Meadow

Spring had swept across the Islands. For most, it brought reprieve from the bitter winter winds and driving snows, the burst of new life welcome after months of dreariness. But in the north, the Bay still remained swathed in siberian temperatures. The snow had (mostly) retreated up the mountainside, but the chill of winter lingered in the air.

Emhyr was accustomed to the cold, having called the Bay home since childhood. But even with years of weathering the ill-tempered weather of the Bay, he still found himself, on occasion, longing for warmer climates, if only temporarily.

It was this desire - to melt the chill from his bones, to feel the warmth of the sun on his back - that drove him towards the Crossing one sunny day. He had no particular destination in mind, driven only by his search for friendlier climates. As he skirted skilfully around the Peak and its shrewd-minded mares, he set his sights on the Meadow. He had set hoof there only a handful of times, but knew it to be a quiet place. Perfect for finding some reprieve under the clear spring sky.

If only his head were so clear, he thought, though not bitterly. He had been going in circles about the recent changes to the Bay's hierarchy, and found himself growing weary of the constant considerations that he kept turning over in his mind. Perhaps getting away for awhile would provide the clarity he had been searching for these past weeks. Sooner or later, he would need to make a decision about which of his mares would take the place next to him in the Bay.

But today was not that day. Today was a day for relaxation, and Emhyr was eager to situate himself in the middle of the Meadow and soak up as much warmth as he could before he trekked back to the Bay's hyperborean shores.

The sun was perched just above the horizon when he made it to the clearing. The Meadow stretched out before him in a sea of emerald, the vibrant spring grass swaying in the warm breeze, the honeyed scent of fresh flower blossoms filling his nose. Emhyr half expected it to be vacant - many mares and stallions preferred to try their luck in the Commons, he'd found - but as he broke through the treeline he was greeted by a beauteous sight: a golden-colored mare stood in the middle of the Meadow, her fair coat aglow beneath the buttery rays of the sun.

Emhyr paused mid-step, unsure whether or not to continue on his path. The Meadow was large enough to occupy them both, but he had no desire to make her uncomfortable with his sudden presence. He wasn't the most practiced at talking with unfamiliar females, but he though, perhaps, that greeting her might put her at ease, allowing them to share the space without any awkwardness or trepidation.

Clearing his throat, Emhyr continued towards her, nickering a greeting as he drew closer, ensuring to stop a polite distance away - close enough he would not have to shout to be heard, but far enough that he would not be encroaching on her space in any way.

"Room for one more out here?" Emhyr quipped, his dark eyes flicking around the empty meadow, his lips curling in a playful smile.