"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
The world unfurled slowly for Nazariy. He felt at once free and trapped with his companion, always a breath away from the fact that there was no truth to him. A stallion built on lies and fallacies, clinging to whatever scraps he could scrounge for himself. He took to keeping quiet, willing to listen to anything Alvorr said in their journey. He kept half his attention on the scenery and half his attention on everything his traveling companion said. He wanted to know everything about this place, he wanted to know the sights and the scents and the earth beneath his feet; the way it went from the lush grasses of the field to the hardy greens of Nerine.
Nerine. The word tasted like green under his tongue. He couldn't imagine it as a real place, he could only find it within him to imagine it as a type of fantasy, a story passed from mother to foal. He kept waiting for the punch line, to come across some sort of ruin or emptiness. Even if that was to be the case, he found joy in the changing scenery; of pasture to woodland to a place where saltwater stung his nostrils from miles away.
His heart caught in his throat at the sight of the land opening before him. There was not much foliage, only open space. Both handy and worrisome, if a predator were to come after them. The grass was short and cropped, barely fitting beyond his teeth. No doubt there had been hundreds of horses before them, and the memory of them spoke here.
But it was the sky that caught him- thick and large, seeming to bend over them uninterrupted, like a large blue dome.
He looked at Alvorr, his body slightly frozen. "Is this why you travel?" his voice was quiet.
Maybe… maybe it would be best if some new people were recruited to Nerine. All horses in here seemed to be either related to her or to be considered distant family through such close friendships, they might as well be cousins. Some new blood - especially from horses that maybe weren’t all hotheaded like her father and grandmother - might be good for the kingdom.
And maybe she just needs to get away and recollect her thoughts, as well.
The pink-spotted princess (that’s what she was now, if she faced the idea) hadn’t entirely been herself ever since magic had forged and changed her, and so perhaps she had lost a part of her self - in a way, there was a disconnection from her twin sister, and instead of looking for Oisín and Chryseis to continue following them around, that idea didn’t really appeal to her any more. There had only been half a day where she had been older, forced into the body of a prima adult mare, but it had been enough. Or maybe it had been fighting a monster.
Maybe it had just come from her being away from home and doing something on her own. Making a decision to leave, even if it had been temporary.
Mother would probably want her to do something for the good of the kingdom, especially now. This spring, she would give birth to a younger sibling, and for Eurwen that meant yet another step in the direction of maturity. She might not yet be responsible for her new sibling, but she would probably get to babysit them.
She wonders if Chryseis had felt so responsible when she met herself and Oisín, briefly.
The pink-and-white yearling then makes her way to the southern border. She has a means to protect herself now, and she should probably do what she intended earlier - go find other people. The forest near the border provided her some cover, as well as the rocks and it’s crevices did, but what did she actually have to fear?
She suppresses the next thought - a lot - quickly when she spies two horse-like shapes on the border. Oh! Seems new blood had already come their way. The only thing left to do was see what they were like… if they hadn’t come for diplomacy or to declare war or maybe they were of malintent or….
Stop. Just go.
With a deep breath, she takes up a trot from the treeline, and beelines to the two young stallions. ”Hello. You’ve reached Nerine.” Something mother and Heartfire sometimes said. ”Can I help you?”
lies the seed that with the sun's love in the spring becomes the rose
The journey to Nerine probably wouldn't take long, but any journeying wasn't particularly too enjoyable. Only the scenery and scents made it comforting, a constant change in nature, something that Alvorr quite enjoyed.
The land was quite different to his homeland anyway, quite spacious for all to roam in, forgiving in the worst of times.
He moves comfortably with Naziriy, keeping the pace with the younger stallion as he smiled "I haven't been to Nerine before, this should be exciting" he is unsure of whether this declaration would come as something worrying or just fuel the explorative spirit of the journey, he shrugs anyway as he picks up speed, his dotted legs moving at a trot.
As they travelled the ground below them was already changing, an unfamiliar expanse of land ready to be explored.
The change in scent is what drove Alvorr forward, the bitter aroma of ocean salt drifting toward the pair as they crossed the border, stopping with a hard halt "We should wait here" he said, he at least knew it was nice to wait for someone to find them, a diplomatic courtesy "We don't want to get eaten now do we" he joked as he looked forward, waiting to answer his question "I travel because I travel, even if that makes no sense" he shrugs as a new sound accompanies the shudder of trees, a stranger emerging from the treeline with greeting.
Alvorr smiles and quickly replies "Well hello! We are here to, explore, I think" he says confidently as he turns to his friend "This is my friend Naziriy, and I am Alvorr" he nods, his posture bowing in a humerous manner "It is lovely to meet you" he adds as he turns back to his companion, waiting to see if he had anything to say.
" darling. we're slow dancing in a burning room. "
01-24-2019, 04:12 PM (This post was last modified: 01-25-2019, 02:08 AM by Nazariy.)
The knowledge that he and Alvorr were both amateurs at the same land almost helped Nazariy, at the same time as worrying him. He decided that it was good to be beside someone who would be able to see things that Nazariy himself could not. Despite himself, he liked the company of the other male and liked listening to what he had to say.
Alvorr stopped before something Nazariy couldn't see, some invisible line in the sand- or, in this case, the harsh grass that barely brushed his hocks. "We don't want to be eaten, do we?" Nazariy stared at him, not getting the joke. The salt air felt strong and slightly painful against his deaf ear. He had realised that no air whistled past that small dark appendage, that things that passed had no effect. He guessed that that only meant that he would have to try a little harder.
"So there's no reason to your travelling?" He felt a blend of disappointment and increased curiosity. He wondered what lands this stallion had seen, if he had seen fields of green and gold and speckled flowers. He wondered how long this stallion had spent building himself; gathering the information of his identity. He wondered if Alvorr had even spent time pulling the words from the inconceivable mass that was his personality. What was a personality, even?
A new noise filled his peripheral hearing, and he turned his head slightly so his good ear could catch it. He looked to where a figure was peeling away from the land before them, a strange sight coming of a young filly with pink speckled along her body. She reminded him of a decorative Alvorr, his dark spots replaced with the soft pink that he'd never seen on another horse.
Nazariy's words seemed swollen in his throat. How can I help you? Anxiety made a quick triumph in his body and he pulled himself together. He watched Alvorr speak, and he felt a mix of relief and awe at the knabstrupper. The fact that he could speak like that, with such confidence, such sureness in the words he was speaking. He thanked whatever was out there for Alvorr being the one to introduce him to the filly.
"What are you?" he said at first, noting the pink spots. He immediately realised that some social blunder had been made and rushed to apologise. "I mean, who are you!" For a moment that sound of the ocean was a little bit seductive. "Yeah, like he said, I'm Nazariy."
She’d come with high hopes, having thought to venture out to the field. Of course she could have known that visitors were just that; still, she was slightly disappointed that the black-spotted male didn’t really seem to have a purpose. How does one live like that, she wonders briefly? ”Oh.” Slightly surprised and off-guard, she didn’t really find anything to say until the other male spoke. He seemed younger than the first, though still older than herself. But then again, the only ones younger than her would be mere babies. Hmm. Strange how that just didn’t seem right to her, mentally.
But when she had been given the choice she had chosen the safety of growing up naturally, not wanting people to see her as an adult only to find that her mind wasn’t there yet. Now that it started to be the other way around though, she was starting to doubt herself. When people looked at her they would see the metallic gleam of rose-gold, gleaming on white fur speckled with baby pink - cute and pretty, and young - nothing more, really.
It was, in the end, perhaps slightly frustrating.
The younger stallion was doing just that, although he looked like he’d never seen an odd colour on a horse. She raises her nose a little, to pick up their scent as well as making herself look perhaps a little bigger so they would know they had to do with someone... somewhat important? Inside she cringed but she wouldn’t want to let the visitors know. The multiple-horses-and-grass scent indicated the meadow or the field, no kingdom stood out. New, perhaps to Beqanna.
”I am Eurwen. Ay-ohr-wen,” she specified for pronunciation. She looked to the dun colt, her face smoothed over as if he hadn’t asked her a weird question, and answered it in another way. ”My mother is Khaleesi of Nerine, my father Prince of the Icicle Isle.” For now at least, she knew mother hadn’t been ruling much, perhaps her pregnancy wasn’t so easy - and things were prone to change. But until all was said and done she would’t tell any strangers about how the kingdom was being ruled.
She cocked her head at the Knabstrup male. He wasn’t by any chance related to her mother was he? Scrutinizing him a moment, she decided not to comment, instead she continued the conversation with a small flick of ear and tail. ”Did you come to see the caves, the sea, or the outcrops? Or are you going to the Isle?” she asks him. He seems to be in the lead, at the moment anyway.
lies the seed that with the sun's love in the spring becomes the rose
The fellow spotted mare does not take long to reply to the pair of stallions, introducing herself and stating that her parents were of quite significant origin, the spotted stallion nods and speaks in return "Well it is nice to meet you, your highness" he smiles, glancing toward his new companion to see if he had anything to say, perhaps still quite timid.
So far their explorative meeting had gone quite well, no one had been eaten and no wars had been started. Then again, what could two little stallions possibly conjure to create a catastrophe.
The mare then asks if they would like to see the caves, sight-see the lands that she lives in, a possible invitation into exploring their homeland, something that struck Alvorr's eye almost instantly.
As he thought, the stallion instinctively made himself look smaller in front of the mare, he had learned about diplomatic affairs and just simply polite behaviour when he was in his homeland.
The stallion nods and looks over to his companion "I think that would be a great idea" he says with a grin, his explorative spirit beaming to see new lands with another spotted fellow.
The stallion didn't really truly know why he likes to travel so much, maybe it was the fear of remaining in the past that haunted him, or just the inability to settle down somewhere, he snaps back out of it for the moment, continuing in his speech "We would love to come with you" he speaks for them both, not really taking into account whether his new friend wanted to come or not, he just assumed he would stick with them. Alvorr turns and shoots him a smile anyway, his hooves ready to wander through this new land.
" darling. we're slow dancing in a burning room. "
01-25-2019, 08:52 AM (This post was last modified: 01-25-2019, 08:53 AM by Nazariy.)
Nazariy noticed the way the female seemed to deflate slightly at the mention of Alvorr's travelling. What were her intentions, he wondered, and tipped his head slightly to look at her better. She was younger than the both of them, every inch the word 'filly'. Still, she carried herself with a responsibility and pride that couldn't be natural. He flicked his tail slightly, looking between her and his new friend. They were both speckled, her with pink and Alvorr with black.
Did she want them to join her? He flicked his ear forward. She was obviously a member of nobility in this strange land against the sea, and she no doubt would serve whoever held the power here.
She seemed to catch wind of his curiosity and tilted her chin to impress upon her status. It didn't really word for Nazariy, as he just looked at her with a bit more confusion and a bit more awkwardness. He took a half-step toward Alvorr, too self-conscious to actually seek another for support or comfort. Not to mention, he was being dumb as fuck.
The filly affirmed his assumptions. A filly of status, watching him with all the polish and position of pretending not to judge. Maybe this was another personality trait- awkward as fuck.
Eurwen. Ay-oh-ryn. He silently felt the words inside his head, analysing the sharpness of the name. She was a daughter of a... khaleesi? "I apologise, but what is a Khaleesi?" It didn't matter, seeing as she had already stated that her father was a prince.
She looked at Alvorr when she spoke again, and he silently sighed in relief. Alvorr was a natural at this, as Nazariy had expected him to be. He had managed to get the strange outsider Nazariy to go with him, so of course he would be effortless at talking to the princess.
Nazariy was perfectly happy to let Alvorr accept all of her questions. Alvorr seemed to light up a little at her offer, stirred by the idea of travel. Nazariy was interested as well, to see all this island had to offer.
He wondered if Alvorr would be the type to accept an invitation to live here, after all had been seen. He hadn't known Alvorr for very long, but the thought of it was curious.
Nazariy nodded when Alvorr accepted the offer to travel with Eurwen. He looked curiously to the older male, ready to see whatever the 3-year-old wanted to see. He then looked back to Eurwen, angling his good ear toward her.
01-25-2019, 09:55 AM (This post was last modified: 01-25-2019, 12:56 PM by Eurwen.)
Eurwen
diamonds are found only in the darkness of earth as truth lies in the darkness of mind
The young filly realizes quickly (though still a little late) that her answer did not have the desired effect on either male. The young adult stallion now calls her highness, and the other did not even understand what she had meant - a princess yes, but she hadn’t meant it to be confusing, but rather an explanation, since he had asked...
The dragon’s daughter moves one ear backwards, without flattening it - just a tiny sign of distress at the way the colt stares at her and awkwardly sought comfort with his friend. Oh - she briefly wonders if they were together - then dismissed that idea and chastised herself for not making the visitors feel welcome enough. She feels quite stupid, right there and then, in fact.
Her dark eyes search the dun colt’s features, thinking to answer him but not finding any words to make it less intimidating. ”Uhm, she’s the leader. Queen I think.” Slightly deflated, she also looks to Alvorr for a bit of help in explaining - not all kingdoms used the ancient way of naming their leaders King or Queen, and perhaps he would know. If not, it was no disaster either, but still, it might be more helpful if it came from the spotted adult than from her, seeing how Naz mostly looked to him for guidance.
Yet still she liked the awkward one better - or maybe she felt like she didn’t have to impress him.
Nevertheless, when Alvorr mentioned going with her, she readily nods her head. ”Let’s go to the west coast then. If the weather is good, we can see Icicle Isle or even the northern lights!” Both coasts had plenty of rocky surfaces and paths to take them to the water and caves as well, if they wanted to. The east coast was maybe similar, but to see anything out on the sea there was much harder. Even though she liked to imagine she could see all the way to Silver Cove, the weather would have to be (and stay) really clear for that to happen.
The weather was sometimes used as an omen in different cultures, the sign of rain bringing sorrow, the sun beating down through musky clouds to elevate the temperature, bring hope. But Alvorr wasn't particularly into it all, his past kingdom was rather weird, even taking stars into account when trying to predict their fate. Ah, fates, what a wonderful term to base your life around, something he had learned to dictate through the few years of living with his parents, perhaps he had even become good at predicting anyone's life, telling them their future, or spilling dread and sorrow into their lives.
The stallion shakes slightly as the mare begins speaking again, explaining what a Khaleesi was, the mare tries to explain herself but looks toward Alvorr with slight discomfort, perhaps he had some knowledge invested into diplomatic systems, and that he kind of did, especially of his own kingdom.
"I believe you are correct, I think a Khaleesi is someone who is willfully followed by her people" he smiles as he looks toward both of them, his body already eager to move.
Once the mare mentions of where they would be going the stallion nods "That sounds fun, I have never seen the northern lights" he claims as he turns to face his new friend "What about you?" he asks, remembering that the younger male had spoken of the kingdom he was from earlier on, maybe he had seen the lights there, a spectacle to behold he had heard.
Again there is the mention of weather, a rather weird article, always changing. Alvorr raises his head to stare at the sky, the blue expanse filled with clouds splattered against it, quite a pretty sight that he enjoyed viewing, but he does not stare for long, perhaps it would look discourteous toward their new friend, and so, he looks back toward the mare with a grin.
"After you miss" he added politely, his legs ready to go explore.
" darling. we're slow dancing in a burning room. "
Nazarij quickly noticed the way the filly observed his actions, the way her face shifted in disapproval. Not at him, but at herself. Apologies tugged at the tip of his tongue, never shifting. He glanced away in a moment of shame. The filly's ear tipped backwards and Nazarij cleared his throat. "Sorry," he muttered, looking away. He paused for a moment, noticing that Alvorr appeared distracted. Nazarij tipped his ear backwards, assessing the other colt. He was a horse that was constantly moving forward. Apparently, Alvorr had been still for too long; his eyes looking more and more glazed as the him inside his mind pursued something Nazarij didn't know.
Nazarij pulled his attention back and listened to her explanation. He understood vaguely, but wouldn't pursue it anymore. He was glad for his friend's assurance. It was nice, the fact that Alvorr didn't judge him.
They hadn't been travelling together for long, and Nazarij imagined that at some point Alvorr would separate ways. Nazarij didn't mind that, or rather didn't want to mind it. He had dug himself into a corner, he realised, a humiliating corner. It wasn't that he loved or anything, but Nazarij was a boy who had nothing. How would he tell Alvorr that he was the first horse Nazarij had ever met. He hadn't expected to join Alvorr on his travels, had expected to be on his way soon enough. This lie was exhausting him, forcing him into silence.
He couldn't have spoken with honesty either, he told himself. He had no experiences. He had seen no lands before the harsh strands of this land.
He tore his attention back to the present.
The filly had warmed up a little under her embarrassment. She was young, he realised again, and trying her hand at things that she didn't yet know. "Thank you, that explanation really helped. Are khaleesi children heirs, or must they be chosen too?"
The Northern Lights. It sounded familiar. He looked at Alvorr anyway, hoping that he was saying the right thing. "What are the Northern Lights?" He chuckled a little. "I guess that answers your question." He watched Alvorr raise his head in much the same manner Nazariy had done a few minutes before. He followed Alvorr's gaze quickly to the expanse of blue.
A little more comfortable, he took a step away from the other horse. He was still awkward as hell, but he looked up to the filly, as she turned. Nazarij looked at Alvorr, that latent energy in his legs, and laughed inside his own mind. "What's the ocean like where you come from? And you, Eurwen"
