From: 95lnm@williams.edu (Lisa Masterman)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: "Aeia" epilogue and repost (epilogue)
Date: 6 Jan 1993 01:52:47 GMT
Organization: Williams College, Williamstown, MA
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: welsh.cs.williams.edu

"Aeia"

EPILOGUE

The day was sunny, but cool.  The sky was bright enough to be almost 
blinding, reflecting in sharp colors from the bare rock formations that rose 
from the valley in the distance.  Shielding his eyes with one hand, Captain 
Jean-Luc Picard led his horse away from the stables.  He had picked a well-
muscled bay that moved in quick, uneven steps beside him.  Slender, dark 
ears swiveled around to intercept any sound or movement; this one was 
alert and ready to go.  The men who ran the stable had recommended him 
for expert riders only.

Following closely behind her captain, Deanna Troi led a stately dappled-gray 
gelding.  He was tall and commanded a considerable amount of mass, but he 
exhibited none of nervous excitement of the Captain's mount.  He moved his 
body forward with a smooth, gentle stride and exhibited an air of calm 
disinterest.

Will Riker and Geordi LaForge accompanied her with their mounts.  Geordi 
had been given a petite white Arab mare with a finely chiseled face, and 
Riker led a startlingly red chestnut.  The mare was following along quietly, 
but the chestnut gelding was reluctant, flicking his ears about and frequently 
pinning them back.

Captain Picard swung up into his saddle with practiced ease, and the others 
took this as a cue to follow suit.  Riker, however, was unsuccessful.  His 
gelding pinned his ears flat back and threatened to bite him every time he 
stepped closer.

"He doesn't like you," said a voice from the side.  All eyes turned to see Aeia 
standing slightly away from the group.

"I can see that," muttered Riker and he abandoned his efforts to get into the 
saddle.

Aeia walked to the chestnut's head.  She leaned over the red muzzle and 
blew a breath of air over it.  The gelding's nostrils stretched wide to collect 
the scent.  She stroked the velvet nose affectionately.

"I don't see how you can do that," muttered the commander.  "He won't let 
me get anywhere near him."

"He doesn't like men," she explained.  "He prefers the way women smell."

"Perhaps we could trade," offered Deanna.  She swung down off the gray and 
offered the reins to Riker.  Shrugging, the commander finally accepted them 
and mounted the gray, who exhibited no objection, nor even interest, in the 
change of riders.

Troi approached the chestnut, who flared his nostrils again as she grew near.  
Taking the cue from Aeia, she blew a puff of warm breath across his nose, 
and then took the reins.  The gelding seemed to instantly relax, and allowed 
her to get on without problem.  Observing from the back of the gray, Riker 
shrugged in exasperation.

"Perhaps you would like to join us," Troi offered to Aeia.

The younger woman concentrated her gaze on the large equine head in her 
hands.  She twisted the bright forelock absent-mindedly, frowning.  "No, I 
don't think so."

"Oh, I insist," said the captain.  "It's a marvelous day for it."

Aeia regarded the hills for a instant in silence.  "Yes," she murmured.  "Okay," 
she said, turning towards the group.  "I'll come along, but I won't ride."

"I don't think that would be wise," cautioned Geordi.  "These horses are 
pretty fast.  You wouldn't be able to keep up."

"Oh no?"  A devilish glint crept into Aeia's eyes.  "Would you like to test 
that?"

"What are you suggesting?" asked Riker.

"A race," she responded.

Picard laughed.  "Certainly you are not serious!"

Aeia lifted the strap of her satchel over her head and offered it to Troi.  
"Could you carry this for me?"

Accepting the satchel, the Betazoid caught Aeia's eyes for a moment and 
suddenly realized what she intended to do.  She shared a mischievous smile 
with her younger friend before telling her captain, "She is very serious, 
Captain."

"In fact, I'll give you a head start."  Aeia dropped into a crouch, readying 
herself to start running.  "We'll race to that tree over there before the ledge.  
Ready, GO!"

Picard's horse recognized the command before he did, and the captain nearly 
lost his balance from being left behind.  He regained it swiftly, though, and 
leaned over the bay's neck to enjoy the thrill of the speed.  He could hear the 
others right behind him, thundering hooves right at their heels. He centered 
his weight and brought his face close to the muscled neck, speaking 
encouragement that he knew only his mount would hear.

Suddenly, he was passed.  A brown blur stretched out in front of him, 
passing him, putting space between them with ease.  He was at first shocked 
to see that the horse was riderless, and then gasped at a bigger surprise: 
when the creature turned its head to glance at those behind it, he could see 
centered in its forehead a straight crystalline horn.

Then he heard Aeia's mental laugh in his head.

The tree by the ledge was attained, and everyone drew up their horses.  
Everyone except Aeia, who went thundering past.  She leapt straight off the 
edge and disappeared from sight.

Four hearts missed a beat.  Suddenly, a great brown bird appeared from 
within the ravine, soaring up on an updraft of air.  It circled above their 
heads, and from where they were, they could see the blue and green 
feathers intermingling with the brown of her left wing.

*I am one,* spoke Aeia's mental voice; *I am many.  And I am not alone.*
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