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 Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 4:17 pm
The crane was proving to be a fluid change over for Webweave. Mother Swamp had been most generous in giving back her long-lost other half, and for that the mare would be forever grateful. Her new-found feathers and ability for flight were being thoroughly practised and fine-tuned, and at that precise moment, the crane happened to be finishing up a couple short laps around a series of mangrove trees.
Pushing her wings forward and pulling her neck out and up, she gently alighted on a mangrove root. Once perched there, she stretched out her wings and flapped them once, twice, three times. That was enough flying for one day. She folded her wings at her side and carefully picked her way down along the root towards the water below.
Once she reached the water's surface, she dipped her head a few times, gathering up water in her bill and swallowing it before going back for more. A few more gulps, and her thirst was quenched. Now what? she thought to herself as her wings made it out once more for a quick shake. If one were to look just past the crane, one might see a hazy shape, a distortion of the air itself, blurry and possibly just something imagined.
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 5:53 pm
 Moving through the swamp, her belly growing big with the sacs inside of her, Breakaway looks for a cool place to rest. She'd been making her usual rounds through her territory, but as the weeks passed it became harder and harder to cover ground. At this point, she was only covering about half as she would if she weren't pregnant. She sighs--- hot and thirsty, her flank covered in a thin misting of sweat, and her hooves sore from the added weight-- and approaches one of the clear springs to dip her head in for a drink. It's only after she's finished that she notices the brightly colored crane a ways off.
Lifting her head she watches it as it too takes a drink of the refreshing water. Cinder slides up around one of her ankles to rest along her neck, and flicks a tongue out to taste the air. A shimmer behind the crane catches her attention and stares for a moment, unable to clearly make it out from such a distance.
"What is it Cinder, do you think? Just a bit of fog, maybe..." But as she approaches, the shape almost seems to have some kind of outline..... 
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 6:22 pm
While the crane stretched, the hazy figure paced in tight circles as if it were looking for something. A smaller, skinnier section at the back end of the figure swished suddenly: must have been the tail. It's limbs stretched on for what seemed like ever, and it's entire body was about the size of a tall buck and yet... something about it's stride spoke of femininity.
And then, without warning, the figure turned it's head to look straight at the incoming brown doe. It's eyes glowed almost blindingly as it stared right at her. A moment of darkness as it blinked, another white shine, and then it turned away and strode towards the crane, stopping just behind it almost in a protective manner.
The crane then realized what had happened, an in response to the hazy figure's closeness, seemed distant for a moment before turning to look at the brown doe. Silence fell as both the figures stopped moving, and it seemed like the entire swamp became suddenly still too. One might call the moment eerie, with no cry, no stirring, nothing but silence and that peering stare of the yellow crane, nestled in a hazy cloud, who's gaze was even more intense.
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 6:34 pm
As Breakaway nears the figure she becomes aware of the creature's outline. A tail, it's legs, it looks almost like a kimeti but the hazy substance of it makes it difficult to be certain. Breakaway's steps slow as the flesh along her neck tickles curiously. It isn't a sense of fear so much as the sense of something unusual, or rare.
The sudden silence, and the intensity of those twin stares causes Breakaway to stop in her steps. She holds her breath as she realizes just what it is she is looking at. Legends and stories told the tales of those kimeti whom the Swamp chose to grant special, unknown powers to. The Motherfather would give these selected the power to take one of the many shapes that it had to offer--- such as the brightly colored crane before her now.
For once, she feels that she is truly in the presence of something great.
For once, she isn't sure what to say, though she tries anyway.
"Hello... it's not often then I come across others in this area. Let alone one of the Swamp's chosen. I'm Breakaway, and this is Cinder."
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 7:03 pm
The doe approaches and then stops, staring Webweave would say, and who wouldn't? Webweave imagines that such a sight could stop anyone in their tracks, and so she doesn't comment. Instead, she waits for the other to get a good look and gather her thoughts. She greets, and parts with some complimentary insight, to which Webweave at first responds with more silence.
The crane turns it's head to one side, peering at the doe with one eye, then turns her head to look at her with the other. The mare, in the meanwhile, takes this opportunity to turn around and take a few steps back, away from the group.
The crane straightens up and seems to address the doe, but no crane can speak, it's just not the way they were made, and yet a voice echoes and speaks out in response to the doe's greeting. "Welcome, child." A pause... "It's a pleasure to meet you, and your slithering companion. 'Tis true that there is rarely commotion about these parts of the gracious Swamp. It must be a rarity for so many to meet at once..." The crane tilts it's head and stretches it's neck forward a bit, obviously peering at the belly of the swollen doe.
With the presence of the voice, some of the natural movements and stirrings of the swamp returned.
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 7:12 pm
Startled a bit at the Crane's seeming ability to speak, though in the voice of a kimeti, Breakaway straightens some.
"Ah.... yes.. It is. I don't often come across others in these areas-- at least not other kimeti." She pauses, watching the crane as it stretches nearer to her, and she too looks down at herself and her swollen womb. "...They are growing bigger, and heavier. It's harder to travel now, but I still do it. Though more and more I find myself looking for places to nest.." another pause, and the dark-brown doe looks past the Crane to the illusory shape of the mare behind it. "What is your name, if you don't mind?"
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 7:33 pm
The crane nods her head at the doe's words, she could tell that she was far along, the little ones beginning to stir more and more often, growing restless and growing bigger. Quite a few, there was no doubt, but as for a number, it was still unclear to her, and so instead she focused on the doe's words, and her question. She raises her head, looking Breakaway in the eye, and once more the voice raises, deep and heavy "My name is Webweave, teller of legends old, spinner of tales long and detailed. I have something to show you in this place of few wanderers. Follow... if you desire to find out, Mother-to-be."
And with that, the crane took to the sky, flying up high before dipping back down into the branches of the trees where she was easily visible, her golden feathers contrasting the brown and green of the mangroves. She'd fly a few trees forward at a time, then pick a branch to perch on and wait for the doe to catch up. This way, she figured the doe could follow at her troubled pace.
A little ways ahead of the crane, the translucent mare strode, leading the party of at least 7 members to whatever it is that must be shared with the expectant mother.
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 7:46 pm
"Webweave," Breakaway nods her head, and follows. She is slow going, but she moves steady enough, and wonders just what it is the mare wishes to show her. She has no idea, really. After all, she has traveled through those lands often enough and seen nothing out of the ordinary, or anything more wondrous than the usual wonders of the Swamp. Still.... she does not doubt that whatever it is, it will be something special, and she does not raise her voice to question it.
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 9:19 pm
All of a sudden, the crane darts ahead of the doe, and quickly passes the hazy outline of the mare only to dive behind a thorny mess of branches at least double the height of a tall buck. The mare continues walking until she reaches that same mass of bush. Once there, she stops and looks over her shoulder, casting her white gaze on the doe for a few seconds and then looks back towards the brambles towering before her.
As the mare nears the tangle of thorns, they move aside, creating a doorway tall enough for the mare to pass through, and at least double her width, to accommodate for the less steady, bulging-sided doe behind her. The mare calmly strides into what appears to be a fortress of sorts large enough to be considered a yard: room for running laps around the perimeter and for a comfortable nest in the middle, should one drag some soft boughs and feathers in for bedding. Just off center of this lush green yard is a collection of rocks and a small puddle of the clearest water imaginable. This place held water, space, and even protection by means of the thorn walls, with just enough spacing in the branches to let the sun filter through here and there.
But the mare does not stop at the opposite wall of thorns, instead she merely walks right through, and disappears like only a ghost can.
All that is left, is the beatiful clearing and the crane sitting lightly on a branch up high, waiting for the doe to enter and to take in the scene below.
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 9:43 pm
By the time Breakaway gets to the parted bramble of bushes, she is breathing heavier, and her sore hooves are complaining quite loudly at her, as well as her back and her knees. She doesn't really complain, though-- she isn't one for whining. Instead, she approaches quietly, except for a light panting, and slowly enters after the Mare and the crane. By this time, she is also in a sort of quiet awe. She heard stories of the powers of the chosen, the Legendaries, but of course had never before witnessed it until now.
When her eyes adjust to the dimmer lighting, she is again in amazement. She looks around, spotting the crane, and the Mare as she slides through the branches like so much fog, and takes a slow tour around the edges of the sanctuary. Her gaze travels up, and there are enough branches to keep any rain out, for the most part. A den, a special one that was perhaps made for her, or in any case revealed to her by the mare.... and she feels that she has been blessed, and in more ways than one. Finally, exhausted from her long trek, she settled down in the center of the shelter and looks up at the crane, a rare but pleasant, and honest smile on her features.
"Thank you."
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Posted: Mon May 03, 2010 10:00 pm
The crane almost seems to smile as she watches the doe wander about the sanctuary and settle in nicely. Her wings stretch out and she shakes them just once and holds them there, outstretched as the doe settles down in the center. The deep voice whispers as if it were carried by the wind, wrapping warmly around the expectant mother, "You are welcome, Child." A warm breeze floats into the fortress with the smell of crisp night, not far off. "May your five be six, and may this be your sanctuary in your time of motherhood. Take care, my Children, and travel well."
And with that, the crane lifted her wings and took to the sky once more, this time without returning to the pregnant doe's sight. She had done what she needed to for this mother-to-be, and it was time for her to be on her way. There were other matters to attend to, there always were.
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