It had been Tiamat’s intention to return straight home after being healed—to see the mountains again, where the weather must be perfect beneath the brightness of Tallsun’s heat. She has never seen the Basin during Tallsun. Several years ago, when she had initially stumbled upon Helovia’s shores, it had been in the last trailing fingers of summer, and by the time she had arrived in what was to be her home, Orangemoon had already come with its vibrant array of colors. She doesn’t doubt that it is beautiful (as the Bain is in all other seasons) and her hearts cries out for the place where she belongs.

However, in her exuberance after having the Labyrinth’s sickness finally dissolved from her body, it would seem that she had gotten away with herself. Mile upon mile had passed beneath the ocean mare’s prancing hooves, her eyes bright with the enthusiasm of being able to see and breathe again, that her sense of direction had all but completely left her. Now she finds herself not in the precipitous woodland of her beloved home, but in another place entirely—among the skinny shoots of bamboo, with their frothy leaves swaying above and casting playful shadows across the ground.

“Hmm,” the blue unicorn pauses, pursing her lips together as her white eyes are cast through the winding forest, her voice leaving in a hushed breath, “the Green Labyrinth—so we meet again.” She chuckles blithely to herself, tossing her fine head before moving forward again at an animated walk, dainty ears perked. She recognizes this place, from the battle, from the disease—this is where it had started. Well—not all of it (technically the Blood Falls had been opened first)—but it had been here where the new world’s contagion had caught her. She is understandably wary of being here again, but her curiosity is ultimately too great to swallow.

The forest is far less menacing now in its gentle silence, without the sounds of war echoing and roaring through the hills. Slowly the ocean mare relaxes, too innocent and free in her trust of the world and its many unknowns to have her guard up for long. Seeing a glimmer of light reflecting through the green haze, Tiamat turns, discovering a small pond of water nestled among the bamboo. Their gaunt stalks curve over the glassy surface, as if admiring themselves, to which the mare smiles.

“Hello, Brother—I didn’t know if I’d find you here,” the ocean mare speaks fondly as she lowers her muzzle to the pool, her breath rippling out across its surface before she drinks. There are so many things to explore in the new realms such as this one. What makes them different? Why have the Gods brought them here? In any case, Tiamat knows that they can’t be much more diverse from the rest of Helovia; she recognizes some of the healing herbs and sprigs from her wanderings, which have helped her enormously in the battles.

Her thirst satisfied, Tiamat thanks her brother for his generosity before continuing, focusing on nothing in particular as she roams. That is, until some high-pitched chirps and the soft rustling of another catches her attention. “Hello there!” She calls out enthusiastically to the stranger, never minding what dangers they might pose, and uninhibited in her gait as she closes the distance between them. Tiamat smiles broadly, offering a genuine warmth, though she sobers when she notices the thick black slime. Her heart leaps and twists painfully as it goes out to the stranger in empathy, knowing herself how miserable the sickness can be, and wishing with all her might that she could help. “Oh, I’m so sorry—”

However, despite her concern, she cuts herself off when she notices the dolphin—a dolphin. In the forest! In the air! It is a peculiar and wondrous sight, and to her knowledge, anything but right. “Oh my goodness! Is he alright—does he need water? There’s a small pool of water where I just came from, not far back, I’ll show you,” Tiamat steps towards the poor creature before looking back to the winged mare, her brow knitting in anxious worry. She knows nothing of floating dolphins; only that they need water, that they are usually with her father, and she wants only to help the unfortunate creature.


notes; weee excited!:D
“Speech.”

     LIKE THE OCEAN KISSED THE SKY,
at the most beautiful place under the sun.

It is much to Tiamat’s surprise that the Pegasus mare is startled by her approach, recoiling away and her whole body seemingly tense with what could only be fear. The ocean mare’s eyes widen in surprise before her brow furrows in concern, an apologetic expression softening the fine lines of her face. The last thing she had meant to do was upset the stranger—she would never want to bring terror upon anyone—and her heart goes out sympathetically to the quivering mare. Fortunately, it doesn’t seem to take long for the Pegasus to realize that she means her no harm, and Tiamat’s smile widens in happy confidence.

She doesn’t understand why the stranger won’t look her in the eye, taking it only as a sign of her meekness, and ponders little on it—her mind quickly moving to more wondrous things when unfamiliar words and phrases leave the stranger’s lips. What a peculiar language! Knowing only her own native tongue and way of speaking, Tiamat has never before heard of phrases such as “nay” and “thine,” and it entertains her quite joyously in piecing together what is being said (because she realizes it’s not a completely foreign tongue, just beautifully different).

However, the dancing threads of her attention are drawn primarily towards the floating dolphin, the horror and concern in her chest quickly loosening and giving way to astonishment. “She breathes air?” Her lips part in a little ‘o’ of wonder, white eyes wide and glistening with curiosity, “Wow.” She has never seen such a creature! One of her father’s ocean, floating—swimming—with ease through the air! It is nothing short of remarkable, and she finds her amazement difficult to contain as her long tail curves behind her, blue nostrils flaring as she reaches out to the dolphin—Ardere, the mare had called it.

It would seem that Ardere is just as curious and welcoming. Tiamat’s lips curve into a smile as she watches the dolphin drift towards her, bumping her shoulder gently. The ocean mare’s delighted laughter trickles through the air, eyes dancing beneath the forest’s emerald haze. “Well hello, Ardere; it’s good to meet you too! I enjoy the water as well,” her head tilts a little to the side as she looks at the floating dolphin, unable to get over herself and her astonishment, thoroughly enchanted by such a spectacle as this.

Fluted ears flicking back towards the mare when she continues, Tiamat’s eyes soon follow, pleased that the stranger—Laedere, they are strangers no more!—seems much more comfortable now. “My name is Tiamat,” the blue unicorn smiles before extending her satin muzzle in a gesture of friendship, wanting only to celebrate and grow in their companionship (ever trusting, ever innocent to the wiles of the world and its shadows). “It’s a pleasure, Laedere; I apologize if I frightened you earlier. I’ve never seen a dolphin that…breathes as she does. It’s amazing,” her gaze flickers back to Ardere for a moment.

Her curiosity and honest thirst for knowledge lights her features, questions and musings bubbling to the tip of her tongue, wondering how such a thing is possible. Are there more of these creatures in Helovia? Are there other water animals that can “swim” through the air, as Ardere does?

There is so much to discover, but Tiamat manages to refrain herself, not wanting to overwhelm Laedere in her excitement. “How does she do it?” She inquires when she looks back to the mare, her new-found friend, eyes doe-like and shining. But there is something that manages to sway her enthusiasm. It is only now when Tiamat notices the bloodied bandage, hanging loosely and flapping with every movement, and wounded wing underneath; her features quickly sober in concern. “Are you all right? Are you hurt?” She reaches out tentatively, her healer’s heart leaping and beating in her desire to help.


“Speech.”

     LIKE THE OCEAN KISSED THE SKY,
at the most beautiful place under the sun.

The ocean mare offers a gracious, accepting smile as Laedere claims the responsibility for her earlier fright, the light in her eyes relaying nothing but kindness. There is no trace of condemnation or offence in the lines of her face, ever amiable and accommodating of others; after all, things happen! Tiamat would be lying if she said that she had never been startled by a stranger before, and takes no resentment in it (not to mention that whatever symptoms the pegasus might be experiencing from the Labyrinth Lung could be that much more disorienting. She remembers her own experience with the infection, the vibrant colors and dancing ribbons, their beauty overshadowed by the thick, dark slime).

With her white eyes wandering back to the floating dolphin when the topic shifts to Ardere’s peculiarity, Tiamat’s smile widens from its soft tenderness, broadening into a more potent enthusiasm. “She is beautiful,” her voice is laced with light laughter, the satin skin of her nostrils flaring as she reaches out to the breathing sea creature, thoroughly delighted. She feels drawn to the dolphin, somehow, strangely—but then again, perhaps it is not strange at all. She is the ocean’s daughter, conceived from nature with her mother sky—is it really so surprising that she is attracted to something that somehow combines the two elements, as she does herself?

“What is her species called? Is she still labeled as a dolphin?” Her questions, like those that had preceded them, bubble from her lips in a bursting, sparkling rush of excitement, doe-eyes brimming with a mixture of wonder and curiosity. It is only after she looks to Laedere again that she manages to (somewhat) compose herself once more, pressing her lips together as she swallows the numerous other queries that tickle her tongue. Tiamat has to remind herself that she doesn’t want to overwhelm her new friend—for Laedere is indeed a friend already, a companion and comrade in their journey of Helovia—before they have a chance to become properly acquainted.

The last thing she wants is to frighten her away completely.

Flicking her ears back and shifting her weight, the ocean mare offers the petite pegasus a small, blushing smile. “I apologize, my excitement tends to get away with me,” Tiamat shakes her head bashfully, causing the shells in her dark hair to tinkle against one another, “I’m sure this kind of attention is not new to you, considering how unique she is.” Another marveling glance is cast in Ardere’s direction, the brightness of wonderment lingering in her expression as her attention moves back to the mare.

However, the blue unicorn is quick to sober up when Laedere assures her that her bandaged wing is not an injury to worry about. Tiamat eyes the small portion of feathered muscle and bone that Laedere exposes, stripped of its long feathers, leaving the pegasus in a state that she can only assume renders her flightless. Tiamat’s heart goes out to her, hurts for her. How agonizing it must be, to have such a blessing, a right, stolen from you! But Laedere doesn’t seem to be wallowing in her misery; something that she admires her greatly for, and which encourages her not to press the topic much further. “As long as you aren’t in pain,” Tiamat smiles gently, allowing herself to be satisfied by the mare’s reassurance, “I’m sorry for your loss—it couldn’t have been a gentle wound.” She doesn’t consider that the smaller mare would be embarrassed of her injury—she would never judge so quickly, so selfishly, and only considers Laedere’s wellbeing. She is a healer, after all—if there is anything she can do, she wouldn’t hesitate.

Her sides expending in a slow, contented breath, the length of her leonine tail curves and sways slowly over the crisp grass. She relaxes, one side of her hip dipping sharply as she rests a hind leg. “What brings you to the Labriynth, Laedere? Are you new to Helovia?” Her inquiry is honest rather than invasive, wanting to genuinely get to know her newfound friend. Tiamat ponders the pegasus’ peculiar (beautiful, in a way, like a poem) way of speaking, which grounded her question as to her time in Helovia. Has she always talked that way? It is custom, where she is from? It is exciting, the combination of individuals that mingle and come together in this little world—each with a story of their own.


notes; Oh okay!:D
“Speech.”

     LIKE THE OCEAN KISSED THE SKY,
at the most beautiful place under the sun.

Laedere carefully moved her weight, struggling to pull in the situation as the dark tar continued to mar her view randomly. Still, the other mare says that Ardere is beautiful and Ardere seems to bloom under the attention. Definitely going to be an attention hog. She floats around before trying to mess with the mare's hair - pushing it around with her nose and occasionally looping it around her tailfin. The blue (was she blue? she couldn't tell between the flashes of actual appearance shoved between long phases of skeletons) mare inquired as to the species and then seemed to pull back in embarrassment.

Ah, the creatures here were definitely different from her homelands. But, she supposed that she would have to become accustomed to that… to change to be like them if she ever wanted to fit in. "Tis fine, ye hath not been intrusive. Mineself believes she is of Leviathan origins…" Laedere tried to explain - ears flickering before assuring the other mare that the wound is old.

Quiet shifts of her weight, keeping her wings held tightly at her side - to hide the embarrassment of not being whole. "Aye, no pain. Mineself struggles to recall how mineself garnered such an injury. Mine last memories are that of ash and coal cascading from thee skies… nights of fire and screaming." She shakes her head - eyes and frame obviously struggling to stay in the present for a moment until Ardere snags onto her hair and brings her back to the present. Her maw presses gently against the key - the proof that she would have a home for the moment, and then she allows her gaze to fall back onto the unicorn mare.

She asked what brought her to the Labriynth, if she was new. Carefully - she swallowed and offered a gentle shrug. "Mineself twas drawn toward exploration. Tis a peculiar world these parts hath. Though, mineself hath been in residence upon thine Dragon's Throat for a few seasons now." Eyes lingered around Ardere back, content trying to play with the unicorn before them while Laedere continued to be the serious one of the two.

---

OMG SO SORRY ;-;
I suck. I'm sorry. @Tiamat
Forgive me for taking so long ;-;

they say the good die young
but they never really tell you that they never die alone

The blue mare’s attention fixates on Ardere when she ‘swims’ closer, a dainty ear tilting to follow the little dolphin when she arcs around the mare’s neck. For a moment, Tiamat loses sight of the Leviathan, but it isn’t long before she feels the gentle tugging and curling of her dark hair. Perhaps a less carefree character would become annoyed by such tactics, but so merry and lighthearted is the unicorn, that she can’t help but smile broadly and play along with Ardere’s frisky antics. “Playful little one, aren’t you?” Tiamat giggles, wrinkling her nose and nudging the Leviathan teasingly.

“Leviathan,” she echoes Laedere’s words breathlessly, white eyes following the lovely creature when she floats back to her similarly beautiful bonded. There is no doubt that, in her heart of hearts, Tiamat would rejoice to have such a companion as this. What wonder it would be! A creature like herself, born between the kiss of the ocean and sky, never alone and never wanting for more than their unbreakable bond. Wistfully she watches the two before her, her heart swollen and glowing inside her chest.

If only she could impart this warmth directly to Laedere (and she would, willingly, were it possible).

For when the winged mare speaks again, her little body seeming to shrink into itself as she does so, she recalls snippets of horror, images that send a cold chill down Tiamat’s spine. “Oh my goodness—I’m so sorry. That sounds…terrible,” of course, Tiamat is sure that the single word doesn’t even begin to describe whatever Laedere had endured, but being swathed in her own blissful, innocent cocoon, the ocean mare cannot fathom such atrocities. Reaching forward, she offers her muzzle to the pegasus. It is a small token of comfort, but readily given. She asks no more questions, allowing the memories to fall by the wayside, making room for happier things.

Moments of silence pass, and she does not rush her newfound friend, white eyes alighting again when the pegasus shrugs, explaining her origins. “Ah—I’m not familiar with the Dragon’s Throat,” her lips pucker as she ponders the strange place, wondering for a moment if they all speak as Laedere does (what a spectacle that would be!) before continuing with a smile. “I’m from the Aurora Basin myself. I arrived in Helovia several years ago, but I wasn’t here long; I’ve returned almost a year ago, now,” her tone lilts wistfully, thoroughly delighted to be home again.

“Helovia is quite beautiful,” the ocean mare muses, flicking the length of her leonine tail across the grassy ground. “These new territories—they are strange, but magnificent, I think,” her eyes wander from the mare and to the wood, trailing along the skinny shoots of bamboo, and watching how their shadows play across the forest floor. It is undeniably beautiful…if only their origins weren’t so haunted. Her demeanor falls a little, remembering the chaos, the violence. “I just wish it didn’t cost so much blood to bring them to us.”


notes; I'm sorry I took so long myself! D:
“Speech.”

     LIKE THE OCEAN KISSED THE SKY,
at the most beautiful place under the sun.