Forging Our Own Path, As Our Ancestors Did [Private RP]

Hira and Arro | War Lord and gryphon

"Don't cause any trouble- these are not wild Apana-" Hira called after her departing gryphon, as he launched from her neck and took wing. "Arro- NO TROUBLE!" Hira called to his retreating back, but the gryphon gave no sign of notice, save for one arrogant twitch of his long tail. Hira rolled her eyes, her exasperated sigh puffing a cloud of vapor into the cold air. The pony continued walking along the path, picking her away absently around hidden rocks, still buried in the snows of early spring. The snows would be melting soon; spring was upon Onea. Hira found herself relieved; it had been a more strenuous winter than normal, and it seemed as if the entirety of her sprawling herd had sunk into a collective state of uncharacteristic irritation, as the cold months wore on.

Hira shook her mane, dispelling the dark thoughts with some effort. Spring was coming, and she was out of her fortress, the fresh air lifting her mane and the beating heart of the earth resonating in her hooves. She could not, would not dwell on petty concerns while outside on a day like this.

Olive eyes cut to the side as she spotted a tuft of early spring grass, struggling valiantly through the encasing snow. Hira considered stopping and grazing a while; but no. She was on a mission, and even more so, she did not wish to bring down the ire of her Shields by returning late. They were more overbearing than normal, with the events of the new year still fresh in everyone's minds-

Hira shook her mane again, more forcefully, cursing the politics of her position. If she had known that the position of War Lord would someday ruin her ability to enjoy a simple spring day, she perhaps would have been less likely to accept- nay, force, the mantle upon herself.

"No use wishing on the stones of the past," Hira grumbled to herself. She crested a knoll, and let loose a sigh of relief: she had reached her destination. With a flick of her ivory tail, the pony broke in to a lilting trot, enjoying the wind as it lifted her mane from her neck. From somewhere in the distance, she heard Arro's distinctive skree. He was enjoying the day as well.

Hira and Arro

Hira's stride paused, her tail flaring behind her, as she heard not Arro's distinctive cry, but another gryphon's. Ah, hell, Hira thought, and leapt into as long strided of a canter as her pony legs could achieve. She might not ever outrace the taller equines of the herd on level ground, but across jagged open country, Hira fairly flew, her cloven hooves seeking out optimal terrain with deft ease. Her earth manipulation blessing didn't hurt, either. As Hira's strides brought her closer to her destination, a hut and behind it, a large fenced pasture, the mare once again slowed, eyes widening in surprise, before she burst out laughing.

For his part, Arro had nearly fallen out of the sky, arresting his plummet mid-dive towards the milling apana to hover, wings beating the air heavily as he turned his head sharply, golden eyes searching for the other gryphon he had heard. He could see nothing but apana, a strange mottled unicorn, and Hira. Arro lashed his tail, then dove again, landing on the fence post in a spray of wood chips as his claws gouged a hasty perch. Feathers fluffed, lifting all around his body and even the pseduo-crest along his head, Arro clicked his beak, then let loose a louder, more challenging scree, utterly ignoring the apana.

"Ho, cousin," Hira called, her light eyes twinkling with mirth. "I would apologize for the feathered terror, but it seems you've quite gotten your revenge." She slowed to an easy walk, her amused glance taking in again the agitated Arro. "Where on Hireath did you learn to mimic a gryphon like that?" Hira asked, halting. She stomped a hoof in belated greeting, still far too amused with Arro's discomfiture. It served him right.

Hira

"I was unaware of your Blessing," Hira said in some surprise, jade eyes flickering across Kathra's colourful, muscled body with interest and appraisal. "Blessed at birth, what an honor. Kaia must see greatness in your future." And Kaia was not the only one; Hira too was drawn to this young mare, and not only due to bonds of blood.

She had met young Kathra only once, during the darker, tumultuous times that marked Hira's rise to power, when Kathra's family had visited to pay their respects and condolences... and to retrieve Nastok's body. Hira had not enjoyed a close relationship with her uncle, but he had been kind to her. And he had been family.

And now his granddaughter, her own cousin, stood before her, with all the fierce wildness of Onea burning in her gaze, and none of the passive, quiet timidity of a "typical" War Forged mare. Hira had heard as much, from sources closer to her distant family, and had made the journey in person to verify the claims. Or disprove them.

Hira eyed her cousin for another moment, then swept her gaze over the milling Apana, the rough, remote countryside. She did not answer the question immediately.

"How does this life suit you?" Hira asked instead, her tilted head indicating the bleating Apana. "Do you enjoy it? I do not think I would have the patience for herding such wily creatures, although," and her eyes cut to the still fluffed and muttering Arro, "I do have my hooves full enough at the moment." She smiled, but her eyes were sharp as they returned to the chimera mare. "What does your heart want, Kathra?" It was a question she asked every potential Valkyrie, whether the young mare knew she was being considered for the position it or not.

And Kathra had been considered for a long while now.

Hira | Warlord

The pony had never been particularly (or even slightly) adept at concealing her thoughts and emotions, and thus Hira figured that Kathra might well read on her face the disappointment that Hira felt. Another mare unable to see past the confines of her own familial life and duties... Inwardly, Hira sighed, preparing to head back out and rejoin with her retinue. She had hoped her young cousin would share more than just blood ties, but... so it went. Hira lifted her head, about to speak, when-

"But..."

The words lingered between them in the chill spring air, and Hira felt her interest rise again, despite herself. She waited, the breeze tugging at her unruly forelock and tail. Kathra had turned away, something unreadable in her gaze, and Hira watched her go with interest. Arro tensed and made motions as if to follow the chimera, but a quiet "no" from Hira stopped him, though he fixed her with a baleful golden eye in reproach. Both mare and gryphon were still and silent as they watched Kathra stop at a young tree, bow her head in thought. Or prayer? The wind picked up again, lifting Hira's thick mane from her neck, and she felt a sort of electric charge in the air as Kathra moved back towards her, as if the world held its breath in anticipation. But for what?

With each word her cousin spoke, Hira felt her heart lighten. Ah, now this was more like it. At Kathra's last words, Hira snorted a laugh.

"Well, I do my best to keep reminding them," she said dryly. "Me, and my Valkyries." She watched Kathra closely now, jade eyes shrewd. "Female warriors, carefully selected and trained by myself, to remind all of Onea that it is a mare whom we pray to, and who shaped us. And," she flicked he tail arrogantly, "who leads us."

She and Kathra stared at each other for a heavy moment.

"Would you like to join us?"