01-23-2019, 12:37 AM
Despite the large amount of meadowland that covered Taiga's surface, enough trees were dotted in the landscape that provided sufficient cover for the horses that lived there from the sun, in addition to the various small forest animals that called this rebuilt kingdom home.
It also served another purpose... to give an almost unearthly presence to any creature speeding from one patch of shadows to another, barely a blur across the landscape before once more being swallowed into the darkness...
The pounding of hooves could be heard echoing through the silence, creating the effect of an army rather than a single horse so quiet was the land. The golden stallion racing through the meadows disappeared into a patch of trees before reappearing again on the other side, all but giving the illusion of a ground mole using it's network of tunnels to try to avoid a predator. The stallion practically vanished in the trees due to the darkness of the shadows they gave off, despite the brilliant shine of his shed out coat and rippling muscles under his skin.
Aten's powerful strides propelled him over the ground with the ease of a dolphin leaping out of the ocean water, his hooves thundering and carrying him over each small hill that appeared on the terrain. His long mane whipped behind him from the wind, his forelock split in half and laying on either side of his face between his eyes and ears. His nostrils were flared from the exertion he was placing on his body, his lungs starting to burn from the run he had started several miles back in the other direction.
But the stallion's energy spurred him on, and Aten did not cease in his galloping pace even when a sudden stone threatened to trip him up, or when an object appeared that he easily cleared with a single powerful jump stride. When he landed, the ground shook beneath his hooves, but he carried on with ease, as if not even realizing he'd just jumped over something.
Aten's piercing eyes caught sight of his ultimate destination not too far away; the winding river that stretched through part of Taiga's southeastern border. He kept his stride easy and quiet, but maintained his fast pace, rapidly approaching the river. Only when he was a few yards away did the stallion slow down, but not gradually.
Digging his hind legs under his body, hooves planting to the ground, the stallion slid to a rapid stop, kicking up dirt and dust in his display. His tail and mane, still going with the motion, flew forward before returning to their resting positions against his hindquarters and neck, the left portion of his forelock coming to rest in the middle of his forehead while the right remained where it was. Aten shook his head to clear any of the dust that might've gotten trapped in his nose, blowing air out of his nostrils and giving his muscular neck a good shake.
Once in a while, Aten just needed a really good run, and that one had been quite suitable. He could've gone on for even longer, but he'd worked it out of his system, so for now, he was content to stop and leave it at that. Standing still for a moment, the stallion turned his head in different directions to look around where he'd stopped near the river, on the lookout for anything threatening nearby. Determining it was safe, he walked the rest of the few yards to the river, his hooves crickling at the rocks that lined the bank.
Walking in until he was pastern deep, Aten swished his tail and lowered his head for a drink, quenching the dryness of his throat. Even though he'd exerted a lot of energy, the stallion didn't need much to keep him going, and once he was done, he lifted his head and licked the water from his lips as he stepped away from the river.
Twitching his chin to shake off the rest of the water, the proud stallion's eyes gazed out over the expanse of Taiga to the northeast, his gaze turning soft as he pondered his thoughts. He'd been thinking a lot lately, about what he wanted to do here for himself in Taiga. Of course, he wished to support his friends, that much was a given. Both those old, like Ruan, and new, like Lilitha and her filly.
Aten smiled in spite of himself when he recalled those two. Though he hadn't spoken to them much since his arrival, due to spending time with Ruan to catch up on the kingdom's business so he could once again find his niche here, he remembered their first meeting and the impression they left on him. Lilitha, a tall, proud mare, with kind eyes and a good heart. Her fiery spirited daughter Singe, a playful filly with an adventurous tune. He liked the both of them; he didn't know their stories, but for the time, he was going by first impression.
The golden stallion had an idea of what he wanted to do here, the problem would be enacting it. He never thought of living his life like his sire, but had only considered it due to the number of troubled mares he came across in the Field. He could offer them a sanctuary here in Taiga, like his sire did for his dam, but at the same time, he didn't want it... he only wanted one...
Aten's head drifted down slightly, but he still maintained a proud stance as he looked over Taiga, a gentle breeze coming by every so often that ruffled his mane and tail before letting them rest against his body. He was quite, his body rigid but peaceful, his eyes searching and taking everything in as he got lost in his thoughts.
@[Lilitha]
It also served another purpose... to give an almost unearthly presence to any creature speeding from one patch of shadows to another, barely a blur across the landscape before once more being swallowed into the darkness...
The pounding of hooves could be heard echoing through the silence, creating the effect of an army rather than a single horse so quiet was the land. The golden stallion racing through the meadows disappeared into a patch of trees before reappearing again on the other side, all but giving the illusion of a ground mole using it's network of tunnels to try to avoid a predator. The stallion practically vanished in the trees due to the darkness of the shadows they gave off, despite the brilliant shine of his shed out coat and rippling muscles under his skin.
Aten's powerful strides propelled him over the ground with the ease of a dolphin leaping out of the ocean water, his hooves thundering and carrying him over each small hill that appeared on the terrain. His long mane whipped behind him from the wind, his forelock split in half and laying on either side of his face between his eyes and ears. His nostrils were flared from the exertion he was placing on his body, his lungs starting to burn from the run he had started several miles back in the other direction.
But the stallion's energy spurred him on, and Aten did not cease in his galloping pace even when a sudden stone threatened to trip him up, or when an object appeared that he easily cleared with a single powerful jump stride. When he landed, the ground shook beneath his hooves, but he carried on with ease, as if not even realizing he'd just jumped over something.
Aten's piercing eyes caught sight of his ultimate destination not too far away; the winding river that stretched through part of Taiga's southeastern border. He kept his stride easy and quiet, but maintained his fast pace, rapidly approaching the river. Only when he was a few yards away did the stallion slow down, but not gradually.
Digging his hind legs under his body, hooves planting to the ground, the stallion slid to a rapid stop, kicking up dirt and dust in his display. His tail and mane, still going with the motion, flew forward before returning to their resting positions against his hindquarters and neck, the left portion of his forelock coming to rest in the middle of his forehead while the right remained where it was. Aten shook his head to clear any of the dust that might've gotten trapped in his nose, blowing air out of his nostrils and giving his muscular neck a good shake.
Once in a while, Aten just needed a really good run, and that one had been quite suitable. He could've gone on for even longer, but he'd worked it out of his system, so for now, he was content to stop and leave it at that. Standing still for a moment, the stallion turned his head in different directions to look around where he'd stopped near the river, on the lookout for anything threatening nearby. Determining it was safe, he walked the rest of the few yards to the river, his hooves crickling at the rocks that lined the bank.
Walking in until he was pastern deep, Aten swished his tail and lowered his head for a drink, quenching the dryness of his throat. Even though he'd exerted a lot of energy, the stallion didn't need much to keep him going, and once he was done, he lifted his head and licked the water from his lips as he stepped away from the river.
Twitching his chin to shake off the rest of the water, the proud stallion's eyes gazed out over the expanse of Taiga to the northeast, his gaze turning soft as he pondered his thoughts. He'd been thinking a lot lately, about what he wanted to do here for himself in Taiga. Of course, he wished to support his friends, that much was a given. Both those old, like Ruan, and new, like Lilitha and her filly.
Aten smiled in spite of himself when he recalled those two. Though he hadn't spoken to them much since his arrival, due to spending time with Ruan to catch up on the kingdom's business so he could once again find his niche here, he remembered their first meeting and the impression they left on him. Lilitha, a tall, proud mare, with kind eyes and a good heart. Her fiery spirited daughter Singe, a playful filly with an adventurous tune. He liked the both of them; he didn't know their stories, but for the time, he was going by first impression.
The golden stallion had an idea of what he wanted to do here, the problem would be enacting it. He never thought of living his life like his sire, but had only considered it due to the number of troubled mares he came across in the Field. He could offer them a sanctuary here in Taiga, like his sire did for his dam, but at the same time, he didn't want it... he only wanted one...
Aten's head drifted down slightly, but he still maintained a proud stance as he looked over Taiga, a gentle breeze coming by every so often that ruffled his mane and tail before letting them rest against his body. He was quite, his body rigid but peaceful, his eyes searching and taking everything in as he got lost in his thoughts.
@[Lilitha]