Today was going to be a very important day, why? Parelia had no idea, but there was a bounce in her step as she eased slowly, cautiously, from the caves. maybe it was going to marvelous because she could suddenly fly again, she was free from he darkness! She sighed contently as she stood in the sunshine, her cream and teal wings slowly popped and clicked until they were fully stretched. Honey orbs closed her moss ball carefully held in her porcelain teeth, she could feel her body soaking up the sun, like a leach would it's first bloody feast. 'Gods this feels marvelous!' She thought briefly before plunging her wings down. The sudden flap shot her body into the air. She couldn't help the squeal hat burst from her joy filled body. "Wind carry me where you please today, I am at you mercy!" She screamed to the clouds pumping her wings several times. She could feel her lithe body rising, and it was as if the clouds were pulling her towards them.

Parelia tilted her eyes up taking in the cloudy sky, but even that didn't dampen her spirits. She was free once again. She did a barrel roll to the right, closing her eyes enjoying the wind and the working of her muscles. After what felt like a few minutes, she could feel the wind dropping her cremello painted body. 'Guess I'm landing here.' She thought giggling happily. She circled the area carefully looking for a safe place to land on the blinding white terrain. Zeroing in on a clear spot she folded her wings gracefully to her slim sides, causing her body to descended rapidly.

Moments before she would have collided with the ground she hurled her feathery wings open and angled them towards the ground. This caused Parelia's body to hoover for a few seconds before she landed with a soft thump. Head and tail raised proudly she gazed around. This place was new and strange to the mare. She could easily sense this place was every old, maybe even as old as the gods, yet it was some how new. Moving forward slowly her body moving towards the tall building surrounded by snow. Her muzzle would have been opened in astonishment, if it had not been for the moss between her teeth.

Once she was inside the building she gasped in amazement. Lights of all colors danced playfully across the floor and walls. Parelia leapt and twirled with them. One minute she was on all four sturdy legs, then on her hind legs striking at the air. Something hit her muzzle making her freeze, then topple down onto all four legs again. "What the hell?" She whispered nervously as she lowered the ball of moss to the stone ground. Colors skipped and shimmered over her body as she carefully unrolled the moss exposing the little black orb inside. It was twitching madly as if, it were an egg. It hit her suddenly that this thing she was sure was a living thing had been right! "Come on little one you can break free, I'm waiting to meet you." She whispered warmly ears titled, honey orbs bright with excitement.

"Speach"’Thoughts’
Words:534
OOC: Open, but please no one that means her harm right now. Think happy thoughts lol. @[Alysanne]

The number of bodies rotting in the mildewy depths of Helovia’s heart had dwindled in recent days. Rumour of the Sun God’s reappearance had stretched throughout the sunken stone corridors- stories that his beating wings had dissolved away the existence of their world’s cloudy darkness, and others which depicted the proud deity commanding the sickness to be gone with shafts of searing sunrays and a blazing gaze still fiercer. Africa could imagine either being true. The Lord she knew of, a little aloof, though more than beautiful to behold could very well have cast away all that ailed his world; however she had not witnessed the marvel outside personally, and hesitated still beneath the earth. She had been disheartened actually to learn that he had passed through the land of the mortals, and she had missed that rare opportunity to shower him with admiration and thankfulness.

For the moment though, the yearning of her young heart had been quelled- he had come to them at last, deep where they were hidden.

She wore in vain hopefulness the licking flame of the Sun God; it danced wildly and harmlessly through the oily tangles of her thick mottled grey mane, rising in playful salutation of that bright burning orb above, and so too the length of her lush tail. She had wished so terribly to please his eyes, to turn his opinion for the better- and had not been able to quash that elation when his gift had remained upon her during Orangemoon. It had all been for him alone after all, Africa was a selfless soul who rarely sought to appease her own vanity.

When she emerged at last from the confines of the sanctuary; the prison which had guarded them so reliably from wraiths and widespread evil, the shadows slithered back from her sleek, shining coat instantly, repelled by the warmth and sheer radiance which had returned to Helovia-and possibly too, that fire upon her. The grey drew a long breath to fill her lungs with crisp morning air that had been for too long soured, and cool calmness seemed to seep through her core in that same moment. Pastel yellow eyes began to wander without delay, soaking up all which appeared to be quite the same as always; the clay earth dressing the Heart was still parched and glittered with gemstones, and the sky as far as her naked eye could gather seemed endless and crystal clear- apart from the smoking funnel which spiralled upwards from the ever burning pit of fire. Just like always.

Something that did surprise her though, was the fact that none lingered by the bosom of safety; she could see no other face nearby at all. She marvelled at the confidence of the masses, finding comfort quietly in the knowledge that her Lord was watching; guiding. Africa had never been a particularly confident creature- less so, having had no other choice but to bed down so recently with the enemy, and took meticulous care to be certain none of the horned variety had remained. Silas confirmed their solitude after a sweeping patrol of the local area, and descended to rest upon the dip of his beloved’s back with an unusually effervescent chirp.

"Where too…?" Africa mused silently, vaguely, turning for the briefest of moments to inspect the sparkling violet gaze of her friend. He did not reply, though between again spread wings, the star-speckled Roc rose across the billowy updraft and turned towards the west. The dappled mare’s face lowered as she sank into what could only be described as transfixed concentration- magic began to surge through her body, prickling the smooth hair canvasing her frame and tingling through the nerve-network spread beneath. Bones began to twist and contort; shrinking violently and painfully so that she grimaced and groaned, and as her corpse shrank suddenly, bleak grey feathers began to sprout and smother her coat.

The process had become all too familiar now and though transforming was more than uncomfortable; quite an excruciating ordeal actually, it was a blessing to be celebrated and grateful for all the same. Africa’s small parrot wings fluttered wildly against the breeze and the stiff ebony quills lining each quivered with delight, lifting her to follow Silas hastily. The pain began to subside, and the shape-shifter was at liberty to fly as once she had been able- free as a bird.

They descended as the spinning landscape below melded into something quite unfamiliar, a marble structure perhaps, or something similar. It snared both the curiosity of the masked mare and the true avian and the duo alit in a fir-tree between the babbling brook, and the old rotunda. With pinning pupils, the grey parrot scanned the region which had before now, been hidden away from the vast Helovian population; she was drawn to the beauty of the area, the naturalness and tranquillity; the ivory building whose roof caught the glimpsing sunlight and showered fractured colours down across the floor. Another horse was there also, a mare who Africa remembered (albeit vaguely) from the deepest and darkest pit below the Heart.

She swept from the wavering branch though the Zephyr remained, and drifted between outspread wings closer towards Parelia- who by then had ceased all movement, and appeared to be gazing steadily down at an object between her front hooves. There were no vines marring the structure, not even cobwebs, so Africa began the transformation back into her horse dress (quite before she had penetrated the ancient columns surrounding the other mare). She wished not to distract the other, and so ventured nearer only when the magic streaming through labyrinth veins had dispersed and was gone. "Parelia?" her gentle voice cooed while delicate gaze sought the small round egg which lay nestled in a bed of moss. "Is your egg hatching?"

Joy and excitement pounded through her veins as bright orbs gazed brightly at the jittering dancing egg. Her soul mate was hatching and she could not wait to see what the gods had blessed her with. The cremello painted mare realized she was shaking along with the tiny being inside her egg. Her smile was wiped quickly from her face as the sound of another touched her pricked ears. She turned hastily towards the sound dishes pinned to her dainty skull ready to defend her soul-mate to her dying breath. Blinding anger eased dramatically as she recognized the one wing dappled mare before her. "Sorry about that Africa I'm a little protective right now." She smiled lightly her muscles still tensed in case she was forced to defend her precious egg. She turned her gaze back lovingly to the writhing egg in it's carefully constructed bed of moss.

She smiled lovingly down at the encased creature before her face clouded over sadly, "I have no idea what to do once it hatches..." She sighed heavily when a movement caught her eye, Africa's companion. 'I completely forgot about him!' She thought brightening back up. Her warm voice jangled pleadingly honey orbs beseeching, "Africa will you please stay with me and show me what to do for it? Just for a few hours at least, please?" She smiled lightly praying to the gods that she would agree.

A soft cracking sound made her jump and edge closer to her egg all eyes and ears for the tender thing inside.Part of the shell now had a long crack down the length of it's shinny black surface. Even the sound of a new arrival could not draw her attention from the creaking jail of her one true soul-mate. "You're almost here love, you can do it!" She whispered encouragingly as she lowered her muzzle closer to the quivering object touching the shell lightly.She pulled back quickly as a sharp beak poked her tender muzzle. She felt no anger, but she did laugh as she spoke, "It's a feisty bird of some sort I know that much!"

She laughed to turned to the newcomer ready to tense herself once more, but the black painted mare's demeanor told her nothing besides gentleness. She dipped her head lightly and smiled proudly as she congratulated her. Sweet vocals stroked the chilly air, "Thank you, I am Parelia it's very nice to meet you." Another much louder crack drew her back to her companion. It was almost out now. She lowered her head close to the broken jail that contained her bird. She watched as the downy bird kicked and pecked it's way out throwing the shell away from it.

Parelia carefully moved in and pulled the last of the shell from the eyasses's head. She smiled down at the still sticky white chick. She felt a single tear run down her soft face she was so happy it almost hurt. honey gems left the chick for a momment to look at the other two mares, as she spoke her eyes lowered back to her other half, "Please feel free to come look at him if you want." Before turning her words to the chick instead of the mares. "Welcome to the world my sweet heart. I think it is time to give you your name, as is fitting for all new babes to be named." She paused musing for a moment over several names. She knew instinctively that chick was a male and a Peregrine Falcon. Her voice was overjoyed and proud raised so the others could hear as well, "From now until we both die you will be known as Penna." She smiled lowering her muzzle to lightly nuzzle and blow on the chick to dry as well as warm him.

"Speach"’Thoughts’
Words:636 @[Africa] @[Alysanne]

Stunned by the pale mare’s unanticipated flash of hostility, the one-winged grey’s own coal-rimmed ears hastened backwards, her throat raised with surprise and her fine chiselled, ashen face skewed charily left. Such reactive behaviour from each Pegasus lasted only the second of Africa’s arrival though, the guarding mare’s defensiveness diminishing when perhaps she saw that her company was friendly and familiar. Quickly creamy eyes softened, her expression easing to reflect the placid nature of her soul, and a broad smile stretched away the furrows wrinkling thin stormy lips. "No harm done, friend." she reassured gently, taking the opportunity to slide a little closer- unable to quell the piquing curiosity within. As she moved, Africa placed thoughtfully in further greeting, her maw against the soft plumage thatched intricately across a resting wing; so that the other would not need trace her position and loosen her tender gaze from the egg where it still seemed to be squirming.

The pastel-paint mare spoke again, and the puddled-grey chortled softly in return, though when she had met Silas as a youngling, he already was quite capable of fending for them both. The star-spangled avian rocked in place when the memory of their first encounter washed through his beloved’s bright mind- he knew that she would remember not exactly the pain surrounding those times (perhaps only fractions, like the cause of those scars marring her shoulder), but dwelled not for the sake of her newly established cheer.

Caringly Africa agreed to stay with a swift nod, harmless flames rearing and writhing through the casual flap tendrils of wind-caught mane. "Perhaps we’ll be as helpful to one another as, rain in the ocean though…" A delicate stream of apologetic giggling followed, though she shrugged and settled to enjoy the wonder of the moment unfolding. A long standing mockery of their winged kin by those lacking the gift of flight, was that all Pegasus shared with bird-folk, a feathery brain- she called on this then, joking, "Let’s pray a bird hatches!"

The hatching continued slowly, and Africa bathed cheerfully in Parelia’s attentiveness, enthusiastic tone, seeking not to distract her experience at all. As cracks began to slither down through the pale egg-shell’s exterior, another arrived in the rotunda and while the softly-hued mare dared not pull her outspoken focus away, the one-winged turned with an expanding smile. She recognized the newest paint quickly- comforted still more, while surrounded by the quality of their thrice shared blood. The cremello and white’s voice again filled the mosaic of colourful glass above; the excitement lathering each word as contagious as wicked winter’s flu. There was a moment when all eyes lifted to meet and greet the once-World’s Edge mare, as she came forward to offer congratulations, though suddenly the small egg cracked loudly and Africa’s tender gaze dropped to find a little creature struggling from its cradle.

Her breath snagged in the base of her throat, and Parelia’s whiskered mouth descended instantly to brush the remaining shell from her bonded.

She was lost for words- caught up by the wonder of birth, her own instincts again flaring with the same desire to nurture that had engulfed her when young Marco had bedded by her side weeks before. Still they felt so alien as they stirred passionately through a young, inexperienced frame, but more and more as they seemed to invade her, the dappled creature was less startled, less bemused by their powerful presence within.

The offer to view the hatchling was a generous one and Africa danced forward both eagerly and gratefully to lower her kindly expression nearer. Always she moved with due diligence- she could only imagine such a precious babe’s fragility, and wished neither chick nor Parelia distress by bumbling movements. Long weighty ears swivelled curiously as the mare began to speak to the tiny, helpless bird, and she could not avoid the gushing smile which leaked to fill her pallid features. "Penna…" she repeated warmly, "how lovely."

Warm honey orbs stared at the handsome white chick as he in turn gazed up at her with black eyes. Parelia seemed to melt as she stared at her partner and felt as if a part of her had clicked into place. Parelia was lost in the moment as the two stared at the other memorizing every detail of their bonded. Penna's beak was as black as steel, as were is talons. His scaly feet on the other hand were a bright golden yellow. Carefully Parelia reached for him again and clicked his beak as he softly gripped her forelock allowing it to run through his grasp, grooming her. Her eyes were suddenly moist at all the love she was feeling for the little puff ball. She nickered lovingly at him before gazing at the two mares beside her.

Her dished face nodded softly showing the black painted mare she was correct with his gender. Velvety lips up turned brightly at their words of praise at his new name. Her warm tinkling voice bubbled from her muzzle, "He is a Peregrine Falcon." She paused and added in a slightly confused tone, "I'm not really sure how I know that though.." She shrugged because it didn't really matter how she was so aware of this fact. Suddenly she felt very rude and spoke again, "I'm sorry, I was so caught up I forgot to introduce myself! I am Parelia, it's very nice to meet you." She smiled warmly at the painted Pegasus and dipped her head lightly before turning to Africa. The one winged grey mare was smiling almost as much as she herself was.

She could not have been happier to have these two gentle and friendly mares with her as Penna hatched. Somewhere in her heart she knew she had two new friends, maybe even best friends. She imagined them years from now, old and grumpy, gossiping about, 'the foals today.' She laughed inwardly at the thought before turning back to Penna. He hopped clumsily from called foot to clawed foot before screeching louder. Parelia was almost panic-stricken at the need behind the cry. What did her soul-mate need so desperately. She tried to think, then it hit her so hard she spoke allowed, "Hes' hungry!"

She had seen birds of prey hunting other birds and felt dismay prick her heart, 'How am I supposed to catch a bird?!' She looked hopefully at the other mares as she spoke a little worried now, "What on earth are we supposed to get for him to eat? I've only ever seen adult hawks and falcons hunt birds." She cast a nervous glance at the hatchling. "Do you think he might eat something else though?" Dainty ears swiveled forward twitching hopeful that one of the others would have some sort of idea.

The she had a second idea and turned towards Africa, "Africa, do you think Silas might have an idea on what he might eat? Or maybe he can help catch something?" She paused for a moment slightly embarrassed and mumbled, "I understand if he doesn't want to though." She cast a warm gaze at the proud dark blue and purple marred Roc. She thought he might find helping another below himself, but she was still hopeful he might be more like Africa than he looked.

"Speach"’Thoughts’
Words: 555 @[Africa] @[Alysanne]