Lost. How have I managed to get myself lost? Xolopitli! What a fool I have become!

The maiden's thoughts are as painful as the prickle bushes that she is currently ploughing through, but she is too stubborn to resort to using her wings to escape them. She deserves to suffer through this minor inconvenience. It had been stupid of her to ignore Osiris' offer. The feathered warrior still didn't know what had possessed her to return to Arto; it was she who had abandoned her doomed people, after all. Man had severed the limbs of her tribe when they struck down her brothers and sisters with their spears. But it had been her tribe's decision to ensure that its heart continued to beat, and so the last cualneci-oquichtin lived on.

It has been a fortnight since the vibrant bird has made her return to this country, and she hasn't made any progress in her endeavour to find the wolf boy. The few equines that she has encountered have not been of much use to the warrior, and so far her only adversary has been the cluster of thistles that she is fighting with now. The purple plant catches at her wings with such persistence that it rivals that of a hungry gull to an easy meal. The cruel vixen lets loose a contemptuous snort at the thought. I'd rather punch a hole through the seagull than have to deal with this nonsense.

With a wrench of one opalescent wing the maiden successfully manages to free herself from the brambles. Rocking back on her chocolate heels, she churns the air with her striped pillars and lets loose a triumphant scream. The call is picked up by the breeze that rolls lazily across the meadow, and the hybrid slams her hooves against the grass as hope begins to fill her. Will the brute and his ringmaster heed her call? Or will some other child come and waste her time?

Emerald ears rapidly flick forwards and back to receive any responses to her ecstatic song. The maiden holds her dark crown high in the air so that her searching eyes do not miss any passing figures. Every fibre of the warrior's being is trained on locating any change in her surroundings. Even her mood has moulded from self-loathing to an urgent interest.

Her strong white-and-blue supports beat against the earth as the bird begins to pace. Normally the dark-hearted chieftess would not allow for any fantasies to trickle through the walls of her mind, but one thought does manage to sneak its way in: Perhaps I am not so lost as I think I am.

"Sed interdum rutrum urna, sed pellentesque sapien tempor in."

{Xolopitli- imbecile.
Cualneci-oquichtin- beautiful warrior.}

@[Tsar']
@[Oxy]

The sound of a scream on the horizon interrupts you just as you were reaching into your bag to draw out another branch of your beloved locoweed. Furrowing your brow at the noise, trying to determine if it was a figment of your imagination or real, your companion urges you in your head that it was real. Her insistent emotions that she has been sending you as of late are becoming more urgent, stronger, as though she is trying to accomplish something other than send you a series of odd pictures in your brain. It is all you've ever known her to do, after all. Rolling your eyes, you decide to agree with her that it is real and thus set off at an ambling, wobbly trot to try and find the source of said noise. Perhaps it is some unfortunate soul looking for a battle. You would be fine with such an excellent way to stretch your limbs.

However, when you finally arrive at the location that you suppose the call came from, you are dumbfounded. Stopping short, you instinctively widen your stance and lower your head. The world is not tipping and there are no imaginary trumpets blasting sounds in your ears, but you are more than certain that you must be hallucinating. What the?... But you are also confused, because your hallucinations are always so real, so tangible, so... normal. This is not like anything you have seen before. For once, you willingly call upon your companion for help deciding. She knew that the call earlier was real, will she know the answer to this as well?

Again, she insists that this.... thing in front of you is real and not some figment of your drugged imagination. So, after some insistence, when you finally believe her, you burst into a glorious round of gruff guffaws, the rumbling sound tumbling out of your chest and filling the air around you. In time, you settle down, and it is then that you finally speak, your baritone voice dry but amused. “You look like rainbow vomit.” As if she didn't already know. Still, it's the truth, so why not start there. If she decides to attack, you're pretty sure you can handle it. You're not that high.

@[Bellona] @[Tsar']

We appear to have a new fool in our court.

He makes his way through the dagger-bushes like a drunken bear, ploughing his way through the meadow along a winding path towards her. The beauty twists her lips into an amused smile at the sight of him. She had not intended to summon the shire to share in her distaste for this purple field, but she does find enjoyment in witnessing someone else struggle. The bewilderment that washes over his face and forces him to a halt is a reaction that the peahen has grown accustomed to. She is a rarity in these parts, this carnivorous bird, but she has a feeling that she will become easily recognizable -- if not well-known -- in the seasons to come. The beautiful warrior did not plan on leaving this land, after all.

The teetering beast starts up in a fit of gasps and grunts, and she briefly wonders if he will fall over. His whole frame is shaking from the force of his laughter, and the cruel bird considers giving him a shove to help him on his way down. Her vicious ideas fade into naught when her orange pools notice the cloud that is hovering near the fool. The dark piece of atmosphere is out of place in the sunlit clearing, and the maiden enters her own state of bewilderment at the sight of the girl. She is the only black cloud in the sky today, and the hybrid doesn't know what to make of her. The colorful bird can appreciate the puff's skill in stealth, though, unlike the horridly basic manoeuvres that the unicorn exhibits.

The maiden lifts her nose to the child in greeting, but she matches the horned one's remark with a tone that is bitter and tinged with laughter. "And you look like a shit-stained log. You even roll around aimlessly like one."

Her eyes flash after she has spoken, but whether it is in boorishness or merriment is unknown. It is most likely the former, for the graceful vixen does not speak with the delicate tongue that her looks would suggest. She prefers, rather, to be blunt and masculine in both her words and her mannerisms, although she does not always mean to offend. The bird can play nice sometimes, and she is in the mood for playing nice today.

"But now that we have introduced one another, I want to know just what that is." Sarcasm is no longer laced into her words, and she does not bother with sugar-coating them, either. She is new to the land that lacks in spirits but bursts with magic, and the hulking creature and his pet have placed her in a curious mood indeed. If the warrior wasn't so perplexed by his wisp she probably would have berated him for his less than stunning entrance.

"Sed interdum rutrum urna, sed pellentesque sapien tempor in."

{Sorry to break posting order guys, but I really want Bellona to interact with Oxy. Rainbow Vomit, meet Log of Shit.}

If only you could read the peafowl's mind- you would love to inform her that she wouldn't even be the first person to knock you over while you sway to and fro. Mauja beat her to it- and he knocked you into the ocean. Although, speaking of Mauja, you really need to go find that asshole because you never really repayed him for his annoyances. You did find him once when there was darkness everywhere, but that wasn't really a good time. Now is a good time. After all, what more do you have to do but plot against your leaders and pretend that you're going to do anything important?

But anyways, Rainbow Vomit. It's an unfortunate shame that she's not nearly as upset about your comment as you were hoping. You really wanted her get pissed off. Why? You're not really sure- but why the hell not is often as good a reason as any other. Besides, you kind of just want to be mad right now. You haven't been able to find the Phantom Seeker anyway. And since she's basically one of the most important horses in your whole plan. Also, you're more than a little miffed that she's hiding from you. You only basically drool over her all the time and it's kind of hard to drool over someone when they're not there. But then again... maybe she just grew tired of the game, disappeared, went somewhere else... You don't like the idea at all.

Regardless, you don't think that you ever asked to be insulted. And it's pretty clear that you're being insulted. Shit-stained log your ass. Except, to be fair, it's a pretty accurate assessment. You frown and lay your ears back, opening your mouth to respond, except she beats you to the punch. If you could turn the corners of your mouth down any farther you would. Obviously she would ask about your companion. Stupid useless ball of nothing. You grunt and furrow your brow, trying to decide if you should answer her or just turn and walk away.

Maybe it's because she answered you so boldly, but you decide to stick around for a little while longer.

“That is a useless ball of nothing,” you respond coldly, turning towards your boggart and bite at her a moment. Your companion, just absolutely delighted to have finally found someone who is interested in her, flits away from your bite and heads towards Bellona. Trying to interact, she morphs into a beautiful butterfly sporting many of the same colors as Bellona and begins to try and flit around the mare's nose. “Knock it off,” you growl to her, and your combination of anger and words cause her to disappear back into a puff of smoke. Begrudgingly, she wisps back over towards you, purposefully hovering over your head as if to indicate that you deserve a raincloud.

@[Bellona]- Day late and a dollar short, but here you are <3 <3

Flicking her lime-stained tail in annoyance at the approach of the wisp, Bellona churns the air at her sides in an attempt to send it back from whence it came. Its performance is undoubtedly impressive, but it does not give the creature any right to try and make friends. The maiden is not fond of being coddled, and especially by something that is so foreign to her. Boldly colored ears are swept back to lay across a sapphire crown, and the vixen fans out the exuberant array of feathers at her wither in a warning. As her powerful instruments resettle themselves at her ribs, the peahen snaps, "You may look, but you cannot touch." Remembering that there was a horned (or perhaps horny?) beast in their midst she adds silently, and the same goes for you.

Once she has made her point clear to the shape-shifting ghast, Bellona returns her attentive gaze to the shire. Resettling herself so that she is no longer in such a foreboding stance, she lets her ears roll forward and reduces the tension in her legs. Her orange pools range over the unicorn's dark hide, noticing his many scars and the rippling muscles beneath it. He might appear to be imbecilic now, but the tone of his body hints at his true nature. The peahen suspects that he might be embracing the same philosophy that she follows; looks can be deceiving.

"What brings you and your nothing here, then?" The bird resists the temptation to add the crude name she has bestowed upon him. She seeks answers from the stallion, and she has come to realize that treating her company with disrespect and a snide attitude will not aid her in search. Images of the wolf boy fill her cranium, and before waiting for the giant to answer her next questions is already spilling out into the air.

"Have you heard of a stallion who goes by Osiris?" She gives a slight pause, watching Oxy for a reaction that might indicate that he has, in fact, located the wolf. Impatience gets the best of her, however, and her next words are tainted with an urgency that she would rather wish to hide. "The Windtossed Foothills? Does that ring a bell?" So much for being polite.

"Sed interdum rutrum urna, sed pellentesque sapien tempor in."

You can all but feel yourself overwhelmed by companion's distress as Bellona rebukes her advances, stirring the air and sending her form whirling about. Butterfly or not, it seems that her attention is not especially wanted and this makes her sad. She had so hoped, dreamed, that she would be wanted, accepted, by the beautiful Peahen. The wisp's disappointment makes you stop and smile, upturned lips externally showing your amusement. She may be displeased, but you are quite happy to find that she has been put back in her place. She will find no sympathy here, it seems, which makes you quite happy.

As for you- you had definitely jumped backwards at Bellona's display of her wings. It's not fear so much as the drugs, but you sway back and forth regardless, struggling to maintain your balance. But as you finally succeed against gravity and look up, you find that Bellona has returned her gaze to you. Grunting, you lay your ears back and narrow your eyes, your smile falling from your face- it's mostly for show. You've gotta keep up appearances, after all. Oxy the Addict- grumpy, callous, rude, and reasonably heartless. That's the image you want to show.

And, sticking right along with what your intended plan, you promptly ignore her question about what you're doing here. The real answer is because you're never really sure how you get half the places you get to- you just sort of show up- but you're not going to tell her that. At least, it seems you are not really expected to answer anyways. She rushes out with a bunch of other questions to which you promptly snort and stamp your hoof, demanding she calm her childish excitement to a more tolerable level.

To spite her, you also refuse to answer her question about Osiris. Incidentally, the answer to that question is also that you don't know, but she doesn't need to know that. You attempt to give her some sort of knowing smirk, a hint that you know him and you're not sharing information, for no other reason than to annoy her. You may appreciate that she has disappointed your companion, but that does not mean you're open to making friends. As for the last questions... You can't help but be intrigued. Has Gaucho sent her? “What about it?” Your blunt annoyance and glaring brown eyes leave no room for argument. She will tell you why she is so interested. Well... at least in your head she will. Who knows what she'll do... nobody understands respect these days.

@[Bellona]- First post back, just like I promised :D

She perceives the giant to be daft, but she does not think him to be cruel, too. His lack of emotion at her provocation of his nothing is surprising, and she wonders if something has happened to him to make him like this. Do the horns on his head alter his thoughts? No. The mutation does no more than her wings, which have nestled themselves against her blue and green ribs. These precious utensils are used for flight, and sometimes even to wage war, but they do not cause her to thirst for blood. That is her own doing, although her upbringing may have shaped her into the formidable creature that she considers herself today. A smirk plays across the peahen's velvets at the thought. Perhaps she is as vain as other damsels after all.

The drunken bear wipes that smile clean off her face, and her lips twist into a frown at his lack of a reaction at her inquiry. He is either a fantastic liar, which is doubtful, or he is actually speaking the truth. It is in the shire's best interest to be doing the latter, for the lustrous bird has developed a short temper these past few days. The feathers at her wither twitch in annoyance and she narrows her eyes at his next set of words. What does he mean, "what about it?" What other purpose does this land serve her, except to act as a new realm for her to reside in?

"Where is it?" Her tone is clipped as she struggles to keep her composure. The urge to snap at the beast and inform him of his idiocy is growing stronger, but the maiden's respect for Shit-stained Log has grown since their introduction. Besides, her inspection of him has concluded that he may not be so useless. "I was promised residence in this land many seasons ago, and I wish to go there."


"Sed interdum rutrum urna, sed pellentesque sapien tempor in."

Disappointment indeed. She was not sent by Gaucho, but rather by some being “many seasons ago”. Great. “Did you forget that the same idiots aren't in charge ever since the whole world ending thing?” Bitterness- you should be in charge, after all. Well... maybe not. Truth be told, you don't really care to lead a whole herd. Well... actually, you take that back. You wouldn't mind, so long as the whole herd was an army. But, since whole herds are rarely armies, you're not super interested in being that in charge. You'd suffice it to be general, Legatus as the self-important Midas calls them. At least then you might have some respect, instead of being mocked all the time.

But... you are supposed to be playing nice and helping your herd. That's been part of your more recent master plan, ever since Sugar Lips and Rose Red disappeared off the face of the planet. You have a terrible master plan.

“Anyways, you're not really in the position to be making demands,” you remind her, shifting and swaying as your mind begins to click. “What's in it for me if I tell you?” You don't yet tell her you're part of the herd. You want to see what she says, what she offers to you, what it is that she thinks you desire. Perhaps the two of you, so cautious of the world as you both seem, can become greater than just each of you alone. Again, your mind is sent to ticking and whirling, ebbing and swaying beneath the weight of your drugs but also your thoughts. You do not trust her yet but still... You cannot be an army of one. You need others if you are to complete your master plan. Could she be one of them?

@[Bellona]

"What idiots? What are you talking about?"

Her sunset pools have been replaced by pale flame, and an annoyed blast of air is expelled from her nostrils. The maiden has no intention of being baited by the giant's condescending words, but her bold nature overcomes her desire to remain calm. The bird's feathers can be ruffled easily -- as much as she will never admit -- and the horned brute has managed to do just that. Does he think he is smart for sparking anger inside the volatile creature? Or does he not understand that she has no problem in teaching him to succumb to her will?

But he is surely not so dumb as to think that. Has he recognized her as a beast that hides behind a false image of color and decoration? If the fool has managed to come to such a conclusion, the devious maiden will make sure to reward him for his discovery. The shire is the first to uncover the secrets behind her brilliant mask, and Bellona finds this impressive. She mentally rewards him with some dark humor -- well done, Log of Shit -- and follows it up with words that hold some promise.

"I make demands as I see fit, and, just as well, I act as I see fit."

Skirting the edge of the thistles that had attacked her, the peahen flies closer to the mountain so that she is perched at its base. In reality the maiden has only closed the gap between them, allowing her to force her hard gaze into his softened one. She does not see weakness there, but what she does see surprises her; his molten pools of mud and dirt do not reflect the fierce sense of ambition that has taken hold of her, but they do possess a dulled version of it. The chieftess cannot decide whether this lack of emotion in their depths is a consequence or a boon. Is one better off with a lack of thoughts and feelings? She will have to ask him one day, if their paths are to cross under similar circumstances. But she is getting ahead of herself again, for she has not even finished their current conversation.

"And what gives you the right to inquire about benefit?" Absolutely nothing. Bellona admires the bay for being so bold, and offers him a sly smile. Why offer your services if you cannot gain something from it? "But I don't care about who has what right. Not yet. There will be a time for that, but that time will come later. Right now, I think the only thing that you should require is the brawn that lies beneath your dingy hide, and the loyalty that lies in that." A stained wing gestures towards the dark cloud, and the malicious peahen makes sure to send a gust of wind its way.

"You may need it later. You never know what might come our way, or what we may strive towards."

If he can uncover her meaning as he has uncovered her true self, then he has found himself an ally in the vehement warrior. Let us see just what is inside that mind.


"Sed interdum rutrum urna, sed pellentesque sapien tempor in."