Welcome to Gaia! ::

Soileana stood on a cliff, beneath a crescent moon, and stared at the world below her. It was dangerous to be out at night, what with skinwalkers and other such predators about, but she was not worried. Placid and still, like a lake on a hot summer's day, she felt the night breeze shift her fur and caress her cheek. She stood and wondered.

What had become of that little foal, the bleeding one she had stumbled upon. He had an aura of doom about him- surely his life would make for an excellent story. But truly, she did not only care for his story. Her maternal side seemed to be taking over and Soileana pondered his fate. She had a feeling she would see him again, for once two souls meet, the likelihood that they will meet again increases tenfold. They shared a connection, a silken thread that spanned the distance between them, and it was only a matter of time before that connection brought them together again.

Soileana, standing upwind of Karloff, had not been able to scent his arrival. Staring off into the distance below her, she had no warning of his impending arrival aside from her own instinct. So when she heard his voice whisper to her through the darkness, she did not flinch or start in surprise, but simply flicked an ear in his direction. She would never have been able to forget his voice, even though now it had grown deeper and older. It was almost as though she had a mother-like connection to him, she knew it was him even without turning to look.

Lifting her head to the moon, Sol lilted softly, her voice tickling through the air, "Ah, the one with hair as bright as the moon and fur as dark as the night has returned. Little Karloff, I had been wondering what had become of you..." She flicked her tail at him, motioning for him to come stand next to her, "Mother Gaia is indeed watching over us from the trees and the grass, I am glad you remember the story."

Soileana smiled serenely and leaned against Karloff, ever so slightly, as he came to stand next to her, "My my... how you have grown. Quite like a morning glory of the night, you seem to flourish with a love as gentle as the moon rather than the harsh intensity of the sun."

As Karloff referred to her as his own mother gaia, Sol released a tinkling giggle, like the ringing of small bells. She shook her head, her mirth at the statement bubbling over as she replied, "Oh goodness, your purr rumbles so deeply. No no, I could never take the name of a mythical being such as dear Mother Gaia. Perhaps if you dropped the "gaia" I may respond to my new title..." Was she really hinting that he may call her mother? Did she truly want a child so badly? Goodness, she wished she had been there to see him grow, even though he wasn't hers... how confusing.

Soileana had the ghost of a smile on her face as he called her mother... it just felt right. How strange fate was, how they met and knew this relationship was right. Looking at him now, she even felt pride- as though he were her own. Perhaps she truly was meant to be a mother.

"Home is wherever your heart is, young Karl... Simply know wherever you go, if you hold those you love in your heart, everywhere is home..." Soileana lilted and then continued mysteriously, "I have been pondering the intricacies of existence..." After trailing off, Sol looked up at him expectantly, as though returning the question without voicing it. This physical contact was... interesting, unusual... but not unpleasant. She enjoyed it while it lasted, the warmth of a body beside her own. Perhaps she should have gone to find him sooner... no... that would have gone against the way of the world... Sol was the last Soq to try and throw the balance of nature off.

Soileana hesitated, was he asking her to live with him, his mate, and his children? As a herd? But... she couldn't. That would be like trying to trap moonlight- impossible. Perhaps she was jumping to conclusions. With this thought in her mind, she schooled her expression into one of controlled serenity and replied mistily, "You have done well my son. True love is hard to come by..."

Turning, she looked back out at the forest scene that sprawled below their cliff-perch and into the distance. "I am already here for you, as I will be for your children. They may seek me out when they are ready. Though some how..." she paused and peered over her shoulder at Karloff, "I have a feeling that is not what you wish to hear."

Soileanna could not help but breath a small, audible sigh of relief. No explanations necessary, no need for confrontation- much easier this way. Nodding, she turned back to look into the distance. She had so much to live for now. On top of her love of stories and poetry, she had a family that she actually wanted to see. It was... a... pleasant sensation. Perhaps she could try forging her own path some time, instead of just letting fate run its course.

"Mm... perhaps you have found a way to channel rivers, Karloff. Such magic you weave. I will visit your offspring- it is good open young minds to the world beyond what is right in front of their noses..." She smiled at the thought of little being called grandmother, the title did fit her. "Would you like a story young one... for old time's sake?"

Sol nodded and blinked slowly, playing all the stories she knew through her mind until she found one that seemed right. "Ah... this one is a personal favorite. It is about familiars and how special and magical they are. Some believe that familiars are blessed by the stars... not many know that the original familiars were stars. We call them wandering constellations- groups of stars that come and go from the night sky. One was called the Eagle... and his story is one of the first of its kind."

"Long ago, in the time of my great grandmother, there lived a grand stallion called Brutus. He had a hard personality, but a very warm heart. He traveled and explored our lands for much of his life, fighting for good and vanquishing evil. One day, Brutus came upon an eagle caught in a human trap. Though he usually did not meddle in the affairs of humans, something drew him towards the eagle. With its wing broken, Brutus thought it would be merciful to end the poor creature's life, but... he could not bring himself to do it."

"Instead, he used his teeth to gnaw through the trap and bore the great eagle off to safety. One day, after he had nursed the eagle back to health, Brutus took the bird to a field and released him. Something in him wished the eagle would stay, but it was a wild creature and should not be trapped."

"It was not until weeks later that Brutus saw the eagle again. A skinwalker had been stalking our famed hero and was just about to pounce on him when a screech rang through the air and the golden eagle dropped from the sky, blinding the evil Soq and thereby saving Brutus' life. The two looked at each other and suddenly Brutus realized... they were now connected. A life for a life, they had both saved each other. The eagle was then named Soulchaser and he and Brutus lived together in harmony for the rest of their years. It is said that in the fall, on the horizon, one can spot the constellation of Soulchaser and Brutus as they run across the night sky together." Soilenna ended the story and looked to the distant sky, pointing with her hoof at the horizon. There, if one looked hard enough, you could see the outline of a stallion running through the sky, and an empty spot above his head, "It would seem our eagle has joined the mortals once again... I wonder who he watches over now."

Soileana smiled at Karl question and replied as honestly as she could, "I do not know... the ways of this world's spirits still mystifies me. Though I do not mind... it is not healthy for one being to be the keeper of all knowledge..." With a chuckle at her own joke, she looked over at her adoptive son and pondered for a moment. Then, with nonchalant curiosity, Sol inquired, "You seem to be thinking of someone... have you obtained a familiar in your travels?"