Soleira had watched, from a distance, at her golden kin. A giant made of light stood as a sentinel amongst them. Could he see her from so far away? She could barely see him. It was better this way. The only thing she could do there, amongst the others, was feeling ashamed. That she could do here, on her own, as well. Though in her heart something yearned to go to talk with the giant. She ignored it though. His watchful vigil was vastly more important than talking with little Soleira. Then, from behind her, she heard something upon the winds. She dove down instantly into a copse of trees and shrubbery. The local birds loudly chirped and flew away in protest. She tried to gently sush them but as they were animals, they just continued to object. Her heart was pounding in her chest as her muscles tightened. For a second she was afraid she would get caught but then the wings had flown over her. They hadn’t seen her. From the multi-colored bushes she looked at the light giant again. Something was happening around him. The light coming from him seemed brighter. Or were there more light sources now? It was impossible to tell. Once again her curiosity won from her fear as she remained in the bushes. Trying to see what was happening. Meanwhile the birds returned to their branches around her. Some time later, the others came. The dark ones. They clashed with the Oraeliari in the distance. Shouts and hate traveled through the air. Soleira didn’t hate her darker siblings. Even though they had spilled so much blood already. She just didn’t understand them. Why were they so angry? Why did they want to fight so hard? The land, the animals, everything else, it was so beautiful! They could share it! Though neither sides seemed interested in that. “No… No you don’t have to fight.” She whispered, mostly to herself. As if it would make a difference. Her heart shrank. When she saw the first of her darker siblings die, she shed a tear as well. Even though she hadn’t known him. It was all so horrible, and it was scarring the land as well. “Please just stop.” She said again, just hoping they would stop. Maybe she could go there and put a stop to it herself. Yet when her wings beat even only once she dropped to her knees. Clutching the ground with her hands. Her entire body was shaking with fear.. No, no she would be useless and get in the way. That’s what she told herself. Slowly she gathered herself and got up again. Only to see the battle to be over. “Thank the gods.” She whispered with a small but very unhappy smile. There was still something happening though. From so far away, she couldn’t make out what exactly. Though it had to be big. Then the giant left. Why was he leaving them? It didn’t matter. He would never talk to the likes of her. Clearly he was a warrior. Someone who fought. She was just a weakling. With a few wing beats she got up and flew away. Beyond the horizon. To the familiar cave and forest she resided in. Near the big lake. Some of the local animals had taken a liking of her. They didn’t instantly run away at the merest sight of her. She did understand why they were so afraid of her. After all, take away her wings and she would look just like one of the wingless ones. Who used sharp sticks and pits to wound and kill animals. At first she didn’t understand why they did it. Then one night she managed to watch a group of them hold bits of the dead animals over a fire and then eat it. Then it clicked. They were carnivores who liked warm meat. Carnivores in general had been a strange sight for her. The first time she encountered wolves she only felt horror when the animals bit down on the helpless deer. But when the whelps appeared, she realized why they hunted. Food meant life. It wasn’t their fault that they only ate meat. The terrain around her cave was not marked with carvings or other decoration. Instead you knew you were near when you started finding pieces of bark with berries, fruit and nuts on them. For whatever animal wanted to eat them. Right now, after having witnessed so much death and pain, Soleira had an intense need to nurture life. She prepared even more pieces of bark with food on it, to put in the trees for the little critters to find. From the lake she carried a bowl with water to feed the roots she had replanted, hoping they would grow. Only when the sun got low did she sit down. Her body felt sore and ached, though that would be over after a good night's sleep. From her cave she watched the land she was tending to. Nobody had assigned it to her but she felt like it was her duty to care for it. The memories of the morning boiled up again. She tried to smile, to banish those thoughts. Those memories shouldn’t feel so painful but they did. Still, she had to keep it together. For the sake of all the animals in the bit of land she was tending for. In the distance the sun was getting low now. Touching the horizon. Her own pain probably paled compared with that of the sun-mother. There wasn’t much Soleira could do, but there was at least something. She kneeled down at the entrance of the cave, letting the dusk light wash over her as she closed her eyes and laced her fingers together. “Dear Oraeliara. Sun-mother.” She prayed. Knowing she would at least be heard but not really expecting a response. “I just wanted to ask if you’re alright? I hope it doesn’t hurt too much to see all your children fight so much. I-I wish I could do more to make you happy but I’m just little Soleira. A few days ago I saved a little piglet and a bird. Today I’ve put up some more food for the animals and watered some plants. It’s not much but I’ll try to do more tomorrow. Still, I hope it makes you just a little bit happier.” She suddenly felt a warm embrace all around her, like a blanket smothering gently or a rather nice hug. A trickle of warmth then entered her mind and a voice spoke softly. [color=gold]”Aren’t you just precious?”[/color] it gushed. [color=gold]”Hardly any mortals ever ask if I’m okay, you know. Hearing it from you, my lovely Soleira, makes it all the better in my heart.”[/color] Soleira’s first instinct was to break her prayer and open her eyes. She fought that instinct with all she had and remained on her knees with her fingers entwined and her eyes closed. “Sun-mother!” She exclaimed out loud but also in her thoughts. She tried to repress her own excitement. “I-I… You heard me…the prayer, it worked? I’m so sorry, goddess. You must have so much to do. I shouldn’t be taking up any of your time!” Despite her words, her heart was overflowing with gratitude to even have traded a few words with the goddess of life. It would be a memory that remained with her forever. [color=gold]”Nonsense. My time is my own and I wish to use it speaking to you, Soleira.”[/color] Oraeliara said in a motherly tone. [color=gold]”Now,”[/color] she said softer, [color=gold]”It seems you have been touched by… A familiar presence but one unknown to me still. Hmm, no matter, this does not change who you are in your heart Soleira. You are caring, my daughter, helping those when they cannot even ask or know what it is you wish to do. So, I shall help you bridge that gap.”[/color] She didn’t understand most of what the goddess said. “Touched by…a familiar presence?” For a second she feared she had offended the goddess. Or some other deity. Then it clicked. The colorful, violently moving lights! Had that been a god as well? No, she would not burden the goddess with those questions. Not when more important questions had to be asked: “Bridge that gap? I am grateful, sun-mother. Eternally grateful. But forgive me, I don’t understand which gap you meant.” [color=gold]”Go and speak to the first animal you see.”[/color] the Goddess said simply. Soleira was not about to displease her goddess by disobeying. No matter how strange the order was. Though before she headed out, she grabbed a handful of berries with her. Just outside the cave she opened her palm. One small bird came flying down towards her and landed on her palm. It wasn’t afraid at all, as it began to eat the berries. “Hello little one.” She greeted the bird with a warm smile. “I hope you and your family have enough food with this.” “Yes! Yes! Enough food. Food, food, food. Wait-“ The bird looked up at Soleira. “You’re not bird!” For a second the four-winged angel stood stunned. “I-I can hear you?” She barely believed it. The Goddess giggled. [color=gold]”You can speak to animals now!”[/color] she said excitedly. [color=gold]”It’s the least I can give for you Soleira, in fact…”[/color] the Goddess paused and she felt a tingle in her head. [color=gold]”There! You can speak to animals and convey meaning through touch now.”[/color] “Oh thank you so much goddess! This is wonderful! A miracle! I can care for them so much better now.” Soleira said as she kept smiling at the bird. Slowly and carefully she let her finger run over its back. “It’s okay. You’re safe here. With me. Safe.” She tried to convey the meaning to the bird. Who happily continued eating. “Oh sun-mother how can I ever repay you for this wonderful gift?” [color=gold]”There is no need to repay me, Soleria. Simply continue helping those that cannot do so themselves. This is what the Aiviri were supposed to be, all along. And remember Soleira, you are loved.”[/color] Oraeliara said, before the presence vanished, but not before ruffling her hair. She didn’t think she could ever stop believing she was loved. At least not after what had just happened. It would be etched in her mind forever. The bird flew up from her hand. Probably back to its family. Soleira rushed into the forest and began to talk with every animal she found. The birds were the most forthcoming. Though from the branches they talked so fast and repeated so many words that she had a hard time fully understanding them. In the night she also found a small cat on the hunt. It talked as if it was angry until Soleira stroked its back a few times. Then the cat began to purr loudly and brush up against Soleira. Before it vanished into the underbrush again for food. The moon was already high up when Soleira returned to her cave. Exhausted of a full day’s work and the excitement of her new gift. Though before she went to sleep on her bed of dried weeds she turned around to face the exit of the cave. Again she knelt down with her eyes closed and her fingers laced together. “Sorry, Gibboura. I know I shouldn’t have stayed up so late. Though I hope you can forgive me. Goodnight and sweet dreams.” With those words said she got up, walked over to her bed and nearly collapsed in a deep slumber. [hider=Summary]Soleira witnessed the battle of Solus and the Oraeliari against their darker kin, the Neiyari. She’s wished they would stop fighting but was too afraid to act herself. Ashamed she returns to her cave and works the whole day to lay out food for the various animals living the Luminant. Hoping her helping life would somehow counteract the horrors of war. At night she prays to Oraeliara. She asks if the goddess is okay and says she hopes her little bits of work make her a little bit happier at least. To her own surprise, Oraelia actually responds. She said that only a few mortals ever ask if she’s alright and that she’s happy Soleira asked. The four-winged angel is shocked and surprised to be hearing from the sun-mother. Though instantly realizes her place and apologizes for taking up time. Oraelia doesn’t mind, remarks that Soleira was touched by a familiar presence and finally offers her to bridge the gap between her and those she cares for. Soleira doesn’t understand and is then told to go speak to the first animal she finds. Which ends up being a bird eating berries from her hand. Oraeliara leaves her with that gift and the ability to convey meaning through touch. In her excitement Soleira runs around her forest for half a night, talking to various animals before she retires to her cave, apologizes to Gibboura for staying up and collapses on her bed.[/hider] [hider=MP, DP & Prestige] Oraelia 1MP/1DP -1MP To bless Soleira so she can talk to animals. -1DP Empathetic Touch I - Soleira can touch others and convey that they mean no harm and to a minor extent, can understand others emotional states, works with animals as well. As it levels up, her touch deepens. [b]Post length:[/b] 10K+ characters +5 Prestige >> Soleira [/hider]