04-08-2021, 11:24 AM
There was too much for Yanhua to think about these days. Cheri was home, and so was Reynard it seemed. Targaryen had been accounted for as well, along with a band of horses who kept to the most remote locations in these woods. Yanhua knew about them from his mother, and had carefully paid them a visit to speak over everything that had happened since the sun’s return. To his surprise, their lot was as peaceful as he could’ve imagined, though a bit weird because they seemed differential to the state of the universe. For them, the sun was of little issue.
Yanhua was sure that eventually, given Leilan’s sudden reappearance and considering where he’d been, who he’d seen, Amarine and the rest would return to their post. Save one, of course… But he held that sorrow deep inside of his chest and thought of what Lilliana would want instead, if she were here. She would want him to do his best, be his best for the legacy she’d built here out of twigs, fog, the stars and a dream.
So Yanhua resigned to do just that.
He made his rounds much more quickly these days, almost as if the world had sped up around him and now he needed to be rushing in order to do several things at once. When before he’d had the opportunity to languish in a fine patch of rare sunlight or meander to taste the best patch of sweet red ferns, now he was doing exercises with his wings daily and flexing the small bit of magic he had in order to become intangible, so he could pass through the trees during his watches. This was the way of things; tradition fell heavy on his winged shoulders and Yan upheld it, pausing mid-trot on one of the main traveling roads winding out from the redwoods in order to get a look at who was waiting there.
“Come in, come in!” He whinnied, tossing the horns situated on his head as if to wave Gale on through. He assumed this traveler (having never met Gale) wasn’t aware that by now, the Taigan’s all but considered those customs relics of a time passed. There wasn’t a use in trying to prevent the coming-and-going, not with so little horseflesh capable or mad enough to do what Yan was doing constantly. Once in the morning and once in the evening, if Yan or one of his other family members could manage it. Among those living here, Yan felt comfortably sure of their ability to find lingerers or weed out negative energy without falsely projecting an image of heavily guarded woods.
He welcomed the idea of newcomers here, and perhaps (deep, deep down) he would even enjoy a bad apple trying their luck.
“I’m Yanhua, known as the Guardian around here these days. May the winds be at your back, good fellow.” He beamed down at Gale as soon as they were closer to one another, his wings of light cupping one another like a soft, golden cape over Yanhua’s chestnut hide. “Eat your fill; I know a good water source too, if you need it.” Yanhua’s smile was genuine, though his eyes flicked curiously over Gale. The other stallion was a large package of a horse, well-built with fur a striking shade of blue. Across his hide there was a random assortment of white markings, incomplete in their design but matching well enough with the stranger’s starch-white mane and tail. “If you need rest, you’re welcome to take that here as well. Taiga was lucky during the hard times, we have plenty to share. Just be wary if you go sight-seeing… the redwoods were not the place they were before the Eclipse.” Yan winked.
YANHUA
@[Gale]