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 Posted: Mon Dec 03, 2012 10:50 pm
The gem had showed up in the work room, out of seemingly nowhere. She certainly did not remember carrying it there, or her aoide owning anything like it. It was a small piece of crystal, strangely pure and definitively very pretty...
At least, that was what she thought until she finally took it from where it had been resting, on top of the sheet music she had been working on the night before. The feeling was familiar, though it had been a long time since she had felt it. The first - and only - time she had felt it was when she had held Cosine's gem carefully, as she explain to Lien what it all meant, and what her choices were.
This was no ordinary crystal. That did explain the gem's presence here. Perhaps it had been left here by Harmodius, and she was to find this deity's host ? This was the only thing she could think about. None of the council could have entered her private space without her knowledge, and Music was sure that if anyone had come to seek her, her servants would have awoken her, no matter the time.
Who was this ? There was no mean to tell, of course. Not with the deity within still silent inside their crystal prison.
Well, usually they were silent. It took Echo a few seconds to realize it, but this one was not quite silent. It seemed to hum and sing in her palm, following the sound of her wings. She could not remember Cosine's gem ever doing anything similar to this.
Hmm. Still, there was the matter of finding to who this gem was destined, to pair that small chunk of crystal, all but ordinary to the first glance, to the one who had the best chance to bring the deity's essence to glory, once more.
This could be easy, or this could be hard. It had to be within her reach, however, or surely the stone would not be here. Still, she observed the crystal carefully as she thought. Maybe she should go to the market. It was where most of the mortals did gather, and where she was most likely to find something. How would she know the right one ? She had no idea. Lien had come to her with Cosine's stone in her possession, Echo could only hope that she would know when it happened.
She had been darwn to the Market a lot recently, and not just for the food. While the mouth parts never ceased being an amazing distraction, Exalla's listless wandering in the market had become a near daily thing. She couldn't tell why and it bothered her. Ever since Ankou had suggested she seek out Music she'd been wondering about returning to her practices... she'd neglected them in favour of exploring this alien world but she must not forget her duties and her responsibilities. Music had been a pleasant enough God when they'd spoken, despite being gender confused, and Exalla had continued to visit the female while her offspring was away. They had been composing an accompaniment for her dance, expressing her emotions towards the world of the Pantheon.
And it was with this in mind that the Andalite began the trek to Music's rooms. The Pantheon was not particularly kind to four-legged individuals but Exalla had gotten somewhat used to the 'stairs' - they made no sense to her, why not use ramps? Slung over one shoulder was a bag full of favourite items - eggs, noodles, sweets, match heads... things to share for snacks if Echo wanted.
It seemed like finding Exalla would not be a problem. From the look of it, however, the andalite had already went to the market. Well, she could always go later, this much would not be a problem. "Exalla !" Echo reached to help the andalite up the stairs - not the most simple of processes, really. One look at the basket made her smile. Match heads... The quest to tell Exalla what was and was not food would likely be endless.
Something did catch her attention, as she reached to support and help Exalla up the stairs. The stone - who had been put in one of the hidden pockets of her sleeve for safe-keeping - had very suddenly went silent. Then it started humming again all the more, as if trying to press some sort of urgency into the goddess' mind, trying to catch her attention.
Exalla.... ? Was Exalla meant to be this stone's one ? This could either be simple, or be complicated. Either way, it was good that she had found the andalite so quickly.
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 12:21 pm
Exalla answered Music's call with a wave, the edges of her eyes turning up in a smile as she found her friend reached out to her. Taking the offered hand, she mounted the remaining stairs with the swift clip-clop of her hooves.
Something drew her attention, however, as she stood even with the godded and all four eyes centered on Echo. <> It almost seemed like the sound was across all frequencies at once - perhaps a communications device? Technology advanced as that was rare in the Pantheon where goods and services were mostly sub-par in comparison to the glory she'd lived with. It would be refreshing to tinker with proper technology.
<>
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 1:08 pm
 Yes, at that moment it was perfectly clear to Music. The gem she had found was meant to be Exalla's. No one else had seemed to hear the vibrations that came from the clear crystal hidden in her sleeve.
"It is something I would like to talk to you about, actually." The gem would entice and pull, as gems did, but Echo planned to give the andalite an explanation of what she would be getting into before she simply handed it over.
If only for Music's own concience, she had to. Exalla's choice might very well be made the second she laid eyes upon the gem, as it had been for her young host. But the girl had the matters and concequences explained to her first, and Exalla would get no less. "In my gardens, perhaps ?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 1:15 pm
<> Exalla's ears perked at that and she had to drag her attention from Echo's sleeve to meet her gaze. <> It was difficult to focus on anything but that sleeve and it made the andalite uncomfortable and incredibly curious. Inquisitive by nature, Exalla's curiosity had gotten her into trouble before... now that that same tingly feeling running up her spine was trying to say she was headed that way again.
She ignored it and turned in the direction of Echo's garden, her tail swaying a bit with outward agitation.
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 3:13 pm
It was easy enough to go back and get settled, and Echo thought about what she would say for all the time it would take to lead Exalla back and make the andalite comfortable.
She figured there was nothing to say but the truth. "The gods have only returned recently. We died, ages and ages ago. All of us, save one. Creation." It was easy enough to pull her sleeve downward and reveal her gem. It still rested exactly where her one had put it, above where the mortal girl's heart had been.
"The Twin Crown gathers what is left of us - our mana, our... DNA, if you will." It was not the same, but it would do for comparison's sake. "Into gems like these. Dormant life, but one yet requiring a spark. It falls upon one person - the person that had what we were missing back then, what imbalance in us that made us forgotten and faded. The cost is no less but that mortal's life - the spark to reignite the life anew."
Only then did she reach into her pocket, and pull the jagged piece of crystal out of her sleeve, cradling it into her open palm. "A deity sleeps within this stone. A deity that needs you... But the choice is yours to make. I will not force this upon you."
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Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2012 11:37 pm
Exalla followed the goddess, curiosity piqued and attention focused on the woman before her. The steady clip clop of hooves echoed in the quiet halls they passed until they reached Echo's gardens and the sound grew hushed as the andalite stepped onto soft grass.
The tension that had been gathering in her shoulders did not ease, however, with the open and living space. Her ears centered on Echo when the woman stopped and the conversation took an unexpected turn. She knew what their lore said, hadn't really accepted it as truth... and yet here Echo was trying to convince her again.
Exalla sighed, casting a casual glance over Echo's gem and gave a small shrug. <> She was surprisingly clinical in her tone, the mild irritation giving way to interest as Music spoke to the gods' beginnings. <>
She fell silent as the gem was replace and a swirl of sound swept through her mind, enthralling her. All four eyes settled on the gem and Echo was forgotten as she instinctively reached out, pausing only by sheer force of will as her mind caught up with instinct. <> It was a god? A god only she could foster?
Somewhere deep inside something clicked and settled, recognizing she could not simply walk away from this. She was only marginally aware of Echo's comment. It was taking all of her effort not to reach for the gem again.
Exalla inhaled deeply and shuffled her feet, tail half at the ready from the tension in her body, <> The decision seemed so easy... so straight forward... and yet, against all logic, she could not bring herself to say no.
She gave a single nod, <> For the first time, one stalk eye turned to meet Echo's gaze as she asked her question, <>
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 12:54 pm
"The stones call only to those who will complete them the best. I can feel the energy of the one that sleeps within it, feel the vibrations... But it does not call to me." Why should it, after all. It was obvious - both in the stone's subtle reactions, and Exalla's open desire of it. The stone was finally given over to Exalla, switching from pale to blue palm, and only seemed to resonate all the more vividly for it.
Exalla did not believe in gods. Echo knew this, and knew it well. And yet she was chosen... And yet, she accepted so readily. Perhaps now the andalite could understand better than any kind of speech Music might be able to give. "You press the stone against your body, where you wish for it to rest." Some concealed their stones, and some wore them proudly. Some did not get to choose the placement at all, and were outright taken by force. "It will become one with you. Once that is done, you will not be able to change your mind." Both on the placement and on the decision to take the sleeping one as her own.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 1:55 pm
Exalla inhaled deeply and there was a frown in her gaze as she accepted the stone. The excuse was a thinly veiled reason to save face - should could not admit to the allure the stone had grasped her with. Her will was strong, yes, but the stone was reaching with the promise of discovery, of understanding and knowledge and experience.
With the weight sitting in her hand, the andalite realized she could not decline the stone now even if she wanted to. The sensation of something reaching out with tiny, tender filaments to spread tingling through her system was at once terrifying and mezmerizing. <>
That startled her and she blinked, the spell broken for a moment as she regarded the crystal. Where should she put it? She possessed four hearts, perhaps at her first? Within reach and visible... but she was not sure she would be proud to bear the mark of an infant god.
<> She asked, stalk eyes surveying her back and rump then along her tail. Exalla dismissed that immediately - the shorm carried too many important connotations to set an experiment there. At length she settled on her chest, where a pendant might be visible if she wore jewelry like the humans. <>
Gingerly, Exalla pressed the stone to the spot and inhaled sharply as it burrowed into her skin, melding with the flesh until the just the rough crystals protruded from her. Another whuff of air followed as she staggered, ears flattening against her head in pain as the pressure seemed to release all at once as the tendrils of energy shot through her like a seed sprouting. Countless sounds raced through her mind - languages, heartbeats, musics, chaos, violence... all the sounds of everything coalesced into one source. The cacophony resolved slowly into a harmony as if being filtered and finally settled into an intensified sense of hearing. For a few heart beats the world seemed even more alive - the shifting of stone, the thrum of mana, the song of bird and rustle of fabric, she could hear it all in startling detail.
Then silence fell and Exalla gasped as the world slowly returned to its regular degree of perception. <> There was confusion in her mental tone as she reached for the noise and it remained confined in a corner of her mind, a living yet intangible force. <>
The impression of confirmation followed and Exalla blinked, <> Looking to Echo, she looked frustrated, <>
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 3:20 pm
"Wherever you feel it is right for it to rest." There was no right and no wrong answer. This was something Exalla would figure out. There was little set in stone after she accepted the deity that called her. How long would it take ? What will happen ? It was impossible to say, because it was different for all of them.
Then the andalite made up her mind, and the reaction made her frown. One long ear perked upward, seeking to hear what Exalla seemed to hear.... But for Music, there was nothing to be heard. "Exalla ?" The andalite did not seem to hear her.
So Echo waited, until her friend spoke again. Sound. "It must be what this one rules over, then." Irony, or fate, that Music homed Sound ? She truly had no idea. "As I am Music, and my son Lament... Then this one must be Sound."
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 4:28 pm
<> Exalla repeated, steadying her breath as she touched the gem and it tingled against her fingers. Mentally, she reached for the being again and another affirmation surfaced. <> She gave a nod and sighed, having expected a voice or name or something from the stone.
Instead there was an airy aloofness that flowed and surrounded her mind rather then embraced it and the distance was irritating. She made another reach for the consciouness lurking around the edges, gaze turning far away, and puffed her breath as it evaded her.
Then, like flipping through a book, her memories were analyzed and focus was made to the sounds of her life. These seemed to be absorbed somehow and there was silence again as she found herself dizzy.
<> Exalla asked, undercurrents of irritation in her voice.
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Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2012 5:17 pm
Had she ? It seemed so distant now, so hard to truly recall being small, limited, and confined to her one's mind. "I spoke to my host early on." She remembered spooking Memi...
Memi. Panacea. An old ache among so many others. None had seen Medicine for so long that she now sadly considered her lost.
"But... it is not the same for all. Some speak early. Some barely do speak at all. But... That is how I started, yes. I was but a presence, a voice in my host's mind."
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