08-20-2019, 11:23 AM
There is something unnerving almost about the mare's silence as Aten walks up to and greets her. The stallion's body quivered at the steely look in her dark green eyes, and it was when he was within range he noticed something different about them too. They did not appear to have the same wariness, the same searching of normal equine eyes. He couldn't see that her pupil instead had the slit appearance of the deadly vipers and constrictors that inhabited Beqanna's lands, but had he, the stallion would've felt a chill, for he had encountered the devil's pets many times before.
Luckily, he'd only been bitten once, by a serpent that could not lay claim to the venom Aten knew could kill as soon as it entered the bloodstream. He knew they were out there though, in hiding, warming themselves in the belly of the earth as they lie in wait for the unsuspecting prey to pass by.
There almost seemed to be a chance to the mare's eyes as she continued to look his way, her breathing steady as if she was focusing on something. Aten's own breathing shifted in the slightest, just in case this mare was onto something. She could be brewing one of her gifts inside her, should she possess any, letting them bubble up under her skin and muscles until she was ready to use them.
His nostrils widened a pinprick amount, adjusting to his breathing, but his eyes were calm, his tail hanging lazily between his hindquarters so he was not showing any sign that he was nervous.
Finally, the mare takes the time to greet Aten in return. It was a simple hello, followed by her name. A moment passed where she seemed to forget herself, but quickly refocused and, at first said, she was in need of a home, before correcting those words and saying she had one but that it did not feel a place she could call home anymore.
Aten felt a shared sympathy with her words, for he had experienced similar conflict himself. It had been many moons ago, shortly after he had been removed from his older sister's herd by the lead stallion. As he had been born only a summer before the Reckoning, the colt did not have enough time to really become accustomed to his home. It was enough that, had it been the same after the Reckoning, it would've felt familiar to him. He would have returned.
But Sylva, where it had been located, over his old home, it was foreign. It felt like he was taking a step into completely new territory, abandoning all he had known and trusting everything to nature, his instincts, and luck. Had he known that Sylva was where his dam had gone, before the Plague struck and things were 'normal', he would've gone to the landlocked kingdom to find his family.
But how could he have known, when he was out by himself and didn't know who to ask? Instinct had driven the colt in search of the two things his body craved, required, pulling him further from Sylva and the family that had gone there. Leading to today, a full grown golden and handsome stallion who was more than capable of looking after himself and his loved ones.
Aten's eyes searched the mare, wondering what he could say to make her feel better. But perhaps that wasn't what she needed right now. Not false hope or comfort, and maybe even not the sympathetic words of one who understood her plight. Perhaps what she needed was... a direction, one she could choose to follow.
"I understand," he confirmed, but gave away nothing more. "Whether this could be a long-term dilemma of yours, I won't ask, for that is your business to share with me if you wish. If you'd like, you are more than welcome to stay here in Taiga, until you have decided what you would like to pursue. There are not many of us, but they are all very welcoming and happy to meet a new arrival."
@[adna]
Luckily, he'd only been bitten once, by a serpent that could not lay claim to the venom Aten knew could kill as soon as it entered the bloodstream. He knew they were out there though, in hiding, warming themselves in the belly of the earth as they lie in wait for the unsuspecting prey to pass by.
There almost seemed to be a chance to the mare's eyes as she continued to look his way, her breathing steady as if she was focusing on something. Aten's own breathing shifted in the slightest, just in case this mare was onto something. She could be brewing one of her gifts inside her, should she possess any, letting them bubble up under her skin and muscles until she was ready to use them.
His nostrils widened a pinprick amount, adjusting to his breathing, but his eyes were calm, his tail hanging lazily between his hindquarters so he was not showing any sign that he was nervous.
Finally, the mare takes the time to greet Aten in return. It was a simple hello, followed by her name. A moment passed where she seemed to forget herself, but quickly refocused and, at first said, she was in need of a home, before correcting those words and saying she had one but that it did not feel a place she could call home anymore.
Aten felt a shared sympathy with her words, for he had experienced similar conflict himself. It had been many moons ago, shortly after he had been removed from his older sister's herd by the lead stallion. As he had been born only a summer before the Reckoning, the colt did not have enough time to really become accustomed to his home. It was enough that, had it been the same after the Reckoning, it would've felt familiar to him. He would have returned.
But Sylva, where it had been located, over his old home, it was foreign. It felt like he was taking a step into completely new territory, abandoning all he had known and trusting everything to nature, his instincts, and luck. Had he known that Sylva was where his dam had gone, before the Plague struck and things were 'normal', he would've gone to the landlocked kingdom to find his family.
But how could he have known, when he was out by himself and didn't know who to ask? Instinct had driven the colt in search of the two things his body craved, required, pulling him further from Sylva and the family that had gone there. Leading to today, a full grown golden and handsome stallion who was more than capable of looking after himself and his loved ones.
Aten's eyes searched the mare, wondering what he could say to make her feel better. But perhaps that wasn't what she needed right now. Not false hope or comfort, and maybe even not the sympathetic words of one who understood her plight. Perhaps what she needed was... a direction, one she could choose to follow.
"I understand," he confirmed, but gave away nothing more. "Whether this could be a long-term dilemma of yours, I won't ask, for that is your business to share with me if you wish. If you'd like, you are more than welcome to stay here in Taiga, until you have decided what you would like to pursue. There are not many of us, but they are all very welcoming and happy to meet a new arrival."
@[adna]