A not so Peaceful Afternoon. (Meeting the L.Queen)

[Glacier//Kahn]

Could it truly be? Doubtful, at best. How could the son of one so respected, they wondered, have become so feared and detested? And how, they further would ask, could the father stand so idly bye, when his honor and the future of the entire Kingdom was at stake? Glacier sighed, the words of the afternoon skirting through his mind. He was nervous, as could be expected, for he hadn't met his new mistress yet. Never mind the pain of loss from his old one... but he pushed those feelings aside. The Guardian defended the title, and its bearer, not the indidual beneath. He wasn't supposed to have loved her, and so it was only natural that he would now pay the price. He ceased his pacing breifly, pale grey eyes scanning the mountainside dipping down ahed. For he was, for all intensive purposes, near the summit of the mountain. He was wondering quite eagerly where from his mistress would emerge. By sky, he assumed. But then again.. no, he was generalizing. His mistress had no obligation to be winged. Only... only she had been a fairy..

A low growl deadened the gusty music of the wind behind him, and the avainis felt his own temper rising allready. Of all days... of all times... why now? He sighed, and turned his ivory skull rearward, gaze falling grudingly upon a lionlike beast. Dark brown all across his form, with midnight mane, tail, and wings.. ahh, but these wings were a ne'r ending subject of curiosity, for.. in just the right light... the sparkled as green as envy itself. Glacier's own wingfeathers, soft white as a contrast, ruffled slightly. Ahh... even the sight of his own son now sent him into such a strange attitude... Glacier rarely showed much emotion, but this one, his heir, knew all the tricks to bring out any extreme in him.

Moving closer, the source of the growl padded closer still to his father. His dark coat hid him in shadow, and obscurred him in daylight. His body was significantly less muscular in appearence than his fathers, more lean and lithe. Just how he liked it, or so he told everyone. He stalked up alongside his white patron, cold amber eyes reflecting the sun's golden rays splendidly. Dangerous power barely restrained within them showed itself all to often, as lethal beauty. If he hadn't been quite as handsome as he was, prehaps the Kingdom would have taken care of him sooner. Destroyed the omen before the prophesy could carry itself out... but they hadn't. (Want the whole story? Lol see Kahn's joining post).

Glacier said nothing for a moment, feeling mildly unconfortable in his son's presence. The white brute was devoted to his task, his thoughts rarely wavering form it for more than a fleeting moment... but the dark one.. it was so unnerving to stand beside a creature with so much power, so much that even he didn't realize its true extent. To know that you could be defeated... you were outsmarted, outbuilt, outclassed for all purposes... Well, Glacier decided, he had a good mother. She must have been the source of his prowess.

Kahn, growing irritated and aggrivated at his sire's lack of acnowlegement, took it upon himself to begin the pleasentries.

You don't think this one's gonna croak out, do ya'?

Kahn didn't know what hit him.

Glacier spun automatically, all previous thoughts about his physical disadvantage forgotten instantly. No guardian, and even more so his heir, was to talk poorly of her Highness. If there was one thing he stood for, anything in the entire world, it was this. Glacier's reaction was so sudden, his leap and successing tackle so powerful, and Kahn's attention so entirely unfocused, that the blow was enough to knock the dark one from his paws, and send the pair tumbling to the windblown grass. A grunting 'oof' sounded from Kahn's muzzle as his lungs were devoid of air from the combining impact, and weight of the big cat atop of him. He snarled with all the ferocity his oxygen-deprived self could muster, but Glacier responded with a fericious blow across the skull, claws sheathed, and emitted a furious roar. If one has never heared a lion's roar, it is a mortifying sound, freezing one in one's tracks with terror. To such a beast as the lion, it is less terrifying, though still potently intimidating. And, no matter how much Kahn might have hated the Guardian at the moment, he forced himself to lie still, face throbbing as he spat out a few restrained words.

I didn't mean it okay?!

Glacier snarled openly, white fangs glistening in the soft sunlight, obscurred through mountaintop cloud cover. He walked farther away from the insubordinate male, giving his wings a slight half-extension to resettle the ruffled feathers. Kahn growled to himself, and rolled his form lazily to his paws. He shook himself off breifly, and silently rejoiced that he had kept his wings tucked in tight. A broken wing was an avianis's worst nightmare. He glared at Glacier from the rear for a good minute or two, before restalking over to his sire, speaking testily this time, his stinging skin a reminder to watch his tone for the moment.

When's she coming?

Glacier said nothing for a moment, closing his eyes gently to siphon the breeze through his large pink nose. No sign of her yet. He opened his gaze almost dissapointedly, as if the last thing he wanted was to look upon his son.

Eventually. Go over the edge and see if she comes that way.

He flicked his blue-tipped tail to indicate his wishes, and said nothing further. Kahn grudgingly stood, and padded leisurely to the edge of the outcrop. Below him, through the layer of misty clouds, lay the forest, sloping steadily downward. This part of the mountain housed the sheerist face, and he remebred it rather unfondly as the place he had first learned to use his wings. Tucking his haunches up, extending sharp claws to grip the mountain's edge, Kahn launched his form from the side of the cliff, and was gone.

Glacier sighed to himself, and sat patiently. He would wait for this mistress without question, just as he would have done for his other one. Two seconds passed before he saw kahn's form climinb steadily upward, hanging onto the warm air currents to suppord his 15 foot wingspan. He couldn't help it, the Guardian had to look away, the knowlege of what that creature was, and how it was entirely his fault, causing too much greif within him. He simply couldn't watch that creature, even if it was his own son...

[Iridessa]

It was a cool day, yes. Such a day caused a fairy unrest at her flight, and such a mistress as Iridessa was of this sort. She approached over the natural barriers of the lands, the mountainous ranges piling for as far as her dainty eye could vision. It would be a hardy task of hers as queen, a blemish in her vocabulary. She would be proud, yes. But prepared to serve the lands as queen? The past had left so quickly, and so sadly, it would be hard to take one as her own's place.

Rising past the pillars' jagged edges of the mountains, Iridessa rolled upon the hills there after. The fairy halted in her tracks, such as rest for her overworked winged feature. She eyed quickly the hovering beast before her, across the plains. It was not her levitating it so, but it was using its own will, its own power!

What a miraculous being, what an incredible invention!

While mumbling to herself, the fairy banished from sight, using her powers of invisibility to be the ground, to live as one with the hills and plains and trees. It was not the hidden image she wished for, only the watchful eye she had wished to use. Taking a shortcut across the valley, over to the side which this brute did so fly. Like a mosquito, a pestering bug she flew about him. What is he? A wonderful sight, yes, a great form, great bounty. But oh! Alas! There was another great creature upon the earth, this one larger and greater than the other's form. She approached it with greater interest, thus hovering about it.

Femme walked upon her dainty slippers, turning around at the hilltop. Iridessa pulled from her straining invisiblility, now quite in the flesh. Fairess stood, again eying the creature so at calm rest. Now with posture, great eir and attitude, she walked upon her turf.

[Promise Broken]

A Heaven's Whisper...

Silent as always Azura lay hidden within the boughs of a grand oak, not too far from the pair of odly shaped creatures. Like lions they were, and she was none to judge. She wished she was worth more, but in her sad eyes she was not. She was heaven touched, blessed. some would say. She had a gift; an angel sent by god to free the world from the bindings of hell's embrace. Yet she had little confidence in herself. she was not an intimidating site, a small angel in the bushes. A young woman, seemingly frail, with gift's and talents she had not the confidence to use. She wished to make herself lost with the gift of her soulful nature, in which she could lose all physical form within teh stage betwen dragon and human. It was all so peaceful there, no care in where she drifted; and yet she enjoyed the physical captivities of flesh and bone. And still she had no confidence to move from her hding in the thick oak's branches, straddled amongst the limbs like a spider in its web. She was uniquely limber, quick, and fast on her feet and in her mind. she was a brilliant warrior of Heaven, but... a whisper can only be heard if someone was willing to listen. She sighed and looked up through the branches to see the heavenly clouds above, a silver lining casting itself down upon the rims of the cumulous. She pondered why she'd been sent upon a sinner's wish. That was it was it not? When the centurion man had cast aside his assumptions and begged for redemption, had not the angel's cried? And in his mercy god had sent down a few to rescue his soul and the souls of all the fallen. She was but a warrior against hell. A chosen... she collapsed her thoughts. Truthfully she only knew a little of what she truly was. She only knew the gift of heaven the breath of life. She was a being uniquely made, though not perfect. If she were perfect she would not fear discovery. She would not wish to dissapear upon the wind. Yet the safety of the lighted realm kept her from escaping. she was strong in mind, but she lacked true courage. within a moment such thoughts could change, but that was only when she was properly provoked. It was a sad thing, her being. She was so unsure....

Her teeth groud themselves for a moment. She'd been on this earth for 500 years and she had not been bothered by such worthless emotions. She'd never been so doubtful then, why was she now? Perhaps it was the growing impendage of the shadowed forces. She didn't know and didn't have the will to speak. As of now she wasn't even a known creature to them. And even once found she was but a small warrior. how the wise did perril. However, little known to her, it was merely the human form that brougth about such disspair. Human emotions were so frail, and with time spent being allowed to become lost in th thought the human emotions she shared could become wild and rampant. She'd learned well to control them, but today, this morning she'd let her barrier down and welcomed the emotions, for it had started with peace until she began to let her mind ponder unprotected. Now she was trapped for a few moments before she could collect herself; Azura. Once she had Azura she'd have the courage to fall from the branches and denounce her name and knowledge, pledge herself to the queen and... and... bow willing to another. For she...

... was but a silent angel.

... Will Thee Listen?

[Acid Talon // Sempera]

Strong talons hit the earth as grass grew beneath the general's sharp feet. The magnificent creature gazed steadily through his emerald orbs, peach plumage barely rising from the soft breeze. Amber, brown and white tipped feathers rustled softly as the breeze continued, amber tail flowing beside the brute. Small nasals plastered on his gold tinted beak, scanned the air along with his emerald orbs. He had been sent to work as a general for his queen, which he would train warriors until he was no longer living, but that indeed would be a while yet to arrive. The warriors he would train would be like none others, fierce and loyal, ready to fight to the end, with Talon leading them the whole way. No creatures were to be seen, but the general knew better, there were fresh imprints upon the soft moldying grass, prints of two.. lion prints by the looks, but it was unsure. If the brute had had eye brows they would've been raised, but no such feature was upon his disgression, so all that was given was a rather blank look. Lions? The medival creatures had been extinct years ago, before mystical creatures came to the lands. Shoulders rolled beneath the winged beast as he moved further, but still nothing caught his vision. The soft breeze was still a foot, as wings expanded aside of the peach frame, amber wings opening to the air. Feathers shifted slightly as thin bones moved lightly, testing the air. It was strong enough. Back pistons coiled beneath the brute as the sprung out, wings catching the fresh air, taking him a flight. A smile played at his features.. it was good to be in the air again.. It always made him feel, so carefree. Wind grew steadily stronger the higher the altitude he took, but he stayed fairly low.. he didn't want to miss the group that he might have identified. Surely no more than a minute into the air, figures caught his sharp vision, as wings flapped powerfully , causing the air to slow him down enough to make a safe landing.

Claws felt the earth's crust again, as Talons made it back to the ground again, wings folding beneath him. Orbs glanced at the figures around him.. ahh so that's what he had found prints of.. it was quite a unique species indeed. Seeming to be a griffon and a lion, err.. mix. Dial raised as orbs silently observed the two winged lions, and a shifter no doubt. The hippogriff continued to look around until he had found the one he had been most pleased to meet. Talons walked towards the blue tinted fairy, his dial bent low to the ground, in a soft bow. Beak opened as words whistled from the general's parted beak...

Hello mistress.. I am dubbed Talon, your faithful general madam..

He said respectfully, his dial raising again. She was quite a pretty miss, tinted in a blue silvery hue. A respectful smile gathered his features, as his orbs wandered to the other three. Two as he had noticed before were quite strong guardians it seemed, one with white plumage and blue hued wings, and the other.. the other.. Talon tilted his dial, somewhat puzzled. This one he was unsure about, his dark color was quite misgiving. Or perhaps the general was completely wrong and the black winged lion was completely normal. Orbs narrowed slightly as thoughts wandered.. He'd just have to keep a watch for that one. The shifter was also female, but she seemded very quiet and contained.. perhaps conversing would happen between the four later, but if the queen had wishes, his only will was to fill them out first.

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[Glacier//Kahn]

Kahn lazily circled the skies in a rather erratic pattern, but a pattern nontheless, chasing the warm air currents as the errupted from below. Invisible to sight, and utter scentless, he spread his raven black feathers as best as he could to test the temperature of the air rushing by him, and in this way did he find his thermal pockets on which to rise. Every other revolution gave him sight of his father, and aroused a furious snarl from his dark muzzle. Stupid, arrogant, worthless fool. That was all he was. The heir had decided long ago that, once it was physically plausable, that great white beast would have to be done away with. He was simply.. too much so in the way. These thoughts in mind, Kahn stroked the air with feathers sleek and shimmering, keeping himself aloft. Lost breifly in his thoughtts, his mind suddenly stirred... what was this now..? Something in the air around him shifted. He couldn't see it, but he could feel the currents deflecting against his body differently.. no, this was no wind... if he didn't know better, he might think that something was there.. He growled slightly, and dipped lower in his flight.

Glacier was, admittedly, becoming a bit nervous. Prehaps their regina had refused the position? But no.. that couldn't be, could it? Of course, he quickly reprimanded himself. A Guardian wasn't to think such thoughts. The Queen was always right. Always. He gave his skull a light shake, fluffing the icy blue mane that coated his neck, when suddenly one ivory ear snapped backwards. Something was there.. His gaze quickly followed the audiable organ, and he was suprised to spy a fairy woman striding in their dainty manner upon the earth. This must have been her. Her to whom his destiny was so entrusted, her to whom he would lay down any and everything.. his Queen. He rose instantaniously to his paws, hoping Kahn would have sense enough to come down. As he prepared to move over and greet her highness, what else should descend upon the scene but the General... Glacier flicked his tail once, a sign of only slight annoyance, as he noted the hippogriff's tradional greeting and respect. Hmm...

Kahn caught sight of the great 'bird' descending, and manipulated the angle of his great appendages to manuever like a skiier downward. Sloping as he did so, the dark beast flared his wings just before paws met earth, so slowing his movement and thus softening the blow. He landed solftl, tucking his dark wings up at his sides, a rumble of a growl tickling his throat as he watched. Ahh, so the creature was bowing. Sickening creature, had it no shame? Of course.. Kahn would be expected to bow.. heh. He was ready.

Glacier padded forward without dely shortly after the General finished speaking. Talon. It was a good, strong name. Glacier nodded to the hippogriff to greet on terms of respect, but quickly flickered his attention to his new queen. So glad she was a fairy, for they were such amazingly intelligent creatures; with beautiful, lethal, wonderous power... He was tempted to watch her in silent admiration, but that was not what common custom decreed at a moment like this. In all of his life, he had not needed to great a new queen. His first had been well settled by the time he took his father's place, and now.. he could utter the words he had never dreamp't to have to. He extended one soft, white foreleg, the immaculate fur sparkling in the sunlight. Such a wonderful color, white. He turned his gaze away, looking downward. Spreading out his great wings to their full extent, he o'ershadowed the grass at a span of nearly 18 feet, and lowered the weight of his body foreward. Finally, he completed the humble bow by curling his tail along the right side, so that the soft blue tuft brushed the base of his wing, and it was done.

My dear lady, my name is Glacier and, with your approval, I shall swear myself unto you as your loyal Guardian.

He held his pose, and would untill she answered. Not to be stubborn, but so that he would hold off any eye contact. Only with her premission would he be so bold as to meet it.

His son stood back warily. Several dozen feet from the scene, a swift mountain breeze from below coursed from behind him, confusing the flow on the summit to create a swirling effect. This tossed his mane in every dirrection, ruffled the feathers upon his emerald-sparkled wings, and made him seem altogeather a bit unfriendly. He said nothing, but observed with a disgusted and mocking gaze the actions his father bestowed. He said nothing, and made no effort to approach this fairy. He only curled his tail at the tip to prevent its brushing the earth, and watched...

[Iridessa]

Fairess allowed the jurassic-like animal to near her, and as she did, the femme extended her dainty palm towards him, curled over pal-down. She gazed upon the lion, king-like and noble with his gathered wings. Speaking with them both with a soft breath, and easy chuckle, she pronounced each syllable as if it had its own profoundness.

Thank you both for welcoming me into these lands with such great hospitality. Am I your queen? Can you be so trustworthy as to allow me upon your lands; for I may be an imposter-just a lone fairy walking upon this hearth?

Iridessa spoke with a great seriousness. If she were to trust these men with her life, they better guard it as their own. She was not crude, nor witty with others' bouts, she only wanted to prove a point. She wore a smile, showing her sweet personal, with thanks for their welcomes. A response to her gestures was not necesary, only deep thought on the matter.

Looking about, she noticed all things of her new lands. Each creek, dip, and valley was taken into consideration in its own. Each outer characteristic of the fellows was watched, and also taken carefully into her mind.

[Promise Broken]

A Heaven's Whisper...

Suddenly all fervent emotions fled, she was nolonger so lost in woe, but more like engulfed in new emotion. She didn't really know what she wanted to feel, nor what she felt, but she did have an inner self confidence and self clarity. She had been merely suffocated for a moment for her mind had finally seperated from the human shape and become that which it was in truth; Azura, the Shifter. Her personality shown clear through her silver oculars, and her impression of the white beast was in respect and awe. So this was the queen's guardian, and the general was here as well. Her general. She sighed, she was deeply inbedded within the boughs of the tree. There was no possible way she could be seen, though senced was a different matter. Being of heaven's breath she had an immense aura... though one that was not in power, but in purity and moral. She was a strong creation, though of a smaller size. She had a small human figure. Very calm, very docile. Quiet and collected, it was all a part of her. Yet her draconic form was slightly different. More self confident more prestige. More easy to fluster and become angered, though righteous anger nonetheless. She was both of quiet docile beauty and of powerful elegance and righteousness. Yet both made up Azura, whom azura was and what she would always be. though her spirit was immortal, her dragon form gave her limited life. To live upon the world until a grand 5000 year was reached, then death and assumption should be expected. However, for those 5000 years her human form would age but slowly... never seeming to grow too fast, too soon. As human she was 28, she'd been 28 for nearly two years now, and would continue to be 28 for a fair decent amount of time.

However....

Her mind was wandering, looking back through the trees, she watched, soundlessly, wordlessly, rather interested in fact in the occupancy of each figure and form. She had no problem with leadership. It was something she desired, but it was something she was forsworn never to seek. She was to humble herself and serve silently as her anscestors had done for years. Though guardians they had been, they were not open in their watchings, nor did they guard one figure of power. But all... each child, each woman, each man, each beast, male or female. It was her way it was a way of life that was embedded in her spirit a calling to protect a calling to serve. She was but a humble warrior to many and did not seem to be worthy of much else, to some. However, she hoped such emotions would change with time. Or possible never exist at all.

Being newly reformed she slid from her perch and landed, nimbly upon the soft grasses. REcognizing the impact and memorizing as her knees bent and crouched to break her weight. Though little it was, such a fall could be fatal if one did not know how to fall. Standing in one fluid motion, she too bowed low, though raised herself just as quickly. She watched from a distance, keeping it safe. She wasn't of high rank nor order, she was but whom she was, they did not know her, did not know who she was. She merely existed, twas proven... She was but a warrior, and she'd excepted it. Cold silver eyes rimmed with black looked out, watching the ivory male. Her eyes captivated by him, she approved greatly of the shade of silver and white upon his hide... and such thought brought about her own void made her fingers trace the shape upon her cheek. It was not visible but she remembered its burn from birth. A birth mark of ther bethren, it was... each and every one born with the characteristic mark that would identify them within form. She had chosen the human as her prefered, and thus the mark was not a visible shape upon her pale skin, yet upon the hide of her beast, the draco - it shown vibrant in black.

she again scolded herself wihtin her mind for her futile wanderings of thought. This was a precarious moment. The intriduction of new rule, and Azura did not assume anything, nor did she belittle any presence, for she was the little one. She knew this, however her mind wanted to be known, thus she'd fallen from hiding and allowed them to look upon her, though not in self pride, or fear... she merely felt now was the time to make her presence an obvious instead of merely an assumed. Snatching back her gaze, she pulled her silver locks out away from her face, letting them fall behind her shoulders in strait narrow waves. Her cloak was pulled by the wind slightly and it wirled about her ankles like a freting todler, eager to move on, yet held back by his mother.

She waited for direction. She wanted acceptance, but wouldn't demand it... she'd take what she got, give what she had, and ask for nothing in return. It was who she was, and thusly, she would never fall into dispair, for she was Azura.

Damn her! She was so consumed in her own thoughts, all the time preocupied with her inner self, with her inner world, determining who she herself was. Gahh...

However, though this inner argument raged inside of her head for mere moments not an ounce of it played across her face. Her eyes never emotional, always cool and kind as her pale face dazzled with a stunning perfection that was most heavenyl. She was not an angel to be literal, but she was blessed, by and angelic mind.

So what else was there to say or think, she could think forever and never come to any conclusions, whilst all stood in tender balance of introduction... So in her attempt to amuse her mind and keep it from asking its futile questions. Her eyes wandered to the heaven's.... looking upon the cieling of the sky she saw the white clouds moved frequently across the sun. There was much wind up there, high in the sky, where the mortal beast cna never fly, where no air is breathable. But it held a magnificant beauty to it, and she admired how the wind's strained the clouds and tore them -ironically- gently apart. Threading them across the heaven's and weaving their strands into the blue canvas of the sky. All was like music to Azura and all life seemed to sing to her, with a sigh she looked towards the mountains to the distance... and saw the grey peaks topped by winter's chill, where winter was forever. Where the timberline ended and the snowy canvas took flight as the white tipped brush painted the beauty that was its weapon. Then there were the very grasses beneath her feet. Azura knew that each stalk held life and though none seemed different from the rest they were so different in size and shade. And in so many other ways, ones mind could not even ponder. Then there was life itself, which cannot be fathomed by even the wisest. The reason for ones life is constantly questioned and never answered, not yet... in the end all answers are given, but not yet...

And thus.... her mind was kept amused, by the wanderings of her thoughts and eyes as they looked at the general, at the queen, the lions of wings. Her mind thinking of its own comments of each one, while her face hid them, so that none could assume her intentions. She meant no ill and never would - why give them any opportunity to assume so...

... so there she stood.

... Will Thee Listen?

[Glacier//Kahn]

reply coming

[Acid Talon // Sempera]

Talon glanced around silently, as the white lion came forth stating his name.. Glacier. It suited his appearance well, seeing of his color. Amber orbs glanced silently to the darkened figure who seemed not to be quite respectful. A sharp click was heard from the hippogriff's slighly parted beak, like a mother's clucking dissaprovingly at her child. Except this wasn't his kin. Claws didn't move however, he would speak to the young lion in a minute, his queen was of more importance. Young ones, disrespectful and rude as they always have been. The general scoffed silently, his orbs narrowing slightly.

They returned to their normal state as his gaze wandered to the silent girl who almost seemed to be in a quiet daze. Vision flickered breifly over her slender bodice, as mind tried to come up with what she possibly transformed into. Shoulders rolled slightly beneath his peach coat, almost like a shrug. For all he knew, she could turn into a hippogriff herself. Nasals drifted in her scent, putting it farther back into memory. She was likely a warrior, or one he would be training to be rather. Amber feathered tail wavered slightly as a soft breeze gathered from the east, as feathers from his powerful wings rustled softly. Orbs wandered back to his fairy queen as vision took in his queen's bodice. It was slender and blue tinted, but very sleek and mysterious. A soft grin played upon his softened features, but he made care to hide it. It wouldn't be wise for others to think he was thinking any further than duty, for he wasn't. Thank you both for welcoming me into these lands with such great hospitality. Am I your queen? Can you be so trustworthy as to allow me upon your lands; for I may be an imposter-just a lone fairy walking upon this hearth? A response promptly popped into the general's mind as his beak parted, words vocalizing from his beak.

But of course you are m'lady. If you were an imposter, we would feel it in the air, tenstion would be placed around our bodies. One would be quite a fool to waltz infront of the four of us, pronoucing that she was queen if she wasn't. And that, m'lady you are anything but.

Talon spoke loudly, claws shifting slightly. Orbs slitted sliently as attention was again directed upon the onyx scoundrel. Dial bowed slightly, as claws moved softly through the hearth, leading him directly to the onyx brute. Orbs searched the young lion softly as vocals emitted again.

Aren't you going to greet yourself to your queen?

The general spoke softly, but with a dertimined edge stuck upon his vocals.

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