Desreal: IV. but the point is that we live

She loves Gecko in every way. While she is a brave and mighty warrior, she knows he is the reason behind everything she does. Gecko was the father of her children (well, so was Kurai but that was a completely different story, though she won’t ever be sorry because it gave her a beautiful daughter in Stymie). Gecko was her everything. Theirs was a love that could not and would not be interrupted. Sometimes the warrior swore they would die together in the perfect moment of romance. Aquila had been in the shadows, contained by the borders of Desreal for a period of time which she cannot remember. Her eyes still contain the fire, the absolute glory of her heritage. She still fights; it is something she cannot defy and will overpower her ties to Alcatraz in due time. The scar burns as she feels the Rainbringer nearer. Her water searches out the figure of Gecko, carefully letting her eyes trace along the contours of his watery element – the same that produced their water-strong children. The white water warrior wandered through the thick shadows and slipped in and out of the light, wanting to be near him as soon as possible. He would understand; he had to understand. If anyone in this world could understand the chains which caged the eagle mare Gecko would. Even with the chains around her, she continues to fight.

Aquila will not go so easily into the night. She stops as she sees Gecko talking to someone who looked familiar. She heard the voice, saw the delicate traces of the body. At first she thinks it’s a dream. She hears herself say that she is a murderer, that she killed Strandwolf along with Alcatraz’s slaves. Aquila cowers at this information, ashamed and sulking. And then she felt something so familiar, like when Elemmire had been around her. And that’s when it all came crashing down. This wasn’t a dream. It was a nightmare! The water warrior stepped from the shadows immediately, panic gripping her throat as she tried to burst into the scene and moving to save the precious relic. But she was too late.

There is something akin to a gut-check that goes on inside of Aquila as she realizes just what has happened. The Rainbringer was gone. Her former master Elemmire had destroyed it! Shock in her eyes, the white mare watched her mimicked self leave, and immediately she went to Gecko’s side. The pain in her eyes is soon overcome with relief that her beloved Gecko is safe. Emotions grip at her throat, along her face and entire body. Her soul cries for help, prays that the elements have some way of fighting the shards and their corrupted keepers. She rests her head along her lover’s neck, gently, soothingly stroking it as she whispers softly to him. ”I’m here, Gecko. It’s really me. It’s really Aquila.” She comforts him as best she can, running her touch along his body and letting their water entwine with each other. Tears fall from her eyes, landing on the ground, and the earth shivers in its trepidation. The elements moan in angst of their fury. Aquila listens to it, and her element joins them, pulling at her and whispering for her to leave. But she will not leave. She won’t ever leave Gecko again. Finally, she speaks again. ”We can leave here, Gecko,” she said softly. ”We can go away to another place and start over. Our family is out of here; our children are safe.” Hope. It rides high on her demeanor. It is what she offers him.

The elements whisper of the end. It may be the end of this land, but not for Aquila. And if Aquila lives, Gecko must live, too. Is this the end of their love story?