"Welcome to the Garden of the Moon."

The garden is suspended in perpetual night, a full moon always hangs over the garden. The full moon shines bright, illuminating the garden almost as if it were day with silvery light. It is rumored that this garden belongs to the goddess of the moon. Ishtar. If you find your way to the garden, then you are a lucky person and the goddess has smiled down upon you. The garden is hidden deep within the heart of a forest, though the garden is larger than the forest it hides in.

In the very center of this garden is a very large weeping willow tree, it is so large that it can be seen from anywhere in the garden. It's branches are thick and anyone or anything could hide behind that thick hanging curtain of willow leaves and branches. A gentle stream runs very close to the willow tree. Where the stream begins or ends is anyone's guess, it seems to run forever and in both directions.

Flowers and trees, grasses and shrubs of every type. Of every origin, real or mythical grow in this garden. Animals, real and mythical, thrive in this garden. Once you have entered, there is no telling what you might see here. Once you have entered you might not be able to find your way out again.


Rules:
Folow Mene ToS
No God mod
No profiles, just jump right in at any time.
Use double parentheses or brackets for OoC talk
Have fun.

Opening post:

He stood near the willow tree, one hand resting on the massive trunk of the huge tree. Long dark reddish brown hair fell around his angular face and tumbled over his shoulders and down his back to his waist. He was naked from the waist up and from the waist down, his body was that of a tall, muscular, proud rust colored horse, his coat was so shiny as if he had just had a good wash. His hooves were a polished black, and his long tail was one any stallion could be proud of, it was full and so very long. It's color also dark reddish brown. His bare skin from waist up was nicely tanned, a bow was slung over one shoulder and a quiver of arrows rested gently against his back. Atop his head, rust colored horse ears twitched. Around the centaur's neck was a thin piece of metal. A collar of sorts, and around the ankle of his back right leg was a matching metal cuff.

The centaur stood there for a few moments longer as the willow spoke to him, slowly he withdrew his hand. All was well in the garden of his mistress, all was quiet. There was little for the guardian to do, the garden needed no protection it was never invaded. No one came here any more and the last that had, had died trying to find the way out. That had been long ago though, he pawed at the ground for a moment with a hoof before he started to walk away from the large willow. His tail swished gently behind him and the willow branches parted before him as he left their shelter. Adrian stretched his arms high above his head for a moment as he walked. Those arms lowering when he stopped to look over his shoulder at the tree. The garden was sad, just as lonely as he. It longed for visitors once again, even Ishtar had not visited for a very long time.

He lifted a hand to touch the collar around his neck, wondering not for the first time, if their mistress had forgotten them. Him and the garden, or had she just abandoned them? Grown tired of her pretty little play things and found new ones to occupy her time? He snorted lightly, that hand lowering as he stamped a hoof in the dirt. His ears twitching and swiveling this way and that but only catching the familiar sounds of the garden.

Slippered feet pounded lightly against the ground as the young woman slipped through the trees and away from her guardsmen. The noblewoman was frantic to escape the life her parents had laid out before her, Astrea of the Dynaud, in their plot to take the throne. She was tired of all the political games, tired of being seen as nothing more then a pawn to further her family's position.

She couldn't believe that her mother of all people had suggested that Astrea, with her enchanting greens eyes, freckled features and honey blonde hair, make a bid to become the king's mistress. As usual, Astrea had stormed off to take out her horse, and the moment her guards attention had lapsed while they sat by the lake she'd bolted.

And now she was lost ... The light had changed from that of the bright sun, to something that belonged to the night. Silvery moonlight, in the middle of the day? Her curiosity and wonder made Astrea slow her steps without realizing it. The noblewoman even occasionally bent down to sniff at flowers, or poke at herbs she'd only ever been allowed to read about, and even that only upon a sufferance. "So beautiul ..." murmured that lady to herself with a smile.

The wind blew, well not really, but the willow branches behind him rustled as if the wind had blown. The willow branches moved softly, gently rustling and the horse ears atop Adrian's head twitched slightly, swiveling towards the noise even. He didn't really need the tree to tell him that someone had stumbled into the garden, he had felt it. He was connected to all things that naturally lived here. All the way to the tiniest blade of grass to the highest flying bird, but only to the plants and creatures that lived here was the centaur connected. Through that connection he had felt the person enter the garden, through that connection the willow spoke with him. Honestly the willow was the only thing that ever truly talked with Adrian.

The centaur pawed the ground with a hoof, before nodding slightly to the willow tree and moving cautiously in the general direction of the visitor. His gait was light, but even so, his body was heavy and soon the girl would hear the tell-tale sound of gentle hoof beats before he even came into view. Adrian wasn't sure how much time had passed outside of the garden, time was different here, it seemed to move very slowly if at all. Were centaurs still common creatures, or had they all disappeared into myth and fable? Ishtar had told him once that his species was doomed to become extinct eventually, that by bringing him here, she was saving him. He wondered if such a thing had come to pass, and perhaps he would ask this visitor. Still Adrian moved with caution, strangers were not to be blindly trusted, and as guardian of the garden it was his duty to destroy any who would harm this place.

Slowly he came into view of the visitor.

(*yes it's a chibi picture XD. but she's suppose to be tall, leggy, and curvy. Also the belts on the boots should be at random angles but meh XD. I just haven't drawn her out yet >.<))

The cat like woman urged her mount forward, her own head bent forward as a few of her raven curls that had worked free of her bun bounced around her features. She didn't really seem to be paying attention to where she was going, perhaps she wasn't. The star near her throat would glow, were she to be directed anywhere by the powers that be... for they were the only thing that guided her. She was one of the star gifted, a mysterious race of cat like immortals who were blessed with the powers of a particular heavenly body. No one was entirely sure where they came from or how they came to be, not even the cats themselves. Even gods and goddesses seemed uncertain about the mysterious race and did not dare interfere with their duty.

Still, as she entered the garden the shift to moonlight caused her eyes to flash silver and her star to glow as if to defend her from some magic. Now she would finally lift her head, her eyes shimmering blue once more as she cast those cat like orbs over the flowers and other trees among the darkness. She glanced at the moon mare she rode, a strange white horse born of the moon of a far away planet. At the moment it seemed a normal white horse, however, asides from the silver crescent moon that glittered on its forehead. The two seemed to have an exchange of some sort and finally the woman nodded with a soft laugh.

"Yes my chandra, lets explore." She responded in her silky, velvet like voice. She urged the horse forward, her smile leaving her as she wondered what exactly this place was. Day and night unnaturally switched... and celestial powers balanced in uncertain ways. How very odd..... still she said nothing and simply continued forward, her face curious but lacking any other emotion. She could hear the sounds of hoof beats distantly and began to follow.

The sound of approaching hooves put Astrea immediately on edge. Was it the guards coming to get her? The blonde twisted about to try and find someplace to hide, but didn't do so even when the approaching sounds were nearly upon her. For some reason, it just didn't seem right to dive into the nearby brush. Harming any of the plants, animals, or insects, in that place seemed wrong for an inexplicable reason.

Taking a deep breath, Astrea stood to face whoever had come. She tried her best to appear intimidating, cloaked with the authority of her nobility, but that was not quite so. The woman's near full composure slipped away as she saw the man, no centaur, who had made an appearance. Green eyes wide, she stared a little rudely, before realizing what she'd done and averting her eyes.

*I-I'm sorry for intruding on your herd's territory." She hadn't thought there were anymore centaurs in the whole kingdom, save for those who resided with the king. Astrea had never even seen them, but her parents had, and because of this she knew that was true. Still, the possibility of some hidden community was actually quite likely, considering the undeveloped land covering nearly all the country.

Some one else had entered the garden and his ears flicked as his tail swished. Strange that after so long there were now visitors. Still he was only one creature and he would deal with them one at a time, though it wasn't necessary that he even approach them unless they intended harm to this place. More importantly the willow must be protected, it was the garden's heart. Adrian had stopped a small distance from the noblewoman, his head tilted to the side slightly. He had been a member of a herd once, but that had been so long ago. "I have no herd." He spoke the words softly, his voice light on the air as his brown eyes took in every detail, every feature of the female before him.

After a moment in which he determined she was no threat to him or the garden, he bowed slightly. "I bid you welcome to Ishtar's Garden. The Garden of the Moon." He straightened from his bow and glanced over his shoulder, a hoof pawing the ground almost nervously. Visitors in the garden. It made him happy but also wary, and Adrian was nearly anxious to lay his eyes on the other visitor, to assess them and make certain they were no threat to the way of life in this place.

The star guardian continued forward, following the sound trickling through the leaves. Voices. Ishtar one of the moon goddesses... She was never quite sure how to react to deities or they to her. The guardians were something very much apart from the normal order of things. She sighed softly, wondering if she should leave a moment but then shook her head. She had not chosen her destiny or what she was born. She had every right to be here that anyone else did. She nodded and her back straightened instantly, the confident and able warrior once more from head to toe. She soon was in sight of the other two, her eyes looking them over. A centaur and what appeared to be a human but appearances could often deceive. She said nothing, her ears flickering slightly. A dark mass against a shinning white horse.

For some reason, hearing those few words made a sentiment of sadness well up in her heart. To be alone would be such a terrible thing. Automatically, more out of reflex then anything else, Astrea curtsied slightly with a tiny smile. He was very polite, and kind sounding. "Thank you for welcoming me so graciously." The woman lapsed into silence after that, tilting her head quizzically at how the centaur was acting. It was strange, they were nearly extinct, and it as such a shame.

Doubly so because it was the fault of humans. "This place, it's very aptly named and very beautiful." She might have went on, but a woman had arrived upon an eerily beautiful white horse. They were nearly as captivating as the centaur. All of a sudden, Astrea regretted running just a little. She felt entirely out of her dept.

Adrian smiled slightly when the girl curtsied, that smile widened slightly when she called the garden beautiful. The compliment pleased him, almost as much as if she had called him beautiful instead and now the other visitor was approaching. Adrian turned to look fully upon the woman on horseback, his tail swished and his brown eyes studied her carefully for a few moments. There was something about her, but he didn't think she would harm this place. Adrian bowed slightly to her. "Welcome to my mistress' garden. The Garden of the Moon." He straightened from his bow, his eyes flickering from one lady to the other. "I am called Adrian, I am the protector of Ishtar's Garden." He had bowed slightly again as he introduced himself, now he watched the others expectantly.

The young woman made a slight, unladylike, face when she realized that she'd failed to introduce herself. "I am Lady Astrea Dynaud, it is a pleasure to meet you." Her gaze moved between the two before her as she spoke, an indication that she meant the two of them and not Adrian alone. It was a strange name, now that she thought of it. It seemed more suitable to a noble, then again the centaur appeared noble in his own right. His smile earlier had helped that impression quite a bit.

She shook her head with a rueful smile. Astrea had gone from being unable to experience anything new, to this constant state of discovery. It was both frightening and wondrous all at the same time.

Her visible blue eye stared out at the two, her face relatively expressionless at first. She wondered how long it would take them to notice her. They did relatively quickly..... good. She bowed from her horse top to greet the two, staying quiet as the introduction was given to her the same as it had been the other. He didn't seem inclined to chase her out. Unusually for someone connected to a deity. Then again the price for killing a star born such as herself without provocation was to call a curse even a deity could not fight. Still this near immunity to gods had caused many of her kind to become arrogant, foolhardy. This arrogance and lust for power had been the downfall of many, and those who did not fall to it fell to those who sought to steal their always covered but ever seeing spirit eye. She was likely among the last alive, so perhaps the deities had quite simply just forgot about them.

"I thank you for your welcome. Most call me Arie. Is there a place per chance where I could water my horse?" She said in a soft, polite voice. Her words were rich as velvet and just as sweet, making one feel like a cat had just rubbed against there cheek. It was not an unusual voice for her kind, but many of other species found it enchanting. She had little care either way, having been one of her kind who preferred being alone as she traveled on her journey to defeat the chaos spirits that like her kind had been born with every planet, every star, every sun, and every moon. There seemed so many more of them then her kind even at the beginning, now that she fought alone with out the other guardians at her side she felt even more overwhelmed and felt a temptation to stay in this garden and just rest..... just for a little while.

He nodded at their introductions, smiling slightly to both ladies. When Arie asked about water, Adrian nodded again. "There is a stream, I will show you to it." He backed up a few steps, then turned to go the way he had come from, for a moment Adrian hesitated. Gazing at the large willow that could be seen from everywhere in the garden, then he looked at the two and motioned for them to follow him. The lady Astrea might also be thirsty. Adrian started down the slight path he had used to bring him to Astrea, now he followed it back to the willow and the stream that flowed next to it. He moved at an easy pace, so that Astrea would easily keep pace with them. It wasn't a long walk, so soon they were at the over hanging branches of the willow, the branches moving and rustling gently even though there was no wind, when Adrian approached it.

Adrian gave the willow a smile and reached out to brush his fingers against the over hanging branches as he led the two women towards the stream. He did not venture behind the curtain of willow branches, only moved along beside them, moving half way around that leafy barrier to the stream. He stopped just a few feet from the water, watching it as it flowed. The stream moved under overhanging branches of the willow to run close to the willow's trunk and then out through the garden at the other side of the tree. It was a stream that had no end and no beginning. Just as the garden had no entrance and no exit. The garden went on forever, but some few could see the exit or the entrance to this place.

Most stumbled in by accident, and usually they never stumbled back out again. He glanced at the two and nodded at the stream. "The water is clean, and pure."

She was captivated by the beauty of her surroundings, so much so that she didn't hear what the cat woman said. Astrea barely paid attention to anything else as they walked through the garden, save perhaps how strange the willow was. It's leaves had moved, though there was no wind to make such a thing possible. Perhaps it would have bothered Astrea, if not for her even stranger company.

As Adrian mentioned the stream at their feet, the lady couldn't help but knee by it's banks in order to reach out and place a hand into the crystalline clear waters. She tilted her head forward, cupping some of the cool liquid in her palms so she could take a sip, then another. "I've never tasted water like this before." It was surprising how good, refreshing and soothing it was.

Arie nodded her thanks and slid from her horse. She followed behind the two with her hands in her pockets, her horse following without being led. Once they reached the water the horse would instantly go to sip the water, not really glancing at anything else. Moons were naturally linked with water, such was the way of things, so the horse could sense the purity of the water in a way that only a moon mare could. Arie had been saved by this ability a time or two, the horse's water sense. She too knelt for a drink and smiled softly as she remembered her native star.....before all fell and she became the guardian of Valdis, the keeper of dead stars. It had held water like this. She shook her head free of the bitter sweet memory and stepped away from the water.

"It is very good." She agreed with the girl quietly, giving both her and the centaur a simple smile. She leaned against the tree trunk behind her and slid her hands into her pockets, her form appearing to relax. Only the soft flicker of her ears indicating she was particularly aware of her surroundings as she gazed at her horse. The silly creature kept putting its nose in the water to feel the cool flow of it, only to shake its head and lift it from the water as the current tickled its nose. Arie chuckled softly.

Adrian watched as they drank the water, his tail swishing gently behind him as he shifted on his hooves. His own ears flicked and swiveled this way and that, but there was nothing to listen to other than the sound of the water in the stream, or the birds flying over head. Occasionally the rustle of some small animal under the bushes, but mostly there was nothing to listen to. Even the willow had become quiet and still, and Adrian felt as if it were watching them. He glanced at the large tree for a moment before his attention returned to the two females.

"The water is kept pure by the moon's light, it is the life water and it nourishes all that dwell in the garden." He spoke the words simply, by way of explanation for what was surely unnaturally pure water. So refreshing and cool. Again he shifted on his hooves, he wanted to ask them about the world outside the garden, but he was unsure how to broach the subject, how to phrase his question. He had been her for centuries and he was sure so much had changed outside the confines of his gilded cage. Time passed more swiftly out there and he wasn't sure how much time had passed. A hand raised to touch briefly at the silver collar around his neck at the same time his back right leg twitched slightly, causing the metal cuff on that ankle to move slightly.

Those two items were meaningless really, just physical reminders of his bondage. Unnecessary reminders. He pawed at the ground with a front hoof and shook his head slightly. "It has been a very long time since visitors came to the garden." He spoke the words softly, as if unsure of what to say really.

Hunter

Crashing through the forest,the boy ran blindly. His emerald eyes squinting from the pain of moving,his silver hair getting in his face. A fine covering of silver fur encased his body,becoming thicker around the wolfish ears on top of his head,the tail at the base of his spine,and the paws that replaced hands and feet. He was in rags,and an iron band encased his neck,trailing a heavy iron chain as he ran. His master was close behind,closing in on him easily astride a mighty black horse. Hunter bared his fangs as he forced himself to run faster,and suddenly burst into a fragrant garden.The light of the full moon gave him the strength to keep going,but his master was still behind him.In one last attempt to get away,Hunter raised his head and let loose a long,pained howl,a cry for help that echoed throughout the area.

Hikari

Not far away,a young girl with two-toned hair and deep onyx eyes walked through the forest. A glittering scar on her forehead marked her as more than human,along with the fact that her footsteps made no sound,and the plant growth where she stepped seemed to glow and flourish. She tilted her head as she entered the garden,and heard a heartbreaking howl echo through the relative quiet. Concern written on her features,she turned in the direction the sound had come from. Her form started to shimmer,blurring at the edges,until she changed shape altogether. Standing where the girl had been,a magnificent blue and white unicorn raised it's head. With barely a sound,Hikari galloped off in the direction of the howl.

"I suspect.......I suspect we have company." The feline woman said quietly as one ear flickered towards the howl that interrupted whatever she had originally meant to say. She glanced towards the sound, a hand reaching to stroke the gemstone at her neck. No......there was no chaos spirit here as even the broken star Valdis would have flashed brightly to unleash it's fury on the creature. She nodded as if satisfied and simply glanced at the little group that had formed. A small smile flickered over her lips. At least now she'd know if they were fighters.

"Shall we? Madam, Sir." She said to each, giving each a sweeping formal bow. She grinned at them a moment and with that the dark star was gone, her cat like steps silent and leaving no trace as she ran towards the sound. Her mare stayed behind as if sensing some unspoken command, appearing unsurprised at the woman's actions. Arie was not one to avoid a fight, no matter how tired, how worn if innocence was in trouble. It was the way of her kind. She would soon be perched in the trees, gazing down at a wolf man of some sort.

The howling snapped Astrea from her contemplative mood. She'd been over thinking her response, trying to find some way to ease the centaur's awkwardness. It had reminded her of the first time she'd been presented at court, but that was quite a while ago. "I ... I can't go. Though I want to help, fighting is not among my abilities." Her noble parents had been adamant about that. The only weapon they had allowed her was a bow, and without one Astrea was as defenseless as any other stereotypical noble lady.

"I apologize." Her gaze followed the cat woman as she stepped away, then moved to the centaur. "Can I wait here?"

Adrian had known of the trouble even before the howl, his lips had parted to speak but was interrupted by the howl and then Arie. Already his hands were in motion, lifting the bow from across his shoulders and pulling an arrow from the quiver at his back. When Astrea spoke, he nodded at her. "Yes, it would be best if you waited. Stand close to the willow tree's trunk, her branches will protect you if danger gets past me." His eyes had hardened slightly, and the way he said the last, it was almost clear that no danger ever got passed him. Adrian could not afford to wait for her response though, as soon as his words were finished, he galloped off.

Arrow knocked and already half drawn, the centaur followed the same path Arie had taken, except he didn't leap into a tree to wait. He moved past the tree that the cat woman perched in, his ears twitching, swiveling this way and that as Adrian came through some thick bushes. He stepped out directly in front of the wolf boy, that arrow pulled fully back. Adrian did not wait to see if the man on horseback was innocent or not, all he knew was the man was chasing a creature, and chasing it through the garden. He could smell the fear that permeated the creature, and the garden it self clamored for peace. Calmly, Adrian loosed his arrow.

It flew straight and true, and it flew towards the mounted man's throat. Already he had another arrow knocked and ready to release before the first one hit it's mark, if it did hit he would lower his weapon. If not he would fire it again. He was steady, and his eyes hard. Adrian had not hesitated. Hesitation could spell disaster for all involved. He had a garden to protect, two women to protect and now this wolf creature.

Hunter was gasping for breath,his eyes rolling in his head from fear. He had just collapsed,unable to go on,when a creature he half recognized as a centaur stepped in front of him and fired an arrow at his master. The arrow held true,and the combined force of the arrow and the forward motion of the horse knocked Hunter's master backwards. The man fell straight back off the horse,which came to a confused halt,but stood back up. Before he could do anything more,however,a unicorn came galloping from the other direction and impaled the man on it's horn.

Hikari came into sight just as a centaur stepped in to protect the wolf boy who had obviously let loose the cry for help. As the threat-in this case,a large man on a horse-was incapacitated,the unicorn felt her horn blaze brilliantly,a sure sign that the man in front of her was evil. Once given this signal,she did not hesitate. She lowered her head and charged,impaling the recovering offender straight through the middle. She shook her horn loose and waited to see if the man would get up,while she sensed yet another presence approaching in the form of a celestial being.

Arie watched the events with curiosity. Unless the male had some special powers he was as good as dead when the arrow struck his throat like that, and the pure unicorn horn would take care of most evils anyway. She gazed at the unicorn thoughtfully, absently thinking most she had known prior would not have bloodied themselves so easily. Oh well, the purity of the flash assured her the unicorn had sensed evil so she had no reason to intervene. She leaped down from the tree then, landing easily next to the group before walking over to the man.

"It seems my presence was unnecessary." the star child said with a laugh, giving a smirk to the two as she bent to check the man's vitals. Arie was not the kind to leave things to chance or assume a foe dead until she felt it. As the guardian of dead stars she could feel death the way that even most other necromancers could not. By touching the man's skin she would know instantly if he was dead. Once satisfied he was dead she would nod and step back.

Adrian was ready to loose another arrow into the man when the unicorn came forward, by all rights an arrow to the throat should have certainly been enough to end the man's life but it didn't matter. Adrian was certain the man was dead now, impaled by the unicorn's horn. Somehow that left a bitter taste in his mouth, he had never seen a unicorn kill before, most shied away from such acts. That hard look in his eyes was fading fast, as he replaced the arrow in his quiver and slipped his bow over his shoulder. Still even Adrian wouldn't hesitate to harm these new visitors that were with him now if they proved to be a threat to the garden.

His gaze lingered on the unicorn for a few moments, then to Arie, watching as she checked the enemies vitals to confirm that he was indeed dead. He shook his head when she spoke. "If not necessary then you wouldn't have been there. Things could have gone differently, and you might have saved us all if they had." She had been there, and he had trusted she would back him up if his arrow had missed. Now the centaur's front legs folded under him as he bent to check on the wolf boy, his fingers brushed lightly against the collar around the creature's neck. Reminding him of his own and he frowned deeply for a moment, as if trying best to decide how to remove the thing.

All creatures were free here, more or less, with the exception of the creatures Ishtar brought here herself, and assuming that the creatures that wandered in could find their way back out. Some could. Some could not. He looked at Arie, and then the unicorn, as if asking them how to remove the collar around the wolf's neck.

Hunter flinched away from the centaur. The collar hurt him,but he was terrified that any of these people would simply hurt him as his master had. "W-what are you gonna do to me...?" He asked,his voice hoarse from screaming. He could barely move,and he knew that if any of them decided to kill him,there was nothing he could do. His only choice was to talk,and hope they were friendly.

Hikari shifted back to her human form. Brushing off her clothes,she stepped forward. The man was dead,that was certain. In fact,he had been dead before she had gotten to him,but she had used her horn anyway,to purge the departing spirit of evil. "His spirit was truly dark. But it will not return to this plane." She spoke in a voice like chimes in the wind.

Astrea nodded at the centaur's words, but only walked over to the willow tree once he had left. There was something very odd about the willow. It seemed to have a mind all of it's own, towering above her in all it's majesty. The noblewoman settled down, feet tucked demurely beneath the hem of her dress and hands folded upon her lap, to wait for the others. The sound of the river was so soothing.

The woman's eyes opened and closed as the garden's sounds acted much like a lullaby. It was so peaceful there. Soon, the young woman lay curled up against the tree, sound asleep.

"I don't know, you both seemed quite capable without me... but i can probably help with that collar. If you'll let me pup." She said casually, her hands folded behind her head as she casually walked towards the wolf. She directed the first to the centaur but directed the last to the boy. If he accepted her offer of help she would bend and begin to fish various strange tools from her coat. The lock would be picked in seconds, as lock picking was a skill she'd found handy a time or two. If he did not she would just stand there and watch him a moment thoughtfully.