Vadim
stallion | draft x | dunalino pintaloosa | 18hhs
When Vadim had entered the water, the surface was so still he could see his reflection like a mirror, and only his legs sloshing through the salty surf broke the image and disturbed the silence. Nothing stirred on Atlantis, as if everything around him was holding its breath, waiting to see if he would go through with it. The pale stallion did find himself hesitating, just as the cool water touched his chest, whether he should go through with it or not. After a few minutes, and a mental war with himself, the draft carried on into the sea.
Vadim was not abandoning his family, nor was he abandoning his new home. But staying hidden among the palm trees and sand could not be his answer to the past either. The chance of seeing her would always nip at his heels, causing him to glance over his shoulder, but Vadim had finally decided to not allow it to make him stop living. He doubted it had ever stopped her.
When he climbed up on the beach of the Crossing, Vadim felt a little out of breath. Not from the exertion of the swim, he had made it countless times, but from the scenery he had nearly forgotten. Living on Salem, not much changed. Atlantis hardly changed either. But the Fall foliage never disappointed with its array of colors and the pale stallion found himself standing and staring, taking it all in as he readjusted to it all.
When he was finally able to carry on, Vadim picked no particular direction. He hadn’t come here seeking anything aside from simply fighting the desire to be a hermit. So when he found a quiet place tucked among some trees, he settled into the secluded spot and closed his green eyes to sleep the rest of the night. Only when the sun rose and peeked through the branches, stirring Vadim awake, did he carry on his wandering. Telling himself by noon he would go home.
Just when the stallion was sure that he should turn back towards Atlantis, something caught his attention. It was pale and tucked among the grass and flowers. Vadim cautiously approached, careful not to disturb the stranger as his nose flared to drink in her scent among the floral. She wasn’t quite as white as Jupiter, but the sun still reflected off of her pale coat like fresh summer dew. “hello?” he said softly, not wanting to wake her if she was truly asleep.
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