Goodnight, My Someone (Juno)

[Hud]

Tonto cleared his throat as he trotted through his canyon, eager to reach the end. The night sky was beautiful tonight; stars were everywhere, it seemed. The stallion had been traveling farther down the crag than he normally did, executing his seasonal patrol to the west end. The western point of the canyon reached almost to the ocean, turning into an odd, red beach-like environment at the end. Nowhere else in the Homeland was like this place. It was rocky, but it was softer than the rest of Dask. The sands of Baahir covered the red stones, the edge of the canyon stopping above the ocean. Tonto often found stragglers here, equines who dared not risk climbing down the canyon and back up either to enter or exit the desert. None today, it seemed.

Scout followed overhead as Tonto scaled up the end of the canyon on the desert side looking over the cliff to the water. The floor of the canyon was at sea level. Here there were much easier climbs than elsewhere along the canyon lines. Tonto knew the land like the back of his hoof. Cawing as he flapped above, Scout lowered until he lighted down on the stallion's poll. "Night air getting warmer. Summer coming," Tonto uttered to his friend. The bird cawed again in acknowledgement. Tonto sighed.

The stallion stood tall and stoic today, his black forelock and white mane and tail flowing gently in the night's wind as he watched over the west edge.

[Silver]

Night was her favorite time of the day. During the heat of midday her coat warmed to an irritating degree due to the color of her body. Nothing a desert-born couldn’t handle, but the night’s cooler temperature gave some relief from the annoyance. His scent was on the wind tonight, a musky smell that whirled in her nostrils and flooded her veins with adrenaline. How long had it been since she’d last spoken to him? Perhaps a year at longest, she thought. It was far too long for her tastes, but the betrothal to Waleran, king of the plains, had left her empty inside. She feared every day for Tonto and the love that still flourished in her heart like a small flower. Juno tried to nurture it with all that she had, but the distance she’d had to put between them was straining. That was why she was back here, after so long. She needed to see him, smell him, taste him. She needed to know that somehow...somehow he loved her like she loved him. Loved her as much as she needed him to. Because after she left the desert, there would be no telling how their relationship would go.

Juno trotted along the edge of the canyon, hoping that somehow she would spot the white and black stallion and his faithful avian companion. My darling, she called in her mind. Her eyes searched the darkness for him. It was in this light that she had the advantage with her shadowy figure and fondness for the night. The stars shone brightly and the moon lit her path. She spotted him, his white coat stark against the dull dark red of the sand. Every color was desaturated, but she knew her land like her father did. She crept closer until she was in earshot. “It’s been a while,” she called to him.

ooc: back together again!
word count: 310+
tag: tonto
muse: star trek xD

[Hud]

Tonto blinked a few times at the interruption. Snorting, he turned his head to find the source, Scout lifting off with a few caws before diving down into the canyon. Tonto did not watch his friend fly away as he searched behind him. The night was heavy, obscuring Juno's form. He recognized the voice somewhat, however. It seemed... older than before.

Tonto hadn't seen the black princess since they'd come together for their herd's obligatory ritual nearly a year before. She was a sight for sore eyes, to be sure. Maybe she had news for him. Tonto had not spoken to his herd leader, her father, for even longer.

"Many moons," Tonto agreed with a bit of a nod. He gestured to his side, hoping she would stand beside him at the edge of the canyon. She was no filly any longer. Perhaps the two of them could have a coherent conversation. The cry of a coyote broke the silence Tonto left. It was reassuring; life was prevalent in his domain. Tonto's black ears flicked as the sound flowed through the atmosphere...

"Angelus still leads?" Best make sure he was at least still serving the same chief.

[Silver]

Juno smiled when his voice caught onto the wind. She could see him better than she supposed that he could see her, and that was all well and good. There was nothing she wanted more right now than to admire him while he was not concerned with her weakness or lineage. The night air was thicker than usual, perhaps indicating a hot summer. Juno moved closer, still not close enough to see his face clearly. Her heart fluttered slightly, but she was a woman now, rather than a child. She knew that his thoughts were different, but some part of her hoped that he might see her for her feminine charms. She watched as Scout exited, her eyes observing everything around her. The black filly sighed with pleasure; life was so hectic back at home that she almost wished that she could fly away like the crow. He looked so alive in his freedom, and she had none.

Still, her duty remained to her father. Her brain spoke about honor and loyalty, but her heart dreamed of a black and white stallion, more brawn than voice, and more soul than most. He was by far the most intriguing being she’d ever met, and here they were, meeting as equals for the first time. Juno’s eyes widened a fraction when she noticed his gesture, but she kept herself straight and composed. Her heart slowed to a languid thumping - nothing that she couldn’t handle. Her hooves made sounds that echoed through the canyon with each step, creating an eerie rhythm to outline her motions. The princess had grown into her father’s regal figure, but he still had much to teach her. She knew the time would come when Angelus would finally settle into life as a royal father and husband, but it was difficult for him. She knew he had spent so much of his life building up to the family that he had now, but now was the time. She was oldest of the family’s children, and the only one out of filly or colthood. But soon they would all be old enough to contribute properly to the cause her father lived for.

All of this passed through her head until she reached Tonto’s side, giving enough distance to avoid looking forward. “He does,” she said. Confirmation aside, she wished to know how he fared, and she said so. “How do you fare in the canyons, Tonto?” Her voice was now deeper and warmer than it had been in her youth, and she hoped that he would notice. Surely a stallion couldn’t turn off his desires for good?
ooc: back together again!
word count: 440+
tag: tonto
muse: ---

[Hud]

Tonto was pleasantly surprised by Juno's control. The last time they had met, she had been a younger mare, her words like those of a lovestruck yearling. She was different now. Juno had the air of a princess - a regal, strong beauty. As the chief's daughter, Juno was superior to Tonto. He appreciated her taking the time to converse with him. He was sure she had many matters she could have been attending to instead of talking to him. He supposed he wouldn't be that interesting to a young mare like Juno. Tonto's matters were deep and spiritual - not things princesses need bother themselves with.

The canyonlands were incredibly colorful in both hue and activity, especially at night. The black and white stallion needed to be even more on his guard now than a few hours ago. In this way, Tonto found it difficult to properly speak to Juno. His eyes glanced down into the canyon at every sound; eye contact was... difficult. When he did get a chance to look her way, Tonto was baffled by Mother Nature. She'd turned a silly, overly-adventurous filly into a mannerly, almost demure mare. His surprise wasn't exactly painted on his face, however. The stallion had always been great at concealing his feelings, not that he had to very often out here on his own. Perhaps it was the seclusion itself that left his countenance so permanently stone cold.

Juno verified Angelus' reign. Tonto was relieved to hear it. The stallion had always respected Angelus. Tonto had lived in the canyons longer than Angelus had been king, but the two got along well, and Tonto could tell Angelus had what it took to be an effective leader and chief. Why his daughter would take such an interest in the canyons, however, was beyond Tonto. What was it about this place that kept bringing her back? She asked how he was doing. Tonto looked harshly down at the canyon below him as he thought about how to answer. Another coyote barked below.

"Coyotes restless. Marks beginning of Taabe - hottest week of summer," Tonto informed Juno. He continued. "Great Mother send heat to dry desert to challenge those who live in it. Great Mother cherish desert - those who live here must be strong to deserve such gift." Tonto's words mirrored what his mother had told him almost to a tee as he described a belief of his tribe. It made him sad to realize he was one of the last to remain. His ways were dying. Maybe telling someone else what they were about would help their cause. Tonto looked back at Juno once he was done speaking. In his opinion, the canyons faired well enough, but they could have been doing much better.