&& home is where you are (ryker)

[Silver]

Talia

This was the island that she would always know and always cherish. This was the place that she would never leave, and her descendants would know the magic and treasure that Inoa was. Colorful flora sprang up from every corner of the mainland, and it rained with a frequency that tended to annoy newcomers. Talia knew this island, though. She grew up in the island herd, ran with other native children when she was just a filly, and reached adulthood between the fronds of the giant fern. The soft, creamy tip of her muzzle reached out and caressed a rather inviting looking leaf. The mare licked droplets off of the plant and closed her eyes as she savored the sweet, fresh taste of the rainwater deposit. Inoa was her island, through and through. She moved her hooves slowly across the slightly rocky landscape as the sun dappled her flanks. Her wavy mane dropped over her face to slightly hide her blue eyes. The mare lazily moved into the more jungled area of the island. It was a spring day, perfect for naps and snacks and lovers.

Her thoughts turned to Ryker, prompted by the romance that the day seemed to encourage. He was her dearest friend, like a big brother for so many years. She smiled as she remembered days spent swimming in the shallows and discovering hermit crabs for the first time. She’d been a playful thing, and the two of them had grown up together since, well, practically birth. He’d always been her protector, and her exploring partner. Together they had explored the entire island, finding new places to hide from their parents. How mad we made them, she thought with a soft giggle. But through thick and thin they had been together, neither dreaming that their relationship might change. And it hadn’t, not really. As they matured, there were always new sights to see and more duties to attend to. Ryker had gotten busier, especially as he took his place as the chief of Inoa. Talia had tended to her ailing mother for as long as the older mare had, but now that she had passed on, her daughter was out of things to do. The lack of children was troubling, and provided for a lack of things to do for those mares that were used to being nannies and such. In any case, they had stuck together still, sharing their experiences each with the other.

What Ryker didn’t know was that Talia had fallen in love with him. As she grew into her womanly body, her feelings had changed towards the handsome stallion that she’d known forever. While he was still and always would be her best friend, she found herself yearning for his touch, and a more romantic turn of events to bring them together. As the cremello mare reached a soft area covered with moss and dead leaves, she bent her knees and lowered her body slowly to the ground. Instantly a coolness settled beneath her as the leaves and moss pressed their moisture into her skin. Talia sighed with pleasure and closed her eyes to resume her daydreaming.

She would never tell him of her feelings for him of course. That would ruin their already perfect relationship. But sometimes... Sometimes she felt that maybe she might rebel and whisper that she loved him where he could hear. But...no. There was too much to lose, and Talia didn’t ever want to lose that.

ooc: this girl is adorable to write for.
word count: 582
tag: ryker