azrael
Azrael strayed from his mountains, with a mind troubled by a thousand jumbled thoughts. It was strange, seeing the shed-star in the daylight. For in the sun’s shadow, he is less vibrant, his aurora shine muted in the sunlight. He walks with a graceful step, head tossed high while dark tresses waterfall down his neck, blinking with wonder at the brightness around him, taking in the beauty which Denocte hid from its night-dwellers. There were vibrant colors from flowers which spilled over onto their well-worn paths, mixing with bird song and the occasional distant whinny of his herd mates.
He pulsed along the lake’s edge, remembering other nights where he’d spoken softly in the moonlight with strangers. Remembering still, the fateful night when his beloved had gazed upon the stars in his mountains. So much life had happened in between, the memories jumbled with emotion, raw and real. But in the sunlight, Azrael pushes these thoughts away, closing his eyes and letting the cool water lap against him, clearing his head. He needed to find the peace which came with enjoying Caligo’s nature, for the stallion was still as lost now as he had been through the winter, finding threads of joy in the confusion, slowly coming around to his new normal.
When he opens his eyes again, the shed-star sees another in the distance, just across the lake. Curiosity steers him forward, lapping quietly through the shallow water and whickering low as to not frighten the stranger. When Arkhandirr does turn, there is a quick recognition of the look on his face, something akin to the confusion and lostness which Azrael too was battling – and so the aurora stallion offers him a wane smile, warm and encouraging.
“Penny for your thoughts?” His voice is rich and sincere as he stands beside the stranger now, staring into the distance and enjoying the peace of the moment.
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