Jesper
01-12-2019, 09:56 AM
<link href="https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Lora|Nothing+You+Could+Do" rel="stylesheet"> <style type="text/css">.jesperlayer1{position:relative;z-index:0;background:url('http://i63.tinypic.com/30tko01.jpg');width:540px;padding-top:20px;padding-bottom:20px;border:4px solid #000000;border-radius:50px 50px 250px 250px;}.jesperlayer1:hover .jesperimage{-webkit-filter:grayscale(0%);filter:grayscale(0%);}.jesperlayer1:hover .jespername{-webkit-filter:grayscale(0%);filter:grayscale(0%);}.jesperlayer2{position:relative;z-index:1;background-color:#000000;border:5px solid #333333;width:500px;border-radius:50px 50px 250px 250px;box-shadow:0px 0px 10px 5px #000000;} .jesperimage{position:relative;z-index:2;background:url('http://i64.tinypic.com/2q060r5.jpg') no-repeat;transition:filter .5s ease-in-out;-webkit-filter: grayscale(100%);filter: grayscale(100%);height:338px;border-radius:50px 50px 0px 0px;}.jespergradient{position:relative;z-index:3;width:500px;top:-50px;margin-bottom:-50px;height:50px;background:-ms-linear-gradient(top, rgba(125,185,232,0) 0%, rgba(0,0,0,1) 100%);background:-webkit-linear-gradient(top, rgba(125,185,232,0) 0%,rgba(0,0,0,1) 100%);background: linear-gradient(to bottom, rgba(125,185,232,0) 0%,rgba(0,0,0,1) 100%);}.jespertextbox{position:relative;z-index:4;width:450px;text-align:justify;color:#999999;font:14px 'Times',serif;border:0px solid #000000;border-radius:0px 0px 250px 250px;margin-bottom:25px;margin-top:25px;}.jespername{position:relative;z-index:5;color:#b2f6ff;font:80px 'Nothing You Could Do', cursive;padding:0px;transition:filter .5s ease-in-out;-webkit-filter: grayscale(100%);filter: grayscale(100%);}.jesperlineage{position:relative;z-index:5;color:#666666;text-shadow:0px 0px 5px #3f808c;font:15px 'Lora', serif;bottom:25px;}.jesperpaw{position:relative;z-index:6;background:url('http://i63.tinypic.com/2gt5aok.png');width:100px;height:105px;margin-bottom:25px;}</style><center><div class="jesperlayer1"><div class="jesperlayer2"><div class="jesperimage"></div><div class="jespergradient"></div><div class="jespertextbox">With things at home seemingly settled, Jesper felt less guilty about venturing off the Isle. His natural curiosity piques when the Ice Queen's plea echoes across the tundra. The steed rather enjoys helping others in need. Even if, everything about a quest, to a mountain, in winter, to help the Ice Queen by retrieving a precious jewel from the Queen of the Frost Pixies should deter a desert-bred equine, Jesper is hardly an ordinary horse of Arabian blood. His thick fur pelt, as a canine, would certainly come in handy. When his tender paw pads become sore and cut from the long journey, his hooves would be ready to support his four limbs.<br><br>The Ice Queen's voice carries her concern and strikes a chord with the black. Her request does not come from a soul seeking power but, rather a worried love. A selfless love. He had been there before. He knows that pain. He knows about the desire to do something, anything; so desperate that you would sacrifice everything. Jesper knows this quest is time sensitive and so, he sets off as soon as the earliest light of dawn breaks on the horizon. Jesper makes a point to find Leilan, briefly, before heading towards the coast. He assures his Brother that he will not be away any longer than he needs to be. After bidding farewell, the stag turns east; towards the sunrise and the northern sector of Beqanna's mainland. The soft light gradually increases in brightness and, although a warm golden hue, it does little to counter the arctic air. He would need to swim across the channel to Nerine, first. Then, trek across the mainland to the mountain. It will surely be a long, cold venture. Unshod hooves lift out of the snow in diagonal pairs as limbs execute a springy trot. Muscled haunches glide stallion across the arctic terrain until he feels the ground begin to slope down. Male brakes until he comes to a halt, which sends snow flying. He stands, now, at about the midpoint of the eastern-most coast of Icicle Isle. He stands right on the edge of those ice cold, black-as-midnight waters. <i>This is much different than those swims around Ischia,</i> he thinks with a smirk tugging at his lips.<br><br> He decides to make the swim as a horse. Let's be honest, the doggy paddle through icy slush sounds far more excruciating. Also, he figures that he should keep his thick coat dry for after the swim. Jesper inhales deeply before plunging into the frigid waters. Immediately, hind limbs strike out in an alternating pattern to thrust male forward. Forelimbs reach out and push water down and back to help pull him ahead. It does not take long before his muscles tighten and his skin numbs as a result of the harsh temperature. Black stallion keeps his focus upon the western shore of Nerine. As the cold sets in, his chassis tenses and his range of motion decreases. Jesper reminds himself that he is still better off making this swim as an equine and so, he sets his jaw and pushes on. Aquamarine gaze soon catches sight of the North's kingdom's coast. Stiffly, Jesper pushes himself into the shallows and pulls all four legs onto solid ground. He takes a moment to catch his breath before he shakes from ears to tail. A shower of freezing droplets scatter from thin pelt and rid steed of any clinging cold before it encapsulates him in an ice blanket.<br><br>Unfortunately, the cold has already sunk in. Lean physique succumbs to the bitterness and male begins to shiver. It is without further ado that Jesper embraces his fox form. Where the sleek, well-balanced form of a horse stood, now stands a compact but strong canine. Aside from the obvious changes, such as mane, tail, hooves and teeth, his coat color changes from an indigo-black to a stark white with grey undertones and shading. His fur is long and dense as opposed to the minimal coat he grows as an equine. Two features do remain the same and would certainly help anyone to recognize him: his light-blue-almost-crystalline irises and the bronze-tips of his ears. Jesper feels slightly warmer though, he knows moving on will be the quickest way to thaw. His first few steps are mechanically slow. As his ligaments and tendons uncoil, his joints bend better and his movements are less hinged. Across the heart of Nerine, Jesper heads nearly due south. He keeps his eyes peeled for any glimpses of his Brothers or, Sisters. The black could not help but wonder how Brennen is or, if Dieti even wanted to leave the warmth of the tropics. Perhaps, on his way back home, he would linger here and, purposefully, seek out his ties.<br><br> The scene changes before Jesper as the craggy landscape and brackish air of Nerine give way to the redwood forest and earthy smells of Taiga. He keeps to the eastern border as much as possible. One, to ensure he does not become lost in the maze of fog and tree trunks and, two, to avoid trespassing too much. As far as he knew, Taiga has always behaved neutral but, Hyaline carries the reassurance of a known neutral (friendly towards him) relationship. Certainly better to play it safe, even if he is just passing through. By now, the fox realizes that any lingering tightness in his musculature is gone. He continues his steady pace - a confident walk - out of the shadows of the redwood forest and, into the weak sunshine bathing the knolls of Loess. The day star hangs midway between the east horizon and high noon. The air that moves through his white fluff is milder though winter's sting still hurts. A light dusting of snow covers the ground and crunches beneath his sensitive paw pads.<br><br> Light blue gaze glances about to assess his surroundings. To the south, Jesper can just make out the edge of the Forest, with her army of evergreens and familiar scents beckoning him home. He can hear the nearby currents of the River, slowly navigating its course with thicker waters. Hyaline, to his left, smells of clean resources and, although the wisteria has yet to bloom, a light floral aroma lingers in the air. In the distance, Jesper locates a range of mountains. One of the summits swirls ominously with snow and fog. Jesper presumes that said mountain marks where the Queen of the Frost Pixies rules. He adjusts his course and points bronze-tipped ears towards his destination.<br><br>His stride becomes more peppy as he gets closer though the snow becomes deeper. Around him, more snowflakes fall from a sky of heather grey clouds. Jesper finds that soon the snow is over his knees, making his easy jog rather difficult. He bounds up and out of the pillowy fluff and then, continues to leap out of the snow. His canine body is light and athletic which greatly reduces the strain on his legs. The fox navigates his way to the base of the mountain. It seems he is the first to arrive. He chooses to stop at a prominent boulder. He climbs the rocky wall behind the landmark enough to sit on top of it. He figures this position would give him the best vantage point as others arrive. The wind pushes against his chest as it slaps the side of the mountain and forces him to squint his eyes as snow stings his cheeks. At last, Jesper decides to lay down upon the rock. He finds the wind less forceful in this position and thus, he can settle his blue gaze on the scene below. He watches the vast field he just crossed and waits patiently to see who else would rise to the Ice Queen's call for help. He would welcome and willingly work with any one who joins him.</div><div class="jespername">jesper</div><div class="jesperlineage">carnage x bethanie</div><div class="jesperpaw"></div></div></div><font size="2">devin's∇designs</font></center>