avalon -----
by masquerade out of pandora
Avalon stands still, barrel heaving, dark locks still damp but no longer dripping thanks to her exhilarating run. Most of her stocky body has dried but there are small patches of sweat on her neck and flanks. She trots a few dozen yards forward to calm her racing heart, her lightly feathered heels springing across the ground.
It’s still early, not long past sunrise, but her keen eyes catch sight of some droplets on the grass. She stops and leans down to grab some of the blades, relishing the dampness of them. There must have been an overnight shower, otherwise the moisture would have evaporated by now. She does have to admit, though, that all the grass that she’s sampled around the islands tastes the same at its core. It’s all a matter of climate that determines which place has the most palatable food.
She’s chewing a particularly saturated mouthful when an approaching bellow almost makes her choke. She quickly swallows and snaps her head up to see a pale figure charging toward her. Her heart sinks with dread; the only reason someone would be bearing down on her like this is if she’d ended up in the common. She assumes that every foal born on the islands is warned at some point to be careful when hanging around this place.
White nostrils flaring, she squeals and prepares to flee as the figure – a stallion, her brain supplies helpfully – closes the gap between them. But at the last second, she spots his expression. There’s more of a playful sparkle than an aggressive glint in his eyes and his ears aren’t pinned. There’s no doubt that he’s heading for her, though, so she decides to humor what is obviously a mock attempt at claiming.
She keeps her body dancing just out of his reach just in case he decides to try for a nip anyway. Just because she’s playing along doesn’t mean she wants to feel the sting of his teeth on her skin, whether it means anything or not. She doesn’t pay attention to where he’s herding her, instead keeping her blue eyes on his face for any sign that his intentions will suddenly change.
Her attention is only drawn away from him when her hooves suddenly hit sand. He’d driven her all the way to the coastline. “Whoa, whoa!” she cries, unaware that he’d stopped. “Where exactly do you think you’re going to take me?”
He hadn’t officially claimed her, of course, but he obviously still wants her to go somewhere with him or he wouldn’t have driven her all the way to the edge of the island. His eyes had never turned hostile so she doesn’t get defensive, but she does want an answer.
seven - grulla sabino - mixed - 16.2hh |