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 Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 5:44 pm
The Wings of a Horse - Part One
Ianna was starting to get used to her quiet wand-finding free days - so of course, Matilda would just have to step in to make it clear under no uncertain terms that she was, as she always was, her tool.
She was in the middle of rocking Coailiann to sleep when the familiar tingling in her chest started up. "Mother...."
A sigh was Ianna's first response, her silver eyes closing as she stroked Kay's soft white hair which had grown out to her shoulders. "Of course, right when I get comfortable, right?"
"Well, yes. But there are three wands that have all awoken at once...It's never happened before, mother."
Ianna stopped in mid-rock, her eyes snapping open. The "Never happened before" was never even heard. Three at ONCE?! "You expect me to go running off after THREE wands tonight when ONE is dangerous as it is?!"
Her shouting seemed to wake the slumbering Coailiann, causing her to whimper and her lower lip to jut forward. She was about to start out in a full out wail - and would have if Ianna hadn't quickly grabbed for the teething ring and shoved it in her mouth, instantly stopping her whimpering in its tracks.
"Now, mother, you knew..."
"I knew what I signed up for, and it wasn't an 'endanger my life every time Matilda called' type deal, and DEFINITELY wasn't three times in one night. If I almost died on a ONE wand expedition...."
"You won't. I'm...Coming physically with you."
Ianna paused. "P...Physically? How dangerous IS this thing, Matilda? What about Coailiann?!"
There was a long stretch of silence. "She'll be safe alone in my realm. Nothing can get to her."
Truly, Ianna knew Matilda was right - even if she didn't like it. "Well....I...Guess I have no choice, do I?"
There was yet another silence and Ianna sighed. "Very well."
The young woman stood and walked to the small portal, sliding the slumbering Coailiann in. It went straight into the crib Matilda had set up, and Matilda slid out, standing beside her mother looking more tired than ever.
"Very well then," Matilda said softly. "Shall we go?"
Ianna glared at her daughter. "You look as though death hit you, woman. What the hell is wrong?"
Truth be told, three wands awakening at once had shattered three shards of her very soul from her at the exact same time, causing her to almost collapse and pass out from the fire hot and excruciating pain. It also had greatly weakened her. Her decision to come with her mother, however, was purely selfish. Matilda wanted to get the wands which caused her so much anguish herself.
Of course, she could have done that WITHOUT bothering Ianna....but where was the fun in THAT?
"Where's the first one, Matilda?"
The tired Ancient eyed her mother for a moment before closing her eyes. "Mt. Olympus."
Ianna was silent and for once she did not argue. Matilda looked rather shot as it was. "Okay, lead the way."
With a pop, both of them arrived at their first destination.
The first wand, Pegasus, was surprisingly easy to find. Buried beneath a few boulders at the very top of the mountain.
"It's buried, Matilda."
Matilda gave a soft sigh. "So dig it out, mother."
Ianna shot a glare towards her daughter. "Easy for you to say Ms. All Powerful Ancient! Those boulders are three times my size!"
The Ancient stared at her mother for some time, looking rather pained and weary as she lifted a hand, the boulders lifting a few feet into the air. Her face contorted in some sign of discomfort and she let out a struggled "Hurry."
Noting her daughter's state, Ianna zipped beneath the boulders, half afraid they would fall on her, and snatched up the beautiful pearl wand. A minute later, the boulders started crashing down - Matilda's strength was failing her.
"Ah ********!" Ianna screamed, dropping to the ground and rolling down the rocky mountain side a few feet to escape certain death from the falling rocks. Sure, she tore up some skin and hurt her back - but at least she was alive.
"You okay?" Matilda asked, her face pale, her eyes half sunken in.
"Yeah...Are YOU though?" Ianna asked, painfully standing up with the wand clutched in her hands before making her way to her daughter. "You look..."
"Horrible? Yes, getting three pieces of soul torn from you at the exact same time does that to a person...."
"There's no need to snap. You need rest before we find the others."
"No s**t." Matilda grumbled, "Even if I wanted to go right now, I don't think I could...."
Ianna gave a nod of her head. "Then rest, we'll get the others tomorrow."
"Good idea."
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 6:51 pm
'The Wand Shoppe'
RP between Ianna (Kyrianna) and Kierla Well - One down, three to go. The Succubus, the Pegasus and the Nymph-thing wands had still yet to find homes. Then again, she had only just returned so the owners should just start feeling the tugs.
Wyvern was the first to go. Ianna's eyes turned to look at the three remaining which were sitting prettily behind her desk, where she was sitting. "Wonder which one of you will find your home now." she murmured, stroking at each of the 'shiny' wands she had.
Coailiann was napping in the headquarters - so she didn't have to worry about her acting up. This in itself was a blessing. The poor woman's arm still hadn't quite healed from the arrow it had received.
Yachiru whined, sulkily gave up trying to pry herself free from Kierla's grasp, and snuggled in the embrace. Maybe it'd be best she just go to sleep, this was so boring. Who knew shopping trips could be so dull?
Just as Yachiru fell asleep, suddenly she felt a change in pace and direction. Blinking her eyes open, she observed that Kierla had stopped in front of a building, with shapes on it like in that - what was it? - that's right! book. "Murr!" she shrieked.
Kierla didn't hush her, gazing at the building so intensely, she might had distintigrated it right there on the spot. Instead she opted to just open the door, and step in. "Hello?" she greeted whoever was there. Standing in the doorway, dressed in black, she looked like an omen of death.Ianna's silver eyes looked quietly to the woman and the child. "Well. Hello there." came her voice, head nodding slightly. "Come in, what are you waiting for? You're letting the heat out."
A little snappy and rude still - you would be too if your arm was in a sling for the second time in a few months. "Now. Welcome to Ghosts of the Past."
A long pause as she seemed to be listening to someone who wasn't there. "Matilda, I'm NOT stupid."Stepping farther in, complying to the woman's orders, her eyes roved over the contents of this...place. "Isn't this 'The Wand Shoppe?'" she asked nonchalantly, as she set Yachiru down and observed the area.
Then her gaze flickered back to the woman. "My name is not Matilda. And I never said you were stupid."
The second she was in contact with the floor, Yachiru skittered off with glee, shreeing joyfully as she went, fluttering her wings slightly, causing random gusts of wind to twirl through the dust. "Murr!" she screeched again."It's Ghosts of the Past." Ianna said again, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath - before sneezing from the upraised dust. "And Matilda is my daughter, I was by no means talking to you when I said that."
A pause. "Come closer."
She knew the woman who had entered the room was a guardian - but to who? It seemed it would be the succubus...but...Who knows.Kierla held a pause to match the Ianna's own. "Why?" she questioned, a subtle layer of suspicion weaved in her tone. "What is your name, anyhow? And where is this, Matilda?"
Yachiru, meanwhile, didn't seem at all cautious of the woman. Sure, it was a stranger - fearsome strangers! - but her curiousity overrided her paranoia, and she hopped over and jumped up on the stranger's desk.. "Muuurrrr?" Was that the only word she could say?
Giving the barest suggestion of an exasperated sigh, Kierla moved forward, picking the bat girl up in her arms again. "Don't bother her, Yachiru."Ianna eyed the woman quietly for a long moment before answering her - "Ianna. And Matilda...Is not here. She's in another realm. I can, however, speak to her through a mind link."
She didn't seem phased by the little girl jumping on her desk and she chuckled softly. "Lo there sweetheart."
Perhaps she had a soft spot for children? It seemed so. "It's fine, I don't mind. But come closer, please. I'm sure you have questions and the book will answer.""Ah." Kierla nodded. "That explains it." She did not seem surprised by the concept of daughters in other realms and 'mind links'..and why should she? She had only recently moved to this world of Gaia, but already she was getting familiar with this wide variety of its inhabitants.
Yachiru babbled at Kierla, making a face, as if saying Seeee? She doesn't mind! Now let me go! Then she wriggled her way out of her auntie's hold, flopping back on the desk. She laughed gibberish until something caught her eyes. "PR'TY STICKSES!" she chittered excitedly, pointing one clawed wing at the wands.
Following Yachi's gaze, Kierla wondered privately how many more questions were going to surface during the time she remained here. That being so...
'The book will answer,' Ianna had said.
She came closer. "And, now what?""Yes, Pretty wands," she answered the little girl, "But they're not for you to touch."
Ianna smiled warmly and stroked at the girl's head gently before turning and looking to Kierla. "Touch the book."
The minute she would touch the book, the cover would fly open, an invisible wind winding through the pages and blowing them rapidly open until it landed, quite suddenly, on a well-worn page. On this page was a very realistic sketch of a wand with wings - the copy of which sat on the desk.
Under the picture read:
"Mt. Olympus. Wand ID 00012. A Soul has been trapped within the confines of the wand. Congratulations, you have become the next guardian to take on the task of raising it from infancy to greatness. We, Ianna and I, have the upmost faith in you to complete your task dutifully. Best of luck,
Matilda."Her gaze darting from the indicated book, to Ianna, to the wands, then back to the book again, she warily reached one hand forward.
Then, hesitantly, she placed it on the cover.
Immediately, it responded by flying open, the pages riffling through to a seemingly predetermined spot, before the invisible whirlwind stopped.
Yachiru, eyes wide, backed away and fell off the desk, to bump her head rather painfully. With her mouth open in a silent cry, she ran off to the nearest corner.
There, she proceeded to make her opinion of this strange and sudden occurence known, in the form of one long -
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!"
The pages settled, revealing a picture of...
A wand?!
There was text below, which Kierla proceeded to read aloud. "Mt. Olympus...wand ID 00012...a soul has been trapped within the confines of the wand." Kierla looked up at Ianna, careful to keep her face composed, despite the commotion. "Congratulations, you have become the next guardian to take on the task of raising it from infancy to greatness. We, Ianna and I, have the upmost faith in you to complete your task dutifully. Best of luck, Matilda."
She stepped back, mind reeling with the impact of...well, everything. For the first time in a very, very, very long time, bewilderment was expressed quite plainly on her features - gaping mouth, startled deer-in-the-headlights eyes, face draining to an even paler white than it had been before.
"WHAT THE HELL?"Ianna smirked a little bit at the woman's reaction - she did however squeek and cover her ears from the loud squeel. "YOU'RE A MOTHER!" she yelled over the loud noises that the child was emitting.
It wasn't as if she hadn't had to deal with ENOUGH the last week, but hearing the loud noises just made her head pound. "CONGRATULATIONS!"A mother.
Kierla = mother.
No, no, NO! That was wrong! It did not fit! It was like shoving water and oil in a bottle and trying to blend them together!
Her eyes now carried an almost crazed look now, and when she opened her mouth to utter a sharp, barking laugh, it came out strained and unusually high pitched. "WHAT IS THERE TO BE CONGRATULATED ABOUT?" she screamed back, completely ignoring the rising bawling of her niece.
Hey, congrats to Ianna, and Matilda, and the soul in the wand. You have just caused Kierla to completely lose her temper - and mind - for the very first time in her life.Ianna winced and clenched her fists, her one good arm's hand clinging to the desk, digging her fingers into the wood. "WILL YOU SHUT THE MOTHER ******** HELL UP!?" came the irrate woman's response to the hysterical one's screaming.
"I DO NOT NEED TO HEAR YOUR ******** SCREAMING AND FREAKING OUT I HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF A TIME THIS ******** WEEK ROLLING DOWN A ******** MOUNTAIN."
Okay. VERY few people had ever made Ianna yell - but the combination of screeching child and yelling woman and the bad week? Well that put her over the edge.Kierla calmed down. Instantly.
"Sorry," she said meekly, dipping her head in an apology.
Wow. Two firsts in five seconds; first time shouting like that, and now first time actually apologizing. This Ianna deserved a medal.
"Um." Kierla cast around for something else to placate the rather irritated woman. "So. How'd you get to be...rolling down a mountain?" She edged over to the screeching Yachiru, patting her head hastily in a feeble attempt to quell her crying. She recieved a bleeding hand for her trouble.Ianna breathed deeply to calm herself down. The apology had certainly done wonders to calm her temper, though her pale cheeks were now rather flushed from the anger she had felt.
"Finding the wands. Mt. Olympus. Also got show with an arrow." her eyes turned to her arm which was still in the sling, "It's not exactly the easiest thing in the world to do, and Matilda isn't much of a help."Kierla nodded sympathetically, dark red liquid dripping down her hand to land on the ground with a nasty plopping sound. "Mt. Olympus. And you were shot in the arm, too, I assume while getting some other wand? That's not good. I offer my deepest apologies you had to go to so much trouble to listen to my complaints.
"It's just...I don't think I'd be a very good mother," Kierla mumbled. "You sure I'm the right person?"
Yachiru didn't seem to mind the sight of Kierla's blood. In fact, she seemed quite intrigued by it; intrigued enough to stop crying.
"Finally," Kierla said in clipped tones, as the cries vanished. She had recovered the shock and returned to the emotionless mask that she had been before this...chaos.Ianna shrugged her shoulders and relaxed on her stool quietly. "It's my job, I do it for my daughter. No pay, and most of the time I don't know why I do it but..." she smiled a little. "Makes my girl happy I guess."
Ianna's silver eyes moved to watch the child before answering the question, "Why you? I can't answer that. The spirit chooses the guardian, not us. The book is connected to the spirit, and apparently you got the pegasus.""Is that what being a mother is like? Prepared to do anything to keep the child happy?" Kierla was not quite sure anyone could elict such a relationship from her. The closest who came to that was Yachiru and her mother - Kierla's sister - Kiarna.
Then Kierla's head shot up, shock reading in her eyes for the second time that day. "Pegasus?" she said sharply. She glanced at the book which the note from Matilda had been enscribed in. "Matilda didn't say anything about a pegasus!
"What is this place, anyways? You said Ghosts of the Past. Explain." She rubbed her eyes tiredly. "Please," she added, not wanting to prevoke any more shouting."Nope, but the wand contains the soul of a pegasus. The pegasus however will be mostly human in features with maybe one or two winged horse characteristics," a nod of the woman's head, "And yes...that's what being a mother's all about. I have two rugrats."
A soft giggle, "One's a Sidhe, one's a cold hearted witch...Also, to answer your question...This place is spelled to draw the guardians of the wands in. The actual headquarters is in a different realm."
Because Ianna didn't feel like having another hysterical episode, she simply stood and walked to the door to the side of the desk, "Follow me."
As they entered the main lobby Via the portal connecting the shoppe and the headquarters, the first thing they would notice is the vast...largeness...of it. The high ceilings, edged with gold, the large chandeliers dripping with crystals, the smooth white tile-floors, colorful rugs, and beautiful paintings.
To the left was a large recreational area complete with a large flat-screen television, several rows of various games, movies, video game systems and books. There was a basket of toys in the corner, full of plushies, dolls, cards and various other objects which would appeal to most ages. Included in the area were several comfy looking couches and plush chairs just made for sitting, lounging or bouncing in. It seemed to be heaven on a fluffy carpet. It even had a foos-ball table and an air-hockey table....and for the slightly more food-minded GoTP, a mini fridge always full.
To the right was a large elaborate counter, which seemed to have a force-field of some sort around it, keeping anyone who was not Ianna or Matilda from going behind it. On the counter lay a roster with the names of all the Ghostly children and their guardians, and an appointment book.
From there, it branched off into halls with rows and rows of rooms. Some were storage, some were guest rooms, some were bathrooms, and one very large and ornate door to the end of the hall led to the gardens. "Welcome to Headquarters, Kierla. You're welcome here at any time. " A vast difference from the dusty wand shop. Kierla made an indistinguishable noise in the back of her throat - perhaps a polite snort of disbelief. This 'mother' thing was going to take some getting used to.
"Sidhe, witch," she said instead, picking up on the next line of conversation. She didn't feel like making the effort of talking much of something that did not directly concern her life, however, so that was dead.
Headquarters. Now, that was interesting.
Following Ianna - dragging a sniffling Yachiru behind her - she passed through the door.
She couldn't help let out a gasp, despite her resolution not to let her guard down again. But the moment passed. "This is the HQ." It was not a question; merely a statement that expressed her (feigned) boredom, and unimpressed-ness.
Yachiru, however, was quite delighted with this new playground, and was not afraid to show it. "Muuuurrr!" she squealed, dashing over to the couch-chair-section, immediatly plopping herself down on one, bouncing up and down.
Kierla nodded, then collected Yachiru - who was disappointed when she was taken away from the comfy-things - with a "Thank you for your hospitality. When will the...soul...come out of the wand?"
She was eager to run all the way home (no, that would seem undignified and panicky) and just...think."Yes, this is headquarters...And it's always open," Ianna murmured, moving over to a sofa and sitting down on it carefully, "There will often be other guardians milling around, and there's a large garden area in the back."
A pause to listen to her question, "When you accept it."
And that was all Ianna said.When you accept it. The rather ominous words (at least, that's what Kierla thought of them) reverbrated around and around her mind, like the peal of a funeral bell.
"Thank you," she said courteously again, securing her grip on the restlessly whining Yachiru.
She was silent for a long moment. Her opaque eyes seemed colder than ever.
"I suppose I should go now, then?""If you so wish it, just don't forget the wand. It's sitting on the desk in the main shop - if you reject it, you will be responsible for a second horrible death. Of a child."
Spinning around on her heel, the hem of her black cloak billowing malovently, Kierla seemed even more angry than when she was screaming. In all honesty, Kierla was quite tempted to do just that. In her opinion, Death was a wonderful thing - a whole new world to explore - and it would be a gift for the soul in the wand to die, yet again! What wonderful luck, this person has.
But, she had a strange feeling that nobody else - nevermind Ianna - would agree.
And so, she furiously snatched up the winged wand on her way out, and the shop was empty of her presence before anyone could say a single word.//end <3
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Posted: Tue Jan 24, 2006 9:46 pm
'Kierla's Thoughts'
Journal Entry
Kierla felt like throwing the stupid wand against the wall, dashing it to pieces - but (1) that probably was not quite such a good idea and (2) it probably wouldn't break anyways being an item of magic.
Magic.
PAH!
Nonono. She was beginning to get to that point where she became irritated (irrationally so) at everything. Closing her eyes and breathing deeply, she forced the swirling mixture of anger, confusion, and irritation to settle, and let a surge of calm take over her.
Then her eyes flickered open and she emitted the tiniest of sighs.
Her she caught something out the corner of her gaze. A tattered, gray, long-forgotten book. Kierla's journal. She had not written in it for...since she was a small small child. And she had only filled one page, that declared:
This is Kierla's Journal.
As Kierla held the little book in one hand, then glanced at the pearl-white wand in the other, she decided it was high time to start writing in it again.
What does it mean to be a mother?
Well, guess what. Starting from now on, I am one.
Of a soul of a pegasus trapped inside a wand. That will come out, and start its second life, as an infant under my care.
Now, who in hell OR heaven would place this poor soul in my hand?
I grew up without a mother. The closest being I can call 'mother' is Kiarna - and that's only because she is 'family'. And rather, we don't really see each other that often - although since I moved to Gaia, lots of unusual things have been happening.
For example. I repeat.
I AM A MOTHER.
I honestly don't know whether I should be joyful, angry, completely pissed to the point of breaking this damned wand in half then stomping all over the pieces. Or just plain confused.
And so, I'm all of these things. All though I can't quite break this wand. Else I'll probably kill the soul within. I don't think Ianna or Matilda or any one, for that matter, would take to that too kindly.
But no, no, NO! I'm not supposed to feel anything. I, the neutral, impassive, stone-faced Kierla, capable of actual human emotions?
I always like to think myself as not-human. It's a nice fantasy, to not be of the same kin of the parasites of the Earth. It's always nice to not be human.
But, I guess it's inevitable. I'm a human. And. Need I remind you again? I'm going to be a mother.
I'm still reeling from the utter shock. I think I'm going to lie down.
Kierla laid the pencil and book down, rubbing her eyes wearily. Then, impulsively, she opened her journal again, adding at the bottom:
Well. Who knows.
Maybe...being a mother won't be so bad?
Which she immediately crossed out.
This was going to be a perfect nightmare.
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Posted: Fri Jan 27, 2006 9:31 pm
'More of Kierla's Thoughts'
Journal Entry
What am I supposed to do, being a mother of a stick?!
Oh, pardon me. A stick with wings on the side with pink ribbons all a-whirling around it, and a wretched soul who did not deserve its death trapped inside, just waiting to come out and become a little baby who I AM THE MOTHER OF.
AND YES, I AM STILL OBSESSING OVER THAT PREPOSTEROUS FACT.
Thank you.
Kierla placed the book down, hesitantly, then opened it again with a sigh. It had become rather a habit of hers now, to continuously flipping the worn journal open then closed. Since when had such indecision gripped her? Oh, how she (half)longed to move back away from this unpredictable chaos of Gaia!
That woman, Ianna, said that I have to...'accept it.'
What does that mean?
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 1:12 pm
'They...WISP?!'
RP with Amparo (Amparo Fernandez) Now equipped with a wisp as well as a wand, Amparo Fernandez wandered into the Headquarters quietly, alone this time. She had left Antonio in the care of Jonathan, since both boys were very much intent on finishing the moving and did not want Amparo to 'lift a finger'.
Probably because they were leaving the things outside in the garage, so she could decorate. Lazy bums with no sense of decorating, they were. Amparo was enjoying her time off, though, as she sat on the couch in the entertainment area of the Headquarters, eyes closing as she flopped out on the couch comfortably.
Taking it easy was the theme of the week, til everything was moved. And then, she'd have to decorate, of course. But now, she had her wand laying across her lap, the wisp swaying to and fro with gentle breezes. Amparo was becoming possessively protective of the wand, refusing to leave it home now that the wisp was out. It was a week-long stage. She didn't want anything happening to the baby because of carelessness.Kierla didn't even know where she was going, wand in hand, until she quite literally ran into a - by no means soft - wall. Blinking out of her swirling mists of heavy thoughts, she took a step back and stared at the offending wall.
Then she sighed, and entered the now familiar 'Ghosts of the Past Shop.'
Once inside, she made a beeline toward the door Ianna had introduced her to, dazedly entering the Headquarters.
Wait. Why did she come here again?
Well, no help for it, she was here. "Hey," she called softly, voice echoing slightly. "Is anyone here?"Amparo heard someone calling, asking if anyone was there, and tipped her head towards the sound quietly, frowning. Sighing to herself, she rose, and wandered over into the middle of the main lobby. She grinned slightly when she spotted the person.
So it wasn't her imagination. Great, she did not need to be going crazy.
"Hi there." She greeted. "I'm here." Amparo waved lightly, smirking. She moved closer to the newcomer curiously, eying her.
It took a lot of thought on Amparo's part to not twirl the wand as habit made it, and so she simply gripped the wand carefully, grinning. "I'm Amparo Fernandez." She greeted, holding her hand out. "And you are...?""I'm Kierla." She did not take the hand, keeping hers clasped behind her back with the pegasus wand, although she did nod her head courteously. "Pleased to meet you." The emotionless tone of the voice did not seem true to the words it spoke - but that was simply how she always sounded.
Then her eyes flickered to the item this Amparo held, widened ever the slightest bit, and proceeded to stared unblinkingly at the wand.
Or, to be perfectly exact, at the wisp floating at the tip.
"What...is that?"Amparo blinked slightly when Kierla asked about the wand, and glanced down at the wisp somewhat fondly, grinning. "This is my wand." She replied, shrugging. "It wisped just recently." She looked up.
"You've got one, yeah?" She asked curiously, hand back at her side with her fingers looped in her belt loops. She hadn't met anyone who didn't have one that was in the Headquarters, but ya never know...."What do you mean...wisp?" Kierla asked, eyes narrowing back to normal size, and a good bit more. Wisp?! These things...wisped?! Weren't they supposed to become babies and yada yada yada? And just when she was getting used to the idea of babies blossoming out of wands.
In response to the second question, Kierla held out her right hand from behind her back, which was clasped around the pearly-white, winged wand.Amparo looked amused. "This is the second stage of the wand." She explained, holding out the wand so Kierla could see the wisp closer. "It doesn't just become a baby like that, not that I know of. Would make things easier though, hn?" She smirked slightly.
Amparo looked down at Kierla's wand, and smiled a little. "S'pretty." She noted absently, eying the wand with a careful eye. "How long've you had it?" She looked up curiously, arching an eyebrow. "Ah." She nodded. "You've got a little bit of a wait then, before your wand goes wispy." She promised, grinning up at her. "Unless it goes haywire and speeds up the process, but I doubt that'll happen, so..." She shrugged. "No worries."
Amparo shrugged. "Yeah." She replied, smiling a little bit. "I met with other wand owners who had their wisps, so it didn't come as a big surprise." She explained, moving a little so she could sit comfortably on the floor and look up at Kierla. A lesser, more human woman would have frowned. As it was, the corners of Kierla's mouth twitched, as if they knew the possibilites. "Ianna told me that...the soul inside would come out, once I 'accepted it.'" A slight hesitation. "What does that mean?"
Another pause. She gestured with her free hand that wasn't holding the wand, over to the lounge-area, walking over to it. "If you're going to sit, you should take a proper chair..."She smiled a little and shrugged. "It means 'ssactly what she said." She got up, and wandered over to the lounge-area with Kierla, sitting on a couch comfortably. "When the soul thinks you're ready to accept it completely? It'll come out." She grinned, shrugging.
She nodded slightly and shrugged, eying her wand. "I guess the soul can kinda sense when you're ready to accept it, or somethin'." She replied, glancing over with a meek shrug. "Not too sure how it works."This time, Kierla really did frown. Her hands placed gently at each end of the wand in her lap gave a little jerk, her fingers curling around, as if what she wanted most at that particular moment was to snap the cursed wand that had completely ruined her perfectly orderly world, right in two.
But she controlled herself, instead letting her eyes say what she felt along with the words, "I sincerely doubt I'll ever be able to do that, then." Kierla tried to keep her voice as lighthearted as possible, but it only came out rather shrill and cruel.Amparo noted it, and looked faintly amused. "It's not all that bad, y'know." She pointed out, getting up and watching her. "I mean, my view, I happen to love kids, so..." She laughed. "And it'd be the first one I'll be able to raise completely on my own, since my son Antonio... well." She shook her head. "That's another tale for another time, yeah?"
Amparo watched her. "The wand chose you." She pointed out, sitting again and watching Kierla with a calm expression on her face. "So that means it knows, or at least has a very strong feeling, that you'll be able to accept it, and take care of it." She smirked slightly. "'Sides, there's gotta be something to be said about being able to give someone a second chance, y'know?""Ah, you see. I happen to not quite so fondly 'love' kids. The closest I've interacted with kids is the occasional baby-sitting my niece. And even my sister, the good-in-all-finder, admits that I'm one lousy baby-sitter."
A thought struck her. "Have the souls in these wands...been known to choose wrongly, their guardians?"
About second chances, she made no remark. In her opinion, there was no such thing as a second chance. But maybe it would be unwise to say so, in a place like this.Amparo smiled a little and nodded slightly. "Well, not everyone's meant for kids, yannow." She smirked at her slightly, bemused. "Those who are, have them. Those who aren't... well, they don't." She shrugged. "That's the way the leaves fall."
She shrugged slightly, frowning. "I've never... known the souls to choose wrong, but I'm pretty new here myself, to be honest." She smiled meekly, shrugging at the girl. "Even if they did, hon, I doubt it'd happen often.""Then...why did this soul choose me?" Kierla couldn't help but wonder aloud. "It's like the leaves are falling up."
A quiet sigh. "Then I guess I must be resigned," she said dejectedly.
"What is it like to be..a mother?" Kierla had asked Ianna of this already...but the question just sprang to her lips automatically. Maybe it was different for each person.Amparo shrugged slightly, grinning. "It'll all make sense in the end. You just gotta give it time, s'all." She replied, watching Kierla quietly.
Amparo blinked at Kierla's question, and frowned thoughtfully. "Well... it's different, that's for damn sure." She grinned at Kierla slightly, and shrugged. "It's different for everyone though. I've never actually been a real Mother, Antonio's already half-grown, he doesn't need me very much lately." She smiled meekly. "But when he first came to me, it was all just... really weird."
Amparo sighed thoughtfully, and shrugged. "It can be a great thing, I imagine. But it's going to be hard, there's no doubt in that. Anything in life that's worth havin' is worth fightin' for.""Time," Kierla said disbelievingly. "Time. Just add water." Her joke fell rather flat, however, giving that she did not truly mean it as one.
Quickly, she calmed herself down. She was getting hysterical again, and it wouldn't do to ruin her reputation.
Instead, she listened coldly to Amparo's explanation of 'motherhood.' Pah. But she attempted a stab at being remotely polite. "That's...good."Amparo smirked slightly, eying Kierla. "Just add water and wait ten minutes, all will be well." She rolled her eyes slightly, an amused smirk tugging at her lips. She watched Kierla, and shook her head, playing with her wand absently.
She shrugged slightly and watched Kierla. "You never really had plans on bein' a mother, did'ja?" She still had the faint look of amusement glinting in her eyes, but her smile was gentle."That does not make sense," Kierla couldn't help but protest. "Add water to time then wait for...time to pass?"
Guh. Confusing. Next, please.
"Oh, is it really that obvious?" It was hard to tell whether Kierla was being sarcastic or not if one was judging from the tone of her voice. I'd bet on the sarcasm, however. "My life was already messed up enough when my sister decided to make me an aunt. And now...a mother?"She grinned. "Jokes aren't supposed to make sense, not usually." She shrugged nonchalantly and tipped her head, eying Kierla in vague amusement.
"It is." She replied to Kierla's sarcastic tone, eying her. "It really isn't that bad, y'know." She smirked. "It's only bad until they get to bein' kids. And then teens, and then you're homefree. Bad part is? It passes by faster than you think, if you enjoy it. Kids grow up real fast, like bean stalks." She grinned slightly, shrugging. "So, my advice? Enjoy these few stages when it isn't screaming and cryin', and enjoy those stages when you have 'em. They don't last forever." She got up, stretching.Kierla replied condenscingly, "And that is why I don't like jokes."
"Nothing lasts forever." Back to the time thing, again. "Time seems to always be the base of things, is it not? Things pass too fast, things pass too slow, things pass..." Kierla stood up as well. "Well. I guess I should be heading back now. Thank you for the help." And hesitatingly, she held out her hand, forcing an awkward smile on her face. It looked horribly out of place.She grinned a little bit, and nodded. She shook Kierla's hand carefully. "I should head back, too. My boys... They're destructive little brats when they wanna be." She grinned slightly and eyed Kierla.
"Hey, if you ever wanna hang out..." She shrugged mildly. "Just tell me, yeah?" She grinned. "I'm here most'a the time anyhow, so." She let her shoulders fall a little nonchalantly, before grinning. "The offer's open." That said, Amparo started for the door leading out.Kierla stood there for a long moment, staring at her hand, shaking her head. She must be getting soft in her...young age?
"Sure," Kierla said to the empty room. Then...she headed home.//end <3
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Posted: Sun Jan 29, 2006 1:29 pm
'Resigned Thoughts'
Journal Entry
Does 'accepting it' mean 'resigning to the fact of its existence'? To some extent?
Well, if so, then you've got your wish, you stupid little soul. I am resigned to the fact that I can't somehow crush you into infinite little pieces then toss you into the garbage can.
Today I went, without knowing it, to the Ghosts of the Past HQ. I don't know why I went there. I just did. Maybe some confounded call of magic. Or maybe I was just distracted. Probably the latter...
There, I met another GotP guardian. Amparo. I also learned that before becoming flesh-and-blood babies, they emerge as a wispy thing at the tip of the wand.
As it that wasn't an interesting day enough...I actually smiled and shook her hand an (sort of) agreed to 'hang out' another time.
The leaves really are falling up.
Place the journal down, pick it back up. The old drill.
I'll give one credit to this pegasus soul. It's begun to change me already.
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Posted: Wed Feb 08, 2006 3:50 pm
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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Posted: Fri Feb 10, 2006 10:53 pm
'And the Wisp'
Growth Entry
Kierla was thinking.
And talking. To the wand in her hands, of all...creatures. For lack of better term.
It was a standard conversation. "Hello. How are you? Good, I am fine."
Then she fell into a dead silence. After several moments, Kierla would start all over again. "Hello. How are you? Good, I am fine." Then, she would gaze into the horizon, lost in her thoughts. Her long, ebony hair billowed out in a flatteringly noble? way that one normally could only see in movies. Only Kierla could manage dramatic things like that.
Nevertheless, despite the wind's frolicking hand, from the befuddled glances and raised eyebrows that were directed toward her direction, it was clear that the passerbyers thought she was quite mad.
But since when did Kierla care what others thought? She was thinking her own thoughts - much more important than theirs.
"Hello. How are you? Good, I am fine."
Obviously, the wand wasn't exactly answering to her repeated greetings. No, it remained utterly cold and boringly dead and completely mute, without the faintest trace of the bizarre fact that a soul was currently residing within it. But Kierla felt rather like she was a pregnant women - in a non-literal sense, perhaps she was - and that the more she talked to the soul the more familiar it would be with her voice and her when it came out.
When it came out. Not if it came out, not the few seconds it had in the world if it came out before I tossed it into an orphanage. Unconciously, Kierla had come to accept the fact - a little resentfully, perhaps, but accepted all the same - that the wand's current resident was here to stay.
She was startled out of her soup of thoughts by a sudden vibration against her hands. Startled, she glared at the wand. She shook it back savagely, and more people turned to stare as she told it, "Now what?"
At the cross edge in her tone, the shudders stopped. Kierla emitted a great sigh, and turned her eyes into the far horizon again.
Another tremble. "Stop it!" she whispered in a low growl, tightening her grip on it and shaking it again.
This went on for another minute. By then, the sun had finished his tiringly long business of setting, the world was cast in a faint purple mist, and the road side of the grassy hill where Kierla was sitting was deserted.
Then - the wand shook itself again. Despite Kierlas (half-weary) scoldings, it did not cease or change in any manner except to shudder even more violently.
Finally, after an extremely long eternity - Kierla would have a bone to pick with the God of Time, once this day was over - a tendril of pale smoke curled into the air, its source, the mysterious winged wand.
The thin ribbon of mist grew fatter and elongated, until it had become a wisp the same beautiful pearly-white color of its benefactor.
Kierla could only stare at the floating wisp. Thank the gods she was prepared for this from her meeting with Amparo. Who knew what she would have done if she hadn't been expecting this. Throw the wand in the river, most like, thinking it had been defective.
All the same, she felt like screaming. Somehow, the reality of this whole business of motherhood had not struck her, really struck her, till now. Sure, she had shouted and flamed and complained about it. She had accepted it, finally. But now...
She was going to be a mother. Of the wisp of pearl that was hovering at the tip of a pegasus wand.
Now she really wanted to scream. Maybe not scream, but make some sort of noise to indicate the feelings bottled up inside of her. She could feel the demand for answers clawing its way out of her eyes, a bubble of anxiety rolling around her stomach, joy flowing through her bloodstream, a melancholy that lodged in her throat, threatening to choke her. Her mouth opened -
And, instead of the desperate wail that was expected, out fell with a monotonous plink from her traitorous lips -
"Hello. How are you? Good, I am fine."
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 4:03 pm
'Wispy Thinking'
Journal Entry
Well, the wand has wisped.
...why did I ever say I 'accepted it' - or to be more accurate 'resigned self to existence'?
Okay, fine, I admit it, I was more friendly to it than counts for 'resignment'. But I'm still sort of doubting my ability as a mother.
A MOTHER A MOTHER A MOTHER -
YES, I AM CONTINUING TO OBSESS OVER THAT.
And gods damn it all, don't I have a right to?
As usual. Down, pause, flip back open. Kierla really had to stop that. It was getting to be rather an annoying habit.
You know, the wisp is actually sort of pretty. A nice pinkish-silvery-pearly-ness.
I wonder whether it's a girl or boy.
I wonder if it'll hate me.
I wonder -
I'M BABBLING. OH GODS, I'M GOING CRAZY.
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2006 4:19 pm
[ Message temporarily off-line ]
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Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 9:01 pm
'Butterflies and Moon Frogs'
RP with Neveah (Enoh Love) Neveah sat just outside the Wand Shoppe, not really able to bring herself to go in at this point in time. Besides, sitting was nice...right? Right. In any case, while she sat there, she ended up slipping and falling into her own world, reflecting on what Patrick had told her about infants and the Ghosts, what the parenting book had said about babies, and, of course, what she was going to write in her first report to Philos.
There was no way she'd let him know that there were other, different wants besides the one she possessed, the Drow spirit that rested in the spider-tipped wand on her lap.
"Geez spiderling...the more I learn, the more I want to punch Philos, quit researching you and study moonfrogs in your place..." Again with the Moon Frogs! She spoke outloud to the wand without realizing it, her distress apparent in the butterfly woman's voice.Just a nice normal day. Fwee.
Rather unusual for a day in Gaia.
Kierla was so glad it was normal, she was even humming to herself as she walked up the streets of Barton. Humming? That's not exactly Kierla. But whatever floated her boat on this fine, very normal day.
Then she saw the butterfly...thing.
With a wand. Standing in front of the Ghosts to the Past shop.
Damn you, butterfly thing with wand thing. Damn you for ruining my day.
Well, there was no helping it; if she was a guardian, Kierla would have to meet her sooner or later anyways. "Hello," she said, jerking her wrist in a very small wave.Neveah's antennae twitched as the other woman came closer to her...but alas, the woman herself didn't look over. Oh yes, she was very, very spaced out. The greeting was given, and the blue butterfly still didn't move to acknowledge it.
Then...then there was the small wave. Now that caught her attention. Giving a startled cry, the woman jumped and spun around to face the other (crying out something along the lines of 'THERE'S NO GOD DAMN WAY IN HELL I'M GONNA LOOKIT STUPID FRIGGIN' OCEAN MOLES!'), looking as if she could bolt at any time. Then, as suddenly as she had moved, Neveah went quiet and stared in bewilderment at Kierla, blinking a few times.
"Oh, hello there!" The woman greeted cheerfully, standing up fully this time. She was grinning eyelessly and waving...it was almost as if nothing had happened!Oh yes, damn you to the farthest reaches of hell, you -
Kierla's thoughts were broken by the creepy butterfly-thing awful caterwauling. Staring coldly at her, she waited for her to calm down, somehow conveying the feeling that she most did not want to be there, talking to a butterfly-thing. "Um.." Eurgh. She said um. What an indecisive word. "I noticed that you had a wand as well.." Kierla held up her own.
Continuing to stare at the butterfly-thing, Kierla wondered if it would be polite to ask, What are you? No, it wouldn't. She substituted with a, "I'm Kierla. And you?"Naturally, the butterfly humanoid took no notice of the cold stare she received. If she had, she would have ignored it anyway...she's good like that. "...Wand?" She blinked, then gasped, staring down at the spider-tipped wand she held in her hand, holding it up when the other woman held hers. They looked strange...this elegant, white winged wand next to the obsidian, spider-tipped wand. "Oh yeah, I have one. Not sure what I'm supposed to do with it, but I have one!" She smiled again, pulling the wand closer to her.
"I'm Neveah, nice to meet you!" She held out her right hand. Her hands were slender, and her fingers were slightly longer than the average human's...nor did she have nails. Her fingers just find of...got thinner until they were fairly pointed, though harmless. Her naturally angled, almond-shaped eyes blinked curiously at the full human, finding this to be a rare species...which was very neat! "So uh...what brings you out here?" Neveah wasn't too sure about small talk, but hey...it usually led to bigger and better things, right? Her antennae twitched at the thought."Pleased to meet you, too," Kierla replied warily, taking the hand, keeping hers there just long enough to seem polite, then dropping it again. This creature seemed as scatterbrained as she was; perhaps they wouldn't be enemies, then. Birds of a feather flock together. Or butterflies.
"What brings me out here," Kierla echoed. What she would have liked to say...well, it didn't matter. She couldn't say it anyways. "I was just taking a stroll..and I noticed you had a wand too. So I figured, might as well get acquainted with you now, as opposed to later when our children severely harm each other in a rock fight." This was said without the faintest trace of laughter; but surely she was joking. Right? Neveah brought her hand back to her side once it was released, a thin smile still on her lips. Being scatterbrained was a habit now...considering that was her only defence against brain meltdown! The woman seemed to consider Kierla's words very, very carefully...even to the point of tapping her own chin in thought.
"I'd worry more about Spiders than rocks.." Neveah said flatly, meaning she was very serious about it. Drow were known to be able to speak with/control spiders. If the right type of spider came long...well, anything from completely melted innards to severe skin decay to an annoyingly itchy bite could happen. Not to mention the Drow are killing machines. "But the methods of harming doesn't quite matter! You're right, its best to meet people in good circumstances!" Nodding her head energetically, she slipped her wand into a hidden pocket of her coat, to keep it warm as well as to keep tabs on it.
"Oh, this is the second wand I've met! Well, I've technically only met your wand, but I met a baby from a previous wand, so technically I met that wand, too! Do you know about what happens between the wand and infant stage..?" She had to know from someone who was experiencing it now! That was just the folklorist in her speaking, of course. Also, it seemed she didn't notice the faint wisp that latched onto the winged wand.Blinku. And internal one, albeit - Kierla wouldn't let any sign of being fazed come over her outer shell. Spiders? But Kierla shook it off. Meh, spiders were easier to squish than rocks.
"I myself have met - " Kierla paused for a moment to count, then gave up " - mm, I don't know how many. Not too many, I'm just not feeling up to counting right now."
At Neveah's next question..Kierla considered going onto one of her hypreventilating rants on the injustices of being the mother of a wisp of a soul of a wand. Oh, the horror. But - best make a good first impression, right? So, no rants for today. "Well, as you can see," Kierla said, gesturing to her wisping wand, "The first thing that happens is a sort of wisp-thing gathers at the tip. I don't know personally next, but I've been told that then the wisp becomes a ghost-like creature, and then finally a flesh and blood baby."NOW Neveah took notice of the faint wisp that gathered at the top of the other wand. Okay, NOTE TO SELF! No vaccumming. Or leaving the windows open. Or aerosol spray cans! ...Wait... She didn't have any aerosol spray cans anyway! Silly butterfly. Dragging her mind back to the present, she listened to Kierla quietly.
Neveah did what Kierla wouldn't. She began to rant. "So now I have to avoid any wind whatsoever? Thats so not fair! Its unfair that I have the wand, too! I have absolutely NO maternal instincts. None. Zip. Ziltch. Nada." She took a breath...finally! Then continued right on, not really realizing she was ranting. This sort of thing happens when you lived on your own. "And I LIKE being outside in the sun, and I won't be able to anymore because the soul is a Drow and the Drow don't like the sun because it burns their skin an---" She stopped mid-breath, staring at the woman in front of her. Only now she realized that she'd been ranting, and frankly...she looked sheepish and embarassed now.
"Uh...ahem." She straightened, coughing into her fist and composing herself. "I mean, I love this wand and I'm sure it'll be an enriching experience for me." If I live, she added mentally."Huh. Tell me about it; I'm not the motherly type at all. I was rather...shocked, myself, when I first heard of it." Shocked being it put mildly, Kierla thought wryly. She lost her temper, something she had never done before.
Waitasecond. "Er..." Gods..another indecisive word, yucketh. "You have a Drow wand?" Kierla chanced a surprised glance the pocket in which the Drow wand was contained. "Mine is a pegasus. So I was told." She wasn't sure if she could trust Ianna yet, although why she would have a reason to lie about that, Kierla hadn't figured out.Neveah looked relieved that her rant had gone practically uncared for. She was starting to like this woman! "Well...I thought that she was trying to kidnap me on behalf of my employer to send me to the moon to study moon frogs." Giggling sheepishly, the butterfly closed her eyes, remembering. "And I almost walked out on her..." So really, its her own fault for having the wand now. She had a chance to get rid of it! Guilt was the thing that brought her back, though...
"Eh? Oh yes, I was told the wand is a Drow wand. It makes sense, because the spider at the top is a replica of a form of Lloth, the Spider Goddess the Drow worship." Which means that Ianna was not lying when she said the wand was Drow. Neveah did her research shortly after. Either this was real, or it happened to be one VERY impressive fake. Her eyes lit up at the mention of pegasus. "Oh, a Pegasus! I'd LOVE to see it when its a baby! That'd be something really cool...D'you think it'll be humanoid, or d'you think it'll be a little foal?""There are...frogs on the moon." Now Kierla truly was bewildered. Although she still remained stoicly calm on the outside, as usual.
Waaait. Spider Goddess? Wuzzah? All Kierla knew about the Drow was that they scared Kiarna out of her wits, so they must be a good thing. But Kierla didn't want to say that. She would have to look up this fascinating creature called Drow later. No comment.
Oh, great. Another thing to confuse her. Why did this Neveah have to bring up so many things that Kierla didn't know? Kierla didn't like this feeling of not knowing. "Well...I don't know. Hopefully humanoid. I don't think I can handle another shock like that.""Oh, I don't know if there are real frogs on the moon." Neveah said nonchalantly, waving her hand dismissively in the air. "I'm a folklorist, so I can't cross the possibility of them out. That and I don't want to go to the moon." Its probably cold and angry and not pretty like Gaia.
"If it isn't humanoid, wanna trade?" She was giggling, so it was obvious that she were joking. She'd love to have a Pegasus as a charge, but the Drow chose her, and she had no choice but to take charge of the Drow, and ONLY the Drow."Well, there aren't," Kierla said icily. "Even if there was some living creature on the moon that vaguely resembled a frog it wouldn't be a frog. It'd have an entirely different way of living adapted to the moon enviroment, as opposed to a frog on Earth."
Maybe she should shut up now. Yes.
But the next question refrained her from doing so, requiring an answer. "Well, I'd love to," Kierla lied, "But unfortunately Ianna told me that if I reject the pegasus, it'll die. And I don't think Ianna or Matilda would be too happy with me then."Neveah's expression suddenly got serious, and her happy smile turned into a somewhat twisted one. "Have you ever been to the moon? You never know. There are more than one breed of everything. You can have entirely different environments and personality patterns, but they're still essentially the same thing." For a moment, she looked almost scary. Yay bipolar butterfly women!
"I was joking anyway...I can't give up the Drow either. With or without maternal instincts, I'm gonna keep it and try my best." Suddenly, she was back to her normal self, including her happy-go-lucky, scatterbrained smile. "I wouldn't be able to live with myself if the soul disappeared because of me...""The entire internal system would have to be different, so, no, they would not be the same," Kierla couldn't help but protest. She couldn't help but love debates. Even those not quite so friendly.
Yeah. Moving on. Don't make her angry. "Oh, I would be able to live with that. I just don't want Ianna and her other-realm-magicalistic daughter to be hunting me down for the rest of my short life." "If they existed, which I'm not sure if they do, I bet they'd be similar, but not identical." After all, wasn't that what she had meant? Vaguely, NOW she wanted to go to the moon and find moon frogs, just to prove that she was right. Again, the folklorist in her was itching for it. Down folklorist, down!
"I couldn't...but short life? Aren't humans supposed to live for nearly a century?" Thats not very short. Short compared to most races yes, but a century was a long time. Maybe this woman had something wrong with her? No matter what she said outloud, she sounded innocent and curious...nothing she said meant anybody any harm.There was only one thing that could be said at times like this, and it would not help Neveah to keep that folklorist in her down. "...Prove it," Kierla stated blankly, the flatness of her tone seeming to border on nonchalant impudence. If one stretched one's imagination a bit.
"Well, I don't plan on living that long. I don't want to spend my last years in a sickbed, unable to move, blind - no, I want to breathe my last out there." Kierla seemed more excited than she ever had before (other than that time she had lost her temper); her eyes were snapping with a strange glow, and she was gesturing wildly everywhere. "Wouldn't that be interesting, to die in Death?" she mused, more to herself than to Neveah. "Oh, I must remember to write that down when I get home."Neveah's naturally angled eyes narrowed in challenge, looking rather smug about herself, for one reason or another. "Alright, I will!" Aah...and there went the Folklorist in her. Snapping to a challenge! Oh dear, Philos was going to kill her for this. But hey, she had to prove a point! A frog can still be a frog, no matter where it lives! Again, she suddenly cheered up.
"Ew, me neither...its not nice to be on a sick bed." The woman's nose wrinkled up in disgust. "Its inhumane." Neveah chuckled softly at the interesting lyric that came from Keirla, nodding in agreement. "Nice quote." She decided the other should know what she thought, so there it was! "By the way, since we seem to agree on this...why don't we make a pact? I don't want to be on a sickbed in my last days, and neither do you...so how about if one of us is just that, the other should mercily end her life?" It sounded fair to her, and since she lived alone...she kind of needed someone to pull the plug for her. That is, if the Drow hadn't killed her before then."Good, good...you go ahead and do that," Kierla said distractedly. "Would make the front page, I expect, eh." She was eager for this subject to be closed. Who cared if frogs lived on the moon or not anyways?
She had just reached to the point of mumbling gibberish to herself and jabbing finger in the air at random places, pursuing this interesting trail of thought - when she looked up at Neveah dazedly. "It's a quote?" she said blankly. "No, no, I was just speaking to my mind. What is it a quote from?"
This Neveah...creature was truly interesting. It only took her a moment's hesitation to answer her offer. "Mm. Why not." She nodded, a sudden wide smile flashing on her face for a split second. "That would tie up loose ends very nicely, I should think."Neveah couldn't help the amused giggle that left her lips. "The quote is from you, silly! I've never heard that phrase anywhere else!" Her nailless fingers pressed against her lips in a rather childish way of quieting her giggles. "Anything a person says can be a quote...you just gotta remember it in order to give it meaning!" Grinning, she let her hands drop back to her sides.
"Oh good, now I don't have to worry! Shake on it?" She held out her right hand again. "And yes, it rather does...I also think I should leave it at that for now...I've got some errands I needed to run." Neveah looked entirely apologetic; her antennae disappeared into her hair, and even her wings managed to lower somewhat! "But it was really nice meeting you, I hope we meet again!" They'd have to, considering they had a pact to off the other when she was in sickness!"Oh." Kierla gazed at Neveah with the same dazed look. "Shouldn't quotes come from...oh, I don't know. People who are important?" Well, whatever. It wasn't like anyone knew the 'quote' except for Kierla and Neveah; unless Neveah went around repeating the 'quote' to every person she met.
Taking the hand and shaking it once, Kierla smiled. Not bad, not bad. So Neveah...was a friend, in sorts? Maybe. She found herself feeling slightly sad that Neveah would have to go; their conversation had been an interesting one. "Yes, hope you see you again, sometimes..."
And Kierla went her way, mind filled to the brim with wonderings of Death and moon frogs.//end <3
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Posted: Mon Mar 20, 2006 9:04 pm
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Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2006 6:50 pm
'Shhh!''
Growth Quest and Entry Quest! Kierla must research the nature of her wand's spirit. To be able to accept it, she needs to understand it. Therefore? Read up on Pegasus - and horses.
Oh, now was a fine time to realize that. A pegasus baby that she would have to take care off will pop up someday in the not so distant future, and Kierla just discovers that she really doesn't know anything about pegasuses!
Okay. Time for a list.
Number one. They were...white. Maybe. Sort of. At least this one was, if it resembled the wand's color in any way. And that was all that mattered, right?
Secondly. They had wings. Yeah. Well, that wasn't too hard to surmise, just looking at the wand.
Third... third... what was third? Oh, yes. They were horses. Of some type. Maybe. They looked like them, anyways.
They were famous. At least, one of them was. Or was that the only one?
Kierla threw away the notepad and pencil.
It was past time for some serious research.
~}-*-{~
First stop: the Internet.
Sneaking into her sister's house while she was out (Kierla didn't own a computer) was no problem. The ever crafty Kierla had just told Kiarna that a new ice cream shop had opened in Durem, and off the silly girl went, draggin along the entire family. Except for Kierla and her wand, of course.
And, well, the never soft-treading Kiarna always leaves the door unlocked.
The home page was a search engine; perfect! Typing in 'pegasus' as fast as was humanely possible for Kierla's out of practice fingers, she hurriedly clicked the nearest button. The page loaded, and she groaned. Image search. She could never get used to this confangled computer stuff.
But... the pictures were pretty. And pictures do speak one hundred words. Maybe she should print some out. Now to figure out how to print...
~}-*-{~
Several packs of wasted paper and finally one successful picture printed, Kierla decided that perhaps the Internet wasn't exactly the best way for her to search. So, where else to go? Well, that should be obvious enough.
The realm of research, the Library!
And so, that was Kierla's current location: in a cramped corner, with piles of books around her obscuring any sight of her from the rest of the occupants.
There was a book on horses, a book on horses in myths and legends, several encycopedias of Mythology, and many more. Kierla would be kept here until the week died, if she attempted to read them all.
Well, if that's what she had to do, that's what she had to do. Kierla was determined to make it so no one could call her a bad mother!
The books on horses would be the best place to start, Kierla reasoned, reaching for one in front of her and flipping it open to the first page. It would be best to know the real animal the Pegasus resembled, before going on to the actual Pegasus. Whatever she found, she wrote down in her notepad (retrieved from the trash can).
At first, she didn't really find much at all; the first dozen books or so that she picked up were about horse maintenance, which she wouldn't need - unless the child that came out of the wand appeared in horse-form. But finally she hit gold in a book titled "Facts on Horses", with a children's scribble of what might have been a horse scrawled underneath. Despite the slightly juvenile cover, the book proved to have a good set of info.
"Horse is a common name for hoofed, herbivorous mammals that include the domestic horse and three groups of undomesticated species," Kierla read aloud, following her words with a pale finger. She ignored the librarian's stern glare, telling her to be quiet in the libary. "One group comprises the zebra, native to Africa; another consists of the a**, including the kiang and onager of Asia and the wild a** of Africa."
Well, it was a good start. There were several chapters, the first that she was currently reading about general info, the next about prehistoric horses, the third about modern horses - it went on and on. Not bad for a children's book.
That was the first and last of the books on horses that really gave anything; all the rest simply confirmed what was written in "Facts on Horses."
She found a small passage on Pegasus in one of the encyclopedias of mythology.
"In Greek mythology, Pegasus is the winged horse that was fathered by Poseidon with Medusa. When her head was cut of by the Greek hero Perseus, the horse sprang forth from her pregnant body. His galloping created the well Hippocrene on the Helicon (a mountain in Boeotia).
When the horse was drinking from the well Pirene on the Acrocotinth, Bellerophon's fortress, the Corinthian hero was able to capture the horse by using a golden bridle, a gift from Athena. The gods then gave him Pegasus for killing the monster Chimera but when he attempted to mount the horse it threw him off and rose to the heavens, where it became a constellation (north of the ecliptic).
In another version, Bellerophon killed the Chimera while riding on Pegasus, and when he later attempted to ride to the summit of Mount Olympus, Zeus sent a gadfly to sting the horse, and it threw Bellerophon off its back."
"Shhhh!" the librarian said. She was ignored.
Kierla wondered if Pegasus had ever married, and had children - that might explain her questions about whether there were multiple pegasuses.
In another mythology encyclopedia, she found her answer: "In his later life, Pegasus took a wife, Euippe (or Ocyrrhoe) This family is the origin of the winged horses." Excitedly, Kierla turned the page - and that was the end of that entry.
Many of the remaining books were bogus herrings; about a totally different Euippe or Ocyrrhoe, or just confirming everything about Pegasus in the first. But finally, in the very last book of the pile she discovered a lengthy read on the winged mare:
"Euippe the Flying Horse. Her name means "good mare." Euippe was another name for the horse-goddess Hippa (Epona), daughter of Cheiron and Chariclo. According to one version of her myth, Euippe, like her mother, who was a nymph, was born with the ability to prophesy, except her ability was far greater than those of normal nymphs (perhaps because of her father's great intelligence). As a young maiden she spent most of her time with Artemis (Diana) learning the arts of hunting and chase. She had also made a vow of chastity. Her ability to prophesy caused her to predict that one day Cheiron would give up his immortality. This angered her father, Cheiron, and the gods (particularly Zeus/Jupiter). As punishment AEolus II (Hippotades), the god of the wind, raped her and she became pregnant with Melanippe. Despite the fact that it wasn't her fault, her loss of virginity angered her patron goddess, Artemis. Seeking refuge from her woes she fled to the sea to find her grandmother, the Oceanid Philyra. Poseidon (Neptune) the Sea-god welcomed her. In another version, she eventually returned to her home in Helicon where she was wooed by King Pierus whom she married and bore to him nine daughters: Colymbas, Dracontis, Acalanthis, Cenchris, Chloris, Nessa, Cissa, Inyx, and Pippo. These maidens were said to have singing voices that rivaled the nine Muses. People began worshipping them, and even King Pierus promoted them as the actual Muses. This angered the Muses who challenged the Pierides (as the nine maidens were called) to a singing contest. During the contention between the Muses and the Pierides, filled with the airy enchantment, Mt. Helicon rose higher and higher heavenward with glorious delight. In excitement Pegasus gave the foot of the mountain a kick which stopped its ascent, and brought out of the mountain the soul-inspiring waters of the Hippocrene. The Muses were judged as more inspired and as punishment the Pierides were transformed into the birds for whom they were named. Melanippe, Euippe's daughter, was also raped by her uncle Poseidon. Euippe, in time was so plagued by her prophesies and woes that, by decree of Zeus, she was transformed into a winged horse. Because she was generally a good being, she was placed in the heavens as the constellation Pegasus. It is surmised that this union of Euippe and Pegasus resulted in the birth of Celeris. Some attribute the portion concerning the transformation into winged horse to Euippe's sister, Ocyrrhoe, and tell that Euippe, under the name Hippe was worshipped as the goddess and protectress of horses."
("SHHH.")
Delighted at the find, Kierla quickly turned to the C section, hurriedly flipping through to find "Celeris." Pegasus had a child!
The entry under "Celeris" was considerably smaller than the one on "Euippe."
Celeris the Swift Foal, brother (or son, perhaps by Euippe) to Pegasus and gift by Mercury (Hermes) to Castor the Horseman (of Gemini fame, Pollux's mortal twin brother). Like Pegasus, Celeris was honored by being placed in the heavens under the name of Equuleus, the Colt. Celeris means "swift."
Closing the book wearily, Kierla shook her head. No mention of a grandchild?
So that meant that the wisp had to be either Pegasus, Euippe, Ocyrrhoe, Melanippe, or Celeris. But Pegasus, Euippe, and Celeris did not have horrible deaths - or lives. They had been placed in the heavens as constellations. So was it Ocyrrhoe or Melanippe? Melanippe seemed to have a very tragic life. Time to look her up?
"Melanippe the Black Mare. Also called Arne, she was the daughter of the gods AEolus (II) and Hippa (a.k.a. Euippe) who like her mother, could prophesy. Abandoned by her mother to the care of her uncle Poseidon, Melanippe was ravished by him, to whom she bore twin sons, Boeotus and AEolus III. Desmontes, her guardian, was jealous and so enraged by her pregnancy, that he blinded Melanippe and imprisoned her within a stone wall as a living tomb, then left her two children on a hillside to die from exposure and wild beasts. The twins were found by a shepherd who brought them to Theano (Siris) the queen of Icaria. Unable to have her own children she presented the twins to her husband King Metapontus as her own. Not long afterward she actually bore her husband two sons of her own. All four boys were raised together, but Metapontus favored the elder two. In spite Theano, who as also the daughter of King Morges, successor to Italus ruler and founder of Italy, informed her own sons of the twin's founding and pleaded for them to be slain. When the two pairs of brothers fought, however, Poseidon appeared to them and rescued his twins and slew the others, and told the young men to rescue their real mother. Theano, in grief, committed suicide. Upon discovering their true parentage they returned to free their mother, slew her jailer and her sight was restored by Poseidon. Boeotus and AEolus III founded the cities of Boeotia and AEolia. While still young, Melanippe used her abilities without discretion by prophesying to the young Asklepios (AEsculapius) concerning secrets of the gods, they became angered causing her father, AEolus, to ravish her, after which Melanippe was transformed into a true mare or winged horse (like her mother) and renamed Ocyrrhoe. Another version tells that Melanippe was brought, by her sons, to King Metapontus, where they explained Theano's treachery. Metapontus adopted the twins and married Melanippe. Another version of the Ocyrrhoe tale explains that Ocyrrhoe is actually a third daughter of Cheiron and Chariclo. There is some confusion between the stories of mother and daughter."
The librarian had given up by now.
Eh! So Melanippe was Ocyrrhoe! Or was she not?
This was confusing. Why did there have to be so many conflicting variations?
This time, Kierla flipped all the way to the very beginning of the book. Maybe something could explain it there.
Instead, she found something even more troubling: A summary of Pegasus's life. And at the very bottom:
"Father of the pterippi species by Euippe."
Eh?! So they weren't Pegasuses?
Her bewilderment didn't trouble for long though; a sudden burst of light distracted her worries...
~}-*-{~
The librarian too was blinded by the sudden glaring of white light. Cursing vehemently, she marched toward the source in loud, obnoxious stomps.
There she found that crazy lady who just had to say aloud everything she read, staring at a floating...lump?! (she didn't want to quite say ghost) carrying a winged stick.
The said crazy lady screamed.
Needless to say, Kierla was thrown out of the library immediately, with the librarian threatening her that if she ever dared to return again, her head would be toasted, fried, eaten, then digested as painfully as possible.
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Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2006 7:23 pm
'A True Ghost?!'
Journal Entry
Well, the wisp is now a ghost and soon it will be a baby. How does one baby proof a house? Should I put pink or blue on the walls? Oh damn, where is the baby going to sleep?
Calm down, Kierla. It's still only a ghost.
Ha! Back on Earth, we wouldn't be saying only a ghost. We would be...dead with fear and disbelief, I suppose. At least they would. I don't get scared.
I'm getting slightly off topic again.
The librarian threw me out of her precious silent-as-a-tomb library, when I screamed. Which is totally not fair. Anyone would scream if suddenly you were blinded by light, and suddenly a ghost is floating next to you. Really.
I think I'll just make the baby room black. Black is a fun color. Very neutral, as well.
My mind can't stop flying apart.
I'm confused.
Kierla sighed, dropping herself into a nearby chair, nervously twisting a lock of black hair. She did not like being confused.
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