[P] it starts with a spark

[Antiope]

antiope

forever may you reign
forever may you reign

A

ntiope turns toward the tree as Morrighan begins to count, her muscles tensing out of habit, even though she knows something as small as a race is an easy win for her. The energy she pulled from the fire still fills every cell of her body like a charge, making her feel restless. In truth, she’s happy to have devised this little game to use it up. The striped mare is restless enough without excess energy hanging around in her veins.

“...Three!” shouts her companion, as they both take off across the sun dried grass. Antiope’s long hair whips in air behind her as their hooves beat a staccato against the hard earth. And, for the entire stretch to the tree she just enjoys the run. Just enjoys the fast beating of her heart and the simple goal to reach the tree and return to the bonfire and nothing else.

For a moment, she doesn’t think about the stillness of the sun or the lioness in her bones or of all the aching things she tries so hard to forget. Antiope glances at Morrighan, and thinks that perhaps the other mare is even enjoying herself too, and she’s pleased. Perhaps, then, the fire woman is not all fight and flame.

As they reach the tree and turn back toward their starting point, Antiope thinks it’s time to actually get to the point of this little demonstration. She gathers up the energy that is sizzling all throughout her veins and begins to feed on it. Her eyes start to glow, turning from sapphire blue to a pupilless, ichor-gold.

She can feel the power in her muscles, pushing her faster over the ground, and when she reaches the side of the bonfire she turns to face Morrighan who is arriving after her. And looking none too please about it, too. With the energy used and Antiope letting go of her magic, the gilded glow fades from her eyes and returns them to their normal blue. “You’re right,” she says.

“And that is with a very small amount of it,” what Antiope doesn’t say is how dangerous she can be, how dangerous she has been with large amounts of it. Her and all of her sisters. Her bright and sharp gaze settles on the flames as they dance within the confines of the rock circle. She can still feel the temptation, pulling at her. It’s hard to ignore, but she tightens her jaw and turns away.

“I should be heading back to the court,” the striped woman takes a few steps away from the fire, locking eyes with grullo mare’s dual-toned gaze, “I’m sure you’d like your space back.” What she doesn’t say is that she hasn’t slept while the sun hasn’t, and that her restlessness is more than just the energy she can gather that lingers inside her. “Until next time,” Antiope nods her head in parting and turns southward, for the journey back to the familiar streets of Denocte’s capital.

@Morrighan closing this! Hope it's not too sudden rip"speaks"

rallidae | rhiaan