[AW] drowning in old memories;

[Ankou]

The day had finally come to a close, ending the onslaught of heat and slowness. The moon had risen high in the sky, and the beast of shadow looked up with a faint tinkling of hope. Hope that maybe, just maybe, this would be the place he found them. Yuki and his twins. They had been missing since the implosion of one of his last homes. He didn’t remember much – only that he woke up and they were gone, ripped from him. His heart hurt with their loss; a hole that he tried carefully to avoid during the daylight when others could see him; but he dove head-first into it at night. Night was also the only place he felt comfortable spreading his wings – wings that he held tight to his body, which was so thickly furred that the wings melded with them. He hid his wings since he was a young colt, and Yuki was the only one he had ever willingly showed them to – aside from his children.   It was now, in the darkness of the trees that he stretched them again. Each joint of the pathetically small wings popped into place, a painful relief. He flapped them a time or two, knowing they were utterly useless to him. He would never fly, but then, he was ok with that. Ankou stretched out everything else – his neck, his back, his legs, and gave his wings a few more stretches before folding them carefully against his sides again. Aside from the benefit of hiding his wings, his excessive fur also insulated him against Yuki’s ice element. It wasn’t her fault she was cold – just like it wasn’t his fault he was black. She had struggled to find someone who could stand to be near her, and he had longed to find someone to love. Their pairing was a match made by the gods. There was no other explanation for it. And together, they created a perfect set of twins – the little filly with wings and ice; and the little colt with wings who was able to fly. They were perfect.   But they were also gone.   His heart ached again. Ducking his head, he started walking aimlessly, knowing there was a herd around him, and that he was not truly alone; but that did not stop the feeling of lonely from wrapping its claws around him. With a sigh, he moved, black eyes reflecting the moonlight and the faint stars. He still hoped to find them. One day, he would be reunited with them. He had to be.

Ankou Father to: Aine & Osiris (x Yuki)

[Mephisto]

Mephisto
dusk court warrior

S

he thought she was alone in the night, taking a break from the court tour and stepping away into the shadows to find some relief.  Mephisto had never been one for large groups and awkward conversation with strangers, so it was peaceful for her to slip into the cover of moonlight, closing her eyes and letting the autumn winds wash over her.  All around, the sounds of night come to life.  She hears a distant wolf cry, a closer bullfrog calling to a mate, the ever present hum of crickets.  Strange, but it was starting to feel like home here, and the warg took pleasure at the thought of purpose once more.

She walked farther from the others, deep into the wood where she thought she could be alone… but Vespera had other plans for her on this evening.  As she delved deeper into the thick green brush, she began to become keenly aware of Ankou.  First, she smelled him – something foreign and a little wild.  Not of Novus (though the same could be said for her, to be honest).  Curiosity washes away her mild annoyance at finding another when she desperately wanted to be alone, and she shifted her path to find the Pegasus.

Her own wings are tucked against her, not so much to stave off cold or to hide them, than to keep them from brushing against the thick foliage as she walked.  Only once she is close enough to see him does she allow them to extend just a bit from her body, wind ruffling her dark plumage.  For a moment, the two simply stare at one another, strangers like passing ships in the night, each interrupting the other’s quiet.  But then, it is Mephisto who speaks first, bowing her head in a stoic sort of greeting, sending tendrils of ink and cobalt across her face.

Good evening. Her voice is low and silky, like hounds baying before a hunt.  There is a strange sort of accent which tinges her words, something old-world and perhaps aristocratic.  What brings you to the Dusk Court, stranger?  And she waits, not offering her name or a greeting, and not meaning any malice by her words.  Mephisto is simply curious.

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@Ankou  <3  sorry it took me so long to respond... baby is kicking my butt

rallidae

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[Ankou]

When the memories suffocated him, he ran. He ran hard, trying to outrun the memories, the heartache, the fears and the self-blame. Why had he survived when his wife and twins were gone? He couldn’t admit they were dead – death was too final. And to lose them forever was too much for him to bear, let alone think about. So he ran. And when he tired of running, he simply milled, trying to avoid drowning in the memories that were always so near at hand. It was in this floundering to stay above the tear-filled waters that another found him. She rustled through the trees until they were near enough to stretch out and touch each other, but it would seem that she had no interest in doing such a thing, and he was grateful for that. He blinked several times, trying to hide the surprise he felt at her sudden appearance. She speaks to him then, asking why he is here. To be honest, he does not know why he here. He isn’t even sure where “here” is. He looked around, taking in the sights as if for the first time. Trees with dipping leaves, whispering in the slight breeze that toys with manes and tails. He takes in the scents – other horses brought to his nostrils from a distance. None of them are familiar to him. He feels alone; missing his other pieces, yet knowing that no matter how hard he wished, that they were never going to be found again. ”Home.” The word was less filled with conviction, and more filled with wonder and confusion. He wanted a home; a place to belong; something to fight for. And maybe, if he dared to dream of getting over the pain in his deep chest – love. He wasn’t sure if he would ever have that feeling again, but there was a tiny part of him that dared to hope. He wanted to have that bond with one other; to know that they belonged together, no matter what. There was a small glitter of hope deep in his black eyes. ”Ankou.” He offered his name, and nothing else. While others had a voice that sounded like angels or other happy things, his was deep and grating, much like two gravestones rubbing together. It wasn’t because he wanted to sound like this, but because his voice was rusty with disuse. He wasn’t one for many words, and to get him to speak at all was a great feat. For now, he reverts to his normal nature and falls silent, taking in the sight of the winged mare before him. Not for the first time, he curses his stunted wings that would never hold him in flight. The reason for them is a long one, one that he would get into only if necessary.

Ankou Father to: Aine & Osiris (x Yuki)

@Mephisto

[Mephisto]

Mephisto
dusk court warrior

R

unning was okay – while Mephisto herself hadn’t ever run from horrors in her past, she certainly understood it.  So too, did she understand that not everyone was a talker.  She respected that, not being one to engage in more small talk than necessary, nodding to his answer.  Home.  It was a good enough answer for her – it was, in fact, the same thing she’d been looking for in the dusk court.  Come then. she replied, the response simple and to the point, as she began to walk him closer toward the others and the center of their land.

He’d come to the right place, for though the Dusk Court was not overly warm and welcoming, they were looking for others to join their ranks.  At least that had been her impression based on the meeting Asterion had called.  Mephisto had only arrived herself mere days before, so she wasn’t necessarily the best person to show him around, but she did her best to be warm and inviting.  After all, this traveler seemed weary, and like he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders.  The last think Ankou needed was another door slamming in his face.

Mephisto, she answered with her own name, nodding as she takes in his.  Welcome to Terrestella, the kingdom of the goddess Vespera.  She adds the last bit with only a moment of hesitation, not entirely sure where they stood with the goddess.  Marisol had told her that Vespera was worthy of their worship though, so she was doing her best to fit in with this new world, trying to abide by their rules.  

The warg had to wonder where the silent Pegasus had come from, but it was fairly clear to her that he wasn’t planning on becoming a chatty Cathy.  Still, she wanted to know more… so she prodded ever so slightly, willing him to communicate even if it pained him to do so.  After all, how else would he get to know more about this place, or would they learn about him?  I’m new here too.  Came to Novus only a few days before you, from a place called The Winter Court.  What about you?

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@Ankou  

rallidae

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[Ankou]

He wished he could be “normal” like the others; to talk and laugh and joke around; to speak about the weather, about the mud that coated his legs, and the brambles that tangled his tail. He wished he could talk about significant things, like Yuki and the twins; to tell anyone about his childhood…but that was precisely why he couldn’t talk about things. His mother forced him to be silent. He was an abomination to them. They were all born with snow-white fur and horns. He had been born night-black with wings. They were stunted because of her. She forced him to keep them hidden; folded at unnatural angles against his body so nobody would notice. She told the herd that he was special; but still forced him away. It was the grace of a God he didn’t understand that he was allowed to live – the unicorns don’t believe in murder. He was not worthy of a mother’s love, but nor was he abomination enough to break their greatest law. He lived a cruel half-life. He ate about half as much as his belly wanted. He didn’t grow like they did, and in the cold of the nights, his coat grew thick and shaggy to keep him warm. He turned internal and left his thoughts to roll around his head, instead of discussing them with others. He made friends with the night creatures – the bats, the owls, the sly fox, and the ravenous wolf. They all saw him as one of their own, and so, none harmed him. He was not bitter about his life. He understood that his mother did what she had to do to maintain the “graces” of her herd. She found a mate, and they were particular about life-mating. The only way to find a new mate was if one of them died; and she would not leave without his sire, despite him wanting nothing to do with the coal black colt. The next spring, his mother bore a perfect filly; exactly like the others. He wanted so badly to meet his sister, to have a playmate; but it just wasn’t allowed. And so, he moved on. She spoke to him again, and he nodded. He would follow her to any safe place. He was so tired of fighting; of struggling to fit in. He wanted a place of his own where he could live and perhaps even thrive. He wouldn’t mind another child one day, but finding a mate was a hard decision. Especially after Yuki. Oh, how he loved her so. She was his “once-in-a-lifetime.” He was still struggling with the thought of moving on. Perhaps one day, however, he would find that one mare that would help him move past. The mare – Mephisto, he corrects himself – tells him the name of this place. It sounded beautiful. Yuki would have loved it. She then asks where he came from. With something that could only be called a chuckle, he gave a shrugging motion of his shoulders, his black eyes merry. Here and there. Everywhere and nowhere. Heaven and hell. Oh, how he would tell her all this if he could. ”Traveller.” He had no true home. No place he had ever lived long enough to belong to. He stopped as she did, taking in everything around him. The trees, the grasses, the waters and the sands. He took in the scents of so many others, and it was overwhelming to be back in a herd. He had assumed this mare was not the lead, and so decided that would be his next challenge – gaining acceptance. He was a little sensitive about rejection; but then, who wouldn’t be with the mother he had?

Ankou Father to: Aine & Osiris (x Yuki)

@Mephisto

[Mephisto]

Mephisto
dusk court warrior

A

s they walked, a light snow began to fall on Terrestella, the flakes pale and fluffy.  It was still early winter, but shaping up to be a harsh one.  Already, the temperatures had begun to drop below freezing at night, and she shivered at the thought of it.  Still, it would not compare to the place where she had come from.  The Winter Court, true to its name, had seemed to be cloaked in an eternal sort of winter.  She missed it – the stark white snow as far as the eye could see, kissing the trees and turning the world into a winter fairyland.  It had been picturesque, peaceful even… and even now if she closed her eyes, Mephisto could bring her former home to mind with a soft smile.

It did not do, to dwell on things of the past, she supposed.  In all likelihood, the place which had been her home had likely fallen to rubble in the magic… and she had doubts that most had survived the fall.  Still, there is a nagging sense of hope that perhaps some had been able to escape their dire fate.  After all… Mephsito had gotten out, so it wasn’t entirely beyond the pale.  Still, she missed them – Gabriel, Karou – for the first time in her life, Mephsito had friends in the Winter Court.  Time would tell if the same could be said of Terrestella.

They walk in silence together, down the cobbled streets and past buildings which still seemed strange to Mephisto’s nomadic eye.  This was her first time living in a city, and she was still getting used to it.  The structures especially were a foreign thing for someone who had been a traveler all her life – not unlike Ankou, she supposed.  Here is the temple of Vespera.  Inside, you’ll find tomes of lore, and you can pay tributes to the goddess if you so desire.  The last piece is important, for freedom of religion was strictly practiced here.  Asterion would not force Ankou to follow Vespera.  In truth, it seemed that the herd was divided about her usefulness as their deity, and torn on whether to follow.

Moving on, she motioned to a long and plain looking building in the distance.  I live there, with the others from the Halcyon Air Unit.  She flicks a glance at his wings, but decides that he didn’t seem particularly brawny or strong.  In contrast, he seemed underfed in a way, and she looks him over with a curious eye but does not pass judgment.  Instead, the dark Pegasus hurriedly adds, Once you become more established here, perhaps you will choose to take up a rank or purpose.  Like in other places, we each play a role – fighter, medic, scholar, merchant… even entertainers have a role.

She stops then, turning toward him and pausing, as if to wait for him to fill the silence.  Surely, he would have questions… or maybe, he just wanted to rest.  Either way, she was curious to let him decide what came next, mustering a gentle smile of encouragement as they waited in the winter snowfall.

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@Ankou  

rallidae

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