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08-26-2016, 03:08 PM
The trees at the edge of the mountains grew like sentinels, reaching their thick branches like the touch of curious children towards the heavens. Their leaves grew in various shapes and sizes, casting an array of hues among the spaces between each finger tip, as well as upon the forest floor. The earth was carefully designed with thick underbrush ringing each tree, as if the flora itself was attempting to offer protection from the wildlife, which seemed abundant. The rustle of rabbits among the fern, and the sound of avian families were clear in the atmosphere. There was an overflow of life in this forest, that much was clear. There was a path carved out from many generations of hooves, marking the trail that would lead to the eventual lands of Helovia, whether the travelers believed in such a place or not. It is upon this path that Horus Tarkus found himself on this late Summer eve. The sun was about two hours from set, and the light filtering in through the trees dappled his dark bay coat deliciously. His sooty pillars brushed aside the stray ferns that grew alongside the path. His audits flicked, listening to the faint sound of thunder in the distance behind him, catching the light sound of a drizzle from above, though the trees grew so thick not a single drop made it to his skin.
The stallion had spent much of his early youth listening to the Shaman tell her stories of a land by the name of Helovia. A place where equines bore strange spirals curling forward from their fore-locks, and mighty beasts bore wings that lifted them to the sky. Horus had always thought of such things as a bit of rubbish, some story created out of senility and a need to captivate the children for a day. It was not that he held any disrespect for the old mare; quite the contrary. Her recanting of the herd's history had been his favorite way to pass the time, though her firm belief in such exotic magics were foreign to him. Their herd had been simple, and usually kept to themselves. He did not rule magic out all together, that would have been naive; he simply didn't think that it existed in such an extent that she believed. Horus found comfort in the logic of history, and when he had learned all he could of his own, he found himself drawn towards the same stories he had heard as a colt. It was that thirst for knowledge, the lust for new histories that brought him along the path to Helovia today. His belief in the land could be called shaky at best, but he felt a draw to it nonetheless. Even if they did not hold all these fantastical beasts, this land was new, and held all kinds of possibilities. He had seen many of his friends make the trek to these strange lands and not return; if anything, he might find solace in knowing where they had gone.
As the foliage grew thick and the trees huddled together, the young stallion noticed a change in the air. The humidity of the light rain seemed to have left him, and the sound of the thunder storm had faded into nothing, though the voices of his animal companions carried on as strong as ever. He did not recall passing through any sort of gate, or any white light. He did not feel any different, and could not place the exact moment when he had crossed. The inability to pinpoint when his world shifted made Horus uneasy. Still, the birds seemed as merry as ever, and as a hare crossed his path, tail twitching idly, he found his fears settling. Surely no place that would cause danger and alarm would leave such attentive critters in a state of serenity. He let forth a long sigh from his nares, the air traveling up his striking white blaze as he closed the blue orbs that rested in his skull. He breathed deeply of the forest around him, allowing the entirety of his lungs to be filled with sweet oxygen, the scents and the sensations that surrounded him. As the stallion meditated, all sense of fear left his weary bones. He had been traveling for a long time, and with the sun nearing its end for the day, he felt as if his mind was wearing thin. He would travel as far as the light would allow him to tonight, and then he would make his bed wherever he felt was safest.
The stallion opened his eyes once more and continued forward, adjusting to the strange feeling that prickled at his skin. Perhaps it was the sudden shift from humidity to dry heat, but the trees offered ample shade, and if it were sweltering, he was not aware of it; not in the dying rays of the day, at least. He traveled a good kilometer more before his mind whispered sweet nothings of a warm bed of grass and a drink to quench his thirst. Aye, water seemed like a mighty good thing indeed. He would find himself a place to nurse his parched throat and then he would bed down for the night. Whatever Helovia might have in store for him may have to wait until morning.
Horus did not want to stray far from the path, but it appeared he would have needed to do so in a dozen yards despite his desires. The trail had lead to a large clearing and any of the numerous paths that branched off from it could have lead him anywhere. He gave a soft sigh, exhaling the smallest bit left in his lungs before gathering another deep breath. He stilled his being, allowing all other senses to fade, save for one. He focused his audits, swiveling them in an attempt to catch the sound of water. It would do him no good to wander in any direction if it was the wrong one. He was hoping that if he could gather a hint of navigation, he may be able to strike good luck and find water quickly.
---
Word Count :: 1028
Muse :: Alright
Notes :: Have at! He's going to be cautious of any equine he meets, but particularly any unicorns or pegasi, so I heartily encourage you to reply with those!
The stallion had spent much of his early youth listening to the Shaman tell her stories of a land by the name of Helovia. A place where equines bore strange spirals curling forward from their fore-locks, and mighty beasts bore wings that lifted them to the sky. Horus had always thought of such things as a bit of rubbish, some story created out of senility and a need to captivate the children for a day. It was not that he held any disrespect for the old mare; quite the contrary. Her recanting of the herd's history had been his favorite way to pass the time, though her firm belief in such exotic magics were foreign to him. Their herd had been simple, and usually kept to themselves. He did not rule magic out all together, that would have been naive; he simply didn't think that it existed in such an extent that she believed. Horus found comfort in the logic of history, and when he had learned all he could of his own, he found himself drawn towards the same stories he had heard as a colt. It was that thirst for knowledge, the lust for new histories that brought him along the path to Helovia today. His belief in the land could be called shaky at best, but he felt a draw to it nonetheless. Even if they did not hold all these fantastical beasts, this land was new, and held all kinds of possibilities. He had seen many of his friends make the trek to these strange lands and not return; if anything, he might find solace in knowing where they had gone.
As the foliage grew thick and the trees huddled together, the young stallion noticed a change in the air. The humidity of the light rain seemed to have left him, and the sound of the thunder storm had faded into nothing, though the voices of his animal companions carried on as strong as ever. He did not recall passing through any sort of gate, or any white light. He did not feel any different, and could not place the exact moment when he had crossed. The inability to pinpoint when his world shifted made Horus uneasy. Still, the birds seemed as merry as ever, and as a hare crossed his path, tail twitching idly, he found his fears settling. Surely no place that would cause danger and alarm would leave such attentive critters in a state of serenity. He let forth a long sigh from his nares, the air traveling up his striking white blaze as he closed the blue orbs that rested in his skull. He breathed deeply of the forest around him, allowing the entirety of his lungs to be filled with sweet oxygen, the scents and the sensations that surrounded him. As the stallion meditated, all sense of fear left his weary bones. He had been traveling for a long time, and with the sun nearing its end for the day, he felt as if his mind was wearing thin. He would travel as far as the light would allow him to tonight, and then he would make his bed wherever he felt was safest.
The stallion opened his eyes once more and continued forward, adjusting to the strange feeling that prickled at his skin. Perhaps it was the sudden shift from humidity to dry heat, but the trees offered ample shade, and if it were sweltering, he was not aware of it; not in the dying rays of the day, at least. He traveled a good kilometer more before his mind whispered sweet nothings of a warm bed of grass and a drink to quench his thirst. Aye, water seemed like a mighty good thing indeed. He would find himself a place to nurse his parched throat and then he would bed down for the night. Whatever Helovia might have in store for him may have to wait until morning.
Horus did not want to stray far from the path, but it appeared he would have needed to do so in a dozen yards despite his desires. The trail had lead to a large clearing and any of the numerous paths that branched off from it could have lead him anywhere. He gave a soft sigh, exhaling the smallest bit left in his lungs before gathering another deep breath. He stilled his being, allowing all other senses to fade, save for one. He focused his audits, swiveling them in an attempt to catch the sound of water. It would do him no good to wander in any direction if it was the wrong one. He was hoping that if he could gather a hint of navigation, he may be able to strike good luck and find water quickly.
---
Word Count :: 1028
Muse :: Alright
Notes :: Have at! He's going to be cautious of any equine he meets, but particularly any unicorns or pegasi, so I heartily encourage you to reply with those!
