eyes can't shine unless there's something burning bright behind
Sunjata's smirk was telling enough that he didn't see a problem in it, which helped relax her nerves. As far as how Nate had taken it? She laughed softly, "I think it hurt me more than it hurt him."
A smile softened her expression as she let her thoughts drift to Milo and nights spent with him. Although, she wasn't sure how to explain without being awkward, so she just nodded in affirmation and returned her attention to stoking the fire.
Sunjata's words of wisdom weren't entirely lost on her but, something more pressing took her attentions away from their conversation.
It's okay. The words stiffen her readied posture, and she spares a quizzical glance over at him as he stands up. Whatever he was thinking or feeling, Aurelia was not privvy to it. All she could see, was a creature that mysteriously manifested before them out of the shadows of the jungle that creeped in. It would take another step towards them, its eyes on the Attuned now. Some unspoken connection that Aurelia couldn't quite grasp.
"Sunjata?" Her voice broke through the silence, gaze shifting between the animal and her friend. But then he murmurs to her that he's going to shift, and she starts. "You're gonna what?!"
It doesn't matter; any protest she might have is lost to the misty air.
What Sunjata changes into takes her by surprise. All she knows he's capable of, is the macaw, the snake... this is entirely different. He becomes a horse, himself, as if copying the figure that jostles in its own surprise. Only, his shift is winged, and he airs his own equine voice to it.
Aurelia, keeping her fired up torch handy, steps toward them. She's prepared to make a difference should anything go awry.
The horse, as if challenged by Sunjata's shift, gives a slight buck in the water. Droplets spray around its hooves and Aurelia's muscles tense. Yet, no attack is made. It's as if this is a dance of sorts. Its eyes meet hers, and she pulls back slightly.
It drifts its nose toward her, taking small steps in her direction until there is barely any distance between them. Aurelia can only stand her ground, shocked that such a wild creature would so boldly approach burning fire. And then there's a moment shared between them. One in which she thrusts the fire forward, only for the horse to extend its lips to her hand, narrowly avoiding the flame. Its presence is cool and calming against her tempered skin. Coaxing, even. She drops the torch. Maybe it's out of surprise, maybe it's something else.
Regardless, it's for certain that something lulls her forth, some unknown pull, a unique sort of pressure. The idea that, perhaps, this is a rare opportunity. It's not quite the same tether that Sunjata feels, but... it's prominent. The horse dips its head and kneels its front legs to her, as if inviting her upon its back.
Aurelia's mind fogs, and she casts a confused glance toward Sunjata. "What do I do?" Her voice is barely above a whisper, and she realizes that it's unlikely that her and Sunjata can communicate through words while he's in such a form. Her fingers grasp at the horse, smoothing over its thin pelt. It's cold to the touch, something that strikes her as odd, but it whinnies softly as she does, as if approving.
"I'm gonna get on," Aurelia warns Sunjata, glancing toward him. Logic is fleeting. It's rare that such a wild beast would be so inviting. She's faced with the decision; does she pass up the opportunity, or does she take the chance?
Alas. Aurelia's a beast of her own and, as such, she's not always ruled by logic. So she mounts this unfamiliar horse, fingers grappling and flexing through its white mane. It lifts itself up, and she can feel the shift quite clearly echo through her own body. It doesn't stop there, though, and suddenly its cantering about in circles. Aurelia hooks her legs against its flanks, which feel oddly, but she doesn't have much time to regret her decision. The beast takes to the air, as if stepping up into it, as if soaring on invisible wings.
A smile softened her expression as she let her thoughts drift to Milo and nights spent with him. Although, she wasn't sure how to explain without being awkward, so she just nodded in affirmation and returned her attention to stoking the fire.
Sunjata's words of wisdom weren't entirely lost on her but, something more pressing took her attentions away from their conversation.
It's okay. The words stiffen her readied posture, and she spares a quizzical glance over at him as he stands up. Whatever he was thinking or feeling, Aurelia was not privvy to it. All she could see, was a creature that mysteriously manifested before them out of the shadows of the jungle that creeped in. It would take another step towards them, its eyes on the Attuned now. Some unspoken connection that Aurelia couldn't quite grasp.
"Sunjata?" Her voice broke through the silence, gaze shifting between the animal and her friend. But then he murmurs to her that he's going to shift, and she starts. "You're gonna what?!"
It doesn't matter; any protest she might have is lost to the misty air.
What Sunjata changes into takes her by surprise. All she knows he's capable of, is the macaw, the snake... this is entirely different. He becomes a horse, himself, as if copying the figure that jostles in its own surprise. Only, his shift is winged, and he airs his own equine voice to it.
Aurelia, keeping her fired up torch handy, steps toward them. She's prepared to make a difference should anything go awry.
The horse, as if challenged by Sunjata's shift, gives a slight buck in the water. Droplets spray around its hooves and Aurelia's muscles tense. Yet, no attack is made. It's as if this is a dance of sorts. Its eyes meet hers, and she pulls back slightly.
It drifts its nose toward her, taking small steps in her direction until there is barely any distance between them. Aurelia can only stand her ground, shocked that such a wild creature would so boldly approach burning fire. And then there's a moment shared between them. One in which she thrusts the fire forward, only for the horse to extend its lips to her hand, narrowly avoiding the flame. Its presence is cool and calming against her tempered skin. Coaxing, even. She drops the torch. Maybe it's out of surprise, maybe it's something else.
Regardless, it's for certain that something lulls her forth, some unknown pull, a unique sort of pressure. The idea that, perhaps, this is a rare opportunity. It's not quite the same tether that Sunjata feels, but... it's prominent. The horse dips its head and kneels its front legs to her, as if inviting her upon its back.
Aurelia's mind fogs, and she casts a confused glance toward Sunjata. "What do I do?" Her voice is barely above a whisper, and she realizes that it's unlikely that her and Sunjata can communicate through words while he's in such a form. Her fingers grasp at the horse, smoothing over its thin pelt. It's cold to the touch, something that strikes her as odd, but it whinnies softly as she does, as if approving.
"I'm gonna get on," Aurelia warns Sunjata, glancing toward him. Logic is fleeting. It's rare that such a wild beast would be so inviting. She's faced with the decision; does she pass up the opportunity, or does she take the chance?
Alas. Aurelia's a beast of her own and, as such, she's not always ruled by logic. So she mounts this unfamiliar horse, fingers grappling and flexing through its white mane. It lifts itself up, and she can feel the shift quite clearly echo through her own body. It doesn't stop there, though, and suddenly its cantering about in circles. Aurelia hooks her legs against its flanks, which feel oddly, but she doesn't have much time to regret her decision. The beast takes to the air, as if stepping up into it, as if soaring on invisible wings.
Aurelia
