Thread: Portal - A Fall From Grace (BurningWillows and Black_Out)

The chilled crisp air felt quite brittle so high up among the snow swept peaks of the modestly sized mountain range. There were certainly more impressive collections through out the world, but here, on this vast island lost in the ocean these mountain tops were a singularity. Their impressive white capped jagged peaks soared upwards, parting the lowest and densest of clouds with ease. Layers of old and frozen snows were buried beneath fresh white powders that shone and glistened in the cold illumination of the suns rays. They sparkled upon the pristine albino blankets of snow, reflecting dancing motes of brilliant short lived colors into the frigid air. Few living things dared to venture, let alone dwell in such fragile heights. Such a place, serene as it's beauty was, offered little in the way of comfort or sustenance. Life was full of miracles and surprises though, as even in the frigid and thin mountain air things found a way to survive. Drinking in the sun, dark freckled patches of icy moss clung upon sheer stone surfaces were no snow could settle into place. In smaller crevices, hidden from the brutal wind and suffocating snow, more traces of hardy weeds and dense mosses had taken delicate root. Rarest of all was the briefly lived mystical beauty of the winters bloom, a flower that breathed life into snow and ice with the rising of the sun. Glorious petals, the winding, bending stem, formed from those very elements granted serenity for mere minutes before they melted back into the snow from which they arose. Tiny furry white rodents made a meal of these limited offerings, surviving on the nutrient rich mosses, hardy weeds, and the abundant sources of frozen water. Some glided about the heights of these mountain tops, thin flaps of skin stretched out between their spread legs as they rode the winds. Other small rodents and mammals managed to eke out an existence as well in the inhospitable climate of the piercing and jagged mountain peaks. Beyond the harsh and difficult conditions of their elevated domain they fortunately had few other things to contend with in their quest for survival. Soaring gracefully above even the furthest reaches of the snow drenched mountain tops was one such worry, the great white condor. Several families of the majestic large condors had established nests just beneath the fringes of the white snows blanketed a top the mountain ranges heights. Their keen and powerful eyes swept over the lands that stretched out far below them. Often they hunted in the more open ranges beneath the path of their soaring surveys. But, there were young beaks to feed back in those nests and food was in high demand. An easy meal could be snagged if one of the mountains tiny residents was caught out in the open by the eyes of a soaring condor, providing a quick meal for the young eager bellies within those nests. As the sun hovered in the sky, nearing the apex of it's travels for the day, a small fury rodent happened to be basking in the warmth it so rarely offered here. The winds were hidden from the little brown critter within the wide stone alcove as it's small mouth dipped down, large and thick front teeth tearing off a chunk of dark green moss it had thawed out with the heat of it's belly. Cheeks of the small bunny like herbivore puffed up as it nibbled innocently unaware of the danger lurking over head. Wide spread wings of one of the condors circled far above, a mere speck of it's form briefly visible as the blinding light of the sun obscured it. No shriek, nor warning call was offered from the Condor as it's gaze settled upon the opening carved into the side of the mountain where the rodent contently lingered in the faint warmth of the sun. Just silence, and rippling feathers from the turbulent air that rushed around the condor as the great bird tucked and dipped, streaking downward like an arrow through the sky. Thick yellow talons, sporting sharp and rigid black claws opened as the avian predator streaked towards it's targer. The rodent never even saw the blurred and speedily descending shape of the great white condor, until it was to late to do anything about it. Peacefully the absent minded rodent nestled up against the inside edge of a pristinely manicured, lightly tanned foot. Dark straps of brown unblemished leather held a sturdy sandal in place, the straps rising upward along the strong and firm muscle of a mans calf. Sitting upon a short flight of snow-less steps, immaculately carved into the stone as they retreated into the mountain, was a man of physical perfection, stunning immortal beauty, and divine grace. Alexander saw the swiftly descending approach of the mighty condor, he had seen it from the very moment it took to the sky. His left arm slid under the shimmering freshly polished silver shield he had been dutifully attending to. Large white as the snow wings were folded inward against the bare, broad, and well defined muscles of his upper back. His fingers went firmly around the handle straps as he brought the oval shaped protection upwards and out to his side, offering a perch for the condor as it's wings drew wide while vigorously flapping as it's rapid descent slowed. Strong talons sank in around the rim of the shield, leaving no scratch or mark upon the mystical silver metal that barely budged in the angels mighty grasp. Alexander's bright golden eyes watched, his lips turned faintly upward in a pleasant smile as the massive bird found it's balance and came to a rest upon the shields edge. The angels head turned, just enough to glance back over his shoulder, smiling warmly to the red headed celestial woman just a few short steps behind him. His attentions were abruptly shifted back to their avian visitor, a slender silver brow speckled with creamy white highlights arched as words soundlessly resonated from the visiting condor, emerging in full bloom within their thoughts. Their tone was deep, the voice rich and bold, and it belonged to the lord of their pantheon, the All Father, Lowkurye. The time to fulfill your duties has arrived. Find the Portal, seek out your Mother there, then the Lady of the Veil will set you upon your path. With those words, deeply echoing in the minds of the two angelic figures, the majestic condor turned and with a renewed flapping of it's wings, it returned to the sky. You are on your own, now. Was the last words that seeped into their collective thoughts, as the great white condor vanished down into the depths of the chasm below. There was an almost immediate sour breeze that swept over the alcove where the angels had taken a form of residence. It was carried towards them from the distant ridge line of the neighboring mountain tops upon the other end of the deep chasm. Wafting across them was a foul and putrid odor, as Alexander tilted his head sharply back towards Kyharra. His soft silver hair flowed within the wretched breeze, the demeanor of his normally pleasant features fell upon his companion, sharpened and hard. His hand was already tightening the other straps of his shield about his forearm as the all to evident presence of fiendish intentions lingered in the air. We have company. Those firm words barely left his lips as he felt a sudden sensation ripple through his body, as a feeling of diminishment over took him. His wide and clear golden eyes filled with a momentary sensation of sorrow as the color washed away, replaced with a clear blue hue. ...I don't feel Mother, anymore, I don't feel any of them. He gasped out in a stunned state as he lifted up his long spear by it's stout handle and turned his gaze away from Kyharra to look out over the distant mountain peak across from their abode. There sat a massive, bloated, and disgusting bearded vulture, one of the small gliding rodents stuck between it's cruel hooked red beak. The insidious beady dark gaze of the scavenger leveled across the gaping chasm, focused directly upon the two angels. Pazilnar... Was the only word that Alexander could get out of his lips before a host of vile screams erupted from beyond where the devilish vulture had taken a perch. Darkly winged forms rose up into the air from behind the curtain of the mountain range, as four fallen angels, their skin sickly cold and pale swept over the perching vulture as it snapped the bones of the rodent within it's powerful beak and swallowed it whole. A torrent of arrows streaked from the black bows wielded by the foul devils guardians, tracing lines of hell fire through the cold air. With his shield raised, Alexander hastily backed up the short flight of steps. We need to get inside..quickly. There was a sense of calm urgency in his voice as the first volley of flame drenched arrows rang against his raised shield and struck against the stone cliff about them.