09-04-2017, 02:23 PM
Sirana was content with grazing, as the stallion thought, unknown to her, but the sound of galloping hooves caused her to look up and see what was causing them. A small smile appeared on her face as she saw that the stallion of the group was now frolicking with the foals, disappearing when she saw him focusing her attention back on her again for a brief moment.
The golden mare didn't know if the stallion was a permanent resident here in the Tephra, as she'd only seen him afar from passing glances. She didn't have his name yet, and hadn't really inquired to any other residents about it because she figured they probably didn't know him either. She hardly saw him here anyways, so figuring that any other residents didn't know his name became the logical conclusion because, if he was a permanent resident, he'd be here more often.
From this distance, Sirana couldn't tell that the stallion was smiling at her. She could only see him turning his gaze from the golden mare herself back to the foals, obviously checking to see if he was being chased since one of the foals appeared to be going after the others.
The other grown horse, perhaps a mare, was preoccupied with watching the foals. She appeared to be saying something to the stallion as one of the foals got ahead of the others, another one of lighter color chasing the one running. Sirana didn't see any present danger with how they were playing, but one of the foals might have sensed something she didn't. The lighter colored foal playing tag called out to her playmate, pushing herself to gallop over the earth covered in a layer of hardened lava. Sirana could tell that she was having some trouble, obviously not used to running over such a hard surface. The golden mare was more accustomed, having lived here a while, and though she didn't sense any danger she turned to watch the foal racing ahead of the others.
The lighter foal followed after her playmate, both of them disappearing into the jungle lining the Tephra. Sirana, mildly interested, started walking in their direction to make sure that the two of them didn't hurt themselves. Her light brown eyes were trained on the area of trees where the two foals had disappeared into, and for a moment, with their words muffled by the jungle and the silence once again hanging over Tephra, everything was normal.
And then, it wasn't. Sirana had seen and heard of horses with incredible talents, but she wouldn't have expected one like this to come from a foal. Without warning, a large cascade of light erupted from the trees, powerful enough that it made Sirana turn her head and lift one of her legs in an effort to shield her eyes. For a moment, once it dimmed down, the mare stared in confusion, not understanding at all what had just happened.
Though Sirana did not have any foals of her own, the instincts of a worried mother suddenly kicked in. She threw herself into a gallop and raced toward the trees, cutting through them to get to the foals. Within minutes she saw them, a dreaded feeling sinking into her gut.
The light colored foal was standing over the dark one, and though it appeared that he was sleeping, Sirana knew otherwise. From her respectful distance away, she couldn't see the colt's chest rising and falling which would indicate he was alive. Whatever had happened here, Sirana didn't know, but it obviously had dire consequences.
The stallion came over as well, asking for the light colored foal to go back to her mother. The third foal was also here, comforting the other who looked a little like him. Siblings, Sirana told herself. She just stood there, watching the family from a distance. She honestly didn't know what to say right now, given the situation. What could she say? There was nothing she could do, or say, to make them all feel better in the wake of such a fresh trauma like this. And she didn't know any of them personally, so even if she tried to say something it wouldn't be that meaningful.
She saw the stallion's eyes brimming with tears, watching as he laid his head on the foal's stomach. Sirana felt a pang go through her heart, feeling empathy for the grown horse despite not even knowing his name. She lowered her head and closed her eyes, saying a silent prayer for the young colt and the family that was now going to have to move on without him.
The golden mare didn't know if the stallion was a permanent resident here in the Tephra, as she'd only seen him afar from passing glances. She didn't have his name yet, and hadn't really inquired to any other residents about it because she figured they probably didn't know him either. She hardly saw him here anyways, so figuring that any other residents didn't know his name became the logical conclusion because, if he was a permanent resident, he'd be here more often.
From this distance, Sirana couldn't tell that the stallion was smiling at her. She could only see him turning his gaze from the golden mare herself back to the foals, obviously checking to see if he was being chased since one of the foals appeared to be going after the others.
The other grown horse, perhaps a mare, was preoccupied with watching the foals. She appeared to be saying something to the stallion as one of the foals got ahead of the others, another one of lighter color chasing the one running. Sirana didn't see any present danger with how they were playing, but one of the foals might have sensed something she didn't. The lighter colored foal playing tag called out to her playmate, pushing herself to gallop over the earth covered in a layer of hardened lava. Sirana could tell that she was having some trouble, obviously not used to running over such a hard surface. The golden mare was more accustomed, having lived here a while, and though she didn't sense any danger she turned to watch the foal racing ahead of the others.
The lighter foal followed after her playmate, both of them disappearing into the jungle lining the Tephra. Sirana, mildly interested, started walking in their direction to make sure that the two of them didn't hurt themselves. Her light brown eyes were trained on the area of trees where the two foals had disappeared into, and for a moment, with their words muffled by the jungle and the silence once again hanging over Tephra, everything was normal.
And then, it wasn't. Sirana had seen and heard of horses with incredible talents, but she wouldn't have expected one like this to come from a foal. Without warning, a large cascade of light erupted from the trees, powerful enough that it made Sirana turn her head and lift one of her legs in an effort to shield her eyes. For a moment, once it dimmed down, the mare stared in confusion, not understanding at all what had just happened.
Though Sirana did not have any foals of her own, the instincts of a worried mother suddenly kicked in. She threw herself into a gallop and raced toward the trees, cutting through them to get to the foals. Within minutes she saw them, a dreaded feeling sinking into her gut.
The light colored foal was standing over the dark one, and though it appeared that he was sleeping, Sirana knew otherwise. From her respectful distance away, she couldn't see the colt's chest rising and falling which would indicate he was alive. Whatever had happened here, Sirana didn't know, but it obviously had dire consequences.
The stallion came over as well, asking for the light colored foal to go back to her mother. The third foal was also here, comforting the other who looked a little like him. Siblings, Sirana told herself. She just stood there, watching the family from a distance. She honestly didn't know what to say right now, given the situation. What could she say? There was nothing she could do, or say, to make them all feel better in the wake of such a fresh trauma like this. And she didn't know any of them personally, so even if she tried to say something it wouldn't be that meaningful.
She saw the stallion's eyes brimming with tears, watching as he laid his head on the foal's stomach. Sirana felt a pang go through her heart, feeling empathy for the grown horse despite not even knowing his name. She lowered her head and closed her eyes, saying a silent prayer for the young colt and the family that was now going to have to move on without him.