Welcome to Gaia! ::

> Sonnet was still a little ego brused after his first comical flying lesson. Though no one would have expected wonders he had struggled to even glide. So he had been sent home with homework, he had to strengthan his wings. So here he was out alone in th forest flapping his wings like mad, trying to make th muscles work till they could actually start to lift him for a few moments. Once he had achieved that he had to work on it so he was airborn longer each time. Its not like he had to go high, just off th ground slightly would do.
He was so focued on flapping his wings and flapping them the right way that he faild to notice anythign else that was going on.

> Ivory sat in a small clearing quietly, thinking about everything and nothing at the same time. His pink and black striped mane slowly swaying with the soft breeze. His yellow eyes glazed with his abunded thoughts. He sat quietly, alone, oblivious to all around him. The singing birds, the odd deer running about, even some early butterflies landing on his softly.
Though suddenly, he snapped back to reality at the sound of flapping/ He shook his head and cleared his mind while looking aorund. Then, spotting something quite far off, he saw the creature making the niose. It seemed to be a foal. A small smile came onto Ivory's pink face as he watched the other flapping the wings on his back. 'Cousin Nerissa would surely be excited to see those wings.' he thought to himself watching quietly.

> Sonnet proceeded to give a little jump, flaping like crazy to stay up, his little tongue poking out with the effort to stay up, though he never managed to keep up long despite havign 2 pairs of wings. Doing this several more times before he stopped, tired and out of breath and his wings ached. Stood panting a little his wings drooping for a short while, finally folding thme all up neatly. Flying was hard work.

> Ivory watched as the other tried hard at flapping. It seemed that they were attempting to become airborne! Ivory watched curiously, only ever having observed birds fly, never really meeting any winds though he had some in his distant family. It seemed something was out of order, he watched closer. And then when the other foal stopped Ivory stopped up slowly and began to carefully walk towards the other. "Hello..." He said, trying not to whisper. Never meeting anyone outside of his family yet. TYhough, just as his mother had taught him, he tried to be polite and friendly.

> Looking round Sonnet sees a pink and stripy foal about th same age as him. Smiling as he turns round, still out of breath from so much hard work. "Hello! Did you see? Did I manage to stay up long?" Panting a little again as he looks round, wandering closer, smiling at the wingless colt. wondering if this might be a friend he could make. "I'm Sonnet, who are you?"

> Ivory smiled gently and nodded. The winged colt had been able to stay up for quite awhile. When counting, it seemed like thrity two seconds. He bowed his head and chuckled, "Hello SOnnet, my name is Ivory. Its nice to meet you." He introduced himself with a soft tone, happy to see the other was also friendly.

> Tilting his head, never meaning to be rude but he did come out as blunt. "But your pink!" Grinning regardless. "But thats ok... Did you wanna play maybe?" Havign caught his breath a little now, th little wings on his head wiggleing excitedly.

> Ivory blushed, he had not heard that statment before outloud, though many times he spent thinking of why he was named Ivory if he was indeed pink. "My dad told me I was named after some group of singers..." he admitted, lowering his head, his short striped mane falling over his eyes. "Thriving Ivory they were called. I like their songs actually...." one played in his head quietly as he spoke. Just like his father, he always had a song in his head. Though his vioce was much gentler than his father's. He perked up, his eyes slightly wiggling. "A game?" he smiled excitedly, "What sort of game?"

> Sonnet grinnd his little head wings goign excitedly. "Wow... thats cool, I dont know why I'm called Sonnet but that dun matter. I like music, my older half sister is often singing, she dun know I listen though." Looking around again, smiling, thinking of a gae they could play. "Well we could play hide 'n' seek... Or tag... Or or or... ummm.." Wondering what other games he could possibly play.

> Ivory smiled at the mention of singing, "Does she sing nicely? Do you also sing?" He stopped himself before he became too nosey, "I sing alot, so does my dad! he taught me alot of songs actually. I sing songs mostly by the Thriving Ivory two-leggers actually." He smiled, slightly embarressed. "I like Hide and seek,." He offered laughing quietly.

> Blinking a moment and tilting his head, not sure he had ever tried to sing. "I dont think I've ever tried, but thne I dun know any songs really... Oooh! Mebbe you can teach me one after we play hide'n' seek... That would be fun!"

> Ivory noddded, "I would love to teach you!" He sang to his family mostly, but sining to his new friend did not seem much diffrent to him. "Can i count first? It is my favriote part." He chuckled.

> Sonnet nodded and looked around for ideas on where to hide. "Jus dun make it short like my sister, she thinks I dun know cause she cant talk, but I hear her anyway... she dun count it right." She didn't cheat but she did count faster than most did. "Okay close your eyes and start and I'll hide." Bouncing a little grinning, this was goign to be allot of fun.

> Ivory nodded and walked to a nearby tree, closing his eyes and stared to count outloud. "One!...Two!..." he began to wonder about how his sister could not speak. it sunded quite sad, but he kind of admired it! He remebered his cousin Nerissa telling him something about a purple filly with two sets of wings who could not speak. "...27!...28!" he wondered if it could be the same sister Sonnet was talking about. "...40! here i come!" And he turned around, opening his eyes and began to look around

> Sonnet had run off as soon as the counting started. Finding that his wings and horn made it harder for him to hide. Running along, not going too far before spying some rocks behind a bush. checking it out and sure enough there was a small gap he might just squeeze into. Wiggleing and squeazing in, just about fitting, bending his head down so his horn was under the bush. Rather uncomfortable but hidden at least.

> Ivory began to search around, checking under and behind rocks, bushes, trees. Anything he could find. He kept his eyes and ears wide open for any movment, shadows or nioses. After a while of finding no evidence of his new friend, or any clues as to his chosen hiding spot, Ivory began to hum a soft song to keep him company. As he did so, he slowly aproached Sonnet's hiding spot.

> Sonnet tried not to wiggle or figit, but it was hard, he was uncomfortable and that made him want to move, not to mention that his wings were squashed. Not able to stay still he gave a little figit, the bush hiding his head rustling slightly. Freezing in place he held his breath hoping that Ivory hadn't herd htat.

> But Ivory had heard, and his head whipped around to stare at the bush. His humming stopped and he smiled menacingly, slowly moving towards it. When he was quite close he stuck his head in the bush and yelled, "BOO!"

> Sonnet jumped. popping out the small gap he was wedged in, going face first into the bush. loosing a few feathers as he comes loose. Finally wriggleing out of the bush, a twig in his mane.

> Ivory jumped as well, a bit shocked byu SOnnet's quick reaction. He jumped back and gasped. Then quickly ran next to his friend inspecting him, "Oh i am sorry! Are you hurt anywhere? So sorry!" He quickly said and rambled on, worried and apologetic.

> Sonnet shook himself off, the twig going flying, as well as a few more feathers coming loose. Grinning at him as th feathers drifting down. "I'm ok, the feathers will grow back." Spreading his wings, not having lost any of th really important ones as far as he knew. Wings folding up again, smiling up again.

> Ivory was still quite worried, "I am really sorry for scaring you! I should not have done that!" COuld he have already lost his new friend?

> Sonnet gave him a little nudge. "Dun worry so much or you might go Ivory for real. Dad says that worry is making him go grey, thats kinda the same colour right?" Not seeming the slightest bit bothered

> Ivory smiled nervously and then laughed loudly. That had cheered him up quite a bit. "Well I have never met anyone out side of the family so i became even more worried than i usually do." He shrugged and smiled again.

> Sonnet grinnd brightly as Ivory laughed. "Its ok, I loose feathers all the time, it just looks bad. But now I get to count!"

> Ivory smiled and nodded, getting ready to hide. "Do a good job like I did!"

> Sonnet nodded and closed his eyes, lowerign his head down so he couldn't peak, starting to count at a even pace. "1... 2... 3..."

> Ivory quietly ran off into the thicker woods, but still near the edge of the clearing. Finding a large, hollow oak he tried to rear up and reach the hole in the center of the trunk. Jumping up a little, he was able to climb in. He squeeked himself into the small space and moved down, so his eyes still peered out, but the rest of his pink body was hidden inside the dead, ancient tree.

> Sonnet was still counting. " 38... 39... 40... ok I'm ready!" Looking round, wandering round in a circle looking for signs where Ivory had gone. Starting looking round the bushes and rocks and anywhere that looked like it might have a place to hide.

> Ivory fidgetted slightly in the hole, the rough bark iside was sratching him and was slightly unpleasant, but he tried to ignore it.

> Sonnet looked round hearing something but he couldn't tell where it was from, starting to wander around again, heading gradually closer to where Ivory was hidden.


> Ivory waited patiently, trying not to move, but listen to any sounds of his friends approaching.

> Sonnet goes still, listening carefully for any hints, thinking that Ivory was better at hiding than he was.

> Ivory waited and listened, trying not to hum with boredom. Hoping to be found soon, before he gave into the humming.

> Walking around quietly Sonnet was stood under the hole not sure where else to look.

> Ivory spotted his friend below him. He slowly peeked out of his hole, trying to observe Sonnet. He silently wiggled to get a better view, getting his legs out to help support him as he leaned over. And just as he did, he lost his balance and fell over landing right on the other colt.

> Finding himself flattend and beign squashed the first thing Sonnet sees is pink and black stripes. Blinking in confusion, not understanding that it was Ivory's tail infront of his eyes. Wriggleign and trying to get up, or at least move enough to see what was squashing him.

> Ivory grunted and moaned slightly, his mind and senses dizzy form the fall. He looked around and moved his head, trying to see what he had landed on. He turned around to see Sonnet. He quick;y scrasmbled up adn cired "Ack! I am so sorry! Are you alright??"

>Ivory smiled at Sonnet and nodded. "Friends!" He chuckled and found the song to sing. "Pull yourself together
Before you set yourself apart
Make every door you walk through
A living work of art
For Heaven’s Sake

For heaven’s sake there's more at stake
Than we may ever learn
More footsteps to hold onto and corners to be turned
Like weeping violins, you tremble and you shake
Don't you dwell on the future for it's miles away
For Heaven's Sake

Your talkin' in your sleep
Like there's nothing more to lose
Well hey you know you're not alone
Cause honey I get lonely too
And it feels so familiar, must have been here before
Singin' I don't wanna go but I don't wanna hurt anymore
For Heaven's Sake

And I know and I know and I know
That it ain't always fair
You're gonna have to let it go
No you're not moving anywhere

Pull yourself together
Before you set yourself apart
Make every door you walk through
A living work of art
For Heaven’s Sake

And I know and I know and I know
That you've had more than you can bare
But you're gonna have to let it go
No you're not moving anywhere
For Heaven’s Sake"

> Sonnet listed, smiling, very much liking the song, though he had no hope of remembering it all at once. "Thats really nice, though a little sad... I don't think I can remember it all though."

> Ivory thought about that. "Its a song by Thriving Ivory. and all their songs are sad in some way. But I think there is some deeper meaning to each one of them." He remebered all the times he spent alone, thinking about the deeper meaning of some of the songs. Almost always ending up with thnking about something else. But he loved to ponder over such things. "We can sing it verse by verse alright?" He suggested.
"Before you set yourself apart
Make every door you walk through
A living work of art
For Heaven’s Sake"

> Sonnet hesitated nervously, not even knowing if he could sing. He had never tried. Figiting a little, unsure, not wanting to be embarassed if he was really bad. "...."

> Ivory glanced at him, "Something wrong?" He asked, blowing at his short mane playfully.

> Sonnet figited. "I dont even know if I can sing..." Thinking it sounded hard to carry a tune, never having done anything like that.

> Ivory smiled, glad that that was the only thing worrying his friend. "Don't be afriad! We all have to start out somewhere! That is what my dad always tells me, and I was very afriad when i first started singing. Practice makes perfect right?" He winked and beamed, then sang an easy note for Sonnet to repeat.

> Sonnet nods and closes his eyes so he was more focused on listening. Asking his friend to repeat the note again, listening hard. Finally opening his mouth to try, his note not quite right, aside from being wobbly he was a little flat.

> Ivory nooded enthusiastically. "That was a great first try! Do it again," he encouraged, singing the note once more, a bit louder to show Sonnet how to tense his neck and hold it in his vioce.

> looking at his friend and giving it another try, still wobbly but closer to the right not this time at least.


> Ivory nodded enven harder and sang out the note once more. Hoping that the third time was the charm.

> Sonnet tried again, managing to hit the note this time, though the wavering of his voice made it drop instead of holding it. Cringing to himself, thinking he sounded terrible.

> Ivory smiled happily. "That was great! Really impressive!" He said, clicking his tongue. "Try this, it helps with holding the notes better." He sang the same note again, but three times. A soft, and very easy melody.

> Sonnet smiled a little thinking it far from impressive but the enthusiasm was nice. Listening to the little melody, thinking it was at least worth a try. Taking a nice breath in before trying to copy what Ivory had just done.

> Ivory listened for what he could help with and what Sonnet was doing wrong. When his winged frined finished the short song Ivory perked up. "When trying to sing that note, at the end make your vioce a bit louder. It helps me when I am trying to hold notes." He siggested. Truly impressed with his frined's talent.

> "Okay, I'll try again." Thinking over what Ivory had just said, louder at the end. ot sure it would help but his friend knew better than him. Starting with the little melody over again, start to finish, pushing out more air at the end to get louder.

> "Well done!" Ivory said happily with a big smile. "That was really great, your a very quick learner!" He remembered how his brother was not quite as talented or fast to learn. Ivory sang the three notes, but adding a diffrent one at the end.

> Sonnet ducked his head shyly, figiting again, it seemd he was at least good at something, though he wished it was flying, but he thought singing could be fun if he got good at it like ivory. "Thanks..." Listening again, looking up at the extra note on the end. Taking a deep breath and trying to copy again, the wavering in his voice starting to ease up, though it returned with the last note.

> Ivory was having a great time with Sonnet, Usually went singing with his brothers, he got no where. But Sonnet was giving him a chance and wanting to learn. Ivory felt quite proud as he repeated the verse once more for his friend.

> Sonnet was starting to enjoy this, though he still didn't think that he was any good, but he could at least tell he was able to come close to what Ivory was singing. Repeating the sequence again with the new extra note, wobblign a little on it but holding it.

> Ivory smiled. "I think you are really good! I had a hard time with that when i first tried it. And my brothers...well..." He chuckled nervously, "They are not the qickest learners. Though they do love to sing."

> Sonnet beamed brightly. "I'm not rally a fast learner, but this is fun, so maybe thats why?" Not knowing for sure, flying was taking a while to learn, but then that was defiantely harder to do, he had to exercise his wings so they were strong enough. But this was nice, though like everything it would get easyer and better the more he did it.

> Ivory nodded, "That is what i think it is too!" He loved to sing and learn. Ivory's yellow eyes looked on Sonnet's wings. "Do you fly well?"

> Sonnet shook his head. "No... I'm trying to learn but my dad has no wings so he cant teach me. But I need to make my wings stronger so I practice." Having been doing that when Ivory had found him.

> Ivory cocked his head, "Really? So does your mom teach you?"

> Sonnet shakes his head. "I dun know my mom..." Never havign met her or seen her at all, he had no idea why not or what had happend but his dad seemd happy with his children so Sonnet didn't mind.

> Ivory frowned and his eyes reflected his worry. "Really?" He didnt want to press the matter, knowing that it must have hurt Sonnet somehow. And he knew both his parents, they were a happy family. Ivory felt very blessed hearing Sonnet's story.

> Sonnet looked at Ivory. "Why you frowning?" Not knowing anythign different so he wasn't sad. He was loved, he had his dad and his sisters.

> "Well..." Ivory blushed and stumbled over his words. "I know my mom, and I just feel kind of bad for you. Do you miss her? I am sorry if i am offending you!!"

> Sonnet was oblivious to being offended. "I dont remember her at all, so I guess I can't miss her." Wonderign for a moment what it was like to have a mom, but then it was probably no better or worse than not.

> Ivory blushed again. "I am sorry for brining it up! But...having a mom is not so great, its just like have two dads. " He chuckled


> Sonnet pulls a face, only able to imagine having two dads. "I think I'm glad then, I'd be fussed over so much..." Rather liking that he wasn't too fssed over, though his dad made him feel loved and special, so that was plenty for him.

> ivory laughed and giggled, "I dont like being fussed over. That is why i slip off alot and sing alone. I like being away from my family sometimes."

> Sonnet nods in agreement. "Though I never stay gone long, my sister needs me." Finding she managed ok on her own but it was easyer when he was there to translate for her.

> Ivory nodded, "Neither do I. I always come home before they can come looking for me." He giggled

> Sonnet grinnd, glad to have found someone so like himself. "Do you have any sisters?" Wondering how alike they were.

> Ivory shook his head. "Two brothers, but they tease me alot and call me the sister." He chuckled and shook his striped mane. "it really irritates me...but...how can I argue? I am pink!"

> Grinning, not really able to argue either. "My older sister has pink on her, though its darker than yours. But brother would be nice, I only have 2 sisters..." Guessing he was kind of on the opposite side of thigns to him.

> ivory nodded, "But i love my brothers alot! We always have alot of fun together"

> "I love my sisters too, though I feel like I'm the odd one out sometimes." His older sister was nice but clearly older. He was closer to his twin, or he thought they were twins. He didn't know any differently.

> "Why is that? Though...I do too." Ivory was calm and quite, his brothers and father were loud and rowdy. He kind of felt out as well.

> Sonnet shrugs, not really able to explain it. "I guess in some ways because I dont have any stripes like thay do... but also I'm the only boy... Dad love us all but I feel like he has different ideas for me sometimes."

> Ivory nodded slowly, "I feel the same..." His father encouraged him to be a festival horse, or just more outgoing all together, but that was not who he was.

> Sonnet relaxed on the grass where they were, looking up at him. "We should stick together, maybe then we can do our own thing huh?"

> Ivory smiled and flicked his ears excitedly. "I would love that!" He beamed. It felt great to have such an amazing friend.

> Sonnet grinnd and rolld onto his back, resembleing a stunnd bird. "Yeah just no more climing trees kay? I'm ment to be the one lands on you." Finding it funny that the one with no wings had gotten higher.

> Ivory smiled and laughed, lowering down into the grass aswell. Smoothing himself out against the earth. "I agree."

> Sonnet starts laughing, happy as he had been so far. He had a friend and he was learning to fly and sing. Things were as close to perfect as he thought they could be.

> Ivory smiled and also rolled over onto his back, head in the grass and tail on his belly. He giggled and blew on a small butterfly flying above his face. He opened his mouth and sang out the couple of notes once more.

> Sonnet stopped laughing, lookign over at his friend, copying his notes a few moments afterwards.

> ivory smiled at repeated it once more, adding two more notes at the end.

> Grinning Sonnet once again copied the small melody, managing to get the two notes on the end. Finding that this was like a game now.