The meadow that Kastiel and Marlena had taken them to was tame, very tame. Flowers of various colors and shades dot the vibrant green grasses. The days are golden and light; the streams are plentiful. It was certainly an improvement over the demon-infested wastelands of Nocturne but the lack of any action left them longing for more. Well, maybe not everyone. In truth, most of them had been content to remain in their safe locale but the twin girls, Malaika and Kasimira, could not calm the wanderlust brewing in their veins. Little did they know that their opportunity for adventure was just over the horizon - brought to them by their older brother, Miykael, and his dearest friend, Alysanne.
Their descriptions of the place not far from where the family had settled were fairly mundane; no demons but also no tales of potential strife. As much as Malaika longed to believe that it was just as safe and just as dull, she had sensed something in Miykael's blue eyes. He possessed secrets - of what, she could not discern. Such knowledge only heightened the intrigue she felt stirring within. A knowing glance at Kasi and it was decided without questions or second guesses - they would go to this place when the time was right.
And that time had come. Sooner, perhaps, than Malaika had ever anticipated.
Miykael and Alysanne had left to go back home - she didn't know how many days had passed since then. She and Kasi had spent much of their time both planning their escape and working discreetly to keep it hidden from the rest of their little herd - their parents especially. Keeping it from their father, Kastiel, was a necessity that tore at Malaika more than anything else. He is her rock, her hero and she is his baby girl. Splitting them from each other is almost as painful and heart-shattering as splitting up twins. Malaika is the youngest in the family, born several minutes or so behind Kasimira, and had grown rather close to Kastiel. She comes the closest (of her, Kasi, and Miykael) to matching him in color. Her creamy coat is light and soft with pale gold dun markings. But I digress. The darkness of night had fallen but the sky was clear and brightly lit by the stars. The air was chilled with a soft breeze and everyone, except the girls, is sleeping peacefully. This was the perfect night for their escape and it would likely be a great success.
After a shared glance, Kasimira took off. Malaika hesitated, perhaps brazenly so, and her golden eyes drift to the pale, winged form of Kastiel - peaceful and asleep with Marlena tucked beneath his wing. Her eyes glisten, threatening to fill with tears and with a softly whispered goodbye the young mare turned and followed after Kasi.
The two alternate between walking and flying, resting when they need to. After what felt like months, civilization is within their sights - or, rather, the place that Miykael and Alysanne had referred to as Helovia. Malaika, whom had been soaring began her descent with the intent of landing before the tree-line of the threshold. At only just two years old, her flying skills were rough and still in need of practice. Her landing was, by default, as graceful as it could have been - which is really to say not so graceful at all. The angel girl stumbles and nearly collides into one of the trees. Fortunately, the pale one regains her footing and composure just in time to sidestep around the tree and tuck her wings tightly against her sides. After a few graceful steps, she stops and glances around her for the familiar form of Kasi. Once they were together again, they moved deeper into the trees.
Malaika sensed some remnants of darkness here, lingering pockets of shadow that either had yet to spread or dissipate. Hoping for the latter, her honey eyes - filled with concern and curiosity - shift to Kasi, connecting with her own hazel eyes. "This is it? We didn't make a wrong turn, did we?" she asks, resisting the urge to blurt out that it didn't seem much better than Nocturne. No demons, maybe, but not nearly as light as she had been expecting with the descriptions they had received. Something seemed off, but she couldn't quite place it. With a soft exhale and a shuffle of her wings as if in a shrug, the young mare continues through the trees to a small clearing. It is here that she stops, uncertain of where they should go. "Should we just wait here, Kasi?"
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