Altissima had come earlier in the autumn than he had expected. He had expected to be greeted by cooler winds before the pale mare even returned to the foothills of Loess. But she had returned, and Tarian didn't bother to hide his happiness at seeing her. It was as clear as a shining day, as bright and beaming as any glow that either might shine.
The first few days with her had been just as Tarian liked them - quiet and secluded (though the white pegasus did draw her back to the sea, to show her that the aptly-named Altissimas hadn't grown dull on his watch), away from the rest of the world.
But, as Champion of Loess, Tarian couldn't hide away from the rest of his country (or his duties) forever. While the night still lingered, the pegasus cast a tender glance to the sleeping mare beside him. He doubted Wildling would tolerate him for that long; that she would stand for idle even less. Pressing a soft kiss against her lovely cheek, the winged horse stepped away and out into a bruised world that had yet to bleed into daylight. Tarian glanced back once and knowing that the resting female would be alright, the gray slipped into the shadows for his first patrol of the day.
Loess is quiet, as it always is. The hours are slow, and most of Tarian's trails remain empty. His morning is spent mostly in silence - until the sound of children's laughter - breaks it when the pegasus nears the canyon that he had seen Lady Oceane and the grizzled diplomat, Ledger, frequent. What he has to share can wait; the gray stallion turns away, giving the family their privacy, and his pace quickens, eager for a soak in his favorite hot spring and to return to Altissima.
She wasn't already soaking, like Tarian thought she might be. He had come around the bend to find the cloistered pool they often shared empty. But their resting spot is not, and the silver warrior smiles. It wasn't like her to rest so long. His patrols aren't routine. Tarian chooses different trails and times but Altissima was almost always awake when he returned. As he studied the soft outline of her glinting in the morning sun, he found that he couldn't recall a time that she had rested so much.
(His mind briefly flashes to the Eclipse, when she had been so weak from the absence of the sun, and Tarian wonders if he should find them a spot not so shaded.)
Stepping closer, Tarian decides that the rest of his plans can wait. He's careful not to disturb her, though his wings struggle to settle neatly against his sides. If Altissima wanted to rest through the day to tease him for his glow at night, Tarian didn't mind. He'd wait, ready with his courtier manners and his wry humor, to see if he could bring the light where he loved to see it the most: her ever-changing eyes.
TARIAN
@Altissima <3