| Subject: choices |
Author:
Wesimbi
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Date Posted: 10:34:12 09/21/05 Wed
In reply to:
Nashota
's message, "Lost" on 21:41:11 09/12/05 Mon
Wesimbi returned Nashota's smile, holding tightly to her hand both for comfort and for support. The human form was very like to a Jellicle, so the young woman was much steadier on her new feet than the former phoenix. He released her and took a wobbly step, eyes bugging with concentration at compensating for the loss of his wings. They had always been there, and in his physical form were a great weight above and behind him, and without them he felt too light, as though he would fly into the air at any moment.
He sighed, using his arms to balance as he practiced walking about on flat fleshy feet. Nashota made to help him but he shook his head, gently pushing her hand away, but in so doing lost his precious balance and toppled over in an awkward whirl of limbs, landing on his side. He cried out at a stab of pain in his leg and sat up as Nashota knelt beside him, concerned.
"I'm alright," he said quickly, offering a smile. For a moment they were both silent, and the man took a few long stems of blue grass in his hands and began twisting and braiding them into a sort of slender twine. "I believe my father - our father - believes that he has given us remarkable gifts," he said at last, "though it may be a form of punishment at the same time. We infiltrated his city without permission, after all. But I do not think he has any intention of hurting us. He may yet plan to restore us to our true forms...but how long that will take, I could not predict."
He frowned, looking toward the Dark Spear Mountains with a hand in his pocket, and then his face melted into a smile as he turned back to Nashota. "This is quite the adventure. Two brand-new humans with dragon eyes lost in the Blue Valleys. But I have one more surprise for you, Nashota. It is not on par with a new body, but perhaps it will cheer you."
And from his pocket he drew a jewel. He had found it at the base of the Dragon King's throne-mountain of gold and gems, pocketing it to give to his companion once they were back in the world of free air. He held it up to catch the sunlight, an ovaloid jewel of deep rich blue swimming with translucent veins that seemed to shift and flow, bound in simple silver. It shimmered, and he held it at arm's length, beside Nashota's face. "To match your eyes," he said simply, and hung the gem from the grass twine he had braided, and tied it around the girl's neck.
"You will see things very differently from now on," he said, with a great solemnity that looked almost silly in a face as young as the one he wore. Nashota wondered vaguely just how old the fire-prince really was. "It will take some getting used to," he went on, "but I can help you. In time, you will be able to see as I do - which is very well indeed."
He smiled then, and the smile widened to a grin, and then Wesimbi laughed. "Welcome to the family," he said, and clapped Nashota on the shoulder. "It's more than a little dysfunctional, but our father certainly knows how to celebrate. Perhaps one day you will see the Firedance.
"But that is for another time. At the moment, we're quite lost and evening is on its way. I seem to have lost my mind-speech along with my wings and beak, and I am guessing that it is the same for you. We haven't got much - but as you said, we at least have each other. And that is a great deal indeed."
He stood again, pinwheeling his arms to gain balance, and frowned as he looked out across the blue hills. His gaze focused an narrowed, climbing hills and winding through valleys, leaping rivers and passing above herds of Many-Color and Silent Paw and the dark burrows where Howlers slept through the heat of the day, and came at last to the remains of a little campfire with many footprints all around. Wesimbi smiled, and brought his gaze back to Nashota.
"Before we entered the Heartgate," he told her, "I looked from above and took note of the location of all our companions. Your sister slept by a little fire with the boy Dante, and nearby were a unicorn, a Many-Color, and a Silent Paw - a remarkable combination, such as has not been seen since the formation of the Forbidden Hills. They have struck eastward and north. Their path will take them very close to the Sacred Forest, the black trees where the unicorns dwell, which is currently due east of us - if we make east and meet little trouble on the way, we may catch up with them. What do you think?"
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