"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
04-16-2015, 05:47 PM (This post was last modified: 05-02-2015, 01:52 PM by Tyrna.)
Tyrna If we don't make it alive, well it's a hell of a good day to die
Anger boiled in her blood as she made her way across the rocky path towards the Dale. She understood why she was offered the task of extending the hand of diplomacy towards the other neutral kingdom, but that didn't mean she had to like it. In other circumstances maybe she would have. Maybe the thrill of a new journey and the chance to see her dear old dad would have had her skipping and whistling merrily along the way instead of the rage and apathy that seemed to course through her veins. The thought of talking to Tiberios made her want to scream and cry and beg. It reduced her down to the frightened little girl she used to be while she sat in the dark hoping today would be the day that daddy would come home and mommy would stop crying.
With these thoughts swirling through her mind she yells angrily and takes her frustration out on a nearby tree. Twirling and kicking out with her hind hooves she leaves two round craters where she made contact. hmmph, maybe the extra strength wasn't so bad she thought to herself watching as leaves that were shook loose spun lazily towards the ground. With a snort she continues on.
It doesn't take her long to reach the border into the mythic kingdom. She sees a handful of horses milling around off in the distance and debates whether or not she should waltz in. Deciding to do as mother would do she waits and with a shrill whinny calls out to alert the border patrol that they have a visitor. As she waits she takes several deep breaths to calm herself down, just a little, and plasters a well practiced grin into place. Behind the mask her thoughts are a hurricane. What if he comes? What if he doesn't?
Fall is a cool reminder on her neck of another year gone by.
In that year, she’d opened her heart to the very real possibility of love. She’d searched high and low for a part of her heart that went missing, leaving a burning gap in its wake. She’d strengthened ties, secured borders and planted herself further into the rocky soil of her home. Most importantly, she had created another life. She existed outside of her own body – a miracle she couldn’t deny. The year had been productive in many personal ways.
Diplomatically, however, the Dale had floundered.
This fact isn’t wholly their fault. The diplomats have been in a holding period ever since Tiphon left for missions elsewhere. Speaking for herself, Talulah doesn’t want to venture out and step on any toes. Other than a planned trip to the Tundra (as the first had been rather unsuccessful years ago), she doesn’t know where to focus her energies. Ultimately, it is the angel king’s call where they will align themselves. And his absence is highlighted when such issues arise.
When they do, it’s never at a predictable time. The metal-mare is watching over her son as he samples grass for the first time. She doesn’t really know how to counsel him on his new diet (as she doesn’t eat herself), but she has watched the others enough to get the general idea. Don’t eat anything spiky. Avoid the ferns that grow by the trees. That’s okay, it’s just tall grass. It’s amusing to watch his reactions, and more than once, the dam has to steer him away from suckling. Ramiel is full and sleepy, leaning against his mother when they hear the whinny. Two sets of ears shoot up, startled from an otherwise quiet afternoon of learning and lounging.
They walk quickly towards the border, the colt trailing just behind Talulah. It’s been so long since they’ve had a visitor, and thankfully, this one proves to be a polite one. She’s pretty with her light mane and dapples, and the smell of the Falls is strong on her skin. There’s something familiar about her that Talulah can’t place, something that speaks of a hidden fire that she can’t translate. She smiles anyway, eager to talk diplomacy again. “Welcome to the Dale, I’m Talulah.” And while the grey is friendly, she stops at allowing the stranger further into the kingdom until she knows more. These are lean times, defensively speaking, and even though politics are a thin protection, she will utilize them as best she can. The black colt steps up, his eyes roving over the unique markings on the woman’s legs before he meets her gaze. “I’m Ramiel. Is there anything we can help you with, miss?”
04-21-2015, 06:42 PM (This post was last modified: 04-21-2015, 06:43 PM by Tiberios.)
He would always come to her call. Tyrna had been there for him when no one else had even bothered. She’d stood by side and watched over him - his daughter through and through. He could never explain his behavior to her in a way that she would understand. While he’d been a captive, he was trying to save her. While he’d been a free man, he was off being a terrible father. Tiberios owed her much more than his life.
When he rises the hill and sees the shimmering glint of silver his chest contracts, crushing itself until he feels that he cannot breath. There beside her is the boy she spoke of - the one that Tiberios cannot bring himself to think of, so he chains his feelings and composes himself for the light of his world. The only mare who could ever claim true possession of his heart stood just outside the border, looking deceptively happy. Tiberios knew all there was to know about masks, his own blood couldn’t hide from him.
“Talulah!” He calls from afar, slowing has pace so that he can come to stand beside her. His eyes, however, never leave his daughter. She has grown incredibly beautiful and wild, a rival to her mother but still sporting his family’s trademark spots. “No need to worry about this one.” He eases swiftly forward, coming to greet his offspring with a soft bump to the nose before draping his neck across hers. She smells of her mother, of all things untainted and good.
“You hardly look like my daughter.” He says gently before stepping away, a warm smile evident on his mouth. “You’re too pretty, like your mother. But that’s a good thing. Imagine if you took after me.” He turns then, flashing the burn scar across his left cheek before laughing deeply. “Please, come in. We’ve got a lot to talk about.”
04-23-2015, 04:27 PM (This post was last modified: 05-02-2015, 01:55 PM by Tyrna.)
Tyrna
If we don't make it alive, well it's a hell of a good day to die
Tyrna keeps the smile plastered on as she watches the literally silver mare amble towards her, a small boy at her side. Seeing the boy her anger rises. She manages to keep it carefully in check not betraying the hurt she feels. The black colt with gold in his hair looks awfully similar to her father. Had she been replaced already? She didn't know much about the passing of genes to offspring but there were enough similarities between the stallion and the colt that she was growing more uncomfortable in the boys presence. The metal mare is nice enough but wary of her, Tyrna can tell. The Dalean does not invite her further into the kingdom and keeps an eye on her, the boy, Ramiel, is polite as well. More so then Tyrna herself was as a child. Is this why Tiberios never came to see her? Was she looking at his real family? The longer she stood in their company the more Tyrna was regretting her decision to come here.
As she prepares to make her excuses and leave, Tyrna sees a familiar scarred face cresting the hill behind the pair before her. She locks eyes with her father and can't bring herself to look away. For a brief moment the smile slips and hurt flashes in her eyes. As Tiberios stands beside Talulah the easy way they stand next to each other and the colt who looks more and more like him is almost too much. Tiberios steps forward and embraces her and confusion takes residence on her face. The last time they had been together, trapped by the wizard, her father had wanted nothing to do with her. He had yelled and snapped and said he had no idea who she was. He had pushed her away at every turn and now he acted as though nothing had happened? Tyrna remains frozen in place, her body suddenly stiff and awkward. She listens as he speaks and another cut slashes through her heartstrings. Apparently it was a good thing she didn't take after him so much and was a near clone of her mother, perhaps so he could lay less claim to her.
She takes a moment to make sure she once more has her smile securely in place before agreeing. "Yes I believe we do have much to discuss. Will your family be joining us?" There is a slight, unintentional barb to her words as she follows her father across the border.
There is an awkward silence that lingers long after mother and son greet the girl. It fills the spaces between their bodies, a pressurized and heated barrier that Talulah can’t overlook. She sees Tyrna watching her son. She sees the confusion muddling her otherwise cheery expression; she wonders what prejudices the woman can possibly harbor for one so innocent. Instinct tells her to move in front of Ramiel, but she does so reluctantly. It’s an obvious show of distrust (and she finds, for some inexplicable reason, that she does mistrust this girl) and it’s unfortunate, because the Falls has always been a reliable ally. Maybe she wouldn’t harm a child – maybe she still wants too, though. Talulah can’t take that chance.
The black colt looks up at her, confused, until the sound of approaching hoofbeats distracts him. The pair turn in time to see Tiberios coming towards them. His scars – new and old – shine in the midday sun. Talulah sighs in relief, glad to have back-up for this mare who is failing at hiding her emotions. Just as soon as she thinks it, the metal-mare realizes why Tyrna is so upset. Glancing between the two sabinos, one black and one grey, their connection is obvious. And when Tiberios rushes to assure her that the girl is no danger, she is sure.
Father and daughter embrace, and Talulah is too shocked to avert her gaze. Tyrna is no newborn (no yearling girl, either). She is a woman grown, dating her birth three years previous, at least. Is this why Tiberios was always coming and going, before? Her mind reconciles the pieces that she’d never been able to place – not until now, anyway. Tiberios had a daughter long before she’d had a son. And yet, he’d still been disappointed when she told him (she knew him too well to think he was totally happy for her - they have always been open books to each other and just as easily read). Suddenly, the wedge makes entirely too much sense.
The rift grows between the pairs, father and daughter and mother and son. Talulah feels cast away by the silver girl, her presence unwanted and unneeded any longer. For his part, Ramiel still eyes Tyrna eagerly, waiting to assist in all the ways he is too young to do. But she completely ignores their greeting and questions. Talulah gently nudges the boy away, ready to take her leave. She looks to the sabino pair, gives a polite nod and adds, “Tiberios is more than capable of handling your questions.” Her eyes find his golden ones, making sure he actually is ok to face whatever else this woman has prepared for him. Finding no objections, the grey mare and black colt disappear further down into the Dale.
Tiphon is silently pressed against a large oak tree. His eyes, molten pools of gold, peer out toward the collecting group. He had been drawn to the scent of the Falls; the young girl is a stranger to these parts and reeks of angst as she approaches the invisible border. From afar, teh angel king observes the display of welcoming to confusion and muffled distraught. There is much that has happened among the small familial group, but Tiphon has been made oblivious to it all. He is unaware of the triangle that he has found himself in. Talulah, Tiberios, Shatter Me, Tyrna, Elysteria, and himself. There are intricate knots in such a small group but it's all slowly piecing together now.
Tiphon steps forward then as the recognition of father and daughter is made apparent. Talulah's inward expression of shock is subtle but he takes note of even the smallest of changes within her. A smile touches his lips as she's preparing to go. Simply seeing her, even for a fleeting moment, brings forth a warmth inside him (further enhanced by the child they've created attached to her side). When they fade, the king turns his attention to Tiberios and Tyrna. His head tilts curiously to one side. "So this must be my granddaughter then," his grin broadens, "I'm Tiphon."
Then he glances back towards where Talulah departed and recalls the thick tension that had sprouted when she was still here. "I see you already met Talulah and our son, Ramiel. I suppose he would be your... uncle?" It sounded odd considering the age difference but it's passed off with an airy chuckle and shrug.
If we don't make it alive, well it's a hell of a good day to die
By the time the porcelain stallion approaches, Tyrna has withdrawn into herself so deeply she isn't sure she can come back out. She is tormented by the voice in her head whispering malicious comments in her ears.This is why he never loved you, he already had a family. A better family, not the pathetic waste of space you are. She feels deflated. Tyrna wasn't expecting much, but a second family wasn't anywhere near her thoughts. She just assumed her father never wanted her, nothing more. She doesn't know why she came anymore. So filled with fire and looking for answers she was. now she just wanted to crawl home. The white stallion comes closer and she finds herself listening to him, at the very least to stay polite.
When the new stallion introduces himself as Tiphon, the silver girl remembers enough of her mothers lessons to give the angel king some respect. She begins to dip her head into a bow when she finally realizes what he said before. An addition to his title. Her grandfather. The confused girl raises her head in a hurry to appraise the pair of men before her. She can see a resemblance in their frame and the way they carry themselves, but was this really her family? Her mother never mentioned a grandfather. She turns questioning eyes to her father when she hears the second revelation fall from Tiphon's lips. Talulah and Ramiel belong to Tiphon not her father. It takes a moment for her to register that piece of information. Ramiel was not her brother.
The relief chokes her in its intensity and she feels her eyes begin to water. What was wrong with her? She was not one for emotions, but it seemed that the revelations dropped on her were more overwhelming then she could handle. She feels naked, no longer bothering to keep the mask up now that Talulah and Ramiel were gone, all her emotions were displayed prominently on her face. Fear of rejection and hurt at the forefront.
After a long glance at her father the confused silver girl turns to her grandfather. "It is a pleasure to meet you, sir. I must confess that I didn't know of the relation." Her eyes once more slide towards her father, attempting to gauge his reactions. She finally addresses Tiberios once more. "I am at a loss for words", her voice gets caught in her throat as she confesses, and as much as she hates to do this in front of the grandfather she just met, she can't hold back the flood of emotion that has been burning a hole in her chest. With tears to fall, she asks the question that has been haunting her since their time in captivity together, "Why did you leave me behind?"
Tiberios
