[P] | Fearless |

[Efphion]

The landscape swept from dunes to a wavering image that threatened any onlookers with the possibility of the solace being a lie. Even the world lied, so it was only natural for those that roamed the surface to follow suit. A maiden dripped in the colours of ash stood atop a dune of sand, she peered skeptically at the wavering image before her. It was a lie the ash maiden was familiar with. Effy's eyes narrowed a bit more in an attempt to cease the distortion of her view due to the heat. She decided to move toward it, her gait was effortless upon the collapsing dunes. They gave beneath her weight, but her daggers did not falter even a single step as she descended. Reth had been made of great landscapes that ranged from pouring dunes to vibrant emerald forests. It was no surprise that she thrived in the barren depths of sand, she was built for it. She was built from the ashes of their enemies, and fury of the sun. Effy pressed on with obvious determination, her legs did not cease moving until they struck the stone that surrounded the oasis. "Just as I thought. Even the sands beyond the kingdom of the sun cannot fool me." Effy snarled into the empty, dry air around her.

Effy eyed the steps it would take to get into the oasis. A slow smile crept across her features, she contemplated her sudden caution. The leap down there couldn't be too far down. She eyed the potential way down along the stone surfaces that surrounded the oasis. Effy surged forward suddenly, the heat of her jewelry becoming abruptly more prominent against her frame. She descended the stones as though they were steps, nearly losing her balance a few times. Effy's laughter sliced through the air, the sound met no resistance and bounced from the fortress around the oasis. Her hair soared towards the sky as she took the final leap toward the floor of the desert's solace. The earth collided with her daggers, the sensation jarred through her bones. The vibration stirred an excitement within the ashen maiden. Her lungs flooded with the arid oxygen, it rushed down her throat like the river bursting from a broken dam. The proud palms danced in the hot breezes of the Solterran wilds. Effy's movements were just as fluid as she practically danced toward the water gently shifting in the makeshift pool. Effy charged forward suddenly and leaped into the pool once she reached the edge.

Her whole journey here had been incredibly reckless. Even her descent into this place had been dangerous, she could have broken her leg. Effy was fearless, danger thrilled her. Violence intoxicated her nearly as much as the rush of doing something dangerous. The ash painted maiden's head broke the surface of the water. The water was cooler than the surrounding air, but it was by no means cold. Effy's body had landed near the middle of the pool. She began to swim toward the edge of the pool, on the opposite side from where she had first entered. As she stepped from the vibrant blue pool her hair clung to her, and the hot air greeted her as an old friend. It felt comfortable now that she had gone for a quick swim. Effy glanced back at the water she had disturbed, she could see herself here many days. 

"Speech"
Notes: Here you are <3 Sorry for the wait rrow
Tags: @Israfel
Words: 571

I SLEEP NO MORE

and die again

[Israfel]

Israfel

The Sun Daughter welcomed the heat that spread along her spine and the width of decorated wings. She embraced it as she soared through the air, welcoming its intimate, familiar caress as though it were an old friend. The pale curves and ridges of her muscled frame were dark with damp sweat, ivory and golden tresses hanging limp and about the Warden’s face and neck in lackluster curls. She was, quite honestly, a messy sight and in no condition for meeting others… But Israfel was not one to truly care about her appearances, not anymore.

Such an egotistical lifestyle was well behind her, back before she had died and experienced the might of rebirth.

Now, the world lay bare before her golden hooves. It was ripe for the taking, and Israfel had no intentions on just letting such an opportunity go. The rolling dunes of white-hot sand passed beneath her mighty wings, her pace quick and agile as she ventured towards the Solterran Capitol. Like a beacon she shot through the sky upon powerful, broad wings, a massive bird of flames and passion soaring just ahead of her.

Just a little further and we’ll reach the Oasis. We can stop there for a rest before we press on. The Phoenix ahead of her gave no sign that she had heard, but Israfel could feel Solaris’ affirmation all the same. Close as they were, they did not need physical cues to understand one another. A mental touch, a gentle press between hidden bonds, and they could communicate far better than with words.

Soon enough the Oasis came into view beneath them, a verdant promise of reprieve from the desert’s unrelenting heat and cruelty; lush and green and beautiful. The Daughter of the Sun began her descent, legs outstretching and wings billowing, and with a spray of bleached sands and a gale of hot air, she landed just outside the ripe palms and bright flowers. Vermilion eyes, fierce and unrelenting, scanned the oasis for others before she gave a mighty shake, granules of sand and flower petals falling from her hair. She was sticky and wet with sweat, and nothing sounded better than a drink and a quick dip in the cool oasis waters.

Solaris drifted on ahead almost lazily, her golden wings gliding through the air almost lazily as Israfel followed along at a leisurely sashay. Neither equine nor bonded were in much of a hurry, but as they broke through the clearing of verdant greens and colorful blossoms, Israfel’s gaze spotted that they weren’t, in fact, alone. A maiden of ebony and ash was already there, clearly enjoying the cooling effects of the Oasis before pulling herself out of the crystal clear water, her sleek coat dripping with liquid. The shield-maiden stared, unaffected, before raising a brow and clearing her throat.

“I hope you don’t mind the company?” She stated with a sly grin, vermilion eyes glittering in the bright sunlight. Her posture was broad and erect, proud from the blood of her birthright, and high on the dry heat that surrounded them. Solaris, in a display of cream and gold, swirled through the air before coming to rest upon Israfel’s spine just between her folded wings. The mighty Phoenix peered at the ashen mare from eyes of sharp lavender, but uttered not a sound. Israfel, however, went on, gilded hooves and long legs drawing her closer to the shore of the oasis. “We just need a rest, and then we’ll be on our way.”

x - x

@Efphion - Sorry for the wait! :D