Welcome to Gaia! ::

Te wondered the woods in the darkness for hours thinking on his past and his possible future, the young Mare he had met....the mention of friends and family, not having to be alone or be in sadness.....He was starting to think differently about his role as 'The Hand'....

He continued to walk occasionally glancing at the moon, hoping she held some answers for him, but there were none so he continued to wander the now familiar forests, silently communing with the trees. He talked to them and eased their sadness and pain from the earth that was constantly dying....more so then it was giving new life it seemed....he didn't even notice that the moon had left the sky and the colors of dawn started to wash away his sight of the stars.

Being far from his normal cave in which he would rest he decided to seek shelter elsewhere, but found nothing. It was then he caught the scent of water in the wind, he must be near an ocean. He had not laid eyes on the beauty of the waves and sand since before he came to the Kawani Lands and being in slightly better spirits he decided to travel to them and visit once more.

Te stretched out his wings, his chains rattling with his movements. It had been many moons since he had taken to the sky, the black chains tended to weigh him down at times but this did not stop him as he took off with ease. He soared through the trees carefully reaching the treetops where he could see a beach not far from him. When he reached it he did not think to see if there were any inhabitants as it seemed rather calm and secluded, a small cove angled just away from the main area of the beach. He decided that he would check there for sufficient shelter, but first he walked to the waters edge and let the calm waves wash over his hooves as the sun began to rise over the water, lighting the sky with brilliant shades blue, pink, and purple. He smiled to himself and let a small sigh out, "Magnificently beautiful....One could almost forget all the sorrows of the world in this one joyous sight....if only the world reflected on its brilliance...."

The sand muffled any movements there might of been as Te continued to watch the sun rise over the water, lost in the beauty of nature, but also in a sadness....it was sad that all of the world couldn't be like this. He soon found himself snapped out of the sad line of thinking at a voice behind him...

Te slowly turned around, his chains shifting with his body almost disagreeing with the action. He found there the source of the voice, a young winged mare with bright eyes and a kind face. Te gave a light smile at her as he replied with a small bow of his head, "My apologizes miss, I was not aware of your presence. I am fine though, just admiring the sun as she rises, wishing all the world could see this peace and be influenced by it instead of all the cold cruelties....Pay me no mind miss, Im just an old battle worn fool."

Te gave a light chuckle, to his own surprise as he looked down at her with kind, but piercing yellow eyes. He took moment to observe the beach and surrounding area looking back to the cove before returning his gaze to her. "I apologize for disturbing you, I was hoping to seek temporary shelter in the cove, but Im guessing that's where you came from. I shall take my leave then dear lady, enjoy the sunrise", his voice was kind but distant as he began to turn, the kind smile never leaving his face.

He smiled again at her and turned back towards her, glad he wasn't disturbing her. When she took closer notice of his wings and his forever bleeding scars and wounds his eyes grew softer. He started to object the mention of needing assistance, but then thought that he could use some water. "I am indeed alright, but water isn't such a bad idea...I have been walking all night only stopping to converse with the trees and ease their pain, then I found this place...."

He focused on her mention of company, true company and companions were nice to have and he knew he shouldn't give up on them for himself either. He listened as she mentioned her cave....and then her mother. He couldn't help but give a light chuckle, but nonetheless he readied to follow. The last thing he wanted was an unneeded confrontation with an unfriendly mare. "Very well then, to your cave. I must thank you for your kindness Miss...." He then stretched his wings out, chains clinking together. He lightly flapped his wings a few times and then took to the sky following the young mare to the safety of her cave.

Te followed the young mare to the mouth of the cave and followed her. It was bigger inside then he expected, which wasn't a bad thing. He gave her a light smile as he continued to follow speaking with a kind voice, "It's a very nice haven, with a nice view from the opening as well.....Do not fear young one you are not being rude I assure you." and so he followed her on....

They angled through a slightly smaller opening that soon lead to a hidden spring, it gave him a peaceful feeling...very relaxing. He listened to her introduction of herself and her spring and mentioned a resting place...he debated it, but felt it would be imposing too much, but he introduced himself in kind, feeling a little on the rude side himself. "Forgive my manners, young Cameo....I am called Kanashimi Te, but you may call me Te for short. I cannot thank you enough for your kindness, I shall rest shortly and be on my way. Thank you." and with that he edged to the springs edge and drank water to his hearts content and when he had his fill he turned back to Cameo with a smile and politely bowed his head in thanks.

"I see, I find most of my company in nature as well, I've been told I should try and reach out to make friends and build relationships again....I find it hard to at times." He smiled lightly at her and though he was curious about the ill mention of her mother again he left the subject alone for the moment.

He relaxed his body, folding his wings to his sides, as best he could with the chains anyways. His eyes remained soft but there was a stab of sudden sadness again in his eyes at Cameo's question, but they soon softened again, but held an inkling of the sadness. "I....have been through many battles, some of which I can barely remember now...the scars you see are from those that were able to heal before I came to be 'The Hand'...upon my oath the battle I fought after...the wounds would not heal forever reminding me of my own pain...my sins....." As his words faded the mark on his chest began to glow lightly as the sadness deepened in his eyes remembering his past, but his smile soon returned with a shake of his head, not wanting to get dragged back to the darkness....

Te was surprised at her reaction as he finished speaking. Seeing her eyes start to water made his heart break for spreading his own sadness on to another. Her sentences broke up as she moved towards him, he couldn't help but give a small smile even though it was to her tears, it showed him that there was more light and kindness in the world....

But when she buried her face into his neck his breathe caught in shock, but it was touching though unexpected. He soon relaxed again and took a deep breathe as he took a small step back and nudged her forehead and took a wing tip and wiped the remaining tears from her eyes and smiled wider and kinder then before. " Fear not young one, you did nothing wrong....though it's something I wish to forget I cannot...one day I know Ill have to stop running from it.....But...enough about me, tell me about you. What is the dispute you have with your mother...if you don't mind me asking."

Te calmly listened to her words and felt a stab of loss for her not having the mother she deserved. He could see the hurt in her eyes, even when she avoided his gaze. When she finished speaking his gentle smile returned to his face. "Im sorry to hear that....a child should never shunned by their own parents. I cannot imagine what that may have been like.... Your mother seems to misunderstand the true meaning of being strength it seems."

He stepped back a bit to better look at her thinking on the 'training' she mentioned. He wondered what kind of training she would have been put through hopefully not for battle.....None need know of the horrors battles and fighting can bring. "Your mother is...flawed to see you as a burden....Your spirit is to bright to be cast aside into darkness. What kind of training did she attempt to give you? Battles and war...fighting is a place for no one....."

Te nodded his head in response to her words. It was true that there were less fortunate ones out there, but still her situation was bad enough and saddening to him. He had a very loving mother with the voice of an angel....that's right she had been the grandest signer among his herd...how had he forgotten that? He shook his head slightly and turned back to Cameo.

"There are indeed, many ways to be strong, physical strength is not the best or more important of them.....I find my greatest strength now in my words, thoughts, and feelings....I wish not for battle if it can be avoided........ At one time a didn't mind fighting, until I was forced to see the reality, it should not be a path any should need tread, but I will defend myself and others to no extent."

His words had faded off briefly as his memories flashed in front of his eyes...memories of that first battle where everything he knew and loved was taken from his young soul. At Cameo's blush he gave a very light chuckle and smiled again, "....Love? Love is a very important thing...do not be afraid or ashamed to want that....It is a wondrous thing." As he spoke his words drifted away and his eyes seemed to grow sad, but also happy in a memory....