"It is done."
Agrigar let out a breath and then nodded gravely, the weight of this moment truly settling in. He had a daughter. The one that had spoken left the room and closed the door behind her.
Naturally, he had known, but the forces of element made it seem like such a fleeting, passing thing that he hadn't really, deep in his heart, taken it so seriously. Now, there was a real, living being in front of him. A newborn foal curled up in the straw, marked with the dragon and the sun, a perfect cross between himself and Zephnyr.
He himself was in his equine form, and he could not resist taking a step forward towards this seemingly helpless creature. For one moment, he paused, wondering what the future held for them both, when a loud roar shook the building around them. Before he could react, a blue-tinged figure had entered the room, not quite opaque enough to imply a real creature present, but enough to cause great alarm. He barely noticed his minutes-old daughter jump to her feet, alert and watching herself.
The dragon, for indeed, it was a dragon, spoke, and its voice sounded as the depths of the ocean- endless and mysterious. "Do not be afraid. I will not harm you. Great Guardian, please, approach my image."
Knowing in his deepest heart that this creature was not only being projected by some form of magic, but could also not be his greatest enemy, Agrigar approached, the great stallion steady and confident, a deep knowledge of his own power evident in every move of his current form. "I greet the Dragon."
The projection bowed its head in acknowledgement and turned immediately to face the filly, who now looked at them both with a confidence that belied her uncertainty. To be brought into the world and then faced with this- she would truly be spectacular, and little did they know, but they were about to find out exactly how.
"On the eighth day after the longest night, there shall be a sunrise, red as blood, that shall drip as if wounded. It is on this day, that the Guardian will face her eternal enemy and face him in a battle so fierce it will part the heavens. Victory is assured for one, the other doomed to pass. Mortal they shall be, but for a moment, when the Fates decide."
With no other sign, not even a flicker, the dragon disappeared, and the great stallion could not help the slightest flinch of his head. His daughter met the eyes of her father for the first time, and a small nicker escaped, almost imploring in tone. "Father?"
"Araqiel."
The young filly walked through the small village between the two hills that framed her life, Crebain on her shoulder and her usual serious expression. As they approached their current home, the raven spoke to his friend in his usual way. "Why, my friend, are you so dejected on your day of birth?" Anyone listening to it would hear the usual cawing, but Araqiel understood. She spoke back to her companion in her own way, this time, with no sound made.
I must focus on my task, no matter the event. I must be prepared.
As they reached the house, the girl took a quick look around, before shifting back to her true form, a beautiful filly yearling. As Crebain took to the air, she shook herself gently, mane flowing, and then entered the wooden structure, letting the raven land on her wither. It was in that moment that she noticed what waited for her.
A giant stallion stood in the main room, facing the door, his pure eyes piercing her. Her eyes flicked quickly to take in the rest of the room, and she noticed her father, almost dwarfed by the large, Godly presence. As she took one step forward, her whole demeanour changed, confidence in her step, her eyes almost piercing him back.
He took one step to meet her, his sun marking, so like hers, seemed to be glowing. His muzzle touched her forelock for one brief moment, even Crebain was still and silent, before there was a flash of piercing bright light, and he was gone. Looking to the father she knew, she then lifted her head, staring upwards, towards the realms above. "And greetings to you too, Zephnyr."
Wandering through the woods outside her home, the now young mare was surveying the area she was forever destined to protect. It was close to sundown, and the dappled light filtering through the branches created a deceptive rippling effect on her coat, almost camoflagued. Certainly it would be hard for any predators or... she shuddered...
dragons.
As even the idea of the winged beasts infuriated her, her step became heavier and more distinct, her hooves striking up small spouts of dust as she followed the well-worn bridle path. She was in her equine form again, now beautiful and awe-inspiring to those she protected- her mane and tail long and flowing, her size, now closer to her father, making her stand out in a spectacular fashion. Even her human form was at it's full height, almost 6 feet.
Reaching a small clearing she ended up at almost ever night, Araqiel shook her coat out, just at the moment the sun passed the horizon, and the light shining towards her started to dim quickly, the light blue highlighting the waning moon, newly risen, up above. For one moment, in the fading light, the Guardian throught of her father, Zephnyr, the Sun. She wondered for a moment who ruled the moon, but before she could even guess, she heard a call unlike anything she had heard before.
It was a cross between a laugh and a squack, like a common parrot but deeper, and gruffer. Deciding to find out what it was, she headed towards the sound that continued, piercing the forest and reaching her keen ears easily, making them flick a little in curiosity. She had a suspicion on what it could be, but wanted to confirm before she came to any conclusions. As she reached a smaller tree she hadn't noticed before, just a sapling, she noticed some movement at the top, a dark shape that was a little bit hard to make out. Moving forward, the call was made again and she could make out a beak... a head... a wing... and then, she realised. It was a raven.
Raven's were not common at all in this part of Struynia, let alone in a deep forest away from any large settlements. She approached the sapling as te raven spotted her in turn, stopping its calls, it beady, keen eyes watching her. There was intelligence to the gaze, and Araqiel was curious about its understanding. Most birds she had met were very dumb, and could not even talk. This bird intrigued her already, and she hadn't even attempted speaking. Until now.
"Good raven, greetings. What brings you to the Forest of Balor?"The raven cocked its head and paused for a moment, seeming to freeze as if it was considering her question. It took more than a minute for the Guardian to feel a little foolish, and she turned to leave just as he decided to reply. "I seek you, Guardian of the People; Daughter of the Sun."
They have been unseperable ever since, Arqiel and Crebain.
Art by Cinnobunn,,
