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 Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 1:34 pm
Leon was on cloud nine. His life was falling into place, finally. Amary never seemed to lack for happiness and fullness of life. His parents certainly seemed capable of filling their lives as they desired. But for him, it had never come easily. His life was many dreams, but few realities. Or it had been, before Gemma had come into his life. She had shone like the sun and burned away all the mopey fog and mist that shrouded the world from him.
Today he was ambling, with no particular direction. He was feeling drawn upwards, though, into the high valleys and mountainous crags. At the moment he followed a rocky trail, hooves occasionally slipping, though it didn't faze his good humor. It felt good to flex his muscles and exert himself. Sweat darkened his coat in certain places, like along his neck and behind his elbows, under his belly. A brisk breeze cooled those damp spots, invigorating him and driving him on.
He was certainly no mountain goat, but he knew ways to get to the upper pastures and green niches that usually were only visited by those with wings. Some of them his sister had shown him, while others he had discovered on his own wanderings. Today he was headed for the scent of water and sweet grass. He scrambled and heaved himself up the rocks, followed faint trails, and even navigated some rockfalls. Somehow the physical exertion only fed his inner fire of love. It made him feel free, as if anything was within his grasp, even the clouds that enshrouded the mountaintops.
For today, though, he was content to have reached his goal. The scent had drawn him on, though clearly the place wasn't terribly large. He lunged over the last rise of rock with a sharp scrabble of hooves and a grunt, then stood for a moment, his breath heaving in and out, the cold air feeling wonderful in his laboring lungs. It was much much cooler up here, so brisk he wouldn't have been surprised to see snow lurking in the shadows. There was none, however. Just thick groves of trees with a shimmering lake. The water took up most of the small nook between peaks, but there was plentiful grass growing along the edges and out from under the trees. He quickly snatched a mouthful that tempted him nearby. The blades were startingly crisp, very nearly as crunchy as some thick-stalked stuff he'd tried once. Just like that, this was full of water, both filling his belly and slaking his thirst.
For a time he grazed near the edge he'd come over, letting his breathing settle and his coat dry. Satisfied, he moved casually under the trees, heading for the glittering water that winked at him between the trunks. A dunk in the water sounded good at the moment, for the dried sweat was slightly uncomfortable. Soon he stepped out from beneath the shadow of the trees to view the heartachingly beautiful scene of lake, trees, and mountains... and the occupant of the lake. A dark blue shape broke the smooth mirror of the water.
His first instinct was to turn and leave the occupant to his or her peace, but at the last moment before he turned, he realized that this individual was familiar. Wasn't that... Gemma's father? Zaphiro? He walked slowly to the water's edge, debating with himself on how to best announce himself. Unable to decide really, he settled for a soft whicker of greeting, nostrils flared and ears up in polite attention.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 2:20 pm
Zaphiro wasn't sure how long he'd been there, and that, for him, was all that he needed to know to understand that the cold was doing its work. Back and forth, up and down, the stallion continued on, swimming lap after lap, circuit after circuit in the freezing cold water.
If Hienna were here, she'd likely be either tsking or fretting, either telling him he'd catch his death or telling him if he came anywhere near her while still wet she'd kick him. But she WASN'T here, and that was the point.
In one sense, it was strange. The fact he adored his mate, always had, was a constant in his life. He didn't get upset with her, didn't have issues with her, did his best to keep her happy and content and far, far from the demons of her early life. And so far, that had always worked out.
Or had it? Sighing, Zaphiro tried to shake the negativity out of his thoughts as he completed another lap of the pool, trying not to dwell on the recent scene at his home. He'd always strived to do the best by his family, creating the perfect home, being the perfect mate, hopefully the perfect father, encouraging his children and loving his mate. Yet somehow, that dream of perfection seemed to have become warped, twisted into an overbearing nightmare.
He still couldn't believe it. It was bad enough that his daughter had kept secrets from him; though painful as a realization, he could see how his frequet admonishments against Guilian could make her skittish about revealing her crush's true parentage. Honestly, he couldn't say that he WOULDN'T have held Guilian's past against Leon's chances, had he known that fact prior to meeting him. But there was a difference in rational omission and deliberately withholding information.
Kicking off from the rocky bottom of the pool, Zaphiro began another circuit, his brows tightly knit in meditation. Gemma had withheld that information because she didn't trust him to consider her over his own concerns, and worst of all Hienna had apparently felt the same. Why else would she have not said anything, especially after the actual meeting went so well. Instead, he had been left to learn the news not from Hienna, not from Gemma, but from Raphael at Gemma's instigation, indicating his daughter was too afraid to tell him herself.
That was a fun rationalization, learning that his daughter was too afraid of him to tell him something that important herself. He couldn't blame Raphael for giving into his sister; some things, at least, never changed. But Gemma hadn't even been hiding at Raphael's back, and Hienna...
Ducking under the water once again, Zaphiro swam along near the bottom for a bit before resurfacing, tossing his curls aside with a toss of his head. Perhaps it had been drastic of him to take off without a word, but he had never been so hurt as that moment he'd realized his mate didn't trust him. It would take a lot of swimming and a lot of solitude to get over that fact, and so far, he hadn't had much of either.
Those thoughts swimming around his mind, he almost missed the whicker; and even having noticed it, he was ready to write it off as imagined. After all, one of the best draws of this place was its seclusion!
Irony was a strange thing, alright.
Lifting his head, Zaphiro gazed out of the water...and sighed inwardly. Leon. Did the stallion have any idea how much strife he'd caused? Most likely not, but then again none of it could even be blamed on him, not in all honesty. It wasn't his fault his father was a scoundrel or that Gemma and Hienna mistrusted Zaphiro, nor was it his fault he'd unknowingly intruded on Zaphiro in what was supposed to be solitude...
That in mind, it was easy for Zaphiro to be polite, inclining his head at the other stallion and giving him a whicker in return. "Good day to you, Leon."
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 4:02 pm
Leon unconciously stood a little straighter, squaring his shoulders and coming to attention. His love's father tended to do that to him. He felt so formal and stiff around the stallion, even though he wasn't an angry or aggressive individual. The younger stallion had the maddest urge to fidget, like a foal before a herd leader. It took great effort to stand still.
"I'm sorry to disturb your solitude sir. I'll leave if you'd rather." His ears swiveled to reveal his uncertainty. What was the proper precident for stumbling upon his lady's father when he clearly wanted to be left alone? He was already regretting his courteous instinct to greet Zaphiro. His weight shifted back the way he'd come, but his hooves didn't move... yet.
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Posted: Sat Jan 12, 2008 5:50 pm
Maintaining his position, treading water in the middle of the pool, Zaphiro regarded the younger stallion for a few moments in silence. Having raised two sons himself, Leon's shift in posture had not gone unnoticed by him, nor had the tone of respectful formality. It had such a distant sound to it...
Suddenly, Zaphiro found himself wondering how aware of things Leon was. Did he have any idea of the current situation? Was he aware of the machinations of wife and daughter against father, of the way that fate had determined to test the bonds of family? Did he come here in wariness, in pride, in curiousity?
Somehow, Zaphiro doubted that. If Leon had been acting true to himself in their earlier meeting, it seemed very out of character that Leon could know and would brave Zaphiro in these circumstances for a one on one meeting. This meeting had to be chance.
But if it was chance, there was opportunity; a chance for Zaphiro to talk to Leon one on one, stallion to stallion; without having Hienna and Gemma as buffers, he would truly be able to tell if Leon was what he claimed to be, or if there was reason to worry. Inwardly, Zaphiro promised himself that he would not prove any suspicions true; regardless of his personal feelings towards Guilian, Leon was an independent individual who had, thus far, done nothing to PERSONALLY warrant Zaphiro's suspicions. Fate had provided this chance, he might as well take advantage of it.
So he gave Leon his most pleasant smile, shaking off the offer like so many drops of water. "No, that's quite alright, Leon. I admit that I wasn't expecting to encounter anyone else up here, but there's no harm in company. Do you swim?"
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Posted: Mon Jan 21, 2008 9:10 pm
For some odd reason, the stallion's gracious reply renewed Leon's nervousness. Whatever mad confidence had led him to drawing attention to himself, it very nearly fled entirely at the apparent invitation. Even so, a swim was exactly the sort of thing Leon had been hoping to do when he'd gotten here, and his stubborn adherance to telling the truth made him say, "Yes sir. In fact, that would feel blessedly wonderful right now." He flicked his short, curly tail and tipped his head ruefully. "Climbing up a mountain is hot work, even when things are so cold.
Unbidden, his hooves carried him to the water's edge. He halted with his forehooves in the water, doing his best not to bite his lip in worry as he glanced at the blue stallion. "You... don't mind me joining you? Are you sure?" Again his ears flickered, and he couldn't help an uneasy snort. This was highly uncomfortable all of a sudden, but he'd gotten himself into this situation, he'd simply have to bear up under the pressure and hope his lady love's father didn't take a disliking to him.
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:26 pm
"Of course not. I've never been one to be territorial about my swimming places; the only reason I usually swim by myself is that neither my mate nor any of my children share my deep-seated affection with the cold."
Giving what he thought to be a suitably welcoming nod to the younger male, Zaphiro resumed his swimming, albeit now with a much more measured stroke. Leon's tremulousness was something original, and Zaphiro wasn't sure what he thought of such extreme nervousness. Only those with something to hide should be nervous...but then, 'should' and 'were' were two very different things. He just hoped that Leon was being truthful with him, the idea of the young stallion faking interest in something just to get on his good side was a truly detestable idea.
But he was NOT going to assume. Leon could stammer as much as he wanted; for all Zaphiro KNEW he could have a natural speech impediment. He, Zaphiro, would certainly not judge based on THAT.
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 7:49 pm
Leon eased into the frigid water, shuddering his hide slightly as it crept up his legs, but heaving a relieved sigh when the water closed over his back. All those horridly itching spots melted before the onslaught of the bracingly cold water. He swam out a bit before ducking his head and neck briefly under in order to reach the last few dried sweat spots. Behind his ears was a particular location that tended to get itchy and was so very hard to scratch!
He surfaced with a snort that sprayed water from his nostrils. He didn't bother shaking his head, so water poured in rivulets down his face and neck, but he thought it felt rather good at the moment. He knew he wouldn't last long in the cold water, but for now, it was blissful. He gave a more comfortable smile to Zaphiro, mane and forelock plastered in child-like curls against his neck and jaw.
"I don't often swim, really, but when I've been roaming and am all itchy, it's heaven to wash it all off." He wasn't the most graceful of swimmers, but he wasn't floundering either. He paddled in an aimless circle, craning his head up to gaze at the sky. "I would guess you can find quite a lot of places to swim, since you can fly." His tone was slightly wistful, but carried no envy and very little actual desire. He thought those who could fly looked so supremely happy up in the winds and clouds, but he didn't really want to fly himself. If he was honest, he might like to experience the sensation and the view (thus why he liked climbing as high as he could from time to time), but the very concept of the winds holding him up, and of having nothing under his hooves, was just vaguely disturbing. He knew he was better of just being himself, ground-bound and content.
Being the dreamer he was, he really hadn't noticed that some of his worries that Zaphiro might not like him actually might have some merit. He trembled at the idea of it, but missed any signs that might have been there that the stallion was dubious or conflicted regarding him. Right now, for Leon, this moment was perfect, in communion with water, world, and stallion. Breathing deep through flared nostrils, his eyes slide shut in quiet ecstasy.
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:03 pm
Well, at least he didn't seem to have been lying about the water. Nodding slightly in approval, Zaphiro watched as Leon slipped into the water, the expression on his face more than enough indication for the older stallion that his interest wasn't bluffed. For those not comfortable with the chill, wading in could take long, dragged out minutes, minutes peppered with vicious trembles and squinched faces and the requisite hissing. Leon might not have realized it, but he'd just earned himself a point. If he knew how many points there were at stake, he might have gotten a bit more nervous...but this was a good start.
"I don't usually have much reason to travel far, to be honest. One of the selling points of our home clearing is that groundwater spring; it's a bracing chill for the body, especially in the early mornings. Hienna can't fly, so I've never liked to take off that far on my own."
Which, of course, begged the question of what he was doing all the way up here. Reflecting on that, Zaphiro first frowned imperceptably, then sighed. What was he doing here, indeed...poor Hie. He wondered how she was doing down there by herself; this had to be the first time that he'd done something like this, and considering her sometimes delicate mental state...
No. Raphael was with her, and in the current circumstances that was definitely for the best. Zaphiro still wasn't sure what he himself felt, and it was best to depart and take some time to think rather than lash out or otherwise hurt without intending. Even if that was what both his mate and daughter had managed to do to him.
But he wasn't going to dwell, not at all. "Still, there are many places I frequented myself when I was independant. But you're a traveller then, Leon? Is that something common to your family, or did you simply decide it was time to see the world?" On the topic of honesty, now...
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Posted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 8:21 pm
"Me?" He was so astonished at being asked if he was a traveler that he nearly stopped treading water. He spluttered a little as his nose dipped briefly under the surface of the lake. He cleared his nostrils again and gasped a good, deep breath of air. "Oh no sir. I do explore a little, when I'm feeling good." He blushed then, knowing that the reason for his high spirits was this stallion's daughter! "But I never have wandered far. I like my home glade, near the foot of the mountains." The sudden image came to him of Gemma there with him, and it being their home, and his heart fluttered achingly in his chest. He very nearly went under again.
He ordered his legs to work properly and tried to refocus on the conversation, rather than Gemma's lovely face. "My family, though, they are indeed roamers. I don't think any of them really have a home." His tone was wistful again, this time with soft longing. "I guess I am their home, if you want to think of it that way. My sister visits me often. My mother likes to drift by from time to time." His tone glowed when he spoke of those two, his eyes bright. Clearly he loved them both dearly. "My father....," he trailed off, looking troubled then. "My father doesn't visit me as often. I think I'm a disappointment to him." He swam in silence for several moments, struggling with his inward feelings of inadequacy he'd always felt around Guilian. "He is a very bold and confident stallion, and I have never been able to even come close to his adventerous way of life." There was sadness and a faint loneliness in his voice, tightening his chest. "He's never said he's disappointed at how quiet and shy I am," with an abashed glance at the blue stallion, who had tasted his intense shyness already. "But that just isn't who I am, and I'm learning that it is okay." Again he paused, but this time with a rising heart. "Gemma has helped to teach me that. She doesn't care that I'm not dashing and sliver-tongued. She loves me anyway, and I can't help but love her for it a hundred-fold." Oh yes, the tones of a lover swept off his hooves. Leon was very smitten. Again. But this time, he was reasonably sure his heart was safe. In fact, it didn't even occur to him that Gemma would ever leave him.
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Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2008 6:16 pm
During the course of Leon's speech, Zaphiro had ceased swimming and once again resumed treading water, his wings spread wide on the surface of the water to keep him afloat. Though it had been his original intent to find out sort of stallion Leon was, watching the changes that flit one after another across the young stallion's face was proving far more informative than he could have hoped.
Still, it was informative in a way he'd hardly expected. While he was pleased that Leon was proving to be a completely different stallion than his father, hearing Leon give such a frank breakdown of his own perceived failures in the eyes of his father was something that Zaphiro, a father himself, wasn't sure how to react to. Far be it for him to judge another's parenting style, even if the other WAS a detested enemy; it was perhaps for that reason that he responded in a mild voice, "Well, there is no law that states children must emulate their parents, and there are far worse things you could be than introverted and quiet."
Though he had to smile at the expression of obvious fondness that crossed Leon's features when he spoke of Gemma. It stirred something within Zaphiro's own heart to see such patent adoration of his beloved daughter; his greatest hope for her had always been that she be happy, and with such a fond stallion for a love interest...ah, it was a bittersweet thought to think of his daughter growing up, but a very beautiful one all the same.
His own affection for the girl was evident in his tacit acknowledgement of Leon's words, a slight nod of the head and curve of the lip. "Gemma has always been a very tender-hearted girl, very good at bringing out the best in those around her. Though not a healer myself, I've always been amazed at how well the animals take to her...and I don't simply mean her brothers!"
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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2008 10:31 am
He had to admit to himself that Zaphiro was right. There really was no reason he should have to be like Guilian. He was his own person, wasn't he? And he was proving that, being here with the father of the dearest to his heart. He was making a life for himself, and it seemed so far to be a successful one.
The blue stallion's joke about her brothers being animals startled a snort of laughter from Leon. He cast a nervous look to be sure Zaphiro was teasing. Gemma couldn't really have such base brothers that they could easily be called animals, could she? He tried to look at it logically, taking Gemma's parents both into account. No... there was no way those two could have produced barbarians. Thus he relaxed again into thinking about his love.
"She truly is wonderous," he commented in an awed and adoring tone. "I can hardly believe she loves me like she does. How can I help but love her back?" His mane was drying, springing back into full curls as it lost its moisture. Leon's eyes were fulls of stars and focused faraway again. "She makes me happier than any dream ever could."
His motion carried him closer to Zaphiro, until they were practically nose to nose. His attention snapped back to the here and now, gazing into those blue eyes. His own were wide and brimming with his emotions. Softly, he said earnestly, "I want to ask her to spend her life with me. So that we both can always be happy." Guileless to a fault, his voice dropped almost to a whisper. "Will you give me your blessing, Zaphiro?" So much hope in his gaze, and a valiant effort to stave away the fear that this fine father would refuse the likes of him for his daughter.
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Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 6:31 pm
As he listened to Leon, Zaphiro found himself thinking more and more of his younger days, back when he had been an isolated stallion, wanting to believe in love but finding it hard to believe that romance was still alive. After all, he'd had more than one issue with mares 'falling in love' with him at first sight, which had lead to nothing but insecurity on his part.
And then Hienna had come along, and everything had changed; it had been one of the best things...no, make that THE best thing that had ever happened to him, and since then...
Thinking about it, Zaphiro felt a new sense of his own good fortune in life, and a new sense of wonder at his own current behavior. Even if Hienna hadn't trusted him, was it any better for him to just rush off without talking? He needed to go back and talk to her...
But first things first. Giving Leon a truly warm smile, Zaphiro responded, "If my daughter is happy, then I am happy; if you're the stallion she wants, then I couldn't be more pleased." That was a moment that a threat could have been thrown in, but honestly, there was no need. Leon would certainly suffer if he did Gemma wrong, but if Zaphiro knew anything about young love, than hopefully he'd never have reason to make sure. "Take care of her, cherish her, and always remember that she is a part of your heart, your mind, and your soul."
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Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:25 pm
The young, idealistic stallion drank in every word, every nuance of what Zaphiro had to say. His wide eyes pulled it all in and held it close to his heart, fervently commiting them to memory as the wisest advice he'd had offered to him. And he exulted, because he now had the approval of the one soquili he had worried about impressing and gaining favor with.
Suddenly he could be still anymore. He had to go. He had to tell Gemma how much he loved her. NOW. Reality intruded as he remembered he was in the middle of an icy lake still. He snorted and shook himself all over, which nearly put him under the surface, and blinked at Zaphiro. "I have to go tell her," he said urgently, though somewhat softly. "I have to go tell her all the wonderful things in my heart. I worried... about it not being real, or about you not liking me, or about fooling myself." He took a deep, heaving breath, shuddering again with the intensity of his emotions. "But between her and you, I see now that this is the life I want! This is the life I'm meant for!"
His eyes shone as he turned and paddled back to shore as fast as he could manage, and plunged out of the water and back the way he'd come, streaming water that he didn't bother to shake off. He was single-mindedly focused on getting back to the love of his life, and nothing in this world could deter him. Not even the fact that he'd just rudely up and left his future father-in-law without a farewell or a pardon me.
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Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2008 8:36 pm
Luckily for Leon, he had picked the right stallion to brush off. Sometimes, there were things that mattered more than proper conversation etiquette; though those moments were few and far between, this was certainly one of them.
Besides, Zaphiro had something to do himself. Watching the younger stallion take off, Zaphiro pulled himself out of the water and shook off, then spread wide his wings. He needed to go home; he and Hienna had a lot to talk about, and THIS time, HE was the one in the loop.
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