cezary
He watches her with an amused smile as she ventures ahead, to see the view that he has already seen countless times. It'll never get old, and he briefly considers catching up but he is enjoying his own view here - one of a black mare, happy, different as could be to the one he had first encountered in the Field. It was as if the sun shone through her skin in this moment as she reaches the top of the hill and turns back to look at him (he is caught unaware and his mouth is still slightly hanging open but he shuts this quickly enough). He catches up to her as she comments on the Beach.
"Yes, well, generally, the Beach is for death, not for lively creatures such as yourself," he comments, hoping to bring her at least a smile. She deserves to be happy. He doesn't know her past, he has not known her long enough to enquire about her past (he will let her do it in her own time, it is not up to him to pry her open like a shy clam, exposing her sensitive and raw nerves to the world), but he knows that she deserves to be happy. Everyone does.
Her nose presses against his shoulder and his skin shudders at first at the light touch, but it is soothing, soft. "I should be the one thanking you," he says with a gentle smile, whether she can see it or not. He will protect her until his last breath, he decides in this moment. He will never let anyone hurt her as badly as she has been hurt before. His land will be one of acceptance. He is just settling into this heartfelt moment when she nips at him and canters off, leaving him ever so slightly bewildered. Then he realises this game, and with a brief 'hey!' he chases her, stretching his legs across green grass, as a hawk circles above them and deer graze peacefully in the distance... He wonders whether this could be heaven.
He catches up with her eventually on a small knoll, choosing not to comment on her speed (he is only a little prideful...). "I won't use them," he says. "I promise." And with his wings tucked against his sides, he says; "THREETWOONEGO!" and he is off, running across the plains, not even caring that they haven't set an end point, not caring that he is acting like a child when there is business to attend to - it can all wait. All he needs right now is the wind in his face and Lye hot at his heels, and the world is perfect.