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Post by Nahara46 on Jul 30, 2012 13:50:41 GMT -5
Fawkes bowed his head respectfully as Lucinda called in her fellow Creatures. It was a good song, a kind way of inviting them all.
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Eolande was alone, she was scared and alone in the bright white room. Mamma used to be there, keeping the light away from Eolande, giving Eolande Safe Black. But Mamma wasn't there, she was here on the ground. She was here in her tree, the Tree that couldn't turn back. Eolande pressed her back to the tree, wanting her mother's Safe Black. Eolande could feel a faint trace of her mother in the tree, but it was faint and it wasn't her.
Beside Eolande was the Girl. The Girl was quiet, she didn't say a word- The Girl just sat there, mourning silently with Eolande. Eolande was confused- Why was the Girl here? Eolande was alone, so why was someone here? Mamma had left Eolande, no one else was there for Eolande- but the Girl was right there. The Fire was gone, it had flown away. But it hadn't stolen Eolande away. The Girl had stayed with Eolande.
As the rain ran down Eolande's cheek, flooding her eyes and drenching everything it touched, Eolande asked a simple question,
"Why are you here?"
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Rhea had just kept her eyes straight. She stared straight ahead, silent tears running down her cheeks as she thought of the pain that not only this little girl, but the whole forest was feeling. Pain that should never have happened- Lost of so many people... So many important people. The faces of all she had met went through Rhea's mind. What had they lost? How many tears have they shed?
Eolande's question brought Rhea back to earth, and she looked at the Dryad in surprise. The Dyrad stared back with her dark pink eyes- eyes filled with sadness, despair and confusion. Why was she here? Rhea wasn't completely sure, and her eyebrows knitted together as she considered her answer.
"I'm... I'm here because you Mother would want someone here. I didn't know her personally, but I know she loved you. She wouldn't want you to be alone, so I'm not going to let you be alone. I'm here for you, so that your not alone."
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Not Alone? How could Eolande be Not Alone? Eolande was alone. No one else was in the white room. No one kept the light away and gave her Safe Black. But the Girl said she was Not Alone. She said Mamma wouldn't want her to be Alone.
Maybe she was Not Alone. Was there someone else in the room? Someone she couldn't see? Eolande closed her eyes, and checked to room. There was someone there. Next to Eolande in the room was a little dog- the dog had red hair, and blue eyes. The dog lay next to Eolande, pressing itself to her leg- head on it's paws. It was with Eolande, and Eolande was Not Alone. Leaning over, Eolande lay her head on the dog. The dog accepted her, Eolande pressed her face into the dog, and she could see the Safe Black.
---
Rhea was surprised with the Dyrad suddenly leaned into her, pressing her face into Rhea's shoulder. Pushing away the surprise, Rhea carefully wrapped her arms around the little girl, and she held Eolande, who cried into Rhea's shoulder. But the tears were less... Confused. They were just pure sadness- the tears of Goodbye.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 30, 2012 13:53:20 GMT -5
Lucinda flew down to a lower branch, so that she could see everyone as they came to the middle. When everyone was ready, she would begin her speech. It was time to get a few truths across.
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 30, 2012 13:53:30 GMT -5
Harrigan heard the call and headed with the herd to the forest. They had all wrapped their quivers in black to mourn Rodimus's lost soul. He'd never been more ready and more angry. How could Rodimus have died?
Yew was sitting on Calla's shoulder, looking at the box in her hand. Today was the day her parents would actually be buried. They'd actually be gone.
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Post by Nahara46 on Jul 30, 2012 14:01:31 GMT -5
Rhea heard the call, and for a moment she didn't want to go. She just wanted to sit here and let Eolande cry. But she knew that they had to go. Slowly, she stood up with Eolande in her arms. The little girl looked up at Rhea in surprise. "Eolande, we're going to take you Mother's body to a funeral, so we can bury her. All right?"
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Eolande didn't like that idea. Her Mamma wouldn't want to be buried- she'd want to stay above the surface, with the trees and flowers... Flowers! Eolande knew what to do. She slipped out of the Girls arms, and into Mamma's tree. It took a bit of looking, but she finally found what she needed- Two flowers that had survived the fire. Only two. Eolande was very careful as she got them, she didn't want to wrinkle them.
Eolande had felt safe as a flower, and she knew Mamma would to. Mamma would be safe forever- the Flower would be Mamma's goodbye.
"Mamma doesn't wants to be buried." Eolande told the Girl in a soft voice, "She wants these Flowers to be buried. Mamma would want to stay here."
---
Rhea smiled softly, the little girl had stopped crying as a look of determination crossed her face while she searched. Eolande really loved and cared for her mother, Rhea nodded as she picked up Eolande once more, looking at the flowers that matched Eolande's eyes. "All right then. We'll bury these flowers." With that, Rhea was off to the center of the forest, Eolande in her arms and clinging to her shirt as she leaned on Rhea's shoulder.
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Post by Miss Wings on Jul 30, 2012 14:08:24 GMT -5
I heard the sound but I needed to see the healer first, well I already was but the appointment needed to finish. I was brought out of my thoughts when Healer Kali said that specific word. "WHAT?! How, how did this happen?" I screamed before I stumbled my way towards the sound of the Phoenix.
I'd heard Lucinda's message and remembering my promise to Calla I flashed to the school and ensured that she was holding on to me very tightly with everything that she was taking with her before I carefully flashed to Lucinda's location.
Oh Yew, how I felt so sorry for you. To have lost both of your parents at once, and at such a young age as well.
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 30, 2012 14:19:35 GMT -5
Yew stared emptily at her mummy and daddy's lifeless bodies. It wasn't fair. She yearned to reach out to them. She wanted so desperately for them to wake up and to snuggle them. She wanted to fly from trees as her father chased after her. She wanted to hear her mummy's chattering and to mimick those sounds. How desperately she wanted to hug them. Yet, their bodies were burnt and black. Their eyes shut forever. She couldn't help but struggle as she tried to hide her face in Calla's hair and sob.
Harrigan stared at the dead and scabbed body of Rodimus. He was alone. His mentor and leader had passed, just like his parents before. Why did he have to die?
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Post by Miss Wings on Jul 30, 2012 14:23:46 GMT -5
Calla carefully leant on the walking stick and walked ever so slowly towards Harrigan. "A, are you alright Mr Centaur?" She asked after seeing his sorrowful looks.
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 30, 2012 14:25:31 GMT -5
"Nobody's alright today. Today's all about being upset, Princess," said Harrigan with a small smile. "But once the rain ends, comes a rainbow. So let's cry today, and celebrate tomorrow."
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Post by Miss Wings on Jul 30, 2012 14:29:51 GMT -5
"I'm also burying my friends Yew's parents today. I made them a nice burial box. See?" Calla pointed out childishly.
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 30, 2012 14:32:55 GMT -5
"Did you make that? It looks lovely," he said with a smile. "I'm sure Yew must be touched. I'd ask you to make one for Rodimus, but he's too big for those. Ah well, Centaurs like to ride to the stars when they die."
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Post by Miss Wings on Jul 30, 2012 14:36:53 GMT -5
"But how can you ride stars? Their tiny!"
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 30, 2012 14:41:22 GMT -5
"When you die, it's the spirit that rides the star, and the follow the stars to the end of time, favoring those born as heroes to ensure peace," said Harrigan wisely, "They spirit is much smaller than the body, don't you agree?"
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Post by Miss Wings on Jul 30, 2012 14:44:18 GMT -5
"Oh right. Look there's Lexie! I promised I'd stay by her side today. She looks paler than normal to me".
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 30, 2012 14:45:52 GMT -5
"She told me she was feeling sick," said Harrigan, "And a funeral ground does that to everyone. Why don't you go to her? I need to stay by my herd, unless she comes here."
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Post by Miss Wings on Jul 30, 2012 14:48:09 GMT -5
"Okay Mr Centaur. Bye!" I said as I once again changed directions to follow Lexie who went to sit against a tree trunk.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 31, 2012 5:40:46 GMT -5
Lucinda looked on gravely below, as everyone gathered. Creatures from all over the forest, with the exception of the acromantulas, had turned up to mourn the fallen. Seeing all of them before her brought tears to her eyes, which she blinked away. She then began to sing another song, one woven from the pain, and hurt and regret she felt for everything.
"In darkness we shall walk, this path we've been made to chose.
We wake up bathed in ashes, the remainders of what were.
Nightmares haunt our sleep, whispers of regrets and woe,
But fear ye not my friends, my kindred in all that shall be,
Their souls are now at rest, forever deep in peace.
Gone in body they may be, but their souls will never fade.
Forever they will follow you, into the night.
As you would they.
So sing your song of mourning, loud and let them hear.
Their love shall transcend all, as yours shall for them.
In darkness we shall walk, though in light they shall wake."
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Post by Nahara46 on Jul 31, 2012 5:46:03 GMT -5
Rhea arrived not long before Lucinda sang her poem. Eolande was nestled in her arms, sniffling still. When she first saw Lucinda, she gave a small, sad smile. Closing her eyes, the lycanthrope took in the words, and a few silent tears made their way down her cheek as the faces of the dead flashed through her mind. Too many.
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Eolande didn't know why- she just held onto the Girl, she held onto the Safe Black. The rain kept coming, until the Clouds ran out of Water. Then, Eolande and the Girl were surrounded by other people. They looked sad, and their Clouds seemed to also be raging, though some had yet to fall. Eolande liked the song- she didn't look up. Eolande didn't want to see the Fire. Fire took away Mamma, and Eolande didn't want to see it.
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Chameleon
Headmaster/Headmistress
Call me Headmistress Chams.
Posts: 1,873
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Post by Chameleon on Jul 31, 2012 5:58:53 GMT -5
Keane was standing with the unicorn herd quietly. They were in grief, as they had all known poor sweet Xie, and the two other unicorns. His mate and children were right beside him. He glanced once in a while toward them, but they were all furious on him. When would they understand that, all he wanted was to protect them. The children had known Xie, and looked grievous.
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Rhiannon was standing with the centaur herd, beside her parents. She blinked a few tears away. How could Rodimus have died. She missed him already. He had been a great leader. Rhiannon shook her thoughts away. Rodimus was dead.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 31, 2012 6:00:37 GMT -5
Lucinda finished her song on a sad, low warble, which resonated through the forest as a whole. After giving them a moment of silence, she said. "My kin, I know that this has been hard for all of you. I cannot begin to fathom the losses you've suffered, or how truly deep it is. But each and ever one of you are brave, good creatures. I am proud to defend all of you." She looked out into the crowd at everyone - Kei, Jei, Rhea, Eolande, the centaurs, the runespores, werewolves, and every creature that had attended.
"However, I know that I owe all of you an explanation, so please, be patient with me. What I'm about to say isn't easy. After I am finished, I ask that Fawkes come fourth as well, so that we may honor the dead in the only way we phoenixes know how."
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Post by Nahara46 on Jul 31, 2012 6:03:30 GMT -5
Kei kept her head down, bowed in grief. She and her son had already had their private moments of acceptance over her daughters death, but it was still difficult to be here. Everyone was here to mourn the deaths of their comrades- how could one of the dead be her little girl? It didn't seem right, like something in the world was wrong. Something was missing, and it was Xie.
As Lucinda spoke, Kei raised her head a few inches, so that her eyes could watch the phoenix as she spoke.
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Jei had similar thoughts to his mother, and he was close to Kei, pressing his head against Kei's neck every so often, looking for comfort. Kei smelled like Xie had- the smell of fresh lavender. He liked being close to it, it made him feel like Xie was still here, like he hadn't failed her. Unlike his mother, Jei did not seem to care what Lucinda had to say, and he only vaguely listened.... He just wanted Xie's scent. Nothing more.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 31, 2012 6:18:07 GMT -5
Holding her head out high, she spoke clearly and loudly. "One hundred and twenty years ago, I came into this world from the place we phoenixes call home, in search of a master. I searched for quite a while, until I found the human I deemed noble. We were close for most of his lifetime - from a teenager and into old age." she took a shuddering breath, as memories of him assaulted her. "During that time, I was blind to the horrors of this world, and focused only on pleasing my master. That was what my upbringing had taught me. But it was wrong!" she added, knowing how that sounded. "And I was foolish to believe so."
She paused for a moment, trying to quell the feeling of fear that came over her. She glanced at Fawkes. If anyone could understand what she was about to say, he could. "Then, almost thirty years ago, my master grew elderly. He started to fear death, and attempted to steal something personal and important from me - the flame that dwells within me."
She shivered at the memory of that foul, cold magic, and the way it pierced through her. "So I fled him, and he died. Due to the struggle, I lost my powers and roamed the world as an ordinary bird. It was then that I finally saw what was taking place. But alas, I could do nothing. It wasn't until a few days ago that I regained my powers."
She remained silent for a long time, looking away from them in shame. "That is why I was not here sooner, and why I rushed to assist you without thinking. For everything that has happened, I apologize to each and every one of you."
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Post by Nahara46 on Jul 31, 2012 6:29:29 GMT -5
Rhea was a hint angry. She hid it well, not wanting to frighten the girl in her arms, but her eyes clearly showed that the Werewolf was not happy. How could some selfish man take advantage of Lucinda like that? After all that time? To be completely honest, Rhea thought that she'd like to meet that man, so that she could make sure no one else would ever meet him (Or maybe that was the werewolf within thinking.) Rhea hardly thought of the last bit that Lucinda said- Rhea was already firm in her belief that Lucinda had nothing to apologize for, and that she tried her best.
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Eolande did not accept. The Fire killed her Mamma, the Fire could not just say sorry. Eolande finally looked up from the Girl's shoulder, she turned away from the Safe Dark to glare as much as she could at the Fire. The Fire deserved to be betrayed by her master- as she had made Mamma betray Eolande.
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Kei had mixed feelings. Obviously, Lucinda had tried to rashly and fallen short. But she had tried her best, and it would have been a whole lot worse had Lucinda never come. The though of it made Kei shiver- what would have happened had the Humans attacked without warning? If all the foals had not been hidden away... They may have been playing in the forest, open to attack. Kei may have lost more then just her own child.
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Rage played in Jei's eyes. It was quiet, muted rage. He could understand Lucinda, and knew somewhere deep inside that it was not her fault at all, but he had to be angry at someone. The Humans weren't here to be angry with, so Lucinda was the only candidate. He needed someone to blame. Why hadn't Lucinda been better? Provided better protections? Told Xie and Jei they were too young? Stupid bird... Can't even protect a little unicorn...
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 31, 2012 6:30:01 GMT -5
Harrigan listened to Lucinda's explanation, grief filling his heart. He saw Rhiannon only a few feet away with her parents. The entire herd was in mourning. He looked at Rodimus's dead, cold, lifeless body and felt a stab at his heart. Why had this happened now? Why after so many years of peace did the humans try and ruin it? Was this an aspect of their culture he wanted to know? His thoughts roamed to his mother. The bravest centaur there was. She'd been murdered by his father, like Rodimus by humans. Both his care-givers and leaders, both torn apart by those he idolized.
What if they'd tried to kill him? He would never know. He could only wish Lucinda the best.
Yew looked at the pretty phoenix, her face devoid of emotion. The phoenix had been betrayed, and had tried to protect her own. She couldn't understand the story. It was too complicated. All she knew was that her mummy and daddy died. And nothing could change that.
Kohl listened curiously to the explanation of the phoenix. In the week she'd been here she'd learnt so much, and understood so little. She looked to Xie's body, and Jei's heart-broken face. Her own parents had looked so dead a long time ago. She felt her heart soften, and she slowly pawed the ground in front of Jei's eyes, unsure of how to support his loss. In the ground, she'd written, It's okay to cry today, I'll pretend your not a boy.
Kampfa listened to the phoenix without emotion. She had been betrayed, and yet she seemed to think humans were nice. What a fool. Instead he scoured the crowd, searching for those who'd help his cause.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 31, 2012 6:37:41 GMT -5
Lucinda did not look at anyone to gauge their reactions. She had done her duty to them and explained her reasons. Now that they understood, the focus could return back to what it was supposed to be - a day of mourning and loss. "I would like to turn this part of the forest into a memorial for the fallen. Fawkes, would you please assist me?"
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Post by Nahara46 on Jul 31, 2012 6:42:45 GMT -5
Jei noticed Kohl's pawing, and watched with vague curiosity as she wrote in the dirt. After he'd read it, he gave Kohl a 'thank-you' glance. He didn't want to talk, or write or paw. Nothing other then attacking those bastards that hurt Kei, yelling at Lucinda and standing here moping really appealed to him at the moment. So all he could do was try and tell Kohl with his eyes- 'Thank-you.'
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Fawkes bowed his head respectfully before replying, "Of course, Lucinda." As he flew over to assist.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 31, 2012 6:47:26 GMT -5
She closed her eyes, and focused on what this part of the forest would become. Glimmering, sparkling, shimmering - just as the souls of those who died. She let out a low, continuous hum, glowing a pale gold as the magic started to take hold. She wanted a place of beauty for them to be laid to rest, to rid the ugly signs of war and battle from the place.
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Post by Nahara46 on Jul 31, 2012 6:58:00 GMT -5
Fawkes quickly caught on- he recognized the magic. Privately, he was surprised. It was a magic that took a lot of energy, an amount normally not used by someone who was in war- as they normally needed to conserve as much magical energy as they could. But Fawkes understood- the fallen deserved this, this difficult Magic that would give them a place of beauty to rest. Fawkes pitched in, copying Lucinda's hum to help the magic along.
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Post by G. Novella on Jul 31, 2012 7:01:40 GMT -5
Kohl read his thank-you with a nod. She held his gaze for a few minutes, before the land started to shake. She turned and stared in shock.
Harrigan watched as the place where his former mentor lay disappeared, and a large, wise looking oak tree rose. It was tall and beautiful. It was a dark, rich bronze, with golden leaves. As he looked closer he realized it was real gold and bronze. The centaur herd was staring in awe alongside him at what Rodimus had become.
Yew watched as from the box where her mummy and daddy had lain, a large tree grew. Then she realized it was some strange hybrid tree. It was a bright silver birch, and where the bark peeled, you could see more silvef, sparkling out. The leaves of the tree resembled holly in their bronzy splendor with matching ruby berries. Her eyes watered at the beautiful tree. They'd forever be together now. Mummy and daddy were going to be okay.
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Post by kumainpink on Jul 31, 2012 7:08:24 GMT -5
Lucinda reminded herself to thank Fawkes for his kindness in helping her, as the humming grew more intense. The magic involved was ancient and tiresome, but the dead deserved this. She trilled out a few notes of song, finishing the rite and solidifying her blessing. It would not fade unless both she and Fawkes were to die - something that would never happen.
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Chameleon
Headmaster/Headmistress
Call me Headmistress Chams.
Posts: 1,873
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Post by Chameleon on Jul 31, 2012 7:15:25 GMT -5
Keane looked around in wonder. This had to be one of the most beautiful places he had seen. He felt pride, that he had been with to this creation. Pride that the deceased where honored. This would certainly be a place which would be visited. It matched the beauty of the clearing, the unicorn had. Perhaps it was even more beautiful. His family gazed around in wonder too.
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Rhiannon sighed and smiled at the tree, which had once been Rodimus. Joy flowed in her. This was the end Rodimus had wanted, she was sure of it. In fact, it was also the way she wanted to go, when she died. It would of course be impossible, she assumed, but still.
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