Welcome to Gaia! ::

Lughnasadh walked through the snowy woods, enjoying what little winter sunlight there was and the shy warmth the sun emitted. The herd had moved to a sheltered little valley where the snow had scarcely fallen, but hopefully come spring, they could start moving out and any foals born in the spring could run and play in the receding snows.

He smiled at the thought and realized his feet were taking him toward the sea, the same stretch of coastline where he'd fallen during the Great Starfall. It was a sad place for him, but he now thought happily of it, since it was a relaxing place to go, and a lot of fun in the summer and at sunset.

Finally he broke the cover of the trees up the beach and paused in the little snow on the beach to watch the choppy waves that he suspected were icy this time of year. Definitely not a good idea to play in the surf. Then he heard his mate's voice and he smiled even more. "It's me, Regina. Mind if I join you?"

Lughnasadh smiled and nuzzled her. "I didn't know you were here, my love, I wandered out here on my own. I'm not mad at you, I love you too much." His smile took on a playful expression. "No, we haven't been alone for a long time...too long."

He noticed the way she seemed to want to get at the grass below. Of course. She probably didn't like winter at all, and he didn't blame her. At least the coldest days were past, and spring would come soon. "Spring's already on its way, Regina." He found himself gazing into her orange eyes, warm like fire, but bright like the flowers of high summer and autumn leaves. He nuzzled her. "Winter doesn't last forever, it just seems like it does."

"Everybody will be ready for spring, with all the lovely flowers and lupin blooming in the fields." He smiled. "Winter is bleak, but it's kind of pretty, how the sunlight sparkles on new snow, though sunlight on the sea in summer is prettier."

Lughnasadh smiled even more when Regina stole the kiss and extended his golden neck over her black torso and delicate black, orange, and white wings to shelter her from the falling snow. "We probably should, since it will definitely be warmer with everyone else, but let's stand here a bit longer like this. It's been a long time since we last stood like this, love."

Lughnasadh smiled. "I've already talked it over with Sunniva. She definitely would like to see some more foals running around the herd, including some younger siblings. I know that I would also like to see more foals, including children of my own. I just figured we'd start talking about it in the spring, when new flowers are blooming and birds are singing again."

He was delighted that Regina also wanted foals, and couldn't wait to start working on having some of their own foals to share this world, this life, and their herd with someday very soon.

Lughnasadh smiled in delight. "I hope some of the foals favor you, too, my lovely butterfly." He couldn't help but laugh as she dancer around his nose, nuzzling him. "That tickles, Regina," he said very softly, so he wouldn't hurt her tiny ears or blow her away with his stronger breath.

"I love you, too, my butterfly, and I can't wait either. No matter who they favor, the foals will be beautiful, and they'll have Sunniva as a big sister to look up to."

Lughnasadh nodded. "Let's come out here when it gets warmer and brighter and definitely make good on those plans. I'm sure the sun will come out tomorrow," he said confidently. "If it doesn't, we can always go chase the sun until we find out where it's hiding and persuade it to stop hiding," he said more playfully. "I'm sure if nothing else, the sun will be so charmed by my warm butterfly to come out tomorrow." He knew he had successfully cheered Regina up, and that always made him happy. He was overjoyed that he'd met her and she'd chosen to be his mate, when she could have chosen anyone.

Lughnasadh laughed and dashed after her. "And you are my warm butterfly, who can melt the ice of winter's heart and charm the very sun into shining for everyone and everything. Even your personal sun would rise and grow warm, chasing you across the skies for you and the rest of the world, just to make you happy, Regina. When the darkness in the world clouds my eyes, heart, and mind, you bring out the warmth and joy in me again." He quickly caught up and slowed down a little to easily match her pace.