Vita Nova breathes a heavy sigh, the sides of her swollen barrel rising and falling, as she watched Jabari turn away from them and slink back toward the sea. She leaned her shoulder into Neon's briefly, an act of companionship and gratefulness for the mare's calm and collected demeanor throughout what had been a startling and disturbing few minutes.
Both Jabari and Vita Nova's minds were racing with similar and wildly different thoughts. Jabari felt ashamed and embarrassed for his actions, but he was also in turmoil. He didn't know what was worse - telling his father that Vita Nova was here or keeping that information to himself. To tell Shamwari meant he'd have to also tell him that he was here, and to explain what he had tried to do. The painted stallion swallowed hard against his dry and scratchy throat as he tried to level with himself and all this new information. The stallion wanted to cast his aunt one last glance - to see her face at least one last time before he swam away, but he couldn't bring himself to do it. Jabari couldn't get the idea out of his mind that this might be the last time he'd ever see her again. The realization broke his heart.
Vita Nova, on the other hand, was still on edge, casting glances in every direction. Time seemed to be slowing down, but her heartbeat was ramping up. All she wanted was for Jabari to just leave already, before Warsaw got wind that he was here. But the young stallion kept dilly-dallying, even now, as he slowly dragged his feet into the cold, shallow surf. Her nephew had always been a kind and sensitive boy, traits that Vita Nova had always admired about him. He was such a breath of fresh air compared to the stony and stoic Shamwari, and the prickly and unforgiving Warsaw. There was no ego in him. But clearly, he was young and let his emotions get the best of him. She only hoped this experience would be a lesson to him.
The steely-colored mare looked to Neon again and offered her a small smile. "Thank you." She said quietly, the only words she could conjure in the awkward aftermath of this intrusion. Neon had been kind to an aggressive stranger when she didn't have to be. But before Vita Nova could explain further, the sound of thundering hooves filled her ears, and the mare's heart dropped into her gut. She watched in horror as Warsaw eclipsed the treeline and pounded onto the beach. He shot by Nova and Neon, so close that Nova whipped her head up high above her withers in surprise. And then the grey stallion pushed on to pursue the painted stallion in the shallow waters.
Nova watched as Jabari squealed in pain when the King of Inlet ripped at his shoulder. Jabari's ears were back and he barred his own teeth, but the smaller-statured stallion ultimately displayed submissive behavior. The stallion kept his head down and worked on backing away from the stallion.
"Warsaw! Don't!" Nova shouted from the shoreline, trotting into the shallow water after them. Her pregnant belly swayed from side to side as she approached. "Please don't. He's my family. He's just a stupid boy."
Jabari's gaze shot from his aunt to Warsaw. He'd never been this close to his father's foe before, and the stallion looked in larger and more menacing at this short distance. "I came on my own. Shamwari has nothing to do with this." He said hoarsely.
Vita Nova nipped at Warsaw's hip to get his attention. "Please, let him go. He is no threat to you or us."
Mare | Evaline x Valentine | Smoky Back Splash | 15 hh | © Vinyl |
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