The warmth of Tephra was becoming familiar to him, so unlike any place he had ever lived before. He was enjoying the fact that he had barely felt the winter’s chill brush its icy fingertips across his skin, only breathing in thin and frigid air when he had left Tephra to explore the forest. He found himself wandering close to the volcano, lingering at its base to watch the lava as it flowed out of the pulsing depths. He was enthralled by such a towering natural phenomenon and spent most of his time distracting himself by learning the different paths that the molten lava took as it coursed through Tephra’s tropical landscape. He had not been in Tephra long, and besides meeting Magnus, Warrick had not yet met anyone else and was rather okay with keeping to himself for the time being.
Currently Warrick was following a new path that he had not taken yet, his dark blue eyes fixated on the viscous magma as it slowly moved in its rivulet from the volcano. He was moving unhurriedly, with no real purpose but to track where the glowing orange stream led him. Warrick almost didn’t notice the grumbling of thunder overhead in the distance as he walked on, head low to the ground with his indigo muzzle nearly touching the bright green stalks of grass beneath him. He picked at the tender roots as he passed, munching absentmindedly as he moved. It wasn’t until icy drops of rain begin to speckle his auburn coat does the stallion look up towards the sky questioningly, a slight shiver rolling across his skin.
The storm continued to play on the outskirts of Tephra, rumbling menacingly as it tumbled and rolled through the sky. Warrick continues to move, though his focus has left the trail of lava and he was now looking up to the sky with what looked like a thoughtless expression (Warrick was never thoughtless) on his face. The pain that he felt as he stared up into the yawning chasm that was the sky was the feeling that he got every time his gaze went upward. Were they watching him? Did they miss him? Are they coming back for him?
He continues his slow pace, chest churning as his heart thrums in his ribcage. Slowly but surely, a stranger was making his way towards him just as he was making his way towards them.
He collides with something dense and warm, his blue eyes flashing downwards from the sky with surprise. A split second passes and he’s heard his name, blue-tipped ears pricking forward curiously. His eyes take in her appearance, nostrils inhaling as the scent of her overcomes the scent of the grass, wet from the soft rain. She is golden, near-white mane and forelock framing her face. His indigo gaze traces the wings curled in closely at her sides, white feathers vibrant against the gold of her skin. She apologizes for running into him and Warrick lowers his head slightly, equally as embarrassed. “Don’t be sorry,” he says to her, “I’m always distracted.”
It was the truth, but little did she know what truly was the distraction. “Ellyse,” he says with a slight nod of his head in greeting. At the furrowing of her brow, his gaze falls to the roundness of her abdomen, a soft smile finding his cobalt lips knowingly. “I’m sure you are still a force to be reckoned with,” he admits sincerely. He has met many fierce and formidable mares, and he knew not to underestimate them in any way. He thinks back to Beyah and Orani momentarily, but he quickly shoves down their memory forcefully to deal with later.
Rain still dusts them with icy droplets, the storm still boiling in the distance. It most likely will never make its way through the warm temperatures of Tephra, but its threatening look in the distance was in no way inviting to Warrick. With a slight tilt of his head, he glances sideways at Ellyse through his black, tangled forelock. “I’m still getting to know the area – any place around here to get away from the rain?” He smiles at her comfortably, realizing that he was glad to be conversing with someone for a change, despite not knowing much about her yet.
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