09-06-2019, 07:47 PM
Winter could be a deadly season, but there were some who embraced it. One such was a golden stallion who had made a journey to the Field that day, not in search of anything in particular, but one who simply wished to 'stretch his wings' and escape the reality of the situation he faced right now.
Being sent out on a diplomatic mission by the Queen, he wasn't disappointed about that, or anything that had to do with helping provide his kingdom with what it needed. But recently he had heard things... from both sides... and he struggled with both, not because he didn't know which side to believe, but because he knew which one would lead to more disaster.
Specifically, the side that had to do with revenge. The golden stallion, in his only year with his dam, had been taught one lesson by her; revenge was pointless, useless, and not unlike a two-headed venomous snake. He could lash out all he want, strike down those who had hurt him, but he would only end up hurting himself in return as well. And possibly those close to him.
He did not want that; the two foals and his love did not deserve such a fate. They were not a part of this, even if the mare wished to be so she could support him. If Aten could, he would send the mare and her foals to the northern lands where they would be safe and free from the danger bubbling within their own territory. But he knew she wouldn't go...
Not if it meant abandoning him... she would support him always, she'd said so...
And sometimes, that infuriated him, if only because he wanted to keep her safe.
He had to take this conflict out into the Field, allow his mind to wander so he could sort through his thoughts. Having a run like this helped him to think. Taiga wasn't useless in this regard, but being in his home territory, having the desire to protect it, would only cloud his judgment. Out here, in the open, where there were no kingdom territories, he could freely consider all options.
Out here, there were no reminders.
The snow kicked up around the golden stallion as he raced across the Field, his coat now heavily blanketed with white from both the snow he threw up and the recent downfall last sun back in his home. Aten had his favorite season, as did every horse, but he held no ill wishes against the others. Winter reminded him of times past, mistakes he made, so he would not do so again.
It also reminded him of the cold loneliness that pushed him further into himself... retreating into the forest, spending years there as a bachelor following Taiga's destruction. That had not necessarily been a mistake, for the years of soul searching did him good. But it had hardened his heart... save a few exceptions.
A thick snow bank almost tripped the stallion up, but he held his ground and pressed on. When it thinned out again, his hooves carried him through the snow with ease until he reached his destination. A thin creek that ran through the grass and served to water it was now frozen over, but the stallion wasn't there for a drink anyway. Instead, he had simply stopped on the bank, his chest heaving from his run. Clouds of frost formed around his muzzle with each breath, another forming over his back from where the sweat was evaporating off his body.
Part of his mane was plastered to his neck from the snow melting, and his forelock fell in a mess around his left eye, but other than that, the weather seemed to have little effect on the proud stallion. His muscular physique was clear even beneath his thick, healthy coat, his brown eyes searching across the Field.
At first, he saw nothing, even though his eyes didn't miss much. Some things were hard to see against the backdrop. Suddenly feeling his throat go dry when he'd caught his breath, the stallion lifted one of his rock-hard hooves and smashed it into the thin layer of ice covering the creek, exposing the frigid waters underneath.
He lowered his head for a sip, his ears turning every which way to listen for sounds. Every so often, when he thought he heard something, the stallion's head would go up, but upon sensing nothing, he'd return to his drink. Little did he know though, for he couldn't see her against the snow, not very far away, a pretty young pink perlino filly was lurking.
@[Demetyr] Normally I'd have Aten approach, but I'm kinda playing with the season. So if Demetyr would like to come say hi, Aten would like to make a new friend.
Being sent out on a diplomatic mission by the Queen, he wasn't disappointed about that, or anything that had to do with helping provide his kingdom with what it needed. But recently he had heard things... from both sides... and he struggled with both, not because he didn't know which side to believe, but because he knew which one would lead to more disaster.
Specifically, the side that had to do with revenge. The golden stallion, in his only year with his dam, had been taught one lesson by her; revenge was pointless, useless, and not unlike a two-headed venomous snake. He could lash out all he want, strike down those who had hurt him, but he would only end up hurting himself in return as well. And possibly those close to him.
He did not want that; the two foals and his love did not deserve such a fate. They were not a part of this, even if the mare wished to be so she could support him. If Aten could, he would send the mare and her foals to the northern lands where they would be safe and free from the danger bubbling within their own territory. But he knew she wouldn't go...
Not if it meant abandoning him... she would support him always, she'd said so...
And sometimes, that infuriated him, if only because he wanted to keep her safe.
He had to take this conflict out into the Field, allow his mind to wander so he could sort through his thoughts. Having a run like this helped him to think. Taiga wasn't useless in this regard, but being in his home territory, having the desire to protect it, would only cloud his judgment. Out here, in the open, where there were no kingdom territories, he could freely consider all options.
Out here, there were no reminders.
The snow kicked up around the golden stallion as he raced across the Field, his coat now heavily blanketed with white from both the snow he threw up and the recent downfall last sun back in his home. Aten had his favorite season, as did every horse, but he held no ill wishes against the others. Winter reminded him of times past, mistakes he made, so he would not do so again.
It also reminded him of the cold loneliness that pushed him further into himself... retreating into the forest, spending years there as a bachelor following Taiga's destruction. That had not necessarily been a mistake, for the years of soul searching did him good. But it had hardened his heart... save a few exceptions.
A thick snow bank almost tripped the stallion up, but he held his ground and pressed on. When it thinned out again, his hooves carried him through the snow with ease until he reached his destination. A thin creek that ran through the grass and served to water it was now frozen over, but the stallion wasn't there for a drink anyway. Instead, he had simply stopped on the bank, his chest heaving from his run. Clouds of frost formed around his muzzle with each breath, another forming over his back from where the sweat was evaporating off his body.
Part of his mane was plastered to his neck from the snow melting, and his forelock fell in a mess around his left eye, but other than that, the weather seemed to have little effect on the proud stallion. His muscular physique was clear even beneath his thick, healthy coat, his brown eyes searching across the Field.
At first, he saw nothing, even though his eyes didn't miss much. Some things were hard to see against the backdrop. Suddenly feeling his throat go dry when he'd caught his breath, the stallion lifted one of his rock-hard hooves and smashed it into the thin layer of ice covering the creek, exposing the frigid waters underneath.
He lowered his head for a sip, his ears turning every which way to listen for sounds. Every so often, when he thought he heard something, the stallion's head would go up, but upon sensing nothing, he'd return to his drink. Little did he know though, for he couldn't see her against the snow, not very far away, a pretty young pink perlino filly was lurking.
@[Demetyr] Normally I'd have Aten approach, but I'm kinda playing with the season. So if Demetyr would like to come say hi, Aten would like to make a new friend.