It never got easier, no matter how many times he crossed the border. As soon as the first thick-padded paw stepped across Taiga’s boundary line, the mists descended into Siberian’s eyes until there was naught but blackness before him. In his thankfully-rare bitter moments, he can almost believe himself the prisoner of the piney kingdom, instead of one of its protectors. It had been a fair bargain, struck with the mare who had formerly ruled it alongside Ruan. And without her offer, he would not even have a working sense of sight no matter where he found himself. He understands all of this, knows he is far luckier than some, especially with the gift of shapeshifting that protected him during his times of blindness. There were still times, however, that he recalled the days before whatever curse had struck him to take his eyesight away. Times that he galloped and leaped and even salmon-fished without a care as to what lay ahead in his future and the changes that would come. Frankly, he is finding himself surprised at how gloomy his thoughts were today—there had been nothing that happened to cause it. Just last evening he had been laughing as hard as he had for some time, as he and Azar romped and kicked their way through the piles of leaves that lay underhoof. The little Pegasus had popped out of one rather deep leaf pile that she had hidden in while his back was turned, trying to act fearsome and scare her papa.
He had pretended to be frightened, until the closer look had revealed a leaf stuck to her tiny forelock in a rather comical fashion. Chuckling, he had carefully removed it with his teeth and let it flutter back down to join its colorful brethren. Their game had been so enjoyable, the Budyonny isn’t sure why the good feelings weren’t lingering with him this morning. After Azar had woken up, had her breakfast, and promptly scampered off to play with other Taiga younglings, he had decided that perhaps a walk might clear his head. So off he ventured, knowing she’d be safe while he was gone. The bear-shifter’s rambling path followed along after familiar smells until he stands again in the Forest, quietly standing to one side and listening to passersby conversations. It was a much-needed distraction, doing nothing really useful as opposed to his everyday duties. But then, his nose twitches involuntarily. There’s a scent, two in fact, that he remembers from years ago; two foals that he had met. If he remembered correctly, they were twins in fact. He casts his massive head back and forth, listening for the sound of the voices of the adults they must be by now.
Siberian
The sexy grizzly boy of Beqanna