winter at the dunes is unbelievable to lukasz. the daytime reaches startling heat, despite the time of year, warming his black hide uncomfortably, before evening sends the temperature plummeting. sometimes, when he startles awake at the rustle of a breeze through the palms, he even finds himself shivering. when his soft brown eyes open then, bleary with sleep, sometimes instead of sand he sees the whiteness of snow. covering hillsides and mountains. winter in the vlast, his homeland. it is never long though, before he blinks and that vision of another time disappears, leaving him alone and in a strange place. it always leaves his heart thudding painfully in his broad chest, and is followed by sleeplessness… lukasz had put the trip off long enough… the towering black stallion had secured a home, as he had set out to do, and now he only needed to be brave enough to find someone to share it with. every morning he would wake, journey across the sand to the edge of the sea, looking out toward the crossing, and then turn away… nervousness shuddered over him when he thought of what little he had to offer… he was likely to only receive strange looks from any he spoke to, as he had all these years. his accent and the unique curve of his profile were as foreign as anything he had come across on his travel over the isles… he had no grand aspirations or schemes…he merely wanted to forget what lay behind him and try to find a way to move forward. why was the first step so difficult? as he dozed in the afternoon sun, lukasz drifted in and out of daydreams. one, of a fond memory of his rodina, his family, left him feeling particularly vulnerable. as he blinks it from his eyes the tall stallion blows out a hard snort of frustration. he feels an uncharacteristic bout of anger brewing, enough to spur him past his usual anxieties… anger that came from a place deep enough that he was normally able to keep it locked away. anger that stemmed from pain. it gives him a sense of courage he usually lacks, when it comes from confidence at least, and the black strides into the frigid water to swim to the crossing. the cold waves steal his anger, leaving him cold and empty feeling as he pulls himself up the rocky shore. for a moment he contemplates finding a quiet corner alone and waiting for the rest of the day to pass and tomorrow to come. he could return home then in the warmth of the noonday sun. as he shakes the water off his sides though, the stallion notices the falls in the distance. he had seen them once before and found them calming. perhaps they would sooth his troubled heart today.lukasz travels with his large convex head held low and with soft movements. he does not wish to draw undue attention to his massive frame and unusual profile… when he sees the mare at the edge of the water, smiling to herself and blowing at the water curiously he nearly stops… he did not wish to disturb her. a shy smile spreads over his dark lips as she leans down ever further. he tries to find the courage to clear his throat..to think of something to say…but words fail him as he regards her. when the grey’s head pops up, almost as if she expected someone to approach her unawares, lukasz steps back in surprise. he is very tall, but not a heavy draft, and their builds are similar except for his strangely rounded face. a mark of the krev, the royal blood… his heart thuds as he finally finds words, though they are more heavily accented with his nervousness. “i’m… i’m lukasz. of the dunes…” he has no idea what else to say… the mare looked as if she were alone.. but what right had he to ask if she would like to join him? and if she already had a home waiting for her? he looks at the ground bashfully, shaking his large head…he tries to steel himself for her rejection though he has not even asked her name yet…
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