Established in May of 2023, we are a realistic wild horse rpg site.
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"Pine trees are rather incredible." The mare agreed angling her head up to peer at the upper most branches. Already snow was beginning to accumulate above, but not heavy enough to cause the two horses concern. Despite her favor towards the warmer times of year, winter still held some magic for her. The way the land always seemed to sparkle and shimmer after fresh snowfall, or how the water could be frozen yet still flow freely beneath the surface. It had always fascinated her as a foal and, admittedly, still did now. "I think despite how cold things get, winter seems like a 'reset' of the land ya know?" Stepping ahead of the stallion Izzy carefully pushed a few of the lower branches free of his way her gaze settling on him with a smile. "Once spring arrives it makes the snow and ice melt and the trees, flowers, even grass come back. Sort of a rebirth sort of thing I believe. Unless that's always been a known fact and I wasn't aware of it."
Izzy snorted softly following behind Cloudskipper once he was safely through, her attention briefly returning skyward. "We'll be more protected from the weather now. The treetops going forward are more dense so we'll be fine under here. Do you want me to go searching for food for us now or wait?" Izzy focused on the stallion as she finished her question cocking her head while she awaited his response.
Cloudskipper dipped his head in thanks and slid past her into the grove of pines. He nodded his head as she talked. He wondered briefly if he'd had the wonder
"It is a rebirth of sorts," the stallion agreed. "Even the land must sleep eventually. A nap does wonders for the mind. And the trees." He laughed at his own words, stifling a yawn at the thought of laying down to nap.
The protection of the trees was immediately noticeable. He felt warmer, protected from the wind and snow by their bushy fronds.
Cloudskipper nosed at the ground until he found a spot with enough room for the both of them. He knelt down and let his body relax into the soft pine needles. His joints groaned in protest, then relief as he got off his feet.
"If you aren't too hungry, we can wait for the weather to pass. The snow shouldn't last too long. If not, go right ahead," he gestured with his head.
"At some point we should figure out where to go from here. I was moving north before we met, but my path was not concrete. If you have a specific place you're heading toward, I'll follow.
Izzy halted a step or two away from the stallion seeming to hesitate. Would it be considered strange if she lay beside him? Would he tell her to move? Get upset? 'No he wouldn't! He's been nothing but kind since you've met.' Mentally scolding herself for nearly slipping back into her anxious ridden mind, Izadora shook off the snow that had accumulated on her back from the short journey here. "I didn't have any one specific destination in mind no. I usually just travel wherever my hooves take me." Being mindful not to accidentally step on Cloudskipper, Izzy carefully circled around before neatly plopping down on her belly. "We can head north if you'd still like to continue on that way. I don't mind where we travel so long as we have fun!"
CHARA: Cloudskipper TAGS:lumiNOTES: No worries short posts happen WORDCOUNT: 248
Cloudskipper could not help but feel envy at her easy movements. For all of his life that he remembered, he had never been graceful thanks to his injury. He hoped he would not slow her down too much in their time together. She might not think it worth it to stay by his side if she constantly outpaced him. But that was far too negative for the now cheery mare. He set his thoughts aside and drew his back legs in closer to give her room to lay down in the small space.
Cloudskipper nodded. “I’d like to continue Northward then, yes. Not straight North, since there are surely many interesting things in between us and there, but North. At some point it would be nice to visit the mountains.”
In the higher parts of the free lands, Cloudskipper had seen the Moraine’s blue-grey peaks cutting the horizon like jagged teeth. They looked fierce and uninviting in winter, but spring soon would dye them green as plants bloomed across the mountain range. That was what he hoped to see.
“I feel like our conversations thus far have been uneven, no fault but my own,” he said after a brief pause. “You told me about yourself, but I have not given you much of my own history. That seems rather unfair. Though I’m afraid my history is still short, and relatively uneventful, if you wish to hear it.” He would not impose himself on her like that without permission.
Bobbing her head in agreement the mare shifted her weight until she deemed herself comfortable. Thankfully no pine cones were littering the ground to be an annoyance. Flicking her tail closer against her legs Izzy swiveled her ears forward, listening quietly for a moment before speaking. "I'm happy to hear whatever you wish to tell me." The pale mare offered a small, warm smile. "I won't pressure you into spilling your entire life story or anything, but I'm always happy to listen! As an official friend it's my job to be here for you no matter what." Izzy shifted her weight again, this time to be closer to the stallion. He had listened to her spill her guts about her past and she wouldn't be selfish and tell him 'no' when he was offering to do the same. Not that she minded of course.
“Thank you, Izzy,” he said with a gentle smile. “I appreciate it, truly.”
Cloudskipper drew in a breath and prepared to recount the short period of his life he remembered. He decided to start with the very beginning— the beach.
“Do you know the beach south of here? If you follow the river far enough you can reach its mouth, where horses swim between the mainland and the islands. I woke up on that beach one day, two years ago, washed up on the shore from the water.” He licked his lips, as if still tasting the seawater on them.
“I do not know how I got there. It’s the furthest thing back I can remember. I think that’s when my shoulder was injured. I couldn’t walk back then. My first few days I could not even stand, and I nearly resigned myself to dying on that beach.” Memories of those days washed over him like waves. “A few kind strangers helped me, and I think without them I would have…
“Once I was upright again, I managed to get off the beach and go inland. It took a while for my leg to carry me fully again, even longer before I could run at all, but I seem to have regained most function in it since then. I don’t think I’ve stopped moving, though. That’s how I got up into these woods, and met you.”
Cloudskipper paused as he realized how long he had been talking.
“I’m ah, you’re the first person I’ve really been able to talk about that with. Sorry if that got a little bleak,” he said shyly.
While Cloudskipper spoke, Izzy gently placed her head across his back ears attuned to his voice. An array of emotions crossed the mares face while the stallion told his story until eventually, he finished. For such a short timeframe he's suffered tremendously, yet he'd not allowed it to twist him into someone who's bitter or angry. "Well," Izzy spoke after a moment raising her head to press her nose to his shoulder in a comforting gesture. "I'm happy you trust me enough to tell your story. I see you surviving as nothing short of a miracle and a blessing." Offering a kind, warm smile the mare pulled her head away to rest it once more on his back.
"I'm happy you met kind strangers, managed to get help, and survived. On top of that you didn't allow that situation to cause you to become hateful or even resentful." There was a note of admiration in her words as she continued on. "I don't know if anyone else could've remained as kind as you've been. Then again, perhaps I'm just biased because you're the first horse I've met since my mother, but I digress. Regardless, please don't apologize for anything. I don't think your story was bleak at all and if anything it's given me a better understanding of you and what you've been through."
Her touch startled him but beyond the twitch of his back, Cloudskipper tried not to let it show for fear she would pull away. The weight of her head was calming and steady, giving him comfort he could not remember experiencing before.
“I’m happy to have met them too. And to have met you, another kind stranger. Though you are not a stranger to me anymore. There are many good horses like you, and I hope in our travels you can meet them.” Cloudskipper leaned his head toward hers in gratitude. “I don’t know if I could feel resentment about what happened. It just happened, and unfortunate as it was I’ve always felt like I had to just keep moving.”
“I don’t think I ever told anyone what’s happened to me before… It feels—“ he paused to reflect— “good.”
Cloudskipper gave an emphatic nod with the end of his sentence. His heart felt ten times lighter, freed of a weight that he’d unknowingly carried with him all this time. He felt good, better than he had in ages. All he’d needed was a friend and some rest.
"I'm always happy to lend an ear whenever you may wish for it. I don't know if any future advice I could give would be the greatest, but I will surely do my best to lift your spirits when you need it!" Gently, Izzy bumped her nose against his cheek affectionately offering the stallion what seemed like her millionth smile. This was something she hadn't realized she needed until now. The socialization and interaction with another horse. It filled the void that had been left behind when her mother vanished, something the mare had ignored for so long she'd forgotten it was there. Now, the endless depth of loneliness was gradually being filled. By him.
Izadora blinked a couple times taking a few moments to dwell on the surge of new feelings. It was...nice. Pleasant. Almost warm. Fate had never been something she'd believed would happen to her, but maybe...maybe meeting Cloudskipper was meant to be. Befriending the kind and gentle stallion was her ancestors way of telling her things would be alright. Izzy nestled closer to him releasing a small, contented sigh. "I'm truly glad we crossed paths today. You are a wonderful stallion and I thank the stars I have you as a friend now."
CHARA: Cloudskipper TAGS:lumiNOTES: Time for spring WORDCOUNT: 192
Cloudskipper returned the gesture of affection. He stretched his head back and yawned deeply, his chest expanding before releasing in a great gust of air. The warmth emanating between them made his eyes droop.
“You are a wonderful mare to walk alongside, Izzy. I’m excited to spend time with you exploring these lands.”
The stallion peered out at the sky from their position under the pine trees. The snow still fell down between the fluffy branches, starting to catch and accumulate on the ground. It would go on for a good while longer, and he had become rather sleepy cuddled up like this. It felt safe, protected and comforted from the world around them by the mere presence of each other.
“I hope you won’t mind if I take a small nap. I’ve found snow goes by much faster that way,” Cloudskipper said with a chuckle. He curled his head around to rest on his belly. His dark mane spilled over his neck, falling in streams of black across his pale coat.
His eyes began to drift shut, lulled by the muted winter birdsong and the branches above swaying in the breeze.