The Mystic Stables
THE COPSE - UPPERCOPSE
A thick clumping of trees stands before you, its leaves an odd purple. A mist of silver vapor seems to pour from it, rolling around you knees as you wade toward a visible gap in the thich cops of trees. The leaves are silky to the touch, light and thin as you brush past them on the narrow, but well-worn, pathway. Soft leaves make no sound as you walk over them, at last emerging into....a cave? No, it's not a cave, but a cavern of branches and leaves! Branches of the surrounding trees have grow to almost impossible lengthes, extending and twining their super-thin tendrils and twigs to creat a leafy netting through which only soft, gentle rays of light pass. The effect is of a soft, flowing cave doused in reds and purples.
You whirl as a sudden, soft sound is heard from the bushes, a low trill that could be the call of some predatory bird. Slowly, tenatively, animals begin to push their heads through the thick walls of leaves. They'd hidden at your intrusion, not knowi ng what to expect. You try to begin an apology, but one of the animals, a tall, grand one, halts your train of thought as it steps closer to address you....
The large animal that addresses you has an air of dignity that could esily be mistaaken for arrogance by the unknowing. Its flowing, glossy mane blends into the background of shining fusia leaves and its cocoa-brown body seems to be a statue brought to life, muscular and strong. It seems lionine, but has hooves and graceful wings, beautifully porportioned in every way. It introduces itself with a lovely deep voice with a resonance you feel in the base of your spine. "Dear wanderer, we of the Mystic Copse bid you a wondrous welcome. I am Tenye'Ca'Oscur, which means "Dream Of Night" in the native language of the Head Mistress of this Hold, a woman of whom I bear nothing but fondest memory. I am a Leagus from the Pragosi Rainforest, an animals that is sort of a puzzle, seeming a Dragon, Lion and Horse all at once. There are many of our kind, but not as many as once there were."
| He continues, "I myself am a victim of the Burning, a plague that seems to have cursed all the places in which we gather to live. Where we gather, there always seems to follow some natural disaster bent on wiping us off the earth. I was brought out of the eternally Burning Woods, abandoned there and left for dead until I was found and brought back to health by Mistress Myroor. Now I live here, among many others, yet I am unique. This I enjoy. Another thing on which I thrive is languages, the learning of many of them. I have most recently mastered the language of Azrielen herself, and I could teach it to you. This is one of my responsibilities, to teach the new creatures English and Atlani when they arrive. Come with me and learn the language of ancient sunken Atlantus (COMING SOON!!!) , Azrielen's homeland, or if not, you could move on to speak with the other animals! Either way, I do believe I like you, traveler...." |
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"...Ah! Before you go travelor, meet the little one! Well, she is not so little anyomore! I was given a charge a long while back, a young spitfire of a Leagus named Zos~Walai. SHe has recently moved to the UnderCopse and cares for our little cub! Do visit her, travelor" ...
Not far away on a small rise by a tree is another animal, just as odd as the first. It rears as it sees you, throwing its head and long mane, more showing off than anything else. You near it as it settles, coming to within feet of the animal that does nothing but stare intently at you from piercing blueish eyes. It's speckled green fur is thin and shiny with the light that leaks into the lair. One beaded strand hangs limp down the side of its face, not seeming to bother the patient animals one bit. The slender body and sleek look of the animals hints that it is female, but of what species you have no idea. It is unlike anything you've ever seen - part canine and part equine, with sharp pointed horns like those of an antelope. The female...something...speaks in a full, caring voice as it approaches to within reaching distance of you. Almost instinctively, you reach out and stroke the silky fur of her shoulder as she speaks to you and you alone. "Welcome, beautiful wanderer. I am Tobannescu'ac'lui. It means "fullness of love" in Atlani, a truely meaningful and beautiful name that I was given as a reminder of the good heart I should always bear with me. I am a Miwen, one of the animals cared for and fostered out by Head Mistress Azrielen. My kind are housed and hidden here within this very mountain, waiting to be found and bonded. You can journey to the Miwenday Ravine if you would like to search out one of my kind for yourself. As for me, I am of the sub-species Miwen Scaara, one of the nature-oriented few. Does my color not dictate my nature?! I am a healer, helping now in the infirmary of the Hold. I hope I never, ever meet you on a professional level, but otherwise, I do so love visitors. It has been so much my pleasure!" The Miwen bounds of then, splashing through the far wall of foliage, leaving you stricken. You decide to move on......
On a little knoll not far away, another bright, beatiful creature seems to fly around in circles! As you get closer, you see that it seems to be a horse, a blood red equine. His movements slow as he senses you watching him, and youfind yourself mesmerized by the precise movements of all his limbs as he seems to be performing some sort of Martial Arts exercise.
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Slowly, his motion halts all together and he seems to fall into a meditation. Then he blinks and stares dead at you with a gaze that speaks of strength. As he trots slowly toward you, he speaks to you in a melodic, deep voice that tells of battles fought and most often won. "Hello, traveling one. I am the Kayatha of this Copse, by the name of Tan'ashayl." The second "a" is hard, almost a chough coming from his agile mouth. "From the Kayatha Fields I come, one of twelve among my crop. A twin sister I have, living here, at the Lady's Manor. |
I am also a Master of five of the ancient practices of Martial Art, including the Kie'SeTi, the fables Balancing Art. For the short time I have been here, I have served as a Hold Guard. I am now to the rank of Third Lead, and hope someday to make Head Guard...but that is many suns and moons off. For now, I must finish my meditation in preparation for tommorrow." With that, the odd animal leaves you, moving back to his knoll, leaving you as good as alone in the thick fusia grasses of the Mystic Copse.....
...Or are you. Off to the side in the thck foliage, you hear a rustling and a sharp clicking nicker. The indignant sound sparks you curiosity. Perhaps you should investigate the sound. Or, you begin to think better of it, making the decision to explore farther into the fields around the Copse.....
Though you can see almost nothing through the thick foliage, you remember the directions from your journey through the Mystic Meadows. Onward to the NorthWest is the verdant and shining green of the many Sha Fields, while going back out the way you came will take you back toward the Equaritha Fields.....
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