It had been months since Ellora crawled out of the dense thicket she'd constructed into her home. While the brambles left much to be desired, it was the safest and most hidden place she could find within the Dusk Court. She very rarely ventured out except to grab more supplies for herself, gathering herbs and spices and stocking food. She rather enjoyed being out under the cover of night, where she felt she was less likely to attract attention, the evening like a blanket upon her heart and a veil over her eyes. But even in the far reaches of the Dusk Court, she heard whispers from commonfolk about a sort of festival happening at the Dawn Court. She had never been to a festival, in fact, she'd never really been to any sort of social gathering at all, and the idea frightened her, but she'd been here for over a year and had yet to meet a single soul except in passing. She did not want to die having known only the cruelty of other horses, she wanted to know their kindness, too. If she had kindness, so could others... right?
Naturally, she would have walked to such an event, but she found herself idling over it in the sky first. She could hear the laughter and singing ring out far below her, and the music was a comfort to her, she had always loved music. One tune in particular called out to her in the dense forest, and she found her wings carrying her gently to the ground as she paused quietly in the woods, hearing her mother's song on the wind.
”Come white moss, weave us a carpet
Spreading oak make a shade where we lie. Leaves and branches, whisper a love song, When I look in my true love's eyes. Young as any spring, his eyes almost sing to me.”
She felt a tear slipping out of each of her deep blue eyes, and she slammed them shut as she hummed along to the tune. It was a song her mother sang to her, of times when her father hadn’t been so cruel to her. Sabre was once a revered mare in his herd, she had been his favorite until she’d given birth to the imperfect Ellora. But even with her song, her mother had never made her feel like a burden, she felt like her mother was truly happy spending the last of her years with the growing foal instead of with her past lover.
“Come down sparrow, sing me good morning.
Rise up sun like arch of the sky. Living river, turn light to diamonds When I look in my true love's eyes.”
As the song wrapped up, she slowly turned her back on the light and festivities, wondering if perhaps she hadn’t actually been ready for such an event. Maybe she should just go home and paint some more, or perhaps make herself a new string of beads. She looked back at her tail, the sparkling diamond and gold bead string dangling off to the side in disarray. She huffed and gave a good flick of her tail to set it back into the place before poking her head through the trees again, gazing longingly at the dancing and celebrations happening. She wanted to be out there so badly, but she was too afraid of change. She hummed the song to herself as she skirted the outer reaches of the party, pardoning herself as she passed other wanderers who were doing the same. She was aching to just take flight and return home to the Dusk Court, but the music called to her and she felt drawn back to the edge of the clearing again.
Back and forth his eyes went. From dancer to dancer, he grunted and huffed. Legs itched to move in the same way, for his body to glide through exaggerated movements. Old songs flowed into his mind, thoughts pausing at the intrusion. Golden days and moon-kissed nights. A woodwind chirping along a rhythm. Sing a little tune... a little tune. But it grows loud and with that loudness comes distortion; static then silence. Memories played through the records, the male blinking away the growing stroke of reminiscence.
This desire to dance would devour him, but hidden away would he remain. He could not simply prance out there—coat was filthy for he has yet to bathe. It has been a week since his rough arrival onto this land. Almost the entirety of his left side is stained in black; a few nicks littered around his body from the crash. Mmm, what a poor show he would be. Kauri turned away from the event, proceeding back into the heart of the forest. Though a certain sound made him stop. It was out of place as it hardly mingled with the music in which the festival strum. He listened and followed where the song grew louder, slowly and silently approaching the owner of the tune from behind.
Ears picked at each of her notes with his mind stressing out every one of them. This stranger of warm hues, a certain weight seemed to be upon her. One hoof stayed off the ground, steps then going in reverse as he distant himself. He’d hug a tree closest to him as he loosely hid from the other. The male wanted to hear the song through, standing still until she moved. His head was then withdrawn, now taking care to cover himself. Although what was he doing? Furrowing his brows, Kauri snaked around the tree he stood by, shortly tailing the mare. He promptly disregarded any who gave him a disgusting face for his grimy looks. Bringing himself beside the mare’s left side without warning, his gaze worked its way back onto those dancing and wandering about. "You’re in the wrong spot. Why are you not out there with them?" An honest question from him. He saw no reason for her to be here at the sidelines. That was to be reserved for him and anyone else beaten down by fate.
Her eyes danced over the party goers quicker than flame, her wings twitching nervously as she debated whether or not she wished to join them. She could feel the fear welling up in her, the only previous experience she'd had with crowds was her short time in Valerius' herd. She knew in her heart that this was different, these horses were cheerful and full of laughter and drink, but her mind kept pushing that reassurance aside as soon as it came up to protest. She shook her head softly from side to side, giving one last wistful glance at the performers before turning to sulk back home. Just as she was about to leave, she stiffened at the soft sound of approaching hooves, barely discernible for their silence. Before she knew it, she felt a warm body right next to hers, and a masculine voice winding into her ears.
Her ears instantly flattened and she leaped to the side, landing with all fours spread out under her, letting out a snort as she whipped around to face the intruder, her legs noticeably shaking and her breathing ragged. She wrapped her wings around her front as if to shield and protect herself from danger without even realizing it just out of sheer instinct. He had approached her with confidence and allure, completely sure of himself and apparently his effect on others. Once her moment of panic passed, however, she instantly straightened herself, suddenly embarrassed of her disheveled terror. It's okay, she told herself, stallions and mares talk all the time, not all of them are evil and cruel. And plus, you're a healer, you can't just discriminate against healing only mares. Thinking of this, she groaned inwardly, even more humiliated at her ridiculous reaction. His commanding tone when he said she was in the wrong place frustrated her slightly, as if she didn't belong on the sidelines like the outcast she was. Who was he to know where she belonged at a party? Or if she even belonged at one at all.
By the time she finally parted her lips to speak, her gentle voice carried across the air like gentle feathers brushed by wind. "Excuse me?" She started, I simply do not like crowds, or the horses in those crowds, or, rather, social events in general.She rambled a bit at the end, feeling even more silly as she spoke. Why'd she even come here if she disliked social events? She sighed. "I felt the... obligation to make an appearance, but it seems that's a lot easier said than done."She spoke as if she'd done nothing foolish at all, all hesitation gone from her voice this time. She pushed down her desire to simply flee and allowed herself to relax a little more in the face of change, standing tall and letting her wings fall back into place upon her back as she regarded the well-defined male before her with more intrigue than fear now.
He'd expect no more than a look of surprise or even some berating for his direct approach. However, once those words left his lips, the mare was quick to leap away from him. Was there a spider on him—or was there still a demon upon his shoulders? Kauri checked what he could of himself, expression a bit uncertain. Perhaps he did look that bad with dried tar on his side. Surely, the skull he wore didn't make him seem any better as well. A sigh sounded from him, the male quite annoyed that he would have to hunt down a water source sooner rather than later. Earring clinked as one ear swiveled back; his head tilting and muzzle drawing closer to her. He breathed in her fear, almost choking on it. Eyes stared at the stranger, silently asking what was the matter.
She caught herself a little too late, Kauri having grown partly offended by such a reaction. He would give her space as he took two steps back. Ears pricked once a voice was carried out from the other, his response being an immediate tilt of his head again. It was spoken that she was not fond of social events—turning the wrong spot into the worst spot. He would not scold her seeing it was possibly just an innocent try at breaking her shell. Before the male could ask, an answer was already given. The word obligation did not sit well with him. It wasn't a proper reason or excuse to him, a displeased face obvious underneath his mask. "You're wasting all your time and energy to just stay afar. Singing to the trees is not an accomplishment, no." Voice held a hint of disappointment, lightly shaking his head. He hummed as sight picked through each group of horses here at this festival, tongue licking lips as an idea touched his mind.
Seeing the mare relax would tell him some chain was loose. He'd now eat away at the space between them, nearly walking past her but stopping beside once more. "Hmm, let us sightsee, so at least you can say you properly saw and done all that you could. Simply will I accompany you." He wouldn't allow her wasted time to settle, so he offered his own to possibly replace what was lost. A temporary buddy he could be, a small little push for her. Spinning around to easily look at the stranger, he waited for her answer.
This stallion's state of disarray certainly did not escape her attention. She could notice visible marring on his sides, and while she couldn't be sure as to what had caused it, she knew it must be painful. The healer in her welled to the surface, pushing down her transgressions and fears as she examined more of him. The bones upon his skull frightened her a little, but perhaps it meant something to her, and really it wasn't any of her business. She was so caught up in counting her herbs in her head that she had stashed at home, she almost didn't hear his abrupt reply. Just as she was thinking of helping him, his words stopped her. Although he was right, she certainly hadn't done what she came here to do, but at least she showed up! It took a week for her to convince herself to attend such a gathering, and she wasn't likely to do so again so far. His eyes burned into her as he regarded her, and she began to grow uncomfortable under his scrutiny. She knew she was frail and perhaps childish, but knowing that didn't stop her fears. She noted he took a couple steps back from her, but that too did not completely quench her fear.
She felt him swiftly close the distance again, and she instinctively shied away a couple of feet, her ears dipping to the side in fear. She had a momentary flashback of Valerius' fury in his eyes and his hooves flying above her head, just as they would have struck down, her mother dove in front of her took the brunt of the attack. She visibly winced at the memory, remembering the thud of his hooves and the cry of pain her mother had let out. She still knew this male had never done such a thing to her, but the memory remained drilled into her skull. Straightening herself again, visibly composed, she inched toward him a couple of steps, trying not to let her fear show as she forced her attention to the crowd in front of them. He wished to accompany her deeper into the festivities. She gulped as she watched the dancers and drinkers and lovers flit about the clearing, the lantern light dancing with them as they moved. It sure looked fun, and beautiful, but she hadn't been so close to so many horses since she was just a filly.
Her wings shuddered at her side as she turned to meet his gaze. "Perhaps you are right, perhaps I should press on and get the most out of the occasion." The lights reflected gently in her eyes as she relaxed, licking her lips at the thought of some fresh drink. She hadn't hydrated herself all day, and perhaps these weren't the drinks to do so, but she was thirsty nevertheless... and drinks were here. She took a step forward and paused, glancing back at him, "If those cuts bother you, I am a healer, perhaps I can look at them for you." The thought of getting so close to him frightened her, but it was just another bridge she would need to cross in the future anyways.
Ear flickered constantly as voices rose high and dipped low in volume. He never thought that the overwhelming silence of the desert would be something he could miss. His thoughts ran quick to only fall flat, unable to stabilize himself while being reeled in and thrown back out into the present moment. The pause in-between seemed outstretched, unsure whether there would be a response from the mare. Violets were curious. Her wincing and how the air fluctuated around the stranger, something was bothering her. There was discomfort and fear once more. He scanned the area surrounding him and her, pinpointing certain spots. Attention snapped back with her statement, a spoken awareness of letting the event remain a drag for her rather than taking and enjoying it. He snorted, flicking his tail aside as his leg repeated her step.
Mayhaps he was looking forward to interacting with the festivities, Kauri almost leaving the mare behind before realizing she stopped and said something to him. He rounded back towards her, mind needing to take a second to understand what the stranger offered him. Those cuts... oh, they're still there. He checked over each of his shoulders, then his legs. Why hadn't they—that's right. Entirety had gotten use to wounds going away on their own; an energy taking care to fix any wounds he received. That blessing was long gone. He could still ignore them, as he has been doing, but soon one of them had to turn into an infection. And whatever unknown pathogens this land could hold, the last thing he needed was to become ill. However, to let someone tend to his wounds, to even touch him... when was the last time either of those occurred? This was not his previous life where miles were filled only with sand and crumbled structures. He wasn't truly alone anymore, he didn't have to be. But that revolting feeling for contact began to return and nearly etch a scowling look underneath his mask. Nearly.
His head lightly dipped, the male dismissing any opposing thoughts he had. "Not a bother, but I can't allow some of them to remain open." Nose pressed against one of his forelegs before bringing his eyes back onto her. "Do what you will," he stated, accepting the offer. His sight then slipped away towards the lanterns that were spread amongst the trees. Their warm glow contented him, watching them rock as a breeze blew by.
Back and forth his eyes went. From dancer to dancer, he grunted and huffed. Legs itched to move in the same way, for his body to glide through exaggerated movements. Old songs flowed into his mind, thoughts pausing at the intrusion. Golden days and moon-kissed nights. A woodwind chirping along a rhythm. Sing a little tune... a little tune. But it grows loud and with that loudness comes distortion; static then silence. Memories played through the records, the male blinking away the growing stroke of reminiscence. 