Winter looked at Kielo with sympathy. "Yeah, that's happened to me before. Magic is difficult and can be dangerous. I don't much like it either, but I don't think we can do this without it." She was warmed by Kielo's words, even though she still was uncomfortable with being the sole purpose for this. She wanted it to be equal between them, love and desire in sync to help these children grow.

When they began to try again, she held her breath, but then released it when they didn't manage to succeed again. "I know that failure is hard," she offered, gently, "but if you keep trying I know you can do it. If you truly want to do this, then don't be discouraged. Failure is always a necessary step."


"And still I feel I said too much."
"My silence is my self defense."

Tags: @Kielo
Notes:

Kielo raised their head slowly. Their ears were lowered. They desperately wanted to do this. To make Winter happy, to join them together for good. But magic was so hard. Was it this hard for everyone? Perhaps it was too late in their life for them to be able to learn it properly. perhaps they'd fail it forever. Magic had never been an issue before. And Winter said it was dangerous sometimes. Kielo had never needed magic before. Maybe it would be better to just... stop.

The hybrid's ears twitched towards Winter's encouragement, but they didn't say anything, a multitude of emotions flickering over their face. Lowering their ears again, they sank their small talons into the ground and held their breath. They felt something then- a thrill that caused every inch of fur and feathers on their body to puff out, a shocked expression crossing their face as a feeling like pins and needles surged through them, culminating finally in the tiara-shaped gem atop their forehead. A glowing crack spread through the highest peak of the gem, and broke off the largest point, with a clink as the pearl fragment dropped to the ground.

"Did I do it?" they asked breathlessly, eyes opening wide.



_________________________________________________________

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Winter
notes: here

When Kielo's fur puffed out, Winter started forward, horrified that something had gone wrong again, but then there was a cracking sound. She looked up and her heart lurched when she saw the gem on Kielo's head glowing. As she watched, the pearl tumbled off and clinked on the ground harmlessly in front of her. Shocked, she just stared at the little gem in front of her. That was a piece of Kielo, a piece of her life. Literally a piece of her life.

She looked up, barely believing what had just happened. "Yes," she breathed, "you did it. But did it hurt? Are you okay?"

But now it was her turn. She felt something pulling her towards the gem, knowing exactly what she should do. With her tail, she pulled the pearl close and pressed her nose against the smooth side. There was a heat in her back as her gem began to glow with energy. Static raced through her body, not unpleasant, and focused itself in her face. As she touched the pearl, there was a shock as her magic passed into the gem and she gasped and pulled back with surprise. The gem glowed pink for a moment, charged brightly with her magic, before settling down.

For a moment, she was quiet, staring at the life-filled pearl. And then affection, love, and protectiveneess filled her and she pushed the pearl so that it was touching Kielo's foot. "It's done," she whispered, happily.


"And still I feel I said too much."
"My silence is my self defense."

Tags: @Kielo
Notes:

When Winter spoke, Kielo's eyes opened wide in surprise. Their ears, along with the feathers atop their head, perked up in surprise, and their wings flared. "R-really?" Kielo breathed, hardly able to believe it. But they'd felt the surge of magic, and heard the tiny sound of the gem falling to the ground. The hybrid found themselves grinning, their chest swelling with pride. "I d-don't think so. I mean, it was... a little tiring, but..."

Kielo thought that the elation they felt right now far outweighed the tiredness, though they could proobably use a nap later. The hybrid held back a yawn that was growing in their throat.

They felt something gently nudged against a paw, and felt warmth swelling in their chest. Kielo laid themself down so that they could nudge at the pearl fragment at their paws, nosing it around; the object so tiny and fragile, that would one day grow into a new life. The hybrid could hardly believe that something so small could have so much potential stored inside. Kielo nosed around until they found Winter, and then nuzzled her before gently offering a lick.

"I'm going to try again," they said quietly, resolutely. "I don't want them to be lonely."

The hybrid once again bowed their head, taking deep breaths, but this time they knew what to expect, and what to loo for. Again, they heard a soft clink as a gem fell to the floor, and nudged it towards Winter. They felt another bout of exhaustion creeping in, tugging at their limbs and tugging at their eyelids, and they took a deep breath, this time allowing themselves the liberty of a long yawn. "Let's find them somewhere safe, too. Where no-one but us can find them," Kielo suggested peacefully.


@Winter

Winter could taste Kielo's happiness and she was overjoyed to know that they were as happy as her. She leaned into the nuzzle and the lick and bumped her nose affectionately against her cheek. She moved back as she felt Kielo begin to focus on magic again, a little surprised. After how much using magic seemed to upset them, she didn't think that they would be up to doing it again. However, she couldn't deny that she didn't adore the small stone in front of her and she would never wish for it to be alone.

She sighed as she gathered her own magic to prepare for her part. While this was more pleasant and natural, magic would never be her favorite thing.

As the pearl clinked to the ground in front of her, she touched it gently and felt her magic transfer into the little shard. Once again, the shock went through her and into the pearl, where it glowed pink before settling gently.

She looked up at Kielo, her heart ready to burst as she gathered the two pearls together and moved them so that Kielo could touch both of them. She curled up so that she was around both their leg and the stones. "Our children." The words were wonderful to speak out loud and she decided that nothing bad would ever happen to these children. They would never meet and evil geese or get the hatred and prejudice she had experienced. They would be loved and protected.

She agreed with Kielo, though, they would need to be in a safe place. She tried to think of a good spot and remembered a small collection of boulders that she had liked to curl up and relax in. "I think I know a good place. Can you carry one of them?"

She would lead Kielo there, a place with many cracks and openings and relatively well hidden in a small dip in the rocky ground. There, the pearls would be safe from curious eyes.


"And still I feel I said too much."
"My silence is my self defense."

Tags: @Kielo
Notes:

Kielo's eyes closed in contentment as Winter's voice reached them, despite the exhaustion that tugged at their limbs. They swayed slightly on the spot, before bending to nose at the fragments at their paws. The stones met with a soft clinking sound that sang in their ears, and their heart leaped.

Soon, Kielo felt Winter coiling around one of their forelimbs, and dropped their muzzle to again nose at her, the whiskers around their soft muzzle tickling at her scales. They gave a small nod at her question, and waited patiently until they were sure snake had safely uncurled. Provided she did, Kielo would stoop and carefully take one of the fragments into their jaws. Then they'd straighten, ears perked to attentiveness, ready to follow.



_________________________________________________________

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Winter
notes: here

Carefully picking up her own pearl, Winter led Kielo towards the place where she had once nested. However, as they got closer and closer, Winter felt herself tiring out from the effort the magic had taken. She was sure that Kielo was just as exhausted, if not more, since they had tried to cast the spells more then her. By the time they reached the collection of rocks, she was quite worn out and her body shook with the effort it took to move.

However, they had to hide the pearls. There were too many possibilities, too many gembounds that would take advantage of two helpless children. They had to protect the precious things at all costs. So Winter raised herself and began to inspect the area, looking for crevices and cracks that would hold the pearls both out of sight and give them room to grow. She eventually found a small ledge that hung over a small sandy area. It was warm and dry and was well-protected from any wandering eyes. "I found a good spot," she called to Kielo. She nudged her own pearl against the rock and moved back so that Kielo could do the same.

She gazed fondly at the two gems resting on the rock before letting out a huge yawn. She was exhausted from the magic and the travel it took to get here. So much for leaving Polaris that day. Besides, how could she just leave immediately, without spending at least a little bit of time with their children? "We could rest here for now, if you'd like? Before we head out."


"And still I feel I said too much."
"My silence is my self defense."

Tags: @Kielo
Notes:

Ears cocked and nose twitching, Kielo followed Winter by scent, and by the sounds of her scales rasping softly against the ground. They didn't speak, their focus wholly on following their best friend- or... perhaps... mate? What could they call her now? this felt so much deeper than mere friendship. They felt their feathers flush, a grin spreading across their face.

They picked up the pace as Winter called to them, following the sound to its source and coming to a halt. They sniffed around the location, and soon seemed satisfied- not that they could properly tell, but they grinned trustingly as they carefully placed the pearl fragment next to its future sibling. The hybrid stepped back, stretching their jaws wide in another yawn. There was a calm, but excited look on their face, and they let their tongue loll out, eyes closing in awed contentment as they basked in the moment. They sank down onto the ground, stretching their avian forelegs out ahead of them.

"I'd like that," they said appreciatively. "Magic is exhausting..."

Even as they spoke, their eyes remained closed, and they couldn't help but start to drift, before they could stop themselves. they didn't think that magic would come to them easily. They didn't even know if they'd ever use it again. but for now, this was enough. at least they knew what it felt like...

-exit kielo unless winter wakes them up-


_________________________________________________________

"Speech looks like this."
Thoughts look like this.

tags: @Winter
notes: here

Winter looked at Kielo. Just kind of stared at her, eyes filled with love. They had did this. The two chrysalis, filled with magic and life. She coiled herself around them protectively as Kielo lay down in front of her and she stretched out her neck so that she was up against her mate's cheek. She was exhausted too. She had put some of her life force into two gems and she felt drained, but in a good way. She felt light and happy and rejuvenated. She didn't want to leave her children, but, at the same time, she was more eager then ever to travel the caves with Kielo at her side.

Her vision faded out as her consciousness drifted away, thoughts of Kielo and their gems filling her mind with joy.

*exit


"And still I feel I said too much."
"My silence is my self defense."

Tags:
Notes: