Welcome to Gaia! ::

Starts: August 12th, 2009 @ 9:30 PM EST
Ends: August 20th, 2009 @ 9:30 PM EST

1. Follow Gaia TOS and all Aerithe shop rules.
2. Only one post per person. You may EDIT up until the end date/time, but not afterward.
3. Please use correct spelling, capitalization, and puncuation. Good grammar will play a part in this. Not a HUGE part, but a part. (We have to be able to read what you're writing, otherwise, how are we to know what you're saying? o.o)
4. Please be active with the pet. We're looking for someone to RP with us, which is why we're holding the contest. Posting at least once every two weeks (to keep the RP out of the archives) would be sufficient.
5. Prompt responses should have AT LEAST 200 WORDS. You may go over that amount.

This isn't necessarily a rule, but we would like you to stick with the response you use when RPing your egg/foal/kirin.

Username: Zactura
Prospective Name: [If Female] Seladhra | [No change if male; I like the name. XD;]
Prompt Response:

Seladhra had though upon her decision long and hard, and now was the time to announce it to her parents. She was drawing close to the cusp of adulthood, and the quiet young Kirin knew that she had put this off long enough. Her parents were conversing quietly about some topic a ways off, her father lounging in the waves' edges and her mother curled up comfortably in the pale sand nearby. Compass Rose, her sister, was under the watchful eye of Tresca as she talked, and Seladhra watched her older sibling prance around the miniature tidepools, clearly enjoying herself.

"...uh, Mom, Dad? I...I've made my choice." Sela took a deep breath, clearly nervous as always. Her slight stammer stood out a little in her soft, faint voice, and Tresca and Auburn stopped talking and looked up at their daughter, clearly awaiting the decision. It was, after all, a big thing, and Sela had waited long enough for this.

"T-the sea is where I feel I belong." Auburn smiled and Tresca nodded, but Sela stared out at the rolling expanse of water with a timid eye, wondering if she really had the courage to brave the same sea her father did.

Would she be strong enough?

Username: iloveyouDIE
Name: Shai Hulud, called Shai for short for boy or girl. (The name of the great sandworms in the DUNE universe)
Prompt: She paced back and forth on the shoreline, determination burning in her eyes. Her parent's unlikely love placed an unspoken, yet expected choice for her and her sister. They would never express it, but Shai knew that each parent hoped for their children to share their love of the world, that is to say, sand or sea. Shai didn't know what would be best for her. Still young, she had only to experiment. She found the sea beautiful, loved the colors of the rolling waves, and loved the way they changed with the weather. But somewhere, deep inside, there was fear. The sea was endless, ever changing, full of strength that she wasn't sure she possessed.

Shai trotted along the shoreline, barely touching the water as it pulled in and out. Her father would race so proudly along through the waves, cutting through the buffeting tides as if he were a sea creature himself. She admired him greatly. He was strong, impressive, and made her mother so happy. But Shai already knew that the sands didn't bother her. She was light on her feet and found the burning sun to be a comforting warmth. She'd already raced with her mother across the dunes, feeling the sea breeze in her hair but knowing the boundaries. There were no mysterious depths that could pull her away when she was running. There were no strong currents to knock her around. But Shai had never run in the sea. She felt guilty for being so scared of something her father loved so much. She wouldn't judge, like a fool, without experience.

With a determined snort her pacing stopped. She began to run, lifting her head to the salty breeze and shaking out her mane. She moved closer to the water, her splashing getting higher, and the water buffeting her knees. It was nice; she had to admit, to feel the cool tides around her feet and legs while the sun burned on her back. It was a lovely contrast and she could see what her father liked about it. As her race continued she began to feel the pull of the sea, she'd gotten just deep enough where the waves could affect her. It was a calm day, though, and she let down her guard and let the act of running distract her. Everything was fine, lovely even, and soon she realized that behind her was her father, easily leaping through the waves to catch up with her. There was a look of pride in his eyes, to see his little girl enjoying the sea as much as he did. She tossed her head and said nothing, trying to show him that she was trying, for him, and doing her best despite her fears. Her distracted looks though, were her downfall. Without being vigilant a strong wave rose up beside her, the water hitting her in the flanks and sending the foal tumbling over herself towards the sand.

Fear seized Shai as the foam washed over her head and face, and when she finally was left on the beach, snorting salt water from her nose, all she could do was look defeated and scared. Her father raced up beside her, concern in his eyes only a moment until he realized she was fine.
"I'm sorry...” Shai shook herself as best she could, chunks of sand falling from her mane when she finally got back to her feet. "I suppose I am just not strong enough, father." She was afraid to meet his eyes, afraid of the disappointment she would see.

Auburn Storm nudged her head up with his nose, meeting her eyes with his own and showed her that he was nothing but proud. "You tried and there is no shame in that. I may love the sea, but I also love your mother. Go to the dunes, enjoy the sand. Maybe you can come run with me again... on a calmer day." His tone was teasing but made Shai feel much better. She was disappointed that she couldn't share his passion, but she idolized him and would do her best to battle her fears in the future.

"Thank you father!" She nuzzled him lovingly before turning and racing off into the sand where her mother would be waiting.

Username: Kesmi
Prospective Name: Marina (F), Aysu(M)
Prompt Response:

Choices, two choices between two loved worlds. The land of her mothers, and the lands, rather waters of her fathers. She stood on an out cropping stone that over looked both the sandy dunes of the beach where the fury of the waves thrashed its banks. A storm was coming, she could feel it in her bones, the seas were angry, but angry at who? Was it her? Was it furious about her not wanting to chose between the two places she loved too dear? The winds whirled around the young foal as she watched the clouds gather in masses over head. Ears falling back against her head, she tried to work out the reason behind all this. Did her father had some power over the water and cause all this in his want for her to join him?

“Why do you howl so mighty wind?” Marina asked as the winds whipped about her once again, ruffling her short mane and out her tail that had been tucked in close. “Have I done something to anger you? Please tell me?” But the wind didn’t answer as it pulled away to tear at the trees just off the shore line.

Neck craning a bit she watched the surf thrash against the sand below. Like great hands of some beast trying to drag itself ashore. Marina backed up a little on her perch to take the path down towards the seas below, she wanted to tell off this storm. To make it go away, to leave her alone. She didn’t want to chose, but it seemed the seas were going to make the choice for her if she got too close. Thunder resounded over head like a mighty roar that even drown out the roars of the surf. Stepping easily onto the beach, passing the dunes and coming just outside of the foam line on the shore. Ears still back, the wind tossing them a little as it beat cold into her face.

“What is it that you want?” Marina called again to the storm that grew more furious, “Why do you torment me?” Scared she was, but also wanting to know why things were happening as they were. Eyes scanning the stormy horizon, lightening streaked across the sky like great snakes seeking their prey. “Alright!” She shouted, but was drown out by a clap of thunder. “Alright..” This time quieter. Head hanging a little, tail drawn in close and eyes closing.

Marina gave the seas one final look, as the lightening over head flashed again. She would come back, Marina knew that she would come back. For a visit, the seas to see her father, to swim with him when he was nearby, but the sands were her home. They would always be her home, as much as she loved the sea, Marina liked having her hooves on solid ground. “I’m sorry.” She whispered, “Father” Turning tail away from the waves that crashed again, the roars sounding more like cries to her ears. Marina headed for the safety of the trees, to wait out the storm and for things to calm and be accepted. The land was her home, but the seas would always hold apart of her soul. No matter how far her hooves carried her, or where her life lead her.