[PRP] Dance As If No One Is Watching (Aurora & Bedlam)

[CitrusCupcake]

"Maybe this one will be empty." Aurora murmured to herself as she flew low over a wide, flower dotted stretch of grass, making a slow arc around the edge over the trees that bordered the meadow. She couldn't see anyone, and so she drifted groundwards, and landed gently, folding her wings and taking a look around from where she stood. All she'd wanted to do was express the joy she felt in waking to find a warm spring morning, but everytime she thought she'd found the perfect place to dance it seemed like someone else was around. Another Soquili. Several. A whole herd seemed to be in one of her usual spots. And she couldn't dance anywhere near someone else, not unless she trusted them completely. Trusted them not to make fun of her.

But this one seemed empty of prying eyes and she relaxed slightly. Aurora walked slowly now, closing her eyes, feeling the breeze in her mane, her paws digging into the ground, feeling the cushion of the grass, the dirt squishing slightly. In the near distance she could hear the leaves being moved by the wind, and above her the sounds of birds calling to each other. She let out a long breath, unfurling just two of her wings and she started to dance, slowly swaying, sliding her paws across the grass, letting her wings twist as she did. She dipped and twirled, at times she reared up, using her tail for balance as she did so, her eyes closed for much of the time, only opening them if she felt that she was going to stumble or fall.

She was deep in the moment, enjoying the warmth of the sun, and the joy of the movement as she danced around the meadow. At this point she was mostly unaware of her surroundings and if anyone passed through or were watching from a ways off she wouldn't now realise..

 

[Fatal Irony]

The sun was climbing slowly into the air, marking the time as mid-morning.
It touched upon the dark green fur of a strange creature that wandered the area. The skinwalker enjoyed living in his feral skin. He was lighter, faster, and able to climb so much more efficiently. He'd spent the beginning of the morning climbing and jumping from tree to tree for fun, having hunted earlier. He was high in a tree on a thick branch, stretching out and arching his back lazily when he noticed a shadow pass across the sun. Squinting, he looked towards the movement, but it was obscured by the tree's branches and leaves. Spring had come swiftly, the foliage exploding thickly around him.

He debated remaining in the tree, lounging. Did he care what that movement was? He tapped his claws thoughtfully before deciding it would be more entertaining for him to investigate this new development. He dropped from the tree silently, slinking along the shadows from cover to cover to remain unseen. He peered around a bush and caught sight of the creature that had dropped from the sky.

It appeared to be a mare, albeit one unlike any he had seen before. He cocked his head as he watched. What was she doing? She was moving in a way that wasn't hunting or walking. What was this? He crept closer, trying to puzzle out this strange behavior. Was she sick? No, she appeared to be content. In fact, the movements had a strange elegance to them. The mare seemed almost in ecstasy, her eyes closed and body relaxed.

He was ensnared, trapped in the hypnotic rhythm of her movements. He stepped out from the shadows to see better, abandoning any semblance of stealth. He wasn't hunting her, after all, and she certainly posed no threat to him. He approached quietly and sat many yards from her with his head cocked to the side. His ears were on a swivel, always alert to his surroundings but for the moment it seemed the two were alone save for the various small creatures going about their lives.

He studied her, the way she moved. She had so many wings; he'd never seen the like before! Her hair cascaded down her neck elegantly, swaying with her movements. He was still a ways from her but the wind tickled his nose with her scent. She had the usual smells that soquili did, along with the markers that identified her as an individual. But she also smelled of something else. Roses? He'd seen them once or twice, but they were uncommon in the area. How exotic. He wondered where she had come from and what she was doing.
 

[CitrusCupcake]

Aurora was whirling now, there was only this, the joy of expression as she moved about the open space. All four wings were unfurled now as she danced, as she spun, dipped, twisted and twirled. She seemed to move faster and faster, her breathing heavy now as she exerted herself even more, dancing towards her finale. She drew her wings to her sides again, using her tail for balance as she lifted, using her momentum to spin on just her hind legs and then with all the strength left in her leg muscles she pushed upwards from the ground, managing to clear the grass by inches and snapping her wings open at the same time.

She hung in the air for mere seconds before touching back down again, her sides heaving as she got her breath back, wings hanging by her sides and her head lowered. Aurora stood like that for a while before getting the sensation that she was no longer alone. Of course it was feasible, her enjoyment, her loss of awareness of anything else but herself and the dance meant that anyone could come upon her and she wouldn't know until it was too later.

Slightly wearily she looked around, taking a few steps on what were now a tad wobbly legs, trying to see if there was someone or something else around or if she was merely imagining things.

Fatal Irony