XOLANI

The trip to the Dragon's Throat of which Ilios spoke passed quickly and without incident.  The ivory mare walked easily beside the teal stallion, listening eagerly to anything that he chose to share with her, greeting his words with enthusiastic nods and smiles.  Every now and then, particularly excited by a new animal or plant or landscape, she would prance happily in place, her tail flagging behind her and her neck arching joyfully.  She was a happy creature, despite her rather unfortunate past, and it showed in every line of her body, with every movement that she made.

The forest around them stretched ever-onward, growing even thicker for a time before they emerged into wide fields of thistle and shrubbery.  Her light blue gaze took it all in, down to the tiniest detail, thrilled to be able to explore at her leisure, protected by a stallion who she internally proclaimed to be a knight in shining turquoise armor.  Each time she stepped cautiously away from him, intrigued by this or that, she quickly returned, snorting and shy, to his side, periodically brushing her nose against whichever wing was closest to her, as though to reassure herself that he was still there.

Eventually, the thistle gave way to grass, and then dirt, and then sand, and the mare knew that they were growing close.  Her heart began to beat quickly in her chest - how did Ilios know that his kin would accept her?  What if they were all colorful and intricate and winged, like him?  She would be little and less against the likes of them - why would they want a plain, dull, boring mare to join their beautiful herd?  The more she began to think about it, the more anxious she became, until she began to jog uncomfortably, almost in place, her tail wringing with nerves.

When Ilios informed her that they were nearly there, and that they would have to wait on shore for her to be accepted, she cocked her head quizzically to the side.  What did he mean, on shore?  Why did they have to wait?  She didn't particularly like the idea of having time for her mind to run away with her, dragging her unwillingly to dark thoughts and deep fears.  And then he complimented her again, and she didn't know what to make of it, and before she could really consider her tumultuous emotions, he was playfully asking for a race.  She obliged quickly, grateful for the distraction.  A nod and a grin graced her dished visage, and then she leaped into a canter, following closely as Ilios began to run the shoreline.

They ran, flying along the shore, for once just a pair of horses.  Their color and their race no longer mattered, and the mare felt truly free for the first time.  The wind whipped through her mane, tangled in her tail, stung against her eyes - and she welcomed it all, pushing herself to run faster and faster, never quite catching up to the stallion in front of her, but keeping up all the same.

When he tucked his hindquarters underneath him, she swerved around him to avoid a collision and slowly brought herself back to a canter.  She circled around, tossing her head and bucking playfully, finally slowing to a trot as she approached him again.  A mischievous smile graced her features and her ears were pricked eagerly forward.  He had successfully gotten her to forget her nerves and her fear, and her bright eyes shone with admiration and pleasure.  When she stopped before him, she reached to bump her nose impishly against his shoulder.  She would trust him; if he said that this would be her new home, then it would be her new home.