[O] One Million Bullets - Printable Version +- HELOVIA || The Way to the Sun (http://helovia.com) +-- Forum: Out of Character (http://helovia.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=1) +--- Forum: Archives (http://helovia.com/forumdisplay.php?fid=11) +--- Thread: [O] One Million Bullets (/showthread.php?tid=21906) |
One Million Bullets - Essetia - 12-10-2015 Essetia & Romul Don't you ever tame your demons But always keep them on a leash To the land of the sun I returned. To the sweeping, sand-kissed plains did I again wander… Only this time things were different. This time I was accompanied by days of old and by a sister who was and is dear to my heart. Somehow I felt as though this was how it was always meant to be, despite the heartache we had suffered in the Falls. There was something about being accompanied by Ghost that encouraged me to want more than I’d ever had. Even as I trailed the beautiful, raven colored mare back into the southern realms of Helovia, I felt at peace. However, the land appeared to be changed by time… or something entirely less organic. It was quiet, almost frighteningly so, and somewhat different. What had I missed in my time away? Autumn had come to sweep the stifling heat beneath a rug of brightly colored leaves as we passed through Thistle Meadow. The flowers had begun to fade and the vibrant, tall grasses had begun to brown. It was a familiar sight to me and even as Romul pranced about, chasing Fantôme no doubt, he relayed images of the woods beyond. There came flashes of dark tree trunks and trodden pathways that had been worn away through the years. Sometimes I would catch a goofy, wolfish smile as Romul and his younger counterpart romped and played as they trailed just behind Ghost and I. It was times like these that I truly appreciated friendship… It wasn’t often that I was able to depend on another for comfort, aside from Romul, and there something freeing in the idea. Instead of watching over my shoulder to make sure I wasn’t being followed by a hungry predator or some manic creature of the night, I was content to meander lazily astride the Cadaverous. However, when the smoothed dunes of the Throat became more apparent in the distance, I became slightly more alert. I worried that the warriors of the Throat would think less of the creature I’d become. Where once I’d been a whirlwind, challenging the various obstacles in my way, I was now something lesser… something unrecognizable. I blamed myself for the inevitable decline that accompanied a nomadic life, but there was little time to fret over appearances when the only face I called upon was that of a stubborn, callous wolf. “I intend to maintain my previous duties as a spy,” I informed as we neared the shallow banks between Helovia and the sands of the Throat beyond. “-as long as it suits you that is. I’m certain that I’ll be needing a sincere brush up.” The last time I’d found myself upon these very shores, I’d encountered the stunning, tiger-striped Priestess and she had allowed me passage into the warmth of the desert. This time however, I was comfortable knowing that Ghost would lead me across the mote and into the sun. How I had missed the security of such relationships… I wasn’t sure if the ignorant beast called Bucephalus still resided in the Throat, and though I hoped it wasn’t true, at least he hadn’t returned to the position I’d stripped him of. At least there sat a worthy leader, one who’d proven herself time and again, at the head of that mysterious table. “What’s happened since I’ve been gone? It seems… so different in Helovia these days ∞ Mischief@DA @Ghost || Open to all RE: One Million Bullets - Ghost - 12-12-2015 @Essetia RE: One Million Bullets - Essetia - 12-12-2015 Essetia & Romul Don't you ever tame your demons But always keep them on a leash Upon Ghost’s arrival along the opposite shore, she jested about my return as a spy. I smiled lightly at the idea, but briefly considered what I’d look like as some mopey healer or some oracle for the gods. Clearly I wasn’t fit for either and the image only confirmed what I already knew- she was right. “Maybe, but I think a couple of good lessons might benefit me. Or perhaps a trial assignment, what do you think?” I questioned with a knowing smirk. Herd life could be a lazy one if you’re surrounded by warriors who can so often defend their own treasures and loved ones. At least I could give the Cadaverous a good reason to keep me and the other spies in line. However, she surprised me when she tossed a chunk of metal toward me, expecting me to be prepared enough to catch it. I stumbled a bit, but ultimately prevailed… Point is: she kept me on my toes. Yet, it was strange to hold the key Ghost had proffered between my lips. It not only signified her trust in me as friend and confidant, but as sister to the Throat as well. However, I’d never quite experienced its magic on my own and I was more than eager to test the desert’s defenses against intruders (and myself). I hadn’t been born with wings and in a lot of ways I was glad for it, because my father had been less than blessed by the Gods. I could remember all too well the feeble sprouts he carried upon his shoulders that last time I’d had heart enough to admire them. They were the one feature he’d been burdened with that made him appear weak in the face of newcomers. Of course, I hadn’t been fooled by his hearty, masculine demeanor… I knew him to be impulsive and dumb, childish even. I was glad the dope had disappeared from my life; I’d become stronger for it. With a small grunt directed at Romul, I stepped forward toward the channel and watched quietly as the waters began drift away below me. It didn’t happen all at once like I’d desired, but instead very slowly- I was flying. My stomach felt as though it had dropped away from my body and my legs flailed a bit, but I was most certainly flying. Cautiously I glanced around, while straining my neck to do so, to see if Ghost had followed. Of course, I was too nervous and the flight was much too short for me to catch any signs of the raven sleuth until we’d made it to the other side. I was glad to feel the sand beneath my hooves once more, though perhaps only after forgetting what it was like to stand, and I bent to inhale the dusty scent of the land I again called home. Romul appeared quite startled as well, as if I hadn’t warned him what was coming, but of course creatures as simple as he were too often taken by the magic and wonder of a land so vastly filled with mystery. However, when I’d questioned if things had changed, the Cadaverous seemed off-put by my wondering. At first I was worried that I’d been completely adrift and certainly wrong in my assumptions, but tales of rift monsters and outlandish creatures dwelling beneath the earth qualified as different to me. There had been war and disease and death if I wasn’t reaching too far… Everything was indeed different. “How does one know if those places are neutralized? And the new lands… are they a gift or a curse?” I glanced down at the vial of liquid Ghost wore about her neck and stared for a while. It appeared to be the blood of some creature, though it looked a little odd in my opinion. “What it’s there and where did it come from?” I pressed, while watching the red fluid bend and sway against the movement of her breathing. As if she hadn’t just told a story of blood and loss, Ghost moved on to the unimportant pieces of my missing life. I tried not to shake her attempts to pry and instead embraced her as the friend she was and sighed. “I left after the invasion and Midas’ death. It was too much for me to bear… I thought that taking up residence in the Throat would cure the pain of such defeat, but ultimately it only reminded me of what the Falls could no longer have. It was a moment of weakness and one that I’m not proud of, but I’m hoping that my return will heal any ills my friends and family might’ve endured.” ∞ Mischief@DA RE: One Million Bullets - Ghost - 01-11-2016 @Essetia RE: One Million Bullets - Essetia - 01-18-2016 Essetia & Romul Don't you ever tame your demons But always keep them on a leash I could remember now the thrill of battle and how it had coerced me from my quiet bed in order to rise toward the sun, to challenge the fool Bucephalus. Clearly his fall from fame was warranted, because he certainly hadn’t returned. His words had been so biting, so self-assured, that I found it humorous that Ghost had filled the vacancy I’d left behind. Women from the Falls were not specimens to jest with or threaten- we took what we wanted with the skill and tact of more seasoned authorities (or at least where Ghost was concerned). I doubted my own wayward abilities to act rationally when my heart was involved. While distracted by images of the scuffle between myself and the Sleuth before me, I nearly missed Ghost’s approval of my training request. I wanted nothing more than become efficient where I’d once been merely conceited. After all, if one put in the time then they would reap the benefits, would they not? That’s what I hoped would become of my efforts, so long as the Cadaverous was willing to mentor me in the way of her arts and obvious skill. That’s a job that I would love nothing more than to assist with. We’re a minority it seems and I’d like to see our numbers grow,” I answered with obvious determination. “We’re surrounded by warriors here it seems, but it wouldn’t hurt to give them a helping hand.” It was certainly the truth. In the time I’d come and gone, only to return again, I’d noticed the certainty in the way the residents of the Throat carried themselves. They were strong, undeniably so, and trained to craft and wield objects of war. It was only right that whoever I collected for their ranks had at least as much heart as those who’d welcomed me. The Cadaverous was moving on quickly, being careful to note that our alliances were pertinent to our skill. However, the information left little to the imagination and I wondered what kind of allegiances we carried… What of the Falls? The Edge? The Basin? It seemed like an important matter that needed to be discussed and so I vowed to find the time to question an individual of the right authority in order to nail down any ties we shared with the lands beyond. I hadn’t any reason to go about stealing precious items for the sake of entertainment, but if the day ever arose, at least I could be prepared. “I’ll make no attempts without your permission.” Yet, my musings were quickly swayed at the mention of the rifts. According to Ghost, the God of the Earth had claimed they were settled, packed away into a neat little corner where they would hopefully die in peace. I was still skeptical about them though- still curious as to whether or not the God spoke true. I nodded lightly toward her comment, but didn’t have the reason enough to speak for it. Even when she admitted that the vial that hung about her neck had been received as a gift from the obvious rift wars, I could not find the words to justify or understand it all. It was a piece in her timeline that would never find a place in mine… and that was just that. As we stood alongside each other, both euphoric and perhaps a bit thoughtful about my return, her own ability to make it happen, and everything in between, I listened to her tales. She too had been struck by the pains of invasion and she too had been lost for a time. Together we were sisters for those reasons and for the second time I vowed never to leave her again… She was indeed a friend that I’d made for life, perhaps the only friend I’d ever made alongside Elsa. I was glad… so very glad that we had found our way back to one another. Ghost may have laughed, perhaps relieved, perhaps regretful, but I was still grateful for the fates. “I am too… Trust me, I am.” ∞ Mischief@DA |