He had been delighted to find the trail that led from the cliffs to this hidden sort of beach, immediately having thrown himself down it with such little care for his own safety that the steller’s jay could only swoop fretfully along behind him. It was exhilarating, the steep decline allowing him to run faster than he had before, blindly trusting each foothold would be there when he needed them. And so they were; much to his bonded’s relief, Po made it safely to the bottom, hooves sinking deep into the soft sand lining the beach. The scent of the ocean was even stronger down here; he inhaled deeply, filling his lungs with the sweet tanginess that was so foreign and exhilarating.
'I’ll only stay for a little bit…’ he told himself, an attempt to be stern but failing at it. But the open beach was so inviting, drawing him in until he was knees deep in the water, feeling it push and pull at his frame. His coat quickly accumulated drops of saltwater that peppered his hide with dark spots. His head bowed, breath causing a short lived ripple in the water, quickly replaced with the next wave submerging his head in the bay.
Ipomoea pulled back with a start, lifting his forelegs out of the spray and pointing them back at the beach. In an instant he was back on the beach, dodging the inches of water as they swept in and receded, hooves making a satisfying squelching sound with every strike.
But the open beach only lasted for so long; not far down the expanse was replaced with a maze of rocks, forming shallows and tide pools that forced him back into a careful walk lest he cut up his hooves on their slippery surfaces. His muzzle dropped back down to the earth, water rolling down his face and formed small beads on his whiskers. The red lining of his nostrils was showing, sides heaving more so from his excitement than his run. There was so many scents flooded his senses, so many sights to look at, he was overjoyed with the scene he found himself in. Back and forth he went from tide pool to tide pool, observing the differences and similarities in the small creatures he found within. It wasn't until the next time he lifted his head to look back at the ocean that he realized he was not the only equine on the beach.
She seemed just as enthralled with the place as he was, head bowed down in a similar fashion, locked in place like a statue. He recognized the pose, the concentration, not needing to think about approaching her before he already was, a desire to join in despite not knowing what it was she studied. But she was studying something, and it was this unknown that siren called him towards her. His ears bobbed back and forth with his stride before they pivoted sharply forward towards the decapod at her hooves, and he stopped with the shellfish between them.
There was no need for words to be spoken; he quickly became as entranced as the stranger across from him was, joining in her stalemate with the tiny creature. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before, and he was far too busy with counting its stripes, it legs, tracking any possible movement it might make to break his concentration now.
@Inara
she is so cute ;u;
