*
Mistrel gave a nervous flutter of his wings as he darted just above the treetops, eyes narrowed as he searched for the familiar flash of indigo that would herald the arrival of two specific Soquili. When the appeared not to be forthcoming he gave a sigh and sped downward through the canopy of trees to the nervously-pacing stallion waiting for him.
"No sign of them yet, I am afraid..." He reported somewhat reluctantly. "But I am sure they are on their way."
The whole time the hummingbird was gone, the mist-blue coated stallion paced restlessly around the small glade he had stopped in. His strides were nearly-silent, but the repeated circle of motion slowly flattened the grass of the glade. Ballad wasn't regularly one to "fret", but it was hard to settle without knowing everyone he loved was safe and well. With their family scattered throughout stars-knew how many years, that was not a comfort he could yet enjoy. Still, he at least had his mate and two of his children within this land, and an adopted daughter besides.
It was one thing to hope they were all safe, which he did most fervently, with all of his being. But it was altogether another thing entirely to know they were alright. To be able to see them, to reach out and touch, confirm they were real and whole and here. But they weren't at the moment, and so he paced.
As time ticked by, slow and unchanging, Ballad shifted and grew more restless. He had taken to pawing at the earth now and again, ears swiveling to catch the sound of distant hoof-beats. Not yet, still not yet. But he could hear the wildlife beginning to quiet around him.
Then again, that was not so surprising. The birds were settling into their nests, squirrels and rabbits tucked away safely in their dens or burroughs... Even the quail and pheasant and streaked off through the underbrush to seek cover. Lightning was splitting the sky in the distance, bringing dark clouds and the scent of rain.
Ballad paused and lifted his head, nostrils flaring as he drank in the wind. There was a storm brewing now, which would make their journey all the more difficult. As dense as some of the tree-cover was here, they would still be soaked if the storm settled in for a while.
So long as Whistle and Kelakohr arrived before that happened, there journey wouldn't be too greatly impacted. But for now it was a matter of "if" that would occur, or if they would be delayed when the storm cut them off. Which sent the stallion to pacing again, even after the hummingbird returned.
"Of course." Ballad agreed softly, nodding his thanks to the hummingbird that was also his familiar and a close traveling companion. "I am sure you are right, and there is no telling exactly which direction they may approach from. A more circuitous route could bring them about behind or ahead of us entirely."
*
Mistrel gave a nervous flutter of his wings as he darted just above the treetops, eyes narrowed as he searched for the familiar flash of indigo that would herald the arrival of two specific Soquili. When the appeared not to be forthcoming he gave a sigh and sped downward through the canopy of trees to the nervously-pacing stallion waiting for him.
"No sign of them yet, I am afraid..." He reported somewhat reluctantly. "But I am sure they are on their way."
The whole time the hummingbird was gone, the mist-blue coated stallion paced restlessly around the small glade he had stopped in. His strides were nearly-silent, but the repeated circle of motion slowly flattened the grass of the glade. Ballad wasn't regularly one to "fret", but it was hard to settle without knowing everyone he loved was safe and well. With their family scattered throughout stars-knew how many years, that was not a comfort he could yet enjoy. Still, he at least had his mate and two of his children within this land, and an adopted daughter besides.
It was one thing to hope they were all safe, which he did most fervently, with all of his being. But it was altogether another thing entirely to know they were alright. To be able to see them, to reach out and touch, confirm they were real and whole and here. But they weren't at the moment, and so he paced.
As time ticked by, slow and unchanging, Ballad shifted and grew more restless. He had taken to pawing at the earth now and again, ears swiveling to catch the sound of distant hoof-beats. Not yet, still not yet. But he could hear the wildlife beginning to quiet around him.
Then again, that was not so surprising. The birds were settling into their nests, squirrels and rabbits tucked away safely in their dens or burroughs... Even the quail and pheasant and streaked off through the underbrush to seek cover. Lightning was splitting the sky in the distance, bringing dark clouds and the scent of rain.
Ballad paused and lifted his head, nostrils flaring as he drank in the wind. There was a storm brewing now, which would make their journey all the more difficult. As dense as some of the tree-cover was here, they would still be soaked if the storm settled in for a while.
So long as Whistle and Kelakohr arrived before that happened, there journey wouldn't be too greatly impacted. But for now it was a matter of "if" that would occur, or if they would be delayed when the storm cut them off. Which sent the stallion to pacing again, even after the hummingbird returned.
"Of course." Ballad agreed softly, nodding his thanks to the hummingbird that was also his familiar and a close traveling companion. "I am sure you are right, and there is no telling exactly which direction they may approach from. A more circuitous route could bring them about behind or ahead of us entirely."
*
