the Rift


[OPEN] harvest moon

Alysanne the Devoted Posts: 641
World's Edge Queen atk: 7 | def: 10 | dam: 3.5
Mare :: Pegasus :: 16 hh :: 11 years HP: 62 | Buff: NOVICE
Hemlock :: Flammulated Owl :: Heal & Cypress :: Great Horned Owl :: None Sarah
#1

After a day spent with the Edge being rocked by a vicious lightning storm, for the clouds to finally disperse just before sunset was a blessing. The bright red of the fading sun filtered through the trees and gave everything a purple-hue as the light and shadows danced with the leftover rainwater that clung to every surface.

This was why Alysanne had been so drawn to the Edge four years ago, why it had so quickly become a place she could call home. Those within it helped, of course - the bonds she had formed with Kahlua and Brisa that grew strong enough for her to consider them family. And that family grew slowly over the years - changing entirely through her stay here in the Edge.

But this herdland itself never seemed to change. It was still beautiful and still captured her heart - whatever foolish defenses were being put in that scarred the natural landscape.

Perhaps it helped that Alysanne had actually been able to sleep through some of the storm - the crash of thunder and sound of weakened trees crashing in the forest drowning out the torrent of thoughts inside her mind and actually giving her a few hours of peace.

Now, in the fading light of day, she was awake and refreshed.

Through the canopy in the forest, she got a glimpse of a fat harvest moon, rising slowly above the horizon as the sun continued to sink. Perhaps it was time to do some harvesting, then - the Goddess giving her a shining reminder that the refreshing rains recently should have helped those plants that didn’t get burned up by the suffocating heat of Tallsun.

With Hemlock swooping around her, lazily catching bugs, Alysanne moved through the twilight forest - her body moving from memory even if the trees she sought did not glow and provide a beacon for her. There was a small grove of glow wood, a trio of trees whose low-lying branches wove together and formed a C shape. It was one of her favourite spots in the Edge, but was frequented enough that it was an impractical place to set up camp to sleep. The soft white light of the veins that laced the tree’s bark supplemented the glow of the moon above and made this little corner in the Edge seem truly magical.

Just as she thought, the boughs of the trees weren’t bursting with cherries yet but many were starting to form.

She turned her attention from the trees and to the ground cover that seemed to flourish under the artificial light. Her soft black lips brushed against the damp leaves as she examined the plants, feeling utterly at peace for these few precious moments.


And if I fall and crash and burn
at least we both know that I tried

image by Danjah


for @Gawen <3
please tag Alysanne in replies
[Image: alysanne_by_schwartze-d89se15.png]
made by the lovely tamme
non-life threatening physical force is allowed at all times, but preference is to be checked with beforehand for any injuries

Gawen Posts: 26
Outcast
Colt :: Hybrid :: 16.3hh :: 6 Months
Atlas :: Royal Nine-tailed Kitsune :: None Brit
#2
Gawen
When the fire's at my feet again, and the vultures all start circling
They're whispering you're out of time
but still I rise

One would think that Gawen would learn to adjust his lifestyle around the inevitable realization that his legs and his brain would never see eye to eye. But Gawen was far too curious and exuberant for such a horrifying prospect, and the colt's wanderings were not impeded in any way by the awareness of his own horrifying lack of coordination. And though the imposing darkness of the night would have warned away any other youth, Gawen was far too intent on exploring the far reaches of the Edge. It was monstrous to the tiny, gangly foal. So much to see, smell, taste. So much to learn and catalogue, and he wanted to know what lay beyond the borders of his current explorations.

So even though Mother had told him not to venture out into the dark, Gawen had simply pretended to sleep until she had wandered off to fulfill her own duties, slipping away beneath the warm-colored moon to disappear with Tin. And then Gawen was up and running - or, running as much as someone like Gawen could, which was more like a flailing blur of legs not unlike a runaway windmill careening wildly downhill. If it weren't for his wings held out like training wheels next to his lanky body, he probably wouldn't even make it three feet.

How he heard the other paint was a mystery with the raucous noise the boy was making, but he froze like an overexuberant deer, legs splayed wide and big blue eyes staring into the distance where the sound had come from. He crept forward stealthily, plodding along with his head low like a bloodhound and his knees nearly kicking himself in the throat, trying for silence. When in reality he just looked like a mess, too big to really hide behind the foliage and wings still goofily held wide at his sides like a mix of an airplane and a stalking cat with the limbs of a spider.

Gawen recognized Alysanne from his evil flying lessons, but he distinctly remembered Lyanna explaining that Alysanne - who he was supposed to respect because of her rank - had once been the longest standing Moon Doctor of the Edge. And so now he peered at her from the bushes, gleeful heart preening. He had captured her! She had to teach him herbs now!

And so he sprang from the brush, intent on taking her by surprise and demanding her knowledge. Except his wings, spread wide for balance, were caught in the brambles and he squeaked as he tripped free and ended up sprawled on his chest, butt high in the air and hocks caught by the vines. Unbothered by the landing, Gawen twisted his head along the dirt and grinned up at Alysanne without even bothering to right himself.

"Aly!" he squeaked happily. And he kicked himself free as if he'd planned that entrance, shaking the dust free like a dog as he went toddling towards her.

"Anna said you know healy stuff!" he chirped, fluffy little wings beating at his sides. If he were not so clumsy he would dance around, but even Gawen was not willing to tempt fate that much. "I wanna know! Everything! Please Aly!" And now he aimed his best pleading puppy dog eyes at her, lower lip quivering just a bit with the idea that she might reject him and he might never be able to heal people like Lyanna had.


Image Credits

Alysanne the Devoted Posts: 641
World's Edge Queen atk: 7 | def: 10 | dam: 3.5
Mare :: Pegasus :: 16 hh :: 11 years HP: 62 | Buff: NOVICE
Hemlock :: Flammulated Owl :: Heal & Cypress :: Great Horned Owl :: None Sarah
#3

If anyone was going to startle her or interrupt her night time solitude, Alysanne thanked her lucky stars that it was a foal. Her heart warmed with such joy whenever she saw Gawen - the brown and white painted boy was so full of life the way all young foals were. She missed having children - her own having long grown up and had little use for her. Well, Naerys was still around, learning to be a spy from her aunt, and Alysanne was thrilled that they had been able to patch things up. But her daughter didn’t need her anymore.

Although the sight of him did bring her joy, it was surprise that was her first reaction to seeing him stumble - quite literally - into the once-peaceful thicket. Her wings unfurl slightly at her sides and she balked back for a moment before recognizing the intruder. “Gawen!” Calming down a moment later, she took a step forward and lowered her head - checking him over to make sure that he was alright. Though she really needn’t have - the steady stream of words coming from him was more than enough to make her sure that he survived the stumble no worse for wear.

He wanted to learn about healing! She didn’t even try to reign in her smile in response to that - a laugh escaping her when he pulled the puppy-dog eyes trick. Little did he know, she needed no convincing! “You want to learn everything is that right?” She repeated his phrase, feigning for a moment that she had not understood his pleads, but quickly nodded. “Alright, but let’s just start with a couple things tonight, okay? Some things I can’t teach you in the moonlight.” She winked at him, her smile bright.

Besides, although Alysanne doubted she would be getting any sleep tonight, she imagined that her young apprentice would eventually need to.

For now, though she wasn’t going to hurry him off to sleep she did encourage Hemlock to keep his sharp eyes open for Raeden if she was searching for her son. He was quite safe with her and she selfishly welcomed the chance to spend more time with the young colt. It had been far too long since her own children had been small enough to be interested in any lessons she might give.  

Her green eyes searched their small glowing paradise to see what they had at hand to teach him. “This hanging vine, the one that’s starting to yellow?” She reached out to brush the leaves with her muzzle before checking to see that Gawen was paying attention. “It always grows on these glowing trees and in Birdsong, when the flowers are blooming, they can be eaten to help the skin if it gets scabby - or to shed thick Frostfall coats.” She lingered there for a moment, giving the colt a chance to inspect the vine himself. Luckily, the glow of the plants around them made it pretty easy to see the shape of the leaves and how it grew mingling with the branches of the trees.

Once she was sure he got it, including any questions he might have, she moved to the right a few steps and lowered her head, gesturing for Gawen to do the same. “And these little guys right down here?” She gestured to a small gathering of plants about the height of Gawen’s shoulder. “They still have some growing to do, like you, but you can see that they’ve already got a few black berries. These are blackcurrants. They’re a little bitter when you eat them but they’re good for you and they can be eaten to help soothe someone whose tummy is upset or if they’re wheezing when they breathe.”


And if I fall and crash and burn
at least we both know that I tried

image by Danjah


@Gawen
I don't think Aly has taught herbs to a foal before so hopefully this works xD
please tag Alysanne in replies
[Image: alysanne_by_schwartze-d89se15.png]
made by the lovely tamme
non-life threatening physical force is allowed at all times, but preference is to be checked with beforehand for any injuries

Gawen Posts: 26
Outcast
Colt :: Hybrid :: 16.3hh :: 6 Months
Atlas :: Royal Nine-tailed Kitsune :: None Brit
#4
Gawen
When the fire's at my feet again, and the vultures all start circling
They're whispering you're out of time
but still I rise

Whatever physical damage he incurred was brushed aside, to be whimpered and winced over in the future, the cause of them so convoluted that he likely wouldn't even remember what had caused the particular bruises. Gawen was far too focused on his goal, on convincing Alysanne to teach him, as if he needed to prove himself and his passion to her somehow. He would sacrifice anything - not that he had much in the way of baubles, or wisdom in his malleable mind - if it meant she would tuck him beneath her wing and show him the path of the selfless.

She echoed his name in a startled, feminine cry, and Gawen merely tilted his head at her as if silently asking why she said his name back instead of a greeting. Yes, it was him. Who else could it be causing such an undignified racket in the bushes? Or were all foals as clumsy as he, like Lyanna had said? If so, Gawen wouldn't know the slightest about it, because he'd never actually met anyone his age. And the first time would likely be disastrous, with how odd and out of place the boy was.

But that didn't matter in the here and now, with Alysanne's merrily glittering eyes twinkling down at him. And his head bobbled crazily in affirmation as she clarified his request, as if the ferocity with which he nodded would somehow convince her further that he was serious about his studies. Though it didn't seem to matter - even if Gawen was privately convinced it did since she agreed - because Alysanne was winking her verdant eyes at him and grinning, leading him onward with hand outstretched in promise of tutelage. Gawen leapt at the chance with a wide, glowing smile and tottered-skipped to her side, wings back to holding his balance at his sides.

As she pointed out the yellow vine, his eyes snapped with rapt attention to the one she mentioned. It was almost terrifying, the change that overtook the child, from bubbly exuberance to raptor-eyed focus. But the boy had already proven himself to be a budding intellectual, a cat that would continually sacrifice itself in the pursuit of satisfied curiosity. "We can't eat them if they don't have flowers?" he clarified seriously, bright blues gleaming beneath moonlight and passion alike as he turned his little head towards Alysanne. "Or...we can only eat them in Birdsong, which is when flowers bloom?" His patterned face tilted inquisitively at the mare, demanding the knowledge he sought that was tucked away in her brain.

Even though his face was like stone with how seriously he was taking this impromptu lesson, his fluffy, growing tail was whacking against his gaskins like an overeager dog. But Alysanne was moving on, and Gawen obediently directed his attention to the ground, little nose inspecting the tiny plants she had pointed out. One ear swiveled like a magnet in her direction, unwilling to miss a single syllable. Tiny, soft nares flared around the edges of the berries, sending the tiny balls aflutter with his breath.

"Wha' about the rest? Can you eat it?" Or were the berries the only relevant part of this plant? But it was the only question Gawen had about this one, and so he turned and grinned blindingly at Alysanne, little hooves skip-hopping about in the dirt. Careful not to trample any of the plants nearby that she'd so kindly described for him. "Can we grow 'em? In the glass thing?" Not that Gawen knew what a greenhouse was, his mother had only explained that it was a building that they used to grow plants that didn't bud in the current season.

He was gonna ace this lesson.


Image Credits


killed by cute @Alysanne

Alysanne the Devoted Posts: 641
World's Edge Queen atk: 7 | def: 10 | dam: 3.5
Mare :: Pegasus :: 16 hh :: 11 years HP: 62 | Buff: NOVICE
Hemlock :: Flammulated Owl :: Heal & Cypress :: Great Horned Owl :: None Sarah
#5

Her smile was bright as she watched Gawen transform from bubbling excitement to complete focus. He really wanted to learn! She should have guessed that, of course, from his enthusiasm in asking her to tell him about the plants, but she had half-expected him to lose interest quickly like some of her other pupils had. But not this pretty winged little boy! Gawen was an excellent student - not just because he was a great listener but because he actually asked when he needed clarification on something. Alysanne would hate for someone to be left in confusion when she was trying to help! It had been a long time since she had tried to teach anything to a foal and she feared she was out of practice. But, she hoped, this would be the first of many little lessons with foals - perhaps there would be even one of her own in there at some point.

Her green eyes watched him as he asked his questions, attempting to clarify about the vines and their flowers. “That’s a good question.” She complimented him with a flash of smile before answering him. “The flowers only appear in Birdsong and they’re the part that is helpful. You can eat the leaves - I have, at least. They’re a little sour so I didn’t care for the taste and I don’t believe they’re helpful for more than anything except for filling your belly.” When she said ‘belly’ she reached over with her dark muzzle to nudge his side in a silly, maternal gesture she would have used with her own children. “Still, they will not hurt you.”

His next question was about the blackcurrant and Alysanne grinned brightly at him, glad he had caught her when she only focused on one part of the plant. “Actually, the entire plant can be used. The leaves will also help with an upset stomach especially if someone has… uh…” Suddenly, Alysanne wasn’t so sure what term she should use for ‘diarrhea’ around the colt. Had he already learned that word somewhere? Or was she going to have that honour? She got over her hesitation quickly, reminding herself that if Gawen was seriously considering becoming a healer when he was grown he was going to need to learn a few unfortunate words here and there. “Runny poop or diarrhea. And they’re also helpful for aching joints, for those of us who are getting a little older.” She winked at him then.

Further delighting her, the young colt turned to her and asked about whether they would be able to grow these plants in the ‘glass thing’. She nodded along and her sweet voice filled the peaceful night once more. “We’ll be able to grow the currants there, but not the vine, I think. From what I’ve seen, it only grows on these trees.” She gestured to the grove that encircled them, the gently glowing branches of the beautiful trees looking as though they pulsed with moonlight. “Sometimes, plant species can’t exist without each other - they form a close friendship, a symbiosis, with each other. And if we were to take the vine away from the trees, I don’t think they would survive for very long.”

She paused there, watching and waiting to see if this inspired more questions from the delightful Gawen. She certainly hoped so! This was the most pleasant night she had had in quite some time and she did not wish for it to end soon.  


And if I fall and crash and burn
at least we both know that I tried

image by Danjah


FINALLY :D
@Gawen <3
please tag Alysanne in replies
[Image: alysanne_by_schwartze-d89se15.png]
made by the lovely tamme
non-life threatening physical force is allowed at all times, but preference is to be checked with beforehand for any injuries


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