Malik
04-22-2022, 07:52 AM
Malik is perched in a palm tree, the shape of the iridescent black-on-black magpie he wears in striking contrast to the pale lilac and mint green leaves of the foliage. He watches the navy stallion step onto the beach, then turns his blue-and-orange gaze to up the osprey that has begun to circle far overhead. Malik recognizes the osprey as his father’s companion Erne, and breathes a quiet sigh of relief as the bird rises higher, catching the winds that would carry him to his nest on Islandres’ northern shore.
He’s been watching the bird for weeks now, having been unable to find his father (and being unwilling to venture farther into the jungle than he can see from the beach). The bird had returned to this same part of the island too many time to be coincidence, so Malik had been certain that his father was nearby.
His suspicions are confirmed, and some of the adrenaline that courses through his veins is the thrill of that small victory. Most though, is fear and anticipation. He takes a deep breath, resettles his iridescent wings, and soars to the ground, shifting to his equine shape just as his hooves land on the damp sand.
It’s an impressive move, one that requires impeccable timing, and Malik manages it with near perfection. He’s carefully watching Gale, hoping that the older stallion had seen it and realized that Malik is no longer a defenseless child, but a grown man ready to face his fears.
He’s been watching the bird for weeks now, having been unable to find his father (and being unwilling to venture farther into the jungle than he can see from the beach). The bird had returned to this same part of the island too many time to be coincidence, so Malik had been certain that his father was nearby.
His suspicions are confirmed, and some of the adrenaline that courses through his veins is the thrill of that small victory. Most though, is fear and anticipation. He takes a deep breath, resettles his iridescent wings, and soars to the ground, shifting to his equine shape just as his hooves land on the damp sand.
It’s an impressive move, one that requires impeccable timing, and Malik manages it with near perfection. He’s carefully watching Gale, hoping that the older stallion had seen it and realized that Malik is no longer a defenseless child, but a grown man ready to face his fears.