i dream in phosphorescence Posted on July 14, 2024 at 01:14:32 AM by Helios
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The last few months had been blessedly peaceful. It seemed the black Lagoon stallion was keeping the promise he made that spring day. If Lucifer remained true to his word, then the dark brute would be back in the coming spring. It is these thoughts that churn in the back of the Arabian's mind upon initially hearing the call that came across the sands that morning.
Copper ears twist toward the sound, and his creamy tail lashes, expressing the excess of emotions coursing through his veins. Whoever it was, it came from the direction of the Badlands. A deep inhale and exhalation expands the stallion's ashy nostrils. The early dawn gently lit up the expanded skin, revealing a few of the fine veins that laced through his tissues.
Helios had not had the best of experiences previously with the residents of the neighboring territory. The most tame of his previous interactions recently had been the harboring of Eloìsa, the daughter of the former ruler Rafe. From what she'd told him, a stranger had come and claimed the Badlands out from under the residents. If his suspicions were correct, this new claimer was the one seeking an audience.
A stray breeze, finely littered with sand particles, toyed with the strands of his mane and forelock. Helios considered the underlying tones of the summons with a piqued curiosity. Brown eyes turn to the colt resting drowsily beneath the near palm tree before a gentle whicker leaves the stallion's maw. This is his firstborn Caesarion who jerks to full consciousness and meets his gaze with unspoken questions.
It was beyond time for the boy to accompany him when dealing with official matters. The yearling was growing quickly; spring would bring his second birthday. Helios could tell the chestnut lad was itching for more responsibility. Meeting a potential neighbor or herd member seemed fitting enough, and, if it was an intruder, then Caesarion could sound an alarm and help the herd move away from potential danger.
With a gesturing toss of his head for his son to come along, Helios takes off in a trot toward the call's source. Morning is more apparently the time the chestnut pair reaches the spotted male on the border. The Arabian eyed the stallion with a respectful curiosity as he and his son came to a stop a few paces away. "Good morning," he stated with a curt nod. "I'm Helios, lord of the Dunes, and this is my son Caesarion," -- this is noted with a brief gesture toward the colt, who shifted on splash-marked legs -- "What can we do for you?"