JUST LIKE FIRE, BURNING OUT THE WAY
IF I CAN LIGHT THE WORLD UP FOR
JUST ONE DAY WATCH THIS MADNESS
COLORFUL CHARADE NO ONE CAN
BE JUST LIKE ME ANYWAY
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.
Her sense of direction seemed to be broken, and so the silver girl found herself again, lost. Her button eyes scanned the area, looking for any sign that she was near her home, but finding none. With a sigh, she continued on, each step coming slowly, forcing herself to calm down and not panic. She’d been lost before, and it hadn’t killed her yet. Perhaps this was what she needed – a chance to explore and find new friends. She decided that’s what this was about…it was a test to see how she handled things that were unexpected. She hated the unexpected. She hated the thought of being lost, vulnerable…alone. She wanted safety, security, and her best friend back, but that would never happen. You don’t come back once you’re… gone. Yeah, that was the word. She couldn’t even bear to think the word dead. Because he wasn’t. He was simply gone – gone on to the next world, whatever that was. And he was probably happy, waiting for her to share all his adventures. She decided that was a much happier thought than the alternative, and it put her troubled mind at ease…at least for a moment or two.
It didn’t take long to stumble upon what looked like a giant hedge expanding as far as her button eyes could see. What in the world was this? Moving closer, she peered into what had to be an entrance. Did others actually go into it? What if it ate you? She knew better than to just rush headlong into a scary place without someone else with her. There were inevitably dangers inside – things that would eat, smash, mash, crush, rip and tear. No, thank you. Trembling slightly, she backed away, and that’s when she heard the sound of hooves approaching. She rushed into the entrance, certain that whatever was coming was out for her very blood. She pressed her silver body into the wall, but it didn’t truly hide her. Not when you’re silver and shining in the sunlight. You just can’t hide very well. But the creature turned out to be another horse. No…this one had wings. A Pegasus. Coraline offered a very soft, hesitant call out to the mare, for she smelled distinctly female. Taking a tiny step forward, the filly continued to tremble nervously. She didn’t want to be killed, but perhaps this was how she ended?
JUST LIKE FIRE, BURNING OUT THE WAY
IF I CAN LIGHT THE WORLD UP FOR
JUST ONE DAY WATCH THIS MADNESS
COLORFUL CHARADE NO ONE CAN
BE JUST LIKE ME ANYWAY
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.
The filly hears the voice of the other mare, and she tucks her head as tight to her body as she could. She can’t disappear, nor can she run away and hide now. She’d been seen. The filly’s first reaction to the voice is fear. The mare hated her, and was probably going to kill her at some point. Great. Coraline sighed softly before nodding her refined head. Yep. Lost as they come. Which is funny, since she was barely inside the maze. She could easily step outside of it and run away, but there was something holding her. Maybe it was the thought of finding friends. She didn’t care about secrets or treasures. The only thing in life she had truly treasured had been ripped away from her; and while it happened two years ago, she had only found out about it. That was the joy of being locked in a magical coma with no way to reach the outside world. So, the grief was still fresh in her heart, and in her yearling’s mind. She chanced a look up at the winged mare, and couldn’t help but stare. She had the most beautiful markings, and wings. (Why did they all have wings?) The filly couldn’t help but marvel at them. What was it like to feel the sky? Could she taste clouds? Did they taste as amazing as they looked? Her mind began to spin off in this direction before the voice of the mare threw a brick wall in front of it.
”C…Coraline.” The filly was trembling again. She wanted to run crying from this scene; to find Pan and Flora. They were about her age (well…mentally, anyway), and they weren’t mean to her. She didn’t understand what she had done wrong. If only she could read the thoughts of the mare, she would see the thoughts of all she wanted to find; the grandeur, the treasures, and the glory. If Coraline could have read those thoughts, she would have told the mare she could keep all that stuff. ”I’m not asking you for anything…you seem…busy.” Her voice was meek and soft. She didn’t want to anger the mare, nor did she want to be alone. Oh, curse her inability to just be bold and forward like Pan; or charming like Flora; or brave like he was. But we all have our cross to bear, it seems, and hers was fear. She could only hope that one day, she would learn to harness it, and not let it control her. ”Unless you need company…?”
JUST LIKE FIRE, BURNING OUT THE WAY
IF I CAN LIGHT THE WORLD UP FOR
JUST ONE DAY WATCH THIS MADNESS
COLORFUL CHARADE NO ONE CAN
BE JUST LIKE ME ANYWAY
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 :(
No, it isn’t you in particular. It’s the fact that you’re another creature, and the filly has been conditioned to believe that everyone and everything is a danger. Her mother was barely a mother, and could spare no kind word. The only words spared were of the creatures that should eat her, and how awful she was because she was different. As if different was bad. Coraline had grown to learn that she was no good; worthless, if you will, and deserved no kindness. This does not mean she does not crave it. In fact, the girl is so desperate to be loved, to feel a loving kiss upon her brow, that it is nearly all-consuming. Yet she will never ask for it. She will simply crave it, and absorb it in the moments she gets it. All other times, she is convinced she will be killed for her differences, despite the obvious fact that there are others who are even more strangely marked than she. But she doesn’t see that. She sees them all as beautiful – perfect. None of them have the black markings of shame, nor button eyes. The girl feels no self pity, mind you, but fear and repulsion at her differences.
The mare changed her entire demeanor in a moment, and Coraline stood confused. Was she going to be a friend now, or was this a trick to eat her? She spoke again, of the center of the maze, or the exit, and the filly listened carefully. It sounded dangerous, but exciting at the same time. What would they find at the center of the maze? The filly imagined it would be a family, marked just like her – silver with black points and button eyes, and she would find Pandora – her stuffed fox with the sewn seams and matching button eyes. She missed her companion, but had grown used to the fact that Pandora was never with her when she woke in these strange new places. It was only a matter of time before the foxling was found again, and the filly knew it. Yes – she would follow this mare into the scary maze if it meant finding a family and Pandora. She knew that it would be harder for a monster to eat both of them, and maybe they didn’t like horses with wings, and she would be safe. The filly’s lips tugged up in a ghost of a smile.
If the filly could have read the mare’s mind, she probably would have left, her little heart crushed. She wanted to be big and brave and strong. She was, after all, a three year old! But her mind was trapped as that of a yearling. It wasn’t her fault. The magical coma she had been stuck in didn’t allow her mind to grow and age. Instead, she was locked in dreams with Pan, Flora, and him. They ran and frolicked. Played tag and chase. Raced on the beach against the sea lion that barked and frightened Pandora.
”Well… let’s find the middle of this maze.” She gave a small smile again, this time, more ready for the adventure.
JUST LIKE FIRE, BURNING OUT THE WAY
IF I CAN LIGHT THE WORLD UP FOR
JUST ONE DAY WATCH THIS MADNESS
COLORFUL CHARADE NO ONE CAN
BE JUST LIKE ME ANYWAY
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 :)
