06-02-2017, 08:41 PM
It had been a long time since Aten encountered a force of nature this powerful. He'd felt the crushing snow of winter, during a storm when the Falls was still around. He'd endured the Reckoning, as a yearling no less. He got through the storm that took Pangea away, even if he wasn't that close to it to begin with. He'd faced natural disasters and other things that could harm an animal as powerful as a horse.
But never had he faced something like this. Forest fires were an unknown subject to Aten. He'd only ever heard stories during his foal hood, when his dam recounted the earliest times of her life before and shortly after becoming separated from her herd (though he had a suspicion that wasn't the whole truth). She wound up in a forest during a storm, and lightning came down from the sky, igniting one of the trees that the champagne mare had been using for shelter.
Anahi often told him she suspected a higher force was watching over her that day, and that she couldn't be more grateful for being spared because it had meant she might not have had Aten and his siblings. The colt had nuzzled his dam before going to sleep that night, not knowing what tragedy would hit the kingdom a mere two moons after.
Now, he was going to face one himself. Not that he planned it. The young stallion was relaxing in one of the Taiga's smaller meadows when the strange smell hit his nostrils. Though he did not know the cause, his instincts told him there was danger near. His head went up, nostrils flared, trying to perceive what danger could be lurking nearby. He didn't see anything out of the ordinary. No impending storms gathering on the horizon. No big cats or predators of the like hiding among the shadows of the trees.
Wolves counted, he supposed, but he was no longer afraid of the ones who lurked in Taiga. He'd gotten used to them shortly after arriving when Ruan assured him they would not do him harm.
So, what kind of danger could this be? What was his instinct telling him to be afraid of? The stallion's eyes darted back and forth, trying to pick out any sign, his temper getting a bit frustrated when he couldn't make it out.
Then, he spotted something. A flash, out of the corner of his eye. Faint, but enough to tell him it was worth investigating. The stallion turned and galloped toward the light, wanting to know what was putting the Taiga in danger.
As he edged closer, his instinct told him to back off, but his worry for the other residents pushed his legs to move faster. A poor choice, on his part, but not one that would have fatal consequences. He crested a small hill that led marked the beginning of a decline into a meadow that had become increasingly dry with the summer's heat. It was perfect for the danger Aten was about to face, the danger that, while beautiful to look at, was just as deadly as a predator.
When Aten crested the small hill, he had barley enough time to slide to a halt, stopping just short of the flames licking at the grass and his legs. The stallion still felt the heat lapping at his fetlocks, and he reared up, his weight making him stumble backwards and having to throw his hind legs behind him to maintain his balance.
He came back down, his eyes wide with fear. He hadn't received any burns to his legs, but he had felt the heat. What in the world was- Aten's mind flashed to the stories his dam had told him of the forest fire she'd experienced as a filly. The flashing light of the fire in the distance, how it struck fear in her heart, knowing that the danger could move faster than anyone thought.
The raging heat, worse than the summer sun, sprouting forth the flames that licked at and devoured the meadow grass and trees like a mad predator. Could it even be called that?
Seeing how rapidly the flames spread and the amount of grass being consumed, Aten decided yes, fire was a predator. He took another step back as the flames edged closer to him, worrying the stallion that he would get hurt. Of course, he still worried for the others though, his eyes darting up to see if there was any horse trapped in the fire.
Some distance away, he spotted the silhouette of a dark-colored horse, though who it was he couldn't tell at first. No matter, he had to help. The stallion moved around the flames in front of him and galloped down, taking care to avoid the fire as he went. Aten was fighting with every instinct in his body, telling him to spare himself and get moving, but he had to see if this horse was in danger.
Once he was close enough, Aten stopped, narrowing his eyes to get a look at the other horse. A couple of times, he had to look away due to the smoke, his lungs already starting to get heavy from being so close to the fire. He coughed a few times in between looking up to identify the horse, ignoring the stinging in his eyes from the heat.
It did take a while, but finally, Aten figured out who it was. Needless to say, even though he'd heard of her gift, he was in shock. Why would she do this? What had happened to make her so angry? Enough to the point that she was setting her home on fire?
Why had this happened?
A million questions buzzed through his head, but Aten pushed them away. Even though the fire was spreading fast, he thought if he could calm down the mare enough, she might be able to do something about the flames surrounding her.
The stallion reared up, calling out to his friend, "Jinju! You must calm down; the Taiga has been ignited by your flames! Please Jinju, answer me!"
But never had he faced something like this. Forest fires were an unknown subject to Aten. He'd only ever heard stories during his foal hood, when his dam recounted the earliest times of her life before and shortly after becoming separated from her herd (though he had a suspicion that wasn't the whole truth). She wound up in a forest during a storm, and lightning came down from the sky, igniting one of the trees that the champagne mare had been using for shelter.
Anahi often told him she suspected a higher force was watching over her that day, and that she couldn't be more grateful for being spared because it had meant she might not have had Aten and his siblings. The colt had nuzzled his dam before going to sleep that night, not knowing what tragedy would hit the kingdom a mere two moons after.
Now, he was going to face one himself. Not that he planned it. The young stallion was relaxing in one of the Taiga's smaller meadows when the strange smell hit his nostrils. Though he did not know the cause, his instincts told him there was danger near. His head went up, nostrils flared, trying to perceive what danger could be lurking nearby. He didn't see anything out of the ordinary. No impending storms gathering on the horizon. No big cats or predators of the like hiding among the shadows of the trees.
Wolves counted, he supposed, but he was no longer afraid of the ones who lurked in Taiga. He'd gotten used to them shortly after arriving when Ruan assured him they would not do him harm.
So, what kind of danger could this be? What was his instinct telling him to be afraid of? The stallion's eyes darted back and forth, trying to pick out any sign, his temper getting a bit frustrated when he couldn't make it out.
Then, he spotted something. A flash, out of the corner of his eye. Faint, but enough to tell him it was worth investigating. The stallion turned and galloped toward the light, wanting to know what was putting the Taiga in danger.
As he edged closer, his instinct told him to back off, but his worry for the other residents pushed his legs to move faster. A poor choice, on his part, but not one that would have fatal consequences. He crested a small hill that led marked the beginning of a decline into a meadow that had become increasingly dry with the summer's heat. It was perfect for the danger Aten was about to face, the danger that, while beautiful to look at, was just as deadly as a predator.
When Aten crested the small hill, he had barley enough time to slide to a halt, stopping just short of the flames licking at the grass and his legs. The stallion still felt the heat lapping at his fetlocks, and he reared up, his weight making him stumble backwards and having to throw his hind legs behind him to maintain his balance.
He came back down, his eyes wide with fear. He hadn't received any burns to his legs, but he had felt the heat. What in the world was- Aten's mind flashed to the stories his dam had told him of the forest fire she'd experienced as a filly. The flashing light of the fire in the distance, how it struck fear in her heart, knowing that the danger could move faster than anyone thought.
The raging heat, worse than the summer sun, sprouting forth the flames that licked at and devoured the meadow grass and trees like a mad predator. Could it even be called that?
Seeing how rapidly the flames spread and the amount of grass being consumed, Aten decided yes, fire was a predator. He took another step back as the flames edged closer to him, worrying the stallion that he would get hurt. Of course, he still worried for the others though, his eyes darting up to see if there was any horse trapped in the fire.
Some distance away, he spotted the silhouette of a dark-colored horse, though who it was he couldn't tell at first. No matter, he had to help. The stallion moved around the flames in front of him and galloped down, taking care to avoid the fire as he went. Aten was fighting with every instinct in his body, telling him to spare himself and get moving, but he had to see if this horse was in danger.
Once he was close enough, Aten stopped, narrowing his eyes to get a look at the other horse. A couple of times, he had to look away due to the smoke, his lungs already starting to get heavy from being so close to the fire. He coughed a few times in between looking up to identify the horse, ignoring the stinging in his eyes from the heat.
It did take a while, but finally, Aten figured out who it was. Needless to say, even though he'd heard of her gift, he was in shock. Why would she do this? What had happened to make her so angry? Enough to the point that she was setting her home on fire?
Why had this happened?
A million questions buzzed through his head, but Aten pushed them away. Even though the fire was spreading fast, he thought if he could calm down the mare enough, she might be able to do something about the flames surrounding her.
The stallion reared up, calling out to his friend, "Jinju! You must calm down; the Taiga has been ignited by your flames! Please Jinju, answer me!"