From kingdom I come, and shadows betray me...

[Velnias]

A l i • a a • l i a

Gray coat shimmering in the night, my hooves walked lithely over dew-tipped grass. I shivered my skin to the uneasy cold of the night. This place was foreign still to me, and a tinge of anxiety coursed through my blood. Calling upon my body's sensed, I used my training to silence the doubt in my mind, and I felt my physical heartbeat slow. A lurking smile sliding onto my face, I looked around. I didn't need to be too careful; I wasn't hunted for my blood here. In this land, far away from my old home, they didn't know me, or what I'd done. And none of them understood that it was simply my purpose--to restore the former glory of the Sisterhood.

Eyes wandering over the jungle scape, I paused, calculating the next route to take. Slim and regal, it was as though my body was poised and the forest was waiting upon my decision, hanging upon every thought of mine. There were curving, half-hidden paths stretching out ahead, some obscure and branching off to all sides and away from the clearing. Naturally, I would think that the one ahead of me in the moonlit forest, the widest one, was one often traveled. But my senses counterdirected me, to remember that I'd seen hardly any hoofprints previously in this part of the forest. No one traveled here, so the trail must have been somehow placed...to try to fool me. For all I knew, the king's men could be waiting on the other side.

My pulse began to race and again I chanted the words to myself, Fear is the mindkiller...I must subdue it. When I calmed myself I drooped my head, blowing loose soil around with my muzzle to make an act of sniffing the ground. Nonchalant, I tested the ground with a bare hoof and perked my ears for signs of water. My body was beautiful when the moon glinted off it like this; it was something of a pity I couldn't really hide myself with this precious coat of mine, for I did look like a queen. People stopped and looked. Then again, it was all about the tactical advantage... Reverend Mother would be proud of me, after all these years.

Swiftly arcing my head to the right, I pivoted and flexed my ears around, listening for signs of a tail following me. There were none; the forest was much too quiet. I picked up my dainty hooves, lifting them precariously over the fallen, gnarled vines and branches. Speeding up into a brisk trot, I began the long process of following one of the more obscure, winding paths. Thoughts conflicting my head, I struggled with them. I wanted to break free in a gallop, escape the followers as fast as I could, but sense told me to be careful, for a false misstep would injure or give me away, and I didn't want to look like I was actually trying to escape something. These were dangerous times, and they called for even the most ell-planned and careful measures.

The forest darkened, either from the deeper immersion into night or that I had drawn even further into its depths. The uneven rows of trees shifted and changed around me; it seemed like this forest was endless in every way. Soon enough, I was praising this labyrinth of a place not only for the shelter it gave me now, but that a stream flowed ahead and I could hear its soft burbling already. Thinking for a mere second, I broke into an easy lope towards it. I ducked my head sharply to avoid my floating mane being snapped on a low vine, and I tucked my legs up to my chest to leap a log, and there it was. Flowing like the lifeblood I needed after so many long days of travel, it waited. Downstream, there were tall banks on the sides of the river with roots hanging out, gnarled limbs growing from the dirt. The water was a solemn clear blue, and I lowered my muzzle to drink from it. A whisper of wind, and I lifted my head erect. There was no time to waste; my thirst would have to wait.

Judging the noise coming from the brook, I noticed it would be enough to conceal a limited amount of splashing. I stepped into the water, a few drops spraying up on my foreleg. It flowed over my hoof, around me, and I stepped into its current. Following the water downstream, I avoided the slick rocks. The water was shallow; it only covered my ankles but in the dark night it would mask my scent well from the invaders. I drew in a sharp breath and held it as I paused once, listening hard for any signals. There were none. Half-relieved I let out the breath, my chest swelling with the feeling that I was a few steps closer to freedom. Quickening my pace, I lifted my legs into an easy trot. The stream waded down through the forest and the land gradually sloped at a decline. The roar increased ahead and I knew what it came to. There was a waterfall ahead, but the drop was shallow. The water below it was a deep, sapphire blue and the flow of the stream ended in a lake with trees standing around it on all sides. I had been traveling down the river for at least a half-hour; the standing lake was a welcome sign.

I cantered on, judging the jump. There were slick rocks at the bottom so when I took off from the platform of water cascading over the edge, I tucked my hooves under my chest, letting my haunches power me away. I stretched out my limbs and reached for the ground. My body broke the water's surface in a spray of water crystals, the noise only enveloped by the roar of the falls. I absorbed the shock and felt my legs touch bottom, bracing for the impact of my hindquarters. The water was cold and sharp in the stillness of the night, and my legs were sluggish moving through it, though momentum carried me. Just below the falls the water was deep enough to cover my legs. It slapped against my chest with claps of powerful waves. I tossed my head in the air, moving forward and approaching the bank as quickly as I could. It was only a few steps before the lake bed sloped upwards to the bank. I stopped them, immersing my head in the water. I flicked the beads of water with a shake of my slender neck. Then I satisfied myself with a long, cold drink. A smile curved my lips.

Proceeding to step onto the sandy bank, I shook myself quickly free of the dripping water. There were the normal sounds of night, and I felt oddly at peace. Who knew such a strange place, so far from home, could give me such comfort? For I wasn't running from the past, only the people that dwelled in it. what I had done for Ebon was right, it was necessary. I had sensed for a long time that Ebon was going to skip out on the hierarchy, leave the herd. That would've caused chaos and so I planned for a better scheme. You see, we Bene Gesserit sisters have ways of coming around to get what we want, what we think we need. The herds didn't need a leader like Ebon's brother was proving himself to be, and the kings of both herds were power-driven stallions but they had no idea how to achieve the glory they pursued. I did, however. And what I needed to do was unite the heirs in a way that would split the kingdoms; if they had wed together they would become too powerful, to strong. They wouldn't rule properly. I sacrificed my comfortable life for the teachings that inspired me to keep balance in the status quo, and in all truths, I hadn't really failed.

I awoke again when the sky was beginning to streak with gray, and I hadn't realized I'd fallen asleep. I cursed myself for giving in to the confines of sleep, but when I turned around I saw something I hadn't expected. I felt a presence there but wasn't scared. I saw the trees shaking the slightest bit, the leaves on the forest floor moving. I saw a form walking towards me and suddenly she was there. I stood still and in a raspy voice the older mare spoke. "Why dear Sister," she began, "I hope you're certain of yourself here." I gave the Reverend Mother a sharp stare. "Of course," and I glanced around again warily. She didn't leave the partial darkness of the trees; she looked over me and behind, her eyes cold and gleaming, assessing me. "Once a Sister, always a Sister. I hope you haven't forgotten your dearest Mother, child?" I returned her cold stare with a look of confidence. The real question was: I hope you haven't abandoned your mission? The mission? "You know what happened. They've run off, and the king found out." "Did you handle yourself well?" I nodded curtly. "I survived, did I not? It's what you trained me for." The Mother seemed to hover on the verge of something, wondering if she should tell me something or not. "You know there is an older sister. You may find her someday. Although I would caution you; she knows more than she puts on." "I'll take care, Mother."

She nodded. She whispered something, but I didn't catch it, and by the time she turned away I knew our meeting was through. She had disappeared as soon as she arrived and I breathed in the morning air, debating whether to rest here in safety, or travel on, on and farther away.

WORDS 1,725
MUSE booming!
NOTES I thought about bringing in someone else...but I couldn't resist posting with her.

[.๑whovian๑.]

The horse was lying flat on his side in the woods, obscured by the brambles and the trees. He was well off the beaten path. His eyes were closed, and his frame appeared broken. He was almost completely motionless as he lay there, but for the faint rise and fall of his side. It was a strange day, the trees and the bushes were motionless. Then, there was movement. Some ten feet away from the horse, the bushes shifted. A sleek tan form crept out of the shadows: a mountain lion. It's ears pricked forward as it spotted the motionless lump of black fur, and it it started to creep cautiously, hungrily towards the figure. The black horse did not move. The cougar, excited for the prospect of a feast, did not catch the faint, odd odor coming from the horse. If it had, it would have run. The cat crept closer and closer, and then slowly stepped into the bushes. The bushes creaked and rustled, but the horse did not stir. The cat paused a moment, and then leaped gleefully at it's prey.

It would never know, and never fully understand what happened to it, but from that day on, the cat never attacked, or ate another black horse, young or old. As it's unsheathed claws supposedly made contact with the black horses skin, there was a flash of bright orange light. The cat flew backwards some twenty feet and landed with a crash and a howl in the bushes. It sprinted off as quickly as possible, howling all the way in fear and pain. It would head for it's mountain realm, where it would hunt rabbits for the rest of it's life until a great dark horse with a metal mask speared it through and tossed it over a cliff because it had invaded his territory.

The horse blinked. Large brown eyes looked around, confused. Then, with a grunt and a groan, the horse hauled itself upright. He looked around, and blinked hard. What on earth was going on? Or was he even on Earth? Well, he was sitting on earth, as in dirt. And leaves. He looked around at his little bramble cage. How on earth had he gotten here? Then, he remembered. Oh yes, that was it, and he smiled. Now, it was a matter of getting out of the brambles. "Damn, why brambles, why does it always have to be brambles?" he sighed, and then, he half rolled, half jumped. He crashed out of his little cage and landed on a well traveled leaf covered path. The black horse stood up and shook himself off vigorously two or three times. "Never quite got the hang of that, did you eh?" he said to himself.

Then, he jumped. His eyes widened excitedly, and he stared down at himself. Immediately, his face fell, and he swore loudly. "Why couldn't I be ginger? I wanted to be ginger! Aurgggh...." he heaved a sigh, and looked around with a slightly puzzled expression on his face. "Ah well, let's get on with it then," He picked up a brisk walk, and started familiarizing himself with his new body. Well, he had never been black before. Always shades of brown. Dark shades, and never ginger. Or chestnut. Either or. He walked along, humming slightly when he heard the sound of rushing water. Loud rushing water. A waterfall. He smiled, and made his way in the direction of the noise. However, that was not the only sounds he was hearing. He was hearing a conversation. He tip toed closer, and listened.

It was a dappled grey Arabian mare. A pretty thing, but he had seen many a pretty things in his life. However, it was the other mare she was talking to that intrigued him. He couldn't make her out properly, he could only hear her voice. He listened, and waited. It looked like it was some sort of apparition, and if he was correct, it would disappear in a moment or two. Apparitions never lasted long. He was right. It disappeared a moment later, and he decided to make his appearance. "That was mighty interesting, wasn't it?" he muttered to himself. "Well, lets go see what she has to say then." Again, he was the only one listening to himself. He walked slowly out of the trees, and made directly for the pool, apparently ignoring the mare completely. He walked to the calmer spot, and looked down. He was black, solid black, and he had the face to prove it. He looked thoroughbred. "Oh, boy you'll fit into the night time," he grinned down at himself.

"Ah, you sexy beast," this was said so quietly that you would have had to put your ear to his mouth to hear it. He grinned. It was an old, reoccurring joke. He chuckled, straightened up, and then seemed to notice the mare. For the first time, he spoke to someone other than himself. "Hello there!" he said cheerfully. He walked over to her. "I'm so sorry to bother you, but would you mind telling me where I am?" A good way to start a conversation.

words; 874
muse; FANTASTIC!
notes; lolololololololololololol I AM IN LOVE!!!!

[Velnias]

A l i • a a • l i a

It's never cliche to be aware of yourself. I mean it when I say I saw him before I heard him. No mare I'd ever met would be so clumsy, but then again, there were the stupid ones, too. All they needed was a little meeting with the gom jabbar and all could be solved. I'd administered it once; Revered Mother had commanded m as he final stage of training to take the point and drive it into the neck of another, one of the Gesserit captives held prisoner for a crime he'd commited against us. Or so Mother had said. See, at that stage in my training it would have been unwise to fall out of place by questioning her authority and word, not to mention any act of defience or anything that didn't directly resemble complete obedience meant a flaw, and any flaw meant starting over all those years. Or the liklier option. She'd punish a disobedient sister by her own hand, a swift and yet torturingly painful death at the point of the gom jabbar.

Ah, he didn't mind crashing around. I could tell. There were many ways to move; gracefully, gracelessly, and in utter oblivion. He didn't really try to hide himself, proably because he never had to, or because he knew he had nothing to fear. But as the black stallion strode into the clearing he evaded my glance but one ear flicked towards me a moment. No, I wasn't utterly stupid that I wouldn't see it. And I wondered if perhaps he didn't hide himself because he was, if you'll orgive, hiding something within himself, some inner knowledge he had the gut to believe that would trump anything thrown at him. And that was fine; I was like that, too. I was still as I watched him, for it was pointless to play the fool's game he was trying to trick me with. He stared at himself in the water without drinking, although his body looked tired. Narcissist? I thought. It'd been a while since I met one of those, and the excitement of a possible...mind game...formed inside my head. I buried a grin that tried to surface and blinked my heavy eyes. He seemed to be fascinated with his appearance, like he'd never looked at his own reflection before. It was narcissism, alright, but all too soon he looked away and that gave me doubts as to whether my guess was altogether accurate.

He looked up and noticed me. I returned his cheery look with a much less bemused glance. He bounded over with a springy step and asked if I knew where he was. Silly question. But my acute mind began piecing things together about him as was normal for me. I felt my mind going off on a whole new train of thoughts as I looked up, flashed him a small and natural smile. I'd practiced. When I smiled, my eyes glowed. I was very pretty when I was happy; it was one ticket that bought me my title years ago. "Pardon?" I sked, narrowing my eyes as if to think. Recognition of what he'd said then streaked over my face. "Oh! I see...you're a little lost, too?" My voice was soft, melodic. "I'm afraid I'm not much help to you, I've been walking so long I don't know where I might be." Breathing in the air, I looked up at the dawning sky, streaked with pale blue and yellow hues. "This might be what they call Adoring Peace. We're north of the Cursed lands."

The rising sun sparkled in my eyes and I turned to face east. The trees stood tall over me, blocking much of the glare. I took tentative steps to the line of trees, where I paused to look around. It was nice and quiet again after this mess of a mayhem had come out of the trees. I turned to look back at him and nodded respectively. "Are you staying?" I asked nonchalantly. "The dawn is my ticket to get going. You may come if you like," I offered. He was a handsome young one, or hat's what I should think. And he certainly knew it, didn't he? Although I had a feeling he had more depth than a textbook narcissist. Because I would have picked up on it by now otherwise. But there were many smells lingering on his coat and their scent wasn't one of them. So for now, he was safe.

WORDS 803
MUSE booming!
NOTES done for yoouuuu!

[.๑whovian๑.]

She stared at him for a moment. He looked at her, the smile on his face; she had been watching him, oh yes. He was clever enough to know that much. She was a pretty thing, and her smile was beautiful. Her eyes seemed to glow a little, but it was not tempting. Not in the least. Sure, she was pretty. He wasn't sure if she was trying to snare him or not, but if she was, she had failed before he had even laid eyes on her. His mind wandered a moment, but he forced himself to snap back to reality. It was a little difficult, seeing as his mind was reeling with so many things, so much knowledge. The mare in front of him was not stupid, he had heard her speaking, it was not how she was speaking now. She was intelligent, maybe a genius...maybe. His mind slipped back to looking at himself at the pond. She probably thought he was a Narcissist or something. Yeah, definitely. Was he? Well, he wouldn't know would he?She was talking to him with a voice like silk, a lovely voice, and he listened. Oh for goodness sake, what did she take him for, some sort of Martian. Well, he wasn't from Mars, that much was for certain. Yes, he was lost. Yes, yes, yes, he already knew all that. Oh, brilliant. Just brilliant, how stupid did he look? For goodness sake, was this how it was going to be with this new color? All looks and no brain? WHY COULDN'T HE BE GINGER? So she was lost. Or at least, that's what she told him. He looked at her somewhat blankly for a moment, like one might do if they see something ridiculously stupid.

However, she seemed to not be in the mood for playing many games, because she told him. Adoring Peace. "Ah, Tainted Paradise!" Of course! That was where he was, Tainted Paradise, ah what a great place. Good place to be a horse. However, she was still talking in that sweet, somewhat seductive voice, and she looked up. "Wait a moment," he stopped. Back up. He had gotten ahead of himself, thinking about this place. He'd been here many years ago, and he'd be here again in the future. Well, he'd been here in the future, if you can figure that out. The Cursed lands? "Cursed," he was now genuinely confused. He had never heard of the Cursed lands before. "What do you mean Cursed lands?" She then asked the question that he always knew what the answer was. He always wanted to say "no", but by golly, he certainly couldn't do that. He looked up at the sky. "Well, I suppose I have to now don't I?" There was an unusually shaped thundercloud somewhere north, but it was retreating. Shrinking almost before his very eyes. He looked around at this place. Something was amiss, and the brain of that black stallion whirred at a million miles a second for a few moments. Then, he came back to the present.

Well now, she was offering if he wanted to go with her. That was new. It always seemed to be the other way around. He smiled again. She had a beautiful way of speaking. She was so elegant, a picture of grace. There also seemed a sort of haughtiness about her, but he had a feeling that this book was definitely not to be judged by it's cover. Like Rose. Well, sort of. She was nothing like Rose, but they were alike in that sense. The sense that you get when you know what you see on the outside, but somehow there's something different under that. Like there's something else underneath blondie, and little grey arab. Well, he knew there was something else inside blondie, of course. She never had looked like much, some what short, somewhat scrawny, or maybe he was just tall. But she was strong, independent....a great kid she was.

However, he was straying off once again. "Well now I would love to tag along if you don't mind, it's usually me doing the inviting, so I think that's a nice change of things." he was completely chipper once again, but the mare would probably be able to see that. He smiled, and made a valiant effort to be happy, but it was so hard these days. No, he was a mourning man. A poor, lonely soul who needed somebody to travel with. maybe he'd found somebody. "What's your name?" he asked her conversationally. He would tell her his name if the opportunity came up. He always did.


words; 795
muse; fab
notes; luv him.

[Velnias]

A l i • a a • l i a

Clues, clues, clues. Always gathering them. My acute practice of observation was working thus far; it always had. He was a cheky fellow, aside from not being plump and chubby. He was very curious, a little absentminded but at the same time very there. Didn't quite miss a beat, but he was willing to just go with it. Obviously he wasn't just your average Joe. In fact, in my training I'd learned about two kinds of personalities you might see to determine if someone is above average intelligence or manners. There was my kind, Our kind, the brooding and multi-layered personality, who didn't give away everything, not at all, but gave the appearance of a deep character with one level to be reached before the next can be uncovered. The offhanded, invisible, slip-into-the-crowd illusionist. And then there was this stallion's kind. He was the cheery and more up-front kind but not blatantly obvious; he was the wordplayer, the quick-thinker. Two sides of a coin.

So he gave me a bit of a quizzical look and we exchanged glances for a moment. I'd proven one thing about him to myself; I could see in his eyes the strength, the cool temper, and I knew at least he was here for some reason. This wasn't just a facade or a stand-up. And when I told him what I thought about our location, because although I'd ran all night I hadn't lost my sense of direction, another shocking discovery about him. The thread of my mind working like clockwork gears pieced together the necessary pieces to mash up the puzzle of his life. Time traveler. Was it possible? Of course. In this land, of ll places. And he recognized the name Tainted Paradise, so he'd been here befoe, whether he'd been born here or from some other...time. But he'd obviously jumped around time enough to have been away for 200 years to not know the Cursed lands. Time traveler, and most likely a genius. Scientific fellow. Whatever the name, I was less apprehensive of him by the minute, although I never put my guard down at all.

"The Cursed lands..." I said with a forlorn look on my face. My oice became quieter, but it was strong. "Horses that commited terrible crimes hundreds or thousands of years ago are sentenced to be trapped there. It's a rotten place. Mortals that wander in cannot come out." My eyes were narrow and I stepped gingerly around the stallion, and noticed he was noticeably shorter than I. I stopped by the water's edge and lowered my head to huff a breath of air over the loose soil. Testing the scents in the ground, as well. I really felt a little low, having to stoop to do things I normally wouldn't need to if I could be...who I really was. But this fellow, whether he was under the objective of trying to hide it or not, may have had such a colorful past as I. Although his might've been noticeably longer.

And suddenly, a possibility came to mind when I looked at him. But it was terribly sad and for a second my eyes betrayed their purpose: to hide feelings. I couldn't help it. What if? What if.... But no. I couldn't let it happen. Or maybe, in fact, I could.

He looked eager enough, if anything, to tag along. I suppose if this was his first return trip to Tainted Paradise in a long, long time, he wouldn't have too much of an idea where to go. It all depended on how long ago he had been here last. So when he piped in to join me, I relaxed visibly. He seemed o have overcome something as well, something I might not even know. But although it seemed like already I'd learned so much about him, I was careful to remain just distant enough. Still, after the confusion of a momnt ago he looked decidedly more uplifted. With a look around he area I waited for him to walk after me as I looked to the east. Forest all around us, but my sense of direction was excellent. I looked to the north where snow-capped peaks rose up into the clouds, shrouded by a distant white mist. I turned away and began to head in the general direction I was going. South, and alternately west. These were the unclaimed lands, the sort of central lands. South of us was desert. and mostly to the east and west were the oceans.

"We're heading south, then," I noted to the stallion, as if he didn't know. Closer and closer.... I needed to keep ahead of the game and if it came to it, I might put myself in a pinch. So that was why I was headed near the desert. Not only was my breed built to last in that parched land but I had trained myself and Mother had trained me for the harsh landscape and the climate. Of course, I'd be able to stand most any climate but the desert lands would be the harshest, and therefore easiest for me to gain time on my pursuers.

I began to walk several meters into the trees where the brambles grew thicker and I was forced to step over the little traps of vines and weeds around my feet. I ould've prefrred better leaves to walk on than these brittle things or the dirt I had been on, but I had to step just careful enough to leave not too many tracks or crush too many leaves. I flicked an ear behind me occasionally to check for a sign of the other horse, and he followed. When our trail thinned noticeably a few minutes later I was relieved and stepped out onto a wider path. The forest bed was uneven soil and scattered leaves. When we could walk side by side again the stallion asked me an inevitable question. My name. Normally we would give so little up of ourselves that no name would be known for at least a little while. It was all about who trumped who, who was better at deducing and observing. But sufficient time had passed; he'd offer up his name soon enough. Or I'm sure he would tell if I asked. Fitting in, being normal. Polite gentlemen alays ask the lady's name first, I reminded myself. Again I found myself reasoning that here I'd found quite a strangely normal fellow. Time traveler or time conqueror or scientist, he was so the opposite of too many I'd known. Like he'd said, it was a nice change.

"Ali," I replied with a dip of my head, a nod, a curtsy. I walked without saying anything before I took a high step over a log, and was able to jog faster down the trail for the lack or snares underfoot. Another small clearing appeared ahead, light filtering through the shadowy tall trees. I slowed when we neared it. "And you?" I asked. "You might not believe it, or you may, but you're the closest acquaintance I've come to in this place as of yet."

WORDS 1248 O.O
MUSE booming!
NOTES what an interesting pair. xD

[.๑whovian๑.]

He liked her, oh he liked her a lot. She was deductive, clever, and not bad looking either. Well, for a horse. He liked the redder ones, chestnuts, but he liked the word ginger much better thanks. However, grey was a nice color on a horse, made them look elegant. And the dapples helped. In fact, he wouldn't have been surprised if she already knew he wasn't your average Seabiscuit. Did they say that around here? No, maybe it was better if he said Joe. They probably didn't even know who Seabiscuit was. Seabiscuit, what an odd name for a horse. He blinked a moment, then brought himself back to earth again. The Cursed lands. What the hell was that supposed to mean? He'd been here over two hundred years ago, and he'd been here....well, he wasn't sure exactly what time period he was in now, but he felt like he'd been here before...or at least, close to this time.

The explanation came. Finally, now he had something to go off of. He listened, and as he did so, his mouth opened slightly. He closed it, and he was a different man. His eyes darkened slightly, and he frowned. Now they were getting somewhere. As the black stallion looked at the mare, he looked at her with old eyes, dark eyes, powerful eyes. He closed them a moment, and took a deep breath. They were the limit, these horses, why? Why did they have to do this? Oh, he'd been dropped off in the right place, barely even a chance to recover, to be a horse again, and here he was. In the middle of a mess. A bloody stupid mess. "Oh, brilliant," he growled. "Stupid, stupid, stupid, why, why, why?!" He stopped a moment. An emphasis on "mortals". So, mere "mortals" couldn't step foot and live? He snorted. "Oh please," he muttered. Then he realized he could be insulting. "Not you, but honestly, if no mortal could be in there, then nothing would be in there at all. So, what do they have locked up in there then? Criminals? Probably shot up with all kinds of things, preservatives, life supports, who knows, certainly enough to keep them alive but not to keep them happy that much is for certain. Contained inside a little box, well boxes are good, I like boxes, especially blue ones, and if something can get in, something can get out, but when do these people learn!" he paused, and looked at the mare, a slightly wild look on his face and took a step closer. "They can't die, can they? Or at least, that's the impression you lot get, but when, WHEN will they learn!" He stopped again and shook his head. "When?" Suddenly, he looked rather distant, but he was still shaking his head. "When will they learn...everything has it's time, and everything dies."

It was like a broken film, or music video, waiting inside his head to explode at the words, it was like they were a code or something now that snapped him back in time. White light, dancing, a great wolf, bright orange light, pink and yellow, and a scream. A terrified, horrible scream, and the distant sound of crying, all mixed in with a million images that made sense only to his whirling mind. He closed his eyes, and opened them again. When his mind had quieted once again, he listened to her speak. She said her name, and the black stallion blinked. "Ali?" he said, slightly bewildered. And then his mind was whirling once again and he quickly concealed his look of shock and delight. Ali. Aleeeee-aaaa-liiiiiiiaaaaaa aleeeeeeeeee a leeeeeeea. He smiled politely, and had to suppress a chuckle when she dipped her head. Aliaalia. He loved her name, oh, it was a BRILLIANT name.

"Well, I think we should go and see these Cursed lands," he said with a slight grin. As they walked, he heard her speak again. Right. She was asking his name. Damn. She didn't know him, she probably didn't recognize him either because he wasn't brown anymore. He remembered her though, how could he not? Such an incredible creature she was, and he got to stand in her presence again! Well, sort of this was technically as far as the time line went his first time, but he didn't really follow the slow route did he now? "Because this is all wrong." He knew what time period he was in now, and he knew where he was, and what was supposed to be, and this was not it. He looked at Aliaalia. She would not know him, because he had been Smith then. Only Smith. Besides, they hadn't really known each other anyways. "Hello Ali," he said with a smile. "I'm the Doctor, and it is very nice to meet you."

words; 831
muse; fantastic
notes; oh i like them.

[.๑whovian๑.]

sorry it took soooo long!!!

[Velnias]

A l i • a a • l i a

I frowned. "Not that they can't get in, they just can't get out." I listened, half distracted with the scenery of the forest, as he repeated to me his understanding of what I'd just explained about he Cursed theories. I wasn't at all fazed by his irritability. I myself, would have kept it hidden like usual, to be brought up at a later time for consideration as to which direction it could sway me and therefore the status quo, and therefore would determine the standing I'd retain with my fellow comrades, i.e., this fellow, and whether or not it would be in my direct advantage to put faith in either standing of a circumstance. Of course! I had my own opinions and beliefs. And, you see, I nearly always reached my goals. It was all a matter of trust, and timing.

"But yes, that's their general theory." It had always seemed a bit fickle to me as well. Quite personally, I was inifferent to what the gods did to amuse themselves. Secretly I sot of ridiculed them. They sat high and mightily on their cloud thrones, not, of course, stooping to deal with matters of real-time issues. But, as one could see, they were obviously the ruling power. I'd need to determine the cause I was fighting for, and soon. Because benefit could be in place for me here or there, but how would I achieve it?

He was strange. But personable, at least, good company. It wasn't odd anymore that he hadn't known about the Cursed situation. I'd already deduced he was a time traveler and I wasn't going to press him. His type was brilliant minded, a variation of mine. He didn't have to, and would most likely succeed, in telling me absolutely nothing if he didn't want to. "It's up ahead now, across the cliff lands and we're there," I said to the stallion. We trekked through the forest, dodging ditches and brambly vines. We weren't, in fact, an odd pair to be walking so! He was black, I a dapple gray. Just shades of the same color. He was limber, lanky, about my size but a bit shorter.

I threw occasional glances around, up into the sky to be sure we were headed southwards, and behind me to be sure I wasn't followed. I walked along the surface of flat rocks near the river, forded streams when I could. We walked for no more than two hours. The trees whistled with the breeze and the whole forest seemed alive with faint movement. I was silent as I walked; I hoped The Doctor was a bit less clumsy walking with me than he had been upon his, err, arrival. Me? I could walk forever. There were one or two times I took jagged paths through the trees I'd been sure I'd lost him for a little while, but not for good. For a horse that hadn't been here in more than 200 years he remembered his way well enough. "We've a bit of downtime," I suggested. "The walking isn't hard, it's just the finding the right way to enter." Those words were the only things I said, when my hooves struck hard charcoal rock. The flatlands were bloodlands, bathed in crimson hoofprints of every last horse that had killed or died there.

"Hope you aren't queasy." If he needed desperately to talk, he could ask. I just kept going, knowing that words weren't always the best to fill things like empty space and time.

WORDS Don't have a clue.
MUSE seems rather short, hmm...
NOTES sorry, not too much describing. Use your wonerful imagination, just pick up wherever! At what point need we continue this post in the actual Cursed lands?

[.๑whovian๑.]

im going to go to the cursed lands now.

[Velnias]

ooc - yippee!