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 Posted: Fri Jul 17, 2009 11:37 am
The sound of the dripping water and the odd creak of the great cave, as well as the sound of their echoing hoof steps made Selena content. A true adventure was waiting before them, they had only touched the pool of potential this magnificent cave held for them. And Selena knew that. Her lungs swelled with each breathe of the cool, pure air of the stone structure. She had not breathed sure clean air in a long time. She couldn't help but smile. Excitement and adrenaline coursed through her veins, making her heart thump against her chest.
But her mind never forgot about the danger that lay just below them, and ahead of them. She thought of her mother, and how Laures had unlocked so much of her past and heart. She was very happy and thankful to have him with her. She knew from speaking with him and watching him that he was not one to keep silent for long. She also knew he was trying his very best not to interrupt her. But she felt like she had a debt to him, one she could never repay. But she wanted to try and make him comfortable as well.
She began to hum her mothers lullaby.
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Posted: Mon Jul 27, 2009 2:40 pm
For one who was used to the sky and wide open places, Laures found himself not nearly as claustrophobic as he'd have expected. So it seemed it wasn't just a one time calmness as he had feared. Still, it took all his cocentration to just continue on and be able to admire the beauty that surrounded him. Breathe in... and out, in and out. The sound of the hated water dripping down somewhere in the cave caused him a few moments of near panic, but as they continued on the monotony of the sound became somewhat soothing.
Eyes constantly moving along with his hooves, he fluttered his wings ready to fly at the first hint of danger. Tense and alert, he had a hard time seeing and appreciating the beauty, at least until Selena started to hum.
It was the song he had sang for her earlier, one that she had connected to, and he couldn't help but be moved by it. The second time through, Laures joined his voice to her melody.
I would
Bathe in your moonlight and slumber in peace
Enchanted by your kiss in forever sleep
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Posted: Wed Jul 29, 2009 12:12 pm
Selena heard the flutter's beautiful voice. She turned her neck to see his elegant face, she smiled at him. It was a mistake. She had taken her eyes off the bridge, which had already started to slim to nearly half of what it was near the beginning. She had already avoided two or three holes in the edge of the bride, chunks that had fallen due to the powerful force of gravity. But now, she was not looking, now was the time for a mistake, the slightest error of placement could cause death. Selena slipped.
She had placed her hoof too much to the right, causing her hoof to slide off the edge. Now her eyes were wide with horror. She could feel the power of gravity taking over her, the front of her body was falling to the right, down into the darkness which would quickly enough swallow her. It was hungry, and the rocks that were falling along with her were not enough to satisfy it.
She screamed.
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Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 1:15 pm
In times of crisis, one normally has one of three reactions- indecision, rushing in to help, or clearing out as quickly as one could. It wasn't like him to be indecisive, so he either rushed in headlong or darted away if there was nothing he could do. In this case, as the scream tore from the mare's throat, a rush of adrenaline overtook him, and even though he was slight and not as strong as, say, a wind, he would at least be able to slow her descent enough that the fall would not end in her death.
Without thought, he fold his wings and dropped like a stone until he was just below her falling form and braced himself as best he could for the impact that was to come. As the air was knocked out of his lungs, he beat his wing furiously trying to slow their fall. He hoped the distance to the bottom wasn't to great, for he wasn't sure how long the adrenaline would last, not to mention his strength. He could only hope it would last long enough to get them to safety.
Saying a silent prayer he continued to beat his wings, unable to draw enough breath to reassure the mare and himself.
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Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 1:44 pm
Selena felt as her body hit against something hard. Was it a rock? On of the horrific stalagmites that rose out of the shadows at the sight of fresh blood?
She opened her eyes. She was floating. She had not hit any rock, she had hit Laures' sturdy back. He was trying to save her. She could not breathe. She panicked. They were still falling slowly. All she could hear was the throbbing of her blood and Laures' frantic wings beating. She took a breathe. She could feel that laures was pushing his strength to the limit. They were both going to fall if she did not act quickly. She breathed once more. Her head was clear. She quickly stood up on his back, she could feel his body falling faster due to the increase in weight. She glared at the edge where she had fallen from. It was narrow, and if she was off by only a little she would jump over it and start falling on the other end. She flexed her back legs. Closed her eyes. And sprang. She flew through the crisp, cold air. And landed smack in the middle of the bridge. She had made it.
The bridge shock and groaned. Too much sudden pressure. Her eyes widened with horror once more and before she knew it, her legs were running to the end of the bridge. The great stone creation was already crumbling behind her.
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Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 2:11 pm
It was a small measure of relief for Laures when Selena launched herself from his back. He waited with bated breath hoping beyond hope that the mare could reach the bridge and that it would hold. He hovered in place, ready to try and catch her again if it was needed, or to go on the bridge and walk it the rest of the way. It all depended on her.
He started to sigh with relief when it looked like she had made it to the bridge, but it quickly turned to a gasp of horror when the bridge cracked and started to crumble beneath her hooves.
Laures flew over towards the bridge following just slightly behind and below the mare, ready in case she fell again, trying to dodge the falling debris that was once such a marvelous natural structure.
The mare made it safely to the other side, and he quickly landed on the ledge near her, his sides heaving. They had made it to the other side of the bridge, and they were both still in one piece as far as he could tell.
"Are you hurt?" he asked in concern once he was able to catch his breath once more.
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Posted: Sat Aug 01, 2009 4:09 pm
Selena took in deep breathes. She was not out of breathe but she was in shock. The bridge was gone. More that half of it had crumbled and fallen into the shadows of the deep pit beneath it. Now all she could see was the faint image of a narrow part of the great structure, broken. Peeking n out of the shadows. She couldn't see the other side. She had never been in this far. She was suddenly scared. She had never been here before, and the bridge, her only way back to the places she did know, was gone.
Then she heard Laures.
She turned at looked at him. for a moment she didn't understand what he had said. His words had been silenced by the loud buzzing of her mind. Why am I scared? I have a friend with me. He saved my life. We are both alright. We are going on an adventure. Where no Soquili has gone before. Or will ever go again. She smiled at her friend.
"Im fine, thank you Laures." And with that she turned her head to face a stone hallway filled with shadows. "Now the adventure begins, huh?"
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Posted: Mon Aug 03, 2009 11:21 am
Laures was greatful that Selena was ok. He wasn't a healer, and he couldn't stand the thought of anyone in pain and not being able to do anything about it. Combined with the knowledge he didn't know his way through the cave or how to get back if he'd managed to escape to get help... Well, in any event, that wasn't the case and they were both good to go.
He followed her line of sight trying to pierce the darkness and see just what was ahead. He didn't notice the emotions that swiftly passed over her face, seeing that she was scared and didn't know what was ahead of them. But he did manage to catch her smile, and couldn't help but to smile in return.
AS to her words... "I would have thought the adventure began with the bridge incident. Now it continues. All we need do is to go on, to place one hoof in front of the other. "
And to suit action to words, he carefully picked up a single hoof and moved it forward, waiting for Selena to pull herself together to continue onwards.
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Posted: Tue Aug 04, 2009 6:12 pm
Selena knew he was right. The adventure began when they entered this cave. When he sang her song. It rang, true and strong in her mind. It told her to go forward. To not be afraid.
She placed her Right foot next to his left. They were a pair. They were one. They were going to go on this sudden adventure with strength and pride. They would go on knowing they had each other. They nodded in unison and took the next step at the same time. Soon they were walking hand in hand. Hoof in hoof.
Into the dark, into the unknown, with smiles on their faces. And when the darkness destroyed even their eyesight, the glow worms living above their heads lite up. Giving them a path.
Selena looked up and beamed.
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Posted: Sat Aug 15, 2009 11:59 am
It may seem hopelessly cliched to others, this belief he had and would state, that adventures truly began when one simply lifted their hoof and took a single step forward. He was grateful that Selena understood this, and he wouldn't be forced to defend his thoughts and beliefs from yet another being. That she simply stepped up next to him, to continue on this adventure, without asking anything more, was a gift. He smiled brightly, and as she took her first step forward, he was right by her side, taking the same step with her. They were together in this, neither alone, which was something he had been far too often in his life for his liking.
Kindred souls, they would walk on in pride, ready to face whatever awaited them in the bowels of the beast, this monster of the unknown. They would conquer the darkness and shatter the mysteries. They would go on without fear, knowing that there was someone beside them who would have their back, no matter what. At least, for this one adventure.
The darkness hurt his eyes almost more than the light would, at least at some points during this excursion, but whenever it seemed to be even just a little too much, when he didn't know how much more he could handle, the glow worms around them seemed to glow just a little bit brighter, and he knew he could continue on.
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Posted: Thu Aug 27, 2009 4:41 pm
Selena looked up at the small bugs and smiled. She looked around for a ledge that would assist her in reaching them. She spotted a flat boulder jutting out of the left side of the cave. She walked over to it and places her back hooves firmly upon it. She lifted her front legs and rested them on the wall of the great stone cave. And with her hat now in her teeth, she used its stiff flap to scoop some of the glow worms into the hat. When her task was finished, she carefully lowered herself back to the ground and returned to Laures' side. Now they had a light for the deep darkness of the stone structure. They pressed on.
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Posted: Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:42 pm
As the mare first started to climb onto a small ledge with her hat between her teeth, Laures' brow furled in puzzlement as he tried to figure out just what she was doing.
Puzzlement turned into admiration as he saw her scooping up some of the glow bugs to use as a light for their path. Now there was an interesting way to solve the problem of not being able to see where they were going. He'd never have thought of that on his own, and been one to just turn back with some regret when he could no longer safely navigate the trail.
As she came back to his side, he couldn't think of anything to say to show his appreciation of what she'd done so he smiled at her, hoping to get his feelings across. It wouldn't do for their adventure to be cut short by something like darkness and shadows obscuring the path.
Onward they'd continued, and Laures spared a moment's thought to wonder how long they'd been traviling on. Time, it seemed, had a different meaning in this world beneath the surface. It could have been hours, it could have been days- though he sincerely doubted that. But one thing was for sure. He wasn't yet ready to leave until this adventure was complete!
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Posted: Tue Sep 15, 2009 5:43 pm
Selena's eyes reflected the bright, green glow of the worms. She nodded her head gently in response to her comrade's smile. They were beginning to understand eachother's small gestures rather than using words to explain. It made her feel connected to Laures in a way she had never felt towards anyone before. Someone who understood her mind. Someone on her level. She thought about how rare it must be to find someone like that. She smiled to herself, her eyes sparkling with the thought of their adventure continuing. She had never been this far into the stone world. She had no idea what they would find. But she couldn't stand there and wait. She planted her hooves firmly into the ground and took a sturdy step forward.
They walked side by side into the darkness. Soon their ceiling of green light faded, and only the light from Her hat remained to keep them from total darkness. The dripping of water also faded, but it was replaced by the sound of rocks tumbling, animals scuttling around, and even the low groaning of the rock belly. They exchanged few words, but their minds never relaxed. Their eyes took in every small detail they could. And their adventure grew more and more great. They stopped every so often at small pools of crystal clear water that scattered their road. And nibbled one what little grass they could find, as well as moss. But neither were hungry. Their minds were too busy thinking of all the things and possibilities of their exploration to note hunger.
They walked for what seemed like a few hours, but for all they knew it could have been day. Time had been lost the moment they crossed the bridge that now lay in the deep, dark hole. The bridge had been such an amazing work of nature. What else did this cave hide from the rest of the world? What treasures and magic did it posses?
Selena pondered over all the questions banging around in her mind. She almost didn't notice the tiny white light to her left. She turned her head and squinted. It was small, but it was much brighter than the glow worms. She couldn't stop herself as her legs slowly moved towards it. Her curiosity and interest would not let her pass this opportunity by. But Laures also seemed to want to see what was at the end. So they moved forward and they found themselves in a magical place.
Selena's mouth opened as her eyes widened in amazement. Her had fell to the floor, made of pure, clear ice. They had found themselves in an ice cathedral. The columns of ice where tall and grand, there were endless tunnels in the walls, as well as ledges. It was one of the most beautiful things she had ever seen.
"..Laures..." she whispered.
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Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 3:07 pm
Eventually, their eyes adjusted to the heavy darkness that pressed upon them like some living thing, and the glow worms weren't needed so much to aid thier sight, but to lend a source of comfort to them.
The first appearance of the the white light which signified some airy chamber- or perhaps a way out- was a rather surprise. Instead of a gradual lightening of the shadow around them, it was just all of a sudden there. Laures didn't want to trust it at first, but curiousity overcame his unease and trepidation.
Seeing his companions eyes grow bright at the prospect of seeing something different- perhaps this would prove to be a room filled with treasures- he found a reason to go on for himself. Yes, a room of treasures- that's what it would be. Treasures they could see and touch and bring back out with them, a tangible souvenir of the adventure they had been on.
So preoccupied with the scenarios his mind came up with, he didn't pay any attention to where they were going or what was around them until he heard Selena's reverent whisper. "..Laures..."
Looking up sharply having been shaken out of the world his imagination had him trapped in, he couldn't stop a gasp from escaping.
This place was so beautiful, so unexpected, so much better than any image his subconcious could come up with. He had been right in a way, thinking that this would be a room of treasure. It just wasn't the kind of treasure he had been secretly hoping to find. No. This was so much better.
"It's so amazing," he whispered, his voice silent in reverence and awe.
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Posted: Sun Sep 20, 2009 6:57 pm
Selena's legs responded faster than her mind could. Her whole body was stiff with awe. Such beauty and perfection was create by nature? She could hardly believe her eyes, which were wide with amazement. Her mouth hung open slightly, her voice gone. Her legs moved slowly as she approached the nearest part of this ice masterpiece. So many things could be hidden here. Animals encased in the deadly element, their body's preserved. Tunnels and cities of ice. Maybe even treasure from long ago. The possibility were truly limitless.
Selena could not hold herself in one place after that thought. She was looking into holes, climbing ledges, peering into cracks, gazing at the tall columns. She wanted to explore it all. The adventure was only just beginning it seemed. This stone treasury held so many gems of nature.
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