New Friends (Risk/Request)

[Ribitta]

Tranquillity filled the air, breathing life into the inhabitants. The cool morning breeze above the clouds in the steep Heights whistled through rock and crevice, summoning a melodic and relaxing tune. The birds that rest on newly living plants seemed to bring a completeness, and even their rustling seemed to complete the harmony of tranquility.

Riul sat in awed silence at the world around her. She'd been existing for as long as the game itself, and her knowledge banks were incredible, but the beauty of the digital world around her never ceased to bring her to a state of peace.

The sun was just beginning to rise now, the orange ball on the edge of the horizon tampering with the colors to create a beautiful picture. The rays of light filtered through foliage and struck Riul's skin with energy that filled her entire form. Quietly she refocused the energy, allowing it to simply bring rest and peace through her body.

It was a good day to exist.

[Akanyara]

Flying on a soft breeze, the wings of a young girl soaring above the earth gave strong thrusts. Her feathers fluttered joyfully on the bottom of those lovely appendages, dancing whith the sunlight that fell atop them and brightening the dark color. Those black feathers on top glistened brightly, almost blue in their reflectiveness, as she slowly began to descend. There was a cave in this place somewhere, she'd seen it before, and she wanted to rest there for now with her eagle friend.

But a form caught her eye, and she pulled up suddenly, circling over the ridge that the shape rested on. Another girl, one enjoying the sunlight and warmth of the peaceful day just as much as she herself was. Perhaps this was a good chance to make a friend. She sent her thoughts to Elgran, letting him know what she was up to, and where he could find her. Once satisfied that he would find her easily, she began her descent again.

Finally reaching that flat bit of rock, she folded her wings in and felt her feet hit the ground, coming up on the girl's left side. She ran as the momentum of her flight pushed her forward, and after a few steps she slowed to a walk, folding her wings tightly against her back. Her pace was steady, non-threatening, and peaceful as the summer sunset.

Her black hair, falling over her shoulders, shimmered as brightly as her feathers as she fell into a low bow in greeting, "Hello. My name is Sentranicia, or Sentra if you please. A pleasure to meet someone so high above the rest of life."

[Ribitta]

Riul closed her eyes at the sight of the creature in the air. It was unique, but she could sense no hositility ensconcing it. Perhaps she was in for a treat. Perhaps. The birdsong quieted as the creature neared the end of its descent. There was no doubt in it now, its intents were directed toward herself, Riul. The landing disturbed the quiet of the Heights, but the sound quickly faded into an echo and then nothing.

The words that were spoken seemed nearly as melodic as the birdsong that had now returned, and a smile broke Riul's young face. "Welcome to the Heights, Sentra," Riul said quietly, allowing her voice to be carried instead of expelled more forcefully from her mouth, "I am Riul. Do you too seek the peacefulness of this world? It holds this place together. Above the clouds. Above the world."

[Akanyara]

Sentra listened to Riul speak, her mind picking out images from the girl as she questioned her reason for being there. She let her mind wander, the sound of bird song calling her away from the ledge, beckoning her to take to the skies again. Elgran was coming, and he would soon land upon her shoulder, ready to adventure again at her word. The breeze she had flown in on lifted again, brushing her face gently, its desire for her flight already pushing itself toward her. She wanted to take wing again, to feel that freedom, but the tranquility of this place calmed her, brought her back to earth again.

"The calmness of this place is bettered only by the air I fly on." she replied calmly, "I seek shelter, a resting place until I must continue my journey once more." She turned her head, looking back at Riul. Sentra's mind quavered a moment as Elgran's thoughts entered hers again. He was nearly here. She prepared for his enterance.

A sudden touch upon her shoulder told her of his arrival. For most, the landing would have forced a stagger to the side, but her strength allowed her to hold him effortlessly. She never even flinched as his talons found their purchase on her unbreakable skin, and it appeared as if she hadn't even realized his presence until a soft whisper under her breath told otherwise. A different language she spoke now as she told the bird of her new acquaintance aloud.

[Ribitta]

"Shelter?" Riul said calmly, hardly making it sound like a question, "it's a little early in the day for thinking of shelter don't you think." She made a brief gesture at the rising sun on the horizon, the glare beautifully spectacular. Riul gave a distant look at the eagle as it flew down and landed gently on Sentra's shoulder, hardly making her move at all.

"I can bring you to shelter though if your body really does require it. Been staying up a bit late have we?" Riul gave a slight giggle and smiled. "This entire area really is a shelter. A shelter from the world and all the awful things that take place down there... Too much strife. Too much pain. The world truly is cursed never to be at a balance." Riul's smile widened into a grin, and she laughed again. Light from the horizon suddenly seemed to be moving in trackable patterns, swirling about onto Riul's shoulder. It quickly formed itself into an eagle similar to the one on Sentra's shoulder.

Riul shrugged her shoulder slightly, and the bird took flight gracefully, circling around their heads. A larger portion of the light shifted once more, turning into a much larger eagle. Closing her eyes in concentration, Riul directed the eagle into her own body, the golden wings fusing into her back, shimmering images of light that still seemed to carry a solid look.

"Come, Sentranicia. Let us enjoy the calmness of the air at this Height." With a quick motion, Riul kicked off from the ground away from the large cliff she had been perched above. Giggling, she made a motion toward Sentra to follow and moved toward the north at a slow pace, the wings beating a steady note into the stillness of the air.

[Akanyara]

"I seek shelter to set up my camp, for I believe I will be in this place for a while." Of course Sentra could see how it might be odd that she saught shelter so early in the day, but how else was she to go about it? Waiting until night fall was hardly logical, when the beasts walking in the shadows were so free to harm and hunt. Elgran shifted on her shoulder and she let her calm mind drift to him, silencing him once more. She slowly lifted her elbow, allowing him to perch upon her forearm, the bare skin unharmed by his fierce talons.

At the comment of a late night, Sentra smiled. This girl, her own age, was a happy one, and for this she was grateful. She did not wish to see the frightening thoughts swimming in her mind, the anger, the hate...the pain of a lost friend... No, Sentra had lost too many of them herself, she could not bear to feel someone else's pain within her own. Not now that she was finally coming to a resting place.

As the light spun around Riul, Sentra's eyes followed the movement of the eagle in the sky. It circled, once, twice, and at her direction flew downward, diving toward her, becoming one with the girl's body. Wings made only of light flooded into being, and Sentra nodded in acknowledgement of this great power before her. Though she liked having her wings all the time, not having to show off a great spectacle whenever she chose to fly, she could see this being a wonderful power in many ways.

When the wings beat to take her off the ground, Sentra saw one of the many things she might have missed of her own wings if they were gone. The power that she felt within them as she lifted the appendages and swiftly lowered them, was only imagined in those before her. They may have been part of Riul's body now, but they were not her muscle, not her bone. It was a cast of light, felt only in the warmth of magic.

A swift motion of her arm sent Elgran flying high into the clouds, his wings beating fiercly as he climbed higher. Sentra and Elgran did not take flying as a peaceful thing, though they did enjoy a slow flight at times. Flying was an art, one of power and pride. Flying was something that was not to be taken lightly, and so they did not. As Sentra herself took wing, the wind blew steadily beneath her, and for a moment she closed her eyes as her wings took her higher in to the air, toward freedom.

Flying straight up took skill, she knew, and so she was perhaps showing off just a bit. Spreading her wings to their full span, much larger that what Riul's were she was sure, she used all of her might to launch herself upward, spiraling toward the peak of her ability before leveling off and swooping downward to fly steadily at her escort's side. The wind seemed to whisper to her now.

Freedom.

[Ribitta]

Riul laughed cheerfully as the wind lapped at her face from flight; her golden-white hair beating in tune with the rhythm of the wind. Any sound the came from her mouth was immediately blown away, however, a mere memory left feet behind her as she soared on make-shift wings.

She watched with enjoyment as Sentra showed her ability with the wings, and Riul gave a smile, completing a barrel roll in response. There was something about the other girl that Riul could not put her finger on. A sadness of a sorts that didn't seem fitting, a dark tale best left forgotten. At this point is was a reasonable guess to presume that Sentra was an NPC. Perhaps some mishap had been programmed into her existance.

Then, a thought swept through her mind that could perhaps bring cheer to Sentra. Steadying her wings, Riul pushed herself to maintain an even flight pattern with Sentra, allowing to fly nearly by her side. Speaking above the wind, Riul said, "Sentra, have you ever been to the highest point in all of the Heights?" The tallest point could be seen from almost anywhere up there if one took a moment to focus and find it. It stood thousands of feet above the rest of the Heights, and while for some reason people could breath, there was not enough air to allow wings and vehicles to fly at such an altitude. It was an adventure and a challenge, but the reward at the top was great.

[Akanyara]

As their rolls and spins came to an end, Sentra and Elgran came to a steady pace at Riul's side. There was a strange happiness in this girl, one that the player on the other end of Sentra's mind could only wish she had. The wind was slightly pushing back against her, resistance forming just enough to make her wing muscles force themselves down just a bit harder. Sentranicia turned to the other girl and spoke, "I have only just arrived in this place, I have only seen the tallest point from below."

Curiosity filled her mind as she looked up at the peak, wondering how anyone could possibly reach it. Surely you couldn't fly at that height and the air must be so thin that you could not breath... "Seems like quite an adventure."

((Sorry, crappy post... ))

[Ribitta]

(OOC: Nah it's fine)

Riul gave a sweet laugh and spoke above the wind, "And an adventure it shall be! Come now and stay close!" Riul's wings narrowed closer to her body, and Riul tilted her body downwards into a slight dive to gain speed. The wind lashed at her body fiercely as the two forces, but Riul pressed harder, her wings now pushing at a slant to bring her even more forward than before.

The point of the Heights loomed nearer and nearer, and Riul could feel the feeling being washed away from her skin as the chills swept across her body over and over again. Tiny tears formed on her eyes and quickly slid away as she fought to keep her eyes open during the onslaught of wind. They were very near now. Only a couple hundred meters at least. Riul raised her body once more, allowing the wings to carry her upwards. Within another minute, her feet touched down lightly on the stone path that led to the top of the highest point in the Heights.

[Akanyara]

A fast beat of wings sent Riul spinning into the air towards the mountains edge. A path carved through the side of the peak she aimed for and Sentra followed close behind to make sure that they found their way to the proper place. Weaving downward and then upward again, air assaulted her eyes making them water. But her birdlike eyes held the tears well, protecting them from the sharp current of wind that threw itself at her.

Elgran dove and rose behind her, close in pursuit of his friend. Sentra landed softly on the path beside Riul, her momentum carrying her only a few steps forward this time. The air was already somewhat thin but she trusted that Riul would not lead her into a place dangerous for them.

[Ribitta]

The wings on Riul's back vanished in an instant as she touched down to the ground. Kneeling down without a word, she let her finger trace the stonework, which lay beneath their feet. It was surprisingly intricate for being up so high and in such a desolate location. Faded runes seemed to be etched into some large stones and the pathway worked itself up in an incredulous slope that would have taken a long time to be created by a mortal and remain stable for this long of a time. Riul whispered in shock as she realized the possibility of where they were, "Could this be it... could this be the entrance to the temple of so long ago. Remembered only in the most wild legends of the Beta Test?"

She glanced around her feet more widely and looked up at the surrounding walls and cliff face that was below her. Columns seemed to have been sunked into the rock, worn into the face from years of high altitude weather. Receding once more to tacit behavior, she moved to these as well, once more allowing her fingers to trace over the carvings of old.

She'd been to this place once before. How had she missed it? Was their another side? Another face? Another passage? She had seen nothing of the sort on her previous excursion. Tearing her mind from the carvings and masonry work, she spoke to Sentra, "Perhaps this could be more of an adventure than I had originally thought." She took a pause and a breath that reminded her of the altitude, speaking reassuringly she added, "And don't worry about the height. The air is thin but not enough to hurt anyone. Come on, let's take a bit of a hike."

[Akanyara]

Landing neatly beside Riul, Sentra folded her black wings behind her. Elgran landed heavily on her shoulder, not moving her strong body as he folded his own wings. A soft breeze had him searching for balance for a moment, and then he was still, his only movement the swivel of his head as he looked about. Sentra's eyes scanned the markings on the ground and the walls around them, listening quietly to her escort as she spoke in awe of these strange carvings.

Indeed, they were beautiful. Sentra's feet carried her to one large pillar nearby where they stood, her fingers tracing the outline of a strange carving, somewhat depictive of an eagle, its outline melding into what was either a rising or setting sun. This place's story was likely that of legends, remembered only in the retellings of wise old men speaking to children.

Riul's words shook Sentra back to the world around her. An adventure it would be. Nodding as she recognized the reassurance she was given about the height, she stepped back to Riul's side. Shifting her wings as she felt Elgran do, she spoke, "Lead on."

[Ribitta]

Riul smiled serenely at the situation, the only real noise this high up being the wind as it collided with objects, whistling noises coming from shrubs that managed survival at this height as the winds pushed them back and forth. As she began walking though, she began to notice things that seemingly became more and more distinct. The dust that rose from her sandal-covered feet seemed to be less willing to return to the ground after it gone up.

Nothing living seemed to dwell at these heights, except for the few weeds between rocks and the bushes that looked the type that could go without water for months at a time, but the place seemed filled with energy, vibrating machine almost, shaking with pent up energy, but Riul kept these things marked in her head and only in her head. She spoke softly, not wanting to break the peace that ensconced this place, "Do you find solace in these skies because of the openness, Sentra? One of the few places where one thing or another in this world will not pile up in front of you, making barriers that you cannot see past, isn't it?"

She asked these questions without truly expecting a response, but still interested enough in any response this winged girl might give. The signs that were showing up in this place could mean one thing or another, and depending on what it was, Riul figured getting to know this girl would probably be a good idea. After all she seemed pleasant enough, and Riul wished to be on an open level with her should something arise.