Winter had driven him to find a home. Well, it was more truthful to say that someone had decided to grace him with a home. A place where winter sat upon his throne and did not give an inkling of abdicating. It was not a home that Romanov would have chosen for himself but when did he ever have a choice? Freedom was but a memory that he savoured like a bitter apple.
Frost clung to his frame. Flecks of white that contrasted sharply against the rich mahogany of his pelt stained with soot. Bones and muscle worked in tandem as he glided free of the water's embrace. Pink lips were pressed in a thin line, the only indication of his displeasure. The bitter temperatures played no part in his blackened mood -- for that only lied at the feet of his queen. The whispers that had reached his auds had not painted the golden woman in a kind light. It seemed he had traded one tyrannical leader for another.
Despite reaching land, he did not stop in his quest to put as much space between himself and Shaydowfax as he could. Eventually he would have to return to the island of Tinuvel but for now he would seek the lands in which he had first appeared. Romanov had little time to explore the large territory before Shaydowfax had swept him away to her home. It had eaten at him, the loss of exploration. Finally freed of his sire, it had been a blessing to find somewhere that served as a juxtaposition to all he knew. To have that snatched away had yanked at the leash that held his temper in check.
No matter. It was best to not dwell on the past.
Slim auds were canted forward as Romanov headed deeper into the forest. He cared not for the final destination, only yearning for the opportunity to see all. Dark orbs took in the sight of towering trees and creatures that hid in the shadows as soon as he approached. Nostrils quivered as his senses were assaulted by a multitude of scents. Stallions, mares and even foals had traversed these lands for eons it seemed. Their very essence had enriched themselves in the soil beneath his feet and the bark of the woods he passed. It eased his heart to know that these were lands of plentiful equines in which to know and the possibility of more to come.
Daggers paused in their attempt to eradicate all pristine snow. Muscles tensed beneath his frame as the silence was broken by voices. It seemed that he was no longer alone. Curiosity drove Romanov to continue on with his journey despite the instinctive desire to shy away from chaos. A faint smile danced upon his lips when he breached the woods and found himself in a clearing. A handful of equines dotted the landscape, huddled in twos or threes, intent of sharing warmth on this cold morning. The cold did not bother the large stallion who had been born in a country much like Tinuvel, where the winters were unforgiving and the summers cool.
"So many sights and sounds. I ache for all the lost opportunities. Блядь! Am I ever to know freedom?" The words were said with a hint of anger and longing for what could have been. |
