Rivaini

Rivaini had been standing atop one of the Ridge’s numerous vantages since the pink light of dawn when she first saw the pale figure pull itself up on their beach. Until that moment the silver bay was motionless for so long that she might have been carved from stone herself; a sober, unwavering extension of the mountain’s spine. But as soon as the stranger’s hooves touched sand, her stillness fractured. Ears pitched backwards, and limbs propelled her down the rocky slope as nimbly as a ibex. Perhaps their visitor’s intentions were peaceful, but Rivaini was determined to judge this for herself. Cicek’s arrival had only served to reinforce the protective instincts that had begun to rise in the Andalusian-blooded mare. She had formed precious bonds over the course of the past seasons, and would pay any cost to protect the ones she loved.

Unfortunately, travel through the Ridge’s jungle was not a task that could be accomplished swiftly - at least, not for those who wished to remain sound of body. Though by now she had discovered a couple shortcuts that would have taken her more directly to the shore, Rivaini passed these over in favor of the well-worn path that descended from pinnacle to beach, and which avoided the most dangerous obstacles. Of course, even the path was not without its trials - after a particularly saturating rain, some of the soil had loosened and certain care needed to be taken about where the red mare placed her hooves. Between that and a momentary distraction that resulted in a short detour, the Ridge’s co-guardian did not emerge onto the beach until both Cicek and Faolain were already engaged in conversation with the tobiano stallion.

With her lips otherwise busy, Rivaini found herself unable to vocalize a greeting; instead, she snorted softly to alert the gathering of her approach. As she approached, the auburn mare noted the way that the palomino mare listed subtly toward the figure of the unknown male, and the black mare’s more neutral stance and expression. What brings you to the heat of Atlantis? Faolain was asking. Whoever this was, it appeared that both she and Cicek were familiar with him. And in some distant corner of her mind, the silver bay thought that she might recognize him as well, though she could not place where they might have met. Glancing again at her dark friend - and glimpsing the smirk that curled her lips - Rivaini decided to engage in a little mischief of her own. With confident, unfaltering strides, she inserted herself almost rudely between the stallion and the object of his intense charms, tucking the white lily blossom she’d found behind one of Cicek’s ears with a flourish.

“It might not be the most colorful bloom, but it smells wonderful, and I thought it might help accentuate the pale beauty of your mane.” Rivaini explained, intentionally letting her lips brush the palomino’s forehead as she withdrew. It was, perhaps, a little presumptuous of her to touch the other mare in this way. They were well on their way to being friends after the first day they’d shared with Faolain, but not as close as she was making it appear in her attempt to get some kind of a reaction out of the stallion. In any case, Rivaini did back away, falling in at Cicek’s other side and smirking at Faolain over the curve of her golden back. Finally - almost grudgingly - she turned her blue eyes on the stallion, her voice softer; more sultry. “But who is this stallion that you have lured here, Ci-”

Rivaini froze, finally recognizing the stallion by the unmistakably unique shade of his eyes. “Solomon? It’s been so long,” she uttered in shock. When control of her limbs returned a few heartbeats later, she stepped jerkily forward to exchange breaths with the tall tobiano, as if to confirm by scent what the rest of her senses had already told. “But surely you haven’t met my friends Faolain and Cicek as well,” the pale-maned mare offered in disbelief before shaking her head and smiling. “Is it your life’s goal to meet every resident of these islands, or did you simply find these two as irresistible as I do?” Rivaini’s voice was still warm and friendly, but there was a possessive edge to the way she reached over Cicek’s back to touch her muzzle to the black Teke’s neck.

She was familiar enough with the temptations that the Fall presented, though as of yet no stallion had called to her in that way.

mare / five / silver bay tobiano / andalusian mix / 15.3hh