03-12-2016, 11:58 AM
The seasons roll past in a constant ebb and flow, an eternal tide that washes over the Tundra with grass and lichen and small flowers followed by frost and snow and icy winds. Summer is slowly ceding to the frigid grasp of winter, but for the moment he is allowed to enjoy the sweet, all too brief months of summer. Even in the early morning, with a rime of frost melting slowly in the rising sun, the air holds a bright warmth.
He had been standing quietly in the morning light, still and unmoving as he contemplated the brightening sky. But as the day comes to life, so does he. Stretching his pale wings, he shakes the remaining frost from the sleek feathers. As he does so, a faint sound reaches his ears. Turning his flinty gaze, he catches sight of the dark stallion approaching him.
He knows of him, of course. He would be remiss not to have at least kept an eye on the newest member integrating himself into the kingdom. Perhaps he should have been more social and introduced himself sooner, but Hurricane has never been much good at adhering to all the typical social graces. Nevertheless, the time had apparently come.
”Offspring.”
As the man nears, introducing himself, Hurricane fixes a dark, steely gaze upon him.
”I know.”
The other stallion continues, his words frank and straightforward - a trait that the gray king can appreciate – Hurricane listens thoughtfully. He doesn’t respond immediately, pausing instead to consider the black stallion with intense scrutiny. The Tundra had long been a quiet kingdom, though it had grown since he had taken the throne. Indeed, the sole reason he had taken up the mantle had been to safeguard the kingdom until a more appropriate candidate could be found. Even if he had been unsuited to the role, much better a loyal Brother than some power hungry usurper. But now… now things have begun to change.
”We will continue on, as we always have. With luck, the threat to us will remain minimal.”
After all, his goal was not to destroy the kingdom, but rather build it. He had never thirsted for power or glory the way so many others did, and so he had let this war pass them by. In any case, it had not needed them.
”With so many new Brothers, an initiation will need to be held. You, and the others, will need to face the caves. And then, we will need to discuss a change.”
He had been standing quietly in the morning light, still and unmoving as he contemplated the brightening sky. But as the day comes to life, so does he. Stretching his pale wings, he shakes the remaining frost from the sleek feathers. As he does so, a faint sound reaches his ears. Turning his flinty gaze, he catches sight of the dark stallion approaching him.
He knows of him, of course. He would be remiss not to have at least kept an eye on the newest member integrating himself into the kingdom. Perhaps he should have been more social and introduced himself sooner, but Hurricane has never been much good at adhering to all the typical social graces. Nevertheless, the time had apparently come.
”Offspring.”
As the man nears, introducing himself, Hurricane fixes a dark, steely gaze upon him.
”I know.”
The other stallion continues, his words frank and straightforward - a trait that the gray king can appreciate – Hurricane listens thoughtfully. He doesn’t respond immediately, pausing instead to consider the black stallion with intense scrutiny. The Tundra had long been a quiet kingdom, though it had grown since he had taken the throne. Indeed, the sole reason he had taken up the mantle had been to safeguard the kingdom until a more appropriate candidate could be found. Even if he had been unsuited to the role, much better a loyal Brother than some power hungry usurper. But now… now things have begun to change.
”We will continue on, as we always have. With luck, the threat to us will remain minimal.”
After all, his goal was not to destroy the kingdom, but rather build it. He had never thirsted for power or glory the way so many others did, and so he had let this war pass them by. In any case, it had not needed them.
”With so many new Brothers, an initiation will need to be held. You, and the others, will need to face the caves. And then, we will need to discuss a change.”
There is never a day that goes by
that is a good day to die.
Hurricane
