[PRP] Merry Meet (Clara x Eldrin)

[StrawberryRoseTea]

The woods always calmed him. No matter what time of year it was he was always able to find solace wandering alone under the trees. Though admittedly winter was always one of the best times for the kind of musing he did as he wandered alone. The trees were always so beautiful covered in their soft white blankets. The silence was comforting. Relaxing. It allowed something in him to unwind. And he needed a lot of unwinding. The past several months had been rather eventful what with becoming a father and helping raise two lovely little filled. He had also made several friends. And there was Lorcan. His ever present companion. Except for now of course.

Eldrin chuckled softly to himself about the saber cat's aversion to snow. It came as no surprise though, what with him being naturally a desert dweller. Lorcan had opted to stay with the mare Decadent through the winter as she had a cozy cave he could hide in from the cold. The stallion appreciated the way even his soft laugh was quickly swallowed by the stillness of the snowy forest.

He wandered slowly between the trunks of the trees listening to the way his hooves made satisfying crunching noises on the frozen ground. Suddenly overcome with a joyful vigor, probably inspired by the crisp clean air, he gave a little bucking hop and broke into playful prance and danced around in patterns watching the way the snow flew from his hooves in glittering arcs with wonder.

wc: 252

AstoriaFallen

 

[StrawberryRoseTea]

As soon as his gaze locked with that of the beautiful newcomer Eldrin's brain went a different direction from his body. Distracted, he missed a step and began to stumble throwing a diamond dust of snow into the air. His cloven hooves were the only saving grace allowing him to regain footing in time to keep from falling face first into a drift. He quickly recovered his composure and flashed her a sheepish smile before he processed that she had greeted him. Her voice was at once light to his ears but holding a tone that called for his respect and attention.

"Hello. How are you?" He countered politely. He was always friendly to those he met. No matter how they had originally approached him. You never knew when you could diffuse a situation with a bit of kindness. Not that he felt threatened by this lovely newcomer. He took a moment to study the mare, taking in her white gilded light color coat and vaguely rosey golden locks.The wings had him in awe. Not that he hadn't been around a winged mare before but the feathers on them looked cloud soft as opposed to the membranous appendages he had grown used to. Her white markings reminded him of the way the snow dusted the surrounding trees. For a moment he entertained the fantasy of her being a snow angel sent from just to greet him.

AstoriaFallen

 

[StrawberryRoseTea]

The sound her laugh at his display, stifled as it was, sent a wave of warmth through him. There was something almost divine about her, from her bearing to the way she spoke. It intrigued him. Eldrin took a deep breath of the cold air, savoring the crisp cleanness that snow always seemed to lend to the landscape. He let it out with a satisfied snort. Stepping closer to her so that he wouldn't seem to be shouting at her he replied, "Invigorated. Snow always seems to raise my spirits." He tossed his head and flicked his little tail back and forth a few times. "And your lovely company is welcome, you're not interrupting at all. I hope I didn't interrupt whatever it is you are out here to do." He was trying not to stare at her loveliness and found it safer to just meet her eyes directly, which was a challenge as she moved her hooves so delicately in her little dance.

AstoriaFallen

 

[StrawberryRoseTea]

When she smiled at him, Eldrin felt something inside himself begin to unfurl. It raised its head and opened much the same way a flower reacts to the first sun of spring. He was able to breathe easier and it seemed as though a load he hadn't known he was carrying had slipped from his shoulders. He felt a warm relaxed smile grace his own lips. He met her gaze with open friendliness.

When she introduced herself he couldn't help but try her name.
"Clara." The sound of it seemed to him like a pure beautiful bell. "Your name is very lovely Clara. It suits you well.
"I am Eldrin Bright-Tail. It is my pleasure to meet you Clara." He bowed low as he introduced himself, the very tips of his antlers brushing the snow like the lightest of kisses. As he righted himself he was moved by an idea.
"Well, Miss Clara, as it seems that we are both out enjoying the weather with no other plans would you like to walk together? I'm not familiar with this area, as I'm just passing through, but I would enjoy seeing more of it with you." He inclined his head to the side as his gaze met hers, the sincerity of the request glowing in his eyes.

AstoriaFallen

 

[StrawberryRoseTea]

A feeling of warmth rushed through El at the enthusiasm of his suggestion that she conveyed with her wings. The day he had set out to enjoy on his own was quickly turning into even more of a joy with this unexpected but very welcome company. The way the breezes and light played across her was a visual treat. She seemed to be made for the sparkling snowy landscape. Or maybe it was the land that had been made for her?

"Call me El." he invited, his tail giving a flick of pleasure as she drew nearer to him. He was used to being larger than most he encountered so it was natural to him to let his neck relax so that his head dropped lower and he was with her rather than looming above her. He couldn't help but marvel at how delicate she seemed next to him.
"I would love to make an adventure out of it. Today seems a grand day for one." He chuckled. Most of his life seemed an adventure to him anymore. Not that that was a bad thing. Very good, rather, considering the wreck he had been in the past. Instead of feeling like a rootless drifter he was beginning to feel like every place he went and meeting he had was of a purpose. Fate. Or whatever you wanted to call it.

"It would be my pleasure." he replied stepping out carefully through the snow. Adjusting his stride so that he didn't outpace her or force her to move at more than a leisurely gait he carefully picked his way through the snow strewn wood. As they walked he watched the winter wildlife as they went about their business. He paused to watch a pair of squirrels dashing from tree to tree in search of food to add to their, already plentiful he was sure, winter stockpile.
"Do you have a place you call home?" he absently asked the pretty little mare at his side.

AstoriaFallen

No problem. Gaia likes to do that to me a lot X3

 

[StrawberryRoseTea]

Eldrin smiled widely when she charmingly agreed to calling him by his nickname. It always seemed a good sign to him when someone was willing to move to the familiarity of doing so.

He couldn't help but notice the stolen glances she took in his direction and he carried himself a little taller, placed his feet more carefully. It wasn't that he was vain of his appearance, but rather that he felt pleased with her attention. It also made him puff up a bit that she so excitedly took to the suggestion of making their little stroll more exciting by casting it in an adventurous light.
"What kind of wildlife do you find most interesting?" He promoted in response to her suggestion. "I'm personally fond of birds and other winged things. " he gave her a cute smile to accompany his mild flirting.

He nodded in understanding as she spoke of not really staying in a home and felt an odd pang at the mention of being able to visit family. He brushed it aside easily as he was used to such things and unbothered by it now. When she asked about him having a home he was quiet for a moment as he sorted his complicated thoughts of homes and families to the serene sound of their hooves crunching the snow.
"Well I don't really have much of a home. There are a few places that I visit regularly, friends I check on, but that's about it. So we have something in common in that. "

When the winter dressed trees to one side of their current meandering path opened up to reveal a small meadow with an impossibly smooth expanse of ice at its center Eldrin paused, a tentative idea forming. It looked like the meadow had collected a shallow pool of water from some sort of precipitation just before the winter's freeze had taken hold of the wood and it had frozen into a nearly mirror perfect little patch of ice.

WC:332

AstoriaFallen

 

[StrawberryRoseTea]

Eldrin returned her smile, pleased by the repartee that his flirting had inspired. "Yes, deer are nice too. Lovely antlers and all." He flicked his ears and gave her a wink, encouraged by her response.

"Have you ever skated across ice before?" he asked as he stepped into the little meadow. He strolled up to the edge of the ice patch and tested it by putting a hoof on it with some weight. "I found it a little awkward at first but once you get the hang of it it can be rather fun." The ice seemed solid so he stepped the rest of himself on it and pushed off sending himself into a small slide. The patch was just big enough to lend itself well to a critter or two that might just happen to want to skate around on it. It seemed shallow enough to be frozen solid the whole way through and safe to hold heavier weight.

He turned back to her, his ears and tail alert, an impish smile on his face as he awaited an answer.

WC: 182

AstoriaFallen

ugh yeah they are <3