I would honestly love you now,
But I would lovingly let you down.
Jabari's eyes were still closed, softly but deeply, as he was lulled into a short, peaceful moment. The sound of the water flowing over the cliffs, and cascading into the pool below calmed him. He wasn't quite asleep, but he was in a trance almost. He was the most at peace he'd been, in this moment, in who knows how long. Droplets of his earlier drink still clung to his damp muzzle. He swayed gently while he seemingly dozed, his joints keeping his rocking back and forth, slightly, as not to topple over.
The painted stallion didn't want to think of what came next. From his immediate need to return to the Lagoon before nightfall. To what Cullen had planned with his allies, Warsaw and Rougaru. To what the hell he was going to do with his life once this captive period ended. What if Petal didn't wait for him? It was certainly a possibility. What if Shamwari never forgave him? Where would he go? He was tired of worrying about it, of agonizing over every possible point of interest to the point that it made him physically sick.
He only stirred from his tranquil state by the soft voice of another.
Jabari's eyelids fluttered open, slowly at first but then in rapid succession. It took several seconds for his vision to clear, and when it did, he almost couldn't believe his eyes. The pretty pale mare staring at him seemed so concerned. But in his half-lucid state, he was overjoyed, thinking she was the very mare he longed so desperately to see again. "Petal? Is that really you?" He said weakly, his copper-colored ear lobes flicking forward at attention.
As his senses began to clear, he realized this mare was not Petal, and felt immediately confused and foolish. "Gosh, I'm so sorry." He said, his blue-eyed gaze falling embarrassingly to his hooves. "You caught me off guard is all. I- I thought you were someone else."
He felt a hot flush rise to his cheeks as he struggled emotionally to look at her again. But he stared long enough to notice the dampness around her eyes. Had she been crying? "Maybe I should ask you the same... Are you okay?" He asked in turn. "Personally, I've been... better." He grumbled.
Stallion | Brienne x Shamwari | Chesnut Overo | 15.2 h| Photo © Carina Mailwald | © Vinyl |
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