The Tides have Changed (Hoss)

[Velnias]

Kallistei

Deer

My large amber eyes, almond shaped and soft brown, blinked with awe and grace. I flexed my spoon-shaped ears that swiveled around my head like radars. A snap in the bushes behind me; I looked over my shoulder with intense alertness. My cloven hooves didn’t move, not yet, but I was alert and ready to bound away from whatever danger could present itself. Another sound, farther away in the dark gaps between the trees, and I snapped my head around to face where it had come from. My fawn-colored and dappled coat shone in the rays of sun that shone between the trees’ leaves, and further spotted my coat with light. Apart from making no sound at all my coat was nearly concealed by the brown trees and greenery all around it. My face was blank, as though all the expression in it was drawn into my wide, wondrous eyes. With a flick of my upturned tail, I bounded away from my hiding place, springing over a clump of thorn bushes with all the agile grace of one of Artemis’ own deer. I brayed, a short and small sound coming from my small mouth, but like a warning noise to anything following me or trying to hide. There was light ahead, filtering through the trees of the jungle-like forest. I leapt a thicket of tangled leaves and twigs and in midair it was as though I passed through a vortex of air, my body changing as I passed through. I emerged from the forest a beautiful white horse, and landed with the same grace I had used to move in the forest as a doe.

This was our pre-designated meeting place. This tiny clearing, hidden in the middle of a forest, hidden from ears of equines not immortal, and soon it would be made even more secure for the things we would be speaking of here. Closing my eyes, I felt a soft humming come up through the ground, vibrate in my hooves, up my legs, across my belly, and into my chest, where the warm feeling spread. I smiled. Go with my spirit, I whispered to the forest creatures listening, go and protect this place! Of course, I couldn’t hear them go. But the animals always listened to me; they sensed I was, in a way, one of them, as were we all. But for me they knew it and knew I wouldn’t dare harm them. As for me, I gathered my strength, standing in the clearing. I cleared my mind. People say I am the love goddess, only good for making men fall in love with me. But that is far from true. I can do love spells, true love spells, but I’ve been practicing my protection spells. Because love comes in all forms, does it not? I can protect things just as well as open them up to a willing heart. So the power in me I allowed to glow, emitting from my purely white body in a soft shower of light. It spread around the clearing, falling like tiny stars. The whole place glowed and the dots connected, weaving a glowing web that spread into a dome. It dissipated in the air but it was still there, of course. It was our protection circle, to keep out unwanted eyes and ears. I’d instructed it to only allow Time, the one I was due to meet here, through its circle but no one else. And now that I had made sure whatever went on here would stay private, I set my mouth in a firm line, thinking about the gravity of the situation yet again. I silently called Bristile to me, here in the Divine Lands. Oh, the things we needed to talk about!

OOC - For whenever you're ready for Bristile to meet with Kalli...for their first little 'chat'.

[.๑whovian๑.]

He touched down silently, gracefully with an elegance and style that one wouldn't expect out of such a large creature. Breathing softly, but a little faster, he was mildly winded from his journey here. He looked up at the web, the beautiful web that Kalli had made and smiled. He approached it and touched the fading edges with his horn. The whole thing glowed brightly, flashing from green to blue as he stepped in the circle. And there she was, the lovely silken deer, her elegant fawn colored coat gleamed, and her large dark almond shaped eyes showed great wisdom. "I haven't seen your protective charms yet," he remarked softly as he came in. "They're quite good." He stepped around the ancient glittering pool delicately, and refused to look at it; it was well known among the gods that Bristile hated the Fountain of Youth. Thus, he ignored the bubbling stream of water that fell from the rocks above it. However, it was the best place for a private meeting.

The great noxadon stretched his wings a moment, and then folded them neatly against his sides as he walked up to the deer. Despite the wonderfully juicy and tender smell of the deer in front of him, Bristile resisted the urge because he knew that if he attacked her then he would probably regret it for the rest of eternity. Though she looked rather tasty, and he felt rather foolish. However, his dignity was spared because his mouth did not water, and there was no real hunger in his eyes. He smiled at her. "Come now Kallistei, don't torment an old man, you know how I hate speaking with dinner." Bristile was attempting at lightening the atmosphere a little, because the topic of their conversation was so grave, and he also really did not feel like speaking with a deer, even if it was Kalli, one of his best friends.

"I believe that these horses are the only ones who will be able to fight and win this war." He said suddenly, getting down to business. "They are scattered across the land, and I believe I have got three of them headed in the right direction, but I want to make sure we are at an equal understanding of each of them. Aliaalia is your area of expertise, I understand she is in a bit of a family fix of some sort. She's quite clever, and I think she's got experience at fighting, but boy is she good at concealing herself. I was having difficulty figuring her out." he said with a chuckle. Ah, Aliaalia, the only normal creature who ever questioned his authority or his word, in a good way, of course. He liked that mare, but "Her pride is very strong, and it could be her downfall if she is not careful." he said, voicing his thoughts out loud.

"And then there's this Doctor character, and the only thing I know about him is that he's something called a Time Lord. A baffling, irritating little nag who jumps around time in a blue box. He acts like a child, but yet he is so ancient. And terribly clever. A peaceful guardian I sense he has been called, and what is more baffling are two other horses connected to him one of them with a curious name, and one with a curious predicament, but I sense they do not know who he is." He stopped a moment, contemplating these words, and looked at the goddess standing in front of him. "What have you discovered my friend?"

words; 607
muse; good
notes; thus it begins

[Velnias]

Kallistei

Badger

I smiled, my eyes the only part of my face giving away my true feelings about the meeting. Deep in thought they were, watching the dark figure that was the Time Lord emerge from the forest and pass through the borders of the circle. The glowing lights caught his eye and he stopped, admiring them. I took his compliment in stride, offering a pleasant but thin smile in return. "I must do what is necessary," I said while expelling a sigh, and turned away from Bristile as he approached. It was not as though I dreaded our talk to come, but I was exceptionally tired, having been on my feet, or rather, wings, all night long and for the past two days. Aside from the common disturbance, I'd been watching a pair of newly acquainted horses, and very closely. I had had mixed feelings about them, and still did, but now that I had a fair chance to speak with Time about it, I could, perhaps, be free of that burden.

"Aliaalia," I began, speaking as though testing the word, "yes, I'm familiar with her. As it goes, I'm well aware of her predicament. Her story is one I've had to constantly, shall I say, intervene in. Without her knowledge of course; even she can't detect a goddess' touch. She's buried deep, though...maybe too deep for my liking." I paused, my ears flicking around to the noises of the forest. I faced Bristile, who was looking as though he felt the same as I did, not too enthusiastic about the decisions that would come of this one meeting alone. "But for the time being, I think it is best to let things...play out." I nodded as if satisfied with my own decision. "Yes, do not worry about her. In exchange, I will leave the dark horse she travels with to your watch. You two seem as though you have things to work out." I raised an eyebrow at Time, trying to study his face. I was curious as to what he thought of the stallion who called himself The Doctor. Then, Bristile told me, and I was pleased with how much Time had learned in the short time that the character had surfaced.

"Since our two characters have been traveling together, I've kept my eye on Ali. She's done near as much deducing as you about him, I'm afraid," I said with a lighter tone of voice, trying a pass at humor. "But then again, I don't think their paths are to be crossed forever. Though they both hide things from the other, they are just as clever as the other, and that is an interesting thing but it would cause them to break from each other eventually." I met the Time god's eyes, and looked deep into them. I was sure that my own betrayed my feelings about what I would say next: memories, grief, determination, struggle. Around me I felt the protective border shimmer with each heavy breath I took, as if reinforcing itself for what was to be said next. "Of the one with an interesting name, I know a great deal. The one she is with is indeed, in a predicament of his own and it is crucial they stay together. It is very complicated; she remembers none of her past life and he does not entirely understand, either. It is a very...fragile secret that I would like kept between us. It will affect many, not only those in the circle of the few we discuss here."

"There is also another pair. They appeared last evening. As in, through time. I was following one of Ali's, err, friends. Those two have a story as well and Jessica suspects them; she's not going to let it go. We need to plan for a meeting between them and your Doctor friend, and at the same time begin to steer the other couple in the same direction. But beware of Jessica; her kind is dangerous alone, and two of them togther could drive our pln apart. It's a delicate balance to keep, for if things get out of hand...I fear a new predator of darkness is on the rise." I was quiet, meeting Bristile's steady gaze. I then drew my eyes to the sky, where the sun was peaking at approximately noon. It occured to me that in a war such as this...even the land of the gods may be at stake. Such a thing would bring a devastating outcome, but I had only just spoken to Bristile of a mere few of our problems. Not only would these horses be crucial to setting the flow of things in motion, they would have to be careful about where they placed each step because when it came to war against an all-powerful evil, precautions would need to be taken. But at the same time, should we put all our fate in the hands of only a few? Could we spare any loss? "We've never before trusted the rebel groups, Bristile. They take no orders from us, but to force our rule on them would be tyranny. Against what we are. But what should happen if they align with such groups? Our plans could certainly be compromised..."

OOC - We're definitely going to keep it on the down-low that Bristile is using Kyrie for a messenger. Kalli would suspect he doesn't trust her, which is great plottage fodder later on.

[.๑whovian๑.]

Bristile listened to the Goddess' words carefully, his expression somber. He pondered Aliaalia for a moment. He was still trying to work her out, that mare just didn't make proper sense, and it bothered him. He couldn't say he liked her, or the Doctor for that matter. One who messed with him, the other who defied him, and both terribly, terribly clever. They had knowledge well beyond many horses who walked this earth, and he had a strange sensation that there was a possibility that this Doctor character knew of other worlds that he himself could not imagine. However, he did know that that sort of knowledge was useless here, so he was content with the knowledge that he knew more than this strange fellow.

"No, they are far too alike," Bristile said, agreeing. "I'm sure they'll bicker to the point of fighting, and then they'll probably go along their separate paths, which will be good I think, but another problem is the mare who is with them...she seems an ignorant young thing, but important....I can't quite pinpoint it yet." he said, pondering the mare known as Serena. However, he would worry about him later, because now the goddess was talking of more pressing matters. The mare with an interesting name. And her friend, who was in an unusual circumstance. He nodded at Kalli.

"Darligulv and Graye," he paused. "Bad Wolf. Gray Wolf." He stopped as the two horses, traveling together flashed across his mind. "Why Bad Wolf? It might seem strange, but I'm detecting...something about this mare not of equine origin, but of the Sapians....it is crucial that neither their names nor their predicaments are told, because I know what that mare has been doing for the last three months." he said darkly. "Or at least, I know what caused it." He looked at Kalli. "You may already know this, but it was three months ago when this Doctor character appeared in this world. I sensed his arrival, him and his marvelous....traveling...thing came here, but he was separated from his box. He hasn't found it yet either, but on that day, our friend Dar and Graye both experienced something rather unusual. As for Graye, I am not entirely sure, I was closer to the mare at the time. All her memories were scrambled, and she died very suddenly. However, she is not dead, nor is she cursed or immortal in any way. She is simply different."

Bristile's thoughts on the strange wolf pair and their connection to the Timey Nag were distracted when Kalli spoke of the other pair. He looked at her, his sharp eyes searching for information, and his lip curled slightly. Suddenly, he felt their presence, irritably, and he growled; a low, irritated sound, and terrifying to any creature but the beautiful mare that stood before him. "Time travelers," he growled. "Oh for the love of Hades, I swear..." he dug his claws into the ground angrily, and looked at his friend, expressing one emotion he would never show to any other living thing: moodiness. "If I meet one more Time Traveler, I SWEAR..." he made a violent snapping gesture with his teeth. Of course, he was just being surly, something he usually never did, but he allowed himself this emotional freedom with Kalli.

"And this friend of Ali's? Jessica is she called? I wish to meet with her, she intrigues me..." he paused, then, a thought occurred. Jessica was a dangerous horse, but clever and intriguing, and would easily detect any soul who tailed her except for one: Kyrie. However, he was not going to inform Kalli of this. No, this was his own endeavor. "I'm not sure if Ali will be with him, but I believe The Doctor should find these two. An arrangement should not be difficult, he can smell a Time Traveler almost as well as I can."

Finally, Kallistei, that wonderfully intelligent mare voiced Bristiles deepest worries. Rebels. He nodded, and his expression became dark. "I know," he said. "But I get different feelings about these horses. Rebels are dangerous, they don't listen to us, but there is great courage, hope, and trust in these creatures. In fact, I believe Hope himself will soon be traveling with Ali and the Doctor, and they will soon meet up with an unusual trio....all three immortal, but one of them of lighter places, and an extremely large ego." He paused a moment. "There is also something else stirring, something stronger is growing in these horses than in any other rebels, but I can't pinpoint it. I'm afraid we are going to have to make a leap of faith." He said with a sigh. Then, he remembered something.

"Oh! I've just remembered. There is a small group of travelers heading in from the dryer open lands. Two are hot and cold, and two an interesting duo. One a mighty warrior, and the other, a lonesome, eternal guardian, but not like our Doctor character. I get a feeling that they could be crucial to our plans...would you mind intercepting their travels?" he asked. "Of course, I can find the time as well, but I have a few time travelers that I need to hash out first."

muse; good
notes; O.o not enough time to bold his speech, hope you like it!!!

[Velnias]

Kallistei

Ant

Bristile fumed for a minute, which I understood. But I knew better than to say anything or interfere; with most gods, we were temperamental enough already, facing our timeless issues of our own. But a noxadon like Bristile was a powerful creature. When he'd calmed a little, I touched his shoulder with my muzzle. "You shouldn't let him get to you." I knew he was annoyed with the sudden disturbances; The Doctor the very most, probably. "Don't worry about the others; I'll take care of them. You'll have your hooves full with this group." I sighed, mulling over the situation between Dar and Graye. I didn't want to force any more thought about time right now. Without wanting to, I glanced down at the precious necklace hanging around my grey-white neck. The gems were large, oval-shaped, and blue-greenish. One of them glowed in its center, a strange mist swirling around inside it. I closed my eyes, holding back a shudder. If he didn't get his act together, we'd be in a mess soon. His secrets revealed...and mine. What would Dar think of me then?

"I've felt what you've seen, in Dar. It's been difficult to follow Graye as usual, as he changes form so often. But I've never quite lost my connection with Dar. Surely, you remember..." I searched Bristile's eyes for a moment, and then continued. "Anyway, I've lost contact with her since that event you mentioned. And I've been trying to find her, but I only just located her six days ago. The day she met Graye. And I...started to feel her again. Graye as well, even. He seems to know where he's going, so I assume something's been happening to him as well. They're trying to retrace their steps now, so I only hope they're ready fo the answers that are to come, no matter how long I try to shield them." I tried to tell myself to lt it be but I couldn't. Their struggle was greater than th two of them alone. I still felt mixed feelings about Dar, but for some reason, I couldn't let her go.

"It's inevitable. The two Travelers are on their way to the Cursed lands as we speak, completely oblivious to what's been there for...two hundred years. I'm afraid many savagely rude awakenings are about to occur in the very Cursed lands themselves." I furrowed my brow, thinking about the connection between Ali and The Doctor. Two geniuses, traveling together, always trying to outwit each other, and both with volatile tempers at times. "We need to watch them. Make sure Ali and The Doctor stay together for now. I want Ali to have something to hold onto, considering the position she's in." Though it would and should be unnatural for me, I felt a pang of compassion amidst the mixed feelings I felt for Ali. Not to mention, I was partly the cause.

I shook my head, processing the thoughts and the ideas that had come thus far into play. Bristile was acting a bit reserved, thoiugh I attributed it to his anger about the upset in his realm, not because he was holding back things from me. Being a goddes in the first place, it was my job to notice that. I pushed away the thought. I was hesitant to agree with him about the rebels though, and I'd have thought he'd take a less open view about them. Rebels conformed to no law, and no loyalty, and didn't hold themselves accountable for anything. I said nothing, but I told myself it would be best to watch, and wait, and pay close attention. However I found myself staring off into the trees deep in thought. "Be careful, Bristile," I blurted out. I believed our meeting to be over, but I found myself walking across the clearing to stand at Bristile's massive shoulder. "I have a feeling Jessica is dangerous. She's stronger than Ali, and not in a good way. Try to stay away from her." I knew I couldn't keep Bristile from doing anything he so chose to do, but I didn't trust that mare. Maybe I was being irrational; what had Jessica done to annoy me so? She was just a superstitious mare.

"Sometimes it's best to leave things alone. Let them play out." My eyelids were heavy and my stomach dropped. Because I knew something Bristile did not.

[.๑whovian๑.]

Bristile smiled, and nodded at Kalli without looking at her. He was lost in thought, and he closed his eyes, as their names flashed across his mind. Ali, Doctor, Serena, Oraan, Jessica, Red, Achilles, Dar, Graye, Alexandrea...and there were more names in the stallions mind, but everything was clouded, and he could not see what was yet to come. He knew that Kalli was still very worried about these rebels, but Bristile had faith. He believed in their little group. He also had a secret weapon. Something that would bring them together, and this he was certain of. There would be a great battle towards the end of the war, that would define the end. In this battle, the Rebels would all be together. This was where his secret weapon came into play, and he was certain that somebody would figure it out. If not....well, he was foolish to trust these rebels.

He listened to what Kalli had to say about Dar, and he found himself even more confused, but he decided that it would come to light in time. "All in good time," he said quietly, almost to himself. He smiled at the goddess. "I will keep myself hidden from her, I do not have good feelings. Also, there is a sort of devilry following our friends in the Ghost town. I believed that Hope could extinguish it, but now I am not sure, as this is a new source of devilry to me. What is it?" he asked. She seemed to know more of the things of the Sisters than Bristle, and for some reason, he believed that it was mostly because she was a female.

Bristile stood up straight and stretched his wings. He would be departing soon, he had much he needed to do in a very short span of time, but he paused at the look Kalli gave him. He stared at her, ancient meeting ancient, staring into Love's sadness and despair. There were very few who could stare into the swirling vortex of Bristile's eyes, of Time itself. He had never even allowed someone to stare directly into his eyes before, he had always looked at them through his mortal eyes, his kind, agreeable gaze. But not now. Now, he was ancient, forever, and worried. In fact, he was terrified. Something was amiss, something terrible, something powerful, and there was something Kalli was not telling him. He did not know if it had to do with the fear he felt at that moment, but he knew that whatever she wasn't telling him could not be good.

words; 437
muse; good
notes; ooh.....good post Ruffles....O.o.....i think we should close off with you, then Bristile will just fly away.

[Velnias]

Kallistei

Bee

I didn't look at Bristile again. I didn't know what my eyes may give away; I'd learned from a mortal a very long time ago that no matter what form you take, no matter how you try to hide it, one's eyes really are the keys to your soul. And that mortal was very close to me; we'd been talking about him, and I felt that old tug at my heart when I spoke of him. I felt a terrible sense of foreboding when I thought of his name, and it saddened me. The problem that comes with being a goddess of love, you see, is your emotions are your very person and they're the greatest thing about you. All those feelings I found hard to hide sometimes. Now would be one of those times, and I felt it wouldn't be the last.

Though my back was nearly to Bristile a look of momentary shock came across my face. But Bristile, don't you remember...? But he apparently didn't. But then again, The Warden had become my primary concern from the beginning. Since it was discovered who he was, I'd been the one placed in the care of him. And now, I distinctly remembered, it had been part of a pact between myself and another of the age-old gods. None of the others knew he existed; my protection had hid him well. Two hundred years. We'd only barely kept our peace between us. He'd only barely been able to hold himsef back at the last Gathering. I sighed aloud, and said with certainty, "Yes, I have seen it. She calls them Eyes, and I think it's very likely they aren't only after Ali." At this my eyes found their way to Bristile's face, but I didn't try to meet his gaze this time. "And yet even I haven't been able to track them. It seems like I've always seen them here and there but they give off no scent, horse, magic, or otherwise. We'll have to watch and see."

I felt a disturbance in the forest somewhere to the south of me. The wind carried scents away from me and I realized once I lifted my barrier, we'd be in danger of being caught. It wouldn't matter much, us being immortal and able to evaporate at a trace of unwelcome visitors, but it made me uneasy. "I think our get-together has been productive enough, Time. Until we meet again." My face was expressionless, my words smooth. I nodded to Bristile. Once the great dark horse made his exit in a gasp of powerful air and a flap of mighty wings, I allowed a brief moment where I could stand with the forest around me, it's sounds filling my eardrums. I breathed it all in and exhaled. Sloly I allowed my mind to relax, and I watched as the glittering dots around the clearing began to dissipate in ones, twos, and then in bunches, leaving patches in the once beautiful, shimmering web. And then I, too, took to the sky, my falcon's eyes like cats, skimming the tops of trees until the forest fell away beneath my brown-feathered belly, and there was only clouds, and sky. And the warmth of the sun. The sun, like fire. Ember.

WORDS 615
MUSE dandy!
NOTES so...get the plot yet? ;-)