Twins' Approach

Showing off the fact that the 'inside' of the Veiled Shrine was a truly mutable space the twins would find themselves entering an ancient-style gladiatorial colosseum arena. Placed in the box where honored spectators would sit the reason for this setup would become clear immediately: down on the arena floor would be a veritable host of creatures! Had a certain Guardian Solarian been present he might have even been able to say that there had now been a gathering in the Shrine like this before his known Haven history! Some were quietly talking in groups, others were standing alone and lost in their own thoughts. But when the two Vessels were noticed they all moved to one side or another facing one of the pair and with gestures and voice cemented their Bonds.

Bond! Gentle Heart to Gentle Heart Male Angel Familiar, Caomhán, Light the Fire, Feast! Female Wraith Firemane, The Herbal Alchemist Male Naiad Naduir to Reprise!

Bond!
We are One, We are Two Male Chimera Firemane 2*, The King Stands Strong Male Hope Giver Guardian Familiar, Alikhan, The Never-Fading Amaranth Female Zahanzai Caradras, The Wildfire Brother Male Chinook Pegasus, and Like a Bolt from the Sun Male Gust Pegasus to Echo!

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((Reprise's Creatures are Below))

Gentle Heart to Gentle Heart Male Angel Familiar, Caomhán

Mindspeak: Color #509a5d

Reprise is a gentle Vessel. This is a simple, unfiltered truth. Gentle Heart is that truth given physical form, an magnification of this facet of his Bonded's personality. Some might say he's gentleness taken to its (sometimes regrettable) extreme. It is all but impossible to make Gentle Heart angry but at the same time he avoids conflict and violence with everything he has. He will talk and talk to try and defuse a tense situation even when he's being swung at by weapons, run away even if it means others are left to fight, and can be found hiding away, sometimes weeping, when events around him deteriorate beyond salvaging. But this trait does have its benefits: Reprise will find Gentle Heart quite useful when they need to talk to someone, or when a situation does need defusing; no amount of insults will get his goat. He's also naturally friendly and when the chance comes to find new friends he's a pleasant one to make, drawing others to be friendly to Reprise in turn.

Though he drifted for many years in whatever form took his whimsy at the time Gentle Heart is quite pleased to have finally settled into his true form: a long-limbed hound with a graceful, triangular head and long fur that will be silky when it's brushed or rather wiry when it's not. His fur is lavender with pale magenta triangles decorating the fur on his head, making it almost seem like he has a feathered cowl on. The slightly darker purple of his face, just a couple of shades darker than his fur, nicely frames his shining, pale blue eyes.

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Light the Fire, Feast! Female Wraith Firemane

Mindspeak: Bold #fd5cc7

Wraiths are the warriors of an inferno, that is a fact. Light the Fire is a wild warrior, fearless and reckless in battle, running here and there with abandon and laughing in a high, shrill shriek even as her sharp, flame-wrapped hooves cut down her enemies. Though it can easily be said that she loves fighting even just for the sake of fighting even in peacetime she's a live wire. She almost never stands still unless directly ordered to, always prancing in place and tossing her fiery mane as if she'll immolate if she doesn't. Light the Fire Mindspeaks quickly, excitedly, no matter what she is told otherwise. She can be hard to control without a firm hand, so perhaps it is a good thing that Reprise intrigues her. She is curious about them, this small Vessel, so to her that's a reason to Bond. They are her one weakness, and she's firmly wrapped around their little fingers. To all others she is an untouchable wildfire that will incinerate you in a heartbeat; all but Reprise beware!

Light the Fire is almost fragile-looking and delicate, and certainly she has an undeniable graceful beauty to her. Lean of body with a high-arching neck and a refined, wedge-shaped head, her coat is deep black cherry red with wild, violet flames, hooves, and eyes. Though subtle, there is a thin, irregularly-formed strip, or line, down her nose. Given it's black it almost blends in to her pelt otherwise.
((Name and personality somewhat inspired by Nightwish's 7 Days to the Wolves, mostly the bridge.))

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The Herbal Alchemist Male Naiad Naduir

Mindspeak: Italics #27e124

The Healer Hall in Haven Weyr knows a great deal about herb-lore and the making of potions and poultices, or medicines in general. But there's always more to learn, new plants to discover and their properties to develop. That is Herbal Alchemist's ultimate goal. Just as his rank are known for their foraging and use of medicinal plants he is an explorer who travels the length and bredth of Haven's Territory to find the rare and unknown plants, as well as those commonly used, and mixes, combines, and tests them to find new applications. But he's not stingy with his knowledge; he keeps a journal to take notes on what does and doesn't work and whenever he's near the Weyr he'll stop in to visit, letting them copy down what he's found out and discussing his findings. Perhaps Reprise might help with his notations?

Perhaps a hair above four feet tall at the head Herbal Alchemist has the smooth, single-branching antlers of his rank. His horns are pale yellow, a pleasing contrast to his cinnamon-brown pelt. Thin white lines trail over his shoulders and flanks like water drips and frame his grass-green eyes.

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((Echo's Creatures are Below))

We are One, We are Two Male Chimera Firemane 2*

When One/Two was born, there was no sign that he was anything but a perfectly ordinary Shade. Sure, he had that odd foreleg that was matte gray-black instead of the glossy charcoal black of the rest of his coat, and how his flames and hooves seemed to be a bit thicker than normal. Or how one eye was dark gray while the other was pitch black. All just random oddities, minor color mutations right?

Wrong.

It wasn't until he started to mature that the Inferno understood what they had on their hands: a Chimera. One/Two though outwardly at a glance looked like a single Firemane was really two firemanes, both Shades, that had fused into one; rather unique as most Chimera are fusions of different ranks and much more visibly apparent.

One personality exemplifies the Shade's arrogant pride. He often scoffs at others, tossing his head and looking down his perfectly-sculpted equine nose at them. He will never do what he does not want to and any disparaging remarks in his direction will be met with swift punishment. He can do everything and anything he desires no matter how much he might not be able to.

But in the flick of a switch the other Shade will take over and One/Two will go on a wild destructive spree that can only be stopped once he has glutted himself on it and drops from exhaustion. He cannot be reasoned with and oftentimes won't recognize friends from targets. This is the drive to destroy that Shades hold personified. But just as quickly One/Two will flip back to his other self, even in the middle of his destructive fit. Then he'll shake himself off and casually walk away without a care for what his other self did.

While it is clear that the two sides of One/Two are in communication with one another and will collaborate on decisions one is always dominant while the other tags along for the ride when the decision is made. Experience can even reveal whom is in the forefront of their shared minds, be it a flick of the tail or the set of their ears or whatever little tells they give. Needless to say handling One/Two is a double handful of work!

One/Two is as dark as Shades typically appear. His coat is mostly glossy charcoal black save for his left foreleg which is a matte black-gray, a difference that mostly can only be noticed in strong light. Likewise the difference between his eyes - the left dark gray and the right pitch black - is easy to miss. The black flame of his tail, mane, and fetlocks is thicker than most Firemanes' flames likely due to it being the tails, manes, and fetlocks of two equines put together.

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The King Stands Strong Male Hope Giver Guardian Familiar, Alikhan

Mindspeech: Italics #891e9f


A true leader commands from the front, unafraid to face down even great enemies to protect those who rely on them, those they cherish and love. The King does his Guardian rank proud as he certainly personifies that concept. With a mighty roar and claws reaching for his enemies he charges forth to ensure the danger never comes to Echo or those Echo loves, including his twin Reprise. In battle they will be the ultimate partners as The King naturally will be able to sense where Echo will be moving and how and thus can adjust his own tactics in response. Granted, he can be a little reckless in terms of his own safety and will happily take injuries meant for others. It's not uncommon to find him laying on the field of battle, victorious but bloody. But all he'll say is that he is proud and honored to lead the charge so enemies can never advance.

The King in his final, chosen form looks like the legendary, lost Barbary Lion with their powerful, muscular bodies, thick black manes, and the fringe that runs under their bellies to their flanks. The pelt over his nearly nine-foot long body is crimson with golden ripples all over like sunlight glimmering off of water. His paw pads are as black as his mane. The orange-red of his eyes gleam like orange opals; if you are his enemy they scorch the soul but if you are one that he considers under his care the love there will warm you through and through. Proudly displayed upon his brow like the prime jewel of a crown or helm is a vivid pink ribbon twisted into a single loop, the mark of his Hope Giver Mutation.

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The Never-Fading Amaranth Female Zahanzai Caradras

Mindspeech: Color #534b4c


Thieves, scouts, assassins. Ghosts given physical form. Never trusted, but vital to the Legion nevertheless. At least, until one's suspicion is given not only root and room to grow, but nurtured to bloom and come to fruition. Never-Fading Amaranth served her Legion well, using her considerable skills to find information to help them in battle and even killing enemies before they could deal devastating damage in turn. She's never been afraid of getting her talons or horn dirty. She bore the whispers and the sidelong looks with fortitude because she knew she who she was and what she was worth. About the only one who ever treated her kindly was her older brother, a young but strong Drada. It was many times his rank that kept some of the more bold Velves from starting trouble. But then she began to see signs that all was not well in the Legion. It seemed plotting was being done, but for all her efforts and that of her brother they couldn't find out the source. He sent her on mission after mission but one moonless night during a storm the Legion's A'ni was found brutally slain. No culprit was ever found nor was anyone ever found with the brutal wound that snapped their deceased leader's horn. There were no more A'ni among the Legion, so in a rare move born of need the sole Drada among them was elevated to the position of the A'ni, feathers removed and no longer bound to cut his mane and fetlocks. Never-Fading Amaranth was quite proud of him and supportive even when he began changing the methods that the Legion operated under. They were good changes, ones that worked, but they were new and revolutionary compared to their centuries-old traditions.

But something still didn't make sense to Never-Fading Amaranth, and she started looking into the attack against the previous A'ni. Using all her Zahanzai skill and cunning she searched and gathered clues, looking for answers to the question she couldn't settle in her mind. Finally she encountered a Mistwatcher who had some information for her, along with evidence that couldn't be denied: the former A'ni was not slain by some outside stranger, but by an enemy from within. A traitor in the ranks, and the evidence pointed to only one Caradras: their new A'ni, her beloved brother. Aghast she went immediately to confront her brother, wanting him to prove the Mistwatcher wrong, to refute the evidence with some of his own to exonerate him. She caught him and pulled him away from a meeting with his warriors to speak in private. But instead he just pulled her deeper into his private den and asked her what was her problem. Who cared how he came to power; the change in authority was necessary. Shocked beyond measure Never-Fading Amaranth could only stand there as he coolly informed her that it would be best if she forgot ever meeting that Mistwatcher and forget what she'd been told, for her own well-being…or certain evidence might turn up unhappily and his talons would be tied. It was like her brother had become a complete stranger to her in a matter of minutes. Finally unable to bear the open hostility she turned and fled from him. For a time she tried to act like everything was normal, feeling her brother's cunning stare on her at all times. At last she couldn't bear it any longer and while out on a long excursion simply never came back.

Never-Fading Amaranth has been hurt, deeply hurt, by betrayal. It is a secret she simply cannot bear to face. She has lost what she long felt was a crucial part of herself - her trusted brother. She was powerless for all her skill and cunning. But even so being a Zahanzai means she is adaptable, and resilient. She's had to exist away from her Legion for days at a time, in enemy territory or in hostile conditions. And some small part of her holds to the hope that she can come out of this nightmare and find a new meaning to her life.

Standing at an easy seven feet tall at the withers, Never-Fading Amaranth is one of the 'brighter' Caradras though in her case brighter is a relative term. When she isn't wearing the dyes she still dons when she's on self-appointed missions her scaled hide and leathery wings are a deep purple-red that is just bright enough as to be described as 'purple-red.' Talons, fangs, and tail blade are deep blue to the point that they often appear black, much to the contrast of her ruby-red horn. Her eyes often appear solid black at a distance but that is partially due to their dark purple color and partially due to the black kohl she often wears around them to protect her eyes from sun glare.

(Inspired by Nightwish's Amaranth, much more directly than Light the Fire, Feast! was lol!))

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The Wildfire Brother Male Chinook Pegasus

Wildfire is a joyful, personable Chinook. A regular party Pegasus he loves nothing more than getting together with friends and making new friends. He's a bit of a trickster though, never anything harmful unless he considers someone an enemy in which case watch out! Though technically not a warrior like a Gust he'll happily dive into conflict when it comes, bringing every trick in his arsenal to bear. His favorite is to either leap from the ground or drop from the sky directly onto a target with all his considerable weight behind the attack. About the only thing he becomes serious about is Echo and his twin, Sun, and his loyalty to them. Challenge that loyalty at your own risk.

Mostly brown with a few irregularly-shaped white patches and the rank-trademark white or 'bald' face, Wildfire is a bit of a standout as his eyes are both ringed by brown, and are also brown rather than blue. His mane and tail are black and each leg sports a white sock. His wings are brown but have black primary and secondary feathers.

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Like a Bolt from the Sun Male Gust Pegasus
Given that most quickly come to know Sun as a serious Gust it might come as a shock to find that at his core he is an artist. He sees beauty everywhere and is quite talented at putting what he sees, and feels honestly, onto paper with paint, his preferred method as he holds the paintbrush in his mouth. He has all the passions of an artist as well, meaning in other words that he has a temper that ignites in the flick of a wing especially when his loyalty to his twin brother, Wildfire, or his bonded, Echo, is brought into question. This temper is what he brings into his warrior side - he's truly fearsome on the battlefield in a way that boarders on ruthlessness. No one is truly safe from his fury; even Echo can expect the occasional (albeit controlled) display of stamping and unquestionable body language when he's truly vexed, and as Wildfire often targets him with his pranks they frequently will brawl with one another even to the point of minor injury. Wildfire seems to think this is fun and really it's good stress relief for Sun, perhaps why his brother does it in the first place.

Sun is just about half and half brown and white with the white being the back half, naturally given his appaloosa blanket marking. In his case the white across his flanks, back, and sides is splotched with brown patches almost as if he had paint dripped on him appropriately enough. An irregularly-shaped white patch on his left shoulder and white marks on his legs while not true socks hint at his kinship to Wildfire. A tiny crescent of white hairs on his forehead give him a barely-there star.