The stallion had made a point to venture further south each and every day that passed. He would learn these lands in their entirety, he would become the master of each eventually and then - ah, there was no need to explain all the tricky stallion's plans now. Grimalkin was ever an opportunist, but he was also very patient. He knew it would take time for him to become the creature he longed to become - he knew he probably had even more to learn than time permitted - but that did not hinder nor depress him, rather, it inspired him.

He hadn't ventured far beyond the permanently frozen lands before - he took his time, you see, for he felt that there was no need to rush anything - something could always be gained for taking things slow. Pleasure, knowledge - they were synonymous for the stallion, and so he took all the time he needed to ensure he understood everything that he was presented with.

The changing landscapes let him know he was travelling south. He had walked this way once, with the General, Torleik, when he had been invited North, to the Basin. He didn't take nearly enough notice back then - that had been two seasons ago now. He wondered how far south the snows would stretch - patches of it laid here and there, though none of it was as permanent as the conditions further north - yet, anyway. He was fairly sure that as Frostfall enveloped the lands, the snow would too.

The stallion was cropping grass here and there, pausing over the bitter taste of yellowing straw, swallowing it anyway because he knew he would need the energy it provided to return home. The unfrozen lake at home would give them all the sustenance they would need, surely - but would the gateway to his home become impassable with the approaching season? He wondered quietly as he continued to eat, shrugging internally as he decided he would simply find out once he got there.

He made his way slowly across the field, crown dipped to munch on the grasses here and there, his path seemingly aimless. It was happenstance that he even spotted the chestnut with her oddly hued creature curled upon her rump, pure luck that his attention flicked for but a moment in her direction. When he recognised the outline of an equine he raised his antlered crown and looked more openly - he held little doubt that she would spot him - he was rather large after all. With a low rumble of a nicker stretching its way across the distance the between them, the steed then approached a few steps, observing the mare with keen emeraldine eyes all the while.

"Hail," he spoke softly yet with a sure resonance behind his words. His steps paused again a healthy distance away - it was no use scaring her off before he was able to gather anything useful from her. "How does one fair this glorious day?" he asked with a smile on his lips, his tones bright and welcoming, his antlers dipping with his crown as he nodded in greeting. He wondered what sort of response he would get - truly, he could not wait to find out.

@[Evangeline]

colourize-stock & larfsalot @deviantart