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I like the smell of rain - Africa - 08-19-2014
“Home at last...” Africa yawned aloud, exhausted, completely overwhelmed by the intensity of the week just passed. Weariness furrowed her brow as it lifted to find the glittering form of her companion as he sailed across the thick blanket of storm clouds overhead, but the one-winged Sultana was smiling and generally, her spirits were high. The zephyr’s piercing cry fell from the vast late afternoon sky, but it was soon lost beneath the thunder’s hearty rumble. As pale eyes fell to trace the dusty trail guiding her into the oasis, the first rain of the season began to fall, cool liquid plunging, scattering across a barren landscape that realised not how thirsty it was. The drum of liquid across her back was welcome after such a long, hot season, and the flames danced as a wild wind swept off the lashing ocean. Sheet lightning clawed with fluorescent yellow fingers though the ominous dark above and when finally a fork broke free, the whole desert surrounding seemed to blaze fiercely. The one-winged mare hastened her stride, adopting in place of her leisurely amble, a brisk, bouncing trot. The need for shelter was imminent, vital, and while she would have loved to dance and play with reckless abandon like she might have as a child, a stern voice pulled her away. And if ice-rocks begin to fall? he posed matter-of-factly, swooping by to urge her along. Africa snorted, a plume of icy rain spraying with the breath, and she cantered obligingly for the remained of their journey. At last she fell beneath writing limbs, flickering leaves and snapping ribbon-like palm leaves. Silas found to perch in, a dense, old mimosa whose roots fed directly from the deep spring feeding the Throat’s lake. The tree offered considerable shelter, and the Starry-Eyed slipped quickly beneath it, shaking out her heavy, water-logged mane. WHY! The zephyr shrieked, Could you not have done that outside? The mare giggled softly as the weather raged beyond, Silas, would you mind helping me take this off? It’s drenched...She was referring to the sagging, dripping robe that had glued against her skin, and brushing aside his frustration, the bird fluttered down to aid the mare. salsolastock | uplifting-stock | two-ladies-stocks foxyfirewings & larfsalot @deviantart subtlepatterns.com @[Sikeax] & any ^_^ RE: I like the smell of rain - Sikeax - 08-19-2014
Image Credits Table by Imi <3 RE: I like the smell of rain - Africa - 08-20-2014
After a considerable effort, pulling and tugging stubborn wet fabric awkwardly, the cloak fell with a slap, in a heavy heap by her hooves. If not for the cool, sweet scent of the falling rain, it would have reeked horribly of horse; of sweat and dirt baked on for weeks and weeks. The zephyr stood splay-legged with flared, fanning wings amid the twisting fire along her waving crest; the feat had been nothing but a flaming pain, an inconvenience that he wished never to repeat... Thank you, she sighed, thick, matted grey tendrils of mane and forelock branched forward across her sodden face. As the bird ascended back to his modestly protected perch in the tree, Africa shook the dreads and they slumped back to place along the stretch of her powerful neck, tangled and dripping. She had grown less and less fond of the cloak (wore it less and less), and now she realised that it probably had not been lost by the being who owned it previously, it had more likely been discarded. Nevertheless, she dipped her skull to pick it up with a careful bite and slung it across the lowest of the Mimosa’s feeble limbs do dry a little. Another deafening burst of thunder, complimented with thrilling, vivid lightning filled the grim atmosphere, and Africa could not help but pause humbly as she dithered uncomfortably beneath the sparse shelter. There came from the outside the scrabble of hoof through pebbly mud, and Sikeax appeared with steaming breath, looking quite worse for wear and not the least bit impressed- or so the dappled mare thought, the slightest smile tweaking her lips. She lifted her wing to welcome her friend and sister forward, so that they might be spared the wrath of the storm together; and she chortled amusedly at the suggestion that monsoonal events seemed always to bring them close. “So it would seem! she answered, pale eyes examining the dishevelled state of the Unicorn. She gestured twitching, smiling lips forward, reaching to brush the thick slick of sand from the left side of the amber champagne body; to groom and tend to the appearance of the mare caringly. Thunder bellowed again, and Africa wondered quietly if the storm cell was still building, resting above their home like the moon above the stars. “What’s news sister?” she asked vaguely, not particularly interested in anything in particular, but curious none the less to find out how Sikeax had been of late. salsolastock | uplifting-stock | two-ladies-stocks foxyfirewings & larfsalot @deviantart subtlepatterns.com @[Sikeax] RE: I like the smell of rain - Sikeax - 08-27-2014
Image Credits Table by Imi <3 RE: I like the smell of rain - Africa - 08-28-2014
Africa found Sikeax’s return gesture pleasant enough, though she had neither sought nor needed the favour herself. Obviously it was a token of their friendship, the warmth and selfless exchange only reinstated the worth of the growing bond between them, and the dappled mare’s taught shoulders relaxed beneath the tender touch of working lips. She was less a sensual creature than she had been in times gone by; needy stallions keen to abuse her giving, sensitive spirit had well and truly slain that side, but standing near the lovely Unicorn mare, desert sister, Africa felt at ease. The rain did little to extinguish the marvellous flames as they danced on along her elegant crest, all throughout the lavish length of thick mane, and her tail too hanging limp and saturated between her hocks. It did little to sour her mood, seemed to cleanse her mind as it did the dust from her coat. Occasionally, as she sheltered in Sikeax’s close company, her coat would flinch as the cupped leaves building the canopy above gave way and minute streams spilt down upon her; but she was comfortable enough there. The Starry-Eyed noticed easily the sobering transformation of the other mare which had seemingly worsened since even as recently as the herd meeting. As she preened and nuzzled, running lips carefully across the withering champagne frame, the quiet concern began to cloud her thoughts- that was, until the Unicorn began to speak.... Africa was intrigued, a party? She paused her grooming to glance by her sister’s gaunt face and smile, portraying her interest and nodded gentle encouragement. Perhaps that had taken place after the first time she’d ventured home (there had been many after all- the Sultana’s workload was infinite). A mild wave of disappointment chilled her core and mottled, wet coat flinched vulnerably, cold already, and the storm grew still louder outside. IT might have been nice to catch up with old acquaintances, with Resplendence in particular, but there was little point in dwelling. A thoughtful smile slithered across dripping features and the dappled mare stepped back from Sikeax, so that they were standing as near to front on as could be. “What was the party for?” she asked quickly, curious, remembering that recently an invitation to some similar even at the Basin had been left by the bridge. “I’m so glad you were there to represent us,” she added further, breath pluming as her voice slipped between curling lips, “...it’s such a shame more didn't take part with you. I can only imagine what a wonderful celebration it would've been- it was a celebration I’m guessing...” Africa craned her neck away from Sikeax for a second, tossing her face as she did so to clear her eyes of the matted forelock so determined to glue across her eyes. [@[Sikeax], don’t apologise :) I hope everything is alright <3] salsolastock | uplifting-stock | two-ladies-stocks foxyfirewings & larfsalot @deviantart subtlepatterns.com RE: I like the smell of rain - Sikeax - 09-03-2014
Image Credits Table by Imi <3 |