never take advice from someone who just admitted to being devious and just confessed to treason
It was quiet between the three of them as the first snowflakes began to descend upon the hills, slowly, almost timidly, as they tumbled through the air, settled upon their backs. Tangere invited them to follow her across the border with a nod of her head, and turned to venture back the way she had come, to lead them underneath the stony gazes of the Sentinels and into the arms of the Basin. Her mention of the hot springs had longing welling up in the copper stallion's chest, and he could imagine nothing more satisfying than the prospect of sinking himself into warm, bubbling water and allowing the steam to loosen the knots in his muscles, soothe the persistent ache in his hooves and knees. He made to follow the pale mare over the crest of the hill, casting a glance over to Lena first, as eager to learn what she intended to do as she seemed to learn of him; their eyes met for a brief moment- warmth swelling back into his chest- before the Mender turned away, her gaze cast across the heaps and drifts of snow that had so thoroughly blanketed the land. There was a small smile upon her lips, similar to the one that had yet to fade from Roland's, as she eyed the wintry landscape speculatively.
It was followed swiftly by a moment of silent communication observed between mare and vixen, ideas and notions that passed between them unvoiced, and Roland could not have caught the inklings exchanged if he had tried. Then the Songbird's smile twisted into something mischievous, a new spark in her eyes, before she launched into action and dove into the deep snow.
The stallion was hardly given time enough to process it, a whirlwind of movement and chaos, when a wave of snow sprayed across his shoulder, pinpricks of cold sent scattering across his hide, and he turned a wide-eyed gaze upon the small kitsune responsible, camouflaged as she was against the landscape. The aghast look upon Roland's face fell, traded for a grin as he shook the snow from his hide and turned, hooves churning the ground beneath him as he followed suit and leapt into the deep drifts. It swelled up to his knees, cold and seizing, but instead of recoiling, of bemoaning the icy sensation as it crept across his skin, up to his chest, he simply dove deeper. A laugh bubbled up out of his chest as he plunged his muzzle into the powder and pulled, tossing his head in an arch aimed towards Imogen, hopefully dousing her in a pile of snow, delightful retribution. He pulled his head back and grinned, leaning on his haunches as he looked to where Lena was casting her own volley towards the unwitting Tangere, and heaved himself back onto the path.
The cold air was an unpleasant ache in his lungs, but energy sung through his veins, warming him against the northern winds, and with the sun beating down upon them it was easy to forget his distaste for the weather. The trepidation he had felt at the idea of re-entering his home was also frightened away by the flying snow, and in the midst of it all, the vigor and madness, he forgot to feel afraid.
@Lena
@Tangere
.svg/2000px-Google_Chrome_icon_(2011).svg.png){kind=icon}
