They had initially gone out with the intention of refreshing themself a little, maybe get a nice, cool drink. The rainwater they collected from the passing storms could only be tolerated for so long. There was just something that wasn't the same about drinking from a bowl as compared to drinking from a natural water source.
It just didn't taste the same.
Unfortunately, the world had other plans, they discovered as they curiously tapped a green-colored hoof against the frozen lake's surface. The clinking noise it made was quite curious. They put their hoof back down, snorting curiously and leaning further forwards to peer over the frozen water, eyes blinking as they took in the interesting happenstance.
Sure, they had traveled Novus and even a bit beyond in the time they spent wandering, but they had still grown up in Solterra, they were still someone who had been used to milder winters than these. They were hardly opposed to the colder weather, in fact, they loved it, but the effects it had on the environment were still rather fascinating to them.
Now, it wasn't as though Seree had never encountered ice before, because they certainly had. They had fallen on slick patches of it more times than they cared to consider in their blind travels, not having seen it as they stepped forwards. But a whole lake, frozen over? That was new.
Their reflection wasn't exactly very clear, not only in the warped surface of the ice but in the light dusting of snow that had fallen on top of it, rendering the slick surface with a sparse cover and a little more traction. Curiously, Seree wondered if the ice could hold their weight, and if the snow provided enough traction for them to walk.
Wouldn't that be something, to stand in the middle of the lake? Certainly a point of view they would never have seen before.
The horse gingerly set a single hoof down on the ice's surface, slowly pressing more of their weight onto it. The ice creaked a little, but not in a dangerous way. More like it was simply bending a little under the weight they pressed onto it, but not being damaged by it. Of course, they were still in the very shallow end, the rest of their hooves still planted on un-frozen ground. With at least one hoof firmly on the ice, the horse gingerly lifted another, and transferred more of their weight onto the frozen surface.
The light dusting of snow provided enough traction for their incredibly slow and steady movements to allow them to transfer all four hooves onto the lake's surface with no trouble. They could feel how easy it would be to slide about on the ice, but if they moved slowly and carefully enough, and kept all of their weight centered, they ought to have no problems. With that, they slowly began to walk towards the middle of the lake.
The ice made no more protests as they moved forwards, Seree slowly measuring each step and transferring their weight slowly as they tested whether or not it could hold them. So far, so good. They began to feel more encouraged, steps speeding up.
But not enough for them to fall, not quite fast enough for that yet.
In time, they came to the center of the lake, the horse looking out as all sides were now visible at the same distance. Wow, this certainly was something. They momentarily felt their breath taken away at the view they'd never seen before. It was enough for them to paw their hooves at the ground with excited energy, and that was how it all started.
Seree pushed against the ice with one of their back hooves, not really intending to do anything by it, but quickly discovered that they pushed themself forwards. Just a few inches, but enough for the horse to lurch and nearly lose their footing, bring their hoof back down quickly and pressing their hooves into the ice for grip. Their legs wound up a tad bit splayed, but they stopped, the frost helping them not to fall.
Their heart had leapt into their throat at the unexpected skid. Well... that was something. They nervously shuffled to get all four hooves back underneath them, firmly this time. In and out, in and out, they forced themself through several deep breaths to try and calm their racing heart.
When they had themself back under control, their natural curiosity got the better of them. They gingerly raised their back hoof again, and pushed themself forward, just the slightest bit. Seree felt a childish giggle building up in the back of their throat as they moved forward a little bit again, more stable now that they knew what to expect.
But of course, the confidence went to their head.
They pushed to hard with their other hoof, and moved too quickly for their body, unfamiliar with the movements. They scrambled, trying to find their footing again, but unfortunately finding themselves sprawled out on the ice moments later, groaning quietly. They managed to roll over onto their chest and raise their head easily enough.
Well, that was a bit unpleasant. But it didn't hurt, not too bad at least.
And, well, that had been rather fun. Maybe if they just took it more slowly before speeding things up...
Suffice to say, they had inadvertently discovered a new way to play, and Seree was very excited to keep trying it out.
@Lyra
OOC: Don't stop them now, the moment of truth, they were, born to make history. For Seree and Lyra but anyone else is welcome to come join the fun as well. :D
Love, love is a verb Love is a doing word Feathers on my breath Gentle impulsion Shakes me, makes me lighter Fearless on my breath Teardrop on the fire Fearless on my breath;
Lyra often came to this lake to think or simply to stargaze up at the night sky. Today was no different for the starlit mare as she walked the well beaten path down to the lake within Denocte. With winter in full swing the lake had well been frozen over but that didn't change it's beauty for the young girl. It enhanced it if nothing else.
It also would seem that she wasn't the only one that wanted to see the lake today. A green colored equine was..out on the lake? Lyra grew curious as she drew closer to the edge of the lake, her silver eyes watching the other equine on the ice. Why were they out there to begin with? What if the ice broke? But the more that she watched the other on the ice who was now sliding across it the more..fun it looked. Lyra very rarely had ever done anything 'fun' in her youth, it wasn't allowed when she was growing up.
She decided to take one slow step onto the ice after the other, testing where it was the strongest to hold her weight. She thought she was getting the hand of this until she heard a 'thump' and jerked her head up towards the noise. "Are you alright?!"
The equine with a crown of golden antlers shook their head to clear the fog of the tumble, a snort-like noise coming from their throat as they shook off the dizziness. It would seem they had been too preoccupied with their play and had neglected to notice the approaching figure, looking over their shoulder to see a dark blue making her way towards them.
Slowly drawing their legs underneath themself, they focused on remaining stable as they slowly rose, the black of their base coat glittering with frost from the ice and emerald hooves almost dancing atop the frozen surface as they tried to keep their balance. Oh goodness, they had never had a problem with the weight of their antlers before now, but now the top-heavy nature of their head nearly sent them sprawling once more before they managed to get themself under control, eventually rising to stand as tall and proud as they could, shaking out their head and giving a pleased whinny of greeting.
They weren't quite of the mind to try and walk towards the other mare yet, instead settling for calling out across the distance between the two.
"Yes, yes, I am quite alright. I am not too used to walking on ice and simply went for a little tumble, but I'm quite alright, if a little winded."
The last was said with humor, their voice seeming to sing as they spoke, not mockery, but amusement at their own mishap. They were alright, and so it was more so funny than anything else.
Now that they had themself more so under control, the equine furrowed their brow in concentration, giving a light push with one of their back hooves and finding themself sliding ever so towards the blue mare. They put the hoof back down, shifting their weight further onto it and lifting the hoof on the other side, before deciding to lift the forehoof as well, pushing lightly with both of them to give themself a greater boost.
That almost sent them sprawling again, but they kept upright, and repeated the action with the other side of their body.
They went for another tumble once in the time it took them to close the gap between the two mares, but managed to get up with assurances that they were quite alright. They rather supposed falling was simply part of the learning process, and learning they were.
Now, that is not to say that they were a master of the art by the time they made it to the starry woman, but they were quite pleased with their progress, a happy snort falling from their jaws as they gave thanks to their love of dance. It seemed all the work with balance had paid off, and they shook out their mane once more as they approached, now getting to figure out how to stop themself as they nearly bumped into the unknown woman, smile becoming sheepish as they just barely avoided collision, even if they weren't moving too terribly fast.
"So sorry, it's rather a work in progress. Not too sure what I'm doing, but it is fun."
@Lyra
OOC: Now they gotta get married I'm sorry that's just how it works
Lyra almost winced when she watched the other equine take a plunge once again down on the icy lake. Whatever the other was thinking when they walked out there she didn't know and right now she was more worried about the ice breaking underneath them. She took another step towards the other equine being careful where she stepped, sometimes pausing when she heard a slight creaking sound underneath her weight.
Relief washed over her when she heard that they were alright, a breath leaving her lips. Her silver gaze looked to the black and green equine now as they began to slide towards her now. While there was still concern in her gaze for the other there was also fascination. Lyra had never tried to walk on ice before much less glide around on it as though in some kind of dance.
Lyra offered them a soft smile, "It's okay! Ice isn't exactly an easy surface to walk on. I'm Lyra by the way." She quickly added by way of introductions, she still could be so awkward when it came to speaking with new faces. Still she did her best and pushed through it.
SPEECH
@Seree pffft well you gotta woo Lyra first then we'll talk ;p
"It certainly isn't at that. Much less this gliding that I seem to have somehow stumbled on."
Now that Seree was stopped, they weren't so sure if they wanted to start moving again or to stay still. When moving it was like... so long as they kept moving, they had an easier time of staying upright. It was easier to speed up when they were already moving, much harder to get it started. But slowing down was still quite tricky, and they knew that if they started pushing again, they'd have to stop eventually.
At the same time, as short as their glides had been, it had been so nice to have the wind pulling at their mane like that, and it was such a peculiar sensation to be sliding yet not falling, so fun. It was... exciting, and they wanted more of that feeling. Even if stopping the fun was proving to be a little difficult.
They snorted amicably.
"It's probably made even harder by the fact that I was born in Solterra, and never learned how to walk on ice as a child, making this all quite foreign. But, no time like the present, I suppose."
They dipped their head in a friendly greeting with a smile as the other mare introduced herself.
"Seree, Seree Quyi. Born to the Day Court but long since decided to make the Night Court my home."
Seree looked down at their hooves at that, just now realizing how close they were to the woman. They didn't mind personal contact in the slightest, but could see how the situation could fast get awkward for others, and perhaps moving away would be in their best interest. But then again, they had yet to try going backwards...
No time like the present.
They figured that they should probably push with their forehooves rather than back for this, and gingerly raised a hoof, and stretched it forward the tiniest bit before giving a quick, but little push against the ice, loosening their other legs while still keeping stable as they moved back a scant few inches before friction stopped them again. They turned their gaze to their other leg and repeated the process, still keeping a very keen eye on where they put their hooves. One of their back legs wobbled a little, but they kept steady.
When they had stopped and put a more comfortable distance between the two mares back, so that they weren't invading anyone's personal space, they looked up with a smile.
"There we go, now we're not practically on top of each other anymore."
@Lyra
OOC: They were a skater horse, she said see you later horse.
