He'd never felt closer to the heavens. The night was bright with thousands of twinkling stars, painting hidden constellations that had Kaladin tip his head to the heavens and recognize each by name. Cetus Maxima, Hippocampus, Aquila, Helena's Belt... he was alive here, amongst silver-gilded starways and the warmth of the glowing moon. His chest tumbled with both joy and an ancient, aching longing - a longing for freedom, to glide across the night sky, his mane rippling in the night breeze. But for now, he would have to content himself with standing beneath the indigo curtain of night, with the moon's light spilling across the lake ahead.
He picked up the pace once more, worn hooves crunching against the lake's smooth-stone holding. Despite his desire to disappear in the stars, he was here for a purpose - the ongoing search for the relic of Tempus. The treacherous mountain pass had proved almost entirely fruitless - but he'd taken the time to visit Denocte, home to the Night Court, and continue on in his efforts. Despite the dulling flame that was his hope, his resolution remained strong - if there were a relic, he would find it, and he would break the cursed collar that weighed down his body with every step.
Still, tonight he had almost successfully lost that weight in the cool night breeze. His muscles hummed with youthful energy, and he was once again reminded that indeed, he was but a boy - a boy with wide amberglass eyes full of stars and ancient knowledge. His excitement over the familiarity of the constellation had translated into energy singing in his veins, and he found himself trotting, then moving into a smooth canter, feeling the wind comb his mane with caring fingers. Unbeknownst to him, a rare smile touched lightly upon his lips. He leapt into a reckless gallop with a buck, now thundering across the shore of the glass-surface lake. For a moment, he was almost convinced he was free again.
Until he was not alone. Seeing the stranger in the distance, he managed to himself to a halt, though he did so grudgingly. Panting, his eyes glimmering akin to the stars above, he might have appeared almost like the child he could have been, had fate been so kind. Or like the wild creature of power that he had once been.
Spirit still high, he greeted the mahogany stranger with a nod. After a moment of scrutiny, he guessed they were there for the same goal - he had learned as much from his travels in search of the relic. After his reckless voyage across the mountain pass, he knew enough not to engage any more mortals in his own quest for divinity. However, the elation in his chest was bursting to be let out, and so he forced himself to recall the greeting the local mortals would utilize to convey their approach. Finally, voice still placed between excited breaths, he spoke, "Greetings, stranger."
The remark was quick and dismissive, meant as both greeting and farewell so they could both continue on their separate ways - and, so Kaladin hoped, the stranger was simply basking in the view, not seeking any godly relics. He hoped, prayed, that his search could continue uninterrupted. But if he'd learned anything about this mortal earth, it was that high hopes often went squandered.
He picked up the pace once more, worn hooves crunching against the lake's smooth-stone holding. Despite his desire to disappear in the stars, he was here for a purpose - the ongoing search for the relic of Tempus. The treacherous mountain pass had proved almost entirely fruitless - but he'd taken the time to visit Denocte, home to the Night Court, and continue on in his efforts. Despite the dulling flame that was his hope, his resolution remained strong - if there were a relic, he would find it, and he would break the cursed collar that weighed down his body with every step.
Still, tonight he had almost successfully lost that weight in the cool night breeze. His muscles hummed with youthful energy, and he was once again reminded that indeed, he was but a boy - a boy with wide amberglass eyes full of stars and ancient knowledge. His excitement over the familiarity of the constellation had translated into energy singing in his veins, and he found himself trotting, then moving into a smooth canter, feeling the wind comb his mane with caring fingers. Unbeknownst to him, a rare smile touched lightly upon his lips. He leapt into a reckless gallop with a buck, now thundering across the shore of the glass-surface lake. For a moment, he was almost convinced he was free again.
Until he was not alone. Seeing the stranger in the distance, he managed to himself to a halt, though he did so grudgingly. Panting, his eyes glimmering akin to the stars above, he might have appeared almost like the child he could have been, had fate been so kind. Or like the wild creature of power that he had once been.
Spirit still high, he greeted the mahogany stranger with a nod. After a moment of scrutiny, he guessed they were there for the same goal - he had learned as much from his travels in search of the relic. After his reckless voyage across the mountain pass, he knew enough not to engage any more mortals in his own quest for divinity. However, the elation in his chest was bursting to be let out, and so he forced himself to recall the greeting the local mortals would utilize to convey their approach. Finally, voice still placed between excited breaths, he spoke, "Greetings, stranger."
The remark was quick and dismissive, meant as both greeting and farewell so they could both continue on their separate ways - and, so Kaladin hoped, the stranger was simply basking in the view, not seeking any godly relics. He hoped, prayed, that his search could continue uninterrupted. But if he'd learned anything about this mortal earth, it was that high hopes often went squandered.
