09-21-2019, 06:59 PM
Following the melting of the snow and Beqanna's transformation into spring once more, Aten had continuously done his best to try and remain close to Lethia as often as he could. But he was keeping something from her, a secret... he didn't want to hurt her, he knew he would need time.
He'd put himself in this predicament, going off to the Mountain... but to this sun, he convinced himself he had done it for a higher purpose, a just one, even if the fairies had deemed him unworthy for doing so the first few times he'd gone there. This last time had been the stroke of luck he needed, and the stallion now had to deal with something changing inside him other than the seasons stirring his blood.
This new gift he'd been fortunate enough to receive, he didn't find it intimidating, but he did worry that he would end up hurting some horse he cared about, especially Lethia and her foals. So he devoted what time he could to training, to learning more about the abilities this gift had granted him. He'd discovered a myriad... his hooves could change... his coat would shift... he could breathe something from his mouth unlike anything he'd ever seen before...
Aten knew he couldn't let his fear control him. It had been worrisome at first, but as time went on and the stallion learned to control his gift, he began to realize that at times, he didn't need to control it. He needed to let it flow with his instinct, for it knew what to do. He worked to release himself from the fear that he would hurt others... or he would only be hesitant to use his gifts, which in the future could make or break a life-threatening situation.
He'd pushed himself quite far yesterday, to the point that even his mouth was starting to feel the strain, something he couldn't afford or he wouldn't be able to eat. So he took a day to rest, and lucky for him, at least he wouldn't have to worry about being far when a certain time of the season came.
As the size of Lethia's belly grew over the winter season, Aten remained close to her side. He was there to provide what she needed, but mostly the company she liked if both Popinjay and Owin were off on their own. Every time Aten did have to leave, guilt flooded him, but that couldn't be helped. Now that she was due any day now though, he was happy that he could remain in Taiga.
Aten had been grazing by Lethia that day when she moved off to a covering nearby that she had made comfortable for when she would foal. As soon as she started moving toward it, Aten followed, but only for a few strides so that he was within easy reach of the covering. He settled in to graze and waited patiently, letting Turul know how the mare was doing when the falcon reached out following his hunt.
A rustle in the bushes immediately drew the stallion's attention, and he moved so he was facing the sound in case it was something that could be a danger to Lethia and her foal. The leaves shifted so the creature could come out, and when Aten saw it, despite his initial instincts telling him to beware, he only stared at the creature with curiosity.
Even though it was definitely much smaller than it's big cat counterparts, the little feline currently staring at the golden stallion could be just as fierce and capable due to years of survival and evolution. Known by others of it's species as a marbled cat, the feline stood at one and a half feet in height at it's shoulder with a tail nearly as long as it's body stretching behind it. Spots decorated it's coat like it had been caught in a black snow blizzard, with tinges of creamy white and ochre brown in between them. It's body turned some shades lighter the further down it's leg fur the coloring got, with it's underbelly and inside of the legs a shade lighter than the cream coloring on it's back. It had two back lines periodically broken that ran from the back of it's skull to right above it's eyes, and three small black thin lines that were in line with it's whiskers. It's golden eyes were sharp and calculating, but watched Aten with an unnatural softness that told the stallion this predator didn't mean him harm.
Aten and the feline had no common language with each other, but Aten felt there was something different about this creature. Something about the way it watched him, the way it was just near him. It reminded him of Turul, when they had first interacted before realizing they could communicate.
Aten had chased the feline off at first, but when it kept coming back, he realized it had to be for a reason. Now just to figure it out.
Some more time passed before Aten felt the change in the air. Things were quiet... the stallion turned his head, his nostrils expanding as he took in a large breath of air. He hesitated for a minute before starting to walk toward the covering where Lethia had disappeared, being sure to approach carefully so he wouldn't startle her.
When Aten was within eyesight, he lowered his head, eyes lighting up when he saw Lethia and the little golden bundle next to her. The colt, something Aten would learn when he got closer, was a few shades darker than his sire, even with the wash down Lethia had given him to clean him up some. Aten had a good feeling he knew which side of his family that came from, if it hadn't from Lethia's.
He stared at the pair of them for a time before walking over to join them, watching Lethia to see how she would react. The covering was slightly too small for him to get in, but he could see in just fine when he lowered his head. He smiled at the mare, his voice catching in his throat before he managed to get something out.
"He is wonderful Lethia... you did well..." he complimented her, his eyes not leaving her except for when he would glance at the colt. "Have you chosen a name for him?"
Aten knew that the feline from earlier had followed him, for he could smell him nearby, but he was too focused on the mare and colt to see where the small feline had gone. Of course the feline was not here to hurt them, Aten figured, but he did not know for sure, nor did Lethia. So the feline stayed back, watching the family from it's spot in the trees and waiting for the colt to come out from under it's cover so it could go investigate.
@[Izora Lethia]
He'd put himself in this predicament, going off to the Mountain... but to this sun, he convinced himself he had done it for a higher purpose, a just one, even if the fairies had deemed him unworthy for doing so the first few times he'd gone there. This last time had been the stroke of luck he needed, and the stallion now had to deal with something changing inside him other than the seasons stirring his blood.
This new gift he'd been fortunate enough to receive, he didn't find it intimidating, but he did worry that he would end up hurting some horse he cared about, especially Lethia and her foals. So he devoted what time he could to training, to learning more about the abilities this gift had granted him. He'd discovered a myriad... his hooves could change... his coat would shift... he could breathe something from his mouth unlike anything he'd ever seen before...
Aten knew he couldn't let his fear control him. It had been worrisome at first, but as time went on and the stallion learned to control his gift, he began to realize that at times, he didn't need to control it. He needed to let it flow with his instinct, for it knew what to do. He worked to release himself from the fear that he would hurt others... or he would only be hesitant to use his gifts, which in the future could make or break a life-threatening situation.
He'd pushed himself quite far yesterday, to the point that even his mouth was starting to feel the strain, something he couldn't afford or he wouldn't be able to eat. So he took a day to rest, and lucky for him, at least he wouldn't have to worry about being far when a certain time of the season came.
As the size of Lethia's belly grew over the winter season, Aten remained close to her side. He was there to provide what she needed, but mostly the company she liked if both Popinjay and Owin were off on their own. Every time Aten did have to leave, guilt flooded him, but that couldn't be helped. Now that she was due any day now though, he was happy that he could remain in Taiga.
Aten had been grazing by Lethia that day when she moved off to a covering nearby that she had made comfortable for when she would foal. As soon as she started moving toward it, Aten followed, but only for a few strides so that he was within easy reach of the covering. He settled in to graze and waited patiently, letting Turul know how the mare was doing when the falcon reached out following his hunt.
A rustle in the bushes immediately drew the stallion's attention, and he moved so he was facing the sound in case it was something that could be a danger to Lethia and her foal. The leaves shifted so the creature could come out, and when Aten saw it, despite his initial instincts telling him to beware, he only stared at the creature with curiosity.
Even though it was definitely much smaller than it's big cat counterparts, the little feline currently staring at the golden stallion could be just as fierce and capable due to years of survival and evolution. Known by others of it's species as a marbled cat, the feline stood at one and a half feet in height at it's shoulder with a tail nearly as long as it's body stretching behind it. Spots decorated it's coat like it had been caught in a black snow blizzard, with tinges of creamy white and ochre brown in between them. It's body turned some shades lighter the further down it's leg fur the coloring got, with it's underbelly and inside of the legs a shade lighter than the cream coloring on it's back. It had two back lines periodically broken that ran from the back of it's skull to right above it's eyes, and three small black thin lines that were in line with it's whiskers. It's golden eyes were sharp and calculating, but watched Aten with an unnatural softness that told the stallion this predator didn't mean him harm.
Aten and the feline had no common language with each other, but Aten felt there was something different about this creature. Something about the way it watched him, the way it was just near him. It reminded him of Turul, when they had first interacted before realizing they could communicate.
Aten had chased the feline off at first, but when it kept coming back, he realized it had to be for a reason. Now just to figure it out.
Some more time passed before Aten felt the change in the air. Things were quiet... the stallion turned his head, his nostrils expanding as he took in a large breath of air. He hesitated for a minute before starting to walk toward the covering where Lethia had disappeared, being sure to approach carefully so he wouldn't startle her.
When Aten was within eyesight, he lowered his head, eyes lighting up when he saw Lethia and the little golden bundle next to her. The colt, something Aten would learn when he got closer, was a few shades darker than his sire, even with the wash down Lethia had given him to clean him up some. Aten had a good feeling he knew which side of his family that came from, if it hadn't from Lethia's.
He stared at the pair of them for a time before walking over to join them, watching Lethia to see how she would react. The covering was slightly too small for him to get in, but he could see in just fine when he lowered his head. He smiled at the mare, his voice catching in his throat before he managed to get something out.
"He is wonderful Lethia... you did well..." he complimented her, his eyes not leaving her except for when he would glance at the colt. "Have you chosen a name for him?"
Aten knew that the feline from earlier had followed him, for he could smell him nearby, but he was too focused on the mare and colt to see where the small feline had gone. Of course the feline was not here to hurt them, Aten figured, but he did not know for sure, nor did Lethia. So the feline stayed back, watching the family from it's spot in the trees and waiting for the colt to come out from under it's cover so it could go investigate.
@[Izora Lethia]