[PRP] Arms of Decor (Kayla + Rhyme)

[Nyhility]

"Must you really lounge on my back, Tip? Last I had checked, your own legs were in fair condition..."

The hulking mare flicked her ears back half-heartedly for a reply, before pointing them forward once more in trained alertness. The only reason she had even spoken was for an attempt of chatter. It was not that her familiar was heavy or bothersome, in fact he was quite light and silent. The perfect type of rider for travels, if she had to honestly pick one. But with her armor already so heavy on her frame, and the summer heat only growing warmer, the Elekk mare doubted she'd ever seek out a rider for herself.

It wasn't until she heard the skitter of feet along her saddle that she allowed a smile to grace her face. And here she was beginning to think that Tip had fallen asleep. "KK, ya know yer strides are longer than mine! 'Sides, remember that time ya almost stepped on me?" The plush familiar couldn't help but shake at that memory, in which he gave a good chitter chattering to his Soquili partner. Needless to say, since then the two have come to terms on just how closely they could travel together.

Giving a soft chuckle, Kayla nodded in response as she scanned the distant horizon. It was still early morning, and the landscape was bathed in the cool light of a vanishing night. The sun had yet to make an appearance, but it's glow was already filling the air and stirring the wilderness to life. Further ahead and to her left was a shallow dip among the hills, where the grass grew longer and mingled with reeds before sinking into a small lake. And already she could hear the faint calls of ducks and watering fowls taking their morning baths.

Continuing at a casual stride, the mare made her way to the waters edge.
 

[Huroggmeten]

Dawn broke across the sky, and Rhyme felt his spirits soar as he watched the light come back to the skies. Night held its own charms, but Day illuminates the wonders of the world in a way that did not distract from their beauty. That which was in shadow could not truly be seen... well, by him, anyway. His eyesight wasn't that good.

Blood-red eyes scanned the horizon for the sun, but it had not yet arrived. His ears flickered as bird-calls rose to greet the new day, and he felt his chest rise as a great breath was drawn deep into his lungs.

"Good morning, heart's delight. What wondrous melodies shall this day bring?" He could have been talking to a friend, but his speech was sung instead of spoken. His voice danced across the musical scale, as if he were testing out every note to see which rang truest in this latest venue of lake-side hills.
He seemed to favor the deeper tones this day, and his rich voice joined the bird-song.

"Ahhlala mmmmmshaaaa dedoo...." words were no longer important; he was merely playing among the various high-pitched songs of those who soared the skies.
His ears (constantly scanning even as his voice rang out true and pure) picked up something new in the wavelengths of the day- chattering? Still faint, but enough for his fine-honed hearing to detect.
"ooo-Oooo?" he queried, letting his voice trail off as he listened in earnest. Had this day brought a fellow land-dweller near?
 

[Nyhility]

Ears flitted front to back as the mare halted her march, her shoulders suddenly tense as well. There was a sound in the air, and at first she could have sworn to herself that they took the shape of words. However, the pitch had changed before she could further analyze it. Instead, it now sounded like nothing more than the hyper conversation of local birds. After confirming with Tip that it could be nothing more than silly avians, Kayla had to cast her worries aside and continue her travel.

As the edge of the water drew nearer, her plump companion had leapt from her saddle to race down the hill for a tiny cannonball. It was quite comical to see her otherwise quiet friend make such a splash, hooting and swimming in the cool liquid with such joy. But before she could even dip her hooves in to join such antics, she heard a calling not too far in the distance. And her carefree attitude instantly dropped in place of nervous attention.

What if it was a foe? She was downhill and her friend too far in the water to reach in time. So with narrowed brows and tense hope, Kayla peered at the hilltop to wait for whatever was over the corner...

Huroggmeten

 

[Huroggmeten]

The chatter of some manner of small creature paired with gentle splashing reached his ears, and Rhyme stifled the urge to harmonize with it. Those were the sounds of joyous self-expression, a thing upon which he would not intrude without permission.
Of course... how might one obtain permission if not to ask for it?

Encouraged by the thought, he began to move towards the sounds with a loose and merry stride. His hoofsteps were muffled by the grassy hills and barely audible, though he made no effort to quiet his approach; his natural grace, amplified by sinewy muscles, allowed him to pass without making much noise... if his mouth remained closed.

As he broke the crest of the hill, he tossed his long white bangs out of his field of vision and peered towards the water. Something gold and glittering caught his eye, and his gaze swiveled towards a small (perspective, he chided himself gently as he admired the earthen tones) heavily armored equine.

"Greetings!" he called, a broad grin spreading across his features as he glanced towards the water. He did not spot a creature amidst the shimmering blue canvas, though he could only presume that it was not she who had made those sounds only so recently.
He paused mid-step, waiting to see whether she desired company on this day before continuing.

Nyhility

 

[Nyhility]

With her own sunny eyes, Kayla scanned over the horizon with anything but cheer. Left and right, but still no sight of the source to the earlier noise. She couldn't have imagined it, could she? Perhaps her anxieties were getting the best of her, and she was punishing herself in her small moments of carefree joy.

But even that thought was of no comfort, as a form soon rose from the smooth hill behind her. As white as a cloud, but far too agile and grounded to be such a form. It was an equine, and that very detail was enough for the mare to lock her legs nervously. But there were no emblems or war helms upon the stranger's body, and it was a rare chance that he had come from her homelands. No, he was as foreign to her as she was to him. However, she did note his pastel fabrics, and could just make out some metals winking faintly in the sunlight. Was he a stallion of battle, or royalty even?

His call hit her ears, but one would have thought her deaf by her reaction. Or lack-thereof. She remained rigid and staring, like a baby deer experiencing its first thunderstorm. It wasn't until a few awkward seconds passed that she became self-aware of her behavior, and with closed eyes she shook her head to recollect her thoughts.

"Morning to you, good sir. I....are you thirsty?" o-o;
"The water is still cool and refreshing..."

Huroggmeten

 

[Huroggmeten]

His grin faded slightly, settling into a more subdued smile of welcome. Her hesitance, if that was what the delayed response could be called, was somewhat worrying to him- he operated on rhythm, on cadence, on song... such things had a natural beat to them, as did a pleasant encounter; a quick repertoire, developed between two harmonious notes or beings.
Alas, perhaps his appearance was unwelcome.... but, then, a clear invitation trailed her formal greeting.

He considered her question carefully. Was her form tense? Did she hold herself alert? Or was that some trick of the light? His arrival upon the hill might have been sudden- a startled reaction was natural, and he should not dismay over it overmuch. Each was entitled to their own manner of Being, of interacting with others, and of living in this world.

Perhaps it was best simply to accept her offer with nonchalance; he would not suggest his own departure, for he hoped for an invitation to harmonize with the... splashing creature who may be this mare's companion.
"A drink would be most appreciated for this traveler." He made his way down the hill, careful to keep his fluid pace restrained to avoid aggravating the perhaps-startled reaction. He could not help himself, and sang a few notes to bridge his descent.

Though it would not do to presume, he had encountered those before who had fled shortly after inviting him to partake in refreshment- perhaps to give him privacy, perhaps out of shyness or anxiety. She seemed a stoic sort, a strong tune that wavered while finding itself... though, he did not wish to leave their meeting to chance.

"I am Rhyme."

An introduction to meet an invitation.

Nyhility

 

[Nyhility]

NheKayla returned his mild expression with a matching one of her own. Despite the stranger's obvious joyous tone, the mare couldn't bring herself to be lulled too swiftly into the company of the natives. No matter how kindly their approach. First came observation, as she had been told as a child. Then she could worry about the status of acquaintances or friends. Even so, she was aware that she could be alert and still be social at the same moment...although it was a test she was still trying to overcome.

Nodding in response to his answer, she took a single step back as she awaited his descent. A thoughtful flick to her tail, and the bristly hair against her leg helped to ground her anxiety. Enough so that she could realize there was a tune to the mutterings under his breath. W...was he singing? Then her ears tipped forward curiously. "R-Rhyme, you say?" Well that was certainly different from her family names. Giving a half smile, the mare dipped a small bow. "And I am NheKayla. But 'Kayla works just as well....."

It took her a moment to realize the motion in her peripheral vision. A brown mass had exited the water, shaking out his small body to dry his fur. Then, without warning or battle cry, the prairie dog launched itself at the white stallion's ankle in attempts to defend his friend.

"Tip, no!"

Huroggmeten

 

[Huroggmeten]

He noted her mild expression with silent thanks to no one in particular, pleased that she had either recovered from her earlier fright or he had simply been imagining things again. He was close now, and though she withdrew a step he passed it off as nothing more than making room for him below.
Still, be approached slowly, to give her time to think and react as most suited her strong inner tune.

He smiled; he had indeed said Rhyme... and then his head swept in a glorious bow to meet her own, his nose practically brushing the ground as he swept through the movement with the ease of long practice. Small flecks of dirt now tainted his overlong forelock, but he paid it no mind. He had not been trying to outdo her; the show of respect was just a figment of his theatrical personality.
NheKayla... the foreign name suited her perfectly, though he was judging by the flow of the syllables and the gracious noises alone, for he did not know the meaning of her name. It meant her, to him, and that was and always would be enough.
Kayla fit her just as well, and he pondered the finding that not one but two names could seem so perfect for an individual... perhaps her wavering tune held distinct vibrations that it varied between? He stopped himself from making further assumptions, for he knew he was becoming overly familiar with the mare for the time they had spent together... even if it was only in his mind.

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Kayl-" the response, which rolled so easily and musically off his tongue, was interrupted as the until-recently-splashing-creature launched itself at his ankles. He peered down curiously, thankful for his ornamental armor even as he realized that between it and his hardened hooves lay the tender skin of his cuticle. Slightly bemused, he lifted up his un-armored leg and held it poised--not to strike, but more to offer the small creature only a... moderately-well-protected target.
He glanced back at the mare as she bid her friend- Tip, was it?- no. "I mean neither you nor your friend any harm." he said, arching his neck to bring his head closer to the Tip-creature, his long braid now dangling past his knees, its tuft hanging close to the critter's head.

Perhaps, some day, he would put this encounter to song. He already heard the chattering rhythm, pure and true...

Nyhility