"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
She was curled around herself, just another shadow in the slowly rising dawn. Dark silhouettes danced around her as she lay tucked in a thicket in hiding. Nothing in particular was a danger to her, but she felt safer concealed in darkness with her father gone. Especially without her wings to shelter beneath. Instead, they'd been taken and replaced with an obnoxious spear on her face. It was how she met her dad, actually, when she ran in fear from the ominous mountain and had gotten her horn lodged within a tree. Though he was blind, he'd found her and set her free.
And she'd never left his side since, until now.
The air was sticky with the scent of rain soon to come, clinging to her roan coat that still smelled like Siberian. His scent soothed her, and she shifted quietly to resettle herself more comfortably, tucking her chin on her leg. Hopefully he would not be gone for long, but something had felt different about this time. Something felt scary and she secretly worried that he may not come back. An air of foreboding hovered heavily around her, but she tried to ignore it.
Hunger clawed at her belly, but she refused to move. Refused to make a sound, as she breathed evenly and awaited his return. Her ears perked up at every little sound. Occasionally, she'd raise her head and peer through the brush, spine pressed against the base of a thick tree. The forest creatures went on about their business around her, and for a time a little hare had braved closer in curiosity and stared at her. None stayed too long though, and Siberian still hadn't returned. She knew she should search for some grazing, but she was afraid if she strayed from her hiding place he wouldn't be able to find her again.
So with a rumbling tummy, she slowly closed her eyes for a nap. And waited.
It hadn't been long since he had come to the lands of Beqanna searching for a familiar face. A child in her own right. He wished her to come back home but his failures as a father may prevent that. He had picked up her scent in the Forest and was now on the hunt...
His large frame moved carelessly thru the brush. He was of enough size and strength to worry of few things. Muzzle to the turf his nares flared investigating the scent he searched for. Which direction had she gone and how long ago. He drew in other scents too, none familiar to him but he could figure out the basics... He was after all "The Hunter". Older scents fading and newer ones told him many thing. A scent drew into his nares of a stallion who hadn't been here longer than a day ago. Another scent followed the same path, a newer scent, a younger scent. But this scent did not fade from the air so quickly. As if it was still feeding into him from the breeze. Strange... He looked to the skies as clouds rolled in and smell of impending rain lingered. The trees would prove enough shelter for him, he thought. Returning to the scent he found lingering about he became curious and concerned...
He scanned the area, trees towered here and there and everywhere. It was hard to see much so he used his other senses to search the area. It was quiet. As before many storms there is a lull in activity. A hare scammpered off not to far from him, that wasn't it. The scent he followed was definitely equine. He lowered his muzzle to the turf once more, this would be the easiest way. He moved slowly as to not disturb the trail. The scent grew stronger as he neared. He halted once more as he guessed he was very close. Scanning the area once more his gaze fell upon a small figure curled up under a tree... Surely this young one could not be alone. Knowing the wrath of a mare protecting her kin he stayed put. Cautiously taking in everything around them. He waited a few moments before he decided she must be alone... For now.
Satellites perked as he lowered his muzzle. Trying to appear smaller and less threatening. A wicker fluttered from his deep in his chest.
Hello there. Where is your mother?
He awaited an answer as he thought of what to do if her answer was of the unfathomable... Surely he could not just leave her here alone.
Giselle's nasal's senced impending rain, perhaps even a storm. She hardly cared for rain, but some would do beqanna good. It would decrease the chance of fires, whether made by equine or fairies. She snorted softly as a leaf landed on her nose.
Rain began to fall slowly, just a small drizzle. Giselle knew what was next, and husseled under the shelter of the forrest. While she stood there, she heard somthing in the thicket behind her. Strange, all the creatures are gone. she thought. Quietly, so as to not disturb or scare whatever it was, she tiptoed over to the sound. Her lobes on end, the spotted mare was suprised at the sight.
"Where is your mother?" a gray equus asked.
Giselle smiled softly, not knowing what to do. She didn't want to leave the child, but also knew it would remain chilly with the rain. The rain had picked up by now, falling softly into the hoofprints she left in the softened surface of terra.
She glanced at the stud. "Should I wake her? We don't want to startle her." she whispered, all the while looking at the dear child.
It was almost a restful sleep. She could almost imagine the large black stallion curled around her, keeping her warm and safe. So she didn't really wake to the tremble that passed over her, shivering in the absence of her warm wings. Somewhere in her drowsy mind, she slowly realized the forest creatures had gone silent. They had accepted her, small and harmless little thing that she was, and ignored her presence in their forest. Now something larger must be near.
She froze, little head still tucked to her body, and listened. There was the lumbering of another horse around, a heavy grown-up, but it wasn't Siberian. There were no patterns of sniff-tap-sniff that the blind stallion used to find his way. So she curled tighter and hoped she would go unnoticed. It seemed to work for a while, the sound of tracking moved away from her. She settled into her success at being overlooked, and with a light drizzle pattering the canopy above, she was swiftly lulled back into sleep.
She always listened first, so cautious and quiet. She heard nothing when she was pulled from her little snooze, confused at what had awakened her. It was silent again, or perhaps it was silent still. Only a gentle rain tapping at the leaves above. Carefully, she opened her eyes. A man's face greeted her not far away, lowered to the ground at her level. Calm and maybe friendly, but also strong-looking. Not a black like Siberian, but nearly the opposite. Looking right at her. She didn't move as she stared back blankly. Would she dream of a complete stranger? She must still be asleep. Just a weird dream.
But he didn't vanish like a ghost. Even when she blinked, there he still was. Watching her expectantly. Someone whispered over his shoulder, "should I wake her? We don't want to startle her," and Azar realized he might have asked her something. And also that he wasn't alone. There were more of them. She wanted to peek over his shoulder at who the other speaker might be, his mate maybe. But she was trapped in his gaze now, blue-violet eyes hiding the growing unease chilling her. Her father would come soon. He wouldn't stay gone so long, right?
She sat up carefully, aware that she would not be overlooked after all. Each movement was slow, like a hare afraid to attract attention to itself. She breathed slow, trying to keep her heartbeat from racing off without her, as she pressed more firmly against the tree behind her. Wide, doe-eyes watched him cautiously, silent and unsure, as rain fell a little heavier and slid down her little horn. Were they a threat? How would she manage to escape them?
The cool fall rains had begun to fall on Beqanna. The chill in the air made each drop feel like a slight electric shock. Even to his large frame it was unpleasant to say the least. He looked upon the young filly dampened from the drizzle. She looked cold and hungry. He never received an answer for his question but he wasn't surprised. The filly looked at him as though he was a ghost...
As he stood thinking of what he could do for the young one another scent came his way. Without much movement as to not frighten the little one he looked upon the new equine that came forth. Was this her mother? The words that came next suggested she was not. Her question did not require words as the filly came to on her own. He extended a greeting to the other quietly then turned globes gentle gaze onto the foal again. He spoke once more like a mother sings softly to quiet her baby,
My name is Orion. What is your name?
He chose basic words as to not confuse her. Trying to hide his accent and lineage of the old days. The last thing he wanted was to confuse her. She looked to be confused already. He awaited her answer again patiently knowing he may not receive one. That was ok though. Maybe the small talk would ease her fears...
Her answer is the girl awaking by herself, like the flowers seemingly do in spring. Giselle smiled at the child, much like her own mother had done while she was young. The stag next to her says his name is Orion. The name suits his build nicely. Strong, tough and yet sweet at the same time.
Giselle return her attention the the foal. She had never seen her before, nor Orion. She sighed, then introduced herself. Her voice a soothing, caling tone.
"My name is Giselle. Sweetheart, are you lost?" her brow furrows in concern.
She then turns to the stallion. She smiles as he also looks concern. He asks if she hungry. Giselle smiles at him. "Well, we'd best keep close. So the poor darling can get found easier." she says.
Orion stirrs somthing inside her. He awakens somthing in her heart, a place she never knew she had. Was this love? It was too early to tell. They had only just met! Well, only time will tell. Right?
They both seemed to watch her expectantly with soft expressions on their big faces. Her cautious nature was clear to their wise eyes, and the adults seemed to sense her readiness to bolt. Even still, she wasn't comfortable enough to settle into their easy presence. Concern lined their eyes, which confused her. She was only a careful little thing. Certainly not in need of their attentions. She was sure Siberian would come back for her. Sometime. Maybe. It had been a while now...
No, of course he would.
"My name is Orion. What is your name?"
"My name is Giselle. Sweetheart, are you lost?"
Her wide eyes bounced between the two of them, the pale one and the gold. She might have tried answering them had her mouth not dried like a desert. Nervous and uncertain, she swallowed quietly and waited. It wasn't long before the woman spoke again.
"Well, we'd best keep close. So the poor darling can get found easier."
Azar shook her head emphatically as she backed into the tree some more. She didn't want them to stay. Always, only one person had been with her. With two strangers, she felt crowded and a bit anxious. Her father was the only one at her side, or she was on her own. It had always been that way. And without him here to keep her safe and reassure her, she was uncomfortable.
Slowly, her head stopped shaking, a faint tinge of remorse tugging her brows in a grimace. She wasn't trying to be mean. But she still wasn't sure they should stay. She was big enough to be on her own, wasn't she? She had been before. She had been now, too, before they found her tucked away in her little thicket.
She moved back to her bush and curled up beneath it with a quiet little huff. They weren't going to leave. Neither was she. Her chin rested again on her sprawled forelegs. Bright blue-violet eyes met Orion's again, and held them. He seemed to be the leader of this day. What now? she thought to herself.
As the fall winds chilled the damped hide of the stallion he knew it was only a matter of time before this little one would grow weak... Maybe too weak to survive until her family returned. If she had any that is. No responses from her worried him. Maybe he was doing more harm than good. What could he do though...?
He watched her expressions and hesitation grow more distraught. He would have asked if she needed help finding someone but the mare had already asked if she was lost... Still no response. He wasn't about to completely give up and leave her to the vultures of the world. He raised his crown as she tucked into the brush. His attention shifted from the filly to the other in his company. Deep globes eyed her curiously. He didn't know many in these lands so it was nice to know another face. His expression still showed concern but he had a mission of his own still... That was to be on hold for the moment. He voiced to the other his intentions,
It is a pleasure to meet thee, Giselle. Maybe it's best if I search the area. She may warm up to you quicker than I.
With a dip of his crown he turned to the west. Muzzle once again to the turf as nares investigated scents of those near. Globes kept vigilant bouncing between where he had left and where he was going. He moved off a ways from the pair, encircling them in a parameter of safety. It was his job to protect any in his circle. Upon finding nothing of immediate danger he took a soldiers stance. Satellites twisted to each and every sound, sorting them out. A bird here and a rodent there... Nothing he had to handle. He remained still and silent, waiting... For whom he did not know...
Giselle felt coolness in the damp air. She turned her head to the sky. "It's nearly nightfall." The mare looked at the child, her silence making her more concerned. "Would you like it if Orion got you some damp grass? Just nod or shake you head."
She didn't want the darling to get worried or more scared. "If you get too chilly, you can curl up next to me." with this, she laid down near --but not next to-- the filly.
Giselle blinked at him in suprise. "Few speak the old language. Yes, that's a good idea." she turned to the filly. "Well, do you want to hear a story? It's a good one."
Giselle smiled warmly as Orion encircled them. She now knew there was something she felt for him. "Orion, would you mind finding some wet grass for her? That would take care of thirst as well as hunger."
"It is a pleasure to meet thee, Giselle. Maybe it's best if I search the area. She may warm up to you quicker than I."
She watched him curiously as he spoke, catching on the oddity in his speech. Her father had never talked like that. But as he finished, her eyes widened just in the slightest. He was leaving her alone with the woman! Always it had been her and her dad, never a lady. Ladies probably don't even like cuddles or catching fish. She hadn't gotten to see Siberian catch any just yet, but he promised to show her someday.
Her hind leg twitched as Orion walked off a ways, growing more uneasy. She perked up in interest though as the woman mentioned food, instantly reminding her belly to grumble at her again. She would have gone for food on her own, she was big enough to do that by herself! But she didn't want to leave her spot in case Siberian came back for her while she was away. So she'd gone hungry just a little.
The mare caught her attention again as she lowered her larger body to the ground nearby. Azar shuffled deeper into her leafy cover, turning a circle and resettling so that she couldn't see the stranger unless she peered over her shoulder.
There. It was like she wasn't even there. No strangers, just little ole Azar in a bush waiting for daddy. With Orion's footsteps passing them in wide circles. Maybe he was looking for her father. There was no need, really. The large mass of her black father would only appear when he was ready to. And he'd be heard before he was seen, with his tapping and sniffing as he tried to find his way blindly. She wished he would have let her come along with him so she could help guide him, bouncing at his feet and pressing into his legs. She was safe with him.
Orion's scouting brought him back closer again, and in a spontaneous urge to play, she wiggled to the far side of her shrub where he would pass by. Her dark bay nose poked out and like a biiiig birthday wish she blew really hard with a little Fwooosh! She jerked back inside her hideout, quiet giggles muffled by the foliage. She may as well have a little fun before they left her too!
