Within two days of Xzavier's birth, as Sreva promised, she told the black stallion that the young colt was fit enough for the trip to Hyaline's land. Sreva had to admit, she was a little excited to see the place herself, for she had never been that far up north despite her time here in Beqanna. Following the Reckoning, she'd stuck to local lands, mostly in the hopes that she'd see Chemdog but also in the hope that she wouldn't be recruited by some herd or stallion just looking to add an additional member to their herd.
With Chemdog, sure, she was a member of his herd and moreso a harem, but she enjoyed the stallion's company. He treated her like a proper mare, spoke to her as if she mattered, and seemed to care enough for her that he decided to give her this colt as a wonderful gift. Sreva still didn't know if she would make an excellent mother, but the fact that Xzavier was eager to be by her side and that he hadn't fallen behind already spoke enough for her.
As Chemdog suggested, the trio headed along the coast, only retreating into the tree line when the tide covered the white sandy beaches. When they were able to walk on the sand though, Sreva enjoyed it. Feeling the shifting earth under her hooves, it was a totally different experience. The feeling of the sand parting beneath her weight, it was unlike when the water parted around her hooves or the grass gave way as she walked through the meadow and grazed. The sand, it was soft, it cushioned the impact, making it a bit of an easier journey for the mare since her legs were still slightly sore from bearing her increased weight while she had been pregnant.
Xzavier, despite his young age, was already displaying a great sense of curiosity and wonder about the world. Sreva was glad to see this; he wouldn't be a completely dependent foal, at least. His sense of independence and wanting to explore told the mare he'd be quite capable once he was an adult. He galloped through the sand and kicked it up with an excited squeal, every so often returning to his dam's side and neighing to try and get her to come play. Sreva was content to continue walking, and nudged her colt to encourage him to continue playing.
When he wasn't occupied with the sand, Xzavier would alternate between prancing around his sire to entice him to play, or, when that didn't work, playing a game of chase and evade with the ocean. When the waves receded as the water gathered out a few dozen feet for a bigger tide, Xzavier would chase the water onto the soaked beach sand, before retreating with a squeal as it started coming back toward him. The very first time he tried this, the colt backed up so rapidly that he ended up tripping over his back hooves and falling onto his back before going to hide behind his dam. Sreva did check to make sure he was okay, but Xzavier was quick to brush off his dam and return to the ocean, soon starting a game of it.
Sreva just laughed at her son as the trio continued their journey, eventually calling him to her side when she saw the tide rising. Every so often on the trip, the trio did stop, if only for a short while so that Xzavier could consume some more of his dam's milk to keep him strong. It wasn't an incredibly long trip, but with a colt in tow, it was probably slower-going than Chemdog was used to.
Finally, as they started nearing a thinner portion of the beach, Sreva guessed their were close to Hyaline. She allowed Chemdog to lead the way through this last leg of the journey, not knowing where she was going herself in particular. Eventually, the trees accustomed to the coast gave way to different colors of all kinds; reds, purples, and a darker red that reminded Sreva of some berries that grew back in the Forest. These were trees she definitely hadn't seen before, but absolutely enjoyed looking at. In the distance, a large mountain extended up toward the sky, a range going up behind it and extending farther than Sreva's eyes could see.
Chemdog continued leading the trio until they reached a safe area inside Hyaline, at which point Sreva's eyes went wide as she took in the sights around her. She hardly even noticed as Xzavier moved to stand beside her and reach for her teats, clearly hungry for some more milk.
The mare could hardly form a coherent sentence, feeling the stallion's presence next to her as she took in Hyaline's beauty.
"Wo... this is... my gosh I've never..." she turned to look at the stallion, "How did you find this place?"
@[Chemdog]
With Chemdog, sure, she was a member of his herd and moreso a harem, but she enjoyed the stallion's company. He treated her like a proper mare, spoke to her as if she mattered, and seemed to care enough for her that he decided to give her this colt as a wonderful gift. Sreva still didn't know if she would make an excellent mother, but the fact that Xzavier was eager to be by her side and that he hadn't fallen behind already spoke enough for her.
As Chemdog suggested, the trio headed along the coast, only retreating into the tree line when the tide covered the white sandy beaches. When they were able to walk on the sand though, Sreva enjoyed it. Feeling the shifting earth under her hooves, it was a totally different experience. The feeling of the sand parting beneath her weight, it was unlike when the water parted around her hooves or the grass gave way as she walked through the meadow and grazed. The sand, it was soft, it cushioned the impact, making it a bit of an easier journey for the mare since her legs were still slightly sore from bearing her increased weight while she had been pregnant.
Xzavier, despite his young age, was already displaying a great sense of curiosity and wonder about the world. Sreva was glad to see this; he wouldn't be a completely dependent foal, at least. His sense of independence and wanting to explore told the mare he'd be quite capable once he was an adult. He galloped through the sand and kicked it up with an excited squeal, every so often returning to his dam's side and neighing to try and get her to come play. Sreva was content to continue walking, and nudged her colt to encourage him to continue playing.
When he wasn't occupied with the sand, Xzavier would alternate between prancing around his sire to entice him to play, or, when that didn't work, playing a game of chase and evade with the ocean. When the waves receded as the water gathered out a few dozen feet for a bigger tide, Xzavier would chase the water onto the soaked beach sand, before retreating with a squeal as it started coming back toward him. The very first time he tried this, the colt backed up so rapidly that he ended up tripping over his back hooves and falling onto his back before going to hide behind his dam. Sreva did check to make sure he was okay, but Xzavier was quick to brush off his dam and return to the ocean, soon starting a game of it.
Sreva just laughed at her son as the trio continued their journey, eventually calling him to her side when she saw the tide rising. Every so often on the trip, the trio did stop, if only for a short while so that Xzavier could consume some more of his dam's milk to keep him strong. It wasn't an incredibly long trip, but with a colt in tow, it was probably slower-going than Chemdog was used to.
Finally, as they started nearing a thinner portion of the beach, Sreva guessed their were close to Hyaline. She allowed Chemdog to lead the way through this last leg of the journey, not knowing where she was going herself in particular. Eventually, the trees accustomed to the coast gave way to different colors of all kinds; reds, purples, and a darker red that reminded Sreva of some berries that grew back in the Forest. These were trees she definitely hadn't seen before, but absolutely enjoyed looking at. In the distance, a large mountain extended up toward the sky, a range going up behind it and extending farther than Sreva's eyes could see.
Chemdog continued leading the trio until they reached a safe area inside Hyaline, at which point Sreva's eyes went wide as she took in the sights around her. She hardly even noticed as Xzavier moved to stand beside her and reach for her teats, clearly hungry for some more milk.
The mare could hardly form a coherent sentence, feeling the stallion's presence next to her as she took in Hyaline's beauty.
"Wo... this is... my gosh I've never..." she turned to look at the stallion, "How did you find this place?"
@[Chemdog]