I look ahead to all the plans that we made
and the dreams that we had
I'm in a world that tries to take them away
oh, but I'm taking them back

because all this time I've just been
too blind too understand
what should matter to me
my friend, this life that we live
it's not what we have, it's what we believe in

It's not my time, I'm not going
there's a fear in me, it's not showing
this could be the end of me
and everything I know

- 3 Door's Down, "it's not my time"
I can not help but sigh at Tinder’s bristly behavior, usually he is terribly clever and helpful but sometimes he acts like a child and really I don’t need two of them to look after! An ear follows him subtly as he slinks to the outskirts of our little gathering and the rest of my attention remains on the dhole. Seeing that the other axian does not appear terribly perturbed I relax again. I’d have defended my partner if need be but I prefer things not to get that heated and so in the interest of maintaining this new peace I decide to apologize on his behalf, “I’m terribly sorry Ducky, Tinder has been irritable lately I think the winter might be getting to him.” A weak smile is offered to the dhole who, thankfully seems to be distracted by my sister for the most part. The younger girl giggles at Ducky’s amused laugh not realizing that his amusement is at her own expense. I role my eyes silently but now Dawson begins to speak and her words draw my full attention.

Hearing the names given I search my memories but they ring no bells, “Don’t know them…” I nod as she mentions the parts of Avenion she’s been too, “we’ve been hiding a lot lately too, mostly in Sheltered Forest.” Her next statement could have gone by with out additional comment but I seem to be unssually chatty today so I respond, “Yes, we were both born in these lands and lived in Emerald Oasis until about six months ago.” Now comes the meat of her answer to my questions and having never seen any part of the world outside Avenion I am very interested in these next words. I watch my sister’s eyes widen and know that mine are doing the same as each descriptive word roles off Dawson’s tongue. Blinking in bewilderment I find that I can not even imagine what the life she describes would be like and I have a reasonably vivid imagination. The word “owner” has me the most baffled, I’ve heard reference to stallions owning mares in my short life but this did not sound like the same thing at all. Deciding that I probably would not understand no matter how detailed the explanation and seeing that she seems board with speaking of her old life I let the topic be for now. “Well… that sounds… confining…” I blink again watching her carefully for any signs of offense taken, I am not sure how attached she might have been to this strange piece of her past. Even though I’d chosen to let the topic go there are few questions I can not help asking, “did the horses in your old home have axians? Do you like it here?”

Now the mare’s attention shifts to her own feet having been directed there buy Namasté her off hand explanation makes the filly jump and skitter away to hide behind me, “Oh, owe! That would hurt! Don’t let them do it to me Ludy, don’t let them!” Of course she has no idea who ‘they’ are and neither do I but I’m fairly sure we are in no danger from them here. “Never mind dear…” I bend my neck around for a moment to nudge her reassuringly, “they won’t get you.” Having been unsettled by his companion’s sudden retreat the white owl, Remy, flutters about in a disgruntled manner before finally landing a few feet in front of Ducky then walking nearer in the jolty shuffling gate of birds. At last he stops with in wing reach of the other axian, twists his head sideways making himself look all the more owlish and offers a soft, “Whooooo…”

It is then that I recall the one question Dawson did not answer and proceed to ask it again in a tone that is not quite as suspicious as the first go around, “are you looking for a stallion?”

| axian speech |
| mental speech for both |
| regular speech for both |



Call me ILLUDRA for that is my name. They say my 15.2hh (when full grown), Silver Buckskin coated, FEMALE person is not terribly aesthetic, especialy with the FLOPPY RIGHT EAR. Trust the steel in my gaze for these TWO short years of life have not taught me to bend. Recognize my breeding as a mix of HANOVERIAN, THOROUGHBRED, MUSTANG, QUARTER HORSE, LUSITANO & LIPOZZANER. I remember my parents as SHADOW & DELLISSA of this land and others. Connect me with TINDER the --- coated MALE AXIAN of skill level 3 my better half and link to the element of --- in which we are pursuing the --- (0/0) tree with --- trees completed. Look for me in --- for it is there I reside. Place me in the court of --- under the title of --- and trace my blood down to ---. My FEMALE sibling NAMASTé is a YEARLING of BUCKSKIN coating. She shares the MUSTANG, QUARTER HORSE, LUSITANO & LIPOZZANER HALF and carries an ARABIAN HALF from her father LAFAYETTE. Namasté is unlikely to grow to more than 14.0hh. She travels with the MALE axian REMY of skill level 2. Our strings are pulled by the beautiful TZARRA who should be credited with both our creation and our words. --- of --- is the painter of our portraits.