S O M N U S
"What if I fall?"
"Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?"
Since his recent arrival to Novus, to
Delumine and the Dawn Court, Somnus rarely ventured from the mortar hallways of the Court. As a matter of fact, the golden tactician could count upon one feather a time in which he
had departed Delumine all together. He found it oddly soothing and satisfyingly productive in a place so unnaturally quiet, learning, memorizing, locking away every stretch of stone, every room, every nook and cranny of the Court into the recesses of his mind, perfecting a mental map so thorough that should the occasion ever arise, he could navigate the twisting halls blindfolded.
Some called him
obsessive. Somnus merely liked to say that he had, and quote,
'contingency plans for his contingency plans'. It was simply the way that he was. Thorough. On point.
Prepared.
No amount of preparation, of warning, of ill-fated timings could ready the winged stallion for what the day would hold, however. Finally feeling the clawing fingers of self-imposed incarceration wearing down upon his mind, the dunalino gentleman took to the skies in search of a moment to clear his head, rich caramel wings carrying him along the wind with composed, practiced elegance. The rushing Rapax River sped by under hoof, the verdant tops of the Viride Forest arriving soon after, and acute, perceptive eyes scanned the land beneath the trees as he passed overhead like a bird upon the wind.
An obscure mar against the land caught his eye amidst the thinner section of trees, a dark creature, clearly equine in shape, venturing about. A beat overhead, a curious narrowing of emerald eyes, and the tactician tilted his wings just so, whirling back around and spotting two more shapes beneath the canopy of hickory trees. Visitors, perhaps? Members of the Dawn Court of whom Somnus was not yet acquainted with? Both options were very likely, and deciding to take the gentlemanly route and inquire as to their needs or offer his own assistance, the winged male sought out a suitable barren patch of earth for his landing.
Wings spreading, feathers billowed in the breeze and sudden shift as he came in for a landing, hooves elegantly coming into contact with the earth. Amber feathers ruffled and shifted, wings coiling to tuck comfortably against pale flaxen sides, and only then with all four hooves upon the ground did Somnus direct his attention to the individuals he had spotted from above. Intuitive eyes met the first, a particularly robust fellow of a chestnut-bay mix, with proud horns upon his brow and a flask strewn about his neck. A companion trailed in his wake, a sleek, ebony creature that closely resembled a canine, but Somnus was wise enough to know that this creature was not
exactly that. He was a stranger, this broad built fellow and smelled nothing like the Dawn Court, but the tactician was a diplomat through and through, and so he offered him a tip of an onyx crown in greeting before emerald eyes sought out the second form.
The second, well... Somnus recognizes him instantly, but his mind is hesitant to believe it. A head of solid ebony save for a kiss of white, eyes of piercing, rich gold, and a strong body of silvery blue roan. Wings were tucked against scarred sides, but one, half ot the left feathered appendage has been crudely wrenched from the rest of his body... But Somnus already knew
why. How odd, finding
him here. Still, the tactician couldn't help but smile as recognition truly took hold.
It was a reserved sort of smile, a taciturn expression formed from years of strict composition, but crisp verdant eyes positively smoldered with elation, with unfathomable joy. A familiar face, here, in Novus. How incredibly unlikely, but blissfully welcome.
"Ulric," Somnus greeted fondly in his lilting accent, his stance still at attention, formal and eloquent as always,
"To find you in Novus... I can scarce believe my eyes." And here, because Somnus was not
rude to anyone who did not warrant it, he turned his head towards the robust male and his sleek canine companion, that smile slowly fading into a more professional expression but the joy in his eyes irreplaceable.
"Be welcome, good sir. Please, come closer. I am Somnus."
