She crept like a cockroach through the dark corridor; lusting for solitude and darkness, a place to rest where no other would seek to find her out. The lands had long been lost to the Darkness. The desert, gleaming sun-scorched sand and the lush oasis which had harboured the herd so faithfully, just seemed like the flimsy truth of a dream. Africa had taken refuge in The Glowing Room (as it had come to be known by the hordes who relied upon its resources) for many weeks after the grim falling out with her closest friend- he had found her there though, as frail as wing-bones, cowering in the depths of the shadows given. It was decided after that moment, that she and Silas could not stay there; that Africa should seek still greater darkness, a place perhaps which struck fear into those sun-loving spirits who had crawled their entire lives across the earth’s lavish crust.

Hooves fell gently upon the smooth, moist surface of the stone passage. She had conveniently learned during the last Frostfall to slip between such stone walls with silent, graceful steps; and now having spent so many more months in this new underground wonderland, the art of stealth had become her proficiency. Occasionally her stride would slide along slick patches of unseen moss, mildew or wayward sand, but generally she was a sure-footed explorer. By the grace of Silas’ star-spangled feathers, some light granted her eyes mild ability, and their pale creamy stare peered through that gift helplessly.

The Roc could see well in such blackened environments; a creature of the night, he found more comfort basking in the cool, dank cave-system than burning beneath the shed of unforgiving sunlight. His brave violet gaze examined the room which soon opened before them, and a light rumble stirred in his chest. The floor was not rock like the many rooms one the way down (aside from the lovely forest which sustained them; bedded with moss and mushrooms, and light carpets of ethereal grass), it was dressed in sand- much like that of their former home. Clacking his beak gently, the young avian reassured his beloved that few had gathered so deep; perhaps only one or two shadows slouched about the vast chamber.

Africa moved forward unquestioningly, blind eyes finding naught but the delicate shimmer of the Zephyr as he lifted from her spine to circle the area for her. She watched silently, cautiously, before buckling knees could bear the weight of exhaustion no longer. He slim pallid face was gaunt; she’d not eaten well for maybe weeks, and it was etched with the unmistakable wrath of constant worry, melancholy and hopelessness. She knew and feared the nightmares which would rise now to suffocate her rest, but Africa could hold her lead-weight eyelids apart no longer- they closed eagerly.

Silas swooped quickly to rest upon the gentle rise and fall of his bonded mare’s silk clothed barrel. He would guard her while she rested; although he could not save her now from the torture of emotion destined to flare now and grapple at her vulnerability.

Africa

There are better things to come.. These were a couple of the last words that Merou had spoken to him before he had vanished into thin air. The realms had pulled him back to his rightful time where he would do more good rather than being stuck here with him. Somehow it did not seem fair that a thing such as friendship could be gifted then so abruptly taken away like a toy to a child. Was it the god's way of punishing him for something or was it just testing him for some unknown reason? Regardless of the purpose it still was cruel and once again damned him into isolation without someone to turn to. As a parting gift Merou had somehow taken away the ability to feel overwhelming sadness but still remnants lingered in the craters place.

This latest event preoccupied much of his thoughts as he tried to make sense of it all but he found himself grasping at straws. Frustration, annoyance and anger had begun to strain at the dams walls threatening to break them. It was times like this that he normally ran for miles until he could move no further without much pain, but since the realms above ground were off limits thanks to whatever darkness had taken them over he was stuck without a release. He hated being cooped up down here like a rodent and it was slowly getting to him, the more he thought about things the worse it became. The loud crack of stone breaking shattered the silence as he struck out at the closest object which just happened to be one of the stone walls. Pinning his ears back in frustration he snorted wishing things could just go back to the way things were before all this darkness.

The cavern in which he found himself seemed to be deserted which did not surprise him considering the lack of visibility within. It was only by the light of his marks that allowed him to see around him for a couple feet. The last thing he really needed was to be alone but he would rather be here away from the rest of them until he could manage to calm himself. This way he did not risk snapping at someone who was doing nothing wrong and making a fool of himself. Why, why did everything have to happen at once? It took a lot to push him over the edge but the stress of everything lately was taking its toll. Pacing the length of the cavern back and forth did little for him but what else could he do, beating up the walls was useless though it did take some strain down.

Parelia wondered slowly through the caves, she felt dishearten since she had come to this place unable to find very many of her family. Sighing around her mouthful of glowing moss, she scanned the area. She had paused gathering her surefooted mustang blood before moving on. The moss gave her some lighting, but not very much. She could see the walls and the slippery spots on the cave floor, and took extra care to walk over them. She kept her wings pulled in close to her lithe cremello paint body. Her bright honey eyes gazed around as her legs carried her deeper within the cave. The floor was slowly turning from stone to sand, and growing thicker. Her mind was slowly wondering longing for the company of others, but she had this strange need to explore as if some invisible force was pulling her down into this sandy cavern.

Slowly the walls were starting to extend away from her much like a bird of prey taking flight; drawing a sigh from her lunges. As she entered the cool sandy room her bright eyes fell first upon the stallion with the glowing markings before shifting the a form laying almost unconscious on the ground. Her attention was drawn the the stallion, and she went to speak as recognition filled her mind. 'I know him, I can't remember his name, but he was in the Foothills!' She coughed, chocking on the dimly glowing moss in her mouth. Her sides heaved slightly as she gagged from inhaling the fuzzy tendrils, before finally getting herself under control. her light source now spread on the ground she took a few steps towards the much larger glowing silver stallion.

Her warm voice stroked the air excitedly trying not to wake the sleeping horse to her right, "You're from the Foothills right? I'm Parelia." She sounded breathless as if she had run a thousand miles through a desert. "I am so glad to see someone from my heard here!" She couldn't help but walk up to him and attempt to touch her dainty Arabian muzzle to his manly one. She backed up a step and gazed up at him her eyes shinning for the first time since all of the wickedness had started.

Her mind then wondered to the form laying in the sand behind them and she twisted her long elegant neck back to look at the horse, noticing for the first time the bird like animal perched on the horse. Worry suddenly touched her heart as she gazed at them. Her voice was much softer now as she kept her head tilted towards the odd pair, "Do you think they are ok?" She pricked her ears angling one back towards the stallion the other towards the, hopefully, sleeping mare.

Walking "Talking"’Thinking’
Words: 469

Parelia

The clatter of hoof striking stone resonated somewhere up the length of one the corridors leading to this blackened pit; it rested far away, down beneath the billowy howl of the morbid, sickened Frostfall outside. The sound did not stir her as she descended into haunted sleep and tortured convulsions; she had surrendered at last, fallen into a world of pain and anguish, of broken bones and severed limbs, and she writhed beneath the guarding grip of her bonded, oblivious to the arrival of other creatures around her.

The sand bedded her comfortably enough; it was a far cry from the stiff, cold rock floor which had come to be her joint-jarring home; cradling each twist and turn, every thrashing jerk, as she fought the illusion of those responsible for all the hardships done to her. Though away from reality; rest and recover she could not. A voice fell through flaccid ears, leaking like the echo of her conscience into a vulnerable mind- there was another pacing nearby, but his steps were cushioned and not louder than the churn of Africa’s flustered breathing he was invisible.

‘The darkness devours what will not fight it.’

For a moment, the laying mare stiffened, stilled; she looked to be then only a lost corpse decaying in the solitude of darkness. A gentle croak slipped passed the hooked beak of her watching companion, his narrowed lilac gaze was trained to the stranger- wary of any who lurked in the sinister black where horses (he knew) would not naturally thrive. His eyes were marvellously capable when no light was available and Silas could see also the creature who was her company, a sort which he had not before seen.

"But I can’t fight anymore…" her mind cried desperately, "…I can’t live with this guilt; the way I am now, my soul is sour and I can’t please those around me like once I could. I don’t know what’s happening to me." A pitiful whimper was pitched with another flail of her helpless limbs, and a new voice surfaced; the familiar caress of one whose love had not the limits of the worldly creatures lining the cave. Silas called to her, hearing the desperation as it peeled through her crumbling being. ‘Wake now,’ the Zephyr encouraged, leaning to preen the oily tangles of her man that lay sprawled each way along her collapsed neck.

Africa stirred suddenly, eyelids thrown apart as consciousness returned, and her body rocked violently so that it might sit more upright; propped against outstretched forelimbs, the rest tucked tightly beneath. The Roc fluttered as she came too, whisking tactfully from the inevitable lash to follow, and returned only to her withers when she had risen properly, and stood soundly upon trembling legs once more. He began at once to preen affectionately her locks; to move the sand gathered through her crest and weave out those wild tangles which seemed so relentlessly to gather throughout.

Quickly the once Oracle realised she was not alone- there were others around her; perhaps they had been too, when exhaustion had suffocated her wakefulness.

"Who are you?" She asked at once, eyes failing to find their identities when her sucking nostrils too pulled blank. Though Silas did not fill her with foreboding, Africa could not help that overwhelming feeling as it spread like wildfire through her being. "Who?" She asked a little more desperately, though the gentle note of her sweet voice never faltered. Firstly, the tender cluck of her bonded answered, and the delicate stroke of his voice in her mind. ‘Mare, two…. Bear cub. Stallion.’

Africa

The more the thoughts took hold over his mind the more anguish it created building against his careful restraint. He was not flawless by any means but he had never been pushed to such desperation before in his life. He felt like a caged animal trying to claw its way out not caring the consequences such a thing would create. Shaking his head he was frantically trying to gain some control back over himself before he did something he would regret. So much temptation surrounded him down here concentrating scents to agonizing proportions driving him half mad. He could not give in to these urges, he could not let them win. He tried to visualize his mother before him as she drilled such a lesson into his head many times but the words never came forward to aid him. Behind closed eyes many pictures were brought to life some he could not remember if they were just a figment of his imagination or reality. Could his father really have done such a thing, why couldn't he remember it better. Striking out again another clash of shattering shale sounded all around as it crumbled beneath the strength of his kick.

Taking a deep breath to calm himself or at least attempt to he forced himself to stand still upon ancy hooves. He needed to run but had no where to go maybe he should just risk his own safety before he endangered others. "You're from the Foothills right? I'm Parelia."

The feminine voice startled him back to the now forcing him to try and cram all the thoughts clouding his mind back down to regain what little control he had left. He was eventually going to lose it as the loneliness slowly but surely suffocated him, but he was not going to lose it not now. Gritting his teeth he swallowed the emotion in his throat before taking another breath. As the mare approached his eyes slowly began to focus on her image instead of the memories. Her touch was gentle and friendly giving him some reassurance that he could pull himself together again for awhile. In his frantic pacing he had not only failed to notice the mare beside him approach but also the figures of two others not so far off. His eyes snapped to the figures mentioned recognition slowly dawning upon him. "Confutatis! Leave her alone." The words came without much thought as the most responsive mare of the two touched on his weakened constraints. It was this mare who had challenged Apollo for his throne wishing to bring death to them all.

His harks drew back as he stepped towards the pair positioning himself in front of the Parelia, eyes focused on Confutatis. The other mare who he vaguely remembered still seemed rather disoriented by the commotion lay still too close to the other mare for his liking. He had seen first hand the damage her saliva could do to flesh by the wounds Apollo had suffered, he was not about to let her hurt someone else.

Her once soft eyes grew swiftly wide as the horse on the ground thrashed in it's sleep. Slender nostrils dilated broadly drawing in the scents around her. The mare lurched suddenly as she half stood forelegs stretched before her. The bird seemed to float into the air; making her own muscles tense. The itchy trigger finger in the dainty mare's mind inched ever closer to that deadly click. her nerves were still needed to be stitched together after being jumped by the golden horned witch. Her right cream hoof dug snugly into the sand as she whirled her body towards the lurching mare before her. Porcelain teeth flashed like lightning, but the threatening snap of powerful jaws never happened. The mare's voice was so scared, so desperate, the warrior knew she would not need to fight. The stallion on the other had was acting almost insane; as he shifted between herself and the now standing mare.

Her sleek frame was frozen momentarily; brain whirling with confusion. Suddenly it all clicked into place, like the last piece of a thousand piece puzzle and no picture to cheat off of. 'The stallion thinks that mare is the one who attacked Apollo!' She thought wildly already in action. She launched off her powerful hindquarters lunging in front of the dappled knight. She spun in front of him her head lowered ears twitching nervously, 'Glory he is bigger than me.' She thought fleetingly before speaking her voice firm and calm, "Sir calm down, now. Get yourself under control, it's the lighting that has you confusing this innocent mare with Apollo's attacker." She locked her honey brown eyes on his own bright silver orbs. Breathing deeply to calm her own raw fighting instincts she made her eye muscles relax. Her own orbs were blazing defiantly, she would not allow him to harm this clearly scared mare, and her bird. "Breath heard brother, calm yourself, please." The last word sounded much more desperate than she had meant it to, but she was.

Once she was sure he would not attack she turned slowly, trying not to frighten the already scared mare. She took a few steps slowly towards her head lowered eyes warm and gentle. "Please relax, I'm sorry for his jumpiness. These times have been hard on us all and we're all tired and twitchy." She smiled softly before continuing. "I am Parelia formally from the Foothills, it is nice to meet you, Miss?" She smiled lightly eyes taking in the curly mane and single wing. She turned her head back towards the stallion and smiled at him a little apologetic. She hopped he would be able to control himself now.

Walking "Talking"’Thinking’
Words: 446 @[Africa]

Parelia

Disorientated; caught between the wrath of a nightmare and the cold, dark reality now penetrating her mind, Africa wobbled helplessly and confused before the gathering group of strangers. So long she had not been able to sleep for, and when finally the grip of exhaustion had become too intense, the feeble creature had been ultimately swallowed away from bitter wakefulness. Silas hissed quietly and soothingly as the rate of his beloved’s trembling heart increased; he could see well that none surrounding meant harm, sharp lilac eyes scanned each face as they crept. The soft illumination of his star-glittered feathers cast not enough light to fill the room around them entirely, but around the vicinity of his seat a slight whitish mist did drape.

The wavering reach of long storm-grey ears worked hard to find the strange note of the name offered.
‘Confutatis…’ The puddled mare repeated silently for the sake of her companion, though neither found any memory in its sound. The strange silhouette of the horse remained, the slither of her tongue delivering still more of that unnerving hiss to gather and cripple the silent darkness otherwise surrounding. Africa’s brightly-tinted eyes expanded uncertainly, her expression transparent (it always was), and she nodded gullibly in response to that explanation. Stranger things had occurred recently in Helovia- and Confutatis’ now, seemed not to be the worst.

"Are you a God, Confutatis? I fear I have prayed only to one since coming to Helovia. I wish not to disappoint is all. " Right away she wondered about the Goddess among the four deities of the land; the patron of the Edge, the Moon’s milky gaze- could this be she now presenting herself in another form? The one-winged mare’s heart fluttered nervously, and she fidgeted on the spot as the memory of the God of the Sun’s regal, dissatisfied gaze, swept through her being. Certainly she wished not to appear so poorly in the eyes of all those Lords. The tone of the obscure creature; she who seemed barely real, was no more warm than the nest of sand she had just lain upon.

Suddenly, the pallid features of the dappled Pegasus swung around in unison with her company, and Silas clucked gently, reminding her that two others- the bear cub’s stallion, and a mare lingered close also. As the beast by the foot of the Goddess lifted though, Silas bristled also, and his eyes narrowed suspiciously as the Kitsune’s reaction stirred apprehension through his soul.

Tension thickened the stale, moist air around them; and Africa’s eyes seemed at last to have acclimatized the best they could in the deepest of earth’s pits. She watched keenly both the reaction of Confutatis, and the approach of the two others- though the stallion’s warning caused naught but confusion to glaze her stare. He neared, only to be greeted by the tart retort of the shadowy mare to her side, and the grey remembered him at once, a half-smile breaking the strain of her stiff mouth for a moment. The white winged mare followed quickly (those lush appendages were a light contrast to the black surrounding); pleading for Ciceron to settle- soothing him and gesturing towards Africa that she was no villain to be apprehended. After a hesitant glance towards the Goddess; one bewildered by the prospect that she should be found guilty for any violent act, the Pegasus met obligingly- for the sake of the situation only, the tender touch of the stranger mare with her own quivering maw.

Frail minded and suckered in by the genuine belief that Confutatis was an otherworldly soul, the once Oracle drew closer towards the flank of the mare; she was mindful always that the Goddess’ bonded too was standing by. Then she spoke, a strange selection of words uttered and Africa’s mind, thoughts and understanding began to spin wildly. "I don’t understand," she began right after, not entirely fitting her question into the point of the conversation, "The Gods have forsaken us?" There had been rumour that he of the Earth had come to them through the bubbling of his glorious water element- to bestow healing properties into their midst to combat the wraiths. She knew also that it had been her Lord of Fire and Light that had warned her kin into this cave initially.

Quietly; remotely, her unsettled, startled gaze wandered through the suffocating darkness between each dim face present- searching for each reaction to fill the void of her reasoning.



[Note: I think they do give off a small glow… maybe, their wings are starry so… I just hate to abuse any magic that’s all >.<
Also, I tried to tie this all together- I hope it makes sense.]

Africa

Feelings that had not harboured within the stallion's mind in a very long time began to surface slowly as with each passing moment things just seemed to go from bad to worse. Not only was a known killer standing over one of his acquaintances but now Parelia seemed to think that he was some lunatic who was seeing things. Was he seeing things? NO No he was still lucid and he knew exactly stood in front of him, a huge problem. Ever since watching the battle between Apollo and the foul mouthed mare, in more ways than one, he had ill feelings towards Confutatis. Not only had she threatened the life of their leader and taken advantage of being allowed within the herd, she had threatened all of their lives in the process. He did not care if it was his family by blood or just by association he sure as hell was not going to sit back and watch them get culled before his eyes.

"Sir calm down, now. Get yourself under control, it's the lighting that has you confusing this innocent mare with Apollo's attacker." Flicking a ear towards Parelia he was not sure what he was actually hearing. Was she really talking about Confutatis or was she missing the entire focus of his anger? Yes it was dark but there was enough light to see the darkened bitch standing there with her fangs dripping the rancid acid. "Breath heard brother, calm yourself, please." If he was to listen to her things could turn very ugly really fast, he was under control but he was not backing down. He had watched the blood bath that had nearly been fatal to someone much more fit for battle none of them would really stand much of a chance not down in this hell hole.

"Please relax, I'm sorry for his jumpiness. These times have been hard on us all and we're all tired and twitchy." Eyes glued upon the scene unfolding before them he was tempted to reach forward and haul Parelia back behind him but he resisted not wanting to cause unnecessary harm. Damn it why do mares have to be so stubborn when they believe they are right he thought silently. Instead of standing still while the mare advanced he too stepped with her, harks still flattened to his skull. Stepping a couple steps beyond Parelia he turned his head and shoulder inwards hoping to block her path. "Don't go any closer." He said trying to keep his mood out of his tone when directed towards his friend as he turned his eyes to meet hers for a second hoping to get his point across.

Silver eyes returning to the mare laying upon the ground his gaze fell upon the bird perched atop of her protectively. Silas, that was Africa laying there vulnerable and apparently disoriented. He had only met the two of them briefly but with the situation their names had been ingrained into his memory. If he couldn't get through to Africa maybe Silas could, it was worth a try. Turning his icy gaze back to Confutatis he spoke once more in warning. " My name is none of your concern, now leave the mare and her companion alone!" Anger bristled into his tone as he spoke something that he was not all too accustomed to, it was strange but needed right now. "Silas, you need to get her away from here you are both in danger."