Strange feelings had started to press against the young colt’s mind as he swam back to his island. A woman he had bowed his head to years ago had both promised and denied him a dance. Now that he was older he had gone to see if she would step with him again, only to find others by her side. The jealousy he felt towards Pagan was chilling to him. The man had smelled of land, and mares. More so he stood with a confidence and power that had come with time and territory. Above all, Pagan had smelled of family, and his family had smelled of him. An instinctual need burned in the boy’s golden body as his hooves kicked out through the water.
Ailill pulled himself from the water, shaking the moisture from his darkened cream coat, his grown mane and tail sending sprays of the salty water up and around him. Snorting, he looked over the shores of Paradise. This land he had claimed when he was young and small, only a year old. Now he was growing, he was determined to be strong, he was determined to be loyal.
A sound down the beach caught his attention. Soft blue eyes watched a black shape dash in and out of the shallow waves. A smile spread across his face. He recognized the dished face of the mare who had come to his island the previous season. The laughter of the foal filled his ears, making his grin grow even broader. The secrets of foals were no longer a mystery to him, thanks to his trip to the tundra. Kicking up his own heels he cantered down the beach, diverting deeper into the water as he approached. The resistance slowed his movements so the girl would have plenty of time to flee if that was her choice. But he stayed in the deeper water, splashing up at her with every wave that rolled in behind them. His pale face was alight with smile, laughter, and good nature.
Ailill was determined. Determined to be strong, loyal, and good. Most importantly; good.
Splashing from the waves he approached the filly, his ears trained happily on her, but keeping a respectful distance (the memory of a kick always on his mind). “My Lady, would you like to dance?” Head lowered to her level in a bow, he smiled up at her with a grin that lit up his eyes.
|