Island of Fire: Chapter three,
Ilia
Ilia trembled as she looked at the black stallion. She lowered her head respectfully, and made to leave the beach. The Black One said something, and Ilia stopped to look at him. He shook his mane, and stepped forward. He lowered his head, and Ilia tensed her muscles, preparing to run.
Tyr looked at the auburn mare. She was frightened—he did not know why—and was going to run. He sighed, and turned back to the sea. The sun was setting, casting beautiful colors upon the water. He glanced back at the mare, then back to the sea. He snorted, and reared up. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the auburn mare start, and take a few steps toward the trees. He whinnied, and bounded into the shallow water. He looked back, and saw the auburn mare was soaked, and glaring at him. He laughed, and splashed her again. She rolled her eyes, and galloped into the sea after him.
Ilia laughed as she exited the water, and shook her mane on her companion. She had had no idea that mature stallions could have fun—no stallion ever came close to a mare. She turned to face the Black One, and said, "My name is Ilia."
Tyr stopped. The auburn mare had spoken—but the only word he understood was 'Ilia'. Her language sounded like a garbled version of his own. He tried to repeat the sounds, but replaced 'Ilia' with his own name; he supposed that 'Ilia' was her name.
Ilia listened to him speak, and, though his words were barely recognizable, understood that he meant his name was Tyr. She looked at him in surprise. She could have guessed that much—Tyr, in her language, meant Black. She supposed, though, that he would have absolutely no idea what she said. All of the unicorns on the island spoke the same language, but not him.
The branches of the trees rustled. She froze. She was the only mare that risked coming down to the beach—whoever it was would be a stallion. Before they could exit the trees, she leaped into a gallop, and disappeared into the woods.
A/N- I know I don't own Firebringer. Only the luck Meredith Ann Pierce does. Sigh…
Anyway, virtual cookies to whoever can guess what 'Ilia' means—it ends in Star. And virtual chocolate to whoever can guess what 'Chiya' (last chapter) means!
Achaya