selenium -----
by bellum out of dissolve
Her breathing comes in harsh pants after her gallop to let off steam, and the water feels so refreshing against her heated skin that her body sags in relief. Her heart pounds in her chest, the rhythm matching the thundering of the waterfall, as she watches the stallion’s expression. There is no anger or hostility; instead he gives her a smile, which makes her relax.
Selenium returns the smile with a bit of an embarrassed air, sure that he would think her immature for her single-minded focus. She’s suddenly hyper aware of the water and sweat mingled on her white-splotched, speckled pelt, her scraggly dark mane thrown haphazardly across her neck. It’s certainly not a first impression she would have planned to make.
She perks up when he confirms that he’s only recently arrived. She isn’t sure exactly how many inhabitants the islands still have (she knows it’s quite a drop from when she was young) so it’s always good to see some new blood. In the old days this place would have been swarming with conversation, but now she hardly ever sees anyone. She shifts slightly to accommodate him in the water. If anybody else comes around, she doubts they’d be able to do more than take a quick drink from the edge.
She tilts her head slightly as she considers his question. She could see how from his point of view she would appear to be the ocean personified: the dark blue-grey of her body could be the murky water, the speckling across her flanks and barrel could be the salt, and the lacy white patches across her sides and neck and face could be the foam of the surf. Selenium’s never really thought of it that way before but she kind of likes it.
“Not literally,” she says with a grin, “although it felt like it sometimes growing up.” She gestures in the direction of Tinuvel, the home that had been so beloved that she’d once vowed to never set a foot off it. “During the winter it’s nothing but snow and ice and almost constant darkness. Right about now it’s probably dry, but it isn’t a big deal when it rains because it’s warm enough not to be slippery. And the sun never completely goes down.”
She remembers the clean scent of the freshly fallen snow, the wonderful crispness of the cold air. If she had been by herself, she would have been sorely tempted to run straight back to Tinuvel. Even with her newfound company, she still has a sudden yearning to see what has become of the old place. Her head whips around suddenly, her blue eyes sheepish. “My name’s Selenium, by the way.”
ten - smoky blue roan overo - draft mix - 17hh |