Goldwind (Othala & Whitaker)

The last evening had been long. Only shortly after the last patient had left the cave that functioned as treatment room, some Sentinels brought in a seriously injured Flock member.
The stallion - once an Agriculturalist in the ranks of the Talorians - had continued his work even after joining the Freedoms Flight. The Wilds were vital for food supplies, but also deadly. A fact that the poor farmer had been reminded of today. A small group of Aquorian Raptor's attacked him, but the Sentinels managed to chase them away.

During the next hour Othala was busy patching him up again. Even though she didn't needed to perform any kind of surgeries anymore since she gained full control of Cascades gift, it still hadn't become any easier. The risks for the patients had been minimized, but using her blessing was physically tiring. Therefore she continued rather slowly once the stallion was no longer in a critical condition, so she wouldn't blindly overwork herself.
She had made this mistake in the past, more than once, and she had learned from it. Magic came always with a price.

Bone splinters dissolved and grew again elsewhere. Muscles, tendons and flesh replaced the broken parts and finally new blood formation was stimulated. In a final step the mare resorted to classical medicine and send the stallion home with some freshly commingled herbs that would help him to get some rest.

Rest. That was something she definitely needed now as well. But before she could finally go to bed, she still had to clean up the chaos that her patient had left behind.
Exhausted Othala started to wipe up the partly already dried blood from the floor. She wanted nothing more than to sleep, but the smell of blood could possibly attract the attention of wild animals, and she just had seen how terrible such an encounter could end. This wasn't a risk she wanted to take.

---

It's strange how autonomously the subconscious mind acts. It made her leap up in her bed seconds before she was really awake. The dull sound of something hitting the rocky floor echoed in her ears, while she tried to understand what was going on.
The golden Tiger that had rested on the foot end of the bed, since he came back to the cave after one of the nightly wanderings, was also on his feet and stomped growling into the anteroom.
Othala wasn't as fast to react. Only when she finally recognized the voice she followed her familiar.

There he was.

Her heart was racing, both from the scare and his presence. Whitaker seemed unsettled as well, but not hurt. Funny how some habits manifest themselves even in the most chaotic situations. If something was wrong, she'd always take a quick glance at her counterpart to get an overview over any possible injuries.

"What is wrong?" she asked back, almost yelling herself and with a slightly panic undertone in her voice.

It took her as yet still a little sleepy mind a moment to realize what put Whitaker off his stride, but then she reacted quickly. "Everything is alright. You can go back to sleep" she said gently, to calm the animal down. Usually the tiger wasn't aggressive, but the geldings sudden appearance had startled him. Just like herself. 
The familiar took a last not too friendly look in Whitaker's direction, before he trudged back into the other room.

"Please excuse his behavior, you spooked us a little" Getting a familiar, especially a large predator like Pabu hadn't been planned, but she just couldn't leave him behind when she found him as a cub in the ruins of Inaria. Over the time she had become used of his presence, but if she'd ever met the dangerous familiar of another equine she'd probably react way more panic then Whit.

"I... uhh... something happened."

Something in his voice told her that no one died. The Aerie wasn't under attack and he wasn't hurt either. This certainty should lead her to calm down, but she didn't.
Whitaker was tensed, the undertone in his voice urgent and his unrest carried over to her. Suddenly she had to blink as sunlight fell through the curtain from the cave's entry. The warm light made the sentinels coat shine like gold and suddenly the room felt too cramped. Swiftly she followed him outside.
"Of course. I'm right behind you" while saying this she looked into his eyes for a moment and nodded, before she spread her wings as well. Othala had not the faintest idea what was going on or what had caused him to be this unsettled. But she trusted him. He'd never make such a fuss about something casual. That was why she didn't even tried to ask him now what exactly the something was that had happen. He'd explain it to her when he was ready.

Flying side by side felt so natural. She had been terrible at flying when she joined the Freedom's Flight, unbalanced, no stamina and poorly developed muscles. The young mare had been taught that the ability of flight was a a disgrace, not an honor. Her grey and white feathers a shame in the eyes of her people and family. An Insult against her goddess.
And so she had spent her days on the ground and her wings hidden under fabric. She only allowed herself to rear into the sky to reach a patient in time. Only emergencies justified the use of her wings.

Getting rid of this mindset had been only one of the great challenges she had faced after leaving her home. However by now the thought almost seemed silly. How could something that felt this great, this natural be wrong?
She blinked against the bright rays of sunlight and noticed that the contiguous smile that still had been on Whitakers face just a few moments ago had faded away. His nervousness was back, it was that strong that she could nearly physically feel it herself. The mare had to bite her tongue to keep her from asking what was going on. She trusted him without any doubt, but his strange behavior still caused her to get a little nervous herself.

Their flight ended sooner that she thought it would. The place where Whitaker decided to land all of the sudden appeared seemed like nothing special at all. From up here they had a beautiful view at the colorful sunrise - but that was it.
Did she just failed to see the bigger picture?

"She was... she...."

The first words of him since something that felt like hours. Normally she didn't mind the silence, but today it somehow made her nervous.
She? Who?
Othala had no idea what he was trying to say and that was utterly frustrating. He had woken her up and brought her here. This was important to him but she still had no idea what was going on. What did she miss?
She had so many questions but for now she still held herself back. Her friend was struggling to find the right words and she did not want to break his concentration.

When he spoke the next time, he managed to surprise her completely.
"Othala, who is... Alya, to you?"

Alya? What a strangely question, at least coming from him. In all the time she knew him, he never showed much interest for the gods. Unlike most other native Talorian's, he was not overly religious as far as she could tell.
However, as always, she tried to take everything very seriously.


"This is...not an easy question", and definitely not what she had expected. For a moment she fell into silence and looked into the sky, that almost seemed to burn under the rising sun.
"As you know the worship of Alya is frown upon in Aquore...I was taught that she is reckless, violent - a warmonger. Not any better than Ignacio. But when I joined the Flight I understood that things aren't as black and white as I was told. I never addressed my prayers to her...and to be honest I actually don't know much about her. But I think she is just as important for the balance as her siblings. None of the gods is better than the other, how could we even dare to judge them?
She created our kin, the sky, the stars. I'm still learning to see the beauty in her creations." In their feathers, and wings. It was still difficult for her.

Her eyes turned away from the sky, and focused him instead. "Why are you asking me this now Whitaker?" Slowly she started to have a suspicious, but it felt wrong to voice her presumption.

There was something heartbreaking in the way he looked at her. So much doubt and denial - and something she couldn't really name. One could drown in his eyes.
She could.

"Because I think she talked to me last night."

Her mind had been busy imagining dozens of worst case scenarios, trying to find a reason behind is unusual behavior. She came up with the strangest ideas, but the confrontation with a god hadn't been one of them. Not because she thought Alya wouldn't care about him, not at all.

Her ears moved forward and her whole expression and posture became softer, nervousness gave way to excitement and joy. "I think no one will ever find words that can even nearly describe the feeling of their presence." A smile slowly spread on her face that came truly from the heart. "Why should you have to give proof for a moment that belongs to you and you alone?"

She would always remember how Cascade talked to her. The mare had been full of grief, of guilt. Her future seemed dark and meaningless in that night, only a few days after the Flight's first attack on Inaria.
She had spoken prayers all her life, but never had she received an answer before. However her cries didn't remained unheard that night. The sea goddess gave her hope again. Showed her that she was a child of the Cascade, despite her feathers.

"Why me?"

Her smile faded immediately. How could someone this strong sound so vulnerable and...broken? A few times had she managed to see behind his masquerade, only short glimpses before he pulled up his walls again, but today was different. He didn't hid his feeling away as fast as usually. Maybe he simply couldn't.
Something shattered in her as she watched a single tear running over his cheek.
"Oh Whitaker"
In a rush she took a few steps forward and overcame the distance between them. Her eyes were wet when she pressed her forehead against the side of his neck. His golden coat was warm from the sunlight and his smell was so soothingly familiar.
"The gods know us, they look right into our hearts, our souls. Alya saw something in you, something everyone but you can see." her voice was cracking as well. How should she find the right words to make him understand? Word's had never been her strength, but she needed him to understand that he was good.

"Don't rack your brain about it Whit, it's a waste of time. You can try to find the answer for why the gods only communicate with some of their mortals, why Alya choose you, for the rest of your life - without any results." She carefully made a small step back to give him some space, but without it looking like she wanted to turn away from him.
Her eyes were still wet as slowly but surely the smile returned to her face - and she was determined to get one on his again as well.
"They are gods, we don't have to understand their plan, just rely on them having one. You can make this difficult and stick to your firm believe that you don't deserve this, or you accept and grow with the gift Alya has made you."

Whatever this gift was. In all honesty she was burning with curiosity. What had the goddess told him? Maybe she even bestowed him a blessing? Yet she wouldn't ask him to tell her anything about it. That was his decision. And finding the right words to describe an extraordinary situation like this was by all means difficult.
He could keep it to himself if that was what he wanted, but there was at least something she could do for him. She refused to let him sink into self-hatred.

"You're right. I'm not gonna stay here." Her expression became resolute as she looked at him. "And you won't either. Let's get some distance between us and the Aerie. It's been too long since we did anything but working. Maybe a day off can help clear your head."
Yes she was aware that he just had come home after a long patrol, but he wouldn't be able to sleep anyways.

A few moments of silence passed after she made the suggestion to take a day off and a feeling of emptiness was about to arise in her. He would refuse. And he had every right to do so...
When he finally spoke again, she was almost surprised and the smile returned immediately to her face. "That sounds wonderful! Lead the way."

The sudden change of mood in both of them was almost visible, tangible. It felt like the warmth of the morning sun rays finally reached them. And watching him fanning his wings proudly warmed her heart as well. Moments like this assured her that it had been the right decision to leave her old life behind to stand up for the rights of every pegasus. Her whole life she had tried everything to make her heritage as unobtrusive as possible. She had worn clothing's to cover her feathers almost every day.
Never would she do that again.
Instead she spread her wings with the same pride as Whitaker had did before. She smiled at him and nodded. "Let's go"

_ _ _

The sun had warmed her body throughout their flight but as they sunk lower they suddenly entered a whole knew layer of air that felt refreshingly cold. Othala could hear the soothing sound of water even before she was able to see through the thick layers of mist.
And then from one moment to the other she had completely clear sight, right before they landed softly on a ledge right above a waterfall. The sun left a golden glance on the harsh boulders and she even could see hint of a rainbow close to the falls.
"Okay? Whit this place is breathtaking! Thanks for taking me here"

An amused smile spread on her face as she listened Whitaker almost philosophize about the gods, simply because it was so unusual for him. Yet the mare knew all to well how the presence of the stars could change one.
"You are right, but look around, its not only them! This place would only be half beautiful if it weren't for Cascade's water, or Ignacios warming sun." And if one was sensitive enough, you could even feel the strange magic of arcane everywhere around - or at least that was what she liked to believe.

She was still smiling as she turned her head around to the gelding. He himself was just like this place. A defensive shell surrounded him, always, like the sharp rocks and dark clouds that obstructed the view of the valley behind them. His nature was changeable and unforeseeable like the wild rivers. If one was able to see behind his sharp edges, he would reveal his true self and Othala was glad that she was allowed to see this side of him more and more. There was something beautiful about it, something she couldn't term.

The mare watched with growing fascination how the wind suddenly started to play around him. The clouds above them were almost motionless, and her mane didn't moved a bit. The air was here for him and him only, while he still tried to convince himself otherwise.
"What does your instinct tells you?" she wanted to know and slightly tilted her head to one side. During her education she had learned how to create a calming aura around herself to soothe her patients. Usually she was good at it but today she couldn't really find that inner peace. The emotional chaos that radiated from Whitaker carried over to her. His inner turmoil drove her crazy.
"I think you actually know what it means. I know it is scary, and that you believe it can't be, but what if it is?! It's completely windless, yet the air dances around you. The breath of her dominion" she smiled at him and blinked away a tear before he could see it. A god's blessing was a rare gift, an honor and she was just so happy for him. Not only that, someone else, a goddess even, had acknowledged what she already knew about him.
"Let go of what holds you back Whit and embrace her gift."

After her words they fell silent again. And even though the world around them was not at all silent, she didn't heard the waters roar, or the faint rustle of leaves. Instead, all her senses seemed to focus on him. His gentle touch soothed her as much as it churned her feelings. How could something simple like a touch cause so many different emotions?

Automatically she released the breath she had involuntarily held back as Whitaker sighed, and relaxed.

It should have made her nervous to stand like that for minutes, but she didn't even took notice of the time that passed. Instead she almost protested as he eventually took a step back.

"I... I need you to know..."

The mare tilted her head, waiting for him to continue. It took him unusually long to find the right words, and that brought back her nervousness. So many terrible things had happened during the last months that she was honestly awaiting the next bad tidings.

"What is it I need to know?" she asked tensely and tried to steel herself for the things to come. Unsuccessfully.

"I fear I may love you."

The words cached her completely off guard. A revealing burn spread on her cheeks and her eyes were wide open.

Love.
Love?

An ordinary word with great impact. She had expected everything, but not this.

Love.
Love?

Her mother had told her that she loved her. She had told Tegan that she loved him, every time she had put her little brother to bed. But Whitaker? Their connection had been beyond a friendship for some time now,but she had never tried to label those strange, strong feelings, it just hadn't come to her mind. However now that he had expressed the words it felt like something would finally fall into place.

Love. It wasn't the sound of it, but the meaning. It felt just right, but also unnerved her.

From her early childhood on, everyone had told her to find an appropriate partner. A strong and esteemed stallion. Perhaps an Agriculturalist, or even imposing Guardian in shining armor.
A Hippocampus for certain.

And yet here she was. Here with him, and it felt nothing but right.
It hadn't been love at the first sight, by no means. Instead their feelings had developed over time, and maybe that made them even more valuable. 

Suddenly she realized that she was still staring at him, with her eyes wide open and without saying a word for a time-span that one could probably count as awkwardly. But what should she answer? There was so much going on in her, that it was impossible to describe with words. And even if she found fitting words, she was sure he wouldn't believe her. Not really.
But how should she make him understand?

And just like that, she knew what she had to do.

Nervously she made a step towards him, and gently touched his forehead with her muzzle. Then she released a shaky breath and summoned Argus magic. Never before had she used the blessing like this, but something told her that it was the right way.
Rather than taking a look at his, she showed him one of her memories. It was one of the most emotional memories she had.

It was the day on which the Talorians reconquered their country with the help of the Serorans. She showed him how she waited for the Strikers and Sentinels to return after their defeat, and how one after the other showed up, but the warm brown wings and the golden coat remained missing. She had asked one of the Strikers in her panic, and the warrior told her that Whitaker had been last seen fighting a Seroran Fury.

She had been out of her mind, and now she made sure that Whitaker felt what she had this day. The incredibly fear of loosing him.
Looking back, it had probably been this day that her affection towards him had turned to something deeper.

Love.

The scene changed. Now it was dark, and she was flying to the enlightened city in the distance. Her wings tired, but her mind filled with only one goal. Finding him. She wouldn't abandon him, or accept that he was gone. She couldn't.
And then she found him. It was crazy to think that one would be able to find a single individual in such a large city as Inaria. She didn't even knew if he even went to the city. From all she knew Whitaker could have been laying dead in the jungle. Yet she had directly flown to her old homeland, maybe it was divine intervention. Or just a whole hove full of luck. It doesn't mattered. She'd never forget the moment she found him. Beaten and broken in the rain, but alive.
She made him feel it all, all of her inner turmoil from back then. She felt incredibly vulnerable, but really wanted him to understand.

The magic faded and the reality came back into focus. She raised her eyes to meet his gaze, a single tear running down her cheek, a faint echo of the memory she had just lived through again. Like back then, she smiled.

"Whit...I..I feel the same for you"

Arcane was not the only magic that hung in the air. The moment Whit finally looked at her again, the wind arose as well. The air literally begged for his attention, while he was still denying the very existence of Alya's gift.

When he reached out to gently wipe away her silly tears, she automatically held her breath. Months had passed, but the thought of the desperate search for him still had such an impact on her. She had asked so many fellow Flight members that night, to help her find him. No one wanted to take the risk.
"I was so afraid that I might loose you", she admitted, her voice husky and full of feelings. "And I'd do it again, without hesitation."

The memory had left her stirred, his relation had made her indescribable happy, but also fidgety. Now he was making her mad.

"You deserve better than me, Othala. I can't in good conscience ask anything of you, and that includes standing beside me."

He had never shared much of his past with her, but it was clear that whatever happened still haunted him. And while she tried to be understanding, she could no longer stand that self-destructive part of him. It made her angry and frustrated to hear him talk like that, she felt helpless because her words never went through if he was in that mood. It was like talking against a wall. He condemned himself, and glorified her. Although she was far away of being perfect.

"Aren't we all deserve to be loved by someone? And didn't you just told me that you...love me?" She still caught herself stumbling across the word love. "If you meant what you said, then please don't try to talk me out of my feelings. I'm here, with you, because it's what I want. And I'm not concerned about who you have been in the past, I only see the person you are now, the person I fell in love with"