03-20-2018, 02:35 PM
Hephaestus
The forest swallowed him. All around him fresh greenery broke through the iciness of winter. The promise of spring rode upon the breeze and, with it, the promise of new life. Alone he’d wandered a great distance. From one corner of Beqanna to the other, he’d traveled a great distance. This corner, however, he loved. The denseness of the trees and bushes created a warmth that reached deep within his bones. Here, it was easy for him to hide against the unwanted gaze of passing strangers. For days he’d darted from shadow to shadow, keeping to himself. The trees and the birds had been the only company he’d needed, and the solitude set his soul right.
Grazing on a sparse patch of weedy grass the sound of a twig breaking set him at pause. His big black head jolted upright, his ears pricked towards the sound. It wasn’t uncommon for a doe or two to stumble upon him. Their big brown eyes would hardly pause upon him before they were on their way once more. A buck, however, tended be a slightly more challenging encounter. Territorial, they tended to require slightly more convincing before continuing their way. However, the more he listened to the approach the more he realized that it was not a deer he would encounter.
Abandoning his lunch, he melted into the shadows just as a smaller black stallion broke through the thicket. Small in stature, Hephaestus knew he would be no real challenge should he choose to be violent towards him. Hopefully, the traveler would pass him by and be quietly on his way.
Watching apprehensively, the strange stallion paused to search the shadows. For a moment, Hephaestus’ tensed, sure that he would be discovered. A heartbeat later, the black stud was moving along once more. Hephaestus exhaled. It seemed strange, that moment. Either, the patrolling horse had spotted him and decided not to say anything, or he hadn’t. Whatever the case may have been, he was happy to return to his patch of grass.
Exiting his hiding spot, he meandered confidently back to where his lunch sat waiting ever so patiently. Lowering his head, he kept one ear pointed in the direction of the wanderer in case the stallion decided that he wanted to double back. However unlikely that seemed, Hephaestus had learned that the horses of Beqanna took protecting their own very seriously and any perceived threat was swiftly dealt with. Though he was no threat, he’d often been treated like one. He simply wanted to enjoy his bite of grass.
Break My Shackles To Set Me Free
@[Jesper]