Silence.
It was that time before the night comes to an end and the sun is getting ready to rise. That moment of utter silence. Darkness.. And yet not that dark, because you could see the light getting ready to shine, but these moments of stillness.. They were the hardest part of his day. The hardest part ever since the colonization. And yet they were so calm.. He didn't have to do anything, but stare. Stare at everything and nothing in particular.
The gargoyle moved forward, hooves placed one after the other, calmly, carefully. His dual colored eye viewing everything it could, his face turning slightly to the side to take in the sea and the upcoming sunrise. And that's when he stopped. The beautiful scenery reminded him of home. He never could get rid of those memories, now that he thought about it. The past was good, but it also was just as bad.. It has been awhile since he came to these lands. He had yet to see and learn more about.. well about everything. It's inhabitants more importantly. He had to know what he walked in on.. This is his home now and he had to get used to it. Finally a place to settle. The Dusk Court was a new chance. A new beginning. Still a lot of faces to be met.. A lot of relationships to be found.. He shivered at the idea--
His thoughts were interrupted by the sun rays. His milky mane that was falling down the side of his neck lit up with fiery yellow that spread over his body.. A warm embrace, welcoming him and a small smile formed on his pale lips, welcoming the day. Another day. Another journey.
He shook his head slightly and rolled his shoulders so a few pops could slip out before he continued on. His scarred body had no longer the cape of darkness over it. But Avilius was never ashamed of it, nor his scarred face. They were a reminder of what he went through, a reminder of how he survived. And of course they were the medallions he got for his victories. Everything came with a price. Enough fighting. It was time for something good to come along.
It wasn’t often that Israfel visited the coast. The Praistigia Cliffs? All the time. Those were her usual patrol routes… But the actual coastline of the Terminus Sea? Hardly. That meant traveling too close to Denocte, and even though she knew that the Night Court had since changed its ways since the reign of Reichenbach and Isorath, there was something about the mysterious land that didn’t sit well with her. Perhaps it was because she was a creature of daylight and fire, the blood of Gods and Saints forged within her very bloodlines. Perhaps it was just the bitter aftertaste of previous transgressions. Regardless, Israfel found herself there now, traipsing among the sands and letting herself enjoy the morning.
Summer was a promise upon the salty ocean breeze. Soon, soon, summer would be upon them, swallowing Novus in a healthy dose of heat and ample sunshine, and the Sun Daughter was beyond ready.
’You’re in a good mood,’ came the familiar voice of Solaris, who glided through the morning light in ivory and gilded splendor just a few feet above Israfel’s horned head. The Phoenix was relaxed, letting her feathers fan as she glided through the air, and that alone was enough for the Warden of Terrastella to let down her guard. If her keen bonded could not perceive any threats, then Israfel knew there was nothing yet to worry about… And there was no denying the very true fact that she desperately needed a break. Unbidden, a knowing grin quirked up rose-kissed lips, and the Sun Daughter cast her gaze upwards to regard her mythic companion.
“Mm. It’s nice to just get away for a while… Even if we’re here.” The final piece of that statement was said with a notable tinge of disdain, but… Turning her head, the shield-maiden’s fiery vermilion eyes watched the sun on the horizon to the east, admiring the way the sun came up and cast a myriad of colors across the sky and the ocean alike. “I can’t really deny the view, though. Even the Cliffs don’t provide a view like this.”
The wind picked up, tousling strands of ivory and gold amidst a slender neck. Upon it carried the scents of salt, brine, sand, and musk. Musk? Stealing away from the rising sun, Israfel’s gaze followed the coastline and the upturned sands. She saw the prints in the granules first; wide, dinner-plate hoofprints leading away from her, before she caught sight of the hulking frame marring the beach itself. Solaris spotted the stag as well, taking a moment to admire him as she glided lazily through the air, before wheeling around in almost a lazy sort of circle.
’Seems we aren’t the only ones to pay the ocean a visit, hm?’ Israfel decided not to acknowledge that, at least not yet. Instead, she continued on her way, cloven gold hooves sinking into the sand of the coast with every elegant step. Her body moved with the poise and collection of her station; a demi-goddess at the rank of Warden, the head of Terrastella’s military. She was confident, she was determined, and come ‘friend’ or ‘foe’, she would not be daunted by the large frame on the horizon.
Growing closer along the shoreline, the male came more into view, and Israfel spotted his imperfections. Scars. A good number of them, halfway hidden beneath thick tresses of white and brown. The painted man was large and robust, a powerhouse if he so chose to be, but still the Warden found herself confident that he was no threat. He seemed oddly contemplative and thoughtful, watching the sunrise, and within a few meters the gilded warrior cleared her throat to offer him a greeting before getting too close.
“Good morning.” Simple, polite. That’s how conversations started, right? Above her, Solaris’ rolled her lavender eyes. Well, conversation wasn’t exactly Israfel’s strong suit. They never had been.
Avilius was so focused on the sun, that his guard went down slowly with the passing minutes and of course that always pays a price. While he was in a "trans" thinking of how it was and how it should be, he almost didn't even notice her above him, not until he heard that soft landing and those few steps forward that caused his attention to change it's direction. Head turned to the side as his large body shifted too. Face to face with the mare before him, his eye would study her closely. Ears would flick slightly, before her soft words reached his ears.
Good morning.
The words almost felt foreign to him. It has been so long since he had heard, good morning sounding so sweet and nice. For a long moment he stays quiet and observes and after that loooong moment passed he would take a step forward and his pale lips would part. "Good morning, miss." Came the rough and deep baritones to greet the maiden back. Head bowed slightly with respect towards her before he took a look up at the phoenix. For a second he thought it was a hallucination. Lately they have been less, why would they start right now? And then it hit him. It wasn't an illusion. And oh, that bird was beautiful. It was the first time he saw one. Lips pulled up in another soft and almost invisible smile as he spoke to the woman, but his eye was focused on the creature. "A beautiful bird." He murmured and turned his attention back to her. "Was the sunrise the reason you're here?" He questioned only because of manners. His father taught him well. Respect and you will be respected.
He turned, and revealed a face full of scars. Oh, but the stories that she was certain they would tell. Israfel had been a warrior and a Warden long enough to know battle, to know the signs, to see the signs when presented so blatantly in front of her, and this massive fellow was no exception. Despite the trophies from times surely long past, Israfel held her tongue and simply returned his careful scrutiny.
Vermilion eyes narrowed and her chin lifted, arching a delicate brow. Gilded feathers upon powerful wings spread, fanning outward, her posture instinctively straightening into one befitting her rank. “Miss?” She questioned then, an ear tipping forward as a wolfish grin crossed her rose-kissed lips. Clearly he was just being polite, but it had been a very long time since she was called miss. “Please. My mother was ‘miss’.” Yet she gave no indication as to what else he could call her, and that was fine, for at the moment she had no desire to ask him his name. That could wait. One could learn so much more from somebody else before they knew their name.
Growing bored with her lazy gliding, Solaris turned and took up roost upon Israfel’s ivory croup. Wings spread, the massive Phoenix landed, head tilting quizzically towards the unidentified man. ’Tell him he is polite. I appreciate his compliment.’ Unbidden, Israfel’s wolfish grin only grew and she chuckled, a breathy, sensual sound. “My companion here thanks you for the compliment. She’s a bit conceited, but.” One slender ivory shoulder rolled in an equine equivalent of a shrug. “I love her all the same.” In response, Solaris’ feathers ruffled in mild annoyance, but Israfel paid her no mind. Clearly this fellow was of no immediate threat, and that helped to put the Sun Daughter at ease.
Head twisting in remark to the sun, the shield-maiden hummed softly beneath her breath. She turned so that she faced the ocean, but was cautious that the churning waves which crashed lazily upon the beach did not caress or touch her golden hooves. Water was good to drink and beautiful to admire from afar, but with the recent unrelenting storms of Terrastella, the landslides, and the flooding? She’d had quite enough, thank you very much.
“You could say that. I needed to get away for a bit and enjoy the fresh air. I rarely see others on my morning patrols, and I can’t say I’ve seen you around here before… Are you new to the area?” In the back of her mind, Israfel worried that this brute of a man, respectful and eloquent as he seemed to be, would be a citizen of Denocte. She hoped not, because Israfel didn’t know how she would deal with a member of Night Court at the moment.
They weren’t bad, she knew, but… Ah, well. Fuck it. Now wasn’t the time to worry about it. Clearing her throat, the Daughter of the Sun let her eyes wander, staring unabashedly up at the rising sun and breathing in the morning, salty air. “Few views can compare to this. Now, the sunrise from the top of Veneror Peak? To die for.”
