?You could lay off the theatrics for me, you know!? he said as he carefully scrambled around a thorny plant that actually seemed to reach for him as he did so.
?Now Gala, you know the rules! But do hurry! I need to see you right away!? came the answer, the voice soft as silk and dark as night in his mind..
?Hurry, she says,? he sighs as he avoids yet another of the barriers that makes sure that no one ? mortal or immortal - bothers Thana, the Angel of Death, without truly wanting to see her.
*****
?Sidra, I have to go. I don?t like leaving you and the babies any more than you like me going, but I can?t leave this stone unturned. For our young bard?s sake I need to find out what happened to his parents,? With those words the angel had made his decision to leave his new family and take to dangerous journey to visit his dear friend. Now nearly a week later he was nearing the end of that trek.
It had been a long time since he had seen Thana actually; she tended to isolate herself in her stony stronghold simply because of the fear that so many of the others held her in. Even other immortals regarded the dark mare with a spark of fear, for her touch had been known to come among them at the Mother?s command. He was one of the few who saw past the power she held to see the gentle soul she really was ? and how often she grieved at what she had to do. They had had many long discussions over the nature of mortals and how it was the fact that they were so short lived that made their moments so precious, and how it was that sometimes her touch was actually a .blessing. After all, without death, there could not be life again after all.
His musing brought him to the last obstacle, a seemingly bottomless chasm that stretched across the ground in front of him. The only way across was, of course, to jump to the far edge ? an edge that seemed just out of his leaping distance. Thana?s magics kept all gifts from working in her realm, and kept all flight impossible so he had to depend only on what his four feet could do. Pacing back a few steps, he broke into a gallop and lept into space, reaching out to the edge just to feel his front hooves barely reach. Scrabbling his hind hooves against the stony slick walls he tried to gain purchase to no avail, falling backwards into the deepening darkness of the pit.
It's dark. Is it suppose to be dark? I thought there was suppose to be a light. It is peaceful though, that much is right. What is that tapping though? Who's there? Is that you, Mother of All? Are you here to lead me to the next Path? Galaen's rambling return to consciousness was interrupted by, of all things, a giggle.
"You aren't dead, silly angel," came a familar voice. With the voice came a soft light, like moonlight spreading across the landscape. Blinking, Gala looked around and smiled as he saw Thala, the Angel of Death, standing next to him.
"Greetings, old friend," he said as he stood up. "That is quite an entrance you have here - you could have warned me," he continued with a hint of reproach in his voice. He looked around as they walked. Despite the rough look of the approach, Thana's hidden home was a beautiful place full of color and flowers. It was not at all what most ponies would expect of Death.
The dark angel just looked at him for a solemn moment, then returned his smile. "No apology from me, Galaen. Anyone who wants to come here must face their own mortality - and that includes you. The god of fire was in here not long ago, his entry was an underwater cavern! But enough of that, we need to talk!"
"Yes, we do, Thana. I need to find out about a couple of ponies, the parents of..."
"No time for that! There is a tragedy about to happen Galaen! It is not far from the garden that you live in and I need for you to gather up some of your friends and help. The faery and dragon ponies are in mortal danger!" Thana paced around as she spoke, her tail twitching in agitation. "Do you think there are any who would be willing to help?"
Thana kept talking, not seeing the confused look on Galaen's face at the mention of faery and dragon ponies. "They haven't seen any regular ponies, of course, but that shouldn't be a problem. Their home is going to be destroyed, Gala, and you have got to show them a new place to go. Please tell me you will help!" She turned her dark eyes to him in entreaty.
"Fae..faery? Dragons? Thana, I have never heard of these ponies!" Galaen couldn't control his suprise any longer. "I mean, of course I will help, and I am sure I can get others to help as well, but how will I find them? And why haven't I seen them before?"
Thana stopped her pacing and stared at him. "Gala, there are many things out here you have never seen. I have left tokens of mine to show you the way - find them and you know where to go. But hurry! Here," she pulled out a small twist of her hair. "This will let you use your gifts in my realm. Now go!"
Before he really could gather his poor scattered wits, Galaen found himself back outside and on his way.
"And tell your mate I will come for a visit soon!" he heard as he took to the skies and headed homeward.
Galaen stood on the rocks next to the waterfall and looked at the gathered ponies and flowerlings.
"I have just found out from my good friend Thana that there are some ponies in danger near here!" he said, ignoring the murmurs that her name invoked. "I intend to go help them and offer them a place to live here among us. Anyone who wants to come is welcome, though we may run into some danger along the way."
The angelic fluttered his wings and took to the air above the crowd, we will leave as soon as everyone is ready. Thana has assured me that she has left tokens to guide us there and that this is a task that if we all work together we can do!"
****
