She didn't know where she was. She didn't know anything, really, she realized. Vitor was missing. Paris was gone. Her heart continued beating but she didn't know how; she didn't know if she would have willed it to stop even if she could. Did she want death? Did she want to submit herself to a darkness so thick she couldn't crawl back from? She didn't see how it could be much different than the life she was living then, but something told her to stop those thoughts before they could carry on any further—the voice of Vitor lingering, perhaps, but she didn't pay it any mind. Instead she subjected herself to walking, walking forever through the boughs and grasses, torturing both her body and soul for something it couldn't control.
The terrain changed and she could at least tell that she was somewhere new (it was all new, but that was newer). It was also day, the sun soft on her back as it kissed her tentacles while battling the threat of rain clouds in the sky. It was beautiful, really, the melding of two forces fighting to take over; it wasn't much unlike her own self, between her poison and the hate she held for it. She spent a long time simply standing and staring up at the world above her, both thinking of and ignoring everything she loved and left. The girl by the water had told her something of 'relics,' things to be looking for like a treasure hunt. Akhlys didn't know the significance of them or what they were made of, but it was something to put herself to work to doing. She could spend the hours that cut themselves into her skin searching for something she knew nothing about; at least, it was looking for Paris.
With tentacles wavering about her in curiosity, she made way for a solitary tree in the middle of their field. First she checked its roots for something it held and its leaves for something it hid, but it had done neither and she was still no closer to understanding the 'relic' she heard of. The single tree would turn into her refuge, though, as rain fell lightly but determinedly from the clouds that beat out the sun.
Damascus had been here before. Memories of peach skies and the meadow so gold it could have been aflame still warmed his mind and called him back in search of the relic, this time to the sacred wilderness of the Eleutheria. The boy could still remember spending a whole day here from before the stars came out until they were put to death, and all the wonder's he had seen in-between - it was this prospect, of finding more treasures to lock within his bank of memory that had drawn him back to the plains today. Who might he meet out on the prairie, which opportunities might present themselves?
All of this had been thoroughly discussed with Dohv en rout, the jerboa having taken a seat upon the child's wither during flight as usual. The boy dreamed up scenarios in which he'd meet a brave chevalier or a beautiful princess, posing each one to dohv and asking him of their probability (which was usually a one in one hundred).
It wasn't long at all after the lad had landed that se sense another, ears flicking at the sound of a faint breath and fickle footsteps upon the sodden terrain. Rain had already began to splutter and spit against his hide, which normally would cause his mood to quickly turn afoul - not now though. The prospect of another, a new friend, was true and real.
His nose turned toward a lone tree standing solitary across the meadow - and under it, the silhouette of another equine. "Yew really ought to just let 'er go about 'er business" Dohv had grumbled as Damascus tossed all worry aside for the weather and begun his bound towards her, stopping a distance away as to not frighten her.
"'Allo!" He cheered "Damascus I am, What name is of you?" he would ask, his broken english showing immediately. "Looking you also for relic?"
(( ooc; HI AVIS! I hope u dont mind me jumping in, i saw it was AW ☀︎ ))
A stranger in a strange land. Venari felt his heart furiously beat from within his chest, threatening to explode from his ribcage. Anxiety seeped into his bloodstream the more he thought about this new adventure. While the stallion was used to traveling and was mostly comfortable on his own by now, he felt a strange eeriness wash over him as he entered the flat plain. The voice of Tempus still rang in his ears, the tales of old sinking in to his skull. He felt a certain pressure to retain all of the information given, especially the names of each land surrounding the Dusk Court and the details of Vespera.
The landscape stretched before him was striking, the flatness of the grasses welcoming after a tiring day of travel. Iced eyes scanned slightly to his right and he saw a vast mountain stab the threatening skies. A mountain like that breaking apart the flat and level plain was a visual oxymoron and made him ponder for a minute or so at how the land could have come to be. It was a question he often asked himself, and perhaps as he immersed himself into the nature of this new world, such questions would become clearer.
Snorting used air from his strained lungs, Venari tried to dislodge some of the niggling thoughts from his mind. Today was a bad day for his mental state and he had no idea why it was so. He could think of on major triggers as to why they had come about. They were just there, contaminating his happiness and bleeding it dry until it morphed into a persistent state of worry.
Venari halted as he spotted movement from beside a tree. His head tilted as he observed from afar, wary of who this might be and their intentions for being here. The brindled stallion was so new to this land that he knew not of even it's name. Consequently, he knew nothing about the locals and their supposed temperament. The demeanours in the stranger appeared normal enough, however, and so Ven progressed in a steady and cautious walk, audits flicking tentatively upon his crown.
Rain began to spit from the sky, a pathetic fallacy that was tempting to adhere to. However Venari ignored his gut feeling and carried on his walk. He was curious as to what she was doing as it appeared to him that she was looking for something. As to what he had no clue. It was then that another swift movement captured his gaze, this time from a winged beast as it landed by the lone tree. Great. Now there were two strangers and he was already committed to find out what this fuss was about. His anxiety worsened but he pushed it to the back of his skull as best he could. He needed to try and keep a clear head; first introductions here could prove vital.
Venari picked up a steady trot, whinnying softly to the two other souls in greeting. He tried to retain a friendly expression despite his worry. "Looking you also for relic?" He heard the ebony pegasus ask in broken linguistics. Relic? What type of relic and was that was the other, brighter horse was looking for? Drawing to a halt, his tilted his head and gave an inquisitive look to both equines, his soggy mane draping onto his antlers as he did so. "I hope you don't mind my intrusion but..." He turned to the stranger he had initially spotted and quickly observed the tentacles with a trickle of worry before resuming his dialogue. "...What are you searching for?"
*
TAGGED: @Akhlys @Damascus
NOTES: Hope you don't mind me jumping in with the noob haha! <3
TIMELINE: First relic post, first day in Novus
It felt good to have finally found a place so close to the stars.
After days of aimless wanderings, unforgiving stonework and berating sunlight, the plain's meek, calm breeze came as a gift. The meadow was truly something to behold - lined with bristling golden grass and ringed by lush forestry, with the Veneror Peak now far on the horizonline, no more then a merciless memory. He wondered if a mortal youngster might see this open field and run, run carelessly, with the wind in its mane and eyes alight with exhilaration. He wished he could. But one day, he would do more - he would soar the skies above, no more then a whisper between blades of grass or a shaking in the trees. He would put stars in the sky, let them shower the earth and watch their reflections bounce off the grass's golden surface. He could see it n- but he should not. What are you doing, idiot. he growled at himself. Do not give yourself false hopes.
For a moment, he'd allowed himself a freedom he did not have. Could have again, but it seemed to be dancing further and further out of his reach, no matter how many steps he made towards it. The diamond of his collar bounced against his jugular, mocking him. You think you can be a god again?
He shook his head, long mane tossed and unruly about his neck. The wind picked up, whistling as it charged between the pines, then coming to a soft whisper once it touched against the grassland. Far above him, an eagle painted the skies with feathered wingtips, a dark form heralding the coming dusk.
Kaladin picked up his pace, hoping the quick strides would shake off self-loathing memories that dragged his every step. Soon, he had moved into a lope, watching the golden earth below him whip past. Neck curved, amberglass eyes sharp and alert. With his bronze coat and simple build, movements lax and unhurried, he thought he might look like a creature conjured of the prairie itself.
With the long, stretching expanse ahead, it was not long before he recognized a shape in the distance. He cursed in his mind at the sight, hooves slamming to a halt in a shower of yellow grass and upturned turf. Not him. Not again. he glanced to the heavens, reproachful to whatever deity laughed at him now. You think this funny? he growled. He glanced back, body shivering with sudden anxiety. The last time he had seen the youth's hide, they had been plastered against each other in a mountain cavern, shivering and frigid as their manes iced over in the pouring gale. Still, there would be no avoiding him now - Damascus would have clearly noticed Kaladin by now.
He approached wearily, eyes glimmering coldly. He noted a second stag standing off to the side, and nodded his greeting in disinterested fashion before turning back to the younger boy. "Still seeking out the relic?" he asked. "You're a determined one, aren't you?"
@Damascus i'm placing this between the mountains and the meadow timeline wise, since it makes the most sense??
