Post by stormchaser on Sept 26, 2011 1:27:02 GMT -5
The two-toned mare tossed her head to the heavens and released a shrill whinny, her song telling frankly how much energy she had in store. Lifting her forefront off the ground in a half rear, she catapulted herself into motion. Lengthy pillars carried her lithe form gracefully over the terrain, grass muffling her already soft hoofbeats. Kicking her heels in a little buck, Zativa let another song escape. Simply put, she loved her life and was amused easily by releasing energy this way. Tiva was in a very playful mood today, as she tended to be quite often. Pity she had no one to meddle with! Breaths coming steadily, Zee's mane and tail waved in the wind as she galloped gracefully across the flatlands called Akuilin. She carried her cranium high, tail also lifted behind her like a flag, and the paint mare's entire aura gleaming with beauty and pride. A smile lightened her facade as the warmth of the afternoon kissed her skin, the sun highlighting the splashes of ivory while causing the jet black to glisten under its rays. The colder winds of the coming winter helped to cool her body, warmed by the rush of adrenaline coursing through her. Eyes of a deep chocolate hue were set upon the large forested area ahead.
Thoughts chased each other through her memory to the day when a year ago she was a member of a herd, frolicking with her brother and sister and the other yearlings of the group under her sire's lead with her dam beside him. Tiva remembered clearly the day when she had the urge to wander off into the forest as she did now, knowing full well her father did not want her to. Both of her parents had warned her of the dangers- and the consequences should she decide to do it anyway.. again. But staring off into the expanse of trees and brush, she was trembling with temptation. Finally, she gave into herself and rapidly disappeared. Dashing and dodging through the trees, Zee had been thoroughly enjoying herself when her brother caught up with her and cut her off once they got to a small clearing. "You never learn do you? You're not supposed to be here!" His glare was unwavering even as their sister came and joined his side. Zativa scoffed and rolled her eyes as her sister said, "You know Dad's gonna kill us all if he finds us here. We really need to go back now before he notices we're gone." With a sigh and her head held proudly, she flicked her tail, almost dismissively. "Where's your sense of adventure?! Come on, you can't tell me you've never wanted to do the same thing." They both shook their skulls at her. Her brother, Nevin, began to speak again but Adria cut him off. "Even if we did, you know, it's not worth the risks Mom spoke of." After a moment of silence, Tiva finally relented. "What's life without risk? Whatever, guys. Let's go." However, no sooner did the trio break the tree line that their sire of solid obsidian stood waiting for them. Instantly, a look of pure innocence covered her facade and she smiled brightly up at him, giving him that look that he was all too familiar with. But before she could open her maw, he raised one powerful forelimb and stomped his hoof firmly upon the ground. "Don't even try, Zee. Get your ass over there by your mom and I don't wanna see you leave it until I say so." Knowing better than to try him, she ducked her head only long enough to get past him and then lifted it again. It wasn't until she sidled up next to her mother that she caught wind of the conversation that stung to this day. "I'm sorry, Dad, she just never knows when to stop." It was Nevin's voice followed by their father's. "Never mind it. I'm just glad you brought her back before anything could happen." And then Adria had to put in her say. "I really just wish she would get it by now so we wouldn't have to always worry about her." After that, she stopped listening and it was that very moment that she knew for sure that while she loved her family, she didn't belong with them. At the passing of one moon cycle, she decided not to burden them with her presence anymore. She would never change who she was, her brother and sister be damned. Zee would just have to find a place where she belonged.
A year later, she'd roamed through the deserts of Shahir, through the lands between there and the Valley, and now to Winril, still seeking such a place. The only thing about it was that she had gone without much social contact for quite some time. There were plenty a time when Zativa was completely unbothered to wander alone, but then there were days like this one when she missed companionship. Sometimes she wondered how her siblings fared. After aging about a year, she knew they hadn't meant any real harm when they said those things about her, so she held no grudges, but still Tiva couldn't take the steps to go back. Not when she had come so far. Maybe they would find her one day, or maybe they would never meet again. It was all up to fate.
Continuing at a swift gallop, her stamina allowed her to keep the pace until Zativa entered into the thicket, and then slowed to an even lope as she disappeared through the trees. It was here that the bi-hued female temporarily lost herself. Keeping her eyes wide and alert, she dodged trees left and right, sleek muscles rippling under her thin hide of black and white. Lengthy legs worked easily, hooves skidding or digging into the turf to make sharp turns. Deeper and deeper Zee went into the forest until finally, she spotted the less dense part of the wood that made Fallowil and slowed to a collected prance. Coming to a halt at last well within, she inhaled deep and let it out in a rush, sides heaving for a moment or two as she surveyed her surroundings. Ears swiveled atop her skull, listening to the whisper of the wind through the branches of the tall trees, and she looked up to see the sun streaming its light through the colorful leaves high above her. A soft breeze caressed through her hair, gently smoothing her frame from the front which faced the north. Zativa knew it wouldn't be much longer before the winter season truly set in and the oranges and reds would be replaced by browns and most would fall to the forest floor. Birds of all shapes and sizes twittered to and fro, probably gathering food before their migration. Nostrils flared as she inhaled deeply, smelling the distinct smell of a stallion, perhaps belonging to the leader of the lands himself. She briefly wondered if he may have heard her songs before she'd arrived, and if she would get to meet him. Zee snorted and shook her head before lowering it so that she could lip up a bit of grass. What would a King want to do with the likes of her? He'd probably think she was just as annoying as her family once had. She chewed as her ebony ears flicked this way and that and her mocha-tinted eyes attempted to scan thoroughly for signs of another through the trees. She really hoped that someone would find her here. Unsatisfied, Tiva again lowered her proud head to munch some more of the bits of remaining green blades before her.