Despite the earlier storms, the day was turning out to be a beautiful one. Khairi tossed his head and pranced through grass still wet with rain. The air was fresh and clean and the sky was washed out blue still framed with dark grey thunderheads.
He grinned and kicked his heels up, feeling exhilarated. It was beautiful, but humidity was building after the slight relief the storm offered. Khairi trotted over to a stream nearby and drank deeply. Then, unable to help himself, he sacrificed his dignity and plunged in, splashing like a colt.
Tori had come to the nearby stream to get a cool drink, when she suddenly say a blue stallion splashing about in the water. she giggled a bit in amusment, as she watched the stallion splash about. thinking this was a good oppertunity to make a friend, she nickered a greeting and started towards him.
Khairi looked up at the nicker, startled, and found himself staring at a beautiful red and white Soquili mare. He remembered his position, knee deep in the clear stream, and blushed faintly. So much for dignified first impressions... with a mental sigh he gave in and relaxed. Stepping up onto the bank, Khairi grinned and nickered a greeting back.
"And how are you this day?" He pricked his ears and waitied to hear her response. "Ah, I'm Khairi, by the way." He bowed slightly, still smiling.
Tori smirkered and panced around him in play. " pretty good, and its nice to meet you Khairi, im Tori." it had been a while since she had been out and about away from the herd, so she was happy to meet someone new. " and how are you this fine day. "
Khairi watched her prace and couldn't help but laugh. "It's nice to meet you too, Tori. I'm fine, thanks for asking." Normally Khairi wasn't especially fond of meeting new Soquili - he found it hard to make friends. That's why he was out here; there weren't many other than himself. But today it was too beautiful to be solitary. Khairi pranced in place, full of energy. "So, what are you doing so far out here?"
Tori chuckled and stop prancing about. " well i thought it would be nice to get out and meet someone new or just to go wandering." she was in a good mood and full of energy, that she felt she wanted to go for a nice run. smirking, she flicked her tail and wondered what to do now. " and what about you? " she really never had meet any stallions and found it fun to meet a stallion for once.
Khairi nodded. "Yes, it is nice to meet someone new sometimes." He let out a long sigh, then looked up at her wryly. "I'm here because I don't normally like meeting new Soquili." He winced inwardly and pushed through. "Not that I don't want to meet you, it's just... I mean, you seem nice..." He stopped. Mares always made him feel... inadequate. Khairi smiled akwardly, feeling like a colt.. Way to go. Now she'll leave...
Tori could only giggle at Khairi. " i see, i find it nice to get away from others too sometimes. and you seem nice too." she found Khairi was quite interesting and giggled again as she saw he felt akward now. " and no need to feel akward about it, not everyone likes to be around others."
Khairi laughed, partly in relief. "You feel the same way?" He tossed his head, and grinned. "I'm glad to know I'm not the only one." He looked down into a valley covered in rolling fields; he could just make out the colorful coats of other Soquili like small jewels. Khairi looked back at Tori, a slightly mischevious look in his eyes. "Are we just going to stand here all day, or do you want to enjoy the day?"
Tori smirked, in amusment. " oh yes, and is that a little challenge for a run?" she was iching to for a good run and a challege. it had been a long while since she had a chance to get out and run with someone. flicking her tail she niped at Khairi and smirked again. " i'll beat you to the lake down that way. " she motioned with her head. " thats is ofcourse if you want to."
Khairi smirked and shyed away from Tori. Without warning he burst into a gallop and shouted back over his shoulder; "I accept!" He laughed and bent forwards, running smoothly over the hard packed ground towards the lake. The grass blurred into a emerald green light on either side of him; it was so nice to finally stretch his legs!
Tori grined and bolted after Khaniri and shouted. " i'll get ya!." galloping as fast as she could, she made it side by side with khairi and niped at his shoulder. she was having a blast and tryed to push herself to go faster. she let a whinny escape her mouth and kept on galloping.
Khairi whinnied back at her, easing up on his stride; it had been a while since he'd run so full out, and although he still felt fresh he knew things could go wrong quickly. Not to mention the fact that Tori was pulling ahead of him... he grinned. Quite a mare. Khairi settled into a smooth rhythm, hooves pounding methodically on the rain-covered grass. He admired the way the mare's coat glittered in the sunlight as she ran...
To the left was the lake; he could see it through the trees. Straight ahead, where Tori was going, was the normal path that lead to the sandy shore. Khairi smirked and swerved to the left, heading into the somewhat more treacherous trails. He knew this land; he'd spent a lot of time here lately. He reached the bottom a small slope; the shore line was within sight! He increased his speed, feeling a flash of adrenaline, but he couldn't see where Tori was yet. For all he knew, she could already be there...
Tori smirked and pulled farther ahead as she noticed he went left. she knew that was a more dangerous route to take and did not take it, but knew it was a shorter way to get to the lake. incressing her speed, she had wanted to beat him, but he had gone the shorter route.
Khairi whickered to himself, hooves flashing in the sun. The shore wasn't too far ahead... he slid to a stop at the top of a sharp drop; he would be able to make his way down, but it would take time. This wasn't here last time... It must have been created by the harsh storms this past week. He started down the trail, going slightly faster than he knew he should. However, he made his way without too much work and came to the bottom in a small avalanche of rocks and dust.
Tori finaly came out through the trees to come to the lake, when she noticed Khairi had already got there and was coming down from a sharp drop that had not been there before. she trotted on over to where he was, knowing he would make it fine down, though there was a small tiny avalanche of rocks.
Khairi snorted and waited for the dust to settle. He trotted forwards tentatively, unable to see Tori approaching. He heard her hooves crunching in the sand too late; he bumped into her with a startled whicker, then quickly stepped back.
"Ah, sorry 'bout that." Khairi raised an eyebrow and glanced at the lake water lapping at the shore nearby. The waves flickered in the bright sunlight. "I admit defeat; you win!" He grinned broadly. "You're quick, I'll give you that."
Tori chuckled and backed up as she was accedently bumped into. " hehehe thanks, its from the many runs i go on with my father and brothers." she watched the water splash at the shore line and smirked. " your not so bad yourself. but it seems i need to be going. though i hope to meet you again sometime Khairi." giving him a friendly n**, she went off towards where she knew her father would be waiting.
Khairi couldn't help it; he arched his neck slightly at her compliment; she was the first mare he'd met in a while, and certainly the only one he'd dare call a friend. "Thank you. It was fun!" He nipped back at her. "I hope to see you again sometime soon as well." He watched her canter off, then turned and made his way back up the slope. He was going to have to work hard if he wanted to keep up with her next time they met. Khairi grinned to himself at the thought and continued up towards his home.
