Perfect Dark (Zahra)

[Hud]

"Oh say, can you see my eyes? If you

can, then my hair's too short!"

Devereaux had had a pretty lazy few days recently. Armand had been nowhere to be found and honestly, that was how his son liked it. Armand always criticized his son for this or that; galloping when he should be walking, swimming in more dangerous waters... He couldn't understand Devereaux. There was no way the old coot remembered what it was like to be young and restless.

The stallion embraced his more restful side tonight, awakening from his nap to a dark, damp swamp. It was common for rogue stallions to be found around this time, on the prowl for lost or confused mares. Devereaux saw it as his duty to patrol the area around this time. Armand had even made it one of his official responsibilities as the prince of Bastein. The nature-loving stallion walked slowly from the royal grounds and the grand Arbrere. Dev followed this scent and that, eager to find anyone at all. Nighttime was dangerous for newcomers to the swamp. He wouldn't want anyone to get hurt...

[Thoxic]

ZAHRA 3 YEARS ★ BISEXUAL ★ HERDLESS ★ NO MATE sometimes i feel like alice look into my eyes, and see what I'm telling It wasn't her first time in this area, although it probably was her first time around here when it had been this dark. But she didn't mind, she liked the darkness, it coated her in silence and comfort in a way the light never could, even though the light was what kept her afloat every day in this world. It warmed her body, and yet it didn't bring her peace. Many would say that she was an odd creature, a silent one, that never spoke, and never showed any feelings. But that wasn't true, if you knew how to look for it, you could see her feelings very well, because she spoke clearly with her body and aura, even though her lips rarely formed any words. So why had she sought her way into the Bastein? She didn't really know, but she found it nice and peaceful to just walk around, without having to care for who saw her. She were just herself in a dark, quiet place like this. With a short, soft snort she shook her head, and let the dark och her mane dance back and forth while she walked. The long black tail trailed the ground, unusually long for a young mare like her, but it had grown long at an early age, but it had only been touching the ground like this for the last few months, and it still grew. Her small black frame was tinted with pure white here and there on her body. White star and snip, white pasterns on the front legs, and a white blanket at her rump and withers. She was small, and looked small too, even though her steps were graceful as she walked, her ears flickering to hear all sounds around her. template by evkav of back to neverland , lyrics by lisa mitchell

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[Hud]

"Oh say, can you see my eyes? If you

can, then my hair's too short!"

It wasn't long before Devereaux spotted her. She was a spectacle in the night's darkness, her few white spots calling attention to the swamp around her. The unfamiliar mare was a sight for sore eyes tonight and Dev made it his mission to know her. Talk to her.

The stallion could always appreciate beauty, be it in the environment around him or the form of a female. It was amazing how such a slight frame could ignite fires inside their male counterparts. Devereaux could feel it too. This mare probably had had her fair share of encounters with stallions in the past... Best to just be himself. Ask her where she's from.

"Do you find the swamp to your liking, Miss?" he asked simply. The stallion had approached her from behind only because he had come from that angle to begin with. He couldn't quite read her previous body language... Was she scared or satisfied? There was much to be learned about this mysterious mare, Devereaux could tell.

[Thoxic]

ZAHRA 3 YEARS ★ BISEXUAL ★ HERDLESS ★ NO MATE sometimes i feel like alice look into my eyes, and see what I'm telling The dark mare had never expected anyone to approach her at this hour, so the sweet voice of the stallion made her turn her small head. Coming up at her rear, she could see the red stallion, and even though he didn't really startled her, she had a moment of wonder of who he was. She didn't have a clue about who he was, but she didn't judge anyone, no matter how they looked or behaved really, unless they tried to hurt her. That had never happened though, so she didn't expect this from the red stallion coming up at her side either. She came to a halt, to be able to look at him properly, but no words came out from her delicate lips. She just tilted her head, with a small smile on those lips, while her tail moved lightly, keep away any little annoying bugs from her legs and white rump. She couldn't help but wonder what he would think about her silence, not many cared for it, and usually left her when they realized that she wouldn't speak. They almost never tried to really read her body language, and as it was now, she was calm, and thankful for a little company, a voice and breath to listen to. Like her father, she could enjoy the little things with ease, things that so many seemed to forget about. As she so clearly was happy and calm about the meeting, she tried to read his aura too, feeling him out a little, and even though she didn't know him, he feeled like someone who was nice and caring. However, one could never know, right? template by evkav of back to neverland , lyrics by lisa mitchell

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[Hud]

"Oh say, can you see my eyes? If you

can, then my hair's too short!"

The mare's actions were curious. Devereaux had never had the pleasure of such a creature, save for those of many non-equine varieties. The swamps were not the most talkative if not in the company of the Bastein herd. Alligators had difficulty speaking to equines because of their lack of lips and birds spoke only in song. What few creatures could communicate with Devereaux, only the occasional nutria or raccoon really made the effort to converse. Even then, all creatures made at least some kind of sound. This mare made no nicker, no whinny, and no neigh.

"I'll take that smile as a yes..." he finished with a chuckle and as swish of his ratty, voluminous, russet tail. His gaze jumped back and forth a little in an awkward motion, not quite sure how to respond. The stallion circled around and stopped before the slight black mare. She was a beauty, to be sure. Few times had he run across such looks in the dank, mossy bog. Surely she hadn't found Armand yet, else she would have high-tailed it out of Bastien faster than a gator snapping for a carp.

"I'm Devereaux, if it pleases you... No name, I'd suppose?"

[Thoxic]

ZAHRA 3 YEARS ★ BISEXUAL ★ HERDLESS ★ NO MATE sometimes i feel like alice look into my eyes, and see what I'm telling It was true, she made no noise, execpt the calm breathing of her body, and the occasional swish of her long black tail. Since she had inherited her built and body from her mother, a hotblood, she was all silken, like black spiderwebs her tail and mane never seemed to tangle much. Although she had inherited the ability to get a nice, thick wintercoat from her father, she had so far stayed in lands that didn't get too cold over the winter. Bastien, however, were a slight cooler at this time of the year, and it felt really nice against her skin. The curious look of the stallion when he looked at her, and presented himself as Deveraux, made her smile again, and even though she rarely spoke, she couldn't help herself, she let go of a small laughter, before replying in a gentle voice. "Zahra." It was true, she couldn't speak, she just didn't do so that very often. To those she really cared about, she could speak a few words, but she had never liked the sound of her own voice, so she prefered to be silent. Maybe it was because he father was so silent... or because her mother had always, in her first weeks of being a living little foal, she had been told to shut up. Appearently she had talked to much, and the mother hadn't liked that clear, light voice her daughter had, so Zahra hade been encouraged to always be silent if she could. It had stuck to her, and now she barely spoke at all, even if other asked her. But looking at this stallion, she couldn't stop herself from wanting him to know her name, and her whole body and the aura she sent out, was happy, almost shivering with excitement. template by evkav of back to neverland , lyrics by lisa mitchell

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[Hud]

"Oh say, can you see my eyes? If you

can, then my hair's too short!"

Devereaux's skin jumped a bit at the sound of the mare's voice. His jaw fell for a moment; he must not have expected her to actually speak. The stallion wasn't sure why he felt that way. She seemed above speech, as if he should know what she was thinking without hearing it. Her name and voice were different. They lacked the twang he was so used to from the bayou. Surely his own accent was new to her as well. It was no where near as thick as his father's, but he could hold his own in his native tongue.

"'Zahra'? Chère dame... You have uh splendid name, Miss Zahra."

His excited expression softened as he let the name roll off his tongue. It fell easily, as most he was used to did not. Devereaux had the sudden urge to shelter her. The swamp was no place for lonely young mares. He could be of use to her... She certainly had brightened his night.

[Thoxic]

ZAHRA 3 YEARS ★ BISEXUAL ★ HERDLESS ★ NO MATE sometimes i feel like alice look into my eyes, and see what I'm telling That lonely word, that simple name she had spoken, had been hers of course, but he'd probably not hear another word from her. Telling someone her name was one thing, because that was something you couldn't tell just by body language, so she had to tell him. But it would probably be a while before she said anything else to him. But she was happy with this, just listening to the accent that rolled over his tongue as he spoke, it was much thicker than she was used to, much more.. different. Herself, being raised in the free lands with her mother, and partially with her father, her accent was a mix of... a bit of everything. Well, at least, when she decided to say anything it all, that is. But this stallions voice, rang nicely in her ears, and they clipped exicitedly as she was listening to him, especially when he said her name, it made her smile, and those blue eyes of her almost glistened with hapiness. She shifted the weight on her hooves slightly, moving so that she was more faced to him, and for a moment her long black tail swatted at her white and black rump, chasing off a few stinging bugs that craved for a little meal, with her blood as the maincourse. She rarely had any problems with them, but this summer in particular, they had been hard on her, taking any chance they got at her skin. She moved a backleg very delicatley when she felt another sting, but after another swing of the tail, they seemed to leave her alone for a while, and she turned her full attention to the red stallion in front of her. Being as little as she was, she couldn't compare in size to him, and it was clear that she was aware of the difference, but thought nothing wrong with it. But she was clearly interested in him, otherwise her attention would have been elsewhere. template by evkav of back to neverland , lyrics by lisa mitchell

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[Hud]

"Oh say, can you see my eyes? If you

can, then my hair's too short!"

Her silence persisted. He was beginning to think it was her thing. He could understand that. Some creatures were not meant to sing. Devereaux likened her to a hummingbird, small and quiet, only letting others hear her when she deemed it appropriate. The stallion smiled, letting the silence continue as he thought of what to say. Somehow, the pause wasn't awkward, it felt natural. He wanted to show her around... Tomorrow. It was too dark to get the real treat of taking a tour through the bayou. The mosquitoes were thick and the gators grumbled around them. Devereaux felt no danger to himself, though he knew the creatures would pounce should he leave the beautiful stranger alone.

"Come back wid me back to de Arbrere. S'not de safest 'round here alone for da night." Devereaux smiled, taking a step in the right direction, hoping she would agree to his proposition...

[Thoxic]

ZAHRA 3 YEARS ★ BISEXUAL ★ HERDLESS ★ NO MATE sometimes i feel like alice look into my eyes, and see what I'm telling The voice of the stallion, telling her to come with her, that it was dangerous around here at night, made her smile slightly, as she knew this very well, and it was not the first time she was offered shelter by a stallion. But this.. Deveraux, had made the first offer that she actually felt tempted to accept. He had this aura around him that she liked, something that just accepted her way of being, and he didn't question her silence, even though he had heard her speak. The only reason she hesitated, was because she didn't know if she'd be welcome further into the territory of the bayou, even though leads rarely had anything against lone mares to approach. What if this lead spotted them? But then again, she had no idea that the stallion she was before, was the leads son. Regardless of her hesitation, she nodded slightly, and took the few steps required to get up at his side. Her light frame had no problem being graceful, and her steps was quiet as she walked by his side, taking this risk at trusting someone she had know for just a few minutes. But she wasn't one of distrust, and this red stallion had made nothing for her to think he'd harm her in any way. As they walked, she looked around, and even though it was dark, she could here and there see things, lightened by the moon, and prying eyes of predators here and there, most often too afraid to get closed to a prey the size of a horse. But nevertheless, they were looking at them, scenting them... template by evkav of back to neverland , lyrics by lisa mitchell

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[Hud]

"Oh say, can you see my eyes? If you

can, then my hair's too short!"

The two were a fair walk from their destination; Devereaux saw it fit to at least try to learn a little more about this "Zahra" on the way. Judging from her previous behavior, he could only guess that it might not be as easy as it would be from most. The mare had said but one word during their whole encounter, though her actions had spoken for themselves already on more than one occasion. The stallion's red forelock fell over one eye before he shook his head, moving it to the other side to get a good look down on the mare at his side. His limbs moved nimbly over this log and that fallen branch and through tall grass. Dev did his best to lead her through the driest, most clear way to his family's grand tree.

"You been 'round de swamps befo'?" the stallion asked as he thought about his father. What would he have to say about the new arrival? It was never easy to guess Armand's reactions. Some days he would wholeheartedly accept newcomers into their lands, but rarely. Most of the time he wanted nothing to do with horses outside of those he already knew. Devereaux wasn't even sure Armand liked him. Their best chance was to steer clear of Armand.

Dev looked back down to Zahra with a smile. Who would send a lovely little thing like her away?