Vadim
stallion | draft x | dunalino pintaloosa | 18hhs
It took several blinks for Vadim to gain focus, but he did not expect the white face that peered down at him; her tan ears and black forelock rimmed in light from the sun that made her eyes glitter. Of all the faces he expected his dying mind to conjure, Vadim never expected it to be this one. Though he supposed it was fitting, since she had never left his mind, even if they were no longer physically together.
When Arsinoe spoke, it was gentle, but not angelic. Vadim took in a deep breath, the sound of it wheezing into his salt raw lungs nearly louder than she spoke. Pain radiated down his sinuses where he had breathed in too much water, but he was grateful he could at least breath freely, rather than being swept under the waves. It also brought Arsinoe’s sweet scent, though he found it almost foreign to him, without the heavy overlay of Salem.
Would a hallucination have a scent?
When the stallion tried to reply, it did not come out audible. It left him panting for a few breaths, his eyes closing briefly, before opening them again. Thankfully she remained in focus, which meant he was gaining a firmer grasp on his consciousness, and a realization to his situation. Death wasn’t as close as he cared for it to be. To simply close his eyes, go to sleep and never have to worry about anything again. Willing or not, his body still wanted to fight for life, even in such shape.
Gathering his strength for a few seconds, Vadim finally lifted his head from the sand. Though the wet grains clung to the right side of his face, it was unmarked and whole unlike the left. Crimson rolled down from the large wound upon his cheek, though it was only the flesh, and did not fully open to his teeth. As he looked down at his left side that was exposed, he could see where flesh had been ripped open on his shoulder, side and a large chunk gone from his hip. Although he had been covered in scars from a young age, nothing he had gotten in battle would ever compare to this.
Vadim wanted to gather himself up, to maybe roll up right so that perhaps his breathing would get better to answer her. He had not taken notice of his leg when looking over his body, but as he attempted to draw it up, the pain ripped through him with such intensity he could not help the strangled scream that tore from him, and he fell back over onto his side. Dark spots filled his vision once again, but Vadim struggled not to be swallowed by the void.
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