Kaelyndra
"Where are you going?" one of the soldiers had asked her. She'd given him a hard glare, her mane flapping in the wind like something out of a legend.
"You'd be thoughtful to mind your own business, soldier," she had told him with a hiss, but knew it would not settle his system. "I'm going ahead. It would be detestful for any of us to be caught unawares." She hadn't bothered telling Mordre where she was going, assuming that the illusion around her horn would cease once she went to far. She didn't know enough about illusionaries to know for certain. Mordre might be an angry soul when she came back. Too bad.
"Meet me on the edge of Yisi," she'd added as an afterthought, and then began her slightly offstep voyage down the thick terrain. She'd met a Speaker so very close to the edge of Yisi, but had little time to talk to her. In truth, she might have been looking for someone, but she wasn't going to allude as to who it might have been.
Now the sweet smell of permanately wet earth reached her nostrils. The soil of the earth gave way underneath her seemingly heavy hooves, rising brown and cool against the feathers of her hooves. She'd been here for a few days, and she'd be out of Yisi soon, but still no sign of the Reya.
And she didn't expect there to be any. They followed Melantho, didn't they? And she'd not heard hide nor hair of the girl all this time. Good riddance, or not?
TawnyAngel
Fawkes lowered his head to the babbling stream to take a long slow drink of the cold water. Once had had had enough, he raised his head and took a moment to inspect his reflection thoughtfully. Still young; so many interesting things had happened of late that he felt he ought to be coming to the end of the useful span of years he could get out of this form but of course it was not so.
Snorting and shaking his head, the fiery-coloured stallion stepped away from the water, taking the relatively stable path back up the bank that he had found on his way down to drink. He had found out a few things about that blasted purple stallion over the last few weeks; seemed that he had quite an extensive family. The phoenix pondered paying one or two of them a visit for a moment, but soon decided against it at least for now. It was too soon for one, and for another it would be far more satisfying to beat the living daylights out of the gold-tailed fool himself.
Snorting to himself again, the hornless Ichsa dipped his head down again but this time it was to eat; a patch of peppery plants peculiar to Yisi (and very much to his tastes) had caught his attention. So, what to do now? The red-eyed creature pondered this question carefully. He still wanted to find out about that place that the wingless Ichsa had mentioned to him for one but nothing else came immediately to mind... Hu, perhaps he ought to find out about that bunch of ‘dark-natured’ Reya that the Seer had been on about; it would be quite amusing to see either this mystery herd of the damned Katilenuck take a beating.
Smirking slightly to himself the fiery-coloured stallion cropped up more of the peppery plant and made a mental note to take a jaunt over to Fyhi in search of news.
Kaelyndra
Jaunting was going to prove unnecesarry for the rather old stallion with youthful features. Storm's travels had taken her right close to the scent of said trouble maker, if such a light term could be used to describe, and upon catching this she found no harm in dropping by. He seemed so disturbed upon finding she was a seer it only made sense to aggravate him further.
What family did she have to lose, after all? Her daughters did not concern themselves with her, and it was liable they did not tell anyone who they were related to. No one wanted to be related with Storm. As far as she was concerned, no one knew about Mel, or her head would be on a platter to Clytaemnestra as well.
"Enoying yourself?" she asked curtly, sliding out from behind a tree to address the hot headed creature of age. He had probably smelled her coming, but grand entrances were fun to act out in any case. There was nothing like grandeur to make you feel lively inside, especially in the face of potential enemies.
It worked quite nicely on many members of society.
What family did she have to lose, after all? Her daughters did not concern themselves with her, and it was liable they did not tell anyone who they were related to. No one wanted to be related with Storm. As far as she was concerned, no one knew about Mel, or her head would be on a platter to Clytaemnestra as well.
"Enoying yourself?" she asked curtly, sliding out from behind a tree to address the hot headed creature of age. He had probably smelled her coming, but grand entrances were fun to act out in any case. There was nothing like grandeur to make you feel lively inside, especially in the face of potential enemies.
It worked quite nicely on many members of society.
TawnyAngel
He had indeed smelled her coming, but the scent had not registered as something relevant to his busy mind until the mare’s voice reached his ears, and so when it did the red-eyed Ichsa started up from eating. When he took in the voice’s owner, he raised his brows and chewed thoughtfully on his mouthful of pepper-plant (he really ought to find out what its proper name was) and looked the golden crossbreed over. Well well, there you had it, didn’t life love its little coincidences. The tall stallion swallowed his mouthful and gave a curt nod.
“Fancy seeing you here.” Great. He really did dislike knowing that she could see into his head... but that didn’t detract from the fact that she was more interesting than the stupid fat Nequus that plodded about D’ob all their stupid lives. True having her able to read his mind put him at a disadvantage should it come to blows but, he ran his red eyes over the tall mare again, but even without that advantage, he had a feeling that she would kick his arse from where he stood to Qurine and back again. Last thing he wanted to do was have to reincarnate just when he’d got his muscles the way he liked them.
“So,” she would be reading the thoughts as they came up anyway so he might as well speak them, “how’s your little mission going?” Had she found that special Reya that she was doing it for?... Should he say that aloud too? Oh hell, if she’d been listening she’d heard it and he’d just feel as though he was repeating himself, and repeating himself was one of many things that Fawkes found very annoying.
“Fancy seeing you here.” Great. He really did dislike knowing that she could see into his head... but that didn’t detract from the fact that she was more interesting than the stupid fat Nequus that plodded about D’ob all their stupid lives. True having her able to read his mind put him at a disadvantage should it come to blows but, he ran his red eyes over the tall mare again, but even without that advantage, he had a feeling that she would kick his arse from where he stood to Qurine and back again. Last thing he wanted to do was have to reincarnate just when he’d got his muscles the way he liked them.
“So,” she would be reading the thoughts as they came up anyway so he might as well speak them, “how’s your little mission going?” Had she found that special Reya that she was doing it for?... Should he say that aloud too? Oh hell, if she’d been listening she’d heard it and he’d just feel as though he was repeating himself, and repeating himself was one of many things that Fawkes found very annoying.
Kaelyndra
Storm gave an all too amused chuckle at Fawkes' difficulty with her seer abilities. "I can not read them, if you'd like?" And it was the only thing she'd ever give him. Of course, she wouldn't stop reading his mind, oh no. She'd just pretend she had. There was too much danger going on in that little brain of his to actually offer him that comfort.
"My little mission went well over plans," she informed him with a snap. It was uncertain to her whether it had been anger or upset at having things going so smoothly. It had been no challenge once she'd gotten past the initial Mordre Mountain. Still, she was at least a little thankful for the lack of commotion. "It won't be long now."
It wouldn't be long until she was way in over her head, or sobbing and begging at the foot of an army that she had underestimated. Yes, it wouldn't be long until this whole cliff of problems came crashing down on a thick skull to render her harmless. She really hadn't thought this through.
"And you, your quest to find the interesting? How has that gone?" She ignored the bit on 'special Reya'. She could do that, as she wasn't reading his mind.
"My little mission went well over plans," she informed him with a snap. It was uncertain to her whether it had been anger or upset at having things going so smoothly. It had been no challenge once she'd gotten past the initial Mordre Mountain. Still, she was at least a little thankful for the lack of commotion. "It won't be long now."
It wouldn't be long until she was way in over her head, or sobbing and begging at the foot of an army that she had underestimated. Yes, it wouldn't be long until this whole cliff of problems came crashing down on a thick skull to render her harmless. She really hadn't thought this through.
"And you, your quest to find the interesting? How has that gone?" She ignored the bit on 'special Reya'. She could do that, as she wasn't reading his mind.
TawnyAngel
He didn’t trust that promise an inch; how dim did she think he was?... Still, let her pretend to be a nice little girl if she wanted. “I’d appreciate that.” He doubted that it would be done, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t have appreciated it if he believed the offer genuine. Still, it made sense, Gods knew he wouldn’t drain himself of power or promise not to use his fire or whatever just because some twit wanted him to.
“Oh really?” the old stallion raised his brows again. “Well, that sounds... interesting.” Interesting, interesting, interesting. So much of it about these days. “Not badly,” Fawkes said after a moment with a wing-shrug. “Found an interesting lead to follow up on and got myself a nice little vendetta which is always fascinating.” Oh yes, that little drek of a Jala would regret his stupidity very much indeed. It might take a while, but in the end he would and Fawkes was always one to take the long view as, to him, it was not so very long at all.
“Oh really?” the old stallion raised his brows again. “Well, that sounds... interesting.” Interesting, interesting, interesting. So much of it about these days. “Not badly,” Fawkes said after a moment with a wing-shrug. “Found an interesting lead to follow up on and got myself a nice little vendetta which is always fascinating.” Oh yes, that little drek of a Jala would regret his stupidity very much indeed. It might take a while, but in the end he would and Fawkes was always one to take the long view as, to him, it was not so very long at all.
Kaelyndra
Of course he'd appreciate that. Inwardly she smiled at his ability to distrust so quickly. What less could be expected of her, though? She had every reason to lie. Ah yes, that fire. It was a dangerous thing. Even if he didn't have a full mastery of it, fire tended to take care of itself when set loose.
"Ah yes, it could be classified as interesting. But it is more likely classified as a bloody mess waiting to happen." The prospect churned her got for reasons she couldn't quite place.
"An interesting lead and a vendetta?" she inquired, her own interest perked. "My, my, you've done rather well for yourself." She paused for a moment to clack her tongue and give him a lookover.
"May I inquire as to the lead and said offender?"
"Ah yes, it could be classified as interesting. But it is more likely classified as a bloody mess waiting to happen." The prospect churned her got for reasons she couldn't quite place.
"An interesting lead and a vendetta?" she inquired, her own interest perked. "My, my, you've done rather well for yourself." She paused for a moment to clack her tongue and give him a lookover.
"May I inquire as to the lead and said offender?"
TawnyAngel
“You might indeed.” He had nothing to gain by lying, hells even if she couldn’t seen into his head he probably wouldn’t have troubled with fabricating something. “A girl called Utena, Ichsa without wings, mentioned an interesting place that is, apparently, within the forest of Casa Tiner.” The stallion gave another shrug. “Not heard the like of it before, and it seems that nobody else has either. Still, I have plenty of time to poke around; no doubt I shall turn something up in the end.” Hopefully later than sooner, actually, unless whatever he found out led him onto even more interesting things to investigate.
“As to the vendetta...” That smug, not especially handsome purple face with its ridiculous golden tail danced through his mind. The Ichsa sneered. “Some little Jala brat, named Udi, decided to shoot his mouth off and insult me. I couldn’t think of anything interesting to do to him at the time, so I left and told him that he or his family would be hearing from me in the future.” He hoped the idiot was stewing well over that one, but if he wasn’t it didn’t much matter. It might be good fun for him to have utterly forgotten in incident until they next met.
“As to the vendetta...” That smug, not especially handsome purple face with its ridiculous golden tail danced through his mind. The Ichsa sneered. “Some little Jala brat, named Udi, decided to shoot his mouth off and insult me. I couldn’t think of anything interesting to do to him at the time, so I left and told him that he or his family would be hearing from me in the future.” He hoped the idiot was stewing well over that one, but if he wasn’t it didn’t much matter. It might be good fun for him to have utterly forgotten in incident until they next met.
Kaelyndra
Funny, that she'd met the girl herself.
"Ah yes, she's a nasty sleeper. All muddled dreams and tears. I almost pity her." Almost, but fools were fools, and she was one as such. Ignorance was no excuse for the youth to do stupid things. Utena was one such ignorant. "I haven't heard of this forest in Casa Tiner. Her mind gave me little coherent thoughts, however. Intriguing to think that there's anything in that Jala forsaken place."
She 'Tched' the top of her mouth with her tongue, creating a disappointed sound. It was never wise for youth to go off on their elders. Especially those who carried such hard grudges. "And I doubt he'll learn," she informed with the shake of her head. "Little tykes such as those only get angry and seek vengeance for hurt prides."
'Like someone else we know, Fawkes child?' she added in her head. Oh yes, ignorance was bliss.
Storm, bored, cocked her back leg and the tension in her front began to build. She'd ignore it for now, the pause in travel was nice. It was very exhausting to be constantly moving no matter what the scenery looked like.
"I don't suppose you have a similar like out for me, do you?" she asked with a cocked eyebrow and an unconcerned flick of her tail. On any given day she'd be worried about that fire, but it wouldn't be to hard for the Katilenuck to figure out what had happened, and deal swift justice to the perpetrator. It was odd, to say the least, to have an army at your back. It wouldn't feel so bad to die if the killer got his sweet, sweet dessert.
"Ah yes, she's a nasty sleeper. All muddled dreams and tears. I almost pity her." Almost, but fools were fools, and she was one as such. Ignorance was no excuse for the youth to do stupid things. Utena was one such ignorant. "I haven't heard of this forest in Casa Tiner. Her mind gave me little coherent thoughts, however. Intriguing to think that there's anything in that Jala forsaken place."
She 'Tched' the top of her mouth with her tongue, creating a disappointed sound. It was never wise for youth to go off on their elders. Especially those who carried such hard grudges. "And I doubt he'll learn," she informed with the shake of her head. "Little tykes such as those only get angry and seek vengeance for hurt prides."
'Like someone else we know, Fawkes child?' she added in her head. Oh yes, ignorance was bliss.
Storm, bored, cocked her back leg and the tension in her front began to build. She'd ignore it for now, the pause in travel was nice. It was very exhausting to be constantly moving no matter what the scenery looked like.
"I don't suppose you have a similar like out for me, do you?" she asked with a cocked eyebrow and an unconcerned flick of her tail. On any given day she'd be worried about that fire, but it wouldn't be to hard for the Katilenuck to figure out what had happened, and deal swift justice to the perpetrator. It was odd, to say the least, to have an army at your back. It wouldn't feel so bad to die if the killer got his sweet, sweet dessert.
TawnyAngel
Fawkes had to laugh at that. “Well, honestly for him I had planned something of a terminal lesson and as for you...” No, no she was far too interesting for one, and for another he was sure she was stronger than he. “No,” he said aloud, on the off chance that she really had tuned out. “I’d only be defeating my purpose in life if I went about killing off the interesting people, or trying to at any rate...”
The gold-dappled stallion played the mare’s previous words back in his mind, and once again raised his eyebrows; this mare made him do that an awful lot.
“Well well, small world isn’t it?” So, she’d met the pink prince too. Prince. Silly, silly thing and apparently a weepy silly thing too. Well, other than her appearance the mare herself hadn’t been of interest anyway, only what she knew mattered. Whatever could she have been upset about though? something to do with that place she’d left behind, perhaps? Well, it didn’t much matter anyway.
The gold-dappled stallion played the mare’s previous words back in his mind, and once again raised his eyebrows; this mare made him do that an awful lot.
“Well well, small world isn’t it?” So, she’d met the pink prince too. Prince. Silly, silly thing and apparently a weepy silly thing too. Well, other than her appearance the mare herself hadn’t been of interest anyway, only what she knew mattered. Whatever could she have been upset about though? something to do with that place she’d left behind, perhaps? Well, it didn’t much matter anyway.
Kaelyndra
If she'd been eating anything, Storm would have choked on it. As it were, she merely swallowed her own saliva. Prince? She hadn't quite gotten that out of the girl. How utterly ridiculous. She thought she was a regular old Aziri now did she? Tut, tut, the world was going to hell. Well, let her live her dream while it lasted. Though something told her it might have already ended and was now just a simple silver strand.
"I suppose that would rather hinder your interests," Storm agreed idly. She wasn't sure if she was after the interesting people. Bellatrix certainly had been, but she'd felt no reason to stay. Perhaps their interest was skewed.
"There's a Speaker, her name is Bellaxtrix. Rather tan, splashed with white. You'll know her because she talks to herself." Well, that wasn't really the full truth, now was it? "Or to her ghostly companion. You might find her past. . . interesting." Yes, this word was thrown between them like some sort of game, wasn't it?
"I think, Fawkes. So long as we don't have seething grudges, we might be able to forge an alliance." Another magic wielder on her back was something she could wrap a comfortable wing around. It meant safety, and it meant power. There were little times when she was so obsessed with the prospect, but the more she thought on it, the more she realized she liked it very much. Maybe it wasn't power. No, it was control. She didn't want to lead anyone, she wanted to move their feet with ease.
"I suppose that would rather hinder your interests," Storm agreed idly. She wasn't sure if she was after the interesting people. Bellatrix certainly had been, but she'd felt no reason to stay. Perhaps their interest was skewed.
"There's a Speaker, her name is Bellaxtrix. Rather tan, splashed with white. You'll know her because she talks to herself." Well, that wasn't really the full truth, now was it? "Or to her ghostly companion. You might find her past. . . interesting." Yes, this word was thrown between them like some sort of game, wasn't it?
"I think, Fawkes. So long as we don't have seething grudges, we might be able to forge an alliance." Another magic wielder on her back was something she could wrap a comfortable wing around. It meant safety, and it meant power. There were little times when she was so obsessed with the prospect, but the more she thought on it, the more she realized she liked it very much. Maybe it wasn't power. No, it was control. She didn't want to lead anyone, she wanted to move their feet with ease.
TawnyAngel
The tall Ichsa paused to consider the other Nequus’ words, hiding his shock on the surface but knowing she’d find it in him if she cared to look. So. An alliance?... Well, why not? Hells, he didn’t want her as an enemy and who knew, if he was her ally she might occasionally drift into his life with interesting things for him to do or burn.
“That,” the red-eyed creature said after a momentary pause, “sounds like an intriguing notion. It had been a long time since I’ve had an alliance with anyone...” And he had to tread carefully and not trust too much no matter how good an ally Storm might turn out to be. The last allies he’d had... Well, that was when he’d stopped being the sort of twerp that Utena was right now and that was for damn sure.
“So,” he’d have to look into this Bellaxtrix character at some point, “what sort of alliance did you have in mind, Seer Storm?” Much as he disliked, maybe even feared her magic, he had to admit a respect for the tall mare. She was smart, wise to the ways of the world and she wasn’t nice. Nice, implying a dim sweetness of spirit and similar, people really did get up his nose. He’d rather have a strong minded b***h to talk to than a generally sweet and accommodating little idiot any day of the year... But tread carefully all the same. She knew him and his intentions inside out and upside down no doubt and, if he was not careful, it would be all too easy for her to twist him to her own purposes. And now she knew he knew that. That was, he thought at least, a good thing.
“That,” the red-eyed creature said after a momentary pause, “sounds like an intriguing notion. It had been a long time since I’ve had an alliance with anyone...” And he had to tread carefully and not trust too much no matter how good an ally Storm might turn out to be. The last allies he’d had... Well, that was when he’d stopped being the sort of twerp that Utena was right now and that was for damn sure.
“So,” he’d have to look into this Bellaxtrix character at some point, “what sort of alliance did you have in mind, Seer Storm?” Much as he disliked, maybe even feared her magic, he had to admit a respect for the tall mare. She was smart, wise to the ways of the world and she wasn’t nice. Nice, implying a dim sweetness of spirit and similar, people really did get up his nose. He’d rather have a strong minded b***h to talk to than a generally sweet and accommodating little idiot any day of the year... But tread carefully all the same. She knew him and his intentions inside out and upside down no doubt and, if he was not careful, it would be all too easy for her to twist him to her own purposes. And now she knew he knew that. That was, he thought at least, a good thing.
Kaelyndra
Storm laughed at him, unsure of what was really going on in his mind. Sometimes you could read thoughts, but other times they were an escaping quality. "I wasn't under the impression an alliance took so much effort, Fawkes." She paused to think on the matter, chewing slowly on her lower lip and shifting her weight to her front right instead. The relief from pain was nearly instantaneous, and there was only a small throb left to remind her to be more careful the next time she went sliding down rubble in Fyhi tel Oren.
"Well then," Storm pondered on this for a moment. The jurisdictions behind this should be light to give each one freedom to move. "I should say our first order should be to assume neutrality. There is no need to help another out, but we agree not to actively pursue each other for any ails given at any time. This is void as soon as one breaks this, obviously. I don't want to wake up with one wing charred and not be able to do anything about it."
She halted again, musing over the second prospect. "Then we swap two names, and add a rule behind it. Mine are Melantho and Aku. No harm is to come to them by your hooves." She grinned. "And your names can be for revenge, as well, or information." She really didn't have any preference.
"If this works out, perhaps we can tread it farther to aid," her smirk widened. "But you seem the type that can take care of himself."
"Well then," Storm pondered on this for a moment. The jurisdictions behind this should be light to give each one freedom to move. "I should say our first order should be to assume neutrality. There is no need to help another out, but we agree not to actively pursue each other for any ails given at any time. This is void as soon as one breaks this, obviously. I don't want to wake up with one wing charred and not be able to do anything about it."
She halted again, musing over the second prospect. "Then we swap two names, and add a rule behind it. Mine are Melantho and Aku. No harm is to come to them by your hooves." She grinned. "And your names can be for revenge, as well, or information." She really didn't have any preference.
"If this works out, perhaps we can tread it farther to aid," her smirk widened. "But you seem the type that can take care of himself."
TawnyAngel
“Melantho and Aku,” the phoenix echoed with a nod. “I shall remember... and I shall hold my two names in reserve. I don’t have anyone to use them up on right now for good or ill, but perhaps I will someday.” He doubted it, but you never did know and not harming two creatures was no difficulty at all. Melantho and Aku were unusual names, too, so hopefully he wouldn’t end up granting automatic safety from a good kicking to people that the Seer hadn’t meant him to.
After a couple of moments more in thought, the dappled stallion gave another nod. “Yes, yes that sounds like a most agreeable alliance to me. I have no particular home that you can track me to, but I don’t doubt that you could search me out in short order should you need me for anything.” That wasn’t, as she herself had said, necessarily to say that he would leap into her causes but if there were interesting and fun causes then he was certainly willing to consider it at least.
“So,” the red-eyed stallion returned the smirk, somewhat surprised to find himself pleased with the company of one who could see his mind, “we have an accord then?”
After a couple of moments more in thought, the dappled stallion gave another nod. “Yes, yes that sounds like a most agreeable alliance to me. I have no particular home that you can track me to, but I don’t doubt that you could search me out in short order should you need me for anything.” That wasn’t, as she herself had said, necessarily to say that he would leap into her causes but if there were interesting and fun causes then he was certainly willing to consider it at least.
“So,” the red-eyed stallion returned the smirk, somewhat surprised to find himself pleased with the company of one who could see his mind, “we have an accord then?”
Kaelyndra
She had no qualms about him holding his names for another time. If anything she preferred it. It meant there alliance was more to her advantage than his at the moment. She did like getting the upper-hand. Plus, it meant that those two fared quite well if ever Melantho came across a very upset Fawkes.
"They're both pitch black," Storm aided, not wanting Fawkes to get himself stuck in a rut. "So you shouldn't have much trouble distinguishing." She stretched out a wing at 'should you need me for anything.'
"I shall ask of Ichsa that I won't need you for anything," Storm added as an afterthought.
"We do," she answered. "And if you'll excuse me, I have business to attain to." She bowed her head, as politely as she could muster and dismissed herself from his presence. The soft sound of her hooves squashing against the earth could be heard against the trees long after she'd wound her way around to disappear from view. Yisi wasn't a very quiet place.
"They're both pitch black," Storm aided, not wanting Fawkes to get himself stuck in a rut. "So you shouldn't have much trouble distinguishing." She stretched out a wing at 'should you need me for anything.'
"I shall ask of Ichsa that I won't need you for anything," Storm added as an afterthought.
"We do," she answered. "And if you'll excuse me, I have business to attain to." She bowed her head, as politely as she could muster and dismissed herself from his presence. The soft sound of her hooves squashing against the earth could be heard against the trees long after she'd wound her way around to disappear from view. Yisi wasn't a very quiet place.
TawnyAngel
Fawkes grinned. “And I shall ask of Jala that I do not need you either Storm.” Shaking his head, both at himself and that the departing crossbreed, Fawkes turned away himself and set off at an easy trot. Life, of late, was just getting better and better. About bloody time too. Giving another snort and a smirk of amusement, the phoenix headed onward in search of other little intrigues to brighten his day.
