Ever since his self-imposed exile into the Forest, Aten rarely made the journey out of his new home to explore the lands of Beqanna. However, there were those few days when he felt confident enough to go, in the hopes he could just do his work and not worry about meeting any other horses. He'd seen a few here and there on occasion, but he would always steer clear, not ever feeling in the mood to talk to another creature.
His work outside of the Forest was simple, but efficient. He would walk the bank of the river to see the life that teemed outside his home, in addition to checking for issues that arose with the river itself, to make sure that the Forest and the Meadow would not suffer for it. The efficiency with this task was that he got a good amount of exercise, to keep himself in shape, he got to taste grass that didn't grow inside his home, and he got to... well, that was about it. He sure wasn't coming out of seclusion to meet any horse, but he had to admit, when he felt like it, it eased the strain on his mind to get out once in a while.
Running in the Forest came with it's challenges, but it was quite an entertaining experience. Racing through the tall trees as fast as he could, dodging branch after branch to make sure he wouldn't be slowed down, testing his footing on the dirt paths that were covered in pine needles and leaves that would expose his position to a predator. But he didn't care; running helped him to forget the pain within his mind.
But on this day, the beginning of spring, Aten was content to walk calmly along the River bank, stopping every so often to take a small drink before resuming his trek, following the stream's current. At first, he didn't see many creatures besides those he often saw living in the Forest, in addition to some who had come from the Meadow for a water source. Only after the sun was in the sky did he see a horse, so he quickly ducked away from the River bank, but did not hide among the trees, keeping his distance but allowing the other to know he was there.
It was a mare, it appeared, grazing at the river bank alone. At first, that's what Aten believed, until he heard the bushes nearby rustling, as if something was hiding among them. His brown eyes gazed over to see what was making such a racket, a few moments later spotting a tiny wobbly-legged foal come bounding out to return to it's dam's side. For some reason, Aten felt a little lighter in his heart at seeing such an innocent display, but he shoved the emotion to the side, not wanting it to stay longer than it had to. Plus, the mare, sensing his presence, looked up, her ears going forward at seeing him before she called to her little one. Nudging his flank after checking him over, the mare ushered her foal away from the River and back out in the direction of the Meadow, leaving Aten to his lonesome.
Which was fine by the stallion, and yet, he couldn't help but feel more lonely than when a day passed where he didn't see any new horses. The stallion let out a heavy sigh before walking back toward the River, stopping once his hooves clattered against the rocks on the bank. He lowered his head to gaze at his reflection in the water, for a moment seeing himself before the flowing current played a trick on him.
In a flash, Aten saw himself staring at not his own reflection, but that of his sire, the roan stallion's messy forelock much like his colt's, the same kind but hardened look in his eye. Aten's own eyes widened, thinking he hadn't just seen that, and when he blinked a couple of times, his own reflection had returned. Believing it to be a hallucination, Aten lowered his head again for a drink, but once again, the current had other ideas. The main difference was this time, the reflection was that of Aten's dam, her kind face and eyes staring back up at her youngest son, her smile making Aten feel safe as he had in his foal hood.
But it had to be a trick, Aten knew this. He rapidly backed away from the River again, shaking his head and trying to get his bearings. No way that could've just happened... he was just seeing things, right? Even if it was a trick of the light, nothing could make his parent's reflection look so much like them...
But Aten had no idea just how much like the both of them he looked. Once he got a hold of himself, the stallion approached the River again, his eyes, out of slight fear, squinting shut to avoid looking down at the current. He lowered his head, slowly, but quickly opening his eyes to try and see if he could make the hallucination stop. This time, again, it was his own reflection looking back up at him, but Aten would wait a moment, wanting to make sure there were no more tricks.
Agonizing seconds ticked by, but the reflection of the golden stallion did not change. Somewhat satisfied that the trick playing was done, Aten, one last time, lowered his head and dipped his lips into the frigid river water. He took a couple of sips before testing the current's tricks again, but, seeing his own reflection, Aten just felt silly. Finishing his drink, the stallion turned away from the River and settled in to graze a bit, moving under the shade of one of the tall trees while listening to the sounds of the forest edge around him.
@[Agave]
His work outside of the Forest was simple, but efficient. He would walk the bank of the river to see the life that teemed outside his home, in addition to checking for issues that arose with the river itself, to make sure that the Forest and the Meadow would not suffer for it. The efficiency with this task was that he got a good amount of exercise, to keep himself in shape, he got to taste grass that didn't grow inside his home, and he got to... well, that was about it. He sure wasn't coming out of seclusion to meet any horse, but he had to admit, when he felt like it, it eased the strain on his mind to get out once in a while.
Running in the Forest came with it's challenges, but it was quite an entertaining experience. Racing through the tall trees as fast as he could, dodging branch after branch to make sure he wouldn't be slowed down, testing his footing on the dirt paths that were covered in pine needles and leaves that would expose his position to a predator. But he didn't care; running helped him to forget the pain within his mind.
But on this day, the beginning of spring, Aten was content to walk calmly along the River bank, stopping every so often to take a small drink before resuming his trek, following the stream's current. At first, he didn't see many creatures besides those he often saw living in the Forest, in addition to some who had come from the Meadow for a water source. Only after the sun was in the sky did he see a horse, so he quickly ducked away from the River bank, but did not hide among the trees, keeping his distance but allowing the other to know he was there.
It was a mare, it appeared, grazing at the river bank alone. At first, that's what Aten believed, until he heard the bushes nearby rustling, as if something was hiding among them. His brown eyes gazed over to see what was making such a racket, a few moments later spotting a tiny wobbly-legged foal come bounding out to return to it's dam's side. For some reason, Aten felt a little lighter in his heart at seeing such an innocent display, but he shoved the emotion to the side, not wanting it to stay longer than it had to. Plus, the mare, sensing his presence, looked up, her ears going forward at seeing him before she called to her little one. Nudging his flank after checking him over, the mare ushered her foal away from the River and back out in the direction of the Meadow, leaving Aten to his lonesome.
Which was fine by the stallion, and yet, he couldn't help but feel more lonely than when a day passed where he didn't see any new horses. The stallion let out a heavy sigh before walking back toward the River, stopping once his hooves clattered against the rocks on the bank. He lowered his head to gaze at his reflection in the water, for a moment seeing himself before the flowing current played a trick on him.
In a flash, Aten saw himself staring at not his own reflection, but that of his sire, the roan stallion's messy forelock much like his colt's, the same kind but hardened look in his eye. Aten's own eyes widened, thinking he hadn't just seen that, and when he blinked a couple of times, his own reflection had returned. Believing it to be a hallucination, Aten lowered his head again for a drink, but once again, the current had other ideas. The main difference was this time, the reflection was that of Aten's dam, her kind face and eyes staring back up at her youngest son, her smile making Aten feel safe as he had in his foal hood.
But it had to be a trick, Aten knew this. He rapidly backed away from the River again, shaking his head and trying to get his bearings. No way that could've just happened... he was just seeing things, right? Even if it was a trick of the light, nothing could make his parent's reflection look so much like them...
But Aten had no idea just how much like the both of them he looked. Once he got a hold of himself, the stallion approached the River again, his eyes, out of slight fear, squinting shut to avoid looking down at the current. He lowered his head, slowly, but quickly opening his eyes to try and see if he could make the hallucination stop. This time, again, it was his own reflection looking back up at him, but Aten would wait a moment, wanting to make sure there were no more tricks.
Agonizing seconds ticked by, but the reflection of the golden stallion did not change. Somewhat satisfied that the trick playing was done, Aten, one last time, lowered his head and dipped his lips into the frigid river water. He took a couple of sips before testing the current's tricks again, but, seeing his own reflection, Aten just felt silly. Finishing his drink, the stallion turned away from the River and settled in to graze a bit, moving under the shade of one of the tall trees while listening to the sounds of the forest edge around him.
@[Agave]