"But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura
The smokey mare walked silently through the fields, seemingly lost in a words all of her own. She was new to this place, coming from somewhere far, far away. She was already beginning to grow fond of Beqanna, though, or at the very least fond of the field. It reminded her somewhat of her old home, lush and green with the sound of rushing water nearby. All it was missing, she thought, were the mountains reaching into the heavens.
The other missing link she realised in her wanders was, where were those like her? Of the few horses she thought to look at she noticed something - Many were taller, or thinner, less compact than she was. Anette was, of course, fairly average for her breed. She was compact and made of muscle, far stronger than she looked. Her markings could also be convieced as being odd - Her coat a dark, slate gray, with even darker black striped markings on her forearms, and a dark stripe straight from her mane, down her back and to her tail.
No matter, she thought, and continued on her wander, in the vain hope to find one like her. Or atleast, one to accept her. She wanted a home, although where she didnt know, and currently the field seemed like a perfectly viable option.
Bound for trouble from the start I've been walking through this old world in the dark
He had been honest with Ellyse when giving her the reason of where he had been. There had been an effort to be more integral to Tephra, to do his part. She was after all the Head of War. As her consort, he wanted to be seen as worthy of being by her side. A power couple if you will. The one eyed stallion leaves the warmth of the ashen lands and heads through the drifting snow towards the Field. It couldn’t hurt to see if anyone was freezing in the open space, longing for a home.
Flaxen tendrils fall over the clawed hollow of his empty socket, his remaining eye bright with the happiness that had finally embraced him. He was to be a father, his first child coming this Spring. He was nervous, not knowing what to expect. His relationship with Magnus had always been strained and fractured, no fault on either of them really. Unfortunate circumstances and cruel twists of fate had seen to that. There wasn’t a real idea of how to be a dad, having never had one till he was much older in life. However, he vows to do right by his child no matter the cost. To never let what happened to him happen to the foal. He would protect it all costs.
His thoughts are consumed by the impending birth of his foal as he finally comes to his distention. Not many have braved this winter, most having seemed refuge in the common lands where it offered some cover. There was one though lingering in the cold snow. A foal he thinks at first and instantly is seized by an image of himself, scared by the dead carcass of his mother’s body. Another image quickly follows, of an imagined child (his child) being alone and frightened.
Instantly he makes his way through the quickly piling snow, he would not let this one die. It becomes clearer though as he finally reaches her, that he had been wrong. It is no child but a small compact mare. He had seen ponies and smaller species of equine before and he smiles slightly, laughing internally at his own foolish. ”Welcome to Beqanna.” He starts, inhaling the strange scent of her as he extends his muzzle. Coming to the conclusion she wasn’t from her. ”I’m Ledger. I’m assuming you’re new here?”
Anette was so lost within herself as walked through the snow, or more, dragged her short legs through it, she almost didn't hear the stallion approach her. She likely wouln't have at all if it wasn't for the haste he moved with, like there was something urgent he needed to reach quickly. She was intuiged as to why such a lanky looking stallion would be doing out in this cold.
She stopped when he apporached her, her confusioin fairly evident on his face. The few she had seen in the field were either rather miserable, or only passing through. She certainly asn't expecting a welcome party. She smiled and nods in response to his greeting, pausing a moment to think her words through before speaking herself. "Is it that obvious?" She said with a laugh, causing some of her thick mane to fall into her eyes. It was only when she shook her head to free up her vision that she looked at the one befpre her properly - and he looked like he'd been to hell and back. Anette, capable has she probably was, had never been in any kind of serious physical confrontation. She came to the assumption that the flaxen stallion infront of her must have been, at least at some point, some kind of a warrior.
She'd been staring so long, she forgot to introduce herself properly. "Sorry, ah, I'm Anette. Pleasure to meet you. I'm assuming your not so new here?" she joked, hoping her (usually, bad) humor would distract from her gawking.
Bound for trouble from the start I've been walking through this old world in the dark
Despite being a newcomer in a strange place, she’s quite welcoming of the ravaged stallion that had barreled down on her. An easy grin relaxes his features, making the hollowed socket and scars less terrible to behold. Of course she stares, they always stare, but she at least seems somewhat apologetic once she realizes that time has been ticking away. ”Not at all, it’s just that we don’t get many…. Of your breed in these parts.” He winces as the words come out, realizing that they sound worse out loud then they did in his head. ”That totally came out wrong.” He quickly amends, an apologetic gleam in the depths of the gold flecks in his remaining eye.
Inhaling deeply to calm his now anxious mind, already feeling like he’s made a muck of the meeting, he draws in deep scents from her. Unfamiliar and exotic to him. Shaking the tangled strands of his creamy tresses, he tries to get back on track. ”Born and raised.” It’s the easiest answer to a fully loaded history. Opening up the death of your mother the moment you were born wasn't exactly an icebreaker. ”What kind of home are you looking for?”
The more Anette thought about it, the stranger the stallion before her seemed. She expected that one who was so battered in appearance to be more brazen, more bold in personality. But who stood before her seemed to be much softer, kinder.
She snorts - a dirty, surprised laugh. She knew she was different, yes, but it being said aloud and with such regret after made it even more comical. She recovers quickly enough, shaking her head before speaking. "Well, I've not seen many as lanky as you, either." - A somewhat true statement.
She had to think some more about his next question, though. She hadn't put much consideration in to what kind of a home she seeked. She had a nagging feeling that as vast as Beqanna may be, it wouldn't ever be what she was used to. "Less snow." she decided with a laugh, intitally meant as a joke but suddenly realised to be just about all she had. "And more people."
Bound for trouble from the start I've been walking through this old world in the dark
Luckily she is quick on her feet, firing a light hearted retort to his awkward comment. He chuckles, amused and somewhat charmed. She was sweet and kind, unthreatening. After living a life filled with distress and discord, it was a breath of fresh air to meet someone so innocent. They were even now, clumsy in their introductions but strengthening in stride.
”Fair enough.” Light words that follow when his laughter subsides. She ponders on his question and he appreciates that she is a thinker. Looking over her choices before rushing into them. Size meant little in this world, not when one had great heart or a strong mind. When she finally seems to come to a decision, he relaxes even more. Perhaps this was his lucky day after all. ”I think I can help in that department.”
Pausing for a moment as he looks down on her, wondering just how much she had been exposed to. Best to warn her of what she might discover. ”I come from a place called Tephra. It’s probably the warmest of the kingdoms. Winter doesn’t seem to have much hold there and it’s thriving with all sorts.” Here he hesitates, not wanting to seem like he thinks her dull or inexperienced. ”Beqanna is home to a plethora of horses, good and bad. Magical and not.” He lets this sink in, gauging her reaction. The bear within rattles his bones and he tosses his head slightly, he would not be so rude to spring that on her.
It might not seem like it now, but in her past life, Anette was never so quick to trust strangers. Nothing terrible had ever happened, no, but she was raised in a world where being quick to trust was often a poor decision. She remembered this now, upon realizing she was being quick to follow a stranger to a new land.
At the same time though, she felt at ease, that the one before her wasn't trying to deceive her - and there weren't many other options. She was here now, anyhow, and quite liked the idea of warmth and socialization.
She does not doubt him when he mentions magic, and another smile creeps across her face. She found it funny, really - Both her lives she was surrounded by magic, and in both she was as ordinary as could be. She didn't resent this though, or feel much in the way of jealously - so many were so magical it seemed she was unique in not being (At least, so she tells herself.)
"Honestly," she speaks after another moment of thought, wanting to make sure her choices were correct. "You had me at warm." a sort-of true statement - Although Anette was born and raised in a cold climate., she always much favored places of warmth.
Bound for trouble from the start I've been walking through this old world in the dark
It was a lucky trait for her to have, that rational mind. To be methodical in her trust. It would serve her well here, as long as she kept her heart and her mind tucked closely together. This land was harsh and rugged at times while also painstakingly beautiful. Whatever he hints at or mentions, she doesn’t seem put off. Instead she seems game for an adventure and he makes a mental note that he would keep an eye on her. Just to make sure she started off on the right foot. Not wanting her to be taken advantage of.
It seems today is a success for both of them. A new recruit for him, a new home for her. ”I’m pleased to hear it.” He responds with an easy grin. ”It’s not too far from here, it may take a few hours. There’s a river we will have to cross.” He already starts thinking of the easiest route, pondering for a few seconds. Her size may find a problem there. He decides not to dwell on that now, preferring to cross that bridge when they got to it. ”Right this way..” He gestures with his muzzle and begins to head to the ashland with her by his side.
Ledger
If you want to post in Tephra I can respond to you there <3
Firefly walked over the lush grass. Her cuts stung and a sappy tree branch whipped her side. A cool breeze came in. Firefly had travelled far from the rugged mountains. She had been gone for a long time. As the sun started to set Firefly walked over a rise to see a lush field. She stopped and watched two other horses graze beside each other. The one roughed up stallion looked familiar. to her. The mare though was not. Firefly stayed and watched before she moved forwards. She flicked a bug from her haunches and cantered down the hill. The soft grass covered her approach and she waded into the shallow water. The other two had yet to notice her presence. The cool water on her hot legs was well needed. She waded out of the water to chew down the grass around the water edge. The sun had set low into the sky as Firefly eats until her heart's content. She was well hidden under the ridge where a small pond and stream surrounded her. Firefly stood still and watched her surroundings. A small mouse scurried by, A blue jay jumped from tree to tree. The4 popular trees provided shade in the sun and their leaves fell into the water one at a time. THis was a great day for her. A journey that was not done was on hold. She could live here for now and move away in a couple days. She was still too close to the past. The high mountain peaks and she lonely cold nights were still too close for her liking.
