A great distance had already been covered, and recent travels turned her up on a new land, an island that somehow felt...promising in comparison to the false sensation of optimism often accompanying her arrival at new locations. It honestly looked no different than anywhere else--the trees were still green and grew upward, the ground was still earthy and brown beneath her hooves, and the sun still rose and set in the same pattern she was familiar with. Phoebe suspected it might only have been a trick of her mind creating the new feeling, but it didn't stop her from indulging in the possibility.

Her bright eyes stared upward through the forest canopy with wonder and a smile, treading slowly but pleasantly with a distracted grace as she wound a path through the wood. She could smell water upon the air, could faintly hear the babble that beckoned her closer, and only intended to take a sip before moving on. However, the second the trees thinned enough for her to see it, Phoebe made a soft noise of surprise and stopped short with a swish of her colorful tail. "Oh, how beautiful..."

The phrase was murmured aloud in a girlish, wistful voice, with a sigh on the end, as she took in the full sight of the creek in all its natural beauty. To her, it seemed as if the trees curled in over it, sheltering it from the midday sun and providing a secluded, secretive atmosphere to the strip of water that moved energetically through it. Even the creek itself was eye catching, clear and crisp where the river rocks beneath were visible while sunlight glinted and reflected off the uneven points of its surface. Phoebe could only imagine how much lovelier the place would look at sunset.

She sighed again and the exhale grew into a soft, giddy laugh, accompanied by a prancing step in place. Perhaps that feeling she had was right after all. Perhaps there was reason to be optimistic here. Wishing for a better view of the creek, the young horse eagerly strode forward, moving free of the trees so that she could stand on the bank and admire the beauty and promise captured in the moment.

The world of Novus was changing and Rhone had to work hard to keep up with all the new things that had appeared, disappeared, or changed. With so much turmoil in the courts, Rhone had stepped away for a little time of peace and quiet. He loved the beauty of Terrastella, but he knew there was so much more to explore. After all, he could not stay on the cliff side forever, watching the sun rise and set beneath the ocean waves. He needed to get out and explore what Novus had to offer, to get to know the land. After all, as a scholar, it was his job to know it all, to be an advisor when needed. In order to fulfill that role, he needed to get out. And so, he had left Terrastella behind and headed to explore the areas of Novus that he was unfamiliar with.

His first stop was the battlefield. He had wanted to see where all the regime changes had occurred, where power was won and lost, and where life had been taken. The steppe was stained with bloodshed and death, a sight that he was not unfamiliar with. He had once been a great warrior, able to protect his kingdoms from threads. But he was older now, more slow in his step. He hadn’t seen this side of the battlefield in so long that if he ever found himself there, he was unsure if he would even remember the code of conduct in such a place.

Unable to stand the sight for long, Rhone kept his pace, traveling further north until he came upon the creek where many foals had been conceived. This was a place of love and respect, where two individuals became one. He hope he would not stumble on a couple here while he was passing through. He had many children, so he knew the privacy he wanted with his own lovers. He would want to give others the same respect. However, he could not continue on his journey without passing through. It was here that he said a silent prayer to hide the lovers from view so he might pass peacefully without interrupting anyone else.

But as he broke through the tree line, he came across the beautiful creek, the crisp water flowing swiftly over the large embedded rock. The beauty he found here was unmistakable and he couldn’t help the way the air was swiftly taken from his lungs. And as his eyes scanned the creek, they rested on another who happened to also be admiring the creek (or at least that’s what she appeared to be doing). Rhone could help but eye the young mare. She was beautiful. Her purple and pink hue, the way the white flecks of color reflected the sunlight. He couldn’t stop staring, but he knew that she was far too young for him. She was young and youthful and beautiful…and he was old, plain, and ordinary.

However, this would not stop him from a friendly conversation. And so, he stepped up to her, coming to halt just alongside her at a respectable distance. "It is beautiful, is it not?" His eyes turned to look at her, a soft smile curling at the edge of his lips. He was being genuine, true to his nature. "It is no wonder lovers come here in secret." His earth magic filled his veins, coursing through them and itching to be released. Head lowered, his lips pressing to the ground as the magic flew through him and into the earth. And before her feet, a beautiful lily sprouted and grew. It matched the tones of her coat and looked up towards her as if to say “pick me”. Rhone sighed softly at the beauty of the flower he had created before he looked back towards the creek.

@Phoebe

For all the many times Rhone had found himself in a place such as this, with a woman that he loved, he never grew old of such a sight. While he may not have been the best father in the past, he liked to think that he was an excellent lover. He spend time attending to their needs, appealing to their sensuality with touches and flowers, and whispers of promises that he hoped to keep. He treated Ariannah, Moose, and Dierdre as they were the queens of his castle, as if they were the only thing that mattered in that very moment. Even standing here alongside the creek, he can remember each time he sired a child and each time that child entered this world and/or left it (he had one child who was born still and he remembers that heartbreak as if it happened just yesterday).

But for all the ways that Rhone was a good lover, he was a terrible father. He had been a king, a warrior, preoccupied with tasks and jobs that took him away from his family. While he had tried to be the best father that he could be, he had failed in so many ways. He hadn’t been there when they needed him, hadn’t taught them how to be good leaders or how to respect their mothers. He had tried but he had failed. His life had simply been too busy.

But as he stands here, looking at the beauty of the creek, he cannot help but wonder what it would be like if he welcomed a child now. Without the added pressure of a kingdom to run, would he be a better father? A better teacher? A better lover? So many what ifs. He sighed. Perhaps another chance at doing things right was not in the cards for him. But for the youngster who stood next to him? She was young and vibrant and full of life. She would be a wonderful mother when she found that special someone. Her next experience at this Creekside would be one she would never forget. He wanted that for her, as he wanted that for everyone. He wanted everyone to experience life the way he never got a chance to.

Rhone wanted this place to be a pleasant memory for her, unlike the way it reminded him how much of a failure he was. And so, he had grown that beautiful lily, to remind her of her beauty. It was beautifully made and perfect in every way. Rhone only smiled at it as his eyes looked up to hers. The surprise and awe was plain as day upon her face. Rhone was happy, happy that his magic had caused such a reaction. It had been a long time since he had done something so beautiful for another.

She picked his flower, examining it and admiring it. He tried to give her that moment in peace, that moment so intimate between the flower and herself. It was only when he felt her eyes on him did he look back at her. At her question, he offered her a nod. "I can grow almost anything." Taking hold of the flower that floated just before her, he used his telekinesis to place the flower into her mane, tucking it in so the wind would not sweep it away. She looked beautiful with the flower and he wished he could tell her so. But such words might not come across in the way he meant them to. After all, would it not be odd if an old man told a young woman she was beautiful?

He took a step towards her, closing their distance so they might converse without interrupting any others who might be hidden amongst the shrugs at the Creekside. "My name is Rhone…I was just passing through." He did not want her to feel uncomfortable with his presence, as if he had come here to pressure himself upon unsuspecting women. He was not that kind of individual and he would defend the rights of women if need be. "I hope I am not interrupting you. Are you here waiting for someone?" He looked almost panicked, thinking that perhaps she was waiting on someone special and he had interrupted her time. Perhaps she had come here waiting for her lover and he had unknowingly stumbled upon her. Embarrassed, Rhone began to step back, ready to leave her peacefully. The last thing he ever wanted was to be an intruder.

@Phoebe