They said we'd burn so bright.
We burn this city and go.
Paradiso passed through the tough, winding branches of the low lying brush with ease. His dull and chipped hooves moved methodically over the Forest's soft layerof leaf litter that made up the ground. So much of this terrain felt so familiar to him. It felt comfortable, even. Like he knew this place. But the truth was, he had hardly spent any time here at all.
It wasn't long after Paradiso was sent to the Forest by Shamwari that the young stallion quickly lost track of the mare who ruled this territory. She was taking constant trips to other islands, mingling with other territory leaders, and leaving Paradiso alone, (well, alone with that big roan stallion sometimes) to stand guard over the Forest. The young spotted stallion took his duties seriously, even if every step he took on every patrol through the Forest's winding trails scared the living heck out of him. He knew he had a purpose here. He had worth with Menkhet and this herd. Here, he was meant for something more. That was important to him, at the time. But Menkhet was around less and less. The stallion would go days without seeing anyone in the Forest at all. It was perplexing and alarming for Paradiso, who struggled with this natural instinct to flee the Forest and return to warn Shamwari in the Prairie. He fought against his fear as best he could, and despite his hard desire to return home, Paradiso did not. He even stuck around long enough to catch a good whiff of Asp's scent. The stallion had waited patiently to catch the herd when it was most vulnerable, and his efforts proved successful. Fenrir was long gone at that point. Nuru too. The appaloosa stallion had no idea if Menkhet had faced Asp in battle or if Asp just rushed in and took over while she was away, but it became clear rather quickly that Paradiso no longer represented a herd that belonged to Menkhet.
Though it appeared that Asp's reign had been short-lived.
Paradiso remains still as admires the grey mare from behind his crystal blue eyes. She is surely a sight to be seen: Paradiso is unsure if he'd ever seen a mare quiet as breathtaking as this one.
"Valerian." Paradiso repeats out loud, one dark colored ear lobe flicking back and forward before remaining pricked at attention. "What a pretty name."
He offers her a friendly smirk, but doesn't budge to move closer. A dark tail flicks back and forth across his spotted haunches.
"My name is Paradiso. I used to live here not that long ago. A mare named Menkhet ruled this place then. I take it you haven't seen her?" He asks wistfully, the child still in him shining through if only for a moment. "Or a red roan stallion named Asp, perhaps?"
He studies her facial features hard now, waiting to gauge if either name rung a bell. Paradiso feared Menkhet was gone forever. He could only hope that was the same for the Asp.
"My brother rules the Prairie next door. He sent me to here to help Menkhet protect the Forest against Asp. But it seems like that doesn't matter much anymore since you'e here." He says, offering a more sheepish smile this time. "It's nice to meet you."
Stallion | Evaline x Valentine | Smokey black pintaloosa | 15 hh | Photo © Carina Mailwald | © Vinyl |
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