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Post by leaftail on Jul 22, 2019 17:16:49 GMT -6
Tenebris | Tie
As everyone came to an overall agreement to proceed to follow the strange trail, Tenebris took a position towards the back near Ozzer. Being in the company of a familiar warden was all he needed to feel safe, especially the warden that had been with him not too long ago when the tragedy of Shigure and the monster had taken place. The thought of danger hadn’t crossed his mind after he had grouped up with everyone else, but now it sat in the pit of his stomach as a reminder that maybe he shouldn’t have been so eager to see where the trail led. While they journeyed, he hoped he wouldn’t regret this decision. Hours later, the trail had...basically led them deeper into the Labyrinth. There hadn’t been much in the change of scenery, and the trail still wisped in front of them, it’s soft glow not as interesting as it had been before. Tenebris fought back a yawn, and looked to the front of the group to see if anyone had spotted something yet. From the looks of it, no. He was starting to feel like they should probably turn back, as this was turning out to be a waste of time. If they could get back in time, he might be able to reopen his stall and try to sell off the remainder of his wares. Before he could suggest such an idea, a chill ran down his spine as the feeling of something watching from the darkness washed over him. He couldn’t help but pause midstep and look behind him, only to see Ozzer bringing up the rear of the group. He blinked, visibly confused, before shaking it off and continuing forward. He made it another four steps before the feeling came back, this time from his left. He stopped again, looked, and only saw shadows against rock. Instead of feeling fear, he started to get annoyed. Like, unusually annoyed. He flicked his ears, trying to pinpoint where this thing was watching him from and ground his teeth as he couldn’t find anyone other than the equines he was with. Gemstone’s voice broke the silence as she asked how everyone was doing. Camilla and Silver replied, the former apparently had seen something. Taking a deep breath, Tenebris forced himself to calm down. There was absolutely no reason to feel this way and he didn’t want to lash out at anyone, especially the little ones. Finally feeling slightly normal again, he looked to Camilla. “ I haven’t seen anything...but...does anyone else feel like they’re...being watched?” he asked, just as the invisible eyes started to peer down at him again and he visibly shivered. He quietly hoped they weren’t about to run into dangerous creature. Two in one year was too much for the shopkeeper.
Post: 4 | Word Count: 469 |
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Post by mariahwhy on Jul 22, 2019 19:43:29 GMT -6
Ozzer | Warden
Ozzer had closed his eyes long ago. He didn't not need his eyesight to traverse the tunnel, particularly when the rest of the group was leading him along the glowing trail. Instead he paid attention to their hoofbeats and to the vibrations sent out by the rock around him. It was easy for him to carry on in this way, and allowed him to sort of relax and distance himself while also listening for other creatures moving along to tunnel. He had not felt anything since they had distanced themselves from the city, however, and he walked now almost in a trance. His mind drifted in and out, thinking mostly of Daisuke and Radar, and how he could not wait to return home. Slowly, though, he began to feel other hoofsteps. Or some other animal's tracks? He could not tell. At first they seemed so far away, and he considered them quietly, but all of a sudden they seemed right in the midst of his group. Lots of them. His eyes shot open, the darkness of the tunnel momentarily refusing to let up its hold on him. The momentary blindness as his eyes adjusted did not help the sudden discomfort he felt. He could still feel all of the... things.. horses?... moving around them, and now he had that hide crawling feeling that he was being watch as well. But as the scene around him slowly unfolded, he saw nothing except his group members. While they seemed hesitant as well, no one said anything. He looked behind him. Nothing. The hoofsteps ebbed away momentarily, long enough for him to hear Gemstone's voice call out. He huffed, not feeling like an answer was necessary. He would have been doing a lot better had he not been volunteered for this. "There's nothing there," he snapped in reply to the others, the feeling crawling over his hide making him irritable. It did not help that their suspicions seemed to verify that something was there. It wasn't just him. Suddenly, the feeling of other footsteps returned ten fold, flooding his senses and making him duck his head in a blindingly overwhelming sensation. He dropped his blessing immediately, and was left with the just the quiet, hesitant sounds of the group.
"We should not go further," he said suddenly. "Whatever is here is not for us." He wanted to say, "it doesn't want us here" but to say such a thing out loud would be giving in to the idea that something else was there with them.
(Post 4: 421 words)
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Post by Zugunruhes on Jul 22, 2019 23:50:08 GMT -6
Kalyan
Breim | Doctor
Kalyan did not share their young leader's enthusiasm as she indicated for the group to follow after her. Whatever awaited them at the end of the trail he was still suspiciously certain that it was not necessarily pleasant. Yet- he sized up the group of horses around them with a scrutinizing look- they certainly seemed capable of navigating the tunnels ahead and defending themselves. Although the way some of the horses spoke about the trail still put him at unease. It was a muddled feeling, though he kept his grumblings to himself as he set off within the group.
The passing of time settled the stallion's nerves and he gradually slipped into a contented rhythm of hoofbeats echoing against stone. The trail remained, but nothing had loomed in their path that warned of lurking dangers. He was also one of the horses that had kept up moments of random chatter to soothe his worries, but did not mind whenever it faltered. He was starting to feel tired from their trek and opened his mouth to start a new conversation when a flash of light split his vision.
Kalyan stumbled forward, knee-catching on the stone, and almost tottered into the horse next to him. The pulse of light radiated into a myriad of colors that washed away his surroundings. Then, as if they had never come, the colors vanished. He slowly stood at a loss for words as a new sensation crept over him- something was watching them. "I- I- There is something here. I don't know what I just felt- I-" A shiver ran through him, "I agree. I don't think we should go any step further."
Word Count: 277
Post #3
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Post by SaintPumpkinMuffin on Jul 23, 2019 14:58:07 GMT -6
Solomon | WardenSolomon, at the head of the group, began to slow as the horses behind him began to spook. Ozzer felt vibrations, the children were seeing lights and movement, nerves were high... whatever piqued the group manifested in Solomon as heightened impatience and discomfort. The words the group muttered faded and echoed repeatedly in his mind, and some voices which truly did not exist did the same. There were soft whispers and light giggles teasing at Solomon's ears, and the warden's irrationality only mounted.
While Umare were polite enough to never speak ill of you to your face, the same couldn't be said about speaking behind your back. The hushed whispering sound dragged images of ridicule from Solomon's past to the forefront of his mind's eye. Of being tsk'ed and cooed at and feared by his own neighbors. Every few seconds, Solomon's teke reached for his face to feel for his helmet. Compulsions to hide overwhelmed him but the echoing whispers--
"Be quiet!" Solomon hissed, rounding on the horses behind him, who's shaky words and fearful demeanor had felt like biting flies on his overwhelmed mind. The warden blinked in surprise as the false voices faded as quickly as they'd come, and he was left staring at the group. Under his helmet, Solomons cheeks heated up. Attempting to salvage himself, he muttered, "There-- there's nothing here--"
And if there was, Solomon wasn't in a position to find out, not with so many horses at stake. Something was going on, that much his gut told him.
WC: 260
Post #4 |
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Post by Warped-Desire on Jul 23, 2019 18:27:08 GMT -6
The time ticked away as slow as it could possibly go. Hours passed and their home was growing further and further away... there was total silence for the longest time as they continued on their trek. Riviera kept a watchful eye on the young members of their group almost the entire time, even more so when some of them started acting weird. She flicked an ear as they started to speak up, turning her head as a ball of light flashed past her peripheral vision. Then sounds... voices... was that her baby screaming?. The white mare paused a moment as the group chatted, "Ayako... is that you?" she whispered under her breath Her mother instincts snapped at that point her heart aching as she shook her head. No! Ayako was with her brother at the celebration. She was safe with supervision and- She stopped dead in her tracks as their leading warden stopped and snapped back at them, telling then to be quiet. Taking it to heart, her emotions boiled above the normal line. No one spoke to their herd members like that. No one spoke to children like that!!. She fanned out her wings and stomped towards him, putting herself between him and the rest of the horses in their group "Mr Solomon!" she started, pinning her ears flat against her head. "How dare you speak to your fellow herd members like that! There are children present. Know your place. I have all the right to report you for that little out burst". She flicked her tail as she stared him down, wings still out stretched. "Mind your Argus dammed manners or you and I will be having words. I'm not afraid of you or your fancy mysterious armour". She stomped her hood for emphasis. She didn't know what had gotten into her, she wouldn't have normally exploded like that but... something about this place seemed to have an effect on them all
post: #4 WC: #328 |
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Post by Prismaticlysm on Jul 24, 2019 11:15:55 GMT -6
 Gemstones ears were twitching. Her unease felt like the swell of a wave that rose and fell, crashing against an unknown shore. She felt like this before, numerous times in the recent past. Before they had power again. But they still had power, didn’t they? She looked passed the group of horses down the tunnel in which they had been traveling. Did something happen while they were journeying?
But Camilla had answered her unvoiced question, if anyone else was experiencing anything unusual. So she wasn’t the only one after all? Yet was it limited to just a few of them? Kuebiko had remained silent, though she looked star-struck when Gemstone glanced at her. Perhaps she was seeing something with more clarity? She parted her lips to inquire, but Silver had spoken. He didn’t see anything? For some reason, she felt uneasy around her friend, or was it guilt? Guilt for what?
Tenebris spoke up next, voicing one of her other concerns regarding feeling like she was being watched. Were they? She suddenly felt calm, exhausted even, swaying on her legs as if something were trying to caress her. But she snapped out of it, Ozzers voice flitting over the heads behind her and she peered at him. He sounded irritated. Maybe the walk was just getting to them all. But no sooner had he stopped speaking, he spoke up again, uttering words that made her suddenly want to completely and utterly disobey him. How dare he want to just give up when they had already come so far. The urge to shout what she was thinking bubbled up in her chest, then faded away just as quickly. What was she thinking? How could she be so bold?
Kalyan began to voice his agreement with Ozzer, and Gemstone felt a crippling sadness. No...they couldn’t leave! They just couldn’t! It wasn’t her decision. It never was. In the end, she would have to obey the Wardens. Directly next to her, she heard a voice snap above her head that had her jump a few feet forward, her ears pinned against her head. She turned her fearful eyes up towards Solomon, wondering why on earth he would sound so….mean. Why did he shout? And then she was angry. How dare he shout at her like that.
And then there was Riviera, who like the rest of them, seemed to be having troubles of her own. But like Gemstone had intended on doing, Riviera instead acted upon the desire to snap right back. But...but why? Why were tensions rising so high?
Something sounded in the distance, like a gong. A temple? Argus!?
Gemstone turned and ran down the path they had been following; she just had to keep going and nothing was going to stop her. She ran at full speed as if she were just going to simply leave the rest behind without a care in the world. And who cared about them anyway? They were just getting in her way!
She made it about 30 feet before she skidded to a halt, her tail between her legs. Gongs, bells, voices? Surely it had to be Argus.
“I think…” She started to say in a moment of clarity. “We need to keep going.” And she started walking again, the clattering noises and swirling colors ahead of her urging her forward once more.
562 WordsPost #5 |
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Post by leaftail on Jul 25, 2019 10:33:02 GMT -6
Tenebris | Tie
The atmosphere that surrounded the group shifted so dramatically that Tenebris started to feel anxious and jumpy. His heart rate was slowly starting to rise as everyone was reacting to different stimuli, the chaos of the unknown affecting everyone differently and all at once. He could barely hear anyone in the group as he continued to fight the panic that raced through his veins; the roar of his own blood rushing through his ears was deafening. He shook his head, trying to clear his mind, Ozzer’s voice helping to bring him back for a moment. The warden was cautioning them to not go forward, Kalyan echoing the same advice only seconds later. Tenebris looked from Ozzer to Kalyan as they spoke and noticed Kalyan had a small wound on his knee. Before he could say something to the doctor about tending to the scrap, Solomon lashed out at those behind him. Tenebris felt his skin jump at such a harsh reaction, and again as Riviera unfolded her wings, spreading them out like a shield to protect the younger ones. He was able to free himself from the anxiety, fearing an altercation was going to break out and walked to the front of the group. “ Please, we must not fight. Something is definitely going on here, we all just need to try to relax and think straight. We all can’t be going crazy...wait, where are you going!?” The tiny Gemstone had suddenly taken off, continuing on without the group. A wave of fear came back as it had earlier when he had seen Silver wandering away from the city on his own and Tenebris started after the youngster. She didn’t go far, and in a few bounds he had already caught up to her, though she had started to walk forward once more. “ Little one...this might not be such a good idea. We should heed Ozzer’s advice and turn back. Think of your parents. They wouldn’t want you to get lost or to be in danger.” Tenebris was tempted to cut her off, force her to rejoin the group, but she was someone else’s child and he didn’t want to hurt her. “ Riviera! Please, try to explain to her this might not be worth the trouble!” If anyone had any sort of control over a child, a mother would be the best bet, at least, that’s what he assumed. He didn’t know if any of the other adults in their group were parents, but he knew the pegasus mare was and he was certain she could bring Gemstone back to her senses.
Post: 5 | Word Count: 433 |
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Post by Zookcan on Jul 25, 2019 17:32:31 GMT -6
SILVER
"Nothing changes, if nothing changes."
Even he can't quite explain what's going on. Turquoise eyes continued to dart around in search of that ghostly light they had spied, and their owner secretly prayed that whatever he had just witnessed wasn't a trick of the mind. More sounds echoed off of the cavern walls; it sounded like the uneven cadence of hoofsteps, as though someone else was also walking further ahead. Perhaps they were not the only ones who had seen the trail? Maybe other horses had found it before them?
But these thoughts do nothing to lift his anxiety. In fact, all they do is make Silver feel more paranoid, uncharacteristically so. A soft voice calls right into his ear. It's incoherent, but it sounds like Shouhei's voice "Shouhei?" Silver calls with in equally soft whisper. The horses closest him, Riviera and Kuebiko, could have probably heard this faint little word, but when the grulla colt lifted his head to look behind him, he saw nothing, not even an orb of light that might have been his brother's soul. The unicorn's heart began to pound.
He's frightened, even more than usual. The world slowly but surely became muted to him while he considered his emotional status; why am I panicking? I'm hyperventilating! I'm not usually like this, why am I like this? and this was only causing him more distress. Though his face was shadowed by the hood of his cloak, Silver's breathing became quick, and heat washed over his withers uncomfortably. He felt driven to stop himself now and press himself up against the tunnel wall, but what would that do, other than get them separated from the rest of the group and end up lost?!
Even Pixie, who had been quiet up until this point, was growing noisy. The cockatiel began to chirp up a storm, and he poked his little body out of Silver's cloak and began to fan out his wings. His owner shook his own head violently in an attempt to get Pixie to stop while also trying to regain his cracking composure. "Stop it! No, Gemstone, come back!"
Just then, his schoolmate had run ahead of the group. Silver stayed within the company of other adults, while his tail twitched and kept itself tucked between his legs like a dog. While Tenebris shot forward to corral the striped filly, the poor young unicorn shook his head again, and grit his teeth.
"I've changed my mind! I don't want to go down there anymore! Let's just go back!" He finally admits, tears budding around his turquoise eyes.
post #6
word count: 427
note: if your character already know's silver's family through
pre-established ties, or traveled along side him and his mother last chapter,
you may know that his brother 'shouhei' is deceased.
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Post by Prismaticlysm on Jul 29, 2019 20:01:07 GMT -6
No. She couldn’t let them stop. Not now. She could only barely hear what everyone was saying around her, the noises far too loud, far too convincing. She no longer felt fear regarding their being there, she felt fear regarding their retreat. They had to go on, surely.
The noises implored her to move on, the flashes of light sparkling her vision. The tinkling of bells urged her to move passed Tenebris, for she hadn’t really heard what he was saying. She didn’t even hear her poor friend, Silver, close to tears. If she were in her right mind of course, she would have gone to his side in a moment, apologetic to him and everyone.
“I can’t go back.” She states firmly to the party behind her. And as if to make her point clear, she just keeps going. She doesn’t bolt like she did before, but she sets off at a quick pace rather than the trudging they had been doing before. “I’m going to keep going! It might be Them! You can go back if you want.” But her voice spoke otherwise. She really wanted them to come. To see for themselves.
Them. Argus. Her loving God.
She met Them once, and she so dearly wanted to meet Them again. She was sure that it was Them, and the others would all see how worthwhile this trip really was. She would be forgiven, they all would be happy. It will all work out in the end.
She did not stop trotting quickly, her hoof steps ticking, clicking and clapping on the stone floor. She ran through she smoky trail, her eyes focused only on the path before her. When suddenly, it opened up into a massive cavern.
She halted at the mouth of said cavern, her ears perked and eyes wide, staring about her.
“Whoa...” She spoke aloud, those who followed would be able to hear her without difficulty, as her voice reverberated from off the walls.
329 WordsPost #6 |
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Post by GingerBlues on Jul 29, 2019 20:17:05 GMT -6
Admin Post
The entrance to the cavern is small, only large enough for a single horse to pass through at a time. Upon entering, you encounter a breathtaking sight. Though it is almost entirely dark inside, you find yourself surrounded on all sides by softly glowing crystals that make it seem as if you were standing within the Starscape itself. Gentle star swirls and brilliant colors make it truly a sight to behold.
Continuing onward, you see spot the trail you had been following, continuing deeper into the magnificent cavern. Emotions feel...different here. Stronger almost. Just innately...more. gentle hums and tinkling bells can also be heard in the distance. It's almost reminiscent of being in Argus's presence, for those who have experienced it at least. Even those who haven't stood before the god start to get the sense that there may be something important at the end of this journey. The whispers continue, but they begin to feel more soothing,
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Post by SaintPumpkinMuffin on Jul 30, 2019 19:03:33 GMT -6
Solomon | WardenSolomon blinked as Rivera snapped at him. As if he were capable of hurting children? Solomon's whirling emotions returned as the group dissolved again into emotional fray. But the distraction of the others was enough to keep the other sights and sounds at bay. What Solomon DID notice, however, was Gemstone's meltdown, which caused another round of hoots and hollers from the group as she broke away and made her way down the dark tunnel.
Solomon said nothing, approving or disapproving. Instead, he turned his attention away from the others to focus on Gemstone exclusively. With a twist of his body, he followed after her. He wasn't about to leave a child defenseless in the labyrinth. She was excited, disillusioned by something... While Solomon was hesitant to assign these weird phenomenon to Argus, he was sure they were something. Where Gemstone was practically vibrating with blind energy, Solomon was cautious. Gemstone approached what looked like a dead end at first... but when she disappeared into a short dark hole in the shadows Solomon's heart jumped. He quickly tucked himself in after her, and was amazed by the sight in front of him. Gemstone herself was just in front of him, safe and sound.
"Its a cave," Solomon called back out to where some of the group had caught up. "It looks like a starscape?"
WC: 230
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Post by Zugunruhes on Aug 1, 2019 22:19:53 GMT -6
Kalyan
Breim | Doctor
Even as the pulsating lights vanished the stallion's knees continued to throb and he ground his teeth to ignore the stinging sensation. It was nothing more than a few cuts and scrapes, but the feeling churning with his growing anxiety was making him more and more agitated by the second. Whatever he had experienced certainly did not feel welcoming in the slightest and he heartily agreed with the horses that voiced concern, reassured as he noticed others reacting with alarm and hesitation. Something odd was playing with all their senses, and in Kalyan's mind what benevolent being would use such strange and uncomfortable messages to beckon them?
Worse it seemed the group was starting to pin ears at one another. A nervous, stray thought made him consider- what if this was what the being wanted? "Keep going?" He spluttered, "We are hardly fit to stand around here if we are all being affected with- with whatever that was. See, this is my point exactly! Whatever we are facing is far too unearthly for us to understand safely." And at the same time, he did not want to be left behind nor see Gemstone disappear into some unknown forever.
He trotted after her, still muttering his annoyances and worries under his breath, and entered the cavern. At once his grumblings ceased and he stopped abruptly to take in the bizarre yet beautiful sight. Then his fear blended into his amazement and left him still and confused, uncertain whether to take a step forward or back. A starscape? "This could not have formed naturally, could it? It feels- I- I can't put it words..." He whispered aloud.
Word Count: 275
Post #4
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Post by mariahwhy on Aug 2, 2019 18:57:49 GMT -6
Ozzer | Warden
Solomon's shout took Ozzer by surprise, but not so much as Riviera's did. Rarely had he heard a Breimian speak as such, and he bristled immediately in defense of his fellow warden. A warden's duty was to protect and look out for the best interest of their companions, so for her tone to be so accusational made his irritation, already stoked by constantly mounting fear, grow rapidly. He found himself, chest swelled, almost ready to shout back, when Gemstone suddenly leapt onward. "No!" he shouted after her, but some of the other horses tried to reign her in before he could follow from the back of the pack. Kalyan spoke up, once again trying to offer some sound reasoning as to why they should not continue on. Ozzer could not agree more. What if these feelings just got worse. They'd be ripping each other apart, or simply losing their minds, before they could get another mile down the tunnel. And yet the doctor still stepped forward to follow once the small child set off again.
A voice, tinged with fear, lit up near Ozzer. He had not wanted to pass on his apprehension of the trip, but it seemed that Silver had picked it up anyway. If anything could break through that unnatural feeling of anger, it was his feeling of sympathy. He stepped forward, face suddenly softening. He reached out softly to the colt's shoulder. "We will be on our way home soon," he said, not even able to believe his own words. "But it looks like," his gaze followed the horses that were now disappearing down the tunnel one-by-one, "we must go a little further. It would not be wise to split up the group at this point, and it seems that some of the others have more of a sense of adventure than I."
"We will go just a little further." If the darkness swallowed everyone else he supposed he would take Silver back on his own, but they had to exhaust their other options first he supposed. He started forward slowly, allowing the colt to choose their pace. And when it came time to go through the small opening he watched as every other horse first slipped through. As he stood and waited his turn he cautiously tried to send out his tremor sense once more. Only for a second did he open up his sense to it, but in that moment the blindingly overwhelming feeling came back, even worse, somehow, than before. He could not feel what lie before them, and as the last horse slipped through the hole he swallowed hard. And stepped through. Now he knew why his blessing didn't work here. Well, it didn't know exactly why, he supposed, but in some poetic way he did. They were standing in a starscape - of course he wouldn't be able to feel hoof steps here. Not in the vast expanse of night sky. A small part of his mind tried to reason with him - this is simply a cave with more glowing gems - but he didn't believe it. The donkey tried to look down at his feet, for he knew he was standing on something solid, but the illusion was so great that it did not look that way. His eyes widened in amazement, body beginning to relax as a different feeling took over. The anger melted away into everything else, and now he felt tears in his own eyes at the awe and relief of what they were seeing.
(Post 5: 586 words)
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Post by Zookcan on Aug 4, 2019 0:40:27 GMT -6
SILVER
"Nothing changes, if nothing changes."
Trembling lips are sealed shut, for they are too ashamed and emotional to speak again, fearful that the tears would let loose if they did. Wet turquoise eyes shadowed by spectacles and cloak, Silver continued to stand frozen, showing no other signs of his terror other than how his narrow, deer-like legs trembled against the ground, stuck stiff. Pixie settled back into his mane, crawling deep into the folds of his hood while continuing to let out muffled chirps.
He felt sorry for shaking his head so violently with the little cockatiel in it, and the guilt only made him feel like he were wading deeper in his regret and fear. Silver sniffled, trying to contain their whimpers...when a sympathetic voice reached out.
"We will be on our way home soon," It was the warden, Ozzer. The donkey was surprisingly gentle despite his opinions on this entire escapade. He didn't want to do this, but Silver was one of the handful who insisted. The shivering unicorn was like a whining child in this state, especially since his emotions were fluctuating more than normal. "B-but I-I don't want to. I thought I saw " A ghost. Shouhei. The logical side of his brain screamed that it wasn't real, but it was also racing over the fact that he was nearto falling to pieces in front of a crowd.
"I'm sorry I don't know what's gotten into me!" He apologizes, and begins to take slow, reluctant hoofsteps forward. "I-I feel like we've made a mistake " But, the silvery colt allows Ozzer to slowly guide them closer to the small cave entrance ahead. It's a narrow opening, so Silver steps in first, keeping his tail coiled close to his legs anxiously.
In stark contrast to the world outside, this little cave is strangely soothing. Silver quiets their sniffling, well, as much as they could, that is, in order to take in the familiar sounds of gentle chimes and soothing whispers. It felt reminiscent of the Temple of the Arcane, but without the potent incense that burned his nose. "I-is this...?" A horse who was well versed in the map of the starscape like he was could have easily recognized several Hireath zodiacs and constellations twinkling across the cavern walls. It took Silver a few moments to recognize it. "There's crystals aligned in the shape of the Phoenix...! A-and...I think it is!"
post #7
word count: 397
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Post by leaftail on Aug 4, 2019 7:29:41 GMT -6
Tenebris | Tie
It seemed as if Gemstone hadn’t heard a word he had said and continued forward, as if under a spell. Tenebris let out a sigh and was about to continue on after her, but Solomon went ahead first. The unicorn watched them for a few quiet moments, trying to see where they were going while taking in a few calm seconds. They seemed to have disappeared into a small cavern ahead, a cavern the glowing trail seemed to have been leading the group towards. Kalyan joined the pair seconds later, disappearing into the darkness. Flicking his ears back, Tenebris caught the conversation going on between Ozzer and Silver. He watched as the pair worked their way slowly forward, Ozzer calming the colt with his words. Tenebris followed behind them, though gave them plenty of space to pass through the small opening before going in himself. He had to keep his head low as he felt his horn scraping against the top of the cavern ceiling and once the cavern opened up a little more, he was able to raise his head and see the amazing sight the others had just witnessed moments before him. Jaw dropping slightly, the unicorn looked all around as it felt like he was literally walking into the night sky. The fear and anxiety that had eaten away at him minutes ago was completely gone and replaced by a calm that he hadn’t felt since before he started having responsibilities. Each step took him deeper into the nightscape; the invisible eyes that had been watching him were gone as he continued forward. As he got adjusted to the amazing sight, Tenebris caught a glimpse of the glowing trail once again. “ H-hey! The trail is still here! What in Argus’ name is going on…?”
Post: 6 | Word Count: 297 |
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Post by posy-punch on Aug 4, 2019 7:55:46 GMT -6
kuebiko an outsider Spellbound. She was spellbound. Some others were like her, darting ahead, excited and simultaneously afraid. She wanted to continue to say that everything was all right. Despite the original discomfort, she had grown used to the feeling once more. She had familiarized herself with them once more. So, when they reached the cavern, with all its tinkling bells and more relaxed emotion, she too relaxed, feeling innately at peace, at ease with the place in which she stood. "Argus," she murmured softly, her voice a mere whisper, but surely a shout to her god's sensitive ears. The name a call, a prayer. "I've missed you," she hasn't felt apart from them, but she had felt detached in a way she's not all together comfortable with yet. She remembers a time in which they walked among her people. It is most shocking now that they appear only occasionally. Blind faith does not come easily to her, but she has adapted. Argus is never away, merely intangible... "Oh, how I've missed this," she continues, spotting the glowing trail once more, then allowing her gaze to sweep up the walls of the cavern, to see the glowing star-like formations on the walls. This is Argus. This is Home.
4 . 209 words |
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Post by GingerBlues on Aug 4, 2019 20:27:57 GMT -6
Admin Post
As you look around taking in the cavern's beauty, you notice the trail leads to what appears to be some sort of ... vortex? In reality, it's a long, narrow tunnel, tucked away in a back crevice. The glowing crystals within the walls blinking in and out of existence slowly, making the tunnel appear as if it's spinning slowly.
While you can't see whats at the other end, as you approach it, you get the distinct feeling that you should absolutely follow to whatever end it leads to.
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Post by hydrus101 on Aug 4, 2019 21:10:31 GMT -6
 C A M I L L A• Breim | Apprentice •
“When you open the door to the other side, you might find a new world of possibilities that you never knew existed. Or like, ghosts or some other spooky shit.”
As arguments began to bubble up around her, Camilla’s eyes darted from horse to horse, face to face. What was wrong with all of them? Had they completely forgotten their manners? Even Riviera was acting odd. She’d always seemed so calm. Ears pinned back, Camilla watched as they argued, not agreeing or disagreeing with either party. Out of the corner of her eye, however, she noticed Gemstone running down the path.
“H-Hey!” She called after the child, moving as if to run after her, before pausing as Tenebris caught up to her and she stopped on her own.
In truth, Camilla really wanted to continue their journey. They had come so far already, to give up was to admit defeat, and Camilla was not a horse to give up easily.
Gemstone’s “woah” sealed the deal and Camilla trotted up behind her and the others, following the group into the cavern just ahead.
Her heart stopped for just a moment.
She was back, she was back in the starscape. Her meeting with Alya came back in full color, vibrant and so tantalizingly real. But, no... her heart sunk, but only slightly. These were not stars, they were stones. It made the natural beauty no less breathtaking of course, but Camilla ached for feeling of the invigorating power of the storm’s eye. Despite that, Camilla did notice a familiarity. Incense, bells, heightened emotions, it was like being back in the temple during the earthquake, when....Argus has appeared.
Camilla realized with a start that that must be why Gemstone was so insistent on continuing. She felt Argus’s presence here, just as Camilla did. It wasn’t as clear as it had been all that time ago, more like the echo of a bell rather than its own music from up close.
Silver began to speak, something about constellations, and his word pricked Camilla’s ears.
“That’s my sign...” She murmured, taking in the wall in its full glory.
After a few minutes of searching, she finally managed to pull herself away, and as much as she wanted to pry one of the stones off and take it home, she dared not even look at them for too long.
Instead, she drew closer to a gap in the stars around them, to a place where the constellations fell away to a spinning void.
She didn’t even need to call out to her compatriots, she knew they all had seen it too. Even if she had tried to resist, Camilla knew she was to enter that tunnel. She knew she was destined to be here, some how, some way. She wasn’t one to argue with fate. Not now, not ever.
But still, she paused, hesitant to be the first one to enter. Instead, she tightened her cloak, looking to Gemstone with her head tilted curiously.
“Do you remember when we were in the temple? With the guardians? Does this-” she gestured to the cavern, “feel like that to you?”
WC: 496
Post: 4
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Post by Prismaticlysm on Aug 6, 2019 16:23:04 GMT -6
She had to turn and look around herself at the others gathered in order to remind herself she had not suddenly stepped into the actual stars-cape within the sky. She knew perfectly well that they were underground with the gemstones gleaming like glittering stars, but something, someone, probably Argus, had changed this cavern into something otherworldly. She visibly relaxed at the tinkling bells and temple gongs.
She certainly did reminisce. This is what she had been hoping for the moment she set foot upon the trail to begin with. Being within her Gods presence...it was important to her.
She was barely aware of what everyone was saying, that Solomon was voicing the same opinion she had, that Kalyan couldn’t seem to understand what he was feeling, Ozzer reassuring Silver, Silver finding gemstone constellations, Tenebris pointing out the trail, and Kuebiko reminiscing more than any of them could imagine.
Camilla however, caught her attention when the mare came up beside her. The remainder of the guardians wasn’t the greatest, considering how she nearly lost her grandmother in the tragedy, but she wasn’t wrong. It felt almost exactly how it felt when she had met Argus just a short time ago. It had been the most amazing day of her life.
Emerald eyes turned, damp with unshod tears, but she was smiling as she looked up to Camilla.
“Yes…” Was all she could say at the moment, before looking back above them all. But after a moment of looking for a constellation of the Devil Bird, which was her sign, she looked back down to the trail that she had completely forgotten about. “We should keep going. Don’t you feel it? If we turned back we never would have found this amazing place. And there’s gotta be more!” She looked towards Silver, directing her next words especially for him. “Maybe when we get back we can find the Devil Bird!” She grinned at him before continuing down the trail.
328 WordsPost #7 |
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Post by leaftail on Aug 6, 2019 18:19:30 GMT -6
Tenebris | Tie
Pulling his eyes away from the trail as the group finally became one again, everyone’s voices started intermingling with different comments about what they were seeing. Silver pointed out that the constellation’s were even present, causing the unicorn to look about the starscaped cavern. He wasn’t a true believer in the star signs that corresponded to birth days, but his mother had told him he was born under the sign of the Lindworm, a giant rock-like creature that was found more north in the mountains of Onea. He remembered wondering as a colt if the tunnels held a creature as terrifying as a lindworm but his recent encounter with the crystal lizard was enough to make him believe the tunnels could hold anything now. The starscape inspired something inside of him and he thought to himself that maybe he’d make a tea line based on the signs when he got home. There was some positivity to this adventure after all. His gaze finally found the constellation, a smile coming to his lips before he heard Kuebiko speak up, though her words were quiet, almost reminiscent. Camilla and Gemstone exchanged their own memories of an incident some time ago, a memory that brought nostalgia to the pair. If this was what they felt at that time, it solidified the group was heading in the right direction, right into that strange vortex looking tunnel. Gemstone was, as expected, already heading into it. With one last glance at the lindworm constellation, Tenebris started after the filly, getting in line behind those in front of him to venture into the tunnel. This day was getting wilder by the minute.
Post: 7 | Word Count: 275 |
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Post by mariahwhy on Aug 7, 2019 19:58:06 GMT -6
Ozzer | Warden
The cavern was so quiet, and yet the gentle sound of bells seemed to consume him. All thoughts and emotions, all worries, seemed to drift away. All the donkey could focus on was the immediate present. The twinkling stars. The faint smell of incense. Even the small words spoken by his companions drifted away, mere particles floating off into the ether. There was suddenly a peacefulness and simplicity to everything that was reminiscent of childhood - an odd sensation he did not even question. But faintly he heard Kuebiko's words, and it made sense. The whole trip made sense. And now here he was, a child of Argus, standing under their magnificent creation. Tears sprung to his eyes, and he bowed his head momentarily to give a silent prayer. His patron god was, of course, Kaia, but he had always admired the Arcane god. How could he not, walking through the tunnels every day. While none of them were this intricate they had drawn him in in such a way that he had never been able to leave, even 15 years after wandering into Sirith. They had held such a calm magic that he reveled in, and that he felt so strongly now. How he wished Daisuke could be here to share this with him. But rather than regret or sadness at the lack of his son's presence, the thought brought a smile to his face. There was no room for negative thoughts here in the starscape, and instead he could only imagine the look of innocent wonderment that the colt would surely have, even if just being told secondhand about the experience. The same look that everyone here mirrored. The donkey could have stood and looked around forever. The constellations drew his eye and held him transfixed, but the others' words and movement pulled him gently forward. Another tunnel. Another trail. He had no offense to this one though, however odd the spiraling gems seemed. "I'm sorry I doubted you," he said in general. The words were quietly spoken, but sound seemed to travel further here than normal. He turned to give Gemstone a starry-eyed look, dipping his head slowly to the filly. "I should have trusted your judgement. Thank you for leading us here."It was not often anymore that someone showed him something he hadn't seen in the tunnels, and he found himself anxious now to keep going.
(Post 6: 393 words)
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Post by Zookcan on Aug 8, 2019 0:15:23 GMT -6
SILVER
"Nothing changes, if nothing changes."
He had once been a doubter. Despite being marked by Argus himself in the womb and given the gift of telepathy, Silver's faith had steadily waned since part of Nariah was swallowed by flames. The flicker of hope he had in his god had nearly been snuffed out completely by the time he and his mother began their pilgrimage to the Temple of the Arcane then, his head was filled with questions and bitterness, even as they walked up the steps into Argus's domain. He had had reason to; he has lost loved ones, he lost his own brother when Nariah's ceiling came crashing down. When Shouhei's death was announced, the first thing that Silver wondered was 'why didn't they save him?'
It's different now, although Silver's head was still filled with questions and doubts. Their god had shown themself to them and proved that they existed, but whatever Silver learned from their brief exchange wasn't enough to satiate his curiosity. He still thirsts answers, like many of them probably do. Many nights have been spent in fervent prayer, and yet the colt still waits for them.
He wonders if they will finally be answered here?
Once irrational emotions calmed, Silver begins to wipe away wet tears with his teke. He's embarrassed by the strange sensation that had overwhelmed him, but he does manage to crack a small smile in Gemstone's direction. His schoolmate carried enthusiasm and hope in some of the strangest situations. In retrospect, his herd probably needed some of that. Silver had taken it upon himself to better understand his herd's strife in order to find ways to help it ... that doesn't mean he was optimistic.
Speaking of which, Silver bore a suspicious look while examining the vortex from afar. A feeling deep in his gut screamed at him to come closer to it and investigate, in spite of how it seemed to spin and trick his eyes. The colt pulled the edge of his hood close, whispering something faint to his cockatiel, "Stay inside, Pixie." He did not want his companion to stray from him now.
Bravely, the colt continues into the vortex, squeezing his eyes shut and anticipating whatever lies on the other side.
post #8
word count: 376
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Post by Zugunruhes on Aug 9, 2019 19:47:58 GMT -6
Kalyan
Breim | Doctor
The muddled feelings inside him started to gain clarity as if the glow in the cavern was illuminating the path before him. No longer did the trail seem threatening nor suspicious. Kalyan still felt a peculiar sensation pricking his mind as though his thoughts had been rifled through and exposed, but the fear was dwindling. Now there seemed to be a strange tug towards the odd vortex deeper into the cavern.
He cast a quick look around the cavern, this time glancing at each other in their party. All of them bore different emotions or were murmuring different things- clearly something was meant for each of them here and that made him wonder if it was truly Argus reaching out to them rather than the work of a trickster spirit. Even if there was still a small thread of doubt in the back of his mind to approach the vortex, he knew that he did not want to be left alone. They had come this far together.
His eyes fell on Gemstone last and he then spoke out loud, "I think I am starting to understand. I cannot fathom what lies on the other side, but I will follow."
Word Count: 199
Post #5
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Post by GingerBlues on Aug 9, 2019 22:35:50 GMT -6
Admin Post
You make your way down the tunnel, and even as it feels as if it's spinning beneath your feet, you can't help but feel a sense of awe and peace wash over you as you do. The narrow tunnel is long, and it takes you almost twenty minutes to make it through the corridor, but you finally do.
Stepping out into a massive cavern, it's almost impossible to believe your eyes. Wisps. What appears to be hundreds of them. Floating around the cave, glowing and shifting color as the gentle sound of twinkling bells fills your ears.
While they often appear much more ill at ease during the Day of the Wisps in Nariah, the spirits seem much more at peace here, hardly fazed by your presence in what you can only imagine is their home?
Curious and in awe, you have the opportunity to look around and even attempt to interact with the creatures...Who knows - there could be more to them than meets the eye.
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Post by posy-punch on Aug 9, 2019 23:59:01 GMT -6
kuebiko an outsider She watched the others pass through the spinning tunnel, then she too stepped inside, the spinning motion beneath her feet only slightly taking away from her excitement, her desire to reach the end of the trail. The others... they did not seem as at ease as she, but, Kuebiko had long since resolved herself to what was coming, she just couldn't imagine how beautiful it would be.
And... Oh. This- this was home. In the simplest of senses. The cavern of stars, the gentle aura within the air. Her awe, her wonder, it grows tenfold and tears form in her eyes. She's not even embarrassed, despite being the type that would rather mask her emotions. The wisps, oh, the beautiful wisps.
She doesn't know if it would be right to approach one, doesn't really think in the moment, she is so enraptured by the spirits floating about the cavern. "Oh Argus, they are beautiful," she says softly, aloud, her joy dripping from her words. She steps away from the group, towards a pretty sunset colored wisp. Whatever it is about that one, it attracts her like a moth to flame.
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Post by leaftail on Aug 10, 2019 12:20:56 GMT -6
Tenebris | Tie
Walking through the vortex was almost nauseating. Even though he wasn’t physically spinning, the way the crystals dimmed in and out created the sensation, playing with his mind and triggering a slight motion sickness. Even as they exited the tunnel, it took Tenebris a few deep breaths and some standing still to really fully recover from the experience. As he looked up to see where the tunnel had led them, he felt his breath left him for a second as the wisps came into view. There were so many! They all seemed so calm, just floating lazily without a care in the world. There was a soft twinkling sound of bells, in which he looked around to try and pinpoint where it was coming from. Much to no surprise, there was no source of the sound. Movement drew his gaze from the cavern’s walls to Kuebiko as she stepped towards a sunset-colored wisp. What was she up to? It seemed like she was drawn to the wisp itself. As long as there was no danger there wasn’t really a reason to worry about the older mare. He turned away from her to step deeper into the large cavern, glancing at each wisp he passed. Was this their home? He quickly came to a halt as he almost walked into one as it was shifting from a deep blue to a dark purple, and watched as it floated past him. He turned his head back to look behind him at everyone else to see how they were reacting to the sight.
Post: 8 | Word Count: 260 |
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Post by Prismaticlysm on Aug 10, 2019 12:52:00 GMT -6
Gemstone traveled down the spinning tunnel of gleaming stars, keeping her gaze right in the middle; it made any potential motion sickness little to none. But luckily for her, her anxiousness to reach the end of the tunnel kept any nausea at bay. Which was also lucky in and of itself, because she didn’t want to be hindered by illness with what they had suddenly come to.
She had heard of spirits, especially after the collapsing of the tunnels. She remembered the lore she had learned from school, but she never would have actually believed they were...real, perhaps. Yet here they are, swarming around them all like aerial jellyfish whose forms were intangible, ever changing.
Like the teary eyed Kuebiko, Gemstone herself looked about with sparkles in her eyes. She had expected Argus to be here, but surely, surely Argus had meant for them to find these creatures for a reason. The old mare had gone off to a sunset colored spirit, whereas Gemstone found herself drawn to one who reminded her of Argus, flickering between red and purple. It’s shape changed from this to that, she couldn’t tell exactly what it was trying to be, only that it couldn’t seem to decide on what shape to stay as.
“They’re so amazing…” She said, her voice full of awe. The bells tinkled in her ears, and she could feel amazement that wasn’t her own. The spirit flitted around her head as if looking her over like her grandmother might have done. She looked to the others, the wispy spirit making her mane look like it was on magical fire. “Maybe they can come back with us. Maybe that’s why we were brought here, to bring them back with us.” The tinkles continued, right in her ears and causing them to twitch.
302 WordsPost #8 |
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Post by GingerBlues on Aug 10, 2019 17:21:58 GMT -6
Admin Post
As Kuebiko approaches the wisp, it begins to move towards her as well, seeing something within her, drawing to hr, almost as if by a magical force. As it makes contact with the mare, it's form begins to shudder, glowing brightly and shifting rapidly until it finally settles into an entirely new form, floating around Kuebiko, excited and full of wonder.  Kuebiko's Arcane Spirit familiar
Designed by Posy-Punch
Though the other wisps seem to make contact, none of them connect in such a way that causes any kind of change within them...for now.
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Post by mariahwhy on Aug 11, 2019 18:20:04 GMT -6
Ozzer | Warden
Ozzer watched the spiraling gems, finding that if he followed their movement it did not make him nauseous. It put him in almost a sort of trance, time slowing down as he moved involuntarily forward with them. Was he moving his feet, or were they simply sweeping him along like a wave? Time passed slowly, but he found himself not caring until suddenly an end appeared to the tunnel. The dim light of a cavern ahead pulled him out of the fog of his mind, making him wonder where they might have walked to now. Should he have payed more attention in the tunnel? Should he have stayed in the other room that brought him such peace? But as they stepped out into the room ahead his brief worries faded away once more. "Bless the gods," he whispered, a sea of wisps stretching out before him. They floated calmly everywhere he looked, bobbing up and down at about knee height like a softly rippling lake made of many soft colors. He couldn't help but wade out among them as the others did, albeit making very sure not to touch any of them. He had seen them before, of course, on the Day of the Wisps each year, but they always made him a little nervous then. The silence that descended on Sirith always felt tense and involuntary, as if they were afraid to disturb the wandering souls. But here it came easily, and he felt no sense of displeasure from the wisps. They were home, and they were welcoming them into it. The donkey swallowed, ears turning. The sound of bells was much more distinct here. It must be coming from the wisps. Were they talking to each other? To them? He dared to lean his muzzle down in front of one. It pulsated gently from a steel gray to black, and seemed to ignore the donkey. He lifted his head, and turned around to see how the others were reacting to the ethereal sight.
"I don't know that we could force them to go back with us. That would not be our place," he said in reply to Gemstone. But no sooner had he said it than a bright light drew his attention to Keubiko. The older mare stood in front of a wisp, as it distorted itself. Ozzer only stared. He did not feel threatened by it, but neither did he feel a desire to draw closer to the sight. As its form finally settled he squinted towards it. "What happened?" he asked, incredulous. "Why does it look like that?" It moved around in a way that could only be described as happy, not a word he would have ever used to describe a wisp before. (Post 7: 458 words) |
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Post by posy-punch on Aug 11, 2019 19:46:12 GMT -6
kuebiko an outsider
In all her years, Kuebiko had never truly sought out a companion. Not with her work taking her into Eithne before the War. She didn't think it would ever be right to look for a friend amongst the spirits. To find one that complimented her. To open herself up to their spirituality.
But now, as the wisp shudders and warps, Kuebiko feels tears slip freely from her eyes, and she smiles. "Hello," she greets it kindly, stretching her muzzle forward sweetly. The wisp glitters. Biko's ears twitch back to Ozzer. "An Arcane Spirit... they bond to an emotion and manifest it," she explains. "They used to be a much more common sight," she continues, turning to face the group again, letting the wisp float around her neck and shoulders.
"I haven't seen them since-" Her words fall away in favor of turning to watch the wisp again, awe dripping from her gaze. "Oh, Argus..." her voice trails off again. Then she looks back at the other wisps floating around the room. The tinkling of bells is still very prominent. It is gentle, soothing. Kuebiko feels at home.
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