Ynilla milled through the crowd, looking at the others. They were grazing quietly, swishing their tails against the midges which hovered about the surface of the clear lake. Sun dappled the many coat colours of her female companions, the only sound the gentle munching of the mares on the sweet spring grass and the leaves above rustling. She looked up, spotted the birds hopping silently from branch to branch, partially hidden by the lush green of the new leaves.
A slight smile played across her velvet muzzle. She was beginning to like this place. It wasn't overbearing, there was space to be herself. She watched the birds for a while, and when she lowered her head and turned the way she'd come, something black caught her eye. She wasn't sure what it was... it was in the air... a bird? No, it had no wings... As she watched it began to grow. Curious rather than frightened she stepped towards it a few paces, head titled slightly to the side.
Her mind didn't quite figure out what was happening until ears and a face appeared from absolutely nowhere. She squinted and then paused mid step. Her eyes grey wide and she drew back her head, her neck arching. Her ears rammed forward as the rest of this mad illusion materialized before her very eyes - the spectacle was strange enough until wings gradually shimmered into existence. Then she knew she really was crazy.
She hesitated, then took another step forward, waiting. She looked the stallion all the way over - felt a shiver of excitement down to her hooves. She still didn't quite believe that this shimmering, greying buckskin stallion, with his proud, powerful wings was really there. Maybe she'd not eaten enough. Or maybe she was just tired. Or maybe...She didn't react like other horses would. Her sense of adventure led her to not see the whole picture - a magical stallion with wings appearing from thin air? Any other horse would have legged it minutes ago. But she saw something new, exciting, a challenge and an adventure.
When her visitor approached and actually spoke, it somehow made him all the more real. He'd called her 'petal', and asked if she would like his company. She hesitated, looking back over her delicate shoulder. None of the other mares had looked up or headed over to them.
"Me?" She asked. She was used enough to plenty of male attention, but it didn't seem like this stallion was quite like that. Or was he? She wasn't sure, but it seemed like he was important in some way. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. "I hope so" she she smiled, looking at him from under her eyelashes. "I've been hoping for some company, and I think you might just be the kind of horse I could get along with".
As she watched him and waited for his reply a dark shadow fell over the ground, moving quickly. The sound of rustling came from above as if a great bird was circling over head, or swooping down to snatch up it's prey. She whipped up her head to see a dark silhouette, and squinted against the warm sun. As it dropped closer to the ground and away from the bright sky, she made out the clear shape of a horse, distinct feathered wings bracing as he set down gracefully behind Nier.
His coat almost glowed golden his black mane and tail a stark contrast against the brightness. He stood proud, his neck arched. He was quite the handsome fellow, and Ynilla thought maybe she was in for a run of good luck. Were the two together? They both had wings, but... they didn't stand as if they knew each other, nor did they greet each other. Spoilt for choice? She thought, for once feeling a little unsure of where to go next.
"Ce-za-ry" she said slowly, tilting her head on one side. She looked into his soft brown eyes, at the twinkle she recognized all too well in them. After all, it was that which her eyes held too.
A slight smile played across her velvet muzzle. She was beginning to like this place. It wasn't overbearing, there was space to be herself. She watched the birds for a while, and when she lowered her head and turned the way she'd come, something black caught her eye. She wasn't sure what it was... it was in the air... a bird? No, it had no wings... As she watched it began to grow. Curious rather than frightened she stepped towards it a few paces, head titled slightly to the side.
Her mind didn't quite figure out what was happening until ears and a face appeared from absolutely nowhere. She squinted and then paused mid step. Her eyes grey wide and she drew back her head, her neck arching. Her ears rammed forward as the rest of this mad illusion materialized before her very eyes - the spectacle was strange enough until wings gradually shimmered into existence. Then she knew she really was crazy.
She hesitated, then took another step forward, waiting. She looked the stallion all the way over - felt a shiver of excitement down to her hooves. She still didn't quite believe that this shimmering, greying buckskin stallion, with his proud, powerful wings was really there. Maybe she'd not eaten enough. Or maybe she was just tired. Or maybe...She didn't react like other horses would. Her sense of adventure led her to not see the whole picture - a magical stallion with wings appearing from thin air? Any other horse would have legged it minutes ago. But she saw something new, exciting, a challenge and an adventure.
When her visitor approached and actually spoke, it somehow made him all the more real. He'd called her 'petal', and asked if she would like his company. She hesitated, looking back over her delicate shoulder. None of the other mares had looked up or headed over to them.
"Me?" She asked. She was used enough to plenty of male attention, but it didn't seem like this stallion was quite like that. Or was he? She wasn't sure, but it seemed like he was important in some way. She couldn't quite put her finger on it. "I hope so" she she smiled, looking at him from under her eyelashes. "I've been hoping for some company, and I think you might just be the kind of horse I could get along with".
As she watched him and waited for his reply a dark shadow fell over the ground, moving quickly. The sound of rustling came from above as if a great bird was circling over head, or swooping down to snatch up it's prey. She whipped up her head to see a dark silhouette, and squinted against the warm sun. As it dropped closer to the ground and away from the bright sky, she made out the clear shape of a horse, distinct feathered wings bracing as he set down gracefully behind Nier.
His coat almost glowed golden his black mane and tail a stark contrast against the brightness. He stood proud, his neck arched. He was quite the handsome fellow, and Ynilla thought maybe she was in for a run of good luck. Were the two together? They both had wings, but... they didn't stand as if they knew each other, nor did they greet each other. Spoilt for choice? She thought, for once feeling a little unsure of where to go next.
"Ce-za-ry" she said slowly, tilting her head on one side. She looked into his soft brown eyes, at the twinkle she recognized all too well in them. After all, it was that which her eyes held too.