As you continue on, you trip quite suddenly over a very small rock, and despite all attempts you make to save yourself from a nasty fall, you fall, quite roughly, into a thorn-bush. Biting back a scream of pain as the thorns bite into your skin, you manage to pull yourself out of the bush. Biting back tears, you think bitterly of Pega and how she'd sent you into the wilderness without a way out. The forest is now very dark, and you're not surprised at all when a light spatter of rain falls on your cheek, causing your numerous cuts and scratches to sting with pain. You give a shiver.
That no-good unisus. What could be worse? Wandering through the forest with thorn-pricks all over your body was not your idea of fun. Huffing with anger, you push your way through the shrubbery, hardly watching where you're wandering off to as the rain turns to hail and patters painfully on your back and neck. Your ignorance proves to be a mistake.
You don't even notice the small burrow of some creature ahead of you, nor the small cliff ahead of it. Your foot, of course, catches in the burrow and sends you flying over the cliff edge and into the icy river after it. A large log breaks your fall, but bruises you horribly.
Your body absolutely screaming with pain, you struggle to the surface and onto the icy ground ahead. You have just enough energy to register the sound of hooves before you pass into darkness.
You awake to the smell of fresh grass and the warmth of a blanket around your shoulders. The familiar sound of hoofbeats come near, and a voice, very like Pega's, only younger, somehow, murmurs something slightly worried to someone, and then, with a light *poof!* you're sure she's gone. Surprisingly painless, you sit up, squinting against the light of the sun. A white and blue unicorn with black fetlocks and a chain-link necklace is standing a ways off, where you thought Pega's voice had come from.
It is a very beautiful mare. She seems sadened by something, and her head is hanging low, but her eyes seem kindly enough. Though unsure if you should disturb her, you clear your throat to let her know you're awake.
One delicately shaped ear twists in your direction, and her expression clouds with confusion. She glances over and absolutely beems. You feel suddenly light, and you can't help but smile back. She trots over to you and smiles.
"I knew you'd be okay," she says, grinning widely, "Welcome to my little meadow, and I hope you feel much better now that we..." and here she halts, scuffing a hoof in the dirt quite awkwardly, "..Now that you're awake, I mean." her smile returns, "I am Inmil'Sella, a Painted Unicorn."
Feeling perfectly comfortable around this complete stranger, you nod and introduce yourself.
"Yes, Lai' told me I'd be getting a visitor, but I didn't know I'd have to... save them." she says with a bob of her head, "Are you feeling well enough to continue? You've lost a lot of time..."
As you nod, she stretches out her neck to help you up, smiling at a shrill whinny that is heard in the distance, "That would be Pasna," she says with a grin as the sound of tiny galloping hooves in the distance reaches your ears.
The sound gets closer and closer until suddenly... it stops. You blink in the direction of the sound, and almost inquire as to why the hoofbeats my have stopped, when you hear the sound of wings directly overhead. You look up.
A very small mare looks down at you, grinning slightly, "Hello, visitor!" She lands nearby and trots over, still grinning, "I'm Pasna'klis? Who're you?"You give her your name and she bounces, "I knew it! You're the one they were so worried about, huh? Well I'm glad you're better." and she nudges you playfully, then nips at Inmil' even more playfully and runs off.
Inmil shakes her head, grinning, and nods her head to a narrow path through the trees."Pasna's young son has gone to a meadow not far from here to seek his independence," she says with a small amused smile, and turns to go, then turns back, her eyes twinkling with amusement, "And do be careful of rabbit holes, won't you?"
With that, she lets out a happy whinny and gallops after Pasna at full speed.
The peaceful feeling that had buyoed your spirits up the moment you saw Inmil lingers as you watch her vanish into the forest, but is gone the moment she is. You are once again aware of the stiffness of your limbs and the pounding of your head. The meadow is no longer a warm, welcoming place as it was moments before. The rustling of the bushes behind you is enough to give you a start in the eerie quiet that surrounds you.
You turn to face the bushes to find a small horn poking out of the bushes. When you back away, it is followed first by a small white muzzle, then by a whole miniature unicorn. The tiny stallion bows.
"Hello, stranger. I am Theli'klis, son of Pasna'klis and Teli'fas. You must be Pega's latest wanderer... welcome." He smiles slightly and adjusts his wings. "So sorry if I startled you... I heard a whole lot of galloping and thought I might join the fun..." he coughs a bit sheepishly, "So... you won't mind if I do?"
You explain that you'd rather not be left alone and he leads you cheerily to a small group of portals.
"Alright, then? See you!" He grins and lets out a playful whinny. There is a long pause, followed by two whinnies in reply, and he sets off in there direction, trotting happily into the forest. You wave quietly, then turn about, only to find a new stallion in your path. He seems to just have noticed you as well, for there is a strange look of surprise on his face.
Although he is much smaller than Inmil, he resembles her in more ways than one. He has the same sky-blue mane and tail tuft, and the diamond-shaped spot beneath his horn is the same color as Inmil's spots. Not only that, but there is a kindness in his eyes that Inmil's eyes shared as well, yet... there is more of a yearning in his glance... a loneliness, even.
He swallows and smiles gently at you, "Hello, friend. I am Alaar'Inmil, meaning Dreaming Soul. Inmil Sella is my mother... were you hoping to continue? Well, these portals can't really take you many places. There is a new group of Painteds down the Northern Road just a bit, I'll take you there if you'd like."
You nod. The small paint smiles and slides past you, walking in a northerly direction along the well-trodden path. As you pass beneath a grove of shady trees, he turns to you and begins to ask you many innocent questions such as: "Where do you come from?" "What's it like there?" "Do you have a mate?" "Have you ever fallen in love?"
He is enthralled by each of your answers. Apparently, despite his certain adulthood, this Paint has retained a childlike curiousity. You somehow admire him for it, though you loose your temper with little children who ask the very same questions.
After some time, he begins to empty his extensive knowledge of the universe upon you. Apparently, you aren't the first to be so interviewed. He tells you of Cruel Dictators and peaceful republics, brave monarchies and stubborn democracies. The trees become sparse and you come to a new clearing...| Name | Inmil'Sella | Pasna'klis | Theli'klis | Alaar'Inmil |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| meaning | Soul Peace | Spring Angel | Little Angel | Dreaming Soul |
| Species | Painted Unicorn | |||
| ID | 304 | 383 | 616 | 790 |
| gender | mare | mare | stallion | Stallion |
| Class | Yeva | ninai | ninai | Theli |
| Glory | Cora Finien | Eilli Havala | Cora Finien | Filanasta |
| birth Charity | unknown | Filana'Dieava | Alisha'Ishlansta | Evira'xirsta |
| mate | Hashalain | none | ||
| Charity | Evira'xirsta | Alisha'Ishlansta | none | Lisen'Kitesh |
| Homeland | The Silver Unicorn | |||