Welcome to Gaia! ::

If it's pronounced the first way... can we name jade's soq. wally? He'll be runnin' around goin' "eeeeeee-fah! eeeeeeeeee-fah!!!!" >< just like wally and eva!

I'm going to power nap, phone is on so anyone who needs to contact me just call and I'll probably wake up. Call twice if I don't. Please don't call before 8.30 though, I'd like a decent nap. v_v

Efa first laid eyes on Roarke while scowering the lands for her lifemate. Her travels brought her many places, but nothing compared to the sea. She strode along the beach until she happened upon a kelpi staggering out of the water. Efa, having been raised in the forests most her life, was shocked to see this. She had heard of Soquili that lived in the water, but never witnessed such a thing. transfixed by such a sight she approached him.

They began with small talk, but as the day progressed they shared tales of eachother's adventures. The sound of his voice teased her heartstrings. She calmed her rising attraction with cold logic, did she really want someone who could go where she couldn't follow? Not only that, but what about children, he was clearly different. Still he clearly looked interested in her, as they spent the day around the beach.

As the afternoon changed to the evening, Efa could clearly see a disappointment tugging at him. Efa heart sank to her stomach, had she done something to change the mood? frustrated, she rose to her feet, and demanded to know what troubled him. Roarke was clearly taken by surprise in the change of Efa's mood, and how she completely misunderstood his reasons for sorrow. Though it was rather beautiful to see this strength welling inside of her. Avoiding the subject he gave Efa a stunning ruby necklace. Efa seemed speechless at first, it was beautiful, and like nothing she had ever seen sold or made.

In the shade of an oak just yards from the beach, Efa finally succumbed to her rising attraction to Roarke. It was an interesting dance, to say in the least, but brought pleasures she would wish to enjoy the rest of her life. Worn out from the days events Efa watched the sun set at her lifemate's side and slowly drifted to sleep. When a stir of wind rustled the dry leaves that made their nest, she woke to see him gone, but the necklace still remained. Being half asleep, Efa figured he had gone for a morning dip, and would retrn to her side shortly. She laid her head back down and drifted back off to sleep.

Years had passed since these star-crossed Soquili met. Efa had birthed two beautiful foals for this Kelpi, raised them into fine stallions, and has fallen victim to a mysterious illness which threatens to claim her life. Still, she returns to the beach that sealed her fate, and still, he did not reappear above the waters. She settled uncomfortably in the sand with her fat belly digging down into the ground. The ruby necklace that hung from her neck felt heavy with the sorrow she bares. some days she wondered if he were even still alive.

"Roarke" she whispered to herself, brokenly.

A home had grown from a small cave and a gentle hill that led to the beach, under the same oak that had sheltered their first night together. The shallow cave was homy, with its soft piles of leaves and grass, dried so they would not smell. Liam watched after his sister as she dreamt on, unaware that their mother was at it again. Watching the coast with a faraway look in her eyes, Efa still spent every sunset down by the beach awaiting their father's return.

Roarke had spent the last five years in the service of the witch from whom he mistakenly stole the ruby necklace for his mate. He'd done every task she asked of him since then, without much choice in the matter. She had placed a curse on him, if he approached his mate before the first day of the fifth year, she would fall ill and die. He wasn't willing to risk that, considering everything else the witch had told him had been true. It was just minutes before midnight, and his heart ached in his chest to be with his lover.

He waited patiently for the sun before breaking the surface of the chilly waters. shaking his whole body vigorously to rid him of the excess water, he shuffled his hooves through the sand... he was home.

Pondering the whereabouts of his lifemate, he followed a distinct trail of hoofprints up a hill away from the beach. How novel it was, to be in the open air once again! The underwater cavern served as a place for him to sleep and rest, but it was nothing compared to the sun beaming directly down on him for the first time in five years.

Roarke cracked a smile as he discovered a shallow cave nestled into a small hill under the shade of the very oak he shared his first night with his love. He eagerly strode forward to see the love of his life once more, only to stop dead as he saw the two full-grown soquili that could only be his children. They were a perfect blend of him and her, and despite being caught completely off guard he felt an instant bond with the two still sleeping.

Efa mumbled in her sleep, as if sensing her long lost lover was near. She cracked an eye open and blinked a few times at the site that greeted her. It was obviously another dream, she thought to herself.

"Efa, my love. I have returned." Roarke whispered, having moved to stand next to her with his head bent, muzzle next to her ear.

Efa mumbled; "Why did you go? I waited every day, staring out at the sea, but you never returned." Efa picked her head up looking at her husband, tears ran from her eyes. "Please don't leave me again, it's been so hard. Cordelia and Liam deserve to know their father. They need more than the stories I can give them."

Sitting bolt upright, Efa's stern side came through, "You need to stay with us."

Roarke lowered his head, not wanting to speak of the curse, "I-I know... Things have been difficult, but I am here now. We may only have today, but I promise to do my best to make up for lost time."

And so, Roarke spent the day with his family and getting to know his children. He had never felt so complete. He learned of his daughters efforts to enhance her lung compacity to become more like himself, but was sure to note that the ocean is nothing like the land, and to not take the sun for granted. His son, Liam, was a traveler, like his mother. Visiting other lands, meeting the many species of Soquili and Familiar alike, Even came across a tribe of native american folk. he spoke of an illness Efa had. The news troubled Roarke, but he knew she was in the vigilent watch of their two beautiful children. Liam had sought out cures for this mysterious illness, but has found none on land thus far... Which gave Roarke hope that he could find something in the ocean. He only hoped he could get it to her in time.

His time spent on land filled him with such joy that he did something he will soon regret. As the sun began to set on the horizon he followed his family to their den and began to snuggle in for the night. just as everyone became comfortable a sharp jolt of pain struck his chest and he shot up.

Efa too, seemed to look deathly ill, she gasped for air and became very weak. Roarke rushed to the beach. Efa staggered after him with the support of Liam. Cordelia rushed to her mother, concerned when she seemed to sag and lay in the sand, panting, clearly in pain.

"This is why you left, what have you done, and why now do I suffer?" Efa used Cordelia to push off of to turn herself so she could see Roarke.

Roarke turned back, "I regret each day I spend down in those cold depths, but if I return before the first day of the fifth year... we will die. I make the sacrifices I do to keep you alive... But I overstepped my boundaries and now I must return. I am so very sorry Efa." he slipped into the water and disappeared beneath the waves.

Efa cried out in pain, not from the curse or illness, but from the pain in her heart. Another five years would pass before she saw her Roarke again...

Liam's face held a look of worry, worry that this would greatly impact their mother's will to survive her illness. He urged her to stand, then guided her back to the cave where they tried to settle in once more.

Days pass and Cordelia paced the cave, worried. Mother hadn't gotten any better since Father had left, even though he said she would. She knew it wasn't his fault, the stories mother had raised them on painted him as a good person and he would never do this to their mother on purpose. Besides, he had been in just as much pain as Mother. She glanced at Liam out of the corner of her eye and leaned into his side, offering silent comfort.

"Liam, I have a plan..." she whispered so that their mother would not wake form her fitful sleep.

He lifted his head and stared at her through half opened eyes, "What is this plan of yours, dear sister?"

Without giving a response she eagerly ran from the cave, to the beach, andinto the waves lapping at the beach, the water swirling around her legs and she was quickly up to her torso, moving with the gentle rocking of the ocean. Looking behind her, she gestured with her head that Liam should follow.

"You know i'm not nearly as good a swimmer as you, plus i lack your extra appendage that propels you through the water with such grace..." he added as he attempted to follow through the lapping waves, that got increasingly rougher as he made his way from the shore, "So do pace yourself... for me?"

They swam together for a while, occasionally diving down to see if they could find their father. Cordelia knew she could last a long time under the water as she had been slowly increasing her lung capacity her entire life. She loved the ocean and if it were up to her, she would have gills so she would never leave it.

Trudging along behind his sister he peeked under the surface of the salty water to see nothing, once his eyes adjusted he was able to see small fish, but otherwise darkness. lifting his head he shook his mane out of his face, only managing to get it mangled in his antlers, "This swimming is a lot harder than i remembered it to be..." he weezed, "Are we almost there? It's too deep so i can't see a thing."

His sister didn't give a response, but she dove again, leaving him treading water at the surface. taking a few shallow breaths he took one last deep breath and plunged into the depths.

The sea floor became more clear as Liam made his way to the bottom, he noticed a kelpi like figure slithering into a cave and figured his sister must have found something, so he planted himself on the roof in a studly like manor and shook his mane, 'Don't worry Cordelia!' he announced in his deep adventerous voice, 'I've got your back!'

he tried to keep his straight serious adventerous face, but soon cracked a smile, then giggled his way up to the surface as the air escaped his mouth. Liam finished his good laugh and dove back down, keeping watch atop the cave.

A dark figure lurked inside the cave and Cordelia shivered looking at the way the light seemed to stop a few feet from the figure. It was like she was sucking it in...and then she spoke.

"You wish to find your father, yes?" the witch crooned as her figure shifted in the darkness.((better? description)).

"Where is he?! Do you know? Tell me!!" Cordelia demanded, moving forward despite her uneasiness.

Why would I tell you anything, little filly? You are in my home, breaking down my door, and demanding answers to questions that do not concern you? Hmmm..." the witch taunted, a smirk evident in her voice.

Cordelia growled as well as she was able underwater and became conscious of the fact she was running out of air. She needed to end this confrontation quickly, "Just tell me where my father is. I need to find him, our mother is deathly ill. He might know how to help her..."

"Oh no, he knows nothing of your mother's illness. Tell me, dear, what would you do to save your mother? Your father?" Cordelia caught a glimpse of slimy black skin and beady yellow eyes. She shivered.

"Anything." was said with a tone of finality.

The witch paused as the word processed and a smirk spread across her muzzle, revealing glinting pointed teeth, "Very well. Your father is within the cave behind me, unconscious but unharmed. Take him to your mother and get your brother off the top of my cave or he will lack eyeballs in a moment..."

She glanced up at where her brother was posing, surprised to see him. He must have come to find her after regaining his breath and been waiting to see if she needed assistance. Hoping her eyes had communicated that he should follow her, she moved swiftly past the witch and into the cave.

Liam's cheeks buldged as the air escaped his lips again, and he made one final trip to the surface, before diving down and following her into the cave.

'KAY GUYZ, GONNA GO POST IT NAO. GOT COLORS DONE AND ADDED THE PARTS THAT JADE EMAILED ME SINCE HER COMPU IS DEAD ATM.

GOOD LUCK TO US! <333 IT WAS A PLEASURE SERVING WITH YOU ALL!!!

-SALUTE-

DISMISSED!!!