The wind raced past her, whipping her hair back from her face, a smile of pure joy stretched across her pretty, young face. Long fingers wrapped in an earthy multicolored mane, one hand resting relaxed to her side. Muscles bunched freely underneath her tanned legs, the buckskin mare's coat kept in prime condition at all times. Laughter streamed through her full lips as the gleaming mare squealed and lifted up in a half rear, striking out playfully. Efil knew this mare like the inside of her palm, and the love between the pair was unbreakable. "Go!" She whispered excitedly into the mare's ear, and almost the instant the word slipped through her mouth, the mare was off, seemingly flying lifting off into the skies...
With a start, Efil woke, her breathing labored and tears streaming from her face. Growling at herself, she hastily wiped away the tears, smudging dirt across her cheeks. A concerned nicker came from outside, and a nose pushed through the front, pink nostrils flaring and fluttering about as he searched for her note of being alright. A choked laugh came out, turning into a giggle as he stuck his head all the way in, his forelock fluffed up and in a mess, his ears leaning as far forward as they could. "Oh it's good to have you with me buddy." She laughed, finally being able to shrug the sorrow in her heart, though it still sat deep in her gut. Turning around, she stood, proceeding to roll up her items.
With all of her things packed up, she stood, hands on her hips just watching the young stallion. He had found himself a nice spot to roll and was lazily dozing after his gleeful moment. Oh how she adored him. Again, her heart ached and she took a deep, shaky breath. The stallion seemed to notice, perked his ears and watched with piercing blue eyes as Elif steadied herself. Content that she was alright, he lowered him maw to touch the ground once more. Looking down at the ground, she studied her luggage. The one thing that stood out to her was her deep emerald blanket, small little pieces of jewels intertwined around the edges. A groan eased out of the handsome stud, and an idea popped into her mind.
Quietly she stepped towards the stallion, hands holding a sweet treat she had found from a fallen cart. She knew he was smart enough to feed himself, but what he didn't have, were the goods. As soon as she was within inches of him, she knelt down, using her feet as a makeshift seat. Offering the treat to him she murmured in his ears. "We are going to try something today. Something different. Are you up for it?" She asked, sure that he would understand her. It seemed as though horses were the only thing that could. A disgruntled look passed his face, hearing the inclination in her tone. Taking her hand, she gently cupped his large jaw, placing her other hand on his forehead. For a moment, his optics widened with surprise, but then calmed, accepting the contact. Her heart swelled as he relaxed, finally, finally allowing her to touch him. It was as if they had crossed some barrier that morning, though she wasn't quite sure as to what it was. Slowly, she placed her hand that was on his crown on to the other side of his jaw, and bent forward, leaning her head onto his. "We are just alike." Pausing, she pulled her head away from his. cradling his head. What a strong horse he was, overcoming his fears in such a short time. It was inspiring. "Let's go see what we can do." She spoke affirmatively.
"Again!" She commanded herself. Brushing her legs off, she stood slowly, looking at the stallion purposefully. A glimmer shone in his eyes as he playfully tossed his head. He thought it was all fun and games. Sighing, she chuckled slightly, rolling her eyes. "You're full of it!" Shaking her head, she lifted her hand and flipped her hand upward, looking at him intently. This was how she trained his mother. This was how she would train him. Curiously, he looked at her hand, and calmed, walking towards her. Placing his muzzle in her hand, her sought for something. When he found nothing, he lowered his maw from her hand, and lifted his head under her hand. Eye to eye, she looked at him, finding herself wrapped in his comforting gaze. It was almost as if she were looking into her mare's eyes. The dream she had earlier on flashed through her mind and she frowned. "Don't you want to run? I can help you. We could soar the skies together." She said, pained excitement in her vocals. Nodding his head as if agreeing with her, the stallion waited for her next move. Retracting from their moment, she moved to his side. Placing her hands on his back, she patted him gently. Then she moved on to pressing down, gently applying weight to his back, watching his ears and face at all times. Seeing no change in comfortableness, she slung her arms as far as she could over his back, leaning forward just a bit. A flick of the ear. "Aaaee." She crooned softly, her nonsense only spoken for the calming tones. Words didn't matter to them. It was the excitement, calmness, anger, fear that ran through one's veins and lilted through their voice. Gently, she applied weight, leaning against him more and more. A tremor shifted through him. "Hooo, hooo.." She murmured once again.
Fifteen minutes passed with them standing awkwardly against each other, his mind adjusting to the added weight she had applied. Feeling all tension gone within his bodice, she continued. "Are you ready?" She sang softly. Taking his calm sigh as a yes, she patted his back, and tugged on his withers slightly, letting him know things were changing. In one fluid movement she swung herself upon his back and sat gently, humming nonsense in his ears all the while. Ears flicked back at her, listening to her. Turning his nape around, he reached to look at her and her new position. Reaching further, he nudged her leg, snorting softly. "Gooood, goood." She spoke in honey-like tones. Underneath her, she could feel all of him. Each breath he took, the heart pounding within his bodice, the strong sinew and muscle shifting with each movement he made. A loud crash nearby sounded, and she felt him spook before he did it. Wrapping her fingers into his mane, she held on. But for some reason, whether it was the fear in his eyes, or the understanding that it was all new to him, the skilled Drykas released, pushing herself off and away from the stallion's hooves. The ground came up fast, too fast, and she landed hard on her side, rolling to a stop. Groaning, she lifted her head to see where the sound had come from. Shaking her head when she saw nothing, she cringed and dropped her head back on the ground.
Opening her eyes, she saw a large, pink face in hers, prodding and breathing all over her face. A small laugh started to come from her, but was cut off short as she felt the pain on her left side. Gently, the stallion continued to nudge her gently, seemingly concerned for her. "Alright, alright." She whispered. Slowly she shifted, cringing as she sat up. Quickly, the stallion stepped back, being careful to avoid her fragile bodice. Standing before her, he lowered his maw once more. "I can't get up if you're standing in front of me." She grumbled, trying to push his face gently away, but he persisted, pushing his maw back under her hand. Was he apologizing? Whatever he was doing, it comforted her. Lifting her other hand, she placed it over the bridge of his nose. Once again, they were eye to eye. "I'm proud of you." she whispered. "That was a huge step." Wrapping her arms around his neck, she gently hugged him. Jerking away just barely at first, the stallion then relaxed and rested his head gently on her shoulder. Suddenly, he slowly began lifting his head. Immediately, she released, but he lowered his head once more. Tentatively, she wrapped her arms around his nape once more, unsure of his actions and purpose. She had never had interactions such as the ones she had with this stallion before, all of it new to her. Again he gently began lifting his neck, guiding her to her knees, then to her feet. Wobbly, she stood attached to her stallion, vulnerable and emotionally moved by the young stallion's actions. Her mare had left her with more than she could have ever asked for. A part of her.
20'th Day, Winter, 513 A.V.
With a start, Efil woke, her breathing labored and tears streaming from her face. Growling at herself, she hastily wiped away the tears, smudging dirt across her cheeks. A concerned nicker came from outside, and a nose pushed through the front, pink nostrils flaring and fluttering about as he searched for her note of being alright. A choked laugh came out, turning into a giggle as he stuck his head all the way in, his forelock fluffed up and in a mess, his ears leaning as far forward as they could. "Oh it's good to have you with me buddy." She laughed, finally being able to shrug the sorrow in her heart, though it still sat deep in her gut. Turning around, she stood, proceeding to roll up her items.
With all of her things packed up, she stood, hands on her hips just watching the young stallion. He had found himself a nice spot to roll and was lazily dozing after his gleeful moment. Oh how she adored him. Again, her heart ached and she took a deep, shaky breath. The stallion seemed to notice, perked his ears and watched with piercing blue eyes as Elif steadied herself. Content that she was alright, he lowered him maw to touch the ground once more. Looking down at the ground, she studied her luggage. The one thing that stood out to her was her deep emerald blanket, small little pieces of jewels intertwined around the edges. A groan eased out of the handsome stud, and an idea popped into her mind.
Quietly she stepped towards the stallion, hands holding a sweet treat she had found from a fallen cart. She knew he was smart enough to feed himself, but what he didn't have, were the goods. As soon as she was within inches of him, she knelt down, using her feet as a makeshift seat. Offering the treat to him she murmured in his ears. "We are going to try something today. Something different. Are you up for it?" She asked, sure that he would understand her. It seemed as though horses were the only thing that could. A disgruntled look passed his face, hearing the inclination in her tone. Taking her hand, she gently cupped his large jaw, placing her other hand on his forehead. For a moment, his optics widened with surprise, but then calmed, accepting the contact. Her heart swelled as he relaxed, finally, finally allowing her to touch him. It was as if they had crossed some barrier that morning, though she wasn't quite sure as to what it was. Slowly, she placed her hand that was on his crown on to the other side of his jaw, and bent forward, leaning her head onto his. "We are just alike." Pausing, she pulled her head away from his. cradling his head. What a strong horse he was, overcoming his fears in such a short time. It was inspiring. "Let's go see what we can do." She spoke affirmatively.
"Again!" She commanded herself. Brushing her legs off, she stood slowly, looking at the stallion purposefully. A glimmer shone in his eyes as he playfully tossed his head. He thought it was all fun and games. Sighing, she chuckled slightly, rolling her eyes. "You're full of it!" Shaking her head, she lifted her hand and flipped her hand upward, looking at him intently. This was how she trained his mother. This was how she would train him. Curiously, he looked at her hand, and calmed, walking towards her. Placing his muzzle in her hand, her sought for something. When he found nothing, he lowered his maw from her hand, and lifted his head under her hand. Eye to eye, she looked at him, finding herself wrapped in his comforting gaze. It was almost as if she were looking into her mare's eyes. The dream she had earlier on flashed through her mind and she frowned. "Don't you want to run? I can help you. We could soar the skies together." She said, pained excitement in her vocals. Nodding his head as if agreeing with her, the stallion waited for her next move. Retracting from their moment, she moved to his side. Placing her hands on his back, she patted him gently. Then she moved on to pressing down, gently applying weight to his back, watching his ears and face at all times. Seeing no change in comfortableness, she slung her arms as far as she could over his back, leaning forward just a bit. A flick of the ear. "Aaaee." She crooned softly, her nonsense only spoken for the calming tones. Words didn't matter to them. It was the excitement, calmness, anger, fear that ran through one's veins and lilted through their voice. Gently, she applied weight, leaning against him more and more. A tremor shifted through him. "Hooo, hooo.." She murmured once again.
Fifteen minutes passed with them standing awkwardly against each other, his mind adjusting to the added weight she had applied. Feeling all tension gone within his bodice, she continued. "Are you ready?" She sang softly. Taking his calm sigh as a yes, she patted his back, and tugged on his withers slightly, letting him know things were changing. In one fluid movement she swung herself upon his back and sat gently, humming nonsense in his ears all the while. Ears flicked back at her, listening to her. Turning his nape around, he reached to look at her and her new position. Reaching further, he nudged her leg, snorting softly. "Gooood, goood." She spoke in honey-like tones. Underneath her, she could feel all of him. Each breath he took, the heart pounding within his bodice, the strong sinew and muscle shifting with each movement he made. A loud crash nearby sounded, and she felt him spook before he did it. Wrapping her fingers into his mane, she held on. But for some reason, whether it was the fear in his eyes, or the understanding that it was all new to him, the skilled Drykas released, pushing herself off and away from the stallion's hooves. The ground came up fast, too fast, and she landed hard on her side, rolling to a stop. Groaning, she lifted her head to see where the sound had come from. Shaking her head when she saw nothing, she cringed and dropped her head back on the ground.
Opening her eyes, she saw a large, pink face in hers, prodding and breathing all over her face. A small laugh started to come from her, but was cut off short as she felt the pain on her left side. Gently, the stallion continued to nudge her gently, seemingly concerned for her. "Alright, alright." She whispered. Slowly she shifted, cringing as she sat up. Quickly, the stallion stepped back, being careful to avoid her fragile bodice. Standing before her, he lowered his maw once more. "I can't get up if you're standing in front of me." She grumbled, trying to push his face gently away, but he persisted, pushing his maw back under her hand. Was he apologizing? Whatever he was doing, it comforted her. Lifting her other hand, she placed it over the bridge of his nose. Once again, they were eye to eye. "I'm proud of you." she whispered. "That was a huge step." Wrapping her arms around his neck, she gently hugged him. Jerking away just barely at first, the stallion then relaxed and rested his head gently on her shoulder. Suddenly, he slowly began lifting his head. Immediately, she released, but he lowered his head once more. Tentatively, she wrapped her arms around his nape once more, unsure of his actions and purpose. She had never had interactions such as the ones she had with this stallion before, all of it new to her. Again he gently began lifting his neck, guiding her to her knees, then to her feet. Wobbly, she stood attached to her stallion, vulnerable and emotionally moved by the young stallion's actions. Her mare had left her with more than she could have ever asked for. A part of her.
20'th Day, Winter, 513 A.V.
