Dusk was only just beginning to give way to night as the mare stood at the start of the macabre bridge, her form silhouetted against the last rays of a setting sun. She had planned well for this venture, napping during the day and rising with the first colors of the setting sun painting the sky alive. She had started her trek towards the Island at that point, intending to use the cover of night to find the secrets to the island – to prove the darkness it must hold, the evil she was convinced lay with in its’ soil. Now she stood at the start of the bridge that had founded her discomfort. The first time she’d crossed it, staring at the pearls and clams suspended in a rocky tomb, and dozens of other trinkets of the water trapped and struggling among the stone and hardened lava; she had been filled with despair and a sense of loss. Now, she would force herself to walk past the trapped citizens of her home world so she might learn the truth of the Island ahead.

As she began to make her way through the darkening horizon, the mare herself was seemingly going through a transformation at the molecular level. The setting sun was activating certain chemicals, causing a rampage of chemical collisions within the follicles of that dark blue fur. It was a subtle transformation that would grow stronger the further the sun sank, and the more darkness that took the land. She was hardly focused on it, however, far too used to the effects the night produced. Instead her attention turned towards the bridge she was crossing, dainty hooves clacking against the hard rock, seeming to impress the fact she was alone onto her mind, for alone she was. It had been a large reason behind her chosen time of exploration. Less others to get in the way, less others around – it might encourage the island to be . . . . its’ self. For surely the front it wore in the daylight was not what the island was. She was certain of it. And she was just as equally determined to get to the bottom of it, as well.

Her steps carried her forward, as her coat pitched in hue, the dark blue selections starting to take on a cyan hue, lightening considerably the more time passed. It was a subtle change that would grow more pronounced the darker her surroundings got. As the night came into full effect, and the aquatic equine reached the end of the bridge, the slight cyan touch was now a glowing hue down the length of her sides, legs and tail, the female casting her own light. The dual set of eyes set into her face glowed with a matching cyan as well, and she moved with ease, trusting in her ability to see in the dark, illuminating the world with her own bioluminescence, even as the cyan seemed to wash out the rest of her pelt in colors. She moved with determination, her head held high as she waited for the island to prove what it really was to her.

The mare moved slowly, the island oddly silent as she moved through the sands, her steps light and instantly adapting to a more familiar terrain (she’d barely avoided stumbling OFF of the side of the lava-rock bridge earlier), grateful for the time being to be on a type of ground that she didn’t have to worry about forgetting her land-legs and falling face first. Her steps had turned graceful with the first touch of sand surrounding her hooves, and she moved with a grace near identical to what she had when she was beneath the waves. However, that didn’t stop her from distrusting the island – and she knew her answers lay beyond the genial beach. Her steps turned her in the direction that would take her into the depths of island, into the foresty center that hid untolds wonders (and to her imagination, horrors).

She stood at the edge of the beach staring into the darkness of tropical trees and where she imagined they most grow more dense, trying to build up her determination, her strength, her courage. She had to do this, she had to discover the truth.

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@Random Events
Notes: For anyone interested in joining her in rooting out what secrets this island may have, perhaps getting together an exploration party might make her feel a little better about taking on the Island in the dark. Anyone welcome!

The air around the island seemed to be buzzing with activity and excitement. A generalized feel of eagerness at the approach of explorer. However, it was too soon. The truth hadn't been relieved beyond the original note. And Bel was far too new to Novus to know much of the stories of the Gods. To know what, or rather who Time was referring to. If she had, perhaps she'd have treated her decision to explore the island in the dark of night. She would have treated it with more caution, more . . . . delicacy.

As it was, Bel was still eager to prove the fact she feared darkness and evil hid behind the guise of the beautiful island. She had felt the wrong-ness of the location, the whispered secrets hidden in the sands, the feeling of something not being as it seemed, and her mind had jumped elsewhere. It brought back the stories of foreign planets. Of dangerous creatures, leviathans, who would hunt you down for food and sport. Of a naturally glowing atmosphere that lit the entire world at night. Of odd creatures, and an empress who ruled the sea before being trapped away by those who wished to understand the planet. Before contagion had broken out. Before the virus spread to the waters, and like those who researched and tried to solve the mysteries, her own people had escaped the planet too before they could be infected.

But those were just stories told by the elders, there was little truth to it. Who actually believed in . . . . aliens. Bel treated the stories as stories, but even she knew she didn't seem normal of this earth. She didn't fit into the mold of earthling. She didn't seem normal. Trapped in a form of two worlds, half aquatic, half land-based. Her natural protections against the cold seemed to be edges for more extreme weather and cold conditions than what this land, this planet had to offer. But the stories were just stories, surely. Still, this island brought them back to her in force, reminding her that not everything was always as it had seemed. This island, she was convinced, held it's own secrets, and she was just as equally convinced that like her own people's secrets, it would hold it's cards close to it's chest.

For now, her attention moved back to the task at hand, trying not to give away her uncertainty and fear as she stared into the forest. Her body glowed with cyan markings, literally illuminating both her form and the surrounding area in a way not typically seen above the depths of this planet's oceans (and if the stories were true, fit far more into the wildlife of another planet completely). She would be hard to miss, a vibrantly colored coral among a bed of seagrasses. She felt more like a spineless jellyfish though, her limbs locked into place to keep from shaking even as her tail flicked with unreleased pint of anxious energy.

What was she really doing here? Was it truly such a good idea to test the island . . . a part of her hoped another might come - more than one others to be honest. A whole pod of adventures to discover the island's secrets, a whole pod to take on what ever the island may throw their way - from sand-monsters to trees that limbs may try to swipe you out of existence. A sharp shake of her head quickly rid those thoughts. She was no guppy! She needed to be strong, she needed to discover the truth. She needed to figure out this . . . this island. Before others stumbled into traps, swallowed by the unsettling feeling of the island.

She had a mission . . . that was distracted by the sudden hissing that had her head spinning towards the hardened lava bridge, her mind immediately painting the image of the hard rock reducing back to it's heated and liquid state trapping her on the island. As her eyes lit upon the black and gold figure of a . . . . . large . . . . beast, she froze for a whole different reason. Through the darkness her eyes peered at the large form, thick with muscles, large wings feathering out from where it had landed with a hissing sizzle. Alarm raised it's ugly head as she feared this was the beast the island must surely cater to! A large creature with jagged teeth, and a taste of fle- oh . . . . it was another horse.

As he moved closer, she felt a sort of relief as she began to make out more equine features, proving indeed he was a Pegasus of sorts (she was certain she had counted one set of wings too many though), black and gold that seemed to blend into the night. One could hardly blame her for assuming the worst at first. Illuminated from below by re-introduced lava had cast his heavily furred lower limbs into a red tinged inky site. Mixed that with a dark appearance had him blending into the night, silhouetted into a form of danger and horrid cryptic depictions. As he moved closer he seemed less of a cryptic, and more of just a large, and dark stallion. Hopefully only in coloring.

He spoke suddenly, and her finned ears flicked back in uncertainty at his words, though his voice held no clue to any intentional threat, even if they could be perceived as such. Dual set of eyes narrowed in tandem, both focusing on him briefly, before the second set seemed to do a quick surveillance of the island's middle behind her (least something sneak up on her while she was distracted, she wouldn't put it past the mysterious island to throw such a wrench at her . . . she wondered when she decided the island could think and act on it's own). The majority of her attention remained on the black beast, starting to recognize him from earlier, when the unicorn statue and note had first appeared.

She kept her expression calm, her eyes narrowed and cautious as she answered him, "Scary perhaps, but with less souls for the Island to try and trick, I thought it be easier for it to relinquish it's hold on it's secrets." Her gaze returned to the island, her head turning to focus on the center, even as her smaller eyes kept tabs on the stallion. The island seemed to hold more secrets than the story of Davy Jones' Piracy, and while Bel had no desire to drown in an attempt to dredge them to existence, she was a mare on a mission. She flicked her finned ears forward as a sound from the depths of the island was heard, before turning back to the stallion, "This island has it's mysteries . . . I intend to recover them from where they're buried. It might be a bit like sorting seaweed from seagrass, but that won't stop me. I have no time to be terrified. I'm no spineless jellyfish . . . . and this island isn't going to have me swimming away like a shark's on my fins." She added with a firm nod, even if part of her words were meant to reassure herself. She was no guppy . . . she was a betta; a siamese fighting fish, and like a warrior, she'd tackle this mystery.

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@Random Events @Sol Bestiam
Notes: This is still open for others as well! Bel is going to want a party to brave the land properly :P As a timeline note - this thread is BEFORE the relic hunt, and as thus, it's IC-ly not had the rumors spreading around Novus yet.

Bel wasn't impressed. Not by his smirk, not by his general air of being, not by whomever this stallion seemed to think he was. Something about him had already set Bel's hurricane warning siren blaring. He was trouble on the horizon - she was convinced . . . she wasn't sure what had made her decide he was as much trouble as she felt he must be, but that was her immediate take on the oversized stallion.

And really, he was oversized! He made her feel like she was standing next to a whale shark, greatly diminished in comparison. Her dual sets of eyes remained fairly focused on him, for a moment before she'd allowed herself to respond to his less than reassuring introduction. Even as her primary gaze drew away, her attention remained partly on him, watching him with obvious caution. She didn't comment on his lack of having seen either seaweed or seagrass, deeming the bit unworthy conversing on when focusing on the task at hand of the island being a dangerous temptress with a secret worthy a lifetime of looking. When he did comment on another set of eyes and hooves on an adventure, both sets of eyes returned to him once more, watching and calculating, "Well, I'm not foolish enough to turn down help . . . " The glowing mare admitted with a slight nod of her head.

She turned back towards the forest only to tense up at his next words, immediately cutting her eyes towards him, narrowing until only glowing slits of the cyan hue were visible against a grayed, night-darkened face. "I am plenty capable enough on my own to handle anything I come across, may it be monsters of land, or items needed transport. I certainly don't need assistance." She retorted quickly, a slight ice to her tone at the thought of being any but self-reliant. It had been engrained at a very, very early age. You had to rely only on yourself, because in the worst of emergencies, there was only you to take care of yourself before the pod could reform in safety. She didn't need anyone's help during those scenarios of split-up and escape, she certainly didn't need a 'strong, muscular stallion'.

Her shoulders tensed, straightening slightly as she stood taller, her gaze still narrowed into ominous slits as she stared him down, "As it is, I'm not looking for pirates' treasure, or monsters. I'm just intending to fully explore this island and find its' secrets. I have no intentions of locating trouble." She stated strongly, before moving to head into the forest, "If you intend to school together, leave those kind of masochistic thoughts on the beach, and let's go." She added, even as she silently prayed for someone - anyone else to join this unlikely duo on this mission. Both for the additional numbers, and also to hopefully keep the stallion distracted so she had to deal with him less. Barely a few moments in each others' company, and she was already feeling like it would be a long night.

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@Sol Bestiam
Notes: He irritated her, lol. She might be just a tad cranky at the idea of ever having to rely on another for help :P especially a stranger at that. As mentioned before - thread is still open to other participants as well!

The topic had gone well up until Bel had felt a little bit insulted by the idea of having to rely on another. At his quick backtrack, however, the aqua-equine realized that perhaps she was the one to be apologizing, for clearly he hadn't meant to come across the way he had. As she backtracked and thought on his words, she realized that perhaps she had taken his words wrong . . . a slight heat rose to her features, mirrored in the warming of those vapors trailing off of her skin, "Uhm, no, I'm sorry . . . I think I just took your words wrong. I took them as a little mare being unable to handle anything by herself, you clearly did not . . ." She finally admitted with a slight, apologetic smile, "So, I'm sorry. Let's start this over, okay?"

She smiled warmly, welcomingly, "I would be happy for any companionship on this little adventure. And I'll try hard not to assume you're questioning my abilities along the way." She teased, hoping he'd take her words as the meeting in the middle phrasing she had intended them for. "And you're right, two are better than one when having to adventure, and a second set of fins would definitely be a help. Two, or . . . three sets of eyes to keep an eye out for monsters in the dark would help too. Least we get the jump on by some night-time nasty." She added with a laugh, "Some predators hunt in the dark, and I'm probably like a glowing beacon for food to them" She mused, motioning the the illuminating effect she had, casting light on both him and the surrounding foliage.

She headed towards the forest then, motioning for him to tag along, "So, are you typically the type to explore, or has the island just perked your interest and curiosity?" She asked as they walked - to help pass the time as they journeyed through the darkness to see what might be found.

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@Sol Bestiam
Notes: Lol, she is so much more forgiving than Cally. She's all 'hey, it's cool. My bad. Let's explore.' As mentioned, still available for others to join too. Just follow her pale cyan glow :P

The slight misunderstanding was over before it had even had a chance to properly begin, which was likely a good thing, as Bel had no desire going up against such a large stallion if he was angry. She tilted her head when he spoke, returning his grin with her own calm smile, the soft vapors shifting a slightly warmer temperature, almost a touch of humidity to match the bright and warm air of the island. “Oh, I assure you, I most definitely won’t act like I can’t handle something. Confidence, after all, is likely eighty percent of the success to anything. Act like you can do it, and you shall.” She mused, tone almost playful, “I like to imagine I can handle just about anything thrown at me.” She agreed, her tone a touch more serious with this as she thought in regards to some of those things that she had done just that with – handled regardless of the situation.

The mare tilted her head when he called them an ‘interesting pair’ an amused smile gracing her gentle features at his explanation, nodding her head in agreement, “Ah, I imagine we’d draw many a second glances . . . . although, I am curious . . . how do you fly with an extra set of wings, I think they’d get in the way of one another.” She asked with sudden curiosity, her mind a lit with tales of multi-winged foals flapping their wings into a knot. Now there was an amusing story to tell the next time she found one willing to listen. Surely good for a laugh or two. She nodded when he spoke of the night predators he’d assist in driving away, her expression pleasantly relieved, “I’m grateful. Two angry, flailing sets of hooves are always better than one. And one burn from your set might have them running away before I could even do any damage.” She might be the sort to advocate in her ability to take care of herself, but she wouldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth – or more particularly the hooves.

As they began their trek into the woods, there was a certain shift in the air, her own vapors heating to combat the sudden chill, the promise of darkness with in the tendrils of leafy green and bountiful fruits and blooms. It was there in the way the birds followed your progress with their eyes, as if you might suddenly becoming the morning worm they were looking for. In the slight glimpses of the big cats who seemed to keep an eye on you even as they refused to truly give way their position. Something truly wrong with this place, that was what it was. The island was dark, dangerous, with secrets deeper than its foundation, and young Bel was left wondering if she really wanted to dig them up.

She was grateful for the company and conversation to distract herself with, glancing to the stallion as he spoke of originally hating to explore. Her curiosity peaked when he mentioned things going badly and leaving home, but she knew well enough from her own experiences that others had to be willing to give up the whys, even if they spoke of the whats. She nodded lightly to him, her gaze turning back to the foliage, “I’ve explored my whole life . . . where I lived before, the tides I swam through, it was both a way to pass time, and maintain safety. It was just as much about locating something knew as it was finding the safe places in an area, or the places to ignore. After leaving the Pod and heading ashore, my curiosity met a new level. Living primarily beneath the waves, the land is a whole new world to me, I wanted to see it all . . . but I possess a great curiosity, and both the need to explore, and discover had me approaching the island . . . the longer I stay, the more I worry about its’ dangers though . . . .” She fell quiet, her expression troubled to a degree as she thought of just what dangers hid among the brush and blooms.

His next words startled her, and she turned towards him, blinking in surprise, and suddenly grateful for the blue tint to her fur that might obscure the sudden heat to her face, “Oh dear, have I forgotten to introduce myself. I am so sorry. Mother raised me better than that, I really do have the manners fitting a damselfish! My name is Below Zero, but please call me Bel. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sol.”

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@Sol Bestiam
Notes: Late reply, but a reply. Needed something to do for the final hours at work.