Falls

As Shararat laughs at the golden stallion’s quips, Ak Burun’s expression grows stonier until finally the fine-boned mare turns to review the rocking ocean with her chest pressed against the Arabian’s shoulder. She hangs her neck over Shararat’s, sparse tail flicking frequently and snapping against her haunches, her embrace borderline possessive. “Beni en yakın tutuyorsun, değil mi?” she murmurs into Shararat’s delicate ear.

The Arabian arches her neck, and though she leans into Ak Burun she doesn’t deign to reply to the black mare. Instead, she smiles warmly at Ailill. “So you are still close to home! I’m glad to hear it, Ailill. I remember climbing those cliffs with you— such a view is still unparalleled.” She feels Ak Burun press her nose to her withers, then feels the sudden pinch of teeth and shudders her skin in response. Undeterred by her companion’s subtle displeasure, Shararat forges on brightly. “I’ll have to pay you a visit soon. I’m living on Salem now, in the Dunes.” She quirks one brow. “Ironic, no?”

The Akhal-Teke does not relent: her nip this time is more insistent, a quick hard clamping of flesh in reprimand, and Shararat flicks her ears back momentarily as annoyance crosses her features. She shrugs, the motion meant to dislodge her black burr and convey an apology to Ailill, neither of which she sure is effective. “I’m afraid we must leave you now. I’m newly claimed by Bahadir, you see, and I would hate for him to feel I regret joining his herd by remaining absent too long, and so soon. But I am so glad we ran into you this morning.” She ducks out from under the curve of Ak Burun’s neck and strides forward to nuzzle the golden stallion’s cheek. “We will meet again soon, my friend,” she assures him before turning to rejoin Ak Burun, who has turned impatiently to resume their flight down the beach in the opposite direction. She strikes out immediately into a trot as Shararat reaches her shoulder, then extends to a canter, and the mares move almost as one away from Ailill. One black head turns to look back, her dished profile evident, before the pair is carried out of sight.


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shararat & ak burun
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