Daine sighed deeply as she made it to the peak of the hill she'd been
trudging up for the past hour. She collapsed onto the grass, sprawling out
on her back. A long snout came into her field of vision, and a voice into
her mind, {please tell me this is the last break}. The creature whinnied,
curling its huge lips to show equally huge teeth.
Daine laughed, swatting at the snout which belonged to her pony- friend, Cloud. "Oh and I spose you aren't tired a bit, miss mountain goat," the girl retorted. Cloud raised her head dignantly, scoffing,
{I am not a goat. I am a pony and proud of it. And as a matter of fact, I'm not tired in the least. I didn't even break a sweat....}
"All right, all right," groaned Daine, sitting up. She sat still a moment, feeling all the blood rush to her head. The pony whickered and snorted into the girl's hair. Daine reached up and stroked the long bridge of her muzzle, making her ripple with pleasure. "Do you think Numair will wait up for us?" Daine asked thoughtfully. Though she was speaking to Cloud, her gaze was on endless sky and setting sun. The day was fading fast, and it now seemed safe to say that they would arrive later than planned. Much later.
{Knowing the stork-man, he was waiting for your return the moment you left,} Cloud said, using her nickname for the mage. {I'm sure he'll be wide awake along with the rest of King Jonathan's court.}
"I hope he's not too worried," Daine breathed, dramatically out of character.
{No you don't, Cloud said cooly. You love when he frets and muses over you.} The girl lowered her head, trying to hide a guilty grin. She cleared her voice, trying to avoid the subject of Numair.
"Well, it's getting late. We should get going while we still have some light to travel by." Daine slowly got to her feet and retrieved her pack from where it hung on Cloud's saddle. She began to walk off, leaving Cloud who appeared to be in a daze. Still standing there in deep thought, Cloud said,
{If I were any animal other than a pony, I'd definitely be a llama.}
Daine rolled her eyes and shook her head. Cloud persisted, {llamas are tall....and majestic....and graceful....}
"And they spit," Daine put in, looking over her shoulder. For the rest of the descent down the hill, both human and pony were silent.
~(~
By the time Daine and Cloud reached the bottom of the hill, the sky had darkened considerably. The sun slipped slowly away beneath the horizon, leaving a purple dusk dotted with the first few stars. A blood red moon had unveiled itself from the haze and clouds, shedding an eerie light upon the travelers who now tiredly made their way into the city of Corus.
Daine gripped the strap that held her quiver to her back tight, and moved a little closer to Cloud. Nothing stirred, not even the nocturnal- people, like the owl or the bat. Not one of their mind voices was heard. All was silent, too silent.
{Daine, the city is near,} told Cloud, mind voice shaky. Apparently, she too had sensed the air of foreboding that emanated from the city ahead.
The only things visible as they entered Corus, were the dark outlines of houses in uneven rows, cobble-stone roads snaking through them. The lanterns that lined the streets had long been snuffed out and the, as well as every candle in the window of every home.
Daine laughed, swatting at the snout which belonged to her pony- friend, Cloud. "Oh and I spose you aren't tired a bit, miss mountain goat," the girl retorted. Cloud raised her head dignantly, scoffing,
{I am not a goat. I am a pony and proud of it. And as a matter of fact, I'm not tired in the least. I didn't even break a sweat....}
"All right, all right," groaned Daine, sitting up. She sat still a moment, feeling all the blood rush to her head. The pony whickered and snorted into the girl's hair. Daine reached up and stroked the long bridge of her muzzle, making her ripple with pleasure. "Do you think Numair will wait up for us?" Daine asked thoughtfully. Though she was speaking to Cloud, her gaze was on endless sky and setting sun. The day was fading fast, and it now seemed safe to say that they would arrive later than planned. Much later.
{Knowing the stork-man, he was waiting for your return the moment you left,} Cloud said, using her nickname for the mage. {I'm sure he'll be wide awake along with the rest of King Jonathan's court.}
"I hope he's not too worried," Daine breathed, dramatically out of character.
{No you don't, Cloud said cooly. You love when he frets and muses over you.} The girl lowered her head, trying to hide a guilty grin. She cleared her voice, trying to avoid the subject of Numair.
"Well, it's getting late. We should get going while we still have some light to travel by." Daine slowly got to her feet and retrieved her pack from where it hung on Cloud's saddle. She began to walk off, leaving Cloud who appeared to be in a daze. Still standing there in deep thought, Cloud said,
{If I were any animal other than a pony, I'd definitely be a llama.}
Daine rolled her eyes and shook her head. Cloud persisted, {llamas are tall....and majestic....and graceful....}
"And they spit," Daine put in, looking over her shoulder. For the rest of the descent down the hill, both human and pony were silent.
~(~
By the time Daine and Cloud reached the bottom of the hill, the sky had darkened considerably. The sun slipped slowly away beneath the horizon, leaving a purple dusk dotted with the first few stars. A blood red moon had unveiled itself from the haze and clouds, shedding an eerie light upon the travelers who now tiredly made their way into the city of Corus.
Daine gripped the strap that held her quiver to her back tight, and moved a little closer to Cloud. Nothing stirred, not even the nocturnal- people, like the owl or the bat. Not one of their mind voices was heard. All was silent, too silent.
{Daine, the city is near,} told Cloud, mind voice shaky. Apparently, she too had sensed the air of foreboding that emanated from the city ahead.
The only things visible as they entered Corus, were the dark outlines of houses in uneven rows, cobble-stone roads snaking through them. The lanterns that lined the streets had long been snuffed out and the, as well as every candle in the window of every home.