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06-06-2012, 03:24 PM
Ruka
Deep in his own thoughts, Ruka was unaware of where his hooves carried him until the familiar sensation of waves lapped against his fetlocks. Somewhat surprised, he blinked and looked down at the foamy surf... only to have memories well to the surface of the last beach-side locale he'd resided in. So many he'd thought to spend the rest of his life with... missing. Dead, gone. Lost to him for whatever reason had scattered the Vanthrans after they'd finally, finally, come back together again. Cruel fate.
For a few moments he allowed himself to be weighted down by those sorrowful thoughts, only to shrug them away. Fate had been cruel to him before, and would likely be the same to him again and again. But he refused to allow that to bear him down into melancholy. That wasn't him. A defiant snort rushed from his nares and then he was off, racing with long, swift strides through the shallow surf. Sending up a fine spray even as he moved faster and faster until he almost spent more time not touching water and sand than he did.
Only when sweat dampened his hide and darkened the liver to black did he slow, swerving into the waves and allowing the rushing surf to haul him to a near stop. Washing away sweat and tears and leaving a different sort of salty wetness in their place. It was at that point that he waded free, drenched and dripping, to walk up into soft dry sand and sink down. Resting in the giving cradle of sand, shaded by waving beach grasses. Watching the waves tumble against the sand in and endless give and take. He felt better now, refreshed by the run and the plunge. Ready to continue once more.
Ruka
The steady roar of the waves, like a massive beast breathing slowly in its sleep, was interrupted by the staccato beat of hooves. Ears tilted to find the direction from which the other approached, but it was his emerald eyes that found her first. A dark mare, painted in shades of black and white and grey, moved with an easy rhythm along the sand. Someone who knew the intricacies of a beach, for she never traversed beyond the farthest reach of the waves. Saving energy that would be wasted in a similar path through soft, giving sand that hadn't a trace of moisture.
That is, until she cut straight toward him. Bemused, he watched her, remaining laying down and unperturbed. There was no aggression in her posture, no foul intent in the lines of her face. So why bother moving when there was no need to? Her words reinforced his assessment, uttering friendly greetings and nothings about the weather. Yet he saw some trace of hopeful expectancy in her eyes as she gazed down at him. What might she expect him to do?
No matter, for now. "Hello. It is." She smelled of forests and fresh water, horses and... A unexpected shadow crossed the sand between them, and he craned his head back to peer up at the winged creature that circled above them. A dragon. So that was why she'd walked straight up to him. Eyes in the sky. He was a bit jealous, knowing that this mare was never truly alone. Not as he was all too often. He looked back to her then. "But surely you're down at the shore for more than just a run."
Deep in his own thoughts, Ruka was unaware of where his hooves carried him until the familiar sensation of waves lapped against his fetlocks. Somewhat surprised, he blinked and looked down at the foamy surf... only to have memories well to the surface of the last beach-side locale he'd resided in. So many he'd thought to spend the rest of his life with... missing. Dead, gone. Lost to him for whatever reason had scattered the Vanthrans after they'd finally, finally, come back together again. Cruel fate.
For a few moments he allowed himself to be weighted down by those sorrowful thoughts, only to shrug them away. Fate had been cruel to him before, and would likely be the same to him again and again. But he refused to allow that to bear him down into melancholy. That wasn't him. A defiant snort rushed from his nares and then he was off, racing with long, swift strides through the shallow surf. Sending up a fine spray even as he moved faster and faster until he almost spent more time not touching water and sand than he did.
Only when sweat dampened his hide and darkened the liver to black did he slow, swerving into the waves and allowing the rushing surf to haul him to a near stop. Washing away sweat and tears and leaving a different sort of salty wetness in their place. It was at that point that he waded free, drenched and dripping, to walk up into soft dry sand and sink down. Resting in the giving cradle of sand, shaded by waving beach grasses. Watching the waves tumble against the sand in and endless give and take. He felt better now, refreshed by the run and the plunge. Ready to continue once more.
Smoke
Many things clamored for her internal attention, but Smoke was determined to not linger upon thoughts that hadn't anything to do with her herd or her quest. That was what brought her down to the shoreline today, her quest. Tasked with bringing back the horn of a unicorn to the Sun God, she thought her best chance of coming across one who wouldn't think to attack her on sight would be here. By the ocean which unicorns revered.
A few times she'd wandered down here, hopeful to discover one to speak to, but had no luck. Today, things were about to change.
Just about when she was ready to give up for the day, a clear image popped into her mind, sent there by the dragon who flew far ahead, scouting. A unicorn, prone and relaxed. Perfect! Moving down to the dampened sand that clung to itself better than the soft stuff by the dunes, she picked up into an easy canter. It was pleasant, extending herself on a shoreline that wasn't drenched in blood in her memories. Wasn't haunted by the dead. No, enough of that. No time for the past when the present demanded her attention.
If it hadn't been for Zaffre's mental prodding, she'd've missed him. Looking more like an extended shadow of the dune and its grasses he rested below. But the dragon's eyes missed nothing, and thus she was allowed to spot the lean unicorn who seemed... familiar somehow. Not someone she'd spoken to, but perhaps someone she'd seen before.
Slowing down, she angled up the beach toward him. "Greetings. It is a nice day to be on the beach, isn't it?" Niceties must be observed. Few would accept a request from someone who just charged right in with it. Build a bond, no matter how tenuous, and work from there.
Many things clamored for her internal attention, but Smoke was determined to not linger upon thoughts that hadn't anything to do with her herd or her quest. That was what brought her down to the shoreline today, her quest. Tasked with bringing back the horn of a unicorn to the Sun God, she thought her best chance of coming across one who wouldn't think to attack her on sight would be here. By the ocean which unicorns revered.
A few times she'd wandered down here, hopeful to discover one to speak to, but had no luck. Today, things were about to change.
Just about when she was ready to give up for the day, a clear image popped into her mind, sent there by the dragon who flew far ahead, scouting. A unicorn, prone and relaxed. Perfect! Moving down to the dampened sand that clung to itself better than the soft stuff by the dunes, she picked up into an easy canter. It was pleasant, extending herself on a shoreline that wasn't drenched in blood in her memories. Wasn't haunted by the dead. No, enough of that. No time for the past when the present demanded her attention.
If it hadn't been for Zaffre's mental prodding, she'd've missed him. Looking more like an extended shadow of the dune and its grasses he rested below. But the dragon's eyes missed nothing, and thus she was allowed to spot the lean unicorn who seemed... familiar somehow. Not someone she'd spoken to, but perhaps someone she'd seen before.
Slowing down, she angled up the beach toward him. "Greetings. It is a nice day to be on the beach, isn't it?" Niceties must be observed. Few would accept a request from someone who just charged right in with it. Build a bond, no matter how tenuous, and work from there.
Ruka
The steady roar of the waves, like a massive beast breathing slowly in its sleep, was interrupted by the staccato beat of hooves. Ears tilted to find the direction from which the other approached, but it was his emerald eyes that found her first. A dark mare, painted in shades of black and white and grey, moved with an easy rhythm along the sand. Someone who knew the intricacies of a beach, for she never traversed beyond the farthest reach of the waves. Saving energy that would be wasted in a similar path through soft, giving sand that hadn't a trace of moisture.
That is, until she cut straight toward him. Bemused, he watched her, remaining laying down and unperturbed. There was no aggression in her posture, no foul intent in the lines of her face. So why bother moving when there was no need to? Her words reinforced his assessment, uttering friendly greetings and nothings about the weather. Yet he saw some trace of hopeful expectancy in her eyes as she gazed down at him. What might she expect him to do?
No matter, for now. "Hello. It is." She smelled of forests and fresh water, horses and... A unexpected shadow crossed the sand between them, and he craned his head back to peer up at the winged creature that circled above them. A dragon. So that was why she'd walked straight up to him. Eyes in the sky. He was a bit jealous, knowing that this mare was never truly alone. Not as he was all too often. He looked back to her then. "But surely you're down at the shore for more than just a run."
Smoke
He watched her, green eyes appraising even as his body was still and relaxed. She recognized what he was instinctively. A warrior. For a moment it made her uneasy, but since he didn't seemed threatened or angry in any way, she dismissed her reflexive caution. Besides, it wasn't as though she couldn't defend herself. She was more experienced than she'd been before she'd partaken in herd life, and had even embraced the role of Military Chieftess now. Knee-jerk fear had no place in her now, not for this.
He didn't seem all that interested in casual conversation, replies kept short as he continued to watch her closely. And then he noticed Zaffre, peering up at the dragon who lingered nearby to watch and perhaps act as reinforcement should she need it. It made her wonder what the unicorn saw, thought, as he regarded the evidence of a soul-deep bond that only death could break. Not that she was likely to discover that, as he turned those piercing green eyes back to her and cut to the chase. Ah, he was so perceptive.
"No," she admitted. "I've been hoping to run across a unicorn for some time now. For selfish reasons." A mental signal drew the blue down until he settled on her haunches, coiling up there in the sunlight and soaking it all up. One jade eye remained on the stallion though, a silent precautionary gesture.
He watched her, green eyes appraising even as his body was still and relaxed. She recognized what he was instinctively. A warrior. For a moment it made her uneasy, but since he didn't seemed threatened or angry in any way, she dismissed her reflexive caution. Besides, it wasn't as though she couldn't defend herself. She was more experienced than she'd been before she'd partaken in herd life, and had even embraced the role of Military Chieftess now. Knee-jerk fear had no place in her now, not for this.
He didn't seem all that interested in casual conversation, replies kept short as he continued to watch her closely. And then he noticed Zaffre, peering up at the dragon who lingered nearby to watch and perhaps act as reinforcement should she need it. It made her wonder what the unicorn saw, thought, as he regarded the evidence of a soul-deep bond that only death could break. Not that she was likely to discover that, as he turned those piercing green eyes back to her and cut to the chase. Ah, he was so perceptive.
"No," she admitted. "I've been hoping to run across a unicorn for some time now. For selfish reasons." A mental signal drew the blue down until he settled on her haunches, coiling up there in the sunlight and soaking it all up. One jade eye remained on the stallion though, a silent precautionary gesture.
