[SpringsSong]

But in the darkness
My heart finds hope
At an image in my mind
But the night is still so
Far from bein' over
Will I make it out alive?
Will I live to see the new dawn
Or will I lose myself
To insanity
Unable to take this
Loneliness...

A tiny voice sang this verse sorrowfully as she looked around, flying along the shoreline of the Dead Coast slowly.  Why was she singing such a sorrowful verse, she did not know; all she did know was that something was missing inside her heart.  This was, however, where she was having a bit of a dilemma.

Was it something that was missing... or someone?

[5.0]

[If you're going to join, I'd really prefer it if you had a male Kitrell -- doesn't matter the variety -- and hope that you don't mind her talking in song from time to time.]

[SpringsSong]

The Winter Kitrell was glad to at last be free of his box.  He had begun to think that he would never get out of there.  While he had been trapped in that infernal box--although he had kept it as cold as he liked, it was still not a dwelling he prefered--he had heard strange noises inside his head.  Well, okay, they weren't strange, but they were different--something musical, yet mysterious, all at once... a feminine voice singing.  The very minute he was free of the box, Snowstorm flew as fast as he could to the Dead Coast.

Now, as a trail of frosty air was left in the wake of Snowstorm's wings, he flew along the coastline of the beach.  He could remember the voice exactly; it was singing a song about a girl who felt as though she was lost beyond help, that her lover had left her and she was lost because of it, except for a whisper on the wind from time to time.  He himself sighed; the voice had sounded so beautiful...

...and then, he heard it again.

[1.1]

[SpringsSong]

When I find you again,
All will be right
I can breath a sigh
Of pure relief
I can rest
Knowing that I'm safe,
Here with you
Never alone again...
My heart yearns to cry out
But no one ever responds to my call...
And then I hear
But a whisper on the wind
My heart jumps with hope
Though I try not to give in
To the whim
To hope that it's you
'Cause it's never been you before...

Her voice was as clear and pure as the snow after a blizzard before anyone had stepped out onto it; sparkling in the sunlight while it was still untouched and pristine.  It sailed out over the sea, and to the other Kitrell that was slowly flying towards her.

Wait... what?  Who is he...? she asked herself as she watched him fly closer; slowly, yes, but closer nonetheless.

It was as if an angel had stepped down to earth in the form of a Winter Kitrell.  The sunlight caught on his fur and made it sparkle, also highlighting his snowflake pattern.  His eyes were a gorgeous thing to behold as well; a clear ice blue that seemed to travel right to her.

"Who are you?" she called.

[5.1]

[SpringsSong]

The Winter Kitrell tilted his head as Mari acknowledged him.  When he saw her, however, he was completely breathtaken with her appearance.  Sure, he could tell she was a Morning Kitrell, but an aura seemed to glow around her.  The sunlight--what faint bit of it was left in this hour of twilight--illuminated her fur and gave it a glow.  When her eyes met his, he nearly did a double take.  Oh, such a gorgeous shade of lavendar... he thought to himself as she inquired who he was.

"I am called Snowstorm, a Winter Kitrell.  Who might you be?" he asked in turn.

[1.2]

[SpringsSong]

Mariana thought for a moment.  Snowstorm... that is a wonderful name for a Winter Kitrell, she thought as she looked at the trails of frost that followed his wings.  However, as he flew closer still, she realized something about the frost that followed his wings.

The frost wasn't cold at all.

"I am called Mariana, and I am, as you can see, a Morning Kitrell.  To what occasion do I owe this visit?" Mari asked, curling her fanned tail around one of her hind paws.

[5.2]

[SpringsSong]

Snowstorm shrugged as he said, "Does one need a reason to go out to the ocean?" but, after a moment, he amended his answer.  "Actually, I came out here because, while I was in my little gift box, waiting to be let free, I heard a voice, singing." He said.

After a moment, he added, "You have a most glorious voice, by the way.  I'm not sure if people tell you that, but I feel it important to let you know that."

[1.3]

[SpringsSong]

Mariana blushed as Snowstorm complimented her voice.  "That is not a honor I get often, Snowstorm.  Many a time I have had people inquire as to why my songs are so sad; speaking of a girl who has lost the love of her life, but still has hope that he will return." She said, lowering her head and blushing to some degree.  However, when Snowstorm mentioned the voice that he heard while he was in his gift-box, she blanched.  "What did the voice sound like?" she asked; "What did it say, or sing?"

[5.3]

[SpringsSong]

Snowstorm lowered his own head as he said, "For me to try and replicate the voice would be a dishonor to whomever the voice belongs to.  However, I can narrate the words that I heard." He cleared his throat and tucked in his wings, the frost enveloping them as he slowly recalled the words.

"The voice sang, 'But in the darkness, my heart finds hope at an image in my mind.  But the night is still so far from bein' over; will I make it out alive?  Will I live to see the new dawn, or will I lose myself to insanity?  Unable to take this loneliness...' I heard it as clear as I see you before me now, Mariana; that is what the voice sang as I was decorating the inside of my box with frost from my wings." He said, curling his own tail around his legs.

[1.4]

[SpringsSong]

"She... she was singing 'Lost Without You'?" Mari asked, her eyes widening in disbelief.  The little lavender oculars would shimmer with unshed tears after a moment; "I am one of the only ones that would sing that song, the only one aside from me would be my trainer, Fire, for she is the composer of that woeful tune." She said, lowering her head as she sang those very lyrics again.

But in the darkness
My heart finds hope
At an image in my mind
But the night is still so
Far from bein' over
Will I make it out alive?
Will I live to see the new dawn
Or will I lose myself
To insanity
Unable to take this
Loneliness...

After she sang this, she looked over at him.  "Was that what the voice sounded like?" she asked.

[5.4]

[SpringsSong]

Snowstorm's own eyes widened as he listened to Mari sing the exact verse that he had heard.  "That is the exact voice I heard, Mari.  As sweet and melodious as that... it must have been you that I heard, then." He said, his eyes lowering as he said, "How is it even possible... how could your singing have reached into my head within that box I was contained in?"

The Winter Kitrell shook his head as he tried to get a grasp on that concept.  "I have only known  a few pets that were capable of Though-Speech... but none that used it without knowing it..."

[2.0]

[SpringsSong]

Mariana was equally confused as she said, "I don't know, Snowstorm.  It seems... odd that such a thing would happen, no?" Mariana laughed nervously as she said this; "But I do suppose that it could have been brought on by my own sadness..."

She shook her head as she reprimanded herself, "It was not meant to be, calm down..."

[6.0]

[SpringsSong]

Snowstorm tilted his head as he heard Mari say something about "not meant to be".  He carefully, but curiously, inquired, "What was not meant to be?"  Snowstorm had never heard such a thing before, and was unsure if she meant him or someone else.  After a moment, he said, "If it's any consolation... I know how you feel, I think.  Was it... someone else?" he asked gently, the frost melting from his wings as he looked at the Morning Kitrell sympathetically.

[2.1]

[SpringsSong]

Mariana nodded slowly; "His name was Jakuza.  He was a Battleheart, and such a good singer... I thought for sure that he and I would end up together, but then his human companion left." She said.  "Well, not 'left', but she has not been around, and therefore Jakuza is not around anymore." She amended quickly; she and Jakuza had never been together, even though she felt like she had loved him with all her heart.  It obviously was just not meant to be for them.

"Who was yours?  When did you meet her, when did she leave?" Mari asked him, her purple eyes curious.  "Was she of our kind, or was she, too, different from us, no matter the ways?"

[6.1]

[SpringsSong]

"She," Snowstorm started slowly, "is an Anura.  Her name is Anora, or Nora." He sighed as the name parted his lips; "However, it was she who left me; she left me for the Anera called Tai'at that also lives back home.  A Joker Gallizar saw me weeping over this, and she said, 'You should go out to the Dead Coast if you're hearing that song in your head; one who is like you is out there, seeking someone or something.'  So, I came out here..." he said quietly.

"I found you out here, so I must inquire: do you know a Joker Gallizar by the name of Shanti?"

[2.2]

[SpringsSong]

Mariana hissed when Snowstorm mentioned Anora.  "How dare she abandon someone as handsome as you for someone of a subspecies of her own type!" she said angrily; "No doubt the loss of her closest friend, Annalise, has something to do with this.  Nora is usually the sweetest soul around and does not abandon people like that... wait, did you just say Shanti?" she asked in shock.

"I do know Shanti; she is like a sister to me.  I begged her not to go to the war, but I had little say in the manner, for Lady Fire wanted her darling Trikuhna home; just as Sawea had little influence over Lady Fire about her Kurokotu, Ryen needed to come home to his mother and sister and children." Mariana said, shaking her head.  "War is a horrible thing..."

[6.2]