the Rift


[PRIVATE] The Basin's Heart [Mauja]

Random Event Posts: 1,286
Helovian Ancient
Stallion :: Equine :: ::
#1



At last.
Frostfall is here.

And from her ancient slumber she rises, shaking off the new snow of an old era. At last, the hidden spirit of the Basin shows her face. She is the winter shore, the fading moonlight and the flickering of time as it passes. She is a being so old she has lost her name, and she has risen once again to meet the one with the heart of Frost.

She can reach out with her mind and paint pictures of a figure made of snow across the entire land. In caves once stowed away, carvings of the Frostheart appear upon the stone looking worn and weathered, as if they were always there. They show triumph and achievement; they tell the story of a king's past, and in the darkest corners, they speak, too, of his future.

She can sigh and send the snow across the steppe tumbling towards the mountainside, clearing ice and earth long since hidden away and revealing ancient, massive pawprints that show her first journey. She can yawn, and the spittle which flings errantly from her curved tongue may strike the lake and send waves to strike the shore, and may send a new wave of heat rushing through the valley's hot springs.

She is the lady of the Basin lake. She is the spirit of the snow and ice, the silent commander of the valley. She has shaken from her ancient pelt the shore, and revealed her place of hibernation. For so long she has slept, wrapped around the lake as its winter protector—the leopard god with ten tails and twenty paws, the ancient cat that stands now with her shadow crossing the entire valley, with each of her tails spread across the earth, and the tips of her black ears just brushing the clouds.

She is the secret heart of the land, and today she calls upon its lord.

[[This thread is intended for Mauja, and it is up to Neo if it will be opened to the rest of the Basin herd. To keep the thread moving, you may be skipped if you do not post within 48 hours.]]

Random Event

We Become Legend
</style>
Credit
Ascended Helovian

Mauja the Frozen Light Posts: 1,392
Outcast atk: 6.5 | def: 10.5 | dam: 7.5
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 17.2 :: 14 HP: 79.5 | Buff: HUNTER
Irma :: Snowy Owl :: Terrorize & Diego :: Eurasian Eagle-Owl :: Rage Neo
#2
He'd gone north again, but why, he wasn't sure. Perhaps he simply needed the cool air in his lungs, the touch of snow across his brow to clear his head, the assurance of a steadfast glacier.. some kind of reminder of who he was, now that his world had turned itself upside down. Why was it that his heart had thawed when surrounded by snow, but the touch of a salty breeze had kept him on the right course? Among the trees and sun-burned fog he'd been ready to tear into Torasin, subtly mocking him, ready to spring after and send ice into him — and when he met him again, alone and vulnerable in the Deep Forest.. he killed him by accident. It was laughable, but all the same, that was how it'd gone, and he still didn't know what to make of it.. what to feel about it. He knew what he should feel, and it troubled him that he didn't.

Warily he slipped in among the dark rocks, hoofing along the pass he'd walked a million times before, the ice slick and snow-covered. Irma rode the winds, unconcerned by his emotional turmoil, and rather pointedly ignoring his confused mess of thoughts. Flashes of Torasin, Kiba, fire, Sól, more fire... A smoke-sigh slipped into the cold winter air, adding to the frost already lacing his whiskers, and the moment he stepped into the Basin he stopped dead in his tracks.

The valley spread out before him as usual, pristine white with the rugged shadows of beaten patrol paths, so different from the southern realms, but it was not the heart-wrenching, perfect beauty of the secret paradise that took his breath away and forced him to an awkward halt.

No; it was the sight of a massive, heavenly creature, colored in the cold-gray tones of winter, her dark ears sweeping among the clouds and her too-many paws grounded in the snow carpet. Tails fell heavily from her backside, her face so far above him. He was nothing compared to her, and even the Gods were nothing — small, insignificant, as she was huge and beautiful, glorious and terrible, winter embodied, a merciless predator, but so lovely to look upon. Awed breaths slipped out of his nostrils, silently counting the time; Irma had alighted upon an outcrop, her piercing stare upon the magnificent creature, wondering who she was, why she was here, and Mauja wondered much the same. Was he still Lord here, in spirit? Was he supposed to go down to her by the lakeside, stand by one of her infinitely huge paws, and welcome her?

Surely not. If anything, he felt like they were living in her home — he had no right to welcome her here, had he?
Cautious, but curious, Mauja began to draw closer to the massive cat.

[ -excited- you're welcome to post and be in the distance, which means you'll be unceremoniously skipped until this is over :3, when you can come and say hi (unless she eats him lmao xD) ]


night-fate-stock -- dreamofsandman -- deirdre-T -- deviantart.com // i-mi.deviantart.com
angels, they fell first, but I'm still here

Arah Posts: 343
Outcast atk: 7 | def: 10.5 | dam: 3
Mare :: Unicorn :: 15hh :: 5 HP: 65 | Buff: NOVICE
Wynter :: Royal Griffin :: Draining Clutch Frostie
#3
Arah
It’s that though we learn from our mistakes we’re condemned,
To make those same mistakes
again and again.

Frostfall. Even the word was chilly. The entire world must now be coated in white, different layers of fluffily snow covering the lands. Everything had settled into a peaceful slumber, the warmblooded animals moved slower than usual. The impersonator was heading north. Within her mind there was no intentional path or purpose. The pace she set was slow and careful, hooves placed carefully into the snow. Aware that there was a risk of falling or tumbling, Arah did not want to risk her safety any more by rushing. After all she had no purpose in rushing, with no one waiting on her. That was nice, to finally be able to work at her own pace. She had been trying to meet the demands of others all seasons. Now she finally had some me time, now she was finally ready to relax and think. With her hair trailing behind her, and her eyes set forward, Arah continued on her unknown path.

Now however she had fallen deep into her thoughts, so the awareness level of what was going on around her was practically nill. She was thinking about Lakota, Roland, Valentine and the many others that she had encountered in her travels. She was sorting them into different categories. Friend, enemy, neutral, unknown. Stopping in all movement now, the doe tried to sort Lakota but found herself unable to. She was not unknown, she was a friend but was she more than that? When would they meet again? She had many more questions moving around her head, however she kept coming back to one. When would they meet again? It haunted her to think that never again would she speak to the other mare. The mare who had understood Arah, trusted her and believed in her. Did the first time have to be the last?

The impersonator found herself feeling lonely, a wet feeling on her nose brought her back to the present. How far had she wondered? She looked around, knowing that she had been wondering for a good couple of hours at least. She spotted a tree near by, a soft smile caressed her lips, and she moved towards it. Unpon reaching it she gave it a quick once over, looking for bugs, thrones or anything else out of the ordinary. Seeing nothing she lent against it happily musing over what a great find it was. Her golden eyes where turned forwards and in the distance she stopped two figures. They were clearly of different species, caution and suspicion kept the impersonator by her tree, protected by the great distance between them.

[[OOC note: She's at the back and out of the way. Feel free to skip her if it makes more sense posting wise.]]
And I ain't afraid to die, I’m afraid of going to hell.

✽ Force and magic permitted. ✽
✽ No fatal or permanent damage. ✽
✽ Please only tag in opening posts. ✽

Random Event Posts: 1,286
Helovian Ancient
Stallion :: Equine :: ::
#4



When she sees him it is as if an ancient part of her heart warms and cracks a thin layer of ice. It is time that has brought her to this state, not bitterness, but she is locked in it nonetheless. From above she looks down on Mauja, and with aching jaws she spreads her voice through the air. Her massive eyes scan for others, but it seems miraculously that the Basin is quiet. She shrugs, but even the slightest movement of her legs and shoulders sends a faint tremor across the surface of the icy earth.

"Mauja Frosthjärta, vet du vem du är?" she says at last, her head lowering so that she may try and appear at his level, her ears swiveling and searching for other sound. But no, there is nothing and no one. Not quite, anyway. Her massive eyes, blue and round, peer curiously at the stallion who is smaller even than one of her orbs. She watches him curiously, as if she were a scientist examining the habits of a bug, but speaks to him with great respect in a unique tongue that tells the tales of colder years.

But she has underestimated the power of her voice and the knowledge of it. As she speaks, her cold breath blows the grasses of the basin back sharply and reaches forth to press against the snow king himself. She scans him, the whole area, really, and realizes suddenly that what she speaks is not their own language. Will he understand her, even? "Hmm," she breathes faintly and contemplatively, hoping to find in Mauja a more accesible language. She stops to think, her body lowering onto massive paws and legs that crouch to press her body against the earth. Massive tails sweep across hills, one reaching out to strike and snap the tree by Arah.

The great cat spirit turns her gaze swiftly to watch the tree as it falls, and with expert swiftness reaches out and catches it on a hind claw. But what to say? Ah, maybe this would be right. "Sorry little one," she speaks to the threatened mare, her blue eyes alight with mischief that even an almost endless rest could not take from her. She returned her paw to the earth and let the tree roll softly onto the earth away from Arah. "Now, yes, that's where we were. I'll ask again. Do you know who you are, Mauja Frostheart?"

And when she asks, spittle that turns to ice strikes the surface of the basin lake and sends small waves across it; she is terrible and imposing, and yet she speaks only with kindness in her tone.


Random Event

We Become Legend
</style>
Credit
Ascended Helovian

Mauja the Frozen Light Posts: 1,392
Outcast atk: 6.5 | def: 10.5 | dam: 7.5
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 17.2 :: 14 HP: 79.5 | Buff: HUNTER
Irma :: Snowy Owl :: Terrorize & Diego :: Eurasian Eagle-Owl :: Rage Neo
#5
Step by gentle step Mauja drew closer, unable to tell what it was that sucked him in – awe? Certainly. But in the face of such a mighty, strange, creature, who could surely kill him with a single bite, shouldn't he be pulling away? Give it a wide berth? Yet there he was, coming closer of all things, even if he was wary, ready to skitter back at the slightest sign of aggression.

It didn't come. What came, was a subtle shift, a rift in the glaciers, a hint of warmth rippling through the snow. His eyes glanced down, at the soft snow giving way to his easy steps, and then they glanced up, catching another movement, the roll of massive shoulders, and the earth trembled beneath him. Abruptly Mauja stopped where he was, ears playing uncertainly. Did she want him to come closer? Or was it a warning, to stay away? With a body its size, her reach seemed infinite to him, and only his foolish, mortal desire to stand near drove him. She needed only to reach out.. lean down.. and he would have a very long way to flee. Gently, he tipped his head back, watching her face in silent contemplation as her jaws parted, and words tumbled out.

And with them came cold breath, whipping like a sudden gale across the snow, against him, and his eyes narrowed against the chilly wind as he listened. She had begun with his name, and had his attention, and the tongue she spoke was like a half-remembered dream... Cleaner, somehow, than his own language, not so accented, and even as he tried to decipher their meaning he wondered why on earth she spoke to him in such a kind, respectful tone. What was she even, powerful enough that a mere breath stirred a minor storm, that a simple shrug of her shoulders caused the very earth to tremble? He swallowed, wondering if he should hedge a reply in his own language (if, indeed, his interpretation of her speech was correct) when she laid down. Massive limbs folded in a way he could not quite understand, and he found himself holding his breath as the leopard came to rest upon the snows and ice of the Basin.

He was too far away to see who it was she had nearly forced a tree down upon, but felt the breath hitch in his throat again when she spoke. This time, he could easily understand what she said, apologizing to whoever it was observed them from afar, and Mauja swallowed. Her kindness was at odds with his sense of foreboding; he could not quite understand what such a powerful spirit wanted from him, and tended to expect the worst.

Attention returned to him, and Mauja watched her, listened as she asked her question again, watched as her spittle struck waves upon the lake. That he had guessed correctly what she had asked did not astound him so much as the meaning of the words – or did she want to hear him confess he was a villain? And.. what on earth was he supposed to say? Did he know who he was? He felt as much bewildered as he felt bashful. "M'lady," for he was sure it was a feminine identity speaking to him, "I think I know who I am from a mortal's perspective, but I have to admit, I am not at all sure what you are asking me." 'Brows furrowed over gentle blue eyes, and his head tilted sideways as he peered (still up) at the lying leopard's eyes. He was honest when he could, and right now, he felt that being honest was the best course of action. Because frankly, he didn't have a single clue what exactly she was asking, or what she wanted to hear.
night-fate-stock -- dreamofsandman -- deirdre-T -- deviantart.com // i-mi.deviantart.com
angels, they fell first, but I'm still here

Arah Posts: 343
Outcast atk: 7 | def: 10.5 | dam: 3
Mare :: Unicorn :: 15hh :: 5 HP: 65 | Buff: NOVICE
Wynter :: Royal Griffin :: Draining Clutch Frostie
#6
Arah
It’s that though we learn from our mistakes we’re condemned,
To make those same mistakes
again and again.
To say that they were different species was a vast understatement, the pale mare quickly realised. Watching the spectacle unfold before her was something amazing, breath taking to be honest. The bitter cold frosted her short breaths in front of her face, it chilled her and shivers constantly run down her spine. It was not the cold that was taking her breath away, it was the size of this animal and the way Mauja, her lord, was just speaking too it. Golden orbs with a hidden power were fixated on the scene, studying every movement. Was it necessary to know what was going on? No, after all her business was else where, she shouldn't be nosing in on this. But who could not? This beast was of monster proportion not to mention extremely compelling, and Arah, while frozen to her tree with fear, wanted to creep forward. To learn, watch, and gather as much information as possible.

It happened so quickly. The beast lowers itself to the ground, Arah watched it graceful movements with a smile. Everything this beast does affects the world around them, every breath, blink, laugh or even pawing of the ground. Then she sweeps her massive tails across hills, one reaching out and started to stretch towards Arah. Panic filled the white mare, who blended in so well into the snow, just like her companions did. The tail missed her but struck the tree that she stood beside. Tearing her eyes away from the Frost lord and monster cat, she watched the tree crack and begin falling towards her. Time slowed and all she could hear was her heart beat.

Thump tump...
Tha thump...
Thump tump...
Tha thump...


Then something of a colossal size, a hind claw began reaching towards her. Arah noticed this from the corner of her eye, most of her attention was still focussed on her quickly approaching death. Should she say a prayer? Whisper a few final words? Nothing left her throat though. The claw did not touch her, but rather caught the tree. Time retuned to it's normal speed and Arah, with a rather bemused expression turned to the beast. It's mystical voice speaks to her, loud enough so that she can hear it, yet it is soft. She returned her paw to the earth and let the tree roll softly onto the earth away from Arah. For a while the dazed pale mare did not respond. She continued to watch from where she stood.

Suddenly to urge to learn more about this beast hits her. Then she walks forward, no where near as close as Mauja, but about half way from her broken tree (of death) to their little meeting. It is there she stops and offers the beast a smile. "That's okay, and thank you for saving me." Her voice is as soft as a whisper. Arah would be surprised if the beast heard it at all.

And I ain't afraid to die, I’m afraid of going to hell.

✽ Force and magic permitted. ✽
✽ No fatal or permanent damage. ✽
✽ Please only tag in opening posts. ✽

Random Event Posts: 1,286
Helovian Ancient
Stallion :: Equine :: ::
#7



The Lady had been sleeping for a long time, much longer than she had realized. With the God of Time, her master, having disappeared, she had been in slumber. As such, the way of words and social niceties were a little lost on her, and her patience was paper thin. Still, the creature understood more about Mauja than she believed he knew about himself. The snow beast leaned forward, eyeing him with ancient intensity in her crystalline, blue eyes.

"Do you know who you are?" She asked again, her tone slightly clipped. Then, she sighed roughly. "Your purpose, your reason for being, the metaphysical and existential reason for your existence in this universe as we know it in this precise time - do you know who you are?" The creature asked again, giving only a slight pause this time. Surely, he did not know. These mortals took their entire lives to find their purpose, and usually that purpose was only one, clear moment.

The white, antlered one offered her a thank you, and the creature smiled. "Manners - you are a gem," she said with a smile. With a breath of the deepest cold, the Lady leaned forward and pressed her furry lips to Arah's forehead, leaving in her place of bright, glowing, silver star. The Lady did not know if the mark would fade or linger as that was entirely up to her heart.

Now, her gaze returned to Mauja. "You are destined for more than you aspire, Lord of Frost," she said quietly. "Irma is able to guide you, but your heart requires another guide." She smiled and stood, leaning forward to press her furry lips to a point just below his horn, leaving a similar mark, but this one cracked down the front of his face like a stripe. What she left on him was more than just a mark.

"Were I you, I would seek another life guide, a companion, I think you call them."


[[
Arah has received a glowing, silver star marking! This marking can be permanent or temporary, depending on what you want <3

As a congratulations for the dedication and hard work that neo has put into her fantastic character, Mauja, he has been granted the ability to bond to another companion.

The lady will stick around to answer more questions and engage in more dialogue if you want!

]]



Random Event

We Become Legend
</style>
Credit
Ascended Helovian

Mauja the Frozen Light Posts: 1,392
Outcast atk: 6.5 | def: 10.5 | dam: 7.5
Stallion :: Unicorn :: 17.2 :: 14 HP: 79.5 | Buff: HUNTER
Irma :: Snowy Owl :: Terrorize & Diego :: Eurasian Eagle-Owl :: Rage Neo
#8
( <3333 Mauja will be keeping his shiny blaze, ok <3 )

"Do you know who you are?" It was, he reflected, a rather awful situation. Here was this massive lady of a snow-cat, looking at him with her intense, blue eyes, and asking him a question she obviously wanted an answer to – an answer he didn't have. He wanted to answer her, to be able to tell her something to keep her from eating him, but what could he possibly say? Yes? That was hardly the truth, but whatever he had been about to say to keep the distress at bay was lost when she spoke again. Was she roaring, or was it simply the intensity of her voice as it rumbled through her massive chest? Was it a gale her breath whipped up, tangling in his snowy locks? And what she said had him staring blankly at her, until, finally, he responded again: "Uh.. no." He wasn't sure she heard his rather mumble-blurted confession, but that hardly mattered. The unfortunately fellow who had been saved from the tree came into view, and Mauja felt something relax in his chest. It was Arah. Good thing, then, that the cat had enough sense to keep track of what her massive body.

And what came next had him freezing again. One moment the snow lady was smiling her cat's smile, then she was leaning forward, and Mauja watched in sick fascination as a massive maw met such a small head. His more macabre and pessimistic side insisted that he was about to watch Arah get eaten, while his more sane side argued that if she had wanted to eat them, all she had to do was open her mouth and inhale. She was a hurricane on many, many legs; she hardly needed to come to them to eat them.

In the end, Arah didn't get eaten. A soft spark of silver marked the point of contact between the giant cat's mouth and Arah's forehead, and he released a breath he hadn't been aware of holding. She seemed so much more powerful than the Gods – maybe because she was larger than life, so massive she could've been the mountains themselves.

And again, her blue-eyed attention returned to him. Mauja had never been one to cringe when under scrutiny, but when she looked at him, it was like her eyes blasted through his soul and laid every flaw bare, poked every way he could get killed by her to the forefront of his mind. Still, he knew there were worse things than death. The God of Time had taught him that. Mauja forced himself to calmness, listening to what she had to say. Her voice seemed kind, but the words held little meaning to him – destined for more than I aspire? It could apply to so many facets of his life, and it reeked of the portal that had given him Irma: his destined companion, or whatever the owl had told him. And then, she mentioned Irma, and guides, and requiring another, and before he had even the slightest chance to try and figure out which portion of his life to apply this "revelation" to she was leaning forward. Her icy breath forced snow crystals into his skin, the torrent of her life causing his eyes to squint and hair to whip; she was even larger this close, and when she touched him, a jolt went through him. Somewhere, Irma cried out, and Mauja stood blinking while the leopard retreated with a few words. Another companion? his mind repeated dumbly, and he blinked the cold wind-tears out of his eyes.

"Irma won't like that," he said quietly, the shadow of a grin ghosting across his face. There was something about Irma.. she had never tried to lay claim to him, never expressed jealousy towards Psyche or Ophelia or anyone, really, and most of the time she was as affectionate as a cold rock, but every once in a while a trickle of love would flow through their bond – and sometimes, a whole spring flood of it. Fact remained, she was always there, and he was always there, and his eyes went distant, thinking. Irma was rather silent on the matter, probably pondering it herself, and he surfaced from his brief thoughts to glance at Arah, before turning back to the snow leopard again. "But why?" he asked casually, though his mind added the silent thought, is it because I'm falling apart?.
night-fate-stock -- dreamofsandman -- deirdre-T -- deviantart.com // i-mi.deviantart.com
angels, they fell first, but I'm still here

Arah Posts: 343
Outcast atk: 7 | def: 10.5 | dam: 3
Mare :: Unicorn :: 15hh :: 5 HP: 65 | Buff: NOVICE
Wynter :: Royal Griffin :: Draining Clutch Frostie
#9
Arah
It’s that though we learn from our mistakes we’re condemned,
To make those same mistakes
again and again.
The majestic voice of the lady responded to her, and Arah offered her a huge grin. It was always lovely to be complemented on your manners. To know that other appreciated your kindness. But then the cat started to mover her massive jaws towards Arah's head. The antlered doe panicked, wondering if the cat had finally decided that it was meal time. 'Don't be ridiculous and rude Arah.' The doe thought to herself. Instead she closed her eyes, held her breath and waited for impact. The creature was very gentle with her, she still felt the Lady's lips put pressure against her forehead, but Arah did not even stumble back. It was over quickly, but as the great cat pulled away the ivory mare that the something was different. Blinking a few times, Arah passed a confused glance up towards the cat wondering what had just happened. In the reflection of the great Lady's eyes she saw the new star marking glowing dimly on her forehead. This sight caused a wide grin to spread across the mare's lips, it was gorgeous.

Turning to Mauja, the antlered doe proudly showed off the new addition to her look. She had always found herself rather plain, just her antlers had set her apart from others. Now with this marking...well she was surely to stand out from everyone else. At least her forelock was long enough to cover up the glowing star when ever she wanted to blend it. She doubted that she ever would want to cover it up though. It was a gift from such a great creature, proof that she had indeed been involved in this encounter. "Thank you so much mam!" He voice was stronger, braver. Glancing over to Mauja, Arah realised that the Lady was now bestowing a gift upon him now. She watched with fascination, she moved with such elegance for a creature of such mass. Just as Arah had experienced, the cat placed her lips to Mauja's forehead and left her mark there. A giggle escaped Arah's lips, her and Mauja now shared something in common. She wasn't sure why she found this so funny, turning her eyes back upon the great creature before them Arah respectably fell silent as her leader asked questions beside her.

When they fell silent Arah gave them both a respectful nod ready to take her leave. No questions had settled in her mind, other than why she had been so lucky to receive such a beautiful gift. "Thank you once again, I love the mark, I hope to keep it forever." Now she turned to Mauja. "I hope to see you soon Mauja, it's always a pleasure to be in you company." She meant every word as well, after all she had only known Mauja's kindness. Another tip of her antlers to both of them, then the impersonator turned and began to wonder away, curious as too what adventure she would stumble upon next.

[[OOC: Thank you so much! I honestly wasn't expecting a gift, I just joined for the fun of it. I would love to keep the marking.

Congratulations again Neo!]]
And I ain't afraid to die, I’m afraid of going to hell.

✽ Force and magic permitted. ✽
✽ No fatal or permanent damage. ✽
✽ Please only tag in opening posts. ✽


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