Fríða slunk back into the sea empty-handed, bested by the Inlet queen. Frustration buzzed along each of her synapses - how had she lost again? Season after season she had been beaten back by whichever opponent her wandering eye happened to catch. It was beginning to grate on her, lending to her growing feelings of inadequacy as she tried and failed to build the Paradise herd to the glorious vision encapsulated in her mind's eye.
Her pride felt as bruised as the muscles that shifted beneath her golden coat as she pulled herself from the warm embrace of the Atlantean ocean and onto the familiar pale sands of Paradise. After only a cursory shake she disappeared into the jungle, intent on finding the nearest pool in which to soak her aching body. With luck she would not run into Ender on the way, though she kept a keen eye out for her precious Azrael, little wanderer that he was. She had hoped when he was born that he would come to take after her, fierce and fiery and full of motivation. But so far the only thing he seemed motivated to do was bounce around the jungle, oohing and aahing at every flower, bird, and insect he came across. Why she kept him as her heir was becoming questionable, at this point, but she couldn't bring herself to take the spot from him. The stubborn part of her was holding out hope he would yet grow into the warrior's son he was meant to be. Still -
A sudden call rang out from the shore behind her, scattering Fríða's thoughts like spooked deer into the woods. The Paradise queen froze mid-step, delicate ears swiveling around in an attempt to identify the voice. But no other call joined it, only a loud silence left in the wake of the unknown cry. An intruder? A visitor? Either way, it was Fríða's job to deal with it - Ender probably wouldn't, and if he did she didn't trust him to not turn whoever it was against her with his silvery words. With a harsh snort Fríða turned and cantered back down the snaking path, aches and pains momentarily forgotten as she followed the trail of muddy gashes she had left in her wake the first time around.
When she arrived to the beach she was taken aback by the sight of... well, she hadn't actually learned his name. She'd been too preoccupied trying to kick the Inlet queen's butt (and avoid having hers kicked at the same time), so it hadn't exactly occurred to her to ask. It wasn't like she could pause mid-fight for pleasant introductions. But it was undoubtedly him, her would-be companion, his uniquely painted coat unmistakable to her widened eyes. He must have been close behind her if he had arrived so soon after she did, and Fríða wondered how it was she failed to notice she was being followed.
"Well, well, well," Fríða drawled, hiding her surprise behind a mask of coquettish curiosity, "look who it is. I'm pretty sure I lost that fight, but I'll gladly take my prize anyway." She grinned at him, bold and bright, and drew closer until only a few feet of space separated them. Fríða peered up at him through her pale lashes, her soft azure eyes meeting his piercing amber ones. They were unlike any she had seen before, and found herself momentarily mesmerized. But with a subtle shake of her head Fríða shook away her distraction and asked, "I can only assume you followed me here, maybe you'll enlighten me as to why?" Had he been impressed by what he had seen of her? Did he want to know more about her? Or maybe he was angry that she had tried to take him for her own, and had come to warn her against doing so again. Either way he had been fixated enough on her to even end up here, and that was enough for the young queen to feel pleased. |
palomino snowflake ⨳ 16.2 hands ⨳ zevulun x freya
queen of paradise ⨳ twin to jǫrmungandr ⨳ played by pippa |