surrender to nothing Posted on June 19, 2020 at 05:48:56 AM by Hawke
Hawke
xaisy/ six / grullo tobiano / mixed breed / 15.3hh
Behind the shroud of tendril-like branches that hung down, Hawke might have been in a different world than those who stood just outside; as isolated from them physically as shi felt inside. It wasn’t necessarily an unwelcome state of events, but the grullo recognized that shi was in danger of slipping back into old habits if shi did not break the iron grip of despair. Still, the androgynous creature was not too eager to emerge back into the open where any number of eyes might judge hir, and decided to take advantage of hir respite to put the dishevelled mess of hir mouse-colored coat back in order. Where dirt and debris clung to Hawke, hir teeth went to work scraping it away - and though nothing could be done about the general lack of luster or the scars that broke the uniformity of hir pelt, after a few moments shi began to relax.
At least, until the swaying curtain of hir refuge parted to reveal a dark muzzle.
Hawke had thought nothing of the greeting call that preceded the stranger’s approach; shi had assumed it to be related to events taking place outside hir own private sphere. But suddenly there was a stallion speaking to hir, and for a long moment Hawke didn’t know what to say. Hiding? In a way, perhaps shi had been - but the painted grullo knew that there was no escaping the truth that had finally sunk in, and had only come here to process it. “I wasn’t hiding, I was just… hoping not to be seen,” Hawke stammered lamely, blanching inwardly at the figurative way shi always seemed to insert hir hoof in hir mouth. Of course, with as little interaction as shi’d had with hir kind, it was a wonder that shi could speak at all.
In any case, if hir cover was blown, shi might as well come out. Thirst had been quick to reassert itself - a fact that came as no surprise given the brevity of hir last drink. Inhaling deeply to steel hir emotions against the possibility of an unfavorable reaction, the grullo slid between the dangling strands of the willow, a single golden eye narrowed against the radiance of the sun. The lid of the other eye drooped more lazily, the orb beneath it sunken and unresponsive. In fact - as the stranger was on hir right side - Hawke was forced to turn hir head in order to see him, a subtle tremor of unease passing down hir spine.
The first thing that Hawke noted when shi glanced at the stranger was that they were of a similar height. Of course, with hir tendency to slouch and make hirself smaller (so as not to be noticed or considered a threat), the blackened bay would appear to tower over hir. Their builds were also similar, though at first glance the stranger appeared better nourished than Hawke, who had wintered on a mountain where grazing was scarce - and who, even in ideal circumstances, was often guilty of neglecting hirself. But they shared similarly thick necks, broad chests, and muscled bodies that were characteristic of the masculine gender. In a strange contradiction, however, Hawke lacked a sheath, and if hir two-toned tail was flicked to one side or the other, the features evidenced there could easily lead one to believe that shi was female. Of course, what no-one could know was that internally, the grullo possessed partially developed reproductive organs for both genders - though neither of them were functional.
After a moment of mutual staring, the tobiano was the first to drop hir gaze, and as such it was the ground beneath Cinnamon’s hooves that shi appeared to address. “I appreciate the offer, but it won’t be necessary. I can look after myself,” the grullo said stiffly. And then, with the realization that shi sounded extremely rude, Hawke sighed. “I mean, you’re welcome to if you wish, but I don’t expect trouble. The others... they leave me well enough alone.”
There was a wistful tone to hir voice that revealed hir sorrow at this truth, but Hawke was already turning toward the pool, and stepping forward to drink. And this time, shi did not look at the reflection that gazed back up at hir.