Winter wonderland,, Haizi

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... and the fox flew away with my pebbles and yesterday came back again.

His whispered words rose through the tall plains grass that cocooned him, disappearing as the breeze caught each sleepy syllable. A protesting groan followed, much less dreamlike in tone and quality, as he shifted to hide his tired eyes from the sun. He squeezed them even further shut, as though that feeble action would cast away his blinding foe, and parted his velvet lips to test his tongue against the roof of his mouth. Satisfied that he would not soon die of thirst, his slender neck pushed forward and he wove his head through a new patch of grass to fall back into a world entirely of his creation.

Minutes passed in the silence of a frigid winter morning. There were no birds this far into the depths of the season, and though the grass swayed and the nearby stream washed against rocky outcrops, everything seemed hushed and still.

And then the silence shattered, broken by the riotous echo of an unexpected sneeze. Sen took a moment to collect himself, and then sighed with remorse. It probably wasn't a good idea to sleep in the middle of a field anyway. He stretched himself out, almost catlike in his flexion, before rolling to his belly and pulling his front half from the ground. A thin cast of powdered snow fell from his muscled shoulder, and he felt a shiver course through him from head to toe. Not a good idea at all. In one clumsy motion he hefted himself to all fours, stumbling only once before he caught himself- in time to shake away the remaining snow with enthusiasm, his unkempt mane thrashing from side to side.

It took him a moment, fighting his urge to lay down again, but he finally lifted his elegant head to the sky and blearily opened his lashed lids, revealing dichromatic eyes. Another shiver ran through him, his full body exposed now to the will of the winter wind, and his head dropped suddenly with a suppressed sneeze.

Ah, shit.

S e n e c a

HIBOU of BACK TO NEVERLAND

[Deleted]

Haiziwaun

There was a cool breeze that danced along the flat lands, reflecting light as the sun awoke from slumber. It rolled and spread, seeking comfort from the surrounding area, offering a new morning to those with breath in their lungs and a beat in their hearts. Winter had fallen softly in comparison to the year before, which was somewhat surprising to Haiziwaun. The breeze caressed her skin, the hairs lifting slightly in reaction. She sighed softly, scanning her homeland as it awoke lazily, noting the stir of small rodents. Most of them continued their slumber during winter, but a scarce few dared to brave the change in season.

Her coat gleamed in the dull, rising light, expressing the warmth in color that the rest of the land desired. But winter was a time for slumber, and storing energy for a rebirth in Spring. It wouldn't be long before The Plains began buzzing with life, a world erupting in bright greens and brassy tones. The thought of this change brought upon a half smile from the mare as she shifted her weight, easing her muscles and bones into wake. She felt a tightness in her back from standing abreast a tree for her sleep last night, and quickly cursed her lack of better judgment before releasing a yawn in an attempt to release the tension. Next time, I'll be sure to lie down." She had chosen to stand because she could feel a cold coming on, and the start of snowfall before she'd fallen asleep. To avoid waking in a complete chill and covered in a blanket of snow, she opted for standing. Now she only had a blanket along her back, and quick a lazy yet fully-bodied shake Haiz dispelled the snow to her hooves. It was a conflicted emotion that greeted her afterward, for the snow had formed a blanket in a sense and both retained some chill but also buffeted the cool. It took her a moment to dismiss it, however, and soon Haiziwaun was seeking breakfast.

The liver chestnut took a common route known to her, passing through a few currently-dormant trees and broke into a light trot to stretch and warm her muscles. She knew better than to overwork herself, especially having recently awoke and considering how the cold affected bodies. As a younger filly, she had made the mistake countless times. She fondly scoffed at memories of her immaturity, when she sprained her body in countless ways and worried her dam to no end. Minor child antics, were all they were, but her mother had always had a way of worrying about everything that presented itself to her daughter. Haiziwaun slowed her pace at a sharp bend, memory serving as it did routinely, the beaten path still showing remnants from where her hooves placed the morning before. Her stomach echoed softly, urging her forth with its calls. Haiziwaun picked up her pace, still aware as her muscles warmed and movement became more and more fluid. She could feel herself becoming more alert, awaking fully to enjoy everything about the new day that awaited her. Haiz found her mind trailing again, picking up on the ever-soft morning songs the winter birds would chime to one another. As she approached her normal loitering locale, the wind brought her traces of increasing scent that came as a surprise. Her ears perked forward, and her pace faltered a step. She nearly stumbled, but caught herself for the most part before slowing and becoming more cautious -- she could only make out the scent as of the opposite sex, which was enough to be wary of in her book.

Haiziwaun continued forward, quickly deciding that -- should she have to retreat for her own safety -- she would be with better odds than missing out on her routine for the day. Events don't happen on their own, without movement. You'd never know what lies around the corner until you move your feet and discover it for yourself. Her mother's favorite word of advice rang clear as she further justified the decision to herself. Haiz kept her pace, coming around the second bend and closing the gap between herself and this stranger. Who knows, maybe he's not even where you think he is, Haiziwaun pondered the idea of that being true, but decided to dismiss it altogether. She'd be lying if she tried to play a disinterested card. In fact, it made her more than curious. His scent was none she'd encountered before, which offered a curious thought as to if he were a passerby or not. She picked up her pace in a bout of mild excitement, but kept herself disciplined enough to monitor the surrounding area. Her route was somewhat shaded but not like a forest. Trees were spaced out, brush and bushes covering the land below them and providing more protection than the grasses that made up the bulk of The Plains. Living around this area was ideal for a prey animal, for it became too much work for a predator to scavenge if he had healthy opportunities among the grasses.

She neared the stream, scents of damp grasses filling her nostrils, her stomach churning in delight and earnest. But Haiziwaun ignored the urge, her attention more toward what she could see and smell. She slowed to a walk, wary to approach but curious as ever. The stream flowed with a quiet melody, the ice pulled from forming and snow forming along the banks as a lesser degree. A sharp sound hit her ears, and the mare balked. She quickly regained herself and her eyes shot all over the surrounding area for the source. What she came upon set her body into a quick sense of comfort.

He was different from what she expected, though when she thought about it she wasn't quite sure what to expect. He definitely looked out of place, almost childish in nature. She paused, watching him like a doe would when guarding her fawn. It took her but a few moments to reach a decision, and her demeanor softened as she moved her feet. Flicking her tail along her side, the mare could only chuckle softly at his appearance. He looked near dreadful. This winter morning was not doing him any favors. "Careful, you'll catch a cold going about The Plains as you are." She'd spoken before she realized what words had been let loose, but he did look as though he were two steps from being a chilled fruit. The snow seemed to crunch louder in her favoured locale, echoing in a sense as the trees were more tight-knit than anywhere else. Come spring, this place would be bountiful and a prime location for horses to gather and be protected. Haiziwaun studied him a bit before cocking a hip and relaxing for a moment.

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Notes: Pfft this post has annoyed me, what with the technical difficulties and nearly losing it twice. So, uh, have a kinda crappy post. Um.

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For several moments, Sen pressed his whiskered chin to his chest. A chilling ache spread through his body, at war with the dull, fluid tendrils of warmth flowing from his pulsing heart. That last sneeze had racked him to the core, and his eyes were still clamped firmly shut when the brazen voice of an unexpected stranger startled him from his sickly misery.

'Careful, you'll catch a cold going about The Plains as you are.'

A blundering huff escaped him, the awkward marriage of a silent whicker and a snort, as he pranced several steps back. His eyes were wide, but the world around him refused to focus; a blur of flushed liver shifted before him, and he heard the soft crunch of hooves on fresh-fallen snow. Another snort escaped him as he hid a rather cacophonous sneeze, and as he squinted the world fell into clarity. Sharp grains of sleep pressed far into the delicate whites of his eyes, and he blinked rapidly. When he spoke, his voice was sandpaper and honey.

'The Plains have shown me no great favor- I think I've caught that dreaded cold already.' A smile curved upon his lips, bashful and benevolent, with no hint of the wariness that should accompany any meeting in this foreign land. 

Where his breathing had quickened at the sudden resonation of her voice, his ribs now rose evenly and slowly. There was no bone in Seneca's body that would tremble at the appearance of a stranger. He did not hold the capacity to presume ill of any other horse- that survival instinct did not exist within his guileless mind. 

Curiosity took hold, and he raised one peach-toned hoof delicately, as though he were a newborn foal who did not know that his legs were indeed his own. He let his gaze slip to his hoof, temporarily amused by the curved imprint, and when he looked up the smile that had yet to leave his face slowly dimmed. He pressed that hoof exactly where it had been, and instead leaned forward so that the skant weight of his slender body rested on his front feet. He'd gotten is so much trouble over approaching strangers without their permission- the thin scars of healed bites along his flank attested to that. For once his life's lessons cautioned his actions. Though this mare seemed friendly enough, it would be better not to scare her off by advancing too quickly. 'And moving would only make me colder, right?'

With the eager face of a child, Sen stood rooted in the very same spot, and his tail swished to and fro with the excitement he couldn't express through movement. Every new meeting was an opportunity, and he'd been rather lonely as of late.

'How'd you find me, ma'a.... ehr. What's your name?'

S e n e c a

HIBOU of BACK TO NEVERLAND