Welcome to Gaia! ::

Zander could see that the girl had noticed his approach. Before he could reach her though, two more people came into view, all headed toward each other. By the time he got to where the two roads crossed, they had all pretty much arrived at the same time. There was another man, as well as a woman, but it was the man that Zander now addressed.

"Greetings. I am not entirely sure what it is I am looking for, but I believe it has something to do with the Azrein."

Then he turned his attention to the other two and greeted them as well.

"My name is Zander ladies, and I would be pleased to make your acquaintence."

I smile as I move closer, spying another female, and then offering her a wolfish grin, before studying the male, quirking an eyebrow. I'd been talking to the girl, but answered by the man. Oh well, may as well greet them all as well... I sigh, and then move to offer the other female a hand, gently. "Well met, and have the roads risen to meet you, traveler?" I ask, softly; she looks a little tired.

Zander smiled back at the woman. She reminded him of his wife, Rhia. She would stand with her hands on her hips whenever she was scolding him about something he had done, or forgotten to do.

"Well met Bellatrix, Hex, and I don't believe I caught your name," he says to the man.

Four travelers, meeting like this at a crossroads didn't happen every day, not this far from civilization. It must be some sort of omen or fate. He was interested in what these other travelers were out here for.

"I wonder, are we all on a quest for the same thing? Until recently, I had no idea what it was I was searching for, but now I am fairly sure. I don't suppose any of you know where one might have the best luck of crossing paths with one of the blessed ones?"

"Huh... well, I suppose so... oh, kid, you're hungry?" I ask softly, replying to her question as I pull out a few parcels of meat, and a big bundle of kindling from another pocket. "Anybody have stones to make a fire pit?" I ask, glancing around, shrugging out of my heavy pack, and putting the meat and kindling on top of a small blanket, which was rolled up on top.

Zander found some stones lying around, and made the fire circle while the others pulled blankets and gear from their packs. Since it was getting dark, they all agreed that it would be safest for all concerned if they spent the night together, there at the crossroads. Once they had all had their fill of food, and the fire had been banked, he offered to take first watch, and allow the others to sleep first.

The moon had risen above the surrounding trees, and Zander was having a hard time keeping his eyes open. He couldn't account for this sudden sense of fatigue, and before long, he too was fast asleep on the ground.

Zander didn't dream. He never dreamed as a child, and he never dreamed as an adult. So when he suddenly found himself floating amidst a sea of shining lights, he was rather surprised. Not one to let his emotions over take him, he calmly righted himself, and looked around. What was strange was that the others were also here with him. Each of them floating in the exact place they had gone to sleep. As he watched, he could see each one starting to stir. It was then he noticed the sound of thunder.

I had dozed off fairly quickly, lying on my belly, and smiling gently as I started to dream of my perfect Azrein. A beautiful, strong one, with a courageous heart and elegant bearing. I feel my dream start to shift, and an odd tugging sensation at my heart... and when I open my eyes, and begin to rise... No, this can't be right. My eyes... are drinking in the most beautiful sight I've seen. A vast ocean of darkness, accentuated by brilliant, glittering gems, like diamonds in a black-haired beauty's silken tresses, flowing every way the eyes can see. I feel my mouth open slowly, eyes widening a tiny bit...

"Coming for us," Zander asked, "What do you mean? What's coming for us?"

Now that all of them were awake, he too had to stop and wonder at the reason why they were all brought together on the crossroads at just this time. However, he wasn't going to get the chance to ponder that thought for long, because what they had thought was thunder, could now be discerned as a multitude of horses, thundering toward them.

"Look!" He said, as he pointed to a series of colored lights making their way toward them at break-neck speed. "What in the God's name is that?" They didn't need to answer him, because in less time than it took to sneeze, there were four horses before them. Unlike anything he had ever seen before, these horses glowed with colors of green, yellow, red and blue. Each one taking up position in front of one of them.

Standing in front of him was a stallion, green markings on it's flank, and long green hair flowing down from his head. His tail as well was green in color. Greetings Zander, said a voice in his head. I have been waiting long for you to search me out. It is high time you had me come to you.

Zander shook. The voice in his head had to be that of the stallion in front of him, but how did it know his name? What did it mean, it had been waiting for him? So many questions, and no discernible answers.

Do not worry Zander, you shall have all the answers to your questions in time. For now, all you need know is that you are my Chosen, and I am meant for you. Now, close your eyes, for you can not stay here in our realm. It is time for you to return to your realm, and do not fear, I will come to you shortly.

Zander could only stare at the beautiful horse standing in front of him. He chanced one quick glance at his other companions, and he saw pretty much the same thing. Each of the four horses seemed to have chosen one of the others to converse with. A passing thought of, have they been chosen too, popped into his mind, but it was gone just as fast. Leave? How could he leave? He didn't even know how he had arrived here. But he was compelled to do as the Azrein said, and as he closed his eyes, he heard, When you awake, call my name, and I will come to you.

Call his name? How could he call his name? He didn't even know what it was, but before he could ask, he felt himself falling, and suddenly he felt the hard ground under his body again. He bolted up out of sleep, into the darkness of night. The fire had burned down to red coals, and the others seemed to be deep in sleep. So he rose and put a couple more logs on the fire. Enough to last til morning. The dream though would not fade from his mind. He could still see the stallion, standing before him. Hear its voice in his head. Call my name Zander.

He spun around! This was no dream. He knew he was awake now, but then how was it he was still hearing the stallions voice? A word suddenly came to him. A word unlike any he had ever heard before. The urge to speak it out loud was overwhelming, and though he tried to resist it, it would not be held in. "Nebulae," he said. He stood there, feeling much the fool, now that he had said it. Nebulae? What a strange word. Why should that word come to mind now of all times? He was about to go wake the other man in the group, Yabriel he believed his name was, and have him take the next watch so he could get some decent sleep, devoid of any more dreams, when he heard the unmistakable sound of hoofbeats in the darkness. Unsure of who would be on the road this late at night, and not having the benefit of the moon to see by, he drew his sword and prepared to defend himself and the others.

Put your sword away Chosen. You need have no fear of me. You have called, and I have come as I said I would. And coming out of the shadows, into the light of the now burning fire, Zander once again laid eyes upon the glorious beauty of his bonded. Rhia was going to faint dead away when he showed up at their next meeting with an Azrein of his own.