Welcome to Gaia! ::

"C'mon fuzzy keep up!" Anabelle giggled as she zipped in a fast but low flight through a small break in the trees. The breeze was crisp and cool with the first hints of the coming season change and it was a wonderful reprieve from the blistering summer heat. Somewhere behind her, 'Belle could hear the breathing, and crashing of the bear that was trying his best to keep pace with her flight. The giggle that left her was giddy, with a hard flap of powerful wings she moved upwards to soar above the tree line and dance among the clouds.

Darian ran a few more feet but his muscles were screaming in agony and finally gave out on him. With a grunt the small bear flopped down hard and panted "I'm not *huff* in the best of *huff* shape *huffhuff* ya know!" His cries were lost on deaf ears since the little mare was gone. He tried to chuckle but it came out a small wheeze "crazy little filly."

Rolling onto his side in a warm patch of sunlight Darian waited for his friend to decide she was done playing. Even though they were in new territory he didn't worry, he hadn't smelled any danger so he didn't expect anyone else to be around, this area seemed quiet and safe for them.

Darian lay in the warm sun catching his breath, he couldn't hear or smell 'Belle anymore .. she must have flown on not realizing he had stopped. He sighed softly and his fuzzy ears twitched, no matter she'd turn back when she realized he hadn't followed.

He had almost started to snore, soft rumbling noises when suddenly a voice awoke him with a start. He jumped to his feet, eyes blurry and confused. He hadn't smelled another .. maybe he was getting old and confused. Eyes clearing he fond himself starring at the golden stallion, his senses working overdrive trying to discern whether he was a threat or not.

"I um ..." he stumbled for words for a brief moment "I'm fine" couldn't let any weakness be know! "Oh these? they were given to me by someone I used to know."

It took the mare a few moments to realize her friend wasn't following anymore, with a pout she banked to the left. It didn't take her long flying back in the direction she had come to see the bear standing in a small clearing. She didn't see the stallion though, and as she flared her wings to slow her descent. she called out with a soft sing song voice "there you are! I was wondering where you'd gone!." She landed gracefully and pranced forward tossing her creamy mane. The long feathers on her head that had been laid down for protection during flight fluffed and preened back up as she shook out her wings.

"Are you tired or something? You should exer..." she froze in mid sentence like a deer caught in headlights as the stallion came into view. The sun was shinning off golden scales, and the breeze had caught the tiny limbs of the tree growing on him.

She probably looked a little silly, frozen in place like a statue eyes wide as her dark cheeks glowed a little brighter with her blush. Slowly, the mare put her hooves that were still raised in mid prance down Uhm uhmuhm ... h-h-hi.."

The bear forced as genuine, he could have made, smile onto his muzzle "oh it's no problem, I don't mind being asked about them." The stallion had started his apology and greeting, only to be stopped. Anabelle had called out to him from somewhere above, faster than the bear could think of a way to calm her fears quickly she had landed and spied his guest.

Darian lifted a paw, his mouth opened to say something ... as the stallion steeped forward already speaking. Slowly the bear lowered his paw, there was not much he could do here, so he watched the two carefully and waited to see what would transpire.

She gulped gingerly, and slowly pulled the smile back to her lips, though it didn't fully abate some of the nervousness in her eyes.

"H-hi Hallion!" her sing-song voice cracked just a little but the mare recovered quickly, wiggling her wings just a bit. "I'm uh .. A-Anabelle!"

She titled her head ever so slightly at the question, her forelock fell over her face in a giant puff covering her eyes for a moment, with a quick toss che cleared them again. "Well I ... never thought about it like that ... I uh .. I don't know .. both my parents had wings and my brothers have wings and we all fly."

"The same land? I think so .. I was born near the mountains far to the north .. but we moved a lot when I was a foal. Me and Darian meet many years ago before .... " she trailed away, a thousand yard stare on her face.

A single tear attempted to slide down her cheek, but as if with a mind of it's own, one of the feathers crowning her head swooped it up and flicked it away.

Suddenly the bear placed a paw against her leg, and she snapped back into reality, "OH .. oh ... sorry ..." quicker than a flash of lightning it was gone, the cheerful side returned "anyway! I meet Darian a long time ago .. he became my protector and friend."