it hadn’t been long since coming here that the first talks of the crossings, and the mystery that shrouded them, hit his ears. sure, he wanted nothing more than to focus on the task ahead of him: but something about the islands he couldn’t escape. so noxys asked the questions, noting every anguished look the mainlanders gave him for it. the raised brows, the snickers, the panic — he wondered how many had died trying to see the wonders of the islands, which fueled the part of him that couldn’t shake the ache for home. it was a days trip from where he had taken shelter to find peregrine, where he sat against the beach, winds whipping his inky tendrils to and fro like wildfire. noxys watched the waters intently for a long while, waiting for the afternoon sun to start its journey behind the horizon. the weather had been quaint that day, though spotty grey clouds were starting to dapple in from where the islands lay. the sunlight was cut out by the haze, and for a few brief moments, noxys wondered if this was truly a good idea.

”i was born with the jungle rock beneath my head, and ocean as my sparring ground,” the webbed stallion said aloud after exhaling a sharp breath. ”i will not manifest bad things for this journey.”

two onlookers jumped back when the tall brute plunged into the waters. noxys made no haste, letting the numbing cold wash over his withers, nostrils flaring to steady his breathing. his body wracked just slightly in protest, for as bound to the islands as his heart was … his body had quite enjoyed living on dry land for a while. wading through the shallows, the slippery sand slope began to disappear under toe, friction rising against the current. noxys made a roar as he launched into the depths, aided by a large rock. the water felt like ice, and salt cling to his whiskers, but the initial shock didn’t last long. as the stallion gained his pace, he was grinning ear to ear, making one last glance back to peregrine; eventually, it melted into the horizon. noxys was left with his thoughts, the deep thrum of the waves and gulls scoping him out overhead.

in those thoughts, he pictured his mother alongside him as if all this time hadn’t passed. she was nipping at the ends of his mane, bumping his shoulder, splashing water at him with her tail. lucien, too, for as stoic as he was he would never deny mother warmth. he could see his lover standing under the supple palms, nosing fruits down the sand in his direction as his chosen brothers frolicked around him. somewhere along the way, noxys snapped back to as a wave struck the side of his face. wind knocked from his lungs, he huffed water from his nares and wracked his head. his ears pinned as far into his skull as they could, letting his body stretch to power his legs harder. his lips were just under the waterline, noticing the skies ashen hue as the sun started to fall. stricken with both wonderment and urgency, noxys fought back the concerns that whirled in his brain.

his only focus was getting to that damned island, no matter the cost.

Mother Nature | 552 words

Success!

The rhythm of the ocean may be enticing, but the waves certainly have a mind of their own at this time of year. They hold no sympathies for any equine, and will still jostle any who attempt to cut through such ebb and flow. Though determined to keep the youth off-course, he has his sheer size on his side to keep him moving along - though, perhaps weighing him down a bit as well. The cold water that splashes into his nostrils makes its' way into his lungs, and the prolonged exposure leaves Noxys with a textbook case of Pneumonia. But luckily, he should make a full recovery - as long as he gives himself time to rest in his new island paradise.