Posted on October 5, 2017 at 06:00:10 PM by S H A M WARI & Paradiso
 Tell me, tell me I survived. I could feel the uneasiness radiating off my brother's stony exterior. The worry in his icy blue stare gave him away. Clearly he was offended by my unannounced visit today. I could understand why he would be, but there were greater factors at play than hurting my nervous younger brother's feelings. I snort once at him, to let him understand that his wariness is of great annoyance to me, and then return to focus on the matters at hand. As we continue to trudge through the thick snow in the forested terrain, I can feel the blood circulating through my veins and finally returning some warmth to my core. The muscles in my legs are growing tiresome, after the swim and now from the exertion just to keep up with the more nimble Mariel and Paradiso in the heavy snow. But I know I must keep moving if I don't want to freeze here today on Tinuvel. Paradiso listens with interest as I quickly get him up to speed about what's transpired since he'd left us. It pleases me to at least see some concern plastered on his face for his sister, someone whom I don't think Paradiso has seen in years. "What about mum?" Paradiso squeaks, his eyes round and hopeful. "Evaline is still in the Dunes. She is very much attached to Valve and seems happy there. She is well, doing much better than before. She's been by to visit the Prairie from time to time." I stress, eyeing my brother now. He needed to know that it was just him who was adrift. That despite all we've overcome in the past year, he was the only one who hadn't been home. All the while I tried to keep an eye on Mariel, wondering how she would react to such a vomit of information, likely of horses she didn't know. Except for Orkaan, of course. That too, played a role in my urgency to visit the Bay. It was likely that the two herds of Tinuvel were friendly -- if they weren't, word would have made its way around the isles by now. I'm not foolish enough to think that my far off friendship with Mariel's father was enough to ask her to abandon her ties to an alliance with her neighbor. I would never ask her of that. But she deserved to hear just what the painted stallion had done to further split a part my family. Before I can discuss this further, Mariel pauses. I halt too, creamy plumes of carbon dioxide rising from my flared nostrils. She is stern and stiff in her stance. I crack a weak smile when she confirms that she knew of my friendship with her father. But the words that came from her lips next took the breathe from my lungs. I say nothing for a long time, my red ear lobes pricked forward at attention as I let what Mariel is saying set in. "I... I didn't know." I manage to mutter weakly. My mind is racing. I am brought back to the memory of the last time I saw my friend, on the crossing isle, after Vita Nova had made quite a spectacle about his abrupt departure not long before. I of course, sided with my sister. I had trusted him and he abandoned her. But that did not change the fondness I had for him. I knew Nephilim was troubled. All us were, who came up through the Lagoon. He had his reasons. I so wish I had seen the brute again after that. It leaves a sour taste in my mouth knowing how I treated him the last time I saw him. "Mariel, I'm so sorry." I finally say, coming out of my fog and rejoining Paradiso and Mariel in this present moment. Paradiso's gaze adverts to the ground, not once meeting mine or Mariel's as a frigid silence sets in. My ear lobes swivel back and forward again as Mariel breaks the silence, moving the conversation back to Orkaan. I snort once, still feeling somewhat dazed by learning of Nephilim's death. But this was important. Paradiso bobs his head obediently when he is addressed, and manages to catch my gaze, albeit briefly, before his eyes fall back to the snow at his hooves. I don't say anything for a long time, but study Mariel in front of me. Eventually I bob my head just once. "That would be much appreciated." I say, snorting again, and raising a sole fore hoof into the air and stomping it back down. "I would never intend to get in between you and Orkaan. I understand how important a united front is for each one of our islands. But my family comes first. And if Orkaan is mistreating my sister, I would hope you could understand my promise to come down upon him with the fire and fury he would deserve." My stare is hard and unfaltering on her now, to hit home the gravity of this situation. I cock my head to look to Paradiso now too, but he too turns his head, so he doesn't have to look at me at all. "It gives me solace knowing that Paradiso has found such a fine home. I believe your father would be proud of what you've built here, Mariel." I say with a curt nod. "Please let me know if there's anything the Prairie can ever do for your and your family. Nephilim's memory lives on through both of us. It would be a disservice to his spirit not to extend the friendship I started with him to you. " |
Shamwari | Fresian Mutt | Evaline x Rook | Stallion | Chestnut | 15.3 h | Half-brother to Kasabian, Vita Nova, Paradiso | Photo © Carina Mailwald | © Vinyl |
Replies:
- comin straight for the castle. - By mariael November 7, 2017 at 02:14:59 AM
- Live through this
lie- By S H A M WARI November 8, 2017 at 09:12:44 PM - Live through this
lie- By S H A M WARI November 8, 2017 at 09:12:05 PM
- Live through this
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