Welcome to Gaia! ::

Fantome was extremely worried. Time had passed since his reunion with Stormfall. His daughter's wings had finally healed to an extent where she was able to fly farther than a few miles. The stallion had talked with Stormfall night after night and finally they had both come to the realization that they could cover more ground if they split up. He had left one of his companions with Stormfall should she need to get into contact with him. The creature would be able to find him faster than any other method of communication. For now though the stallion turned his attention to his surroundings. He'd found no sign or talk regarding Tsunami.

He chuckled softly at his granddaughter's name. Fantome had to wonder if the name would have any effect on his granddaughter's personality. How apt would it be if Tsunami's attitude reflected her namesake? The scenery in front of the stallion was one that of endless trees. There had been rumors of a tribe of fierce mares around this region and Fantome was just slightly curious if perhaps Tsunami had found her way here. It couldn't hurt to sniff around. His chains rattled as his hooves carried him amongst the trees. This area seemed completely untouched by Soquili of any type. Were the rumors true or were they just that; rumors spoken to keep everyone away?

At first Fantome wasn't sure what had alerted him to the mare's presence. Had it been the silence of the woods or some innate sixth sense that was warning him of the danger. He observed the mare with a strange fascination before interpreting her words. As the meaning sunk in Fantome shifted his body weight around before clearing his throat. He shuffled his wings before settling to have them tucked firmly across his back. The creatures that circled him sensed his agitation and zoomed around wildly.

"I assume that this land is the one that I've heard is fiercely guarded. I had doubts that they were just rumors but plainly I must concede that your appearance shatters that belief quite firmly."

Fantome gave the mare a quick once over. He'd never seen a species like this before. The armor that the mare wore gave the stallion pause for thought before he rested his gaze on the mare's feet. Claws? What new breed was this? Had Tsunami come this way?

"Perhaps you can assist me. I'm searching for someone. Maybe you've seen her," Fantome let the unanswered question linger between himself and this stranger. He didn't want to show all his cards at once.

Was that all she would give him as an answer? Fantome stared down the mare before giving a soft snort of displeasure. It was true that he had initiated the chance of a short answer with the question he had asked. Had Stormfall even described Tsunami to him before? He knew the general markers to look for but everything else was a mystery. It was sort of the same with this mare, she was a mystery as well. Fantome hated mysteries.

His eyes locked onto the mare's gaze as he gathered his thoughts. It was made a little difficult with the metal that adorned the crest of her head but he managed it nonetheless.

"I suppose it would help if I gave you a physical reference to go by. This individual is a alicorn. She's pale blue in color. She calls herself Tsunami. Have you heard of her?"

If this meeting didn't pan out Fantome was already planning the direction that he would travel next.

The way that the mare moved had Fantome on high alert. It almost seemed as if she were beginning to circle him, the way that a cat might circle injured prey. He shook off the uneasiness that settled around him like a cloak before recalling the mare's only question that had been directed to him. He sighed before allowing his wings to extend to their full and glorious span before glaring at the mare. "I assume that you mean the question of whether or not where I was is what you are referring to. I had heard stories of a fierce group of mares that resided in this general area. Are you such a mare?"

Fantome paused before recollecting his thoughts. "This I guess means that the rumors are true. There is something here ... am I to assume that you are informing me that I'm within your territory's boundaries."

"Is there any right answer to your last question?"

Fantome eyed his surroundings with a more critical eye. He didn't expect a reply from such a statement but he was wasting time making conversation with this mare ... time that he could use more wisely in searching for Tsunami. He tracked the mare's movement to the right of his position before straining his senses. Something pricked at the primitive side of his brain, warning him of possible danger to come. This mare was smaller than he was but if she was part of a tribe than it stood to reason that she could call in reinforcements.

Fantome's mane whipped around his face as he gave his head a small shake. "I guess perhaps I thought that the rumors I heard were just that. But I had to take the risk in searching the land. What would you do if you lost something precious to you? Would you not find yourself in my shoes?"

There was a slight pause after the mare replied in which Fantome processed her words. So it seemed like everyone had one thing in common. They would do anything for a loved one if it was at all possible to do something. Fantome raked one hoof along the ground and listened to the chains discordant jingling before he gave a long, drawn out sigh. "I will admit that I don't know what I have risked as I've never heard of what Harpies are. I tend to stay away from others as my presence is not always detrimental to others well being."

Fantome let an air of mystery pass with his words before he gently tucked his wings back. His creatures, sensing Fantome's relaxed manner, returned to wing their way around the stallion before settling on any available perch. Fantome gave a once over to the land around him. "You ask what it is that I love so much that I'd risk the wrath of your herd ... the answer has already been given. I search for a mare. She is not just any mare though. Tsunami is my granddaughter."

The stallion shifted his weight as the strange mare spoke of capturing males for their own use. He gave a short huff in response to her words. "I've risked myself? In my eyes I have yet to be deemed in your words captured. Unless you have reinforcements nearby ... I suppose that we'd be at a stalemate as I'm pretty sure I'd be able to flee this area before you could stop me."

Fantome settled his posture as his creatures winged their way off his back to circle around him. They flew in erratic patterns around Fantome's body. He nodded satisfied. His creatures would aid him if the need came. One daring creature flapped its way to the strange mare and flew around her head before returning to its previous trajectory. "I might have risked my freedom as you say but I will never be held against my will. My search will continue now."

Fantome shifted his weight to his left side in an abrupt turn. He still kept his gaze on the Harpy mare before dipping his wings towards her in a wave farewell.

It was the mare's voice that broke through Fantome's thoughts. He had begun to devise a new path to travel when her words brought him to a complete halt. He slowly craned his neck to peer back at the mare. He narrowed his gaze in concentration as he tried to search out any particular reason for her utterance at this precise moment when he was getting ready to leave.

The Angeni of Fear issued a silent command and his creatures stopped their continuous circling of his body. Half of them settled back onto his body and the other half took to circling the mare. The winged eyeballs stared intently at the mare as they completed their orbits. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

"You say you have seen her. Why wait until I'm leaving to utter such a statement? Why not admit earlier on in our conversation that you might have seen my granddaughter?"

Fantome turned to face Galla head on again, "I'm not amused."