|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2008 3:18 pm
Rays of sunlight slipped in amid the leaves painting dapples on the creamy stallion’s back. His head was down and his maw was busy foraging for whatever little patch of green he may find. The air had begun to grow chillier as the winter months crept slowly towards the small dell in which Callan spent much of his time. Already the frost had come and damaged many of the areas he had once grazed in. Now he was reduced to searching for morsels buried in the frozen mud beneath a ghastly looking oak. It was pale white and its branches extended outward at odd angles here and there. The leaves were turning brown but clinging desperately to their perch. They would soon fall, that was just the way of life.
Shaking his head the stallion forced scarlet wisps of mane to shift in every direction. In many ways he was much like the oak that he stood beneath. His hide matched the bark of the tree and his tresses were like the boughs. Just as the tree stood alone amongst the hills and dead grass, so did he. A cool breeze carried with it the scent of snow to come and trumpeted the death of the vegetation. Callan’s ears flicked back as he listened to what Mother Nature was telling him. Lifting his head from the ground he exhaled deeply and watched as a puff of white vapor formed around his breath. He never was bothered by the cold. Even when the metal he wore upon his breast became chilled and stuck to his skin he was not bothered. Perhaps he had just become accustomed to such weather whilst traveling.
Swishing his tail nonchalantly he began walking in the direction of the cave he had been using as a bivouac. The chains wrapped around his neck, cannon bones, and shanks rattled with each step. He paid little heed to the fact that he may be offering himself up as an easy target for some wary predator. He was confident in his strength and feared little.
Large gray clouds blotted out what little sunlight he could find. Each instinct told him that this storm would be large. Snow would fall and blanket the basin in white and silence. Turning his mundane emerald eyes to the sky he watched as the clouds moved closer and closer. The wind would be picking up soon making flying, for those who could, quite a chore. Not even the birds were about today, they knew better than to put themselves into such peril. Lowering his gaze he closed his eyes and took in everything surrounding him. The small breeze had grown in strength and no sounds could be heard. Something was coming, something that would signify the death of fall. Snorting, he walked into the darkness of his cave and leaned against the rugged wall of stone.
The darkness was a comfort to his ever whirring mind and the chill cleared some of the haze from within his thoughts. A soft dripping noise from somewhere within his fortification drew his attention. The rhythm was hypnotic and oddly soothing to this Irish male. It brought back memories of his home by the sea. How every morning he would awaken to the sound of waves crashing against barnacle covered rocks. It still never made sense to him as to why he had left that place. His family was there as was the life that he had long ago begun carving out. With a grunt he realized that by now all of his family would have died and perhaps many of his friends as well.
Always sad thoughts. He could never think of something happy to get him through the days. It always had to be something that was meant to bring a dull pain to his frozen heart. His heart. He had covered it with a thick layer of ice long ago and he had no intention of thawing it out. Why should he? What would he gain from again allowing the world in? Pawing listlessly at the ground he listened to the echo of his hoof striking rock.
The wind howled behind him and caused him to break away from such thoughts. He again began thinking of the storm and all that it carried with it. He would have to ration what food he could find unless…he asked the humans for help. That thought caused his upper lip to rise in an expression of disgust. Never again would he ask humans for assistance, never! The last time they had betrayed him and used him for some sort of pack animal. Arching his neck proudly he glared into the darkness. A stallion was not meant to pull around carts that those creatures rode around in. He was not a slave, nor would he ever be. His heart would never be the slave to some mare and his body would be no slave to a two-legged. This was a resolution he had made long ago and he planned on keeping to it.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Jan 12, 2009 3:02 pm
The weather was turning and filled the air with a crisp bite to the skin, Nariko walked along at her steady pace as always. Even with the fallen leaves on the ground, her hooves placed themself so delicately that she hardly made a noise moving through the forest. She had learned the art of stealth years ago from her teacher back home. With each breath mist bellowed out of her nostrils, it was becoming more and more like she liked each day...cold.
Stopping momentarily, her eyes lifted to the gray skies over head. Her nose rose slightly to take in the scents that gently rode the currents of air that passed by. She could smell the rain that was coming, she would have to find shelter soon. Nariko didn't mind traveling in the rain or the cold, but traveling in both at the same time was something that she hoped to avoid if possible.
She wasn't far from the base of the mountains, surely there would be a cave to take shelter in she thought to herself. Turning her body to head in the general direction of the mountains, she tucked her wings in as close to her body as possible. Out of all of her features, her wings and her mass of blazing red hair were hard to hide from any possible dangers in the area. Danger. She snorted to herself. She had reason to fear, she knew there were kalonas and much worse in the area...even though she crossed paths a time or two with the sort, she wasn't the type to show her emotions or back down from a confrontation. Her pride was mighty as was her strength.
Nearly the mountains she heard a metallic sound. She stopped and her ears swiveled atop her head. "Chains?" she questioned herself but the noise stopped as suddenly as they had started. Someone or somthing was in her vicinity. Her golden eyes searched beyond the trees for any signs of life.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
