Ebony and gilded tresses flow, swirling around her form as the dawn casts its beautiful pastels upon her, the sun bathing her in its budding warmth. She was traveling above the land known as Ruris, looking for more poor uninformed creatures that had not yet enjoyed the glory of Solis. She hesitated in her flight when she saw below what appeared to be a giant maze. It's great expanse was impressive and she wondered how quickly the populace of Novus would get lost in it. She dove, intending to land somewhere inside the maze, but to her astonishment that was not such an easy feat. The gleaming pegasus hit like a wall of bricks and had to pull up with immense effort, feeling her body ache with the impact. Some invisible force protected the maze, keeping her from entering it from anywhere, she guesses, except the very beginning. Her golden orbs blaze with indignant fury, but she decides that perhaps this is not the hill to die on....

Quietly she drifts down toward what appears to be the entrance to the maze. Her daggers land on the soft turf and she examines the hedges with a critical eye. What is the purpose of this? She couldn't divine any, but she couldn't help her curiosity either. The ground appeared trampled, as if several others have taken this path before her. Her lobes swivel as she tries to listen for anyone else, but if they were here before, they are gone now. Nares expand to take in the smells around her, and finally she decides that most have gone one path.. to the left. She stops and stares in that direction, noticing that the trampled effect continues on the ground. Turning her crown to the right the path looks almost untouched - only a slight few have gone this direction, if that many. Fickleness ruling her mind then, she chooses to turn right, following the hedge wall the way that was less traveled. Whatever the purpose of this maze, I shall discover it! Looking above, she wonders if it is easier to get out than it is to get in. How many will fall prey to the labyrinth? Will she? No - Solis will save her, should any harm befall her.

WC: 377

GUESSWHO

She's wandering on ahead, edging cautiously forward for fear of discovering something.. treacherous. She's more courageous than some, but that does not make her fearless. No, a little bit of fear goes a long way toward extending one's lifespan. Her gold hoof steps upon a wayward twig and she flinches as the twig snaps. Curse you for being so spineless! Practically cowering, you are... She silently berates herself and draws her bodice up higher, extending her form instead of shrinking it. Only moments later, there is more than the snap of a twig. The inked mare stops in her tracks, feathers twitching only just barely, and she turns her crown over her shoulder to gaze at a silvery female, unburdened by horns or wings. The overall aura from the gray tells her of youth, but that was just a feeling - Inkheart has no way to know that they are actually quite close in age. Her gold orbs narrow at first, staring hard at the girl who asks if Inkheart is LOST.

Her first instinct is to let out a sharp, biting retort. But the question deserves a more nuanced answer. Of course she is lost - does anyone really know their way in a labyrinth? Unless they have a map and somehow can identify where they are at any given time. But is she lost in the sense of needing guidance? That necessitates an entirely different answer, for she needs no guidance. She knows she is going to find out the mystery of the maze, and unlock its riddles, its secrets. For there is some GREAT secret hidden here, or there would not be an equine-sized labyrinth to navigate. Finally, after pondering her response for a moment, she turns around to face the lass. "I am not lost, but I take it you are." It wasn't a question.

Inkheart stepped forward, examining the slightly smaller female. A blue feather is tucked into her dark locks, a silver chain around her neck. Pretty decorations that remind Inkheart of her own trinkets. Do they have any meaning, though? Her rich vocals erupt again. "What is your name?" She tilts her head, nares flaring in slight flair of superiority. "I suppose you'll want guidance?" Oh, guidance she could give. She's very, very good at that.

WC: 381
Tag: @Coraline

GUESSWHO

The little silver filly trembles before her. Visibly trembling. Was it her attitude? What she'd said? Or was this fledgling just that pussy-footed? Inkheart is torn in her reaction. On the one hand, she's not really a monster and has NEVER thought of herself as mean. On the contrary, she thinks of herself as something akin to saintly. Anything 'bad' she does, she does for the glory of Solis and to better the world around her. (Or so she believes.) But, on the other hand, it fills her with disgust to see suck a weak colt, trembling with obvious fear when Inkheart hasn't even DONE or SAID anything yet! Nothing that should cause the visual reaction she observes before her. So her reaction is delayed as the girl introduces herself and responds to the black one's questions.

Coraline. A lovely name for a young girl. "Busy? Want company?" She voices her thoughts out loud. And the decision is made. She softens her form, her body now communicating gentleness, openness. But her voice strings along a harmony of exasperation to match the care that takes point. "I am only busy in looking for the center, or the end of this maze." Though the filly claimed to not want anything, her feelings tell her that is a lie. But for the sake of the child (for although she looks well enough grown, she acts as a child), she tempers her own feelings. "I am sure company would not be disagreeable." Perhaps if this Coraline tagged along, she might be shoved in some situations where she can gain some confidence! After all, Inkheart could be nurturing....

She gestures with an outstretched wing, painted black with glitter-like gold, toward the path she had just been wandering. "I am Inkheart. Why don't you join me? Her thoughts blended, mixed, undecided. To guide, to nurture, to persuade. She will do her best to appear gentle and reassuring, though part of her wants to smack the child upside the head and tell her to grow up and find herself. The thoughts simmer in her mind, and the only thing on her face is a reassuring smile.

WC: 359
Tag: @Coraline
Comments: just want you to know.. I really wanted to be nice to Coraline.. but Inkheart wouldn't let me :(

GUESSWHO

The filly is quiet at first, and the inked lady wonders what exactly is running through the youngster's mind. Will she be encouraged by Inkheart's sudden warmth and kindness, or put off? Was her appeal a waste of effort? Her mind works, figuring out if the filly will come with her or not. She won't wait long, though, for she's eager to discover what the maze has to offer (good or bad). But then, a smile starts to creep upon Coraline's sooty snout, tender and tentative at first, but growing in certainty and confidence. Nares exhale a breath she didn't even know she'd been holding, pleased that the fragile girl hadn't crumbled into small pieces in front of her.

She extends her feathers, gesturing with a wing toward the path in front of them as the silver fae voices her consent to accompany her. The smile upon her face remains, genuine even if it wasn't at first. The mare's intention, second only to uncovering the mystery of the maze, is to bolster Coraline until she can at least take care of herself (for that's quite doubtful at the moment). To make something of the filly so that she is not weak and fragile anymore, but strong, willful, confident. Of course she is unaware of the uphill (and maybe impossible) battle that she faces with the state of Coraline's mind. But how could she know? All she see is a three-year-old who seems inept at doing anything.

"After you, Coraline. Let's go on an adventure!" Purring words slip from her lips, the melody of her voice soft and rich, warming to the soul.


WC: 272
Tag: @Coraline
OOC: sorry it's short! I think this'll be my last post for this thread if you wanna reply or choose not to :)

GUESSWHO