'Just what did I do to deserve this anyway?' Kalli wondered, pressing her heels into Marina's sides. The horse snorted, picking up pace towards the beach. Shuttering with excitement, the mare pressed forward, tearing through the moonlight like a shadow. Her silky blue-black coat shimmering faintly with sweat, Marina reached the beach, clomping forward into the surf.
The shadow-black mare whickered softly as Kalli tumbled from the saddle, burying her feet in the wet sand. There was a rush in riding Kalli found nowhere else. The whistling wind through her hair drove all other thoughts from her mind but the speed, the feel of thunderous hooves under her...
Marina whickered again, pressing her nose against the middle of Kalli's back. Laughing a little in reply, the Phoenix turned and took hold of her mare's reigns, leading the shadow-horse forward, through the sand. 'How long has it been?' She wondered, silently, turning her face towards the moon, her skin a milky-blue in the light. 'I took the Trial of the Gods... almost two years ago now. I've been ruling as a Dawn for almost two years... Amazing.' She grinned into the night, remembering how foolish she'd been. 'I'd heard the stories of Dawn Dragon Ikeda and his Serpent Shanza, of Dawn Phoenix Skiily and her Lion Milan years later, and how many countless others? They had all been in love, so totally in love. I thought the position guaranteed me that kind of affection.' She buried her face in her free hand for a moment, losing herself in the past. 'By the Phoenix, I was so wrong.'
No one had told Kalli that it could turn out like this...
'I guess... I guess no one tells tales of the Dawns who didn't get along. I guess we don't make for good stories.' There were tears in her azure eyes, but what did it matter? There was no one around to see, no one who would even care.
Marina butted her head against the Phoenix's arm, shaking her head. "Do you want to go home, girl?" Kalli ran a shaking hand over the star on Marina's nose. The horse breathed heavily into the fabric of her robes, her hot breath scathing across her stomach. "We can head back if you're cold." Pulling against her reigns, Marina made it quite obvious she'd had enough.
Laughing, Kalli swung into the saddle again. "All right, girl; you want your warm stable? Let's see how fast you can get us there." With a soft kick, they were off, racing the wind. The world faded away into a blur of speed.
And that was just the way Kalli liked it.
Really short chapters make me feel like I'm cheating people who read my stuff. But when I finish an idea, I feel like the chapter needs to end.
Sorry it's short, but it's just how I operate, I guess. Much love to Inky for reading. I'm glad you like. :smiles:
So I was mapping out the rest of this story, and I got some great ideas for where I want to end up with it. Hope that if any fans of RotD are reading this, they're enjoying it. Damn, it's getting late. And I have work tomorrow. :sighs: I'll try to update again tomorrow, but I have class and work. We'll see.
Hearts and all that crap,
Mina