"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
There has been big shifts in the southern sector of beqanna, shifts that Mary did not necessarily agree with. Mary enjoyed Bane, perhaps because he was a handsome devil, perhaps because she knew his as a child. Falling as a territory to his kingdom seemed acceptable, but now that hes gone and a new equine took rule? She was not pleased.
The dapple queen recalls the young Noah, the sweet roaned girl who also trusted Bane. It only seemed fitting that Mary, accompanied by Sinner, visits there sistering kingdom, to see how the Pampas holds up.
Mary can only hope that Noah does not agree with these changes as much as Sylva, but only time will tell. The dapple mare leaves her young foal in the safety of Sylva, so many thoughts run through her mind, but she must remain focused for this very mission.
She comes to the familiar border of the Pampas, a small smile tugs at her maw as she allows a whinny to pass her lips. Her gaze shifts to Sinner for a moment, Her name is Noah, she reminds Sinner, in case she hasnt already.
Bending under the rule of Wolfbane and Lepis had been tolerable, but when the shift of leadership fell into the hands of another it did not settle well. Sinner had become distasteful with what occurred and angry at the idea of not being given the opportunity to make Sylva the southern kingdom of Beqanna. Mary had also agreed with him on the change of leaders, deciding it was time they took matters into their own hands.
The hound agreed to accompany Mary to visit their sister territory, Brilliant Pampas, ruled by Noah. He remembers the brief encounter he had with the once-young girl when the plague created chaos among them to find shelter. Their encounter had been not so friendly at the time due to where Arthas had stood, but he hopes at least this time their meeting will be on friendlier terms.
It was only a matter of time to find out where he stood within Noah’s favor or not. Not that he cared much for those that objected against him, but more at the matter of the well-being of their own safety. The call to arms against Silver Cove was hasty and chaotic. Sinner did not like it at all and would cease to end such maddening ruling (but also for his own personal gain as well)—it was an opportunity in the making.
Following Mary from Sylva to the border of Pampas close by, he wears his familiar stoic expression. Sinner is within his bay horse body today. The hellhound was a threatening shape, but he did not wish to bring such threats to Noah and Pampas today. As they arrive at the border, Mary gives a call to invite Noah to where they stand. She reminds him of who rules Pampas, as if he has forgotten such necessary information. “Oh, I know who she is,” he says with playful irritation, glancing to Mary and then turning towards Pampas. He waits at the side of Mary for Noah now.
She is still unhappy that she had not been able to heal Mary. It lurks at the edge of her mind, even as she keeps herself quite busy tending to the quiet Pampas. Autumn is upon them now, but the fields of Noah’s home still bloom with riotously colored flowers; in no small part because she spends most of her time nurturing them. She has not involved herself in anything outside her little herdland, trusting in Lepis and Bane to bring anything to her attention she might need to know. The little mare is blissfully oblivious to a change in power, and she ascribes the sound of Mary’s voice in the air to any number of other things.
There is a slight blip in her light stride when she puts eyes on the stallion beside Mary, but she continues on with only that slightest moment of hesitation, smiling at the mare she knows and giving an honest attempt to give him – Sinner – the same courtesy. She remembers the same tense incident he does, and she remembers her intense dislike and distrust of Arthas, whom he’d supported. For a brief, intense moment she wishes she could drop this in someone else’s lap…but she knows she must be able to deal with the diplomats from other lands herself. “Mary,” she greets in her low voice, “Sinner. What can I do for you today?”
She asks the question but it isn’t what’s really on her mind, and her green eyes are lingering on Mary – on her failure there. She wants to try again.
noah
ooc; sorry this was so long in coming! I'm just going to play it off like she knows nothing about any changes in leadership :3 @[Mary] @[Sinner]
Her eyes flick to Sinner, resting gently on him for a moment as he noted to already know Noah. She tilts her head slightly, curious how and when the two met, but instead she just smiles to her partner.
Her head turns at the sound of another approaching, and to her relief the silence of the Pampas is broken by none other than Noah. The strawberry girl approaches and Mary shoots her a smile as she gives a greeting to the pair. Noah was just barely younger than Mary, ruling a land all by herself. She appreciates the determinition from Noah, Mary had a similar mindset as a child. She can only wonder the history of the roan girl that led her to the Pampas.
When Noah asks for the reason of her visit Mary is the first to respond. I hope you have been well Noah, She speaks gently, extending her neck, pressing her maw to her roan shoulder. As she pulls her head back she finds Noah's gaze We came to talk about the changes in Loess. She doesn't further expand on the topic because surely Noah already knew.
@[Sinner] @[Noah] OOC: Ik this was posted when Vulgaris took over, so if we could just pretend that he already left and there visit is because Castile took over
The land of Brilliant Pampas remains beautiful as he remembers it. A quietness consumes the entire atmosphere of the land, letting inhabitants of the herd land forget the plague that rages on the outside of this magical territory. He had not chosen to live among the prettiness when he had last come here when they all had come to gather to find safety. The hellhound had other things on his mind, personal intentions to claim his own. If anything, Brilliant Pampas was the beginning of his new life—a story he never quite knew he would find himself in.
Now he stands at the side of Mary, his co-ruler of Sylva. The years have been good to him since he last had seen Noah and her herd land. He has sought out his own opportunities while the world around them crashed and burned with disease and death. Sinner was immune to it all, not truly caring for what the plague would do as he had been one to welcome and create the very birth of it. The hound’s intentions and desires were more simpler things than creating evil and destruction that the dark god had wanted. He wanted more than to be a territory, he wanted to be the king of the south.
But he keeps his desires in check. He does not whisper such secrets freely. There were those who should not be trusted. Anyone was willing to whisper into the right ear to get what they wanted. The little birds were always such selfish creatures. But he was also selfish too, and he would get what he wanted eventually.
With the approach of the familiar winged strawberry roan, Sinner puts on a warm friendly face. She greets them in a low voice, but Mary is quick to bring friendliness to the conversation. Throwing away any awkwardness and unwanted visits out the door. Her skill was always remarkable, Sinner could never stop being impressed with her talents.
He remains silent as Mary exchanges a comforting gesture to Noah. Mary holds a different relationship with the winged mare while his had been rather different from the start. Noah had not taken a likely to Sinner, though the times surely had been different as he had been under the rule of Arthas. But Arthas was no longer within the picture. It was now Mary and him.
When Mary’s words finish, Sinner takes the opportunity to speak. “It’s been too long, Noah,” he says with a sarcastic tone though it is only meant for humor. “How does Brilliant Pampas fare?” He asks curiously.
She pushes down her urge to try and heal Mary again, knowing it will have to wait at least until business is over. Still, she appreciates the gesture of the touch and returns it, finding comfort in the familiarity of the routine actions. Despite her quiet easy-going demeanor, the little roan mare has few friends; she is simply too shy to go out and make them, so she only can claim the ones who wander into her home and find her. It might be a tenuous friendship they share, but she values it nonetheless.
Mary says they’ve come to discuss the changes in Loess, but when Sinner speaks he speaks of something different. His tone is biting and not particularly kind, the way she remembers it, and Noah turns her greenish gaze to him for a long moment before answering, wondering again at what lurks below the surface of this creature. He had backed Arthas, someone she absolutely had not trusted, and she isn’t sure she trusts Sinner now, for all that he stands beside Mary and plays the part of reasonable ambassador. “The Pampas is peaceful and quiet,” she answers anyway, with a little smile for Mary that catches Sinner in it’s edges, “As I think it was always meant to be.”
There’s not much more to say; she welcomes those who make her home their home, but she rarely goes seeking new faces. She believes, and her meeting with her cousin as reinforced for her, that the Pampas should be a family home. Families of blood, families of choice, families of necessity in the case of refugees – but she will not farm it out for power by gather followers just to gather them. “In the case of Loess, I’ve met the new King. Castile. I rather like him, though I do miss Bane.” She says this mostly to Mary, with whom she is more comfortable, rather than addressing Sinner.
It had been a long time since she had visited the Pampas, though she has her duties and birthing of children to blame. She forgets just how calming it is to be in the Pampas, and even more how nice it is to have the friendship with Noah.
Her gaze shifts to Sinner as he speaks, asking how Pampas fares and a gentle smile appears on her maw as she turns to Noah, awaiting a response.
The roan mare only gazes at Sinner, perhaps Mary had grown to the tone of Sinner. She was slightly confused but only watched in silence, until finally Noah responds. She responds that it is peaceful and quiet, which was good. No one wants a dramatic kingdom, and thankfully there seemed to be none in the beautiful Pampas.
Noah goes on to mention Castile, she had met him, and she likes him. She wonders exactly what there conversation was like but she simply nods her head. Yes, we miss Bane to, she makes sure to include Sinner. An importance to show they both come with good intentions. Castile promises good things...but still I can't help but find it odd, all the changes in Loess in such a short time. Her eyes show a hint of worry, three different rulers in less than a year.
Was it so wrong for him to back up Arthas back then?
He doesn’t think so. It was where his loyalties had been laid. Not for the benefit of Arthas, but for the benefit of himself to sit upon the throne of Sylva. The autumn-kingdom did not need the blood of a foreigner to be her next ruler, she needed someone who would look after her. Mary had made a good addition and he likely thinks highly of himself for having a partner like her to rule beside him. Mending the relationship between Loess and Sylva had been an important step.
So far, he is pleased with the events since his ruling has unfolded these years, but recently he is not. Loess brings him worry. But he longs for other things. Things he would not dear whisper out of the ear of Mary just yet.
Noah’s response to his presence and greeting clearly showed that he was not in the favor of her. The hellhound does not blame the winged strawberry roan. He had been a bit distasteful back then when the plague had come, but he would not change his path. Noah was not someone he needed to truly be friends with. All they needed was a civil relation together. It seemed Noah could do that exactly by the way she answers his question.
At least it was nice to hear that Pampas remained in a lull. The southern kingdom did not need any more disturbances, especially from the switching of rulers as of late. He does not care for it one bit, but there was something about the new ruler he might like. Though he doesn’t know if he could ever truly be a friend to the dragon-king when he had something Sinner wanted very much. And now that he knew Valdis would throw her entire family into the fire to get ahead, what could possibly stop him?
Mary speaks first again. Obviously noting that Noah does not particularly address him in the conversation. He smiles softly at her inclusion, even if Noah was a friend of Mary’s he was still as important. “Promises I hope he can keep,” he says, adding his own distaste to the conversation about the changing of rulers recently. “He better at least show us some good faith. I do not care for Sylva to be dragged around under a different ruler multiple times a year.” But he also wanted more than just good faith. He wanted chaos and destruction. Did Castile want that as well? The dragon-king seemed to be more of the darker type. Perhaps that is why he has considered a liking to Castile sometimes.
