Djinni has long abandoned her spotted cape.
While she is far from an invigorating and inspiring ruler, she has been – at the very least – a good one. The forest of Sylva continues to remain the quiet haven that it had been when Marlyn had left. (They do not speak of what lies beneath the lake). The piercing call of geese overhead as they wing their way south had roused her earlier in the day that she might have wanted, and the grullo mare stares blearily into the fiery woods with still-unfocused eyes.
She should go to the other lands before winter comes. She should find Nayl, discuss what she has planned. She should do a great many things, but instead she yawns and watches a pair of squirrels scurry up a walnut tree, each carrying a mouthful of leaves that nearly dwarfs them. They’ve the winter to prepare for (though it never comes hard here); their yearly labors are winding to an end. Djinni has no such peace to look forward to, if anything, tensions tend to escalate in the Fall. It’s the natural way of things, but she does not have to enjoy it.
As sleepy as she is, it takes her a moment to notice the movement farther ahead in the woods. It shouldn’t have – the stranger moving through the woods is impressively large – and she reacts quickly to make up for lost time.
When she appears instantaneously directly ahead of stranger, her sea green eyes have sharpened. She is scowling (how dare he come so far into the land!) but when she recognizes him, her entire expression brightens. “Zai!” she says with a laugh, stepping forward to press her dark muzzle to his jaw in greeting, “If you’ve come back to Sylva, does that mean you’ve finally found yourself?” There’s teasing in her eyes as she pulls back; he had always been such a serious creature.
natural build - slim
smoky grullo tobiano
sea green eyes