Coming Back Home. {O}

[Cole]

It seemed like it had been forever, but finally, I was back where I felt at home. Back within the Wild Lands. I tossed my crown, flicked my banner against my flank and reared. Then from there I launched myself into an all out run. I was bred for speed and beauty, I was a Tennessee Walking Horse, pitch black as the moonless night with just a white star upon my poll. I am known as Cole and I reside as a Wild One. This was the place I called home so long ago. She was the same.

Only now, she wasn't the same. She'd changed, somehow, she felt like home but she didn't feel like home. There seemed something amiss. I prayed to my God and Goddess, pleaded with them to help keep me safe from harm. I didn't know if they'd hear me or not. I hoped they did, I didn't like the change I felt in my once beautiful homelands. It was too quiet, too still, too...dare I say it, too uninhabited. I suddenly felt strangely vulnerable, strangely open to attacks and the like. My run faltered and I let out a whinny of sheer terror and fright as I came to a halt. Oh please let someone else be here.

[~Amethyst~]

A

[/size]marillo[/center]



Sun danced off the rocky cliffs and wind howled through the ridges. Grass bent with the wind, swaying and dancing in a playful and beautiful way. The lands were alive with vibrant color, no matter how many creatures thought the lands could be barren and colorless. Uninhabitable. They were alive with creatures, plants, animals, everything. They existed to support that life and let it flourish, as was now known. These beautiful lands which had once been in terrible peril, about to be crushed into a dark oblivion by Malo and his armies. But now the lands heart had been released and they were back in their full glory. No! They were far better. The sun was a golden beacon that could easily catch your attention with its warm, passionate light. The grass was sweet and green whenever you found it. Plants grew in abundance wherever the mountains would allow it. The land was truly and magnificently alive.

Galloping along the ridges in these mountains was a favorite past time of hers since she had been a foal. These mountains had kept her close and protected her when she had been helpless and alone. She almost held the land as her kin, after all she didn't have anyone else. Even when the dark emperor was knocking at the edges of the lands she stood with them, following the path a Wild One would. But it wasn't until the Heart of the Wild was released that she really understood what being a Wild One meant. She finally understood so much more about the lands that were to perfect to actually exist. If you saw them you would think they were an artists picture of the perfect world. And they were a perfect world, for the Wild Ones. The heart made sure of that.

Today was another beautiful day. The ridge she chose today was clear of rocks and had a beautiful view of the surrounding lands. It was low enough that unlike many others it was not capped in snow, it was bathed in a surreal golden light that served only to make all of the colors vivid and ever the more alive. Her coat hadn't changed, it was still the miraculous gold that reflected the suns light and turned her into a mesmerizing picture. She was still golden. She was still Amarillo. And yet, she was different now. When the heart was released it changed her, some ways more recognizable than others. Like her new found power. She had spent many days galloping since the great release, but today something out of the ordinary happened. She heard a sharp whinny echo through the mountains. She turned off the ridge and wound back into the forest until she finally came upon where it had come from. An old friend.

[Cole]

My call was extremeley loud and harsh, not quite what I'd meant it to come out as. I shook my crown a little and stepped back from my own voice. But then something amazing happened. My call had been answered by one I'd known so long ago. Her scent wasn't what caught my attention. No, what caught my attention was her beauty and colour. Sweet Amarillo. She was still here. I smiled as she drew closer to me. Ever since I'd met her years ago, and now with my new power, I didn't suffer the horrible flashbacks I once did.

No, now I didn't have to worry over them, my pelt gleamed black as it was made to do, the nightmares didn't place new scars on me. I could be wild, free. I could be Cole. I smiled as I stepped toward her, a soft smile plastered on my maw. I parted my kissers and let the lyrics flow into the space between us. "Long time no see Amarillo." I said with a soft toss of my crown. "And how has the world treated you fair one?" I asked and went silent.

My auds tipped her way as I awaited an answer from her. To hear her lovely lyrics again. It was only now that I realized what I had felt about her so long ago. I had liked her. She'd been the type of mare I knew I could love. And indeed, now, after so long, the feelings seemed stronger, but I didn't want her to see them in my eyes. For I did not know whether she loved me as I loved her or if she did. And so, I just smiled again, the fear that had filled my chestnut orbs had abated and peace and calm filled them with their light. I was home and I was wild and free, like Amarillo.

[~Amethyst~]

A

[/size]marillo[/center]



Amarillo had no problem being around Cole. Many horses, stallions in particular, she did not trust. In truth there were only three with whom she really connected. Only three that she could ever call friend. This never bothered her, she didn't need a herd or a large group like that. She was born to be a Wild One. True and tested she wasn't meant to be bound. Even though her power was one that any herd would find valuable, she didn't want to belong to any of them. She liked the freedom she had. No, she loved it. She cherished it above anything. To be able to run a new ridge every day, never thinking about where she was running to and never running from anything either. To be able to run just for the sake of running. For the feeling of the wind through her tresses, the sun on her back, the rocks under her diamonds, it all brought a sparkle to her orbs. It always did.

It had been awhile since she had seen any of her three. Cole, Lupas, and Calypso. They each came into her life in their own unique, and generally fairly catastrophic, way. Lupas when she was a starved and wasted foal with no where else to go. Calypso when she happened upon the foal after accidentally stumbling into the allied lands. And Cole after both she and Calypso heard a violent beating in the trees. And yet here they all were, or two of them at least. But she knew Lupas and Calypso were well. Last time she had see them at least. You didn't run into each other everyday as a Wild One, and yet that never seemed to trouble her. It was how she lived. It was a part of who she was. But it was always nice when she could look in the familiar, comforting eyes of a friend. Like a wonderful surprise. But that was part of the beauty of it, it was always a surprise. And it made them all the more valuable.

She dipped her golden tiara in response. He had always been a kind horse, seemed as though time and shifting of power didn't change that. "The same to you, I don't think I've run into you since the allies of the gods were torn apart." Her eyes couldn't help but twinkle at that. She wasn't an evil horse, she never had been, but she didn't like the alliances. Never had. In her own way she was almost glad to watch them fall. Sure, now there was a new struggle for power, but it would be dealt with. And at least in this one she wasn't in the least bit concerned over whom she would follow. She would follow that which she had followed all along, even when she didn't think she was following anything at all. Pity that some horses were so torn, so unsure. It wasn't even a choice she had to make. She had made it a long time ago.

A stray thought run through her normally clear head. Maybe a few weeks ago the weather had been particularly bad and she had chosen not to run. She knew it would have been a mistake to go up in the mountains. Part of the reason she ran was to keep herself from thinking. When she did, things didn't always end up great. One of the things that had run through her mind that day was wondering where all her friends had gone. Who they had chosen. True, she wasn't that concerned about Lupas. She knew him to be a tried and true Wild One, and she would have been absolutely shocked should he have chosen anything else. Calypso though, of where she went the golden mare couldn't tell. But then again she had also been uncertain about Cole. She had honestly wondered if she would ever run into either of them again. It was somewhat of a relief to see at least one of her old three.

As soon as she started in on that thought she stopped herself. That was the trouble with a horse as restless and clever as herself. She was so easily bored that she had to watch herself and make sure she knew to stop herself before she started over-thinking just about anything she could wrap her mind around. "Life has been as fair as ever. It is nice to run again without fear that the dark armies would make it your last." She stopped as her mind tried again to launch into a combination of memories and thoughts about those dark months and years. "And how have you been? I admit I wasn't sure who I would ever see again." Her eyes twinkled as she spoke, a habit their chocolate depths had taken up ever since the alliances were overthrown. Again, she isn't evil, she just doesn't like how hard they had come to press on the wild borders.

[Cole]

Her lyrics were just as I remembered them. Sweet and divine. The voice of a true queen. Even if she didn't want tobe a part of a herd she would be perfect for the job. I smiled as her words slipped past my auds. The same to you, I don't think I've run into you since the allies of the gods were torn apart. And the allies come up again. Allies seemed to work well, but also not so well. That was how life went though. I gave her a fresh smile as I spoke.

"You could indeed. I've been running away from here for so long and now I've finally come back. You know what Amarillo, I'm going to claim this land." I told her as I took a few steps forward into the land that had been my freedom since I was little. The land I hoped to call my own in a short time. I smiled again as her next phrases drifted my way. Life has been as fair as ever. It is nice to run again without fear that the dark armies would make it your last.

And how have you been? I admit I wasn't sure who I would ever see again. I gave a good-hearted chuckle and then answered her. "That is all you could ever hope and pray for. As to how I have been, time's changed me Amarillo. I no longer beat myself up over nightmares, they're all but gone to the back of my mind. And like you, I never knew who I would see alive again. And you lovely Amarillo are a sight for orbs sore of seeing the same thing flash past you for a year or so."

I told her with a soft smile and finally my daggers rested in the grass of the lands that could become mine. Here I felt surrounded, protected from travelling enemies. The mountains rested on all but one side of me and the sun was just shedding her golden light on my back and Amarillo's. It was as if we were the only two living things here now. The only two living...anywhere in WSotH. But I knew however, that there were still other's about, I could sense orbs on us as we talked, but I felt safe never-the-less and I sighed contentedly as I rested a hind dagger as I looked to Amarillo, my chestnut orbs full of their old light once again.

[~Amethyst~]

A

[/size]marillo[/center]




Golden light was shed from the sky, almost as if the world was saying that things did get better eventually. The trees were a deep green, freckled with patches of rich sunlight and dark shadows. A mixture of it all. They bent ever so slightly in the breeze and moved only when the wind willed it so. The sun also warmed Amarillo's back, making her golden pelt all the more obvious, and bringing out its deepest and richest hues. Her dark eyes sparkled with the sheer joy of both freedom and friendship. After all the turmoil of the past year it seemed as though the world would finally stop and rest. If only for a moment. She also knew to cherish it though, you never knew how long this would last. If the past was any hint at all, it wouldn't last long at all.

Since her time as a little foal her stance had grown. Now as a fully grown mare who had seen the world a few times over it was amazing. Not snobby or selfish, but powerful. She knew where she belonged, she knew what she wanted, she didn't doubt herself anymore or her instincts. She knew she was in the Wild Lands for a reason, and she knew she would never be tied down like the Fiorfe. That wasn't a life at all to her. She took a moment to breathe as she soaked in the warm light of the sun and felt the light tickle of the wind. This was how she liked to feel, free. Not tied down to two things like those that followed the gods, or bound to the earth like the Thall. She was different than that. She always had been.

She smiled and pulled her thoughts back from the golden light cast by the orb in the sky and focused back on what had been going on. Cole had spoken, and mentioned something she had only known by accident of when they met. "Its good to hear my friend is no longer troubled. I was not so much afraid you were to die however, I was just wondering whom you would choose. You hadn't been in the lands as long as some of us, I know we all wondered what you would choose. Its good to see you come home." Her neck was arched in the common fashion for an egyptian arabian like herself, her nose tucked ever so slightly towards her chest. The suns rays still glowed and glanced across the earth, warming all the creatures as they sought their last bout of warmth before the cold night. But then again, it wasn't always cold if you were entraced by the beauty brought anew by the twinkling starts and the silver light of the moon.

She breathed in deeply, taking the scent of warm grass and a content world. Everything just seemed happy in its freedom, and in its own little world. She wondered light-heartedly why Cole would think all of the sudden to claim the land, but she knew he had his own good reasons. He always did. At least if he claimed this land she would know where to find him, and know that he hadn't run off with the gods or something of the like. Then the only time she would have seen him is when the three powers finally did collide. That meeting wouldn't have been nearly as pleasant. An off handed thought ran through her head so she spoke. "Have you seen Calypso ever? I don't think I've seen her in some time. I doubt she would have left these lands, I surely hope not at least."

[Cole]

I smiled softly at her words as they drifted my way. Its good to hear my friend is no longer troubled. I was not so much afraid you were to die however, I was just wondering whom you would choose. You hadn't been in the lands as long as some of us, I know we all wondered what you would choose. Its good to see you come home. "Thank you Amarillo. I feel the better for returning here." I smiled again at her next words and then thought about them. Have you seen Calypso ever? I don't think I've seen her in some time. I doubt she would have left these lands, I surely hope not at least. I shook my crown a little. "Now that you mention it, no, I haven't. I wonder what's become of her."

OOC-Sry for the uber crappiness, time to reply for me is short. But its better than nothin right?

[~Amethyst~]

{can we just call this thread closed? it seems like nothings really happening and I have no muse for it as it is....... srry.}

[*~Ellieeee~*]

Occ:: I could bring Lupas in, if you like. xD

[~Amethyst~]

{idk..... i just have no muse and need someone to throw something into it.}

[Cole]

OOC-Yeah, I'm kind of museless for it too. Maybe Lupas can give us something interesting to work with. ^.^

[~Amethyst~]

{what ellie needs to do is get her twinnie wolves out! that was so much funnnN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i loved those evil little creatures, they were so malicious.... but so dang AWESOME!}

[roo?!]

{ I realise this is a bit late, but I could bring Calypso in, maybe? You both seem so interested in her ^^, and I want to do something with her anyways...}

[~Amethyst~]

{YAY! }

[*~Ellieeee~*]

Lupas

How long has it been?

For a long while he had been wandering – well, wandering more that usual. His hooves itched, his heart cried out: let me go! I want to be free! The claustrophobia was stifling; the well trodden paths were trapping him. He couldn’t deal with it, and he had never been the persistent or obsessive type. So he took the easy way out, but what was going through his mind at the time had been nothing of the sort – all he had wanted then was to find more adventurous pastures. Not that these pastures were not adventurous, but he had seen the life or death kind of adventure to many times. No, what he had been looking for was a different type of exploration, one that took him way out of his depth and threw him in at the deep end before attempting to drown him under turbulent waters.

What did you find there, wherever there is?

And he had almost found those treacherous waters too. The east was a beaten track and Lupas wouldn’t follow dreamers chasing the rising sun, nor the setting one. That only left two directions: north or south? It was a conundrum, but in the end it was the Ip-Dip-Doo that settled it. He would go north, towards uncharted lands, off the edges of the map. Into the fires and the thrill of discovering the unknown. And is he going to tell you what he found there? Hell no! If you’re curious, go find out for yourself. Lupas had discovered some surprising things out in that particular wilderness, but the more surprising thing was that he had come back. What? You didn’t think he was going to miss this for the world, did you? If you did then you seriously have no idea about Lupas, not that he would ever explain.

But why did you really come back?

Nope, not answering that. Go work it out yourself, you lazy bugger.

Okay, what are you going to do now then?

Lupas didn’t know. He never knew, that was the whole point. If he knew, then he wouldn’t be Lupas anymore. Ii had been a long time since he had formed a plan of his life, and now he was just going to wing it for the rest of his life, however long or short that may be. Scruffy banner flicked in the wind, and the shadows of clouds danced on his patchy coat – his pelt was even more ragged and messed up than usual. Lifting his head to the sky, he let out a long whinny. Yeah, I’ll admit, announcing his presence inform of the whole dammed world wasn’t really his style, but he had been gone a long time, and people should know he was back and as wild as ever. [/blockquote][/size][/color]

{it's Lupas, but it's a REALLY bad post. I dunno, doesn't really feel like him.}