I would honestly love you now,
But I would lovingly let you down.
The painted stallion is reminded of the last time he was with Calypso, back in that pocket among the jungle's vines and leaves. Her filly slept behind her, but still Jabari summoned the courage to ask her if she could go anywhere, where would she want to be? The deflated look on her face made his heart melt. It was as if she'd accepted her fate as something out of her control. She was tied here, chained by Rougaru and the spawn he asked her to produce. Jabari knew Calypso was a doting mother - she cared for her daughter. But she deserved to chart her own course in her life. Rougaru was not God - he did not get to determine her worth, her role, her existence. Ever since, that melancholy look in her eyes had been etched into the stallion's memory. It lit a fire in his gut. He wanted to save her.
And here he was, failing to do so, but finding some temporary relief in knowing that he tried and that at least, through all the turmoil, they were reunited. The muscles under his two-toned hide bunch in anticipation as he waits to see how Calypso will react to what he'd just explained. Jabari realizes he just dumped so much on her... while they were always friendly and supportive of one another, their visits had felt like they were in secret. They shared their feelings in the shadows, for fear of being caught. Would Calypso want whatever this was between them to rise into something bigger? Rougaru must have an inkling, at least, of Jabari's affection for her, given the fact he took a significant beating for just a chance to see her again. He held his breath as his crystal blue eyes searched her emerald ones for answers.
She spoke, her face lighting up with surprise. His copper ears flick forward at attention and he takes a half step closer to her, and then another... "You are worth more than he will ever know." He said quietly, a simper of a smile appearing on his pink, whiskered lips. "I'm sorry if this is too forward... I don't want to cause more stress for you. I..I- just couldn't stop thinking about you when I was away."
Even during the war, as he was reluctantly pulled into the Forest by Rougaru and the band of Lagoon stallions, he thought of her back in Paradise.
Jabari can feel his heart in his throat, as his gaze remains transfixed on Calypso, waiting anxiously to hear her verdict. Then she quietly thanks him, and when he feels her lips against his own, he thought he felt his own heart explode in his chest.
Stallion | Brienne x Shamwari | Chesnut Overo | 15.2 h| Photo © Carina Mailwald | © Vinyl |
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