06-18-2018, 03:53 AM
06-18-2018, 03:53 AM
i wish that i could say i am a light that never goes out —
She had travelled from home, from her herd in Halyven, for a reason she couldn’t quite name. Both Khairi and her felt drawn by some strange force of will to simply stretch their legs, reminiscing in their not so far away past of being vagabonds, hidden away and spread across the lands. She remembered this place, however, as they neared. Kiada, swift on her large feet, drifting through as though she were flying like Khairi above – a crowing of excitement escaping his lips with their joyous sprint. This place, yes it was joyous and wonderful.
This was where she met Rixen. This was where she had first spoken to him, where he had shared his curiosities with her and she had invited him to the Green Labyrinth with her. This was the place that had spurred that terrifying ache in her chest whenever she was near him – that hollow remembrance of his soft velveteen blue pelt against her own bronze ones in the haze of the moonlight. It was special to her, the Tidepools. For all it had shown her and given her, for her first meeting with the man she somehow couldn’t stop thinking of, and for the Mangroves she had sung in her aching voice to relax when they had nearly killed one another. Perhaps that is why she came, to check on them and make sure they were still safe – to see if Hope’s light had crested across them to make sure they refrained from strangling their brothers. Though as they neared, a strange sound echoed through the wind – something old, something Kiada knew but for a moment couldn’t place. It was feminine, beautiful if not an awkward shout, but Kiada couldn’t place immediately who might bear that voice that spoke her language. Certainly not her mother, she’d know her mother’s voice anywhere. Definitely not Kianzo or her father. With that, her heart sunk slightly and sorrowfully, but hope began to drown it out as she picked up her pace and rushed toward the sound. She raced and raced, her heart pounding in her chest and her mane and tail flying behind her, flecked by the wind and knotting ever so slightly like the trees that thrived here. And that’s when she saw her, and Khairi’s guttural croon of relief crested the open air. At first, a spotted body and a strange looking creature in the water. She paused in her hurriedness, unable to truly believe the person that stood before her. Had she been here the entire time? Why hadn’t Kiada even searched for her, had she known and not been so torn up after the entry through the Portal? “Katua? Je, ni kweli?” She nearly cried out, her throat tightening as she stared at her sister. "Talk." Je, ni kweli? - Is it really you? — but I f l i c k e r from time to time.
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i wish that i could say i am a light that never goes out —
Kiada broke through the trees before lead seemed to fill her legs. Sand sprayed, rocks tumbled, pebbles slid into the small rivers from the riverside. She stood there in shock, surprise, relief, and awe. There was a part of her that was uncertain that this was real and not some imaginary mirage like the Halcyon Flats tended to play on the less strong willed. And yet, she couldn’t move forward. She couldn’t afford the idea that it was a cruel joke played on her by the Rift – something that could be so tangible yet impossible to reach. Lead continued to fill her feet, keeping her from moving forward.
She didn’t have to, however, Katua spoke, the sound a beautiful chime in addition to a rather nice day of Freeze. Her heart thudded louder and louder as the spotted woman began to step toward her. “Ni kweli mimi.” Her sister said and Kiada’s knees wobbled slightly. Tears burned her eyes, the silver lining her white rimmed eyes as she simply stared. They were so close now, sharing each other’s breath, close enough to touch and yet Kiada was terrified. What if everything went wrong? What if she touched her and Katua vanished? What if this was a dream? Again, Kiada didn’t have to take the first step, for Katua broke the distance and hooked her in for a hug. Suddenly, the lead in her legs gave out and she crashed into her sister. Golds and blacks melding together with the embrace, twitching hides finding rest against one another. Kiada’s own head swung over the golden woman’s shoulders and hugged her tighter as well. “Kila mtu amekwenda. Sikufikiri ningependa kuona mtu yeyote tena.” She breathed against her sister’s shoulder, her voice cracking against the thought of everyone she had lost. All of her own siblings, her friends, their father even. Tears slipped from her eyes, turning the ivory along her face to a darkened cream, and making the black an even richer hue. “Are you okay? Have you been here the whole time? I could have searched more for you.” She questioned, pulling back to survey her sister for any harm. "Talk." Kila mtu amekwenda. Sikufikiri ningependa kuona mtu yeyote tena. - Everyone is gone. I didn’t think I’d see anyone again. — but I f l i c k e r from time to time.
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i wish that i could say i am a light that never goes out —
”Wapi kila mtu?” Her sister questioned and the first thought Kiada had was crawling under a rock. Gone, gone, gone, far away or lost in the land as well. She tried to bury her face deeper into her sister’s spotted pelt before she spoke again. Sniffling slightly, Kiada nodded against the soft silkiness of Katua’s pelt. “Hii ni kweli.” She admitted quietly, feeling the dampness along her scarred withers from Katua’s own tears before the Harpy stepped back to fully gaze upon her sister.
Katua was fine, thankfully; and the question was sent back to her. At first Kiada wanted to tell her about the wound she received in the Portal – but Katua was there, she might remember it. If not, the X marking was still etched into her skin. At least it no longer hurt. So Kiada looked to her sister with wide, tear damp glacial eyes and offered a small smile of relief. “I’m living in a herd now.” She said quietly, hopeful that Katua might be more intrigued by it. When they arrived, there wasn’t a such thing as a herd here – but so much time had passed, they were nearly three years old! Time had flown by while they had remained mostly on their own. Then her sister was speaking of searching for Zubari, and Kiada’s own heart yearned for her sibling. She was in the same boat, Kianzo gone once again to the clutches of the dark world. “Kianzo, Safiri, Mbwena, and Vulia are gone too.” She added in, a small frown crossing her lips. “I think it’s just us right now.” She admitted in a quieter voice, but Katua’s voice rung out once more. “I’m so happy to see you again.” Kiada nodded her head fervently in agreement. “I didn’t know you were out here. Everyone left and so much has changed, I didn’t even think to continue trying.” She admitted rather sheepishly, turning her inky head away from her sister in perhaps a bit of shame. Yes, once when Kiada was younger, she would’ve completely ignored Zubari and Katua. She had met them when her own brother was missing for the first time. She hadn’t cared to get to know them. But then everything happened, teal flashing lights of misery and separation and panic had changed the golden woman. Now, she wanted to cling onto everything she could. “I’m so happy to see you too. I can bring you back to the herd if you want to come?” She asked, her eyes hopeful and gleaming from the glaze of tears. “Please don’t say no.” She thought. “I can’t keep losing everyone after they just come back.” "Talk." Hii ni kweli - this is real — but I f l i c k e r from time to time.
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i wish that i could say i am a light that never goes out —
Katua began speaking of the herd, and Kiada’s smile grew a bit brighter at the idea. Despite having lost nearly everyone, things were okay in terms of having a home to return to. At least a place to refresh before continuing their searches. “We aren’t very big yet.” She began, admitting to Katua with a quiet voice. “Maybe ten horses, give or take.” The Harpy tried to recall all the faces she had seen during the meeting, but was sure some would have slipped her mind. “We’re starting from the ground up, so.” She trailed off, shaking her head slightly and hoping it wouldn’t be a deterrent for her sibling.
Then, Katua asked about her mother and their father. A small frown crossed her lips at the thought of her missing father. “My mother is around. I’m not sure where. I have yet to find her again and bring her to Halyven. Baba is missing, but my mother said she’d seen him just as he came through the Portal with Kianzo.” She offered quietly, a bit solemnly as she thought Katua and Zubari’s own mother hadn’t made it through. Reaching out toward her sister, she aimed to press her muzzle gently against her spotted shoulder as a way to try and soothe her with the news. The next words out of Katua’s lips brought music to Kiada’s ears, of sticking together. Bobbing her head along she agreed with all of her heart. They were in this together, now. Now that they had each other again. Katua then said that she’d be willing to go back with her, and it was those words that spurred Kiada’s heart into an even further rapid beat. “It’s not too far from here! Come, I’ll take you there.” She added, a grin widening her pink splotched lips. Then, glancing behind her to see the hippo, she offered it a roguish smile. “We might even be able to find some water there for you, too.” She added in while Khairi crooned his own agreement in the trees high above. Then, she turned, making sure her sister was with her to lead her back to the Kingdom of Halyven. "Talk." Baba - Father — but I f l i c k e r from time to time.
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