15.3hh - Gypsy Vanner - Lead of the Inlet


The warmth that crept over Pagan’s skin at her call was surprising, even to him. A soft smile started to creep onto his lips, even before he saw her. A few mares had sparked his interest when he had come to the islands, but none had caused him to feel as though they could drive away the cold with the warmth. Mares of blazing and fiery personalities had come to his island, only to burn out on their own brightness. The pull he felt towards Amica, the low burning ember, fueled him with the strength of its heat.

His muzzle reached out, carefully taking in her scent and resisting the urge to run over her body, to check for himself to make sure she was being taken care of. One ear flicked back. She was not his charge, not of his herd. If anything, little Ailill had claimed her. Still, the stallion felt protective of her, and concern when he was not there. He knew she would notice if he ran his nose over her, so instead he studied her hard with his dark brown eyes, taking in everything until he was satisfied that no harm had come to his friend, and the one he had promised to bring to safety.

A low chuckle rumbled from him, his tail whipping one through the air, a dark hoof scraping against the stoney ground. “I am confident the mares here would not mind you staying among them. I have heard they take care of their own. Their loyalty to their sisters is nearly legendary.” Other than his brief encounters with Taytim and Taika, he had very few encounters with mares from the Peak. For a moment his curiosity wandered, attention turning to the paths that let into the peaks of the unknown. His head tilted just so, wondering if he would ever be able to talk to a Vulcan and find if the stories he had heard were true. Inattention blew away in the breeze the moment Amica took a small step, a very small step, towards him. He felt the earth’s ember in him flare once more. Now he moved his soft nose to her neck, inviting and encouraging her to move close if she so chose. Once more a chuckle vibrated through his chest.

“I’ve been...cold.” He admitted, humor lacing his deep voice. “Winter comes early to Tinuvel, rain is already starting to turn to snow.” His head moved to look back at the path to the shores. The waters would soon be impassable, even for strong swimmers. She could not see his sheepish smile, but his own confession lingered in his tones. “I wanted to make sure you were happy before the weather turned to where I could no longer visit.” The Inlet called to him, the soft falling snow, as well as the frigid blizzards. The sounds of the geysers and simple feeling of the world changing so drastically around him with the shift of the seasons. Herds of elk and caribou traversed the landscape, as well as wolves lingering in the patches of trees. It was a beautiful world, even when one could not see. He had began to earn to show her his home, to know if she would find the same wonder in it as he did. “My offer to visit the Inlet stands.” He said before he could stop himself to think. “Though once late fall and winter hits, travelling it unwise.”

PAGAN