I Believe I can Fly (shape-shifter quest)

[<3Kodi]

Everyone said the desert was hot. Rowena was one for seeing is believing but when it came to desert heat she'd always simply accepted that yes, it was hot. Hot she could handle even though a black mare probably wasn't the best horse to go cantering off into a sea of sand dunes. The thing was though, Rowena couldn't just decide to become a white Arabian. That just didn't happen and she would hate to be anything but what she was so, the mare had gone off into the desert. She'd started out at early morning before the sun went up when the sky was still navy speckled with silver. It wasn't horrible then, a bit nippy from the night but not horrid. She'd had to face worse in the dead of winter in any case. When the sun rose however, oh it was horribly hot.

Ro's gallop hadn't lasted long once the sun had risen but instead trickled down to a walk the higher the sun rose. Her black pelt shimmered in the sun, haze radiating from the ground under her hooves and it made her feel like she was walking on fire. Constantly Rowena had to shake herself to chase of the illusion of walking on or even in fire. Fire was one thing she couldn't stand, absolutely couldn't stand. It was a killer and painful. Right now however as she trekked through the soft sand, Ro couldn't help but think this desert was exactly like fire. It could kill her and it burned horribly with its summertime heat.

A normal and perhaps sane mare would have stopped as the sun reached its noontime peak but Ro wasn't exactly sane and she had never thought of herself as normal. That was why, with her head low, the mare continued her slowing trek. She was determined to know if the legends and stories about this place were true. Ro didn't like being tethered to the ground even if when she galloped at full speed it felt like flying. She'd heard stories that someone in the desert could actually teach her how to become one of the birds she so admired and Rowena had never passed up the chance at a challenge or even to just go somewhere she'd never been. This was her chance to rise above the norm rather then just be a rebel without a cause. She had no herd, no real home but maybe if she could offer some sort of skill to a leader she could have a home. That and Rowena simply felt the want to see through someone else's eyes and who's eyes were better then an eagle?

Coming down a dune, Rowena looked up ahead and blinked once, twice. She could swear she was looking at a lush meadow, full of rich green grass waving invitingly at her. Not far away there was a little pool of clear water. Without thinking the mare galloped forward toward the meadow. Mirage or something else, right now she didn't care. This was the first thing she'd seen in the desert, it had to mean something right?

Character: Rowena
Questing for: Expert Eagle-shifter
Why seek this?: Because Rowena has a great love of birds and flying, she's also a very free spirited mare so I thought eagle-shifting would be something that would suit her personality.

[$*CrazyHick*$]

The sound of a female brought his harks up and with instant rolling of his eyes he sighed so may greedy horses these days maybe he would have more fun with this one unlike the others he had. Fire enflamed his body and took him off making the large ball of flames appear before this black mare that seem good at heart so he would suit her so well with alittle fun. As the flames hit the sand it began to create glass from the heat and wiht that the flames took this mare to an grassy landscape that fit her heart it was way better than the desert she probably agreed to.The flames opened a large metallic purple hoof stepping from the flames then a large head and then finally his fifteen handed frame was fully out the fire disapating like it was never there to begin with. His pelt was the color of a black onyx swirled with deep violet making it seem almost mystic like. When he opened his eyes fast they seemed like deep silver pools full of a mystic substance. His tassles that whipped across his face and rump were the color gold so fine it shone like the sun above.

The grasses below his metallic hooves seemed to burn into the grass his beautiful silver yes bore into her very being. His thick deep voice rang out with such a voice of age he didnt seem to belong to this era. The place behind him looked like a mirage which it was Komi could make anything look real and could make you wish sometimes your death could be quick but that was past this was present. He looked at the mare and snorted "Komi is here my sweet what is it that you wish of him" he said in thick tones.

[<3Kodi]

Fire. Ro's onyx eyes widened and horror filled her features. Hooves scraped grass or sand or whatever it was she was standing on as Rowena hauled herself to a complete stop as the fireball hit the ground. Without thinking she reared back on her hind legs, boxing the sky with her flailing front hooves as a screech of terror escaped the mare, white outlining her eyes. Ro backpedaled away from the fire, arching her neck so her chin nearly touched her chest and shaking her mane, onyx banner whipping behind her. Adrenaline pumped heavily through her veins making her feel an almost irresistible urge to run. Flee the flames, flee the fire. Don't let it touch you, you'll get burned. You'll die.

A hoof stepped from the flame and Ro let out a terrified snort. A horse was standing in the fire, walking out of it toward her. No. Never. Rowena shook her black mane and backed away in fright. No horse would walk out of fire could they? They could but they would be horribly burned! Maybe...maybe he was one of those fire masters she'd heard about? A shiver ran through her at the thought.

His voice rang in her ears like an echo through centuries, deep and strange but oddly enchanting in its own strange way. Rowena kept a fair distance between herself and the flame-filled stallion, refusing to approach fire no matter who this Komi was or thought he was. Never would she walk toward anything that had anything to do with fire. Never. Still, she had to do this. She'd said she would and she was going to do it, not cower and run away like a filly.

Ro swung her head high, almost pleased to find she was taller then Komi, standing at fifteen point three hands with all her fine Paso Fino breeding. That did help her nerves a little, build her confidence a little. Shifting her weight, Ro forced herself to stand still and look the stallion in the eye, no matter how unnerving his eyes were. She had to do this. "I'm here to learn shape-shifting. I've been told you're the one to ask for help" she told him.

[$*CrazyHick*$]

A loud cackle broke out of his maw seeing her fear and he was suddenly grinning wide. He stepped foreward seeing this he had never seen someone so afraid she had seen some of these but none afraid of fire. So he decided that she wanted a shapeshifting and he smiled "oh indeed shapeshifting what shall it be" he said and broke into a run heading straight for the mare as he ran his body shifted into a wolf with the swirls of purple and golden hairs his eyes still that metallic color. He growled and lunged at the mare "what shall it be a fae a wolf so true or do you prefer something else" he said through a growl. He ran between her legs and shifted into something and broke out of the wolfs body into flight the wings a dark black and the head white a loud screech coming from the golden beak and he flew a couple rounds and landed upon the faes beak "or do you wish to be as free as the eagle" he asked. The he was off again onto the ground knowing this one may scare her alittle more. His body shifted into a brute of an animal with talon and teeth and grizzly like fur before her stood a viscious bear and he charged while saying "or do you wish to be an strong as a bear or perhaps...a deer" he shifted again and grew into a large stag the color of deep purple his antlers the color of silver as his eyes were too. "What shall it be far choose wisely Komi does not regift" he said as he shifted back into his horse form a smug expression on his face.

[<3Kodi]

Ro's official opinion of Komi? Insane. Unstable. Crazy. Bonkers. Off his rocker. Take your pick but all of them ran through Rowena's head at his rather unnerving cackle. Oh and creep was in there too, right between crazy and bonkers. Rowena picked up a hoof to take a step back but before she could he was galloping at her. Ro arched her neck, her fright slipping into indignant seeing as this horse was obviously alone too long and didn't know how to be polite. She shied slightly from him and let out a snort of surprise as he sprang into a wolf. Wolves. Fangs. Claws. Easy girl she told herself, forcing herself to stand stalk still like a carving of stone. Don't move don't move don't move. The right thing to do, but very hard to do seeing as an equine's first instinct at the sight of a wolf was to run or kick. Right now she was leaning toward kick just because Komi was creeping her out.

The wolf sprang between her front legs. Rowena reared back, definitely intent on kicking his brains out. Talk about no personal space. Something soft brushed her belly as the mare reared up. Feathers. Wings. An eagle burst forward and swooped out from under her. Ro dropped back to all fours, snorting in disapproval at his antics. Showoff. Her fear of him was fading fast even as he sprang into the shapes of deer and bears. Formidable as all of them were, Ro felt little fear now. He was just an old showoff!

Rowena lashed her tail and arched her neck with a soft snort. "Well almighty showoff the form I choose is an eagle" Rowena neighed, "what is the price you ask for teaching me these kinds of things?"

Yes, Ro had heard about the questing, how someone would have to gather something for Komi to get the knowledge and ability to shift or control the elements. Rowena was a bit uneasy about what kind of insane quest the odd stallion would send her on but she'd said she'd do it and she hadn't come all this way in blistering heat, faced a fireball and an insane stallion just to walk away with nothing.

[$*CrazyHick*$]

"Watch you mouth fae or I will burn it off of you" he said rather grumpily. He wasnt showing off really he was showing the elements and their potential she could be wolf full of truth, a eagle so free, a bear so strong, a deer so graceful and he secretly wondered what she would look like as a frog maybe he would step on her and hear her guts squish out. He shook his very wishful thoughts from his head and looked at her stepping foreward "Komi also has the power to turn those away he thinks does not deserve his powers" he said very gracefully. "If eagle is what you wish then so be it you will do tasks for me if you fail to comply your gift will cease to exist" he waited for her answer. He was ever so serious now his silver eyes boring into hers.

[<3Kodi]

Ro barely resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Of course he could burn her alive. She hadn't forgotten that but....her mother always said her mouth would get her into trouble someday. Oh well, Rowena knew the dangers. Fire was no light thing and she had seen him use it once already and that was more then enough for her. The threat was real, the danger there but...oddly Rowena didn't feel threatened. She simply flicked her tail and continued watching the weird-colored stallion. When he spoke of turning her away she stiffened slightly and her onyx eyes flashed. Oh no way in hellfire would she be turned away after putting up with his company. In her mind, anyone that could put up with him was either senile or eternally patient. She was neither, at least she didn't think so, but still here she was listening to him babble and showoff.

"What is the task?" Rowena asked, keeping her voice even and her gaze on his.

Knowing him it would probably be taking a feather off an eagle or maybe just to screw with her head she'd have to walk through fire or some other foolishness. Komi struck her as the sort that went for the impossible but...other equines had done these quests right? She could do it. Ro's stubbornness was kicking in just as her doubt did, waging an internal war. She doubted Komi's sanity but she was too stubborn to simply back down.

Other equines had done this and she could do it too. She would put up with Komi's oddities and do whatever it was he asked of her, even if it meant sticking around in this infernal desert. If it had something to do with fire though, well, Rowena would really have to talk herself into it. Hopefully though Komi was just some crazy old hermit and not really....cruel like that. Ro felt ashamed of letting him see just how frightened of fire she was but...hopefully the mistake wouldn't come back to bite her in the tail.

[$*CrazyHick*$]

He saw her inner fire so she was fiesty maybe he would make her walk a pit of lava to collect him a piece of coal. He grinned that would be fun and then she could collect a feather of a raven. He smiled "mi lady your tasks are simple in my mind but what are they to you I do not know." "Your first task will be walk the lava pits to find me a large hunk of coal to match that pretty black pelt of yours and the second task will be to collect a feather of a raven " he said simply and with that melted into the sand like he was never there and his voice floated among the winds "Komi will be waiting upon your return" he said.

[<3Kodi]

Rowena's heart sank as he spoke. He was cruel. Cruel and senile. A lava pit? Was he serious? The fae heaved a sigh as the weird stag melted away. The melting into sand thing didn't even bother her now that she knew just what kind of stallion she was dealing with. Of course he would melt into the sand. Of course he would send her to a lava pit of all places for a hunk of stinking coal. And of course he would tell her to go get a raven's feather! How was she supposed to do that? Ask the raven nicely? Ravens couldn't talk and they were wolf-friends. Why would a raven help a horse? With a snort Rowena turned and started to walk back into the desert.

Lava. Fire. Coal. Just wonderful. Ro rolled her eyes as she tromped toward normal land again, stalking through the sands with the sun sinking but still so stinking hot. Might as well get used to hot, Ro thought sourly as she walked. She planned to become a master of shape shifting so...if she was going to do that she'd have to get used to Komi and his weird tasks not to mention the stinking hot desert. Rowena tossed her head to cast her forelock from her eyes and glanced back toward where she'd spoken with the odd stallion. He was the only one she knew of to get a gift from so...if she wanted it she'd have to work for it. Even if it meant going to a volcano and finding a hunk of coal and a raven feather. Still, it would be a problem, the raven feather.

With a snort the mare shook her mane. Determination sparked in her eyes. She would do it. She'd show that pompous stag. Leaning back on her haunches the Paso Fino let out a nicker and galloped forward, heading for the volcano she had heard tell about. There had to be a lava pit there right? Lava and coal first, then she'd deal with the raven feather. Maybe find a raven that had molted?