this is gospel
for the fallen ones

Archibald had disappeared. The Falls had descended into an era of tenuous peace, stability. But not activity. Kaj despaired over the losses their numbers had suffered, fretted that he was bound to the borders while Archibald was missing. He longed to do best by his herd, for they had sacrificed so much for him, but he feared with each passing day that the curse over the land would prevail in the end. Kaj had never learned when to give up, to break and shatter, let the world crush him with its weight. He soldiered on with bloodied mouth and cracked teeth, a sneer smeared across his face and lightning in his eyes. His family had placed their trust in him, and he would drag himself across shattered glass, would walk on broken legs and fly with crippled wings to keep them safe. Archibald or no, he would work until he spontaneously dropped to break the curse of the land his family now resided in.

It did not mean that Kaj was not mortal. He was destined to fail in many aspects, one of which was the sin of temptation and doubt. His dreams were filled with crackling eyes and effervescent smiles, mischievous dimples and thundering laughter. He awoke yearning, reaching for something that was too far away to even imagine. Kaj feared, as all mortal things fear, that he would not be able to resist the pull that drew him towards a woman too dangerous for a weak man such as himself. There was no denying how she made him feel, how she swept into his rather ordinary life and gripped him by the ears, dragging him forth into a realm he had not allowed himself into. Careful, always careful, he had told himself for so long, pounded into his head. Why be careful? She had asked him with every move, and he had not had a good answer for her.

What else had he missed out on?

From the corner of his eye was a pillar of everlasting, unnatural fire and light. Heart surged with sudden, fearful protectiveness. Was it a rebel group, returning to cripple the land and yank back control? Yet another magical beast intent on savaging his family? Godly retribution for their desertion? A simple wildfire? There were too many possibilities, and the stallion surged down the greenery, muscles tensed and poised like a great golden beast rather than the vessel of a civilized man. He reached the precipice of his occupied landmass, massive wings arcing out in billowing snaps, trusting them to catch him. Down through the canyons he swept, pushing as hard as his body could take, each pounding sweep of his wings buzzing in his own ears.

He found only a singular form. Descending sharply he landed harshly, joints protesting. He was no youthful colt any longer, but he'd protect his family until he was a wizened bag of flesh and bone. Panting heavily he eyed the girl, taking in her form, her stance. Respectful, awaiting someone...him? Was she a diplomat? Perhaps it had been her way of calling him to her, whatever that pillar of light was. "Excuse my behavior, your magic inspires worry when unanticipated," he responded, voice gruff and husky with his own receding emotions and heaving lungs. Swallowing to ease it away, he adjusted his own rather defensive stance into a settled one. Wings retracted and folded neatly at golden sides, head tilted to regard the woman with foxlike baby blue eyes.

"My name is Kaj, I am one of the Czars of these lands. What can I do for you?" The echo of the waterfall and its cavern behind her was appropriately distant, but it gave him peace, allowed him to regulate his racing heart and trembling breaths. Perhaps he was becoming paranoid, he thought sarcastically to himself with a wry little grin.

@[Megaera]