| With his son’s fluctuating health and the incredibly unwanted arrival from Terrastella in the form of his older half-brother, Somnus could not deny that the stress might be getting the best of him. He had sought multiple remedies in hope for salvation; spending quiet time with relaxing with his family, tucking himself away in the private silence of the Library, and even seeking out Ulric for a good scrap to try and work off the strain. Nothing seemed to help. He simply could not seem to shake the lingering anxiety that pooled within his gut, paranoia seeping into his mind and making sleep nigh impossible to find. It had only been at Alba’s insistence that he had taken a private day away from it all that he willingly took a day to fly out amidst the Rapax, giving Eulalie a loving kiss in parting and pressing another into the growing tuft of Regis’ forelock before departing. It was difficult and half of him screamed to stay, but he trusted Eulalie and Ulric to keep Regis safe from Atreus’ darkness and corrupted, twisted ways. Taking to the skies just outside of the citadel, Alba staying behind with his family just in case he was needed in an emergency, Somnus willed himself to leave it all behind, if only for a few hours. Soaring higher and higher into the skies, the Dawn King allowed himself to breathe and feel, drifting amidst the breeze and relishing in the way that the winds rippled and caressed the outstretched joints and feathers of his wings. Air rushed into his lungs and almost greedily he inhaled, focusing on him. Rarely did he allow himself this; to just exist, to feel, to let down his walls and guard and just embrace the freedom that flight allowed. It was nice. It was liberating. Beneath him the lands passed by quickly, both charred land and surviving forests beginning to mix and intermingle as nature so very gradually began to recover from the devastating wildfires. Unconsciously Somnus began to follow the path of the Rapax River, flying south, south, south, the winds carrying him almost lazily towards some unknown destination. Gradually, like a gilded ray of sunlight, the dunalino drifted down to the earth, wings spreading out and arching to catch the air and slow his descent. Legs outstretching, hooves poised for landing upon the rocky shores of the Rapax, Somnus reached the earth with practiced ease, the jarring sound of hooves upon dirt and stone only momentary as he jogged to a halt. Folding in mottled wings, he inhaled deeply before letting out a long, breathy sigh. Verdant eyes drifted about, then, turning first towards the treeline and then focusing instead upon the rushing waters of the river. The water looked cool and crisp, and pressing his tongue against the roof of his mouth, Somnus approached the river to quench his thirst from time spent in flight. What he didn’t expect was for his gaze to catch a plethora of color against a backdrop of greens and browns, a rainbow shape moving just a little ways down the river. Lifting his head, brow furrowed quizzically, he watched the rainbow shape delicately heave itself out of the water. Vivid rainbow locks tumbled down the creature’s neck, seeming absolutely soaked, but just as odd were the myriad of colorful hair was the creature’s body… Scales. Rainbow, opalescent scales littered the creature’s lower half, and Somnus truly found himself at a loss. Curiosity got the better of him, and unknowing did he take a step forward, head tilting as though to get a better look at the beautiful visage presented ahead of him… Only for his fore hooves to slip on slick rock and moss, sending the dunalino headfirst into the river with quite an indignant shout. “Bloody-!” The resulting splash was loud enough to cut off the rest of his foul expletive, surely enough to alarm any creature nearby. Birds chirping merrily upon the nearby trees took off into the air, startled by the dunalino’s sheer lack of grace. Cold water enveloped him, stealing his breath, but his luck was that it was not deep. Spluttering and indignant, Somnus heaved himself upright and spat out river water, practically sopping wet as tendrils of soaked, ivory hair hung limply about his neck and cheset. Well done, you pathetic git. Turning his head but not quite yet pulling himself from the river, Somnus focused towards the curious shape of rainbow scales further on down the river, hoping that it had not noticed the utter fool of himself that he had made. Oriens have mercy… What a way to start what was supposed to be a relaxing day. |
@Odessa <3
