Strong wings spread wide upon the warm summer wind. A finely chisled head bent upon a curving neck to peer downwards at the very green land below. His brilliant blue eyes could see beaches, rivers, lakes, all glistening like jewels below him in the rich green fabric of the lush land. This seemed a good place. He could see two seperate locations where humans dwelt, but otherwise the land was clean and pure, free of the taint of those treacherous two leggers.

He didnt' hate them, nor exactly fear them. He simply wouldn't allow himself to trust them any longer. Not after the tragedy in his homeland. Not after the demise of his family and all he held dear. An ear flicked back to the passenger he carried on his back. The small monkey with a long tail was crouched low on his withers, hands wrapped tight in his mane. Malki did not seem frightened, necessarily, but he certainly wasn't comfortable being so high up.

"What do you think, Malki?" he called back quietly, the wind nearly whisking away his voice. "Does it look like a place to call home?" He was privately amused by the primate's bravity, but he'd never shame his closest friend and servant by showing him this amusement.

"My prince, I'm sure it would look lovely up close," the servant dutifully replied, though his high voice was slightly strained. They had been flying for such a long time, with only brief breaks for necessary functions. Malki was ready to land just about anywhere in order to avoid further flight.

With an accepting nod of his head, the winged horse began his descent, circling in the sky like a massive bird of prey, seeking its nest. from below he might have appeared to be a piece of the sky coming loose to drift down to earth, for he was almost bluer than the sky itself. Sunlight glinted off his silver bands and glittered in the beads scattered along them.

He chose a landing spot far, far from either human settlement. He'd had enough of their interfering ways,and didn't wish to tempt such weak creatures with what he knew they would recognize as potential power. It seemed a racial fault that they reached for it so greedily, each and every one. Shaking his head, he touched his silver hooves to ground and trotted a few steps, folding his wings back comfortably.

Malki leapt down from his back immediately and began rolling in the grass and doing somersaults for joy. Darius snorted softly and shook his head with a slight smile. Malki had been with him for years now, and they knew each other as much as any two creatures might when they were master and servant. After assuring himself of his servant's well-being after the long flight, he turned to tending to his own needs. He swung his head to examine the meadow he'd landed in, his braid clinging close to his gently sweating neck. The sun was directly overhead, having warmed the grasses under it's full heat. This sort of fare didn't interest him, however, and he strode to the shade provided by a large grove of trees. Here, beneath their cooling boughs, a softer, sweeter grass grew, tender shoots newly sprouted and not yet failing in the deeper shadow.

Delicately he nibbled here and there, taking his ease as he filled his belly with choice edibles. Malki had scampered off to look after himself. He never troubled Darius with his own needs, nor cared for himself within sight of his lord. It was one of the restraints they both were comfortable with to keep the distance between served and server. It never troubled him because he had always had one servant or another to fill the position of body servant. He'd even had a human once, though he'd found the creature too prone to doing other than what Darius had wanted.

His appetite sated, he found a cool, sandy spot beneath the trees and lowerd himself to recline. He wasn't terribly weary from the day's flight, but he did require a resting time. Settling his wings in closer, he lowered his head until his nose rested in a clump of grass, edged with a flowering weed. With this soft fragrance and the quiet sounds of life proceeding around him, he was soothed and soon was dozing peacefully.