Filling the Void {Eolande}

[Xenan]

The sun had already begun to blaze as it rose over the horizon to the east. The heat, of course, absorbing right through his dominantly obsidian form. Leave it to a summer morn to be so hot so early. Xanthian shook his head, thick locks of black and pearly white whipping this way and that before falling back into place where they may. A breeze passed through to try in vain to cool the earth as well as the two-toned horse as he stood beneath a giant tree which had been shading him. Inhaling deep the fresh air, Xan lifted his head to rest at its usual peak high atop a thick and slightly arched nape. Releasing his breath in a long, slow sigh, the stallion began his march forth across the plains from the forest he had just left. The stallion was more than ready for summer to break way for autumn, bringing an end to the blazing heat. Normally Xanth loved to bask in the warmth of the sun, but when temperatures continually rose to blistering heights, it grew old even for him.

Dark brown eyes scanned the area around him, but flat as the land was, the two-toned stag could see no one. Often he tried to keep a smile upon his face, but more so he failed. As much as Ian would like to keep the past behind him, three years of solitude left far too much room to think, ponder, mourn, regret.. Suffer. His life had been filled with loss and sorrow thus far.. First the rejection of his insane sire from the moment of his birth, though he had always known he could not be blamed for his father's hatred of all things male. But then the protection of his mother- the only one who'd loved and cared for him as he grew- died along with her when she fell ill and left him a vulnerable yearling. Then as he'd joined another herd and met his beloved Jubilee, he thought her to be his salvation until she too passed away giving birth to their babe who had never gotten to see the light of day. He still blamed himself every day for her death, even three years later, assuming that maybe a child from him in a hotblooded, petite mare was too large for her to birth. Thinking he was doomed to loneliness and misery, Xanthian had spent the following years alone, thinking he could not take the loss of any other.

But now, as he stepped into the sunrise, the steed of black and white longed for company more than anything else. Anything except the ache deep in his soul where memories haunted the void left by the love he had lost. And greater yet, he ached to relieve the pressure still weighing down his heart ever since he had been robbed of the chance to be a father. Dark brown eyes glanced up to meet the colors still lingering in the sky, and he wondered what his child would have even looked like. Would it have grown to be a beautiful mare like its mother, or a strong stallion like its father? Would its traits reflect more of its dam, or resemble more of himself? Xanthian shook his great head once more, trying to shake the thoughts. He knew his Jubilee would want him to move on and continue living his life, try to be happy, not dwell on memories or thoughts and wishes that could never be. He could see that even through the fear in her sapphire pools before she left him. Though Xan hadn't wanted to accept that then, he was ready to move on now and was determined to at least try. Pinning his ears back to his neck, Xan stopped and bunched his powerful hindquarters, contemplating his future as it would come, forelimbs pushing his front end up as he lifted himself into a tense rear. Releasing a cry to the heavens above, he landed himself and set forth again in a majestic trot. Soon, he could make out another large tree in the near distance, and Xanthian made his way to it. Once there, he whipped his tail and came to a halt in the middle. Thick and long as it was, it grazed the grass as he stood. Twigs and leaves could be seen caught between the lengthy mass of both his mane and tail, but Xan had long since given up on worrying over such trivial matters. With another heart-felt sigh, the stag only hoped there was another who would heed his call.

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[Sauda .]

e o l a n d e - -

She had been walking for the past week now, unhappy and eager for some company. Little limbs took small strides to carry the dunalino body across the land. Her mind was still too young to fully comprehend what she was going through, why her tummy hurt so badly and why her ma just wouldn’t wake up! The brown eyes, originally watching the ground at her tiny hooves, looked up to see if they could find someone else. Someone that could help her. Having stopped watching what was immediately in front of her though, she stumbled over the tree root she hadn’t seen before. Falling to the ground hurt, but lying there felt better than her continuous walking pace. She stay there, laying her head carelessly on the ground. She didn’t know why she was so alone. Really, she never knew her da. And the only reason she left her ma sleeping was to find someone bigger who could wake her up. But now she was lost, scared, and missing company. The one eye that was facing up realised that she was laying at the base of a tree, of what kind she couldn’t recognise though. Eolande lifted her head, sniffing at the grass. She wanted her ma’s milk. Not this green stuff she’d been forced to live on. She put her head down again, listening. She didn’t have to wait long until she heard the rumbles in the ground, and then the heavy breathing of another horse. Carefully, she looked up. She could just see him, on the other side of the tree she had found. Curious and hopeful now. She whickered quietly, enough for him to hear, quietly enough so that, if he chose to ignore it, he could do so freely. She hoped he would help her wake her ma, though. She just had to find her again.

[Xenan]

Conflicting thoughts and emotions raced through the stallion as he stood under the generous boughs of the old oak, its lowest branch not but a few inches above his head. On one corner of his mind, Xan kicked himself for still mourning so greatly over something that had occured over three years ago. He should be stronger than this, and physically he was. How humiliating would it be for anyone else to realize a brawny brute had one of the few true kind hearts on this side of the country. He would be seen as soft. But on the opposite end, he didn't see that as such a bad thing, for he was actually capable of loving to such an extent.. He felt that if he just chose to completely ignore and forget his losses, he would be betraying their honor and the bond they'd shared. Suddenly angered by his own thoughts, he snorted derisively at himself and shook his head to break the trance he'd been stuck in. He'd seriously had enough of this self-loathing sadness that continually overcame him despite his efforts. Moving on didn't mean dishonoring anything, and part of him knew that, but he couldn't seem to shake the other part that disagreed.

Choosing to forget everything for the moment, dark brown eyes surveyed the land at the same time a soft cry reached his ears. Ears snapped in the direction it'd come from, and without hesitation, the large steed stepped around the wide trunk of the tree which had all but obscured a shocking sight. For on the other side lay a little filly- too little- and Xanthian was appalled at himself for not noticing her before. There was no way she had dropped there after he arrived at the other side of the tree. Surely he couldn't have been that engrossed within himself. Mortified at the sight of the too-skinny babe, his heart sank to his gut at the realization she likely had been orphaned. Not knowing the conditions and not caring, the two-toned painted stag lowered his head to her level and nickered softly. From only a couple feet away, his black forelock covered much of his face, but he hoped she could see the kindness in his eyes. "Please don't be frightened, sweetheart, I'm here to help you. Are you hurt?" His tones were deep and rumbled a bit with the note of softness he gave the words without thought. With great care not to startle her, he inched his muzzle closer to her petite little bodice, inhaling her scent. He was checking her for injuries or obvious signs of sickness, even both, and with each exhale he blew warm air upon the light-colored skin of her shoulder. He had so many questions, but not wanting to bombard her, he waited with all the patience of a natural-born father.

{OOC: Really sorry, this post sucks ><}

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