Further East

Heading further along the eastern trail, the trees begin to thin and change type; while a bit back, there stood pines and conifers in small copses, now there are thinner groupings of young oak saplings and the occasional fruit tree. Tall flowers wave in the breeze along the path you walk, and ahead of you a robin hops down onto the path to search for nourishing insects.

You watch it for a moment, and then there's a "Ha-HA!" before the sound of fast feet hitting the ground. The bird freezes and almost seems to facefault, then takes off in a hurry as a bright orange blur darts onto the path, only a few feet behind it.

"Drat! I almost had him that time!!"

The creature that stands on the path, pouting at the fast-fleeing form of the robin, is a female winged equine-feline in appearance. Her fur is deep orange along her back, fading to a paler citrine towards her feet and at her head. The wings are the same colour, her forelegs shaggy and her hindlegs just fluffy, while her eyes are crimson and somehow manage not to be threatening. Her mane and tail are black at first glance, but a second look proves that they have dark green and purple speckling, almost as if her mane had Mardi Gras glitter in it. Her hooves are strange as well, seeming to be pale lavender but speckled with a variety of colours.
"Bloody - I wa so close!" she frowns, then sighs and notices your presence. "Oh, hello, there. Traveler, huh?"
You nod, wary. The bright creature grins.
"I'm Iriai, a Leagus. I'm not part of the big Falls family, but Reiki-chan is. We decided it was getting a little too crowded over there."
"Falls family? Reiki?" you ask, but then another voice calls from behind you.

"Are you chasing that poor robin again, Iri?"

While Iriai was bright, the creature that slinks out of the trees like a bird's shadow on the ocean is dark and striking. Another female, her coat is mottled black and deep, navy blue, like a clouded midnight sky, and her eyes are just as deep. The right eye is surrounded by a crescent of blue flame - and speaking of blue flame, that is what her mane seems made of; it flickers like fire, but as she approaches you can feel the chilling cold she gives off. Her paws are blue, and all four feet ablaze with the same cold fire; her hooves and the almost-straight horns protruding backwards from behind her ears seem made of ice. Her ears are furry and pale azure on the inside, and her tail is long, fluffy and deep, deep black. She's a beautiful creature, and her azure gaze glances over you to note your presence before inquiring Iriai.
"Well.... yeah." Iri looks sheepish.
"Why don't you ever fly after him?" speaks the female, her tone vageuly amused. Iri looks puzzled.
"But, Reiki-chan.... that wouldn't make it fun."

The blue-flame female sighs, then turns to you. "I am Reiki no Toukan-Kaen - Reiki of the Frostflame. So named for my elemental alignment." She tosses her head, causing the coldfire flame to fliver and move. "I see you've already met my best friend Iri."
You nod and give them your name and place of origin.
"That's a ways from here," says Reiki. "Random portal?"
You nod, and continue talking to the pair for a while. Reiki only speaks every so often, preferring to let her exuberant friend do the chatting.

But soon enough, the pair move on. Time for you to move on as well.... and you can always head back towards Nine Points. And hey, is that a side trail?

Name	Iriai	Reiki no Toukan-Kaen
Title	Sunset Breeze	Frostflame Seal
Gender	Mare	Mare
Sire	Wild	Touketsu
Dam	Wild	Eclipse
Birth Pri~erd	Unknown	Night's Reflection
Current Pri~erd	Desert Ice	Storm Surge
Type	Leagus

Tárakyna (C) me, Jessica Dragontamer. Critters (C) their respective creators. Background courtesy of ABTA.