies, for the fittest. Bright blue eyes passed over a mare and child and moved on. When he saw the man he hesitated. Maybe. Strength, for sure. A secret sort of stealth in the grace of his movements. A hunter in some way or another. Ruan pressed forward towards him. He nodded in silent greeting to the woman and child, unsure if they belonged to the hunter, then turned a black face to the lighter man.
Are you in search of a homeland? Damn, too blunt. Too wild. He'd never catch on to the dancing phrases of diplomats, the petty niceties of society. Maybe if Reagan were here, she'd know what to say. But the poor fellow was stuck with Ruan and his awkwardly straightforward honesty.
12-24-2016, 06:57 AM (This post was last modified: 12-24-2016, 06:59 AM by Jinger.)
Jinger nodded at the stud, ignoring his bluntness "My name is Jinger. This is Jewila." she said, nosing her dear foal. The man was offering them a home, which she had none.
At this point, she'd accept no matter the danger. She just needed a place to settle down and for Jewila to make friends. "Jewlia and I would love to, but where is it? And what are your names?"
Rome takes note of his surroundings as he flicks his nutmeg gaze to the others. He lets every detail come in, paying attention to even things he has remembered as a child. Rome had explored these parts when he was a foal, but now he comes here for something else. He isn’t sure if it is a home or merely curiosity of what the world has become. He knew only of the old world, and the new world, not out of surprise, portrayed adventure and wonder.
He then notices the mare and child. A fine pair, he notes to himself. However, Rome does not think of family beyond his father and mother. He has never found anything to make him completely settle. Why should he? Rome is young and has a heart for adventure and knowledge. It is all that consumes his mind and fills his heart with excitement. The notion of loving another and building a family does not even cress his thoughts. Likely such a thing will never happen with him.
The approaching sound of hooves on the grass catch his attention quickly. Rome has never missed a beat of what happens around him. He is too eager to see and know it all that happens in the world. The stallion’s greeting is rather forward and Rome peers at him with a questioning manner. “A home?” He asks, dismissing the bluntness of such a thing.
The mare with the child he noted before speaks up. His eyes turn to the mare and his ears flick forward in her direction. Rome finds such strangeness in accepting a home without knowing anything about it. He has always found information first was helpful and knowing all there is to know, but Rome has cared little for such things before like a home. “I’m Rome,” he says when the mare finishes. And then he turns to look at Ruan, “Where is this home of yours?” A large smile grows on his lips. He is more interested in this new land than anything right now, a new adventure that came with learning new things and others. It all fascinated him.
"A home?" the man repeated. Ruan nodded simply and watched him with a flicker of curiosity. He liked that he didn't waste breath on mindless chatter. Ruan wasn't good at those things, and never pretended to be. The mare spoke up then, introducing herself and her child.
"Jewlia and I would love to, but where is it? And what are your names?"
His black ears flicked back in mild agitation. She was presumptuous and assumed he would immediately offer a place within their pack to just anyone. Perhaps that was more common among the other lands than he was aware of, but he certainly didn't fit that ideal. Nor did he ever wish to. The Taiga was too precious to them to act in such a careless manner.
He turned back to the man as he introduced himself next. Rome. Solid-sounding. "Where is this home of yours?"
Ruan, he offered in return. The Taiga, it's called. It lies between two other forests; the one you may know already simply as the Forest, and Sylva rests on the other side.
It is home to its own variety of creatures and is not always entirely safe, he added with a glance to the weaker pair. He would not let them believe they'd be walking into a paradise where children could thrive happily and carefree. In fact, if they did not belong to Rome, he wasn't too inclined to offer them a home. He was already spread thin keeping his young protected, and intended to find himself aid if he was able to, not more dependents to watch over. He knew his limits, and would not take on more responsibility for them when he knew he could not absolutely grant their safety. It would be a foolish decision, and he was no fool.
If you are not already under his protection, he said evenly to the woman, I'm afraid I am not prepared to admit you and your child. Under different circumstances, I perhaps would consider it, but as it is I cannot ensure your safety. He was honest, even if it did show his lack in current resources. He would not knowingly endanger them and it was as simple as that.
He returned his sharp gaze to Rome with a deep breath. We are a family unit, a pack. There are no set duties for diplomacy or battle, but rather all are expected to help where they feel that they can and should the land ever come under attack, each able body would be expected to stand in defense. He fell quiet, trying to think what else he should say. He'd already explained their structure, their location, and the dangers within. He was terrible at these things.
If you would prefer to see it for yourself first, I can escort you. I cannot stay much longer. Honesty again. He didn't want to rush, especially when choosing the right match for their pack was of such importance, but the fact was that he was needed at home. If he didn't stray long enough to look for assistance, other strong hunters, then he'd possibly never get the help he needed. They were not vulnerable, not with Reagan and the Tiger alongside him, but he certainly didn't have much free time as of late.
Jinger's eyes grew firm, as her mind grew set in it's path. "I would like to come. Anywhere I can be of use, I'll consider home." She didn't mention why she had scars on her back, and that her father, though he hurt her, was protected by her from a cougar. Jinger smiled as she looked at her Jewl briefly, then returned her attention to Ruan.
"I have fought and survived other predators before, I can do so now. Jewlia's a yearling, learning fighting, survival and deplomacic skills from me. I would like help with her fighting skills, though." her eyes were still hard, a cool coal-like stare.
