Welcome to Gaia! ::

"Ion, ION! Come quick! Thali's got a date!" Tide bugled at his brother in delight. "Hurry up, you are taking too long!" Tide watched the two approach with wide eyes. He was delighted and happy and about to sneak in all the teasing he could get. "So Thali, I asked you to pick up some herbs, not a mare." Tide smiled to show he was kidding. He didn't want to startle Thali's friend.

"Tide what are you caterwauling about now?" Ion rolled back onto his feet. At his brother's first call he had been in the middle of a dust bath. So he now shook the excess off his coat and went to see what in the world was so important that he couldn't finish a good roll in the dirt. "Ah Enthallion son, who is this lovely young lady? Please introduce us." Before Tide could open his big mouth Ion stuffed some grass into it.

Dark Ion, Dark Tide, Meet Taoshira. She used to live with Voreti'Riay in the Forest of Silence. Ion had started calling Voreti's forest that after he had been kicked out of it unceremoniously. He thought it had a better ring to it than "the forest of five baths to get all the swamp stink out". Enthallion noddeed to each horse in turn and sneered at Tide who was still trying to dislodge the grass clump.

"A pleasure my dear." Ion bowed. "As heard leader I welcome you to stay for as long as you like. Currently my mate is out galavanting who knows where but hopefully she will be back soon."

Tide had finally managed to hack up the clump of grass. "Yes Miss a pleasure," Tide had finally found what was left of his manners underneath his damaged "got grass stuffed in my face" pride.

"Please come enjoy our tree," Ion offered and nosed Dark tide out of the way.

Enthallion nudged Tashi with a hip and grinned at her. His yellow eyes said "See I told you so" but he didn't say so out loud so as not to embaress her.
Enthallion followed his father and lay down on a bed of comfortable and fragrant pine needles. "Come Tashi you are safe now," he nodded at Tide, and spoke softly, "And with all the entertainment you will ever need."

"Your welcome Tashi. It is always nice to sleep somewhere safe, don't you agree?" he asked. He put his head down and sighed contentedly. The branches swayed over them and Enthallion was comforted by Tashi's touch. No wonder Ion and Opal slept so close together all the time. The cool in the morning would not bug them as much as the others.

Ion toodled off to go see Opal and to give the two young horses some privacy.

Tide hide behind the tree and watched over them. It seemed his nephew had finally grown up.

" I bet you she wasn't a very good cuddler." Enthallion whispered back to her unable to pass up that opportunity. He slid a little closer to her to better share the warmth. "I don't see how she could bare to hurt you like that. You are so sweet and gentle. i am so sorry that she trampled you out of here forest. She had no call to be harsh to you as I am sure that you tended the forest just as well as she did." Enthallion nuzzled her hesitantly.

Tide nearly choked behind his tree at Enthallion's first comment. And he couldn't suppress the snigger that escaped him. As he listened though, tide became very sober. "That no -count unfeeling heartless wretch." Tide swore. He rushed to catch up with Ion and told him the news.

Enthallion blinked, "Well I never thought about it that way, I just wish you hadn't been hurt." He decided that he liked cuddling and would do so every chance he got. Enthallion gave Taoshira a dazzling smile.

After listening to Tide's report, Ion felt unsettled. It was more important then ever that he find Opal. They may have foals coming and having a shrew living so close to them may put the babies in danger. Also it wouldn't do to upset mares. Tashi didn't deserve the emotional battering she received. He would know as the churlish mare had battered at him too. He was surprised that Voreti would take in a foal at all. Although if she were to take a foal, Ion thought that Taoshira would be a perfect candidate as the youngling was very sweet. "Good job Tide, Now can I get you to stay here for a while just to be sure all stays well with the two love birds."

"Well we have apple trees too, they are just further away. We also won't kick you out Tao. Actually its the more the merrier in this herd, I have also heard that Ion and Tide's brother Dark Hellfyre is supposed to come too. You see the brother's come from the farthest tip of the continent. Tide said that his mother often warned them not to fall off the edge." Enthallion was babbling to hide the effect that her smile had on him. She had stunned his senses a little bit.

"Exploring sounds fun! I have always wanted to deeply explore the forest near the lake. Perhaps we could have a quick look around tomorrow then?" Enthallion's eyes lit up at the prospect of an adventure and with such a lovely partner too boot. "There is no one else I would rather explore with then you Tao. You are full of life and less annoying then some unsaid uncles that I know."