I WILL LIVE FOR YOU

Life had always had a funny way of throwing him around.

In the beginning, as a colt, he had lived a rather simple life in the rainforests of Melhaven. Aside from the deadly jaguars lurking within the trees, there had hardly been a worry there. But after several years, Xanthos had grown tired of the humidity, tired of just how crowded it was made by the endless amount of foliage. He missed it, there was no doubt about it, but he simply couldn't see himself ever returning to stay.

Next, he had found himself in Helovia during the grip of winter. The unusual weather had been a shock to his system, but just as he had been promised, he was quick to grow accustomed to it. That same soul who had given said promise had also promised him a home in a place called Frostbreath Steppe. It was a land lost in time, for the ground was always covered in a thick layer of snow, and would never feel the warm breeze of Birdsong. Although he had pledged himself to the purpose of the Plague and try to help win their home back, his thoughts were quick to change regarding the racist unicorns he'd found company in.

Life grew miserable, fast, but there was a golden light shining at the end of his dark tunnel. That golden light's name was Romani.

Overall, his time spent with Romani had been regrettably short, their first meeting coming to a horrid end when Elizabeth had shown up. But despite his Corporal's harsh word's, he had vowed to himself that he would find Romani again one day, hopeful that she would forgive him for what had happened. The grullo had a lot of explaining to do, but thankfully, the Haflinger had been quick to forgive. There was still so much he wanted to tell the palomino, of the so many things that had recently happened to him, like his capture of Mirage, or how he had battled someone to keep her as his prisoner, only to join forces with the Weyrleader in the end. There had been other things, of course, like knocking the Basin's Haruspex to the ground, and attempting to lie to Psyche's face... It was a huge cluster of emotions, for even Xanthos found himself wondering why he was always so torn on decisions. Had he been smart, he would have turned Elizabeth's offer down from the beginning. Then, just maybe, he wouldn't have the whole world pitted against him.

But today was not a day to dwell on these problems.

Keeping himself at a steady canter, Xanthos made his way through the meadow with head held high. It was a beautiful spring day; the sun was high in the sky, and there was the most gentle of breezes to tousle his mane as he moved across the open field. His mission today was simple; to find a gift for Romani, to present to her whenever he managed to find her once again. Up ahead stood a small thicket of trees for which he headed straight for, slowing to a walk when he was upon them. The chatter of birds up above was impossible to miss, for there were many nests settled within the outstretched branches of the trees. Yellow, cat-slitted eyes lifted to where many of the avians perched, squaking their protests against his presence. Xanthos had never liked to disrupt peace, even if recent events were proving otherwise, but he simply could not pass up the idea that had come to his mind.

Suddenly, the stallion's attention was focused upon a blue bird; a blue jay, from what he could tell. A nest sat not far from it, and although he had no way of knowing for sure, he could only guess that there were feathers strewn about up there, but it was too well protected for the gentle wind to blow away. For a moment Xanthos thought, before he had come up with an idea. For a unicorn without magic, his options were limited, and he could only hope it would work. Stepping up to the tree, he knocked into it once, twice, three times. The tree itself was not terribly thick, no more than a foot and a half or two in diameter, and gave way to the force exerted upon it. The blue jay had wasted no time in flying away from the attack upon his home.

When the grullo looked, he was disappointed to see that none had fallen from the safety of the tree limbs, but one lone, single feather was hanging precariously on the edge of where it had been shed. "Seriously?" He cursed softly beneath his breath, but he was far from giving up. After all, it would take little to get it out now. Rising on his haunches, the stallion reached out and knocked his forehooves against the bark of the tree, hitting it as high up as he could manage, while still putting plenty of force behind it. Just as he fell back onto all fours, the feather finally gave in, slipping away from it's perch and drifting back and forth through the air until it floated down to the ground.

With a look of satisfaction, Xanthos dropped his head and took the stem of the feather between his teeth. It was a fine specimen of brilliant blue, striped with glistening black whenever it hit the sunlight. Why a feather, someone may ask? He wasn't sure Romani would appreciate the small gift, but she had never come off as a complicated mare to him. The hue reminded him fondly of her azure eyes, and it was with hope that she would like it as much as he anticipated.

One last, sympathetic look was cast to the angry jay that had finally returned to it's home, before the grullo gave a proud flick of his tail, and turning, he headed back off the way he had came.


ooc - This is simply a post to show how Xanthos got the feather he plans to give Romani, thus using one of my small item prizes. Feel free to post if you've got some crazy idea, though. XD

BEFORE I DIE