[P] -- i tried to hold these secrets inside me

[Pale]

She had woken at the oasis, but she had not been content to stay simply because it had been the first place she had ended up in here. Pale could not tell where 'here' was, but she knew that it was different from the place she had been previously, and she was no longer wandering in areas devoid of other equine. They were all over, the scent of those that moved here and there around these areas that looked both different and the same from what her memories held. Pale was aware that she had never been here before, but that doesn't concern her. Nothing wrong with new places, and as she had been seeking somewhere to finally settle down in, this one could work just as well as any other.  The last place with droves of equine had been a failure in Pale's eyes, and the bitter sting of that was not forgotten, but she had learned from her choices and would take that with her as she continued. She prowled for the shaded areas as she moved along, sensitive eyes kept out of direct sunlight that reflected it and clouded her vision. The difference of it was seen in her pale moss green pupils; a birth defect that had been caused by the spreading infection of Rift, but healed eventually aside from the discoloration and light sensitivity. Pale was lucky that was all her eyes had suffered from it, all she had suffered from it. She had gotten used to the minor issues of it, and lingered in the shadowed areas when she could. Above all else, however, Pale was drawn to sources of water. There would be one that she would eventually stay close to in an all too protective sort of way. Kelpie instinct, even if all the physical aspects of what she had been were leeched away. Her mindset wouldn't change with it, not unless it helped with her continued survival. That above all else was Pale's priority. Yet she also had other priorities to keep in mind, and so she would. For now, her mindset was on locating all the sources of water in these lands to map out in her head to figure out what best suited her lifestyle. It might take her some time to travel as much as she must to find them all; barring the ocean, since she did not count that in her search. It was too large an expanse for her interests. Which was why she eventually found herself at Rapax River, picking her way along the precarious banks. She was well versed in how dangerous it could be, since she spent more time around water than anywhere else within her lifetime. And while she was not all that old, she had wandered a good deal during the short years she had been alive; and those wanderings were often around bodies of water. She could judge the stability of most places she walked around water, on rocks, the soft soil under her cloven hooves. Better suited for the rocks and ledges, those. And her tail helped with balance when and where it was needed; and a rudder when swimming. But Pale wasn't swimming now, but simply nosing around the riverbank. -- I WOULDN'T HOLD MY BREATH IF I WERE YOU p a l e

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@Kasil

[Kasil]

KASIL

He had to be careful on the river’s edge, the rocks and sharp ledges making it a difficult time to enjoy a stroll along the river banks. One misstep, one shift of the weight in the wrong direction would send him into the river where the tumultuous waters would sweep him away. It had nearly been his fate as a boy, only sheer luck saving him from a watery grave -- and thus this part of his lands always gave him such great pause. He set his feet firmly onto the mixture of soil and rock, leaning forward and lowering his head down in order to drink from the rumbling waters. The rapids were further downstream, though this part of the river was not very placid either.

He lifted his head at the sight of another, the sound of her footsteps lost thanks to the running river. For a moment, he thought her to be Pan -- one of the few of his herd that he knew fairly well, the boy lively and kind -- and recently blessed as he had heard, with eternal youth. That was two of his people now that had been blessed by the gods, and he felt a sense of fatherly pride at the idea. But this creature was different than the silvery-boy with green scales, although if he had not been truly looking and seeing he might have mistaken them.

He moved without thinking, moving with a sense of urgency that he did not quite understand and stepped right into the river. He could feel the current pulling at his limbs, threatening to send him under if his step were to prove faulty -- but he was careful. It rose to his underbelly, and the stallion lifted his large russet colored wings just to keep them out of the water’s grip. They were a good last resort, if he found himself unable to cross. The water was chilly, thanks to autumn, and he could imagine that he would have quite the explanation to give once he reached the other side -- but he did not care.

All that he cared for now, was reaching this stranger across the way.  

@Pale
Sorry it’s kind of meh!

coding by Avis

[Pale]

Pale had been assessing the river; silently, critically. She had not yet passed full judgement upon it, but it wasn't looking to be the most stable of water sources. That did not bar it from being a possibility, for she believed that she would be able to hold her own in this area, away from the rapids, if she were to wade around within the waters of it. Still, Pale liked the idea of being more submerged then this river could give in the more calm of areas through it. There was something utterly peaceful and comforting in the ability to go under all the way up to her nose with just her nostrils and top of her head above the surface. Like a crocodile, laying in wait. There was more truth to that mental imagery, of course, with the sharp teeth and all. Pale had gained a taste for fish and flesh at a young age, though by now she no longer felt a pressured need to eat those things now. She was not perfectly sure what that meant, aside from allowing herself to slack in that sort of hunting. In the face of better, safer survival, Pale was relieved by this new development. Yet every now and then she would be hard pressed to give up going after fish altogether. Nosing around the riverbank now gave her time to eye the waters for fish as well, though she saw no terrible insufficiency in that area within the river. A tally in the column of approval. All that would have to wait, because the sound of splashing took her attention and held it; someone was crossing the river. This had Pale stilling and peering in interested curiosity at the stallion braving the chilly water. It was enough to have her stepping daintily into the river, feeling the welcome chill of it sink in as she moved closer to the stallion, meeting him at a place only knee-deep and extending her nose towards him to inhale deep before offering to exchange breath with a soft, "hello." In greeting. Usually, Pale would be sharp with questions for anyone she met or was passing by, but for some reason her mind was more quiet in that regard; more interested in the stallion's proximity. -- I WOULDN'T HOLD MY BREATH IF I WERE YOU p a l e

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@Kasil

[Kasil]

KASIL

It became more apparent as he crossed the river, that the stranger was just as curious about him as he was about her. She met him in the water, until it met her knees and he was just a little taller so the water did not quite reach as high. She extended her muzzle towards him, close enough that their breath intermingled. She smelled different to him, like a mixture of different waterways and just a tinge of the hot desert sands that told him she was from Solterra. His dark gaze swept over her figure, an oddness rising in his chest that he could not quite explain. The ears atop his crown twisted, listening to her soft greeting and offering one in return.

”Hello. He murmured, close enough that his voice did not need to raise any louder than the babbling of the river. His skin prickled with the cold air, now that he wasn’t quite so submerged in the river behind him. ”It will be dark soon, should you be out here alone?” He murmured. The change of seasons had brought with it an early darkness, and Kasil always felt uneasy about leaving his people outside of the citadel. The night was dark and full of terrors, especially alone and despite the fact that she clearly was not one of his people -- simply by her scent -- he felt driven to take her back with him.

”I am Kasil. Sovereign to these lands, welcome to Delumine...miss…?” He said, turning an ear in her direction in hopes of catching her name.

@Pale
Why is he so bad with women? xD

coding by Avis