of seaweed and saltwater :: for Taigi!

"speech!" thoughts!


Years had passed since Taigi Ayelene had first met Adelaide Dresner, why, she was little less than a yearling at the time of the harsh run-in. She had only moments before given birth to little Evan, she could remember like it was last night, but that's where her memories stop. She'd never spent much time with the one she considered as her "other mother" as a child, but the protective mare would always hold a special place within her. Perhaps it was simply a Druid thing, to hold dear other Druids? Plausible, but she felt as if it was unlikely. Her Chief, as well as her son, had gone missing, and in the space of their emptiness was nothing, nothing to fill the void she once thought was safety. A sigh escaped the young mare's velvet lips, a small vapor of steam rising into the chilled air. She had to get away from that place. It was nothing more than chaos and ruins, with no Chief to keep everyone in line and control the Clan's somewhat government. Her legs wandered nowhere in particular as Taigi kept herself lost deep into thought, unable to keep little snippets of voices and feeling from invading her privacy. Lately, she'd been feeling odd, almost sick, but only within her mind. A tiny, inaudible voice here and there, a weird idea now and again. Some days were worse than others, but like any other mare, she sucked it up and continued with her life. What life? One of the voices asked, but she pushed it aside. It was probably her conscience giving her rope a tug.

The rocky, grassy ground beneath her hooves changed to sand abruptly, causing her to falter a step before actually picking up her hooves. With each step, she could feel the seagulls perched on the shore, the vibration of the waves crashing onto the beach. It wasn't an unfamiliar feeling, but then again, the neon-haired Druid was still getting used to her powers. Her made had grown significantly in the past two years, flowing in tight locks down to her shoulder. She liked it now much better, rather than when she was a yearling and still had it curled up on her neck like a colt. She felt like a lady now, and it made her slightly happier than before. Without thinking, Taigi continued to walk, borderline ignoring the heavier pulses through the ground. She hardly noticed the large brute as she walked right into his side, startling herself into backing too quickly and falling into the waves. There, she got her bearings together and pushed herself from the freezing depths back to dry land.

"Oh, my apologies, mate! I didn't see ya there."

"speech!" thoughts!

The smaller Aeonian shook off the excess water that caused her mane, tail and feathers to cling to her sopping pelt, barely hearing the words of the stallion from being preoccupied with drying her body. But what would it hurt? A small cold was nothing to a Healer, and there were plenty of those around Aeon. So, with a slight and care-free shrug of the shoulder, she turned to look at the wall-like stallion she had slammed in to. He was massive, as her kinfolk always were, but what made the previous thought and understatement was the live tree growing on his back. She looked at him, mouth agape in awe. How did that happen? Was he alright? Is that why it hurt so much to simply bump into his barrel? So many questions flooded her brain, but she could ask none. It was like her mouth was glued shut, despite the fact that she was probably catching flies with it open. Other than the tree growing on the gentleman's withers, he looked decent enough, with a plain grullo coat and some white markings here and there. But his eyes were strangely attractive, their color matching, almost exactly, the color of her faded, barely-visible brindles. What a coincidence, she thought, brow raising in surprise. Taigi cleared her throat and bowed her head deeply to the stag respectfully.

"Hallo sir. I'm doin' fine now, t'ink ya. Ya sure do, but I t'ank I shoulda been watchin' where I was walkin', so no hard feelin's." She said, peering through the gaps of her dripping forelock. The day was overcast, so her mane wasn't nearly as vibrant, though it shone bright enough that the color reflected onto her earthy-brown pelt easily. She stepped forward, almost within touching distance, at his last words. A confused look rose to her face, but she replied anyway.

"Mah name's Taigi, sir. Taigi Ayelene. And how d'ya I'm a Druid? Are ya one too?"