05-17-2017, 10:45 PM
Zhenga could not begin to describe how happy she was to finally be out on her own. She'd ventured from her dam's side a number of times to explore the other territories surrounding Sylva, but it wasn't enough for the high-spirited filly. She wanted to be out on her own, living her own life, like Anahi's two colts and oldest filly. Eiria was young, but loyal, and wished to stay by her dam's side in case the champagne mare ever needed any help. Having at least one of her foals stay with her was good for the mare, since she'd been in a depressed state following Archam's disappearance.
But Raxa, she knew that Zhenga wouldn't be held down forever. So, just a few day ago, she'd taken the roan to one of their secret meeting places, a grove they could go to hide in if trouble ever rose up and they couldn't take it on themselves. Without a plan that is. Raxa, though saddened at losing her only foal, gave Zhenga permission to strike out on her own, to go explore Beqanna's other kingdoms and make a life for herself.
While she didn't openly display a lot of loving emotions, Zhenga was all but a puddle as she nuzzled her dam and bid her farewell. With Raxa watching her departure, Zhenga galloped toward Sylva's border, letting out one last goodbye whinny before crossing the line and heading out into the rest of the wild.
And boy was it exciting! Zhenga had never felt so free in all her young life, not even those times when she would gallop across the grassy meadows with Eiria or Raxa by her side. This was a totally different feeling of free, one that only came around when a foal departed home for the very first time. She was experiencing that all over again, only this time was even greater, for she didn't have to return home before the sun descended beneath the skyline.
Now, she was on her own, free to see what the other kingdoms were like, to make a life all of her own, just like Raxa had when she first arrived here.
And there was one place Zhenga really wanted to see first. Following one of her dam's trips out to the Meadow, she came back with stories regarding the kingdom of Ischia, how its beloved ruler had been replaced by a purple-coated stallion. Zhenga wasn't so much interested in him though; she wanted to see what Ischia was actually like, for she'd heard incredible tales of its unrivaled beauty and wonders across the ocean channel.
It had taken some time to find the proper crossing spot, since the information she'd sought about the way of passage mentioned a land bridge that formed when the tide went out. In some areas, the sand bars extended quite far into the ocean, but not so much that it would give her safe passage all the way across. By the time she found the bridge, she was a bit worn out from her efforts, as more than once the tide had caught the unexperienced filly by surprise. She had to make sure she was right on the mark this time, for she really didn't feel like being caught in the beginning stages of a rip current again. She'd been lucky to get out of that first one with her life, only because she was close enough to the edge that she had the power in her legs to escape.
But now, as she started crossing the newly formed land bridge, and saw it getting further and further out to see towards the island, she knew she made the right choice. She walked a majority of the way, the tide staying out for some time, before galloping the rest to avoid getting stuck. When she reached the banks of the island kingdom, the tide was just starting to come back in, her black points now soaked through and looking several shades darker.
Her coat, mane, and tail were also soaked with sea water from a wave that came up and got her, but thanks to the sun above, she was mostly dry when she reached land. She was used to cold weather, even if Sylva wasn't anything like the Tundra. Point being, even the strong-smelling ocean water wasn't enough to deter her.
For she was finally here: the wondrous kingdom of Ischia. Even though she was still outside the border, the filly could tell the kingdom was beautiful. A large line of green tress lined the earth where it turned into sand, their evergreen color reminding the filly of those in the Forest during springtime, when the first morning sun peeked over the horizon and bathed the land in the first sunrise of the warm seasons. There was a warm feeling in the air, a humid tense of sorts, but Zhenga was quick to ignore it. All she could stare at was the huge expanse of trees and imagine what lay within.
For a second, she almost did forget an important rule about entering a new kingdom: always announce your arrival. But the filly was so excited she pushed it out of her head. Throwing up her hind legs, the filly launched some sand into the air behind her, excitedly galloping along the sandy beach and letting out an excited whinny as the ocean battered at the large expanse of earth sitting so far off the mainland.
But Raxa, she knew that Zhenga wouldn't be held down forever. So, just a few day ago, she'd taken the roan to one of their secret meeting places, a grove they could go to hide in if trouble ever rose up and they couldn't take it on themselves. Without a plan that is. Raxa, though saddened at losing her only foal, gave Zhenga permission to strike out on her own, to go explore Beqanna's other kingdoms and make a life for herself.
While she didn't openly display a lot of loving emotions, Zhenga was all but a puddle as she nuzzled her dam and bid her farewell. With Raxa watching her departure, Zhenga galloped toward Sylva's border, letting out one last goodbye whinny before crossing the line and heading out into the rest of the wild.
And boy was it exciting! Zhenga had never felt so free in all her young life, not even those times when she would gallop across the grassy meadows with Eiria or Raxa by her side. This was a totally different feeling of free, one that only came around when a foal departed home for the very first time. She was experiencing that all over again, only this time was even greater, for she didn't have to return home before the sun descended beneath the skyline.
Now, she was on her own, free to see what the other kingdoms were like, to make a life all of her own, just like Raxa had when she first arrived here.
And there was one place Zhenga really wanted to see first. Following one of her dam's trips out to the Meadow, she came back with stories regarding the kingdom of Ischia, how its beloved ruler had been replaced by a purple-coated stallion. Zhenga wasn't so much interested in him though; she wanted to see what Ischia was actually like, for she'd heard incredible tales of its unrivaled beauty and wonders across the ocean channel.
It had taken some time to find the proper crossing spot, since the information she'd sought about the way of passage mentioned a land bridge that formed when the tide went out. In some areas, the sand bars extended quite far into the ocean, but not so much that it would give her safe passage all the way across. By the time she found the bridge, she was a bit worn out from her efforts, as more than once the tide had caught the unexperienced filly by surprise. She had to make sure she was right on the mark this time, for she really didn't feel like being caught in the beginning stages of a rip current again. She'd been lucky to get out of that first one with her life, only because she was close enough to the edge that she had the power in her legs to escape.
But now, as she started crossing the newly formed land bridge, and saw it getting further and further out to see towards the island, she knew she made the right choice. She walked a majority of the way, the tide staying out for some time, before galloping the rest to avoid getting stuck. When she reached the banks of the island kingdom, the tide was just starting to come back in, her black points now soaked through and looking several shades darker.
Her coat, mane, and tail were also soaked with sea water from a wave that came up and got her, but thanks to the sun above, she was mostly dry when she reached land. She was used to cold weather, even if Sylva wasn't anything like the Tundra. Point being, even the strong-smelling ocean water wasn't enough to deter her.
For she was finally here: the wondrous kingdom of Ischia. Even though she was still outside the border, the filly could tell the kingdom was beautiful. A large line of green tress lined the earth where it turned into sand, their evergreen color reminding the filly of those in the Forest during springtime, when the first morning sun peeked over the horizon and bathed the land in the first sunrise of the warm seasons. There was a warm feeling in the air, a humid tense of sorts, but Zhenga was quick to ignore it. All she could stare at was the huge expanse of trees and imagine what lay within.
For a second, she almost did forget an important rule about entering a new kingdom: always announce your arrival. But the filly was so excited she pushed it out of her head. Throwing up her hind legs, the filly launched some sand into the air behind her, excitedly galloping along the sandy beach and letting out an excited whinny as the ocean battered at the large expanse of earth sitting so far off the mainland.