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    COTY

    Assailant -- Year 226

    QOTY

    "But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura


    The sea birds call [Nalia]
    #1
    Ardashir
    He was true in his passion for his home. The white stallion did not have to sound like he was lying about any of the natural beauty of Nerine. He thought the mare might just take off by herself from the excitement after he invited her to see the kingdom. Ardashir chuckled a little as she danced around and ruffled her wings around. He had taken in her scent not only as a greeting but, should they be seperated on this journey he could try to track her.   


    Shall we then?” He asked her and turned in the direction of home. Well, he already knew the answer and they started off.  Ardashir took up a loping trot making sure though that it was a relaxed pace as did not want to out run Nalia. Ardashir kept up the conversation as they moved. He offered what landmarks she could use to find her way back to the field, and what marked the borders of the kingdoms that they had to pass through on the way to Nerine.


    They had to cover a long of different ground from the forest, to skirting the border of Taiga, the river. He took time to stop making sure they had time to rest. He did not know much about the places the passed even the forest was a mystery to him still. The last kingdom they had to pass through before Nerine was in sight was Hyaline. All the while Ard taught her about the landmarks he used to travel by and offered up his own ears to listen to Nalia f she wanted to share anything with him.


    The sea salt air came to his nostrils and he took a long deep breath. The last moments before he passed over the border of Nerine were taken at a walk. “ Welcome Nalia to Nerine.” He said to her and started to lead her down to one of the beaches that surrounded his home. “ Shall we take in the sunset?” He asked as he moved down the path.
      
    The blue in an ocean of gray..


    @[Nalia]
    You’ve mistaken the stars reflected on the surface of the lake at night for the heavens.
    #2
    Nalia didn't even bother to answer the stallion's question before she started after him, easily keeping up with his fast-paced trot despite being of smaller stature. The two made pleasant conversation on their way to the seaside kingdom, the filly eagerly prancing alongside the stallion as she answered a question here and there while listening and taking in his descriptions of the land so that she would soon learn her way around.

    According to the stallion, their journey was rather long since they had to skirt the borders of another kingdom on their way. He referred to it as Taiga, a land Nalia had heard a great deal about. However, it seemed most of the horses in the Field avoided that kingdom as a topic of conversation, and given Nalia didn't know much about it herself, she didn't pry. As they went along Taiga's border, when they took a break from their conversation, Nalia would spread her wings and take to the sky, glad for a chance to stretch the feathered appendages since they could get cramped when held still for too long.

    The exception to this seemed to be after she woke up, but then again, she couldn't recall one morning where she'd refused a flight to wake herself up. Perhaps she'd just been in a state where she didn't register the cramps and soreness of her wings until her morning flight was over.

    A couple of times, Nalia would swoop down low over the stallion's head, as if to taunt him into playing with her. Of course, Nalia knew such a task would be difficult due to Ardashir's lack of wings, but she was simply having fun. And it was entertaining to see his mane and tail fly up from the gusts of wind she kicked up with her wings.

    Following their passing through Taiga, the filly and stallion cut through Hyaline, another land-based kingdom. This one was by far more quiet, according to the information Ardashir had to share. Nalia flew up into the sky again to keep an eye out, just in case, but every so often returned to the stallion's side to share in his company. The farther they traveled together, the more pleasant being in his presence became, something that made Nalia smile when she returned to the ground and continued talking to him.

    Finally, after a long period of travel, the two horses arrived at Nerine's border. Or, at least, Nalia deduced they had arrived, given that a new scent entered her nose. The stallion mentioned Nerine was surrounded by the ocean save for its land border; was this the new scent she detected? It smelled like salt, something that resembled the smell of brine within a desert her herd had once crossed in an effort to reach better grassland. A sudden breeze came by and brushed Nalia's mane back so that it now had a windswept look, her forelock now split down the middle and laying in front of her ears.

    The filly's eyes widened as the two horses finally crested over a small hill so that, instead of heading to the heart of Nerine, they were heading down a path to the beach. Ardashir asked Nalia if she wanted to follow him to watch the sunset, but the filly offered no verbal response. Never before had she imagined... seeing the view in front of her, not aware that there were several in Nerine that were even more incredible...

    Nalia let out an excited whinny before spreading her wings and galloping a few strides before launching herself into the air, soaring down to the sandy beach at the end of the path. She did a couple of flips and spins in the air, soaring low over the ocean waves and laughing as some kicked up the salty sea water so it sprayed her coat. At one point, she soared low enough that she could brush her hoof across the water's surface, something that both excited and surprised her.

    Finally, she couldn't hold back the rest of her excitement. Nalia soared into the sky again before turning and nosediving for the ocean water. At the last second, she opened her wings and slowed her descent, diving into the water at a much slower pace so that it wouldn't be like hitting solid ground.

    After a second or two beneath the surf, Nalia broke the surface, throwing her mane back as she let out another excited holler. She was close enough to the beach that she didn't need to use her wings to get out of the water, using her powerful legs to propel her back to land. When she got to shallow waters, she stood straight and walked out of the surf, smiling at Ardashir before giving her tail, neck, body, and wings a good shake to try and help them dry.

    When she finished with that, she turned her excited eyes to the stallion, loudly proclaiming, "That... was... amazing!" She flapped her wings again while rearing into the air, kicking up a small wave of sand when she came back down. She pranced around the stallion before doing the same expression of happiness in place, her wet mane falling sloppily down both sides of her neck.

    But it wasn't over yet. Remembering what Ardashir had asked of her, Nalia gave him a sheepish smile, "Oh yeah, I almost forgot. I would love to watch the... sunset..." she managed to get out while turning back to look over the beach horizon. Though they still had a short while to go, the sun was already beginning its descent, casting a haunting glow over the waves and sandy beach. It made the surf seem like it was on fire, and the sand like molten lava.

    Nalia was so awestruck by the sight that all she could say was, "Wow..." while taking a single step closer to the waves. Her eyes widened in awe as she spoke again, "It's... beautiful..."

    @[Ardashir]
    #3
    Ardashir
    The pace was kept brisk and at other times slow. The stallion wanted Nalia to be able to take in all that was around her. The lands between Nerine and the field were quite pleasant to explore as well. The mare took to the sky several times during their journey. Ardashir would either wait for the grulla filly or he offered his own bit of sport taking up a hiding place or two. Or, gallop off at speed and offer a playful chase kicking up his large back feet a couple times as he offered play.


    He preferred to skirt kingdom borders when he could. The stag just did not want any trouble from walking right into someone else's home. He was a stranger in Taiga, and Loess, and lastly Hyaline. He offered the names of each leader of the kingdoms they passed and he had to admit that Taiga with its forested paths tempted him at times. Ardashir loved to just melt away into the tall trees. The smell of the forest cleared his mind at times. The river being a neutral land allowed the two a few hours of rest and talk.


    The journey was long but Ard had tried to set a pace that kept it down in days. The spring had passed from the land and summer offered up its pleasures now. The scent of the sea had made Ard prick his ears forward. Nalia did not respond to his question at first and suddenly sprung forward taking to the air after running forward. The white stag did not mind though and simply started into the kingdom. Ardashir followed the path down to the beach keeping an eye on the sky a couple times.


    The sand pushed aside under his large frame. He came to the beach in time to see Nalia joyfully dive into the surf. A smile pulled at the stallion’s lips as he watched her. He was not afraid to swim but, it had taken him sometime to get used to the surf after his encounter. He chuckled watching her resurface and call out. The stag had grown quite used to the filly’s company and maybe even ventured into the realm of affection, or infatuation towards the painted winged mare.


    Her color to him now looking more like the sand of the beaches after a rainstorm. Nalia came out of the surf and shook off from her swim. The ocean was holding true to its beauty it seemed. The hues of blue, and places where the water was so clear you could spy the life below. Nerine was out in full force today to tempt who it could to stay.  He offered his voice to her once more, "I am glad you enjoyed it. Forgive me for not joining in. You are just to fast for me sometimes." He teased her at the last part but all in fun.


    The white stallion nodded his head, " It would be a pleasure to share the last sunset of spring with you." He moved a ear back thinking that might have sounded more than a little cheesy. Ard looked out over the horizon as the sun was seemingly grasped by the sea. "Nerine has put on quite the show for you today. And, you for her. Nalia do you want to stay in Nerine?"He asked her and swung his tail a bit as they stood on the beach watching. A nagging thought came to him and he added, " I must also offer you Loess as home. Though I do not know much about the Kingdom other than we are seemingly in an alliance."


    He turned neck looking back along the path they had taken, " Another adventure maybe. For another time if you wanted." Ardashir took his on steps towards the water. The sun had been taken into the sea and now it was the twilight hour before the moon would rise. The stallion placed his feet into the surf a moment before looking to Nalia, "I have to admit I no longer fit into some of the sea caves." He chuckled. " I just hope you enjoy your time here." Ardashir smiled and galloped out into the surf a bit more allowing himself a playful swim.  
      
    The blue in an ocean of gray..


    @[Nalia]
    You’ve mistaken the stars reflected on the surface of the lake at night for the heavens.
    #4
    Nalia laughed at Ardashir's words, "No worries. I sometimes forget I'm much faster when I'm in the air." She gave him a gentle shoulder nudge using the tip of her wing.

    The two horses turned to watch the sunset together, Nalia still captured by its beauty as the massive orb of fire descended in the sky, casting a haunting glow over the ocean's surface. A few minutes of silence hung above them before Ardashir questioned Nalia on if she'd like to stay in Nerine's kingdom, or choose to go and live in Loess.

    That was another kingdom she'd head of, moreso in gossip than some of the others. The two horses had even skirted it's border to get here, and though the view wasn't great, Nalia had been enticed to ask about it. At least, until she saw Nerine's ocean. Even if Loess' forest environment was beautiful, and the land had much to offer, the filly was too captured and would admit she may pay visits to Loess just to see what actually existed there.

    The stallion allowed Nalia a few moments of peace, the filly absently picking up on what he had to say since she was enjoying the silence much more. He made a comment that he wouldn't be able to fit into some of the sea caves now that he was his full height, something that caused Nalia to laugh as well. She imagined Ardashir trying to squeeze into a small cave to check out what lay inside before looking back up when she heard the sound of splashing waves.

    Suddenly having an idea, the filly flapped her wings and went to join Ardashir in the surf. She galloped in so she was near him before rearing up in the water a couple of times, each time coming down causing a large splash of water to kick up and soak Ardashir's coat. Nalia's eyes gleamed playfully when she looked at him, her forelock falling over her left eye as she smiled brightly.

    "I think I'd like to stay here. I may go see Loess one day, but Nerine seems like a much cooler place," she told the stallion.

    @[Ardashir]




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