|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:03 pm
It was still dark and the sleeping mare was an early riser - but not that early. In fact, she wouldn't rise until the first slivers of light touched the sky and the birds began their morning song unless she was woken first by someone or something else.
There had been no nightmares to interrupt her sleep so Hienna was in the same place as she had been when she fell asleep, minus a few inches here or there to allow for her shifting. One thing was for certain, though, she did look at peace.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:16 pm
 Dark it was, still as black as though it were the middle of the night. However, the dawn would be coming before too much longer, and in preparation for that dawn many of the woodland creatures were starting to stir as those that were nocturnal scurried about in search of resting places and those that weren't began to stir in preparation for morning.
Among the latter group, Zaphiro slowly unfurled his wings and slowly, deliberately rose to his feet; a wide yawn fell from his lips, and for a moment he was blinking about, shifting from the dreamlike state of half-asleep to the coherance of awakeness. However, he was an early riser and one of those that awoke quickly; consequently, after a short amount of time he was tossing back his curls and looking about him with the energy of one ready and willing to face the day.
That in mind, he shook his wings experimentally and glanced about the clearing...and paused, as his gaze alighted on a patch of purple. All at once the previous day's happenings were rushing back to mind, and he was simply staring in shock. That's right...
Walking silently, he made his way around the spring over to where Hienna was lying, curious as to whether or not she was still sleeping. And if she was, how long would she be asleep for? They hadn't mentioned rising habits yesterday, after all.
Not that he had anywhere to go, anyway.
Regardless, she was still asleep, and he planned on letting her stay that way. Consequently, once he REALIZED she was still asleep he moved off, deciding that now was as good a time as any to get that swim.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:25 pm
Hienna was a light sleeper, though, and the movements from Zaphiro walking near her and the sounds created caused her to shift in her sleep. It wasn't quite to the point of waking, yet, but a bit more noise should do it. Either way, she would be waking soon anyway with the racket the birds were beginning to make.
A few more moments of that and one of her eyes slid open, followed by the other. The haze of sleep was still upon her, however, and she had a moment of wondering where exactly she was before the knowledge found its way to her again.
Zaphiro and the clearing. She shook her head a little, curls tossing themselves back and forth and reflecting the light that was just now beginning to peak into the sky. Was time for her to wake up, anyway, wasn't it?
Slowly she stood and yawned, closing her eyes again as she did it. Now to find Zaphiro and wish him a good morning. She trotted off, "Zaphiro...?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:28 pm
Zaphiro had made the most of the available opportunity, diving cleanly into the farthest of the five springs so as to not disturb Hienna. He'd barely breached the surface of the water, though, when he heard Hienna calling out his name, and immeadiately he was paddling over towards the side of the spring. "Over here, Hienna!"
She was a fast riser, if she was awake after being so out of it so recently!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:30 pm
Her ears perked and she turned her head in the correct direction, smiling warmly at the stallion in the spring before making her way over to the edge and laughing.
"Early morning swimmer, hmm? How fares the morning for you, friend? Good, I hope."
Now if she could manage to jump into the cold water herself...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:35 pm
"Something like that. I've always had a passion for swimming in cold water, and now seemed as good a time as any. I wasn't expecting you to wake up so soon!"
Chuckling, Zaphiro backwinged away from the bank, using his wings to keep himself aloft. "And it's been a wonderful morning so far, short as it's been. What about you? Did you have a pleasant sleep?"
He was amused at her energy; most Soquilis at this hour tended to be rather listless. "And either you're used to getting up early, or you're one of the most flexible Soquilis I ever met. I know for a FACT you were asleep just a short bit ago, yet to look at you you've been up for hours!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:37 pm
A smile, "I generally am a very light sleeper. The first hint of light and the birds wake me up very easily so I suppose I am very used to getting up early. Flexible, I am not. I could not possibly stay up late and wake up later. I would be a zombie for the rest of the day!"
Hienna chuckled softly and looked at the water, "I tend to prefer warm waters in the early morning but they are not very plentiful. I swim when the sun has warmed the water for me."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:45 pm
"Yes, there is a distinct lack of warm water at this early hour, unless you happen to have warm springs handy; sadly, that's not the case here. But I'm sure if you wait a few hours, the river will be warm enough for swimming; these springs rarely get warm, even in direct sunlight."
At that, Zaphiro catpulted himself out of the water, alighting on the bank opposite Hienna and proceeding to shake vigorously; water droplets flew everywhere, but he was mostly dry in short order (if a bit waterlogged and damp). Satisfied he wasn't going to drip all over, he then made his way around the bank, smiling at Hienna. "Well, would you like to see about some breakfast?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:53 pm
She watched him shake off with amusement and nodded at his question when he came around, "Breakfast sounds lovely. Any ideas? I'm afraid I'm unfamiliar with what kind of things grow in this area."
Hienna wasn't a picky eater in the least bit, though she did have her favorites. Mint and Raspberry leaves being the first followed by raspberries themselves.
Apples were pretty good too, when one could reach them.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 6:57 pm
"Wel, it's not so much what grows in the area so much as what grows in the area NOW." Chuckling, Zaphiro inclined his head over towards the trees on the far side of the clearing, trees which upon closer inspection were apple trees. However, it being early spring they weren't even budded yet and were instead dead-looking and barren. "I'm afraid that the choices are grass...and grass."
Not much by way of variety, but there wasn't a lot you could do with the options, sometimes. A pity, too, because when there WERE apples, they were extremely tasty.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 7:01 pm
"Ahh, grass. Grass is good," She smiled a bit before bending down and taking a mouthful of grass for herself. Ah, how she longed for spring when it would bring mint and raspberries.
She would hoard that up right and proper, she would. Hienna chewed her mouthful as slowly and carefully as she spoke before swallowing and looking at Zaphiro with a grin, "Joining me?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 7:04 pm
For a moment, Zaphiro simply stared at Hienna, then burst out laughing. He hadn't meant THIS grass, perse, but if she wanted this grass, who was he to argue? Less travel, theoretically, and who didn't like conviniance food?
After a few minutes indulging in laughter, he managed a nod. "I was just waiting to see what your thoughts were; you might have been in the mood for dried twigs, and then it would have been rude for me to start in on this remarkably conviniant grass. But since that's not the case..." With that, he leaned over and overemphatically pulled up a mouthful. "Grass."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 8:12 pm
Hienna blinked at his laughter, confused at to what was so funny. His explanation simply made her raise a brow as she took another mouthful of grass.
"Do you know of better grass? It seems perfectly fine to me...." A small smile, "But I do not believe dried twigs would be very appetizing, do you?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 8:21 pm
"Well, not really." Chewing his mouthful, Zaphiro swallowed it and moved on to take another bite, giving Hienna an amused look. "I was merely thinking that the grass over here was a wee bit trampled, and that maybe some that was...less flat would be mroe appetizing. Can't say I'm that picky."
Munching another mouthful of grass, he glanced over at the nearest trees, wondering just how appetizing that sort would taste anyway. "And GREEN twigs aren't that bad in a pinch, though I doubt the same can be said of dried. They'd likely catch in the throat, and that's never pleasant."
Unless you happened to like hacking coughs.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 17, 2007 8:28 pm
"If anything, the trampled grass could taste better. Crushed a bit for more juice accumulation..." She grinned over at him and swallowed her grass dutifully.
"I'm not too fond of green twigs, myself. A bit too bitter. My favorite things in the world are raspberry and mint leaves, though." Hienna would do anything short of making a total a** of herself to get raspberry or mint leaves.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
