i miss you -- in memory

[Kaitaia]

April 29th, 2010 was a normal day for me. I had two exams, got irritated at my guy roommate, and wanted to strangle him. I called my mom, ranted to her about him, and then later on had something to eat, and was spending time on Gaia, like I usually do every night. I was talking to my two other roommates, and then went upstairs when I realized my phone was ringing. I answered it, and that's when my world fell apart. It was my mom again. My little sister had been in a car accident, and she hadn't made it. Her car had struck a moose that had popped suddenly up on the driver's side, and while her pulse had been strong, she had died in the ambulance.





I didn't believe it at first. Who would? She was 18 years old, healthy, and a safe driver. In my mind, there was no way she could have died. Even if she was in an accident, my sister was strong, a fighter. Hearing that she'd died en route to the hospital was absurd, especially when her boyfriend, the driver, had walked away with minor physical injuries. But unfortunately, it was true. She was gone, and I was halfway across the country away. The next few days were so hard. My dad came to get me that night, and I stayed with him until we could get a flight out. It was two long days before we could get one, two days filled with an ocean of tears. I've only seen my dad cry once or twice before in my life, and never ever like that. His crying just made it all the more real and startling.





My sister had just turned 18 in February. She was blond, blue-eyed and beautiful. Her high school graduation was in two weeks, and in a week, they would have been picking me up at the airport. I hadn't seen my sister since Christmas, when she had spent a few days at my house with me. I was looking forward to seeing her, and she was looking forward to seeing me. I couldn't wait to use my fancy camera to take pictures of her in her grad dress. She was outgoing and friendly, and would always be the first to make friends. She had friends from all over. Her facebook memorial group (she actually has two), has over 3000 people. She loved hockey, and driving around, and just being happy. When I think about her, I remember her smile, her impish smile, and her laugh. She had a laugh that you could hear clear across the house, and it was beautiful. She was my sister, and while we often fought, I loved her more than anything. A part of me is missing with her gone, and I don't know if I'll ever get it back. The only thing that has kept me together, is the love of my family and friends, especially the strength of my mother, and knowing how loved my sister was. She was friends with everybody, and they made sure to show their support. I can never thank them enough.





Now, the point of this quest. I created this avatar in memory of my sister. Her favourite colour was pink, (her grad dress, which we buried her in, was pink) and she had beautiful blond hair and gorgeous blue eyes. I decided to translate this avatar into a custom design so that even after I changed my avatar, I would have something to remember her by on Gaia. I plan to keep this avatar until I snag a slot.





In loving memory of Denika Lynn Adams.
02/08/92 - 04/29/10
You'll never know how much I miss you.
♥

 

[Kaitaia]

the concept

Let me explain while I chose these elements.

• Blond hair: Pretty obvious. My sister had blond hair. xD;
  
• Blue eyes: Also obvious. She had blue eyes.
  
• Pink: Her favourite colour was pink.
  
• Roses: The flower spread from my and my mother for her was filled with pink roses.
  
• Pink ribbon on foreleg: My aunt bought me a rose to put in with Denika. It was wrapped in plastic per usual, with a pink ribbon. I cut the ribbon in half, and tied half around her wrist, and the other half around mine. I wore it for almost two weeks after.
  
• Silver heart-shaped locket: For Christmas past, she gave me a silver heart-shaped locket.
  
• Pink butterfly: My sister loved butterflies, ladybugs, and dragonflies. In the flower arrangement from my father, there were pink butterflies, exactly like the one in the ref.

There were so many other things I could have included, but I wanted her to be elegant and for each thing to mean something, not to just be a bunch of her favourite things lumped together.
 

[Kaitaia]

Form

[size=11][b].:Wind Soquili:.[/b] [imgright]http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/8695/pinkhorse.jpg[/imgright]
[b]Colorist wanted:[/b] Any
[b]Name of horse:[/b] Denika Lynn
[b]Owner:[/b] Kaitaia
[b]Gender:[/b] female
[b]Temper:[/b] kind-hearted
[b]Breed:[/b] Appaloosa
[b]Description:[/b] Based on [url=http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/20/1fda881d827cd.png]this avatar[/url]
[list]
[*]Body/Base Color - draft body with leg feathers, [url=http://www.equines4us.com/Members/1102/A20093198344.jpg]spotted dun with a blanket marking[/url] with a white blaze and a pink nose
[*]Wing Type - Heron wings
[*]Wing Color - White
[*]Eye Color - [color=dodgerblue]dodger blue[/color]
[*]Hairstyle - ringlets, with straight bang
[*]Tail-style - also ringlets
[*]Mane/Tail Color - pale blonde
[*]Accesories/Other - Pink roses place in her mane, and tail, along with pink roses at her feet. A pink ribbon around her waist, under her wings, as well as a lighter pink ribbon around her left foreleg. A silver necklace with a silver heart locket, as well as a silver bracelet on her right foreleg. A [url=http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a275/Becci517/1_PlexusPinkButterfly.jpg]pink butterfly[/url] flying around as well.
[*]Additional Notes - I'm totally up to your interpretation. If you'd like to tweak anything, be my guest. <3 I'm sure you'll do a much better job than I did. xD;[/list]
[b]Reference image(s): [/b]
horse markings: http://www.equines4us.com/Members/1102/A20093198344.jpg
mane and tail: ringlets from this avatar http://img38.imageshack.us/img38/20/1fda881d827cd.png
butterfly: http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a275/Becci517/1_PlexusPinkButterfly.jpg
[b]Which stage you want them to start as?[/b] Adult
[b]Default accessory color(s)?:[/b] No default
[b]Premade Tag Number:[/b] 025

[b]please note:[/b] this horse is in memory of my sister that recently passed away. if you're uncomfortable doing so, just let me know, and i can put up another form. <3

 

[Kaitaia]

funds:
2766K/???

wind soq (650K) + moderate editing (200K) = 850K
[flutter soq (1.5mil) + moderate editing (200K) = 1.7 mil] maybe?
angeni soq (4 mil) + moderate editing (200K) = 4.2 mil
I'll try for whatever I have enough for at the time of slots.

I don't expect any donations. This is mostly just a place to keep the form, and progress of my savings for this quest, and others, and cause its kind of therapeutic. As a colorist in a few shops, I'm not scrambling to get gold. And if I don't have enough at the time of the slot, I can always sell something, haha. So please, don't feel obligated to donate to me. Donate to someone who can't get the gold! <3

But big thank yous to these guys who donated anyway!
Kamiki ♥
Kaliskanny ♥♥
Hyper Falcon ♥  

[Kaitaia]

the petition:

In Newfoundland where my mother and sister live, moose on the highways is a huge problem. Each year there are over 700 car-moose accidents, and several fatalities.

In honour of my sister, myself and her friend have started a petition to lobby the government of the province to take action, and do something about the problem.

Here is a link to the online version of the petition, and I would greatly appreciate it if you could take the time to sign it.

Thank you!  

[Kaitaia]

future quests:

Astrafel:

[size=11][b].:Cerynei Soquili:.[/b]
[b]Name of horse:[/b] Astrafel
[b]Owner:[/b] Kaitaia
[b]Gender:[/b] Male
[b]Temper:[/b] Fading
[b]Breed:[/b] Cosmic OC
[b]Description (eye color/hair color/hair style etc):[/b] Its best to look at the references to get a clear idea of what I mean, but here goes~
- Mane: Very messy medium length hair, falling over to one side. It's purple, fading to pink, and a lighter pink, with dark black roots, and black streaks. Its like.. a very messy dye job! xD; See refs for colour palate and style.
- Body: His pelt is the same as his hair really, dark purple to a lighter purple to pink and then to white. He's got darker pink patches around his eyes as well, and black liner around his actual eyes. lolguyliner. See refs for colour palate.
- Eye colour: A pale yellow, see refs for colour palate.
- Hoof colour: Pale pink, see refs for colour palate.
[b]Clothing edits:[/b]
- A dark blue sleeveless jacket shirt thing, loose, and pinned at the sides with yellow clips. Its got little stars all over it, glowing with small points of light.
- On his right foreleg, there's a legwarmer, with alternating purple and light blue stripes, and smaller light blue stripes to separate them.
- The other three legs have a black string wrapped around the bottom, and in his antlers, are small yellow stars strung from black string. See refs for colour palate.
[b]Reference image(s):[/b]
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/Kaitaia/Pets/Waywards/starrytwillight.jpg He's an existing pet of mine. <3
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/Kaitaia/Pets/Soq/AstrophelConcept.jpg I just slapped some colour on this, its mostly for edit ref and a colour palate.
[b]Which stage you want them to start as?(basket,foal,or adult):[/b] Adult
[b]Default accessory color(s)?:[/b] None~
[b]Tag frame color:[/b] [color=#eda3b0]#eda3b0[/color]
[b]Tag feather color:[/b] Like his pelt colour, purple to pink to white.
[b]Tag background image:[/b] http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/Kaitaia/colorfulclouds.jpg
Feel free to interpret everything as you feel. <3 He doesn't have to be /exactly/ like this. <3

Cerynei (550K) + moderate edits (200K) = 750K

Newfie

[b].:Usdia (no difficult edits please):.[/b]
[b]Name of horse:[/b] Newfie
[b]Owner:[/b] Kaitaia
[b]Gender:[/b] Female
[b]Temper:[/b] Dependable
[b]Breed:[/b] Newfoundland Pony
[b]Description (eye color/hair color/hair style etc):[/b]
- Mane/tail: Punk style, dark brown with blonder streaks
- Body: Very light tan colour with darker brown down her legs
- Eye colour: brown
- Hoof colour: brown
[b]Clothing edits:[/b] A bandanna around her neck with a Newfoundland flag design, please~
Reference image(s):
- horse: http://www.newfoundlandpony.com/images/photo_gallery/large/61.jpg
- flag: http://www.theodora.com/flags/state_flags/newfoundland.gif
[b]Which stage you want them to start as?(basket,foal,or adult):[/b] Adult
[b]Default accessory color(s)?:[/b] None~
[b]Tag frame color:[/b] Golden
[b]Tag feather color:[/b] whatever matches the pet
[b]Tag background image:[/b] again, whatever matches

Usdia (150K) + minor edits (100K) = 250K

Eirian

.:Regular Soquili:.
[b]Name of horse:[/b] Eirian
[b]Owner:[/b] Kaitaia
[b]Gender:[/b] Female
[b]Temper:[/b] spitfire
[b]Breed:[/b] Natural
[b]Description (eye color/hair color/hair style etc):[/b] Its best to look at the references to get a clear idea of what I mean, but here goes~
- Mane/tail: Blonde, in the "Forever Foal" style
- Body: A brown shade, that starts off light and darkens as it goes down. lighter and darker spots, as well as some golden spots, to create a dappled look. Has stripes on her stomach, like a nautilus' stripes, and stockings that are cream coloured, and also dappled with faint stripes. Pink nose.
- Eye colour: a pretty light blue
- Hoof colour: dark brown
[b]Reference image(s):[/b] http://i306.photobucket.com/albums/nn276/oneoverthree/Pets/Soquili/OTHER/female6.png
[b]Which stage you want them to start as?:[/b] Adult
[b]Default accessory color(s)?:[/b] None~
[b]Tag frame color:[/b] Golden
[b]Tag feather color:[/b] whatever matches the pet
[b]Tag background image:[/b] again, whatever matches

Regular (350K) = 350K

Cadence (maybe)

.:Edited Regular Soquili:.
[color=red][b]A lot of this horse is left to the colorist's descretion[/b][/color]
[b]Name of horse:[/b] Cadence
[b]Owner:[/b] Kaitaia
[b]Gender:[/b] Female
[b]Temper:[/b] Rocking
[b]Breed:[/b] OC
[b]Description (eye color/hair color/hair style etc):[/b]
- Mane/tail: Long-ish, style changes. Usually dyed random bright colours(what colours up to the colorist). We think its naturally black.
- Body: Black, with brightly coloured designs
- Eye colour: Green, #a0d500
- Hoof colour: a different bright colour for each hoove.
[b]Clothing edits:[/b]
- a neck scarf, much like the Gaia [url=http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/9335/147602636876.png]tams[/url], colour up to colorist
- long string of coloured beads around neck, colours up to colorist
- hair clips in her mane/tail, colour also up to the colorist
- ear peircings
- different coloured accessories (bracelets and such)
- bright eyeshadow
[b]Reference image(s):[/b] this is just art of OC that I thought might help. its all drawn in the artist's own take on her, so the outfit/colours used change a lot.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/Kaitaia/Cadence/actual/3131179.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/Kaitaia/Cadence/actual/cay.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/Kaitaia/Cadence/actual/CADENCEcheeb.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/Kaitaia/Cadence/actual/OC_Colorful_Commission_Ribbuncopy.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/Kaitaia/Cadence/actual/kait.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/Kaitaia/Cadence/actual/cadencenellor.png
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v324/Kaitaia/Cadence/actual/tinycadence.png
[b]Which stage you want them to start as?:[/b] Adult
[b]Default accessory color(s)?:[/b] None~
[b]Tag frame color:[/b] black
[b]Tag feather color:[/b] whatever matches the pet
[b]Tag background image:[/b] http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/6915/psychedelizardbylioncru.jpg

Regular (350K) + heavy edits (500K) = 850K

all forms = 2.2 mil
 

[Kaitaia]

other questers:

 

[Yuuka Kurokawa]

*comes to cuddle Kait for luck*  

[darknightcavalier]

You need hugs. (>^_______^)>

sorry about your sis though. sad  

[Kaitaia]

<33 thank you guys! i appreciate the kind words.  

[Patron Saint Of Farewells]

Reading this brought me to tears. I am very sorry for your loss and I hope that you are able to get the soquili dedicated to your sister. Also, to show my support, I signed your petition.

You and your family are in my prayers.  

[Kaitaia]

<33 thank you.