the Rift


[OPEN] All exits look the same.

Phaedra the Opulent Posts: 343
Deceased
Mare :: Pegasus :: 15.3 :: 6 Buff: NOVICE
Stella :: Secretary Bird :: None Aud
#1
quote </style>





When you could move silently, it was as if the world around you had grown so violently loud, that your meager impression upon it could go unnoticed. That was the way she now moved - in a world blanketed by snow, leaving only the faintest traces upon the ground. Her sooty coat reflected the light of the moon upon the snow, and added its own faint star-sheen as she moved; a gift from the Moon bitch's star-bear.

Frigid air filled her lungs, as Frostfall persisted on through the eternal light, appearing to ignore the change of the seasons all together. Perfect. Dark and cold. Phaedra was built for beaches, and warm thermals - not gloomy nights and freezing afternoons. The spy's self-centered thoughts were interrupted by a sound ahead - and immediately the golden-girl tossed her head to the sky where Stella was gliding. The mental pulse between them sparked instantly, and immediately Phae saw as her companion did: Two dark shapes - one decidedly rounder, and lacking the horn and wings of the other, tussled and frolicked together in the snow. Both she easily recognized as belonging to Ktulu, the only leader that she had left. Sending another mental pulse, Phae urged her companion to see if the Constrictor was around, or if Eytan was serving as babysitter, as well as playmate.

Circling lazily in the skies, Stella indeed saw the dark shape of Ktulu, and mentally implored her bonded, if she should land or not. Mentally groaning, Phae nodded to the bird, sloughing forward in the snow. She let her silent movements fade away, until the thick crunch of the snow between her hooves seemed deafening to her ears.

The golden spy approached slowly, unsure if play-time was a thing she necessarily wanted to interrupt. What would Ktulu even have to say to her? Would she even have a place within the band, now that Ophelia was gone? Who would lead intelligence? She remembered easily the cold looks and disapproving stares Ktu had graced her with whence first they met in the Woods, almost a full season ago. Phae had always assumed it was Phi who defended the spy's place within the herd. But with her gone...was that now up to her?

@[Ktulu]






Image Credits
 HP: 45.5

Ktulu the Constrictor Posts: 509
Outcast atk: 5.0 | def: 9.5 | dam: 6.5
Mare :: Hybrid :: 16.1 :: 7 HP: 70.5 | Buff: ENDURE
Eytan :: Grizzly Bear :: Terrorize ali
#2


   Courage, Loyalty, Honor</style>
  there's a brotherhood between us. if you're not ready to give up   everything you've already lost.</style>



Shouts and laughter filled the air as the young filly and the bear romped around the dimly lit place they called home. Ktulu stood off a at a distance watching with obvious affection as her two loves played. The corners of her mouth tilted upwards into a sort of smile when Ranjiri squealed as Eytan grabbed her fluffy tail and reversed the game of tag. She could never tire of this, she thought. Wonderful moments spent watching her daughter, her innocent daughter, playing with Eytan were few and far between lately. With the darkened world she found herself patrolling more and spending less time watching her child. She didn't like it, but Ranjiri seemed happy enough to play with Eytan and Ktulu was technically there with her because of her mental bond with Eytan. She knew what was happening and Eytan knew if something was going on that she didn't approve of.

The sounds of laughter and shouts seemed to die off with the sound of hoof falls, when in all actuality Ranjiri and Eytan were just as loud as they had been. Ktulu flicked her ivory tail and angled her body in the direction she heard the crunching snow coming from. This far into the herd land she certainly hoped that it was one of the herd members and that her warriors weren't slacking in their patrol duties and let someone unwanted slip in.

The approach slowed and that caused Ktulu to turn her body more in the direction the unknown individual was coming from. Her stance visibly relaxed when Phaedra could be seen under the glow of the moon and the beacon that lit the heart of their land. She hardly ever laid eyes on the spy, especially since Phi had left their ranks. The last time she'd even spoken to the pegasus, she thought, was when she had successfully stolen an amulet. The amulet that Ktulu had told her to keep as a reminder of what she could accomplish. Of course she had not put it in such words, but it was implied.

"Phaedra." She greeted the other mare in her typical way, her name being followed by a dip of the Chieftess' head. With her anxiety abated she turned back to her daughter and companion and watched them as they played on, oblivious to the dangers that lurked around them in the darkness.



CREDITS

Icon by Tay

Phaedra the Opulent Posts: 343
Deceased
Mare :: Pegasus :: 15.3 :: 6 Buff: NOVICE
Stella :: Secretary Bird :: None Aud
#3
quote </style>



So startled was the golden girl by the gentle smile and amusement upon her leader's features, that she nearly jumped when Ktulu turned her way to address her. Had she ever seen Ktulu smile before? Laugh? She wasn't so sure she had. To that end, she actually couldn't remember the last time the two drastically different mares, had spoken. Had it really been, all those long seasons ago in the Woods? Where a terrified new recruiter was sent nearly onto her ass by the sight of Eytan? How could that be? Of course she had been around Ktulu enough - during the many long herd meetings before and after the Invasion but...

Hmmm.

All of her correspondence really had been with Ophelia. About stealing Willow. Keeping the prisoners, the birth of her twins...and now here they were. Ktulu missing her sister, and Phaedra missing her leader. Or at least, her side of the leadership.

"Ktulu" She replied evenly, trying not to let her voice display the nervousness that she still felt around the dark mare. Ever since their first meeting, Phae couldn't shake the feeling that she was viewed as a nuisance by Ktu. Perhaps it was the way Ktulu dedicated herself to her warriors that made the spy feel like Intelligence was not an aspect of their band that she valued. Or perhaps...

As Phae spread her wings lightly, bowing her head low, bits of stardust and shimmer fell from her flight feathers, suddenly igniting the shifting array of sparkles that gently dusted her coat.

...or perhaps Ktulu just thought she was a trophy member. Good for the boys to look at in the Threshold, and not much else.



Image Credits
 HP: 45.5

Ktulu the Constrictor Posts: 509
Outcast atk: 5.0 | def: 9.5 | dam: 6.5
Mare :: Hybrid :: 16.1 :: 7 HP: 70.5 | Buff: ENDURE
Eytan :: Grizzly Bear :: Terrorize ali
#4


   Courage, Loyalty, Honor</style>
  there's a brotherhood between us. if you're not ready to give up   everything you've already lost.</style>



Ktulu watched Phaedra from the corner of her eye and saw the mare spread her wings and tip her head low. It was then that she turned her full attention back to the glittering spy. "Don't bow." She said to the spy. "I am no queen." When did it happen that she'd begun to see Phaedra as an equal? It had to have been during the invasion and the time leading up to it. She'd brought them invaluable information that they'd been able to capitalize on. "And you are no peasant."

She shook her mane out, jostling the fireflies from the slumber then turned her head back toward her daughter. "Sometimes I wish I was that young again." She murmured. She'd love to have time when she didn't have to constantly worry about the safety of her children and the safety of her herd. But then again she was slowly falling in love with her position. She was becoming accustomed to being a leader and protecting those that were close to her. It was nice to have others that she cared about around her.

"Did you seek me out for a reason?" She asked the spy, now curious about why she had come to her. Information? Or was she seeking solace in someone who was also reeling from Ophelia's departure? "Or is this just a friendly visit?"



CREDITS

Icon by Tay

Phaedra the Opulent Posts: 343
Deceased
Mare :: Pegasus :: 15.3 :: 6 Buff: NOVICE
Stella :: Secretary Bird :: None Aud
#5
quote </style>




I am no queen...and you are no peasant

The words rang in Phaedra's ears, as is prophetic and profound. When had Ktulu ever spoken to the winged-one so? Usually she simply barked orders and dosed out condescending looks - or at least, that is how it always seemed to Phae. Perhaps with the loss of her sister, Ktulu started to see the band more as a family, rather than a business?

Or perhaps she always had, Phaedra was simply starting to notice.

Turning her gaze to where the cub, and filly were playing, Phaedra couldn't help but wince as she nodded in agreement. Her twins seemed to have grown up so fast, both in such a hurry to get places with their lives. Raeden, with her persistent demands to outgrow the Foothills and become so much more, and Hotaru, her precious shining star, ever becoming both wiser and stronger as the seasons passed. When was the last time she had seen them play? They no longer required the watchful eye of Stella to oversee them, and as such, news of their adventures didn't filter back to their mother the way it used to.

"Things were certainly simpler back then...yes."

Sea-green gaze falling upon Ktulu again, and the delicate fireflies escaping from her mane in delightful pattern, the sooty spy shrugged as her wings folded tightly against her flanks. Was this a test? To see how hard she was working? Nibbling her lip thoughtfully, she nodded. "Perhaps a little of both. I was planning to set out this afternoon, to hear what I could around our borders. Rafe had mentioned that payment had not yet been made for our contract. Perhaps he and I would make the trip North to gently remind them of their obligations."

@[Ktulu]






Image Credits
 HP: 45.5

Ktulu the Constrictor Posts: 509
Outcast atk: 5.0 | def: 9.5 | dam: 6.5
Mare :: Hybrid :: 16.1 :: 7 HP: 70.5 | Buff: ENDURE
Eytan :: Grizzly Bear :: Terrorize ali
#6


   Courage, Loyalty, Honor</style>
  there's a brotherhood between us. if you're not ready to give up   everything you've already lost.</style>



Of course Ktulu knew that no payment had been received from the Basin yet. When she'd agreed upon the original contract with Arah and Roland she had set the terms with them and suspected that they had given them to Psyche. She had been so angry with Ophelia and Psyche when they had come to renegotiate that she didn't remember if she'd even specified the terms with the payment then and there. She had, however, expected for Ophelia to follow up on her end with the payment, but considering recent events she was not at all surprised that her sister had not. It made her grit her teeth in agitation, but she would not direct that agitation at the spy who had come to her.

"I feel that the original payment we agreed upon is beyond our reach." She sighed and looked up toward the darkened sky. "Without the use of magic I don't believe that their weaver or the mechanic that was supposed to give us machines will be able to follow through." Maybe that was part of the reason that she was not as angry as she could have been. Certain events placed things out of their control, despite the fact that the first part of their payment should have been made ages ago.

"Would you travel with Rafe to the Basin?" She asked, now turning her head back toward Phaedra. "The terms need to be renegotiated once more since they cannot provide the original payment. If we're to provide them with warriors in their time of need then they will provide us with warriors should we need them. Give them twenty four hours to make their decision. If they will not agree then they will be on their own for their war." With that said she turned back to her daughter.



CREDITS

Icon by Tay


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