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 Posted: Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:26 am
 The sun filtered through the very edge of the forest, an open meadow spread before it. It was surprisingly how well even a brilliantly red mare could blend in with these shadows. Only Inali’s silver mane and tail gave her away, as she wandered thoughtfully, gazing upwards to admire small birds and friendly squirrels. It was a beautiful day, and Inali was enjoying the mixture of shade and coolness against her dark coat. It provided the perfect balance, making her wholly at ease.
Slowly walking out of the forest, Inali’s silver eyes blinked against the change in light, distorting her world for a moment. It was hard to see, and when the world finally materialized, it was still rather bright. Never mind. It was still nice out, and the bright sun soon warmed Inali’s already rather hot blood to the point where she could no longer sit still. Checking to make sure that no one was watching (which, to Inali’s delight, it didn’t appear there was), the mare bolted forward, breaking into a gallop.
Her hooves beating a rhythmic beat, Inali proceeded to kick up her heels, quite literally. She tossed her head, whinnying, and then reared up, thrusting forward her hooves in mock battle with the air. It was good to feel like a filly again, losing all her societal inhibitions in this moment of pure bliss and adrenaline. In her mind, Inali was racing alongside the swiftest of soquili, fighting kalona, and flying with those who had that gift. Her land bound body suddenly didn’t seem as significant, in the face of imagination. Butterflies could become winged foes, as they slowly drifted from flower to flower.
Inali knew she was acting like a filly, which was something she had not been for a few years, but she found herself not caring. Without anyone to see, what did she care? Only the birds and the insects would remember her passage here, and they couldn’t put enough thought into it to think it strange. Ah yes, the day was good, bright and pretty, and Inali was blissfully alone to indulge herself in whichever way she wanted.
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 2:44 pm
The forest was tranquil today. Pleasant. And there were no birds divebombing him because he was close to Amerlei's family's territory. Which, he could admit, was a lovely change. He didn't mind the birds...but goodness did they annoy him with their swooping and shrill calls.
Shaking his head, he let his green forelock fall into his eyes before tossing it again in attempt to have them settle so he could see still. When that didn't work, he shook his head vigorously, finally emerging triumphant as he got it out of his eyes. Snorting to himself, he pranced a few paces before the drum of hoofbeats caught his attention. Ears pricking, he stood still and tried locating the source of the sound, his muscles quivering lightly.
Within moments, the one making the noise sped into view, her ride a glistening colour of blood in the afternoon light. At first, he started, thinking perhaps she was fleeing something... But after a few moments of watching the Soquili kick her heels up, he smiled to himself.
Someone was having fun.
His ears flicked to and fro as he watched from the shadows of the trees, the leaf pattern around his eyes and along his body giving him...a bit of camouflage, but not much. Unless he was standing directly in a lilac bush...well, he was fairly visible, even in the shade.
Arithyl pondered perhaps making his presence known, but decided that for now, he would remain where he was and observe the one who was obviously enjoying being alone. But she wasn't as alone as she thought. Arching his neck, he gazed through the trees, half hoping she would continue to frolic. The Soquili's lightheartedness warmed his own heart...and he was sorely tempted to join her.
And before he knew it, temptation became too great to ignore.
Tossing his head, he left the shadows of the forest to lope into the clearing, lion's tail flicking about, shimmering its purple colours in the sun. He arched his neck once again, slowing from his run to a snappy trot, a small but growing smile upon his lips.
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Posted: Mon Jul 21, 2008 6:17 pm
There was no doubt about it- Inali was in a good mood. Her endorphins were flowing, and she laughed out loud at her own antics. It was a beautiful day, and she could no longer hold it all in. Whooping, the red mare continued to burst forth in sprints, drawing closer to the forest as she did so. Everything released, it took Inali a moment to register an odd bit of color in the normally green and brown forest. There was something… not quite right, but in all her joy and giddiness, it took Inali a moment to register. Even when she did, she felt as though she had to complete one last lap around the meadow before slowing a trot, and finally fully stopping with wide silver eyes to examine the soquili watching her.
How could she have missed him? True, his green parts did blend in rather well with the forest, but the rest of his body was a bright purple that certainly was incongruous. Now that he had come into the proper light, Inali stopped, nostrils quivering slightly as she took in his scent, and then the entirety of the stallion. Well… He was unusual looking. There was no other way the mare could describe him. The combination of green and purple seemed loud here, though in the forest it was much more quiet. In the sun, his bent neck glistened, and there was a smile on his lips. Had he seen all her antics? Was he going to laugh at her for being so childish?
Wary, Inali trotted forward a bit to face the stallion again. She tried to think of something to say, but found herself at a loss for words. No one was supposed to see her being so silly! What made it worse was his clearly uni soquili body. From the few Inali had encountered, the unicorn creatures seemed to have a sense of proper decorum and stiff, upright bearing that wouldn’t hold with what he had just witnessed. Fantastic. Just what Inali needed- someone to mock her, when she was so fragilely back in the soquili community.
“I’m sorry you had to see that. I just… The sun was so warm, and I wanted to run, and I’m not normally that childish. It was silly. Please don’t hate me.” Aware that she was babbling, Inali burst out once more with her name. “I’m Inali. Please don’t leave.” None of it made sense in her mind, but out it came anyway. He obviously wasn’t going to run away, if he was approaching her, and his smile didn’t seem condescending- at least, not really. It was hard to tell with some.
“But you’re welcome here. There’s some clover on the west end of the meadow, and some mint in the north.” Well, the strange stallion could have just come here looking for food, and the clover tasted wonderful- sweet, with a burst of tart at the end that made Inali’s eyes water and lips pucker in a comical fashion. “Oh, and where are my manners? Please, introduce yourself. If you want.” Inali’s social blunders were inexcusable, in her mind. It was lucky a blush wouldn’t show up on her dark coat, or she would have been more humiliated. As it was, her eyes were lowered slightly, only darting up now an dthen to examine the stallion covertly.
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 1:37 pm
Arithyl could not deny he was amused at the trepidation upon the mare's face as he strode towards her. But it didn't give him as much of the feel-good-vibe he'd gotten when he had watched her kick up her heels. He felt the need to wipe the worry away, even though he'd probably babble and blubber himself. But somehow...it was easier when she was just as nervous as he. He allowed her to run out of steam before he chuckled in good humour. It might have sounded something akin to bells ringing, for all he knew.
"My name is Arithyl, and it's nice to meet you, Inali." His head dipped in a half-bowing motion before he looked at her again, head tilted to the side. "Do not apologize for enjoying yourself on such a brilliant day. Anyone silly enough to 'hate' you for it is..off in their heads. I find it rather contagious...it's been a while since I felt carefree enough to act young again. I rather miss it."
While he was indeed trying to put the brilliant garnet mare at ease, he also meant every word he said. It wasn't pleasant or easy for Arithyl to lie; he disliked untruths--his regal nature couldn't stand them. The offer of food was welcome, but not wanted at the moment.
"I think it is I, however, that should apologize. I interrupted your fun." He snorted, shaking his head ruefully. Idly, he scraped a hoof against the grass, lightly. He looked somewhat sheepish, now, having come to the realization that he had, indeed, caused her to stop. And he couldn't very well as if she wanted to play...could he...?
"I...uh... If it's not too much trouble, that is... Would you mind--you know. Uhh~ ...playing...again. With me, I mean." Almost immediately after blubbering out his own question, he ducked his head with a blush, but peered at the mare - who might very well have been in shock at the moment - that had caused his feet to lift just a little bit higher in her little spirited gallop 'round the meadow.
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 1:55 pm
The stallion's laughter was contagious. Inali quickly found a grin spreading across her own face. It was rather silly of her to think it was silly, wasn't it? She understood his laughter to be at her own stumbling attempt at apologies, rather than at her carefree playing on this beautiful day.
His next words only made the mare grin even broader. That Arithyl saw the worth in her play was even better. Inali had not reckoned that anyone, in particular any stallion, would see the validation in her behavior. She thought that everyone would think it rather immature once they found out, and just dismiss her as a filly in a mare's body. "Thank you. I don't think many would agree with you. I'm glad that you don't see me as a sight!" Laughing in her loud way (not at all delicate), Inali contented herself with a smile.
"You didn't interrupt my fun at all. It is just as enjoyable to meet another soquili as it is to romp about the meadows. Having a new companion can bring its own worth." Inali had a sudden desire to put the sheepish expression away from Arithyl's face. He shouldn't feel ashamed at all! She was the one who hadn't noticed he was there until the last minute. It had been rude of her, and Inali hated to be regarded as rude in any way.
"So no apologies needed. I should apologize for not noticing you sooner!" It was Inali's turn to look bashful, silver forelock falling into her wide eyes as she dragged her own single black hoof against the soil, dislodging a bit of grass and disturbing a single earthworm.
As Arithyl's offer poured out in a stutter, Inali felt herself smiling so broadly that she could no longer contain it. A laugh of pure joy lifted from her mouth once again, as she tossed her head and regarded him with amusement and happiness. A stallion that would play with her? This just got better and better! "Of course I'll play with you. I'd be more than happy to. No grown up soquili ever wants to play, which I think is a shame. But you'll have to keep up with me and catch me." Competition thrown into the play- Inali was in paradise, and found herself unexpectedly tongue tied in front of the purple uni soquili. What was this? Why couldn't she speak?
"Come get me!" Dismissing her sudden inability to form a sentence, Inali darted forward, kicking up her heels once again. This was what she loved so dearly- good companionship and beautiful weather. She made sure not to go so quicky that Arithyl could not keep up, instead teasing him, prancing in place then darting forward, letting the chase come forward. Her actions were almost flirtatious, if Inali could identify what she was feeling. Instead, she indulged in feeling like a filly once more, losing all her inhibitions of being seen as such.
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 2:49 pm
Arithyl snorted at the irony of her telling him there should be no apologies, and then proceeding to apologize again. Stretching out his neck, he bumped her with his muzzle. "What was that about no apologies needed..?"
His ears perked and his eyes brightened at Inali's laughter. His head came up, neck curved in an arch at the pleasure of being accepted. A chance to play, not something Arithyl felt he could do often. As with Inali, he took what other Soquili would think seriously, and normally he was the normally the very picture of grace and maturity...but underneath, deep inside himself, he felt the need to romp and play at times, just as the spirited mare before him.
"Keep up with you? I'm sure I'll have little problems with that!" He quirked, snorting and prancing in place, his legs swaying easily beneath his body.
"Come get me!"
Why was there something alluring about those words--more alluring than simple play? Arithyl shook his head, cleansing his thoughts of little worries and cares as he danced after the silver-eyed mare with a filly's heart. The feelings invoked by their play made him dance a little more, move a bit quicker, just a tad more graceful, as he chased her.
He had to admit, she was a sly one. She must have spent countless hours out of the days of her youth playing such games. Mane flying, he leaped at her, a challenging, eager whinny tossed out as he landed, kicking up his heels before tearing after Inali once again, cloven hooves tearing up patches of grass as he sped up before he danced into the cover of the trees, attempting to at least use the shade as some sort of cover - though in truth it didn't help much - as he tried to dart ahead of the mare and jump out of the trees before her. Head swaying side to side, he pranced forwards, giving her time to begin running anew, then giving chase once again.
He grinned. Eventually, he would get her, he knew. Expanding his chest with a great breath of air, he lengthened his stride and stretched his muscles out, arching his neck before bumping his nose at her flank in attempt to 'tag' her.
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Posted: Thu Jul 31, 2008 3:03 pm
The irony hadn't been completely lost on Inali- only mostly. It wasn't exactly her fault that she was so guilty, but it had gone almost entirely over her head. Some part of her remarked on it, but Inali stifled that little voice quite quickly.
Arithyl seemed to move quite quickly and gracefully. Inali didn't even realize she had slowed down slightly to watch him, amusement dancing in her eyes as she followed the movement of the green and purple stallion. He moved so nicely! But if she kept herself in dreamland, he would catch her quickly.
Of course, Arithyl chose that moment to vanish into the forest. She could see occasional splashes of color that marked his passage, but Inali couldn't quite make out his full shape. Instead, she pulled herself closer to the tree trunks, teasingly darting closer and closer, only to dash away, whickering loudly and laughing so hard that she could barely breathe. This was so much fun! Why had she thought this was stupid before? There was just sheer relief of adult stress in this, as Inali's muscles burned in a way that was not entirely displeasing.
Almost losing herself in thought again, Inali was brought back with a gentle nose bump at her flank. "Ahhh, you got me! I've been vanquished!" Making a passable (and very, very theatrical) wailing noise, Inali reared back, tossing her head dramatically. "You better run quickly, because now I'm going to get you." Again, Inali felt something stirring, but shoved it deep beneath. Not right now. Not now. She could overthink things later. For now, she was just going to enjoy herself, and catch Arithyl, whose alluring lilac hide always seemed a single step ahead of her.
Stopping and panting, Inali delivered her ultimatum. "I'll give you a few minutes head start. You're going to need it." Laughing again, Inali tensed her muscles as if to leap forward, some inner part of her making sure that Arithyl saw the way the light danced on her skin. True, she could hardly breathe, but these games would continue! After all, it was Inali's turn to chase the stallion.
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